#SO I commisioned this pic and I want to show yall how good it is!!!

[morningstarinwinter]

🌜Moon wish upon the star✨

Roleplaying between me and @twins-born-in-a-new-moon

CW : Swear words, Sexual harassment

Word counting : 5,078

It was just a day after the announcement of the celestial ball. Everyone was very excited for it, they were already searching for a partner or thinking on the clothes they would wear that date. Artemis and Danique were not an exception to the excitement the ball bringed.

Artemis himself was already being questioned by his twin sister “Are you going to bring Danique as your date?”

“I don’t think so” he answered “she wouldn’t come with me anyway”

“Oh are you sure?” his twin asked.

“Yeah, she kind of hates me...” he said sadly.

You dork , Selene thought.

Meanwhile Danique and Penny are at the Hufflepuff common room.

“I’m so excited about the upcoming event!! What would you choose as a dress? Who would you bring?” The blonde haired girl squeals and shakes her amber eyes friend.

“Woah woah, calm down Penny! Professor Dumbledore just announced  this! Who would already think of that?” Danique said and shook her head at her lively friend.

“But you would go with Artemis right? Since you two are a thing” the blonde haired girl teases her friend.

“Wha-what do you mean by that?! Why would he like me? He is so perfect and me? No, we are not a thing. We just have a verbal war game..” said the amber-eyed girl with a  hint of sadness in her voice.

“Oh no, Dani! He has never done anything like that to anyone! You are special to him, you know?” Penny said with a serious face.

“Sigh, I don't feel like that Penny. Anyway, I may go with Barn since he seems so clueless about this” the white haired girl said, then stood up from the couch and walked off the common room.

Don't give me hope Penny, he deserves better. Someone like you. The white haired thought to herself.

“Oh, I need to tell Barn before some hungry girl snitched him before me”

Artemis himself was already moving to the great hall to eat, ignoring all the questions his sister asked him on the way.

Once there he could see many people already asking each other to go to the ball. Tulip herself asked him if he would go to the ball with her. He politely denied her petition and continued with his food.

It’s not like I don’t want to go with someone.. she wouldn’t come with me, would she? he thought.

Entering the great hall, Danique saw the boy she's just frustrated about, rejecting the mischievous red haired girl.

Huh! See? as I thought. He would have a girl by his side for that night already. The amber-eyed girl thought to herself and looked around for her hunky Slytherin friend.

“Excuse me” There is a tall Gryffindor boy appearing at her sight.

“Yes? what can I do for you?” said the girl with frowned eyebrows.

 Is he the chaser from the Gryffindor team? I think we only talked once

“It would be an honor for me to have you as my date in the celestial ball. Danique Winter, would you go with me?” The boy said with a smirk then used Orchideous to conjure a red rose bouquet and offered it for her.

Ahhhhhh, the hell? Why would he have to cause a scene here?!

“Ah...umm...that's very nice of you to say, but I already have someone on my mind. And I have to go now, Sorry…” She said and gave him a forced smile. Then she walks off the scene as quickly as she can to the Slytherin table to meet her hunky friend.

The rejected Gryffindor boy stares, following her back, and clenches that poor bouquet.

Artemis looked at the little scene the Gryffindor boy make to try to ask Danique to be his date

You fool, she would never accept a petition like that.. so flamboyant…

He can see how the boy gets rejected but the words that came from her mouth make him... sad. Someone on your mind? he thought Of course, I should have guessed it before…

Meanwhile at the Slytherin table.

“Do you have anyone you want to go with, Barn?” the white haired girl asked.

“Noh...do I have to? There were some girls that asked me, but I don't know them so I rejected” the brunette boy answers.

“Will you go with me then? Since I don't want to go with some weird dude like that” She nods her head at that Gryffindor boy.

“As a friend tho, we could have fun together without those love interest feelings” she looks back at her Slytherin friend.

“That sounds nice. I'm happy to go with you Danique!” The brunette boy smiles brightly at the white haired girl.

“It's a deal then” she smiles at him and changes the conversation  to another topic.

Since Artemis was away from the two of them he doesn’t get to hear the conversation, but he can guess. Were you referring to Barnaby?

He decided to just finish his plate and go back to the common rooms. We have astrology tomorrow, I can ask her there!

The next day in their last class of the week, astrology, Artemis waited peacefully till the class finished to talk to Danique. Once the class is dismissed.

“Excuse me Danique?” he called her “Can we talk?”

“Does it take time? since I promised to help the first year on charms” She answered the boy.

Oh no, what would he want to talk about?

“It would only be a few minutes…” he replied.

“Hmm...it's okay then I guess…” she said hesitantly. Why do I feel like he is nervous now? Why would he feel that?

“Well... mmm-” he said a bit blushed “Will you... go to the Celestial Ball with me?” he said playing nervously with one of his hair strands.

Wha-what did he just say?! Celestial ball? me? But why? The girl was surprised by his words.

“I'm sorry Artemis, but I already promised to go with Barn…” she answered.

“Oh! Do you get asked by many people and don't want to go with strangers like Barn? I'm sorry I can't help you with that now” she seems to think of her Slytherin friend and answers to him guiltily.

Hmm..maybe I was wrong when he rejected Tulip, maybe it's just her joke

“No-! I” I genuinely wanted to go with you. he thought. “N-never mind... Hope you and Barn have fun in the ball” he said sadly

 “See you soon Danique”and he left.

“Oh no! He seemed disappointed. Maybe I could check on him at the ball if he didn't go to anyone” The amber-eyed girl said to herself and then walked to the courtyard to meet the first year badger.

Artemis got out of the room and quickly went to the Ravenclaw Common Room.

There Rowan was sitting, reading a few books, so Artemis sat next to her.

“Hello Rowan” he said quite sadly.

“Well, someone is sad? What happened?” The girl asked softly.

“Danique is going to the ball with Barnaby…” answered the boy.

“Ouh- Well…” she looked at him. “We could go together, you know just as friends so we don't go alone?”

