#skully watching this like “does he know?”

[anbaisai]

Wait actually if Skully can turn people into pumpkins we can delulu Jamil is caressing a pumpkin!Yuu instead of, you know, a regular pumpkin

I'll be honest with you anon, I have most certainly thought of that as well after learning of Skully's UM... how scandalous, Mr. Viper... (we will conveniently ignore the fact that the pumpkin is speared on a fence)

[temiizpalace]

☆┊DRESS TO IMPRESS!

SUMMARY: playing dress to impress with him!

CHARACTERS: all dorms + others

GENRE: fluff

WARNINGS: none

NOTES: i feel so bad for having people with requests wait so long but im losing ideas and idk what to write 😭😭😭 please bear with me event requesters,,,,, ik i suck at this

reader gender is not mentioned, reader not specified to be yuu

VERY COMPETITIVE

if he catches you trolling it’s on sight. he takes this game very seriously, and refuses to get anything lower than 3rd. when you play together and ask to duo, he carries. you’ll see him with the most impressive and beautiful outfit you’ve ever seen and watch him lose his mind when he gets 5th. he spams poses, like in full concentration mode. also a very harsh critic. if he sees you off theme it’s an immediate 1 star, no exceptions. anytime he critiques your outfit you feel like an office worker with an overly harsh boss that demands better. he also probably has VIP. and beef with 10 year olds. (so think of when caseoh plays, but less yelling)

riddle, azul, jamil, vil, rollo

PLAYED IT AS A JOKE : IS NOW HOOKED

at first he thought it was just a dumb and silly dress up game for girls.. boy was he wrong. when he first played with you, he was expecting to hate this game to its core. he was a troller at first, purposefully making dumb outfits that don’t even match, barely adding anything to his outfit at all. suddenly, something in his mind flipped, and now he’s addicted. you’ll catch him sometimes playing his free time, teasing someone like him for playing a dress up game. not that you have room to talk. duos are fun, he likes being partners with you. he’s probably the kind of guy to vote everyone one star and then vote you five, but he expects five stars in return.

deuce, ruggie, epel, idia, skully j. graves

LOVES THE GAME

he’s played this before, he loves it! dressing up in cute outfits and watching other people dress up in cute outfits? why wouldn’t he play? and to play with you? that’s even better! wouldn’t be as competitive as the first category, but does take the game seriously. he doesn’t despise trolls, actually laughs at them sometimes. he does find it unfair they make the podium sometimes, but it’s really just a game. he loves duoing with you and wearing matching outfits, absolutely adorable! he either votes pretty fairly or votes everyone five stars depending on who they are. please play more with him, he loves this game!

cater, kalim, rook, ortho, lilia, neige

NOT THAT INTERESTED

what’s the appeal to it? it’s just playing dress up, nothing special. he’ll play once in awhile with you, but don’t expect it to be a regular thing. it’s just not his cup of tea. obviously since he doesn’t play often, his outfits are subpar. nothing podium worthy. votes pretty fairly, giving criticism and critique on other people’s outfits (though his aren’t that much better). he doesn’t mind being a duo with you, but you definitely carry. personally he thinks trollers are ruining the game and making it annoying for those who play religiously. overall, just a dress up game. would play but only if you play too.

trey, leona, jack, sebek, silver

THE TROLLER

is that one guy who has nothing on their character and walks onto the stage with no hair or makeup. skin tone is still at the default, colors on the clothes are unchanged, and it’s all on purpose too! would dress up in dumb outfits for a completely different theme and loves watching people argue about it in the chat. votes everybody one star because they’re just silly like that! absolutely cackles if he gets on the podium and loves watching the server get into fights about it. you don’t duo with him, you know better. loved playing with you, but it doesn’t seem the feeling is mutual.

ace, jade, floyd, che’nya

HOW TO POWER HANDHELD DEVICE

teach him how to use a phone first. doesn’t know how to log in to his account. when he joins the game, poor baby kept running into walls trying to put on shoes. outfits are usually incomplete or unchanged because he doesn’t know how to take off accessories or how to put them on. votes fair enough, but doesn’t ever make the podium. if you ask to duo, you’ll have to teach him cause he also doesn’t know about that either. basically just a big man baby who needs help using technology for the first time.

malleus

A/N: obsessed with this game lately (idia would know all the lana lore)

date published: 10/10/24

© temiizpalace — do not copy, steal, or put my work into ai. thank you!

[scene-iii]

OKAY WAIT. (i only have a loose idea of the tnbc event thanks to translations BUT WHAT IF)

Skully is one of the few members of Ramshackle Dorm, & during a trip to Foothill Town, he stumbles across the Nightmare Before Christmas book. He's sucked in and meets the NRC students. The story plays out and he's sent back to his time, centuries before any of his new friends are born.

He doesn't know this, of course, having forgotten everything. But there's this feeling of want in his chest, not only for a grand Halloween (a day full of life for the dead, much different from his previous ideals) but also for a friend.

He's always longed for friends, but why does his heart ache like he just lost one?

It takes some time, maybe a few weeks, as he tries to decipher his thoughts and feelings to figure out what's wrong. He spends most of his time planning the perfect Halloween to bring the holiday back onto the calendar; something more inviting, something that'll spread the joy he's recently begun to feel about the holiday.

"What gets people up and running? Hm... Perhaps music? Haunting and jaunty melodies would suffice... Why not dance as well...?!"

"Oh, I do adore a pitch-black pallet, but... There's no harm in adding color, right? It's all the rage these days anyways... Perhaps orange, to match pumpkins would be a good start?"

He's not quite sure where these ideas came from, but the ghosts of Ramshackle seem enthusiastic when he shares his thoughts. He has no one else to listen to his plans, and decides, what's the harm with talking to the ghosts? (The ghosts are pleasantly surprised at Skully's change of heart, and will do all they can to encourage this new path.)

Eventually, Skully begins to remember bits and pieces of his time in the book ("I could never forget an encounter with the lovely Jack-sama!" He says. Really, it's the idea of the friends he made that claw the event to the front of his mind).

Most of all, he remembers a magicless human. Oh, how sweet they were, even when he made some rash decisions. Among all the boys in his tale, the beast tamer was his closest companion—even if it were only for a little while.

He recounts the adventure in the book as best he can to the ghosts, seeing as no one else could believe him. A magical book that takes you far away? Who ever heard of that? The ghosts hang on his every word, laughing and gasping at the wonderous characters in Skully's story.

Halloween is a hit at NRC, and once he graduates, Skully decides to share Halloween with the rest of the world. The ghosts wave their old friend goodbye and safe travels, watching him part with spectral tears in their eyes.

The years pass, with Skully now departing from this world, and Ramshackle has fallen into ruin.

Until one day, a magicless beast tamer arrives in Twisted Wonderland, and is sent to live in Ramshackle.

The ghosts are overjoyed at having company after so long, but they can't help but be excited for a different reason.

After all, the King of Halloween's dearest friend has finally appeared.

[lustlovehart]

A/n: The moment Playful land comes to eng servers, and I watch the Nightmare Before Christmas event translated, i’m scared the urge to add Fellow and Skully into the Monster!Twst will take over!! (Also, I will still be calling Fellow, Fellow, and not Ernesto 😭, unless that name somehow grows on me.)

