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#wonderland cyoa
mamma-mia-mammon · 2 years
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new story! new romancing! new ways to lose hearts (mwah)!
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There is an ichor creeping its way through Wonderland, devouring residents never to be seen again. That's how you got your "promotion" to the Role of the Cheshire Cat. You thought things would be okay until an Ink Well appeared right in the middle of the Red Queen's garden and took out half of the court gathered there. Now you're tasked with finding the source of the ichor and stopping it before it consumes all of Wonderland.
The Ink Stained Chessboard is a WIP and interactive CYOA novel. It is a fantasy adventure romance story with heavy focus on plot, romance, and stats. It is inspired by Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. It will most likely be written in Choice Script.
So by popular vote, this is now my main focus! I'll try to keep it updated as much as possible!
Note: Because this is a WIP the name of some places or people may change between now and the final version.
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Rating: Not rated as of right now.
Tracked Tag: #ink stained chessboard
Demo || Romance Options || Side Characters || FAQ || Tag Navigation
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In The Ink Stained Chessboard, you play as a Wonderland resident who's been "promoted" to the position of the Cheshire Cat. You were simply minding your own business one day when you were ripped from your original Role and put into the Role of the Cheshire Cat. You've been in the Role for a little bit now. As for who put you in the role? Wonderland, itself did that. A bit bizarre, but it does have a mind of its own.
Without the interference of an "Alice" figure, life is pretty normal. Odd but normal. It's not always wacky and nonsensical in Wonderland, believe it or not. When an "Alice" appears, Wonderland moves all of its pieces to tell the story again and again like a play. That's how its supposed to work anyways. But ever since this strange ink-like substance appeared the story hasn't been running smoothly like it should.
When an Ink Well appears during a tea party in the Red Queen's garden and consumes half of the court, you decide it's time to do something about this. With a group of pretty unlikely allies, you set off to find what's causing the ichor to appear and stop it.
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Play as a male, female, or nonbinary Cheshire Cat
Customize the way you look, including your ears and tail and your cat form! Your normal form is humanoid with cat ears and a tail
Choose what your Role was before Wonderland made you the Cheshire Cat. Your previous Role will give you exclusive abilities not available to other roles
Choose to romance 1 of 5 options or none at all
Figure out what's going on with the ichor and why it's appearing and where do the residents it absorbs go
Make a decision with the fate of Wonderland in your hands
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The Cheshire Cat - You (he/him), (she/her), or (they/them)
You play as the Cheshire Cat. You possess all the typical things associated with the cat, such as disappearing and reappearing and your iconic grin. Your previous Role will also give you specific abilities. Being put in a Main Role made you functionally immortal so you don't know how old you really are, but physically, you appear to be in your mid-twenties (24-26).
The people of Wonderland sometimes call you Chess/Chessie.
Appearance: Player Determined, although your base figure is humanoid with cat ears and a tail
The Alice - Alice/Alex Liddle (she/her) or (he/him)
A is the newest "Alice" to Wonderland. The 103rd "Alice" to be exact. Because of the ichor, their story broke apart pretty early on leaving them basically stranded in Wonderland with no direction. It's good that they're a precocious person and found their own way to the Red Queen's garden. They're a bit naive but are earnest and kind and was one of the first people to volunteer to go with you. Their only stipulation: to go home when it's done.
Appearance: A is on the shorter side of average in terms of height. Alice is 5'3 and Alex is 5'8. They both have fair skin with freckles and loosely curly blonde hair. Alice has long hair while Alex's is about medium-length. Their eyes are light blue and their frame is lithe and thin. They appear to be in their early twenties (20-23).
The Mad Hatter - Olivia/Oliver (she/her) or (he/him)
O is the Mad Hatter. They aren't the "original" Mad Hatter, but they've been in their Role longer than you've been the Cheshire Cat. They are eccentric and a bit unpredictable. That's probably why they were the second person to volunteer to go with you to figure out what's going on, after Alice/Alex. You two don't really get along, bickering often when not in your Roles, so you're surprised when they volunteered. Being a Main Role, like you, they also are functionally immortal, but appear to be in their mid-twenties (24-26), as well.
Appearance: O is pretty tall with Olivia being around 5'9 and Oliver being about 6'1. They both have clear tanned skin and orange-red hair. Their hair is mixed textures with some strands being straight and others wavy. They always keep their hair down, even if it's inconvenient. They have brown eyes and a lanky frame.
The Red Queen/The Queen of Hearts - Isabelle (she/her)
Isabelle is the Red Queen and the Queen of Hearts. You find her Role varies from "Alice" to "Alice". She's fairly new to the Role, having acquired her position around the same time you became the Cheshire Cat. She's a bit stiff and serious, trying to figure out where her role stops and where she begins. She, like her predecessors, has a passion for roses and it was her garden that was destroyed by the Ink Well. You aren't surprised when she says she's coming with you "for her rose garden". As a Main Role, she is also functionally immortal. She physically appears to be in her early thirties (30-33).
Appearance: Isabelle is a woman of about average height, standing at 5'5. She has soft brown skin and straight black hair. She has red eyes and a fuller figure.
The Jabberwocky - Fenrir (he/him)
Fenrir is the Jabberwocky. He is the second Jabberwocky ever in Wonderland. His role, like Isabelle's, varies from "Alice" to "Alice". Some "Alices" don't ever go near him while others face him. He's solemn and fairly stoic and serious. He's the last person you expected to volunteer since he prefers to be solitary, although you suspect it's because he just wants to get this over with and go back to minding his own business. As a Main Role, he is functionally immortal, but physically appears in his late twenties (27-29).
Appearance: Fenrir is pretty tall, standing at a wild 6'5. He has tanned olive skin and black hair with streaks/highlights of dull blue and green. His eyes are grey and he has an fit figure, not too muscular but not lanky either. He has a few light scars on his face.
Wonderland - ??? (it/its)
Wonderland is... Wonderland. It has a personality of its own and is the one who moves you and the others around when there's an "Alice". It's in charge of making sure the "Alice's" story runs smoothly and to get them in and out quickly. Due to the ichor appearing, it's no longer running smoothly, often forgetting to move pieces around causing a disruption of the cycle. When the Ink Well appeared in the Red Queen's garden, it seems to have stopped "working" all together.
Appearance: It's a land, so far. Notable chessboard fields?
Mysterious Figure - ??? (they/them)
What's Wonderland without one mysterious figure? After the latest Ink Well in the Red Queen's garden, you've been seeing them around Wonderland. You aren't sure if they're following you or if you're indirectly following them, but you seen them quite often. Even odder, every time you see them, they look confused. How strange...
