Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The heat of July weighs heavy on Yuusei, humidity slicking their skin with stickiness. They can almost feel it dripping down the insides of their lungs, molasses on gore; if they think very hard on it, they might even be able to imagine it sticking and webbing between the bronchioles. It's nothing new, and in fact it's almost better than the temperatures their hometown used to reach. A tiny laugh escapes them. Yeah, compared to that, this is nothing. Pushing up on her toes, she very carefully finishes taping the last of the balloons to the archway, sliding back down the ladder with ease. She draws it away, taking several steps back to admire her handiwork and check that it's all level. Wiping her brow, she smiles brightly at the sign; handmade, drawn and strewn with colors and tiny references to all her adventures with her upperclassmen the past two years. In big, bold lettering, it reads Congradulations, Graduates! There's flecks of Diasomnia's bright green along the edges, tiny Savannaclaw golden paw prints and Heartslabyul's cherry-red roses cheerfully marking the corners.

"Congradulations indeed," she giggles at her pun, wiggling in place to celebrate as she begins to cart the ladder away once more. Back through hallways filled with memories of sleepovers and laughter, ducking through the doorway where Sebek had nearly let her get crushed by some chairs, to stuff the ladder back into it's proper spot within the supply closet. Fondness curls in her chest, slinking back through what had come to be her home. 

Ramshackle is the same as it ever was; imposing, dark, dreary even in the glow of the morning Sun that beams through the windows. Two long years of cleaning this place up, and still it was a work in progress, even with the occasional helping hand from a stray card soldier. Perhaps the phrase 'no rest for the wicked' had more pull here than it did in her previous world. She pauses in the doorway of her and Grim's room, eyeing the mess of a nest that still remained from the last time Jack and Sebek had joined in on one of the traditional sleepovers; the end of their second year had been an eventful night, one where she never wanted to let them leave her again. Wounds still fresh from the incident. 

Maybe she could convince them to bring her some things to keep her company until they returned for the start of the semester, if she texted them before the ceremony?

The ceremony... Yes, she still had many questions for that bird. Maybe she'd be able to catch him afterwards to ask him just what in the world was up with him, or at least ask for some elaboration for her latest 'task'.

"My dearest Prefect Yuusei!" Crowley had delightfully whisked her closer, patting off imaginary dust as he examined her, "Ever the busy bee, you are! It has been ever so difficult to catch you!" That had been intentional. "Nevertheless! Your work has been ever so diligent lately, and it would be such a great shame to lose out on it! Thus, being the kind Headmage I am, I have yet another task to bestow upon you! For in exchange, I shall grant you yet another year of having your utilities and housing handled for you, and perhaps even an increase to your budget." He fluffs himself out again, preening without giving her a chance to speak, golden claw tips patting over her shoulders awkwardly once more, twice on each side.

"Yes, yes, after the ceremony! Dear old Crowley will have everything sorted out, for I am ever so kind, and this opportunity is once in a lifetime! Just trust in your Headmage, Prefect Yuusei." He gives her one final pat on the head, and whisks himself away, his coattails leaving iridescent feathers in his wake. The Headmage had been acting stranger than usual, but this certainly took the cake. Sparkles settle in on Yuusei's clothing, but she shrugs it off, returning to the task at hand.

The memory fades away as quickly as it comes, interrupted by a familiar little voice.

"Hench-human..." Grim whines from his place on the couch, drawing them out of their thoughts and bringing their attention to the sulking ball of fur, "so warm... bring me tuna... or I'll die..." So whiny, she nearly coos as she crouches down beside him, letting her hand brush over his fluffy ears. So sweet, my baby.

"I dunno, Grimmy. There's gonna be lots of food at the ceremony, and I don't wanna spoil your appetite." Bullshit, nothing could spoil her little direbeast's appetite. Another lick of fondness at her chest, warmth pulsing outwards from her chest and curling at her fingertips as Grim presses into her fingers with a soft mrrrp of delight. "Besides, maybe Trey will bring you treats? He's part of the graduating crew this year, after all." He seems to perk up at the idea of something sweet, already daydreaming about all sorts of tarts and pies, if the way he was drooling was anything to go by.

She pauses, and then, to sweeten the deal (or perhaps to sour it), "If you spoil your appetite, Trey will split your share with Ace, and then there will be none left for you. You know how greedy he can get." There's an affronted sputter, and then a yowl of feline rage. "I'd like ta see him try!" her companion swats at her hand, thankfully without use of his claws, and shoves himself off the couch to plop onto the wooden floor, stretching out with a lazy curve of his spine, forked tail flicking back and forth with annoyance.

From the coffee table, her phone buzzes, lighting up with notifications. 

"Speak of the devil, aye, Grimmy?" she chuckles, rubbing his head one last time as she reaches for it, even as he whines out some sound of protest. "I know, I know. In a minute." Placation spills from her mouth too easily, unlocking her phone and tapping the notifications. It's exactly who she expected, and exactly what she expected. Yuusei nearly rolls her eyes, smiling fondly as she reads through the backlog of spam.

2 pretty best friends + ace (3 people)

do not answer❤️:
yuu.
yuu.
YUU
YUUUUUUUU
YUU!!!
GET UP
Yuusei.
Yuusei
Yuu
Yuu

blues clues♠️:
yuusei?

do not answer❤️:
YOU HAVE FIVE SECBDNDS
FIEV 
FOUR
THRE

yuugei?:
trappola.
to what do i owe the honor?

do not answer❤️:
GRADTION
GRAORNTDON
GRAODIFNT
TODAY
OPEN THE DOOR

yuugei?:
crazy concept
but ive actually helped with setting up
so ive been up since... like 4am

blues clues♠️:
he wanted to come over sooner
but the mirror wasnt open yet
door please?

yuugei?:
doors open
im lazy

There's a sharp noise from the front of the dorm, the creak of the door opening and closing (she never could get it to stop it's incessant squeaking, no matter how much she greased it), and the familiar sound of rushed steps. And then she's nearly bowled over, her favorite dynamic duo practically on top of her in their flurried excitement.

"Aye, hands off, second-rate!" Ace's sharp voice cuts through, swatting Deuce away, and Yuusei's fingers claw into his scalp at a speed that would put Professor Crewel's scoldings to shame, yanking him away from their shoulder.

"Behave yourself!" they snap, swatting him away as they meet Deuce's big blue eyes instead. Like a puppy, they muse, laughing as they pull their friend closer. Ace squirms his way close again, despite the scolding, and its only a matter of seconds before Grim is scrambling up her clothing to join in on the impromptu group hug, a soft 'myah!' escaping him as he bumps his forehead against Deuce's own. 

Her boys, right where they belonged again. 

Yuusei clutched them closer, that empty feeling in her chest feeling just a bit fuller. 

Bags have been abandoned by the door– overnight bags, Yuusei realized with rising delight.

"You're sticking around?"

"You think you can get rid of us that easy?" Snaps Ace right back at her, shoving his face against her shoulder and jabbing his fingers between her ribs. Deuce is no better off, choking as Yuusei startles, elbowing him right in the gut. There's a very un-Deucelike shriek, and their stubborn supporting beam gives way, a collapsing house of cards. In the commotion, Grim leaps away, not wanting to be crushed between his three henchmen.

"You little– what was that for!" Yuusei squeals, kicking Ace off of her as she rolls to the side to squirm out of Deuce's hold, which only grows more firm.

"Payback! For ignoring my messages! And–" he leans in very close, glaring sharply, "–and for stealing my Sevens damned card hoodie, that was my favorite sleeping shirt!" 

"Finders keepers!" She hisses out, squirming, before squawking indignantly as she processes his words.

"That was a year and a half ago, you can't seriously still be mad! Stop! Stay back, fiend!" She shrieks, but Deuce does not relinquish his hold. In fact, he seems to be getting amusement out of this.

"Deuce! You traitor! RELEASE ME—" Yuusei flails and kicks out again as Ace lunges, going for her ribs once again.

The Ramshackle common room devolves into a cacophony of giggling in no time at all; the way things should be, as far as Yuusei is concerned.

The wrestling continues for several minutes, devolving into panting and laying on the floor, staring at the ceiling and simply basking in each other's presence in no time.

Between soft breaths, Yuusei reaches for Ace's jacket sleeve, tugging on it.

"If I can't have the hoodie," she grumbles, "then I want this one." 

He rolls onto his side to look at her, raising an eyebrow.

"Y'ain't my girlfriend. Can't go wearin' my varsity unless you're planning on being a good cheerleader and attending all our games." Teases Ace, poking at her ribs again. There's bite to his voice though, some actual irritation to it behind the friendly sarcasm.

"You can have mine." Chimes Deuce, though it's clear he's just saying it to rile Ace up, because the ginger peels off a shoe and throws it at Deuce from over Yuusei's head, resulting in another fit of breathless giggling. She's glad for the break from the sudden tension, she didn't like whatever Ace had been insinuating. 

"You're never getting a girlfriend, might as well accept a cheerleader while you've got the opportunity. Grim would look very cute with little pom poms." 

Deuce makes a noise of agreement, Grim flops down on top of Yuusei's head to silence them.

"The great and powerful Grim will do no such thing, myah!" He mewls, leaning down to swat at Yuusei's ears. Yuusei hums, reaching up to scratch at his ears to hopefully appease the little direbeast. Grim purrs under her scritches, rubbing against her palms with soft rumbles.

"My apologies, great and powerful Grimmy. I did not mean to lower you to such a level." She whispers.

"Silence from the peanut gallery!" Ace demands, removing his other shoe and tossing it at Grim this time. He misses.

"What will you do now, you're out of weapons."

"I've still got two socks, don't push your luck."

"Gross, keep those to yourself." Deuce grumbles, sitting up to glare at Ace, resting on his palms. Ace snickers, crossing his arms behind his head.

"Or what? Gonna hex me? You've got a better shot at being headmage than a successful- OW!" Yuusei slams their elbow into Ace's gut before he can continue. 

"Oops, sorry. Was reaching for my phone. You were in the way."

"Liar!" He rolls over to swat at her, but she ducks away, hiding behind Deuce (who gets Ace into a headlock far too quickly for his own good) as she pulls out the device, beginning to text the other group chat she'd created so terribly long ago. She'd been reminded again that she wanted to talk to them about bringing over things for the nest; it couldn't really be called anything else. Maybe Jack and Sebek would find it amusing that it was still mostly intact. Or they'd think it was embarrassing. Yuusei still wasn't really so sure on how this particular facet of their behavior worked. They weren't exactly keen to elaborate on it, and very few books touched on the subject of denning. At least not ones that were readily available to her. 

She could just ask Ortho, but then she'd probably get way more information than she was comfortable with. Then again, that maybe wasn't such a bad thing, either.

The sounds of wrestling have died down. Yuusei glances up, and finds Ace and Deuce both looking at her questioningly. 

"You wanna help me set up the room again?" She questions.

"You want me to work? After I came so far? No way!" Ace snaps, at the same exact time as Deuce confirms- "Of course." Yuusei can't stop herself from giggling again as Ace tips his head back and groans, rolling his eyes. Their trio- or quartet, really- back together again... it made her feel sickeningly joyful. Being separated from their group, most especially Ace and Deuce, but the others too, always had a way of making them feel sick. Paranoid. The walls would close in around them, the world spinning. Everyone was out to get them, but their group never had been. They hadn't always been so tight-knit, certainly not, but they were now, and Yuusei wouldn't trade them for anything.

Deuce hauls up both his own bag and Ace's, smugly holding them over his shoulder when Ace makes a grab for his own. The time apart had apparently done him well, even though it had brief, as he'd shot up at least another inch or two. Ace would be behind him shortly. Its a frantic dash  up the stairs after that, a race between the two boys, just like old times. Reminiscing leaves Yuusei feeling warm and heavy in a way that reminds her of her home world. She could only vaguely recall childhood sleepovers now, but they had a familiar warmth to them. Love. Family. The concept wasn't so strange to her. She found herself dwelling on it again, and again, and again. Whenever she found herself alone with her thoughts, they'd always drift to that. Family. This was her family now, as far as she was concerned.

There wasn't much left for her on the other side, if there was another side.

Yuusei climbs the stairs slower than the Adeuce duo, Grim having already chased after them, letting their fingers dance along the banister. Dust rolls under the pads of their fingers, drifting up into the air as they ascend. 

