Vil and Leona flirting
Me: *watching happily*
Jamil: *walks up to talk to them then heads my way*
Me: *growls, death glares and walks off*
Jamil: did she...
Leona: don't take it personal.
Vil: she just ships us and probably sees you as a threat to it
Jamil: am I?
Me: yes and no! You three altogether will make a beautiful trouble and I support it. But that's just to much pretty together. Leave a hotty for the rest of us. *stomps off*
A very strong warning to Jamil~ šØš
*Jamil stared at the scene in horror and disbelief. In front of him was Kalim, drenched in his own pool of blood, with MC holding the dagger they had used to kill him.
*The Scarabia students were rendered speechless, not knowing what to do.*
Scarabia student A: C-Call a teacher!
*All of them scrambled out of their seats, wanting to escape that place. Soon, everyone had left except for MC and Jamil.*
Jamil: ...
Jamil: Why did you kill him... I DIDN'T ASK YOU TO KILL HIM!!!
MC: This was your desire, master. Are you not satisfied? *gives him an eerie smile*
Jamil: *an indescribable feeling washed over him, and he fainted soon after*
Professor Crewel: Viper! VIPER!
Jamil: !!!
Professor Crewel: *lets out a sigh of relief*
Jamil: Wh-Where am I...? *then remembers what happened earlier*
Jamil: Kalim! What happened to Kalim?!
Professor Crewel: Calm down. Al Asim is in the laundry room, getting the dye out of his clothes.
Jamil: Huh...?
MC: Iām sorry; I didnāt know you would pass out. I should have been more careful.
Jamil: ...
Professor Crewel: You caused a complete panic in Scarabia with your performance. Even the headmage was nearly convinced.
MC: That was made possible by Jamil, who gave me the reaction I needed. *smiles*
Jamil: ...
MC: *volunteered to accompany Jamil back to his dorm*
MC: Iād like to apologize again for disrupting your plans. You must be quite frustrated.
Jamil: ...
Jamil: What you did... it was meant as a warning, wasn't it?
MC: No, I merely presented a possible outcomeā
MC: āof what could have happened if it failed.
Jamil: ...
Kalim: THAT WAS AMAZING!!! I WANNA DO IT AGAIN!
MC: ...
MC: For someone who's been through so many assassination attempts, you seem awfully enthusiastic about it.
MC: I thought you'd be upset.
Kalim: Haha! Maybe because it was fake!
Kalim: Actually, I enjoyed lying in that pool of fake blood!
MC: *chuckles* Would you like me to give you the ingredients and steps for making it?
Kalim: *grins* Yes! Can we do it now?
MC: Of course.
Vil: ...
Rook: What's on your mind, Roi du Poison?
Vil: ...
Vil: I'm convinced MC didn't do this just to create a teaching tool for the club members.
Rook: *amused smirk*
Rook: I agree. The execution was flawless, and everyone's reaction was genuine fear.
Vil: ...
Vil: Now I'm curious what Jamil did to deserve that.
Rook: *smiles*
Rook: We will never know.
Jamil: ...
Jamil: *remembers MC's eerie smile*
Jamil: I hope that wouldn't give me nightmares...
ą¼ Bιrthdᄲ᧠Boį§! Jamil Viper, Twisted Wonderland
ą¼ Like or reblog if you save/use!
ą¼ Donāt repost as your own!
ą¼ PSD "74 Orange Marmalade" by peachcoloring (DeviantART)
Kalim Al-Asim x GN!Reader
Happy Birthday to my love, Kalim! Hopefully it's enjoyable!
Synopsis: Kalim's strange new habits confuse him. Why is he so inclined on everything that is you? Is he sick!? Or maybe it's a curse? After a night of crestfallen sobbing, Jamil finds poor Kalim in such a state- in need of guidance. After said guidance, Kalim know's what he suffers from is not a disease but love- love for you. How will Kalim confess- will you even accept? After all, "love is a waste of time."
TW: None, just fluff! + bonding with Jamil (!?)
Crimson eyes bore at you once more, hoping you don't catch the culprit as he peers at what you're doing. He doesn't understand why he's so inclined on looking at you- simply staring. Useless, that's what it is. He's not getting any work done nor is he even speaking to you. What's the point? He doesn't know, yet, he still gapes at you. He doesn't know why he's content with just looking at you.