Pairing: [Monster!Twst] x Reader, ft. Fellow Honest & Skully J. Graves

Warnings: Murder, Posseive Traits, Kissing

Marionette!Fellow (Ironic for him), who constantly wraps the strings of his body around you at any moment possible, always have a trace of him on your body, or even better (worse), a discreet way of knowing where you are at all times. The number of times the other monsters have spotted an obnoxiously thin string wrapped around you has happened too many times to count. The one who gets the most pissed by this occurrence though, is Leona, who essentially does the same thing Fellow does but with his bandages. Do you know how annoying it is to try wrapping you with a piece of him only to find a stupid barely visible wire already wrapped around the place he was going to mark?!

- Compared to victims of other monsters… Fellows way of hunting is… A lot more showy. You’ve walked in behind the stage he occupies once before, and only ever once. Because the scene that greeted you was horrifying. People are propped up with thin wore that orchestrate their limbs, some of them positioned in a way that makes it look like they're performing a play. You only narrowly escape before Fellows return, sitting where he originally told you to wait, a smile grazing his lips at your obedience.

“I’m happy you listened! Most people who don’t end up becoming first-hand attractions.” You’re sure you already know what he means… “But it’s okay,” he pulls out a seat next to you, his choppy jointed body leaning into your warm skin, “You’re already enough entertainment yourself, I would never dream of putting you through that.” You don’t know if it’s the fear you’ve just freshly experienced, or the way his words are so smooth they feel like butter, but… You believe him. You don’t know why, but you do.

You won’t ever have to know of the dandy enamor trick Fellow holds, the one that allows all his victims to fall deep into a trance of his act, and his words.

- The costumes he adorns his dolls (victims) in are fancy, all to fancy for someone who works in blood and hunting. Yet, that fact does‘t stop him from dressing you up with the prettiest of wears. Expensive silk ribbons, heavily detailed laces, even sheer fabrics that are a little too intimate for your liking, but you can’t deny how beautiful it is. If you had to describe it, he’s essentially accessorzing you like a collectors doll. You’re sure that it’s just a trait he holds due to being a puppet himself.

You feel so… vulnerable, when he leans your hand up and delicately places a kiss on your skin, as if you're his lover rather than a hunter trying to murder him in cold wood. It makes it worse when you remember how prettily clad you’ve been dressed, and how decorated the stage you sit on is.

It makes it harder to remember how many bodies lay behind the beautiful play.

Skeleton!Spider!Skully! (Also partly ironic) who scares you multiple times a day by waiting in a corner before jumping out at you. Does that warrant your reflexes to swing your weapons at him? Yes. Does it stop him? Not at all! The amount of times you’ve had skinny spider bones crawl on a wall is too many. He comes in handy when you need to reach anything high above though.

- His bottom half is entirely human, which is both fortunate and unfortunate for you. Fortunate in the way that he looks a little more human and you don’t have to be as horrified of him. Unfortunate in a way that, since he looks more humane, it’s harder to kill him, just like everyone else.

- In a way, he reminds you distantly of the twins, with the way parts of his limb have exposed bones. Yet, the distinct difference from them, is the sharp bones that stick from his back in a mockery of spider limbs. Not only that, but, there’s a certain… geekiness…? That separates him. Honestly, you’re sure if he wasn't a murderer you would feel more inclined to talk to him. That certain nerd persona of his makes him feel a lot more human (Just like Idia).

- The web patterns are pretty, the silk string beautifully interwoven with each other. You could excuse it if it weren’t for the bodies that lay beneath the web, a cruel reminder that, this nerdy man, is still a gruesome beast who hunts people for sheer entertainment. The corpses are wrapped in that same silk, indents of their screaming visible through the material. You’re only stopped from releasing their unfortunate souls when Skully’s lanky shadow towers over, his hand gripping yours before pulling the slick move of turning the limb over and placing a kiss on the inside of your warm palm.

It’s a good distraction from the horrifying sight of a wrapped up body in front of you.

“Don’t worry dear hunter, I’ll let you sleep in my arms once again tonight, I’ll shield you from the shadows that follow you (Rook).” You don’t answer, only allowing his kisses to increase in quantity as he traces up the skin of your arm. Placing the last one on the corner of your mouth, only narrowly missing the soft lips of your face.

Tonight… Is going to be a long one…

A/n: Did I make this so I can add Fellow and Skully into a Headcanon Format post in the future? Perhaps.

[sweetbunpura]

Chestnut & Fellow

Help, they've taken over my brain.

Howard Chestnut

Fellow leans back against the bench he’s sitting on, eyes tracking Gidel as he plays around in the pack. Currently, there was a four day break at NRC and the residents of Ramshackle thought to spend the day in Foothill Town. Yuu and Rollo had left to check out the new shops and Skully had disappeared off to who knows where, leaving Fellow to take Gidel to the park. The fox beastman sighs, slouching back against the metal seat as his ear flicks to dislodge a butterfly that had landed on it. While he’s happy for a warm place to rest his head and as many meals as he can eat for both him and Gidel…. School life is not what it was cracked up to be, but he would never want to go back to that life he used to live.

Too many hurt lives and families left behind by his own desires, selfish or not. Fellow closes his eyes and sighs through his nose, but opens them upon hearing someone yell at him and make their way over to him.

“You!” The person is an older man, someone Fellow doesn’t recognize. “You got some nerve to show your face around here!”

The fox beastman jumps up and raises his hands to show he’s not a threat. “E-Excuse me?”

“You heard me!” The man pushes at Fellow’s chest. “My two sons went to spend a day in a park and then they never returned!”

“A-A park?” Fellow’s eyes flick around as he tried to look for an out. “I-I have no idea what you’re talking about, Sir.”

“Don’t try to play coy!” He grabs him by his collar and gets into Fellow’s face. “I know it was you-”

“Excuse me.”

Both men pause and look to the side to see who joined them. Fellow stares at a rather unimpressed Chestnut as he stays there with a few shopping bags in his hands. He has one of his eyebrows raised as he regards the men in front of him.

“What do you want?” The man barks at him.

“Wondering why you’re holding my colleague like he owes you money.” Chestnut flicks his tail. “And also ruining what is a beautiful day out with your very loud and very public fight.”

“He does owe me something. My family.”

Chestnut sighs, places his bags down, and crosses his arms . “Does he? Did you ever get the name of the man who did such a thing?”

“He introduced himself as Fellow Honest.”

“Then this is not your man.” He joins Fellow’s side. “His name is Ernesto Foulworth.”

Fellow tries not to scrunch up his face as Chestnut said that name. The man looks confused as he glances between the pair of beastmen.

“Are you kidding me?”

The con-man shakes his head and sighs. “I’m sorry, Sir, but it appears my twin brother has wronged you.”

“Twin?”

“Yes. I haven’t heard or seen him in years… and I’m sorry he would hurt your family in such a way.” His ears fall. “I hope you can accept my apology in his place.”

The man paused for a few moments before letting go. “…Sorry.”

They watch him leave in a hurry, Fellow waits until he turns the corner before sagging and sighing.

“Did you have to use that name?” “And have you get punched in the face?” Chestnut picks up his bags. “I’ll remember that for next time.”

“…Why did you help me?” Fellow semi-glares at him. “I don’t have anything you want.”

