#etteilla oc

[rosietrace]

「 Gentle Sinner 」

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Central Character ; 『 Victoria Shard, “The Queen” 』 | 『 Noriko Dolion, “Justice’s loyal servant” 』

Others ; Mitch Reiss | Camilla Marigold | Himitsu | Felicitas Leya | Haruka

Mentioned ; Thomas Cresswell (†)

Pairing(s) ; Victoria & Noriko

AU : Secret Agents

【 All Ocs belong to their respective owners and will be credited at the end. 】

Synopsis: “There is no sweeter innocence, then our gentle sin.”

Warning(s): connects with 「 Target Acquired 」 but it isn't required to read before reading this, slightly established relationship (Nororia), the Cresswells hate to see a girlboss winning (don't start wearing red to a funeral, kids), contains characters from Etteilla, potentially ooc, Mercie I'm sorry but Noriko does NOT talk much 😭

【 IMPORTANT NOTE: The characters of “Haruka” and “Himitsu” are by @/geminiiviolets and @/authoruio, and both are currently unreleased. Some details will remain vague until their eventual release. 】

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

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“Cresswell was meant to be brought in alive.”

To say Victoria Shard, the queen of the kingdom they called their agency who ruled with an iron fist, was angry… was an understatement.

Noriko kept quiet. It wasn't within their rights to barge in and speak up while agents Mitch and Camilla were being scolded. They kept silent, their head slightly lowered while they guarded the doors from outside of their mistress’ office.

Though the words were muffled, Noriko could still hear them loud and clear as the ring of a bell.

“Killing Cresswell was a necessity,” defended Mitch. Noriko pictured him standing in front of Camilla, shielding her from Victoria's verbal ammunition.

“Tranquilization would've been as reasonable of an option, Reiss. Killing him, not so much.”

“Victoria, please,” pleaded Camilla, “Mitch knows what he did went against orders—”

“Does he?” There was a challenge in Victoria's voice, as if she found Camilla's words hard to believe. A melody of authority and command that brought whatever words the other two were going to say to utter silence.

A heavy sigh left Victoria's lips. “If you just tell me the reason—”

“I'm afraid we cannot.” Mitch felt far too sure of his answer. Noriko pitied him for it.

Noriko pictured Victoria with a clenched jaw, her teeth grinding together as her patience hung by a dangerously thin thread. “And you, Reiss, have no right to question my authority.”

Their argument continued for, as Noriko checked with his watch, for more than half an hour. Righteous fury filled Victoria's voice. And Noriko could hear the distinct sound of the slam of her hands against her desk.

“Out.” She commanded. “Both of you, out. By next week, I expect an explanation, and if I don't get that from either of you, you'll both be suspended until I say you aren't.”

Camilla left the office first, her eyes on the ground with laser-focus. Mitch looked less ashamed and more frustrated. He made an effort in hiding it, but there was no hiding any emotions when it came to Noriko or Victoria.

Himitsu brushed past the two of them. Her expression was puzzling, but she didn't question much until after Victoria allowed her and Noriko to enter.

Himitsu closed the double doors behind her. “What… exactly happened?” The question was more a formality than anything else. Noriko knew that Himitsu knew. Nothing went under the nose of Victoria's secretary.

Victoria sat on a chair behind her desk, legs crossed with her elbows on the chair's arms. She did Himitsu the courtesy of answering her question. “Agents Reiss and Marigold went against orders. That's all.”

Noriko shook their head. “Unfortunately so…”

“Now that Cresswell is dead, we'll need another source of intel,” Victoria released a soft, exasperated sigh. Her hand went to the side of her forehead, eyebrows knitted together.

Himitsu hummed in contemplation. “Right… right…”

All three occupants of the room kept silent. Not only in contemplation, but to allow Victoria to ease whatever nerves Mitch and Camilla had gotten on.

Noriko found it unreasonable with how uncooperative Mitch was, in particular; why hold back information on why he killed Cresswell, when it went against everything Victoria advised them to do?

In Noriko's mind, he believed Victoria to be a saint— merciful for giving Camilla, and especially Mitch, a chance to redeem themselves for their misguidance within a week.

Their long moment of quiet had fallen short when a knock on the doors came. Out of habit, Noriko went into a battle-ready stance, a habit Haruka had mocked them for time and time again.

Victoria didn't allow a second to pass before she said, “Come in.”

The doors opened, revealing Felicitas; one of the many, many operatives that assisted in the cover-ups — at least, in the legal side of things — when certain operations went south.

The night Cresswell died and the news reached Victoria, Felicitas was one of the first to be summoned to cover up any leads that could reveal the truth of his disappearance.

“Ah,” Victoria's expression was somewhat at ease now, far more pleasant looking than when Mitch and Camilla were in the office. “Felicitas.”

With her hands behind her back in a perfect imitation of a soldier answering to their sergeant, Felicitas cleared her throat.

“All traces of potential leads to Cresswell's death have been, as of last night, covered up,” she stated. “Anything we've missed will be thoroughly handled under whatever your requests may be, ma'am.”

The Chairwoman leaned back against her metaphorical throne. “Excellent,” she declared. Noriko was at least glad that there wasn't any visible tension in the way she moved.

“Continue to cover up any leads. And advise Jiyoon to come up with a cover story she could slip to the press.”

Felicitas nodded in understanding. “Of course.” There was no questioning the word of the Chairman, Noriko thought.

A beat passed before Felicitas spoke up again. “... There is also the matter of Cresswell's family, ma'am.”

Those words alone seemed to bring back the tension in Victoria's body with a vengeance. “What of his family?”

“If I may,” Himitsu finally chimed in, raising a finger. Victoria stared blankly at her before she gestured to her to continue. The floor is yours, the wave of her hand seemed to say.

“Thomas Cresswell's family is currently under the impression that he is, in fact, dead.” Noriko grimaced at the words that left Himitsu’s mouth, beginning to feel as tense as Victoria.

“Even if we cover up the facts, they're still going to give the media a chance to gobble up their opinions on his sudden disappearance. I'm afraid that the chances of them believing he left overseas are very slim.”

That is a conundrum, Noriko thought to themselves. But after that, they thought, but hopefully it's one My Lady is capable of solving.

Victoria was decidedly quiet once Himitsu relayed the information to her. Noriko counted seven minutes before she spoke in reply. “Give them an assurance.”

At first, Noriko was puzzled. All until Victoria continued to elaborate.

“Thomas Cresswell is a man with a flair for the dramatic, and as I've informed agent Reiss, he is ‘the black sheep’ of his family.” Victoria gave Felicitas a look that made the latter straighten up just a little bit more. “Assuming Felicitas and her team have been thorough enough in covering things up… we'll need to give them some false assurance.”

“Of what kind?” Himitsu queried.

Victoria shrugged. “Anything that can provide them the message that their son is alive and well, but wants the world to believe he's dead.”

“Besides,” the Chairwoman picked up a diamond encrusted chess piece— the black queen. “The media loves conspiracy. For now, let's let them have what they want.”

Cresswell might've been a man of great charisma, but what the media loves to do is to make assumptions. With his sudden disappearance, they'll believe that he'd gone through something so tortured and horrific to his senses that he believed that death was his only option left.

They could allow the world to believe Thomas Cresswell was dead. All they needed to do was to cover up the circumstances behind said death.

Ultimately, Jiyoon wouldn't have too hard of a job to come up with a cover story to anonymously slip to the press. Probably.

“The Cresswell family is holding a funeral in his honor.” Felicitas tuned back in.

Noriko gave Victoria a look, asking for permission before they could speak. Finally, they said, “Then perhaps it would be best to give the family our condolences.”

Their words made Victoria snort, her lips curling into a smirk.

“Then we must attend under the assumption that Jiyoon is good enough at her job to not leave tracks that lead to us, Nori.”

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Thomas Cresswell's funeral hardly felt like a funeral, let alone looked like one. To Noriko, it brought to mind a formal event for the rich and popular— more a fashion show than a funeral service.

Victoria's personal bodyguard took extra precautions in case certain less than agreeable situations were to play out; such as calling on a number of operatives to ensure the safety of their Chairwoman.

It didn't seem like it, but the funeral was crawling with intelligence operators. All there to do their jobs, keep their boss safe, and add fuel to the Cresswell fire.

“The Cresswell matriarch’s holding court.” Murmured Haruka, his arms slightly crossed with his head cocked to one side.

Noriko's eyebrow raised. “And what of her husband?”

“Word has it, the Cresswell patriarch isn't doing so well after his heir's death.” Haruka let out a small, dismissive shrug. “That's what Himitsu relayed to us, though.”

Cutting the chit-chat to the side, Haruka's eyes flattened to slits. “And aren't you supposed to be guarding the Chairman?” He couldn't fight the slight scoff.

Noriko resisted the tempting urge to roll their eyes, but just barely. “She’s not far…” they muttered, their eyes wandering to where Victoria was.

The Chairman of the agency and the Cresswell matriarch were more or less having a silent sword match on who was holding court.

The latter made their efforts clear, now surrounded by a sea of high-ranking officials giving their condolences— most of which genuinely believed that Cresswell had disappeared, and not dead as the man's family believed.

But there was no denying the attention the Chairman attracted at every turn. For Noriko, it was hardly surprising— to him, Victoria exuded spectacle, even when she dressed modestly.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the reason why she was attracting so much attention. While true that Victoria put in the work to appear more modest and not look like she received an invitation to the Met gala, the red of her well-tailored opera gloves and scarlet ribboned hat spoke ill-intent.

The bright color wasn't easy to miss. It was a vibrant shade, and you couldn't miss Victoria in the crowd even if you tried; where everyone else wore nothing but black and white, she wore her puffed sleeved dress with glistening white pearls and red gloves.

As she gave Mrs. Cresswell her condolences, the message behind her choice of clothing was clearer than the crystal decor of the garden.

That wasn't to say that eyes weren't on Noriko, either. By being her bodyguard, Noriko had as much of a target on his back as Victoria did— and that wasn't even going in to mention the matching red gloves they wore to coordinate with her.

They watched as Victoria separated from the crowd of people around Mrs. Cresswell, and readily opened the parasol in their hands to shield her porcelain skin from the blinding sunlight. Even when her hat was big enough to do that work for them.

“Was it wise to wear red on this lovely afternoon?” Noriko hoped the low tone of their voice wasn't too condescending.

