#Iron Man!Yuu

[sanctum-of-ramshackle]

“I am…You know who I am”

[TWST AU]: What if MC/Yuu was an Iron Man fan and a genius engineer who created their own iron suit?

[Gender Neutral MC/Yuu]

[Synopsis]: In this timeline, MC/Yuu is this variant of Iron Man and they are titled as “Iron Force” in Twisted Wonderland.

[TW]: Some cursing

[(A/N)]: Hi everyone. It’s been quite some time since I posted TWST magic. I have been busy with IRL stuff and working on non-TWST ideas on my main blog (@swiftyangx12). I unexpectedly took a break from the fandom, but slowly getting back into business and honestly, I miss my boys...

[AC/DC - Back in Black]

Alright, let’s see how this goes…

MC/Yuu was a huge fan of Iron Man and an aspiring genius engineer back in their home world.

After hearing about Stark’s sacrifice, they felt devastated that their idol passed on.

They coped by studying and building inventions, motivating themselves to honor their role model.

Then one day as they were walking to school in New York, something happened.

At first, they were exiting from their usual coffee shop and the next thing you know, they’re confined into darkness.

MC/Yuu: Alright. Not the weirdest thing since being dusted away for five years.

After feeling their surroundings to escape from their imprisonment, they heard somebody chatting about how heavy the door is to open up.

Then after blazing fire hued in blue, blew up the the door and this triggers MC/Yuu’s iron suit (with the latest nanotechnology) to encase them, activated to confront what was a danger to their safety.

When they’re revealed to Grim, he got scared. Because it’s not everyday to see someone in an iron suit and he just screamed as a reaction.

MC/Yuu holds out their hand ready to blast away whatever that creature was.

MC/Yuu: What the hell are you? A talking cat? Raccoon? A demonic alien from another dimension?

Grim: I’m neither of those! I am “The Great Grim”!

MC/Yuu: Who? Look, buddy. I think I got kidnapped and was somehow dragged here. I need to find my way out. *Activates their boosters and flies out of the room*

Grim: Hey wait! *Chases after them*

They basically flew out of the academy and toured around the whole world having to realize they’re not on their Earth anymore.

Then MC/Yuu return back to NRC, clumsily landed in during the Dorm Sorting Ceremony.

Every student was startled by a stranger in an iron suit.

Grim unceremoniously barged into the room.

Grim: You’ll never escape from The Great Grim!

MC/Yuu: Okay. *Holds their blaster up aiming at the menace*

Then Crowley came rushing in, putting a stop to the whole mess.

Crowley: Seize your fighting!

MC/Yuu: Uhh…Who are you? *Powering down their blaster and opens up their mask*

Crowley: I am Dire Crowley, Headmaster of Night Raven College.

MC/Yuu: …J.A.R.V.I.S., scan him.

Crowley: What-

After the chaos was settled, Crowley dragged MC/Yuu to his office for them to explain their dilemma. They also explained what they can offer for NRC with upgrades around the area.

Oh! Grim is still with MC/Yuu because after he listened to what they can do, he decided to be the greatest mage with technological advances.

Grim: MC/Yuu, who are you always talking to?

MC/Yuu: My A.I. assistant. They’re called J.A.R.V.I.S. 2.0, “Just A Really Very Intelligent System, but as my own version.” He helps me hypothesize possible outcomes when testing my inventions, and assist fighting bad guys by my side.

J.A.R.V.I.S. 2.0: I’m also their assistant for daily tasks and reminders. Grim, you and MC/Yuu are scheduled by Headmaster Crowley to pick up supplies for the upcoming NRC’s annual Magift Games at 7 p.m.

Grim: No way! I don’t wanna do chores.

MC/Yuu: You get to ride with me in my iron suit.

Grim: Oh yeah, I forgot. Let’s go!

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MC/Yuu: What kind of power source I can use around this world? *Snaps their fingers* A Mage Stone. Crowley, by any chance, are there other magical crystals back in that Dwarf Mine?

Crowley: There are, but I mustn’t let you go there since it was closed due to a “monster” you fought last time.

MC/Yuu: Alright. I’m still getting that power source.

[5 hours later]

MC/Yuu: *Inserts the mage stone in their suit* There. My very own Arc Reactor.

J.A.R.V.I.S. 2.0: Congratulations, MC/Yuu. You discovered a new element.

MC/Yuu: Definitely. Sourced a new element as this is my first.

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Vil: MC/Yuu, explain this. *Shows them an online article*

MC/Yuu: *Reads the article* Oh yeah. I had an interview and became a philanthropist.

Vil: You’re basically a celebrity by this point. What did you do to become this well-known?

MC/Yuu: I just helped some people. Carrying thousands of construction materials, assist upcoming tech companies with my knowledge from my experience and gave children the best rides of their lives…Oh my god, I’m becoming like my idol. Except the rich and player parts.

Vil: You’re a celebrity, MC/Yuu. You would have plenty of Madol from all this exposure.

MC/Yuu: Okay, I’m becoming rich, but I can’t pull no bitches.

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[During Chapter 2]

Iron Force: *Charges at Overblot!Leona and kicks him mid-air*

OB!Leona: *Knocked the wind out of his lungs*

Iron Force: Okay J.A.R.V.I.S., any chances?

J.A.R.V.I.S. 2.0: 90% success rate of subduing the target.

Iron Force: Then 10% avoiding this mess. *Knocks him to the ground*

OB!Leona: Why that little- *Punched in the face*

Iron Force: *Repeatedly punching him* Go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep!

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MC/Yuu: *Wearing glasses*

Azul: I didn’t know you wear glasses. Trying to appear as an intellectual?

MC/Yuu: Hm? Oh, no. My sight is fine. I just transferred J.A.R.V.I.S. in these modified frames.

J.A.R.V.I.S. 2.0: Scan completed. You have a slight iron deficiency and recommend a salad in your diet, MC/Yuu.

Azul: Did it just talked?

J.A.R.V.I.S. 2.0: Yes. I also scanned your physiology and it reveals you’re 95% suspicious of my existence and 5% envious of me for being MC/Yuu’s A.I. assistant.

Azul: I certainly do not envy your virtual assistant.

J.A.R.V.I.S. 2.0: Oddly enough, your biology categorized as relations of Cephalopod.

Azul: …

MC/Yuu: You’re an octopus?

Azul: May we change the subject?

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Iron Force: *Flying around the island*

Ortho: *Flying beside them* Hi MC/Yuu!

Iron Force: What the f-?! *Halts their flight and hovers with Ortho* I didn’t know somebody else created an iron suit in this world.

Ortho: Iron suit? Oh! You mean my structure. Nii-san helped with my upgrades.

Iron Force: You’re not wearing a suit? You’re an android with highly advanced artificial intelligence?

Ortho: Yes!

MC/Yuu: …Whose your brother?

[An hour later]

Idia: *Finishing a difficult level*

MC/Yuu: *Hacks into his door as it slides open* You didn’t tell me you’re a tech genius!

Idia: *Startled* AHH! Who let you in?!

MC/Yuu: I let myself in. Buddy, we need to collaborate-

[That’s how a friendship was made.]

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[Imagine H.Y.D.R.A. somehow created a portal and enter into TWST]

Iron Force: Oh boy. Thank god I made spare suits. *Activates the other suits*

Jack: You’re fighting alone?

Iron Force: Not alone. I made some for you guys to help everyone. *Closes their mask*

[The First Years enter into their respective suits.]

Ace: *In his suit* How do you work in this thing?

Iron Force: There’s an automated mode to help control your suit. You even get your own A.I. assistants I programmed in each of your suits.

J.E.R.K.: Hello, I am J.E.R.K. Your A.I. assistant, Mr. Trappola.

Ace: Really? Jerk?

Iron Force: The words behind the acronym are better.

✨[Reblogs are appreciated and helps create more content]✨

[squiddy-god]

Hello! I saw the Twst post you did the other day another Anon asked for about the golden retriever bf and Savanaclaw, and I adored it! It was adorable, so I was hoping for some other Twst characters (of your choice) to put with a golden retriever bf!

Hehehe more golden retriever bf as per request, i decided to do some that feel like they would be fun and silly, i'm really happy that i've been getting so many male/masc reader requests, it feels really good 

Malleus, divus, Floyd, vil

♥︎request open♥︎

Additional edit : the way I genuinely struggled to pick a picture of vil because he's to pretty

Cw : fluff, golden retriever reader!, male/masc! Reader. Reader is yuu/mc/you but is a beastman

Malleus 

 Oh he thinks you are just the cutest

Real sunshine x gloomy pair here because he is so in love with you

It always makes him chuckle that you are so eager to please and spend time with him, practically tackling him with a wagging tail when he visits ramshackle

His tail also wags when he happy to see you 

Finds himself patting your head often, like hes always giving you head pats because your floppy golden ers are just too endearing  for the dragon to resist

Still calls you child of man but he begins to rethink the name in favor of beastie because you are his cute little beast 

Love it when he ruffles your head and and your tail wags because it makes him so so special

He gets a bit jealous when others pet your head, but hes quick to come to your air if people touch you without your consent or if they make you uncomfortable 

(whos the real gaur dog lmao)

Divus 

Obviously in this one you are a grown adult and not a student,,,more like working as a teacher's aid or janitor 

I could not resist writing for him

Hes so perfect for this prompt because you are his adorable sweet puppy

He likes to gift you outfits that match your hair,fluffy ears because style will always be priority

The man absolutely calls you darling and good boy exclusively. Your name? Haha that's funny.

He is delighted to see that your world has/is exclusively beastmen, it means that you will have a slightly easier time adjusting with stuff.

Matching accessories all day every day, he’s particle to dalmatians obviously but he keeps a little keychain on his phone with a little golden retriever on it to remind him of you

Trust your ears and hair will never have a better hair cut, truly this man is a wizard (hahaha) with those scissors 

Floyd 

Still calls you shrimpy but he alternates between shrimpy and pupppppppyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy said exactly like that 

Whos kicked puppy expression is more powerful?you or floyd? You because ironically unlike you, floyd has a biting problem 

I think he likes to play fight/wrestle 

Like out of nowhere you get tackled and now its a fight lmao

He also likes if you bite him with affection because he bites with affection too 

Teases you relentlessly about how much your tail wags when you see him but will also get so pouty if you see him and your tail isn't just going crazy 

You are his good luck charm for basketball 

Vil 

Pt two of perfect ears and tail 

He wont have you just walking around looking like some mangy hound, you are his good boy and he will have you looking your best

I think he would be really into those pet safe hair/fur dyes- here me out he really like when you two match purples, or any color you want because ofc 

Maybe he dyes little hearts/ a cute little poison apple on one of your ears (if you want) 

I also like to think that when you do really well at something he cant help but give you the headpats you rightfully deserve 

I think vil gets very stressed, usually it boils over at small things, you see a lot of the “behind the scenes” vil, even more thank someone as close to hims as rook, and you de-stress him a lot, petting your ears and being aloud to relax with cuddles is a good way to relax him.

Vil with those longer sharp acrylic nails and he gives the best head scratches (this is a call form inside the house i need this pls)

[bunnwich]

Devourer👑(Scar!Leona x Yuu) 01

Leona got everything he wanted, except for one thing. After 7 long years of being king, Yuu comes back into his life. As Yuu finds themselves in his nightmare, will they be able to "find " Leona and wake him? Or will they both be devoured?

Characters: Leona Kingscholar x Yuu!Reader (GN. No physical description for Yuu. They/Them pronouns. Yuu majors in alchemy at NRC.)

Words: 5k, 3rd person Notes: A darker AU based on Leona’s Chapter 7 Dream. Part 1 of ??? Not sure if I will continue this AU but it was fun as an exercise to write a bit of more of a darker and sinister Leona for once. LMK if you like this sorta thing?

CW: Murder, Slight Dark themes??, Pushing of physical boundaries.

Tagging: I will be tagging in comments!

--

From the moment he took the throne after his brother’s death, whispers filled the kingdom, unease and ridicule trailing him like a shadow. He remained in the heart of the people as a scar of a prince on the divine oligarchy’s legacy. A black stain of spilled ink over the Sunset Savanna’s entire proud history. Once seen as a prince with little promise, he had sat as a king for seven long years now, ruling with an iron fist and a sharp tongue.

The “when” was foggy now, a few months, a year ago? Leona, as they used to know him, had personally recruited them to head an experimental “agricultural development program,” aimed at alleviating the famine gripping the kingdom. Yuu supposed he found out about their internship and majors sometime after they graduated. The years after Night Raven College had been hard and their old school life seemed almost idyllic compared to the world outside. After their friends scattered to the winds to start their own lives, Yuu had been left behind to pick up the pieces of a shattered life. Alchemy, the study of magical plants, was one of the only ways to make them feel competent in a world surrounded by people often more powerful than themself.  They had gotten quite good at it, but it felt surreal to be bestowed such an “honor” from a king after so many years. 

They hadn't seen Leona Kingscholar in nearly a decade after all. --

It was rounding the third hour of a meeting, and the afternoon heat was blistering. Yuu was slumped in their stone chair, mind starting to wander, eyes lulling dangerously closed. After a brief silence, a single voice broke the once-quiet discussion of the royal budget, and their trance.

���Your Highness! We cannot afford to execute this plan! This…aid program to provide outreach to the Outlands.” The council member never even bothered to look over at Yuu themselves. Even when he was implying their very existence at this council was an unwelcome one.

