#twstmermay

[jhoudiey]

I think I must have decided that twst mermay was just going to be me bullying Azul. Day 6 is BIG.

[ristoranteivorykeys]

twst mermay 8 — mother's day

headcanons for mother's day ft. all characters

╰┈➤ 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: before anyone asks, i intentionally skipped day 7 because i wanted to release the mother’s day prompt for mother’s day. unfortunately, 22 headcanons takes much longer to write than a single oneshot </3 the situation in the ph has also been stressful, so it’s only now that i managed to upload this. i’ll take this time to also mention that i will try to be as timely as possible and catch up to mermay, but with the current situation, expect less consistent uploads from me. i’m really sorry. 😭 ╰┈➤ 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨: mermay masterlist

Queendom of Roses places huge importance on Mother’s Day in honor of the Queen of Hearts who looked after the nation like a mother. Riddle wouldn’t dare ignore or heavens forbid, go against any tradition, especially one valued dearly by a country. And when it’s a day about his mother of all things, why it would be off with his own head if he skips out on this! But if Riddle were to spare the time to be honest, Mother’s Day never felt like anything. For one, they would remain eating tasteless meals while everyone else is licking pink frostings. But most importantly, something always feels wrong. Every family that Riddle would see walking past his window always had smiles on their faces—husbands looking fondly at their wives, children laughing around with their mothers. Neither he nor his mother ever had that, not even when he scored perfectly on tests or won gold medals. And when he learns about the error of his—and consequently, his mother’s ways—he realizes that there needs to be something fixed between the two of them. 

For Trey, Mother’s Day is colored in pink frosting and fine white flour. There’s no rest for the Clover bakery on this day, as they have to serve all the goodies for all the moms in the city and outside. After work hours, the whole family is hoarding all their leftovers for a huge dinner and probably would have skipped to that if Trey and his mother didn’t nag them to clean up the kitchen. But after the arduous clean-up, they all sit down at the dinner table, eating their finest meals and singing Queendom of Roses’ most popular songs dedicated to mothers and the Queen of Hearts. And at the end, Papa Clover will sit back and say: “This night is dedicated to the two moms you all have!” and point to Mama Clover and Trey, which brings everyone to a laughing mess. 

Sickeningly sweet. That is how Cater would describe Mother’s Day. His two sisters got their love of sweets and clothes shopping from their mother, so the day would be filled with carrying several paper bags and sweets shoved into his mouth. He gets a bit of respite when he visits Trey and attempts to beg him to let him stay with him, but he doesn’t get an answer before his mother drags him out and leaves the sisters munching on their newly bought goods. And as Cater braces himself for another trip to the mall, he’s suddenly scooped into his mother’s arms, and he listens to her apologizing for overwhelming him and asking him if there is anything he needs or wants. It may be her day, but she has a duty as his mother as well, and Cater swears that he could almost cry in her arms.

Mother’s Day is no celebration but a warzone in the Trappola household. Ace and his brother may have learned all the card tricks and skills from their father, but when it comes to wits and cleverness in such games, they have yet to beat their mother. Every Mother’s Day, the whole family will go against each other, and whoever wins the most games gets to choose what to eat. It isn’t to say that they don’t get at least one victory against her, it’s just that she always wins the most games every year, so she always ends up choosing what is for dinner. Fortunately for them, mother knows best, and she knows which places will satisfy all their cravings!

Deuce begins Mother’s Day with a plate full of eggs, not cooked by his mother, but himself. After all, on this day, he wants to repay her for all the cooking that she does. Don’t forget Grandma Spade too! She loves eggs just as much as her grandson. After a peaceful breakfast with her is a time of war… a war against shoppers to nab the items that his mom wants to get on Mother’s Day sale! Mama Spade has trained him very well, as he comes out of that warzone with several bags, filled to the brim with all the things in their shared shopping list. After such a tiring day, both of them would have a relaxing dinner at home along with his grandma, chatting about how NRC has been and other things. And as he takes a bite of his meal and watches his mother smile, Deuce feels his chest growing warm, extremely thankful for being blessed with an amazing mother who works extra hard for her family. 

Mother’s Day for Leona is an extravagant affair… and a complicated one. Queens of the savannah are held in the highest regard, so on such a day, the table is filled to the brim with the most expensive but delicious meats and other foods. Music performed by some of the greatest celebrities filled the halls, and dancers would come and give their best performances. Leona is used to such grandeur, but he dislikes it because it represents his insecurities. His mother who couldn’t help him in his darkest moments and lift him up when others brought him down, his brother’s wife who bore a son that took his chances of wearing the crown and obtaining the honor and praise that he desired. He doesn’t blame any of them for the misery he faces, but he doesn’t deny their involvement in the kind of person that he has become today, and that’s why he can’t celebrate such an important occasion. 

When it comes to Mother’s Day, Ruggie will do absolutely anything to give all the mothers in his neighborhood something to feast on. From stealing expensive meats to pickpocketing thick wads of bills, he will work extra hard to ensure that all mothers will have something to eat. He will even leave NRC on this day and haul some leftovers home to bring to them. Of course, the best of the best is reserved for his dear grandmother, who raised him all her life and taught him everything he knew. As he watches her eat, his mind would wander to the mom who left him for the stars, pondering for just a second how different life would be if she was still here. But Ruggie would shake his head—in the slums, there is no looking back. All he could do is provide for the mothers so that the kids don’t have to watch them leave for the stars while they’re still young and repay his grandmother for everything that she has done for him.

Simple but satisfying. That’s how Jack’s Mother’s Day is like. There are two things that the whole family does to celebrate: eating and playing. The whole family would gather together and cook hearty meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and mother always gets the best plate! In the afternoons, they all will play several outdoor games, including but not limited to tag, frisbee, and dodgeball. Mama Howl is not one to be underestimated—Jack may boast of a muscular stature and inhuman stamina, but she has both and more athletic experience. She can beat her kids fair and square, but she’ll also make sure to congratulate every single one of them for their improvement. At the end of the day, when the younger kids have gone to sleep, Mama Howl and Jack would sit on a shared couch, where she will thank Jack for being a great role model for his siblings and give him all the pets and physical affection a mother can give. And even if Jack expresses embarrassment over being doted on like a child, his tail wags from joy, and he can’t fight the smile making its way on his face from love for his mama. 