Victoria didn't take offense to the question. “The Shards and the Cresswells were never friendly with each other, anyways. I can handle another controversy.”

To keep the inner workings of the agency out of the reach of the media, the Shards — Victoria's family from whom she inherited the role of Chairman — lived under the guise of an old money family.

Which… if Noriko wanted to get technical about it, they were. Like all old money families, the media loved to spin stories of possible family secrets; only they weren't aware that the family they're hounding with attention had been in charge of an organization of intelligence operatives since the ‘30s.

Nevertheless, that wasn't what Noriko was worried about. They clutched the parasol just a tiny bit tighter. “... The press will put you under scrutiny, again.”

“Let them,” was Victoria's immediate response. “My family's always been under controversy. What I'm doing today is nothing compared to what my grandmother or her grandmother before her had done.”

Yet the fact still remains, Noriko's amber hues softened, their gaze fixed on the sapphire irises of the woman they devoted themselves to. that isn't going to stop me from worrying about you.

Their promenade ended with them straying from the funeral service, and into the rose maze of the Cresswell estate.

Admittedly, they were probably lost. They came across a marble gazebo along the way, and Victoria chose that opportunity to sit there, gesturing for Noriko to do the same.

Reluctantly, they did the same. Alas, Victoria's bodyguard couldn't help but feel slightly flushed just from sitting beside her in an area where most people wouldn't find them.

Now that the two of them were alone, Victoria breathed out heavily, her head letting itself rest on Noriko's shoulder. Their hand met hers, both intertwined.

It was unbecoming. An imbalance in their dynamic. But it felt right. Being with Victoria, their hands intertwined like this, felt right.

Then again, everything with Victoria felt that way.

“You worry about me too much, Nori,” her voice was soft. No longer a melody of authority, but rather a siren song Noriko could never tire from.

“I feel that my worries are valid…” they murmured back. “You, my lady… you have a target on your back.”

“The masses may not know you as the Chairman, but your enemies do. Danger follows you at every turn, and I'm not just protecting you as your bodyguard anymore.”

That, Victoria couldn't argue with. “No,” she agreed with a small shake of her head. Her free hand went to the side of their face. “Not anymore.”

Noriko leaned into her touch, the way they always did. There was nothing sweeter of any sort of romantic innocence, than the gentle sin of loving someone who couldn't openly love back.

Victoria had her faults. Striving for perfection from those who do not seek it, manipulating people— sometimes they deserved it, other times not so much.

But to Noriko, their view of her would never change. The moment their lips met, and nothing else felt comparable to it.

“This is wrong,” Noriko whispered, their words nothing but muffled out as Victoria's lips met theirs again, and again, and again. “So wrong.”

“So why does it feel so right?” Asked Victoria, as if she wrung out the question from Noriko's mind, pulling away for only a moment before bringing herself back into Noriko's embrace.

There were so many things wrong with her. So many things wrong with him, for seeing her — flaws and all — and loving her anyway.

The love, the devotion, the loyalty Noriko had for Victoria. It was all-consuming. All-encompassing. Destructive.

But it was perfect. And that was always going to be enough for them. And for her.

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【 Taglist / Credits 】

↳ In order of OC appearances/mentions

Victoria Shard — Me 😈

Noriko Dolion — @terrovaniadorm / @hallowed-delights

Mitch Reiss — @authoruio

Camilla Marigold — Also Me 😈

Himitsu — Also @/authoruio

Haruka — @geminiiviolets

Felicitas Leya — Also x2 @/authoruio

| @starry-night-rose | @jasdiary | @nem0-nee | @fumikomiyasaki | @sakuramidnight15 | @twsted-princess | @mystery-skulls-ghost | @absolutelyobsessedkiya / @twistedsongstressofstarz | @valse-a-mille-temps |

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[ui-artdump]

[For Piss.] and Rosie I guess??

@mystery-skulls-ghost supprissseesss! *fanfare*

[violet-dragonfly]

anyways plans for future projects hehe

• Sybil lore (+ overblot)

More Celestellaron stuff if anyone joins it aaaughh

caspian art

evangline will exist soon (along with delta and Arianell

hopefully second fableheart oc

this one’s an important one but

ETTEILLA OCS LETS GO

[geminiiviolets]

wait omg now I can post abt the etteilla ocs holy shit

[eldritchclouds]

Finally updated and redrew Etteilla, with a cute new outfit.

[fen--harel]

𝖊𝖙𝖙𝖊𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖆 𝖘𝖈𝖍𝖊𝖚𝖇𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖓 | 𝖉𝖆𝖈𝖎𝖆𝖓𝖆 𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖍𝖊𝖑𝖊𝖘𝖈𝖚

[rosietrace]

A Deck left untouched

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“Do you remember this story? After all, you were the villain of it.”

༝ㅤ･ㅤ˚ㅤ。ㅤ.ㅤ⋆ㅤ✧̣̩⋆̩☽⋆゜【♛】

『 Etteilla 』 — General Information 「 The Dormitory 」

『 Name Meaning

Etteilla — The pseudonym of Jean Baptiste Alliette. A man who is known for his many contributions to the art of tarot reading. 』

✧ A former dormitory of Scepter Hall Institute

↳ Once founded under the unity of the mortal and immortal, now lost to time

✦ Made during the early stages of Scepter Hall Institute's history. Back when their original location was within the confines of the Briar Valley.

✧ Due to ████████ , the dormitory had fallen into obscurity, and soon forgotten throughout history.

✦ To this day, no member of the academy's alumni who were alive at the time of Etteilla's disbandment are allowed to speak of it.

↳ This is due in part with the fact that the academy had faced a great deal of losses around the same time of the dormitory's disbandment.

「 It seems the page has been ripped in two…. 」

↭ For more information; 『 A Dorm lost to Time 』

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『 Etteilla 』 — 「 The inner circle 」

✦ Individuals of the original dormitory, and individuals who had nothing to do with it all. 26 members, 21 cards.

✧ All of which, are under the control of Mistress Alliette — their leader. Their savior. Their Queen.

✦ Their mistress has a goal. A goal that they must assist her in fulfilling. She freed them, and in turn, they'll return the favor with her assistance.

「 This is as far as the Mistress can allow. 」

↭ For more information; 『 A Deck of Cards 』

「 Main Story — Twisted Wonderland, Project A.V.A 」

†•°•══════ஓ๑✬๑ஓ══════•°•†

「 The Arcana 」 — Completed

The Mistress — The Queen

〈0〉The Fool — The Anomaly ✦ The Lady

↳ 愚者 — エル / エリシア

〈1〉The Magician — From One to Four

↳ 魔術師 — オベロン

〈2〉The High Priestess — Fallen from Grace

↳ 女教皇 — イーデン

〈3〉The Empress — The Mother of Venus

↳ 女帝 — アイシャ

〈4〉The Emperor — The Father of Mars

↳ 皇帝 — カリスト

〈5〉The Hierophant — Right and Wrong

↳ 教皇 — ゼラ ・アトラス・アモス

〈6〉The Lovers — The Mistress' Arrow

↳ 恋人 — スキー

〈7〉The Chariot — A swift blow to the head

↳ 戦車 — エンヤ

〈8〉Strength — War Incarnate

↳ 正義 — カリン

〈9〉The Hermit — Hidden Forgeries

↳ 隠者 — ヒミツ

〈10〉The Wheel of Fortune — Endless Possibilities

↳ 運命の輪 — トラ

〈11〉Justice — The Disgraced Knight

↳ 力 — ノリコ

〈12〉The Hanged Man — The Executed

↳ 吊された男 — アルバート

〈13〉Death — The Loss of Juventas ✦ Forgotten Phantom ✧ A Servant most Loyal

↳ 死神 — メイヴェン ・タナ・アクリス

〈14〉Temperance — Divine Narration

↳ 節制 — エミル

〈15〉The Devil — Forgotten Warmth ✧ Forgotten Laughter

↳ 悪魔 — マリス・マレン

〈16〉The Tower — Promise of Prometheus

↳ 塔 — アセフィオン

〈17〉The Star — Lady of the Cosmos

↳ 星 — ステラ

〈18〉 The Moon — The Diva

↳ 月 — エララ

〈19〉 The Sun — The duplication of Phoebus Apollo

↳ 太陽 — ハルカ

〈20〉 Judgment — The Betrayed Trident

↳ 審判 — テミス

〈21〉 The World — E.A.N.E

↳ 世界 — コスマ

「 ❐ Disclaimer; Etteilla has been completed prior to the creation of this post. I would like to apologize for the fact that you cannot add on to the current number of members in Etteilla. 」

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「 Extras 」

〈 Please use the following tags when posting content about Etteilla! 〉

↬ 〈 Tags 〉

#etteilla twst • #「 etteilla ♢」 • #etteilla oc

↫ 〈 Etteilla Taglist 〉

↳ Those who have created an oc for Etteilla

「 @starry-night-rose ✧ @windbornearchon ✧ @twsted-princess ✧ @authoruio ✧ @terrovaniadorm / @celiica ✧ @geminiiviolets ✧ @absolutelyobsessedkiya ✧ @abyss-wonderer ✧ @mystery-skulls-ghost 」

༝ㅤ･ㅤ˚ㅤ。ㅤ.ㅤ⋆ㅤ✧̣̩⋆̩☽⋆゜【♛】

↬ 「 Main Playlists 」 (TBA)

↷ 『 Upright 』

↶ 『 Reversed 』

↬ 「 Documents 」 (TBA)

↻ 『 Roles 』

↺ 『 Character Themes 』

†•°•══════ஓ๑✬๑ஓ══════•°•†

[rosietrace]

Never Loud, Never Quiet

Characters Featured: Victoria Shard || Heartslabyul AU! Noriko Dolion (@terrovaniadorm)

Others Featured: Riddle Rosehearts, Keres Perrault, Deuce Spade, Elara Cessair, Jade Leech, Malleus Draconia (mentioned)

Pairing: Victoria Shard x Noriko Dolion

Synopsis: In which Noriko genuinely can't stop talking about a certain fae from Pomefiore.

Warning(s): Spoilers(??) for a specific main story, subtle literally just one hints towards 「 Twisted Wonderland: Project AVA 」, Noriko is a simp, Victoria unintentionally enables their clownery, Elara, Malleus is his own warning /j /j

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

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“For seven's sake, Noriko, pay more attention to painting the roses, you're distracting your underclassmen…”

“Apologies, housewarden.”

