Work Text:
(Early November, Yuu’s 1st year, docks of Sage Island, late night/early morning)
“SHUT UP, YOU SCAM ARTISTS!!!”
The NRC students yelled as the lights of Playful land disappeared into the distance looking like they were ever slowly sinking into the murky black of the water. It was probably 3 o’clock in the morning as the droves of people dissipated back onto the streets & homes of Sage island.
Ace felt tired, sore and defeated. He was probably going to face a beheading from Riddle and lecture from Deuce (which could be good white noise to fall asleep too, maybe he could get a good 5 hours before classes.)
“Hey Hench-human!”
Ace looked over to Yuu who swayed on the spot, their face pale & their breathing heavy. They seemed not to notice Grim pawing at their pant legs because they took off sprinting down the dock.
“Woah! Yuu!!”
“Herbivore!”
“Shrimpy!”
For a quick second Ace thought Yuu was going to swim after Playful Land in some kind of plot of revenge, fueled by nothing but spite. They’ve had crazier ideas and Ace wasn’t going to put it past them but then he saw them crumble over the edge of the dock with the sound of retching interrupting the silence of the night.
Yuu bent over the edge of the dock on their hands and knees. Their nose was running and their body was shaking as they cried. They hiccuped and heaved, gasping for air through sobs. It felt so good to feel again but everything was just too much for their body to bare.
A hand rested on their shoulder and Yuu flinched back.
Lilia was there next to them, he wore a soft comforting smile years beyond his age.
Yuu couldn't stop themselves as they wrapped their arms around Lilia in a hug. Lilia didn’t falter for a second but held Yuu tight like a parent comforting their child.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay. It’s all over now. It’ll be okay.” Lilia said while patting Yuu on the back.
Yuu had no choice but to believe Lilia’s words.
“L-l-let’s just go home.” Yuu's voice still hiccuped with emotion, “I just wanna go home.”
As Lilia helped Yuu up to their feet, he had a somber feeling that Yuu wasn’t simply talking about Ramshackle dorm.
(Mid-late March, Yuu’s 1st year, Ramshackle Dorm)
It was a wonderful Saturday afternoon. The sun was shining and bright, the birds were chirping and Rollo, Grim & Yuu were existing in peaceful harmony in the lounge of Ramshackle.
Rollo was sitting with a book, Grim was taking a nap and Yuu was enjoying some pastries Trey gave them.
It really seems like nothing could disrupt the gentle equilibrium of the da-!
Knock, Knock, Knock!
….Damn it.
Yuu groaned as they pulled themselves off the couch, brushing off crumbs from their face and making sure they looked presentable before they opened the door.
They saw two silhouettes through the window at the front and thought maybe it was Idia and Ortho coming to say hi. (well it was normally Ortho that came to say hi, Idia was normally dragged along)
Well, safe to say with Yuu’s eyes becoming wide as dinner plates, it was NOT Idia & Ortho but two people they didn’t expect to see in a lifetime.
Yuu was very suspicious when they & their friends were just randomly invited to a ‘mysterious & exclusive theme park’ but they still decided to go.
Why? Well, to put it simply, peer pressure mixed with a unique magic that made you lose basic common sense.
Yuu was numb when they reached back to the dock at Sage island, the second they got back to Ramshackle, after all the shock wore off, they broke down crying and passed out on the couch in the lounge.
They missed losing all bodily autonomy, getting sold off to the highest bidder and never seeing their homeland again, all by the skin of their teeth.
But there stood Fellow Honest & Gidel each with patch-worked suit cases & in casual attire nothing like the extravagant outfits of Playful Land.
“Ah! Yuu!” Fellow said, hardly noticing Yuu’s shocked expression and greeting them like an old friend he’d simply lost touch with.
“Hel-!”
Yuu quickly slammed the door shut, it’s fine! They were simply hallucinating that they were seeing Fellow & Gidel! After all, who would show up to the house of someone they tried to kidnap?
They were going to open the door and there’s not going to be anyone there…
“There you are, Yuu! It’s very rude to slam the door in someone’s fa-!”
Yuu slammed the door again and knocked over the coat hanger in a panicked attempt to barricade the door and quickly ran back to the lounge.
“Somebody lock the DOORS!” They yelled, waking Grim up & startling Rollo from his book.
“Myah! Wha-! Henchhuman why’d wake me from my- Woah, woah, WOAH!!!” Grim pointed to the window where Fellow & Gidel were trying to jimmy the windows from outside.