Azul would never let an opportunity slip past his fingers, so how surprising is it to find Mostro Lounge having a Mother’s Day themed limited menu? He even made arrangements with Crowley to let mothers of students visit the school just for a day… all so that he can give discounts to those who brought their mothers to Mostro Lounge! It really is so easy to assume that he wouldn’t be able to give time for his own mother, given how packed his schedule is with everything on his plate. But alone in his office, Azul would have his phone by his ear, listening to his mother talking about her own business and fretting about his well-being before sharing about what is happening with his own business. Before Mama Ashengrotto hangs up, she says to him that she loves him and that she’s there for him if he needs anything. And the smile on Azul’s face looks so soft, he almost seems like a different person, as he tells his mama that he loves her too. 

No matter what, Jade and Floyd must always be home on Mother’s Day. And they’re willing to go home just for their dear mama—after all, they don’t want to make her worry on a day celebrating all that she’s done for them. Relatives come to their household and celebrate, bringing in the best meals that they either prepared themselves or received from the land. They would take out their instruments and play music, and Jade and Floyd would most likely be dancing since the latter is always caught in the mood to dance at these parties. And if they feel like it, they’d drag their reluctant mother to the dance floor. No, they aren’t accepting any refusal, because she needs to enjoy her own party celebrating the fact that she’s alive now. 

The enormous Asim function hall is decorated even up to the highest ceiling. There’s a banquet laid with all the favorite foods of the mothers and several local bands and dancers to entertain them. Perhaps they’re celebrating Mother’s Day a bit too exorbitantly, but it makes sense in Kalim’s mind. After all, all the mothers that bore all his siblings deserve to be happy on a day dedicated to them! He’ll play the part of a good host during dinner, and when they all dance, he’ll be holding hands with each of his siblings’ mothers and dancing with them. He’d start from the mother of the youngest then progress from there, giving each of them 5 minutes and joyful laughter. Then before Kalim knew it, he was holding hands with his own mother, the person who brought him into this world. And he gave her the same laugh and the same amount of time to dance with her as the rest of the mothers before parting ways with her to dance with his many siblings. 

Because the Asim household chooses to celebrate Mother’s Day extravagantly, Jamil and his family are made to spend the day preparing the party and cleaning up the place after the music has died down. As servants, they are used to prioritizing the Asims above themselves, even at the cost of their lives. Yet as he sweeps the floor and wipes the tables, Jamil couldn’t help but grit his teeth and clench his fist as he watches his own mother work. Perhaps it’s the awakening he received after his Overblot, but she doesn’t deserve to put aside herself to celebrate another mother on this day. Maybe he holds some resentment for his mother who always tells him to understand the position that he’s in, and most of his years, he never cared about Mother’s Day. But he wants his family to have at least one day when they could forget the hierarchy, where they can celebrate a day like Mother’s Day without thinking about the next meal to cook or the next bed to fix or the next mess to clean up.

Vil will never extensively talk about his thoughts on Mother’s Day. It’s not that he talks about himself a lot—actually, he gets embarrassed if he rambles about himself or his personal life, but when surrounded by students who do celebrate the occasion (especially those who hail from the Queendom of Roses), it’s insensitive to say that he doesn’t care about the holiday. Truthfully, the apathy comes from being unable to spend time with his mom. Most of his childhood was filled with trips with his father to film for movies or auditions for his own plays or films, and his father would be there with him every time. Dare he’ll say that his father was the one who raised him while his mother was absent in his life. Well, he won’t say that he dislikes her, though—after all, she did gift him the beauty that Vil is proud of. 

With how Rook prances about and praises the beauty of everything he sees, it’s no surprise that he’d be weaving poetry about the beauty of Mother’s Day. He’d liken it to the beauty of roses, to the rotund moon that shines brightly above them, and many other things in nature. With the poetry that leaves his mouth, nobody could guess his true feelings on the matter. Family in general is complicated for Rook because of the line of work that they do. The siblings barely get to spend time with each other, and the parents are always absent. Would it be accurate to say that he’s envious of those who could spend Mother’s Day with their mothers? No one will ever know. But at the very least, Rook wishes to be able to join such festivities. 

Mother’s Day for Epel is a village-wide celebration. Mothers are honored in their village, for without them, none of them would have been born. At night, the villagers would gather in the assembly in the evening, and feast on all the best meats and crops that were harvested. Epel would ensure his grandmother is eating well—he needs her to stay healthy in her old age, after all. After dinner, some villagers would pull out their instruments, from accordions to flutes to violins, and they would be playing all old folk tunes as others danced outside. Hand-in-hand, Epel and his mother laughed as he taught her all the dances that he learned in school while following the folk dances, all while meemaw watches from her bench and smiles at her grandson. 

Idia and Ortho don’t celebrate Mother’s Day. There isn’t any reason, they were simply never big on it. In school, Ortho would be enthralled by the celebration, and his yellow eyes would be glowing as he sees students either leaving to spend time with their mothers or mothers entering the Mirror to see their children. He may even beg for Idia to let him have such a celebration. Idia, however, doesn’t care about Mother’s Day. For one, it’s not a special enough day for gacha games to create events dedicated to it, and he’s not a fan of going out to eat and celebrate. But mainly, he’s all too aware of the busyness of his mom’s schedule, which means that they can’t celebrate in the first place. But if he were to be completely honest, the day makes him remember the curse that his mom could have avoided had she not met his dad. She gave birth to the two of them, for what reason? To pass it down again and keep the curse alive? There isn’t anything for Idia to celebrate there. 