Appearance: You haven't gotten close enough to fully look at them, but you think they at least have blue hair? Or was it purple? Maybe green or even pink? You swear it was white one time. Their skin is very pale, nearly paper white. They're tall from what you can tell. Probably around 6'2. They're clothed in a long black robe with a hood. It's a bit on the nose, don't you think?
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heartfullofleeches · 10 months
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Milestone Event Poll. Last poll I swear
Casino Au/Event: Our Various Yan take the roles of casino/hotel staff [ex: maid Calliope that cant keep her lips off your drink, Magic Assistant Clyde who won't let anyone spoil your act.) with an extra guest (Yan Mr. Devil)
A continuation of the April Fool's event where anything from personalities to species can be replaced. Human Mono and Alien Reader. Human Milk Farm and Cow Reader. (Actual) Nice guy V. Etc.... That last one gives me chills too.
A choose your own adventure using the polls to pick the next part of the story. I'm thinking about what it will be, but my first thoughts are a candy/wonderland story or something wacky with fast food's readers yans.
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dailyrandomwriter · 9 months
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Day 317
Since my CYOA project is to pretty much shove all my fevered dreams into a story, and then maybe some whacked out ideas I’ve had but no place to put them, let’s spend some time talking about my dreams, and why I find dreams such a fascinating topic.
When I was… young, and impressionable, I used to be fascinated by, what amounted to at the time, new age magic. There was a time in the early 2000s (maybe) that there were a bunch of new age magic books written and aimed at pre-teens and there used to be statues, jewelry and other items along that same vein as well. If anyone remembers the old Green Earth stores you may know what I’m talking about.
As those closest to me know, I used to collect unicorn objects. I don’t really do this anymore, but I did it a lot growing up. Most of the time, these unicorn objects were gifted to me, but on rare occasions I brought that item. One of those objects was a necklace from Green Earth which was a pewter casted unicorn amulet on a necklace chain with pale blue fake stones. My two favourite things, unicorns and blue. But what made this unicorn unique was that it was part of a series of amulets that were said to grant special abilities. The kind of abilities you can’t prove or disprove. In this case, it was astra projection, and along with that the ability to remember your dreams. So when I had a dream that I could remember the day after getting this necklace is what made it the most memorable to me.
Though to be clear, I probably remembered that dream more because it was weirdly memorable than the fact that I had that necklace. For me, anyways, even with dreams that I remember after waking up, I tend to forget as the day progresses and if I remember anything at all it’s weird in such a way that it’s hard to forget. 
The point is though, is that, because of that moment, I’ve had a fascination with dreams ever since, which is probably why my brain thought ‘fevered dreams’ when someone suggested Alice in Wonderland themed.
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twstdreams · 2 years
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Halloween Twisted Wonderland
Here are all the Halloween pieces I’ve made!
Halloween Haunting: Halloween Event CYOA as MC
Summoning Catastrophe: Accidentally summoning a demon and then Malleus has to save you
Trick or Treat: Jade and Floyd, Silver take little sibling!reader trick or treating
Trick or treat pt 2: Crowley takes his child trick or treating
Nightmares: Jamil, Leona, Floyd, Azul, and Riddle dream their lover is killed only to find their partner asleep beside them
Crowley’s kid: Crowley trick or treating with his child
Zombie AU: How the first year’s survive in a zombie apocalypse and what gets them killed
Spooky Starter Kit: Ace, Riddle, and Malleus introduce their S/O to Halloween
Terror Time: Silver, Epel, Ace, Ruggie, and Deuce are stuck in a horror movie haunted house or corn maze with their crush and desperately trying to survive!
Dress up: Riddle, Leona, and Kalim react to their S/O dressing up as their respective Great 7 figure
Pixie Predicament: Leona, Deuce, Epel, and Riddle help their S/O who accidentally drank a potion that turned them into a little fairy
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A Day in the Life of a Raven
Part 4 of the CYOA style event to celebrate 3k+ followers! Whoops, this came kind of late— As per the results from the last poll, we’ll see where Miss Raven goes for lunch.
This part is pretty long compared to previous parts, so please check out below the cut for more (and to take the poll to determine what happens next!)
Miss Raven artwork is credited to @shimmeryspark!
In the Afternoon: The Raven, Consuming
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The Mostro Lounge’s lunch rush was a terrifying sight to behold from a cat’s eye view.
Noise swelled up from every possible booth and table, sharply amplified by her new feline ears (curse them). A painful pounding began in the back of Raven’s head, falling out of time with the rushed footsteps of servers and customers. Yet all around her were wonderful, comforting aromas, each tempting, daring, her to plunge into the treacherous territory of Octavinelle.
Her stomach snapped at her. A fresh wave of hunger tore through her small, lithe body.
She had never craved for fish so badly.
You’ve got this. It’s just a quick run to the kitchen... Just snatch up some seafood and then sneak out before anyone notices you, Raven coaxed herself.
Her honeyed eyes followed the pattern of the frantic footsteps--in and out, round and round--seeking an opening. A few moments skipped by, each second syncing up with her trembling heart. One, two...
Now!
She made a dash, plowing forward on her paws--
--and smacked right into a leg.
“Whoa, watch it, kitty,” the server warned, nudging Raven away with his foot. “Wild animals like you aren’t exactly welcome in fancy restaurants like this.”
“Y-You...! You’re Leona-san’s goon...!”
“Goon’s kind of harsh, Raven-kun,” Ruggie replied. “A hyena’s gotta do what he can to eat, even if he has to get his paws dirty sometimes.”
“H-How do you know it’s me?!” Raven’s fur bristled. Some part of her felt relieved that an Animal Languages expert was avaliable, but another part of her felt disappointed that she had to settle for Ruggie, of all people.
The beastman threw his head back and howled with laugher. “I’d recognize your uppity attitude anywhere.”
“Hmph!”
“Yup, that’s definitely you, Raven-kun.” Ruggie knelt down, expertly balancing two trays laden with food. “So? What brings you to the Mostro Lounge?”
Raven stared at the fat salmon steak in one of his hands. It glistened with a mixture of natural fats and a pungent ginger-lime sauce. A small trickle of drool hung from the corner of her mouth.
Ruggie followed her gaze to the salmon. A playful sneer formed on his face as he lifted the platter just out of her reach. “Whoa there, can’t have you chowing down on customers’ orders!”
“Oh, come on! I’m starving...! Do you know how much scampering around campus I had to do just to get here?!” Raven mewled angrily, sending the hyena the fiercest glare she could muster.
“Looks like the tables have flipped. Look who’s begging for scraps now, eh~” He snickered to himself. “Tell you what, I’ll snag something from the kitchen for you if you pay me off.”
“... I’m afraid to ask, but what’s your price?”
“100,000 madol oughta cover it.”
“Excuse me?! Why are you asking for so much?!”