Seated around the oval table, each other council member avoided Leona’s piercing gaze. However, Yuu’s eyes flicked to the man seated next to them. The king was draped lazily across his chair, his expression one of equal parts calculation and boredom.

Oh? Their eyes widened, the elders rarely stood their ground with him.

“Hm? And why not?” Leona’s voice was low and menacing as his emerald eyes narrowed, deep voice cracking through the entire throne room. He was dressed in his standard black dashiki suit, its sleek fabric adorned with shimmering gold accents that seemed to catch the light with his every movement. The suit’s high collar stood proud, a dark canvas for the multiple beaded and gold necklaces that dripped over his chest.

"Your Majesty, diverting even more of our time and resources to the coastal neighborhoods is a mistake.” Councilman Griza, a giraffe beastman, braver than the rest, spoke again, his voice shaking only slightly. “Those…people have shown time and time again they are a threat to the capital. Offering aid will only embolden them, send mixed messages. Especially with how things have been as of late..." His malice made him braver it seemed, his resentment of the outlanders barely concealed.

“How convenient.” Leona sneered, slouching forward. His voice was a slow rumble, dangerous and intentional. “Of course, they’ve been aggressive. Anyone would be if they were historically treated like pests—starved, shunned, discarded.” He stood, palms slapping against the table, his claws scraping the stone discordantly. “They’ve been cornered, can't expect them not to bite.”

Each of his movements was a steady prowl as he circled the long table, his brown sash flowing across his shoulder. The councilman flinched as Leona suddenly stopped behind him, looming like a dark cloud over the man. “I think sometimes you all forget, I know what it’s like to be cast aside. And…to hunger for something denied.” His eyes scanned the table’s occupants and Yuu made sure to look down before he could make eye contact with them. 

They knew their place, as the youngest and arguably least qualified…they tended to keep their mouth shut unless their opinion was asked.

He went on. “...Starve someone long enough, treat them like the dirt beneath your feet, and then when they lash out, suddenly they’re the problem? How noble of you to twist the narrative, Griza.”

Another councilman, Lord Danga, a zebra beastman, cleared his throat nervously. “With all due respect, my King, our resources are already stretched so thin this year. The Sunrise City’s people must come first, our people. Surely you can see that?”

Leona leaned forward, his sharp green eyes locking onto the man, his claws still tapping rhythmically against the back of Griza’s stone chair. “ Oh? Our people?” His voice was low and venomous. “Tell me something…Lord Danga. When you hoarded grain last season for your own settlements and let three nearby jackal villages go hungry, were those not ‘our people’? Or did they suddenly stop counting?” He shrugged.

“I—”

Leona cut him off with a sharp glare. “...And now you all want to sit here and preach to me about where my mercy should begin and end?”

An elephant beastman, emboldened by frustration, stood up. "It’s not about your mercy, Your Majesty. It’s about strategy! Strength! If we appear weak to those in the Outlands, those people will take advantage of us and our generosity as they have been the past few dry seasons!” He slammed his fist on the table.

Leona scoffed, his voice dripping with contempt. “Do you know what really makes a kingdom weak?” He leaned more of his weight against Griza’s chair, the legs scraping loudly across the stone floor, as he suddenly pulled the old man and his seat backwards.

The giraffe beastman in question froze and nobody spoke, even breathed. Yuu found themself barely able to swallow.

“Fear.” Leona hissed.

“Short-sighted, foolish, hypocrites who think power means hoarding everything for themselves.” He spoke slowly, his voice lowering with menace. “You all aren’t protecting this kingdom. You’re choking it.”

Griza stiffened below him, hazel eyes downcasted. Beneath his breath, he muttered something Yuu couldn’t hear. 

“What was that?” Leona’s voice was sharp enough to cut.

“Hmph.” He tried to keep his lip stiff. “I... I only meant that... your father would have-”

“Go on. Finish that sentence…” Leona’s growling tone was dark, and dangerous, and his eyes glowed with a barely restrained fury.

The councilman’s lips quivered openly now, but he remained silent.

“...”

“I see. A lesson needs to be learned.” Leona exhaled sharply, his patience visibly thinning. “I don’t need comparisons, and I certainly don’t need your approval to do what’s right for my people—all of them.”

The room fell silent. Leona’s soft chuckle echoed through the room, cold and mocking. “Weak, huh?” He laid both hands on Griza’s shoulder, digging his claws into his white council member robes.

The man squealed like a stuck pig, trembling under Leona’s hand. There was no escape.

“Let me show you what real weakness looks like.”

Before any of the councilmen or Yuu could react, Leona’s fingers clenched and his knuckles turned white. He muttered a familiar incantation and the man stilled in his grip, before his body seized violently. Sand spilled from Leona’s fingertips, snaking around the old man’s face, frozen in fear as his panicked eyes darted to his peers. 

It was over in seconds, he didn’t even have time to scream. No one did.

“You see,” Leona said, his tone casual as “Griza” crumbled into a lifeless heap of sand in the pulled-out chair. “True weakness is being so afraid of the past that it gets in the way of the progress of the future.” His hand made an exaggerated flourish.

He turned to the remaining council members, clapping the sand from his palms. “You call yourselves leaders, yet you sit here staring at me with your mouths agape…like frightened prey.”

He cleared his throat, sliding his claws through his dark hair casually as he paced back toward his seat. “…The coastal neighborhoods will continue to be eligible in our restoration project through the dry season.”

No one dared speak, except to echo one word.

“Yes…”

Leona nodded with finality. “Good.” He moved toward the throne’s platform, the weight of his authority filling the room as he climbed the steps, taking his rightful seat. “You’re all dismissed.” He waved.

The council members scrambled to bow before filing out, leaving Yuu alone with their new king, too stupid to move. They always heard you shouldn’t run from a predator. 

While Leona stared satisfied at the pile of sand drifting from the empty chair, they forced their weak legs to work again, finally sliding from their seat at the table and retreating toward the throne’s steps. As Yuu stood rigid at the edge of the dais, their hands clasped tightly in front of them, palms sweating as they tried to still the faint tremor that betrayed their nerves. 

The room felt impossibly quiet now, the air heavy with humidity and the unspoken aftermath of what had just transpired. A few feet away lay the remains of what was once Councilman Griza—a man whose leering gaze and oily words had made Yuu’s skin crawl on more than one occasion.

Now, there was nothing left of him but dust.

Their time assisting in infirmaries for their college internship taught them that death usually smelled like something: decay, burning flesh, blood but...here a man lay, as if he had been ripped from existence.

Nothing. 

Yuu couldn’t bring themselves to look away from the dusty remains, though bile churned in their stomach anyway. They should have felt horror. Or grief. Anything other than this cold, detached emptiness and macabre curiosity. But Griza had been a contemptible man, a social-climbing parasite who had delighted in undermining Leona at every opportunity. Was it so wrong not to mourn him?

The silence stretched, broken only by the distant echo of footsteps as the council members continued to flee the room, their fear a tangible presence in the air. Yuu couldn’t blame them.

Their fingers tightened on the fabric of their own white robes, trembling creeping back into their hands. Drawing on every ounce of composure, they dipped into a shallow bow at the steps, the fabric of their clothing brushing against their knees. "Is there... anything else you require of me, Your Majesty?" Yuu finally asked, their voice soft but steady. Their gaze dropped to the floor as they clutched the folds of their robe like a lifeline. 

Heart pounding in their chest, each beat was a sobering reminder that they were still alive—still here, unlike Griza.

Seeing them still there, Leona’s low chuckle rippled through the room, smooth as silk yet sharp enough to cut their composure.

They straightened cautiously, their gaze lifting just in time to see the king rise from his throne. When he moved, it was slow and deliberate, his footsteps echoing against the polished stone floor as he approached them.

"Anything I require?" he drawled, amusement coloring his voice. "How polite of you."

Before Yuu could respond, his clawed fingers curled under their chin, tilting their face upward. The warmth of his touch seared against their skin, forcing them to meet his piercing green gaze. Yuu’s breath hitched, their composure slipping for the briefest moment as his smirk deepened.

"You saw what happened just now," he murmured, his voice deceptively soft, almost a purr. "And this is your response?" His sharp black nail tapped on their chin, thumbing the divot below their bottom lip.

Yuu swallowed hard, trying not to think that this was the same touch that just turned a man to ash. The weight of his scrutiny pressed down on them like a physical force. His eyes searched theirs, sharp and unrelenting, as though he could strip away every carefully constructed defense they’d built. He studied their face like a puzzle he intended to solve, his smirk deepening when his eyes flicked to their hands, still pulling at the fabric of their robes tight.

“Tell me.” he started, leaning closer, the warmth of his palm seeping into their skin, a stark contrast to the cold knot forming in their stomach. "What do you really think?"

Yuu’s pulse thundered in their ears, their mind racing as they searched his face for some trace of the man they once knew. Wishful thinking. His proximity was suffocating, his presence an overwhelming force that left them no room to breathe.

No, this wasn’t the Leona they remembered—the lazy boy who had once scoffed at the pomp and circumstance of royal life.

The man before them now was a king, his sharp edges honed to a deadly point by years of bitterness and isolation. He wore his title like impenetrable armor, his every movement, and word laced with the weight of his new authority.

“I—” They looked up at him.

His hair, once unkempt and free-falling, was slicked back from his forehead, threaded with faint spirals of grey that hadn’t been there in his youth. The heavy makeup around his eyes only deepened the shadows beneath them, giving him a look far older than even his thirty-three years. His gaze seemed to be shadowed with exhaustion that no amount of sleep could cure.

Yuu swallowed hard, their throat dry. They wanted to laugh, to make some cutting remark about personal space or his newly acquired dramatic flair. But those days were long gone. They were no one of consequence to him anymore, just another servant standing before a terrifying king. One who could crush them as easily as he had Griza.

Still, they couldn’t bring themselves to lie outright. They forced a weak, bitter laugh, the sound surprising even them. “Well…sir. I can’t say I ever shed any tears for Councilman Griza," they admitted, their voice quieter than they intended. "And I suppose I'm a little biased on the success of the restoration plan." They shrugged.

Leona’s chuckle was low and rich, sending a shiver down Yuu’s spine. His grip on their chin loosened, his hand falling away only to settle on their shoulder, still leaving char marks on their jaw. His claws lightly grazed the fabric of their clothing as he prodded them toward the throne.

"No one would," he said, his tone tinged with amusement. "The man was a perverted old bastard."

Yuu allowed themselves to be led further by their king, their steps measured as though they were walking a tightrope with him. The weight of his hand on their shoulder was impossible to ignore, a silent reminder of their wildly unbalanced power dynamic.

He stepped back, gesturing for Yuu to follow as he made his way to the throne. With a lazy grace, he dropped into the large seat, his arms draped languidly over one of the armrests as though the events of the day had taken no toll on him at all.

"C’mere." he said as casually as he might have back in school, motioning to the small space beside him. "Sit. I won't bite."

Yuu hesitated, their stomach twisting as their gaze flicked between him and the space left on the cushioned seat. 

Leona’s gaze never left them, the weight of his command impossible to ignore. Slowly, they moved over, beaded sandals echoing in the large empty room. They started to lower themselves onto the left side of the throne, their hands gripping the armrest as if anchoring themselves to reality.

There was barely room for the both of them. Yuu sat down cautiously, making sure to leave at least a few inches between both their legs. They looked down at the colorful beaded bangles on their wrists and adjusted them as they settled in.

Leona leaned forward slightly, his smirk sharp. "Now," he said, his voice low, "No bullshitting. Tell me what you truly think of what I did."

Yuu’s breath caught, their pulse pounding in their throat. They met his gaze, their own expression carefully guarded, They inhaled deeply, steeling themselves. They knew the wrong answer could cost them, and so could the truth. It was a dangerous game, and they were far from certain they could win against him. 

One thing was clear—there was no turning back now. He intended to play with them.

The answer was simple. He wanted them all to witness it. That’s why he did it.

"I think…" Yuu began, their voice measured, "You’re trying to prove something. To the council. To the kingdom. To yourself." The truth left their lips easier than they thought possible.

Leona’s eyes narrowed slightly, though his smirk didn’t falter. "And what, exactly, do you think I’m trying to prove?"

Yuu hesitated, the weight of his question pressing down on them. They chose their next words carefully, heart racing as they stared into his sharp green eyes.

"That you’re…strong enough to lead," they said finally. "That you deserve to be here."

For a moment, the air between them was charged with unspoken tension. Then, Leona leaned back, his smirk softening into something that almost resembled a genuine smile.

"Interesting theory," he said, his tone unreadable.

Yuu couldn’t tell if that was a good thing—or if they’d just sealed their fate. They took a steadying breath, relieved that Leona seemed somewhat satisfied with their response. His sharp gaze, however, told them the conversation was far from over.

“One more thing,” he said, his tone deceptively casual. “There’s something else I want to know your thoughts about.” One of his brows quirked upward.

Yuu straightened slightly in their corner of the throne, their posture still cautious. “Your Majesty?”

“You seem restless, little mouse. Tell me…what else is on your mind?” His voice was low, almost a purr, but the demand was razor-edged. “No sugarcoating it either. No filter. Honest thoughts about everything.” He held a palm in the air between them, but it felt like a trap.

Leona’s eyes tracked Yuu’s every move as they absorbed his words, seeming to just notice how they sat slightly off-center, leaving space between them and his leg.

 As if any physical distance could ever shield them from his intense scrutiny.

Yuu exhaled a breathy laugh, the sound strained. Their head spun from the abruptness of his request. In the time since their arrival at Leona’s behest, he had spoken to them so sparingly, and never this directly. It was almost as if they were strangers all over again.