Malleus never heard of Mother’s Day until he stepped foot into Night Raven College. He might not have even known if Lilia, Silver, and Sebek didn’t casually talk about the mothers visiting their kids in school. As he learned a bit more about the celebration, his mind would wander to his dead parents, powerful fairies whose voices had faded from his memory and left only cold statues and legacies. How would the obsidian walls of the castle feel like if he had his mother to raise him?  Would he have been a little less lonely? But Malleus would shake his head—dwelling on such thoughts is quite inelegant of him. After all, grandmother is still alive, and while she still remains, he can try to spend at least one Mother’s Day with her.

Lilia wouldn’t observe Mother’s Day, but Silver would remind him with a cake that says, ‘Happy Mother’s Day to my father who acted as my mother too.’ It would make Lilia laugh for a bit before taking the cake and giving Silver a pat on the head as he says his thanks. Mother’s Day amuses him. A day to celebrate those who withstood all the trials of childbirth to bring one more person to the world reminds him of the short lifespans of most creatures. Why, he can’t even remember the face of his own mother anymore, so he never thought that he’d be able to celebrate it. As for Silver, Mother’s Day never fails to make him wonder who his biological parents may be. Does his mom have silver hair and aurora eyes like himself? Would he even be able to celebrate such a day when Lilia is a father to him? But even so, Silver greets him Happy Mother’s Day every year, and the two of them smile, cherishing the familial love that they share.

If there is one person Sebek adores aside from Malleus, it’s his own mother. His fae side came from her, which already elevates his respect for her. What’s more, she is strong, whether with her words, her muscles, her magic, or her bite (both literally and figuratively), and he looks up to her for her strength. The moment he learned what Mother’s Day is from Lilia, Sebek would shout Happy Mother’s Day at the top of his lungs and attempt to prepare something for her, whether it be a meal or some other gift. And every year, he’d fail and end up moping about not being a good enough son. But every year, his mother would give him a kiss and reassure him that what matters to her isn’t a perfect present but a loving son who always makes her day special.

[aeleurus]

Twst MerMay 10: "Transformation"

LEONA×SAILOR JUPITER 💚😂

prompt by @/jhoudiey

[twstedstoryshop]

OH FUCK IT’S TWSTMERMAY. I’M EATING GOOD THIS MONTH WITH OCTAVINELLE CONTENT WOOOOOOOOOOO!

[jhoudiey]

Day 15 of TWST Mermay is OVERBLOT! I sketched out an entire 6 page comic but I guess the rest of it will have to wait.

Anyways, I can't imagine Floyd having an emotional overblot, but going overboard with magic and WHOOPS! definitely.

[jhoudiey]

Late for mermay, but it's fine cause time isn't real. Anyways, Day 5 (25 is close enough, right?) Casual wear!

My original idea was Jade and Azul getting dressed up nicely to go somewhere, and Floyd showing up looking like an absolute buffoon because "you said casual" but then I saw this shirt and knew I had to draw him in it. I'll probably revisit the other idea cause this is my casual floyd sketch (under a cut cause he's long)

[jhoudiey]

Casually posts day 21 of Twst Mermay, "Band" in June.

I did say I was going to bully Azul sooo...

[jhoudiey]

Day 8 of twst mermay is MOTHERS DAY, so here's mama leech with her baby elvers.

[ristoranteivorykeys]

twst mermay 5 — casual wear

in which floyd is dealing with the heartbreak from knowing you didn't like him back ft. floyd leech, ace trappola, and jamil viper; floyd x reader

╰┈➤ 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: fifth prompt! this was probably the hardest one so far because i didn't know where to start or how to write floyd's character for a scenario like heartbreak. i think basketball club is also pretty fun, and their interactions should be explored a bit more. :D ╰┈➤ 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨: mermay masterlist

Floyd had the urge to snap something in half. 

His footsteps were notably heavy as he walked out of the store that he, Ace, and Jamil were in. Hands in the pockets of his teal jacket, he was gripping the inner fabric. He wanted to snap something, he wanted to grip something until it cracked and broke, but at the same time, he didn’t have the energy to do anything except walk ahead.

“Hey Jamil,” he could hear Ace whispering from behind, “what’s up with Floyd?” 

“I’m not sure,” Jamil replied back in an equally hushed tone, but Floyd had the sense that he wasn’t being completely truthful. “But it’s better to leave him alone.”

“Do you think it’s because of what [you] said,” he asked. “Is he bothered that they’re buying Azul a bunch of clothes?”

Floyd gripped the fabric tighter. He wanted to snap, but he wasn’t in the mood. 

“Drop it,” the Scarabia student warned. “Let’s just leave him be until he calms down.” 

Their whispering stopped, but the merman couldn’t let go of what Ace said. There’s something about another person saying out loud the things in your mind, like a sort of confirmation. It’s one thing for Floyd to merely feel bothered by the irritation felt when you said why you were shopping along with Jade. It’s another for someone to pinpoint the reason why it started in the first place, especially if that someone is a freshman like Ace Trappola. 

It’s not that he’s embarrassed to act in such a manner in front of a freshman—Floyd never cared about image, and he doesn’t think there’s any reason to start caring. If he wants to shoot hoops with scary accuracy, he’ll do it. If he wants to gobble on a burger and leave a mess, he’ll do it. If he wants to mess with someone until their face goes red, he’ll do it. But rather, he’s irritated that someone else could say his dilemma out loud without any problems while he’s dealing with the embarrassment of feeling something as cheesy as heartbreak. 

Really, he should have been expecting this. Floyd wasn’t dense. Compare the way you act around friends like Ace versus with him, and there wasn’t any notable difference. You carry the selfishness characteristic of Night Raven College, and you’re vigilant and clever, but none of those qualities change the fact that you have a bigger heart than many of the students. You would share a bag of chips with him for a few seconds before handing the same bag to Ace and Jamil. 

But compare the way you act around everyone else versus Azul, and it’s a different story. You don’t display it—because he knew that showing such emotions could potentially land you in a room with a safe at the back and a golden contract presented to you—but there’s a spark in your eyes when you see Octavinelle’s dorm leader, even from afar. One of the greatest teachings of the Sea Witch is to never underestimate the importance of body language, and she has yet to be proven wrong. 

Still, what reason did Floyd have to stop hoping? So long as you never confirmed anything, he could still hope that you brushing his hair back on occasion meant something. So long as you never chased for Azul, he could still chase after you. 

