#threadedwheels

[99lostsouls]

AFTER finding nothing of note from that ruined castle, leaving the area was a given but— the venture only led the group into another strange place.

the remains of a dead forest surrounds them. the path ahead was dark, decorated with dried leaves & torn off tree bark. utterly perfect for alerting anyone nearby of their location with just one misstep.

ortho did his best to assist by shining a light ahead for the group to see. reflecting on the path like bright flashlights from the android's eyes— it made the trek just a bit easier.

❝ ah— i see something ! ❞

ortho had mostly been quiet during their walk, but when he spotted an old backpack among the ruins he brightened up.

reaching down for the bag, the miracle was proven to be TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE when ortho's light highlighted another.

the owner of the bag, very displeased.

@hyaina @vipetriol @threadedwheels @troisfleur

[rove-bogge]

Continues from here @threadedwheels

~~~~~~~ Rove eyed Ember for a moment as the other added a few more reminders to the little self care app. As the other spoke he sighed. “You're both impossible…” He sighed before shrugging. “You know talking to each other about problems and handling them is like what close people do right? Why am I of all people giving you this advice? Feel ashamed that not only someone from Ignihyde is schooling you but the bug boy of Ignihyde is doing this!” He mocked but in a light way before he stood up. “Come with me…” He said waiting for Ember to get himself ready to exit the room. “We are heading to my room… so I guess be prepared for the ac in our dorm…it one quite strong to not overheat all the pc’s and stuff…” He looked up to Dollface scoffing the mere idea he was playing voice of reason made him uncomfortable and deciding if Ember was not willing to talk about some of his problems to Jinx…there was a substitute… at least till the over might be more comfortable speaking up with an actual human.

[howlighte]

continued from this with @threadedwheels​

LEGS CROSSED ON THE GROUND,   they worked on different  portions  of the same entanglement of lights.   ripping them apart felt like a better option at that point,  the only thing stopping him was that  any  aggressive movements he made would mess up the other’s handiwork  —  something that he attempted to avoid.  teamwork was never his strong suit,  but this was the perfect  example  of,   the better they  worked  together,  the faster they got done.  a bit of group complaining was only a part of the team building,   really.  

decorating the dorm was far from his own idea,  likely  far from ember’s own idea as well.  however,   when it came to helping out  —  jack supposed he struggled to say no.  just a shame that they handed off such  cautious work.  meticulous work that took  patience & care,  he couldn’t pretend to be suited to it.  in offering his own help,  he expected to move furniture,  carry boxes.  instead,  hunched over a set of lights that must have resided in a box of  decades. 

“  least we are in agreement.  ”  he said with a nod,  ripping at the lights a  tad  too harshly,  an apologetic look as he almost ripped them straight out of ember’s hands.  “  dishes could get done in an hour.   this,  i dunno if i can even promise we’re gunna make a dent in them.  your’s ain’t lookin’ too bad though …  man  —  ”   looking at his own work with some distain,  this was a  real  lost cause.  

[troisfleur]

It was rare Ember found himself anywhere near the science club. Fates- outside of Board Game Club and the occasional Pop Music Club event, he practically avoided every other club like the plague.

Still, he had some questions about plants, and, if rumors are true, he knew just the student to ask.

"Trey, correct?" He called out to the third year, walking towards him, "The names Ember. I heard you have a lot of scientific knowledge and I had some questions I would appreciate answers to. How knowledgeable are you on growing plants?"

“GUESS THAT'S ME.” Trey only pauses in his path for a moment, following a well-worn path in the botanical gardens over a little plot of crops tucked into a corner. There’s little signs at the head of each row, stylized little pictures (not by his own hand) of their yield. “I’d say pretty decent—haven’t had a crop fail to yield something early last year.”

He’s watering, hose in hand, nozzle pressure low—more of a gentle spritzing over his current crop, the prized strawberries he’s been cultivating routinely since enrollment.

“You’ve come to the right club, Ember. I’ll answer the best I can—I do have one or two trade secrets you might not get to leave with, though.”