“I’m sticking my neck out for you. Besides, it’s not like you have much of a choice, you know? The alternative option is I turn you in to my higher ups.” Ruggie tilted his head, indicating Floyd, who was prowling around the dining room, notepad in hand, and Azul, who was conversing with a few customers.
“You wouldn’t.”
His grin broadened. “Try me.”
“You...!!”
“Make your choice quick. Time’s money, and you don’t wanna waste either!”
“Wait, wait! Can we negotiate or something? Maybe I can pay in installments?”
“One time payment, one lump sum. Take it or leave it.”
“I seriously can’t afford that!! You’re being too cruel. Isn’t my undying gratitude enough payment?”
“Gratitude doesn’t pay my bills.”
“You’re a high school student, what bills do you need to pay for?”
“Well, for one--”
A long shadow suddenly fell over the bird and the hyena. Raven shrunk back, consumed by a frightening chill. A single, golden orb, paired with a polite smile, stared down at her menacingly.
“Ruggie-san,” Jade purred, “May I ask why it is that you are crouched in the corner when you are meant to be assisting us with the lunch hour rush? Azul is not paying you to loiter.”
“Well, would you look at that? Time’s up, Raven-kun,” Ruggie whispered in a singsong. He turned to Jade and slapped on a lazy grin. “Sorry! I found this little guy wandering around and stopped to say hi to it.”
Jade’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly, but his smile remained. “Oya, a cat? I do wonder how it found its way here.”
“Must’ve been lured by the seafood.” Ruggie stood back up, shrugging. “But a stray’s a stray--it probably came to grab some grub, so I’ll leave its punishment up to you, Jade-kun.”
“Um, what?! RUGGIE?! Wh-What are you saying?!” Raven hissed. “Don’t just leave me alone with this sadist!!”
“Fufu. I shall do my utmost to maintain order at this eatery. You can rely on me, Ruggie-san.”
“And you...! Don’t agree with him!!!”
“Sounds good! Have a blast, you guys!” Ruggie winked cheekily before vanishing into the crowded dining area. The salmon steak Raven had been eyeing went with him, causing her stomach to cry out in dejection.
That feeling lasted for all of five seconds before fear overcame her. She felt her paws leaving the ground and kissing the air as Jade hoisted her up by the front legs. Raven screeched in surprise, finding herself suddenly face-to-face with his mesmerizing, mismatched eyes.
Her stomach roared just as fiercely.
“JLEECHISHOLDINGMEJLEECHISHOLDINGMEJLEECHISHOLDINGMEAKJALBDABLBAIBIAOYBOVFYPIPVUOYPIAVGYIAEBGIEYFVQEYIBHD--”
“A noisy creature, aren’t you? You must be rather uncomfortable in the presence of stranger—and rather famished as well,” he tutted, lips pursed into a smirk. “Ah, but... your coat is a bit too well kept, and your figure too full, for a stray. A runaway, perhaps?”
“I WANT TO RUN AWAY FROM YOU!!”
Jade laughed, holding her firm despite her struggling and flailing about. “Fufufu. Not to worry. I’m certain we can reunite you with your owner... or find a new home for you, whichever option is simpler.”
He prodded her nose with a gloved finger.
“Meep...!!”
“But first, let’s get you fed.”
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One hearty bowl of premium grade tuna later, Raven found herself cradled in the arms of an eel like a newborn. Jade made long strides around the Mostro Lounge, stopping by each table to inquire about a “lost pet”, presenting the midnight black feline in the process. Whenever she made a fuss, she was quickly silenced with firm strokes on the head, her hissing melting away into content purrs.
(“Curse you,” Raven grumbled, grimacing as she nuzzled into his hand. “I’ll have you know I don’t enjoy this one bit, stupid seafood.”)
“I am terribly sorry to disturb you, Kalim-san, Jamil-san, but might I have a moment of your time?”
The Scarabia duo glanced up from their meal. As per usual, they were like the sun and the moon—Kalim bearing a giant grin, and Jamil wearing a pokerface.
“No problem! What’s up?” Kalim asked, setting down his silverware. He immediately spotted the cat in Jade’s hands, which set a twinkle in his eyes. “Ooh! Is that your new pet? It’s so cute!”
“... It’s a ‘cute’ health code violation,” Jamil muttered under his breath.
“You are correct, Jamil-san. However, I assure you that this is not the norm at the Mostro Lounge. I fear that this little one was separated from its owner, so I thought to reunite them, as any good samaritan would.”
Jamil snorted in disbelief. “Good samaritan? You? And pigs can fly.”
“If you stick a pig on a magic carpet, they can definitely fly!” Kalim pointed out. “Anyway, that’s so nice of you to do, Jade! It’s not my cat, but if you can’t find its owner, I’d be happy to take it off your hands and give it a good home!”
“Kalim, you can’t just take in every animal you come across...!”
“Eh? Why not? We’ve got lots of friends for it to play with, and plenty of space, too!”
“Scarabia already has a big enough menagerie as it is.”
Raven shuddered at the idea of being housed with elephants and tigers. She leaned into Jade, preferring to take even his company over that of a zoo.
“I will keep that in mind, Kalim-san,” Jade nodded. “I shall be on my way, then. My apologies again for interrupting your meal.”
He moved to the next table, where Riddle and Silver were seated, sharing a pot of tea. Scones, sandwiches, and various spreads were displayed on a tiered stand. As Jade approached, he picked up bits of their conversation.
“... at my wit’s end,” Riddle groaned, setting down the tea pot. “Rule Number 529: a cat must eat steak while playing the violin during the night of a full moon. And yet...! The cat beastman of our dorm is not available for this task!!”
Silver nodded quietly—more of a listener than a speaker.
“I requested for Grim to serve as a substitute, but... he refused, citing that he was no cat! In what way is he not a cat, I ask you?” Riddle sighed into his tea cup. A cloud of fragrant steam wafted up, coloring his cheeks pink. “I don’t know what I shall do.”
“Perhaps I can assist,” Jade suggested, stepping before the two. “Riddle-san, Silver-san. I just so happen to have come across this cat, who is looking for a good home. Would either of you care to take it off my hands?”
The redhead snapped to attention. “A cat, you say? It seems my prayers have been answered.”
“It looks healthy,” Silver noted.
“Would you like to claim this cat as your new furry friend, Riddle-san?” Jade smiled, holding out Raven to the Dorm Leader.
He hesitated. “... It’s you we’re talking about. Anyone with half a brain cell would know to not accept anything ‘free’ from students of Octavinelle.”
“You would be doing me a favor. That would be enough payment in of itself,” Jade insisted. “Azul, Floyd, and I cannot keep an animal in an eatery. We may pass it along to Ruggie-san if there are no clear takers—and the poor thing may be subjected to lions and various other beasts.”
“That’s true, but...” Riddle glanced at Silver. “What are your thoughts on this?”