“I wasn’t lying about the ruining a good day thing, Mr. Honest.” Chestnut flicks his tail and presses his finger against Fellow’s forehead. “And not every hand that helps you wants something from you. Now, I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.”

With that, he leaves the area and heads towards the direction of the NRC staff townhouses. Fellow’s quiet as he watches him, his tail curls around his waist as his words weigh heavy on the fox beastman’s heart and shoulders. He doesn't have anymore time to think on it before Gidel comes running up to him and nearly barrels into his legs. He’ll have to worry about that later as he lifts up the boy by his collar and corrects him on not doing that. He tosses Gidel and the kid runs off without a care in the world, Fellow really feels like he needs a drink after today…

[merakiui]

Skully breeding his darling in his own coffin. Just watching and waiting till she passes by before snatching and pulling her in so he can rearrange her guts in peace. Or Skully being trapped with his crush in a locker, so close he can feel her nipples pressing against him. Aaaah he can feel her sopping wet hole leaking right on top of his still restricted boner.

Pulling you into the hole in the ground where the open casket lies uncovered,, resting you on the soft, pure-white interior of the casket……. gazing up at his face framed by the stars and moon,, he moves like he’s alive, but he’s cold like he’s dead. >_< the moans and groans coming from that plot of land aren’t from restless spirits or the undead. Rather, it’s lovemaking between you and Skully. <3 morbidly romantic and so symbolic to fuck with the intent of creating life in a place where the dead rest. (I just know Skully’s cemetery neighbors are wanting him to quiet down with all of that fun!!! >:( but maybe they’re also rooting for him,,, something something lonesome man who died young and never got to know love for himself.)

AND THE STUCK IN A LOCKER TROPE!!!!!! OOOOOO imagine it’s from his days at NRC. Loner Skully who is now trapped in this dark, stuffy, wooden locker with you, the girl he’s been crushing on but has never formally spoken to, and he’s so embarrassed and so sorry and he can’t form a proper, articulated sentence because he’s so worried you’ll slap him or think he’s a lecherous man with depraved thoughts and he promises he’s a gentleman!!!!! OTL and you’re pressed against him,, and your fingers are curling in his uniform vest, and his heart is beating so fast and you can definitely feel how hard he is. >_<

He’s making a grand effort to not touch you, but it’s impossible in this small space. Accidentally brushing against you and in the dark it’s impossible to see where he’s touching, but it’s soft and squishy and OH…….. he can feel your perky nipples through your blouse and suddenly his dick is twitching imagining you in (time-appropriate,,, perhaps Victorian) lingerie. The sheer, thin chemise……. the many layers he would peel away from you. AAAAAAAAA

Maybe you try to arrange yourselves in a position that isn’t so strange, but all it does is make the situation even more awkward because your front keeps brushing against his and he’s babbling apology after apology, and maybe at this point you’re just teasing him when you rub yourself against him. How are you this wet??? His head is spinning. Did you mix up the wrong potion in class? Did someone cast a spell on you? He wants to be inside you so badly, but that’s definitely wrong, right? Shouldn’t he court you first? Give you flowers and take you somewhere nice and meet your father and get his approval and and and and !!!!!!

The both of you stumble out of the locker absolutely disheveled. What an unforgettable experience that was… >:) steamy Victorian romance with Skully.

[oddberryshortcake]

Since the NRC Nightmare cast is trapped in Halloween Town with nowhere to sleep, they all end up camping out in the Assembly Hall and have to sleep on the pew benches 😭

The reason I want to talk about this is because it reveals a lot about some of the character's morning routines we didn't know yet which I find funny and cute

It starts with Sebek, who has been awake since before the sun rose, becoming everyone's alarm clock

He makes it a point to wake up early every morning so that he can be presentable as early as possible lmao (also he has no problem sleeping in hard places, so long as he has a roof over his head he's content. It's all that training he does lol)

Jamil can't even fathom how Sebek can wake up refreshed without an alarm clock (because Jamil always needs an alarm clock to wake up) and Sebek's just like 'I'm built different'

He also reveals that Skully left earlier to watch the sunrise and will be back.

Of the people Sebek woke up with his yelling, there's MC, Grim, Jamil, Epel, Idia, Riddle, Trey, Vil and Azul

The people who DIDN'T wake up are Leona, Malleus, and Jade.

Malleus sleeps like a vampire lmao

One moment he's asleep, the next moment he's instantly completely awake (Trey also comments that he wakes up looking perfect too like damn)

Jade finds hard surfaces oh so comfy from his many camping trips and is also just equally unbothered by Sebek's screaming.

Then there's master eeper Leona who, despite complaining, sleeps well literally anywhere to other's jealousy

When Skully comes back it's revealed he straight up didn't sleep at all. What was he doing the whole night before getting up to walk around and watch the sunrise 🤨

Either way, I thought this interaction was fun and I learned something new about everyone, hopefully they can get actual blankets soon.

[winterillustrates]

WHAT YOUR FAV TWST CHARACTER SAYS ABT YOU!! (CRACK VERSION)

Ace: I'd hate you (/affectionately).

Deuce: I'd propose to your mom.

Cater: You need hugs. And followers.

Trey: You're as sweet as the cakes he makes. Also, you're his dentist.

Riddle: Mother issues. Same.

Leona: You have that one sibling you hate and one you pretend to hate.

Ruggie: You'd rob me and I'd call it our 'meet cute'.

Jack: I'd imitate you to look cool, ngl.

Azul: "Shady businessman/woman/enby? That has got to be my favorite genre." looking ass and I'd never judge you for that.

Jade: I'd bring you peace offerings almost everyday.

Floyd: You owe me a 150,000 worded essay on why and how your standards dropped so low.

Kalim: You want to be as optimistic as him, and you honestly deserve more credit for it. Plus, you cry yourself to sleep while hugging his plushie, cause it feels like he's crying with you. He probably is.

Jamil: I owe you a 300,000 worded essay on why he's the best, and I'd better get an agreement for each paragraph.

Vil: You love breaking gender norms and you hardly ever flop. You make long winded essays on character designs or "Ooh, shiny". No in-between. Also, you memorized his last name.

Rook: You kinda freaky and into yanderes. I'm into yanderes, but I hate this dude, so idk. I'd definitely say "I know what you are" to you, and you'd be thinking "She thinks I'm gay/bi/queer" and I'd be thinking "They're a serial killer".

Epel: You love the "Innocent girl who's a spawn of satan" and probably are one, yourself.

Idia: You "win" online arguments by doxing. That and your fav brother from Obey Me is Leviathan. Don't lie to me.

Ortho: You've always wanted a robotic younger brother!

Malleus: You're the majority. Congrats. (Also you have abandonment issues and ship MalYuu. Not that I can blame you, honestly).

Lilia: You say, "Ow, my hip hurts" then does the latest tik tok dance, no sweat.

Silver: You liked the mystery shrouding him. Plus, you love the found family trope.

Sebek: You see through his loud demeanor and really like his loyalty to his friends that aren't Malleus.

Yuu: You love yourself and I love you. <3

Grim: You're a snitch.

Sam: You are waiting for him to sing "Friends On The Other Side". You watched that one animatic by Laizyboy?? (Remind me the name)

Vargas: You actually thought eating raw eggs would make you strong. ... LOL. Jk. You ARE Vargas. I'm sorry, but how did he get THAT high in 2024 popularity polls?!?

