#nrc film research club

[twstinginthewind]

A story of two film research club members meeting, for the @m-twst-ocs summer movie fest event! I wanted to feature one of my newer OCs, Hiro, and have him meet one of his real-life idols. Thanks for holding the event; it was a fantastic opportunity to finally write for this character! I hope that you have fun with it!

*****

“Excuse me, Mister Schoenheit? Mister Vil Schoenheit?” Hiro straightened his necktie, calling into the dressing room area. He took a deep breath, hugging his clipboard to his chest before he stepped in through the doorway. Just relax, he thought to himself. This is just your senior, a fellow club member, a fellow performer. And a mega-star. And one of your heroes. And….

Hiro swallowed hard as he entered. THE Vil Schoenheit was turning towards him, his famously perfect face freshly made up. “Did you need something?” he asked, tilting his head towards the newcomer.

“Gosh, Mister Schoenheit! You look fantastic in that costume. I’m real excited that you’re working with my group’s project, outta all the ones in the film research club.” Hiro pushed his dark wavy hair back from his face, grinning, then stuck his hand out towards Vil. “Anyway, I’m Hiro. Hiro Vanderveer. We hadn’t been introduced formally yet. Gosh! I’m real glad you’re here. Anyway, this is kinda my dream, puttin’ together a big movie. I wanted to be in it, too, but we gotta make sure everyone’s involved, so I’m directin’ for now, and wow! You even do your own makeup? You gotta teach me sometime, you’re a real pro.”

“I…” Vil paused, an unreadable expression on his face. Hiro was momentarily worried that he had overstepped and was ready to pull back, but thankfully Vil delicately took his proffered hand and shook it. “Yes. Hiro, was it? Yes. I learned to do my own. What was it that you needed?”

Hiro almost melted in sheer relief, but he snapped back to attention at the query. Right! He was on a mission. “Oh! Haha, sorry. Got a little distracted meetin’ someone who’s already done the big dive into the business. Anyway!” Hiro pulled a stack of papers from the clipboard, and handed them off to Vil. “Just wanted to make sure that you got the most recent revision of the script. There’s a whole lot of great talent out there working on this, and they’re hoping to see you turn their words into on-screen magic.” He offered a bashful smile. “I took the liberty of marking the pages where the changes were, to make it easy on ya. No sense in stressing out the talent, right?”

“Right.” Vil flipped through the sheaf of pages. Hiro had placed several small sticky notes next to his dialogue and screen directions, and he hoped that it wouldn’t be insulting to the veteran performer. “Quite thorough of you, Mister Vanderveer. More than most directors would do.”

To hide his relief, Hiro waved a hand in front of his face. “Aw, shucks, Mister Schoenheit. I’m just doing what I think’s gonna make the best show.”

“Call me Vil.” His delicate, perfectly-manicured hand placed the revised script onto the vanity table, then rose to his chin. “You said you wished to perform, as well?”

“I sure do!” Hiro looked up into Vil’s famously violet eyes, and he practically vibrated with excitement. Vil was interested in his performance, holy cow! “But I’m really more suited to musical comedy than dramas like these. I’m not exactly typical leading man material. Not like you, Mist— Vil. Haha! I’m gonna end up a character actor, if I’m lucky. But if I can make people laugh, it’ll all be worth it.”

“It is worth pushing your boundaries once in a while, as an exercise. It keeps you sharp, and improves your core skills as well,” Vil intoned, and Hiro nodded. Wow. Giving him advice, too? This was the best day of his life. “But I suppose I’ll be experiencing your directorial skills instead of your performance skills this time around.” Vil had looked briefly at the mirror, but when he turned back to Hiro, it was with a smile on his face. “I’ll be looking forward to it. Don’t disappoint me, Hiro.”

“Nosir! Not planning to!” Hiro fumbled with his clipboard, grinning widely, and saluted. “I got a few more of these scripts to deliver. But we’ll all be on set in an hour, so make sure to be there! Pleasure to finally meet ya, Vil! I hope I can learn a lot.”

“I’m certain you will.” Vil nodded to Hiro as the boy left, scrambling with his clipboard and stumbling over nervous feet.

As the door closed behind him, Hiro leaned against the wall. That went well. Really well. Hiro tapped both of his feet against the floor, punched the air gleefully, and a high-pitched “YIPPEEEE!” rang through the hallway.

[frie-ice]

[ambimakesarts]

More acting doodles.

Kinda updated the outfit for Ortho in these doodles cuz I liked the way his hair looked with his bangs pushed back.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

why them??

Whenever we visit a new location, there's an in-game reason given for why it's these specific four characters chosen to go! I was eager to see why Vil had Jamil, Azul, and Ace come along with him to an acclaimed film festival... and I was not disappointed 😂

***Tapis Rouge in the Shaftlands spoilers under the cut!!***

So as it turns out, Vil has been invited to the International Film Festival in Fairest City (a significant location for the entertainment and beauty industries). He’s going to promote a movie he’s in that’s releasing next year.

The original plan was for the Film Research Club to accompany Vil and take the chance to learn more about movie productions. However, the club is in the middle of filming for their own project and a change in weather has led to their shoot next week being cancelled. The filming they would have done next week now has to be done this week, so Vil’s club members cannot go on the trip. (Vil himself still has to attend because he is contractually obligated to.)

The other NRC students start to argue over who Vil should take in his club members’ places. The people vying for spots include:

Cater (because the Fairest City is so trendy and always popular on Magicam)

Azul (many famous brands are sold in Fairest City; he has a financial interest in this research)

Lilia (has visited the city before, but never the film festival)

Jade (the city is close to old mines, which he is interested in)

Ace (he loves the idea of going to a fashionable city and “tasting” the celebrity world)

Rook (a lover of movies and dramas; he is curious about the movie studios)

Floyd, Epel, Deuce, Grim (lol it sounds fun to them; Epel also says he has not traveled a lot so he wants to go this time)

Ruggie (FANCY FOOD)

Jamil (wants to take advantage of Vil’s presence to see behind-the-scenes things they don’t normally show; he usually prepares snacks for when Kalim watches movies at one of three at-home theaters but hasn’t had the time to really appreciate the films for what they are himself)

DKJLBHASILYFAYFVQEFIFQEPI; I love the added detail of Jamil telling the others they're inconveniencing their senpai but then Azul cuts in and implies the behavior is a manipulation tactic to show off to Vil how reliable Jamil can be (thus increasing his odds of going while he still maintains his "humility")... Those two just cannot stop getting at each other's throats, I swear 💀 (In part 2, they continue the pettiness when Ace comments that they’re both quick to tease him together, so do they actually get along? Jamil says no but Azul says yes… and the two of them are STILL bullying each other about their personalities once they get their new outfits. Truly not a dull moment with them…)

BUT THIS IS THE REAL STINGER

So since Vil can only pick 5 people to take with him, he says they'll have to prove that they somehow excel over the others. It's then that Azul cooks up a scheme on the spot and recruits Jamil and Ace for it: a lottery! Azul proposes it, has Jamil pitch in, and has Ace prepare the drawings. THIS WORKS ON MULTIPLE LEVELS BECAUSE:

Azul can present the idea as "random" and "fair". This makes him appear like a kind problem solver not wanting to give anyone, not even himself, a leg up.

It would come off as shady if he gets one of the twins (known to be his henchman) to agree with him... so who does Azul get to back him up? Jamil, someone from another dorm, and someone who was passive aggressive with him earlier. This creates a false illusion that others beyond Azul and his dorm believe in the "fairness" of the lottery.

Ace has deft fingers; he a cut a deck of cards--and he can easily rig a lottery since he's in cahoots with Azul, the guy who suggested it to begin with.