She slips into the room just behind them, sidling up beside Deuce. Ace turns, raising an eyebrow in questioning. The room really didn't need much cleaning at all, but Yuusei doesn't give him an answer. Just a shrug as she shoves him forward towards the bed, Deuce snickering behind them.

"Just get comfortable and don't complain. The floor isn't the best for a reunion."

Grim hops up into the nest after him, mewing quietly as he begins to make his rounds to curl up. Yuusei settles in beside him, and he instead crawls up onto her belly to rest his head near her ribs, listening to the jackrabbiting of her heartbeat. Soothed by the noise, he's asleep before Deuce can even get settled.

"He did not waste any time, damn." Mutters Ace, looking almost impressed.

"He's had a very busy week." Yuusei defends her familiar, rubbing between his fluffy ears. The ginger rolls his eyes, but shockingly doesn't comment further, instead choosing to settle in. He kicks his legs across both Deuce and Yuusei's own, leaning up against the edge of the nest.

Deuce, on the other hand, has one arm tossed over the back of Yuusei's shoulders, and one leg crooked over both of Ace's like some strange game of Twister.

Before twenty minutes pass, Yuusei knows that Ace will migrate up to have his head in either Deuce's or her own lap, too nervous to be even minutely separated, even for just a moment, though he'd never admit it. The past two years had left scars on all of them, some deeper than others. Yuusei rolls to stretch one leg out to touch Ace's knee, and that thing beneath her skin that was always whispering goes quiet again.

Sticky like tar, it waits beneath the surface, lurking, patiently waiting for a weak point to show itself. The blot was a pursuit predator, it could afford to take its time. It didn't need to expend the extra energy when it's prey would eventually exhaust itself, running itself ragged, and then it would creep in, taking hold of the host and creeping around the ribs. Brain first, then heart. Choke points claimed, tied in knots, noose tightening around the mage's throat before anything could be done. Once was workable. A second time was certainly death. But most mages didn't overblot twice.

Most didn't survive the first.

Ace kicks her, drawing her out of her morbid thoughts again. It reminds her of why she'd made them come up here anyway, pulling her phone back out from her pocket to continue texting whilst her boys settle into the blankets.

emergency rations for grim (7 people)

yuugei?:
i assume u all will be attending the ceremony
if not i will hunt you for sport, so please bear that in mind.
but, if you do not mind, please ensure you bring something of yours for me to hold onto until the school year starts.
ive missed you all and could use the company.

applejack 🍎:
no need for guilt trippin
was gonna bring stuff anyway

pawpatrol 🐺:
👍

becky🐊:
👍

do not answer❤️:
im in a group chat with two emotionally unavailable fathers

yuugei?:
that seems typical for you

do not answer❤️:
kys

do not answer❤️ has been muted by administrator

megatron 🤖:
Prefect Yuusei, would you like if I brought something of Idia's as well? I'm sure my big brother wouldn't mind!

yuugei?:
ortho i cannot stress enough how bad of an idea that is but thank u and i love u

After a moment, Yuusei begins to type again in a separate chat.

EVANGELION (2 people)

yuugei?:
ortho, if its not too much to ask, would you mind sending me some references about non-human cultures and behaviors?
ive been meaning to ask for a while, but i keep forgetting
the Night Raven library is... dreadfully limited 😒

megatron 🤖:
Of course, Prefect Yuusei!
I will send you a zipped file momentarily! (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)

Yuusei powers down her phone, glancing up again at long last, a lazy smile on her face. Her boys are still on their phones, probably texting the group chat still (or, actually, Ace seems to be reading over Deuce's shoulder and seething). Yuusei snickers, reaching over to ruffle his hair. She rolls over, tucking herself into the crook of Deuce's shoulder, so that she can watch too. Before long, her eyes slip shut. She's glad she set an alarm, because sleep comes far too easily. 

Ace's voice wakes them before their alarm does.

"Reckon we can sleep it for another five minutes? They won't be mad." He mutters in a low voice to Deuce, but not low enough, because Yuusei blearily opens their eyes to glare at him from where they're tucked against Deuce's arm, face buried in his bicep. It's not very comfortable, but it's warm, and familiar. They try to tuck themselves deeper, before processing what Ace is saying. Grumbling, they slowly push up, glaring at the redhead.

"Didja silence my alarm, bastard..?" They grumble, still sleep-hazy and warm. They want to curl back up and sleep a while longer, the nest is so inviting. But the ceremony is probably soon, they need to greet people... Crowley will probably come up with some sort of punishment if they don't. The thought sits idle in their head for a moment, before it kicks them into gear, sobering them enough to rub the sleep from their eyes. They sit up a bit straighter, clearing their throat and glancing at the time on their phone. They hiss out a breath, Ace had definitely either snoozed or shut their alarm off. They'd get him back for that later, but for now they needed to get ready; and get their boys ready, too.

"We should..." they pause, yawning, before continuing with a firmer tone, "probably get going soon. Since you guys arrived, it's only a matter of time before the others start showing up, and I'd like to welcome them." They sit cross-legged, drumming their fingers against their thigh. "Do you guys plan on changing, or are you gonna wear that to the ceremony?"

Ace glances down at himself, then nods.

"I'm wearing this." He pulls his varsity a little tighter around himself. Deuce scratches the back of his neck.

"I'll have to change, but my spares are in my bag." Yuusei nods in understanding.

"Everything's still in the same place. If you need to shower though, the plumbing switched since you've been here last. Turn the shower left to make it colder, and right to make it warmer." Ace makes a confused noise.

"It can just switch?"

She shrugs in reply, not really sure how to answer him.

"I guess so. That or whoever Crowley decided to let fuss around with my pipes screwed something up real bad. It's fine though, at least we have heated water. Can't say that was true for the first several months." Though they laugh at it now, it hadn't been funny then. Winter had been a nightmare, and they'd been thankful for both Scarabia and Octavinelle's housing, even if it had been under less than ideal conditions, for some part of it. Grim huffs, awakened by their chattering. He stretches languidly in her lap, and then hops up to perch atop the headboard. Deuce's brows furrow, lips curving downward in a frown. 

"Even so, with how often things go wrong in this dorm, are you certain it's not intentional, Yuu?"

Ace and Yuusei both pause, staring at Deuce for a long moment. He was rarely one to voice such thoughts, even if it had all crossed their minds at one point or another. Grim lifts his head and growls quietly.

"Tha's what I'm sayin'! That phony keeps on makin' things act funny and he never owns up to it! 'M sick of it!" 

"Who are you and what have you done with my Grimmy?" Yuusei teases, though admittedly she's happy that he had voiced her own thoughts aloud. Carefully, she sits up, petting down his spine. Grim rumbles and arches his back into the pats, his tiny fangs baring. 

"'S'not that shockin'. That bird is always talkin' big but he never delivers! Makin' my henchman work so hard, that's my job!" The direbeast kneads at the wood beneath his paws for a moment, and then glances down with a little frown. He seems to be thinking, or trying to at least, considering. The young monster bats away Yuusei's hand, as if trying to be taken seriously.

"Ya never speak up, henchman! But ya notice it too, doncha? He makes ya work twice as hard as anyone else in this school! I gotta runnin' list of everythin' he's promised and hasn't delivered on, myah!" Snaps her familiar at last, puffing up in irritation. Yuusei would be impressed if she wasn't busy being concerned, reaching for Grim again to wrestle him into her lap.

It hurts her heart to do so, but she instead denies Grim's rambling.

"The Headmage has been very kind to let us stay as long as he has. Even if some things are rough, he technically doesn't owe us anything, Grim. Besides," she pauses, quietly stroking the fur atop his head, "I don't need you worrying. I do plenty of it for both of us, okay? You just focus on being a good boss, and I'll figure it out."

The room is quiet for a long moment, Ace and Deuce glancing between the not-mage and her technically-not-a-familiar.

You may not know it, Grim, but you're my baby. Whoever didn't want you before? It's their loss, because you're mine now, and I'm going to give you the world.

Grim sniffles quietly, nuzzling into her palm at last, accepting her argument strangely easily. At least, strangely easily in Ace and Deuce's eyes. Yuusei and Grim's dynamic had changed quite drastically since the incident, but most others weren't privy to it. It wasn't something she brought to light in public, she tried to avoid it in fact. The wound was raw, pulsing under her skin, still bleeding into Grim's fur. The fear of loss was still a very real possibility, one that lingered. Just keep your head above the water.

"Anyway," she hums, glancing up at her boys, "you should start gettin' ready. You've got fifteen minutes before I start rushing you out the door." She doesn't need to tell them twice before Deuce is off, and Ace starts preening, fixing his hair and using his phone as a mirror to paint on his signature heart for his dorm makeup (a wise choice, Riddle would certainly take his head if he caught him without it at graduation).

Not fifteen minutes later, they're making their way down the stairs, bags left in the room, quickly making last minute adjustments. Yuusei watches her boys scramble ahead of her, squabbling over whatever newest argument they've chosen to give themselves an excuse to be in each other's spaces. Grim toddles after them eagerly, mewing in excitement, though there's a sluggishness to his movements.

She pauses, hand resting on the counter. After a moment, realization flickers across her face. Medication. 

"Grim," she calls softly, "c'mere. Gotta fix your ribbon real quick." There's a pause, but he hurries over, hopping up into her arms as she turns away into the kitchen.

"You two go on ahead, we'll be right behind ya in just a second." Ace and Deuce give a look to each other, confused, worried maybe. But where Deuce goes to question it, Ace just tugs his arm, and the both of them flee the old dorm 

Slipping into the kitchen, Yuusei lets her hands find the cupboard, quietly humming as Grim settles into the crook over her other arm. He mews quietly, watching her with big blue eyes. 

"The yucky stuff?" He asks, quiet. 

"Yeah. I almost forgot, but with everyone being here today, and so close, we can't afford to skip a dose. Professor Crewel's orders, remember?" Yuusei murmurs, rubbing at the fur around Grim's collar. He whines quietly, burying his face in her collarbone.

"I don't wanna. It tastes nasty." It really does. 

"We don't want another incident."

"I know." He whimpers again, pawing at her shirt. She feels for him, she really does, giving him a tight squeeze.

"Hey, Grimmy, look at me." She whispers, tilting her head down. He doesn't for a moment, before the big blue eyes of her familiar peer up at her. "Remember what I told you? At the end of it? What I promised you?" Slowly, he blinks, and then nods, ever so slowly. Still, Yuusei wraps a hand around his paw, mimicking a pinkie promise, like they had after the incident. Neither of them names it for what it was. No one really does, no one had since it happened. No one liked to talk about it. They weren't ready to. Grim certainly wasn't. Yuusei didn't know if they ever would be.

"I promised I'd always be here with you, yeah? Together forever. We're a family now." She whispers, leaning in to nuzzle her forehead against Grim's own, mirroring his tiny mrow of contentment with a soft mimicked chuff, something she'd picked up from Leona.

"And you'll never leave me behind?"

"Never." 

Yuusei's chest aches with the weight of the promise, but at this point, they had no intentions of going home to their original world. After two years, its highly unlikely there was anything left for them there anyway, besides a headstone and an epitaph, if they were lucky enough to be remembered. Their heart feels like it's burning. 

You're the only family I have left, Grim. I wouldn't trade you for the world.

"Part of that promise means that we've gotta take this medication," she placates, voice a whisper as Grim sniffles, clinging closer to her, "so can you do that for me, Grim?" He finally mews his agreement, and Yuusei breathes a sigh of relief. He hadn't fought them for nearly half as long as he usually did, this time. He was improving. Still, he'd probably put up a hell of a fight tomorrow. She rifles around for a bit of tuna to sweeten the deal, letting Grim continue to knead at her arm for his comfort.

The pills taste bitter, but anything is better than the nothingness of blot.

"Now c'mon. Your lackeys are probably waitin' outside for the great and powerful Grim." She coos, ruffling the fur atop his head. Grim purrs loudly, and Yuusei giggles as she lightly kicks open the door. She doesn't bother locking it behind her; the latch doesn't work anyhow, and the Ramshackle ghosts would chase out any unwanted visitors. Hopefully. Probably.

Ace and Deuce flank them on the way to the stadium.

