#THE PAIN AND GUILT IDIA MUST BE GOING THROUGH

[yan-twst]

Hi there! You think you can write the reactions of the dorm leaders finding out that the only way their s/o can go back to their world is to die? And at this point of time their s/o is already dead. Please don't write for this ask if you feel uncomfortable. Thank you!

warnings: death mentions, just sad shit lol

riddle rosehearts

he crumbles. his air of authority, his usual strictness, his taste for sweets; it crumbles. he’s reduced to a crying mess for days

he tries to find some relief in knowing, technically, his lover is fine, back at home. that they’re alive, just somewhere so far away from him, somewhere where he can’t see them. they’re not dead- but...

he can’t shake the image of them in a casket. of them dying. crowley assures him that they returned home, that “dying” here for them was just the way to return, but it does very little to soothe him

how is he supposed to be calm? to take it all in stride?

they are alive, somewhere else. but they’re so far away, they’re somewhere he can’t even look at. he tells himself it’s better this way, they’re out there living; but it’s hard. they feel like they’re gone, and it’s because they are, just not in the way he was originally grieving for

to riddle, finding a partner was just another escape. an escape like NRC is, like the unbirthday parties are, like his dorm leader activities are, escapes from the fact he must return home once vacations come and he must bend to his mother’s will once again- and his lover being ripped away from him has him in shambles

riddle has never been one to make wishes upon stars or to believe in those silly wishing charms children play with, but he begins to silently wish to see his lover just once more. he feels selfish, he feels horrible- they’re back home and he wants to once again rip them out of their world and bring them into his, but he can’t help it

he consoles himself by thinking of them. how are they doing? did their friends back home miss them? maybe the people back in their world thought they were dead and suddenly they returned- much like how he thought they’d passed away until he was told they were alive back at home

that’s what he holds onto. they’re alive, out there- they aren’t entirely gone, even if he held their cold corpse in his hands, somewhere out there in another world entirely their heart still beats

leona kingscholar

is this a fucking joke? is this truly how things are? is he supposed to celebrate? yay, his lover isn’t actually dead, they’ve just been tossed back into their world of origin by the virtue of dying in leona’s world?

how is that any consolation? they’re gone, one way or another

it’s not like being told “hey! you might have thought your lover died but they actually were taken away by the same weird unexplained magic that brought them here, but they just had to die to return and somehow nobody knew this, and this information is only getting to you after a couple days of grieving their death” is suddenly going to fix anything

he’s bitter. can’t he have anything? not the throne, not the people’s respect, not love?

they might be home- but they’re about as good as dead, aren’t they? it’s not like this was a planned return, not as if they’d known it would happen. not like he had time to prepare, time to say goodbye, to even try to prepare for their departure, leave alone having to believe they were dead

it wasn’t a departure. it was them being ripped away from him. and now they’re gone forever, and not even the fucking headmaster who’s supposed to be this wise and powerful figure can even figure out how they got here or how they left upon their death

it takes time for the wound to heal. while knowing they’re technically back home doesn’t soothe him much, it does calm his soul somewhat; they aren’t a cold corpse, his last memory of bidding farewell to their cold corpse isn’t their last moment, they’re back where they belong

he doesn’t seem to hold any hope to see them again. but he can make an effort to try and reminisce about their time together- to think of anything but their cold corpse, of their lack of pulse- trying to match his mental image to how he imagines they’re living back at home, where they’re still alive

azul ashengrotto

he can’t take it. azul just retreats- he can’t function, not like this

when he’s told that while his darling died, they technically returned home, he tries so hard to take that as good news, he really does

curled up in his bed, eyes puffy with tears, body weak from not leaving his bed, he tries to force himself to think that’s good news. it has to be good news, he has to be happy over it-

but in reality, he can’t. how is he supposed to take that?! he loved them, he wanted to be with them, spend time with them; and now he’s never going to even see them again, never get to hold them, never hear their reassuring voice when he has a bad day

his guilt and overall grief just double, if anything. he should be happy- but he can’t. he can’t be happy about the fact they’re back home, he just can’t celebrate it, and so his grief mounts

is this truly it? he falls in love, spends time, builds a relationship, and then they die and he mourns only to then be told it was actually somehow meant to happen and it was the way for them to return to their world? that’s how it all ends?

it truly takes a long while for him to compose himself- long weeks, months pass and he’s not quite well. he doesn’t know if he’ll be. he can’t bring himself to throw away the funeral flowers, can’t bring himself to go back to his daily life

it’s a slow and painful process, and all he can do is hope his lover isn’t going through something similar. he tells himself that the last thing he’d want is for them to be back home, mourning him like this and unable to live, so he has to be strong. for them, even though they’re no longer where he can reach them

kalim al-asim

kalim tries so hard to take it all and run with it, to keep a positive attitude. perhaps that’s why the image of him sobbing at the “funeral” was so heartwrenching, and perhaps that’s why when crowley pops up informing that even though his lover did die, this was actually the correct way to return them to their world, kalim tries so hard to take in the information

absolutely everyone can tell he’s broken. everyone can see the dried tears on his cheeks, the way his eyes are puffy and red. at nights, those with dorms close to him can hear him cry. but then he goes and acts like it’s fine, saying they’re ok! they went back home! haha, i hope they’re having fun!

it’s as if he’s not allowing himself to grieve, telling himself he has no right to mourn because they’re alive, even though he clearly needs to, needs to find a healthy way to air out his emotions

but he doesn’t. he’s trying to immediately shove down the horror and overwhelming despair of his lover’s death and try to celebrate their return home, trying to ignore his own wounds to lighten the mood

it’s painful to watch, but there’s not much to do. what can even be done? there’s no guide on how to help someone in this situation; usually it’s him gently giving help to others, encouraging them to confront their emotions, but when it comes to himself he seems to just be letting his own grief and sadness eat him alive

kalim never forgets them. he always brings them up- when he sees their favourite food, when he sees a bench they liked to sit in, when he sees a colour they liked. it’s as if he’s reassuring himself they aren’t truly dead, as if he’s promising himself that if he can keep their memory fresh it’ll be as if they aren’t as far away from him as they are

vil schoenheit

the scariest part of vil’s mourning is that he shows nobody his weakness. during the funeral, he barely sheds tears, despite his hands shaking from how hard he’s clutching the edges of his lover’s casket, during his mourning he always seems to be composed despite his makeup telling he’s been crying and hastily attempting to touch it up

... he wishes he could say finding out his lover didn’t truly die eased the pain. it did, in a sense- but it just brought on a different kind of pain

he can’t just mourn, he can’t grieve his loss like a normal person. everyone’s eyes are on him, his job requires for him to keep a good public image; every day he has to fix himself, has to try and make his very clearly exhausted and tear stained face look appropriate

he tries to cling onto the fact they’re alive like a mantra. they’re alive back at home they didn’t truly die they’re ok they’re alive back at home; he repeats it in his head like a mantra, trying to keep himself from just breaking down while going on about his daily life

but it’s just not enough. he can’t help but drown in grief, drown in the “what ifs”. did they even want to go back? do they regret not getting to say goodbye? were they scared when they took their last breath here? did they think of him in his last moments here? do they think of him?