This creates a situation where Azul, Jamil, AND Ace get to go to the event. These bitches are mutually benefitting from being collectively sneaky (According to Ace, Yuu and Grim pulled the remaining two slots by coincidence, so they just happen to be "lucky") 🤡 AND THE FUNNIEST PART OF IT ALL IS THAT VIL SUSPECTED THEY WOULD PULL THIS SHIT, BUT HE LET IT HAPPEN ANYWAY SINCE IT'S TECHNICALLY STILL THEM DEMONSTRATING THEIR TALENTS TO HIM...

Truly, bravo... That deserved a standing ovation, gentlemen 👏

[ramshacklerumble]

i’ve had the concept of sorrel and cater working on a song for music club reasons in my head for a while (despite sorrel being in the film research club) and @twstinginthewind’s nrc music fest event popped up and i was like OH PERFECT!!! (explanatory ramble below)

regardless of the circumstances around just how they get into this project together, this whole thing is what gets them to get to know each other far better than anything else has since the time they’ve known one another. this is also a good example as to why they are unable to become romantically involved until adulthood.

cater is aware sorrel is at the very least attracted to him and while i wouldn’t say that he’s USING sorrel, he sure is taking advantage of whatever sorrel has for him to get sorrel to work on the project with him. this works out even better when sorrel shows legitimate aptitude for the song writing process (though much like with sorrel’s other work, he’s got a sharp perfectionist streak). though it’s nothing explosive, cater and sorrel do begin to clash in terms to how they approach the song and things get even more dicey for cater when VIL begins to question sorrel’s reasons for working with cater to begin with. she’s rather open about her views on cater being a flakey, uninspired and shallow phony and thinks little of sorrel “wasting” his talents on cater as she doesn’t think he’d truly appreciate any of it.

cater just wants something that looks and sounds cool for the ‘cam and vil doesn’t doubt they’ll be able to do that. but that’s just the issue, it’ll be just that.

her time working alongside sorrel as a creative on the film research club has shown her sorrel doesn’t work on anything for simple appearances. besides his genuine love and passion for his work, everything he works on has a message he truly believes in— be it a negative or positive one— it’s genuine. but when has cater ever done anything genuinely?

sorrel voices a quiet, but steady faith in cater being capable of creating something amazing— something that cater is secretly unsure how to feel about beyond feeling uncomfortable under the expectation. but cater also doesn’t miss the way sorrel begins to shift in the way he acts towards him as they continue working on this together.

sorrel himself is unsure what he actually feels for cater (in comparison to how he feels about trey at this point. that is, sorrel is fully aware he’s head-over-heels for the dude), but he does care about cater and he loves him as a friend, no question.

that said, it’s during the time that they’re working on this project together that sorrel realizes cater is…kind of really a mess. and though sorrel wants to continue to be cater’s friend and help when he’s able to— he gets the solid reality check that for his own mental health, he can’t be involved anymore beyond that with cater. he doesn’t push cater away exactly, more that sorrel minds how much of himself he’s willing to give away to him. (which is big for sorrel, who will give his entirety to someone he cares about, but that’s growth for you i suppose).

and i feel like this is definitely the start of an undercurrent of tension for the years to come, especially as cater’s coping mechanisms get more and more unhealthy.

taglist:

@cyanide-latte @inmateofthemind @tixdixl @blithesharem @thehollowwriter @jovieinramshackle

@theleechyskrunkly @skriblee-ksk @boopshoops @the-trinket-witch @twistedwonderlandshenanigans @kimikitti

@felix-cant-ski @nightwingshero @water-writings @beneathsakurashade (dm to be added)

[terminuslucis]

How do the NRC npc student feel about Little silver?

In one of my scribblings, I established that other first years started calling little Silver "Diasomnia's princess," but I think that nickname would spread pretty quickly. However, the opinions of mob NPCs depend largely on where they interact.

To Diasomnia, he is very much the princess. A lot of the Diasomnia first-years are careful around him because they saw how quickly Malleus's group got attached. Nobody wants to be the one to upset Malleus's favorite human.

Outside of that dorm, not all that many people know where the nickname came from (proximity to Malleus). They just know he's called that and assume it's because he's small, cute, and has no magic. He's the little guy in the green house that needs to be protected.

Those who share classes with him have also become loosely aware of the odd things his unconscious powers can do, which makes him "Diasomnia's mysterious princess" and "that odd little guy who left a pencil embedded into the desk".

The Film Research Club considers him Vil's tiny protege. Vil isn't trying to openly favor anyone, but Tiny Silver has proven to be a quick learner. They also spend a fair bit of one-on-one time together as Silver asks for help with his own script (for the play he may not get to be in back home). It's odd to them that he became the protege without officially joining the club. But he is a good actor, so it's alright.

People in vicinity to the other dorm leaders see him as someone who shows up, sometimes causes a ruckus, and disappears as quickly as he appeared. Nobody particularly minds, but he is odd.

[yuurei20]

Malleus Facts Part 89: Malleus and Silver (pt1)

Silver says Malleus and Lilia have been looking out for him for as long as he can remember, with Malleus sneaking out of the castle to visit him, Lilia and Sebek.

Silver tells a story of a time when an unnamed someone who happened to be at their cottage taught him and his father how to dance upon his father’s request.

Based on speech patterns (and how we have heard of no one else but Sebek and Baur visiting the cottage), the “someone” is generally assumed to be Malleus.

Malleus does not seem to struggle in the way that others do to read Silver’s emotions, saying that Silver “has always been so empathetic, sharing in others’ joys and sorrows.”

When Lilia comments on the powerful emotions concealed beneath Silver’s poker face Malleus says, “I wouldn’t say he actively conceals them, per se. I suspect he simply doesn’t betray much emotion.”

Malleus says, “there is something to be said for that level of perseverance,” on the topic of Silver training hard every morning. Silver says he trains himself to better protect Malleus and his entourage.

Silver, Lilia and Sebek patrol campus the night before a Spelldrive tournament, on the lookout for spies. (This is presumably the tournament in Book 2, although we have heard of another in May).

When Idia asks if they are not going overboard Silver explains that, before NRC, Malleus was so well-protected that “he never set one foot outside the castle without a whole cadre of guards.” When Idia asks if Malleus “rules Diasomnia with an iron fist” and everyone is too scared to defy him Silver says, “Malleus doesn't need fear to lead anyone” and “I will do anything for the man I have pledged my loyalty to.”

Silver says that he hopes he will be able to attend an NRC ceremony alongside Malleus one day.

Malleus is well aware of Silver’s penchant for falling asleep without warning, getting coffee for Silver during Firelit Sky (“It might help him stay awake”), commenting on Silver dozing off places and teaseing him about being awakened by the Bell of Solace.

Silver will express concern about about how his actions will reflect on Malleus, allowing Vil to manipulate him into participating in a Film Research Club progress (“I cannot bring shame upon Malleus”) and becoming worried about losing credit in a potionology class because “losing credit would make (him) an embarrassment to Malleus!”

He also says that he endeavors to keep up with his studies as he has no desire to reflect poorly on Malleus.

[robin-evry]

Hiiiiiii !!!! Could I please ask for half-flower (rose) yuu? ♡

Sure thing, ask and you shall receive

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐔𝐔 𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐅 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 / 𝐍𝐘𝐌𝐏𝐇 🌹🥀

A nymph (Ancient Greek: νύμφη, romanized: nýmphē; Attic Greek: [nýmpʰɛː]; sometimes spelled nymphe) is a minor female nature deity in ancient Greek folklore. Distinct from other Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature; they are typically tied to a specific place, landform, or tree, and are usually depicted as maidens.