“... Sounds good for me” he smiled

When Danique finished helping with the first year, she went back to her dormitory and found that Penny and Tonks were there.

“Wotcher Dani! I hope to hear good news from you!” The pink haired girl said with a mischievous smile on her face.

“Yeah! We saw that Artemis talked to you and wondered if he finally asked you for the ball!!” The blonde hair squeals.

“Oh...um...he did ask me, but I need to tell you guys that I asked Barn to go as a friend yesterday” The white hair answered and smiled sheepishly to her roommates.

“Why would you do that Dani! Oh, I feel so helpless about you” Tonks said then facepalms.

“Look at you Danique! I said that he would ask you and you won't believe me” Penny pouts at her white hair friend.

“Now you guys make me feel guilty. Look, it's already happened okay?” the amber eye said then threw her arms up.

“Anyway let's talk about other things, you're gonna be the head of decoration right Penny?” She said, then sat on her bed.

Her 2 roommates just look at each other and thought She changed the subject again

“Oh right! I was thinking the theme could be ‘star’, what do you think about that?” Doesn't want to push on her friend, the blonde hair girl just goes with the flow.

“What can I say? I'm the star myself, you know?” when she answered and the room was now full of laughter and they continued to talk about it.

The days passed softly and so finally the night of the ball arrived, Artemis was wearing a fine and fit white suit with golden and lilac details, which helped his thin but slightly masculine appearance to stand out, he used a beautiful purple cape over his clothes, his hair was down but kept with a half ponytail, and changed his usual black glasses to a golden ones special for formal gatherings.

Thanks to all of this, and his albino appearance, he really looked like a moon prince.

Rowan, who was at his side, was wearing a beautiful blue dress with silver details, her black hair was in a side tail, she looked so pretty that night.

After finishing dressing, the amber eye girl walked to the great hall to meet her brunette friend at the gate.

“Wow...you look so beautiful Danique! It's not like you don't look good on the other day, but today you look much more beautiful!” the hunky boy said with sparkling eyes.

Before him, Danique dresses in a gold ankle-long dress with a high neck and revealed back. There are golden glitters starting from her neck to her waist. Below that, the fabric is a see through start from her tight. Her shoes are white high heels with strips around her ankle. Her hair is done as loose curls with one small braid at the left. The hair was tucked on the left side to show her silver star earring. She did her make up with a rosy cheek and brick pink lipstick.

“Thank you so much Barn, now let's head in the ball shall we?” she smiles back at him and they walk into the room decorated in star theme.

Rowan and Artemis were already sitting down waiting for everyone else to join, they were keeping a simple conversation until Danique and Barnaby walked in... She looks.. wow His eyes shone as he looked at her. She is sunning…

Rowan looked at him and then smiled to herself when she noticed who he was looking. “Shall we dance Artemis?” she asked and pointed at the couple with her head.

“Oh! Sure, my lady” he answered smiling.

Danique spotted Artemis and Rowan on the dance floor.

Woah...he looks...like a moon prince… The amber eye girl keeps staring at him for several minutes.

“That boy really looks good tonight” the voice from her brunette friend snaps her from the thought.

“You look so smart too Barn, I almost fell for you when I saw you back then” she flirts and winks at him as they always did.

“Well, sadly your heart is with that man” Barnaby said then make a fake sad face

“Sh-shut it Barn! Let's dance with others!” the white hair girl said with a reddened face and dragged her friend to the dance floor.

After a few songs our two dance couples ended up quite close to each other, enough to be able to see them dancing with their respective partner.

Artemis was completely mesmerized with how Danique flowed softly on the dance floor, but looking at how Barnaby holded her so closely made him... jealous.

“Hey Rowan, I had an idea,” he said with a smirk.

“Do tell” the girl in his arms said.

“Would you mind if...?” and he pointed at the couple with his head, Rowan understood immediately and put her arms around the boy's neck.

“Who will tell! Our dear Artemis can be jealous” she laughed.

“Oh shut it, Ro!” he laughed as well, as they continued their dance.

Seeing Artemis like that made Danique snapped.

Why would Rowan do that? Oh I see, he just wants to start a game huh? bring it on boy

“Hey Barn, when I twirled next time, hold me reallyyyy close okay?” she smirks at her friend.

“Okay...but why?”

“Just do it!” She lets out a whisper-shout

When it comes to the swirling position, Danique swirled then leaned her back on Barnaby's chest then placed her head on his shoulder. She grabs both or the boy's hands to place on her waist. Barnaby, flushed by this, quickly swirls her back to face-to-face position.

Both Artemis and Rowan looked at the other couple with surprised eyes.

“Crap” Rowan muttered “Any plan?”

“...None” the boy answered.

“Well, fuck” she then cursed.

The two of them  just stayed dancing close to each other for a while.

Meanwhile at the sass queen's couple

“Looks like they are done with this game. Ha! that boy never learned who is the champion here” the white hair girl peeks at the Ravenclaw couple and smirks.

“Sorry Barn, I went a bit too far right? Also, how about we stop dancing now and go to eat something?” the girl asked her blushed partner.

“Yea-yeah a bit too much. Speaking of eating, that's a nice idea! I'm starting to get bored of this” the brunette boy stops the dance and leads his partner to the table.

“Do you want some butter beer? I could grab it for you” he asked. 

“Sounds great! I may sit here since my feet are sore a bit because of these stupid heels” the girl replied and sits on one of the chairs.

Artemis and Rowan find a place to sit down after a few dances and they peacefully chat with each other. 

"So.... would you like something to drink?" Artemis asked

"No, I'm fine for now, don't worry" she answered.

After a few minutes, Barnaby was gone. Danique looks around to see how the ball is going.

“You look stunning today Danique” without looking, she already knew it's that Gryffindor chaser.

OH SHIT THAT BOY

“Thank you. You are looking good yourself” she turns to face him and notices that leans his hand on the table to lower himself to talk to her.

Don't get close to me you jerk

“Well, I would look better if I had you by my side tonight…” he smirks and places his other hand on her small bare-skin back.

