#or regrets like trey (not stepping in with riddle or riddles mother before he overblotted)

[karmicpunishment]

the conflict in me between wanting the funny option for ace's dream (ace as the dormhead) vs the emotional option (ace dreaming about the prefect staying in twisted wonderland)

[qierxing]

Persevere, my Player!

A/N: You can tell i've read too many isekais manhuas/webcomics lol. What can I say? I’m a sucker for the trope of “knows your destiny, but destiny changes drastically by several different decisions”. When I have more time I’ll do some one-shots off this AU.

Yan!Twst Isekai AU

Pt.1 | Pt.2 Be Still, My Heart! | Pt.3 Oh, Woe is me...

Imagine being sent into Twisted Wonderland. You know the story and the plot. And so, you decide you're going to do what you can to stop any problems before they become an issue.

Easier said than done. It feels like the world is actively working against you when you try to hold back Grim from causing havoc, to you being forced to solve problems that, really, you were never equipped to handle, and of course, the emotional damage that comes after. Almost as if it’s programmed that way. 

It’s a relief that you do know what to do, but it doesn’t take away the fear that threatens to tear out of your throat when Riddle overblots. You can only pray that Grimm, Ace and Deuce and whatever powers there are in this world can snap him out of it. A dreadful thought flashes in your mind as Riddle hurdles a tree that just barely misses you–can you die in this world?

You try not to dwell on it, resolving to try to comfort a shaken Riddle. You tell him that he doesn’t have to be defined by the rules that shaped his childhood, that he can do what he would like to do without being under his mother’s thumb. You’d like to think you’re helping, but that suddenly becomes your biggest regret when he demands your presence at the dorm constantly. Trey turns a blind eye when you plead with him to convince Riddle to let you be–instead handing you some tarts and tea and telling you to sit down with a chipper tone. Cater doesn’t help either; he just slings an arm around you and tells you to smile for both of your selfies. Surely Ace and Deuce will do something? No, even they start whining as soon as you try to say you have homework to do, stuff to tidy at Ramshackle, anything to just get you out of the suffocating grip they have on you.

So when the Magishift tournament begins, you’re more than relieved when Heartslabyul is also swept up in preparations, making it easier to escape Riddle’s overbearing demands to have tea with him everyday. Of course, Crowley’s asking for you to look after the culprit causing all the mayhem with the injuries, but you know where to go. 

Well, you try to see if you can do something by talking to Ruggie but at this point he’s too closed off, sneering at your naivety and leaving you in the dust, panting and discouraged. Jack is no better and he has no reason to trust you, but it seems like he knows you’re just trying to do your best. So when you completely forget that you meet Leona by stepping on his tail, it’s not Ruggie distracting him, but rather Jack flying to your rescue. Quite frankly, it’s a little frightening. Was he supposed to be in this area in the game? The story continues as usual and the plan is a success–but it tugs on your heartstrings to see Ruggie so betrayed. So you don’t think much about giving him a sandwich and some bandages for his wounds, but you don’t see how his eyes glint as they follow after your figure towards a fallen lion. Leona was an asshole, but you understood his anger, how it feels to have all your efforts looked at as if they weren’t worth anything. So while he did threaten you multiple times in the past, you decide to be the bigger person and pat his head and tell him how cool he was for working hard.

Perhaps you should’ve known better. Known that these predators hunt in packs, and for once Leona is willing to utilize his power and strength if it means he can drag you off to the botanical garden to nap with him whenever he wants. Turning a blind eye when Ruggie comes over to you with food and smothering your personal space. Letting Jack drag you to their Magishift practices at the crack of dawn to show off to you. You’ve quickly become a nuisance to prey within a couple days.

There’s a cold realization that the game is deviating from its original course when the Leech twins seek you. They corner you as they smile menacingly, asking if you’re interested in getting help for studying for midterms. Luckily, the calls from the others make your escape, and for once you accept the tight hug that Trey gives you, not realizing he’s glaring at the twins snickering behind you. Riddle chases them off, but you’re left with a sinking feeling in your stomach. 

Then the midterm scores are thrown up and your fellow classmates are dragged to Octavinelle’s den. You swear you see Azul’s eyes swiveling and focusing on you in the crowd of angry students, making you shudder and step behind Jack. You don’t feel any better when Azul calls you both out. It feels like he’s showing off to you how powerful he is; and it’s sickening. When you finally make the deal with Azul to free Grim and the others, it’s not the Ramshackle building he’s asking for in payment. No, it’s you. In exchange for many, you will be the bleeding sacrifice on the altar. Jack and Deuce nearly rip into Azul’s smug face, but you sign anyway, knowing there’s not really any other way to progress the story. From there it’s an onslaught–the Leech twins and Azul constantly harassing you, showing up to your dorm doors and pestering you in the hallways in between class. When you finally cave and beg Leona to let you hide out in Savanaclaw dorm from them, he smirks eerily as he ushers you into his bedroom without any usual complaints. Almost as if he wanted that. Somehow, the way Leona pesters you into sharing the same bed while Ruggie is shoving various snacks into your hands feels almost as bad as the trio bothering you. You don’t dare say that though, not with Jack providing you a wall to hide yourself behind when Azul’s pupils dilate weirdly or when Floyd’s grin stretches a little too wide.

The destruction of the contracts is cruel, but what you’re not prepared for is Azul having a complete meltdown while his tentacles are choking you, gripping you as the others try to beat him back. There's desperation in his eyes that you don’t remember before as you try to placate the mer, telling him he didn't need to rope and exploit so many to prove his worth. But it's not enough for him and you end up fainting within dark inky clouds.

When you come to, Grim is sobbing on your chest; but you’re even more unsettled that it’s Azul who’s sleeping next to you in a chair, hair completely out of place and dark bags sagging under his eyes. The door opens to the Leech twins and when they reach for you, you can’t help instinctually flinching back from their touch, something they notice with darkening eyes. It’s too late to mend faults though, when Azul wakes up and starts bawling with no abandon as he rapid fire asks for your forgiveness and that he will do anything for you. It’s pathetic, really. Since when did Azul start begging to be forgiven in the game? It’s enough to kindle your sympathy to at least say you don’t hate him and that it’s not a big deal (you want to say otherwise–getting choked by tentacles was not something you ever want to experience ever again), if only to make him stop clinging to you so tightly. Even Jade doesn’t pry off his housewarden, only nodding and agreeing, inviting you to Mostro Lounge so they can fix this grave error of theirs. 

The one thing you don’t expect, however, is how crowded the cafe becomes on the day of your invitation to the lounge. You’re seated in a private booth with all the softest cushions but you notice Riddle, Ace, and Deuce glaring pointed daggers at Floyd laughing and serving you food casually(is that Cater and Trey as well?! Why do they look like they’re going to murder someone?!). Meanwhile, you swear you see Jade intercepting a Jack with high hackles while also sneering at Leona and Ruggie in another booth. A gentle gloved hand turns your face to look at Azul as he guides a spoon into your half open mouth, cooing at how adorable you look. (The room’s atmosphere seems to drop ten degrees colder after the action)

It’s scary, you think to yourself. You’d think there would be more fun to be had in a world that was so different from your own. But that was when you were behind a screen, safely in your bed. And now, as Ace and Deuce grips your wrists tighter to drag you to sit with them in history, Leona digging his claws into your lap as a silent warning while he naps, and Floyd’s hug quickly becoming bone-breaking, you’re wondering if you can even last between these intense, egotistical villains.

You only hope that the ending of this game you play comes soon.