toffee4you

[toffee4you]

I feel like I should clarify, requests have been extremely slow because [very busy] and [sick]. I promise tumblr didn't eat any and I'll get to them eventually 🫠 it could be longer than a week.

[toffee4you]

I always post about Silver on friendly or intimate terms with another, but I had always thought being his enemy is equally exciting 🫠 I am bringing this out of private messages in light of recent chapters.

Tiny collection of these instances below cut.

I wonder how much he must hate someone to call them pitiful and shame them?

He looks at you like this. My favorite...

I don't care about the ending, I would want to be a villain so I could see this.

[toffee4you]

You're welcome! Ahk, I really like writing bunny Silver... It's my favorite one of all animal hybrids for him. He definitely does fit every other animal, though... I am not too proud to say, even naga Silver has crossed my mind several times before.

Then there's deer, bird (I imagine he would look like Yanping), and of course any sort of merfolk form... The only issue with writing these is trying not to go TOO far 🫠

Oooo Requests are open!

Ok, can I request a Silver x Reader? Established relationship, but Reader is a horse beastman, and Silver is a certified Horse Girl™

He's trying SO hard not to constantly let his partners ears or brush their "mane" or braid their tail, but they're so cute and he's doing that Mr Darcy hand flex trying to keep it together.

He sees Reader chilling with Samson, and he sees both of their ears flick up and they both perk up when he gets there and he almost passed out. Sebek is gonna hit him with a steel chair if he doesn't get his shit together.

Thank you!

My brainrot for horse!reader and horse!Silver is so bad right now, it's crazy... I may have skipped ahead to do this one 🫣 Silver definitely seems like his hands would give him away while the rest (most) of him stays stoic.

The hyperlinks are images I had in mind.

Content: anyPOV, established relationship, fluff, brief Sebek feature, Silver is a slight 🤏 fumbler.

Red dialogue is the reader, blue dialogue is Silver, green dialogue is Sebek.

To you, Silver was like a fairytale prince. To many others, he was just a goody two-shoes with a blank slate of personality. There were very few who could infer what went through his head, and none of them were helpful with his... Predicament.

•

There was no doubt that he loved you, his significant other. So much to the point where he was afraid of any misstep that could cause him to lose you.

Silver strived to respect your boundaries, understand your emotions, and treat you with the greatest respect. That's why, when he first realized his obsession with your resemblance to a horse, he did everything to resist it. The other beastmen seemed to refuse having their ears or tails touched. Did that mean it was dehumanizing to you, as well? Or perhaps it was uncomfortable? He couldn't risk such a thing.

He would often hold your hand or fidget with the baton at his side in an attempt at restraint. If he couldn't hold something, his hands would tense, extending and clenching his fingers where you wouldn't see. Silver's eyes did their best to remain gazing at your face, a mental reminder for every time his gaze trailed back to your ears.

Most of his efforts were sufficient enough, but his attempts at not speaking about your features was rather unsuccessful. You could be talking about the weather or the cafeteria's new food—Silver's expression dazed as usual—before unintended words slipped from his lips, like "your ears look adorable today, as always" or "your tail is soft and shiny, like fine silk."

It was especially egregious whenever he fell asleep, as he could no longer filter his language. He would mumble about his beautiful partner, more beautiful than any flower in the world, and how he would love to run his fingers through their hair or play with their ears. Hearing such things was hardly exclusive to one person, either. The thoughts had addled his mind so badly that most students who caught him sleeping would consequentially hear his subconscious confessions. By now, nearly everyone in Diasomnia knew—Lilia tried pushing him to "go for it", and Sebek considered his restraint "cowardice". Perhaps they were right.

•

He tried. He really did try.

Over the weekend, Silver invited you to a walk in the forest, finally planning on asking for permission. There was only the ambiance of complete silence as you walked side-by-side, occasional glances being cast in your direction, and hands clenching tightly again...

Why couldn't he peel his eyes away from the cute bounces your ears made whenever you took a step forward?

Or the sway of your tail that showed how you relaxed around him?

What was wrong with him? His father taught him patience and self-control, but the sight of you stole it all away.

He would've punched himself right now if he could, but that would alarm you. Silver opted on taking a deep breath instead, tapping you to sit against a tree with him as he internally reasoned a midway between his yearnings and your comfort.

"My love, would it be acceptable if I wished to brush your hair? I promise to be gentle—to not break a single strand, or tug on it.

"Brushing it? That's normal, isn't it? Come on, you don't have to be so serious about it!"

You playfully bumped his arm with your fist, sitting on his lap with your face turned away. He now had free range of a beautiful "mane"... and absolutely took advantage of every second. A brush was already prepared on the back of his belt for moments like this, starting from the crown to the ends. His fingers ran through the locks, letting out a romantic sigh at the otherworldly feeling. He would refrain from comparing it to a mane, just to be safe.

Silver could have been there all day had he not fallen asleep against your back, the sensation too calming to resist. Unbeknownst to everyone, besides his perceptive father, Silver had very quietly sulked in his room that night. All of that hard work, only to have his moment ruined by those accused sleep spells.

•

He decided to give it a break the next morning, figuring the previous encounter was more than enough to satisfy his reflexes. Silver was accompanied by Sebek for equestrian practice, a normal occurrence.

He wasn't prepared to see you laying across the field with Samson, soaking up the mild sun rays of early morning. His breath hitched when he caught sight of your ears perking up, sensing the sound of his familiar footsteps. You were almost like Samson in that regard, ears at attention and head turning in unison to Silver's direction. Both were very fond of him, and he was too.

It was also a very quick reality check for him to realize that yesterday's brushing did not prevent his intrusive thoughts from resurfacing. Your ears were far too expressive to ignore! He needed to pet them! To scruffle them up! But that wouldn't be chivalrous...

"Good morning, love..."

The rest of the words died in his throat, replaced with a non-existent lump he couldn't swallow down. He practiced this moment in front of the finches at his dorm window all night, yet the sight of your adorable gestures syncing with Samson left him speechless. He tried to be "forward" instead, as he was advised; that, too, was a failure.

You stared in confusion, watching Silver's hands reach for your head, only to retract at a halfway. This repeated several times. He tried at different angles, with different hands, even meditated a few minutes into this complicated ritual... But it only ended with a step back to a default, respectful distance. Though Silver's face remained stoic, he had a slight wobble. He was actually going to faint like some sort of victorian woman. His brain was completely overcharged from indecisiveness. Sebek had to grip his arms to keep him standing straight up, almost feeling the secondhand embarrassment.

"Do you need something, Silver? You've been acting odd for a while. Are you feeling ill?

"Ah..! No, I was... There was a leaf on your head."

Sebek gave a pointed look to Silver, then at your spotless hair. The lame excuse was more than enough to push his limited patience off the edge.

"SILVER! HAVE YOU NO SPINE?! YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED AS A RETAINER OF MALLEUS! To have such trouble asking for a request as simple as petting a pair of ears... You CLEARLY aren't as good at courting as I would be!"

He was frustrated, then smug... Perhaps forgetting he was single, still. Nonetheless, it made the blood run to Silver's cheeks in a nervous blush. You had unmistakeably heard all of that when he was least prepared.