But then he saw that white paper bag in your hand. He heard Jade say that he was there to accompany you in shopping for clothes for Azul. And he most definitely heard you say that you want to give him an outfit where he can be looser while still maintaining class, all for the reason that you wanted him to enjoy land fashion more and hoped to be just a little more relaxed. And from glimpsing at the way you chose the clothes for Azul, Floyd could tell that you knew him well and took the time to learn about the sort of person he is. 

And that’s when he knew there was no more chance. He hated backing down, but he also didn’t want to start anything bad with Azul or with you. He wants Azul to be happy, he wants you to be happy, and he wants to be at peace. When did it get this complicated? And he hated asking this sort of question—because why look back to the past when looking forward to the present was much more fun?—but why couldn’t he go back to when things were simpler? 

“Yo, Floyd.” 

He felt Ace’s hand tap his back and glared at him. If he was to wallow in such feelings, couldn’t he be left alone at the very least?

“Ace, what did I just tell you?” Jamil’s irritated sigh punctuated his sentence. 

“Hey, just wanna let you know,” Ace shoved his hands into the pockets of his newly bought red jacket, appearing to ignore Floyd’s glare, “I’ve been there before, and I’ve seen a ton of guys getting their hearts broken too.”

Floyd’s face relaxed, morphing into brief surprise. 

“Love sucks, you know,” he continued. “Whether you’re going for a girl, another dude, or anywhere in between, if they don’t like you back, then it’s gonna hurt for sure.” 

From behind them, Jamil watched with a stunned expression. 

“And well, since we’re here,” Ace’s eyes started shifting towards the surrounding stores and restaurants, “what do you say we get some grub in Pizza Planet? They’ve got this limited time flavor of pizza, and as a pick-me-up, tab’s on me. Sound good?”

Floyd’s laughter was instantaneous. It was loud enough to cause people to turn their heads and stare at him, but he couldn’t care less about them. “You’re funny, Crabby,” he said. “You better hold onto that promise, k~? Because I’ve been curious about that flavor too.”

“Ahaha…” The Heartslabyul student’s laugh sounded slightly more nervous. “Of course I will!”

“Well then,” Floyd took hold of both Ace’s and Jamil’s wrists, taking a good look at two of his friends as a grin made its way on his face, “we gotta get there quick before the dinner rush starts! Let’s go!” 

And with a panicked Ace and Jamil dragged behind him, Floyd let out a laugh as he ran across the streets.

[ristoranteivorykeys]

twst mermay 2 — sea witch

the aftermath of azul's overblot left jade and several students plagued with nightmares ft. octavinelle

╰┈➤ 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: here’s the second prompt! a bit late, but this was fun to explore. the thought of students having nightmares of the overblots never entered my mind until i wrote this, and i think that’s something interesting to explore. i hope you enjoy~! ╰┈➤ 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨: mermay masterlist

“Thank you. I will look into this request right away,” Jade said to the student in front of him who quickly and shakily bowed before briskly walking away. As soon as the student disappeared, he let out the tired sigh he was repressing. This is the third transfer request made this week. 

“You good, Jade?” The familiar voice of his twin reached his ear, and Floyd appeared beside him. He took a quick look at the document in Jade’s hands. “Sheesh, another one, huh?”

Jade emitted a low hum and nodded without a smile. 

“Well, I can’t really blame them,” Floyd said with a shrug. “Azul’s overblot was pretty scary, and a lot of them got their magic and other stuff ripped out of them. They were all out like flies when he went on that rampage. I mean sure, they’re all kinda wusses to jump ship, it’s pretty funny. But survival’s top priority, and I’d be lying if I said I don’t get it.” 

Jade agreed. Moray eels are cowards by nature. They’ll wait until the last minute to snag their prey, and they’ll lay low when in danger. 

“... Y’know, you gotta hand those to Azul eventually.” The abrupt change in topic did not surprise him. 17 years is more than enough time to familiarize himself with Floyd’s mannerisms and mood swings, and usually, they would entertain him. But the topic itself caused Jade to tense up just a little bit more than usual. 

“I will soon,” he answered. 

“And you said that last week,” Floyd said with a pointed look. “Don’t tell me you’re getting scared of him.” 

Jade blinked. “Of course not. Why would I be?”

“Yeah sure. Anyway, I’m gonna go and find something to snack on in the kitchen. C’ya.” 

He sauntered away, hands in his pockets, leaving Jade behind to look at the transfer request one last time before keeping it behind all other papers in his clipboard, where the other requests were hidden. 

He shot up from his bed with a gasp. 

Jade didn’t wake up in cold sweat—his body doesn’t sweat a lot, after all. But he vividly remembered his dream: Octavinelle tainted in black, with numerous bodies collapsed on the ground. In the middle of the chaos, the Sea Witch laughed evilly, her wicked grin glaring down at him. And in the moment that she’d strike her trident towards him, her face shifted to the more despairing face of Azul. Her visage always left Jade with a sense of awe, but she terrified him in his latest nightmares. And this nightmare especially haunted him—he saw Azul in it. 

He turned to face the direction of where Floyd would be. In the darkness, he could see him snoozing and wrapped in his blankets, and the sight slightly soothed him. 

But Jade knew that if he laid down again, he would relive those images and feel the fear rising again in his chest, so he remained seated. These nightmares were not unique to himself. While no one would admit it out loud, he heard that a few students were also plagued with them. Each nightmare was different, but all contained black ink and the maniacal visage of the Sea Witch. It’s a stretch to derive to such a conclusion, but Jade suspected that it was the motivation for the transfer requests. After all, it would be shameful to be afraid of your own Great Seven figure. 

And as much as he hated to admit it, it was one of the reasons why Jade never informed Azul of the dorm transfer requests. 

Perhaps I should clear my mind, he thought. And so he climbed out of bed and silently left the room with his phone in hand, walking along Octavinelle’s dimly lit corridors with no destination in mind. 