Crewel: You have good taste. Might also be into getting praised.

Trien: VALID. YOU WANT A GRANDFATHER IN YOUR LIFE, RN.

Lucifer (^'s cat): Hello..............IDIA SHROUD.

Crowley: You are someone who wishes they could escape from their responsibilities as much as him. "He's a deadbeat, but he's a funny one."

Chenya: You like characters that are on crack.

Rielle: I...-- Is that even a character, dude?

Neige: You're the minority. Congrats. (Also, you are so confused abt the hate Neige receives)

Rollo: CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, you aren't strictly religious. You also hate the double standards he's shown. And you think he looks actually kinda cute.

Fellow: You love seeing NRC boys get reckted.

Gidel: You think he's the cutest character in Disney. No one can/wants to change your mind.

Skully: You convinced him to skip the mandatory, "Twisted Wonderland is NOT an otome game".

Najma: You love fem!Jamil. Plus, you are the younger sibling that is secretly a little demon. As an older sibling, I'm sorry, but I will expose you at the slightest chance.

Dilia (Deuce's Mom): You're one of those people that Captain Man from Henry Danger was inspired from.

Marja (Epel’s granmama. Thx, https://www.tumblr.com/gremlinvapor): As a Marja lover, you love your grandmother and love hearing stories about her! And your grandma is low key a badass.

SCARABIA STUDENT B: W...who... who are you? Waiting until the ending for this guy. ... Idek what to say, honestly...

Mickey Mouse (Thx, https://www.tumblr.com/gremlinvapor): I’m the Donald to your Mickey. And you are probably so popular. Oh, you are also a cheap stake who fakes to like change, but actually despises it. You only like twst to be ‘woke’, but you don’t even like the characters or talk abt them.

(THIS WAS A JOKE. IF YOU ACTUALLY RELATE TO THESE RANDOM THOUGHTS I TYPED, THEN WOW I AM SHOCKED. Seriously, Idc who's your favorite, and I was not trying to discriminate or anything.

I tried to include all characters I could think of atm, but you are free to request more and I'll shove them in! These aren't even my opinions, I'm just tryna be entertaining.

If you'd like, guess my favorite(s)!

If I misspelt some characters names, I'm sorry and please politely correct me, thank you.)

[twstyuna]

Shadow

Characters: Skully J. Graves, Ramshackle Ghosts, Yuu/MC, Grim, Sebek Zigvolt

Summary: A ghost waits in Ramshackle.

Notes: Ao3 is having issues so I'm doing this for once. Because. Um. Idk productive procrastination maybe. Anyway ghost! Skully. Which one? Um. I tagged this Creepy Fluff on ao3 might want to check the other tags there. Or just read there. I should be doing other things at unreasonable hours but oh well

This is platonic btw.

Ao3 Mirror | Masterlist of other stuff | Filipino translation b/c idk man

There's hardly anything left of him when they arrive. 

He's little more than a whisper in the wind, so weak soul-wise that even the ghosts in Ramshackle can't perceive him. Ghosts, after all, are spirits, and what are spirits but desires and drives? He cannot remember what he desires, or why he lingers. There is nothing for a fellow specter to recognize in him, thin and empty as he is. He thinks though (when he does think, which he doesn't do often since there's so little of him to think), that he must be waiting. That must be why, no matter how long he sleeps, or how time wears away at what little remains of him, he still wakes in Ramshackle. 

There's hardly anything left of him when Ramshackle becomes home to a living being for the first time in years, but there is enough for him to ache at the sight of them. 

They look terribly downtrodden, and terribly frightened by the state of the building. Perhaps it is a good thing that he is so lacking. Perhaps he'd only frighten them further into a grave with his looming self, and the thought of scaring them so when they are in such low spirits feels cruel.

His fellow ghosts, more lively and present than he's ever been, have no such qualms. He cared little before, for how they'd scare away ruffians and vandals from Ramshackle, but the human is neither. It sparks an aimless anger that he can't do anything to put out. Let the ghosts protect the property all they like, but this human is. . .

Familiar, in a way he cannot place, with how hollow he has become. 

Magicless, he finds, as they depend on a feline direbeast to fight their foes with flame.

Lonely, he learns, as all he can do is watch, as he waits for their return to the rundown building at the end of every day.

They have their beast. They have their friends. They even have the other ghosts who have grown fond of their living housemate. But Ramshackle isn't their home, though it might be his. They bring back tomes plentiful and heavy that they pore over deep into the night, trying to find a way back to their world.

He'd help if he could, but he cannot turn a page any more than he can brush the hair from their tired face as they blink blearily at their books, and he so does want to do those things. He wants to help. It's only right for him to, after. . .

He has not slighted them, beyond his helpless neglect, but he feels sorry for them, and just. . .sorry. They deserve another friend. They deserve someone else to help them if the Headmaster won't. Someone to speak to when their friends are back in their dormitories. Someone to hold them steady, or at least be by their side when they wake in the dead of night, sweating and stifling their voice for the sake of their sleeping familiar.

Their dreams are full of ink and monsters. 

He knows because he's checked. He's not much of a ghost, but he's more magic than mage, more power than person, an ancient thing that's been idly amassing the mana that flows so thickly on the school grounds for centuries. He has plenty of magic for a touch of oneiromancy, and he's found himself wanting things enough to deal in matters unphysical. So he takes those night terrors away when he finds that he can, and the nightmares of blot and harm are pulled and crushed as easily as one steps upon a worm. When they sleep soundly after, it is soothing to watch them. 

He rather likes watching them regardless of the state of their consciousness. They are so sincere and sweet and yet a spark breaks though sometimes, especially as they speak to their friends, and he finds himself smiling as he looks at them. They're patient with their friends, and determined to help, and endearing as they are, and he can't he can't help but fear that the light they are will be snuffed out soon.

It's a pity he can't follow them out of Ramshackle. Such a bright soul should be treated better than they have been, magicless or not, but they are always tired, always a little sad, and their hopes of home fade day by day, faster than their scars do. He hears enough from Grim and the Heartslabyuls, and all the others who come after, on how they are picked upon, or how they get into accidents. Overblots, an unbelievable three of them, are quite the accidents to have. He'd give them his magic if he could- what use does he have for it, dead as he is? Even if it's not some forgotten desire but magic that's keeping him anchored in the world of the living, he'd gladly give it all to them. 

He can't give them anything though. All he can do, really, is watch those he thinks he was waiting for, and be company in Ramshackle that can't provide any true comfort, and pretend, sometimes, that when Ramshackle's prefect waves goodbye to Ramshackle's ghosts as they leave for school, that he numbers among the younger specters.

That's all he can do, until they bring in the painting. 

He's never been fond of the way he looked. He'd have avoided mirrors if he could see his reflection in them, he knows that then-

Because once he sees his face, captured in pigments and time, and he remembers.

He remembers sketching the painting on campus. It was an rather ugly thing when it began, but he'd learned by and by, bit by bit. He'd improved over time, and he'd painted over it between his travels, filling the canvas with brushstrokes and magic and the memories, driven by the odd need to leave something of himself.

He remembers the sudden inspiration that struck him that day he went to the book fair at Foothill Town. He'd thought it might leave, but it never did, and it drove him to spread Halloween throughout Twisted Wonderland in a festive manner that would keep it beloved and celebrated for ages to come.