I know this isn't what you ask for, but I decided to modify it a little to have a little background, I chose nymph due to them being a personification of nature, so this yuu will be a nymph that is the personification of the flower rose

( English is not my first language )

Yuu's appearance is deeply tied to the rose motif. They have half of their body adorned with intricate rose patterns, where thorny vines twist elegantly along with their skin, possibly wrapping around their arms and legs.

They are calm and nurturing like a flower in full bloom, but if someone harms those they care about, they reveal her "thorny" side, becoming sharp-tongued and quick to defend themselve and others.

They are the embodiment of the rose—elegant, serene, and welcoming to those who approach them with kindness. They value harmony, often seeking to create peace among those around them, much like how a rose beautifies its surroundings. However, like the thorned stem of the flower, they have a sharp edge. They are fiercely protective of their friends and can be quite intimidating when someone threatens them.

When they walk past the surroundings with plants, flowers or roses start to bloom out of nowhere since they have a connection to nature. Become NRC affocial gardener

Regardless they are actually very good at gardening, when Crowley was visiting ramshackle he saw that ramshackle is like a green house rich with beautiful plants, instead of a run down shack it looks like a rich and bountiful house that are filled with flowers around it making it beautiful. Soon they were hired to be a gardener including a paycheck for them.

And it did not disappoint, the school became a lot more popular, the school has become a much nicer place than RSA, the film research club usually films scenes that takes place in forest or an area field with flowers in exchange of not damaging the flowers, even some famous brands, photographer etc do their photo or filming in NRC, Crowley managed to double the amount the his getting but 80% of the money was given to yuu.

During some time epel ask half flower!yuu to help him with the trees in his village, since their grandparents have apple trees and it been getting hard to maintain. As well to use their natural ability to turn dead trees into flourishing apple trees.

Each winter, they're powers and energy slowly begin to dwindle as the weather turns colder. Much like how roses enter dormancy during the winter season, they also withdraw from their usual lively state. Their body and magic are tied to nature, so they require this period of rest to rejuvenate their powers. During hibernation, the rose vines that adorn their body recede slightly.

This hibernation period usually lasts from late fall until the first signs of spring. During this time, their personality becomes quieter, more introspective. They tend to avoid conflict, conserving their energy by staying indoors and using her magic sparingly. However, even in this dormant state, their thorns remain sharp, ready to defend themselves and others if necessary.

Since they're connected to plants and nature, they have the ability to manipulate any plant similar to poison ivy powers but the drawback they are unable to create plants, only be able to only existing resources.

Example : during the savanaclaw arc, they were unable to manipulate plants due to the lack of plants or nature in the area. So they carried a sack of seeds In case of this situation.

They're floral pheromones can calm, soothe, or subtly influence others. At NRC, they uses this ability carefully, often to de-escalate conflicts before they spiral out of control. In dangerous situations, they can amplify the effect to create an overwhelming sense of peace, putting their opponents into a dazed or passive state.

In ramshackle, there's a small garden filled with rare flowers, and some students found half flower!yuu tending the flowers during their free time and if any students pluck their flowers without permission or destroy it, they will dangle by the leg upside down for half an hour.

Their dorm room is a sanctuary of its own, filled with potted plants, vines, and roses that respond to their presence. It has a calming atmosphere, with the faint scent of roses always lingering in the air. Friends often visit their room for peace and quiet when the chaos of NRC becomes overwhelming, knowing that their plants will offer comfort and protection. They've become known for her green thumb, and their room is a hidden oasis amid the more chaotic, dark environment of the school.

They are also knowledgeable about biology on plants. During their free time if a student manages to come in contact with their dangerous plants, they will create an antitude for the situation. They are also excellent pharmacists.

Classes like potionolgy are extremely easy for them, one of Mr crewel star pupal. Some students seek for them for their guidance on the subject

Them and Vil share an appreciation for beauty and elegance. Vil respects their natural grace and sees her as a symbol of refined strength. They bond over skincare, fashion, and the art of presentation, though Vil sometimes wishes they would embrace a more high-maintenance beauty routine. meanwhile, they enjoy Vil's dedication to perfection but reminds him that even roses have imperfections that make them unique.

Also they usually have a sun bath, they will lay in the ramshackle ground wearing a sun glass and enjoy the sunlight.

They are also to be described as very confident and brash by people, described by people as their thorn side even tho that people said this side is ugly, half-flower!yuu would ignore them due to them loving both sides of themselves and always be true to themselves.

Even tho people see them as a kind and brash person, they are also very judgemental immediately judging people's fashion sense, during their first meeting with ace, in their head they are judging his uniform and hairstyle. They also had a very sharp tongue immediately roasting the first years during their first meeting.

[elenauaurs]

TWISTED WONDERLAND OC

Name: Amin Adel Al-Farooq

Grade/Class: Freshmen/Class B (No. 11)

Birthday: October 24rd

Age: 16

Height: 165 cm

Dominant hand: Right

Homeland: Scalding Sands

Club: Magic Shift/Spell Drive

Best Subject: Astrology

Hobbies: Taking care of virtual pets

Pet Peeves: Invasion of personal/Having to repeat himself

Favorite food: Kibbeh

Least favorite food: Crustaceans

Likes: Cats, Stars, Good people

Dislike: Delinquents, ghosts, teasing

Talent: Combat

. . .

Amin is a student from Scarabia who is always accompanying Kalim and Jamil. His distant attitude makes him strange in the eyes of many.

The mysterious and distant boy actually hides a secret: He she's a woman and Amin isn't even her real name. (She isn't trans. In the universe of my ocs NRC remains a school just for boys, but the reason for adopting a male identity comes from her backstory)

Amin is a person who always has a closed or tired face. Most of the time, Amin is stuck in his thoughts instead of interacting with others.

When Amin tries to start a conversation with someone he doesn't know, 99% of the time the conversation can turn into something really awkward or quite edgy(depends on the mood lol)

Although he isn't very good at talking and is a little shy/embarrassed, Amin is not afraid to show his thoughts and fight for them. This attitude of his makes him get into several fights, which has earned him a reputation as a troublemaker.

Despite acting this way and having a short temper, Amin hates delinquents who break the rules. Whenever he can, Amin punishes anyone he considers a deliquent to 'save' them

With people close to him, Amin reveals himself to be a courageous, agitated, stubborn, playful, teasing and loyal person. But of course, that's not how he feels at all.

In fact, Amin is a pessimist and a person who has struggled with grief for a long time. He sees himself as an impostor who doesn't deserve happiness and has no reason to live other than to continue someone else's legacy. Amin constantly blames himself for the past and has a huge inferiority complex, but he refuses to demonstrate his weakness and the truth to others.

FACTS

Amin is twisted from the guards from Aladdin

He has incredible swordsmanship

Despite his small appearance, Amin is strong and agile

He knows parkour

Amin has combat magic that is far advanced compared to other freshmen, however his general magic (like levitating things, cleaning magic, coloring magic, etc.) IS REALLY BAD

By having such poor magic and almost failing many classes, Amin makes up for his lack of skill in written or physical activities (or combat)

Amin is banned from Mostro lounge

The headband he wears is a gift from Kalim

APPEARANCE

Amin has short, dark hair with bangs. His skin is dark and his eyes are dark brown

He always wears clothes much larger than his size and always wears a headband

Most of the time, he wears bandages around his hands that go up to his elbow.

. . .

Note: Since Aladdin is a racist film, I tried to do some research to avoid something that would be hurtful to people from the Middle East. If you know the Middle East well and noticed that there is something wrong with this post, please let me know and I will review it immediately, thank you!