A beat. A smile that reaches his eyes. Mostly. And a chuckle.

“What can I help you with?”

[99lostsouls]

everything happened so fast.

to blink, and suddenly have your teammates— your upperclassmen on the ground brought about a dizzying confusion.

but there was no time to be confused. that would only seal a gruesome fate - it would be foolish.

and ortho was not designed foolishly.

in a string of bad luck, after the spirit had successfully taken down jamil— its path of screeches and wails seemed to be heading straight for ember next.

in a quick effort, ortho charged forward, shooting out a laser from his palm.

ORTHO ROLLS A 12 AND 20 FOR DAMAGE: HIT for 2 DMG!

PAINTING GHOST'S HP: 0/3

ORTHO'S HP: 5/5

the stench of flames and burnt oils wasn't pleasant, but being killed wasn't anymore agreeable.

once the flames of the burning painting went down, ortho reached to help up his injured colleagues.

❝ let's go. ❞

hyaina​:

Ruggie has no qualms following Ortho. If there was anyone on this team best equipped to march on towards unknown terrain, it was undoubtedly Idia Shroud’s robotic brother. Ruggie finds a sense of ease walking alongside their humanoid companion; as long as Ortho’s tech gear remains working, aren’t they practically indomitable?! Steely resolve lets the hyena trek onwards, taking on the infinite staircase until a vivid light pierces his eyes.

“Augh–!” He gasps, instinctively taking a step backwards. He nearly missteps, heel going past the ledge, and Ruggie’s mid-maneuver as a strong force suddenly grips him. It prevents the hyena from tumbling, yet successfully discombobulates him as he’s practically spun onto cobblestone. Ruggie nearly topples from the drastic shift of terrain, eyes flying open in shock– Then a body thuds besides him. 

“T-Trey?!” The hyena yelps, barely processing what in the great Seven’s just happened, when he notices a specter charging at him from the ends of his vision. Quick reflexes enables him to wield his pen—

Ruggie rolls a 1: Miss! 

Painting Ghost rolls a 14: 1.5dmg incoming! Ruggie’s hp: 3.5 / 5 

—But he hardly has time to cast a proper spell as their assailant comes for him next.  The ghost’s spell crushes his shoulder mid-cast. Ruggie’s thrown back as black paint-ooze splatters onto his uniform, the gale that he summons goes off-kilter. It whirls past the ghost and slices the painting behind it. The intricate portrait slams onto the ground, echoing into the abyss. 

@threadedwheels / @vipetriol / @99lostsouls​ / @troisfleur

A morphing world. A dry thud. A stifled yelp. A gust of wind.

Trey is on the ground in the blink of an eye.

Jamil’s mind hasn’t quite caught up with the barrage of stimuli, but his body moves on instinct all the same— he doesn’t need another second to know they’re under attack.

Jamil rolls an 11 and a 9 for damage: Hit for 1 dmg!

Painting Ghost rolls an 11 and a 10 for damage: 1 dmg incoming!

Painting Ghost’s HP: 2/3 

Jamil’s HP: 4/5

A fire spell cast on reflex finds its mark. The foul smell of burning oil paint rises into the air, and a shrill, inhuman wail reverberates across the castle’s stone walls. As it writhes against the frame it had presumably gone out from, the ghost seethes, now settled on its next mark.  

Jamil prepares to retaliate, but the earlier soreness returns with a vengeance, sending painful jolts across his right arm. He’s half a second too slow in casting a defence spell, and the incoming strike sends him crashing onto the cobbled ground.

@threadedwheels / @hyaina / @99lostsouls / @troisfleur

[citrus-perfume]

Read Me

@threadedwheels

Nightraven University housed a very high end selection of students. Among them were princes, heirs, celebrities, not to mention Clementine himself.

He had heard of him around school. Ember Parca. Apparently he was to become the next Oracle, blessed with the gift of powerful clairvoyance. And apparently, he was open for readings.