“... It’s cute. I’ll take it if you don’t, and you can borrow it for your rule. Then there wouldn’t be a problem and you wouldn’t owe Octavinelle anything, right?”
“You can be too selfless at times.” Riddle shook his head. “... I’m in a pinch, so I’m willing to stick my neck put for this.”
“Oya, oya. How noble of you both.” Jade ran a hand along Raven’s thick coat. “There are so many kind-hearted customers willing to take you in, little one. Fufufu... I wonder one of them would you prefer to go with?”
https://www.strawpoll.me/45477267
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fluffle-writes · 3 years
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Hey, if I wrote a choose your own adventure sort of thing for Twst, would you guys be interested? I'll put a poll beneath too, let me know please xP
I've seen @/moemoemammon do them and they look really fun!
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itgetsbetterproject · 2 months
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🏳️‍🌈 Apply now to get $10,000 for your school! 🏳️‍⚧️
Over the past 2 years, we've granted over $1 million to students across the U.S. through our 50 States, 50 Grants, 5,000 voices initiative to help make their schools more welcoming for LGBTQ+ students.
And yup - we're doing it again.
Do you have an idea that would help make your school better for LGBTQ+ students? Maybe like building...
🟣 A gender-affirming closet
🟣 Your school's first Pride parade
🟣 An LGBTQ+ mural on campus
🟣 A safe space or community garden, or
🟣 Resources for your GSA club?
See some past projects from other students here for inspo.
We know that students know what they need most at their own schools - so middle and high school students across the U.S., DC, and territories can apply now through April 1 for one of our school grants to win up to $10,000 to actually make your project a reality!
The application, FAQs, and more are all available at 50states50grants.org.
Apply now through April 1 - can't wait to see what you all come up with.
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yan-twst · 3 years
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CYOYA - part II
and finally it’s here! chapter ii of the cyoa fic! last time you all voted on what our protagonist should do, and the winning choice was to ask malleus to study with you! so the story will be picking up from there!
“Hmm, I’m sure Silver would enjoy sharing his cookies with a friend, especially after a hard day of studying...” hummed Lilia, and it was at that moment you knew that you had to get away from the short fae as soon as possible, lest you fall victim of what would probably be the world’s most horrid food poisoning.
It’d be rude to just run away all of a sudden; Lilia was still your superior in terms of authority, and he didn’t seem to have any ill will. You nervously glanced around, eyes settling on Malleus’ imposing figure; how you had forgotten he was there for a second was beyond you. Tall, imposing, with green eyes that almost seemed to glow in the dark, you could understand why so many people feared the dorm leader just based off looks alone, but in this sort of situation...
“Um, I was actually, uh... Hoping I could ask our Dorm Leader here for help with studying.” you hoped the anxiety in your voice didn’t show through. It was uncharacteristic of anyone to get close to Malleus, be it out of respect or fear- and usually you’d keep your distance too, not wanting to annoy the fae prince (and also being admittedly intimidated by him, but you figured everyone was).
Despite your odd request, Lilia didn’t seem confused. He merely grinned and nodded, almost as if he’d been expecting this outcome. Malleus, on the other hand, did not look nearly as knowing as Lilia. His eyes opened wide and his posture stiffened for a second, telltale signs of him being shocked, as he opened his mouth soundlessly. You prepared yourself to get roasted by his fire breath or something for your request; surely you’d crossed a line or something by so carelessly asking for his time. He wasn’t just your dorm leader, he was also a prince and one of the most powerful mages, surely you shouldn’t have just-
“Is that truly what you wish for?” no green fire left Malleus’ mouth, instead a simple question to answer your request. You blinked a couple of times, releasing tension you’d gathered in the seconds of arduous wait.
“Y... Yes?” you repeated, a bit taken aback by the response. Malleus had composed himself quickly, back to his usual way of standing and his eyes no longer wide open; but there was just something about his body language and tone that was off. It wasn’t annoyance or anger (thank gods, because he could probably wipe you off the planet without much effort), but rather something akin to... bashfulness? “Oh, um- only if you have time, of course! And if you want! I don’t want to impose...”
“Ufufu, don’t worry little one, I can assure you he doesn’t mind.” said Lilia with a smirk so wide you had to wonder if he really had intended for this ordeal to go down like this. “Now, Malleus, it’s no time to be shy, one of your dorm members has come to ask you for help! Go on, show them what you know.”
“Don’t you have to deliver those... Cookies before they cool?” Malleus’ tone didn’t change much, but the faint tint of pink in his cheeks told you Lilia’s words had definitely made him flustered. It was an odd sight, to see him acting in such a way- after all, the image you had of him was shaped by watching his imposing figure walk around campus surrounded by his guards, by rumours and whispers, and the occasional viewing of him ruthlessly winning at magift. Nothing could have prepared you to see such a humane side to him; but maybe this was just how he acted when he was with people he trusted...? Lilia did seem to have a deep connection to him, after all.
“Oh, you’re right!” Lilia’s attention was immediately driven back to the plate of charcoal black masses resting on the table. He picked it up and began to walk away, not before turning around and saying goodbye. “Well you two, have a nice study session! Don’t go to sleep too late, (name)!”
“We will!” you replied, waving goodbye to him. In all honesty, you were just relieved you weren’t going to get peer pressured into eating one of those toxic looking cookies- but now that Lilia was gone, you were suddenly left alone in the common room. 
“... You’re quite daring, to ask me for help.” mused Malleus, although his tone didn’t seem to hold malice. He looked more curious than anything, as he gazed down on you, as if he were trying to understand your actions. It was nerve racking, sure, but on the very least he didn’t seem upset.
“Should I have not done that?” you said, almost biting your tongue once the words were out. Were you being too casual? He was a prince and he was powerful, and you were just a normal student- but... The only person you’d seen advocate to treating Malleus like absolute royalty was Sebek, and even Malleus seemed to get tired of the first year’s antics from time to time.
“I never said that.” he replied, an amused twinkle in his eyes as he smiled. He uncrossed his arms from his chest, a small action, but one that made you feel just so much more comfortable in his presence. Surely if you stepped out of line, he’d let you know, right? So far he didn’t seem like the type of guy who’d just zap you to death for a mistake. “I’m simply... Surprised you did so. Most students would be too scared to do so.”
“Well, that’s...” what the hell were you even supposed to say to that?! As powerful as he was, it seemed Malleus wasn’t a great conversationalist, with how he was pushing you into a corner in the conversation. “... I haven’t talked to you much, but you’re my dorm leader, so it’s not so shocking I’d ask for help, right? I know you’re very skilled and powerful, too, so... I guess I just didn’t think it’d be that weird.”