... would they have stayed if they’d had a choice?

it just tears him apart. there’s no way to know; he’s just hurting himself by asking those questions. there’s no point- they might be alive, but they’re still gone, realistically speaking.

all he can do is try to lose himself in his routines, try to not think as much as possible. try to just lock the memories that bring him warmth and ignore everything else- the death the what-ifs the distance between them- so he can function

idia shroud

it’s his fault. it has to be, somehow. idia has to be practically ripped away from his lover’s corpse, as his mind still can’t process what happened- no, he can- he can save them, he can bring them back, he can...!

he can’t.

they didn’t belong here, crowley says. their death isn’t a real death, it’s just their return to their world, where they’re supposed to be. there’s no bringing them back, not with any magic or any technology

and idia just breaks. 

isolated in his own room, he doesn’t allow anyone to get close. not even his own brother can seem to get to him; idia seems to act like a corpse, just laying in bed, trying to ignore the world. he’s not touching his videogames, not even trying to take care of himself, it’s as if he’s shutting out everything to drown in his own grief and regret

there’s no comfort in knowing that his lover returned home; it’s as good as them being dead for him, isn’t it? he can’t even try to fake being happy they’re home, because fuck, they were just- just ripped away from the life they’d built here so violently, they’d been here one day and the next they were lifeless, thrown back to the world they’d come from with no chance to even say goodbye

people worry for him. he’s not ok, and by the way things look, it doesn’t seem like he wants to be ok, letting himself waste away. ortho worries, despairs, begs for others to try to help, but what can they do? just show up and go “hey man, sorry about your significant other and like, only person you were truly close to passing away but not really because they got sent back to their world where you can never see them again, want a snack?”

it truly takes a lot to help him, and honestly it’ll take much more for him to go back to “normal”. he isn’t a stranger to mourning, but this loss, this emptiness is something he knows he can’t shake away- usually he’d turn to his lover for help when he fell into a spiral of negativity, but haha how funny of life to rip away his support system like that!

in the end, all he can do is slowly try to piece himself together; if not for him, for those who care about him; mainly for ortho. he knows the younger shroud was also attached to his lover, and so he slowly tries to do his best to comfort him, and in the process heal his shattered heart perhaps just enough to function once again

malleus draconia

there’s never quite been a storm as rough sweeping over the entire school. the clouds heavy with rain and thunder as malleus weeps and mourns, his emotions overwhelming him and turning into raw anger at the world itself while lilia desperately tries to calm him down before he causes serious damage

he’d always known they’d die one day- humans live less than fae, he knew that much. but he’d expected more time, he’d expected years. decades. and instead he got some months of happiness and love and then he was holding their corpse as it slowly grew colder

he rages and cries until he tires himself out. he doesn’t even know what he’s angry at- perhaps at crowley for not finding an alternate way home or for not letting malleus’ lover know of the dangers that lurk? perhaps at himself for not protecting his lover? or at the world itself for ripping away the first person he’s cared for in this way in such a violent manner?

the fact they’re “back home” means nothing to him. they’re gone- gone, out of his grasp. once malleus collapses, exhausted, it looks as if a beast had rampaged through NRC

he throws himself into trying to at least contact them. he’s powerful; he’s one of the best wizards there is- so how come he can’t even catch a glimpse of his beloved back in their homeworld? are they truly so far away from him?

dragon fae live for centuries upon centuries; and they mourn for years. after all, a year isn’t much time for malleus- and he couldn’t even bask in his beloved’s presence for that long- and it’s certainly not enough to heal the wounds in his heart

all he can do is try to wait, wait for the pain to subside; and meanwhile he’ll just suffer. the mere thought of his beloved is enough to make magic crackle in the air as emotions flood him, his guards and lilia running to his side to try and make him calm down

malleus doesn’t need sleep, but he forces himself to do so, just so he can dream of them. that’s as much as he can do. he’ll live for centuries, for years upon years: once everyone else is gone, only him and lilia will remember his beloved. he doesn’t want to forget them, doesn’t want their image to disappear.  if they truly are alive back in their world, then he promises to keep their memory alive here in his world

[yandere-wishes]

In The Streets Of London (Twisted Wonderland X Reader

Victorian Au)

Part one of a series, let me know in the comments who you think the killer is!

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Ghastly murder in the east end dreadful mutilation of a woman by the man known as the leather apron

"He killed another woman last night, father! How can you sit so idly by!"

The onyx skirt brushed up against the young girl's legs as she passed to and for across the room. Her leather gloves racked her (h/c) locks from her face, pulling them back in hopes that the thuggish feeling would simulate her frozen brain. "It a fifteen puzzle (1) even for Scotland yard!" she bellowed.  "Than what in the devil's name do you think you and I could do about it, darling!" Her father turned to her, his grey eyes caging annoyance and misery. His tone was right above irritated...her father was never a delight went he became irritated. Divus Crewel, known to most of England as the finest mind in chemistry and alchemy in the 19th century. His daughter (y/n) Crewel was allegedly following in her father's footsteps in hopes of one day becoming a female fetal in chemistry herself. Of course, that's what all of England thought, the truth of the matter was rather was quite different. (y/n) harbored no interest in becoming a chemist nor an alchemist, the young lady found her interest in a more macabre filed, the field of forensic medicine to be precise. Prying secrets from the dead had become her little habit and due to Lord Crewel's rather negligent parenting, the girl had begun to study her precious cadavers full time, taking classes three times a weak in Night Raven College's medical and criminal department. For her it was exhilarating! Having to dress as a boy and sneak her way around the dreary campus was just as exciting as tea parties at the queen's palace were for "regular ladies". 