"That's it? You just wanted to pet my ears?"

"Yes, well..."

"Go ahead?"

You truly didn't mind, at all?

Silver looked at you like a deer in headlights, as if all of his concerns were simply insignificant all along.

How could you say that in such a casual way?

His steps towards you were hesitant, choppy, until he couldn't hold it in anymore. He slung himself onto you, mindful not to hurt, before scrubbing your ears with cuteness aggression. His fingers worked through the same motion he would use on Samson, just... A lot more enthusiastic to make up for lost time. It was rare for him to show such excitement.

•

Silver skipped equestrian practice for the first time, whisking you away to the same forest trail so he could do things the right way. He was humming softly now, tucking flowers into your tail as he braided it. You let his fingers tangle in your tail as he straightened the strands, a sigh of contentment escaping his lips. All of his previously tense and fidgety behavior was gone, replaced with his characteristically serene presence.

It became a new tradition in the relationship.

Scratching behind your ears when you met in the morning, falling asleep against your hair between breaks, combing your tail at night... He would have to thank Sebek for speaking up.

[toffee4you]

Oooo Requests are open!

Ok, can I request a Silver x Reader? Established relationship, but Reader is a horse beastman, and Silver is a certified Horse Girl™

He's trying SO hard not to constantly let his partners ears or brush their "mane" or braid their tail, but they're so cute and he's doing that Mr Darcy hand flex trying to keep it together.

He sees Reader chilling with Samson, and he sees both of their ears flick up and they both perk up when he gets there and he almost passed out. Sebek is gonna hit him with a steel chair if he doesn't get his shit together.

Thank you!

My brainrot for horse!reader and horse!Silver is so bad right now, it's crazy... I may have skipped ahead to do this one 🫣 Silver definitely seems like his hands would give him away while the rest (most) of him stays stoic.

The hyperlinks are images I had in mind.

Content: anyPOV, established relationship, fluff, brief Sebek feature, Silver is a slight 🤏 fumbler.

Red dialogue is the reader, blue dialogue is Silver, green dialogue is Sebek.

To you, Silver was like a fairytale prince. To many others, he was just a goody two-shoes with a blank slate of personality. There were very few who could infer what went through his head, and none of them were helpful with his... Predicament.

•

There was no doubt that he loved you, his significant other. So much to the point where he was afraid of any misstep that could cause him to lose you.

Silver strived to respect your boundaries, understand your emotions, and treat you with the greatest respect. That's why, when he first realized his obsession with your resemblance to a horse, he did everything to resist it. The other beastmen seemed to refuse having their ears or tails touched. Did that mean it was dehumanizing to you, as well? Or perhaps it was uncomfortable? He couldn't risk such a thing.

He would often hold your hand or fidget with the baton at his side in an attempt at restraint. If he couldn't hold something, his hands would tense, extending and clenching his fingers where you wouldn't see. Silver's eyes did their best to remain gazing at your face, a mental reminder for every time his gaze trailed back to your ears.

Most of his efforts were sufficient enough, but his attempts at not speaking about your features was rather unsuccessful. You could be talking about the weather or the cafeteria's new food—Silver's expression dazed as usual—before unintended words slipped from his lips, like "your ears look adorable today, as always" or "your tail is soft and shiny, like fine silk."

It was especially egregious whenever he fell asleep, as he could no longer filter his language. He would mumble about his beautiful partner, more beautiful than any flower in the world, and how he would love to run his fingers through their hair or play with their ears. Hearing such things was hardly exclusive to one person, either. The thoughts had addled his mind so badly that most students who caught him sleeping would consequentially hear his subconscious confessions. By now, nearly everyone in Diasomnia knew—Lilia tried pushing him to "go for it", and Sebek considered his restraint "cowardice". Perhaps they were right.

•

He tried. He really did try.

Over the weekend, Silver invited you to a walk in the forest, finally planning on asking for permission. There was only the ambiance of complete silence as you walked side-by-side, occasional glances being cast in your direction, and hands clenching tightly again...

Why couldn't he peel his eyes away from the cute bounces your ears made whenever you took a step forward?

Or the sway of your tail that showed how you relaxed around him?

What was wrong with him? His father taught him patience and self-control, but the sight of you stole it all away.

He would've punched himself right now if he could, but that would alarm you. Silver opted on taking a deep breath instead, tapping you to sit against a tree with him as he internally reasoned a midway between his yearnings and your comfort.

"My love, would it be acceptable if I wished to brush your hair? I promise to be gentle—to not break a single strand, or tug on it.

"Brushing it? That's normal, isn't it? Come on, you don't have to be so serious about it!"

You playfully bumped his arm with your fist, sitting on his lap with your face turned away. He now had free range of a beautiful "mane"... and absolutely took advantage of every second. A brush was already prepared on the back of his belt for moments like this, starting from the crown to the ends. His fingers ran through the locks, letting out a romantic sigh at the otherworldly feeling. He would refrain from comparing it to a mane, just to be safe.

Silver could have been there all day had he not fallen asleep against your back, the sensation too calming to resist. Unbeknownst to everyone, besides his perceptive father, Silver had very quietly sulked in his room that night. All of that hard work, only to have his moment ruined by those accused sleep spells.

•

He decided to give it a break the next morning, figuring the previous encounter was more than enough to satisfy his reflexes. Silver was accompanied by Sebek for equestrian practice, a normal occurrence.

He wasn't prepared to see you laying across the field with Samson, soaking up the mild sun rays of early morning. His breath hitched when he caught sight of your ears perking up, sensing the sound of his familiar footsteps. You were almost like Samson in that regard, ears at attention and head turning in unison to Silver's direction. Both were very fond of him, and he was too.

It was also a very quick reality check for him to realize that yesterday's brushing did not prevent his intrusive thoughts from resurfacing. Your ears were far too expressive to ignore! He needed to pet them! To scruffle them up! But that wouldn't be chivalrous...

"Good morning, love..."

The rest of the words died in his throat, replaced with a non-existent lump he couldn't swallow down. He practiced this moment in front of the finches at his dorm window all night, yet the sight of your adorable gestures syncing with Samson left him speechless. He tried to be "forward" instead, as he was advised; that, too, was a failure.

You stared in confusion, watching Silver's hands reach for your head, only to retract at a halfway. This repeated several times. He tried at different angles, with different hands, even meditated a few minutes into this complicated ritual... But it only ended with a step back to a default, respectful distance. Though Silver's face remained stoic, he had a slight wobble. He was actually going to faint like some sort of victorian woman. His brain was completely overcharged from indecisiveness. Sebek had to grip his arms to keep him standing straight up, almost feeling the secondhand embarrassment.

"Do you need something, Silver? You've been acting odd for a while. Are you feeling ill?

"Ah..! No, I was... There was a leaf on your head."

Sebek gave a pointed look to Silver, then at your spotless hair. The lame excuse was more than enough to push his limited patience off the edge.

"SILVER! HAVE YOU NO SPINE?! YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED AS A RETAINER OF MALLEUS! To have such trouble asking for a request as simple as petting a pair of ears... You CLEARLY aren't as good at courting as I would be!"