Red hair is the first thing she spots, and so Riddle is the first person she greets. Yuusei strides towards him quickly, abandoning her boys (who scurry off, likely to find their fellow second-years) and tapping him on the shoulder. When he turns, she notes his makeup first, finding her eyes drawn along his face naturally. His eyeshadow is just soft enough to be noticeable, while not being too out there. It compliments his eyes well, and Yuusei is endeared by his small act of rebellion. Blue eyeshadow and a smokey liner would have never flown in her first year attending Night Raven, but after Malleus' overblot, he'd seemed a bit more open about himself. Perhaps still hesitant, but willing to try, and that's all Yuusei could really ask for.

Yuusei pauses, noticing something else, her eyes flicking curiously to his ears.

Riddle is wearing pearl earrings.

That itself is not so terribly surprising, he's from an upper class family and it is an important occasion, after all, but it's more the fact that Riddle is wearing pearl earrings. 

"A gift from Azul?" Yuusei hums, letting their eyes flick over the elegant earrings, taking in every detail. They can't quite tell if the petals of the flowers are carved from pearl, too, or perhaps mother of pearl or perhaps even moonstone. Not without getting closer. Not without invading Riddle's personal space. And while personal space seemed to be a far off memory with most of their classmates at this point, in public it was still expected to be at least somewhat professional. Especially when it came to Riddle. Mrs. Rosehearts herself was likely lurking nearby, after all, networking was ever so important.

"Leech, actually." Riddle glances down, avoiding their gaze, and Yuusei snorts in return, nearly cackling at the insinuation. After all, it was not Floyd who had taken an interest in the fine arts this past year.

"Really? However did that happen? Should I keep my distance? I'd rather not find myself being filleted like their prized cuts in the Lounge..." They trail off, voice high and teasing as Riddle goes red.

"Hush, you." 

Silence falls over them for a moment, pale fingers coming up once more to fiddle with the earrings.

"Mother always took issue with my birthstone," he finally drawls, irritation sweeping over his features, "such a minor thing, and yet. It matched with none of her features, and thus none of mine. If I'd been born just three weeks earlier, but I was already early." He trailed off. "Rubies would have fit much better."

"Peridot matches Jade's eyes quite nicely, though."

"It's not like that."

"You look good." Finally, a smile breaks his face, and he glances down, unable to maintain his composure. Yuusei leans slightly closer, inspecting the earrings. Gold, too. Jade certainly didn't spare any expense. 

"You look good in white," Yuusei continues, "looked nicer in black, though." Riddle sniffs haughtily at their teasing.

"Proper grammar."

"Fine. You look good in white, but you look much more lovely in black." They push on the enunciation, and watch Riddle flush again.

"One of these days, you are going to give someone the wrong idea." He murmurs.

"I've done plenty of that thus far. It's only gotten me nearly killed a handful of times." They giggle instead, tucking a stray strand of hair behind their ear.

"You're incorrigible." Riddle puffs again, but there's no bite to his words, only a warmth that has been earned and tested through the past two years.

"I can't believe this. I'm being so kind and you're making up words to insult me with. I'm hurt. Truly."

"Making up- shoo! Shoo!" the redhead nearly explodes, swatting at them. It's good to see him let loose, and act a little childish; even in public like this. Yuusei cackles, avoiding his sharp hand, and notices that his nails, too, are painted. French tips. Plain and elegant with a dash of gold; they match the earrings nigh perfectly. 

"I'll be back!" She chirps, making a swift escape through the crowd of people. The celebration hasn't even begun yet, after all.

"Yuusei!" Kalim and Jamil had not been who they intended to meet up with next, but it was hardly bad timing. Yuusei finds herself smiling as she approaches, letting Kalim tackle her into a hug. She spins him around, listening to his delighted giggles, before settling him back on his own two feet.

"Hello, sunshine!" She giggles, squeezing Kalim back just as tightly as he did her.

"Yuusei! Ah, I was hoping to see you before the ceremony! I bought everyone graduation gifts, but I seem to have misplaced them–" Jamil made a motion from behind Kalim, and Yuusei nodded in understanding. "So instead, Jamil and I spent some time making a bunch of gifts!"

Yuusei perked up considerably at that.

"Making? Is that why you two have been basically AWOL for the past few weeks? I haven't seen hide nor hair of y'all." Kalim nods vigorously, and Jamil gives an exhausted little sigh.

"More work than it's worth, frankly." Jamil hums, leaning further into one hip. He raises a brow and eyes Kalim from the corner of his eye. "But someone doesn't know when to quit." Kalim only smiles brightly, nodding along with Jamil's words.

"I want it to be a surprise for everyone, but you can have yours early! I worked super hard on them!" Yuusei raises an eyebrow as Kalim digs around in one of his many pockets, pulling out a small charm triumphantly. It's beaded and small, and if she didn't know any better, she'd think it was maybe a kandi bracelet from her old world. Kalim holds it out to her, and she gingerly accepts it, holding it in her palms. It's strangely warm, and not just from being carried around in his pocket. Now that she can see it a bit better, she realizes its not a bracelet, but more like some kind of beaded charm. It's small, only a few centimeters long, but it's very colorful, with a small tassel and feathers woven into it amongst beautiful knot work. The feathers look like they might be macaw feathers, but they seem far too iridescent. Likely some sort of direbeast then, she'd have to read up on species found in the Scalding Sands. 

"Is it charmed?" She asks, marveling at it, and Kalim nods eagerly.

"We spent a super long time working on the magic for it! Jamil's extra ancient magical studies really helped," Kalim sheepishly rubs the back of his neck, smiling at Jamil, who scoffs and glances away instead. "But even so, he made me come up with the idea for the charm myself." Yuusei can't lie and say she's not impressed.

"It's beautiful." She hums instead, rubbing her thumb across one of the beads. It looks almost like tiger's eye, or maybe some kind of jasper. The magic thrums here too, strong, and distinctly Kalim. She can feel the underlying spice of Jamil's magical signature though, too, strengthening the charm. "What does it do?" Kalim perks up again, excitedly grasping her hands as he gestures to it.

"It's connected to the other charms, which is why you have one! But it's supposed to let you connect with the other holders of the charms by thinking about them, letting you feel snippets of their inner emotions, and see through their eyes. Like a miniature crystal ball!" His eyes are sparkling. 

Yuusei's jaw drops.

"Kalim, that's insane."

"Insanely invasive, I know, I tried to tell him, but he insisted." Jamil waved a hand and rolled his eyes, sighing. Yuusei shook her head and cupped Kalim's face instead.

"That too, but an actual crystal ball hasn't been enchanted since before the sea witch's time. You know that, right? Ancient artifacts like that are insanely hard to come by. And you two just... Made one? No, you made... How many did you make?!"

Kalim perked up and smiled so bright it nearly blinded her.

"Well I was gonna make one for all of the graduates! But Jamil convinced me to just do it for everyone who was involved in the incidents the past few years." He leans his head into her palms, eyes growing a bit dimmer. "So we can all check in on you, and you can check in on us, too! I know what it's like to worry, but this'll give ya some peace of mind, I hope!" His eyes flick to Jamil as his palms come to rest over Yuusei's own, those lovely garnets set in his skull glittering pensively. "You lose enough sleep as it is." He murmurs in a tone meant for just the two of them, before letting energy fill him again, back to the delightful, chipper Kalim that everyone knew.

She rolls the charm in her palm again, eyes softening.

"Thank you, Kalim." Yuusei's eyes turn to Jamil, expression still weak, soft. Vulnerable. "And you too, Jamil. I know this can't have been easy, but..." She pulls the charm close to her chest, cradling it and squeezing it. The magic pulses, warm, and she can almost taste the desert air, and if she closes her eyes, she can feel the cool springs of Kalim's Oasis Maker pouring over her shoulders. Something warm pools at her eyes, carefully swiped away before it's seen.

"It's a wonderful gift."

Kalim giggles and tackles her into another hug, squeezing her tight as she hiccups, fanning her eyes so she doesn't cry.

"Oh, wow, this is so embarrassing for me." They laugh, and Jamil snorts from his position, reaching over to ruffle their hair. He seems to think better of it after a moment, giving a strangely impersonal pat on the shoulder. Yuusei raises an eyebrow and starts to giggle again almost maniacally. 

"I've been in your head, and you wanna run from me now?" They tease, half-joking, half-teasing. Jamil only shoves their arm instead, lightly, not deigning them with a response. 

Kalim finally relinquishes them, and proceeds to begin pestering them with questions about how they've been in the past few months. The sheer volume of questions and the speed at which he fires them is nearly as impressive as enchanting a magical object that hasn't been recreated in possibly millennia. Nearly.

Being scooped up and thrown over someone's shoulder was not how their conversation with Kalim was supposed to end.

"This probably qualifies as a kidnapping."

"Only in sovereign states. Sage Island is still classified as neutral territory, even after this past year's incident." That self-satisfied voice and smug intonation can belong to none other than Jade himself, leaning in to inspect Yuusei from where they hang from Floyd's shoulder.

"Enjoying the ride?"

"Not even a little bit." They make a grab for the earring dangling from Jade's left ear, hoping to yank it out, but miss quite dramatically as he ducks out of the way with a delighted little grin.

Where the twins are, Azul is never far behind.

"Floyd— put the Prefect down this instant! Have some decorum, for the Seven's sake! Incorrigible little..." He trails off in some variety of clicks and whistles that must be insults, chirping as he (quite brutishly) settles Yuusei back on stable ground again.

Floyd clicks back in mermish, and while Yuusei had picked up on at least a little bit of the other dialects since they were similar enough to languages from their home world, they simply had no idea where to even start with mermish. Like trying to translate dolphin clicks and whale song. At the very least, Floyd's expression clues them in that he's sulking, probably from having his stress toy taken away.

Azul's expression goes blue, ready to start hissing back more insults, but it's Jade's tittering laugh, hidden by a hand, that composes him. Or, rather, not Jade's laugh itself, but the fact that Jade is laughing at him, and Azul hates being the butt of a joke more than most things.

"I will not rise to your taunts because I was brought up properly. You were dragged." He sniffs, adjusting his glasses briefly, and Yuusei can't help but snort as Jade pauses, a fragile crack in his composure. It is sealed up just as quickly, though Jade leans in far closer to Azul than is socially acceptable.

"It is not too late to eat you, octopus," He cheerfully remarks, clasping a hand on Azul's shoulder, "refrain from remarking on our upbringing, and you shall remain an unconsumed morsel."

"You do not threaten me." Azul grumbles, swatting Jade's gloved hand away, "You think ketchup is spicy."

Yuusei's eyes flick between the three, thoroughly enjoying the conversation they've rather suddenly been excluded from. Before they can make a move to escape, however, weight settles on the top of their head. Floyd chirrs deep in his throat, a sound that rumbles through his chest and vibrates at their back. Another few clicks in mermish.

"You know I don't understand what you're saying." They murmur as Jade and Azul continue to argue, Azul becoming increasingly heated while Jade teases and prods at his ego. Floyd huffs again, poking at Yuusei's sides and chirping again. After another moment, he draws out the chirp, pressing one claw to their side.

"How've ya not picked this stuff up... it's basic..." He grumbles, irritated as she continues to not understand and he continues to not explain.

"It's not like you're giving me any pointers. Y'know, you could actually try teaching me instead of just being a jerk about it." Another, sharper jab in the side, and a repeated squeak.

"S'not that hard, ya just don't listen."

"You are, and I cannot stress this enough, speaking dolphin. What am I supposed to understand from that." Floyd huffs again and gestures at Jade, then repeats the click. Gestures at Azul, and repeats the same sound. Then jabs Yuusei.

"Okay, so it's not my name." He makes a disgruntled noise, as if offended. 

"Your name don't got a specific sound. In the ocean it's all just–" he warbles something, and Jade perks up, turning his head to glance at them as if called. Floyd waves his hand idly.

"That was totally just his name."

"Nah. S'not a name, it's like... Whaddya squishy folk call it?" 

"Squishy folk?"

"'Fore you give your fry a name. Like..." He trails off, shifting uncomfortably, which is not something Floyd does terribly often. Yuusei tries to process what he's saying, so he doesn't feel terribly awkward trying to explain it.