“Everything?” they asked, stalling for time. “That’s a lot to cover.” They hesitated before adding, softly, “I mean-” They struggled on where to begin. “It’s… good to see you, Leona. I mean…Your Majesty.” The correction felt clumsy, a verbal stumble that reminded Yuu just how much had changed. The man sitting beside them was not the same person they’d once known. The thought tugged painfully at their chest.

“Not to be uh- rude but…you do look tired…” they ventured cautiously. “I heard the Sunrise City folk have been organizing more protests. Challenging the authority of the palace.” Their voice softened. “It can’t be easy to deal with.” They diverted his question slightly, bringing up recent events.

“I mean…” Yuu’s gaze drifted to the pile of sand that had once been Griza, then back to Leona. The question tumbled out before they could stop themselves. “H-how are you…feeling?”

Leona’s expression remained impassive as he studied them and their words. No doubt he noticed how their eyes lingered on him, searching for traces of the man they’d once known. 

A man he himself knew no longer existed.

He let out an irritated huff, his eyes flicking briefly to the pile of sand too. “It’s becoming more of an annoyance than an actual threat,” he said, his tone dismissive. Then his gaze returned to Yuu, sharp and unyielding. “...You really want to know how I’m feeling?” 

Yuu’s ears perked up at the question, hearing the doubt in his tone. It was the most candid he’d been since their arrival. His guardedness, the impenetrable walls he’d built around himself, seemed to crack, if only slightly.

“Oh.” Yuu blinked, startled. “Yes, Your Majesty. Of course! You can… talk to me about anything.” Their words were soft, formal, yet tinged with sincerity as they nodded.

Leona scoffed bitterly, the sound carrying a weight of frustration. “...Ever since I became king, everything I had before is gone. No more days of slacking off, no more carefree moments of not giving a damn. Now, it’s just this—” He gestured lazily around the grand but empty throne room. “—the kingdom and its endless turmoil.” He paused, his expression unchanged, but his emerald eyes burned with emotions left unspoken.

“And now, I don’t even have the one thing I truly wanted.”

Yuu’s breath hitched as they watched him watching them from the corner of their vision, their carefully maintained mask slipping. “But…Your Majesty, isn’t this what you wanted?” They gestured to the ornate throne room too, its vastness a testament to his new status. “To be king?” They relaxed slightly as they spoke, a whisper of the old melancholic Leona slipping through in his words. For a fleeting moment, he felt less distant.

Leona’s lips curled into a faint, sardonic smile, wrinkles creasing around his darkened eyes. “What I wanted? What I really want…” He leaned closer, his voice low but searing. “...is to go back to when I was free to do whatever the hell I wanted. When I wasn’t stuck in this…damn throne room, surrounded by…traitors and sycophants. No one I can trust or talk to, to…be by my side.”

The honesty in his tone made Yuu’s chest tighten. 

“You of all people should know that,” he said, his gaze piercing as a crooked smile tugged at his mouth.

They had wanted to keep their distance, but Leona's words landed heavy in the silence between them, the soft weight of his confession pulling their heartstrings. There was a rawness to his tone that unsettled them. As if their prior words had stirred something deep inside him, memories they had once shared, secrets only they both knew.

Leona’s broken smile felt like a ghost, haunting them both.   

“I’m sorry…” Yuu looked down, their voice barely above a whisper. They wanted to…to empathize with him, but the memory of Griza’s death still hung heavy in the air, a grim reminder of the man he had become. “I do know, Leo-” The name slipped from their lips again before they could stop themselves. “I mean…Your Majesty.”

Leona’s scoff was softer this time, almost wistful. 

"I guess...things were simpler back then, huh?" Yuu gave him a nostalgic smile as the coolness of the back of the throne soaked into their robes. The few inches between the two of them felt like a cavern now. “I…don’t envy you. Being king must be…” They struggled to find the word, a tightness in their own chest. “...lonely.” Their voice dropped. 

Yuu hesitated before speaking again, the silence between them like still, uncharted waters. “...What can I do to help, Your Majesty?” They dared to ask again, creating a ripple they weren’t sure if they wanted to cause. As they met his gaze, they knew they could no longer hide the sadness they felt for him, for both of them, at how things turned ended up.

He breathed out.

“I never asked for this. I never really wanted this, ya know.” Leona said, his voice flat yet laced with an unmistakable pain.  

“I know…”  Yuu felt the full weight of his gaze settle on them, searching, pressing his grief onto them. His eyes flicked over their face, taking in every subtle shift of their expression, the sadness they thought they had hidden beneath a veil of stoic composure. He saw them. And they knew he saw them—mourning for what both their lives once were.

It was a silent accusation, a subtle reminder that the walls they had worked so hard to erect were not as impenetrable as they thought. And yet, there was an unsettling tenderness in his eyes that made Yuu’s breath catch, slipping like a dagger under their ribs.

“But, there’s nothing you can do, even if I wanted ya to…” he said, his voice quiet but firm, the words weighted with resignation. The tension in the air only thickened, a heavy silence; screams muffled with years of unspoken words and unhealed wounds.  

Yuu’s eyes burned. They felt the sting of tears gathering, but they blinked and fought to keep them at bay, clawing at their bracelets on their wrist once more. They were unraveling at the edges, and for a fleeting moment, they feared the years of their trained professionalism would slip if they sat next to the miserable king any longer. 

They couldn't break character.  

"You're right, I’m sorry," Yuu confessed, wiping at their eyes with a hasty swipe of their arm. Their voice cracked as they spoke, an unintended tremor in the words. “I guess I should go, continue my work then, sir?” They stood, hoping to escape the suffocating intensity of this moment between them. “Your Majesty…” They bowed again, then stood there, waiting. 

But, Leona didn’t dismiss them.  

Before they could take another step, the king’s arm shot out like a whip, taking their wrist with surprising force. His touch was firm but desperate, pulling them back down onto the throne with him.  

Yuu’s breath was taken from them, and before they could even process what was happening, they found themselves falling and plummeting—straight into his lap. The impact left them breathless, their heart pounding wildly against their ribs. Leona shifted his body, catching them easily and wrapping his arms tightly around their waist, pulling them flush to him, their back pressed to his chest. His chin came to rest on their shoulder, his breath warm and shaky against their skin. Without words, he buried his face in the crook of their neck, nose tip tracing their pulse point. 

His smell was the same from all those years ago, cinnamon, citrus, star anise. Yuu could practically feel it, the tension and desperation pouring off him like an electric current. It was all they could do not to scream, for both of them.

“S-stay,” he murmured, his voice hoarse, crackling with emotion. “I don’t want cha to go.”  

Yuu’s body went rigid, heart hammering; a frantic rhythm in their ears. The warmth of his body, the weight of his arms around them. It was all so achingly familiar, yet the desperation in his grip felt foreign. This wasn’t the Leona they had once known. His loneliness clung like a heavy shroud, smothering them both in the savanna heat. There was something darker, more urgent beneath it all now, more intense than anything they remembered—a weight, a suffocating pressure. His loneliness seeped into them, and it clung to their chest like an immovable boulder. 

They couldn’t breathe. They couldn’t even move.  

“Your M-majesty?” Their voice trembled, a flicker of uncertainty breaking through the facade they had carefully crafted. They froze, unsure how to react, caged in the snare of his arms like a helpless animal. 

“I thought…” Yuu stuttered, still breathless, their voice barely a whisper. Their sweat caused their clothes to stick to multiple points on their body. “I thought there was nothing I could do t-to help?” Their body reacted to his touch against their neck, sending involuntary shivers down their spine. The tingles ran from their chest into their legs, and they couldn’t suppress the way their body burned under his invasive touch.  

Leona’s grip tightened, pulling them even closer to him. He inhaled deeply near their ear, his breath shaky against the curve of their neck. They knew he could feel how stiff they were in his arms, the way their body quivered with a mixture of confusion, fear, and something else. 

They knew he could feel their hesitance, but still, they stayed. 

And that seemed to be enough for him. 

“...You’re the only person in this fucking place that makes me feel like….myself,” he murmured, his voice soft, almost pleading. He whispered it as if it was the world’s most important secret. “That’s how you can help.”  

Yuu’s chest ached. They wanted to empathize with him, comfort him, and understand. But, there was another weight in the room that couldn’t be ignored. A man’s remains still lay near, a grim reminder of what Leona had become in their years apart. 

A king broken by his choices, a man who had spilled blood. Devoured his own remorse and morals long ago. And yet here he was, like a child clinging to their robes, desperate for the comfort of a bit of human touch. 

Yuu closed their eyes, torn. Every fiber of their being screamed to pull away, to remember the man he had killed with their own eyes. But the ache in their chest grew, the heaviness of his loneliness, clawing at them. It was too much to resist indulging in. They knew it was wrong, toxic even but—

The desperation he felt for them was...intoxicating. 

“Yes, Your Majesty,” they whispered, head light, their voice barely a breath. They closed their eyes, bracing for whatever would come next, but still, they waited, unsure if they had just stepped into a trap they would never escape from.

Leona’s body stiffened at their passive response, and a soft, almost satisfied hum escaped him. 

Oh? So, he hadn’t expected them to stay on his lap, to offer any kind of comfort, but here they were—allowing him to have what he apparently so desperately wanted.  

Slowly, Leona tilted his head, the outline of his lips grazing the skin of Yuu’s neck with the gentlest of touches. His grip remained tight, as though trying to anchor them both to this fleeting moment, afraid it would slip away if he didn’t. 

“Say my name,” he whispered, his voice low and full of something almost frantic.  

Yuu gasped, their body relaxing despite themselves. It somewhat disgusted them that they wanted to give in to him. The tension in their limbs began to loosen, and they instinctively pressed themselves closer to him, their body betraying all those emotional boundaries they had worked so hard to build.

"Leona," they murmured, their voice barely audible, a trembling whisper, just for him. 

"Leona..." They repeated it as if saying his name was the only thing that could ground them both in this chaotic and messy moment.  

They sensed his body react at the sound of his name, reverberating in the space around them. His chest shuddered behind their back, his grip on Yuu’s waist tightening. His claws gripped their robes to almost discomfort, trapping them even closer to him.  

As he exhaled shakily, it was as if a sense of relief washed over him. Yuu felt the tension in the rest of his body release beneath them. “Again,” he whispered, broad nose tracing the shell of their ear. His voice was croaky, almost pleading.  

Yuu’s heart raced, the warmth of his thighs soaking into theirs. Their breath quickened, caught somewhere between fear and longing, sweat beading on their forehead. They didn’t know how they had ended up here, sitting in the lap of the damn king after he murdered someone before their eyes. Then, offering him comfort with nothing but his name, and the weight of their body. 

But here they were, and there was no turning back.  

“...Leona,” they whispered a third time, sealing their fate. The name escaped their lips like a prayer, a desperate plea for the boy they once knew, the boy they had once admired, to come back. To claw his way through the cruel king he had become.

--

[sanyu-thewitch05]

F! Yuu’s Dad in Twst Wonderland Headcanons pt. 2

Pt.1 Pt.3 Pt.4

Heartslabyul, Octavinelle, Scarabia, and Pomefiore are genuinely the only dorms that respect your dad.

Savannaclaw keeps trying to fight him with the exception of Jack, Ruggie, and Leona.

Ignihyde fears your father. Mainly because your father thinks Idia is some form of a perverted weirdo.

🦀: Yuu, that weird boy is looking at you and your cat again.

🎮: Please let me touch your cat…

🦀:….I’m going to give you five minutes to get away from us.

Meanwhile, Diasomnia, is still amused your dad tried to beat up Malleus.

The core emotions and feelings of Diasomnia towards Yuu’s dad is the following:

Malleus: Amused and now takes gaining any sort of relationship with you as a challenge

Silver: A bit wary of your dad but still gets why he’s so protective over you

Sebek: Wants to beat him up for threatening Malleus and thinks he can win

Lilia: As a father he understands and is probably going to tell Malleus not to purposefully irritate your father for his own good.

After witnessing Riddle’s overblot, your father is convinced on staying at the Isle Sage’s hotel

Or maybe trying RSA

Whatever option comes first.

In fact, he actually tried to bolt out of NRC after the Savannaclaw overblot.

🦀: Yuu! Yuu! Yuu, listen to me! These kids are not right in the head. A hyena furry boy was using magic to control people’s bodies so they fall down the stairs. For a school tournament! And the lion furry man, BY THE WAY, he is 20! He tried to turn everyone into sand!

🦐: Dad, please, they’re my friends and I give them comfort. Plus Riddle and Leona were having a mental health crisis.

🦀: These kids are serial killers or murders in the making! We should’ve ran when we found out they worshipped Disney villains!

You end up running out of NRC with your father with Grim, and by the time morning came, someone has already found you.

♥️: Yo. I heard Yuu was staying here now.

🦀: How did you find us?

♥️: Um…I had a bit of help…more like magic spell really.

Deuce, Epel, Jack, Silver, and Sebek step out from behind Ace.

🦀: *Sigh* Look, I get we teleported into your school, but we really don’t need to stay there-

🦐: Dad, can’t I attend school there until we go home? It’s perfect.

🦀: They literally don’t even have a girls bathroom for you to use.

🦐: Doesn’t matter. I can use the bathroom when no one is in there.

Then things heat up when Malleus appears.

🐉: There you are, Child of Man. I’ve been looking for you everywhere.

🦀: Let me guess, you didn’t see her inside her room when you floated by? Like you usually do when you think no one notices?