"I bet he wore a Gigglemug (2) as he slashed their throats open!" (Y/n) the loud voice reverberated off the walls, it's heavy decibels hitting Divus right on his two-colored head. 

"Love of my life, sunshine to my trepidation, NO ONE CARES! God dame that stupid sociopath, he's making my life miserable by occupying your grisly mind!"

(Y/N) ignored her father's outburst, her short heels clicking across the wooden floor of her father's laboratory. Her brain tried to envisage the infamous East-End to no avail, all she could picture was filth littered grey streets with a woman's corpse lying in her own ichor. Even the killer was hard to presume, there was no bloody way in hell that that monster could be human! No living being could do such heinous deeds, it must have been the devil himself! No no, such thought where for the uneducated, the people with simple minds, no she...she was a lords daughter one who was enrolled -illegally mind you- at one of the most prestigious schools in all of London--NO England! If anyone could find his monster it was going to be HER!

"I wonder if he'll--" A loud tapping came from the closed wooden door on the far end of the underground chamber. "Oh thank the all mighty himself!" Divus professed, lifting his occupied arms to the invisible sky, spilling some magenta liquid onto the table. Carelessly tossing the beacons aside, Divus rushed to the door a chip little prep in his usually professional step. Swinging the door open with as much force as a child ripping Christmas gifts.

(Y/n) remained behind, slumping tiredly in her father's chair. Her untrained eyes scanned the chemicals boredly, wishing that the half-rat (3)  liquids would turn into tiny figurines, performing the event of the night of the crime. However, her bewildered thoughts where shortly heckled, by a pleasant young voice along with the ringing of her father's vexatious smoky voice. "Ah, Commander Ashengrotto and Chief Superintendent Shroud what do we own the pleasure of this unexpected visit." from the distance (y/n) heard some shuffling, abruptly jumping to her feet and straightening out her skirts. Her eyes followed the three men that trailed down the steps. Her father walking past to stand by her as Commander Ashengrotto and Chief Superintendent Shroud stood in front of her. Or in the case of Mr. Shroud, attempted to hide behind his superior officer. The grey-haired man, bowed politely, lightly taking hold of miss Crewel's hand in his leather-bound one and placing a fleet, feather-like kiss atop the back of her hand. Azul glared at Idia, the former's elbow digging sharply into the later’s side. Hesitantly Idia, folded into a clumsy half-bow before straightening back up, during the whole endeavor one could clearly hear the loud cracking over every bone in this spine. "Well..." Your father started, clearly annoyed at the murky silence. "out with it lads, what are you lot doing here?" Azul's ocean colored eyes stared as straight as an arrow into Divus's grey ones. "Professor Crewel, it may be best to send your lovely daughter out? I wouldn't want to taint her stunning innocence with this ghastly talk about gore and murder." His eyes spared a gaze at you, roaming over your figure with an amused glint. Before your father could answer you proclaimed loudly."I, my dear Ashengrotto, am not as innocent as you fancy me! I will choose to stay IF I SO DESIRE." From the side, you could practically feel your father roll his eyes. "Allow her to stay" Your father mumbled tiredly "The sudden shock of it all may knock some sense into this senseless girl." "As you wish" with that the detective became talking:

"We have reason to believe that...this Ripper or well "Leather Apron" as the news has begun to call him, is, in fact, one of the nobl--" (Y/n) gasped, her eyes widening with excitement. "REALLY! He could be living right in our neighborhood!!" A forceful smack hitting her head, it's vibrations sending waves of pain through her body. "Try and bot sound so excited darling daughter of mine. My apologies Commander, care to continue?" Azul coughed into his fist, clearly killing a laugh. "Yes, quite alright my lord. As I said we so believe the murder to be of noble heritage. As you may know, the Al-Asims are hosting a Nobleman's ball tomorrow evening I trust you have been invited." He paused in his speech looking from (y/n) to her father. Divus gave a court nod in the inspector's direction becoming him to continue. "Perfect! Well since you shall be in attendance I would greatly love for your daughter to ...how do I word this...Play bait?"

"ABSOLUTELY NOT" Mr. Crewel screeched, "I shall not have my daughter mafficking (4) in the streets as a wannabe prostitute to help capture a deranged and rather vexing murderer!" Azul took a step backward, his back pressing smugly against Idia's chest. Even (y/n) sted half an inch away from her father. "Professor Crewel please relax, I simply mean that during the party (y/n) could slip out with an officer, who will be heavily armed. This may cause the ripper, who appears to have a warped sense of justice, to follow them. Once he decides to attack the officer will shoot at him and that will be the end of the Ripper's reign of terror over London." Divus rolled his eyes "marvelous plan detective...except what if the ripper chooses to not attack then? And go after my daughter once she is alone, asleep in her bed! Or outside shopping with some absent-minded servants? What then?" Azul lips knitted into a tight frown, his voice dying in this throat long before it reached his tongue. The professor did make a compelling point. 

"Than we will send heavily armed guards around both you and your daughter until the ripper is caught." A dead, monotone voice cracked. For the first time since walking into the house either of the residences had heard Idia speak. His voice was so brittle and fragile that (y/n) though it would visibly shatter if any of them dared to respond. Even her father seemed too nervous to speak...an odd this for such a powerful man. It was Azul, who decided to speak first, unlike before his voice was low and decile no longer laced with that regal elegance. "Yes...as my partner just...um just...mentioned. If our plan does -by some unearthly phenomena- fail we will have guards circling you and your daughter until the ripper is caught and brought to justice."

It took the longest while before your father agreed. Of course, he placed some very strict requirements before officially "sending you to your doom" as he worded it. As the two detectives left you could hear the Shroud boy mumbling a string of "do I also have to attend?"

and "can't you catch him yourself?" as he left the house. "Peculiar man ain't her, father?" Your eyes tuned to your only parent, "yes yes, quite bizarre." His gloved fingers wrapped tightly around your wrist dragging you along up the stairs. "We have much to do if we are to prepare you for the Al-Asim ball"

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There was an unspoken tension amongst presumably every guest in the ballroom. all that swayed and danced, flaunting their pricey dresses and custom made suits, harbored a form of dark secret within their souls...no one in England was innocent but tonight, just for tonight there was one man who's guilt outshined the rest, one man how's hands where permanently panted with the blood of three innocent women.