Riddle sent Noriko a look of clear, potent, exasperation. Holding his scepter in his hands, he lightly tapped Noriko's back with its blunt end.

“I understand your admiration for Miss Shard, she is a well-accomplished diplomat,” Riddle sighed. “However-”

“Lady Victoria's actually much more than a well-accomplished diplomat, housewarden Rosehearts,” Noriko finished painting one rose and proceeded to paint the next. “In fact, she's an officially licensed knight. Did you know she was officially knighted by the Queen of the Queendom of Roses at just the age-”

“Silence,” Riddle ran a hand through his hair, making sure to be at a considerable distance from Noriko.

Keres had recently returned from running another errand from Crowley and happened to notice the fatigued expression on Riddle's face.

“Are you quite alright, housewarden?” They asked, slightly nervous yet nevertheless concerned. “You appear rather… Err…. Parched.”

Riddle exhaled, his head tilting up and breathing in the fresh air. It took about 5 minutes for him to get himself together before he could reply.

“I'm fine, Keres,” The look of exasperation on Riddle's face said otherwise.

Deuce laughed awkwardly, walking past Keres to head to tend to the hedgehog's outside of the rose maze.

“I'd suggest keeping a safe distance from a certain someone for a bit,” he mumbled to Keres offhandedly, nodding his head toward Noriko before walking off.

Upon noticing that Deuce was referring to Noriko, Keres sighed heavily.

“Suddenly everything makes sense…” They muttered. They ended up receiving another call from Crowley for another errand, and unfortunately, Keres had less time to judge Noriko than to do work Crowley didn't wanna do.

For whatever reason, Noriko had an almost disturbing attachment to Victoria Shard of Pomefiore, of all people.

The young man and Pomefiore's ‘almost housewarden’ got along incredibly well, seemingly attached to the hip. Noriko's loyalty to the woman was often considered worrying to their peers; yet they paid no mind to their opinions in regards to their loyalty.

Noriko climbed down the ladder after finishing their task of painting the roses and later received a text.

They furrowed their eyebrows. Elara…

Nuisance number 18: Come to Octavinelle, we gotta talk.

“Whatever could she want to talk about?” He huffed, putting his phone in his pocket. “It better be something noteworthy…”

༝ㅤ･ㅤ˚ㅤ。ㅤ.ㅤ⋆ㅤ꒷꒦꒷꒦ ✧̣̩⋆̩☽⋆゜【♛】

“You need to be sent to a mental institution.”

Noriko blinked. Of all things, Elara could say when they arrived at Octavinelle, that was how she greeted them.

They narrowed their eyes. “I don't quite follow,” Noriko folded their arms over their chest. “You said you wanted to talk about something, so talk.”

Offhandedly, they looked down at the ground, thinking of a certain someone. “... I have somewhere to be, later.”

Elara snorted. “Don't worry Nori-”

“Don't call me that.” Noriko shut her down in less than a millisecond.

Elara smirked, a hand on her hip. “Like I said, don't worry,” her other hand was waving around carelessly. “All I want is to discuss your little relationship with Little Miss Perfectionist.”

The blue-haired knight could recognize who that nickname was for in a heartbeat. “What about me and Lady Victoria?”

Elara's smirk widened. “Remember what I said about you needing to be sent to a mental institution? That's what I meant.”

“What does that have to do with my relationship with Lady Victoria?”

“Everything.”

“Pardon?”

Elara hummed. “What I mean is that you, Mr. Loyalty Incarnate, are obsessed.”

“I'm not,” Noriko frowned. “I am merely loyal to the woman I-”

“Love?” She cut him off, chuckling shortly after. “Don't try to excuse it as some sense of duty, Noriko. You have no obligation to serve her in the way you do.”

“We owe her,” they insisted. “After what she's done for us, for all of us, how could we not?”

“.... Fair,” but Elara shrugged. “but you can't deny that she means more to you than just someone you've sworn to protect.”

“You’re so willing to throw all of your morals for a woman who saved you? You're not devoted, you're beyond obsession.”

Noriko didn't have anything to say to that, almost as if confirming to Elara just how much they value Victoria's word over all else.

Instead of standing around to listen to Elara talking down on them, Noriko turned the other way and walked out of Octavinelle.

Elara's manner turned neutral. “That guy's just hopeless…” she scoffed.

“Elara,” Jade called out from behind her, holding a stack of paperwork that Azul presumably needed to sign. “What are you doing?”

She stared at Jade for a good minute, then let out a breath, resuming her work at the Monstro Lounge.

“Nothing.”

༝ㅤ･ㅤ˚ㅤ。ㅤ.ㅤ⋆ㅤ꒷꒦꒷꒦ ✧̣̩⋆̩☽⋆゜【♛】

“There you are.”

Victoria's smile almost undid Noriko as they walked toward where she sat in the forests of Pomefiore.

They smiled back at her. “It took me quite a while to find you…” Noriko sat on the grass beside her. “Pomefiore's forests aren't exactly easy to navigate.”

Victoria chuckled. “Apologies,” she set her book down on her lap. “I take it that it took a while to navigate your way to me?”

“You could say that.”

“Well, I suppose I must apologize for that, as well.”

“Don't be,” he chuckled slightly. “I'll always find my way to you, My Lady.”

Victoria's smile transitioned into a teasing smirk. “Oh?” She inched her face closer to his. “Is that so, Noriko Dolion?”

“Ah-” Noriko's face flushed very easily, especially around her. “My Lady… Your face is…”

Victoria giggled, pressing a kiss to the tip of their nose. “I merely jest, Nori.”

Noriko's face remained somewhat flushed, however, they leaned against the tree behind them. “R-Right…”

She leaned against their shoulder, and they let her. For her, Noriko would let her do whatever she wanted around him. It didn't matter what it was.

It never mattered what her intentions were.

“Did you have a long day?” Victoria started with simple questions. As much as she enjoyed a comforting silence, she enjoyed idle conversation just as much.

And Noriko obliged in her want for that. “You could say that,” their head rested over hers. “Thankfully, I never once ran into Diasomnia’s Housewarden on the way here.”

Noriko made sure to be careful in choosing his words when it came to mentioning Malleus; Victoria's soured bearing said as much.

“Good for you,” she let out a heavy breath. “Unfortunately, I had the displeasure of encountering him during class. We share the same classes, after all.”

“And I can't help but envy that prince for that,” Noriko grumbled. “He doesn't deserve to see your face as often as he does, My Lady…”

Victoria snorted. “You think so, Nori?”

“I know so,” Noriko replied quickly. “Malleus Draconia causes nothing but trouble for you. I want nothing to do with that man if it meant you'd be in a notably less amicable mood.”

She could only hum in response to that, feeling all the more endeared the longer her conversation with Nori lasted.

Slowly, painstakingly slowly, her hand went over theirs — lightly tracing her thumb over the back of it.

“.... Thank you, Nori,” she uttered. “For… For staying.”

Silence was — and perhaps always will be — a long-time companion for Victoria Shard. And it didn't try and leave, even during moments like this.

Her words: They sounded random. Unexpected, yet said with good intent.

Noriko knew why she'd breathed it out so suddenly. Why she'd thank him for something as little as staying with her.

But to them — to both of them — there was nothing ‘little’ about Noriko Dolion staying with her for as long as they have.

They both said nothing of it.

Noriko's hand eventually intertwined its fingers with hers, and there was the barest hint of a smile on them. On both of them.

“The honor is mine.”

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

🥥 — @starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @authoruio || @nem0-nee || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

Oneshot dedicated to — @terrovaniadorm / @hallowed-delights

—

Others — @geminiiviolets || @twsted-princess || @abyss-wonderer || @twistedsongstressofstarz / @absolutelyobsessedkiya ||

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

[rosietrace]

Midnight Picnic

(Central) Characters Featured: Noriko Dolion, Victoria Shard

↳ { Noriko belongs to @/terrovaniadorm }

Others mentioned/featured: N/A

Pairing: Noriko Dolion & Victoria Shard

Event: Valentine's Day 2024 💌

↳ Type: Requested Oneshot! 「 🍫 — Feeding my muse chocolate 」

Part Two of: 『 Here 』

Synopsis: Perhaps Noriko's more lenient on midnight picnics now that they've experienced one with her.

Warning(s): Potentially ooc, Noriko is a simp but what else is new, established relationship??, where was I going with the plotline of this thing 💀 it went off track of the original request, Mercie forgive me if this sucks ahh 🙏, somewhat based on ‘The Archer’ by Taylor Swift

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Noriko Dolion was prepared at every hour of every day.

No matter what anyone thought of them, none could deny how formidable Noriko was at getting things done. Especially on behalf of others.

A man so formidable that it's seemingly impossible to turn him off kilter.

Almost.

When you're someone like Victoria Shard, you're able to do that rather easily. With how enamored Noriko was with the woman, it was no surprise that she had them wrapped around her finger.

A love for a woman that was so strong, it bordered on obsession. To Noriko, Victoria was their everything; their love, their everything, the Goddess that they'd worship at their feet.

Noriko would do anything for Victoria, as will Victoria with Noriko.

But to say Noriko wasn't caught off guard upon receiving a letter from Victoria at the earliest of mornings, was an understatement.

Now, to be clear: as bewildered as they might've felt, that didn't necessarily prevent Noriko from preparing themselves and readily sneaking out of Heartslabyul at her bequest.

They met with Victoria at the entrance of Pomefiore. With a ghost-like, gleaming smile on her face, Victoria guided Noriko deep into the forests of her dormitory.

“I never pegged you to do something like this, My Lady,” Noriko cautiously crossed the forest, hoping that his words didn't offend Victoria.

How fortunate that she chuckled in reply. “Well, it's better to expect the unexpected, don't you think, Nori?”

“How correct of you, My Lady. Forgive me for doubting your judgment.”

“You need not apologize, Nori,” with a picnic basket in her hands, Victoria turned to face the knight behind her and amusingly tapped the tip of their nose.

Noriko felt their face burn from embarrassment but quickly shook it away so as to avoid making a fool of themselves.

Their sword remained in its hilt, readily available when certain precautions needed to be met. In the face of danger, Noriko would fight for Victoria — ambitious, cunning Victoria — until their last dying breath.