Feeling disgusted by his action, the girl quickly stands up and steps away from him.

“Come on, one dance wouldn't hurt right?” still pestering, the boy grabs one of her wrists.

Oh no, it's so disgusting. Why did it take you so long, Barn? Please hurry up and comes help me

Doesn't like to be touched herself, the poor girl is shocked from those actions and stands still.

Artemis was very concentrated talking with Rowan until he saw how a boy got extremely close to Danique, the girl was surely disgusted by the actions of the man so he stood up quickly.

“Excuse me for a second Rowan” and as fast as he said these words, he went in Danique's direction.

Rowan quickly notices the scene before her as well “Don’t worry, go ahead”

“My darling,” He said, holding the girl's hand softly.

“Is everything ok?” he asked looking with clear angry at the gryffindor 

“If he is making you uncomfortable, say so. I will get him off in a few seconds” he whispered to her ear.

The amber-eyed girl only nods her head and looks at the ground.

“Excuse me, sir” He said, getting Danique behind him so the boy wouldn’t get to keep touching her.

“I think the lady has been clear on her actions that she doesn't want to dance with you, or even have you around" he said frowning his eyebrows "I recommend you to leave her immediately unless-”

“Unless what a pretty boy?” He laughed “What will you do, as if you could do anything to me, now move a side”

“So that's your choice huh?” there was not only anger in Artemis' eyes, he was... infuriated. “Let me guess, your name was... Daniel Roberts correct? I think your father works at the ministry of magic?”

The boy flinched “You wouldn't dare-”

“Oh of course I will!” Now was Artemis who laughed 

“Don't ever mess with Clair de Lune, your father should have taught you that... how unfortunate he is... to have a son that treat womans like a beast”

“Please don't do it!” He begged “I will do whatever you ask me but please, don't do anything to my father”

“Everything I asked?” Artemis smirked “Then apologize to the Lady immediately and leave, don't ever talk to her again!”

“P-please, forgive me miss Winter!” Trash in its place. And as soon as the boy said those words he ran away.

Artemis took a deep breath to calm himself down and then looked camly at Danique. “Are you alright Danique?” he asked softly

“Yeah! yeah...I...I guess…” she answers him softly and tries to move her hair to cover her back.

Artemis noticed the action of the girl so he softened his eyes, grabbed his cape and put it around her shoulders. “There we are”

Still not fully recovered from that physical touch, the girl flinches a bit.

“Ah- sorry I didn't mean to make you feel uneasy” the boy apologized.

“Oh no! It's not your fault. I just....Sigh, Can we get out of here…?” She hugs herself and looks at his eyes, her amber eyes still have a hint of fear in them.

He looked at her softly. “Surely, my lady” he offered the girl his arm so she could grab on it if she wanted.

Even though she was feared by that man, she feels safe around his presence. The amber-eyed girl then grabs his arm.

Then the two of them walk outside the great hall and go to the fountain yard where the sky is with a full moon surrounded by stars.

Artemis and Danique then sit together at the fountain... Looking peacefully at the beautiful night sky. Artemis hadn't said a word, he just wanted her to feel comfortable.

“Thank you for helping me back then” the amber-eyed girl broke the silence.

“I really appreciated that, really. I looked so pathetic right? A sass strong girl like me can't fight back that jerk” she let out a small painful laugh.

“You weren't pathetic” the boy said with a worry in his voice.

“That jerk didn't have any intention of backing off, until I menaced him of course…” he paused.

“And it's ok don't worry, I couldn't have stayed there just watching how that asshole made you uncomfortable” he then said softly to her.

Danique looks at him and is stunned by how his albino skin and white hair reflect the moonlight. Moreover,with the outfit , he looks like a real moon prince. She stares at him silently for a while.

Artemis looked at how the amber eyes shined thanks to the reflection of the stars of the sky, he felt he could lose in those eyes. He got close to her face. She looks so pretty right now but...She will hate me if I kiss her right? he thought and closed his eyes.

Huh? wh-why he lean in and closed his eyes, don't tell me he wanted to ki-kiss me?! Oh no my heart can't handle this now

“Umm..the-the sky is so beautiful tonight, isn't it?” She turns her head away from him and looks at the sky.

Artemis quickly gets back to his original position noticing what he was about to do “Ah- yes is indeed pretty” he answered, That’s not the only pretty thing in this place.. then looked at the sky, flustered.

“The full moon is so beautiful. I like the scenario when the moonlight shines on it” she said and looked around.

“The moon is beautiful, isn’t it...?” the amethyst eyed flick to look at the girl beside him, looking at her with longingly as the owner spoke the sentence that seems to have hidden meaning in it.

“It always is” She looked at him and smiled.

“Oh! let me show you one of my favorite spells!” she said excitedly and looked at the boy.

He tilted his head “Ok?” He said a bit confused.

“Watch this and keep it a secret okay?” she smiles and winks at him.

Danique moves her right index finger and mutters some spell. Suddenly, there are many littles stars surrounding them. They are twinkling and moving around slowly.

“My father always did this for me when I was young, since he calls me 'little star' and I really like it” she let out a small chuckle.

“You are the first one I showed this to, you know? No one ever saw me doing wandless magic before” she looks at him and smiles softly.

Artemis felt his own heart melted by her words and actions. If the place was already pretty before, now it was definitely dreamlike, he sighed.

“Thanks for this honor” he smiled at her, flustered.

He got closer to her “This is truly a beautiful scenery” he paused.

“Yet the only thing I can look at right now is at the beautiful star shining right in front of me” he admitted.

Holding her hands in his, he said “You have truly mesmerized me Danique... and all my heart can seem to think about, is you” his cheeks were in a tone of bright red.

Stunned by his words, the girl now speechless and her face is all red.

Wh-why is he suddenly like this? I'm I dreaming right now? What-what should I say?

Then the music started playing again, Artemis standed up and offered a hand to her.

“Will you spare me this dance, Danique?” He asked, still felt a bit nervous by his own actions.

“Of-of course!” she quickly stands up, with a bit of awkwardness, then takes his hand.