Tag: @cyanide-latte @theleechyskrunkly @thehollowwriter @distant-velleity @tixdixl @rainesol @oya-oya-okay @boopshoops @br3adtoasty

[tarobii]

Introducing Night Raven College's otherworldly guests!

Yuuichi is Ramshackle's prefect, and Eden is the vice-prefect.

┌── •✧• ──���

These two are quite the odd duo, considering their temperaments, but they do say opposites attract! Besides, they're in the same boat--otherworlders and all. It's no wonder they'd bond after all the trauma shenanigans NRC has put them through. Although, they do seem to already know each other from back home.

─── •✧• ───

Yuuichi is an extremely energetic extrovert who takes Twisted Wonderland's oddities in stride. They're the curious type, so they're having the time of their life here in NRC. Yuuichi likes taking things apart to see how they work, and has tried to do so with several machines and mechanisms within the school (much to Crowley's chagrin). They've also taken a shine to the magic system here, and study it a lot despite not being able to use it. ("It's just so interesting!!")

Eden is a lot more timid and withdrawn compared to Yuuichi, but he tries to show face and present himself with poise and elegance. He succeeds, for the most part, but his shyness is still very apparent. Eden (quite literally) fell into Twisted Wonderland after Yuuichi, right after the Octavinelle arc. He tries to be a model student, but that's really hard to do when his best friend is Yuuichi. No matter how hard he tries, he's always pulled into the first-year's shenanigans. He's resigned to just making sure they don't get too out of hand.

─── •✧• ───

some more tidbits about them:

Yuuichi's Magicam handle is @/Yuusername

Yuuichi joins Jack on his morning runs sometimes (although they're rarely awake in time)

Yuuichi is something of a parkourist; they like running and climbing on rooftops

Yuuichi prefers to have a concrete plan before going into something, sometimes to their detriment. They've lost matches from thinking for too long before. (Although, NRC has gotten them better at thinking on their feet.)

Yuuichi joined the Film Research Club specifically to be backstage tech.

Yuuichi harasses Idia a lot with the help of Ortho. (It's a win-win! Yuuichi gets to look at cool tech and Ortho gets his brother out of his room!)

Eden's eyes turn pink in the light.

Despite his temperament, Eden is very resistant to peer pressure. (Unless his friends are the ones pressuring him AND he actually wants to do the thing, he just needs a little push.)

Eden loves music. He sings and dances a lot. (He does ballet the most.)

Eden would have joined the VDC boyband crew if not for the fact that he was still acclimating to this world. (Jamil's overblot wasn't exactly a pleasant first OB experience.)

Eden did help Epel and Deuce out when they were learning ballet, though.

Eden likes spending time with Silver. He finds time spent with him calming.

Eden initially checked out the Equestrian club because Riddle invited him, but he stayed because Silver was there.

Back in their home universe, neither Yuuichi or Eden are first years. Yuuichi is a second year and Eden is a third year.

They both help Grim come up with new applications for his fire.

They both do combat training with Grim.

The Ramshackle crew stargazes on Ramshackle's roof often. They invite the other students to join sometimes. The most frequent guests here are Malleus, Kalim, and ADeuce.

At this point, Yuuichi's magicam has become a joint account for the Ramshackle trio.

└── •✧• ──┘

(extra renders below the cut)

(HELP ME EDEN IS CUT OFF SO MUCH AHHSDFHHSD) (he's so tall omg)

[m4rble5]

A TWST musical but only Yuu/MC sings

But it’s just Yuu/MC singing that makes rizzing the NRC boys go up to more meters up

What if Yuu/MC is ACTUALLY from OUR world? Like Disney movies, shows, and songs basically exist there. And Yuu/MC is just a big fan of them, ESPECIALLY if the singer Ross Lynch (Teen Beach, Austin & Ally).

Ross Lynch’s characters from the movie and show I mentioned in the previous paragraph has a lot of fanbase in the past, he’s basically a childhood crush. Yuu/MC is no exception and they like him through his songs that they sing his songs when they have free time or a break from school or whatnot (technically, we all don’t know Yuu’s backstory. Yet.)

What if Yuu/MC sings his songs, and as they sang, the NRC boys are basically having a crush on them because of any Ross Lynch song they sang? They’re now basically the Ross Lynch-unbeknownst to them-of NRC (or Twisted Wonderland, if one of their friends (Cater and Vil are possible candidates) for exposing their singing to Magicam).

(While Yuu/MC just likes to sing when they feel like it, Azul probably tries to make a profit from their singing talent [and/or tried to make them work for him], Vil tried to make them join the Film Research Club, and the Pop Music Club [Cater, Kalim, and Lilia] basically also tries to make them join their club as their vocalist)

I would pay to see fanart or read fanfic of Yuu/MC basically singing any Ross Lynch Disney songs and the NRC boys’ reactions to any songs Yuu/MC sang.

[takeachillpillshawty]

I realized I haven't posted this but here it is.

[Ignihyde Dorm]

Magnus Orpheus

Grade\Class: Junior \ Class E (No. 1)

Birthday: February 14 (Aquarius)

Age: 19

Height: 185cm

Dominate hand: left

Homeland: Shaft lands

Club: Film research club

Best subject: Flight

Hobbies: foraging

Pet peeves: loud parties

Favorite food: Pomegranate seeds

Least Favorite food: any alcoholic beverages

Talent: Lock picking

Magnus is a young man that carries himself with a stoic manner, despite being the Vice Housewarden of Ignihyde he strives to help his dorm mates live a healthy life outside of technology even if it means dragging the Housewarden by the hair for a meeting.

Background: Magnus was always a hard working man, though he has a bad habit of putting others first before him, whether it be out of love or pity. Due to his parents 'spending habits' Magnus went into the work force at the young age of 16, helping pay the bills and also fund his parents lifestyle. Parties upon parties leaving the house a mess in the morning for him to clean, but the love Magnus have for his parents was stronger than his hatred of their 'bad habits'.

Unfortunately his parents would go in dept with the S.T.Y.X. for unknown reasons, the panic and fear in there eyes was enough to twist Magnus' heart. He decided to take on their dept resulting in him working for S.T.Y.X. specifically as the upcoming director's assistant, Idia Shroud. Magnus didn't get along with Idia at first, but slowly he accepted that this was his life now. He attended NRC along with him to ensure his safety.

Relationships with other Characters:

Riddle- Magnus sees himself in Riddle, how he used to bend backward for his parents happiness and not his own. He tries to encourage Riddle to enjoy what's left of his life here in NRC and make happy memories to look back on.

Kalim- Despite wanting his dorm mates to be more social, Magnus is a hypocrite when it comes to taking his own advice. Just because he looks extroverted doesn't mean he is, unfortunately he can't say no to Kalim, especially with those big ole eyes. Whenever he's at one of his parties he tend to be away from the crowd and near a food bar or anywhere devoid of people. Parties like this reminds him of the same ones his parents used to throw but less violent and noisy. All in all, he prefers not to socialize.

Vil- Magnus usually goes to Vil whenever it came to make up.

Idia- He doesn't hate Idia despite his initial attitude towards him, but wished he met him under different circumstances.

Trivia:

° Magnus' unique magic is 'Phantom Phenomena' inspired by Meg's soul traveling down the underworld. Magnus has the ability to turn into a ghost like apparition, able to phase through walls and disappear. This first manifested as an out of body experience when he was a child but managed to fully control it during his second year at NRC.

° Magnus' birthday is on Valentine's day.

° Magnus' last name 'Orpheus' is taken from Orpheus, the man who traveled the underworld to save his beloved from death only to loose her again. This can also describe what Meg went through.

° Due to his unique magic Magnus is almost always cold, no matter how hot the weather is, and the cool temperature in Ignihyde is not helpful. Luckily he received a scarf and gloves as birthday gifts from Riddle.