(Y/n)'s back was pressed against the cool tiles of a stark white pillar. Her eyes darted from person to person, trying to memorize as much as possible about all of them. "Shouldn't a young noblewoman such as yourself be out there dancing?" ripples of dread and annoyance bounced inside the spoiled girl, who dared to speak to her in such a manner? She turned furiously ready to shout at whoever had just talked, only to stop short when she came face to face with the tall bored-looking butler holding a tray of drink parallel to his head. His grey eyes seemed to hold a dreaded looking, eyeing her curiously. Was this the officer who was meant to take her outside? Figuring it best to play (y/n) puffed up her chest a bit and leaned in close. "Do you have the money?" she whispered. The butler's face remained stoic, he simply sighed and muttered something to himself. "Madam if I had any money I certainly wouldn't be wasting in on the likes of you." He plucked a sparkling drink from the tray and reached to pass it to the young women. "Feather more I would highly recommend having a more subtle way of distinguishing your clients if you aren't too careful rumors may spiral and that chap...what was his name Jack the apron? May come to get you in your sleep." (Y/n)'s eyes widen as she gripped the drink 'It was him!' she thought, he was the killer! Before the girl could phantom out a reply the butler was already well on his way. She had to find someone! To tell someone quickly! She turned frantically trying to find her father or one of the detectives. "Hey, girly..." A low voice echoed from the shadows under the stairs. That must be the detective (y/n) thought to herself, she lifted her skirts and quickly marched over to the darkness hiding the owner of the voice. 

Something grabbed (y/n)'s wrist, it was practically cutting off circulation. "W-who are you?" the girl struggled to form a coherent question. The man's face was mostly masked by the dimness but his emerald-like eyes shown like train's headlights. "Are you just like one of those three gals? The whores that died out on the street?" (Y/n) heartbeat began to quicken, she was wrong that butler wasn't the killer, this man was. When she looked at his eyes again they were molded into a sharp glare.  All of a sudden the man let go of her wrist "Doesn't matter.." he murmured "I got other things to take care of...." His deep voice kept fading like it too was getting swept up in the darkest parts of the ballroom. "Do me a favor if anyone asks where Kingscholar is, come up with some good lie to tell them. Just make sure you don't say anything about me going outside. Aright dame?" With that the darkness seemed to swallow him whole, even his footsteps couldn't be heard as he walked away, only the absence of his suffocating aura. 'He had to be the killer' she thought to herself as she stepped back into the light of the lively ballroom.

Tiredly (y/n) wondered to the dessert table,  her brain occupied, questions married questions, and gave birth to theories. Which one was it? The butler, lord Kingscholar? Neither may be, although that would just mean that you were only on edge rightfully, although you wished to keep your cool exterior. At the dessert table, every single surgery treat seemed to glisten. Their frosting's danced in the bright light of the thousands upon thousands of candles. (Y/n)'s mouth watered as she reached for a particular red tart in the corner of the desk. As she outstretched her hand it came to gently stroke up against another's hand. Her eyes darted upwards coming into contact with a smiling young man with clover colored hair. "My apologies my lady" He announced as he dipped into a bow. Automatically (y/n) gathered her skirts before curtsying herself. "Would you like the first piece" he offered, (y/n) nodded as the man cut a perfect slice and swiftly offered the plate to her before cutting one for himself. "I do adore cherry tarts" he spoke, "My family owns a bakery on the border of the upper west and east end. I personally stayed late last night just to finish this tart." (y/n) eyes began to shimmer as she placed the tart on the table. "So you must have heard the girl who was killed there!" she proclaimed. The man's eyes went wide, nervous beads of sweat dripped down his scalp. "Why miss, I don't know what your...implying." His once upbeat voice dropped an octave, his bright eyes seemed to get darker. For a second (y/n) contemplated what to do, was he acting so bizarrely because he had witnessed the murder? Or had he committed the murder? Before the young lady could ask him anything further a pair of boys, one short with a nest of blond unkempt hair and the other quite tall and muscular with snowy white hair came dashing towards them. "Have either of you seen leo- err, um" the blond one started

"The younger lord Kingscholar?" the white-haired boy started.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I...I saw him head to the dance floor with a young lady..." Her tone fluctuated, her face compressed into an emotionless look, prying to any who would listen that her lie would not be called out. The two boys exchanged a worried glance, their eyes as wide as plates. "He's probably with Ferona's wife again" the blond one spoke, nervous giggles leaping from his mouth. The taller boy quickly bowed, before running towards the host of dancers, his companion soon following his lead. When (y/n) turned back ready to speak with the grass haired young man, she noticed that he was nowhere in sight. Vanished like the magicians in the traveling circus.

For the third time that night, (y/n) could feel her heart pounding in her chest. The treat of a killer loomed at every corner of this mansion, every man here seemed to -in some way- resemble the faceless killer. And worst of all her "personal guard" was nowhere in sight! Not to mention her father was most likely off with some nobleman's wife or daughter doing lord knows what. Tears of frustration threatened to spill from her eyes. Everything was going wrong, she was no inspector, she could barely keep her composure during such a time of ease.

"Miss Crewel" A tiny bird-like voice, shook the girl from her misery. Turning her head she saw a young boy no older than 10. His blue hair and golden eyes were carbon copies of inspector Shrouds. "Where is my bother?" it took a moment for (y/n) to comprehend the question. "If you are talking about Mr. Shroud than I do not know...did he even attend tonight" the question came out more haughty than she had hoped, the last thing she wanted was to appear as a rude wrench to such a young child. "Well..." the boy's voice trailed off "He was supposed to meet you. You are the bait, aren't you? He was the officer entrusted with playing the role of your client." The young boy's eyes dropped his cheery pure nature slowly morphed into one as similar to his brothers, gloomy and dead.

"He hasn't been himself lately, the matter has only gotten worst when Scotland yard began investigating the killer....he's so tense about the matter, almost as if the case was perso--"

"THERE'S BEEN A MURDER! SOMEONE CALL THE POLICE QUICK!" From the front of the ballroom two boys, one with red hair and the other with ebony hair stood. There faces where distraught sweat flew down their cheeks. For a fraction of a second silence flew over the crowd....only to veer into screams of terror and the ramped running of both lords and ladies. During the midst of the anarchy, you searched the entire chamber...there was no sign of Idia, nor Lord Kingscholar, nor the green-haired boy, nor the rude butler....all those you had suspected where gone...