The dance was a slow one, they danced and marveled at each other's appearance under the night sky. Artemis was feeling quite nervous, but happy at the same time. Holding the girl so close to him during the dance felt like a dream.

Meanwhile Danique, feels safe, yet nervous in her crush's arms.

Oh no he holds me so gently, my heart beats too fast like I'm gonna explode..After that thought, she steps on his foot.

“Oh! I'm-I'm sorry” she looks down at her feet.

“It’s ok. Don’t worry” he softly laughed.

Artemis could feel his own heart beating faster. I hope she doesn’t notice

He honestly feels like he is flying, but at the same time bound to earth by the beautiful lady in his arms.

The song went sweetly and slowly as it began and they stayed in the dance position for a few seconds when they realized it was over…

“That was such an amazing dance” She smiles at him, still not letting go.

“As expect from the perfect boy”

“Perfect boy?” A sad tone was perceived in his voice “Is that all I am to you?” He asked softly, looking at her eyes.

“Oh, no! You-you are more than that…” the amber-eyed girl answers nervously. She looks at his eyes and feels like they are luring her in. Her lips part a bit because of those dreamy purple eyes.

“More than that?” He leaned close to her face again. I may be misinterpreting her but..He once again closed her eyes and  gave her a soft kiss on the lips.

He could smell her hair clearer than ever before. The smell of peach and the soft lips of the girl, he couldn’t think of anything else for a moment. His heart felt like skipping a beat and he is.. so happy.

Being surprised by his action at first, the girl then closes her eyes and kisses him back. She could smell her favourite scents from him stronger than before. She wraps her arms around his neck and tilts her head to make it easier for the kiss. Her mind goes blank and her heart beats so fast as if it's going to explode.

Artemis just let himself melt in the girl's soft lips for a while, putting his arms around her waist. Good things couldn't last forever and their lips parted from each other. Artemis keeps his eyes closed, feeling his own heart beat hard on his chest, as he keeps holding the amber eyed girl in his arms.

After they parted, Danique opened her eyes and pants a bit from that sweet kiss. She saw that Artemis still closes his eyes and holds her delicately. The blush begins to creep all over her face since she gains her consciousness back.

Oh Merlin...We kissed?! And-and we are not even a couple! What have I done?!

She let go of his neck and hides her face in her hands because of shyness.

Artemis slowly opens his eyes and sees how the girl is hiding herself “Danique…” He softly calls her.

Still hiding her face, the girl squeaks. “Yes?!”

“Look at me, please” he asked, keeping a soft tone.

The girl finally gathered her courage and let her hand down.

Artemis gave her a warm smile and finally says “I love you” Feeling his heart beating faster than it was before “I understand If you don't feel the same I just.. wanted you to know how i truly feel about you”

“I-I..” Getting kissed and listening to her crush confess his love to her, the amber eyes girl seems unable to handle these. Her legs kind of give up themselves, the girl is now sitting on the floor and hides her face again.

These are too muchhhh, I feel like I'm dying. Then she remembered that he told her to look at him so she peeks through her hands.

"Can-can you give me some time? There are too many events happening today and I feel like my brain has stopped working. Also that was my first kiss, I..." she whispers the last sentence shyly.

Artemis helps the girl to stand up again. “Ah- of course” he was now the one being shy “Wait- your first kiss?” he whispered. So it was her first kiss as well?

“Yea-yeah, sorry if I was not good” she glances up at him and presses her lips.

“No- is not that... It was my first kiss as well..” Artemis said letting his cheeks become pink.

“Really?! but you are so...good..” she said with a dreamy voice.

Artemis became completely red by that commentary and covered his face with one of his hands. “Well, thank you..” he said in almost a whisper. 

“You did it pretty good yourself…” He felt like he is meling.

“Tha-thank you..” she replied softly.

Seeing him blushed, the girl teases. “As expected from the perfect boy, you really are good at everything, oh also I think it's almost the curfew time” the amber eyes girl said with a smirk and looked at the clock.

“Good at everything huh?” Artemis now teased back "I will only do my best display for my lady after all. And, yes indeed" he said looking at the clock as well “We should go back” Artemis offered his arm to the girl “May I have the honor to escort you?”

“Oh yes, thank you my prince”she smiles and takes his arm.

There are a lot of conversations and laughs on the way to the Hufflepuff common room. And now they arrived at the barrel gate.

“Thank you about everything tonight Artemis, I would cherish this night for the rest of my life..” She smiles softly at the white hair boy.

“I could say the same, Danique” He said and gave her a kiss on her hand "Have a peaceful sleep, my princess” And with these words Artemis left to his own common room.

Artemis arrived at the Ravenclaw common room and was intercepted by Rowan “Well then... how was your secret date with Danique”  she asked, making the boy blush at the memory of the girl's lips on his own.

“I kissed her” he said “And I told her- yes, in that specific order”

“OH FOR MERLIN'S BEARD!!!” Rowan squealed “What did she tell you?!! She accepted you?!!”

“She... asked me for time to think and... process it all” he answered.

“Dank, so close yet so far” Rowan muttered “Don't worry I'm sure she would accept you in the end!”

Artemis put his hand on his heart “Would she?” he whispered. She doesn't even know about this after all..

After a few minutes of conversation each one went to their respective room.

Artemis hugged one of his pillows and smiled to himself remembering clearly all of the night before falling asleep.

Meanwhile at her dormitory. The other girls are already in the room.

“Seemed like someone got a secret date” the pink haired girl whistles.

“Yeah, how was it Dani?!” the blonde hair girl asks loudly.

“Ughhhh, Why do you guys always see this?” the white hair girl groans.

“Artemis is a good guy tho, get him Dani” the white wolf girl said

“EVEN YOU CHIARA?!” the amber-eyed girl now yanks her hair.

“Spill all of it morning star!!” Tonks then jumped at her.

“Ahhhh okay okay! Geez...”Danique told everything that happened between them.

“MERLIN'S BEARD DANIQUE!” the pink haired girl screams, followed by 2 squeal voices.