“Hmm...” he seemed satisfied with the answer, maybe even... Happy? He wasn’t easy to read, and you didn’t want to seem like you were staring. Still, you could have sworn you hear him whisper ‘that’s quite interesting, indeed’ under his breath, but he quickly spoke up again. “You’re right that as your dorm leader, it’s my duty to help you. Do you have your class materials with you?”
“Yes, here they are.” you said, opening your notebook to the page with the draught’s ingredients and preparation steps. “... It’s a bit dark here, sorry if it’s not very readable.”
“Is it troublesome to study here for you?” asked Malleus, raising his eyebrows. Glancing at his green eyes, the fact he’s probably got no difficulty looking in the dark- or in the not-so-well lit common room- hit you, judging by his slit pupils. 
“No, no, it’s ok, I can read, it’s just a bit dark here since the torches’ fire is dimmed at night.” you said, not wanting to seem like you were causing one problem after the other. The torches lighting up the common room were lit with magical fire, and at this time of the night, they became quite dim, probably to discourage students from lingering too long and make them go to their respective rooms. It didn’t make it impossible to use it as a study room, just not an effective one; ideally, each student would do their late night cramming in their own room, but there was no way you were asking Malleus to go to your room. First of all, it was messy, and second of all, your dormmate was there snoring the night away.
“There’s no need to lie to me. You shouldn’t strain your eyes to read in the dark.” Malleus picked up your notebook before you could complain. For a second, he looked like he was thinking; you guessed he’d offer the library as a good place to study (although you didn’t want to go all the way there, if he offered so you’d accept), or maybe he’d use his magic to make the torches burn brighter. After his deliberation, he tucked the notebook under his arm carefully and motioned for you to follow him out the common room. “Follow me, (name). We’re going to my room, if that’s ok with you.”
“That’s-!” your body froze at his words. No, no, absolutely not. Even if he offered it, it felt like too much to do that- you’d already been enough of a thorn on his side asking for his help, it was getting late, and he probably had his own things to do. “I’d hate to intrude- listen, it’s ok, I can read up my notes tomorrow morning, and-”
“I would not have offered if I was not ok with it.” Malleus’ response cut you off before you could try and excuse yourself out of the situation. He was still looking at you with that odd expression, a mix between curiosity and interest, as if he were staring at some odd flower of sorts. “Follow me.”
You certainly didn’t feel like starting an argument with him, and so you did. The halls were a bit too dark for comfort at this hour, the torches dimmed here as well to deter students from wandering around at such hours. An ironic thing, really, considering most of the Diasomnia student body stayed up until odd hours studying or simply killing time. Following Malleus, you stared at his broad back and his tall form, the way his horns curled from his head and reflected the greenish glow of the fire; truly, he looked like a prince. And then you decided to resolve something nagging you at the back of your mind.
“Um, Dorm leader, just a quick question... How did you know my name?” you asked. He’d called you by your name when inviting you, hadn’t he...? You couldn’t recall presenting yourself to him- but as soon as you finished your question you realized the answer to it. “Oh, nevermind! You probably heard Lilia say it when he left, my bad.”
“It wasn’t from Lilia.” Malleus’ response was rapid, almost as if he didn’t even have to think. You furrowed your brows at this; no, you were sure you’d never formally presented yourself to him, and you weren’t in the magift team or anything like that, so why...? “Silver talks a lot about you.”
“Oooh, of course! That makes sense.” you almost wanted to slap yourself for not realizing such an obvious connection. Silver was a friend of yours, and he did spend a considerable amount of time guarding Malleus. He’d probably mentioned you a couple times or something, nothing too weird. 
“... But Lilia did tell me about you in the entrance ceremony.” added Malleus. You couldn’t see his face as you followed him from behind, but the tone in his voice had softened just a little bit. You didn’t want to make any assumptions, but it almost sounded like he was thinking back on a fond memory. “Diasomnia doesn’t get as many students as other dorms. I wasn’t even invited to the sorting ceremony, but Lilia told me how only a handful of the new students got sorted here.”
“Ah, that’s right, I remember the vice dorm leader- I mean, Lilia, telling us you were missing that day.” you said, tracing back on memories. Honestly, you’d been so anxious and excited the day you’d arrived at NRC, you hadn’t even cared about what dorm you got sorted into; you considered yourself a pretty average person, without anything too surprising or any curious talents, so you didn’t know where you’d get sorted. Unlike many NRC students, you also lacked a family history in the school; most people guessed their dorm based on what dorm their siblings or parents had been in, but you’d just... Never had a family member you knew attend NRC. 
“... Lilia said the mirror claimed you held great magic potential.” he seemingly skipped over the fact he wasn’t in the ceremony (he said he wasn’t invited, right? You figured he had his reasons to not want to go over that), but his comment still caught you off guard. “It’s not often the magic mirror will say that about a person.”
“Is that so...? Haha, I’m not so sure about that. I mean, I don’t think I’m too amazing at anything.” you said, chuckling. You’d simply thought the mirror said some cheesy stuff to everyone who got sorted, as some sort of ego boost to the first years or something. “Well, I am glad I got sorted here, though. I like Diasomnia.”
“You shouldn’t say that about yourself.” Malleus didn’t turn around when he said this, but you just knew he’d narrowed his eyes as he said that. “... Just the fact you even dared ask me for help, and followed me to my room like this goes to show you’re quite different. I have no doubt your skills in magic will flourish in time.”
“I- um, thank you...!” you truly hoped your voice didn’t sound like a squeak, but it was hard to keep cool when Malleus Draconia spoke to you like that. “It means a lot to me, um, coming from you.”
A comfortable silence fell between you two. The sound of Malleus’ heeled uniform shoes against the stone floor echoed in the halls, mixing with the noise of rain outside- soon, you were faced with stairs. Being constructed like a castle from the Valley of Thorns, there were plenty of towers; of course the dorm leader’s room would be on top of one.
“We’re here.”
You were a bit surprised at how much you walked to get to his dorm- the amount of stairs you’d gone up was enough to leave you breathless, although Malleus looked fine. The door to his room was made of a beautifully dark wood, with intricate carvings and a metal doorknob. He opened the door and walked in, holding it open for you (you wondered if the door had a lock and key and he just kept it unlocked knowing nobody would dare come snooping, or if it was some sort of magic door that only opened for him). 
“Come on in,” he said, and not wanting to make him just stand there holding the door open, you quickly walked in despite feeling like someone as common and unimportant as you shouldn’t just be waltzing into his room.
As he closed the door behind you, you couldn’t help but wonder at the sight of his room. It was big- dorm leader benefits, you guessed, because this one-person dorm was about twice the size of the dorm you shared with your roommate. The floor was tiled in white with black accents, and the thing that caught your eye first was the huge canopy bed. The way the canopy was built almost reminded you of the very building of the dorm. Immediately your eyes flew to the giant dragon statue next to the dresser- why was that there you had no clue, but it certainly looked cool. It was probably related to Diasomnia’s origins and its logo, since the Witch of Thorns could turn into a dragon.