He remembers the strange loneliness that had haunted him since that day too, a feeling like he'd forgotten something. It waxed and waned as the years went by, every new town bringing with it a curious hope that had him looking forward to new faces and never quite finding the ones he sought.

Skully J. Graves turns to Yuu, and to Sebek Zigvolt beside them, and he remembers a spiral hill and moonlit days, kingship and kinship and his idol's blessing-

"I suppose," Sebek says, stepping back to see the painting in its entirety, how it hangs against wall, how it looks with the meager furniture in the dim light. "That this room is not as terrible as the others."

"That's because I cleaned it."

Sebek shoots them a look. ". . .this is cleaned?!"

"As it can be." 

A sigh. "I cannot believe the Headmaster allowed you to bring it here!"

"Well it wasn't easy, but it's better here than hidden away in a storage room right?"

"I think it looks perfect here! The King of Halloween in Ramshackle- it oughta bring in a lot of sweets like a good luck charm!"

Yuu chuckles. "I don't think that's how it works, Grim. But I think he fits in just fine."

"That is only because Ramshackle resembles a haunted house!"

"Well this room doesn't. And I'll take good care of the room and our dear king until I go."

"You must! The Headmaster spoke of its rarity. This portrait is an irreplaceable treasure-!"

"I'll treat it like a friend. I think that's a pretty good standard of care- I treat you well, don't I?"

Sebek opens his mouth. Then closes it. The boy sputters and Yuu laughs, and when he reaches out, his hand passes through them still.

"Well, I think we would have been friends," Yuu says, gazing at the painting, and what a terrible thing it is, to be a ghost.

"I'm sure you would," Sebek grumbles. "You are an incredibly brazen human- if you could befriend my liege, you could certainly befriend a King of Halloween through your stubborn insistence- "

"I think he would have liked you too."

Sebek casts them a baffled look. "Why? "

"Just a feeling," Yuu smiles.

"Would have made a good minion too," Grim nods.

"Why you little-! "

"Come on," Yuu laughs. "I'll treat you to something from Mostro as thanks for helping hang it-"

"I do not require compensation for something as trivial as this! Only a weak human like yourself would struggle with such a simple task!"

"Well I'd still like to treat you anyway - and you Grim, yes, you too. Gotta treat my friends well, right?"

They do. They have. They will.

It is a shame he has not and cannot do the same.

[moss-in-my-shoes]

-Brian Thomas Headcanons-

TW: mentions of self harm and a bit of creepy/horror imagery? 18+ ONLY

Is he really Brian anymore? Is he still Hoodie? Where do the differences and the similarities end and start? Who is he now?

Brian is still Brian, but he’s also Hoodie. He was always Hoodie.

He’s strong. Smart. Skilled. Athletic. Why would he ever want to be anything else?

He and Masky are the twins, but they are nothing alike. Masky follows. Hoodie leads.

When he was Brian, he was sweet and kind, a golden hearted church boy with a love for football and his best friend Timothy Wright.

Now he carries a gun wherever he goes, balaclava covering his face, operator branded on his chest, right between his collarbones like some kind of cattle.

He’s angry. He’s observant. He’s got a plan and the tools to do it.

He’s protecting Jay from himself.

He thinks Jay is too nosy for his own good, gotta stop the mole from digging further and getting eaten alive by the snake’s nest hidden beneath the dirt.

If it’s by force? So be it.

Lock him in the motel room and sit in front of the door so he can’t leave.

Force feed him the pills he refuses to take to fight the operator sickness. They don’t need another Alex running around, a puppet taking doses of operator sickness every second of every day.

He’d force Tim to do the same, but Tim and him are pretty equal in weight and height, he’s harder to get down and even harder to keep down.

At least Tim willingly takes the pills.

Jay and him get along pretty well despite this.

Sitting together on the motel bed and watching MTV reruns, cuddled up at the sides while Jay leans his head on his shoulder and Brian’s gloved fingers trace patterns in Jay’s arm.

Brian senses a distance, but he doesn’t care.

Tim is hesitant. Tim is bothered. Tim is reluctant and scared.

Masky is just as clingy as Jay is, he’s woken up more than once with the two shoved into each of his sides.

He doesn’t like Skully as much as Jay.

Skully gets them into trouble, situations he’d need the ability to talk to get out of.

He can’t talk like he used to, it’s staticky, unfamiliar, it hurts. Not a lot hurts him anymore, but that does.

He’s always hated Alex, even before they started changing. He hated how Alex spoke to Jay, like an angry parent scolding a child. He hated how Alex screamed at them during rehearsals- who cares that the dog is there?? Leave Seth alone.

Jessica was his favorite. He still thinks about her when it’s late and the clock strikes three in the morning. He feels bad. He feels like he failed.

Amy was kind, she liked to talk to Brian about anything that could take her mind off of Alex. Brian wished he could’ve helped them both.

The operator takes things too fast. They didn’t deserve to die.

He keeps photos of both of them in his wallet, memorials of some kind. To show he remembers.

It’s hard to remember.

Could see himself living a happy life with Jay and Tim somewhere far away, in the woods. He feels connected to the woods. Like he was born and raised there. He wasn’t.

Unhealthily attached to the two men, but it’s hard not to be when they could be torn away at any moment.

Bruised and scarred knuckles and hands.

Takes an ungodly amount of pills to fight the operator sickness, which in turn makes him more into hoodie and less into Brian.

Will and has killed. Don’t ask who.

Misses what little memory he has left of his mom. He knows she’s alive, but she thinks he’s missing and dead.

Brian was the first.

It only followed Tim, Tim is immune to fully contracting the sickness. Brian is not.

Hates blankets. Too constricting. Too easy to get tangled. Sleeps on top of everything on a bed.

Strangely warm, always.

Eyes are crazed and dark. He used to have pretty green eyes with sparkles of hazel in the lines. Now they were black, pupils almost completely succumbed to dark color fading in. He looked strange. Scarred face, crooked nose from being broken, blackening eyes.

Medic. He has a first aid in his backpack.

Has stitched up Jay and Tim more than once.

Has a knife in his combat boots.

Likes to trace the scars on Tim’s arms, but he can only do it when Tim is Masky.

Loves Jay and Tim, but he’ll never say it.

That’s all for now! Bye!

[theravenatmychamberdoor]

ME AND BF ARE REWATCHING MARBLE HORNETS AND WE GOT A THEORY-

(Please bear with us because its a lot)

MH TIME TRAVEL THEORY

So it starts in Entry 22: Seth and Alex, at 5:20 we see Alex speaking to the camera/us the viewer, seth is gone presumably being killed by Alex or something else- what is strange about this is that Alex says "we were the only two left, Brian is gone, Tim is with Jay and Sarah"

This is weird because Jay hasn't found Tim yet because this is only Entry 22, plus Sarah is never mentioned after the beginning. Alex says that everyone is gone and that it's only him now, everyone else is presumed dead according to this; looking guilty after waking up in a house with another tape, whatever footage that was recorded on seth's camera is gone which we never see, the only proof Alex has is own words and memory of this event which is jumbled.