“Shhh, Tonks! you are too loud!” Danique lets out a whisper-yell.

“Why don't you just accept him, Danique? He had a feeling for you for a long time and you also like him” the blonde hair girl asked curiously.

“Sigh, he is a noble, remember? Also, he is hella perfect. Do I really deserve him tho?” the amber-eyed girl said with a sad voice.

Basic half-blood and noble pureblood huh? Sounds like Cinderella's story for me. She thought and looked outside of the window to see the moon surrounded by thousands of stars. The moon and the stars? Probably more like that.. She then excused the other girls to go for a shower and all of them knew right away not to ask about it anymore.

#SO I commisioned this pic and I want to show yall how good it is!!! #LOOK AT THEM #I'm so soft by all of that🥺😭❤️ #Moonie and I decided that it's time to post our fav roleplay of all time #the drawing is inspired from one of these scenes here #I hope you enjoy this and excuse us for our writing😅 #artenique story #danique winter #artemis clair de lune #my commissions

[skeletorific]

This Got Out of Hand (and we’re out of paint): Marvus Xoloto ♦♠Reader

yall i swear i’m gonna get on writing stuff that actually got requested but this idea wouldn’t release me until I’d finished it so here we fuckin go

This simply could not stand.

Black flirting and romance, once upon a time, was a concept utterly foreign to you. It had taken roughly three conversations with Tegiri and Polypa on the topic (and a lot of time spent around Galekh and Tagora) before it had registered to you as anything more than consistent hate fucking and passive aggressive remarks. 

That was before you met Marvus. 

The clown was many things: attractive. Creative. Charismatic. Funny. Way more intelligent than he presented himself as. He was also a shit-starter, would probably pail with Zebruh before he would confess to a genuine emotion without fifteen layers of casual slang and innuendo, and seemed to take intense pleasure in riling you the fuck up whenever he got the chance. One way or another he wormed his way into your head, and suddenly you couldn’t stop hearing his voice in your head even when he wasn’t around. Challenging you, teasing you, testing you, doing his utmost to get you a nice, steaming anger before ruffling your hair with a wink and walking away.

It was also possible you were a little bit smitten with him.

Or maybe a lot. 

Regardless, in time you’d come to understand that it was a mutual thing. For as much as he didn’t show it, you were beginning to read between the many, many lines with the clown. He enjoyed the hell out of you, sure, but he also seemed to find you something of a puzzle. Beyond the fact that you still hadn’t kicked Zebruh to the curb (and he never failed to send you an eye-rolling emoji whenever he appeared in one of your Chittr photos), every story about your past that came up seemed to render him a little bewildered about what it was you’d put up with in order to attain those sweet and lofty fruits of FRIENDSHIP. 

“i mean, lil stab-stab here, lil push off a cliff here, ‘sall gucci sunshine. normal n all that shizz.”  He’d said, in one of his rarer moments of honesty. The fact that both of you had slammed a couple liters of faygo in the aftermath of a particularly exhausting show probably had something to do with it. He lounged on the couch, absently combing fingers through his piles of hair. “but keep hangin out wih m-fers what still wish ya harm, or bloo shizzheads what won’t take no for an answer, that’s a whole other thing, uhearme?”

You’d waved dismissively from your position lying on the floor. You were a little drunk yourself at the time. “Its fine. Usually. And when its not its like….phoo, somehow it gets fine anyways!”

“jus sayin” he said, shifting until he was upside down on the couch, face inches from yours. Close enough that you could see the greasepaint starting to flake off. “need sumbody what can keep ya from gettin urself killed, lil buddy.”

“You volunteering?” You’d crooned. Ok, croon is a strong verb, it was more like slurred, but crooning was the intention is what matters.

“u askin me to?” He smirked, pressing a single claw to your forehead. Internally, you’re pretty sure that’s not how volunteering works, but noticing that isn’t at the top of your hierarchy of needs currently. 

“Mmmmaybe.” You rolled onto your back. You can feel your heart pounding just a bit right now, but somehow your voice is floating even and light. Like you don’t have a care in the world, and this is just one more joke in the scheme of your weird mobius double irony reacharound of a relationship. “Maybe I wanna go all gorlekh with you, what do ya think of that.”

“‘scuse?”

“Gorlekh. Gorgor and Lekh-…..lekh….” You made a dismissive noise, gesticulating your hands wildly as you moved to sit up. “The black one!”

“….ur talkin spades?”

“Yeah! The kissmissies….kissmich….” Wow faygo was no joke on your system. “The hate one. Like I don’t hate you, except I think I do a bit? But like in that weird alien way where I think it just makes me like you more and its confusing but I don’t wanna stop and you’re so damn cute and….and…”

Your voice trails off.

Because the man is honest to globes grinning. No smirk, no lazy half-smile, no lowered eyelids, nothing to give that careful impression that he’s only happy in a chill way. Just a huge, toothy smile that split his face.

Bro that shit was radiant.

“m-fer, u have no idea what ur in for….”

—–

You really hadn’t but you hadn’t had a moment of regret since then.

It was a constant game of one upmanship between you, an intense competition to see who could get who to visibly express their emotions first. Maybe that was unusual by kismesis standards: it didn’t seem much like Tagora and Galekh’s dynamic. But you were enjoying every second of it, and if Marvus had complaints he sure as hell wasn’t voicing them.

The only downside, all told, was the lack of time.You didn’t have hours to build on the tension. More often than not you had moments between shows. Actual antagonism had to be planned in to make sure the point got across without actually getting either of you hurt. After a full day of work he was usually too burnt out for more than light teasing and, to borrow his phrase, “sloppy makeouts”.

Those sloppy makeouts were becoming in themselves the point of your focus.

—-

After one such particular petting session, you glanced at the clock out of the corner of your eye. Fuck, it was late (er….early) and you had a long walk home with your car out of commision. You sighed, pulling yourself off of him with no small amount of protest. “I’ve gotta go.”