The more you looked, the more details you picked up. The loveseat in front of his bed was currently occupied by books and trinkets, as if he’d been cleaning and put them all there while he found a space for them. There were many magift team banners in the wall above his desk, and you couldn’t tell why, but you found that adorable. Besides the loveseat, there wasn’t much clutter in the dorm- it was quite clean, actually, almost as if he didn’t spend much time there. His desk was probably the most well-loved spot, the chair still ajar as if he’d stood up and not put it back in place, papers crowding the surface of the desk.
“This should be well-lit enough.” he said, and with a flourish of his hand, lit the candelabra on the desk. That much was overkill, really, considering the giant chandelier hanging from the ceiling, but you appreciated the gesture- and also admired how easily and precisely he’d just cast fire magic. “Take a seat wherever it’s comfortable for you, and we can begin studying.”
Upon being presented with that choice, you blanked. Picking where to sit down should be the easy part of this whole ordeal; asking your intimidating dorm leader for help and accepting to go in his room was the ‘hard’ part, sitting down was the easy part, but in that very moment you weren’t so sure. The loveseat was occupied by his stuff, and you’d really rather die than start moving around his belongings for a seat. That left the floor, the desk, and the bed; of course you wouldn’t just sit on the floor, because then he’d also have to sit on the floor to explain, and that didn’t feel right at all.
The desk should have been the logical choice, but as you glanced at it, it was very clear that having only one chair would pose a problem. Sure, he probably wouldn’t mind- in fact he most likely expected you to take a seat there- but... Then he’d probably have to stand behind you to explain, hovering over your shoulders the whole time. He’d have to lean down to your level to check your notes, and- gods, if it were some random student you wouldn’t have cared this much, but... Something about having Malleus stand behind you, rest his hands on the back of the chair where you sat, and to have him lean down and be so close to you just to read the notes made your stomach flip. But that was your problem; you were the one making a big deal out of just sitting in a desk, of all things.
Then there was the bed- honestly you mostly studied sat in your bed, with your notebooks spread out around you. But that was in the privacy of your own dorm. Sure, if a friend was over you wouldn’t hesitate to tell them to sit on your bed with you to chat or just chill, and you’d even helped your roommate study before while you both sat down on his bed to review and exchange class notes. But this- this was Malleus’ bed. Was it too out of line to sit down on the bed to study...? It was just sitting down; he probably wouldn’t even give it a second thought...
— time to make a choice! vote in the poll linked below to choose how to advance in the story! choosing where to sit may seem innocent enough, but this particular choice is the one that may begin some interesting developments
poll: https://www.strawpoll.me/21192129
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twst-pirateau · 3 years
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search for treasure - chapter 0.5
Don't help them
They should be fine, the two pirates were strong enough to carry that treasure chest if they can put more effort into it. The two were also in a rush, so a stranger’s help wouldn’t make a difference, blending into the bustling hubbub of the harbor with a burden at hand.
Don’t mind them, there is much to do here.
There was much to do in a day, and well, one could not simply do nothing at this very moment. Here, [Reader] takes a step and ventures deeper into the harbor, where they take notice of a grandiose fountain that marks the heart of the town. They pause, taking another moment to bask in the atmosphere. Up north, a grand palace towers above the common cottages, eloquent architectures, and other buildings..
A government building by the left and a tavern by the right.
Where do you go?
Up north.
On your left.
On your right.
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the-night-cyoa · 3 years
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Try to leave
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tw: non con, blood, biting
“Anyway,” Mari finally spoke up, “I should probably go check up on Grim again. He’s probably full by now.” She stepped away from him, then turned around to leave. The greenhouse may have been filled with plants but the air felt oppressive. It felt difficult for her to breathe in the room with him around. As she walked away, she noticed how silent the usually talkative man was. She tried to walk as fast as she could, without making her seem suspicious. 
However, before she could reach the door, she felt his arms wrap around her body, trapping her in an iron hold. It was only now that she realized just how strong Rook actually was. He was a hunter, so she expected at least some muscle. But this went beyond her expectations, judging by the firm arms that held her, he would have to be fucking ripped under his clothes. She wasn’t given much room to struggle. 
His hot breaths touched her caramel flesh, his face close to her neck and mouth next to her ear. “que c'est beau,” he whispered, “Seeing your retreating form is such a beauté to behold. The way you try to conceal your delicious fear.” 
Rook nuzzled his face into her bare neck. She felt two sharp points press against her pulse point. It wasn’t enough to tear the flesh, but it was clear that he could do it if she struggled too much or made any sudden movements. 
“Why… are you doing this?” She asked, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. 
He chuckled. The rumble coming from him could be felt against her. “Roi du Poison told me to bring you to him. But you’re just too irresistible, mon ange. He won’t mind if I took a few bites~” It was as if his fangs had grown sharper once he said that. The hunter brought her closer to his body, her back pressed against his chest. And something else had pressed against her, causing the prefect’s eyes to widen to the size of saucers. 
“Please… Don’t do this…” She whimpered. 
Rook gave a dreamy sigh. “Yes, that’s perfect. Your pleads are music to my ears.” His hand travelled down to grope at her body, appreciating every curve. 
“I’m—”
“A virgin?” He cut her off, “Oui, I’m well aware. Your scent says it all. Pure and untainted.” 
Mari felt her blood turn cold at how he was so giddy to do all this. She opened her mouth to protest but was interrupted when he forced his lips onto hers. A warm liquid ran down her throat and a heat started spreading like a wildfire between her legs. Her mind turned foggy and her body felt weakened a great amount, to the point that she couldn’t struggle. All she could do was hold onto him as he laid her on the ground of the greenhouse. His lips trailed kisses down her neck, then to her collarbones. 
Rook positioned himself above her, placing her legs on his shoulders. She could feel his stiff bulge pressing up against her, causing the heat to rise within her. He reached down and took out a knife, glinting dangerously in the night. Her eyes widened. 
“Now, you won’t be needing this anymore,” Rook said as he used it to cut away at her underwear. His slanted eyes narrowed, a gleeful glint in his hunter green pools as he gazed upon her cunt. She gasped when she felt his cool digits insert themselves within her folds, massaging her insides. 
Mari couldn’t help but moan lightly at his motions. The world around her was hazy. All she could feel was the intense heat and his cold touch. Like fire meeting ice. 
He sighed dreamily. “Yes. Don’t hold back, mon petit ange. Let me hear your splendid voice.” 