🐉: Child of Man, would you like to go to my gargoyles club meeting? It’s really only me, but together we can bring more people.

🦀: That is the worst lie for a date I’ve ever heard. Also, her name is Yuu not Child of Man. And this Man is named F/N. Besides, we still don’t know your actually name Hornyton.

The mocking of the nickname Yuu picked out for him causes him to get upset. Which inadvertently activated the fairy tale fae behavior.

🐉: You know, a name is a very important thing to give away. If I give my name to you, you must give something to me.

🦀: You realize I can just break into Crowley’s office and get your school records or just ask anyone what your name is, right?

🐉: Perhaps, your daughter might be something of equal value to give. My name for a girl with an otherworldly name. I assure you I’ll treat her well if you give her to-

Your dad punches Malleus square in the nose and KOs him.

⚡️: WAKA-SAMA!

❤️&♠️: Damn.

🗡️: I told him not to make being in a relationship with Yuu a challenge.

🍎: Nice right hook.

🐺: What good form.

Your dad shuts the door, and packs up your stuff again.

You move back into Ramshackle the next day, but this time there’s iron hanging around the doors and windows.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hello, I came to say that dragons are mythical creatures often depicted to be possessive in mythology and literature, sometimes known for their immense power, territorial instincts, and the symbolic association with hoarding wealth and treasures...

Twisted Wonderland in context, Malleus Draconia was confirmed to be a dragon fairy (essentially a dragon who can take a shape of a man), and I was curious if Malleus may have exhibited possessive traits in canon, whether through main story or vignette...?

The reason I ask that is because mischaracterizing characters or making them OOC is the last thing I want to do when it comes to writing or analyzing...

**Sorry if I was not able to word it in a way that you can understand what I'm trying to convey because sometimes I feel inferior that my wording may come off as blunt or insensitive. I just want to leave a brief note that I don't mean to come off as rude or dismissive. I appreciate your understanding!**

In my opinion, Malleus in canon is protective but not possessive. What do I mean by that? Glad you asked. Let's start by laying down some definitions.

In this situation, when I say “protective”, it implies good intentions. It means actively looking out for others' safety and wellbeing. To be possessive, on the other hand, implies a more controlling desire to own or to restrict another's actions. It’s commanding and demanding all of a person’s attention and love. It means having a disrespect for others' autonomy and instead trying to displace it with your will. (Yes, I know that you're probably automatically thinking of The Big Exception of book 7, but I will address that later in this post so hang on for a moment!)

This gets long, so buckle up! We’ve got a lot to talk about.

First thing's first, a lot of the "possessive Malleus" interpretations originate from fandom, especially when it comes to yandere, yume, or generally romantic fan works. (And to be clear: This is NOT to shame the folks who enjoy these kinds of works; I am only listing them here as examples.) Oftentimes this occurs due to individual fans bringing in ideas from media outside the bounds of Twisted Wonderland. This is totally expected and normal; there is no such thing as someone who has an interest in ONLY a singular thing. We will naturally apply our previous knowledge to help us understand and interpret new information.

For example, in irl mythology, fae are hurt by iron--and even in Disney's own films, such as Maleficent, iron is depicted as harming fae and sapping them of their power. This led to many Twst fans headcanoning that iron does the same thing to fae in Twisted Wonderland. However, we learn in book 7 that this is NOT true. Fae, particularly nobles, do find the smell of iron nauseating, but the metal does not appear to impede their powers or hinder them in any way. Lilia and his men are still able to dispatch several Silver Owls (who are dressed in iron arm and battle with iron tanks and other machinery) without issue.

Another example that’s pretty popular is fans believing that whole “if you tell a fairy your name, it grants them power over you” thing. Some have claimed this will come into play in book 7’s final battle. Others claim this is the deeper or secondary reason as to why Malleus doesn’t reveal his own name to Yuu until book 5, as giving his name would grant Yuu power over him. However, there’s nothing in-universe to suggest that names have cultural significance to fae or that any sort of power or status is granted by relinquishing one’s name. Yuu (or Malleus’s hundreds of other classmates) have also demonstrated no such control over him.

Remember: what is true outside of Twst, including in Disney's own works, is NOT necessarily true inside of Twst.

Going back to the initial question, I believe that "Malleus is possessive" is also a headcanon of a similar vein; fans are coming into Twst familiar with other mythos which state that dragons are possessive, territorial, and greedy on top of being powerful. Because Malleus is a dragon fae and is known to possess great power, it's very easy for fans to see the parallels between him and the dragons they already know of. This then leads to them filling in the gaps of his personality and projecting other stereotypical draconic traits onto him. In Malleus's case, this was extremely easy to do because it took a few years for him to see any significant spotlight in both event stories (Glorious Masquerade) and in the main story (book 7).

I think the easiest way for us to analyze whether Malleus is protective or possessive is to examine his closest relationships in the narrative of Twst. I will not be counting Sebek and Silver individually here, as they are both his bodyguards and Malleus maintains a mostly professional relationship with them. Instead, we shall look at Malleus's attitude by looking at his relationships with Lilia and Yuu, then proceed into discussing related behaviors.

I believe it's indisputable that Lilia is one of the most important people to Malleus. Lilia trained him, taught him, and trained him. He is basically Malleus's father figure. The fear of losing Lilia is what causes Malleus to emotionally spiral and take drastic measures in a desperate attempt to avoid that unhappy ending. His entire motivation for unleashing his UM is "not losing [Lilia]!" You would think that if Malleus was going to be possessive of anyone, it would be with Lilia. But the truth of the matter is... he's mostly just... not? Lilia is a very sociable person in the student body. He's frequently gaming with Idia, taking care of or lending wisdom to others (Silver, Sebek, etc.), hanging out with Cater and Kalim in their club, interacting with dorm leaders and freshmen when Malleus is absent for ceremonies, and more--yet Malleus doesn't seem to express any jealousy over sharing Lilia. I'd also like to add that although Malleus lacks parents, he doesn't really show envy over Lilia treating and calling Silver his own son instead of himself. Oh, Malleus certainly does express jealousy to some extent. Who would forget the time in his Dorm Uniform vignettes when he crushed Lilia's phone? The thing is though, the times when Malleus is upset are not fueled by not wanting to share Lilia or wanting to monopolize his time. In the previous example I cited, Malleus broke Lilia's phone because Lilia had received a picture Kalim and the other dorm leaders took after a meeting. Even the dialogue exchanged implies this; Malleus did not automatically get mad when he noticed that Lilia had a notification, he only got mad after realizing he was excluded from something the other dorm leaders were all involved in. Malleus was upset that he was not invited, not that Kalim was texting Lilia. Additionally, it is stated that the dorm leader must grant permission for others to use the lounge. If he wanted to, he could withhold the permission for Lilia, who wants the lounge for his farewell party (which everyone is invited to), or stipulate that he wants a more formal affair with just Diasomnia members present. Malleus doesn’t act in this possessive way though. He grants Lilia what he desires without issue.

Next up for scrutiny is Yuu! Now, there's some gray area here because part of Yuu's relationship with Malleus is defined by how much the player projects onto the self-insert/blank slate character. Please note that, when I discuss Yuu, I am leaving out individual interpretations and going STRICTLY by the information presenting in canon.

It can be said that Malleus slowly develops a fondness for Yuu's company over the course of the main story. At first, he is surprised and maybe even a little disappointed that someone has taken residence in Ramshackle--it used to be desolate, which makes it a perfect spot to visit on his nightly strolls. However, Malleus soon finds amusement in the fact that Yuu, not being of this world, has no clue who he is or what his status is. This grants him the freedom to speak at ease with this human and to "be himself" in a way that he cannot be with others, who typically cower at his name. You could also argue that Yuu telling Malleus they may have found a way home expedited the despair he felt in book 7, as he learned so quickly that two of his friends would be exiting his life soon. This, however, is not possessiveness. It's normal to have fear and anxiety about losing the people you love.

Malleus's voice lines also do not indicate possessiveness. Yes, there's the usual and expected fanservice-y lines where he invites Yuu to come and engage in various activities with him, but nothing in those suggests he would exclude others or become upset if they also wanted to join. (Are you telling me that Malleus wouldn't want to talk for hours on end about the glory of gargoyles to TWO people instead of just one?????) Additionally, all the characters get similar fanservice-y lines, so it's not something exclusive to Malleus. There was one line that gave me pause: "You always seem to attract a crowd... More so than I'd like, really." Buuut I think this could be read a number of ways, not solely in an ‘I want you all to myself’ way. Malleus actually goes like to be alone, hence his nightly strolls. The line can therefore also be read as Malleus enjoying solitude or one-on-one conversations as opposed to addressing a group. In that case, it's a personal preference and not necessarily a sign of possessiveness. He’s definitely not completely averse to group activities though; there are lines where Malleus invites Yuu to do things with him and other characters. For example, from his PE Uniform: “Sebek has been badgering me to help train him. I'll permit you to join us. ... You're coming, I trust?”

The guy generally doesn't get angry or annoyed if Yuu mentions having other friends or managing the 7 member VDC/SDC group. In fact, he sometimes encourages Yuu to interact with others. One of his birthday lines is, "You needn't linger and focus on me to the exclusion of others. I want everyone to enjoy the party, yourself included." Malleus doesn’t so much as flinch or react when a complete stranger kisses the back of Yuu’s hand either. If he was truly possessive, wouldn’t he have gotten angry or—at the very least—have frowned or tried to put some distance between Yuu and said stranger? Yet Malleus doesn’t really react or comment on it despite being present.

Malleus seems to understand that it's not very polite to demand all of someone's time or attention--and this makes perfect sense of his character. He is a royal, and that means he was taught proper manners. Malleus has even indicated before that his grandmother stressed the importance of observing etiquette, particularly around invitations. You don't just invite yourself to functions or insert yourself into others' lives if not extended said invites... and Malleus, for the most part, adheres to those rules. In various voice lines, he even frets over committing social faux pas, wondering if he has offended his peers with certain behaviors. For example, from his Masquerade Dress: "Flamme shoots me stern looks on occasion. Have I behaved improperly in some way...?"

Malleus is also not generally possessive when it comes to his items or territory. He wants to share cake with others; eating a whole one gave him heartburn and now whole cakes are his least favorite food. Additionally, he tends to welcome people to Diasomnia rather than chase them out or expel them. (After all, they so rarely get visitors in the first place.) Malleus will at least hear out the reasoning for seeking him out. As an example, Leona (someone who has had a rocky history with Malleus) goes to Diasomnia in his Ceremonial Robes vignettes to exchange robes after a laundry mix-up. This is a stark contrast to the highly territorial Leona, who attacks a magicless human in thd Botanical Garden and also allows his own students to wail on Yuu and co. for simply walking being in Savanaclaw. Leona joins in on this bullying too. I think it's pretty clear that Malleus handles guests with far more tact, grace, and patience than his fellow prince.

I want to point out that though Malleus is usually amicable with guests, there are exceptions. Ramshackle, as I mentioned earlier, is a place he enjoys a lot. He indicates in his Halloween Dress card that “If anyone dares to damage [this] dorm, I will be as a lóng and reduce them to cinders. I have become rather fond of that place, after all.” Indeed, he does act on this promise in Terror is Trending and comes close to striking down Magicam Monsters for disrespecting a place he holds so dear. Is this possessive though? Yes, it’s a place he loves—but it’s also a place where his friend Yuu lives.

There are many other examples of Malleus going to extreme lengths to protect the things he loves. He vows to destroy Rollo Flamme, who poses a threat to his people, the fae (who depend on magic as their way of life, and the sentient gargoyles, whom he has recently befriended. He unleashes his mighty magic to attack those who wound his pride. He stops time and kidnaps the entire student body all for the sake of including ghosts in a Halloween celebration. And, of course, he sends Sage’s Island to sleep in a desperate bid to stop losing everyone. The majority of these behaviors involve him lashing out at those who pose legitimate threats to things he cares about. It’s not as though be is acting for no discernible reason or because he is doesn’t want his loved ones being with people other than him. Does that make these actions right? No, absolutely not. But I would say they are definitely more protective than possessive.

Very rarely is Malleus actively preventing his peers from spending time away from him. Sure, he gets upset that he’s not invited to join them and sure, he wishes people would invite him too—but there’s a difference between longing and being mopey about this and acting so domineering he’s breathing down the necks of others to only be with him. He is not stopping people from being with their friends and family. He is not stopping people from using his things or entering his territory. Even when he makes everyone sleep, he grants them the space to craft their own dreams and doesn’t even make the dreams center around him and his own involvement on their lives. Oftentimes the dreams involve several other characters that are important to the individual dreamer and Malleus does not appear at all. (Again, this doesn’t mean using his UM was the best move to resolve his issues; I’m just saying his actions were not necessarily possessive.)

So, in conclusion, I stand by the thesis at I proposed at the start of this post: Malleus is largely protective, not possessive, despite what many fandom interpretations would have you believe.

[reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeko]

VDC movie night

what the VDC boys would chose to watch for movie night❤️

(can be seen as Romantic or Platonic)

{{Art by @moriko_twst on Twitter}}

Ace would probably pick a horror movie be so fr.

Like he’s talking such a big game about how he’s not gonna get scared and how Deuce and Yuu are scaredy cats.

Everyone is done with his bullshit but they let him pick.

The second the movie comes on he’s grabbing onto Yuu for dear life.

still talkin that “No I’m not scared, I ain’t scared of nothin!”

Que everyone being done with his bullshit x2.

Deuce isn’t even that scared of it!