When he finally gets the chance to speak to you, he simply listens. Eyes wide at what you're saying- such interest in whatever dumb topic you've brought up. You're sure no one else would so vividly attentive to what you have to say- endearing, that's what he is.
He ignores his work to listen in to your conversations- who are you talking to and what you like talking about. His attention constantly wavers when you're there; he can't help it. He doesn't understand why. He follows you around, clumsy steps after yours. He hopes you'll allow him to tag along, he means no harm. He doesn't even know why he's so inclined on following you.
A soft blush coats his face- frustration. What's happening to to him? Is he sick? Did he catch the flu? Does he have a disease?
The disease he suffers from, has your name.
Soft tears pool in his eyes- what if he's been cursed? He looks around his room, silken sheets draped across him as he sobs in silence. It's something so stupid too; how is he supposed to ask doctors to cure him when he's so shy to speak up? He doesn't know why he's shy, his milky hair tousled as his hands rake through it in confusion.
A knock on his door wakes him up from his pondering thoughts. Jamil opens the door carrying a glass of water, the same observant look in his eyes. Kalim quickly wipes his eyes, a soft smile on his lips.
"Jamil, it's you.." He says a sigh of relief following after his words. He thanks Jamil for the water as he urges him to take a seat right next to him.
"Kalim, something's up- don't try to lie." Jamil says as he takes a seat on the edge of Kalim's bed. It was unusual seeing the sunshine boy be so glum. As much as Jamil liked the idea of Kalim toning himself down, he didn't find the current Kalim appeasing.
"Jamil, I have request- if you don't mind." Kalim says, ruby eyes peering up at Jamil with a helpless gleam.
"Go on Kalim- if it's about ordering elephants for next week's party then it's a "no". We can't order those elephant's again, they caused quite a ruckus last-"
Jamil was cut off by a panicked Kalim. "No, no! Don't worry it's not that.." Kalim said, a certain innocence in his voice. Jamil was confused by his current demure disposition.
"I- it's about someone. You know the prefect, right?" He asked, a bashful expression coating his face. Jamil simply nodded, a hand running through his braided hair.
"I think i have a disease or a curse related to them. They're in my head, constantly. When I sleep, they're in my dreams and when I wake up they are the first thing I see. I want to speak to them but for some reason the words don't come out of my mouth- it frustrates me. My face feels warm when they're near me and my stomach- my stomach seems to have monkeys dancing in them! Have I been cursed!? Or have they been cursed? Can we save them?" He blurted out, his thoughts escalating to various heights. Truly an overthinker.
Jamil sighed after Kalim's monologue- this was bound to happen one day but Jamil never expected Kalim's love to be reminiscent of a puppy's.
"Kalim, before you say it- no, you nor the prefect will die. You haven't been cursed either and neither have they." Jamil sighed after speaking, his hands traveling to caress his forehead.
"Then!? What else could it be?" Kalim asked, concern and confusion etched on his face. "No, don't say it- it's a disease, isn't it?" Kalim spoke up in panic, his hands covering his ears to block out what Jamil had to say.
"Kalim you're in love." Jamil said, an air of blasƩ surrounding him as he removed Kalim's hands from his ears. Kalim was wide-eyed at Jamil's answer, a dumbfounded expression plastered on his face as if he was still comprehending what he had been told.
"Kalim, did you hear me? You're in love." Restated Jamil while looking at him Kalim with certainty.
"I'm in love...?" He asked himself before pausing- his movement reduced to zero. He blinked a few time before a large Cheshire grin plastered across his face.
"Ha! Why didn't I think of that? It was so simple- I'm in love!" He exclaimed, a hum of content following suit. Kalim clung onto Jamil in delight desperately thanking Jamil for his words of wisdom. Jamil simply pat Kalim's back before leaving the boy to his thoughts.
That night Kalim was content- truly, he was lucky to love someone like you. It was an honor.
Then, he begun the same routine once more- to peer at you as sneakily possible, to listen to you ramble on and on as he took notes of your likes, and to follow where you went in hopes of having your attention solely on him. Such a tiring routine.
Sometimes he wondered how you felt- was it truly okay for him to follow you around? He hoped he wasn't being clingy- a nuisance.