She heard the clinking of metal before feeling his fingers pull themselves out. She whimpered at the loss of stimulation but then—
“Ah!” She cried out when his hard length entered her wet depths, thrusting at a fast pace. It felt like he had been arranging her insides. The knot in her stomach tightened as her eyes rolled back in pleasure. His cock was hitting all the right spots that made her see stars. “Rook—“ 
Her saying his name only encouraged him further, moaning in delight. “Hearing my name come from your lips is truly marvelous.” 
Rook leaned down so that his mouth was pressed against her neck, two sharp points grazing the flesh. The knot in her stomach tightened when his thrusts became more erratic and eager, slamming inside her. Her arms had been gripping onto his ebony cloak. 
Mari let out a shriek of ecstasy when he hit her g-spot. He took this as the opportunity to sink his fangs into her neck, mixing the pain and pleasure. He lapped the blood up like a man starved, hunger and desire overtaking him. 
“ROOK!” She felt as if her consciousness was fading, dark spots dancing around her eyes. Her eyelids felt as if they were getting heavier and heavier. 
The last thing she saw before blacking out was Rook, gazing down at her with hunter green eyes glowing in the dark. An expression of pure madness. 
[ENDING 1] 
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mamma-mia-mammon · 2 years
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pieces that marked the beginning of the Hatter propaganda
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leviskokoro · 3 years
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Quick, someone tell me what Ace and Deuce would wear to a halloween masquerade party? I was thinking of a mischievous spirit for Ace. Idk about Deuce though. This is for the cyoa I’m writing.
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lemontwst · 4 years
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as your faithful beta reader!! I HAVE FAITH IN U YOU GOT THIS... and also what the fuck is "cyoa twisted wonderland malleus murderer simulator" supposed to mean. whos the murderer-
YES THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ME MY SEXY TYPO ANGEL I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR ALL THE SHIT YOU'LL HAVE TO FIX
AND WELL SOMEONE IS GONNA FIND THAT OUT BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE AREN'T THEY WWW YOU THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO BE JUST A SLOPPY ROMP ON A BED OF ROSES???
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clarislam · 4 years
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Book Review: "You Are Alice In Wonderland's Mum!" by Sherwin Tjia
Where has Alice gone? You, the reader, must find your daughter in "You Are Alice In Wonderland's Mum!" by Sherwin Tjia! #bookreview #ChooseYourOwnAdventure #YouAreAliceInWonderlandsMum #SherwinTjia #reading
Warning: This book review contains spoilers for “You Are Alice In Wonderland’s Mum!” by Sherwin Tjia. If you want to avoid spoilers, you might want to look for another book review.
Cover of “You Are Alice In Wonderland’s Mum!” by Sherwin Tjia.
I’m back with another book review, and this time I’m reviewing “You Are Alice In Wonderland’s Mum!” by Sherwin Tjia! It’s been a while since I read an Alic…
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dailyrandomwriter · 9 months
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Day 315
So apparently, I have decided I would start projects, as if I don’t already barely do what I set out to do on a daily basis.
After a lot of thought, I had started another blog called Pretending I’m a Cottage Lady to put all my crafting stuff. The name comes from the fact that vintage/junk journaling is a lot about taking time out to just be creative and chill. Which is a lot of the cottagecore and similar aesthetic. 
Meanwhile I have agreed to write a CYOA (Choose Your Own Adventure) and someone, last night while I was asleep, suggested I should do Alice in Wonderland themed CYOA. My dumbass brain has decided I am going to shove as much of my (questionably) remembered dreams into this and make it a CYOA fevered dream edition. We’ll see how far I get on that project because CYOA stories can be a bit overwhelming due potentially making the project larger than it has any right to.
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twstdreams · 3 years
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A Bouquet to Share: Flower Foraging
CYOA: Chronic Hanahaki AU
Length: 2K | ao3 link
Warnings: fluff, mentions of flu/cold
next
You’re waiting in front of the mirror for your turn to pass, behind the infamous first years. No one in NRC isn’t aware of the prefect and their friends, mostly how they perpetually get themselves in all sorts of trouble. 
“Hey, wasn’t the prefect going to be in our group?” Jack asks
“Oh, they couldn’t make it because they got sick,” Deuce answers. There’s a pause as the unasked question lingers in the air. If they’re just suffering from a passing virus or if it’s that illness.
“With a normal cold,” Ace clarifies, “Grim’s been complaining about having to take care of them.”
You think you’ve heard ten different iterations of this conversation before. Some with Octa A-kun, another with a Pomefiore duo, the same rumours and inquiries always start flying when winter is broken by spring’s warm touch. Everyone wants to know who has hanahaki and chronic sufferers are always the first suspect. People attempt to deduce who’s sick because of pollen or because of the flowers blooming in their lungs. It’s not a lethal disease with modern magic and technology, but you swear enough drama follows it to make up for the lack of imminent doom.
“Hand!” the ghost before you demands once you’re at the front of the line. You offer the back of your hand and immediately a rose is stamped on it, proof that you’re a student who has access to the Great Seven botanical gardens. Then you step through the mirror and are greeted by the site of a massive glass structure. You’re excited to explore the grounds. Each area is its own biome with unique flora and fauna which flourish in that environment. Personally, you’re hoping to see the aquatics section for fun, but you need to ensure that you complete your assignment first.
“Meet each other in the tropical region in two hours!” you text to Jamil and he responds with an affirmation. You two had already agreed to this prior to the project. Most people are wandering the gardens with their partner, but you know Jamil has his hands full with Kalim. You just hope Jamil will actually get to appreciate a couple flowers too.
Officially, the headmaster says this is a field trip for all grades because botany is useful in several fields of magic. You think it’s because a massive amount of students visiting from a prestigious school gets him some sort of discount, but those aren’t thoughts you voice out loud. Not that you care, the Great Seven Botanical gardens hosts some unique and deadly plants, even more so than the poisonous flowers allowed to bloom on campus. You can't choose a lot of them for your assignment but nothing is stopping you from visiting them if you have extra time. Plus, activities amongst different classes aren’t that common, let alone those in various years. If you’re lucky, you might see Malleus amongst the flowers.
You’ve only met Malleus at night, on late walks while perhaps avoiding a guard or two. The daffodils at the entrance remind you of your first meeting with Malleus. But you can’t recall clearly, was there only one daffodil at the spot where you met or several?
-
Staying up late the night before to cram for a test, only to crash and take a nap afterwards completely messed up your sleep schedule. No amount of staring at your ceiling was going to make you drowsy. Besides, you want to explore the campus and check out some night-blooming flowers. You spotted several during the day but hadn’t gotten the chance to see them underneath the moonlight. 
You slip out of your dorm to enjoy the slight breeze and fresh air entering your lungs. Exploring the campus at night feels a little liminal. Not to say that it was silent, some nocturnal familiars scurry around, a ghost or two floating, and more than a couple of students here and there creating background noise. But it's interesting to see a campus normally overflowing with life morph into something restful and quiet. The closer you get to the Ramshackle dorm, the more this effect becomes more pronounced.