Clementine didn't care how much he had to pay, he wanted a reading, just to be able to say that he got one. A reading from the future Oracle... what an honor, what an occasion, what a talking point at dinner parties for years to come.

He wasn't really taking this all that seriously. It was a novelty to him, at best. He was kind of curious to hear what would be said about his future, because he didn't have any plans for it himself (except for maybe one), so maybe he'd hear something interesting. But he wasn't sure if he believed in stuff like this, honestly... he was open to the idea of it, but definitely not sold.

When he got the tip that Ember usually hung out in a secluded corner of the courtyard, he got ready immediately, and quickly went over to see if he was there. Someone was. It looked like Jinxie's little boyfriend. So it was true. Were they seriously the same person...? That was interesting and a half.

Gracefully, he strode over to where Ember was seated. "Good afternoon. Ember Parca?" He tilted his head sweetly, smiling softly. The picture of innocence.

[silverknightpiece]

continued from here with @threadedwheels

He has heard good things about Ember in turn, well, in Sebek's own way, which he's seen many times before. Silver had heard Sebek here and there, and seeing Ember around had not changed his mind about his fellow student from Diasomnia. He did hold Embers in good regards, and he's glad that he decided to ask the others for help because he might need it on the way back.

While Silver can claim he and his father spread out the most amongst their inner circle into the student body, he does thank his father for telling him his shortcomings with his tone and actually expressing what he wants. This school life will be a team effort, not unlike how he trained to sync so well next to Sebek, and their recent growing pit of circumstances has amplified this. He has begun this task with a mission in mind, which he shares with his companion. 

He looks back at his fellow student and answers him with an easy stride, waiting for the door to open before them, and he does note what Ember said before. "You've had an issue with the storage closets around campus after the ghosts appeared?" or at least the malicious ones. "I wish to look amongst the old storage for books out of use, collect anything we see, and mostly to get any information we might need from… the forbidden section."

Technically, the school had no forbidden section that the students could access to Silver's knowledge, but Silver had seen this door slam open and shut for a while now. The room beyond the door was heavy with reading material, with layers of dust, maps between pages so yellow they rivaled a dandelion, and some boxes he hadn't dared touch. After his discovery of the library-like closet, he had to get some help back to the dorm.  And here he was. 

[pollychatter-moved]

you're a mean one, mr. grinch !

@threadedwheels squacked :

❝ i don’t want to be a grinch, but untangling lights isn’t exactly my favorite pastime. ❞

Ember bemoaned as he sat on the floor of Ramshackle’s common room and worked at the tangled lights. The dorm was undecorated for the holidays and he got dragged into decoration before he realized what was going on.

“In fact, I think it may be the worst part of the holidays”

“ Really? No kidding! ” Ilam laughs, leaning his shoulder comfortably on the couch's armrest, cup of hot chocolate in hand. “ I'm havin' a great time. ”

He takes a long, drawn out sip, further cementing his role as the local jackass when he took all the time in the world to wipe the chocolate mustache from his mouth. As fun as the holidays were, Halloween was his time to go all out. Though, if someone wanted ( or was forced to, in Ember's case ) to decorate the dorm from head to toe he wasn't gonna be the one to stop them!

“ It's all such hard work, isn't it? ” Fake sympathy practically oozes from his words... he wants something. “ If ya' need help, just ask. I'm not doing anything too important. ”

[rove-bogge]

Rove typed away on Ember's phone connecting it to his to transfer some files and do some edits. The room was only filled with the sound o thumbs tapping on phone glass for a while while Rove focused on inplimenting his program. After a long moment he held out Ember's phone back to him. "There..." When Ember looked he would see a little digital dollface on his phone reminiscent of clippy the paperclip with a small speach bubble ! next to her. Once tapped it bring up several goals. Drink water. Eat a meal. Have some fruit snacks. encouragements for Ember to look after himself better with a cute little mascot on his phone.