“Ace it’s the Shinning, it’s not even scary like that-“

”OH MY GOD WHY ARE THERE TWINS-“

Rook finds it hilarious.

Ace ends up having to sleep in Deuce’s room that night cuz of how scared he was.

Deuce on the other hand, picks something sad.

like Baely, The Outsiders, Isle of Dogs, etc.

Like chat I’m telling you he’s putting on sad movies and crying, then calling him mom and saying ‘I love you’ to her after like come on.

Like he’s there, holding Grim in tears and everyone is there like ‘really?’

hard to believe he used to be a gangster sometimes😭

100% crying while everyone kinda looks at him like 😐.

he just has a lot of feelings man :(

Epel picks “manly” and action movies.

Like he’ll have fast and furious on and force you to sit and watch it.😭

AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR NIGHTS AT RAMSHACKLE WITH JACK AND DEUCE GO CRAZY.

Vil looks genuinely upset with Epel’s choices but says nothing and begrudgingly watches.

Epel and Deuce yap the entire movie about cars and every time someone mentions changing the movie he gets upset.

”It’s mah turn to pick the movie! Buzz off!”

Vil is once again upset, free Epel😔.

he turns to Yuu and talks about the different cars and models used in the movies,

and how if HE were in the movie, you’d be so protected cause he’s a manly man and stuff.

He also really likes the Barbie movies just don’t say anything about it.

his favorite is the three musketeers and the Pegasus one.

Kalim loves Disney movies (ironic isn’t it)

He fucks so hard to Cinderella like don’t argue with me.

he enjoys a lot of different genres and Disney obviously isn’t the only one he watches.

He’d really enjoy older movies like the Sound of Music and Titanic.

But he 100% talks throughout them.

plus they’re super long, he’s not sitting there for all that.

he ends up getting distracted mid movie and drags Yuu to go bake cookies for The others with him.

Jamil is watching you two more than the movie. (pls free him)

speaking of Jamil, he’s watching Novelas.

DONT ARGUE WITH ME IM HARD OF HEARING FOR A REASON.

He can and WILL sit there, eyes on the screen, popcorn falling from his mouth.

hes watching ever single type.

kdramas, novelas, Indian serials, etc.

he gets so invested, and so does Kalim.

his head on on Yuu’s lap, them braiding his hair while he gasps in actual shock.

”It was his brother’s baby?! She cheated with his brother?!” -Jamil probably.

hes just stressed and the novelas help him relax, someone pls give him a massage he needs it.

Rook, my dear sweet stalker. Has horro movies on.

but the ones that romanticize the killers, yk?

like bro is sitting there, Jeffery Dahmer on screen, and yapping about how romantic it is.

Jkjk

but he definitely finds movies like The Hunger Games, Ender’s Game, and Maze Runner.

the thrill of the hunt my ass🙄

He really enjoys the Saw movies too,

he likes to try and undsrtdtand the reasoning and Drive behind what killers do.

which is why he likes horror movies so much.

He has Yuu in his arms, cuddled into him as he coos at their horrified face.

Vil finds it kinda nasty but he vibes 🤷🏽

Speaking of Vil, he normally puts on either movies he’s stared in, or movies that inspires him.

*Que a collection of groans from everyone except Kalim and Rook.*

He really wants Yuu to pay attention, he genuinely feels proud of himself in (a good sum) of the movies and wants them to carry that confidence too!

He’ll explain things they don’t understand, patient until they grasp the concept.

lets Yuu lean on him while they watch, he thinks it’s cute. ☺️

SKIN CARE AND FACE MASKS WHILE YOU WATCH DONT FIGHT ME

Has you in a face mask and doing skin care while Yuu watch.

His potato needs to look good in order to feel good after all.

[yuutaok]

₊˚⊹♡ Puppy! Yuuta has been rotting the brain for sometime ♡

Yuuta is so sweet and excitable. He’s such a good boy, always listening to your commands and rarely ever misbehaves. Yuuta’s is your best boy. He’s always there to keep you company when you’re in a mood. Yuuta is kind and comforting, you never know what you’d do without him. He’s your world.

₊˚⊹♡ Content Warning: 18+, MDNI (minors do not interact), afab! reader (genitalia described), Yuuta is your dog boy, possessiveness, knotting, creampies, slightly dubcon, idk man this is incredibly self-indulgent

Yuuta is a reliable pup, the protective type. He’s the kind to be wary about strangers and is always ready to step in between you and others he doesn’t know. He keeps you safe, always making sure to keep a keen eye on your surroundings when you’re out. Yuuta bares his teeth only when he needs to.

Of course, Yuuta’s a very good boy, but god, is he a mess once his hormones kick in. He can’t bear to have any one else’s scent even around you. It drives him nuts. If he even notices the slightest bit of someone else’s scent he can’t help but latch onto you, like a dog starved.

You knew it would be difficult when his rut began, you did your homework on how to take care of him properly, you swear! But you didn’t think it would be this treacherous.

You didn’t think to expect Yuuta to drag you into his lap, holding you close as he rubs against your face and neck. He nuzzles close to you, arms wrapping around you tightly as he marks you, laying his claim. His tongue slips out to lick all the areas that don’t smell like him, fangs scraping along your neck as he breathes in.

Your heart skips a beat with all of his affections.

“Yuu— Yuuta, cut it out,” You gasp, “Let me run a cold bath for you and get you cleaned up.” You gently try to push your puppy off of you, slowly making your way out of his lap.

“No,” Yuuta growls as he pushes himself further into you, digging his nails into the skin of your shoulders. He holds you tight, making sure to lock his arms to keep you from escaping. It hurt, you didn’t know what to do.

You flush underneath him, heart fluttering and beating right out of your chest.

“You’re mine. You’ve always been mine,” he snarls.

You’ve never had him snap at you like this. You feel goosebumps form on your skin and your hair stand up on the back of your neck.

His canines brush against your skin as he grinds his hips into yours. His clothed erection rutting into your soaked panties as he bites at your jaw, sucking hickeys and love marks into your soft, unmarred skin.

“I’m not going to let you go,” he insists.

Your cheeks feel hot as you sigh at the contact, hips involuntarily grinding back down onto his dick. It’s been a minute since you’ve had this kind of touch and affection, with life being so unexpectedly complicated.

You revel in it, savor it, even.

Yuuta wraps his strong arms around you, holding you close and pulling you down deeper and further into him. You gasp when he moves to give you a kiss, his lips moving against yours as you feel his canines scrape and bite at your bottom lip. You taste iron as he laps at your mouth, panting hot breaths as you feel yourself melt into him.

It’s hard to deny him what he so desperately wants. He’s your boy, isn’t he?

Yuuta’s hands slide down your body, groping and allowing himself to savor every touch he can manage. His grasp is urgent, rough, and desperate. He slides his hands up to your breasts as he starts to rub against your pussy, panting hot breaths against your neck as he tries to relieve the heat in his pants. You feel yourself become wetter as you two rut against each other.

“Please… Please, c-can I have you? Can you take care of me?” He whines hoarsely, desperately seeking any sort of friction to fill the ache in his gut. His blue eyes become dewy and wet with what you think are tears.

You bite your lip, feeling so sorry for your pup.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’ll take care of you, Yuu. I’ll make it better.”

Yuuta breathes out a sigh of relief as you move to pull him off the couch back to your bedroom. You sit him down on the bed and he urgently grasps at you to paw at your clothes. You help him strip you bare as he kicks off his sweats and shirt. Your hand reaches behind his neck, pulling him by his dog collar as you move to give him a kiss. You feel Yuuta melt into you.

The two of you become an entangled mess of wandering hands and sloppy kisses. Yuuta felt so familiar in your arms, though new in this particular experience.

You found yourself situated between his bare legs as he laid back on your bed. You snuck a hand down in between the two of you to stroke at his weeping cock, his tip leaking beads precum down to the hilt. You thumb at the head of his member as you watch him cry out and hump himself into your hand.

You hum gently, “Are you my good boy? Are you gonna be good for me?”

“Yes! Yes I’ll be so good for you. I’ll do anything,” Yuuta says through flushed cheeks and teary eyes, sensitive and overwhelmed from your teasing. You continue as he snaps his hips forward into your hand, desperate for relief of any kind.

“There he is. That’s my puppy. My Yuuta,” you smile, “Yuu… Can you tell me what you need?

He cries out, “I want it… inside..! I need to put it inside… It hurts.” Yuuta looks up at you, pleading. You glance down at his cock, it was flushed red and looked almost painful. Sitting at the hilt was his thick knot that you weren’t so sure would go down so easily. But, you’d do anything, if it was for Yuuta.

“Okay,” you breathe out.

You move to settle yourself onto him, hand balancing on his chest. Your other hand snaking down to spread yourself. Your fingers slick feeling how wet you were between your folds. Your breath hitches as you slowly try to move yourself onto his tip, gently sinking down his length.

Yuuta settles his hands on your sides, digging his nails into your thighs as he feels your walls begin to hug his dick. He growls, deep in his chest, at how slowly you’re making your way down. You watch as he bites his lower lip.

Yuuta can’t help but buck further into your messy cunt, hands and nails pulling you down so you’d sink further onto him. You think he breaks skin.

“A-ah… Yuu… Not so much…” you breathed out, “I need a moment—“ but oh, now you were being flipped over.

Yuuta bares his canines as he towers over you, pushing himself deeper into you, thick cock splitting your tight core open. Your eyes widen as you look up at your pup.

Yuuta’s eyes look deeply apologetic into yours as he pushes into you, “‘m sorry, ah, sorry sorry, you just feel so good. I need more, I want more,” he chokes as he fits himself snuggly between your legs.

You moan out weakly, air leaving your lungs and seeing stars behind your eyes as he opened and filled you up. Your hands grasp and claw at his shoulders as you take him in, gritting your teeth as he pushes himself to the very hilt.

Yuuta looks down and marvels at your cunt filled to the brim with him. His ears perk up and you feel his tail wag as your walls settle to his length. Your puppy can’t help but lean down to kiss and lick at your lips, grinding his dick into your pussy and beginning to slowly slide in and out of you.

You moan, overwhelmed with all the stimulation. You feel so stretched, open, and full of Yuuta. Your nails dig into his broad of his shoulders as he begins a more vigorous pace, Yuuta panting out, “Mm— feels good— your pussy feels so good, can’t wait—“.

You whine and throw your head back, bringing an arm to shyly cover your face as Yuuta continues to pound into you. Your puppy grabs your arm and pins it back down onto the bed, “No! Want to see your face… Wanna see you cum,” he growls. He uses his other arm to pin your leg up over his shoulder, forcing himself even deeper into your cunt, hitting that special spot that makes sparks fly behind your eyes.

“Yuuta, Yuuta, Yuuta,” you chant as you feel yourself getting closer and closer while Yuuta fucks into your dripping pussy. He whispers your name, moaning as he watches you writhe underneath him. Everything felt so lewd, from the way he had you open, to the wet noises that were coming from your intimacy, it was all so obscene.

You feel the heat build up in your core, your walls clenching and clenching as you get closer to cumming. You whimper out, bouncing yourself back onto Yuuta to try and get more friction, “ ‘m close puppy, so close, gonna cum..!” You cry out, toes curling into the soaked sheets.

Yuuta takes your cries as the sign to rut deeper and faster into you, coaxing your orgasm. You sob as you feel your insides tighten around his cock, vision blurring as you soak his length.

Yuuta bites his lip at the sight of you, looking down at you lovingly as you tighten around him. You look at him with dewy eyes and the most fucked out expression. You see him smile.

“So cute…! You’re so cute, wanna cum in you, wanna fill you up, wanna give you my knot..!” Your puppy pants as he grinds into your messy hole, tightening his grip on your plush skin.

You feel your muscles relax, overstimulated, as Yuuta uses your pussy to relieve himself. You weakly whimper, “Cum in me puppy, I can take it. Please…”

He nods as his pace becomes more erratic, his claws digging further and further into your thighs as he reaches his climax. “‘M cumming! ‘M cumming—“ Yuuta moans and you feel him push himself deeper and deeper into you, until ‘pop!’, you feel the round hilt of his knot settle into your cunt and his dick twitch, letting out hot ropes of his seed. You moan softly as you feel his cum gush out of your hole, too fucked out to really care.

Your puppy sighs and lays down protectively on top of you, knot still connected as he snuggles into your neck, and peppering you with licks and kisses as you move your hand to pet his the soft black locks on his head.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Yuuta dreamily mutters as he inhales your scent mixed in with his, finally content.

“Good boy,” you whisper softly, “I told you I was gonna take care of you.”

[amxrany]

!! CHAPTER 7 / DIASOMNIA ARC SPOILERS !!