° it's hinted that Magnus' parents are heavy gamblers.

° Magnus was accepted at RSA, his dream school... but had to decline as he was already registered along with Idia to NRC.

° When asked what would he do if the dept to S.T.Y.X. lifted from him, Magnus stated "I'd cut my parents out of my life and Start a new one."

[twstfanblog]

Twist OC Fankid Info!

Draconia Triplets

**Malgona Draconia-Crewel**

Age: 18 (June 13th)

School: Junior at NRC. Captain of the discontinued girls spelldrive team and Diasomnia Housewarden.

Height: 6'2" (not counting horns)

Hair: Knee length straight black, curly in humidity

Eyes: Father's green eyes, glows purple when using magic.

Likes: Napping, gems, candy crush style games, hand to hand combat, wearing heels (she enjoys the click they do), bullying other students

Dislikes: Slime, being woken up from her naps, the fae council, the consequences of her actions, most modern horror films

Pets?: A new gen Roaring Drago. She calls it fat.

Fav Food: Spaghetti with meatballs and cherry tomatoes (Rubies)

Who's their Best Friend?: Sadiki Kingscholar-Bucchi

Dating/Crush?: Gilbert Flamme (Dating against the wishes of both their fathers.)

Comes across as a very serious person, but it is just her mother at her core. Speaks in formalities in public, swears like a sailor in private/with people she's close to. Lowkey hovers over the Chaotic Evil alignment. While evil at her core, she's been raised with love and understanding. So, to show that love, she's made the choice not to become an evil dictator until Malleus has passed.

To make up for her weak magic skills has become very good at hand to hand combat (WHO TAUGHT THE TANK JUDO????)

Is very open about her goal to overblot one day.

Gets periods like her mother. (Literally sends out a period ping to make her mother and Charsya start theirs as well before sleeping through hers entirely)

Unique Magic: Dragon's Hoard (Working Title). Though her magic radius is painfully small compared to her brothers, she's able to absorb the magic of offensive spells and use it as her own. Hasn't needed to use her own magic for a few years now. Discovered during a failed assassination attempt when the triplets were 8.

**Malathew Draconia-Crewel**

Age: 18 (June 13th)

School: Junior at NRC. Member of the Debate Club and Diasomnia Vice Warden

Height: 6'2" (not counting horns)

Hair: Shoulder length straight black hair, curly in humidity

Eyes: Father's green eyes, glows teal when using magic.

Likes: Stim slime, maps, learning languages, studying, playing charades, reorganizing files to the disadvantage of everyone else.

Dislikes: Being cold, grainy textures, energy drinks, blind obedience

Pets?: New gen Roaring Drago. Lost it in the castle library and cried for days until a servant found it.

Fav Food: Chunky Beef Stew (Eats Paper)

Who's their Best Friend?: Jabari Kingscholar-Bucchi (I know what you ARE...)

Dating/Crush?: Jabari Kingscholar-Bucchi (Neither seem...to realize they are just straight up dating)

The easiest to approach of the triplets. Loves talking to people and finding new things to connect over. More of a 'trap card' style fighter than direct attacks.

Chaotic Neutral to the core. There for a good time and kind of hates that Malgona makes him be the brain cell at times. Potentially has a crush on Jabari that he's purely confusing for friendly admiration.

Terrible at jokes. They either fall completely flat or get so out of control that a small nation is being destroyed in a civil war. This has happened TWICE. (Malacent: I can't joke with anyone...)

Unique Magic: Undiscovered. Unbothered and in no rush to figure it out.

**Malicent Draconia-Crewel**

Age: 18 (June 13th)

School: Junior at NRC. Member of the Gargoyle Research Society (Diasomnia base status).

Height: 6'2" (NOt counting horns)

Hair: Chin length straight black, curly in humidity

Eyes: Father's green eyes, glows green when using magic

Likes: Exploring, the wilderness, sword fighting, weapons, military strategies, flying with his siblings and dad at night.

Dislikes: Sour candy,being on bed rest, oversleeping, horseback riding, gargoyles (Most of them unsettle him. He would NEVER tell his dad.)

Pets?: New gen Roaring Drago. Takes it with him on his exploring trips

Fav Food: Spicy pan-fried chicken (Chews paperclips)

Who's their Best Friend: Beau Zigvolt-Vanrouge

Dating/Crush?: No time for that romance mess, hes got magic and sword fighting to learn. (Claimed he was going to marry Sebek when he was young. DON'T BRING THAT UP)

The friendliest yet pettiest of the triplets. Has cursed his classmates multiple times over small things like someone taking the last pudding cup at lunch or not saying 'bless you' when someone sneezes. Strong magic but prefers sword fighting, enchants his weapons in his spare time. Claims to be Lawful Good but is Chaotic Good at best.

Has an odd blessing on him that in dire times, he will always be lucky. No one is sure where the blessing came from.

Managed to snap one of his horns completely in half as a child. Because of that, the other horn had to be shaved down to keep his head level, so Malicent's horns are noticeably shorter than his older siblings. (Malgona tried to bolt cut her and Malathew's horns off in an act of solidarity, but Lilia managed to stop her)

Unique Magic: Undiscovered. Bothered and pouting about it since Malgona got hers.

And that's the Draconia Triplets! Next up, the Ashengrotto Twins!

[star-gazer101]

Ortho the Snooping Brother

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

Pairing(s): Idia Shroud x Reader, Vil Schoenheit x Reader

Characters: Idia Shroud, Ortho Shroud, Vil Schoenheit

Warnings: GN reader, slight OOC, unrequited love, reader gets compared to an otome game heroine, slight misunderstanding on Ortho's part, one sided Vil x reader

AN: Sorry it took too long to update! I had a really hard time trying to do Vil justice on my part and I had to cut it short cause I thought it'd be too long! Hope you enjoy it! ^^;

-

Something was going on with Vil.

Not from the usual standard–mind you–it was just the way he started to act around his peers and club members.

During film studies, Vil was strict as always with running the club. Giving everyone the right amount of critique to make everything well-runned as possible. And Ortho is included in it as well…

It’s just…Vil has been smiling a bit more than usual, and the punishments were less harsh.

Everything about it felt…odd.

And then there was the Prefect…

Lately during their hangouts, the Prefect’s appearance was starting to look different each and every day. Their skin was starting to become less blemished, a bit of eyeshadow was there to add color, and weirdest of all, their taste in clothing has gotten a lot better!

His brother may not have noticed, for he was too busy gushing with them about this week’s new anime episode, but Ortho certainly did!

Something horrible is afoot, and he is gonna get to the bottom of this!

-

Or at least he was once classes were over, but had completely forgotten about film research. Curses…

And he was so close too!

Maybe he should stop moping around so much since Vil has been giving him the cold stare to finish up the stage’s final touches before the other club members reprise their roles.

Right. He really did not want to disappoint. Vil has gotten more irritable than ever these past few days and no one knew why. And Ortho did not want to be on the receiving end of it.

Fortunately for everyone, there was a silver lining and everyone sighed with relief when the Prefect unexpectedly showed up.

The Prefect was the moral support everyone needed at that moment.They gave out the best advice when needed for rehearsal and somehow soothed the brewing storm that was clouding Vil’s better judgment.

A breather was all he needed.

And when the third year’s eyes warmed at the sight of the Prefect’s smile did Ortho realize something.

A raise in body temperature, increased heart rate and a soft tone of voice?!

Oh no! Vil Schoenheit is in love with the Prefect!

-

This can’t be good! A sudden rival appearing out of nowhere was not on the checklist for a “Happily Ever After”!

