Work Text:
It is winter and it is cold when I step into the snow at Ramshackle Dorm. The white of the flakes contrasted the dull grey of the exterior as though it was meant to accentuate it all along. Grim watched from the window as I went, no doubt shouting words of ‘encouragement’, telling me not to come back until I had gotten his prize. I smiled and I waved, and he flicked the blinds closed behind him.
It is Christmas now, or whatever equivalent of the holiday exists here in Twisted Wonderland. I felt taken aback at how strikingly similar it felt to back home, and I thought of the contradictory nature of my time spent here: sometimes the world feels so different it makes my head spin, but often it feels as though almost nothing has changed. I came here without wanting or meaning to, yet I can hardly imagine my life outside of here now; I recognise the holiday so easily and obviously, yet something felt different still. Things are different here.
My attention was drawn to a pair of students bickering in the courtyard. Petty squabbles were common, perhaps more so than actual agreement, but no matter how common such fights are, there is one thing that will remain constant still.
“Rule 582 of the Queen of Hearts expressly forbids raising one’s voice directly in front of depictions of Her Majesty!” Riddle’s voice came from the side slightly, just far enough to be considered out of line of the statue. The students tensed at once. It didn’t take a genius to think of what would come next.
“Off with your heads!”
I watched as the newly collared students scampered off and covered my mouth with my fingers to keep the laugh from bubbling out. Sometimes it felt cathartic to watch the students get what was coming to them, though I knew there was no shortage of other fights going on out of eyeshot and earshot. I can’t help but wonder if everyone in Twisted Wonderland is like this, or if I was simply lucky enough to be stuck with the only group that does. This, at least, is consistent.
“Aaahhh… This sucks… First the shop’s out of the limited edition soda I wanted and now I’m stuck with Riddle… Epic fail…” Idia’s voice came out of the blue and from behind Riddle. He was evidently hiding behind one of the other statues during it all. Somehow, I had the feeling that he played a part in the previous squabble.
“You brought this onto yourself! You’re an upperclassman, and a housewarden at that, so you need to act like it.”
“Ugh… Whatever…” Idia rolled his eyes and made eye contact with me. I expected him to look away, but instead he jumped, and pulled his tablet up to cover his face.
“Riddle, look! Over there! Yuu!”
I knew his plan at once and I stayed silent, considering it my holiday gift to him.
Riddle turned to face me. His face lit up, and as he began to walk towards me, Idia slowly crept away, grinning to himself. As he went, he mouthed a small, Thank you. And then, Merry XMas.
“Yuu, it’s good to see you. How are you doing?” Riddle smiled brightly. It was nice to see him so cheerful now. I still remember how he was when I first arrived, so full of anger and loneliness.
“I’m doing good. I’m running an errand, have you been to Sam’s shop today by chance?”
He crossed his arms in thought and slowly nodded. “Yes, I was actually just there. Idia and I were discussing the upcoming New Year’s Sale that will be hosted soon. We’ve been selected to take part in helping this year.”
I whistled under my breath. “Tough job. Best of luck to the both of you. How does Idia feel about it?”
I knew the answer already, of course, but I couldn’t resist teasing the both of them. In this way, I was similar to the rest of the student body.
“He refused, saying that he never even put his name in. I honestly don’t understand how he can be so… so…” Riddle frowned.
“Irresponsible?”
“Unprofessional.” He finally decided. “Even Kalim at times feels more like a proper housewarden than him.”
Although that bar was exceptionally low, I had to agree. Idia wasn’t professional, but there were charms about him too. I’ve come to understand that even the most insufferable students of Night Raven College have something about them that makes them likeable.
Our conversation continued for only a few minutes more. It seemed that Idia’s gambit may have worked for even longer if he hadn’t given himself away with a shriek in the distance, scared by some unknown thing, a beacon of where he had gone. Riddle scanned the area and his face turned as red as his roses, and as he balled his hands into fists, he shouted a quick goodbye, and stomped off in his direction. Before he could fully disappear, he suddenly turned and shouted, “Merry Christmas!”
I felt warmer after that.
Sam’s shop was unusually quiet for an afternoon. With the end of the morning sale, and the final gifts being bought, the only few who remained were those who were browsing more than they were buying, and those who couldn’t seem to decide. I found both of such people in the form of Azul and Kalim.
“Oh, Yuu~! Over here!” Kalim waved his arms widely overhead and smiled, and I returned his greeting with a wave of my own. Azul gave his usual curt nod, and then went back to staring at the shelf in front of him, pencil and paper in hand. Though I couldn’t quite see it, I was sure the prices listed were far lower than what was on the shelves.
Kalim, in comparison, was empty handed, and as if hearing this very thought in my head, put both of his hands on his hips. “Merry Christmas, Yuu! What’re you doing here?”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the flyer Grim provided me with, pointing to the Premium Ultra Deluxe Tuna ad he had given me before I left the dorm. Kalim grabbed it from my hand, looking over it quietly.
“Hey, Azul, you got some of this, right?”
Azul nodded, eyes still on the shelf. “Why, of course.” I wondered if he actually had, or if he was just presuming he did. He hadn’t even looked at the flyer, after all. “Why?”
“I was just thinkin’… You got the last can, so I don’t think there’s any left for Grim and Yuu!” He seemed genuinely disappointed at the sound of it. “Think you could spot them the can?”
I was amazed at his boldness. That was one of the charms of Kalim; his never-ending optimism. It was also his biggest annoyances.
Azul stood up and smiled. I knew at once that whatever he said next would be no good.
“Why of course!” He exclaimed. “I’d love to make a deal with you. What do you say, Yuu?”