Following the crowd, you and Ortho ran outside into the gardens. Sure enough, laying in a pool of her own blood with a torn stomach and guts pulled out, was a young lady no older than you where and right around her bleeding kneck a parchment note was pinned.....

Who do you guys think the killer is?

Tag list

@ghostiebabey @delusional-obsessions @succubus-lair​ @themarchinghare​ @permanentlyexhaustedowl​ @twst-diana​ @yuoritsu​ @pumpkiethepie​ @ladyy-grimm​ @xwildskullx​

[jhoudiey]

Next chapter of Yoru’s story is here! She’s done hiding out at Idias and has to deal with Crowley, Floyd also tries to threaten her but it goes very poorly for him.

Anyways, story below the cut, 1400 words, blood mention, but I think that should be obvious by now :P

Yoru woke up and rubbed her eyes, it was past noon already. She looked around Idias room, he was passed out beside her, the glow of his computer lighting the room faintly as normal sunlight wasn’t able to make it through his blinds. She groaned and got up, it had been 3 days since she left home and she knew Crowley was back but she hadn’t had the patience to deal with him yet. She felt the bones jutting out of her back, they were getting pretty sizable and growing much more quickly than she’d expected they would. At this rate she should be able to fly again in a month or so. She wished she could fly now so she wouldn’t have to try and walk through campus without being spotted by any of the students... she considered waiting until the weekend when less people were out of their dorms, but she didn’t want to intrude on Idia any longer. He said she could stay as long as she wanted but she knew how nice it was to have space for yourself and was determined to deal with Crowley one way or another. 

“Hey Idia, thanks for letting me stay, I really owe you one” He groaned in response and spread out further into his bed now that he no longer had to share. 

Yoru poked her head out the door hoping all the rest of the students were still in class. When she saw no one around, she slinked through the dorm and made her way back to the mirror to bring her back to campus. There was no one in the mirror chamber, luckily, but she was seen by a few students walking through the halls on her way home. Whispers of “who’s that?” followed her through the halls; she refused to make eye contact and hurried her pace. 

Her room had been tidied and her bathroom was immaculate… Crowley must have had a lot of time on his hands waiting for her to return. She figured it wouldn’t be long before he caught word she’d been seen on campus so she steeled herself for his interrogation. It hadn’t even been 5 minutes when Crowley flew in through her open door, arms held wide

“Nugget! You’ve returned home! I am so happy to see you alive and well! I fixed your bathroom!” He beamed at her, she glared back at him

“I made a deal with Azul for you, he didn’t try to get you to sign anything did he?” she said flatly

“Of course not! I went to see him and he told me you stepped in to save your dear old dad! You’re so kind Yoru, just like your papa” He sniffled, wiping away a fake tear

“Good. now that that’s settled, you can get the fuck out of my room. I don’t want to speak to you ever again”

“What? Nugget! That’s too cruel! Why would you say such things!?” He panicked, trying to put a hand on her shoulder to fully guilt her into talking to him. She stared at him, unblinking, and pointed towards her door. Crowley puffed up, indignant 

“Now just you listen Yoru! You live under my roof so you can’t ignore me!” He started, trying to be a mature father figure, but stumbled on his words “...You gotta! It’s too sad if you won’t talk to meeeee” He looked at her and pouted. Yoru continued to stare at him and point at the door, she would not waver from her post. Crowley deflated and walked towards the door, muttering to himself

“All I was doing was trying to save my sweet baby Nugget and keep her safe and she hates me now oh what am I to do?” He looked back at her to see if his guilt trip had worked even a little, and frowned when it did not. She watched him leave, and sighed when he was finally gone. This was probably going to go on forever, she realized, he had a way of being overbearing in the worst ways. She sat on her bed and rubbed her eyes, wondering how the hell she was going to deal with this for the foreseeable future when she heard Crowley's voice carry up the stairs from the front door

“Ahh! Floyd Leech-Kun! Have you come to check on Yoru again? She’s in her room! Please cheer her up so that she’ll talk to me again!” She heard him boast and groaned. Another pain in the ass she didn’t want to deal with right now...She was suddenly glad for the new bathroom and quickly ran to the shower, hoping that if she spent long enough in there Floyd would get bored and leave. She heard him enter her room just as she turned the water on. 

“Eeehhhh Fugu-chan? Come out come out wherever you are” 

She had to admit, the new bathroom was an improvement, her shower was much more spacious than it had been before, Crowley had put a lot of effort into making it nice. She took her time with everything, and took extra time just to stand in the stream. After what had to have been an hour she finally turned off the shower and listened intently at the bathroom door to see if she could still hear Floyd. She was met with silence and determined it was safe to leave the bathroom, glad she’d avoided him. She was almost fully dressed when she heard him enter her room again, she rolled her eyes and muttered “oh here we go”. She turned to face him, her expression flat

“What?” she demanded. He looked at her and popped a hard candy into his mouth

“You were taking foreeeeeeeeever. I got bored and got candy”

“Floyd. What. Do. You. Want?” She asked again, already annoyed that her tactic to get rid of him didn’t work.

“Ehhhh Azul sent me to make sure you weren’t skipping out on your contract with him. You know what’ll happen if you do” He shrugged, continuing to bite down on the hard candies, relishing the feeling of them crushing between his teeth.

“Yea yea, I’m not skipping out, I just need a few more days before I can look the octopus bastard in the eyes” she tried to wave him away but he didn’t move. She looked at him and shook her head “you can leave now” and waved again at the door.

“Hey Fugu-chan… you know what happens to people who try and run away from us don’t you?” He said stepping towards her, placing a hand around her throat. She laughed and grabbed his wrist, digging her nails deep into his skin. She pried his hand away from her, holding tight to his bleeding arm

“I do… but I wonder if you’d be able to strangle me before I could rip your hands off?” She smiled at him, he scowled in return “You can’t threaten me Floyd, at least not like this. You don’t scare me”. She grinned even wider “now piss off. I’ll be by the lounge in a few days” She dropped his hand and nodded towards the door. He glared at her but knew a fight would just get him yelled at later, he sulked out of the room, dripping blood all over her floor. 