He nearly squinted when he saw a light coming from where he knew the dorm lounge was. Now who could be awake at this time of the night, he wondered, and so he approached the light source. And upon seeing the all-too familiar silver sheen of hair and lean figure seated on the couch with a lamp near him, reading through several documents, Jade froze. 

Octavinelle tainted in black… Her wicked grin glaring down at him… shifted to the more despairing face of Azul…

He took a breath, erasing the nightmare from his mind. 

“And you said that last week. Don’t tell me you’re getting scared of him.”

He wasn’t. Of course he wasn’t. Surely, there’s another reason why adrenaline kept his feet rooted on the ground, wary of what could happen next. 

“Jade? You’re awake?”

His shoulders tensed. Azul noticed him. 

“Ah, yes. I wanted to walk for a bit,” he answered, successfully keeping his voice moderated like he always did. “And you? Shouldn’t you be resting?”

“I was. I woke up just a few minutes ago, so I decided to look through any important things that I missed,” he answered. “Come sit here. There are a few things I wanted to ask you about.” 

The fear in his chest grew colder. “As you wish.”

He approached the dorm leader, taking a seat beside him with some distance in between. He briefly glanced at the papers in his hand and repressed a sigh of relief. Good, the dorm transfer documents weren’t there. 

“Are there any assessments that I missed while I was out of class,” Azul immediately asked. 

“None, although there is an upcoming test in Magic History covering the entirety of the interspecies wars if you haven’t heard,” Jade answered.

“I heard of it, but thank you.” Azul scanned through a paper for a few seconds. “And the clients who had fulfilled their previous contracts, have they been informed that they are null?”

“Yes, they have.” 

“Good.” He nodded before straightening the papers on his lap and keeping it in a folder. Jade wondered if that was the last of the questions before he returned to his room. He hoped. 

“Lastly before I retire again for the night.” Azul set down the folder on his lap and faced him. Would he be asking about what menu they will have when they reopen again? Or perhaps he’d clarify about a certain lecture?

“Jade, why did you hide the transfer requests from me?”

He feared this question. 

“Well, the process of approving of dorm transferring is rather tedious, and given recent events, I thought to give you time to rest.” He rehearsed this excuse many times, both in his head and quietly to himself. Yet, he couldn’t look at Azul straight. 

“I suppose you’re right,” he responded. “But there’s something else, isn’t there?” 

Jade said nothing. When had he become much more readable to Azul? It almost felt like there was a net waiting to catch him. One wrong move, and he’ll find himself captured. 

Azul sighed. “Truthfully, I expected a few people wanting to transfer after the fiasco I caused,” he said. “It’s the price to pay for my actions. I would have readily accepted them, though I doubt that the Headmaster would let them switch.” 

For a moment, Jade let himself steal a glance at him. He smiled, but there was a touch of sadness. 

“It’s alright to be afraid of me,” he added. “The Sea Witch held the power to conjure the strongest of storms, but she never used it to hurt anyone. But me? I’m no different than the bullies who once wronged me.”

For a moment, the fear disappeared. Perhaps it was knowing that Azul was aware of the things he was trying to hide—the transfer requests, the fears of the students, his own fears of him—and that he internalized them all. Or perhaps it was because he was finally facing guilt’s ugly face and not running away from it. But he spoke before thinking.

“But you are. You are different from them.”

“Mm?”

Jade faced Azul, whose eyes were slightly wider from surprise.

“Those little minnows had nothing to boast besides their fins,” he said. “But you have your magical skill, your intellect, your hard work.” 

When he received no reply, he continued: “The Sea Witch knew of her nasty reputation. And she overwrote that, did she not? It is the reason she stands today as one of the greatest figures in Twisted Wonderland.” 

Azul looked down at the folder in his lap. His face appeared contemplative, and Jade knew he was processing what he said to him. 

Then he chuckled, a wry smile appearing. “Perhaps we both need to retire to bed.” He stood up, folder in hand, and his back faced Jade. “I’ll see you in the morning, Jade.” 

The eel simply watched him walk away. He expected this response. Azul would retreat from an emotional situation like this. And usually, he’d let him leave in silence. 

But doing that felt wrong at this moment. 

“Azul, please know. I’m not lying to make you feel better or pity you. Truly, you are good as you are.”

[ristoranteivorykeys]

twst mermay 4 — family business

in which reader guesses what kind of business jade's family runs during his birthday interview ft. jade leech and reader

╰┈➤ 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: fourth prompt! i wanted this to be out yesterday, but i got incredibly busy =_= but anyway, i decided to focus on the leech family business, but in a bit of a different way. there was a conversation i had with a friend that made me go 'huh' at what the leech family business could possibly be, and that served as the inspiration for this fic. i do admit, however, that i think jade’s character was written a bit more shoddily than usual, so feel free to comment on it. regardless, i hope you enjoy! ╰┈➤ 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨: mermay masterlist

“So, to start off this interview, what’s a memorable moment that you have about your birthday,” you asked, your notebook ready to take notes. 

Jade hummed, placing a fist over his chin as he gazed upwards in thought. “A memorable moment…” He briefly glanced at his twin brother, who was grabbing some cake and takoyaki at the buffet table and chatting with the nearby students. “Ah, there was something that I remember from my childhood.

“We would have relatives that would celebrate us every year, but it isn’t just them,” he continued. “Associates from our father’s work would also come and give us a mountain of presents.” He could vividly remember the party he had at 5 years old—the numerous teal merfolk like himself, playing joyous birthday songs on stringed and woodwinds that Floyd and other older relatives danced to. Then at a more secluded corner would be his father, talking with several merfolk with flesh skin and either fish tails or legs and presenting them a paper. Beside them stood a mountain of presents that would be wrapped in pretty seaweed or wrapping paper decorated with shells and corals. It would be a norm in most of their childhood birthdays. 

“I see.” You nodded as you jotted down his answer. “What sort of presents would you receive?” 