He was frustrated, then smug... Perhaps forgetting he was single, still. Nonetheless, it made the blood run to Silver's cheeks in a nervous blush. You had unmistakeably heard all of that when he was least prepared.

"That's it? You just wanted to pet my ears?"

"Yes, well..."

"Go ahead?"

You truly didn't mind, at all?

Silver looked at you like a deer in headlights, as if all of his concerns were simply insignificant all along.

How could you say that in such a casual way?

His steps towards you were hesitant, choppy, until he couldn't hold it in anymore. He slung himself onto you, mindful not to hurt, before scrubbing your ears with cuteness aggression. His fingers worked through the same motion he would use on Samson, just... A lot more enthusiastic to make up for lost time. It was rare for him to show such excitement.

•

Silver skipped equestrian practice for the first time, whisking you away to the same forest trail so he could do things the right way. He was humming softly now, tucking flowers into your tail as he braided it. You let his fingers tangle in your tail as he straightened the strands, a sigh of contentment escaping his lips. All of his previously tense and fidgety behavior was gone, replaced with his characteristically serene presence.

It became a new tradition in the relationship.

Scratching behind your ears when you met in the morning, falling asleep against your hair between breaks, combing your tail at night... He would have to thank Sebek for speaking up.

[toffee4you]

Yesterday was bunny day? 🫠 Well, I will post late Silver bunny headcanons anyways.

This is assuming a hybrid (bunny person), that can take on rabbit form if he wishes.

⚠️ Includes mentions of jealousy and suggestive content. Not meant to reflect canon at all, it is just a look into my mind.

_____________________

Bunny = rabbit form

Bunny = hybrid form

+ Separated by section 🐇

Bunny Silver, having the ancestry of a prey animal, is far more paranoid than normal. He takes a while to bond with others, but once he does, he will follow you anywhere. He is overly trusting on the few he's bonded with.

Being petted is an unfamiliar sensation to him. He will be jittery during the first few sessions, but afterwards, he loves the sensation. You often catch him working harder to receive more, or simply caving in and nudging his head against you as a silent beg.

Sleeping out in the open is completely off-bounds unless he can't fight off his drowsiness. Bunny Silver does not feel safe without the cover of foliage, but he can learn to consider certain places safe with enough conditioning. His room/his family's rooms are considered safe spots, so he may also consider yours to be safe after sleeping over a few times.

His face may not be very expressive, but his ears and tail certainly are. When angry, the ears slick back, and the tail stiffens downwards. It could be a warning that he will engage in a duel if further provoked, or genuine frustration. His ears perk up when alerted, and his entire body will pause. When he's really enjoying something, you may see his ears flutter or tail waggle.

There is no "heat", but rather, he has perpetually high libido. He shows great restraint, and does his best to operate like a normal human. It gets slightly worse during the entirety of spring season due to spring fever. Spring is also like several months of Valentine's day for him, because all of the other bunny-people are going at it. If you finally let him, there will be a lot of pent-up energy for him to expend... And he will be very enthusiastic about it. From any role.

If you aren't bonded yet, expect him to be more desperate about trying to get bonded. And not all ways are conventional. Bunny Silver may be more insistent about staying by your side, nudging you more often and bringing over fresh fruits. He may also regularly engage in preening you, or showing off his strength during training. He sincerely thinks actions like jutting out his chest and making his ears stand proud will give him a better chance.

Spring fever doesn't just effect libido, but he generally has more energy and falls asleep less often. He will want to go outside for strolls more often, or play around with you. Also, he is more likely to be aggressive towards others during this time. He still has patience from training, so the aggression doesn't affect him as bad, compared to others.

I sincerely believe in mounting behavior.

♡⑅˖ Bunny Silver anatomy ↓

Like rabbits, he has a strong sense of hearing and smell. He can also sense staring from behind, and keeps most instincts intact (time perception, sensing emotions, etc.)

The fur from his tail and ears, as well as his hair, grow thicker during the winter. He sheds to normal amounts during the summer.

He has scent glands under the chin, so if he's rubbing his chin against you, he's trying to mark his scent on you. It is not always possessive; maybe he wants to track you easier, to keep you out of danger. It can also be a sign of trust and love, accepting you into his family.

He never sleeps for long periods of time unless you're cuddling him; he typically naps throughout the day. He's most active at dusk and dawn, but he'll sync his schedule with yours if bonded.

The tips/base of the ears and the base of the tail are erogenous zones because I said so, as someone with a PhD in Silvervanrology.

(.՞. ՞)° Possesive bunny Silver ↓

Bunny Silver uses his unsuspecting form to get closer to the one he loves. Maybe you took him in because you saw a cute, vulnerable(?) rabbit, or because you've been wanting a rabbit recently and he just so happened to conveniently appear near your house. A fluffy, well-groomed rabbit that doesn't panic when you pick him up, and seems to like you—he was nuzzling your hand, after all. Anyone would assume it is a pet rabbit, but your neighbors said it was not theirs, and no one responded to the picture of him that you had posted online. Maybe you'll keep him for now?

He loves cuddling. Laying on your lap, being cradled, curling into the arch of your stomach when you lay down to sleep...

Ever since you took him back, everything has been staying fairly clean. It was an odd phenomenon, but not one you were about to question. Besides, you would likely never come to the conclusion that the bunny you took in could take on a human form and tidy up at night.

If you have a partner, bunny Silver is a complete homewrecker. He absolutely hates your partner, but it's cute because he's a rabbit! He doesn't know any better, right? When he smacks your partner's hands away, snorts and clicks at them, or ruins their belongings, it's just normal pet behavior.

He's even more adamant about coming between you two when you get intimate. You're about to kiss on the sofa? He hops between you and your partner. Standing up to kiss? He'll create such a catastrophe before you can even start. Now you have to catch him and stop him from ruining things. You'll forget all about trying to kiss by the time it's done; you are far too exhausted.

You can't even go further with intimacy. Things were getting heated, your partner was taking you to the bedroom... But bunny Silver also jumped up on the bed and began loafing on your chest, so now you can't do anything! Your partner wanted to just toss him out of the room, but you insisted that you couldn't get up when an animal is sleeping on you.

Your partner makes it a point to shut the door every time now, but bunny Silver scratches at it from the outside. Persistently. It's extremely loud, and likely ruining the door. It also ruins the heat of the moment when a rabbit is scratching and kicking your door the whole time.

You can't even take your business to a hotel because bunny Silver always ends up being there... He's very fast and stealthy at following. Not to mention, quiet. Usually, you let bunny Silver free-roam—but even when he's locked up, he always escapes without fail. It doesn't matter what new mechanism your partner uses to cage him, or what heavy objects are blocking the cage door. You knew rabbits were strong, but not THAT strong.

You begin to insist that you don't need intimacy to make the relationship work, but you can barely even hold hands. Sometimes, if it is too difficult for Silver to intercept, you can hold hands... But most of the times, he successfully prevents it. He would sit on your hands, or beg to be petted. If you stop petting him, or ignore him, he'll be extremely clingy and dramatic. Rolling on you, insistent nuzzling, following your hands around and nudging his head under them... It's really impossible to resist petting a rabbit like that.