“u got some1 else u gotta do this to” he muttered, getting to his feet and brushing himself off. You were starting to realize a denied, overtired Marvus was a grumpy Marvus, which was as endearing as it was needy as hell.

“Maybe~.” You say, enjoying the glint he got in his eyes. You straighten out your clothes for a bit. “Tomorrow?”

“day off tomorrow bruh. clown church” He slipped an arm around you from behind, leaning down by your neck. “which means u can stay here-”

“Mm-mm” You slip free, nudging his face back. “Not tonight. Not here.”

“keep tellin ya juggz don’t spread shizz around” He said, lips pouting out a bit, which forces you to look away.

Denial is part of the game, after all. 

“‘Juggz’ aren’t the only people around here. And I’m not looking to get your fanbase up my ass. I’ve got more than enough people looking to cull me” 

“Hehe, tryna make me jealous ;o)”

You roll your eyes and head for the exit to his dressing room.The cool night air beckons outside, but you find your path suddenly obstructed by his arm. With a huff, you look up at him. “I’m heading ou-Mmm!”

The head turn had allowed him to get a grip on your chin and pull you into another deep kiss. Not a kiss, actually, if there was a word for it you’d describe it as some kind of facial wrestling match. He kissed around your mouth, your cheeks, your eyelids, in rapid succession, all the while insistently rubbing his nose and cheeks against your face as you spluttered. 

“Marvus-I—hey!!” 

With a final peck to the tip of your nose, he drew back grinning ear to ear, face paint now a smeary mess. “have a nice nite, b~” 

And you suddenly found yourself outside, hearing the door lock behind you. 

Oh that little- You snatched your phone out of your pocket and turned on your front facing camera. Sure enough, your face was now suddenly covered in white-grey paint, already caking on your cheeks and making you look like you’d fallen face first into glue.

“Marvus, I’m gonna kill you!” You said, pounding at the door. From the other side you swear you hear him laughing, which is only adding kindling to the fire at this point. 

Great. Perfect. You could either face the long walk home or use your sweatshirt to wipe it off and leave a visible stain on the black sleeves. Fuck it, you won’t be able to make it to Tyzias’s to do laundry for a bit, so you’re gonna have to walk of shame your way home. Fanfuckingtastic.

Practically the second you crossed the threshold your phone buzzed.

therealxoloto: send pics before u clean urself up aight ;o)

Oh he wanted a fucking-

You sent him a well backlit photo of your face, largely covered by an Alternian hand gesture Mallek had taught you.

therealxoloto: hell ye that’s that good shizz

Alien_among_you: you think you’re so funny

therealxoloto: clown church baby lmao

therealxoloto: i’m fxxkin hi lar i OUS

therealxoloto: ♠

Alien_among_you: ♠

You go to bed with cheeks red and chapped from being scrubbed, which was DEFINITELY the only reason they were red.

—-

After that, no kiss was safe, not truly. He’d found a button to press, and he sure as hell wasn’t gonna leave it alone while it still worked. Sometimes he’d led you go days, wipes even, without an incident, only to jump you once you were lulled into a false sense of security. Practically everything you owned had been stained with the stuff with the point, and you’d gotten more mouthfuls of it than you’d care to mention. 

And naturally, this meant war.

It took you some time to figure out an appropriate revenge. Just stealing his paints felt over the line somehow. While you were still figuring out the ropes of clown religion, the fact that you had yet to see a clown without the stuff probably meant it was important. Marvus had only just started cleaning it off in front of you, and while he hadn’t made a big deal out of it, you’d gotten the impression that it was kind of a moment for him.

So, taking the stuff wasn’t an option. All that was left was to thwart it.

Can’t mess up a face already covered.

You waited till he’d left to run an early rehearsal, then quickly raided the vanity, tracking down brushes and setting powder and a couple of those little white brushes. You opened the tins and carefully positioned yourself in front of the mirror. Alright. Ok.

You hadn’t exactly done this before, but how hard could it be to figure out? 

Fifteen minutes later you realized that optimism was a bit misplaced. You weren’t exactly aiming for perfect, but you at least didn’t want it to look like a kid had painted you up. That would give him leverage to flip the teasing back on you, which was not the point of the exerices. You kept have to undo your work. The diamonds edges were too round, or too wide. The eyebrows were uneven. It took you far too long to figure out how to even tape down your natural brows. The makeup wipes were starting to pile up and paint was getting much lower. How the hell did he do this every day, it looked practically effortless-

Footsteps in the hallway. 

Panic rose in your throat as you swept the trash into a nearby can and haphazardly tried to make the vanity look like it had when he left. As they grew closer, you realized your eyebrows were still taped down, and ripping those off in a hurry was probably not the best idea. You practically dove into the bathroom, locking the door behind you.

“¿Yo, I leave my palmhusk in here?” 

You feel a sudden rush of relief. Not your clown. You recognize the voice: Payasa, one of the newer acts. You open the door a crack, seeing a tall juggalette with close cropped hair and a complex design resembling a moth across the center of your face. Damn, you weren’t even managing basic geometric patterns, how the hell did she paint that on every morning?  “Haven’t seen it, sorry.”

“¿damn, sorry ‘bout the intrusion?” The lanky clown starts to leave, before hesitating. “¿uhh…..you doin alright motherfucker?¿Need me to get the big man?” 

“No! No….” you say quickly. “I’m fine.”

“¿alright…?”

A thought occurs to you just before she leaves. Normally it’d be uncomfortable asking, but…you wanted to get this done.“….actually you know what.” You push open the bathroom door. “Could I get some help with something?”

She turns around quickly, gaze eager. Alien or no alien, she’s new here and eager to please. “¿watcha need?”

“I need you to help me put some face paint on.” You say, gesturing pointedly to your eyebrow situation.

You feel a cold spot of dread as the clown’s cheeks go bright purple. Oh globes, is this one of those troll things you’ve just put your foot in. Did you just spit in the face of the mirthful messiahs or something. 

Payasa rubs the back of her head, eyes darting towards the door. “¿er….does Marvus…know about this?”