“Well, we would receive what I personally would call a trove of treasures untold,” he answered. “There were a lot of sweets, quite a few seaweed eye masks, and strange toys that were only found on land.” He suppressed the laugh that nearly came out over a memory of Floyd touching the mountain of presents that collapsed on him. The icing that covered his face looked adorable and hilarious on him. And the diamond-studded necklace that hooked around his neck by pure accident added to the charm, and he laughed before wincing from the intense scent of expensive perfume…

“However,” he continued, his mind still reliving the memory. “There were also several luxury items mixed in those that were clearly no present for a child.”

You looked up from your notebook and raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“Those presents appeared to be from desperate people who tried to gain my father’s favo— er, trust,” Jade said, squinting as he tried to remember more of the strangers who appeared on his and Floyd’s birthdays and the presents that they gave. “He would always make sure that those people signed a document that said, ‘This gift was given out of good faith to the Leech family, and we will not request anything in return for it.’ Our father worries quite a lot, just like our mother.”

You looked at him in surprise. “Huh…? What kind of jobs do your parents run?”

Ah, it looks like he spilled a bit too much. Jade didn’t show his surprise at his talkativeness, but he simply let out a chuckle. “Simply a normal family business. We do all sorts of meaningless work with people. It’s nothing out of the ordinary.” 

Frowning from his answer, you returned to your notebook. 

It isn’t like you would figure it out, he reasoned. Clueless and clumsy, you apparently didn’t know what basic land terminology like Magical Shift was or how you even stumbled upon the academy without any magic. You didn’t know your own society well, so how would you know his own? 

Suddenly, you gasped, and your eyes became wide like saucers. Jade watched you curiously. What came into mind? 

“... I think I know what it is.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Know what?”

“Your family business,” you answered. Your voice sounded much more serious than earlier. 

“Oh?” His mouth formed a small ‘o’. There wasn’t any way that you figured it out. Yet, from your tone and expression, it appeared that you had some sort of idea. Could it be that you were smarter than you let on…?

“... Is it a hotel business?”

Now it’s Jade’s turn to widen his eyes. 

“No, because, see,” you put your hands up in a gesture to wait and listen to you, “your dad gets all these luxury presents from ‘desperate people’. I bet those are people who want the best rooms in your hotel and are using those presents to please him enough to make him want to give them the room. And well, I don’t know much about Coral Sea and stuff, but I’m under the impression that there are people who do visit there? And maybe they don’t have places to stay, so they’re really really desperate to get a good room too. Not to mention, maybe those luxury presents are all those shampoos and soaps and other things for the hotel rooms? If that makes sense?”

Stunned silence. It lasted for a second, extending to two, to three, to four seconds…

And Jade broke it with the laugh that escaped his lips. He swore it could almost be belly laughter with the way that his body started aching from a short amount of time releasing his mirth. And you watched in bewilderment, appearing to decide on whether to say something or remain silent. 

“Okay… okay…” His laughter died down, and he started catching his breath. “Ahem. I apologize for my manners.” Another pant. “But you provided me with quite the answer.”

“So… does that mean I’m right or…” You trailed off.

Jade’s polite smile returned. His composure returned to its calmness. “I never hinted at any sort of confirmation. Now, I believe that we have other questions to go through, yes?”

“Ah… you’re right,” you said as you flipped through your notebook. “Really sorry about that.”

“Do not fret,” he replied. 

You weren’t exactly correct. However, you surprisingly gave a good educated guess backed with arguments that nearly hit the mark. Nearly, but not quite there. Still, Jade kept a mental note of this small interaction, reminding himself to not underestimate your intellect.

[ristoranteivorykeys]

twst mermay 1 — dorm swap

au in which octavinelle and pomefiore were in the opposite dorm ft. octavinelle and pomefiore

╰┈➤ 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: first day of twst mermay! i posted this at midnight of may 2, but it’s okay, it’s may 1 in the rest of the world. xD i was heavily invested in this au for the whole day. it was really interesting to think about how the characters’ personalities could be slightly altered so that the mirror would sort them into different dorms. with that, i hope this would be an enjoyable read~! ╰┈➤ 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨: mermay masterlist

“And check.” With a flick of a pen, Azul drew a check mark in thin but dark lavender ink. A proud smile grew on his face as he faced the student in front of him, whose grin could almost stretch out of his face. “An amazing job, Deuce Spade! You have improved significantly since our first session.”

“T…” Deuce’s eyes and lips almost quivered, as if about to cry from sheer joy. “Thank you, sir!”

“Please, you may simply call me Azul,” he answered with a small chuckle. “And keep it down.”

“M-my apologies, sir!” The first year bowed from his seat. “Uh, I mean, Azul…” 

He shook his head in bemusement. “It’s 5:30pm, so our session ends here. Thank you for coming here.”

“Thank you so much, si— Azul,” Deuce exclaimed, standing up from the plush couch of the Pomefiore lounge. “I’ll be sure to ace tomorrow’s exam thanks to your teachings!”

“I’m sure you will,” Azul smiled. “But don’t forget your payment as well, alright?”

“Of course. What do you need me to buy next?”

“There is the upcoming 11/11 sale in the campus store in a few days,” the dorm leader said, pulling out a long piece of paper from his pocket and handing it to Deuce. “Purchase these items on this list, and that will be counted as your payment.”

The first year examined the list, wincing at the amount of items for a moment before shaking his head and giving him a determined nod. “Understood, sir!”

Azul decided to ignore the honorific. “Good. You may go now, Deuce.” 

He remained on his sofa as Deuce waved goodbye and walked out of the Pomefiore lounge. As he let out an exhausted sigh, shoes tapping on marble floors echoed in the grandiose ivory halls outside the room. Clearly, two people were walking towards the lounge, with one pair of footsteps making a steady moderate rhythm while the other pair of footsteps sounded more spontaneous. He knew both rhythms all too well. 

“Have you finished your last study session, Azul?” Jade, clad in Pomefiore’s blue robes, entered the threshold of the lounge, wearing his typical honeyed smile. Beside him was his twin brother Floyd, who sported the same robes as he did except the top button was unbuttoned, and the gloves were absent. 

“Yes.” Immediately, Azul stood up. His own robes cascaded down to his ankles, a length much longer than any of the other robes the Pomefiore students wore— a sign of his dorm leader status. “I also managed to secure all items we may need from the upcoming sale. After all, Deuce Spade is formidable in the world of sales.” 