+++

“Floyd, were you able to convince Yoru that she should join us soother rather than later if she’d like to keep her contract intact?” Azul said when Floyd returned to Octavinelle dorm

“Yea, she said she’d be by in a few days...but you’re going to have to fix my arm. She’s real mad at us” He held up his bleeding arm, deep gouges in his wrist and forearm.

“Oh, she’s angrier than I expected, hold on a moment I’ll get you something for your arm” Azul shuffled off to grab the potion that would heal the wounds.

“Oh my that does look dreadful, doesn’t it?” Jade said, examining Floyd’s wrist

“Eeehhhh I told you her nails were sharp” He shrugged “We’re gonna have to try and find something else to keep her in line though, she’s not scared of me”

“Fufufufu, I suppose she wouldn’t be, especially not now she’s back to her Harpy form” Jade said approvingly.  

“I don’t like when my threats have no effect. This is stupid” Floyd pouted.

[igniteshroud-a]

((Who’s ready for an ass ton of angst? No one? Well too bad cause here it is! I was about to sleep when I was slapped with inspiration. If it’s too hard to read on tumblr you can find it in the docs too! Now without further ado, here is the story of how Ortho died.))

“Idiaaaaa! Please let me come with! I promise to do whatever you say and I won’t get in the way!” Ortho pleads with his older brother as he prepares to leave for his first mission without supervision. Ortho had been begging Idia to let him come along on jobs for years now and each time Idia refused. He never gave a proper reason, usually the best excuse he managed was either “You’ll get bored” or, when he was in a particularly fowl mood, “You’ll just be in the way.” Excuses that never pleased the younger boy.

An exasperated sigh escapes the older boy as he places a key hung on a golden strand around his neck. The key was how he got to and from the underworld and the over world. Only select few were allowed it, even his father had it revoked for a time. He was trusted with it, he had to care for it and make sure nothing got in or out of the Underworld that wasn’t meant to leave. His task was important, he had a lot of people counting on him and relaying on him. He couldn’t risk messing up. Which was why he told his brother

“For the last time, Ortho. Not just no but hell no! I can’t keep up with you today, I’ll be too distracted. You help me with something else when I get home, okay?” Before his younger brother could give a response Idia was already out the door. His back turned and black ropes billowing in the cool cavern air.

It was stressful working alone, Idia wasn’t used to it. Normally he had his dad with him or one of his aunts. But today he was completely alone. Even Charon wasn’t allowed to help him ferry reborn spirits to their new lives in the world above. He had to gather the spirit, travel with it and properly deliver it without any help. It finally gave him a chance to see the kind of pressure his seniors were under when they were working. He no longer envied them for their power or position. Slowly he was starting to realize exactly how exhausting power could be.

He was on his last trip for the day. Retrieving a soul from the Asphodel Meadows and taking it through the river Styx back to it’s new body up above. They were further into the meadows then most, lingering on the outskirts of Tartarus even. Approaching the barren land sent a chill down Idia’s spine. He’d heard stories of Tartarus, heard how his father released many of the Titans that were trapped there and heard what exactly they could do to even gods. It was the home of horror stories to him, the type of stories his aunt would tell him and his siblings if they started misbehaving. He’d never gone in for a soul before and he hoped he never would.

The spirit only added to his anxiety with being near there. No matter how he approached the spirit would run from him. He’d had many spirits fear him before, he was used to this sort of reaction. But most would actually listen to him and willing go. Not this one though. How could he fully blame them though? The spirit was only a child, most likely died from an accident or a disease. He had to imagine it feared him the way he feared the border it played around.

He was starting to lose his temper, preparing to abandon the endeavor and report back to his aunt. When the child jumped behind a rock and giggles began to erupt from it. The Asphodel Meadows were notoriously silent, even the wind didn’t make noise. The spirits rarely made noise and if they did it was typically the new spirits wailing in anguish over their lost lives. So hearing such a fun and gentle sound was startling to say the least.

Idia cautiously approached the bush, hand reaching to grab the key around his throat as though somehow that would protect him from whatever was generating the childish sounds. He placed his hand against the rock and noticed a faint blue light emitting from behind it. He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and scowled deeply. He stepped beside the rock, arms crossed over his chest and fingers tapping against his biceps. Crouched behind the rock were the young spirit and Ortho. Both snickering over the chase they were causing Idia.

“Ortho.” The older boys voice was demanding, it wasn’t terribly loud but the anger he held was evident in it. The young spirit was the first to notice Idia, again it tried to run. But Ortho grabbed it’s hand before turning to peer up at his brother. Despite the deep scowl on the elders face Ortho grinned from ear to ear at Idia.

“You got us!” He snickered his smile mischievous and proud. He picked up his brother’s anger of course. Yet he knew his brother and knew that Idia could stay mad at everyone in the universe except for his family. So instead of apologizing or attempting to explain he turned to the young ghost. “Games over, Zephyr. Big brother’s gonna take you to your new home now. Okay?”

The young ghost still looked fearful. Sickly physique pulled closer towards their torso in attempts to appear smaller, less of a threat. Anxious eyes glance up to the far taller man then back to the far more friendly boy. A hand is held close to their mouth as they try to decide what to do. Before finally squeezing Ortho’s hand and nodding their head. They let go of Ortho and step closer to Idia.

Idia glares at his brother, trying to silently remind him that he was in trouble. But Ortho just grinned, silently calling out his bluff of anger. A highly annoyed sigh escapes Idia as he gently takes the spirits hand. He begins to walk away from his brother, leading the spirit behind him. As he passes he grumbles “This isn’t over.”

Ortho grins knowing he’s won and attempts to follow. But Idia stops dead in his tracks, spinning around to give a full on heated glare at his brother. Flamed locks shoot out changing from blue to red as fire burns equally bright in golden eyes. Ortho stops a few feet behind his family and friend. A pain wells in his chest like someone is squeezing his heart. He’d seen that expression from his father when his plans didn’t work out, he’d seen it from his sister when Uncle Apollo made a nasty comment about Idia. But he’d never seen that expression from his brother, much less seen it pointed towards him. Without a word the message is made clear.