Damn we are eating a lot (Part 2):

During the battle, Baul is shooked on how Silver and Sebek are good at dealing with horses to which Sebek replies that they're part fo the equestrian club so it's a natural thing for them

Yuu and Grim were about to get attacked by an Iron Man but Lilia comes in to defend them. BUT THEN LILIA PROCEEDS TO SMACK SILVER AND SEBEK BEING ALL "This is why I hate children 😒" 😭😭😭

After the battle we reach the castle (which is the castle in the Sleeping Beauty movie) AND THEN WE SEE THE KNIGHT OF DAWN

Anyways going back to the topic, we also get Henric, who is pretty much going "Meleanor if you don't get out of that castle right now we'll invade the castle together with the Knight of Dawn" AND JESUS FUCK HIS SPRITE 💀

Yucks

It turns out the Knight of Dawn doesn't want any part of this either, cuz Henric wants Meleanor's magic orb and dragon egg (aka Malleus) since they're really precious things

Idk what's up with this chapter and their thing for turning characters into orphans cuz the Knight of Dawn is also an orphan adopted by the king 🧍‍♀️, and Henric tells him that if he can steal the orb maybe it could save the king and Leah

We then see Meleanor, WHO IS A FUCKING BADDIE SO DAMN REAL TWST YKNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOUR WOMEN 😍😍😍

WE ALSO SEE EGG MALLEUS AWWWW

Meleanor tells them that she was planning to take a nap with the egg but useless people interrupted that, and she refers to the egg as Malleus already 🥹. Lilia is just confused and asks how is she sure that the egg is a boy, in which Meleanor replies that a mother is always sure and knows that Malleus will grow up to be beautiful like his father, Leverne

But then she sees Sebek and Silver and makes them get down on their knees (MAAM I'LL ALSO GET DOWN ON MY KNEES FOR YOU 🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️), she then goes on about how humans are weak and stuff. Lilia tries to defend them but Baul tells us about Meleanor's hatred for humans and that we might as well stay quiet

But then Lilia loses his shit as well and tries to tell Meleanor about the danger that's just waiting outside but Meleanor refuses, saying that she wants to fight because she's a mother who wants to protect egg Malleus (I swear I can't this update is making me cry 😭). So she tells everyone to escape with the egg while she fights the Knight of Dawn and we get this scene of Lilia holding on to egg Malleus

Meleanor tells them to leave but Lilia refuses. So out of anger, she zaps him which causes everyone to panic cuz he has the egg and Silver tries to stop it but Meleanor gets even more mad that she zaps him too like jesus this woman and her anger issues. Silver tries to plead with them to stop fighting because people who love each other don't fight

Meleanor replies that even if she doesn't make it, Malleus is still there. But Lilia tells her that Malleus can't hatch without the true love of a parent. BUT THEN WE GET THIS REVEAL THAT LILIA PROPOSED TO MELEANOR 200 YEARS AGO AND HE ALSO LOVED LEVERNE LIKE LILIA MELEANOR LEVERNE POLY RELATIONSHIP IS FUCKING REAL. Meleanor reassures Lilia that he will find a way to love Malleus since he also loved her and Leverne 🥹

She then summons thorns that drags Lilia and the rest away from the castle, saying her final goodbye to both Lilia and Malleus (I'm crying rn guys). Lilia tries to find a way back in to save Meleanor but Baul yells at him to calm down cuz he was still holding egg Malleus, and that Meleanor trusted them to protect the egg

Meleanor makes her appearance to the Knight of Dawn and Silver Owls, which starts another battle....

Next: Part 3

Previous: Part 1

[bluesylveon2]

The Girl in Silver

Work has been stressing me out, but enjoy this for now! I will make sure to get to my WIPs when I have time

Summary: During the social at Noble Bell, Silver meets a girl dressed up in silver

Note: fluff, set during GloMas, Reader is not Yuu, pretend the social was coed, lowkey inspired by the Bridgerton S4 leaks

Word Count: 706

Warnings: fem reader, not beta read, and possible OOC characters

Silver hasn't felt this content in a while. 

He watched as his fellow classmates interacted with students from other schools. Some students praised Malleus for his performance, and he heard Sebek shouting his praises across the room. 

It was a memory Silver will treasure forever. 

"That was a wonderful performance," a feminine voice said behind him. Silver turned, and his auroral eyes met another set of beautiful eyes hidden behind a silver mask. His mouth opened and closed like a fish, making the girl chuckle. "It's like you've never seen a girl before," she teased, hiding her mouth behind her silver-gloved hand.

Silver blushed and silently thanked the Seven. No other NRC student was around, especially his father. "I apologize. I should not have done that."

The girl only giggled. Silver's body felt light as her laughter filled the ballroom despite the students' voices around them. "It's alright. It must be rare to meet someone from your school who is not—" She glanced at the crowd. Her eyes did not miss Ruggie piling a plate of desserts, Rook trying to teach Deuce and Epel how to dance, and Idia attempting to blend into the shadows (and failing). Her eyes went back to study Silver.  "Interesting."

Silver's lips lifted up in a smile. "They are a good group. They each have their own perks." The music changed into a classical piece. Silver's eyes widened slightly when a silver-gloved hand came into his view. "What are you doing, miss?" He asked obliviously. 

The girl eyed him with mirth. "I am asking you for a dance."

Silver could only blink. Oh, if Father were to see him now. How would he react? "But I should be the one to ask you, like a prince."

"True, but similar to Topsy Turvy Fest, a woman can ask a man to dance, no?" She shook her offered hand slightly. 

Silver smiled and placed his hand on hers. "I suppose so," the girl yelped suddenly after Silver pulled her into his arms. But let me lead."

The girl nodded and got into the dancing position. "Alright, lead the way, silver-haired prince."

"Silver-haired prince?" Silver mused as he led the girl around the ballroom. "My name is Silver, and I am not a prince."

"Wait, your name is actually Silver? I called you that because your hair stands out from your costume."

"Ironically, Father named me that because of my hair." Silver smiled, thinking back about the memories he had shared with Lilia.

"I see." The girl was quiet. 

"And what is your name?" Silver asked as he twirled his partner around. Unaware of his prince smirking in his direction as he spoke to the magicless prefect. 

"That's a secret." She said in a sing-song voice. 

"But you know my name."

"Yes, but things can be a secret in a masquerade."

"Very well. I will respect your decision," Silver nodded and continued to dance with the girl, just as Lilia had taught him. 

The two casually talked and danced naturally for what felt like days. An unspoken spark between them left the couple stuck in their own world. Even Sebek was ready to announce his opinion on it until Malleus teleported to him to stop him. 

When the two stepped out into the courtyard, they returned to reality. 

"You are an excellent dancer!" The mystery girl said while trying to catch her breath. 

Silver chuckled and handed the girl a glass of water he got on their way out. "You have good stamina to keep up with me. My father and brothers are the only ones who can do the same."

The girl chugged her water and grinned. "Your family sounds interesting."

"You should meet them," Silver suggested with a serious face. 

The girl's eyes widened. "Oh, I didn't mean it like that! I-"

Ding ding ding. 

The Bell of Solace rang as the clock struck midnight. 

The girl stiffened. "I have to go!"

"Wait, but you need to rest more."

Silver's words went past the girl's ears as she shoved her glass towards Silver, picked up her silver skirt, revealing the matching heels, and started running. 

"I feel fine now! It was nice to meet you, Silver!"

"But you should rest your feet!" Silver started running after her. The boy was both confused and impressed. Perplexed at why his new friend (if you could call it that) ran off and impressed that someone who was tired earlier was managing to outrun him. 

The two had made it to the front of the school, where a carriage was waiting by the doors. In one motion, the girl started sprinting and lept into the carriage. The vehicle immediately started moving just as Silver made it. Luckily, he was close enough to see the girl stick her head out. 

"Thank you!" 

Silver stood there frozen, wondering what just occurred. "Wait! Miss!" his eyes caught sight of something shiny. He bent down, picked it up, and watched it shimmer from the moonlight. 

---

"Double check your things and make sure you brought everything. We will not come back if you forget something," Professor Trein's stern voice called out.

Everyone responded with "Yes, professor," except for one. 

"Are you still looking for the girl?" Malleus asked, causing Silver to look up at his liege, who had a small smile. 

Silver blushed slightly and fumbled to put the glove away with his things. He did not want to be too rough with it in case the silk material tore. "No, Malleus. I was…making sure there was no dust on it."

Even Malleus could see through the lie. "I see," he hummed and turned away to check on Sebek. "Oh, and Silver," he paused and faced Silver with a content look. "Whatever you decide, know that I will support your decision."

With that, Malleus walked away, leaving Silver stunned. He glanced back down at his bag, where the glove lay. Silver opened his bag and grabbed the glove with determination. 

The group won't leave for another few minutes. If he looks now, he could possibly find the girl in-

Silver let out an "oof" as his body ran into something. 

"Hey, watch where you're going!" 

Silver turned to the voice. There was a girl who looked around his age and wearing the uniform of another arcane academy. The girl sounded familiar, even though she gave him an irritated look. Now that he thought about it, her eyes also looked familiar. 

"I'm sorry, miss. I was not looking where I was going."

The girl's eyes widened slightly, her mouth a gap, and her eyes focused on something on the ground. 

The silver glove. 

Silver looked up at the girl, his eyes meeting her. Suddenly, he saw a silver mask briefly flash on the girl's face.

"It's you."

Bonus, set the night before the NRC group left to go back:

"And then, Lilia, Silver was dancing with the girl." Malleus tried to hide his excitement. He really did, but he did not want to disturb the other third years in the room with him. 

"Oh, how he grows up so fast! Tell me, did he make her swoon with his charms? Did he act like her knight in shining armor? My son can only inherit the best from his father!" 

Malleus wanted to roll his eyes at Lilia's cockiness. Thank goodness Silver or Sebek weren't around to hear it. He could already see how they would react. "Not at all. They were just dancing and talking."

The line was silent for a moment as Lilia processed Malleus' words. 

"They just talked…no dashing looks or saving the girl from a fall…"

Malleus felt a tension through the phone.  "Lilia?"

"OH, HOW I FAILED AS A FATHER!!" Malleus pulled his phone away from his ear as Lilia wailed. His eyes briefly looked at Rook sleeping in his bed and Idia watching a video with his headphones on. Perfect, they did not notice anything. "I spent so much time training my boy to be the best knight that he is lacking in the romance department! Poor Silver has so much to learn about how to woo a woman! Quick, Malleus, send him my way so we can start his training immediately."

"But-"

"Malleus, can you ask the Prefect if she is available for the training? NRC might lack in the amount of females, but I will take what I can get."

Disclaimer: I do not own Twisted Wonderland and its characters. Those belong to Aniplex, Walt Disney Japan, and Yana Toboso.

©: This story belongs to bluesylveon2 2020-24. DO NOT modify, republish, or plagiarize my work.

[kentokrazy]

a/n: im so high and i couldn’t get this out of my head!!

cw: alcohol, death, spoilers? hints of relationships with reader

27 year old nanami kento!!

* 27yearold!nanami who still throws his jacket and shoes to the side after a long day

* 27yearold!nanami’s who the morninngs he ignores his alarm clock and gets dressed half asleep sometimes puts on mismatched socks

* 27yearold!nanami who still drinks too much, but he doesn’t go out and sits on the couch watching documentaries

* 27yearold!nanami who when red faced and drunk, sits on the floor with you in the kitchen. you’re both in pajamas, fingers greasy and eating fried chicken you ordered

* 27yearold!nanami who goes to the gym and still listens to his high school playlist

* 27yearold!nanami who doesn’t wear suits on the weekends. opting for a simple shirt but still fitted jeans and shoes

* 27yearold!nanami who gets messy hair in the mornings and when he has nowhere to go, doesn’t fix it

* 27yearold!nanami who still cries when drunk because he missed his best friend

* 27yearold!nanami who walked home, so drunk he couldn’t walk when he got mad at you in your apartment when you both were talking about your shared time at jujutsu high.

* you brought up how haibara and geto were gone, and it was only a matter time before you two were too.

* 27yearold!nanami who still slouches like he did as a teenager when he’s especially tired.

* 27yearold!nanami who ever since his first job has hated staying later than usual.

* 27yearold!nanami who still silently wants to fight the “man” and hates himself for not putting up a fight and turning selfish.

* 27yearold!nanami who goes to the gym more and more because he can’t stop thinking about how yuu and yuuji laugjh the same say.

* 27yearold!nanami who still eats cup noodles and gas station onigiri

* 27yearold!nanami who got so drunk that he got in an e-bay auction battle and bought a $629 cologne and when he smelled it it smelled like nothing.

* 27yearold!nanami who discovers the cologne was empty and the seller was selling the bottle after he re-read the description.

* 27yearold!nanami who sometimes breaks out his old nintendo system, a bunch of junk food and plays his old games.

* 27yearold!nanami who drinks out of the juice bottle when it’s early enough

* 27yearold!nanami who pretends he knows nothing about the internet but will turn to yuuji, peer down over his glasses and in the most stale voice he can manage then say. “chat let me cook.” in response to yuuji’s worry for more grade one curse killing,”

* yuuji didn’t know who he could tell

* 27yearold!nanami who irons his suits and clothes. gets them tailored. wearing his band t-shirt from college that still doesn’t quite fit anymore. its got holes on the hems.

* 27yearold!nanami who just sometimes drinks the cheapest beer he can find when hes super desperate

* 27yearold!nanami who still buys two drinks at the vending machine and when he gives one to yuuji, he feels like he’s back to 17.

* 27yearold!nanami who is 99% of the time very strict with his diet and exercise. but sometimes hes just lazy

* 27yearold!nanami with a retirement fund.

* 27yearold!nanami with an account for his future children.

* 27yearold!nanami who sometimes takes a while changing his sheets

* 27yearold!nanami who still laughs at dick jokes he sees on the internet

* 27yearold!nanami who can be really stiff and anal… is still a 27 year old

[sanctum-of-ramshackle]

“J.A.R.V.I.S., drop my needle…”

“I am…”

“I’m a genius and a philanthropist…not mentioning the other two parts.”