"Like... what we call babies before they're born? Like, peanut and bean? We don't have a word for that."

"Sorta. Not quite, guess you folk don't quite got it figured out yet." He makes a different series of trills in mermish, and Yuusei shifts to listen a bit closer. 

"Jade's basically translates to tiniest green fish, roughly."

"Great Seven, grant me strength."

"Quit bringin' them up, they can't help you." He grumbles, chirping again. The same sound, jabbed at their stomach now.

"You still haven't answered me. I don't know what that means." 

"Do you need everythin' spoon-fed to you?" He grumbles, pulling away, and Yuusei knows they're about to lose their chance. Instead, they turn and yank Floyd down by his tie. With a spark of subtle pride, they note that it's actually properly done, for once, but who knows how long that will last.

Floyd actually snarls at that, but they have his attention again.

"You're right, my bad." They don't say sorry, that always served to just piss Floyd off more. "I'll get it. Just gimme one more shot?"

Floyd groans and shakes them off, hissing frantic mermish, clicks and whistles that traipse back in to common tongue insults quickly. 

"Ya ever grab me like that again, shrimp, and I'll turn ya and the rest of your–" that single chirp repeats as he once again gestures widely, not at Azul and Jade this time, "–into paella, 'n then I'll eatcha." His teeth are still bared in a snarl, but there's a flicker there. A challenge.

Yuusei pauses, blinks at him, and leans in. Studies his face.

"Use it in a sentence. One more time."

"Nah, ya gotchur hint. Figure it out." He huffs, slouching back and stuffing his hands in his pockets, irritation welling up again.

Yuusei continues to stare, watching Floyd's expression shift from anger to boredom to irritation.

"...Friend..s?" A deep hiss. Something warmer, then. Jade.

"Family."

Floyd rolls his eyes, but the tension from his shoulders slowly comes down. 

"Took ya long enough, 'n you're still wrong. Pod." He makes the whistle again, the chirp. It's musical, and while Yuusei doesn't really grasp the language, how it comes together to form a word, they understand that one word. Pod.

Yuusei's vocal chords aren't the right shape, but she tries anyway to repeat the whistle. Floyd flinches back with wide eyes, and then slaps a hand over her mouth. 

"Eyugh— just keep your mouth closed next time! Dying catfish sound better than that!"

They hadn't even noticed that Azul and Jade had gone quiet for some time now, too busy watching the twins' symbiote to continue their argument, amusement dancing across both of their expressions. 

Thankfully, Yuusei is pulled from Floyd's care before he decides to get violent again, and quickly smuggled away.

"What are you doing-" hisses Yuusei, squirming from where they've been hoisted by what– or rather who– must be Jack, judging by the nails digging into their stomach.

"Quiet, you!" A sharp voice hisses, which must be Ace, because he swats at her side and she kicks at him on instinct. "Ow!" 

"This is the stupidest thing you've done this week– what is happening– put me DOWN. All of you! Heathens! Cretins! Why am I treated like a sack of flour!" Jack huffs with amusement, and there's a telltale snort from the other side of him that could only be from Epel. "Who even all is here?!"

Ortho's face pops up, bright and brilliant and very blue, right in front of her. "Prefect Yuusei! You'll be delighted to know that we are accompanied by Savannaclaw Housewarden Jack Howl, Ace Trappola, and Epel Felmier! Heartslabyul's Vice Housewarden and Diasomnia's Vice Housewarden both elected to remain out of our rescue plans!"

"I am so not delighted."

"Wonderful!" Ortho ignores her, floating up to drift above her and Jack in lazy circles as they scurry through the crowd like a pack of rats. 

"Put me down. I am more than capable of walking on my own!"

"But this is so much funnier." Ace coos, smug and delighted. He manages to dodge the kick this time. Unfortunately for him, Jack has better morals, and sighs as he slows to a halt, settling Yuusei back on their feet. They whirl around, ready to mete out justice as they see fit.

"Easy," and there's another sound Yuusei doesn't recognize, but at least this one tries to sound familiar. Unlike mermish, which is incomprehensible, this one at least resembles a language from her home world. It sounds kind of like French, but rougher. Guttural, somewhere just south of German, maybe. Yuusei really regrets not taking French, back in school. They'd only taken the required courses to graduate, and they couldn't remember a lick of what they'd been taught.

Jack leans down and pauses, giving Yuusei a moment to decide to reject his attention, before nestling into the crook of their shoulder when not pushed away. He huffs out a breath, rubbing his cheek there for a moment. They can hear his tail thumping against the backs of his thighs, and they stifle a laugh. If they laughed, he wouldn't so freely offer affection in the future, and they'd spent so long convincing him it was alright. Ace squawks from somewhere in front of them, and Epel laughs a wicked sound as Ace starts complaining nearly immediately. 

"Calm down. You 'n Deuce have already had them for a few hours," Jack rumbles, side eyeing Ace from his resting place, "and Floyd got his scent all over 'em anyway. I'm just coverin' it up." Epel wheezes, doubled over, and Ace looks completely scandalized.

"You can't just say stuff like that! It's weird!" Ace shrills again, before screaming when Ortho drops down beside him, upside down and grinning. 

"It's true! Prefect Yuusei's magical signature usually reads of exclusively Grim, with occasional flashes of Ace and Deuce's own magic lingering! But as of present, they are mostly covered with Floyd Leech's magical energy!" Ace looks absolutely offended, and Epel is still choking, whimpering where he's bent over, clutching his sleeves. There's a breath that sounds like it might be a plea for water. Yuusei has no mercy for him.

"That guy never bothers with blocking his glands. Housewarden Ashengrotto and Jade are far more conservative about it, at least. Guess underwater they must not have had to block em, but still. Basically paints a target on a non-mage's back for all sorts of direbeasts and magic-eating monsters. He should at least try to think about others safety, once in a while."

"It'll be a cold day in Hell." Yuusei snorts.

"Hell doesn't have a diurnal cycle!" Ortho supplies helpfully.

They all turn to him warily, confused, but shrug it off. The kid did grow up in STYX, after all. It wasn't out of the question for Hell to be a real place, but it wasn't one they were gonna question. Ortho had threatened to take them out for far less, even if it had been a joke. Probably.

Yuusei glances back up at Jack as he seems to finish up with this side of their throat, taking a moment to breathe in, and then nod approvingly.

"What do you mean by glands, by the way? You've never really mentioned it before." 

Jack blinks, his ears tipping back for a moment, before he rubs at the back of his neck, lowering his head down almost bashfully.

"It's not really somethin' we talk about a lot..." He mutters, clearly not wanting to elaborate. Yuusei squints.

"If you're gonna be rubbing your face all over my neck, you're gonna tell me what it means." She huffs, irritation welling beneath her skin. Jack's ears fall slightly, sulking. But he quietly begins to speak again, finally explaining what no one had been willing to explain to her before now.

"Most non-humans tend to, for lack of a better word, scent their family, among other things. Like belongings." His voice is forced out between gritted teeth, eyes averted from her sharpened gaze. Jack's growing increasingly dark in the cheeks, ears flattening against his head. "With mages, though, it's more specifically their magical signature. Like I said, mages are strong enough to defend themselves, but when you start scentin' a non-mage, they look like a walking buffet to monsters who consume magic." Oh, that made some more sense. It wasn't so difficult to understand when broken down to it's base components; even humans that weren't beastfolk or mers marked each other with scents, they just typically used perfume or scented soaps instead. Why had they been so shy about it for so long?  Wait. Yuusei smacks their fist into the palm of their hand, slightly startling Jack as they perk up.

"The nest!" She chirps, looking delighted.

"What about it?" Jack rumbles, raising an eyebrow as he smooths himself back down, looking only mildly embarassed from being so easily spooked.

"It's got all your guys' stuff in it. Grim, to some extent, is a magic eating direbeast. No wonder it helps us sleep. It's like a big puddle of all the people in his family, and it doubles as like... A buffet to him." Yuusei's expression turns smug, eyes bright.

"Speaking of, where is my cat?"

"He's with Deuce and Sebek, last I saw. I believe they were getting some food for your little familiar." Jack murmurs, and Epel finally chooses that time to speak.

"More like hidin' from his majesty." The boy snorts, waving a hand. Yuusei raises a brow in questioning, and the magishift player shrugs his shoulders with a wry little grin.

"Heard ya rose boy found em and he was none ta pleased ta find his dear ol' vice slackin' on tha job. Madder than a wet hen, that one." Lavender hair is tucked back with bony fingers as Epel finally seems to catch his breath, eyes crinkling at the corners. He snickers again, and then shakes out his hair, a smug little smirk winding up his face. The cat that got the cream. Yuusei sighs heavily.

"After all my lecturing, he still goes and gets himself collared before noon..." She muses, shaking her head, though she can't say shes shocked. Ace snorts and Jack rumbles something about keeping her only dorm member in line.

"You try having a direbeast as a roommate." She huffs back, pushing at Jacks face. He finally relinquishes her, satisfied with having covered Floyd's magic up, apparently.

"Do I no longer smell like a walking billboard that says 'eat me, eat me'?" She questions sarcastically, and Jack nods, completely seriously.

"It's good enough for now. Gettin' Grim back with ya will make it better, though. He's the best deterrent you've got." That, too, made some sense.

Unfortunately, Yuusei does not get the opportunity to reclaim her (potentially) collared familiar, before she is once again swooped up over someone's shoulder.

"You know, none of you were ever this clingy during our actual school year together." Yuusei mutters from where they've been flung over Leona's shoulder. A chuff of dry laughter escapes him, tail flicking to swat at their nose. The tickling sensation nearly makes them sneeze, but Leona swats at them again to prevent that.

"Oi, you get snot all in my fur, I'll have your hide." He rumbles, rolling his shoulder to drive into their stomach just slightly. Yuusei chokes and whines, laying their cheek against his back.

"No fair. You're the one that keeps hitting me and yet I'm the one being punished..."

"Just the way the world works, pipsqueak. Either get with the program or quit your complainin'."

"You're the worst." They grumble, going limp and accepting their fate (probably that of a pillow for the next twenty minutes or so, or at least until Ruggie recovered them). Leona chuffs, something deeply amused in his tone as he lets his tail start flicking in their face again.

"Quit it!"

They let themselves be hauled off for another few moments in silence, before processing what they're seeing against his back. 

"Leona."

"Hmm..."

"Leona. Where are your graduation robes."

"Couldn't tell ya."

"The ceremony is in less than an hour."

"So it is."

"Professor Crewel will skin you."

"I would make a very fashionable rug."

"You're actually impossible," Yuusei squirms in his grip again, "how does anyone put up with you." His tail swats her in the nose again. "Quit that!"

"Quit what?"

"Insufferable bastard."

"My parents were very much married when they had me." She can hear the grin in his voice, but she has no time to retort as she's plopped, none too gently, onto the ground. There's a soft chuff, and then Leona is settling in beside her. They're not too far from the ceremony, she can see everything just fine, but it's difficult to move with the second prince of the Sunset Savannah making himself comfortable on your legs.

The blankets he's chosen to settle them on, conveniently, are his graduation robes.

"You cannot be serious."

"Dead. Now pipe down, pipsqueak." Comes his rough voice, fluffy ear flicking back and tail curling lazily across the fabric. Yuusei puffs another breath of irritation, but settles in without complaint this time, her fingers worming in to begin untangling a bit of Leona's hair. 

"Careful." The prince rumbles, but there's no bite. Just to be difficult, Yuusei gives a little tug on one of the braids. He swats at her with his claws, and she apologizes quickly, ducking her head. "Don't get smart with me, pipsqueak. I don't have the patience today." That, Yuusei can understand. She had mostly been teasing, but if Leona's in a foul mood, she's not gonna be the one to exacerbate it. She hums her compliance, returning to gently playing with his hair, quietly braiding more sections off. 

Minutes pass slowly, lackadaisical. Sand dripping down through an hourglass with the Moon's gravity.

Soft steps up the hill, familiar scruffy hair and tired eyes. Ruggie settles in beside them. He doesn't want to wake Leona just yet, either, content to settle in at Yuusei's shoulder. He pauses, sniffs, and curls his lip with a tiny annoyed grunt. In a low tone, he speaks.