"There it will remind you and encourage better behaviours. I did similar reminders for Idia.." He mumbled. "And what do you mean not worth the hassle...isn't that something couple do or something...not that i know or care." He huffed.

found : an especially cuddly moth

( started here with @rove-bogge )

MESSAGE FROM ROVE 

be there asap

Ember put down his phone as soon as he read that response, turning his attention back to the moth exploring his room. 

“Your owner will be back soon.” He told her, not really thinking that she could really understand him. And yet, as soon as he said it, she excitedly fluttered up to him again.

I don’t think I’ve ever met a cuddly bug before, he idly thought to himself, letting the moth rest on his shoulder. Not even his childhood pet spider seemed to understand the world around him or actively choose to spend time with Ember regularly. But Dollface seemed to be so attached to Rove, even cuddling with one of his friends.

When the frantic knocking on the door began, Ember quickly opened it. He knew it’d be Rove- what he wasn’t expecting was the frantic look in his eyes or the tearstained look on his cheeks. The man seemed to calm down as his moth fluttered over to land on him, happy to see her owner again. As he began to sniffle again, Ember just awkwardly grabbed a box of tissues off his desk and handed it to him.

“I have no clue how she got here, I guess she remembered it from when you were last here?” He said, watching as she flew back onto his head, “…I don’t think any creature has liked me as quickly as she has. Especially considering the… decor of my room, I’d think she’d be rather scared of me? Of course, all the specimens died of natural causes, simply just their life thread reaching its end, but still. She seems to… understand more than others.”

He reached a hand onto the top of his head, hoping Dollface would climb back on so he could hand Rove back his emotional support moth.

[99lostsouls]

THE END IS NIGH

TEAM 3, STARBURST CRUSADERS : @vipetriol, @hyaina, @troisfleur, @threadedwheels, LET'S GO!(one last time! )

everything happened in such a blur.

one moment, ortho was searching the contents of the forbidden laboratory alongside his teammates— then suddenly a bright light engulfed them, spitting them out onto a castle bridge.

when the android opened his eyes, cobblestone was underneath him. the wind whistled and howled like it was living…

and before he knew it–

❝ ARREST THEM! ❞

❝ IT'S THE MAGESTONE! ❞

ah shit.

…

the plan was relatively simple, at least for their team, all they had to do was distract the guards and buy everyone some time! only there wasn't much time to think things over– so ortho would do what he did best.

taking head of the charge, ortho could be found soaring through the air, blasting lasers at the castle walls. he would shoot holes in the wall, setting fire to or breaking several items in his path.

through the incoming ruin, ortho would shout down to his teammates. ❝ let's do what we do best, mess stuff up! ❞

[rove-bogge]

CATCH :  for one muse to return the other’s pet that escaped.

EMBER WATCHED as the large moth crawled around on his wheelchair, unsure as how she managed to get into his dorm. It must’ve been an impressive trip for Dollface to take, considering the mirrors she had to of travelled through, not to mention the fact that Diasomnia was not the nicest looking place.

Poor moth didn’t even have a light to follow to get in there, outside of the flickering candle on Ember’s desk he kept lit when he was writing. He was grateful she didn’t get close to it.

He quickly took out his phone and snapped a picture of her, the flash going off and making the moth aware of his presence.

EMBER > ROVE 🐛

I think Dollface decided to come and visit. See attached.

[ ATTACHMENTS: two photos, one of Dollface carefully exploring Ember’s wheelchair, almost posing for the poorly lit photo. Second photo is of Embers face with her resting on his cheek. He’s trying not to smile, but it’s clear that she is either tickling him or he’s happy she’s comfortable with him ]

Dollface had been extremely clingy that morning. So when Rove had to return some books back to the library and she had wanted to tag along he didn't stop her. She usually liked to sit on his head while he walked around so why would today be any different.

What Rove hadn't calculated for was a breeze that would catch the moth by surprise as he stepped into the hall of mirrors. Snatching the creature off his head and into the neighbouring mirror completely disorientated the poor creature as it flapped helplessly looking for its owner.