Your partner loses patience with a rabbit like Silver around, and eventually, makes you choose between them or the rabbit. But yelling about it to you and your rabbit wasn't a very persuasive move, so you figured it wasn't worth it anyways.

Silver gets super cuddly once your partner is gone, and this will continue for any new partner. But also, the silver-haired man who you've seen around recently has been charming. Maybe give him a try?

[toffee4you]

Reminder to select this option when reading the new chapters of Book 7 if you like Silver.

It changes the dialogue from Ortho talking to Silver talking.

[toffee4you]

THANK you for the oasis in the desert 🙂‍↕️ This must be equivalent exchange... Leona fans edited shirtless Leona, then Silver fans get the ridden-up groovy edit?

You're getting ruffled 🫳

ARE YOU JOKING??? THIS IS EVERYTHING I WANTED IN THE SILVER CARD!!!

⚠️ Leona birthday groovy spoilers below, I am coping SO hard.

Hic... I had in previous tags that I wanted Silver brushing his teeth or his shirt riding up like this......

Twist, you could have just given the Leona fans shirtless Leona, then give Silver fans shirt-riding-up Silver, and the world would have been at peace. 😮‍💨

[toffee4you]

ARE YOU JOKING??? THIS IS EVERYTHING I WANTED IN THE SILVER CARD!!!

⚠️ Leona birthday groovy spoilers below, I am coping SO hard.

Hic... I had in previous tags that I wanted Silver brushing his teeth or his shirt riding up like this......

Twist, you could have just given the Leona fans shirtless Leona, then give Silver fans shirt-riding-up Silver, and the world would have been at peace. 😮‍💨

[toffee4you]

Hello! I was wondering if you could write the Overblot boys comforting their S/O who is having really bad cramps. My body is kicking my butt because of biology not being on my side.

Since I recently wrote about cramps, I am assuming this is also about menstrual cramps? So it will mostly contain them finding ways to ease the pain, as I feel they are a bit inexperienced when it comes to words.

Attempted to speed this one up ahead of some others in time for 5(ish) days just in case 🙂‍↕️

Content: Established relationship, fluff, comfort, use of medicine (painkillers), use of pet names (dear, darling, treasure + Leona still uses herbivore/Malleus uses child of man, but as terms that both sides implicitly consider affectionate when used on the reader.)

Genuinely lost my marbles trying to figure out how Leona and Idia should speak.

• Pink dialogue is the reader. Others follow dorm color.

*I will likely perform heavy edits on this tomorrow since it is currently too late for quality control. Did not proof read at all... <- allowing myself to sleep.

It was exam week.

Many students were occupied with studying, especially those in Heartslabyul, who were at risk of losing their heads. It also happened to oh-so conveniently land on the same dreaded week that would arrive each month.

You tried to focus on studying, shutting yourself in your room and staring at your work. It felt impossible. The pain coiling inside of you would not relent.

You couldn't afford more medicine after buying the bare essentials for your cycle, and asking your friends for help made you feel guilty. They were likely pulling all-nighters studying, and your boyfriend was most definitely occupied with supervising them.

•

At 8 p.m., you heard a knock on the door. You managed to stumble over and unlock it, revealing Riddle waiting patiently.

"I apologize for not arriving sooner... I noticed you had been looking a bit pale today. Is everything faring well? If you are worried about the exams, I would be willing to—-"

He quickly noticed the way you clutched your stomach while quietly listening, and the way your eyes tried to suppress twitches. He had seen this before. It was confusing the first time, but he was a quick learner. This time, he had medicine on hand—painkillers he always carried around after that first time. He did extensive research since then.

Urging you back to bed, he produced a cup of water and helped you take the pills shortly before tucking you back in.

"Have you eaten yet? I can acquire some ingredients from Heartslabyul for dinner. It may sooth your pain to eat a well-balanced plate of salmon and cruciferous vegetables."

"I didn't eat at all, I could barely even leave my room. But, right now..."

You tugged his sleeve, making his eyes widen from shock. You looked very, very exhausted at the moment, even your slight tug being far too weak.

"...Could you stay until the medicine kicks in? Please?"

A faint tint of red pricked his cheeks from the polite request. He cleared his throat while cupping your hand and folding it back over your chest in a gentle movement.

"Naturally. You should begin to feel better in nearly twenty-seven minutes. I will stay with you until then."

•

Riddle stayed with you, not for twenty-seven minutes exactly, but until you could say the pain had truly lessened. He sat at the edge of your bed, fingers threading through your hands with slight nervousness. Seeing you in pain always made him anxious, but he did his best to hide it. You were the one who needed comfort.

And when you asked him to join you for a cuddle? He obliged despite his lack of experience with touch, giving the most caring hug he could produce.

The pain lightened up after cuddling for a while, so he left to prepare your meal. Of course, you protested, but he insisted skipping your food could cause worse cramps.

He would just make up for it later by staying with you overnight as a pillow.

Since it aligned with spring break, barely anyone had noticed when you began to feel those dreaded cramps. It left you bedridden, your arms wrapped around your stomach from the excruciating pain. Even reaching your phone wasn't an option, as you made the mistake of leaving it on a counter.

Fortunately, Leona noticed earlier by scent, though he knew better than to say so. He already bought a bag of supplies, but only barged into your room when you had been isolated for too long. No knocking on the door, or announcing he was coming.

"Here, herbivore. Can't have you losing strength on me, now."

Leona tossed over the bag with an exasperated sigh. He wasn't the type to let his softness show, even for his partner, but the fact that there was even sweets in the bag amongst other necessities was more than enough proof. You gave him a genuine smile to let him know.

"...Thanks. You're a lifesaver."

Instead of leaving, he sat down on the bed as you took medication, his tail flicking in rhythmic measures. He did not speak, only staring with those piercing green eyes. It wasn't predatory, but he was certainly observing your every movement to asses your condition.

•

The silence was persisting far too long for your taste. Your hands trailed up his head until they brushed his ears. Despite his scoff of annoyance, his ears began to twitch in your hands—and he let you pet them.

"Whatever... I'll let you do it for now. Just don't expect this to be a regular occurrence, got it?"

You giggled at the feigned authority in his voice, knowing this wasn't the first time he had said this.

To your surprise, Leona even lowered his head onto your chest this time, letting out a nearly inaudible purr as you continued to pet his ears. It was similar to petting any other house cat... except this one was oversized, and had his limbs tangled with yours. He did care about his pride, but your comfort took priority. He knew this helped you relax, as mortifying as it was.

"You're really cuddly when you don't bother to hide it..."

"...Just don't go mouthing off about it to others."

Azul was busy with managing Monstro Lounge since it was a weekend. You didn't tell him about your cramps for that reason, so he didn't know... Until Floyd busted into your room. He was probably skipping work to ask you to play, but instead, he found you curled up like a shrimp. He figured it was funny enough to tell Azul, who was reasonably far more concerned.

In a last-minute decision, he put Jade in charge of managing before rushing to your room. Floyd failed to mention the context of why you were curled up, making him feel incredibly careless when you explained it was menstrual cramps. He was completely unequipped for the situation.