"Already went and spent your time with our puppy Housewarden?" Ruggie huffs out, grumbling and squealing quietly as he adjusts to get comfortable, his tail flicking up to curl over the top of his thigh, out of the way.

"Something like that." Yuusei murmurs softly, pulling a hand away from Leona to tease at Ruggie's own hair. "Want a matching braid?"

"Nah. Don't wanna be outed as the prince's errand runner to the entire royal family." Yuusei snorts at that, it was far too late if Cheka had seen him at Leona's beck and call in her very first year here. She doesn't voice it though, idly scratching behind Ruggie's fluffy ear. He huffs again.

There's a moment of quiet between them, before Ruggie starts nosing at Yuusei's shoulder, taking in the scent there. Now that Yuusei is at least aware of what he's doing, they bare their neck a little bit, letting him investigate. 

"You and the kit gonna be okay?" He asks after a minute, poking Yuusei's shoulder, "Once I head off on internship. You're not gonna be goin' hungry, yeah? I'm sure Jack wouldn't let ya, but still." There's a soft chuff, and then a warble as he bumps his teeth against her jaw. Ruggie pulls away to look at her, his tone suddenly serious. 

"I mean it. Ain't no meat on your bones," he pinches her side for emphasis, "you're practically a toothpick for any predator that can catch ya." Yuusei bats his hand away and shakes their head, sighing.

"We've made it two years, we can do it again. Besides, I think Crewel will skin the bird if he keeps neglecting us. Vil's been writing letters, and Ortho has concerningly detailed health reports." Yuusei picks at the skin of their wrists, just barely covered by the Night Raven uniform gloves. The scar tissue peeks through, stares at them. They glance away, back at Ruggie.

"If you say so. 'M not gonna force ya, that's not my job." The hyena shrugs, chirping out another sound that might be a yip. His tail flicks against his thigh, and his fluffy ears twitch, head perking up as his eyes pin to the arena across the field.

"Ceremony's in twenty. You wanna take your chances waking sleeping beauty?"

"Don't desecrate Silver's title like that."

Ruggie can't keep himself from barking a laugh, and Leona's eyes snap open nearly immediately, swatting at the hyena with a growl. Ruggie yips, scrambling back and swatting back at the prince before he can think better of it, glaring sharply.

"Aye, mind the claws!"

The ceremony is set to start in fifteen minutes. Yuusei and Ruggie have only just barely managed to get Leona down into the corridor for the graduates, with graduation robes intact. Thankfully, magic cleans up the dust and grass specks pretty easily, though it does not patch up Leona's attitude. Granted, with twenty-four years behind him, it's unlikely anything could get that sass of his to settle down. It's part of him, the same way his tail is. Yuusei snorts, but before she can escape with Ruggie back to the stands, she is snatched back by the collar of her shirt. Ruggie glances back, gives them a pitying look, and flees while he can. Traitor!

"And where exactly do you think you're going, dressed like that?" Yuusei cranes their head back with a wobbly smile. 

"Vil... you look lovely today..." they try. 

"Don't attempt flattery, boniato. You're covered in fur." Leona's tail swats from somewhere behind them, and Vil hisses something in what sounds like the same language Jack had used earlier. Must be some Pyroxene language, then. She'd have to ask when she wasn't being interrogated.

"Your hair's grown out nicely?" Yuusei attempts again, smiling nervously. Vil always made them nervous, but not in the fluttery way that pretty people tended to. More like in the way a prey animal felt between a predator's teeth. He glances back down at them with an appraising look, studying their micro expressions.

"And?"

"Are... you planning to donate it?" Quite possibly the stupidest question they could've asked, but Vil looks strangely pleased.

"Excellent. It appears that you're not completely beyond repair." He leans in and begins to fuss over their tie and uniform. "You cannot be seriously intent on wearing your Night Raven uniform for the ceremony. Do you not have anything classier? Did you outgrow what I bought you for the premiere last year? You don't look like you've grown a single centimeter," he continues fussing, and Yuusei mutters under their breath in response; earning a swat to the front of their collarbone. "Speak up or don't speak at all." 

Better not to comment on his observations, instead extracting a lint roller from the pocket of their slacks. Vil doesn't look impressed, but he doesn't look quite as vengeful either, raising a single perfectly manicured eyebrow, as if to say and?

"I started carrying one around," Yuusei explains, flustering under his attention, "after you left. Cuz' of Grimmy." Pretty painted nails tap along the sleeve of Vil's robes, waiting for further explanation. 

"I can use it..? To clean up my outfit, I mean." 

"You are not wearing that to our graduation. To my graduation. I will not permit it."

"Well what do you want me to wear, Vil? It's not like there's anything else in my closet. And we have–" a quick glance at their phone "– about twelve minutes before the ceremony." Vil stares for another long moment, as if waiting for something, before sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Boniato, you've witnessed lesser mages accomplish greater feats than a quick costume change. Did Cater not magically gift you with one in your very first week?" That was true. It was not as if they were hard to come by; a dime a dozen really, everyone seemed to magically change her or Grim's clothing (or ribbon, when it came to her familiar) without her permission. 

"Illusion magic is hardly an issue for me." He hums, grasping for his pen. "Now stand still."

He certainly didn't need to tell her twice.

With a sparkle of violet magic, burning just slightly at old scar tissue, Yuusei finds themself standing in a new outfit. Or, rather, the same outfit. The fabric clings to all the same places, but at the very least, it gives the illusion of something a bit fancier. They side eye the skirt for a moment, and Vil hides a smile behind a hand.

"It's just a trick of the light. It won't inhibit your ability to run, häslein." Again, Yuusei flusters. Too easily read by Vil's discerning eye. He's far too good at making them feel small; he always has been.

"Now run along, if Professor Crewel catches you down here, he'll be quite cross with you." Despite his words, there's still a smile on Vil's face. He must take pleasure in terrifying her, really. Sadist.

Before she can take his advice and flee the scene, she is once again pulled aside, into a darkened corridor.

Reptilian eyes blink back at her in the darkness.

Familiar.

A friend.

A smile crosses her face before she can stop it, hands reaching out to cup the pallid face before her, even as bony fingers remain grasped around her wrists. It's only as she manages to grasp at him that she realizes there's a buzzing sound filling the room (and, in that same breath, that it's coming from him). Radiating outward.

"Should I start calling you bumblebee?" She giggles. He huffs, leaning into her touch, eyes fluttering shut. Blue eyelashes glitter against his cheeks, and she finds herself counting the scales along his forehead to avoid staring at them. Elegant. Every bit the prince he had been born to be, carved from marble and filigree. Made from molten silver, fairy dust and gossamer insect wings. He rumbles again, deeper this time.

"Malleus." She coos. He makes a sound deep in his throat, guttural and strange.

"The ceremony is in less than ten minutes. I have to get to the stands, or I won't be able to see you graduate." Another irritated puff.

"You're being ridiculous."

"They are all privy to your attention," he rasps at long last, eyes fluttering open again to watch her, "am I not deserving of the same courtesy?"

"You can have as much of my attention as you like, once the ceremony is over." She teases, pinching his cheek. Smoke puffs from his mouth in response, lips curling downward. His fangs bare just slightly.

"It is not soon enough." 

"You have waited four months. You can wait two hours more." He growls again, and by the way he ducks his head down, she can tell he's grown greedier in their time apart.

"Dearest friend," Yuusei hums, appealing to his draconic nature, watching the way he preens at the compliment, "would it please you, if I were to approach you first after the ceremony? Not another would catch my eye until we have spoken. Would you be amenable?"

"If I could keep your eyes for all of eternity, it would still not be enough."

"Humans do not have eternity." He huffs again, and she laughs, running her fingers down his face and finally releasing him. 

"Come here and hug me. We'll talk about this after the ceremony, okay?" A final appeal to his merciful spirit. Thankfully, he grants it, wrapping his arms around them. His grip is tight, his talons sinking in to the fabric of their shirt, and a whine gathers in his chest, entirely unlike him. But he's being sweet, and that's enough. 

"Thank you, Malleus. I promise I won't forget." Green magic sparkles between them, and his eyes light up with the same glow. 

"Of course."

Hurrying back up the steps, Yuusei passes Professor Crewel. He gives her a very sharp side eye, but does not comment, instead giving a hurry along motion before turning his back. Thank the Seven he's in a good mood, Yuusei puts their hands together and lifts them up, giggling and climbing the stairs faster. They hurry up, scrambling to their spot in the stands. 

Thankfully, with two very tall friends, and a very bright blue flaming robot, it's easy to find where they're supposed to be seated.

Shuffling into the stands, Ace yanks them across and into their seat, where they're promptly settled down.

"What are you wearing?" He hisses, shucking off his jacket and tossing it over their shoulders, tucking it in and fussing over them, "We leave you alone for five minutes!" 

"It's been like, two hours!" 

"Close enough!" He whisper-shouts back, continuing to fuss. Deuce looks equally alarmed, but he doesn't have a spare jacket to toss over Yuusei's legs, and thus settles for glaring at the nearest bystanders. They aren't even looking at their group.

Sebek decides this is a good time to chime in, and whacks Ace upside the back of the head. 

"Quiet!" He hisses, in a tone that is, shockingly, a low volume for the half-fae. "The ceremony is beginning shortly, and I will not have you drawing attention to us." Ace growls at him, having picked up Grim's bad habits, and Yuusei has to tamper down the direbeast's own immediate urge to pick a fight.

"Not now, both of you. Hush." Her eyes narrow with irritation as the ever so kind Headmage prances his way onto the stage with an all-too-dramatic bow, complete with flourish. His voice echoes through the stadium, but Yuusei's ears are already ringing, drowning him out as he drones through the words she's already heard once before. Fingers twitching, eyes narrowed down at him as the discontentment festers, bubbling in her chest like something insidious. Grim's claws sink into her thighs, grounding her in the present; but it's easy to see he's not happy either. The medication, at the very least, does it's job and keeps the both of them level-headed enough to keep them steady. Ace glances at her from the corner of his eye, and Deuce settles an arm behind her, fingers creeping onto Ace's shoulder.

As per the first graduation she had attended, Pomefiore is the first dorm to be presented. Yuusei can almost make out an irritated groan from Epel, before Sebek stifles it with an elbow to his gut.

Yuusei scans the front of the crowd, squinting at the families of the graduates, and is able to pick out Eric Venue near immediately. Settled near to him are the Clovers, Trey's two younger siblings settled between his parents. Picture perfect. Yuusei can even see Eric leaning in to speak to Mrs. Clover, just barely. It's hard to make out from the distance.

After a few graduates pass by, Vil takes the stage. Crowley preens and fluffs out his feathers, the fae tipping his head back. Yuusei expects he would be crowing his delight, if not for the audience. 

"To our Pomefiore graduate, Vil Schoenheit, I award the highest honor I can bestow, for your continued excellence both as Pomefiore's Housewarden, and as a student of Night Raven. Perfection is nigh unattainable, though some, such as yourself, may come close. For I am so kind, I acknowledge your efforts as such. For your mastery over potion brewing and curse work, you are marked with distinction. Continue to do us at Night Raven proud going forward, and you will make beautiful changes in Wonderland." Crowley nearly sings out, draping three glittering ropes around Vil's shoulders. He reaches back into a shining box, fussing for a pin, and then attaches that to Vil's robes as well; the mark of his time as a Housewarden, she'd learned in the previous year. He pulls away for a moment, and there's a sparkle of violet and crimson magic; a diploma appearing and then unraveling in Crowley's talons. He drags Vil closer by the hand, turning to the cameras with smiles galore. Just like graduation at home, Yuusei thinks, stifling a cynical snort.

Vil is finally allowed to cross the stage to join the other graduates, flicking his hair across his shoulder as he turns to face outward to the crowd. She hadn't been lying when she told him it looked nice grown out, and idly, she wonders how long he intends to grow it, before he cuts it back again.

Yuusei doesn't recognize the next several Pomefiore students, but Rook's name pulls them back out of the haze. They scoot forward in their chair, but Ace pushes them back into it. 

"Sit back," he hisses under his breath, giving them a sharp glare, "it's not like it's a concert."