“Its a surprise for him,” You say quickly. Hoping against hope, because otherwise its back to the drawing board or figure out how to do it yourself.

“¿I…?” The clown grimaces, nervously tugging on one of her many piercings. She seems to be at war with something inside herself. Finally, she swallows and looks back down at you. “¿sure….?”

A relieved look crosses your face. “Thank you so much, I promise I wouldn’t ask otherwise, but I’m pretty hopeless at this. 

“¿heh…no p?” She said, giving you a shy half-smile. “¿did you uh….have a design in mind?”

“Oh, that’s the easy part. I just need you to copy Marvus’ design.”

Another weighty silence. The purple faded, and its hard to tell under the makeup but you think she might have just gone pale, her eyes bulging out of her head.

“….is that….is that not ok?” You say weakly. 

“¿I-….it’s uh, fine!?” She managed to stammer out. The gazes towards the door returned, but after another look at your pleading face she seemed to gather her courage and slam it closed, making you jump. “¿its fine.?¿ Can do it quick, right?¿ Don’t have to be a big deal or nothin…?”

“Uh….sure?”

Payasa drags up a chair to the vanity bench and gestures for you to sit down. Despite the oddness of her behavior, you’re didn’t get this far looking gift clowns in the mouth. You sit down.

She makes quick work of it, though she still seems nervous. Her face keeps going purpler and purpler the longer she paints, and her ears flatten to the side of her skull as she worries her lip with her fangs.

“Are you sure this is ok?” You finally ask. “There’s not like, a rule against this or anything, right? I don’t want you to….I don’t know, commit heresy or something.”

“¿Nah, nah, not heresy, motherfucker.?” She says quickly, dabbing the poff in the setting powder before carefully dusting you. “¿Jus….little unusual is all.?¿But ain’t my place to judge.?”

“Why is it unusual?” True, Marvus seemed to prefer to do his own makeup, but you’d seen other juggalos do each others faces all the time, especially on the rare wipe end Marvus could drag you out to clown church. It had always seemed kind of peaceful. 

“¿I uh….think I’m gonna let Marvus tell ya about that.?” She mutters, putting on the finishing touches. “¿Ain’t sinful, though, promise.?”

“Well….that’s good, I guess.” You help her put the paints away. “Thanks again. His reaction should be worth it, at least.”

She let out a sharp laugh. “¿Yeah, imagine it will…?” She got to her feet, replacing the chair and giving you a lazy, two-fingered salute. “¿Gotta bounce and get ready for my set.?¿have a nice night, little motherfucker.?”

“You too.” Man, what does it say about your life right now that ‘little mothefucker’ read as affectionate. Before you can contemplate that, Payasa leaves the room, closing the door behind her. 

Marvus doesn’t come back for another twenty minutes or so. You lounge on the couch, scrolling through your messages and dicking around with a couple of games you’d downloaded for Diemen. You got so far down the rabbithole that by the time Marvus opened the door you’d almost forgotten what was on your face.

Almost.

“m-fin sound issues, swear 2 fxxkin glob…” He was muttering, twirling his staff absently in his fingers. “sorry i’m-”

He finally turns his eyes on you, and you’re treated to a rare sight.

Marvus Xoloto, speechless. Mouth still halfway open on its way to whatever he’d been planning to say. Eyes slowly tracing your face. You could practically see the question marks popping up over his head.

Its your turn to smirk, tucking your phone back into your pocket as you sit up, tossing your hair back a bit. “Lookin for your makeup rag? Bad news bitch, I’m already co-”

Marvus heads back outside, slamming the door. 

….Ok. Not the reaction you were expecting.

You waited for a second. Was this a bit?

….

Ok ok not a bit not a bit-

You scrambled to your feet, following him out the door.

Instinctively you move towards the green room, but he’s not there. Just a couple of the others, lounging around and hitting each other with squirts of a substance you deeply hope is whipped cream. One of them catches sight of you and their eyes go wide. “….damN, didnT knoW yoU anD xolotO werE therE.”

“Have you seen-….what do you mean there.”

They chuckle, getting up and clapping you on the shoulder, giving you a big goofy grin. “he’S A luckY maN. prettY surE I saW hiM headiN foR thE costumeS closeT. leT A brotheR knoW iF yoU neeD A buckeT oR somethiN, aY”

Coming down to it you wish Marvus’ friends were a little less helpful sometimes. “I…think we’re good. Thanks” You brush past him on your way to the closet, hearing a couple distant “whoops” as you retreated.

The costumes closet is tucked away in a small corner. He’s not there, and for a moment you nearly considered looping back to his dressing room, before-…

Is that muffled screaming?!

Nervously you tap on the door. “Marvus…”

The sound lapses, and there’s a long pause.

“…..ye?”

“You uh, doin alright in there.”

“heh…def b. gucci.”

“You kinda rushed out.”

“…..”

“I’m coming in.”

“…..cool” he says, sounding resigned.

You open the door. Its stuffed to the brim with an array of truly unspeakable clothes. In the blinding sea of color Marvus is practically camouflaged, but you do eventually spot him. Slumping against the back wall, holding a crumpled shirt in his hand that he seems to have been screaming into. His expression is stony and tired in a way you aren’t used to seeing from him, and his eyes aren’t meeting yours.

One of the hardest things you’ve had to figure out about kismesis is when to break kayfabe. Following every barb or prank with an apology kind of defeats the purpose of a kismesis. They’re supposed to let you dangle a bit. But at the same time there are lines that can’t be crossed. You’re not supposed to genuinely hurt them, or force past boundaries they aren’t comfortable being violated.

The issue, especially in Marvus’ case, is figuring out the difference between the two.

You close the door behind you, pressing your back against the cool metal. “So…..I’m getting the impression that this,” You gesture to your face. “May have been a bit more symbolic than was my intention.”

He’s quiet for a long moment. You can see him struggling against himself, probably considering whether or not he should try to laugh it off. In the end though, he just nods.

“And I may have hurt you somehow?”