“What?! Yuu, who is that?!” Rollo questioned, jumping up from his spot.
“He-i- um.” Being at a loss for words and seeing Fellow getting close to opening the window, Yuu quickly dived behind the couch for some kind of covering. The good ol’ ‘I can’t see you, You can’t see me’ method.
“Wait for me, Hench-human!” Grim quickly jumped over the couch with Yuu leaving Rollo standing in the middle of the room confused.
“Ah hello there, Young man.” Fellow nodded to Rollo as he climbed in through the window.
“Now Yuu what’s this all about? You’re making a very bad impression on your future dorm-mates.”
“BAD IMPRESSION?!?” Yuu shot up from behind the couch with Grim balanced very badly on their head like a weird hat.
“You tried to human-traffic me!!!” they pointed accusatory.
“But then Gidel and I had a change of heart & we destroyed Playful Land together.” Fellow recounted like it was a fond trip down memory lane and not like it gave Yuu nightmares and paranoia for the weeks that came after. “It’s all water under the bridge.”
“You must hav’a really shallow bridge then!” Grim yelled.
“Alright..Forgive me but who are you two?” Rollo asked, hiding his face behind his handkerchief. “Are we to understand that you two are moving into the dorm?”
“Why yes! As of this Monday, me and my little brother will be enrolled as a student here at Night Raven Collage.” Fellow proudly declared holding up papers.
“What?!” Yuu practically shrieked and they swiped the papers right out of Fellow’s hand.
“‘Ernesto Foulworth’ and ‘Gidel’?! What kinda bird brain would fall for the fakest names ever?!”
“Ah, it seems you found the dorm, Gentlemen!”
Of FUCKING course.
Yuu froze and turned to see Crowley standing behind them, hands clasped together with a bright smile on his face.
“Yuu! I see you’ve met your new Dormmates.”
“Yeah.” Yuu's voice strained in a fake happiness.
“These guys can’t live here!” Grim shouted from Yuu’s shoulder, “They’re dirty crim-?!” Yuu quickly clamped their hand over Grim’s mouth, forcing their face back into a strained smile. To admit Fellow & Gidel were criminals, they had to admit they ditched school, and that wasn’t going to end well.
“What Grim is trying to say is why? After all, there are so much better dorms than Ramshackle! I mean, the only reason Rollo is here is that he pissed off every dorm in some shape or form! Surely they would like a different dorm!”
“Ah, that is exactly what I wanted to discuss with you! May we sit?”
That’s how we end up with Crowley sitting across from Yuu, Grim, Rollo, Fellow (Or Ernesto, if’ you’re Crowley) and Gidel. Rollo sat in the middle, a barrier between a growling Yuu & Grim and a falsely innocent Fellow & Gidel.
“Yuu, as you are aware, you and Grim attend here under special circumstances; you both count as one student. I have decided to extend the same offer to Mr. Foulworth & his Brother Gino here, as they came with such a bright eyed hope of learning at this prestigious academy!”
Crowley explained brightly and Yuu side-eyed Fellow & Gidel who both tried to look like the picture of innocence.
“Okay, that’s really great but why are they at Ramshackle?”
“Well I assumed that since you & Mr Foulworth share a similar situation that there would be a sense of comrade among you two.”
Well, You know what they say about assuming, old man.
“Aw, well y'know, as much as I would like to- and I would! (Not) but me, Grim & Rollo are already stretching the food budget!”
“Don’t use me as an excuse to evict someone!” Rollo whispered harshly under his handkerchief.
“I’ll make it up to you, just shut it right now!” Yuu whispered back through their teeth.
“Well, Yuu, your food budget would be increased, after all I'm nothing if not generous!”
Yuu squirmed, More food but at the expense of Fellow & Gidel being here?
“ I don’t know, sir…”
Silence, then Crowley straightened in his chair and the room definitely got colder.
“Say, Yuu have you heard of a mysterious amusement park by the name of ‘Playful Land’?”
Yuu stiffened and Grim perked up, even Fellow’s ears twitched as if to stop from folding down unlike Gidel.
Crowley continued, “Well, back in November there was plenty of buzz about it, it even came to one of the ports here on Sage island! But as it was finals week I doubt many students had an opportunity to visit…”
Yuu suddenly feels like Crowley was hyper focused on them.