•

Azul somehow managed to brew a potion with just a regular pot on a stove, afraid of leaving your side to visit the store or alchemy lab.

"And what will this cost me?"

"The price? I hereby request that you invest your utmost effort into... Resting."

He spoke with a business-professional tone, as if he was striking a deal with an unfortunate student. His actions were, however, a stark contrast; his hand brushed your cheek as he tilted the potion to your mouth, ensuring you wouldn't spit it out because the concoction was "too bitter".

•

Azul's movements had clearly gotten jittery between leaving the lounge unattended and seeing you still experience pain, but he stayed by your side the entire time. Free of charge.

"Azul, my head hurts... And I'm still cramping."

You spoke up, shifting around uncomfortably. His first reaction was to fold his coat, lifting the back of your head and sliding it beneath you. You shook your head at his makeshift pillow, staring straight at him.

With a helpless sigh, he sat himself down in place of the pillow, letting you rest your head on his lap. It left Azul visibly flustered, biting down on his lower lip and avoiding eye contact until you groaned in pain again. His shaky hands tried to massage your abdomen in attempt to ease the pain, working in circular motions. It left him a brighter shade of red, but also relief when your face relaxed.

•

It was almost a defeating feeling to see you in a weakened state despite his potion and attentiveness. You felt far better than before, but you occasionally scrunched tighter from convulsions.

"...Dear."

He pressed his fingers again the bridge of his glasses with a sigh.

"Yes?"

"Would you like to make another deal? I may be interested in borrowing a... fraction of your pain for this week. For further research."

Jamil had already planned for today, pawning off Kalim to the Pop Music Club. It was guaranteed to keep him occupied. Even without a single mention of your cramps, he had everything prepared beforehand and arrived early. He was familiar with caring for others in this scenario due to Najima's loud complaints.

To spare you of any embarrassment, he only claimed to have come for "spending quality time" with his lovely partner... Though you could see he brought snacks for your cramps.

Jamil set a tray of assorted chocolate snacks on the coffee table, helping you lay on the couch. He even brought two high-quality pillow from Scarabia; one for your head, the other for you to hold.

"Do you need anything else? I could cast a simple ice spell for cooling, or perhaps you would prefer a warmth spell for your back?"

His hand pushed up your bangs, feeling the temperature of your forehead. Calm and methodical, as always. You shook your head at his questions, though you couldn't help but flash a soft smile—one that made his heart melt. He quickly cleared his throat to mask it, his hand instinctively moving to massage the back of your neck instead.

"You should at least try to eat. I prepared your favorites for this time of month, and they are baked with the proper medication for easing pain. There is no need for concern, the medicinal taste shouldn't be detectable. Please, help yourself."

Jamil lifted the tray with one hand, pressing a chocolate drop filled with pistachio cream to your lips. It wasn't a forceful gesture, just gentle enough to see if he could coax you into taking it. To his relief, you ate one... Then began to crave for more. It was his solution to your aversion of medicine, especially since potions were far too bitter.

•

When you laid to rest again, he began running his fingers through your hair. He stared at you quietly, with a subtle adoration. It was always a nice change of pace to care for you, considering how chaotic Kalim's ideas could be.

"Jamil?"

"Yes?"

"Could you speak?"

"Speak? I'm afraid I don't have anything interesting to say... Is there something you were hoping to hear in particular?"

"Just... say anything, really. Your voice is calming."

A slight hint of shock appeared on his face, the combing motions paused. Then, he schooled his expression and continued.

"In that case... Earlier, today, Kalim—-"

He rambled on about everything he could recall that day. The commotion Kalim caused, the arguments between Ace and Floyd during basketball practice, the few quiet moments he spent in the kitchen... Jamil kept speaking until you fell asleep, seeming undisturbed by cramps in this peaceful state. He pressed a kiss against your forehead.

"Sweet dreams, my treasure."

You were doing your best to hide how bad the cramps felt, since Vil had asked you to star in one of his films for the Film Research Club today. Everyone was in place, the weather was beautiful, and you had your costume done... But the cramps were only getting worse.

You went through the first few takes without showing signs, but the pain had taken a considerable cost on your acting skills. Vil seemed to have noticed, stopping you before a fourth attempt.

"You seem utterly exhausted today, darling. The film can always wait. While it is a shame... You appear to be making a similar grimace to those of my colleagues on their 'months'."

"So, you noticed."

You let out a helpless sigh, slumping your shoulders. If anything, it was a relief that he didn't sound disappointed.

"Come. I will care for you in Pomefiore. You should know your limits better than anyone else. Today simply won't cut it for filming."

He didn't let you protest about the film any further, swooping you up bridal-style so you wouldn't exhaust yourself. He knew how persistent you could be, even to the point of ignoring your own health.

•

You were set down on the soft sheets of his large bed. Of course, Vil already made you take a potion. They were always available, as he made a new batch every month with you in mind.

In the meanwhile, he gave you a full body massage, knowing you were aching; firm circles on the back, sides, arms, abdomen, legs... He remained mindful of not moving you too drastically. Just as you were beginning to feel like putty, Vil changed course again.

"...If you want your cramps to feel better, you best expect to put in your own work, as well."

•

As always, his words came from a place of love, even if it caused you to grumble. He was helping you form yoga poses, only the easier ones to relieve your pain. Before each one, he would ask if it caused discomfort. If it did? He would simply have you try another pose. Surprisingly, most of them released the tension in your muscles.

Vil only allowed you to rest once your body was in better shape. He laid thin, breathable sheets over your body, resting a hand over your chest for you to hold—should you wish.

"I will admit, you are quite strong. Your acting skills today left much to be desired... but if we consider the pain you were experiencing, you are quite the skilled performer. Next time, you must inform me of any unforseen events. I do not care if the set is fully prepared; your comfort will always come first. Do you understand?"

He said no more on the topic after you nodded, trusting you to be honest in future events.

At the same time, he didn't want you to only see him as some sort of instructor... so, looking around, he began to change the topic. He knew how boring the idleness could be.

"Well, do you not have any gossip to share?"

You personally came to Idia's room the moment you felt even a slight sense of pain. And, quite honestly, declared you were having cramps. It was proper protocol for having a boyfriend who was afraid of coming out and speaking bluntly—not counting when certain interests were involved.

He did his best to clean his bed in a rush, tossing books and scrapped hardware into unorganized boxes. In his mind, he was even planning on carrying you to the bed like a princess, but he ended up leading you with a fidgety hand instead. Once you laid down, there was a rapid fire of nervously-asked questions.

"...U-um... Is it cramping bad? Where are the cramps? Did you take anything? Do you want background music? Or snacks?"

"Yes, the cramps are getting worse—they are mostly in the lower abdomen. And no, I didn't take anything. I was just trying to make it here before I became completely immobile. If you're going to play music, just don't blast it... Snacks would be nice, though."

You had gotten so familiar with his quick speaking that you could even answer during extreme pain. He gave a pause, then immediately scrambled to lower the speakers and search the cabinets.

•

...You had to take the painkillers with juice instead of water since he, somehow, did not have water. The only other option was soda, but honestly, you didn't mind the juice right now.