“u didnt-”He groaned, tilting his head to lean against the wall and closing his eyes tight. “who even did that 2 ya…”

“I….they’re not gonna get in trouble, right?”

He gave you a Look. 

Right. Not his style. “Payasa”

“n she didn’t think to explain y that might give a clown some m-fin pusher problems?”

“She was acting kinda weird about it, but I think she assumed I knew. Or…was maybe a little too scared”

He sighed, breath coming out in a huff. “fxxkin messiahs…” Slowly, he slid down the wall to sit on the ground.

You hesitated a second, before approaching him. Carefully, you slid to sit down next to him, resting your hands on his knees. “…Can you explain it to me? Please?”

His claws traced out patterns in the shirt he was still holding, as his eyes seemed a million miles away. You found your attention drawn to the slow rise and fall in his chest, the tension in his shoulders. He seemed nervous, a weird look on a man who came alive in front of a crowd of millions of rampaging teens. 

“juggz paint iz personal shizz. start workin on the lewk on yer naming day and it keeps changin while you’re changin. lotta symbolism and liturgical shizz go into it but the main thing iz its….u.” He turns over his hands, staring down at them. Faint purple lines run across the palm, a crisscross of old scars. “ur paint’s ur identity. sum mothafucker steals that, they’re stealin u. hell, even gettin some1 else to paint for ya is a big fxxkin deal. ur puttin ur whole identity in their hands and askin em to put it on ya. lotta clowns don’t even let their quadrants paint em”

Your palms go clammy. In your long proud history of fuck-ups, this one didn’t quite take the cake, but it had definitely cut out a larger slice than would be deemed socially appropriate. “I….holy shit, Marv, I’m sorry.”

“sorry?”

“I didn’t realize, this was like, taking something from you. I can take it off-”

You cut off your sentence when you realize his shoulders are shaking.

If he’s fucking crying you are gonna lose your entire mind-

And then a laugh tears out of his throat. Low and throaty and sweet and uncontrollable, the kind of laugh you heard from him maybe once in a blue moon. You’re taken aback (and more than a little flustered). You can only watch, cheeks growing progressively redder as he slowly subsides, hunching up a bit as he tries to catch his breath.

“I…what….”

“fxxkin saviors, b, sumtimes i forget, ufeelme?” He turned to look at you, grinning wide. “forget how alien u are to allathis. i ain’t mad”

“You aren’t?”

“nah lmao”

“….then what was all of this about?!” You say, shoving his shoulder. “I thought you said-”

He catches your wrist, pulling you to straddle his lap. “hey, hey, don make a m-fer bust out the shoosh paps.” He says, tone completely amused as he soothingly strokes your arms. “jus shuddup for a sec and lemme get raw, kk?”

You decidedly have more to say. But… looking at the soft expression on his face you’re having a hard time remembering what it is. In the end you nod for him to continue, settling back at bit against his legs.

He takes your hand, gently unfurling it and caressing circles in the palm with his thumb. “ur paint is u. and the people all in ya life, the 1s that count….they’re also u.” His thumb presses down solidly, shooting sparks up your arm. “told ya, the design grows like u do. pretty much expected once shizz gets serious with some1 ur gonna change things up a bit to reflect that. like chahut. the heavy paint round the sight specs a reference to that little indigo shit she goes craftin with. doesn’t always happen right away, but, when it does…” He releases your hand and moves up to cup your face. Eyes lidding a bit as he contemplates the design, traces the diamonds with his eyes. “pretty fxxkin big deal”

“I…..so, when I….” Your face goes red with the sudden implications, which makes him chuckle.

“yeah lol. kick in the bulge. not xxxactly what i was thinkin i’d see”

“So….that’s why you left?”

His lips press together a bit, and he gives a shrug at least twice as nonchalant as it should be. “…yeah. woulda been trippy even if ya were another purple but knowin u had no fxxkin clue what u did. like watchin a lil squeaker paint prophecies in stick figures. had to get out just to make sure i didn’t do smthn weird as hell”

“…..like what?”

He hums, gripping your chin and dragging you back down to press a soft kiss on your lips. Warm breath fans across your face as he smirks, exposing just a bit more of his fangs than was technically necessary. “show ya when we got more time ;o)”

You groaned. “This is illegal”

“fxxkin arrest me then bih” He patted your thigh, flicking his brows up.

You mutter something treasonous under your breath.

“n-y ways, u should clean urself up” He kissed your forehead. “camera crew$$$ gunna b up my a*s soon”

You sigh. “Right…” Bracing your hands on his shoulders, you push yourself to your feet. “Heaven forbid we appear to visibly be a couple”

“rite? gross lmao”

You shake your head and smile as you head for the door. “Right. Gross.”

“hey.”

Before you can turn around he’s wrapped his arms around you from behind, fitting you neatly to him. He leans down to bury his face in your shoulder, and despite the circumstances that lead you here, you know the only motivation is a desire for closeness. “let me do u up next time” He mumbles, voice rumbling against the skin of your neck. “not mine, but….somethin a yours. find out who u are, ya feel?”

…..You cover his hands your own, squeezing them tight and biting your lip to hide a grin. “….bold of you to assume there’ll be a next time, bozo”

“c’mon, we both kno u can’t resist the idea of my touchstumps all up in ur nugbone hehe ;o)”

“Sure that sentence would be very sexy to someone who isn’t an alien.” You turn in his grip to face him probably. “….love you.”

“aw, babe, that’s gay lol”

“I taught you what that means and you weaponize it against me? Treason.”

“i’m 1 naughty m-fer.” He kissed your forehead. “love ya 2”

“And…..hope you aren’t attached to this shirt.”

“…wha-”

Acting fast, you yank up his shirt and scrape it across your face, taking as much greasepaint off as you could before breaking free of his grip and bolting out the door. Loud, clowny curse words chase you as you tear through the halls, a smile threatening to break your face in half as you ran.

The road to vengeance is long sometimes, but it sure is sweet.

#hiveswap #hiveswap friendsim #marvus xoloto #marvus x reader #marvus fic #pale black vacillation #hs marvus #fluff