As their softened set of ambers glowed in the darkness, Noriko eyed the basket in curiosity.

“If I may ask, My Lady,” they caught up to her, their hands behind their back in a militaristic form, “why are you bringing a picnic basket around?”

She did very little to mask her amusement at Noriko's question. “You'll see, Nori.”

They were going to ask what she meant by that, but words fell short as Victoria guided them to her desired destination — releasing a small giggle at how Noriko's jaw went slack.

At what seemed to be in the more hidden parts of Pomefiore's forests, lived a semi-large lake that reflected the crescents of the moon.

“I….” He gulped, taking a slight step back as he took in their surroundings.

Victoria felt content, her smile slowly becoming less and less hidden under the moonlit sky. “Beautiful, isn't it?”

Now, Noriko's eyes were no longer on the environment that stood before them.

A pair of ambers met a set of sapphires.

“Yes.”

They took a step forward. In every way that mattered, there was never a moment where they weren't utterly breathless for her.

“Beautiful, indeed.”

•♢°─────────°♢•

They settled underneath a tree, setting up their midnight picnic there due in part to Noriko's slight paranoia that it could potentially rain.

Victoria indulged in chocolate-covered strawberries, releasing a grunt of satisfaction at the way the flavor melted against her tongue.

She looked at Noriko, and placed a strawberry onto their hand, as well. “Go on, Nori.”

“Oh, My Lady, I could ne-”

“I insist, Nori.”

Well, they certainly couldn't argue with that.

They thought about Victoria a lot. Maybe to the point, it started becoming borderline concerning.

A certain Octavinelle student would've absolutely made fun of them for sneaking out so early in the morning to spend time with Victoria.

They were hopeless. They were at Victoria's mercy, and they wouldn't have it any other way. They wouldn't want it any other way.

“... I'm sorry.”

His head whipped to look at her, stiffening at the unexpected apology. One that didn't feel quite warranted. “My Lady-?”

“I'm sorry,” Victoria reiterated, “for making you do this for me.”

Sneaking out. The picnic. The risk of breaking the rules for her.

A regretful form of a smile graced her bearings. “In all honesty, I have a lot to apologize for, Nori. More specifically, I have a lot to apologize to you.”

“My Lady.”

She was but an archer, a hunter having to bring animals to an untimely demise for survival. Because if she doesn't, she'll simply starve.

And Noriko wouldn't allow her to starve. Not her, never her. Anyone else, perhaps so if their actions warranted such punishment — but never Victoria.

They would gladly become her prey.

They pulled her close, holding onto her as an act of assurance. That they weren't going anywhere, so long as she allowed them to stay by her side.

That was all they asked of her. Victoria didn't need to like them, she didn't even need to love Noriko the way they loved her; All they asked was that they stay by her side.

As thanks for everything she's done.

“You are by no means perfect,” Noriko had to learn that fact the hard way, being the knight that worshiped the ground Victoria walked on. “But that seldom diminishes what truly makes you so worth all the risk.”

Noriko leaned against the base of a tree, looking up at the moonlit sky with Victoria in his arms. A moment that felt like it had been repeated lifetimes upon lifetimes over.

“I care not for what others think of you, My Lady,” they raked a hand through Victoria's hair. If they were to be teased to a never-ending embarrassment, then so be it.

“I care for what you think of yourself.”

Victoria said nothing about that. About the way, Noriko held her so gently, so lovingly.

Holding her in a way she didn't want to believe she deserved.

All Victoria could bring herself to do was lock her Knight into an embrace that would last until sunrise.

“Nori,” her voice turned hushed, akin to a child. “Don't leave.”

“Don't leave me.”

His heart ached from hearing that. That pain only turned all the more agonizing from how subtly her voice cracked.

Noriko held her closer, firmer. Pressing a kiss so subtle that Victoria would hopefully never feel it against the top of her head. Their gentleness never dared waver. Not around her.

Never around her.

“I could never bring myself to do that, Victoria.”

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

—

Written for

@terrovaniadorm / @hallowed-delights

—

🥥

@starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @authoruio || @nem0-nee || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@geminiiviolets || @twsted-princess || @mystery-skulls-ghost || @absolutelyobsessedkiya / @twistedsongstressofstarz

[rosietrace]

Stars around my scars

Characters Featured: Victoria Shard, Heartslabyul! Noriko Dolion(@terrovaniadorm)

Mentioned: Elara Cessair(also by @/terrovaniadorm)

Pairing(s): Heartslabyul! Noriko & Victoria

Synopsis: Noriko lost someone once. And even in a dream, they weren't going to bring themselves to lose her too.

Warning(s): Pure self-indulgence, ✨angst✨, character death (in a dream), mentions of blood, Etteilla spoilers(?), like... One reference to Noriko's backstory, I listened to too much Taylor Swift and this is what happens /j, potentially ooc

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

It was all… A void. A void that Noriko couldn't seem to escape from.

No matter where they ran, who they called out to — No one.

It felt isolating. So quiet, so… Odd.

With their sword in hand, Noriko wandered this endless void; Hell, they couldn't tell if they even went far at all, or if they were in an endless loop.

They took in their surroundings — or lack thereof — and spun 360°. Trying to see if they missed anything.

A landmark, a path, a person. Anything to try and escape this loop.

But then Noriko saw it. Saw her.

Victoria stood a long distance away from him, her back facing him with her hands tucked behind her.

Feelings of relief and worry filled Noriko's veins as they made their way to the woman in less than a heartbeat.

“My Lady!” Called out Noriko, “My Lady, are you hurt?!”

Victoria turned her head to look at him, lips parted, eyes cat-like and sharp. He noted that they were both in their dorm uniforms.

Noriko brought their arms around her as soon as they got close enough to touch her. A relieved look filled their eyes, just as much as worry did.

“My Lady…”

“Nori,” Victoria's hand brought itself to the side of Noriko's face. “Why are you here?...”

“The better question, my Lady, is why we're here.”

Noriko let out a breath, keeping Victoria close to their chest. She could feel it, their heartbeat. Beating with each passing second.

Victoria's arms wrapped around Noriko's frame not long after. And for a moment, Noriko felt…. Content. Protected.

Safe.

But the smell of iron filling his nostrils had soon dissipated that peace.

Noriko's eyes shot open, widening in size when they saw the large stain of blood on their abdomen.

On Victoria's abdomen, and the gaping hole that went through it.

A strangled sound left Noriko's mouth, one filled with devastation. With an unfiltered, potent need to protect her from a force he probably couldn't protect her from.

Victoria nearly fell. And when worst came to worst, it was — and always will be — Noriko to catch her in those moments.

Those moments where she'd fall.

“My Lady,” he brought his hands to her cheek. “M-My Lady…. My Lady…!”

Blood dripped down on the dark void of ground beneath them, the dark red substance trickling down her half-parted lips.

Her eyes, once filled with life, with a sapphire hue Noriko had put to complete memory — were so hollow. So lifeless.

Victoria tried. She tried to bring her hand to the side of their face.

Her hands, Noriko couldn't bear to feel the lack of warmth emitting from them just as much as they couldn't bear not being able to intertwine his hands with hers.. Cold as ice.

There it was again. That grieving, strangling sound of frustration that continued to leave their mouth.

They cried out to her, screamed at her. Hoping that, if they were pathetic enough — if they begged a God that never truly existed — the universe would bring her back.

That he'd be able to have her in his arms and it wouldn't come to this.

It's happening again, Noriko's thoughts turned frantic. Uncontrolled. It happened with Talia, it's happening to her…

Noriko made dozens of feeble attempts to wake Victoria of this nightmare.

Shaking her by her shoulders, calling out her name in hopes she could hear; And having enough desperation within themselves to bring their lips to hers.

As if, for just a moment, True Love's kiss was the answer.

But it wasn't. Reality was cruel, and it always will be, stripping away at one's joy until they have nothing left.

It must've felt like hours, holding her bloodied corpse in their arms for that small eternity. All the while tears streamed down their face and fell down her unmoving porcelain cheeks.

She felt so cold.

༝ㅤ･ㅤ˚ㅤ。ㅤ.ㅤ⋆ㅤ꒷꒦꒷꒦ ✧̣̩⋆̩☽⋆゜【♛】

Noriko jolted awake, body trembling to the point they had to sit themselves up to compose themselves.

Their movements were similar to how they were in the dream. Frantic, panicked.

Their eyes darted around the room. They knew where they were, they knew every nook and cranny of their room like the back of their hand.

But none of it seemed to reassure Noriko that this wasn't just another part of that… That- Nightmare.

“Nori.”

But then Noriko heard her voice, and the world seemed to bring them back into a comforting embrace. A reality, a life, that they'd want to live over, and over again.

Before they could even process anything else, Victoria took her hands in his.

“Nori,” she let one of her hands move up to their cheek. “Are you alright?...”

He wasn't. She knew he wasn't. But they both knew she only asked the question to hear them answer it from their lips.

“Victoria…” Noriko's eyes were filled to the brim with relief.

She flinched a bit when they brought their arms around her frame and embraced her. But Victoria dared not complain.

She withdrew a breath, allowing that part of herself to reciprocate Noriko's embrace to try and bring comfort to them in that moment.

Noriko withdrew a breath as well. Multiple breaths. They let themselves bury their face into the crook of Victoria's shoulder. If they felt embarrassed about the action, they didn't dare show it.

“You're not okay,” Victoria was certain.

“I…. I am,” Noriko tried to argue, “I'm fine.”

“You're not.”

“But I am, My Lady.”

“Nori, you clearly aren't-”

“My Lady, I'm fine,” The tone that came from Noriko's voice was filled with a desperate, silent plea like it was ripped right out of their chest; As if the one thing in that mind of theirs was to just convince Victoria — brilliant, analytical woman that she was — that they were okay.

The look in her eyes nearly undid him.

So soft. So endearing. So…. Beautiful.

Sapphire hues looked at him so intently, and a shiver cast down Noriko's spine. Why was she-?

A kiss. Not particularly one on the lips, but one on the forehead.

And another one on both temples. Another on their cheeks.

And another. And another.

Noriko's face burned a deep crimson. “M-My Lady-”

“Shhh,” Victoria pressed her lips against the edge of Noriko's jaw. “Tell me what happened.”

“My Lady, I don't quite follow.”