All Alex remembers is the tape he has in the scene after a digital cut across the screen before Alex states that he is leaving the house, which house this is- we don't know. Visual shadow distortion occurs (looking like a hand reaching over him) followed by the sound of the door, bf thinks that Alex is being forced to do this due to his attitude and demeanour while filming this little video.

Alex can't seem to to keep his story straight saying he thought he would be safe in a house he "woke up in" which is odd because why would he feel safe in a house he has no memory of has never been in before (that he knows of). He isnt making that much sense probably because his memories are all kind of funky.

It can be assumed that someone may be behind the camera because of the door creaking multiple times , the numerous shadows and the cuts in between like he's being censored to some extent [note that we never see his hands within this scene]. Before this entry ends, Alex finally states that everything has gotten worse followed by some audio distortion before going back to his home (which we do not know specifically), Alex in the attempt to erase this incident he says that he is going to burn the tapes, all of them which he never fully does.

Entry 25, this is where we believe our time travel theory comes into play-

It starts with Jay's apartment being burnt down (presumably by Alex, his way of destruction because of Tim's house at the end of the series- Potentially for the purpose of intentionally stranding Jay in the weird motel-

Entry 26

Jay is now on the move frequently changing his location to keep people from following him especially after seeing his apartment building destroyed. Jay has a realisation whilst he's been traveling from "hotel to hotel" - the further he is away from the operators influence the better his memory becomes and the better he feels overall: he is less paranoid about things so it leads him to believe that quitting the project entirely is for the best. Stating that Entry 26 will be the last entry he records and posts to YouTube

Jay planned to move far out of state to (like Alex) to forget everything forever, however, he is contacted via a unknown number giving him the date of April 18th 2010 the day he is recording. As he is leaving his current location he finds a package (1:36) with one singular in tact tape reading "watch this" which suggests high importance - due to this Jay assumes someone has known where he's been this entire time, bringing back his past anxiety.

TAPE FOOTAGE!

Welcome to the actual part of our theory!! We just thought that context was necessary first.

First thing we see is a very highly brightened clip of the waterplant first seen in Entry 1, followed by a grainy flipped clip of Alex looking down. At timestamp 2:33 we see SKULLY looking through what could be a peephole of a door similar to Skully stalking Jessica in the comic. The reason we believe this to be time travel is the main inconsistencies and clashing clips, things that are said but we the viewers never see happen. We then weirdly time skip to 2:44 dated the 4th of April 2010, a clip that has been clearly edited in.

In this clip we see Amy recording and Alex trying to deny ever having a camera while staying with her, he may be doing this to keep her safe and away from the operators influence. She wonders when the camera came into existence, Alex tries to nonchalantly act like he doesn't know what she's talking about and is desperately trying to avoid the topic of the camera entirely while Amy is persistent.

Upon actually seeing her holding camera, this is when he seems more concerned or upset, still trying to lie to his girlfriend about her new discovery (that he is clearly anxious about given that he can't keep eye contact with her and doesn't simply go back to what he was doing)

Amy notices his change in mood and attempts to talk to him about it - leading to the unfortunate interruption from The Operator when she goes to put the camera back [another detail is that this happens at 4:04pm in the clip, a common computer error to signify that a web-page hasn't been found, hehe]. The atmosphere of this scene immediately changes into a panicked frenzy, Amy is told to leave through the window whilst Alex stays behind to most likely distract the operator. The time finally changes from 4:04pm as the clip distorts, with it being now 0:98pm changing to a page(?) Writen in either marker or blood (bf thinks) asking for Help, bf believes this is in blood to due the red filter. This event happens 2 weeks before Jay received the tape and text.

The package of the tape also had a return address leading Jay to the location of Entry 27-

Several months pass and we arrive at the hotel, a place where Time is hard to track and events and memories of the place are scrambled, how this happens we do not know but perhaps this is the operator or an outside force doing this. The memory of the past several months are missing from Jay's memory, not knowing where he is at all or how he got the camera meaning that someone wants Jay to record this events.

----------------

Please let us know if this has been debunked or if you want us to continue this because this is too long, I for one see a lot of Donnie Darko references.

Bf: The way this theory ever spawned in our brains was that we happened to notice Skully in a time and a place he technically should not have been in yet if he were to be a bigger part of the original YouTube series.

We hope you enjoyed this Theory and hope it made sense since this really was a spur of the moment yap sesh but it was fun to get our ideas out there.

This theory started from this person on Tiktok:

( @timsutton @troywagner)

Bf is @crackl0verboy

[satureja13]

After Dayn had left, Jack and Jeb went to the security office to check these ominous letters from Jasmine Holiday. Seems the winterfest season has begun (!) and she has a few tasks for them. The Boys totally missed it - they completely lost track of time out here in space! They aren't even aware of if it's night or day. Every time is night time out here... One of the first tasks was stargazing. Now, that was easy. They hadn't started the engines yet so Jeb and Jack were able to gaze at a lot of stars! Then they went down to the crew mess to cook Japchae, as requested. Jack already was excited about winterfest in September, so he urged Jeb to put on their winterfest sweaters. Jeb: "Are you sure this goes conform with the starfleet protocol?" Jack: "Of course it does! We still wear our uniforms. Just beneath the sweaters ;) And since our communications system still doesn't work, no one sees it anyway."

Jack already hung up the wreath they got as reward for stargazing :3 With the galaxy freezer boney in front of it. To protect Kiyoshi's cheese from Lenny.

Meanwhile Saiwa and Ji Ho had started their shift. They can't really contribute to the ship's repairs or research for a cure for Ji Ho, so they are cleaning up a bit. (They'd made a mess when they lived here at the bridge with the Little Goats and Malfoy.) Scrutinized by the gardening bot, Lenny and the Little Goats. The Boys had searched thoroughly for the Romantium ore, but the Little Goats seem to have hidden it well this time. Little Goat: 'They are going to keep an eye on the ventilation openings in the future. No chance to place it there again...' Little Goat: 'We could hide it in their rooms again. Not as effective but still better than nothing.' Little Goat agreed: 'Which room first?'

As soon as Vlad and Kiyoshi confirmed the new route to the outpost in the astrometrics lab, Sai and Ji Ho are going to start the engines to take their detour to gather the missing pieces for the repair of the communication system and the other devices... Vlad and Ji Ho's meteorites were glowing and humming in their container... They hover so close together, it almost looks like it's one piece.

After the route was set, Vlad and Kiyoshi were supposed to sleep to take over one of the next shifts. But they went to the other engine room first. Kiyoshi briefed Vlad (since he and Jack were on duty at the bridge when Dayn showed it to the others). He also told Vlad Dayn and the former crew used the cooling basin as a hot tub and that he can't wait to try it out with Jack. Kiyoshi: "Or shall we two dive in before bed?" Vlad: "Uh, maybe another time. I'm too tired after all that commotion over the last days." Vlad is a loner and after being caged at the bridge with all the others for who knows how long, he's craving his alone time.

Kiyoshi left, he's tired too and no one knows how long they are allowed to sleep until the next madness happens... He hopes Jack will join him soon. He's missing having him in his arms and being close to his mate. Vlad looked at the basin. Now that the Romantium wasn't permeating the air of the ship anymore - will Ji Ho and him ever end up here together? He hopes Ji Ho will at least join him in their bed later, when he finished his shift. Vlad relived their picknick at the 'meadow', when he'd kissed Ji Ho. It had felt so easy then - by courtesy of the Romantium? Vlad almost wishes it back. But he has to find ways to be close to Ji Ho without it. He doesn't want Ji Ho to just want him because he's under the influence of an ore...