[sweetbunpura]

ok, ok. Hear me out on the Animal Lover Yuu! Eventually each dorm gets/befriends one of Yuu’s animals and adopts them into the dorm. For example, Murder the raven/crow goes to diasomnia (like Diablo for Maleficent) and vibes with Lilia’s bats. Heartslaybul gets a deer or a ferret (a group of ferrets is a business! And that fits Riddle’s vibes). Our lovely fox could befriend Savannaclaw, he plays underhanded tricks but is a good nap buddy for Leona. Octotrio has a duck, loves the water in the lounge, helps Jade collect mushrooms, chases out riff raff for Azul, and is the same level of crazy hyper as Floyd. Scarabia has a snek (Jamil does not appreciate the irony but does like that it keeps Kalim busy) who is VERY pretty and likes to sit on Kalim’s head like a turban or around Jamil’s neck. Pomfiore has a falcon or other bird of prey, they clean their feathers regularly with Vil, hunt/stalk with Rook, and are ‘manly’ enough to hang out with Epel. Ignihyde gets our lovely loyal pupper, Ortho says it reminds him or the Cerberus dog bots (from chapter 7) and our good boy is patient enough for Idia to warm up to (despite being a cat person).

An unintended side effect of the boys bonding with the animals from Ramshackle is that the animals become biased in the shipping war. Each one encourages Yuu to spend time with THEIR dorm, and thinks their dorm would make better mates for the Ramshackle prefect. The animals all get along back home, but on campus they take sides and aren’t afraid to play the cute/sad pet card to get their way.

Enjoy the chaos hun!! 😘

Each animal tries to sell Yuu on each dorm like it's real estate. Murder's over here like " You get a prince, a general, and two body guards." Marahute, the golden eagle, tells Yuu about the wonderful day they had with Pomefiore: "An actor and a Model, an exceptional hunter such as themselves, and manly apple." Scorch, the ferret, babbles about the unbirthday party they went to: "A baker, a Magicam magician, a nice rebel, a lawmaker, and a law breaker!" Wimdy's taking about the great nap they took with Leona, and all the things they stole with Ruggie (Yuu told them to put it back, but Wimdy kept half of it.)

Hista, the viper (ironically enough), sings a tale of their day: "A merchant's son and his powerful adviser, plus there would be plenty of room for us!" Scourge, the duck, goes on about their day in Octavinelle while humming a familiar tune: "A remarkable businessman, a man who loves nature, and one who can cook up an amazing meal." Floppy's having a field day in Ignihyde: " You two good boys! And a little brother!"

Yuu tries laughing it off, but they're noticing how the animals are trying to pair them up with a few of the dorm members...

[robin-evry]

Can I request a Salem Witch Yuu? I mean like witches during the Middle Ages how women were accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake. Whether Yuu is actually a witch or not depends on you

Sure, ask and you shall receive

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐔𝐔 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐌 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇 🧹🌳

The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than 200 people were accused. Thirty people were found guilty, nineteen of whom were executed by hanging (fourteen women and five men). One other man, Giles Corey, died under torture after refusing to enter a plea, and at least five people died in the disease-ridden jails.

( English is not my first language )

Day 4 : Salem witch!yuu

Okay, I imagine Salem witch!yuu come from a family of witches, but never have the chance to learn about magic due to her family making seems like a curse rather than a gift but their mother teaches them a little magic. At the age of 9 years old their mother was caught using magic to heal their sibling and was sentenced to death by burn in a stake and they had to watch it, and Their father died from an illness. And 3 months later their sibling has died and succumb to starvation.

At the age of 15 they were caught and were tried to be hung, before their last breath a black carriage appeared and everything turned to black. They soon wake up in twisted wonderland at the entrance ceremony. When they see grim, they immediately bolted from the mirror room... And shouting devil, devil, devil

After Crowley managed to calm them down, Crowley explained everything to them. He noticed something weird towards Salem witch!yuu they are thinner than any student, eye bags and there are some red marks from the rope that was hanging them.

The ghost in ramshackle takes pity for the Salem witch! yuu, during the first time they tried food. They literally cried In front of Crowley admitting they rarely ate as well never having anything this delicious before.

Salem witch!yuu is pretty thin and underweight, what's more noticeable about part of them is the scars that the rope left of them, for them this scar is symbolic meaning that they can't escape their past and that will always follow them.

Salem witch!yuu hates magic seeing it as the root of their problems as well a curse that leads into the death of their family members. Originally everyone thought that they were magic less because they never once sense or see any magic come out of them until during riddle overblot where they hit riddle with a magic.

As well I believe they will be paranoid af, and they will easily apologize to people. Afraid of doing something wrong or making a mistake. Or Salem witch!yuu would be pretty nihilistic, like how ironic that the people unable to use magic seemingly look down upon by the world.

Ace and deuce are the very first person they manage to warm up a bit. Salem witch!yuu would be literally afraid of malleus literally screaming and calling him the devil, when malleus asked why they would do that and Lilia responded by saying that they must suffer a lot. So basically when Lilia appears he immediately sees the Salem witch!yuu scars and felt pity over them.

Salem witch!yuu would definitely be clueless how to use magic. Because during the time their lives cameras weren't a thing.

Salem witch!yuu come from a family of magic users but instead of being praised their family members were sentenced to death by hanging or fire, they use a wooden staff that is similar to what fern use from fieren : beyond friend journey anime, but usually after school Salem witch!yuu learn some basic magic from Crowley.

They also might have a phobia of fires due to their mothers and her scream still ringing in her ears. At night grim would wake from Salem witch! Yuu was crying in their sleep having dreams about their family. And he will always be there to comfort them.

Sorry if this was inaccurate or lack of understanding. or short

[twstowo]

Prologue [Sorceress!Yuu x OB!Characters]

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗SYNOPSIS: A powerful sorceress, capable of granting wishes, finds herself locked inside a mirror. To break free, she will need to seek the help of Yuu from another universe.

♡︎ The sorceress from the first universe is referred to with "she/her" pronouns, whereas the true main character (reader) is referred to as "they/them."

♡︎Inspired by the trope where the princess gets stuck in a tower but gets out by herself.

「 ✦ Next✦ 」

In the heart of a dark forest stood a sorceress, dwelling within her solitary tower. Legend speaks of her uncanny ability to transform any wish into reality, albeit at a cost. In days long past, she had wielded her magical prowess for noble causes, yet the allure of power proved too intoxicating. Once one savors its might, the craving for more consumes their soul.

Before this sorceress could execute her nefarious plans, she fell victim to a curse, locking her within the tower's walls, forever barred from the outside world.

As time passed, the people gradually forgot about her, and tranquility returned to the land. Meanwhile, the sorceress found solace in her secluded existence, immersing herself in the pursuit of knowledge, delving into tomes of spells, potions, and enchantments. Unknown to her, time slipped away, and she faded into the realm of myth and legend, becoming but a tale told to children.

Isolated in her tower, she longed for connection until an unexpected visitor arrived—a curious man seeking to make a wish. Yet, instead of a quick visit, he became captivated by the sorceress's wisdom, and soon, a profound bond grew between them. Weeks stretched into months, and their intimacy deepened, blossoming into a love that transcended the confines of her imprisonment. However, the man, driven by his affection, sought to liberate her from the tower's curse, sacrificing his wish for her freedom. In a tragic twist, he deliberately became taken by a dreadful curse—one that plagued all who sought wishes from her, gradually corroding their sanity.

The freed sorceress, grateful yet burdened by the unwanted consequences, watched in dismay as the man, once her savior, transformed into a tyrant ruling his kingdom with an iron fist. Unable to undo the curse's grip on him, she fled, compelled to escape his descent into madness, a consequence of her magic that she could not rectify.

Seeking to distance herself from the haunting memory of her lost love, the sorceress embraced her newfound freedom, venturing into a world vastly transformed during her tower-bound years. She traveled across kingdoms, encountering six more men, each with their unique dreams and desires. Yet, inevitably, they too succumbed to the enchantment of her beauty, intellect, and mastery of magic.

One by one, they approached her, fervently wishing for their heart's desires, only to be ensnared by the curse that clouded their minds, mirroring the fate of the first man. Each succumbed to the same tragic spiral of losing their sanity, trapped within the vicious cycle born from their wishes.

Haunted by the knowledge that her powers led to this relentless cycle of despair, the sorceress carried the weight of their curse, burdened by the unintended consequences of her abilities.

Faced with a profound sense of helplessness and remorse, the sorceress found herself drawn back to the confines of her tower,battling with the weight of her actions. The toll of her powers had caused irreversible harm to those she had grown to care for, leaving a trail of shattered lives in her wake.

Overwhelmed by regret and the desperate desire to undo the havoc she had wrought, she yearned to erase the consequences of her wishes. However, in a cruel twist, once the wish was granted, it became an unalterable reality, binding the person to its irreversible effects. She realized the bitter irony of her deepest desires – longing to break free from her isolation had inadvertently led to the ruin of seven lives, all because she sought companionship and a glimpse beyond her tower's confines.

Haunted by the inescapable truth that she could never amend the past, the sorceress struggled with the agony of longing for a return to the solitude she once wished to escape. Trapped within the paradox of her own wishes, she yearned for a reality where she had never ventured beyond the safety of her tower's walls.

In a tragic turn, the sorceress's fate descended further into darkness. Amid her quest for undoing the curses of her once friends, an unsettling disturbance outside her tower drew her attention. Peering out, she saw—six of the seven men she had cursed. Their beings exuded the overwhelming aura of the curses that had consumed them entirely. Lost within their own tormented thoughts, their hearts filled with a relentless thirst for vengeance against her, their memories clouded by self-loathing and venomous resentment toward the sorceress.

Knowing that confrontation would only perpetuate the cycle of suffering, she stepped out, asking for forgiveness, her pleas falling upon deafened ears blinded by fury and hatred. Together, driven by their collective anguish and rage, they devised a punishment more merciless than mere imprisonment within a tower. Instead, they imprisoned her within a mirror—a cruel fate that denied her any semblance of escape or freedom.

Helpless and trapped within her mirrored confinement, the sorceress became a prisoner. They, in turn, carried the mirror to their kingdoms, parading her before the world she would forever be denied, a mocking reminder of the life she could never experience again. Forced to witness the outside world she yearned for, yet eternally barred from touching or experiencing it, the sorceress endured an unending torment crafted by the very souls she inadvertently harmed.

Trapped within the confinements of the mirror world, the sorceress found herself in a relentless pursuit of an escape, weaving incantations and spells in a desperate bid to break free. Despite her unwavering determination, her magic yielded no solutions within the confines of the mirrored realm.

Realization dawned upon her—a solution lay beyond the confines of her mirrored prison. She needed aid from someone external, but trust was a scarce commodity in her world. Amidst her predicament, a glimmer of hope arose: herself. She knew the depths of her own intentions, the truths that guided her, and the longing to erase the unintended consequences of her actions.

With a resolve forged from the depths of her isolation and remorse, she sought a way to reach beyond the mirror's boundaries, attempting to communicate with her own self outside.

──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────

‎♡‧₊˚Thank you for reading!

「 ✦ Next✦ 」

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

What an interesting question highlighted by Leona about Skully J.Graves gallantry !

Seriously who of all NRC students or not students is the most close to the true definition of a gentleman ?

[Referencing this post!]

Proof that L*ona is a chad…

The definition of gentleman I’ll be running with is pulled from Merriam-Webster: a man who combines gentle birth or rank with chivalrous qualities. a man whose conduct conforms to a high standard of propriety or correct behavior, and/or a man of independent means who does not engage in any occupation or profession for gain.

Condensed, this means the traits we’re looking for someone who is of “gentle birth” (high social status) that follows or displays traits in line with the code of chivalry. Chivalry includes, but is not limited to: bravery, loyalty, generosity, courtesy, protection of the weak and defenseless, being truthful, and fearing God respecting women. They also conform to “correct” behavior and do not act for selfish reasons.

Well, automatically I feel like most of the NRC cast is disqualified because the majority of them are some degree of dishonest or acting for personal gain. (This would, ironically, also put Leona out of the running since bro’s the most underhanded cat I know.) A couple of them would also violate respecting personal boundaries.

I feel like the “obvious” answer here is Silver, since 1) he’s a literal knight and prince and 2) probably one of the few genuinely nice guys on NRC campus. And yeah, I’m still sticking with Silver as my first choice here.

My runner-up would be Riddle, just because Riddle would be so anal about “following the rules” of chivalry and maintaining decorum due to his strict upbringing. He indicates in the ongoing Halloween event that Skully is “such a gentleman” and that he has to keep up with him. I also think Riddle has some of the least selfish reasons for being polite; he legitimately considers it proper behavior and is convinced acting in line with the rules will bring people happiness.

Honorable mentions:

Jack (tsundere, but generally has the right idea going on in terms of proper behavior; will right his wrongs as shown in his Lab Wear vignettes)

Deuce (helps out his mom, tries to be an upstanding man; might fumble here and there but he is earnestly trying.)

And a special shoutout to Vil because he is the only other Twst character to have kissed Yuu, and, unlike Skully, Vil actually asks if it’s okay to kiss them before he does so. This occurs in book 6, upon his rescue. However, I would not otherwise consider Vil a gentleman because he can be pretty nasty and underhanded when he bears a vendetta. In this event alone Vil suggests outright abandoning us and also that we should beat suspicious people black and blue 💀

Of the staff, I definitely feel like Trein is our strongest gent. He is very austere and holds himself and his students to high standards, even becoming upset when he believes that his students are of such poor moral character that they would abandon the RSA boys who sacrificed themselves to allow them to escape. Trein is also known to chastise others, notably Crewel, for acting out or saying rude things. There’s no comparison, really.