"Rook Hunt, another of our distinguished graduates," Crowley croons over the din of the stadium, "you may have started in Savannaclaw's pride, but it is clear to me, now more than ever, that you have always belonged amongst Pomefiore. You served well as Vice Housewarden, and I'm sure you will continue to serve Wonderland well in whatever path you take going forward." He pulls two ropes out, and settles them over Rook's shoulders. "For your excellence among your peers, I award our highest honors. Additionally, for your mastery of alchemy and potion work, you are marked with distinction." Yuusei had not known that Rook was proficient in alchemy, but it made sense considering his participation in the science club. A similar pin to the Housewarden edition is attached to Rook's robes, albeit slightly different, before Crowley proceeds straight into the diploma and photograph. Rook joins his dormmates at the other side of the stage in but a few moments, a bright smile across his face, and though they're so far away, she can still see the dimples of his cheeks.

There are a few names Yuusei recognizes among the remaining Pomefiore students, but none that are quite as close to her as Vil and Rook. She smiles, playing with her robes, and before she knows it, forty minutes have passed in the blink of an eye. The stage is lined with Pomefiore students.

Crowley steps into the center of the stage once more.

"One last applause for our beautiful, lovely Pomefiore graduates, before we send them on their way!" He delightfully calls, eyes peering around the stadium. The noise is a bit too much for Yuusei, but it's worth it to see the smiles on her dear friends faces. A bow, and an exit to stage left. Just like theater. They file into the stands designated for them, a wave of star-speckled obsidian fabric.

The stage, empty once more, shifts into a beautiful red hue. Crimson banners flicker over where once was violet, roses blossoming in place of irises. 

"Now, please welcome our Heartslabyul graduates!"

The first several Heartslabyul graduates are easily recognizable. Fluffy white rabbit ears, glittery blue hair and an unmistakable slouch, a prance that puts the finest reindeer to shame. While not her own closest friends, they're still familiar upperclassmen, her seniors that had ruffled her hair and laughed at her many nights spent under Heartslabyul's roof (hiding from Ramshackle's leaky roof, during especially rainy nights, and later hiding from the nightmares of what had happened throughout her first year). But it's not until Trey steps up onto the stage that she truly starts making a racket, much to Sebek's chagrin. He turns to hush her again, but Ace and Deuce are equally loud.

In fact, Ace has climbed on top of Yuusei's seat, and has yanked Grim up into his hands like a living torch, lifting him high above his head and shaking him (there's a very frazzled yowl of put me down!).

"That's our Vice!" He shouts, and Deuce is shouting with him, cheering loudly.

Even from a distance, Yuusei can feel the scorching heat of Riddle's wrath flaring up, even before he shrieks his incantation. She just barely manages to duck her head as three dazzling collars clang to a shut around her beloved companions throats.

But at the very least, Trey has a smile on his face, because he's struggling not to cackle from what she can see, straining to hold his composure. It's not enough, because he turns to fake a cough into his elbow. Yuusei grasps her boys by the backs of their shirts and drags them back into their chairs as Sebek begins his lecture.

"Hush up, you. I wanna at least hear what the bird has to say about Trey." Ace grumbles. Sebek jabs him in the chest with a glare.

"You should have thought of that before making fools of yourselves in front of everyone!"

Yuusei giggles, and waves a hand at Sebek. 

"Like you won't do the same thing for Malleus and Lilia, when it's Diasomnia's turn." Sebek's face goes bright red, a rumble growing in his throat. Is he growling? Precious, even the half-fae gave into instinct from time to time. Not that she wasn't aware of that, but she hadn't expected to draw it out so easily. Maybe his emotions were already far closer to the surface than she had thought. Their group is interrupted by Crowley's speaking.

"Now that our crowd's excitement has dimmed, Trey Clover, it is with great honor I bestow upon you the mark of distinction." A crimson and gold rope is looped over Trey's shoulders, and Yuusei can see the lopsided grin on his face, even from across the stadium. "For your proficiency in alchemy, and for your exceptional thesis written on the subject. Never before has a student grasped the concept of alchemy so wonderfully, without being within our Pomefiore graduating class. I begin to wonder if we misplaced you, back in your first year!" There's an offended gasp from Ace, and Yuusei can already see Deuce baring his teeth at the mere idea that Trey belonged anywhere but with the Heartslabyul dorm, before Crowley continues without pause. "Regardless of proficiency, one cannot deny that your influence on the Heartslabyul dorm has been sorely needed! You have been a wonderful senior, a guiding star to your underclassmen, and it is for these reasons that I am proud to award you with this Vice Housewarden's pin," adept fingers click the pin into place, adjusting it firmly, "congratulations, Mr. Trey Clover." They proceed through the photo, and Trey's smile is so bright it nearly blinds Yuusei.

She thinks his father is crying. Actually, scratch that, she's certain his father is crying, because Trey's younger sister is patting his back consolingly as Trey crosses the stage to stand arm-to-arm with his peers.

He's still smiling so, so brightly.

It is not terribly long before Cater is called up, in turn, to the podium. He looks strangely small, up there, under thousands of eyes. He doesn't preen like typical, but he doesn't hide, either. He meets Crowley's gaze evenly, but there's weight in his shoulders. Tension. A nervous energy that Cater never lets show, but the mask has slipped. Just slightly.

"Cater Diamond," Crowley greets, something off in his tone, "despite the short time you occupied the position, you held the Vice Housewarden role all the same." Yuusei hadn't known that. Their shoulders tense, irritation sparking as Crowley continues to speak in that lower tone. "Your time served has not been forgotten. Please step forward and accept this pin," he fastens it, not nearly with the same pride that he had done with Rook, nor with Trey. The Headmage is quiet for another moment, going through the motions. Cater is not awarded with any special commendations, nor with any marks of excellence. He simply... is. He walks away with his diploma, and even from the distance, Yuusei can see his hands are trembling.

"That's it?" Asks Ace in a low tone, eyes narrowing. "Are you serious?"

"Surely they can't end it like that." Jack huffs in turn. "That was hardly a commendation. It was practically an insult dressed as a compliment."

Heartslabyul takes the longest amount of time to get through, even after Trey and Cater have received their diploma. Heartslabyul, after all, has the largest class of graduating fourth years seen in nearly twenty years. Riddle had ensured that in his time as Housewarden, as even from his position on campus, he had kept up with each of his students. Yuusei remembers the many nights he'd pulled all-nighters, calculating out what was necessary for each of his upperclassmen to graduate. He worked far too hard for them, but she had to envy his dedication. He was no doubt the most outstanding Housewarden Night Raven had ever seen, and likely ever would. 

It didn't soothe the bitter note that Cater's own commendation had left on her tongue.

It took nearly two hours to get through the Heartslabyul graduates, and following it up was the smallest class of graduating fourth years; Diasomnia. There were only a handful, owing to the already rather small size of the dorm. 

A hush settles across the stadium as the first graduate strides across the stage, head lifted and horns tipped back with pride only a dragon could have.

"It is with great pride and honor that I welcome the Crown Prince of Briar Valley to our humble stage, Malleus Draconia." The stadium is quiet, the soft breeze and quiet sniffling from Sebek the only sound echoing throughout the tense arena. It had only been a year since Malleus had nearly wiped Sage Island off the map, after all, and though reparations had been nothing if not thorough, doubts still lingered amongst the populace. A walking natural disaster, what was to prevent him from repeating the incident? Such murmurings had been common to hear amongst the Sage Island residents, but it didn't shy away from the tongues of her classmates, either. She'd heard more than a few people muttering their thoughts on him. Malleus, no matter how soft, how kind she knew him to be, would never again be just Malleus. But he was never just Malleus, to them. He was always a storm wearing the skin of a person, something other. A threat, a danger waiting to rear it's head.

He's as beautiful as the sky before a hurricane.

"It is my greatest honor as a Headmage to have been able to serve the Draconia lineage by having you attend our establishment." Crowley croons out, feathers twitching along his shoulders. "Though four years is merely the blink of an eye for those such as you and I, it has been a wonder to observe how even the smallest changes have influenced you. You are the first, and likely the last, of your blood to attend Night Raven. This is a kindness I cannot ever hope to repay, though I could start with offering my most sincere gratitude. You are not just an exceptional mage, however, but an exceptional student, too. And for this, I too must award you for your efforts. For your complete and utter mastery over three schools of magic, as well as excellence within ancient languages, I award you with the highest honor I can bestow." Crowley begins to drape the ropes over Malleus' head, minding his horns and laughing when one gets caught. "My apologies, Mr. Draconia!" The lime green and black look right at home against Malleus' graduation robes, glittering and beautiful. 

"But these are not the only awards I have to present for you today. In addition, you also presented an exemplary thesis on technomancy, and for this you are marked with distinction." Pride swells again in Yuusei's chest. Malleus' interest in technomancy had only blossomed further after the beginning of his internship with STYX, and while he had admitted in his letters to them that he still didn't fully understand it, he was learning, and that brought a joy they could not voice. Sebek sniffled again, trying to be as quiet as possible.

"Finally, as you served faithfully as Diasomnia's Housewarden, I award you with this pin. You have been a shining star to your underclassmen, something to strive towards and look up to. A beacon and ray of light." And they had started so strong. Now, Crowley was beginning to pander. "Mr. Draconia, may your future endeavors light the way for those of the future. I look forward to your coronation," words slip through his teeth in a language that Yuusei cannot even begin to understand. Like mermish, it chirps and whistles, but not in the same way. No, this is more like the buzzing of insects, the fluttering of thousands of bird wings. It hisses through teeth, something ancient that makes the hair on the back of Yuusei's neck raise. Sebek tenses, and then growls deep in his chest, something hostile and angry in a way she hasn't heard since her first year. The crowd seems to pick up in whispers, some of what Yuusei can only assume are older fae baring their teeth in turn. 

Strange.

Dry lightning cracks in the distance; the wind picks up into a howl.

"Dire," a voice croons, deep and lovely and ancient like redwoods, "this is a celebration, is it not? Keep your tongue devoid of the olden ways, or keep your beak sealed, lest I take it."

If Malleus is the sky prior to a hurricane, Yuusei doesn't know what to compare the Queen Maleficia to. Perhaps she herself is the eye of the storm, a step too far in the wrong direction and you'd lose everything, the winds roaring all around. Yuusei almost wants to bow her head, not wanting to look up at her. No, that's not quite it. It hurts to look at her. So she doesn't, averting her gaze. Dark eyes peer back at them from afar, not curious, but almost appraising. It hurts almost as much to look at it as it does to look at the Queen Maleficia, a bundle of wings and eyes and what must be feathers, blackened. 

The smell of fire and ash and soot and burning flesh fills their nose, nauseating to an extent they hadn't felt since their time in STYX, when the phantoms had been released. Death is a sticky smell, it clings to all it touches. And even though they cover their mouth, it's not enough, it permeates, sinks in between the crevices between their fingers. They can't even draw their eyes away, fear pumping in their veins, thick and ugly. Thankfully, the entity makes the decision for them, head tilting before it slips back between the crowd. Despite it's size, it disappears easily into the people, as if it'd never been there at all. Feathers drift behind it, crimson eyelets smoldering on the darkened feathers. One of them blinks, and Yuusei is finally able to escape it's gaze by hiding her face.

The Sun feels warm against Yuusei's back.

What had they been doing again? They blink slowly, eyes refocusing on the stage. Nothing is amiss. Deuce gently nudges them with his shoulder.

"You okay?" He asks in a hushed tone. Yuusei nods, unable to find the words. Their mouth feels so cottony, their head far away. What had they been looking at? There's the buzzing of insect wings against the base of their neck, but when they clasp a hand against it, their palm meets nothing but air.

Malleus is smiling gently as he shakes Crowley's hand for the cameras.

"I'm just surprised Queen Maleficia didn't show up for her own grandson's graduation," she murmurs, Ace nodding in agreement, "but I guess it must be different when you're so long lived."

Sebek, for once, chooses not to comment. Yuusei leans forward to shoot him a concerned look, but he just rumbles a noise that sounds like it might be a pay attention, they're not really sure. His eyes fixate at a point in the stands, eyes narrowed in a glare. Strange, but not out of the ordinary. Someone was probably disrespecting Malleus more than their little group was, and he was taking it to heart.

Either way, the whole situation leaves a strange feeling in their stomach. They can't pay enough attention to focus on Lilia's graduation speech, though they suspect it was similar in manner to Malleus' own. 