“In that dream,” she took the tension currently on their body as a sign. “Tell me.”

“I…” Noriko's lips pursed. They looked down at their hands, still shaking, ever so slightly. “... I don't know if I can.”

“You can, Nori.”

She adjusted herself a bit, now leaning against the headboard and gently massaging Noriko's shoulders to remove any excess tension.

“You can,” her tone was neither stern nor demanding. “And you will.”

…. She knows me too well, Noriko closed his eyes, taking a breath and permitting oxygen to fill his lungs. Perhaps too well.

Whatever Victoria asked of him, whatever she seemed to demand from him; Noriko would do it without question.

“It was less a dream,” Noriko leaned into Victoria's arms, eyes fluttering and closing. “And more a nightmare.”

All Victoria had to respond to that was a hum.

Noriko continued after a couple of deep breaths. They told her everything they could recall, in as much detail as they could muster up.

That void of emptiness. Her, standing so close, yet so far.

“Blood,” Noriko's breath hitched, and they held onto one of her hands for dear life. “So… So much blood..”

Victoria's eyes fluttered, and just like before, she pressed a gentle kiss on Noriko's forehead.

At the very least, Noriko felt less flustered and more… Content.

“It's gone now,” with one hand intertwined with theirs, she used her free hand to rake through his long blue locks. “It's all over now.”

“I'm here, Nori… Always.”

“I know, My Lady.”

“... Remember that.”

Noriko's eyes opened slightly, looking up at her with an admiration Elara always mocked them for. “Remember what?” They questioned.

That was when that signature ghost-like smile soon became clearer on Victoria's face. She didn't answer verbally, rather, she brought the back of his hand to her lips and placed one or two kisses upon it.

Noriko chuckled. Embarrassed as they must've felt, they also clasped at this moment like it was the last thing they'd ever do.

“I don't deserve you.” They told her after a few, sullen moments.

Victoria frowned a bit. “Don't say that,” she said.

“It's true,” Noriko insisted. “I don't. You're too….”

She arched a brow, and all they could muster was the barest hint of a smile. “You've done so much for me,” Noriko mumbled.

“My scars,” they looked up at the ceiling. “You saw them — accepted them — and turned them into something beautiful.

“You drew Stars around them.”

“They were already beautiful,” Victoria argued, pulling him closer. “I didn't do much with them.”

“But you did.”

“Did I?” Her smile turned into a slight grin. “Your scars… They aren't a burden to bear.”

“They are a symbol of the honor you carry. And I wouldn't have it any other way.”

If Victoria's bearings could get any softer, they certainly started to. “Take my hand,” she had the both of them lie down, face to face.

“Take my hand, and don't drop it.”

“I could never,” Noriko's words were nothing short of a promise. They leaned into her hold, letting her bring them into an embrace they'd wished would last an eternity.

But, sometimes…

“... I'm sorry,” Noriko breathed softly against the crook of her neck.

For their devotion. For being the way they were.

For being so weak in front of her. How could they protect the woman they held dear with an emotional state quite like theirs?

Such words with silent questions only made Victoria seemingly pull them so much closer to her, and she pressed one last kiss atop their head.

“You don't need to apologize, Nori.

“You never have to, anymore.”

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

「 This Oneshot is part of a list of oneshots that will be released prior to the 2024 Valentine's Event — which will be released on February 14th 」

•♡°─────────°♡•

Taglist

🥥

@starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @authoruio || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

Written For

@terrovaniadorm / @hallowed-delights

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@twsted-princess || @mystery-skulls-ghost || @abyss-wonderer || @twistedsongstressofstarz / @absolutelyobsessedkiya || @geminiiviolets

[rosietrace]

❤️ For any of our ships pookie??

HELLO HELLO, MERCIE WERCIE 😍

Gonna do our brainrot worthy ship for this one 😈 which one /hj

Loyal Knight, Lawful Lady

Character Featured: Alliette Nepenthe (Pseudonym)

Mentioned: Noriko Dolion, Elara Cessair, Haruka Solis, Themis(the latter ocs belong to @geminiiviolets)

Pairing: Noriko Dolion & Alliette Nepenthe

Warning(s): Alliette is unreleased (and it isn't even her real name), Etteilla spoilers… Technically?::!?:, devotion and loyalty are a BITCH, I am mentally un-okay with these two; you don't understand-

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑✬๑ஓ══════•°•†

╔══ஓ๑†๑ஓ══╗

Loving the Knight

╚══ஓ๑†๑ஓ══╝

↳ From Five to One

˚₊· ͟͟͞➳❥ Five — Their combat prowess

➜ “Most impressive, Nori is…. We often spar together, in fact, he's one of the first people I consider whenever I wish to… Improve my combat prowess.”

➜ Sparring tends to be a regular thing between the two of them. For the most part, most members of Etteilla tend to find them within the estate's forests, sparring to their heart's content.

➜ As strange, or… Unorthodox as it might sound, it always seems like they're dancing whenever they do that. Them, their bodies occasionally brushing against each other — the only thing separating them being their blades.

˚₊· ͟͟͞➳❥ Four — Their Lack of Emotion

➜ “Call me unusual all you want. But in my opinion, Nori’s lack of emotion adds to their character. Elara seems to find it amusing, as well, so I don't see why it's ‘weird’.”

➜ Unlike some of the rest of the members of Etteilla, Alliette finds amusement in Noriko's lack of emotion — and by proxy, their lack of a sense of humor.

↳ It's something she and Elara can find common ground in, outside of their constant mental chess games.

➜ Noriko doesn't quite understand his Mistress, and Elara even more so…. Oh well.

˚₊· ͟͟͞➳❥ Three — Their Devotion

➜ “Nori…. Their devotion, their loyalty, is a most admirable trait of theirs. Though others in the group may disagree, I find it to be a strong suit of his.”

➜ Noriko's loyalty, his absolute devotion to Alliette is one of many things she (loves) admires about him. It can go to a point where she's enabling a potentially unhealthy obsession, but honestly… Obsession? Loyalty?

➜ Isn't that the same thing?

˚₊· ͟͟͞➳❥ Two — Their Smile

➜ “Nori’s lack of emotion can be amusing, yes…. But I can't help but get lost whenever I see them smiling. Smiling during the winter, smiling at…. Me…”

➜ Alliette adores their smile, truly. It never fails to make her smile, and it seems — in moments where the two are alone — they stare at each other, perhaps for longer than they needed to.

➜ Oh, but that's just normal!.... Right..?

˚₊· ͟͟͞➳❥ One — Their Trust in Her

➜ “Trust…. Devotion…. Loyalty… To me, they're all the same. But with Nori…. With Nori, it feels different. It feels… More than uplifting.”

➜ Alliette adores Noriko for a great many things. So much so that I can't even list everything down.

➜ But what she adores, what she loves most about Noriko; Is their absolute trust in her.

➜ Though their devotion to her is…. Questionable, no one in Etteilla can deny just how much Noriko loves her. How much they simply want their Mistress to be happy and accepting of herself.

➜ They will do anything, anything, she asks of them. If it means that their Mistress is satisfied — and happy — by the end of it all, Noriko will be under the firm belief that their efforts were worth it.

➜ Because in all likelihood: They were.

➜ Alliette finds amusement and personal qualms about Noriko's loyalty — yes.

➜ That much is certain. But what can't be certain is just how far she's willing to go if it means that Noriko can understand that their trust in her isn't mostly misplaced.

༝ㅤ･ㅤ˚ㅤ。ㅤ.ㅤ⋆ㅤ「♢」

「 Short Story 」

↳ This short story is by no means, a spoiler for「 Twisted Wonderland: Project A.V.A 」

“I find their request rather unnecessary, My Lady.”

“Is it because it genuinely is,” she turned her head to him. “Or because you don't trust Elara's judgment?”

Noriko grimaced at her question. “Her suggestions aren't what I'd find recommendable…”

“You have a point there, Nori,” Alliette sighed to herself. “Alas…. We don't have many options. Tell me something.”

“Anything, My Lady.”

“Would you prefer Elara's judgment, or Haruka's?”

Noriko paused, unsure of how to answer, before concluding that they should just narrow their eyes at her.

“Themis’ judgment, clearly.”

Her smile returned, softer, sweeter.

“Correct.”

†•°•══════ஓ๑✬๑ஓ══════•°•†

[rosietrace]

The High Priestess

†•°•══════ஓ๑✬๑ஓ══════•°•†

“By all means, take a bite, and become part of a paradise one can never imagine.”

— The High Priestess

╔══ஓ๑†๑ஓ══╗

General Information

╚══ஓ๑†๑ஓ══╝

Full Name — Eden Lilith Miran

↳ Eden: A name of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘paradise’ or ‘place of pleasure’. In the Bible, the Garden of Eden is the first home of Adam and Eve.

↳ Lilith: A name coming from the Akkadian word Lilîtu, meaning "belonging to the night," the feminine form of a word meaning "demon" or "spirit." In Mesopotamian mythology, Lilith was the first wife of Adam who was ultimately banished from the Garden of Eden for her disobedience.

↳ Miran(美夢): A name of Japanese origin. ‘美’ means ‘reality, truth’. And 夢, meaning ‘dream, vision, illusion’.