The Little Ones are sleeping too. Only Skully is still awake. He already decorated a bit for Winterfest! And he switched to his Winterfest playlist.

Currently it's playing: 'Do they know it's Christmas?' by Band Aid (TMI: I laughed and I cried when I watched this video again. I haven't seen it for 40 years! This was a project to raise funds for starving children in Africa by Bob Geldof and so many amazing musicians had joined him! Bono, Paul Young, Boy George, George Michael, Simon LeBon, Phil Collins on the drums and so many more!)

'… It's Christmas time, and there's no need to be afraid At Christmas time, we let in light and banish shade And in our world of plenty We can spread a smile of joy Throw your arms around the world At Christmas time

… But say a prayer and pray for the other ones At Christmas time, it's hard but while you're having fun There's a world outside your window And it's a world of dread and fear Where a kiss of love can kill you And there's death in every tear And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom Well tonight we're reaching out and touching you'

From the Beginning 🔱 Underwater Love 🔱 Latest

Current Chapter: starts ▶️ here Last Chapter: 'Here comes the Sun' from the beginning ▶️ here

📚 Previous Chapters: Chapters: 1-6 ~ 7-12 ~ 13-16 ~ 23-29

[saccadesoup]

snuff director alex kralie au. this is what i think about when i’m ill

him and jay (jay’s a little freak we all know this) being friends in college. eventually realising they’re both into the same liveleak gore stuff. getting high together one night and alex - in all his infinite film student wisdom - offhandedly suggests making their own video.

ok so then they make a plan, right? lure in one of the girls from jay’s photography class. invite her over under the pretence of movie night (ft. free booze, which is what actually convinces her to go) then knock her out, tie her up. set up the camera.

it’s all incredibly amateur - grainy footage, slightly off-putting camera angle, muffled audio - but the people watching don’t seem to care. there’s something about the way alex captures the experience, dragging shallow, decorative cuts across her flesh in all the right places before disembowelling her in a strangely artistic way, a way rarely seen on an underground gore site like this, zooming in on her eyes as they slowly glaze over. the video gets a decent amount of traction, and the comments call for more.

so he decides to make another. this time, a girl from his film studies class. jay’s a little more hesitant this time, saying it’ll be “too suspicious” if people from their classes keep going missing - but, reluctantly, he joins in once more. same deal, “movie night”, knock her out, tie her up, set up the camera. alex makes jay take the lead this time, instead opting to stand behind the camera and direct his movements with hand gestures (he finds he much prefers it like this, surprising absolutely nobody). jay wears an old halloween skull mask he found in the attic to protect his identity - leading to him being dubbed ‘skully’ by the people in the comments. and this is the video that kickstarts alex’s career as a director. it goes viral, does the rounds on twitter, becomes about as infamous as the laser girl death gif. he’s filled a niche in the market with slow, intimate scenes rather than senseless brutality that’s become all too common nowadays, and people seem to love the change of pace.

so he makes another video. and another. he recruits his brian and tim, who become regulars alongside jay, each with their own unique masked identity - known as hoodie and masky by the fans (u get it by now right⁉️). alex runs a tight ship, hand-picking each victim, spending hours trawling through forums, local facebook pages, old yearbooks.

[lustlovehart]

I saw the reverse monster au first meeting for Skully and can I just say it was something I didn't know I needed to see, rotating human!skully in my brain Imagine a Monster!mc who sees little recluse human!skully and decides that they're going to keep an eye this interesting human.

They're not used to anything but terror at their presence and Skully doubling down his info-seeking the second he sees the slightest silhouette of them from afar since he's also not used to any attention to him that extends beyond the information he has for hunters Of course as time passes as he and mc get closer he has to panickedly hide them (This is probably OOC for your type of mc but you gave me brainworms I must share)

Instead of rotating Human!Skully in a microwave, I like to imagine him in a salt shaker while I shake him up lmao.

I like the dynamic of boss monster x nerdy recluse human <33.

AHHH!! I love the image of Skully dropping all the work the foundation gave him just because he saw a slight sliver of you <33. Please imagine he was supposed to be penning another well-known monster down (I can't remember if I kept him a human or not in reverse so sorry if i’m wrong ~(>_<~)) like Crewel or something, and while he’s writing everything so diligently he just can’t seem to really immerse himself in the information like he does when it’s about you… A limb points to a bullet point on his notes.

“No matter how hungry Crewel is he never stoops to consuming rats, so you should probably get rid of this.” your voice rings through his study, but he’s too caught up in the papers to realize who exactly is talking to him.

“Huh… I didn’t get anything for that… Are you sure? It would be horribly if everyone got mad at me—! For…” when his eyes finally look up to view his current conversation partner, his words trail off, “… that…” he’s swift to jump back in his chair, the force pushing him back. He’s frozen, not in fear, but in pure shock.

You sigh, standing tall with an expectation of him taking the nearest object and using it on you. It’s too bad, you really enjoyed watching him work on his assignments. He seemed so intrigued in his work—

It’s your turn to shout in surprise, as instead of a blade, he wraps a bracelet around your limb… Somehow, in your favorite color… How does he know something this private—?!

“Please…! Tell me—everything about you.”

Marking your ever growing relationship with the hidden informant.

And the hiding part… Imagine one of the faction leaders, or literally just any of them seeing the monster they’re all collectively obsessed over, resting their head on the recluse secretary’s shoulder. The one who stays in the basement all the time doing who knows what, is somehow interacting with the beast they’ve been wanting to talk to themselves.

(They go to Skully’s office and steal all the photos he has of you in revenge LMAO… Except Malleus, he already has the photos he does as well so he sees no point 💀)

[sweetbunpura]

Cruise of a Lifetime Ch.3

Kalim would like to treat NRC to a cruise for summer break... he may have forgotten to tell everyone WHO else was sharing the ship with them...

Tie into: Rescue from RSA

Ch.1 - Ch.2

WC: 748

The lobby exploded into cries of complaints and various name calling from both sides. Kalim and Jahzi stood and watched them from the podium, neither moving a muscle as the cries ramped up.

“Hey!” A voice called out through the chaos and gained everyone’s attention.

A tall and slightly bulky man stood next to Jahzi, his long black hair was tied up in a high ponytail and he was sporting a thin black beard. The man wore a pair of golden bangles on his wrists, a short sleeved white button up shirt, a red sash like item around his waist, and a pair of blue pants followed by a pair of golden sandals.

“I know you’re all upset.” He began. “But both of the Asim’s worked hard to cater this to both schools. Everything is paid for, anything you use or buy on the ship goes to their bill, so it’s free. The rooms are also catered to each student here, same goes with the food.” He crosses his arms and his muscles bulge out slightly. “They did all of this and you get onto them by keeping the fact that you’d be sharing with another school hidden?”

They looked down, shame radiating off of them as they let the man’s words sink in.

“Forgive me for asking.” Riddle spoke up. “But who are you, exactly?”

“Oh!” The man laughed and rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry about that! I’m Gene, Gene Nights. I’m the chaperone for RSA.”

“Chaperone?”

“Yes. Does NRC not have one?”