A pale finger points back towards the rock and Ortho takes one step back. Slowly he takes another then another until finally he turns around fully. He didn’t want to face that expression anymore, so he retreated. Doing as he was told and taking a seat spot atop the boulder he was found at. Idia lets out a breath through his nose before glancing at the spirit again. They’re looking back at Ortho, concern evident on their translucent face. A pang of guilt hits Idia’s heart but he tries to ignore it. Instead he gently pulls on the child’s arm. “It’ll be okay. Come on, let’s get you home.”

With that Idia was walking away again. Leaving his brother alone to sulk. The Meadows were as silent as ever especially this far out into them. The only sound Ortho could hear was his own heartbeat. Surrounding him was nothing, giving the entire Meadows an empty feeling. Perfect for the loneliness Ortho felt about being left behind. He didn’t mean to cause trouble, he didn’t mean to make Idia mad at him. He wanted to help, that was all. But his attempts to help, to make his brother laugh with the game he and the spirit played, all failed. Now his brother was furious with him and he would never get to work with him. As melancholic thoughts filled the young boys head a sound interrupted them.

“Ortho....” A faint voice called from the distance, causing Ortho to sit up. The voice was familiar, feminine, comforting and full of love. It could only be that of his mother. Yet what would she be doing out here? She was meant to be above the underworld for another three months. “Ortho, my precious lily...”

The call comes again, this time making Ortho jump to his feet. The call came from far off. Perhaps it was his mother, calling to him to the over world so he could see her and Idia! As the voice called his name again he ran towards it. Though it came from the opposite area where Idia had left, he was sure that was the way to the over world where he could see his beloved family some more.

Small bare feet beat against blackened barren ground. The area he was running towards was far darker then where he just came from. The ground showed no sign of life. Ashy and dry every step he took caused a black puff. Yet the voice was coming from this way. Surely it must have been one of those times he heard about. When the darkness comes before the light. That’s what he’d tell himself to battle back the encroaching fear gripping at his heart.

The further he went this way the more lost he felt. He’d gone in a completely straight path yet when he looked back all he saw was darkness. This area somehow managed to be even more quiet then the Meadows. He could hear his own breathing and his own heartbeat as he walked. He thought of turning back, going towards the way he came and praying he would find home. But every time he thought of it the voice would start again and, like a siren’s call, pull him closer to it.

He began calling for his mother, hoping to fill the silence and that his mother would come out of hiding if she heard him. His voice echoed in the nothingness and caused the lonely feeling in his chest to strengthen. Oddly enough when the voice called it did not echo. He could easily follow it and pinpoint where it was coming from.

Until finally he came to a large hole in the ground, covered by odd multi-colored bars. They seemed to sizzle with electricity yet lines of water rushed through them too and specks of blue fire dotted them. He’d never seen anything like it before. When he tried to grab them he felt they were hard as diamonds and burned his small hands. He pulled his hands back, stepping away from the hole.

“Hello?” He called out trying to see if anything was beyond the bars.

“Ortho. Ortho my precious lily. I’ve been trapped. Please help me, please help me.” His mother’s voice spoke from the pit. She was trapped? Why would she be trapped there? Who would trap her?

Despite the questions Ortho stepped closer once more, leaning over to look inside. He tilts his head, calling back to his mother. “Mama? I don’t see you.”

As he finished speaking a pair of golden eyes light up the darkness. Ortho’s heart races just at the sight of them and he stumbles back away from the pit. A primal fear envelopes his entire body, paralyzing him as his breathing suddenly feels painful. A large black with silver speckled hand reaches out between the bars and grabs at Ortho. A terrified scream escapes the young boy, finally movement returns to his body making him scramble backwards just before the hand can crush him.

Ortho rushes to his feet, nearly falling over again in doing so. This was no mother of his, this was no family to him, this thing was nothing like him.

“Ortho!” It’s voice booms shaking the entire ground, knocking Ortho back to the ground. It’s arm manages to grab his leg this time, a crunching sound echoes in the nothing and a child’s scream fills the silence. “Come to me!”

The hand drags the far smaller boy back to it, tiny fingers desperately try to claw into the ground attempting to find something to hold on to. Tears stain his cheeks and firey hair wipes around as though it too is looking for something to hold onto.

“Daddy, Makaria, mama!!” Ortho’s voice shrieks hoping to find someone, anyone who can calm him. Someone to free him, to hold him and tell him it’s okay now. Even if they’re mad at him for following the voice, even if they yell at him and are angry at him, he doesn’t care! He needs someone, anyone, “BIG BROTHER!!!”

The shriek captures Idia’s attention even so far into the distance. It’s faint, as though screamed from a thousand miles away. Yet the shriek causes his pace to pick up. Thoughts of what could have caused it race in his head as he rushes towards where he left his beloved baby brother. The closer he gets, the further his heart sinks. There’s no sign of Ortho. The rock he was left at sits empty and any tracks for Idia to follow are gone. It’s as though the boy disappeared in thin air.

“ORTHO!!” The frantic scream reaches back to the young boy who desperately clings to side of bars that separate the charred earth from whatever was further below. Hope rises a moment as Ortho tries to pull himself up away from the grasp, only to be tugged down again. A pained yelp escapes him at the sound of something popping and his chin burns as it hits against an elemental bar. Still he finds the strength to resist, to kick, to hold on and to scream.

“IDIA!! IDIA!!!” Long legs race through the barren land of Tartarus, black puffs of dust kick up nearly blinding Idia’s vision. Yet Idia ignores the disturbance to his vision, focusing instead on what he hears. The cry of a child and the rumbling of something unthinkable. So many worst case scenarios play through Idia’s head. One sticks out above all else, one that comes from a story he heard of his grandfather. Cronus, the once ruler of the universe and the devourer of his own. Idia wants to pray but knows they will go unheard. Gods never listened to another gods prayer.

“COME TO ME!” The voice shakes the earth again, knocking Ortho’s hands lose and hurting his ears. The boy screams reaching up to try grabbing at something again. Yet as he’s pulled down he finds it harder and harder to grab anything. Tears blind the young child as fear wells up in his stomach. What would happen to him? Would he die? Would he be trapped? Would he always be in pain? Why wasn’t anyone saving him. Where was his big brother?

A hand wraps itself around Ortho’s outstretched arm and catches him causing yet another pop this time from his arm. Ortho cries out in pain but looks up to see what has caught him. Golden eyes light up at the sight of long blue hair and a pale arm holding desperately to him. “Big brother!”

