#please marry me shadow | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

loosesodamarble · 1 year ago

Text

An Indomitable Face (Mereoleona and Reona)

Summary: Mereoleona is a Shadow with a fighting spirit in her. Her Face is as wild as her, when allowed to be. Genre: general Word count: ~1700 Author's Note: I might be making this a whole series of oneshots so if you're interested in being tagged for future pieces, please let me know.

..........

“Raaaauuuugh! Mistress Mereoleona! What is all this soot?!”

There was a young woman in a simple dark-blue dress with a red drawstring at the neck of the dress and wide sleeves coming up to the elbows, attached cuffs, an apron over the dress, and short black boots with white spats over them. She had long, wavy vermillion hair and bright blue eyes.

She was Reona, the Living Doll and Face of Mereoleona Shadow.

Reona stomped up to Mereoleona, seated and eating at her dining table, and glared at her.

“Look at this room!” the Doll hissed.

“Mereoleona is looking at it.”

Soot coated every surface of Mereoleona’s room; bedsheets, bookshelf, table, all of it. A film of black tinted the window, blotting out the morning sun. The soot had sunk into the carpet as well. Everything was filthy.

“Then you see how much work you’re making me do!” snapped Reona, the Living Doll’s face twisted up in a nasty scowl.

“It’s not as though Mereoleona can help the fact that she gives off soot. It’s what a Shadow does. Do you expect Mereoleona to stop one of her bodily functions?” Mereoleona asked sharply. She rose from her seat and locked gazes with Reona. “Awfully presumptuous of a Living Doll to order around their Shadow Master.”

“Like hell am I trying to give you orders,” Reona responded, not even flinching. “I’m only pointing out that this is way more soot than what usually accumulates overnight.”

“Oh, is that it? Still, Mereoleona doesn’t appreciate the tone you’re taking with her!” Mereoleona curled her hand into a fist then slugged Reona across the face.

The Living Doll reeled backwards from the strike but managed to stay on her feet. Reona exhaled loudly as she stood upright. She touched the heel of her hand to the cheek that Mereoleona had just struck and smirked.

“What? You don’t like it when your Face gives your own bossy attitude back to you?” Reona asked, a challenging tone in her voice and fiery look in her eyes. “You’re not used to someone fighting back? Is that it?!” She lunged at Mereoleona. Her fist connected with Mereoleona’s gut.

The strike certainly hurt; it was hard enough to make Mereoleona grunt and stumble back. Reona’s strength was no joke. But she wasn’t the only one. Mereoleona clicked her tongue before retaliating with a knee to Reona’s side.

Reona wobbled to the side and hunched over from the impact. She placed a hand on the floor to stop herself from completely falling over. She rose back up. As she did, Reona gave Mereoleona an uppercut.

Mereoleona heard her teeth clack together with the hit. The impact and the sound together made her head spin a bit. But not for long. For Mereoleona, it was easy to shake off a little pain.

Mereoleona is a strong Shadow. It’s good that Reona can challenge Mereoleona this way too! Mereoleon felt herself grin. She looked at Reona who smirked at her. Yes, that’s Mereoleona’s face! Fierce and strong and INDOMITABLE!

Mereoleona regained her composure. She retaliated with a headbutt, as her head had already been forced to reel back.

Reona gripped her head as she shuffled back. Mereoleona moved in and swung out with a roundhouse kick. The Doll raised her leg to take the hit. She pushed back against Mereoleona, causing the Shadow to lose her balance. With the opening, Reona aimed to jab Mereoleona’s stomach once more.

However, Mereoleona pivoted on one foot and slammed Reona with her shoulder. She then grabbed Reona’s leading forearm and twisted it. Reona let out a grunt as she was forced to the ground.

“Do you yield?” Mereoleona asked.

“I was just getting started,” Reona spat. “Don’t underestimate a Doll!” She extended a leg, knocking Mereoleona’s out from under her.

Now Mereoleona and Reona were both on the floor. Mereoleona snarled at her Doll. She was prepared for a little more if need be.

Then, there was a knock at the door.

Mereoleona and Reona looked at each other, silently agreeing to end their brawl. They went to the door and Mereoleona opened it, revealing six figures on the other side: three Shadows and their Faces dressed in their Portraits.

Standing at the back of the group was a male Shadow with hair that was long enough to reach the nape of his neck and require being tied back. He and his Face, with bright gold eyes and red-orange hair, loomed over the others.

The next Shadow was a female with a small, willowy figure. Pinned in her hair on either side of her head was a green rose hair ornament. Her Face had aqua-colored hair and green eyes that stood out due to the beauty mark under each one.

The last Shadow was another female, taller than the one in green. Tied to the back of her head was a bright pink ribbon. Her Face had purple eyes and pastel pink hair and wore a dark blue ribbon on the back of her head.

Older Shadows…

“Mereoleona,” the Shadow with green roses said, “would you care to explain to Persephone and the others why we heard a racket from your room?” Persephone touched a hand to her heart, a motion mimicked by her Face. Her Face wore a look of gentle concern. “And why is your Face looking beat up?”