And the worst part is neither you or his brother had a proper confession yet!

What if Vil decides to sweep you away from his brother before it even happens? The steps are already there, what if you decide all on your own that Vil is the better choice in the end?

And why is he of all people all that concerned? Didn’t he originally not want the Prefect and Idia to end up together?

…

Status: Unsure. Will need some time to rethink this before moving forward…

-

Brother’s happiness comes first. 

But ever since you came into their lives, your happiness became just as important.

What is he going to do?

“Complete and utter betrayal…” Was all Ortho muttered as he hovered around his brother’s room. What was he going to do once the Prefect breaks his poor brother’s heart? Then what? It’s not like Idia has any other options to choose from!

“Uh…trying to practice your lines again, Ortho?”

And then there was his brother: Idia Shroud; the smartest person in NRC. But instead of worrying about his doomed love life, he was laying in bed playing games! Because of course he is!

Ortho huffed, which quickly sent his brother to look back at his game. He flew over to glance at his brother’s portable screen, as if it was the cause of his dilemma, but froze in shock at what he saw.

Idia is playing another otome game. Not all too surprising there. It was the usual. However, there was something different about it.

The heroine of the game looks exactly like–

“Idia, why does she almost look like the Prefect?”

Almost on instinct, Idia tried his best to quickly hide the game, but it was already too late. Ortho saw everything.

“I-it’s nothing, Ortho! Really! W-when did you decide to get all snoopy?!”

‘Ever since you decided to date the Prefect, idiot!’ Is what he wanted to say, but decided to glare with irritation in his eyes and his brother’s name said as a warning.

Idia sighs in defeat and reaches for the discarded game to show his younger brother. “You see the male love interest I’ve been pursuing?”

“Yes?”

“The forums I’ve been looking at recommended his route to be saved for last. And since I’ve speedrunned the other six routes, I think I’m understanding why he’s important to the MC. She’s been trying to save him this entire time while collecting gems from other romantic routes. And once you have all of them, the dark curse in this timeline will finally be broken.”

“Sounds too overly complicated, big bro.”

Another sigh. “I have to agree it’s a bit cliched, but it is one of the OGs.” 

‘Originals, huh? Perhaps there’s some research to be done…’

“If it’s alright with you, big bro. Would it be okay for me to borrow this when you’re done?” Ortho innocently asked.

There was hesitation, but Idia relented. “Fine. Just be careful not to lose it. That limited edition cost a fortune!”

“Thanks Idia~! You’re the best!”

Idia only shook his head with a grin. “Look at you, Ortho. My little bro’s growing up.”

Unbeknownst to Ortho, Idia was already planning on giving out suggestions that would suit his little brother.

-

Everything about this game is seriously giving him deja vu.

A fictional game school setting that’s all about using magic, the main character with no magic of her own being forced to be there as the new exchange student, and seven love interests with tragic backstories that hit a little too close to home…

Was this a threat?

Should he be concerned?

‘Focus,Ortho.There’s no need to be alarmed. Only Idy has use of the school’s cameras. It’s not like he’s using the information from S.T.Y.X. to make this otome game…Right?’

Well, on the bright side, the Prefect hasn’t shown any signs that they can use magic yet. Yet being the key word.

Still, Ortho really did hope that this game doesn’t predict the future on what’s to come…Especially with the fact that one of the love interests who looks exactly like Vil was worrisome.

The character even showed up as a rival against Idia’s look-alike and it made it even worse!

“Aren’t you worried about the Prefect?” The younger Shroud had asked. “Have you ever once had fears that they might find someone else?” 

“All the time…” The eldest Shroud muttered as he continued his dailies. “I sometimes wonder why they chose a creepy otaku like me. But…”

“But?”

“I know they want me to believe that they actually care about me. We have to trust each other in order for this to work…Or else they’ll threaten to make me talk with all the normies IRL. And I don’t want THAT.”

“Idia.”

“Alright, I wasn’t being serious on that one. But I mean what I said about trusting them. I want to believe that they’ll always be there for me…It also helps to rub it in other normies’ faces fweehee!”

And that was the end of their conversation about the Prefect…his brother is doomed.

-

Ortho needed a break from his frustrations and somehow ended up in the Botanical Garden. An unlikely place for him to be suddenly in, but the silence of the garden’s atmosphere was a much needed welcome.

Maybe this will clear his mind…

However, it feels like he wasn’t alone…

There were sounds of footsteps and mutterings of a couple of voices.

And judging by the noise, there were two people. Possibly here for more than simply gardening.

And if Ortho didn’t know any better, the voices sounded very familiar…and they were getting closer…!

Quickly Ortho found a spot to hide as he watched the scene unfold: It was you! And Vil Schoenheit! 

What a coincidence seeing the both of you here…

You and Vil were in a very passionate conversation about life in general and the possible struggles of the upcoming future…

How strange to have this kind of talk in the deeper parts of the garden where no one can see you. And with the way Vil is talking to you it almost feels roma–

Oh!

Oh…

Ortho had heard rumors about this place from other first years. Rumor has it that if you have feelings for someone, the best thing to do is confess in the deepest part of the botanical garden where the flowers bloom the brightest. There may be a chance the person in question will return their feelings.

This what-if is becoming a real life nightmare come true!

He has to do something before you confess!

But for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to initiate his blasters.

If he interrupted now, both of you would know he was eavesdropping and everything would be ruined.

He didn’t want to disappoint Vil, and worst of all he didn't want to disappoint you.

Ortho was already walking on thin ice by just being here…

“If you really feel that way, you’re always welcome to stay with me in the Shaftlands. I’m certain my father would be overjoyed to meet you.”

There it is! The confession! If you return it, Idia’s doom flag will rise!

However, you look uncertain–a mismatch to Vil’s hopefulness. 

“I’m very flattered, Vil…Really. But…It feels so sudden. I don’t think I can accept it.”

“Why not? If you’re worried about money, then there’s no nee–”

“It’s not that Vil! You’re a really great friend and I’m happy that you helped me out a lot during this year! It’s just…There’s already someone else that I admire and I hope I can stay with him for as long as I can. Please don’t hate me for it…”

There was defeat in his eyes, but still held an elegant smile as he brushed a few strands of hair from your face to ease you from breaking down.

“Potato, you know I could never hate you for the way you feel.You should feel proud to have someone you truly care about. So tell me, does he know?”

You gave a wobbly smile before nodding. “I sure hope he does…”

“Then I will pursue you no longer. I pray to the Great Seven that if he finds a way to break your heart, there will be no mercy. I’d take it you’ve been improving on your poisons?”

“It’s getting better with thanks to you. Why?”

“Perhaps you would like to do the honors of taking him out yourself. Though I am only half joking about this.”

A nervous chuckle. “Half joking?”

“You know what I’ve implied, Prefect. Continue taking better care of yourself.”

The young Shroud heard you sigh as soon as Vil had left, leaving both you and him alone. Now if you can leave, he could get away without any con–

“I know you’re here, Ortho. You can stop hiding now.”

Shoot!

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hello, hi, heya! I noticed something and wanted to share it. So the Pop Music Club only has three members and was in danger of disbanding according to Lilia's ceremonial robes story. Malleus and Jade are the only members of their clubs though so how are they not disbanded yet? Vil was also the only one before Ortho but I think he's in a different category since he clearly has mobs in his club. Your thoughts?

Oh, that’s a good point 🤔 Cater says in Lilia’s Ceremonial Robes vignettes: “We've only got three members and we never do anything. If we don't get more people this year, we're getting disbanded!” He also states that “[…] the headmage has his eye on [the Pop Music Club]” because of their low membership, which implies Crowley is the one that handles club disbandment at NRC.