Much to his fear, just medicine wasn't enough. So, he prepared backup.

A handcrafted massaging device for your abdomen, repurposed cooling systems for your cold sweat... even a TENS unit.

"Whee hee hee! How's that?! I built them all in a day, and they're more effective than any of their standard counterparts!"

"That's nice, Idia, but I really just wanted your presence..."

He let the silence hang in the air, completely unaware of what to say. That was something he considered himself terrible at—providing adequate company. Idia slowly turned his head to the PC, then back to you... Maybe both of you needed a distraction, for different reasons.

•

Somehow, you ended sitting snugly on his lap as he played games on the PC. He only used one hand for the controls, the other occupied with wrapping around your midsection as a form of concealed reassurance. Snacks laid scattered around the desk for you to pick from. It was safe to say he wasn't quite watching your diet... He just opened whatever you were craving.

Idia rarely had to leave his room, so he cuddled with you all the way until night. He was staying up, of course, so you knew he would be available if you woke up from cramps again.

"Idia?"

"Uh.. huh?"

"We should really do this more often."

You nuzzled into his shoulder, drifting to sleep. He was left utterly flustered without any room for a comeback.

Malleus had already been exploring around your dorm when his sensitive ears detected pained groans coming from inside. He wasted no time in using teleportation magic to your bedside, nearly causing you to tumble out from the scare.

"Child of man, what seems to be ailing you? You have been producing a sound akin to that of a dying animal for a substantial amount of time..."

He rubbed his chin with his index, looking off thoughtfully.

"'For a while'? You only just now entered my room—- oh, right. Your ears. Well, if you really must know, I'm having... cramps."

"Ah, I see. You have trained too hard, then?"

"Menstrual cramps."

He appeared almost confused at first, then came to a realization. The fae suddenly flashed a toothy smile, placing his hands on his hips with confidence. Lilia had taught him before, though very briefly... now was finally his chance to put those lessons in practice!

"Very well. You must crave food, yes?"

With the flick of his hand, food began to pile from thin air, likely summoned from Diasomnia's kitchen... It was almost too much.

"Wait, wait, wait..! I'm thankful for the food, but I'm not really craving anything with all of this cramping..."

Even from a quick glance, one could tell that the simple task of laying down and speaking took great effort from you. Though Malleus considered most humans "fragile", you appeared weaker than usual. He tried to slow himself down and gave an understanding nod, hovering his hand just inches away from where yours were clutched. He casted a spell, and the cramps declined from intolerable to a standard amount of pain.

He knew you must have been suffering an unordinary amount of pain if his magic couldn't fully cure it.

This might have been the first time he felt helpless in a while. Asking others for assistance was out of the question; he couldn't use his phone, he didn't want to leave your side, and the thought of Lilia or his retainers barging didn't sit right with him. Surely, they would only disturb you?

•

None of your praise for his spell was doing much to ease his worries. From his view, he needed to stay close, or else your pain could progress again.

Malleus wrapped his tail around your body and snugged against you like a giant pillow, ready to re-cast his spell at any moment. Being a creature of the night, he never lost track of your body language. If you began to groan and curl in your sleep, he would simply rock you in his arms and do his best to strengthen the spell. If you relaxed, he would allow himself to snuggle tighter. If you were about to wake?

He would hum a hauntingly beautiful melody—a lullaby in a minor scale, one that would keep you in slumber.

[toffee4you]

I will gush over anything he does. LOOK AT HIM STANDING! His huge ahoge...

I can never ignore the shadow line on the vest, either. It gives a snatched look, even if the blazer hides his waist.

[toffee4you]

Oh....Oh I can see your forehead from a mile away, but it is okay, we love chopped princes too...

[toffee4you]

Silver would be the type of person to place a kiss against items that his S/O left kiss marks on. Lipstick marks on a letter? Or on a piece of fabric? He'll kiss it back and get butterflies in his stomach over the indirect kiss.

And his (nearly) inhuman ability to spot kiss marks even without lipstick. "This letter has a pattern of recently dried moisture in the shape of a lip..." type of deduction, and he has never been wrong about it.

[toffee4you]

How long do you usually take for asks? No pressure ofc but im curious

If it is something short like these, not too long. I try to answer whenever I am on. I took longer this time (a few days, I believe?) since I wanted to finish one of the fanfics first.

Asks about Silver are typically quicker. I have to rub my braincells together harder when it is not about Silver (gasp).

Writing requests? Hm.

Admittedly, many of those are also self-indulgent or unposted rambles in there. I only write when I have motivation, so I'm afraid I cannot give a deadline? I try to go for one week per request in order to avoid forgetting, but that is no promise. I still have some requests on the back burner as is.

I think it is important to say, sometimes, I do not answer in chronological order. It is my standard, but if I have an idea for some newer ask, I will work on that first. If I force ideas, everything results a bit sloppy... Which is why I need to imagine dialogue more often 😮‍💨

Another thing to note, I do not write when I am in a bad mood. So, if my mood gets rained on, I end up postponing the fic further. This extends to being burnt-out. I will restate the end from my bio:

[toffee4you]

It's back... The same logic should apply.

Added table of contents and edited the guide for clarification/typo fixes. The updates may not show through reblog. I recommend just clicking the post instead of reading through reblog.

Fully awake and recharged, so I wanted to do a quick battle map tutorial. This is just what worked for me, no professional opinions here.

I realize I'm extremely late but that's because I love procrastination. My friend helped me compile this.

Instructions under cut

Before anything...

Please remember to set your movement speed to fast. It's much less tedious when walking across the map after skipping tiles.

Team Formation

I might be stupid because I only found this out on level 7 of the Crowley tile event... But please, PLEASE use BUDDY POINTS. The game becomes so much easier that way. Instead of forming teams around who has the highest HP/ATK, try stringing together characters who all have matching HP buddy points.

Essentially, HP buddy points are like shields. when your team is attacked, the damage will take away from the bonus health points first for anyone who has HP buddy points active. The bonus health points won't slowly decrease either, it regenerates for every battle you participate in.

For new, newcomers: buddy points are leveled up through alchemy lessons or giving your characters tea (which can be gained most efficiently from alchemy lesson drops). You can also check it from the card menu when composing teams by scrolling below the spell section.

TL:DR picture explanation:

Form a team that synergizes with the buddy points. In this case, all 5 of the characters I chose give each other buddy point buffs, but I'm only using Silver as an explanation here.

A quick way to check all the buddy points that are currently active in your team is by clicking "buddy details." The number just tells you how many buddy points are active in total (in this case, 9). I always like to double-check instead of just looking at the number, since it includes power boost points too...

As you can see, they have "Bonus HP" listed above their regular HP bars. That HP bar will contain the same amount of health at the start of every battle, acting as a shield. The only way your real HP will be depleted (Riddle, Lilia, and Idia are damaged from previous battles here) is if the Bonus HP drops to zero. If your regular HP bar never takes damage, you'll never need to heal.

No Buddy Points?