For Rove it wouldn't be till after he had returned the books to the right place on the shelves of the library when he noticed absence on his head.

The instant hit of dread and panic hit him like all the air had been stripped from his lungs and his heart stopped. Where was she??? He rushed out colliding into other students scrambling to get past them as he ran down the corridor calling out to his beloved moth each second without seeing her pastel wings he felt dread cracking his spirit.

What if she was hurt? What if she was gone forever? What if someone purposely took her or hurt her!

Tears built in the corner of his eyes as the thoughts dug their claws into his mind whispering how it was his fault that Dollface was hurt and gone...he had failed her.

He almost fell into his room panting and choking on sobs as dread was choking him. Unravelling him at the seams as the insects of blame and panic skittered in his mind ready to dig their greedy fangs into him as panicked grey eyes fell on her perch to find it empty.

Drip...drip...

Fat tears burned his skin like acid as his breath hitched nd choked in his throat fumbling past quivering lips. What could he do...he would tear the school down if he had to to find her...maybe ortho could scan for her...maybe...Hiccuping he was about to call for the closest thing to the actual family he had when..

Ping

The cricket chirping message tone pulled him out of it as he grabbed at his phone, almost dropping it when he saw the name on the front.

Ember?

Rubbing at the tears that were streaming down his face he unlocked his phone sniffling trying to pull the parts of him that were falling apart together with thick thread to try and hold it together to beg for Ortho's help.

Just seeing the pictures he let out the breath he was holding. Fat tears clinging to lashes as he saw the evidence that she was safe. A raspy laugh escaped his lips as his hand raised to cover them. She was safe....the pastel clashing with the gloomy black and green vibes of Diasomnia. 

But there she was clinging to Ember as her saviour from the dangers of this school for a bug. Thumb tapping on his phone with expert precision he sent Ember a quick response. Rove > Ember 🧵

Be there asap Pocketing his phone he sprinted as fast as he could to Diasomnia knowing which dorm was Embers from previously helping the other. Shoving anyone in his way out of his path it would be barely past five minutes after he sent his message when Ember would hear frantic knocking on his door. When the door opened a frazzled Ignihyde student would stand there tear stained face as the remnants of his breakdown was clear as day to Ember as he held his hands out to Dollface the Moth quickly fluttering over to him. The choked noise as Rove just held her there reunited with the part of his soul he couldn’t bare to be without, Ember hearing a muffled raspy. “Thank you…” Voice husky from choked emotion. It would be a few moments before Rove sniffled audibly. “H-how…even…” He choked out. “I was just taking books to the library and when I got there she was nowhere…” He sighed. “LEast she made it here…again thank you…” Dollface quickly returning to Ember sitting on the other student's head. Rove’s Eyes narrowing. “O-oi!”

[magicjoint]

threadedwheels·:

Ember walked into the kitchen, headphones in as he listens to music. He couldn’t stand the living situation he found himself in- he had no issues with his roommate, of course, it was simply the situation of being in a dorm that he had to rebuild and repair while also dodging most other members of this repair team.

Plus, no one knew how to clean up after themselves.

At first it was almost comedic how dishes would only be done when it was absolutely necessary. Of course, Ember had been doing his best to wash his own dishes, he was raised to be as self sufficient as possible despite his role, but never anyone else’s. It made no sense why he should. No one he could think of was incapable of dishwashing.

He noticed the actual dorm members standing around the sink and took out his headphones.

“Yes, it seems that no one is capable of their own dishes anymore,” Ember sighed, leaning on his cane, “I’ve been having to wash mine in the bathroom sink. I hope they aren’t expecting you to wash them, that’d make no sense.”

huh, maybe they should’ve put headphones on as well  ...  too late for it now. besides, they didn’t really have many songs to listen to aside from those already downloaded. which  ...  sucked. regardless, yuu wasn’t going to ignore the potential for conversation outside of ranting to grim, so their head was quick to tilt in the other’s direction. “exactly!” grim was quicker to respond than yuu, but then blinked confusedly. “...wait, why are you washing dishes in the bathroom sink?”