Japanese Ver. — エデン リリス 美夢

Romaji Ver. — Eden Ririsu Miran

Tarot Card: The High Priestess

Age: 22 (Biologically)

V/A(日本語): Shiraishi Haruka(白石晴香)

↳ Voices Aponia from Honkai Impact the 3rd

V/A(英語/EN): Deneen Melody

↳ Voices Sandrone, the Marionette from Genshin Impact

Species: ‘Human’, Seraphim

Height: 178 cm

Hair color: Green

Eye Color: Magenta

Tarot Rank: Third

Gender/Pronouns: Female, She/Her

Dominant Hand: Right

Sexuality: Demiromantic, asexual

꒷꒦꒷꒦•°•════ஓ๑†๑ஓ════•°•꒷꒦꒷꒦

╔══ஓ๑†๑ஓ══╗

Extra Information

╚══ஓ๑†๑ஓ══╝

Homeland: Unspecified

Dormitory: Etteilla(Former)

Class: [ Redacted ]

School Year: [ Redacted ]

『 Family: …. 』

Best class(es): Dance, prophecy, practical magic

Worst class(es): Ancient languages, ancient artifacts, religious practices

Club: None

Likes: Calin, dancing, playing with fire, spending time with Enya and Albert, mocking the Gods, burning down temples, flower crowns, violence, long conversations, being allowed to ramble

Dislikes: The Gods, her eyes, Vasilios, her Seraphim form in general, the War, being restricted to do what she pleases, wilted flowers, her feather-like ‘ears’, falling from grace

Hobbies: Dancing, playing with fire(figuratively and literally), long walks/conversations, practical magic, prophecy, making flower crowns

Talent(s): Practical magic, advanced perception of sight, manipulation/sweet-talking, gaining trust/support

Flaw(s): Harsh, unusually violent, obsessive, compulsive, manipulative, insecure over her appearance, absentminded, aggressive at certain points, blunt

꒷꒦꒷꒦•°•════ஓ๑†๑ஓ════•°•꒷꒦꒷꒦

╔══ஓ๑†๑ஓ══╗

Personality

╚══ஓ๑†๑ஓ══╝

Eden is a puzzling individual. She often confuses those around her in a variety of ways. From the way she acts, to how she speaks, even from the way she looks at someone.

Eden is — by the accounts of others — an enigma. A seemingly untouchable, sweet-hearted, but conundrum-inducing enigma.

It is obvious from first interacting with Eden that she's…. Nice. A bit too nice.

There's nothing necessarily wrong with her kindness, but she's often a bit too trustworthy. Too easy to befriend, too easy to trust, and too easy to tell one's secrets to.

And that, in itself, is a problem — especially when putting Eden's manipulative nature into consideration. She could just as easily ruin your life and leave it, just as easily as she entered your life by bringing endearingly heartfelt words at you.

That isn't to say Eden is an entirely bad person. There are times when her kindness comes from a genuine interest in the person she's interacting with, and she's rather keen on following her philosophy of; ‘Treat people the way they treat you’.

……. Or, at least tries to.

Sometimes, people just frustrate Eden in ways she'll never be able to put into words. And when that happens, aggression — one born from burning passion — is set forth.

She is as obsessive as she is blunt and compulsive. If she wants something, she's going to do everything in her power to ensure she gets it.

Eden isn't below playing with fire. It's her favorite thing to do.

꒷꒦꒷꒦•°•════ஓ๑†๑ஓ════•°•꒷꒦꒷꒦

╔══ஓ๑†๑ஓ══╗

Abilities

╚══ஓ๑†๑ஓ══╝

Throne of God (神の玉座)

✑ Allows the user to manipulate a large crowd of people into doing their bidding for a certain amount of time. Said user can also use this ability to ensure that said people will swear loyalty to them for as long as they wish.

The burning ones (燃えるもの)

✑ Allows the user to create up to six rings of fire of varying sizes and to do with them as they, please. Users are unable to use this ability indefinitely if they are fatally injured, as the flames of the rings severely affect their hearts — regardless if the user is immortal or not.

Oculi Seraphim(オキュリ・セラフィム)

✑ Eden can transform into a Seraphim if she's amassed a great amount of energy.

✑ Wings are spread out from her back, six of them in total. A loose cloth is used to cover her body, and the one hundred and one eyes on her body will soon become animate and are capable of blinking and looking around. Eyes will also form on certain parts of Eden's wings, allowing her to see greater distances from different perspectives.

✑ While using this form, Eden is unable to use her three main eyes. By opening them, she unleashes a divine light that destroys anything in its path — which also greatly reduces Eden's energy in the process.

✑ Those with divine power, and those blessed by those of divine power are able to withstand the treacherous destruction of the light.

꒷꒦꒷꒦•°•════ஓ๑†๑ஓ════•°•꒷꒦꒷꒦

「 ♛ 」 The Mistress' Thoughts on Them

“Eden is peculiar, yet kind-hearted. Her hatred of divine beings perplexes me, though I know better than to question why that is the case. If you ask me, it is best not to get in her way, lest you wish to fall from grace the way she once did.”

— Mistress Alliette, about Eden Miran

「 【♢】 Their thoughts on Mistress Alliette and fellow Arcana 」

“The gall of her family to have not seen such potential, hah…. Our mistress Alliette is most wonderful, isn't she? Isn't she? She's shown great kindness to me and the rest of Etteilla at large, and I cannot be any more grateful than I already am for her hospitality.”

— Mistress Alliette, The Queen

“The Fool prefers to be called [ REDACTED ] in the modern age, now. It makes me wonder quite a number of things if you ask me. Why change one's name? Why take the form of someone from a world so similar, yet different from our own? Quite an enigma, they are.”

— the Fool

“I cannot help but feel grateful for Professor Oberon's hospitality towards me. On that day, the day I fell…. He saved me when I needed saving most.”

— Oberon Alaric, the Magician

“Aisha is someone I've known for quite some time. We met during our days in Scepter Hall, and oh was she quite stubborn back then. Still is, that woman. Heh… How I wish Callisto would just propose to her, already.”

— Aisha Dione, the Empress

“..... I shan't say a word. B-But…. I suppose he is rather…..”

— Calin, Strength

“Oh, those who speak ill of Enya shouldn't nary a peep! She's quite fun to talk to, actually! We both share an interest of…. Certain topics, and she even allows me to take full reign of the conversation from time to time! I find no problem with her casual vocabulary. In fact, it's a breath of fresh air when compared to my fellow Arcana.”

— Enya Bellona, the Chariot

꒷꒦꒷꒦•°•════ஓ๑†๑ஓ════•°•꒷꒦꒷꒦

╔══ஓ๑†๑ஓ══╗

Additional Information

╚══ஓ๑†๑ஓ══╝

✑ Main Theme: 4:00 AM by Taeko Ohnuki

✑ Backstory: 『 Oculi Seraphim 』

✑ OC Playlist: 『 The High Priestess 』

༝ㅤ↷･ㅤ˚ㅤ。ㅤ↷.ㅤ⋆ㅤ✦

『 Strange, there's nothing to be found... 』

†•°•══════ஓ๑✬๑ஓ══════•°•†

Appearance

†•°•══════ஓ๑✬๑ஓ══════•°•†

Eden's Tags

#eden miran • #🕊️ — the high priestess • #『 eden 🕊️ 』

†•°•══════ஓ๑✬๑ஓ══════•°•†

[rosietrace]

A moment of Peace

(Central) Characters Featured: Victoria Shard, Noriko Dolion

↳ { Noriko belongs to @/terrovaniadorm }

Others mentioned/featured: Elara Cessair

↳ { Elara also belongs to @/terrovaniadorm }

Pairing: Noriko Dolion & Victoria Shard

Event: Valentine's Day 2024 💌

↳ Type: Non-requested Oneshot! 「 N/A 」

Synopsis: Moments like the ones they shared behind closed doors were scarce, limited all because of the lives they lived. But when those moments came, they treasured them with all their hearts.

Warning(s): Established relationship, Elara is in every Nororia fic because I said so /j, a simp in the premises, really REALLY fluffy, FLIRTY VIC REAL‼️‼️, potentially ooc

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

“I like this.”

“Like what?”

“This,” Victoria motioned to Noriko's face, gently placing a hand over their cheek with the softest of smiles on her face.

Though their face heated up at the sudden display of affection from her, Noriko smiled, leaning into Victoria's touch— their head rested on her lap.

During weekends such as the one they were having at the moment, Victoria and Noriko would switch between each other's dormitories; All so they could spend the rest of the day just… doing things together.

Tonight — a beautiful, silver-mooned, night — they began their activities in Victoria's room, this time around.

The pair sat on her bed in silence, both of which focused on doing two different tasks to keep themselves entertained. All the while giving one another the occasional show of affection every now and again.

Victoria was immersed in her book, whereas Noriko had built their focus on solving the puzzle of keys Elara had dared them to solve earlier that day.

Fiddling with the puzzle, their face scrunched in silent frustration. How bothersome…

They were sure to reprimand Elara the following day for giving them a task so tedious. However, Noriko's pride refused to back down, so regardless of how they felt about the puzzle, they were still somewhat determined to solve it.

And yes, Victoria had offered to assist in solving it— resulting in Noriko politely declining the offer, not only for the sake of their own pride but also to fulfill the need to impress her.

“Honestly, you're such a buffoon,” Elara had told Noriko, once upon a time, “even the simplest show of praise from Vic has you on your knees. You're like some obedient dog.”

He'd silenced the Octavinelle wolf with a scowl, way back when. But upon further contemplation, Noriko felt too embarrassed to admit that Elara had a bit of a point.

In their quest to complete the puzzle, Noriko continued to fiddle with it, pulling at all the different keys in different ways to try and garner them apart.

They ended up dropping the puzzle on their face, eliciting a laugh from Victoria.

Noriko felt his face burn in embarrassment and utter bliss. How beautiful her laugh was, even as he faced a moment of complete humiliation, Noriko likely believed.

Victoria's laugh slowly turned into a gentle chuckle. “Are you alright?” She tilted her head down, brushing her lips over Noriko's brow.

“I'm quite alright,” Noriko chuckled at the brush of contact, themselves, pausing just enough for them to add: “And before you ask, I am in no need of assistance.”

Victoria hummed, eyes wandering between the puzzle in Noriko's hands, and the way Noriko's amber hues locked onto her set of sapphires.

“I wouldn't be quite so sure, Nori,” she pressed her index finger over his nose. “The way you're struggling with that puzzle implies otherwise.”

They huffed at her remark. “I can assure you with as much heart as any honorable gentleman, My Lady, I am in no need of any assistance.”

“Are you sure?”

“Quite.”

“How amusing.”

There came a raise of Noriko's eyebrow.

“How so?” They questioned, uncertain of where this conversation was heading.

“Oh, nothing.”

Victoria's voice turned horribly innocent, feigning an act of purity that she so clearly lacked after years of trial and error.

Adjusting the position they were currently in, Victoria brought Noriko closer to her. Pressing her lips close to their ear in a way that got their face to turn very, very red.

“I just like seeing you so insistent,” she whispered into his ear, kissing his temple in addition to that. “So adorably ambitious, you are, Nori.”

Noriko's face burned. Adorably ambitious? Whatever was she thinking?

With their face abashed, Noriko hid the bearings of their face into the crook of her shoulder; A habit he'd unintentionally picked up after experiencing numerous nightmares, with Victoria always being there to bring comfort after being jolted awake.

