#rookloche > clochepel tho

[robo-milky]

*Unhealthy/One-sided/OOC(?)

[Tag List: @v-anrouge @ashipiko @br3adtoasty @pinkrozezzz ] <3

General Love Forecast:

65% of Sun

Before Relationship:

• Epel fell for Cloche first. He always felt a strange connection to her since the first time he saw her. He’s forced to wear ruffles, she’s cursed to wear a maid outfit, he’s short and feminine looking, she’s shorter and more feminine looking, he has to hide his country dialect, she must address everyone formally— they were just so similar! Epel thinks Cloche is another boy mistaken as girl who is forced to put on a polite mask, like him. Epel’s self-projection on Cloche is what attracts him to her. Epel wanted to just-be-friends until it spiralled to him falling in love, and hoping to free Cloche from her so-called shackles. It’s questionable if Epel truly loves Cloche, or if it’s for a complex of some sort— of wanting to be the bigger person and having someone to show-off to.

• When they first met, Cloche thought of Epel as a child, someone below her. It wasn’t until he stayed in Ramshackle for VDC, did she finally have the opportunity to take another crack at his character. Even after some heavy reconsiderations, Cloche is still driven away by Epel’s definition of masculinity, and his impulsiveness. It’s hard for her to want to be around someone who would see the things she like as inferior. While she does question why Vil would make Epel hide his rural background, Cloche doesn’t feel bad for Epel’s situation— since she thinks ‘he brought it upon himself.’

• Cloche was initially unaware of Epel’s feelings for her, even in denial of it. After the first years spilled the beans to her, she set up little tests to see if what they said was true. Cloche was surprised Epel liked her out of anyone else— expecting him to fall for Jack or Sebek instead. Cloche feels like they have nothing in common. To her, it’s draining to indulge in Epel’s interests of sports, Magift, Magic Wheels, and to hide her personal interests in fashion and cutesy stuff. It doesn’t help that Epel is very far from her ideal type. Cloche believes that Epel could have chosen someone better, someone who actually appreciates him.

• From an outsider’s perspective, Cloche and Epel are almost like long lost twins. Both so sparkly and mysterious. They’re often seen eating lunch together and discussing the latest topics they’ve just learned. There are no arguments to ever come out of them— or at least publicly. The students of NRC ship them together, much to Cloche’ dismay.

During:

• Epel and Cloche are both go-getters who don’t like beating around the bush. Epel admires how Cloche keeps her cool, always unbothered and thinking of a solution under pressure. Cloche recognizes and values Epel’s grit and determination to always push through. Their relationship is generally stable.

• How did they even start dating? I can see Epel finally confessing after consulting the first years; Deuce, Sebek, and Ortho supported him. Ace and Jack are the skeptics of the relationship in their own rights. Ace’s skepticism comes from knowing Cloche the longest— he finds it hard to believe they can truly get along. Jack’s skepticism comes from his own values, since he genuinely cares for Epel and has trouble imagining Cloche as someone family oriented like they are. The biggest red flags Ace and Jack tried to warn Epel about is Cloche’ strange admiration for Rook. Epel knew Cloche liked his senior, but that wasn’t going to stop him.

• Cloche rejected Epel but finally gave him a chance after giving into his persistance. Considering the circumstances, she thought that was the best choice— as a rejection might sour their relationship and make things awkward in the first years’ circle.

“Master Epel, you’re asking the wrong person if you want true love. I don’t belong in Twisted Wonderland and I may leave at any time… Can you accept that? A relationship where we can break off cleanly without any hard feelings? I’m not going to abandon my previous life for you, …but I can share the time I have left with you.”

• Cloche doesn’t have any particularly strong feelings for Epel, since she accepted his confession on a whim, and because it seemed beneficial to her. Plus, what’s the point of chasing after someone you can never have? Epel was the safer option. Cloche knows that to make it in NRC, she needs allies and people to rely on. Ever the worst-case-scenario planner, she will go to extremes to feel secure. To her, this relationship gives her a reputation and protection. As long as Cloche can play her part, she’ll be safe. Cloche does not feel much guilt about using Epel’s feelings for her, because she was never dishonest with him. She has given Epel many warnings. Though Cloche wouldn’t personally classify her feelings for Epel as ‘romantic love’, she does care for him to some extent.

• Epel really looks up to Cloche and her mental fortitude. It does sting to know Cloche is so indifferent about his love, but if this relationship is temporary, then that just means he has the make the most of it, right? They were getting along so well as friends before— so why wouldn’t their romantic relationship be just as good? If not even better? If Epel were honest, he sometimes question the point of this romance— if it can even be called that. He’s always putting so much effort into giving, yet Cloche treats and brushes him off like she does with everyone else. Epel finds it unfair that he’s been so vulnerable with Cloche, yet Cloche never showed him a bit of her vulnerability in return.

“Why did you even kiss me if you felt nothing? All the hugs? The talks we had at under the stars? …When you cheered me on during the Sledathon…?”

“I don’t know; I can’t say.”

“Whaddya’ mean ya can’t say?! Were ya just leadin’ me on the whole time? …Ah’ don’t know if ah’ wanna continue this if ah’ feel like ah’m draggin’ ya around…”

“You are dragging me around.”

AU: Cloche Falls for Epel? *special

• This Cloche is more responsive around Epel. While she is still her deadpan self, Cloche is more accommodating around Epel— even going as far as giving him unsolicited advice or infantilizing him a little. Cloche walks by Epel, making sure he doesn’t act out of line or else Vil will give him another scolding to again. She’d go out of her way to preen him (fix his hair, bow tie, clothes), even if she knows Epel hates it. Epel can tolerate handle a bit of annoyance if it means he wouldn’t get in trouble, right? Cloche would make more of an effort to talk to Epel and ask him about his likes and interests— but her hollow tone of voice and token-sounding praises turn him away. With this Cloche, she means it when she says “tell me more, I’m listening”.

“I don’t think being compared to the Crabapple is a bad thing, Master Epel. The crabapple— Malus fusca, is a wonderful species. I don’t know about Twisted Wonderland, but there are groups from my world that cherish this plant for its medicinal properties and spiritual symbolism.”

[Notes: This was kinda fun! Kinda winged it so I hope it’s coherent?? If you made it this far- thank you!! I’d be happy to answer questions if there are any :0 Feel free to suggest a ship or even throw an OC]