Unlike Vil’s Film Research Club, there are no mob students with membership to the Gargoyle Appreciation Society or the Mountain Lovers Club. Malleus and Jade are stated to be the sole members of their respective extracurricular organizations… so why doesn’t Crowley bring down the hammer of disbandment on them?

… My guess is that Crowley’s too afraid to piss off Malleus and/or Jade 😂 Malleus is the more obvious threat of the two, being someone of royal status as well as a powerful mage. Being told his club is going bye-bye could upset him and result in… uh, Kentucky Fried Crowley, let’s say.

Jade, while the less obvious threat, is capable of coercion through other means. Remember how Octavinelle collects dirt on people (Jade’s Ceremonial Robes vignettes + book 4) to use it against them? Remember how they put Crowley in a tight bind in book 3 by seizing control of a quarter of NRC’s student population so he would cave to their demands? It’s very possible that Jade could retaliate or figure out something similar to make Crowley’s job more difficult than it has to be. I can see why the headmaster wouldn’t want to get in those two’s time with their hyperfixations.

I think it should also be noted that the other half of what Cater says may also be a factor. Their club doesn’t really do anything but sit around, eat snacks, and talk (which is alluded to in events like A Firelit Sky and various voice lines and vignettes). It’s possible that Crowley is harsher on judging their group because they aren’t really doing anything enriching.

Back to the Pop Music Club for a second! It’s true that they have an influential figure of their own in the ranks: Kalim! Wouldn’t Crowley be afraid of upsetting him? Possibly! The thing about Kalim though is that he’s not spiteful or retaliatory. He’d be sad if his club disbanded, but I don’t see him trying to get back at the headmaster for it. Kalim would be sad for a while and then eventually look for another club to join or try to do something to cheer himself up. After all, Kalim seems to have joined the Pop Music Club moreso to socialize than to play instruments. Maybe he can talk to his friends or arrange another social activity to fill in the space of time after classes.

[mysaldate]

Vil's agency and my worries for the upcoming event

Alright, time for another analysis, once again centered on Vil. Disclaimer to start with because people love to take what I said out of context: This post will have my worries about the upcoming Halloween event (Playfulland) which comes out in two days. It is entirely possible that I am wrong about what I'm going to say here but as I will hopefully explain in this post, there is a disturbing pattern regarding Vil and his agency as a character going on in the game which makes me worried this event will fall into the same routine. I am not claiming this event will absolutely 100% do what I outline here and I am not saying the event is bad before it even came out.

Side note before we delve into this, I already do not like this event visually, I find the style tacky and cheap and all over the place. However, I recognize some people enjoy it. This post is not about that, I will not be trying to make you dislike the event, and I expect the same respect back. Now, onto the analysis.

When seeing the previews and plot synopsis for the new event, something felt off to me, uncomfortably so. As some of you may already know, I am fairly sensitive to loss of agency in canon, especially for characters I relate to, because it reminds me of my own history of abuse. "Turning the characters into puppets" seems like a premise ripe with loss of agency and the wording of the synopsis as well as the promo video did little to elevate these concerns. Specifically when it came to Vil.

Now, I probably don't have to explain why the idea of Vil getting indulgent and forgetting about the real world and ending up a puppet of his desires goes against his entire character. Then again, the event isn't out yet so I can't tell for sure if that is what's going to happen. The synopsis seems to hint at it and given twst's past events, the ones to snap out of it will most likely be the SSRs or, at most, the story sr, which is Floyd. Then I began to think back on other events and cards Vil has and I came to a very disturbing realization: Vil gets punished for showing agency and rewarded for not having any. Allow me to elaborate.

In many of the stories Vil shows up in, we see a strange push to punish Vil for being active and taking charge of events or we see Vil being passive and reactive and getting rewarded for that. In the Sunset Savannah event, Vil doesn't want to go originally but is convinced and dragged along by Leona. He doesn't join the event because he wants to but because he's bribed to. During the event, he shows more agency and begins to be more active – which then results in him getting his ankle twisted. This isn't a one-off situation either. In Beans Day, Vil is very active and shows off his leadership skills as well as his amazing planning and prediction abilities. How does this pay off? Rook shows up out of nowhere and captures him, putting him out of the game. Once again, Vil had agency and then got punished for it. During Vargas Camp, Vil is once again on top of things. He is a leader, he is a wonderful outdoorsman, and he shows lots of agency. How does the game treat this? He is forced to forfeit his agency for weeks to Azul because we are meant to believe Vil and Trey – two of the most competent mages at NRC – would not be able to get by without Azul's help. Azul is the R in this event.

But it's not event SRs either. I have already talked about Vil's labcoat story previously but looking at it from the perspective of Vil's agency reveals something I didn't realize at first. By the time the game came out, Vil's foundation of the Film Research club was one of his biggest acts of agency we were directly confronted with. In Vil's labcoat story, he exercises further agency by going out of his way to prepare for an important shooting. How does the game treat this? He is gaslit and made to feel insecure by Rook to the point where he begins to skip meals. And how does he get out of this state? Does he do an introspection and realize Rook was just trying to manipulate and control him? Does he ask someone for a second opinion? No. He is approached by Trey who then convinces him to eat cake with him. Vil is not only punished for showing agency but also rewarded for giving his agency up and just doing what people tell him to.

Well, maybe that's just his SRs though. Surely in his SSRs where he is meant to be the main star, this isn't the case, right? Well... His dorm uniform story is about a magazine wanting an interview with him. Right off the bat, Vil is the reactive element here. Vil then puts together new schedules and begins to get his dorm in an even better shape – which gets him complaints and grumbles from everyone. He is punished for showing agency even though it is to the other students' benefit. Vil doesn't let up and exercises further agency by adjusting the meal and exercise plans to be personalized – and he gets Rook telling him that nobody cares anyway and he is just wasting his time. Yes, the dorm members quietly change their opinion of Vil but they never tell him. The only feedback Vil has is from Rook who is, once again, punishing him for having agency.

Vil's Scalding Sands SSR card doesn't have a story but that doesn't stop it from taking away any agency Vil might've had. Not only did he not actually visit Scalding Sands, he wasn't even the one to obtain the outfit. Rather, Trey brought it to him as a gift because Kalim's parents just gave it away. Mind you, this note was completely unnecessary. The only purpose it serves for Vil is making sure he doesn't have any agency at all after already taking away what could've been an interesting story.

And then we get to Halloween. The first Halloween event was a huge breath of fresh air for Vil. He is very active and shows tons of agency. Vil is part of the Halloween committee, he oversees costume themes and makeup, he is one of the key pieces of the plan to scare away the Magicamonsters, he shows more agency than he did in the rest of the stories altogether. What is the outcome of all this? Well, he is promptly kidnapped the following night, possessed by a ghost, and made to act shamefully in front of his friends. Wow. Complete mind-control and erasure of any hint of agency specifically for the reason of him having agency in the first event.

But I hear you, all of these are just events or cards, someone else might be writing them. There's no way this is how he's meant to be seen in the main story, right? Well... Not exactly. And to make one thing clear, I am not caught up on every single tweet Yana Toboso makes. I know people have been saying for months now that Vil is Yana's favorite character but I have yet to see any proof of the claim. It started around the time Vil's Scalding Sands SSR dropped and most of it back then read as jealousy. Whether or not that was the case, I cannot tell. If this is the treatment Vil gets as a favorite character, I just hope Yana never takes a liking to me (this is a joke).

The first time we really meet and interact with Vil in the main story in any sort of meaningful way and without him just being lumped up with the rest of the dorm leaders is in Book 2, and he is quickly ridiculed and mocked for showing agency in caring how he will look during the Magift tournament. And yes, I know the novel made tweaks to this set of scenes, the novel isn't canon to the game and it showed so on multiple occasions. So right off the bat, not a great start for Vil's agency as a character.