“Though I do remember you,Grim and a handful of students being absent, I'm sure you had a good reason! After all you are staying here, free of charge, food & housing provided, under special circumstances never before offered. Surely you wouldn’t waste this opportunity that you have begged for…right?”
Grim was unusually quiet & Yuu found it really hard to speak right now. Crowley knew that a handful of their students were almost lost forever and all he was doing with this information was to make Yuu fall in line.
“N-no, i-of course not.” Yuu’s voice wavered.
“Well, great! It’s decided then!” Crowley stood up, making his way to the door. “I’ll leave you now to get acquainted, Ta!”
Yuu followed Crowley to the door, closing it behind him. They rested their forehead against the door and let out a breath they didn’t realize they were holding, uncomfortably aware that Grim, Rollo, Fellow & Gidel were watching from behind.
“Well, there it is Yuu! I hate to say ‘I told you so’ but-!”
“What are you trying to pull here?” Yuu’s tired voice cut through Fellow’s gloating.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Don’t play dumb!” Grim yelled from his spot on Rollo’s shoulder. “You guys are probably running some kinda scam!”
“That is a baseless accusation and frankly, it is rather hurtful!” Fellow countered, crossing his arms.
“We are here to better ourselves through education, honest!”
Gidel agreed with his brother’s words, putting one hand in the air and the other over his heart, Scout’s honour.
“Yeah, the last time you were being honest, we slowly turned wooden inside out.”
“You were what?!” Rollo exclaimed but Yuu made a brushing motion with a grumble that they’d talk about it later.
“God, I can’t believe…How can you come here acting like this?” Yuu said, jamming the heels of their hands into their eyes from some kind of relief for head ache forming.
“Why, Fellow? Why out of every island, out of school, out of every dorm, did you have to come here?! What happened to ‘Oh, I'mma build a grand school for mages & non-mages alike!’? How can I even trust you as a person, let alone as a roommate?! ”
“Yuu..” Fellow tried to say but Yuu cut him off.
“What you did was messed up, Fellow! It was a miracle everyone made it off that boat! But what happened before us? How many people did you turn over in the name of making a quick buck? I mean, you have to know how ludicrous it is that you’re coming here asking for this! Y’know, ‘Ludicrous’ isn’t even the right word! What you’re asking for is selfish!”
Yuu tried to ignore how their voice wavered with the lump growing in their throat, tainting their anger with the wetness of emotion and how they’re eyes started to pinprick with tears.
“Yuu, do you remember what you said when I told you my goal?”
“Fellow, that was the worst night of my life, I blacked out the second I got back to the dock.”
“You said that I had a way of dreaming big, I told you that not only were you dreaming big but you were doing bold things as well. It’s why when we were able to find a different dock, I turned over the playful land ship to authorities. It had documents about all the goings on and that’s why me and Gidel have changed our names.”
“Look, you don’t have to believe my reasons for coming here but they are true. I am trying to change and better myself, to make things better for me & Gidel.”
Yuu saw the determination in Fellow’s face, heard the sincerity in his voice and noticed how Rollo slightly softened seeing Fellow wanting to step up for his younger brother.
Yuu ran their hand over their face, the small optimistic part of themselves, the part that hadn’t been buried despite all the BS they go through in Twisted Wonderland decided to make itself known.
“Ahhhhhh, Dang it.”
“Hmm?”
“Okay, y'know what? Screw it. I guess you guys are Ramshackle now.”
Gidel smiled excitedly at Fellow, who also wore a bright smile while laughing.
“Woah, woah, hold your celebration!” Yuu quickly grabbed a chair and stood atop to feel like actually had a presence of intimidation.
“If I think even for a second that you're planning something that puts this dorm or anyone in danger, you face the wrath of me and you don’t get home court advantage this time. Am I understood?”
“Of course! Now where shall we put our bags!?”
Yuu dragged their hand over their face, “Ro, can you help them, I need a moment…”
Before Rollo could say anything, they walked out through the back door, laying down in the backyard.
There was a tightness in Yuu’s head that was slowly going away when they heard the back door open.
“Hey!” Grim said, jumping on Yuu’s chest, looking down at them. “ You good?”
“Uhhhhhh…I’m as okay as I can be right now, man.”
Did they feel 100% comfortable that the two were living here? Not particularly. Did this possibly paint a larger target on Ramshackle dorm’s back? Oh, definitely.
However Yuu felt like if Fellow found inspiration in them doing ‘bold things’, they can take a page out of his book and roll with the punches.