It takes barely twenty minutes to get through the entirety of Diasomnia's graduates.

Yuusei is still out of it for the next several dorms of graduates, only recognizing a few names and faces that pass by. Everything feels... watery. They vaguely notice a few former coworkers from the Mostro Lounge as the Octavinelle graduates make their way across the stage, but time seems to blur into something liquid. Sand in an hourglass, dripping through their fingers and pooling at their feet. It all feels so strange. It all feels wrong. Something's in my skin, it's trying to get out, their mind whispers to them, and they briefly wonder if they forgot to take their medication. But no, they hadn't. They remembered asking Grim to take it before they left, and he wouldn't let them neglect their own dosage if he had to take it.

They blink, and the Octavinelle students are gone. The world is underwater, like it was before. The world is thrumming around her, pulsing with the song of a primordial beast. Amber light flickers to life, two burning candles that grow into embers, that burst into wildfires as they grow closer, closer, closer yet still.

Something that looks like it could be one of the twins, but wrong, lifts her face. Eyes the color of a dying Sun study her, and her head hurts. It hurts so much. It feels like a collapsing star, like she's about to go supernova, and the insects are back, and everything is bubbling and roiling beneath her skin.

The thing's face is shrouded in darkness, but she can make out the serpentine snout, indentations of heat pits and the curve of a maw lined with too many teeth. An anglerfish's lure dangles above her head, pulsing with otherworldly light. Thin membrane slides into place over golden embers, blinking at her. Crocodilian.

Serpentine curves wind over one another, the soft sound of scales rubbing against each other rising, creating a cacophony, a wailing that only crescendos with the agony it causes. Rattlesnakes use the noise of their namesake to ward off predators. What use, then, does Jörmungandr have for the same function? 

Ouroboros croons in whale song, and Yuusei's ears bleed.

"Yuu?" Ace's voice startles them out of their thoughts, blinking back to reality. Yuusei glances over, raising a brow. 

"You okay?" He murmurs in a hushed tone, "You've got a little..." he gestures at his nose, and Yuusei gingerly lifts a hand to her own, pulling away to see blood on her fingers. Strange. Maybe an adverse affect to her medication? 

"Maybe you should visit the nurse," Deuce pipes up, glancing at her, "you've been acting strange for the past hour or so." Yuusei shakes her head in disagreement, frowning.

"I don't need to see a nurse. Ortho's right here anyway, he can vouch for me, right Ortho?"

Ortho makes a soft noise of affirmation, his eyes giving off a brief blue glow. After a moment, he chirps and the glow fades, before he begins quietly speaking.

"Blood pressure is presently 132 over 81, heart rate is currently elevated at 149 beats per minute. Prefect Yuusei will be just fine so long as symptoms do not persist for an extended period of time." Yuusei turns to Ace and Deuce with a small gesture, as if to say see? Perfect health. Ortho chooses this moment to pipe up again.

"Prefect Yuusei, have you been skipping your medication at all?"

She freezes as her friends turn to look at her, various expressions of confusion and concern on their face.

"We can talk about it later. Isn't it Ignihyde's turn soon?"

"No, Ignihyde is always last in graduation ceremonies. You should remember this, Prefect Yuusei." Ortho's eyes narrow slightly, his head tipping to the side. "But you are right, we can discuss later, in private. Doctor and patient confidentiality is very important!" Yuusei buries her face in her hands and sighs. "Yes, sir." She mutters.

Scarabia's graduates have started their procedures at some point, and Yuusei recognizes very few of them, if any at all. Granted, she hadn't spent most of her stay in Scarabia being in the pinnacle of health, so it wasn't shocking she had very little memory of it. But still, to know almost none of her upperclassmen? From such an outgoing dorm? It felt odd. Maybe she had taken for granted how secretive Scarabia truly was. She tries her best to focus in on them, but finds her mind wandering in spite of it, eyes focusing on a point beyond the stage. Next will be Savannaclaw, and then finally Ignihyde. I wonder how Leona and Idia are feeling. Yuusei muses to themself, thinking back to Leona's behavior prior to the ceremony. He hasn't seemed too terribly concerned, but maybe that, too, was a mask of some kind. It wasn't like the prince liked to show his weakness for all to see. Certainly not amongst Night Raven, where weakness was like blood in the water. Yuusei would know.

If you can't run, you bite back twice as hard as they can hit you.

As for Idia... they hadn't seen him at all, not even in the corridors within the walls of the stadium. And it was hard to miss the lanky former Housewarden, considering he, quite literally, lit up a room. They're searching for his flourescence amongst the shadows in the sliver they can see of the corridor, but there's too many people. Ortho wouldn't let him refuse to attend, surely. Nor would his parents, probably. 

Yuusei picks at the skin of their hands again, furrowing their brow.

Scarabia passes too quickly, it feels like time is speeding around them. Rabbits dance around their head, laughing, smiling, tapping their pocket watches and hopping away. I promise the rabbit hole isn't too deep to fall, it will be just like old times. Would you like a cup of tea? Drink me, drink me, drink me!

White feathers cradle their skull, persimmon dancing across their tongue.

Are you listening?

Yuusei leans forward, pushing her head into her hands. It aches, a migraine slowly working from the base of her spine up through the center of her skull. Like a brain freeze. Like a bullet wound. 

Epel whoops and startles Yuusei out of her head, ichor dripping on her fingers. She glances up, sound coming back to her in waves, and finds Jack rumbling with pride as well. Have you listened to the ocean through a conch shell before? Humans are such whimsical little things. A shell is not a portal to the ocean; would you like to see a real one?

Leona takes long strides across the stage, head held high with a swagger she hasn't seen from him in a long time. He looks proud to be there; he looks... Happy. There's another louder rumble of pride from the stands in front, and something that sounds like a young bobcat's caterwaul. Yuusei thinks she must see a familiar little prince with a fiery red head of hair climbing atop the King of the Sunset Savannah's head, tiny fluffy ears flicking wildly.

"The second prince Leona Kingscholar of the Sunset Savannah," Crowley greets, and once again he preens beneath the attention of the crowd. "Serving as your Headmage has been both a pride and a joy, pun intended, Mr. Kingscholar. Your work with ancient magic is positively delightful to look back on, a true prodigy, and your thesis on the economical impacts of blot and overblot were more than worth the top marks they earned." Yuusei can almost hear the eyeroll Leona is likely gracing the Headmage with. How he had managed to glean over such an obvious jab was something only Crowley could ever manage to pull off, truly. "For such feats, it is my honor to present you with your awards." Ropes, gold and black, are lifted over Leona's head, and Crowley has to squawk in order for Leona to finally give in and bow his head just enough to allow it. 

"In addition, it is my honor to congratulate you on your time as the Captain of the Magishift team, and one of our graduating varsity players this year. It is a shame to see you go, for we have not seen talent quite like yours on the field in many years, at least not on our official team." A badge is pinned to Leona's chest with pomp and flourish, Crowley turning with a great, exaggerated bow to reach for the final pin.

"And, finally, of course, for your three years as Savannaclaw's Housewarden, I bestow you with this pin. You brought a great thing to Savannaclaw, unity. Our dear Savannaclaw is a dorm not known for it's ability to work together, and yet when it came time, you pulled them together. You have the makings of a fine leader, Mr. Kingscholar." Backhanded, considering the circumstance. Yuusei raises a brow. Crowley's eyes curve into delighted crescents, and if Yuusei looked a bit closer, she'd almost say it was malicious. But Crowley was never truly intentionally malicious in behavior, just... uninformed. "May you fare well, second prince."

Leona does not wait to have his picture taken with the headmage, tail lashing behind him as he reaches for his diploma. 

Crowley, shockingly, lets him, and does not call after the prince. 

Irritation blooms across both Jack and Epel's faces, and even Deuce looks a bit perturbed.

"That seemed... almost intentional." Deuce murmurs to Yuusei, leaning in close. Yuusei nods, but tips her head down to quietly bid him to be quiet. The rest of the graduates from Savannaclaw are unfamiliar, only vaguely recognizable as those she had scrapped with in her first year. Or, rather, those that had started a fight with her, and she had gotten her ass kicked by.

When Idia finally stumbles across the stage, Yuusei breathes a sigh of relief. Finally, its almost over. It will be quiet soon, and she can curl into the darkness and let silence fill her head. Is the voice in your head your own, little Alice?

Crowley barely begins to get the words out before Ortho floats up and squeals out, bursts of light exploding forth from him. The smell of gunpowder catches Yuusei's nose, and seemingly several other people's, but the noise is really what draws people's attention. Draws their attention away from Idia, who seems to breathe a sigh of relief out on the stage, relaxing ever so slightly. Ortho floats there with a- clearly hand painted- sign reading "Congratulations, Big Brother!" and another burst of fireworks go off. There's the loud sound of Mama Shroud sobbing somewhere up in the crowd, but the whole thing seems to be a success, as nobody can really focus in on Idia with Ortho floating around, gleefully setting off little party streamers and confetti whenever Crowley attempts to continue his speech.

Idia is ushered off with his diploma and ropes, as well as his Housewarden pin, the Headmage looking slightly worse for wear. Unfortunately for the rest of the Ignihyde students, no such saving grace will be coming for them.

Yuusei does not get five moments of peace before Malleus is approaching, still adorned in finery, eyes glimmering with delight. He chirrups softly, the sound of cicada wings brushing one another lighting up the stands. Ace snorts and scurries off, scooping Grim up in his arms whilst her other companions flee the dragon, leaving her alone with him.

"Child of Man," he greets fondly, leaning in to bump his forehead against hers again, the sound of insects dimming down to a faint buzz once more, "you held true to your promise."

"You'd curse me if I didn't." Yuusei teases, and the crown prince chirrups something in return.

"Curse you? Never, my dearest friend. That would be counterproductive to my most sincere intentions." The prince murmurs, spindly fingers twisting through his hair. Yuusei reaches up to adjust his robes, fixing the pin and the ropes he'd been bestowed with when he'd been handed his diploma.

"Be that as it may, still. Time with you is time well spent, and I'm not the type to miss out on our meetings, bumblebee. Even if this isn't our typical hour." A glance at the evening sky, some emotion that she can't name curling low and unfamiliar in her stomach. Their meetings had grown less and less frequent this past year, and the next year... they would be even less so, what with his duties as crown prince being far more demanding of him. Especially with what had happened on Sage Island, the world didn't just forget, even if it had been put on pause while he finished his studies.

Malleus makes a soft noise of confirmation, dipping his head again, almost demanding her attention, as needy as her direbeast. Their nonverbal cues were nearly the same, perhaps she could write her own thesis on the similarities between direbeasts and the different fae species; that was, if she could get into contact with any of her fae friends, besides Sebek, post-graduation. Her hands cup his face, once again kneading over the scales on his cheeks. He hums softly in contemplation, and then, after a moment, speaks in a tone so quiet she almost doesn't hear him.

"The trials you shall face, you need not face alone. Your kind has a most terrible habit, but, Child of Man," he reaches up and settles a hand on her shoulder, talons pricking through the veil of illusory magic that Vil had cast, and the illusion melts away. "Your home is far closer than you think, even when it seems out of reach. You need only call for it. Do you understand?" His hand slides down to gently press against her sternum, his claws pressed against her collarbone, the faint green glow of his magic pooling forth and lingering around. The fireflies aren't as visible in the evening, but they still make their presence known, twirling around his horns and bumping against her cheeks. Two years ago, Yuusei would have called it nothing less than magical.

"I... don't think I do." She admits, quietly. Malleus rumbles, ears flicking back as his brows furrow, as if trying to think of a way to phrase it that would make the most sense to her. When he doesn't immediately come up with something, Yuusei reaches for his hand, twining her fingers with his as she lifts his hand away from her ribs, lowering it down.

"But, if that's the wisdom you have for me, dear friend," she smiles as Malleus preens under the fond phrasing, "then I understand enough. I can always ponder it later, you know I always love a good riddle. It'll be a game, if I can figure it out before I write my next letter, then you'll just have to give me another one, and if I can't... then I owe you. How about that?"

"Careful promising empty debts to the fair folk." Malleus reminds, and Yuusei laughs instead.

"You'd never hurt me."

"Others are not as kind."