If you haven't build buddy points/you don't have good cards for buddy point synergy... Bring debuffers. You can make the enemy deal 0 damage if you have good debuff characters. The ONLY case I see healers as more useful is when:

You plan to defeat the enemy on round 3, where it's still possible to fully heal your health bar to ~100%

Your healer is a much better DPS than your debuffers, I.E. Halloween Silver

Healers are at their best performance when you plan to bring heavy DPS, doubly so when you have buddy points activated.

Other buffs like evasion/any form of defense up for your characters is alright, but not as efficient. Evasion being heavily reliant on RNG makes it not very optimal, either.

Tile Priorities

My first priority is always, always buff nodes. I tend to take paths that will avoid 4 star battle tiles if possible. This method really depends on if you want to clear all tiles for the achievement, only collect the loot boxes, or only get to the boss as quickly as possible.

My pattern for clearing all tiles:

Buffs

2★ and 3★ fights

Mini bosses

All other nodes

Crewel

I did NOT include healing tiles because the order for those are extremely volatile.

For example, this is how I would play the first few tiles. Usually, I'll look at what buff is located in the buff tiles/mini boss fights to decide where I should go first. After collecting everything on the red and green arrow paths, I follow the yellow arrows. Afterwards, I would likely fight Azul. He was the last mini boss I fought since Jade/Floyd were ranked 3★, while Azul was ranked 4★.

Healing/Revive Tiles

Generally, you want to clear the levels surrounding the healing/revive tiles and save them for later. Try to reuse the same rotations of characters until they're all at ~50% health, then use your healing tiles.

As for revive tiles, it's pretty self-explanatory if your team has some dead members and you want to revive them, but if you've completed most of the tiles but have just... A few cards you really want to use, and they're on low health? I save revive tiles so I can purposely kill off my DPS, then revive them. Sometimes I'll do this before the final boss fight by taking them off of buddy points. If most of my good cards are near-death, I'll get them all killed in the final boss fight, then revive.

This is a good way to avoid the RNG on the healing tiles from completely screwing you over. I wouldn't recommend purposely killing off characters once you already have three of them, though.

Final Boss/Losing...

If you lose a battle, you can still continue from where you left off. That goes for any tile, not just the final boss.

I.E. you fight Crewel until he's at 1000 out of 4000 health—all 5 of the cards you used in that battle will die, but you can spend another move point to continue the fight. This time, instead of 4000 health on round 1, he'll start at 1000 health on round 1.

With this logic, I recommend trying to deal the highest damage you can if you're inevitably going to die. Don't try healing if you think your chances are slim.

The only time I would NOT recommend that is if you don't have any more cards. At all. And have no retry tickets (which revive a few characters of your choice).

Otherwise, I don't have much more to add besides the obvious.

Make sure your cards have high spell levels, the minimum being level 5 if you really have no one else

Use cards with DUO magic. The good thing about them, their duo magic partner is also always one of their buddy point chatacters too

Don't be afraid to use SR cards if your SSRs lack good synergy. Some SRs can be pretty cracked, especially event cards that let you increase their spell level with event items (don't have to waste books).

This was made on a whim, I will probably reblog for every tile event so it is not completely irrelevant. Good luck storming the castle.

[toffee4you]

Hello there :) !! May I request Octotrio and Ruggie with a s/o who is very blunt and honest but easily tricked due to them taking everything literally?

Yessirre, four scoops of shady NRC students for you. I mostly translated MC to /gullible/ since I do not have a way with words.

+ I cannot remember many instances of Floyd tricking people, so I took another route with him </3 he's not the one tricking MC. Ruggie IS tricking the reader if you understand the context of what it is.

Content: anyPOV, established relationship, pet names (dear, darling, and 'shrimpy' if it counts), fluff, crack ?, description of plant mucus (taste/texture), Azul's scenario implicitly happens pre-overblot.

• Green dialogue is the reader, blue dialogue is others.

Monstro Lounge had just closed for the night. The students on cleaning duty returned to their dorms, Jade left to monitor his terrarium, and Azul was likely counting his thaumarks in the V.I.P room—that left you and Floyd alone.

"Shrimpy~~!"

It only took three long strides across the lounge for him to snag you up in a hug. You almost felt like a ragdoll.

"I'm bored, let's watch bad movies and make fun of them!"

At least he wasn't demanding anything active at this time of night. Last time, he had a spontaneous urge to play basketball until 4 a.m.

On a weekday.

Unfortunately, despite your willingness to join him, you couldn't. Not today.

"Sorry, I promised to meet up with someone after work. Maybe tomorrow?"

He abruptly dropped you to roll his arm in response, his brows knitting with confusion.

"Can't you just, dump your meeting? Sounds like a snoozefest."

The cheerful mood was gone in a second, but all you could do was sigh. Sure, you would prefer spending time with your boyfriend instead of some student you barely know, but you were obligated to follow through.

"It wouldn't be right. He offered help during alchemy class, so I accepted it. Apparently, where he's from, it's custom to pay for offered help..? Anyways, he got super angry about it, so I'm just meeting up to negotiate how much I owe him."

The minute you finished speaking, Floyd's expression shifted again. Not angered, surpringly... He looked rather amused. For someone who spends nearly every day with Azul and Jade, he could smell fishiness from a mile away.

"Eh, I didn't want to watch movies anyways. You should show me your friend, shrimpy~!"

He draped his large body around you like a towel, his chin resting on top of your head. If you didn't lead the way, he would probably follow you, anyways...

•

That's how you ended up unintentionally intimidating your "friend". The smug expression quickly dropped from his face as he saw Floyd hanging around you like an oversized cat.

"Lamprey~ did you call shrimpy to play? Can I join?"

He leaned in, his mouth widening into a Cheshire smile. The student, in panic, incoherently mumbled something about "just needing the money", but Floyd was obviously not listening. He lifted one arm from your shoulder to hang it around the student instead, pulling him frighteningly close.

"Money? How about I just squeeze you instead? I don't wanna hear about money, I already gotta earful from Azul..."

"Aha ha! Look, lamprey's playing tag! Let's catch him~"

He rolled his arm again, but this time, his expression wasn't bored. It was vexed. He was in the mood for games, not business talk. The student took to running off instead, causing Floyd to slowly turn towards you—excited, once more, with what you considered to be a "sweet, innocent smile".

...And somehow? You believed it. You spent the rest of your night on an exhausting game of tag, afraid of ruining the fun for those two. At least your legs were spared from severe soreness, as Floyd began carrying you around an hour in... But the other student? After running for so long just to get inevitably squeezed, he wouldn't be feeling fresh for a while. You were surprised to hear that he didn't want any of your money, later.

Tests were coming up, the prime season for catching certain anemones.

There was heavy traffic coming through Octavinelle, student after student rushing to get their hands on a study guide. Business was doing well, word about the test guides was spreading like wildfire, and life was good... Until you walked in.

•

Azul was sitting on his cushioned chair with a wide smirk on his face, tapping his fingers together... Then paused. And did a double-take. He slowly straightened out his posture, readjusting his glasses as if doing a final confirmation.

"...And why might you be here, darling?"

His tone was practically dripping with barely-contained exasperation, but he did his best to keep a smile. He was hoping you were here just to meet him, perhaps as a surprise. But, knowing you? That wasn't it.