“As expected of you, Azul,” Jade responded happily. “I never would have thought that Pomefiore would fit you, yet you exemplify the trait of perseverance as well as the Fairest Queen.”

“I still admire the Sea Witch more. but I find that she and the Fairest Queen have their similarities,” Azul answered, his eyes wandering to the wall clock. “Ah, I need to get ready. I have a short meeting with Vil at 6pm in the Octavinelle lounge.” 

“Oh.” Jade’s eyes lit up in immediate understanding. “It is for that agreement you made with him last week, yes?”

“That’s right.”

“Ooh, sounds fun,” Floyd grinned. “I wanna come!” 

“You may go, but you can’t sit in the conversation,” Azul said, preparing to exit the room. 

“That’s fine, I don’t mind,” he said. “I just wanna explore Octavinelle.”

“Alright. Wait for me here, I’ll just retrieve the things I have to bring.” He faced his vice leader “Jade, watch the dorm while I’m gone.”

“Of course, Azul.” 

Sitting on the pristine gray couch of Octavinelle, Vil Schoenheit held a drink in one hand, his lips encasing the tip of the drink’s straw. On his other hand was a phone that appeared to be of the latest model showing his reflection. Hair looked neat, makeup on point, pose appeared attractive, nothing out of place in his outfit… Everything was perfect. 

3, 2, 1, click!

Vil put down the arm holding his phone, taking a sip of his drink as he clicked the Magicam app. A few taps, and the selfie he took was uploaded on his Magicam, with the caption: ‘A refreshing drink after work. #drinkafterbreak #fruitshakefromthetownofSage #allnatural’

“Ah, Roi du Poison, you are exquisite as always!” A blond boy wearing a feathered hat approached, his face beaming with pride. “I could cry from sheer joy seeing your newest post! Everlasting beauty paired with a generous heart to help small businesses grow… Octavinelle is proud to have such a dorm leader embodying the spirit of the Sea Witch!”

“You never run out of words, don’t you, Rook,” Vil chuckled in bemusement. “But of course. The mercy of the Sea Witch is something to admire as well. As someone with fame, I should help those less fortunate than I, don’t you think so?”

“Indeed,” he answered with a nod. “And that is what makes you most beautiful, Vil.”

And this is what will help me in becoming the fairest one of all, he thought to himself. Speaking of, Azul promised to give me potions to help me win against Neige. 

“Vil, is there something on your mind?” 

He blinked for a moment. “Ah, yes, I was just thinking of the meeting I have with Azul,” he said. “He’s supposed to arrive just about…” He glanced at his phone screen. “Just about now, actually.”

Right on cue, the characteristic sounds of Pomefiore’s boots reached his ears. The moment Azul and Floyd entered the Octavinelle lounge with a box in hand, several eyes turned to gaze at them. They may not match the beauty that Vil radiated, but they glowed enough to distract the crowd. Azul especially knew how to appeal to the eyes, from his make-up to his silhouette. 

“Hello Vil,” he greeted as he neared the Octavinelle leader. “I apologize if I kept you waiting. Floyd also decided to come with me, but I told him to leave us alone.” 

“Hey, Betta,” Floyd greeted, his voice carrying more lilt than Azul’s.

“Good to see you, Azul and Floyd,” Vil replied. “Don’t fret, I appreciate your promptness. And Rook, keep an eye out on the rest of the dorm. Make sure nobody minds our conversation.”

“Oui.” He nodded before leaving. 

“Have a seat over here. You may place the box on the table.” Vil gestured Azul to the spot beside him and to the table where another box laid. Then he turned his head, momentarily looking around before his eyes found a freshman with pink hair watching them. “Epel! Kindly serve our guest some tea.” 

“A-ah!” Epel jumped slightly in his place. “Coming right up, sir!” 

“Now then…” Vil faced Azul the moment Epel left. “Let’s cut to the chase. What potions are you giving me?” 

“These potions,” he gestured to the box, “are designed to enhance and alter your features, depending on the kind of look that you’re going for. Now I don't mean to insinuate in any way that you need these potions to become beautiful. You already are beholden for your beauty. But beauty standards and fashion trends do change, and to be the fairest of them all, it would be good for you to follow them.”

“Okay…” He nodded with a frown. 

He opened the box, pulling out a bottle filled with a clear blue liquid. “For example, this potion can bring out your youthfulness. And then this,” he placed down the bottle and pulled out a red bottle, “can give you more effeminate features.”

Vil squinted at the potions skeptically. “I experimented with numerous recipes to create my line of skincare products, and I know about transformation potions. Yet, I have never heard of any potion that does such delicate work.”

“Well, I was able to give you a moisturizer that lasts for more than 13 hours, did I not,” Azul said. “I do not create flukes or fakes.” 

“E-excuse me.” Epel’s voice interrupted the conversation. He set down two cups of tea gently though shakily. Behind him stood Rook. “Here’s your tea…”

“Thank you,” both dorm leaders said as they picked up their own cups. Epel and Rook walked away. 

Vil took a sip of his tea, frowning at the taste. “I should make Epel review his lessons on brewing tea,” he commented quietly. With another sip, he stared at the potions one last time. It is true that Azul’s moisturizer works wonders, he thought. Not to mention that each student that asks him for help in studies always comes out with higher grades, and I see how well he brings out the best in others. Perhaps… 

“It is as you say,” he answered. “Very well, I shall take these. And in return…” He picked up the other box from the table and handed it to the other dorm leader. “Here are my skincare products, as you requested.” 

“Thank you,” Azul said with a grateful smile as he took the box. “I’m glad to have made this exchange with you.”

“Man, Octavinelle really looks awesome,” Floyd remarked as he and Azul exited the mirror. “Kinda wish I was sorted in there.”

“It would have been nice, yes,” Azul said with a smile. “I love the look of the uniforms. Their cummerbund and black jacket would give me a good-looking silhouette.”

“Sheesh, you really should chill a bit about that, y’know?”