[twstjam]

This will be the death of me - Part 1

Characters: Malleus Draconia & Yuu

Ship(s): Planned romantic Malleyuu

Word count: 2.9k

Summary: You've never seen a dragon before—Heck, you thought they were extinct!—but even someone with half a brain cell can put together that it would be smarter to NOT get on one's bad side.

Is it any better to get on a dragon's good side though? That depends... on if you can survive his clinginess.

Or: You end up in a bit of a httyd experience after running into and helping a dragon on your travels.

Masterlist

AO3 Link

Like many other situations in your life, you're not entirely sure how you got into this mess. As inevitable as it might be, it's not like you wanted to be screaming your voice hoarse while looking down the jaws of a man-eating beast.

By pure dumb luck or some form of divine intervention, you'd managed to scramble away right as it snapped its jaws shut, jumped onto your feet, and shot away like a bullet. You didn't turn back—Didn't dare to—but you honestly felt like you had death on your heels. You're familiar enough with the feeling to recognise it, but this time you were positive that it was actually going to catch you this time.

You skidded to a stop—And subsequently fell on your ass—when you suddenly heard a squealing rumble. It got cut off abruptly, followed by the sound of people shouting, chains rattling, and something massive dragging through the dirt. Then, you heard a sound like heavy rocks skidding together and then a loud thump. A pause of silence... and then cheering.

Now you find yourself sitting around a fire with people you don't have a single lick of recognition for. You're surrounded by the laughter and drunken singing of the king's soldiers, being forced to awkwardly rock side to side by the swaying bodies you're squished between.

Maybe you should be celebrating. You did just narrowly escape death after all, but that's nothing new at this point considering your track record and honestly, how can you just gloss over the fact that these people had used you as bait to catch an ancient beast?

After that maddening race for your life, armoured strangers had come out of the bushes and thicket to announce to you that they had just captured that beast that had tried to eat you— a dragon —and to also thank you for wandering into its vicinity and luring it out for them.

They had been there. They had watched as you'd cluelessly treaded on dragon territory and almost became dragon chow.

The chill of fear in your body had heated to anger and you were about to tell them just how exactly you felt about their dragon-hunting tactics when it suddenly hit you—A dragon. This massive, hulking beast… this embodiment of the night… this creature glaring at you with sharp, neon green eyes and bound in massive iron chains… is a dragon .

All your fury had dissipated and were instead replaced by a sense of dread that numbed your body and stiffened your limbs. Chained or no, the burning fury that you saw in this creature's eyes promised revenge. You don't know about the soldiers that had captured it, but as someone who had looked down its gaping jaws of death, you weren't eager to be at the receiving end of its wrath.

After the celebrations around the fire, the soldiers had oh-so kindly invited you to rest in their camp for the night as thanks for your assistance. If you'd wanted to receive such "graciousness" in exchange for such an experience you never would've left home.

The soldiers quickly conk out as soon as they hit their sleeping bags, the rum swiftly taking them under. They'll be feeling that in the morning for sure... and maybe even the sole of your boots, if you're impulsive enough.

You don't fall asleep—You can't, not with the massive black bulk looming over the entire camp and spanning twice its length. You'd overheard the soldiers discussing lookout for the night, but if you were right, whoever is currently on duty (and every other person who's supposed to swap with them) should be too buzzed out of their mind to stay awake.

You slip out of your sleeping bag towards where the dragon is lying (even with its abyssal hide melding with the pitch black of the night, it's hard to miss with the gleam of the chains and just by how BIG it is) and sure enough, the soldier sitting watch is drooling on the spear that they're leaning on.

Chills shudder across your entire body and all of your hairs stand on end as you approach the bound beast. The cold fear intensifies, enveloping your entire body when you see the dragon's gaze on you. Its eyes are a green you've never seen before. It reminds you of fire, even though you've only ever seen orange and blue ones.

Its eyes are slitted. Wary. You take another step closer and its warning growl shakes the ground beneath your feet. You freeze on the spot, but fortunately you still have enough feeling in your body to move and bow your head in submission. Hopefully—Or if your luck plays out—the dragon understands it to be the non-threatening display that it is, or at least doesn't disregard it.

To your relief, the dragon stops growling, and even though it's still glaring at you, you take it as a good sign.

"I'm going to try and free you," you whisper. You slowly reach into your satchel and pull out a massive ring of keys, being mindful to not clink them together and make noise. With how out of their minds with alcohol the soldiers were, it was no special feat to find out who had the keys and snatch them without being spotted. The dragon's eyes zero in on the keys and you see its pupils go slightly rounder.

The dragon doesn't growl, but it still watches you carefully as you get closer—Close enough to touch. You keep the beast in your peripherals as you search for the locks in the chains. You murmur an "A-ha!" you finally find one and get to work slotting in a key.

There's a click , and a rush of triumph fills your chest when the chain comes undone. A lump lodges itself in your throat though when the chain snaps back with a sharp noise. You hold your breath and whirl around to make sure the sound hasn't woken anyone.

No one's moved. The soldiers are as still as the dead. You let out a sigh of relief and go on to find the next lock.

It occurs to you, in the middle of finding the third lock, that this might be a bad idea. Sure, it was already a bad idea to incur the wrath of an ancient beast by binding it like a common animal, but for obvious reasons, it might be a worse idea to release the aforementioned wrathful beast.

"When you're free, you're not gonna eat me, right?" you whisper to the dragon as you unlock the iron collar around its neck. The dragon is quiet. It instead responds by bending its long neck around once you've freed it to look at you. You stumble back, startled, but it doesn't do anything else other than stare you down. There's no hostility in its gaze though, so your heart settles.

"...Is that a yes?" you murmur.

The dragon makes a short snuffing noise but it doesn't sound agitated. It lowers its massive head and you take a step back, but the motion is careful. There's no risk of it knocking you over with its oversized snout and instead you have easy access to the iron clamping its jaws shut.

Why don't you find out? the creature's intelligent, gleaming gaze seems to say.

You take a deep breath, muster every ounce of courage and foolishness in your body, and reach forward with the key.

Your hand accidentally brushes its face. The dragon growls, you curse, and the both of you jerk away from each other.

You try again, more carefully this time. The dragon's big eyes are even more unnerving this close, but you're not deterred. Your conviction has always been either your savior or downfall, and you've never been more anxious to find out which it is this time.

The mechanism in the lock clicks . You grin victoriously at the dragon as it pulls its head back, but it vanishes off your face when the beast tosses its great head and throws the iron muzzle to the ground with a clang that makes you jump.

"Wait—!" you call out too late as startled yells sound out from the soldiers in the camp. The soldier on lookout, the one closest to you and the dragon, jolts awake and their eyes bug out of their head upon seeing the dragon loom over them with its teeth bared.

"Shit!" they yell out. "The beast is—"

The soldier is abruptly cut off by a great black maw closing around them. Screams and yells of terror ring out. The dragon locks its jaws with a sickening crunch before flinging the limp body aside like a ragdoll.

You should be scared. You should be horrified. But instead, you swallow and think, I'm glad that wasn't me .

Sue you, you're still petty about being used as dragon bait.

The soldiers, still dazed from their night of drinking, stumble to their feet, but it's only a matter of time before the adrenaline sobers them up enough to grab their weapons and more chains. You focus back on the task of releasing the dragon—There's only a few more chains left to go!—but it rises up on its chained feet.

"Oh come on!" you exclaim as you impulsively grab onto its leg before it gets too far for you to reach the lock. Your arms are almost pulled out of their sockets as you're jerked along like no more than an annoying piece of paper stuck to a slightly damp foot. "Stay—Stay still!"

You can't see what's going on, but you hear shouts and the dragon bellowing above you. You continue to be flung around on your reptilian joyride as it knocks over soldiers with its powerful tail and snaps more up in its terrifying teeth. The smell of blood in the air thickens, but your attention is solely on the manacles on the dragon's legs.

Despite being jerked around, you manage to successfully free the beast's front legs. You lose your grip and narrowly miss being stepped on when the dragon charges forward to snap up fleeing soldiers. The breath is knocked out of you with how hard you hit the ground and you lie there, groaning.

" YOU! "

You startle at the sharp yell and flip around onto your front to look up at the seething face of a soldier you recognise to be the one that was holding the keys—The captain. Uh oh.

"Uh, hey..." you stammer breathlessly with a sheepish smile.

"What have you done?!" the soldier screeches. You hear the tell tale sound of a sword being dragged out of its sheath and you catch the glint of iron in the soldier's hand. "You'll pay for this!"

You yelp and skitter on the ground in a pathetic attempt to get away as the sword is raised. Right as you think you're about to be run clean through, you're deafened by a loud roar. You catch the captain's eyes widening the split second before black scales suddenly appear in your vision.

You hold your arms over your ears when the dragon above you snarls loud enough above you to possibly burst your eardrums. The temperature all around you rises unbearably. A blood-curdling scream cuts through the air, but still all you can think to do is find the keys on the ground and drag yourself through the dirt to reach the manacles on the dragon's back legs.

As you're unlocking the second manacle, you hear soldiers yelling out battle cries and charging the dragon's rear with weapons and chains drawn. You're about to yell out a warning, but the dragon lifts its tail and easily sweeps it over the approaching attackers, knocking them over like barrels.

The dragon is completely free to move now, but you still hear the clinking of chains as the dragon moves above you. Its wings!

You crawl out from underneath the dragon's belly, stumble to your feet, and immediately come face-to-face with blindingly neon green eyes. The dragon has its neck craned toward you, eyes trained on you instead of the armed soldiers. You're momentarily distracted by the arrows and spears embedded in the beast's black hide before focusing back on the iron chains binding its wings.

The chains clink and clatter metallically as the dragon flexes its wings in alarm at soldiers aiming bows, crossbows, and spears. The beast reacts, moving around wildly. Not wanting to get squished by a rampaging thousand-pound dragon, you do the only thing you feasibly can—You jump onto its back.

Alright. It's not your brightest idea, because the dragon immediately starts trying to shake you off, but you grip onto one of the many ridges on its back and hold on for dear life.

"Stay still! I'm trying to save your fucking life here!" you scream at the top of your lungs. The dragon makes a displeased grumble but it fortunately remembers its priorities and turns its attention towards the people trying to kill the two of you.

You hear spears and bones snapping, wood creaking beneath powerful jaws as the dragon picks up a wagon and smashes it on the soldiers that scatter like ants to get away. As this happens, you're fighting to keep your grip on the dragon's back and unchain its wings. You succeed with one and almost get your arms torn off as the beast immediately lifts it and beats it down in one rough movement that has its back muscles rippling and jostling you.

You hiss at the feeling of its scales scraping your skin raw, but still you hold on. One could say your determination is otherworldly, but you'd say it's just your self-preservation kicking in for once and demanding you don't fucking die.

It would've been more helpful if it had kicked in before you had committed to jumping on a dragon's back, but now wasn't the time to lament on that.

By some miracle, you manage to reach the other wing despite all the pain and unsteadiness with the key in hand. You shove it into the lock with a yell and—

Twist. Click. Clang.

The dragon shakes the chains off its wing as you dig your fingers into its back and try to catch your breath. With the dragon's ridges as handholds, you pull yourself further up the dragon's back in hopes of positioning yourself more securely, but as you do so, shadows fall over you as the beast unfurls its wide, wide wings and slams them down.

The sound that deafens you is like a clap of thunder. You shut your eyes tight when the wind suddenly whips up around you, tugging on your clothes and hair and threatening to drag you off the dragon's back and down to the ground.

Which—You realise, when you crack your eyes open—is a long way down because dear Seven Greats you're flying .

The furious winds continue to get colder and stronger and it's all you can do to not fall off and splatter on the ground like a pancake. You manage to peer down below despite how the height makes your stomach swoop and sees soldiers shouting out and pointing at the dragon lifting up into the sky. They're running around to grab more weapons and chains but you doubt they're going to do the slightest bit of good.

You can't begin to imagine what's going on through their minds right now. You're on the dragon's side and you're still terrified. The beast roars as loudly as the thunder that drums the heavens. The air buzzes against your skin as it charges with electricity. The dragon heaves a deep breath and you swear your entire body erupts with sweat as it unleashes a column of bright green fire on the humans below.

Soldiers scream and dive for cover. Wagons and trees groan and break beneath the force and heat of the dragon's breath. Even though you're fortunate enough to not be caught in the inferno below, the heat is still strong enough from its back to be suffocating.

Lightning flashes, momentarily blinding you with green light, and the crack of thunder that follows it combined with the sound of the dragon's beating wings overwhelms you and you lose your bearings. Your grip slips from the dragon's ridges and you tumble gracelessly from its back.

The wind whips around you, roars in your ears, flaps your clothes wildly before it all abruptly stops. You're not all there, but you're pretty sure that a fall from such a long height is supposed to end with pain and death, not pain and a suffocating pressure around your torso.

Despite your unfocused vision and the strong winds pushing your head down, you manage to tilt your chin up and meet the dragon's gaze. You're once again frozen, but you quickly ease out of it when you recognise the lack of hostility from before. Instead of slitted, its pupils are round and its eyes aren't narrowed in a glare.

The dragon does nothing but stare at you as it continues to hover in the air. For a moment, you wonder if it's trying to decide on whether or not it should uncurl its claws and drop you to your death, but it's clear what it decides on as you're not a pitiful stain on the scorched ground below. Instead of safely putting you down like you expect it to do though, you find yourself pressed against a wall of tough scales.

The beast holds you close to its chest and beats its wings, carrying itself— and you —away from the carnage.