someone wasn’t used to roommate struggles. it got a giggle out of the human, however.

“ i certainly hope so, cause i am one more dishwashing day from just chucking these all outside and watching the chaos. “  ...  tone implies they are joking, but their expression implies seriousness. hard to tell what yuu was thinking, honestly. “ but i probably shouldn’t because that’ll just be annoying to clean up, especially if i pick a bad day and it starts snowing after  ...  “ okay. yeah, they were just straight up considering it now.

“ the bathroom sink was still a bit iffy the last time i used it  ...  was it okay for you? “ yuu was never good at plumbing, but this was still something they should ask about. to make a list of everything that doesn’t work properly in this place.

somehow, university back at home was suddenly a lot more appealing than whatever this current living situation was. then again, the only differences between the two was that one of them was magic-based. and honestly? that made this a lot more worse. because yuu swore that they were losing their sanity every passing hour.

every meal time, the number of dishes in the sink only grow. that’s it. they don’t decrease. they just grow. unless they run out of plates to use ; that is the only time they actually get washed that yuu has personally seen.

yuu had thought that simply washing their (and grim’s) own dishes would be enough to satiate their annoyance. clearly it wasn’t the case. and now they were so bothered by the growing pile of dishes that they were now just washing all of them. grim had come to watch by sitting on the countertop nearby, mainly because he always freaks out whenever the water touches him. he was no actual help. but at least he was someone to rant at.

“ remember when it was just us in here, grim? fun times. i’d like those times back now. at least then, i’d know that the dishes are actually being cleaned. “ normally, grim responded to their ranting. but because of how much water was in the sink to even begin washing the plates effectively, he was keeping a very close eye on it … making sure it doesn’t go anywhere near him.

[zacaraya]

❝HUSH, MY LITTLE ONE. YOU MUST BE EXHAUSTED.❞

@ ZACARAYA: PRIVATE roleplay blog AFFILIATED with Night Raven University. Written by Kyru

About Zacaraya | About Kyru | Headcanons | Artwork

My Moment;

AT NIGHT… with Silver ( silverknightpiece )

Your Moment;

HIDE ME with Ember Parca ( threadedwheels )

A Lion Rules. A Wolf Leads with Jack Howl ( howlighte )

IF YOU DON’T SHUT YOUR MOUTH... with Jinx ( crossedtheline )

LOST & FOUND (?) with Epel Felmier  ( fel-mi-er)

UMBRELLA with Rove Bogge ( rove-bogge )

UNDER THE STARS... with Solaris Ion ( galacticemperorsolaris )

TRAIL with Luciano ( thecoachman)

Monthly Goal;

Be more active towards the end of the month because I seem to be SUPER active at the beginning of a month and then fall off towards the end SOBBING.

[vipetriol]

Anise and Thyme

@threadedwheels sent: MEAL : for both muses to prepare and share a meal together.

Ember knocked on the door of Jamil’s temporary residence, a box of tea in his hands. He fiddled with his sweater for a few moments before the door opened.

“…care to have some tea and maybe some lunch with me? I thought it would be a nice break, maybe you could tell me about your home since I have already taken up so much of your time writing about my own.”

A brief look of surprise flashes through Jamil’s eyes upon opening the door. 

“ Ember, hello, ” he says, expression settling on a genial smile. “ I’d love to, but—”

Rejecting an upperclassman’s amicable invitation would be remiss, but he has to do the laundry, iron Kalim’s clothes, read over his homework, prepare his meal and— Ah, there’s an idea.

“ Actually, I was just on my way to the kitchen. I was planning on making some traditional dishes for Scarabia’s study group, ” Jamil explains, hoping to kill two birds with one stone. “ Would you like to sample them over tea? I’d be grateful for your opinion— if it’s not a bother, of course. ”

[prince-kalim]

Kalim was listening, nodding gently along with Ember's thought process. But when Ember asked about Jamil's role in this Kalim seemed a bit confused at first.