The dorm leaders looked among one another before shaking their heads.

“Not that we know of.”

“Odd. I could’ve sworn I saw him earlier.” Gene looked around. “Then again he said he wanted a moment to breathe before you came aboard.”

Yuu muttered. “I know it ain’t gonna be Crowley, so he probably pawned it off to someone else.”

Fellow added in. “Wouldn’t it fall onto you, Beastmaster?”

“...Shit. Who is it then?”

“Ah! There he is!” Gene waved his hand to someone behind them. “Chestnut!”

The NRC student body froze as they watched the school’s physician walk into the room and join Gene on the podium. He stared out at the students with a half lidded gaze as he crossed his arms.

“Behave. For your sake and mine.”

“The best AND worst option.” Yuu nudged Fellow. “Your boyfriend is here.”

“...And he didn’t tell me.” The fox beastman scoffed and crossed his arms. “Betrayal.”

Chestnut adjudged his glasses. “The schedule for the day has been provided for you as they were handed out before you boarded. Please head to your rooms and unpack. You’re free to explode the ship afterwards as we leave the dock and we’ll be having lunch according to the schedule.”

“Oh!” Kalim added as Chestnut finished. “Please dress nicely for dinner as we’ll be having a show included with it!” He smiles.”You’re dismissed!”

Slowly the students filtered out of the lobby, each heading in the directions the signs were pointing for the room numbers. Rollo pulled out his ticket and looked at the number.

“Are we in the same room?”

Yuu pulled out hers. “Yeah.”

Skully raises his slip up. “I have the same number.”

“We’re all in the same room, I’m assuming.” Rollo frowned. “Wonderful.”

“Let’s at least see what it is before we start complaining.” Yuu picked up her bags and waited as Grim climbed his way onto her shoulder. “Let’s go.”

It didn’t take long to reach the room and Yuu paused as she stared at the double dark wood doors in front of them. The Ramshackle residents shared a look before the young woman used the keycard to open the door. Stepping inside, they froze and took in the room. The whole room was bathed in colors of white, blue, gold, and marble. There were two doors on the first floor and a spiral staircase leading to the top floor which no doubt held the third room. A bar was down on the first floor along with a few seating areas and a large table. A massive flat screen TV was up against the wall, the sunlight coming from the windows reflected off of it.

One of the tables was a personalized gift basket for each member and a note from Kalim.

“Thank you for everything, Yuu! Please enjoy this gift!”

She took in the note, looking around the suite before addressing the other members. 

“This is gonna be a good month.”

[merakiui]

thinking,,,,,

skully j. graves whose heart has been pierced by cupid’s arrow. oh, how he adores the dear lady who lives just a few houses from his own, the town’s very own precious jewel. he could spend hours penning the prettiest poetry, every stanza packed full of affectionate adulation. he watches from a snow-frosted window as you, bundled in your woolen cloak, hurry along with a basket hanging from your arm. you are stunning—a painter’s finest work brought to life. so many suitors are vying for your attention—rightfully so—and yet it is your bottomless kindness that has you entertaining them even though you never seem to select a fiancé for yourself. perhaps you are waiting for your fated one just as he is?

but skully could never hope to find his way into your heart, even though his wishes for such bliss are most fervent, for his demeanor is haunted and will certainly sully you. you’re a glorious flower and he is suffocating rot. his love is only pure on the page, but beyond that it is gnarled with the most devastating of dangers. he would kill for you. he would tear his own heart out for you and pin it to the walls just to prove he will never love another. he will stay in your shadow and admire you from afar, for it is darkness in which he dwells.

he loves you in every conceivable way. he dreams of a future with you. he hides away in fantasy, for his reality is excessively gloomy. one day, he might finally approach you and spill the truth in his heart. pluck a bouquet of the prettiest flowers and present it to you. one day, he might finally confess and then you’ll know of his name and his love. and perhaps you might feel the same, too. one day… he is hopeful. one day.

and then you die. suddenly. unexpectedly. it is a cruel lashing to his heart. it is unthinkable. it cannot be and yet it is. your light is snuffed and with it the darkness envelops him in its entirety.

no one grieves quite like mr. graves. oh, his world is shattering, unfurling and splitting at the seams. there is no world worth waking up to knowing you’re not there in the flesh. he stands over your open casket like the grimmest reaper, dressed in mourning black. he takes hold of your cold hand and brings it to his cheek, and oh! how dreadful his cries are, a sniveling, shoulder-shaking sob like that of a child who has lost something once coveted in avarice. how cold and stiff your fingers are. how soft and sterile your skin is. how peaceful you look, clothed in attire that shall follow you into the grave, eyes forever shut. nothing more than a doll.

how beautifully the flowers frame your face, every delicate petal so sickeningly fragrant and pure, white as snow. and he is filthy. filthy for leaning over you and getting his tears on the fabric of your dress. he presses his lips to your perfumed cheek and squeezes your hand, but you will never reciprocate. it’s not fair. why must the world take from him what is most treasured? must he be shackled to a sad, solitary life forever, only to know warmth in death?

it’s not fair. it’s not fair. it’s not fair.

they cannot close that casket, for how will he survive without your cherubic countenance? he yearns to see you again, to breathe you in, to know that even if he may never face you in person you are there in your home, alive and well.

he would sooner leap into the coffin with you than allow them to bury you by your lonesome. he holds tight to the white rose in his hands, soon to inevitably shrivel into something brittle as all life does, and watches them lower you into the hollowed pit.

so this is what it’s like to know emptiness. to have your heart torn to pieces. to have your soul spooned out. to shatter as one and never know fullness again.

skully writes of death. he dreams of death. he thinks of death. his life has become death.

and he thinks of how cold and lonely you must be down there, buried away like a secret. he thinks of your radiance, how it is impossible for you to shine when you will never know the kiss of sunbeams upon your sweet skin. oh, he mourns you and what could have been. he mourns his cowardly nature. he mourns having confined himself to the shadows, for it is in shadows you now reside.

he visits your grave every day, sometimes more than once in a day. he lingers for hours, soaking in all the silence. his eloquence waltzes in written word, for he can never verbalize his thoughts without falling apart. he weeps over the headstone, his forehead pressed into the dirt as he endeavors to get as close to you as possible. he leaves fresh flowers. he kisses every petal and imagines it’s your hand, your face, your heart.

no one grieves like mr. graves because only he is willing to return, shovel in hand, and pull you from the earth that has so selfishly kept you imprisoned. he yanks at the wooden boards of the coffin until his nails chip and break off. until blood runs thin down skeletal fingers.

he lifts you from the soft lining and runs his knuckles along your cheek, so very fond. and he holds you close like you’re a plush toy. you will not remain in this pristine condition forever and, having now been disturbed, you will rot quickly. he has that effect.

but even in decay, you are beautiful. just as you were in life, he shall cherish you in death. he shall do all that he has failed to do when you lived and breathed. he shall share a waltz with you in a quiet ballroom. he shall brush your hair. he shall feed you. he shall clothe you. he shall look after and protect you. he shall write to you and read you dozens of poems. he shall sing to you. he shall kiss you. he shall wed you. he shall consummate a blessed (cursed) marriage with you.

and when he withers away, it will be in your embrace. for no one could ever hope to love another as strongly, as obsessively, as sweetly as mr. graves does. :)