“Mereoleona apologizes.” Next to Mereoleona, Reona put on a sheepish expression. “She and her Face had a disagreement.”

The Faces of the other Shadows showed shock, then amusement.

“A disagreement?” echoed the male Shadow. “Heathcliff is quite surprised.” His Face raised an eyebrow. “Does Mereoleona mean to imply that her Face has its own personality?”

Mereoleona gritted her teeth which Reona conveyed.

“But of course Faces have personality,” said the last Shadow as her Face smiled. “Morgana’s Face doesn’t have the spine needed to serve Mereoleona. Mereoleona’s Face surely is more enduring in attitude.”

The easy air around the Shadows and Faces immediately turned cold. Persephone and Heathcliff, through their Faces, gave Morgana stern looks. Mereoleona, too, glared in Morgana's direction.

“Persephone thinks Morgana speaks foolishly.”

“Heathcliff believes that to be true as well.” Heathcliff grasped Morgana’s shoulder. His Face copied him, holding Morgana’s Face in the same place. “Don’t say things that go against the teachings of Shadows House,” he spat. “Even if you’re only joking, sharing such thoughts could get you disposed of.”

Morgana turned her nose up and her Face put on a blithe grin.

“Perhaps Morgana’s word choice was poor. Instead of a personality, Morgana should’ve said that Faces have been given compatibility with different Shadows,” Morgana remarked with a tilt of her head. “Morgana’s Face wasn’t made to be compatible with Mereoleona’s brashness, for example.”

The other Shadows let out a groan.

“Honestly, Morgana. Persephone can’t take how reckless your thoughts are!”

Mereoleona shook her head. “Forgive Mereoleona for chiding a senior, but have you even read the Shadow’s Teachings, Morgana? You sure act like you haven’t.”

“Morgana has! Honest! It’s just—” Morgana was stopped short by Heathcliff holding a hand in front of her face.

“Make your excuses to someone else,” Heathcliff grumbled.

Mereoleona watched the antics of the elder Shadows with her eye twitching. She didn’t even know when the three of them started acting so chummy with her. They were of a different debutant group. And she’d only ever been on the same team as Persephone temporarily. Yet… There they were, chatting so casually with her.

The trio, and their Faces to be honest, were weird.

“Well, Morgana advises that you cleans up your Face, Mereoleona,” Morgana whispered as she leaned in and cupped a hand near her mouth. As if that provided any secrecy to their exchange. “Wouldn’t want a Star Bearer to catch you looking that way, huh?”

Mereoleona clicked her tongue. “Right. Did you come to Mereoleona’s rooms for a reason? Or did you only stop by when you overheard the scuffle?”

“Actually, Heathcliff does have something interesting to say. Heathcliff’s Face has a new member on his team. The Doll is Fuego but according to the Doll, his master’s full name is Fuegoleon.”

“And?” Reona raised an eyebrow for Mereoleona. “What of it?”

“Does it not sound similar to your own name? Furthermore, Morgana’s Face mentioned seeing Fuego and noting that he bears a striking resemblance to your Face too.” Morgana asked, a wide smile being expressed by her Face. “Morgana can’t recall such a thing happening.”

“Mereoleona doesn’t see why she should care.” Matching Mereoleona’s tone, Reona rolled her eyes. “She has better things to think about. So long as this Fuegoleon doesn’t get in her way, Mereoleona won’t waste her time on him.”

“Persephone does love the way you strive for self-improvement!” Persephone said with a sigh.

“If that’s all, Mereoleona will clean herself and her Face.” She stepped back into her room and slammed the door on the others.

Mereoleona then looked at her Face. The Doll rubbed her forehead.

“As much as Mereoleona enjoys these bouts, perhaps they should be ceased,” Mereoleona muttered, pushing her hair back. “It’s… improper. Mereoleona and you will be scolded by the Star Bearers if caught.”

For a moment, Reona was silent. She then said, with a fierce look on her face, “We wouldn’t have to worry about a scolding if we were Star Bearers though.”

“Absolutely not. Mereoleona has no desire to be in a position of authority.” Mereoleona started towards her desk where her make-up was stored. “Being stuck in team activities and forced to pick up hobbies is suffocating enough. Having to monitor and discipline all the other Shadows and Dolls would be a bigger pain.”

“But there’d be no one giving you orders, now would there?” Reona posed as she followed Mereoleona.

“You forget the Manager of the Children’s Building. As well as the rest of the adults,” Mereoleona retorted. “Now sit. Let Mereoleona pretty up her Face.”

“Right Mistress Mereoleona…”

Mereoleona as a Star Bearer… Sounds like a waste of time. As Mereoleona applied powder to Reona’s cheeks, she wondered if her Living Doll was right. If Mereoleona rose to the top… Would she be freer?

#black clover #black clover fanfic #black clover au #blcl shadows house au #mereoleona vermillion #shadows house au #shadows house oc #morgana shadow #persephone shadow #heathcliff shadow #also if anyone understands the reference in the doll's name #i love you. please marry me

10 notes · View notes