"...The study guide?"

You smiled, tilting your head at him. He sighed in turn, pinching his nose bridge. It clearly didn't matter how many times he tried to warn you about making contracts. You fell for the rumors anyways, not even sparing a second thought about the consequences. Maybe, the only way for you to learn was through demonstration.

"Why, of course! The study guides."

He produced a booklet in his hand, sliding it across the table. With it, came a golden contract.

"I will provide you with my study guide. But, in return, you must rank within the top fifty scores of your class. Should you fail... Well, the penalty will be whatever I desire. Oh, but don't fret! It will be an easy task with the guide. I guarantee nothing but the highest quality, after all."

A reassuring hand pet your head as you stared at the contract. You shrugged, then signed it. Seemed fair enough! Your willingness alone made his heart drop to his stomach. You poor, poor thing.

•

...There was an anemone on your head once tests ended. It didn't drag you to Octavinelle's lounge with the rest—it waited until later, once the school day had finished. There was no villainous speech about your fate for the rest of your school life, nor any work in the lounge. It simply dragged you to Azul's room, where he sat with tea in hand and a smile on his face.

"Did we learn our lesson now, darling?"

His tone was clearly sarcastic, taking a victorious sip of his tea.

"No more signing contracts without fully understanding the terms. You are lucky that I am willing to be oh-so merciful with you. Now, my request... Is for you to count coins with me until you feel tired."

That must have been the most romantic request he could think of, likely a date in his mind. He never intended to truly punish you, so long as his point got across. The silly-looking anemone seemed to be enough of a punishment on his beloved's head, anyhow.

Oh, well. It was better than being worked to the bone in the lounge. The night passed snuggled together, counting coins from each other's palms until you fell asleep. He tucked you in, and benevolently, had your contract removed by morning. There was no guarantee that you wouldn't fall into the same trap again.

It was a weekend, which always meant "quality time" with Jade. More specifically, joining his club activities.

Your lovely boyfriend had asked you with the most angelic smile to accompany him on a mountain excursion again. At least, that's what you saw. Anyone who knew Jade would typically turn down his invitations, but you? You would never, and that was part of your charm. It got to the point where others had began to question your self-preservation skills. You ate all of his meals without asking about the ingredients, took part in all of his plans despite having no context on them...

Today was no different. He led you through the mountain's path hand-in-hand, his fingers squeezing your palm rhythmically. It was a habit of contentment. Obviously, there was no way he could be scheming when there was nothing but joy in his mind!.. Or, so you thought.

•

Jade began to point out different plants as usual, rambling about their properties and whatnot. Suddenly, he paused, nearly causing you to collide against his back. His gaze was directed somewhere in an unusually wide-eyed expression.

"Ah..! Is that... The rare plant? The one that is said to increase your intelligence? There are very few records of it."

He turned your chin, directing your line of sight to the plant. A small, bulbous plant that seemed to glow a suspiciously vibrant color.

"As I have heard, the last person who had consumed it went on to become a highly-renowned royal advisor. Oh! But I believe this one should be for you, my dear... Since I love you so much, I could not bear to steal such an opportunity from you."

His hand crossed his chest politely, barely able to contain his smile.

"Aww, how sweet! You're giving this up, just for me? You shouldn't have... But, since you look so happy about it, bottoms up!"

You plucked the bulb from its stem without a second thought, biting straight into it...

...All for a mouthful of flowery mucus to explode in your mouth. The only way it could be explained is somewhere between the taste of grass and offensively-fragrant perfume. The worst part? You tried to spit it out, but it was just stuck. The texture was awful, like slime consistency with the stickiness of taffy. Jade's whole body was shaking, cupping his hand over his mouth. Tears pricked his eyes from trying to hold back an outburst of laughter at your misfortune. Aw... He must have been so shaken up about the accident that he's crying!

Despite the unpleasant contents stuck in your mouth, you gave him a pat on the back with sympathetic eyes, as if trying to comfort him... It only caused him to shake more. Oh, you were like his personal sitcom... Pitying him when YOU were the pitiful one.

When you returned to campus, he felt generous enough to assist in washing out your mouth with the potion he prepared. The truth? He trekked down that path a day before and noticed the plant, sparking innovation for the scheme he planned today. In the end, you were still blissfully unaware, believing your boyfriend must have been the sweetest, most sympathetic man in the world.

Everyone was looking forward to summer break, and you were no exception. You made sure to finish all of your homework first so the rest of your break could be spent with your boyfriend. The issue was, his schedule was always filled to the brim.

You had to go searching for him, only to find him crouching in the botanical garden, chuckling to himself. Judging by how his tail swayed... He was certainly happy with something.

"Ruggie, is that you? I came to help, if you need it."

"Were you picking weeds? I can deal with that, too!"

Your voice remained sweet, the tone low enough to avoid startling him. Even then, he shot straight up as if guilty, a soil-covered root still in hand.

You still didn't suspect him of anything. He just seemed... energetic today!

"Hm?! That? That's, ehhh..."

How was he supposed to explain it? The legality of the situation was very questionable, and he wasn't about to chase off his own partner. Simultaneously, he DID need the money from this gig, and he also wanted to spend time more time with you.

"...Yeah, it's a weed! Y'know, if you're that excited to help, let's get to it! I have the bag here. Just gotta top it off, and this garden will look good as new!"

Ruggie never said a word of it being expensive and highly-sought, or why he was doing this so secretively. He just gave you a big, happy smile once the bag was full, patting your back with a thanks.

•

Then, he took you to the alchemy lab, claiming he needed to turn the roots into a "healing powder" for "some injured friend"...

"That's nice of you... So, we just crush it up?"

"Shyeheehee! Yup, just like that! You're a natural at this!.. Oh, and don't inhale any of it. Like, at all."

It seemed reasonable. You practically helped him mix and refine the powder, even packing them into several little bags. "In case my friend needs backups," is what he claimed, and you took it at face value. He stowed away the bags "for later", taking the time to walk you home today. It was a romantic sunset, and a rather fulfilling day for you. You felt productive.

"Hey, that wasn't so bad. How about you invite me next time? I don't normally like weeding, but it's fun if we do it together."

"...Yeah, uh, listen... If anyone who's NOT me tries to ask you a favor? Don't accept it without a steep price. You can trust me, though, since we're together in this! I'll always save ya a cut from my earnings."

"..."

"...And, how about I take you on a nice date tomorrow? To make up for today."

[toffee4you]

I was trying to research Ruggie's speech patterns for a fic, and..?

MY SWEET SUMMER CHILD, oh, you are forever the best friend of the prefect. But please, someone spoil Silver with treats too.... I doubt he has any large allowance. Shower him with rewards, Kalim 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

[toffee4you]

10 Reasons why becoming a horse at NRC is the pinnacle of life goals:

You get to see Silver.

Silver feeds you fruits and vegetables.

Silver combs your hair.

Silver brushes you.

Silver pets you.

Silver tells you things that he would only tell to animals.

Silver rides you.

Silver falls asleep on you.

Silver calls you a good boy/girl.

Trampling students you don't like is considered socially acceptable.