"Oh Jamil always cooks my food. His food is really delicious! He always knows the perfect amount of spice to add to make it delicious but not overwhelming." He was about to babble on when the second question sprang to his mind. "Oh...Jamil does have his own team...but I'm not allowed to handle knives and really cook my own food in case I hurt myself. I wouldn't really know where to start when it comes to rations.” The silence around the pair felt a bit suffocating. “I mean I’m sure Jamil won’t mind if I do it myself just this once. It couldn’t be that bad if I do it myself.” He hesitated a little knowing it likely wouldn’t be that good. 

[ RATIONS ]  "Ember! Seeing we are partnered for the trip I was wondering what food you like or if there is anything you don't like or can't eat? I was going to ask Jamil to make me some of these ration things and I thought if I ask him to make enough for all of us....well bar Ortho seeing Ortho doesn't really eat but maybe there is something we could grab for Ortho so he doesn't feel left out...got any ideas on that front?" He rambled barely breathing as he got started.

Ember’s head snapped in the direction of the noise, startled by the sudden dialogue. To be fair, to anyone walking by he was just staring into space.

But it was a rude awakening out of his attempts to see the future.

“Rations?”

He hadn’t even begun to consider that they’d need food. He thought they would be in, they would retrieve the stone, then they’d leave.

Of course, he knew it wouldn’t work that way, but part of him lately had begun to turn towards more… wishful thinking.

“I was thinking,” that was a li, “we should make sure that anything we have is ready to eat in an instant. There isn’t anything I can’t eat, of course, but anything that requires items such as water would be inadvisable… why are you asking Jamil to do this, though? Doesn’t he have his own team to worry about as well?”

Ember vaguely understood the relationship between Jamil and Kalim, that Jamil’s family worked for Kalim’s at home and he essentially was in charge of his well being, but he did not know to what extent that went.

[piquuse]

⸻ There’s something in the water.

More accurately, there are several somethings in the water that encapsulate the Octavinelle dorm, and the sheer depth of the lilac reef that extends around Deuce as he heads towards the Monstro Lounge is a perfect setting for the assortment of personalities that lounge in its wake. Endlessly vast, unsettling, and always with a threat of something dark lurking around the corner; that was Octavinelle to the core, and it made Deuce feel small in comparison.

That feeling remains even as he hurries to the cafe, patting down his uniform coat into something more presentable as he steps up to the host’s podium and explains his reasoning for being in the lounge. Though even that, it seems, is of minor importance when they wave him off after the first sentence. Azul’s already let us know, the rather bored looking host says to him. Your partner is already here. With a simple nod of his head, Deuce steps inside the lounge.

It’s a quiet afternoon in the cafe today, but even if it was busy Deuce had a feeling that it wouldn’t have made much of a difference. The aquarium wall is hard to miss, with the way it almost seems to light up the far side of the lounge with an aquamarine glow that’s in a cool contrast to the warmer purple lighting in the rest of seating area.

It’s also bigger than Deuce expects, much bigger in fact, but in hindsight he supposes that it would only make sense for it to be that big if they were expected to put on a show in the water outside of it. It was an incredible feature; though dorm pride dictates that it wasn’t nearly as beautiful as Heartslabyul’s own Rose Maze.

Peacock green eyes shift suddenly toward a quiet corner to the left of the wall, and after a moment, he realizes that the movement he caught was indeed a person. That must be Ember, he thinks as he makes his way over with careful steps; the last thing he wants to do is accidentally knock into a waiter carrying dishware, after all. The repercussions would be awful.

          “Hey,” Deuce says once he’s closer. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you waiting. You said that you wanted to take care of the fish before we planned the actual show, right?”

EMBER PARCA has been issued by Azul to perform a show in the OCTAVINELLE AQUARIUM with DEUCE SPADE. ( @threadedwheels )

ADDENDUM: The fish are hungry, uncooperative, and there’s only ONE SECRET SNACK to attempt pacifying them.