I said nothing and stared.
He stared back.
Together, we stood and stared.
Finally, Kalim huffed. “Come ooon, Azul. It’s Christmas, isn’t it? Can’t you call it a gift?”
Azul thought for a moment. “Hmm… I suppose I can, this once. In the spirit of the holidays,” He smiled and handed over the can. “Merry Christmas, Yuu.”
I took it. “Gee, thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
The sarcasm was lost on the both of them.
As I walked back to Ramshackle with the can in my hand, I thought of Grim.
It’s hard to believe that he’s the same guy as the one who crashed the entrance ceremony. It feels like he’s come so far, both as a mage and a friend. I could hardly imagine what the school may have been like without him.
I worry what might happen if I were to leave him. I worry if he would be able to stay at the school as a student, or if Crowley would force him to leave. He’s earned his spot here, even if it was rough going, and I wouldn’t want him to lose it on my account. If there’s anyone in this school that deserves to stay, it’s him.
I was so deep in thought I forgot to watch where I was going.
I hit something solid.
I fell. And then, I was caught.
“Ara, ara~. What do we have here?” Vil’s laugh echoed in my ears as I looked up at him and pushed out of his arms.
“Sorry, Vil,” I bowed. If there was a hole I could crawl into and die in, I would welcome it happily, as even that would be better than the embarrassment felt right now.
Suddenly, another voice spoke up. “Oi, punk, what about me, huh?”
Leona stood with a hand on his hip and a scowl on his face. It was his default pose, in my mind, and one I have hardly ever seen him without, but it always suited him, especially in situations like this. “I’m the one you actually hit.”
Of course he was. Some part of me believed he had deserved it after all he did, and continues to do, to me and his fellow classmates. Another smaller part believed that he hadn’t deserved it as much as I may think. I decided to follow the former, and offer a small nod of the head, but no more.
He scowled. “Whatever, herbivore. Where are you runnin’ around to all dressed up like that? Seems to me that you’re shakin’ like a leaf out here.”
“While I would hate to agree with Leona,” Vil murmurs with a frown, “You do look cold. Our uniforms alone are hardly winter attire.”
In the midst of all the running around I had forgotten how cold I truly was. I looked down at my hands and found them trembling, and though I hadn’t payed much mind to it, the rest of me was shaking as well. The uniforms were suited well for most of the year, the fabric being light enough to prevent overheating in the summer and heavy enough to get through the fall, but in the winter snow they did little to stave off the cold.
“I forgot my jacket.” I said with a nervous chuckle. “Grim ushered me out the door so fast, we both forgot about… all of this.”
I gestured to the snow and watched as Vil’s frown grew deeper, while Leona’s scowl turned into a smirk. “You should run along then,” He mused. “Wouldn’t want you freezing to death out here.”
The way he said it made me feel as though he would want that, but I stayed quiet. Vil, on the other hand, smacked Leona’s arm, and pulled the pair of earmuffs he had off of his ears, depositing them on my head instead.
“Well, since it is Christmas, you may wear these. But return them tomorrow, understood?”
I nodded. “Merry Christmas, Vil. Thank you.” And then, a small nod to Leona again. “And Merry Christmas to you, Leona.”
“Hah. Merry Christmas, Herbivore.”
I scurried off before Leona could take it back.
When at last I reached the dorm, I was faced with one more familiar friend.
Malleus stood in the doorway of Ramshackle, staring quietly at the door, knuckles on the wood. I watched for a moment and waited to see what he would do, but he did nothing, so I called out instead.
“Hornton?”
He jumped. “Child of man. I thought you were inside.”
I tilted my head and smiled, endeared by his actions. “Grim asked me to get something for him at the store. Were you waiting for me?”
He cleared his throat and quickly walked my way, yanking the scarf off of one of Grim’s snowmen outside. In his excitement about the snow Grim had made no less than fifteen snowy versions of himself and his friends, all decorated with their own winter gear, including all of mine, and most of Grim’s.
“You’re freezing. Wear this.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him that the residual snow on the scarf would make it worse, not better, so I put it on and hummed. “You avoided my question. Were you waiting for me?”
He seemed embarrassed, if not confused. “No. Not for long, anyhow. I was simply wondering if…” He shook his head. “Lilia is hosting a party at Diasomnia. I wanted to extend an invitation to you as thanks for inviting me to yours, recently.”
He reached into his pocket and held out a small envelope, a determined look on his face. I had to hold back a laugh at the solemnity of it all. Only Malleus would wear such a serious expression while handing such a bright pink invitation.
I took the invitation. “That sounds great. I’m sure Grim will be very excited to go.”
Malleus seemed to consider those words for a moment. “I have never heard of someone being excited to go to Diasomnia before. You and your ward are strange creatures indeed.”
Though I didn’t love being referred to as a creature, I nodded regardless. Fae, from what I came to learn, had different ideas on politeness. Besides, it was Christmas. I could let it slide this once.
“Well, that was all I came for. Merry Christmas, child of man.”
I nodded. “Merry Christmas, Hornton.”
And with a wave of his hand, Malleus disappeared.
I stared down at the invitation and the can of tuna that I held in my hand and I smiled. I hadn’t chosen to come to this world, forced to clean to earn my stay, forced to handle the emotional states of high-schoolers. But no matter how different it seemed, this place had begun to feel like home. I couldn’t imagine life without it anymore.
I took in a deep breath of the crisp air and pushed open the door to Ramshackle, taking in the bright lights and homemade decorations.
“I’m back, Grim! Merry Christmas!”
From the other room, I heard Grim and the others shout back, “Merry Christmas!” And I knew I was home.