It was strange for you to have him follow you- you didn't mind. The little gifts he'd send were over-the-top but they made you smile, although you returned most of them due to how pricey they were. The way he'd listen so wholeheartedly to whatever you had to say- it made your heart thump a little faster. Oh, and how he always had or made time for you; it made you feel privileged
Little by little a strange set of nerves took over your heart- what was this feeling? You sat there smiling for no reason- your thoughts filled with but Kalim. A bizarre flood of fuzzy nothings filled your mind- your heart sprinting away in fluster at the mere thought of him. A blush crept up your face whenever he was around- why were you so nervous?
You felt like flying yet also falling; the need to scream as loud as you could by merely spotting him was truly a bother. You'd surely gone mad.
A rush of emotions crept up your spine when he was around, running away the only answer. Your eyes could never meet his gaze; he only wondered what he'd done wrong. Nights were spent hugging your pillow in frustration as you bit your nails pondering over how to avoid him and talk to him at the same time. Your unusual behavior meant no harm, you were simply a bit crazy in-love yet also too flustered to act upon it. You weren't ready to face your feelings.
Nevertheless, Kalim took it wrongly, his carmine eyes dimming down in sorrow. Tears pooled in his eyes as he held a rose you didn't accept. A smile soon inched onto his face- fake.
"I'm sorry prefect- sorry for bothering you." He said, hiding the rose behind his back as he prepared to walk off. His eyes refused to make contact with yours while his heart hammered in his chest- he was a fool.
"Wait!" You said, a desperate wail as you rushed over to catch his sleeve. You were flustered, confused too. You didn't reject him- no, the words just couldn't come out of your throat.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't silent because I didn't accept- I just couldn't believe this was happening." You confessed, your hand holding his sleeve in place- you couldn't let go.
"I don't know what you've done. I can't get you out of my head but I don't hate it. When you're around me I can't speak- I want to, but the words don't come out. It's as if my heart's being restrained and my head is filled with nothing- my mind goes blank. I wanna look at you and I want to hold you. I know this is all really stupid coming from me but I don't know what to do. I wasn't trying to reject you- no, not at all. I thought I was daydreaming. Kalim, I don't know what you've done to me." You gushed, a shaky breath following suit.
Your eyes couldn't meet his and your mind was in a frenzy. Your body felt as if it was on fire and you felt so embarrassed- you still didn't know what he did to you. Though, you had a hunch.
A smile graced Kalim's lips- such a pretty smile it was. He patted your back, making you look up at him.
"It's love." He simply said.
"What?" You were not expecting such a bold or to-the-point answer. You blinked a few times, a smile creeping up your lips- it was such a "Kalim" answer. Truly, he was precious.
"Jamil told me- I thought it was a disease or a curse; but no, it's love. I also had the same, erm, symptoms?" He said with a grin, confusion etching his features when he tried explaining what you were going through.
"Love, really?" You said- a rhetorical question. A hum of delight left your lips as you took in a serene breath.
"Well, love is a waste of time." You stated, earning a hurt expression from Kalim. A panicked set of hands clung onto you, bringing you back from your serene state.
"No, it's not a waste of time." He said, his brows furrowing as if he was offended. "It may feel like it's useless to love because you're stuck doing absolutely nothing. But, isn't there a beauty in that? Isn't it so lovely to be so enamored that you're stunned every time you lay your eyes on a person. Isn't that something worthy to spend your time on?" He asked, teary-eyed. His hands clutched your arms desperately as a quivering sigh escaped his lips. He wanted to show you that loving someone was worth-it, it wasn't as trifling as you thought it was. His description, although not very convincing, was able to convince you.
A small giggle escaped your lips before it turned into a full-on laugh. Kalim looked confused- why were you laughing? What was so funny? Did you think he was joking? If so, he really wasn't- loving you, it made him happy, elated even.
"Kalim, I said love was a waste of time but I never said that I wouldn't waste my time on love." You spoke gently drawing a grin from Kalim. Your eyes studied him, a warm feeling nestling in your heart. Just looking at him soothed your heart.
"I think, at least once in my life, I'd like to waste my time." You spoke, the sun peeking in from the window as if to embrace you both.
He looked at you, frenzied- he hoped you were referring to him.
"Who else is better to waste my time with than with you?" You cooed, a soft whisper tickling his ear. It was as if you were letting him onto a secret, his eyes lighting up in delight. He peered at you sheepishly, a bumbling smile on his lips.
Truly, love was a waste of time- here you both were, wasting your time in each other's presence. Still, it was a good waste of time.
A waste of time that was worth wasting your time for.
"Love is a waste of time, but I love this waste of time."
Note: Inspo from the song "Love is a Waste of Time" from the movie PK.