Only this time, there were no nightmares at play to elicit this action from them.

In every way that mattered, Victoria preferred that. Giggling to herself, she kissed the top of their head, running her soft hand through his royal blue locks.

They embraced her further, their lips colliding against the base of her neck.

Victoria smirked, raising Noriko's chin with the pad of her fingers. “Don't get too comfortable now, Noriko Dolion.”

He huffed out a small laugh, leaning their foreheads against each other. “I lack a true apology implicit, My Lady.”

She crooned at them, bringing her hands to their face and cradling them close. “Noriko Dolion, you dare challenge me?”

“If it results in hearing that melodious voice of yours, My Lady, I wouldn't be opposed to continuing.”

“Oh my,” she tucked a couple strands of their hair behind their ear, “and where did this newfound confidence come from, then?”

Noriko shrugged, their shoulders sagging as they allowed themselves to relax in this moment— with her, and her alone.

“Think of it as a gift from Elara's never-ending teasing.”

She snorted. “Elara? Elara ‘everything is a game’ Cessair?”

“That Elara, yes. Or are you referring to a different one?”

“I don't believe I know another Elara, Sweetness.”

“Then that's the one I am referencing.”

“Hmm,” Victoria leaned her back upside the headboard of her bed; A midnight purple canopy that seemed to blend into the dark of night when the candles dimmed low.

“Then a thanks is in order for Miss Cessair, indeed.”

“Very much so.”

It hadn't even occurred to her — to either of them, really — that she'd completely abandoned any focus that was had on the book she'd been reading for the past half-hour.

Although Victoria would dare not complain about something so precarious. Not when she had her precious Knight tucked so nicely in her arms, their head resting atop her chest in comfortable bliss.

A sense of peace washed over the both of them. The kind of peace that never came often with how… chaotic, their daily lives were.

Chaotic might not even be the most proper way of describing their everyday life. Dealing with the rest of NRC’s student body: Deadbeat Headmasters, draconic nuisances, playful wolves, and the sort? Quite hectic, such occurrences were.

It was why the couple agreed on having these weekend ‘staycations’.

They didn't need to go anywhere, let alone leave campus grounds regardless of how tempting it felt — they just needed one another.

Enveloped in the arms of the other, in comfort. In peace.

“... Nori.”

Victoria had laid down after a while, still locking Noriko in her embrace. An embrace they never wanted to leave, no longer.

With no reaction, she furrowed her brows, lightly shaking him. “Nori…”

Noriko stirred in their quiet slumber, eventually fluttering open their eyes, his soft amber hues peering through her.

It pierced through her heart in what could only be described as the best in every way imaginable.

“Yes…” Noriko shifted, bringing themselves closer to Victoria. “Mm… What is it, My Lady?”

She smiled at the small gesture. Of bringing him closer to her simply because he wanted to.

All because they loved her more than they probably should.

Victoria didn't know how she got so lucky, with someone as devoted as Noriko. Loving her — imperfect, flawed, and broken her — so wholly, so perfect like the puzzle Noriko had abandoned to be in her warm embrace.

Her smile softened. So enchanting, Noriko always thought whenever the edges of her lips curved upward.

“I love you, Nori.”

Such words were so… Ordinary, in sound. So simple in phrasing— yet the weight of what it meant felt so good when it came from her.

Their noses brushed against one another.

One hand went to the side of Victoria's face, whereas Noriko's free arm wrapped around her waist.

So mesmerizing. Intoxicating. The kind of moment in life that they'd want to live through over and over again, simply to relive it.

She loved them. And they loved her, tenfold. In both the best and worst possible ways of it, Noriko loved Victoria in the only way they knew how.

Through loyalty. Through devotion.

Till death do they part, even if that future was unlikely with the cards life had dealt them.

“I love you too, Victoria.”

•♢°─────────°♢•

Waking up in the early mornings of whatever weekend became a regular occurrence for Noriko.

Being the Knight that they were, they'd developed the unintentional habit of sleeping a lot less than what the average person required.

But now — with her — Noriko believed that any stresses of the future could be withstood. That he could overcome those difficulties.

Those habits, the worst of them, especially.

Noriko had already believed that, in their eyes, Victoria deserved better than them. With her beauty, her wit, her being— they knew she could have just about anyone.

And yet: She chose them. Of all the people in the world, within the confines of Night Raven, Victoria Shard chose them.

Her most loyal Knight.

They looked down at her slumbering figure in their arms. The night before last, it had been them in her arms.

Suppose our sleeping forms had made this adjustment, they figured in the landscape of their thoughts.

Noriko refused to allow himself to wake her up. Victoria's schedule was — in the least sugar-coated way possible — a mess. It brought an undoubted level of stress in her everyday life in the academy, and the lady had little time to actually let loose in between and after running errands.

It was why Noriko wanted her to cherish moments like the one they were having right then and there for as long as she could. And vice versa.

Noriko smiled despite themselves, their lips making contact with the top of Victoria's hair.

“Sleep well, My Lady.”

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

—

Written for

@terrovaniadorm / @hallowed-delights

—

🥥

@starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @authoruio || @nem0-nee || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@mystery-skulls-ghost || @abyss-wonderer || @geminiiviolets || @twsted-princess || @absolutelyobsessedkiya / @twistedsongstressofstarz

[rosietrace]

My friendly reminder to all my moots that I will never be the same after releasing this post

Your honor, my hypertension is here, I can't keep my brainrot to myself

[rosietrace]

Lore be upon ye

Hello! Rosie speaking 🗣️

「 The Following will be Written and Released after the conclusion of the current ask game 」

[ More under the cut! ]

「 Backstory 」

➜ Meryl Hollow = The Curious Child

➜ Roya Callistis = A Prince most Perfect

➜ Zenith Devi = Dearest Zenith

꒷︶ ̇ ̟ ෆ ‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿ ෆ ̟ ̇ ︶꒷

「 Lore 」

➜ The House of Shard = Glass Faeries 101

➜ Etteilla = A Dorm lost to Time

➜ Scepter Hall Institute = The original Campus

➜ Imithéos = Masterpost

The great oc-related announcement post

───◌┈┈───𓆩 ✿ 𓆪───┈┈◌───

[ ....... There's really nothing here. Of course, that will change with time. And reblogs. But mostly time. ]

[rosietrace]

Errand Boy

Divider by @cafekitsune !

[ This short story is important to the main story of the central character ]

⊱───────────────⊰

Central Character ; 『 Sumeragi Yuuta, “The Golden Rule” 』

Mentioned (Central) ; 『 “Rei-Rei”, ‘The Secret Silly Symphony’ 』

【 This is both a short story important to the central character's story; All Ocs belong to their respective owners and will be credited at the end. 】

Synopsis: Crowley's favorite errand boy just can't catch a break, can he? Well, at least it isn't most of his errands Yuuta has to run.

Warning(s): Angst, comfort at the end(?), backstory spoilers, nobody knows it's his birthday :(, not proofread because grammarly sucks now and we die like men

⊱────────────────────⊰

Whatever they were talking about, Yuuta wasn't putting in any effort in listening. It was just how he operated most of the time.

Disassociation; a brief hum and nod as though he were paying attention; a snarky comment thrown in when he gets asked the age-old “are you even listening?”— all culminating into one of the most mundane ways for Yuuta to start his day.

Well, maybe that was a little cruel to say; Ellis and Circe seemed to be enjoying themselves just fine. Something about the former trying on a new shade of pink she, quote on quote, invented.

Yuuta sat on the couch he'd recently helped implement into Ellis' eyesore of a room, his eyes focused on the ceiling to refrain from rolling his eyes so far back they'd get stuck.

Are they done yet? Yuuta asked himself, completely disassociating from whatever conversation Ellis and Circe were currently having. He felt a little bad for being so inattentive; fashion was one of the few things he had in common with the duo.

Yet there he was, barely even paying a sliver of attention to whatever nonsense they were talking about. Something about ‘inventing new colors’, but he was too busy thinking to actually listen.

“Yuuta?”

He blinked, his gaze flitting between the pink ceiling — that he painted for Ellis — to Ellis herself. Seemed like while he was occupied with… anything other than what they were talking about.

“Hm?” He quirked up an eyebrow. “What?”

“We were just asking what you thought of this new design Ellis came up with,” Circe took hold of Ellis’ sketchbook and went over to Yuuta, handing it to him.

Yuuta got a good look at the sketch. It was good, he believed. Then again, Ellis always did have a knack for design.

“Well?” Ellis strode over to them, tilting her head to the side with a smile Yuuta couldn't dare break.

“What do you think?”

Why do you always ask me that? Yuuta thought. The praise Ellis received for her talent in fashion and all things related to it weren't unwarranted. She didn’t need to ask him, or Circe, or anyone about if a design looked good or not— there was no need to.

It was Circe's turn to raise an eyebrow. “Yuuta?” It was as though Yuuta couldn't hear them, hear anything.

Circe snapped his fingers twice, that hint of concern plastered on his face barely even comparable to Ellis’, who seemed to take that wave of concern and multiplied it by tenfold.

Yuuta couldn't stop thinking. About the day it was, about how nobody will know about the significance of it; about the errands he'll have to deal with today to keep Ramshackle afloat, about…

The buzzing noise of Yuuta's phone gave him that opening to leave as soon as possible. Better for him to complete his everyday tasks than to deal with the concern his friends had over him.

Yuuta stood, towering over Ellis but not quite doing the same for Circe. “I have to go,” he said in such a way that implied that whatever conversation they were going to have, it wasn't going to happen anytime soon, if at all.

“Huh?” Circe scrunched their nose. “What are you- No, where are you-”

“Errands,” Yuuta dismissed far too quickly than necessary, already making a break for the door before Ellis could intercept.

At least, he would have. Not until a thought popped into his head. So much so that he stood with his body halfway out of the door, frozen in place.

Circe's face contorted from silent concern, to surprise, to just straight up befuddlement. Ellis wasn't doing much better, tucking her arms behind her back with a similar expression on her face.

“What's he doing…-?” Circe whispered to Ellis, his nose wrinkling.

“I’m…” Ellis took a slight step forward, “... Not too sure.” Hence, from there, she walked up to Yuuta, tapping his shoulder with a featherlight touch to bring him back to his senses.