You spot plenty of random vegetation growing on the lawns of the dorm. You’d be willing to bet a week’s worth of lunches that dorm hasn’t had real maintenance for at least a decade. Horrid for the prefect living there, you really do feel bad for them, but lots of fun for your midnight flower foraging trip. Your phone battery is dying fast with the flashlight so you test out a new spell you’ve recently learned. You murmur the incantation and a ball of light forms in the palm of your hand. You try to extend it so it acts as a familiar but the light begins to flicker so you’re stuck with having it illuminate the area around your hand. A little testing, a failure or two, and you’re able to create a soft light to guide you. Your hand is nothing but a glorified flashlight, but you can see your surroundings so it’s not a total fail. Unfortunately, what you thought was some pretty evening primrose is actually daffodils.
“How odd. You’re not one of the Ramshackle inhabitants,” a voice notes. You’re certain a ghost has come to lecture you, but you let out a gasp when you realize a living being is behind you.
“I’m, uh, yeah I don’t live here,” you admit, “Just wanted some fresh air. I couldn’t sleep.” You were honestly hoping to avoid all dorm leaders, you know some don’t take kindly to students leaving their dorm after hours, and you think some greater force must be laughing at you because somehow you’ve stumbled upon the most mysterious and powerful one.
“And you came to this abandoned building to do that?” His voice is even. You’re not sure if there’s an accusation laced in his statement or if his regal airs just make him always seem confident and a bit unfriendly.
“I thought it’d be cool to see the night-blooming flowers too,” you add, “There’s supposed to be some evening primrose and moonflowers beneath a gargoyle but I can’t figure out which one it is.” 
“I can introduce you to the correct gargoyle,” Malleus comments. Your head, which is frantically processing information and doing its best to be logical, tells you that’s probably a social cue to ask him to show you where the gargoyle is. Your mind, however, is still trying to comprehend how the heck you ended up meeting the Malleus Draconia on a weedy lawn.
“I am part of the gargoyle appreciation society,” he continues but the way his lips were pressed into a thin line indicates that you’ve spent a little too long coming up with a response.
“Oh! That’s impressive,”—now isn’t a good time to admit you didn’t know that club existed—“if you don’t mind, then I’d really appreciate it!” He nods once in acknowledgement and you begin trailing after the dragon fae. 
“Do you know about each of the gargoyles?” you ask; you ought to express interest in his passions when he’s doing you a favour. You’re not sure what to expect, but it was most definitely not an encyclopedic infodump about Ramshackle’s gargoyles.
“This is the first gargoyle, located on the entrance to the east building. Are you able to see it?” Before you had a chance to answer, Malleus casts a spell of light that creates fake fireflies which illuminate your surroundings. 
“Now I can. It kind of looks like a crow,” you answer. The gargoyle is easy to see but you think Malleus’ elegant magic is more beautiful. Your lightbulb of a hand is almost embarrassing and you quickly stop the spell.
“It is a crow, which is extremely rare for a gargoyle. This is the only one I’ve ever seen. Its quality means it must have been made by a famous craftsman. It looks like it could take flight at any moment.” He goes on about the history of the gargoyles here; you’ve never really been interested in them but the way Malleus talks about them with such excitement makes you engaged. It’s the way that extensive knowledge is intertwined with informed hypotheses while the excitement in his tone never leaves. Hearing Malleus talk about something he loves feels enchanting and endearing. His bubbling enthusiasm is cute.
“This is the gargoyle with the evening primrose and moonflowers,” Malleus announces. Once he finishes his little spiel about its history, you begin to take pictures of the flowers. You want to ask if you can take a picture of him; there’s something so odd about this experience that you want a picture to prove it is real. However, the fresh air has awaken your brain cells and they let you know that perhaps asking someone you just met for a photo in the dead of night is not the best idea. But well, Malleus has been pretty accommodating so you decide to ask for another favour.
“If you don’t mind, could you teach me that light spell?” you inquire. The surprise is evident in his expression and you wonder if you’re being too selfish.
“Is that so? You want me to help you with your spell? Interesting,” he comments and honestly, the pause makes you so nervous you regret ever opening your mouth, “Very well. Show me what you can do.” Even though you're the one who asked, you're a little surprised that the Malleus Draconia has agreed to some impromptu tutoring.
“I can summon a light but I’m having trouble making it steady after it stops making contact with my body,” you explain while taking out your wand. You murmur the incantation and a soft light envelopes your hand while illuminating your surroundings. As the light starts to float away, its shape begins to morph and looks like a blob of light which never stays a consistent shape, akin to a lava lamp. 
“You have enough magic to power the spell. The changing shape suggests that you’re having trouble imagining the outcome,” Malleus sumrises, “Why don’t you try mimicking the shape of mine?” Malleus adjusts the shape of his firefly lights into simple spheres. Unfortunately, it does not go so smoothly for you. First the light looks like a balloon, then it shrinks to the size of a marble, but when you have it at a reasonable size then the edges of the ball begin to quiver.
“I’m sorry it’s taking me so long,” you mutter. Sure, you don’t expect to be on the same level as someone as infamous as the Diasomnia dorm leader, but this feels embarrassing.
“You aren’t expected to master everything at the beginning. Don’t be shy,” he reassures. His comforting words encourage you to calm down. You take in a deep breath and start again. The light transforms into a uniform sphere—your own little sun for this corner of the world the two of you are tucked away in.
“I did it!” you exclaim, “It’s all thanks to your advice!” You toss the light between your hands before extending it to float beside Malleus’.
“You already completed the basics. I only offered some advice,” he gently protests but a smile remains on his face all the same.
“What’s the incantation to change its colour again?” you ask, and Malleus says it aloud for you to repeat. You alter your spell, dying it in your favourite colour, then allow it to dance in the sky. His luminescent green light merges with yours, and the spells twine with each other.
-
Since then you’ve taken to late-night walks for exercise and hopes of meeting Malleus. You haven’t exactly been charming—
“Are you here to admire gargoyles?” Malleus inquires when the two of you meet in the dead of night yet again.
“No, but I can,” you offer. Admitting to the ruler of the valley of thorns that you have been wandering around at night to see him again because you’re very intrigued and a little enamoured is not ideal. Luckily Malleus never questions your intent.
— but the two of you are on friendly terms now. So far no flowers were blooming in your lungs, but you’d be lying if you said a crush wasn’t taking root in your heart. But before you could linger on any hypothetical flowers, you have to pick an actual flower for your assignment! As a second year, you will have to grow whichever flower you pick back at school. 
Which flower will you choose? Vote here
White and pink carnations
Crimson astilbe (feather flowers)
Purple snapdragons
Orange tiger lilies
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