Idia feels his stomach burn against the bars, he can smell the smoke that emits from his robes pressed against them. None of that is as painful as the sight before him though. Two sets of golden eyes staring up at him. One pair tiny full of both fear and relief. The other pair the size of moons and full of nothing but an age old fury. It made his breath nearly stop, his heart race so fast he thought it’d escape his chest and every hair on his body stand on end. He never thought he would come face to face with his own grandfather like this.

He could barely hold on to the side of the pit and his brother. The thing was far, far stronger then him. He knew he couldn’t win in a battle of tug of war like this. If he was lucky he’d be pulled down too and they’d both be trapped. Yet if he was unlucky only he would survive and he didn’t want to imagine what would happen to his precious brother.

He had to think quickly, Ortho wouldn’t be able to stay like this forever and neither could he. He had to do something, anything to protect his brother. If his brother were human he could simply take his brother’s soul and place him into a new body. One uninjured, untouched by this abomination. But Ortho wasn’t human, he was technically a minor god too. The only way he could get Ortho’s soul was if- It hits him. What he needs to do.

“Ortho! Let go!” The command from his family causes all relief in Ortho’s features to wash away. Replaced by a look of pure shock. Let go? But if he let go he’d be taken away. Was Idia that mad at him? Did Idia want him gone that badly? The idea that his brother hated him so much brought new tears to the child’s eyes.

“Ortho, please! Let go! Please, just trust me!” Tears fall onto Ortho’s face but none that are his own. Tears slip from Idia’s eyes as he stares down at his brother and the tiny hand wrapped around his arm. He couldn’t do this if Ortho was still holding on. He couldn’t save his brother if he didn’t let go. A weak smile spreads on Idia’s face as he tries to be comforting. “Please, just let go...”

Tears slide down Ortho’s face, his own mixing with the ones that have fallen from his brother. He doesn’t want too, he’s not ready to let go. He still wants time. Time with his mother, his father, his sister and time with his brother. He hasn’t had enough. He’s so young. Why does he have to let go?

He just does. Small release around Idia’s arm and the small boy is pulled from his brother’s grasp. Limp body falling into darkness, disappearing along with the life in the boy. Yet Idia still holds on. His hand is still wrapped around the arm of his brother and he pulls his brother out.

A pale limp figure like his brother rests in Idia’s arms as he steps back from the pit. There’s no life to the being in his arms yet there is hope. Even as the monster screams and the earth rumbles. As Idia’s feet run and Ortho’s body falls into nothing, there is hope.

[parallel-selfs]

Glorious Masquerade (chapter 5)

Translation by Gasumasuku Gamer, Ekala and Otome Ayui. EN playthrough by RoseEmber.

Instead of chatting, just pick him up and throw him down the stairs the second you saw him. That's what I would do.

Cry me a river, Rollo.

Why can't you fist fight him? Why use magic when you can punch him?

Cause you're the dumbass who left their diary in the school's fireplace instead of placing it in your bedroom.

Why do you do this to me, why must we read his brother's last moments? 😭

Rollo is allowed to despise mages, he has every right to, but trying to erase magic because it can be dangerous isn't the answer. He's doing this out of place guilt and grief that went untreated. I said this before in a post on my main, he could become a teacher for younger children who unlocked their magic early in life. He can teach them how to control it better and prevent incidents like his brother's from happening again.

It angers me that adults failed another child. Every childhood trauma in this game is caused by adults failing the child.

Idia is the only person who understands Rollo the most. Too bad he's an asshole.

Honestly, I wish I could talk to Rollo instead of having these assholes do it.

Azul, chill.

They're in a dangerous situation, there's no time to be suspicious. If his unique magic can help them, so be it.

Why were you guys just standing and talking? You should have immediately rang the bell instead of waiting for Rollo to get back up.

Malleus, don't say that.

This girl is on fire!!

"No, you're ringing the bell."

He's a dragon, you think that would really affect him.

"Grr, a little busy over here, Grim."

"Grim! Stop being a troublemaker!"

The huge relief at hearing the bell, relaxing her body as the flowers die. Probably falls to her knees.

... I feel bad at seeing him cry. Honey...

That's something you see a lot: "I'm doing for this so-and-so!" That person didn't ask for this, they had no involvement in this. You're doing for yourself and only for yourself. (Unless you're Book 6)

Idia spitting facts, and I agree with Azul, that last part wasn't necessary.

Because fuck you that's why.

The interaction is very cute.

Malleus glaring at him and making him nervous 😆

Malleus, why are you so cute?

Sliding down the side of the tower would look so cool 😣

Isn't Rollo tied up, would the two question it?

Yeah... Just like the righteous judge...

Stay silence and have the fear of someone finding out or confess and be hated by everyone. Malleus, you evil man, same hat.

Going to a different place and have fun? Of course everyone want the ball! Especially after what happened!

I imagine Malleus ran over to Alice once he saw her and gave her the biggest hug that she told him he's crushing her. Then walked both her and Trein back to their rooms.

I believe everything ended at 12-1am, Alice probably sleeping until 10-11pm and then walking the city with those who are awake.

Ace will tease you out of envy.

You can't feel the pain if you're performing.

Rook is the fourth person to cry in this event.

You're lying through your teeth.

Yeet!!

😆 Grim became a car! Why did he come in like that?

"You climbed on his back and hurt him more. No throwing up for you." (Could be phrased better, but makes it funny.)

Azul, don't be an asshole.

"Don't be lecturing me, Azul. I asked Rook if you didn't give me my power back, he will hunt you down until you did."

Azul, stop lying to yourself. It's not healthy.

Rook hiding behind Epel.

Pats Grim's head. "You look great, everyone."

"Thank you, Malleus." (Idia is just grinning at Yuu 😆)

Frowning at Rollo with crossed arms.

Jumpscared by the spotlight. Grim, you prideful cat.

The power she sees from her friend as the crowd splits for him.

(You think I have the ghost camera on me? You're getting my phone camera as a report.)

"This was a pleasant surprise."

"Wanted to be part of the performance?"

"Says the two feet direbeast who gets lost in crowds easily."

"Pot calling kettle black."

(Dancing with your enemy.)

(Awkward.)

(Then Malleus immediately runs over and sweeps Alice off of her feet to start dancing.)

Malleus asks her about his performance. "The performance was beautiful! I really enjoyed it!"

The two share a dance together, being dorky friends and giggling to each other.

Scarred by magic