There was nothing else said as they entered Pomefiore’s mirror, their feet landing on the familiar white brick path. The courtyard is void of students except for themselves. Mealtime is approaching, after all, and Pomefiore strictly eats at 6:30pm. 

“Hey,” Floyd spoke up in the silence, “can I ask something about the exchange you made with Vil?”

“You can, but whether or not I’ll answer depends.”

“Why’d you give Betta confident booster potions?”

Azul paused in his footsteps and faced him with a surprised look. “How did you know?”

“Duh, I’ve seen you make those before,” Floyd answered with a nonchalant shrug. “But anyway, answer the question.” 

He sighed, adjusting the crown on his head as he resumed walking. They were still alone.  

“... I was once there,” he began, his voice more serious than usual. “I was on that path of vengeance to get back at the people who wronged me. You witnessed that time.”

“Mm.” Floyd simply nodded.

“I know that look of envy and frustration Vil sometimes wears,” Azul continued. “And every time I see it, I can’t help but feel some sort of pity because it reminds me of my own weakest moments.” 

He paused, taking a breath as he felt the beginnings of a lump in his throat from remembering the times he holed himself up in his pot. “Vil is a very capable individual. He built himself a successful career and has worked hard to get to where he is. I don’t want to see him being brought down because society brought him down in some way.” 

They stopped by the tall black gates. They were closed but not locked, and they could push the gate open, but neither made a move. Floyd watched Azul, and Azul took another breath.

“Pff— hahahaha!” The eel’s laughter bursted out. “You’re so cheesy, Azul, y’know that!” 

“Oi, be quiet,” he yelled, lightly pushing Floyd’s arm and causing him to stagger a bit before regaining balance. “Everyone can hear your laughter!”

“Hey, chill out, Azul,” Floyd said through dying laughter. “It’s cheesy, but y’know, it does make me kinda happy to hear that.” 

“Eh?”

“It was really interesting seeing you work so hard to be better than everyone else,” he added. “But honestly, it was also kinda sad.”

Azul blinked in surprise.

“You rarely smiled,” Floyd continued. “And I would always wonder, Hey, was this octopus ever happy? But seeing you now?” He patted the dorm leader on the back. “You’ve grown from that octopus in the pot. I’m glad to see you happier now.” 

For a few seconds, Azul stared at him with mouth agape. He could feel the lump building in his throat. What did he do to deserve people like Floyd? 

“Ahem.” He quickly faced the gate in front. “We should go back inside. It’s almost dinnertime.” 

“You look really red, Azul,” Floyd teased. “Are you about to cry like before〜?”

“N-no! And be quiet about this! We’re about to go inside!”

[jhoudiey]

Day 1 of twst mermay is upon us! First up, dorm swap!

Floyd said he'd want to go to Savanaclaw and I expected WAY more fanart of him in their uniform, but instead got Floyd in hearts uniform :( So here he is in his savanaclaw glory.

Feel free to join in and follow the prompt list if you have time!

[jhoudiey]

A little late (damn you day job!) for day 2 or twst mermay. SEA WITCH. Fat BB azul looking up to the legendary sea witch.

[ristoranteivorykeys]

twst mermay 3 — rivalry

riddle already knows that he scores at the top in the exams, so it’s pointless to check the results. however, the results of these exams came out different. ft. riddle rosehearts and azul ashengrotto

╰┈➤ 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: the third prompt for mermay~! this is a lot shorter than the previous 2, amounting to less than 500 words. the relationship between azul and riddle is quite underrated, so i decided to explore it a bit in this prompt~ ╰┈➤ 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨: mermay masterlist

“Excuse me, please move to the side. You’re blocking the corridor.”

“S-sorry, sir!”

The two Scarabia students hastily moved to the side as Riddle briskly walked past them. He sighed. It’s understandable that everyone is buzzing with excitement and anxiety over the release of the exam results, but it’s no excuse to be rude and converse in the middle of a pathway. After all, people like himself have places to be. 

“You really don’t look at the exam results, do you?”

On his left, Azul approached him, carrying a few books in his hands. He appeared to be a little happier than earlier with the lilt in his voice and a spark in his eyes. 

“I believe we had this conversation before,” Riddle answered as he crossed his arms. “There isn’t any reason for me to look at the results.” 

“But at times, we can’t always assume,” the Octavinelle leader replied, his lips forming a slight smirk. “Trends can change, after all.”

He squinted at him with suspicion. “What are you on about, Azul?”

Azul chuckled, and this time, his smirk was wider. “Why don’t you see for yourself, Riddle?”

So Riddle found himself turning around and walking back the way he came, except he turned to where the large bulletin board showcasing the results would be. His eyes immediately landed on the names at the top left, where all the highest scorers sat—and he gasped upon seeing what was written on the board.

Azul Ashengrotto - 500 pts

Riddle Rosehearts - 499 pts

“N-no way,” Riddle exclaimed as he faced Azul, who grinned while watching him stare at the results in disbelief. “That essay question regarding the history of the interspecies war did challenge me, but I thought nobody else got it completely correct.”

“I learned from my mistake in the exams back in the first semester,” Azul said, not bothering to mask the small laugh that escaped him. “I’ve been more diligent in reading up on any new research that will be related to any of our exams.”

The Heartslabyul leader smiled. “I’m pleased to hear that you do not fail in putting effort in improving yourself.” 

“But of course,” the Octavinelle leader smiled back. “After all, we are both 2nd year dorm leaders aiming to be at the top of our year.” 

“I’m glad to have a worthy rival such as yourself,” Riddle said. And truly, he meant that. He will always frown at Azul’s questionable business practices and ways of socializing and keep his guard around him, but he will always respect the hard work that he puts in everything that he does.

“But mark my words, Azul.” His smile morphed into a smirk. “I will secure the top once more in next year’s exams.”

[jhoudiey]

Decided to make a TWST Mermay prompt list focusing on my favourite fish! Feel free to share and use as you'd wish, and feel free to tag it with #twstmermay

Art and fics are both welcome!

Thanks for everyone in FFA that helped :)