She could only hope that he wouldn't be like this for the rest of the day. The mere thought just made her even more worried than she already was.

“Erm… Yuuta?” Ellis called out to him, shaking him gently; body halfway out of her room, with his head hanging low. “Yuuta, are- Are you okay? Do you need a break, or something? I'm sure if we asked Crowley, he could let you take a bre-”

“Ribbon.”

Ellis blinked. “... Pardon?”

Ellis watched Yuuta turn his head to look her directly in the eye, his expression devoid of emotion.

“I'm gonna have to ask for some ribbons. Black, purple, and blue.”

⊱───────────────⊰

Crowley had been kind in the number of errands Yuuta had to run for today. Try as he may to hate the pathetic birdbrain, he could — at the very least — feel thankful.

Though…. If he continues to go on and on about his ‘kindness’, I might just punch my way through this goddamn maze.

Yuuta had already been in a questionable mood ever since the incident with Ellis and Circe earlier in the day, it just seemed like his mood worsened when he had to perform the tasks bestowed upon him by his “enigmatic” headmaster.

“Something on your mind?” Juvia asked, noting the grumbling Yuuta's been doing for the past few minutes while they assisted in painting the roses in Heartslabyul.

Juvia, bless her heart, knew that Yuuta wasn't going to be able to do everything himself, and out of the kindness of her blot-covered heart, had convinced Yuuta to allow her to help him out; well aware of his stubborn nature and his utmost refusal to receive help most of the time.

“I'm fine,” like everyone else, Juvia played victim to the dismissiveness of Sumeragi Yuuta. May the Great Seven bless her with more patience than anyone in NRC could muster.

Yuuta picked up another bucket of paint, heading for the next bush of unpainted roses with a look so nonchalant it almost disturbed Juvia to see him in such a state.

“You're clearly thinking of something.” Juvia climbed up a ladder to reach the upper parts of the rose bush she was painting; which just so happened to be next to Yuuta's. He wondered if that'd been intentional on her part.

But that thought faded very quickly. “Well, whatever I'm thinking of, it isn't any of your business.”

“I feel like as your roommate—”

“I'm basically your landlord.”

“No you're not! Crowley's the landlord!”

“Yeah, and he's a shitty one, too.”

He let out a tsk, proceeding with the tedious task of painting the roses red without staining his uniform.

Juvia’s frown deepened. “You're clearly thinking of something, y'know.”

Yuuta's eyes rolled. “And why’re you assuming that, of all things?”

“Because,”— Juvia pursed her lips in hesitation —“you have that look.”

He blinked. “What look-?”

“Y'know! The look!” To try and prove — as well as emphasize — her point, Juvia mimicked the expression currently worn on Yuuta's face.

Yuuta merely deadpanned, unimpressed by her feeble efforts at trying to get his thoughts out of him. She's too much like her.

He shook that thought away faster than the last one. No. She isn't her, and it isn't good to try and pretend that she is.

Bad, Yuuta. Bad.

Ignoring whatever Juvia had to say next, Yuuta finished his last batch of painted roses before he could leave to fulfill the rest of his errands of the day— not without taking two deliberately unpainted white roses from the bush, of course.

That was when Noriko ‘You must not bring dishonor to Lady Victoria's name!’ Dolion intercepted him on his way out.

“Where do you think you're going?” Noriko challenged, crossing their arms in disapproval. “Housewarden Rosehearts won't exactly be pleased if he saw you with those… it violates the conduct of the Queen of Hearts.”

Yuuta chortled, brushing past Noriko and retorting back, “As if you didn't plan on doing the same thing for your favorite Fae in Pomefiore.”

And so, Yuuta left Heartslabyul with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes; with Juvia falling from her ladder, caught into the arms of a blue-haired Spade, and Noriko red in the face in shame.

⊱───────────────⊰

“You didn't have to do this, you know.”

“Yeah, well, I insist,” despite all of the errands he had to deal with earlier in the day, Yuuta had graciously offered to help Miren with two of his latest concoctions.

Some pastries, mostly cupcakes; as well as a creation so spicy it could potentially challenge Miren’s spice tolerance if he wasn't careful.

What confused Miren was Yuuta's insistence on making cupcakes while he was making that spiced up monstrosity.

“Didn't take you as much of a cupcake person,” Miren narrowed his eyes. Skeptical, and almost intrigued. At least until Yuuta got some frosting on his cheek.

Yuuta clicked his tongue. “What made you think that?”

“You don't eat sweets that much, clearly.”

“Well you clearly haven't seen me during a Heartslabyul unbirthday party.”

“That's only because your schedule's so jam-packed, you barely have time to attend them anymore,” Miren groaned out a sigh.

“Seriously, I'm starting to think you're only running so many errands for a better paycheck.”

That's one of the reasons, an unsaid reply from Yuuta. At least for today.

“Come to think of it…” Miren hummed. “You've been…. Busier, today.”

Yuuta arched up an eyebrow. “Hah?”

“You know what I mean. It's like you're overexerting yourself on purpose,” it had, very clearly, occurred to Yuuta that Miren Lockhart wasn't going to back down from this topic; possibly more so than stubborn Ellis, sassy Circe, and worrisome Juvia.

Miren leaned against the kitchen counter. It was hard to take him seriously with that smudge of frosting on his cheek, Yuuta thought.

Wanting nothing more than to just leave, Yuuta did just that. Taking the two of the dozen cupcakes he'd made, one with purple icing and the other with light blue icing, he held them with one hand to focus his free hand on lifting Miren's chin.

Once he'd done so, Yuuta had teasingly licked the frosting off of Miren's cheek. Which… just happened to be the same time Carol came in, with Mayuu and Chizuko in tow.

Carol wasn't even the least bit surprised. “I'm not even going to ask,” she said with a disapproving huff of breath as Yuuta brushed past her, Mayuu, and Chizuko.

Chizuko squinted her eyes, thinking it relevant that the look on Yuuta's was most uncharacteristic for him, indeed, but not putting in the effort to say anything about it. Simply crossing her arms and shaking her head.

Mayuu went over to Miren, slightly disgusted at Yuuta's embarrassing display. “What's going on with him?”

Miren looked off at the kitchen's doorway, his hand covering his right cheek, his face reddened with blush.

Miren just sighed, letting go of his cheek and shrugging his shoulders. Whatever bothered Yuuta about today, it was clear he wouldn't tell any of them about it.

⊱───────────────⊰

Finally, it was night. Yuuta liked late night walks; he'd indulged in them every so often with Ellis, often encountering ‘Tsunotarou’ on their walk around campus.

But tonight was a special night. A night where he wasn't burdened by a constant demand to help those around him, where it was just him. Alone. No Tsunatarou, no Ellis, no anyone.

He sighed to himself, his eyes fixated on the glimmering lights in the dark midnight sky. Gods….

He cursed to himself, far below his breath. Why had it come to this? Why was his persistence in pretending today wasn't special getting him to such a sad, pathetic, point?

He didn't know the answer to that. Yuuta didn't know if he'd ever know the answer to that. And maybe he'll know one day, and maybe he won't.

Clearly, it wouldn't be tonight.

“Maybe in some alternate timeline where I'm not… me,” Yuuta murmured, taking out a ring of keys from his pocket.

He unlocked the doors to the botanical gardens, making sure to not make the doors creak too much; Crowley had been surprisingly easy to bribe to get the keys, the old coot was even ‘generous’ enough to give Yuuta full ownership of the keys.

He made sure not to wake any of the others when he snuck out. And any opportunities to run into Malleus were quickly evaded with, in his words, “some impressive maneuvering skills”.

But that wasn't as important as what he was to do next. Other than the keys to botanical garden, Yuuta had brought a small bag containing… stuff.

He'd gone to the most secluded part of the garden, one where the glass walls couldn't see him, and a spot not even Leona knew about. A spot personal only to Yuuta.

He sat down, setting everything up with a forlorn, almost sorrowful smile on his face.

Two cupcakes with purple and blue icing respectively, with candles of the opposite color stuck on the top; two unpainted white roses with purple, blue, and black ribbons crudely tying them together.

And finally, a black rabbit stuffed animal with a blue ribbon bowtie, and bracelet.

The stuffed animal, in particular, had the added consequence of getting Yuuta relentlessly teased by his friends when they found it in his room. He never elaborated on why he got it, or where he got it, because it simply wasn't their business.

They didn't need to know any more about him than they already did.

Besides, Yuuta sucked in a breath, his throat tightening. it was her favorite animal…

Lighting the two candles of the two cupcakes together, Yuuta held in a breath, singing a soft, melancholic version of the birthday song. He sang it in such a short, hiccupped manner, that he knew — he just knew — he was on the brink of tears.

And he didn't fight them. He never fought those tears. Not when they were for her. His only true friend, his truest, kindest, friend.

A friend — a girl he saw as a sister — he'll forever miss.

“Happy birthday,” he breathed out, tears barely wiped, “to… me.”

Yuuta looked up at the glass ceiling, crying his little, broken heart out. Things couldn't be changed. He couldn't change the past for what it was, and he knew he couldn't change the way he treated her.

He wondered where she was, often. He cried himself to sleep, sometimes, at the idea she could be hurt. She didn't deserve that, she never deserved that.

Yuuta sniffled, closing his eyes after making his birthday wish. A wish he'd been making ever since her departure from his life, all those years ago.

I want to see you again, Rei-Rei. And just like all the times I've said it before, I'm sorry.

⊱────────────────────⊰

【 Taglist / Credits 】

↳ In order of OC appearances/mentions

Ellis Clawthorne — @starry-night-rose 💖

Circe Erfinderin — @geminiiviolets 👾

Juvia Yuyi Espejo — @jasdiary 🧡

Noriko Dolion — @terrovaniadorm / @hallowed-delights ‼️

Victoria Shard — Me! 😈

Miren Lockhart — @authoruio 💙

Carol Ann — @fumikomiyasaki 💚

Chizuko Minato — @sakuramidnight15 ⛓️

Mayuu — @nem0-nee ⏰

“Rei-Rei” (UNRELEASED) — @jasdiary

|| @twsted-princess || @mystery-skulls-ghost || @abyss-wonderer || @absolutelyobsessedkiya / @twistedsongstressofstarz || @spadecentral || @oseathepebble || @valse-a-mille-temps || @twst-stupid-ocs || @mintychocolate04 ||