We barely see him after that up until Book 5. Now, I have a whole post about the meaning of Vil's overblot that you can read here but this time, I want to focus on something else about this chapter. This chapter is a masterclass on how to punish a character for showing agency. Vil is painted as unreasonable and over the top from the start, be it in providing legitimate criticism to the VDC tryouts or in getting upset at his agent for violating his boundaries and signing him up for roles he explicitly doesn't want to play. Both of these are treated by the story as flaws and issues when neither of them really is. Vil being strict with the other VDC group members is for their good as well as his own. And Vil setting up boundaries over which roles he is and isn't willing to take stems from his history of being typecasted and dehumanized for his casting (I go deeper into this in the other Vil analysis post). Both of these are healthy displays of agency, yet the main story frames them in a way that makes Vil seem unreasonable for doing these things.

Vil's agency brings him a temporary reward but that is immediately taken away when during the preliminary tryout performances, he is overtaken by an objectively mediocre performance. All his hard work, all his agency, is immediately thrown out the window for the sole purpose of making him feel miserable. Once again, he is punished for exercising his agency. What he does next and his overblot are exceptions to this as Vil used his agency to do something objectively bad and the resulting overblot is more of a natural consequence than a punishment (albeit I have my gripes with how the overblot was handled as well). The final nail in the coffin in book 5 came after the overblot when Vil, once more, exercised his agency to push through his pain and still perform. Not only was he punished for his efforts by losing the competition but he was then further berated for the overblot yet again (as well as being gaslit once again by Rook, this is nothing new).

I've heard some people say that Book 6 is good in this regard, that it gives characters agency and character development. I disagree with this claim. Vil, together with the other overblotees, is kidnapped and locked up, then used as test subjects. This is about as far removed from them having agency as can be, except perhaps the ghost possession plot earlier. There is some vague talk about having to sign a consent slip but 1) this is already ridiculous after having abducted them with the use of excessive force, and 2) we are never given any reason to believe signing was their choice and not something forced out of them. They are then experimented on and that's a whole mess that removes any and all agency from everyone present. The issue with Vil specifically is that in Vil's case, this has been a pattern for a while at this point. And then we get to the Shroud brothers overblotting... Saving the world because you would be one of the people dying if it ended is not agency and it is not character development. I know the chapter tried to give Vil and everyone else a "reason" to stop the overblot but that doesn't erase the fact that if they didn't, they would die. This isn't agency, this is having a sense of self-preservation. Even if some other version of them would get to live happily and get everything they ever wanted handed to them on a silver platter, it would not be them, and they would still be either dead or erased from existence altogether (this is a side note but how exactly would resetting the universe even work? Nothing else anywhere in the franchise suggests this is even an actual possibility. Even Malleus, one of the top five mages in the world could only lock away one island by using so much magic he overblotted. Book 6's plot breaks the worldbuilding in so many ways- but that's a tangent for another time).

The one and only moment of Vil having agency in book 6 comes when he jumps in to save Idia's life. And while Idia, who has been under the influence of Tartaros for way longer and spent so much more time in it, is perfectly fine, Vil gets "aged up" a hundred years. This is not only bad writing which makes no sense but also a tremendous punishment for Vil as someone who relies on his looks for several of his jobs as well as being someone who puts so much effort into his appearance. Of course, that is not even mentioning that the supposedly older version of him looks nothing at all like Vil, has a completely different body type and face structure, and is a nod to magical transformation and not aging. Vil showcased his agency and immediately got punished for it in the most horrendous way for the character. How does Vil get out of this situation? Does he utilize his vast knowledge of potions and magic to revert himself back? Does he figure out a way to curse himself to turn back to normal? Does he seek council with a powerful or knowledgable mage, perhaps a teacher? No. He cries at the beach and doesn't do anything and then Malleus comes around, snaps his fingers, and returns everything back. Vil is not only punished for showing agency, but he is once again actively rewarded for not having any.

So, why do I believe this event will involve loss of agency for at least some of the characters? Because Vil is involved and twst has made it a pattern to rid Vil of agency. Why am I worried about this event? Because every time Vil becomes active, he gets a slap in the face for his efforts and sometimes is even rewarded for just sitting there and looking pretty. This is not what I want from a character like Vil, or from any character really. At this point, Cinderella and Snow White from the original Disney movies had better agency than Vil because when they showed agency and took active hold of their parts in the story, they were adequately rewarded, not slapped in the face for it.

Now, I am sure this leaves you with some questions, so I will try to answer those I could come up with myself here. Why do I only mention Vil when other overblotees lost their agency in book 6 and had their agency treated as wrong in their books? Because none of them were quite like Vil. None of them got punished in a twist of bad writing for saving someone's life. And their negative agency was things that were actively harmful to others such as Riddle being an unreasonable tyrant kicking people out to sleep outside, Leona trying to murder people, Azul enslaving others, etc. Vil's negative agency throughout the chapter was setting boundaries for himself and expecting people to work for the money they hoped to win.

Why am I not talking about the other characters who got possessed? Because, for the most part, it was a once-and-done deal. Yes, some of them are now showing up in Playfulland (Cater, Jade, etc.) but these characters don't have a pattern of having their agency taken away or punished at nearly every opportunity.

Why do I harp on Rook so much? Because he's the textbook definition of a gaslighter, he constantly puts Vil down, he's often used as a tool to punish Vil's agency, he actively tries to isolate Vil from other people and make him doubt his own perception, and because he thinks it is his place and his place only to judge and punish Vil for whatever he deems incorrect. And just in case I need to stress this, which I shouldn't, I am an abuse victim. I went through literal decades of gaslighting paired with other types of mental and physical abuse. Rook's wording, actions, and general patterns of behavior, are all things that hit so close to what I experienced that he used to be a legitimate trigger for me, and still makes me incredibly uncomfortable. This is, of course, not to say you cannot like the character. But denying what he does and mocking abuse victims for speaking out about their experiences isn't the same as enjoying a problematic character. The way Rook is brings active harm both to Vil as a person and to his agency, which is to be expected of a character like this.

I would like to close this up by saying that I am aware these may be conscious choices to showcase how resilient Vil can be, how he never gives up in the face of adversity, and how he perseveres in spite of all these horrific things happening to him. But at some point, it gets tiring to see your comfort character get beaten down on every turn. It gets depressing to see him never succeeding and always getting hurt or abused for just being active and taking charge of his own life. There are ways to show resilience that don't involve punishing every time a character shows agency. There is also no reason to punish that but then reward loss of agency. When Vil gives up and stops trying, that should not be the moment things start going well. Malleus shouldn't have to swoop in and magically restore Vil's youth when Vil just passively accepted that he is just going to look like this now and, if the accident truly aged him and didn't just transform his body (which would make a lot more sense), possibly die within the next few weeks or months.

Ultimately, I do not like how twst treats Vil. I hope to see this improve but I wouldn't count on it. It's not so bad that I want to leave the game over it but it is a part of what worries me about the stories to come, especially with the new event and book 7 and what they probably have in store. For now, I will remain cautiously optimistic and hope it at the very least won't be as bad as book 6.

If you've read this far, thank you so much, I appreciate you, feel free to let me know your thoughts, preferably in a polite and civilized manner. I'm down to discuss many parts of this but there are also a few that I don't see myself budging on (such as gaslighter Rook). For the most part tho, I am always happy to talk to people about my analyses and takes on things pertaining to my fandoms. Thank you again for your attention and I'll see you next time something gives me this much of a brainrot.