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Language:
English
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Published:
2025-09-14
Updated:
2025-09-25
Words:
1,108
Chapters:
2/20
Comments:
16
Kudos:
10
Hits:
61

FIRST DEGREE M*RDER PRANK AT 3AM [GONE WRONG]

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Summary:

Iago is a simple guy. All he wants is to be promoted to Vice Captain on the council at his college. And when Othello doesn't promote him, Iago decides to settle things the 21st Century Way.

Cue the 3AM M*RDER PRANK, live-streamed on Iago's highly popular YouTube channel. Othello's going down, and Iago, oh yes, Iago's going to watch it happen. Real consequences. Real action. Real downfalls.

Subscribe to IagoPRANKZ on YouTube for more.

(updates whenever we feel like it)

Chapter 1: this is gonna be a very long year

Chapter Text

Iago was finally free.

Well, free from everything but his suitcase, perhaps. Which is why he propped it against the wall as he fished in his pockets for the key to his dorm room. Finally retrieving it, he unlocked the door, and pushed his suitcase inside.
Which, in retrospect, was probably the worst mistake he had made all year.

Iago entered the dorm, and observed the following things.
There was another guy there. Which was expected, he reasoned, he had to have a roommate. But there was also books in what he figured was his side of the room, and a hoodie on the bed that was definitely his. He cleared his throat.
“Ah,” he started, leaning against the doorway. The guy looked up and shook an Airpod out of his ear. “I see you’ve taken over all of my living space.” The guy (what was his name? Orlando? Oberon?) gave an easy smirk, shaking his dark curls.
“There, there, Iago is it? It’s just a hoodie, my friend,” he said, tossing the hoodie over his shoulder and retreating to his chair, “My name is Othello, by the way. I am sure we will become wonderful friends over the course of this year.”
“Uh, well, um, okay, sure?” Iago stammered.

This was going to be a very long year indeed.

***

Iago adjusted the vlogging camera and sighed. He hadn’t uploaded in over a week since he heard the news that Othello would not promote him to the role of the Student Council’s vice president. The initial anger had sort of dissipated into a calculated calm.

He needed to overthrow Othello.

And what better way to do it than to harness his video-editing skills against a nerd who didn’t even have social media? Iago laughed to himself, then fixed his hair in the mirror. He winked at himself. Gorgeous as always.

Taking a deep breath and summoning his brightest smile, he hit record.

“Hey, guys! Iago here! First of all, I’d like to thank you for one million subscribers.” Iago daintily lifted a hand to wipe away an invisible tear. “I just knew that the power of storytelling and harmless pranks would bring a lot of people together. So that’s why, as a special treat, it’s time to announce the biggest prank this channel has ever seen! Buckle up, because it’s time for the 3AM Murder Prank Extravaganza! With five stages, it’s going to be the funniest thing ever. Stay tuned, and hit that subscribe button and I might bump it up to seven stages!”

Hitting the pause button, Iago repositioned the camera so the sunlight would highlight his jawline. Perfect. He pressed record again.

“First of all, Stage 1: Acquire a spy, oops, I meant female agent to help carry out the operation. Let’s go!”

Chapter 2: iago's hate letter to the world

Chapter Text

Iago hated college. Iago hated his English Literature professor. Iago hated everything, from the way Othello seemed to know every single answer (that nerd), to the way the Vice Captain badge shone, pinned on Cassio’s undeserving blazer. Ew 🤮.

Professor Tallis cleared her throat, and Iago immediately wished she would die alone of vascular dementia.

He summoned a fake smile and nudged Cassio, who was already scribbling notes down.
“Cassio, my guy, the film hasn’t started yet,” Iago whispered, reaching over to grab a pen from his pencil case.
“Bro, Iago, I’ve watched this film like, a billion times. Rosebud is literally the sleigh, like oh my god,” Cassio whisper-shouted back, drawing mind map after mind map with his sparkly Smiggle gel pens.

Iago turned back to the screen, which was currently panning over barbed wire. He hated this film already.

***

“I think all men are terrible creatures,” came a sinister whisper from behind Iago. He jumped and then immediately decided he hated whoever this disembodied voice belonged to too.

Whipping his head around in the corridor, Iago’s eyes narrowed as he spotted a brown haired girl talking to Othello’s girlfriend. Female agent found? He watched the sparkle in her eyes, and immediately wanted to stamp it out… So he handled it in true Iago fashion – he walked up to them and ran his fingers through his luscious, gelled locks. The blonde’s eyes widened in anticipation and the other glared at him.

“Woman,” he drawled. “You. Me. Costco. What are we getting? Orange juice of course. Tonight. On me.”

“Sorry, Othello’s taking me out for apple juice tonight,” Desdemona giggled, as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear daintily.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” Iago sneered, then promptly turned his head a further seven ninetieths of pi radians to see the stupid, nerdy face of Orsino (or something). His glorious mug practically glowed beneath the afternoon light, and Iago felt himself swoon a little in his heart (not really).

“Oh so you were talking to me! Iago, that’s quite kind of you, but I am unfortunately taking my dear girlfriend Desdemona out for the superior apple juice. Please excuse me, my friend. We can go tomorrow night, or the night after, or the night after that!”

Desdemona giggled again. She should really stop doing that.

Iago realised that he additionally hated himself in that moment. But he persevered, and he turned to face the final member of the trio that he had yet to personally address…
“So, juice?” He knelt down on one knee, his bones cracking as he did, in front of Emilia, and gazed up at her with a longing glimmer in his eyes that he had practised a thousand times in front of the camera.
“I like sparkling water, so if you can’t accommodate that, then get out of my face,” she said cuttingly, sizing him up.
Iago, never one to back down from a challenge, schooled his expression into ‘lovestruck’ with all the willpower he could muster.
“Darling…” he cooed. “You’re the one who’s sparkling – but I’m sure we can find water that attempts to match you.”
Iago had the notion that he was a trailblazer. Emilia slowly smiled – a startled little smile that made her look almost… nice? He shut down that train of thought before it could begin to leave the station within that frazzled brain of his.
“Um, well, uh, okay? I guess? I’ll meet you near the food court, then?” Emilia mumbled. Iago could see Desdemona’s fake gagging movements out of the corner of his eye. He could hear Othello’s slow chuckle. He could feel the video camera in his backpack digging into his poor little back.

But along with the present, Iago could also see the future: his subscriber count rising, and a diamond play button in the mail.

Iago was ready.