Yuusei raises an eyebrow, looking up at her friend, who's eyes go an acidic shade of green for just a moment, his magic pulsing through the air in a way that tints it in the smell of ozone, before it fades away again. Even with only a sliver of his magic accessible to him, it was still potent. Even a non mage like her could sense it without him meaning to, and, truthfully, it really put into perspective what an insanely different level Malleus was on compared to everyone else. And he was only number five, according to the people around her.

"Not to have an ego, but, realistically, what fairy would be willing to invoke your wrath, dear friend? It's fairly common knowledge at this point, at least to the students of Night Raven, that I'm under your protection." She tilts her head, confusion marring her futures. "Is there something I should be aware of?"

Malleus shakes his head and rumbles quietly. "No, nothing like that. Briar Valley merely isn't the only realm the fae inhabit, and my family are hardly the only ruling class. We are merely the caretakers of this realm." He trails off, and shakes his head. "You need not worry about the rest, dear heart. You are safe for as long as you are in Wonderland." Another green spark of his magic, twisting over his hand and up her arm from where their hands are joined. 

"It is my blessing to you. It is not good practice to accept a gift from the fae, either, though I'd be quite distraught if you refused mine." He coos, eyes curving into crescents as she giggles. 

"I would hardly dream of it, bumblebee." It feels like a thorn's prick to her inner wrist as the magic pierces her, and then a shot of cold through her veins. It's a strange feeling, but not entirely unfamiliar. She'd felt it before, right before she'd gone under the spell of his overblot. This time, however, it's not quite as heavy, and there's not the same lingering feeling of emptiness. Just a chill that slowly passes as she rubs her hand over the afflicted area.

"A blessing, huh? I thought this was your graduation, shouldn't I have brought you a gift?" She teases in return, glancing up at him. Malleus tilts his head and just barely manages to suppress a delighted croon. Yet another thing that was similar to Grim.

"Offerings are unnecessary. Your presence is gift enough. Though, in the future... I would not complain if you were to bring photographs from your adventures." He reminds, claws fidgeting. He was ever so delighted by her ghost camera, after all. She nods in agreement, reaching out her other, currently unoccupied, hand to him.

"Shake on it?"

"Making promises now? You're going to get yourself indebted to anything with a pulse at this rate, dear Child of Man." Regardless, Malleus reaches for her other hand, and brings it to rest over his own heart. It pulses ever so slowly, far more slowly than a human's would, under her hand. 

"On the eve of our next meeting, my Child of Man must swear to bring a trinket or photograph from her most recent adventure." Malleus murmurs, and the magic this time tastes sweet on Yuusei's tongue. Her brows raise for a moment, confused.

"You've never made me verbally recite a contract to you. Who are you, Azul?"

"Perhaps I merely desire your company forevermore, should you fail to uphold your end of the bargain." He coos, chuckling warmly. Malleus nudges her hand, and the magic dissipates as quickly as it had come. "Though, the verbal part is not necessary. It simply allows the other party to be aware of what they are truly getting into. All of your previous promises have been nonverbal bargains." He adds, nodding as Yuusei begins counting on her fingers, mildly horrified at the fact she had nearly sold her soul many, many times to the dragon. 

"You can't just say that and not elaborate."

"Oh, dear, I do believe grandmother requires my presence. We shall see each other again, dear heart. Do be safe, and..." He pauses, and then leans down to press his nose against the top of her head, breathing in for a moment. Fae thing, she reminds herself calmly. Malleus purrs quietly in his throat. "Do not get into too much trouble. We fair folk are not the only tricksters amongst the magically inclined."

He slinks off, looking awfully pleased with himself, and Yuusei remains just as confused as she was before.

"Yuusei, dear, a word?" Professor Crewel's voice slices through the din like a knife through butter, professional and stern as always. The after-party gathering is in full swing, graduates taking their final chances to talk to one another. Yuusei turns, confused, but follows after Crewel as he beckons them forth, sending Deuce and Ace a look that promises that they will return shortly.

Professor Crewel leads them to a tree not too far from the others, his typical, perpetually irritated expression falling into something more neutral, almost relaxed.

"Prefect, it is to my understanding that you are entering your third year. As I'm sure you are well aware by this point, third years begin to make their first internship decisions by the end of the year." He pauses, as if to let the words sink in. Yuusei's eyebrows raise, they, in truth, hadn't even considered the possibility of them sticking around long enough for an internship.

Professor Crewel sighs, and pinches the bridge of his nose.

"Professor Trein and myself took it upon ourselves to... check in on the status of your official citizenship paperwork, and, though I'm sure you can already make an educated guess as to how it's going, I believe it is in your best interests to inform you that, quite frankly, you don't have any. Honestly I don't believe Dire has even begun to file it." Professor Crewel has never been one to beat around the bush, but hearing it spoken aloud just wounds Yuusei that much more. They shrink in on themselves, scratching lightly at their arms.

"Not even filed..? Are you sure? Maybe he just..." They trail off. Arguing for Crowley's sake isn't worth it. Crewel gives them an almost pitying look, before settling a hand on their shoulder.

"Fortunately, as you've already worked on campus grounds, however temporary it may have been, there's nothing saying you can't work here again." Crewel smiles faintly, something almost like pride in his eyes. "You are quite knowledgeable on most of our subject matter, and you've tutored those pups of yours well enough to pass, haven't you?" 

Yuusei startles, perking up slightly.

"So... Not janitorial work?" Crewel shakes his head.

"More of an assistant teaching position. Besides, janitorial work turned out so well last time." He raises a brow, glancing back in the direction of her friends, a tiny smirk lifting his face, before its schooled back into pleasant elegance.

Yuusei's hands fidget, and they glance down at their shoes to think.

"Eyes up, pup. You know better than to slouch by now." Crewels voice cuts through again, sharp, and Yuusei immediately straightens out her back, looking him in the eye. Well-trained. Well-behaved.

"Professor Trein will require more assistance than I, as his classes are less hands on, and more educationally focused. As I'm sure you've noticed, most students at Night Raven struggle with the written, rather than the practical. I'd rather our students not resort to blatant cheating again." His teeth ever so slightly bare, just enough to notice. Yuusei refrains from giggling.

"I'd be more than happy to accept such an offer," it was not an offer, it was the only option and they both knew it, "but what about Grim..? He's not exactly teaching material." Yuusei grimaces, glancing up at her professor.

"The direbeast can be dealt with." A pause, and then something like amusement curls in his tone. "Perhaps he could serve as a therapy animal, since our Headmage seems so averse to the idea of hiring one onto our staff." 

Horror dawns on Yuusei's face, before Crewel stifles a snort behind a pale fist. He feigns a cough, and then smooths down his robe.

"That is all I wished to speak with you on," Crewel hums, looking her over, "Schoenheit's magic does a wonderful job of covering up the uniform. But next time, pup, if you need something to wear, just ask Professor Trein or myself. Dire may shortchange you, but some of us among the staff are parents." He smiles fondly. Yuusei couldn't remember him having mentioned any children before.

Crewel gently fixes her hair one last time.

"Run along now, your hounds are waiting."

She obeys without question, returning to her friends with a smile on her face, reaching for their hands. Crewel shakes his head, smiling fondly. Having a favorite student was frowned upon, but if he could favor young Schoenheit, he could favor the magicless pup too. Crewel slicks back his hair with one hand, watching the young Prefect of Ramshackle dorm scamper off, her voice carrying news of a sleepover. Technically not allowed until the semester starts (and even then, not allowed as far as many of their Housewardens are concerned), but he'll pretend he doesn't hear. Just this once.

The Crown Prince Diavolo has a voice that carries, even in the student council room. He would be excellent in theater, if only he had the time for it. He's talking about his hopes for the exchange program again, reminding them all of their duties regarding the incoming exchange student. As if he hasn't already spoken of it a hundred times previously.

Even so, perhaps the reminder is needed for some of them, because Lucifer had still felt it necessary to wrestle many of the brothers into presentable humanoid forms.

Humans, after all, were not terribly used to the horrors of the Devildom, and seeing faces that looked similar enough to their own would ease their transitional period. Or so Diavolo claimed.

Satan has never felt any particular way about humans, they've never been at the top of his list of things to eradicate, nor have they ever been the most interesting thing to him. They simply are, in the same way that organs are. A fact of life, one that exists, though not on a plane he is immediately aware of, nor needs to be particularly aware of, as long as they are all in their proper places and not misbehaving in such a way that endangers him. He had been loosely aware of the fact that they would be housing one such human within the House of Lamentation; a magicless thing that would be under their care, something to protect. A chore; he was not particularly averse to menial tasks, it would make good practice when earning the trust of a cat in the future.

Diavolo continues to speak, and Satan honestly cannot say that he is paying attention. His brother will scold him later, but when is he not being scolded? It is simply another fact of life. Droning on and on, boisterous laughter filling the room as one of his brothers asks yet another question that would have been answered if they'd just taken the time to read any of the paperwork that had been delivered to the House of Lamentation at any point within the past several weeks.

Satan flicks his pen forward, letting it roll back to him.

Ever so slowly, magic rings begin to form, drawing themselves across the table. He watches in idle fascination, tracing along with his eyes as the letters form, ancient script. A mixture of the language of the Fairfolk, Infernal script, even Stygian characters that Satan recognized (but could not yet hope to translate) languidly trace themselves across the polished wood. The patterns illuminate themselves as they ever so slowly trail across the table, scripture lighting up and fluttering off from the surface with flurries of tiny insect wings.

The glowing grows brighter, as does the incessant buzzing of insects. The language is familiar, but it is old, not one still used in modernized magic. At least not outside of the Devildom, nor in the Celestial Realm. Perhaps somewhere in the in-between of all things, but not here. Another curiosity to be studied, another fascination to be sated with a few decades spent holed up, pouring over tomes older than himself, pages crumbling to dust between his claws.

Diavolo clasps his hands together with a bright laugh.

"Right on time! How delightful!"

Light cleaves through the room as the magic circle seems to split a hole in the very fabric of reality itself, tearing a rift between the two worlds. In the center of Diavolo's lovely mahogany table, raven feathers swirl forth, a vortex that is accompanied by the buzzing of thousands of insects and the shrill squawking of birds. The song crescendos, and then dims as the rift splits outward, and then shatters like mirror shards.

In the wake of its shattering, there is a human left on the table, wide-eyed, confused, and trembling. They sit perfectly still for a moment, and then sit upright, slowly looking around, eyes darting around all over the place. Their fingers curl, pupils pinning to a fraction of the size. Like a frightened bird, about to lash out.

Their eyes meet Satan's, and they flinch backwards.

Such a thing is to be expected from a magicless human being dropped in the middle of a room full of demons, their reaction is hardly surprising.

But the human splayed out on the table in front of him does not smell magicless.

The scent of ozone clings to them like a second skin. It's not the same smell as Solomon's magic, not even close. It doesn't carry the same signature. 

Beneath the scent of an incoming lightning strike, however, there is ash, too. Like a house that's burnt down. Like my wings after the fall- like Lucifer's wings after the fall. Before he'd ripped them right out, festering seared flesh, scorched bone and all. Talons twitch, and if its any indication, his brothers seem uncomfortable, too. Asmodeus recoils, lip curling at the smell, whilst Lucifer seems to be having a similar realization to Satan himself. They shared the memory, after all. It was one of the few that Satan still retained from his birth, even now, eons on into his life.

The human is trembling, shivering. They must be terrified. Not a terrible thing to be, in the Devildom. It'd keep them alive long enough to learn that fear only deterred demons that had steady access to sustenance. A starving predator would not refuse gamey meat.

It's that overpowering magical signature that nearly entirely clogs Satan's senses, so much so that he almost completely misses the warning signs. He only gets the briefest taste of wrath, swelling up so fast it wins out over the ozone, before the fragile human moves in a blur. The taste of wrath is familiar, but it's so strong on this human, it keeps him pacified, sedated for just a second with contentment. All demons love the taste of their sin, love to drink it in, and Satan is no different. It's a far more pleasant experience than the choking scent of seared flesh had been.

Idly, he wonders if Diavolo will be replacing this human, or if it will just be Solomon for the remainder of the year, because in a matter of just a few milliseconds, they have grasped a paperweight.

And then they swing at the Crown Prince of the Devildom.