Note 2: I hope I was able to show Jamil and Kalim's "bonding". I firmly believe that there are and have been moments in which Jamil has cared for Kalim wholeheartedly, albeit the fact that he can be very "detached" or cold (I'm so bad at explaining this-).
Note 3: If you enjoyed this, please interact with this post, my blog, and reblog! Any kind gestures are greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Pairing: Jamil x GN!Reader Genre: Fantasy, Fluff A/N: This fic is set in modern-day Japan where the NRC boys are magicless and you are the magical being. :^) I'm also today years-old when I realized I really put Ace as a side character for all of my fics.
Growing up, Jamil used to wish upon a star.
That star was always the brightest one in the night sky, yet it never seemed to stay up there for very long. But Jamil never minded that because to him, it was like that star disappeared to work on his wishes every time.
After some time, as Jamil grew older and became more preoccupied with the challenges life provided him, he stopped making wishes.
Long forgotten was the brightest star in the sky ā though it continued to sparkle, watching over Jamil every night as if it was a sort of guardian angel.
He didnāt even notice that the star never left the sky anymore after heād stopped making wishes.
That is, until one day, Jamil finally remembered the star.
Itās just past sunset on a Thursday evening when Jamilās friend Ace comes strutting into his shared dorm room. Heās twirling a set of keys in his index finger while the other hand is shoved inside the pocket of his denim pants.
āHey,ā Ace greets as he leans against the wall next to Jamilās desk. āAre you busy tonight?ā
Jamil hums in response without taking his eyes off his laptop. He remains silent while his fingers are busy rapidly typing the last sentences to his history paper.
āOkay,ā Jamil breathes out as he finally shuts off his laptop with a sharp click. He briefly rubs circles on his temple before glancing over at Ace. āWhat were you saying?ā
āAre you free tonight? Deuce wants us to accompany him tonight for a project for his planet-something class,ā Ace waves his hand dismissively in the air, the keys in his hand jingling along with the motion.
āWeāre architecture majors. Why would he ask us for help?ā Jamil asks as his face twists into a mixture of confusion and disgust.
āNo, not helpā unless he really wants to fail his class. He has to go look at some constellations or something, and he doesnāt want to do it alone. So can you come or not?ā
Jamil chews on his lower lip as he thinks. Heād just finished the last assignment thatās due this week and heās got no other plans for the weekend besides to catch up on sleep.
āFine, Iām in,ā Jamil rolls his eyes before getting up and trailing behind a much-too-giddy Ace.
He follows the male out of the dormitory to where his car is parked. In the backseat is seated a napping Deuce whose head is resting on Liliaās shoulder. Meanwhile, Lilia is busy playing a game on his phone, and Jamil has to wonder how Deuceās able to sleep when Liliaās arms are shaking at 50 kilometers per hour.
āSevens, Lilia. Could you be any more aggressive?ā Ace asks once heās situated in the driverās seat.
āSorry,ā Lilia grins without a hint of guilt on his face. āHey, Jamil.ā
āHey,ā Jamil nods towards the older male after securing his seatbelt across his chest. āSo⦠where are we going, exactly?ā
āShizuoka prefecture. Itās going to be quite the drive, so feel free to take a nap if you need it. Iām loaded on Red Bull too,ā Ace enters the coordinates into his GPS before propping his phone up on a car phone mount.
Accompanying the monotone voice of the GPS is a playlist filled with piano covers of Studio Ghibli moviesā soundtracks.
It doesnāt take long for the gentle melodies to lull Jamil to sleep. His head gently and rhythmically taps against the cold surface of the car window as Ace cruises past the few hoursā drive to Gekko Observatory.
It feels like only a handful of minutes have passed by when Jamil is shaken awake by Ace. He groans as he stretches his arms out from his sides, his eyes blinking rapidly until his vision finally adjusts to the dark surroundings.
āWeāre here?ā Jamil asks, his voice still hoarse from sleep.
āYes, weāre here. You wouldnāt wake up earlier, so I gave you an extra ten minutes,ā Ace steps back and closes the car door once Jamil finally stumbles out of his seat. āCome on. Letās go before I forget where Deuce dragged us off to.ā
Jamil follows Ace as he makes his way past the main observatory buildings. They walk away from the well lit areas towards a much darker space, somewhere that allows them to see the stars in the night sky that much better.
They slowly approach a relatively large red tent set up in the middle of a grassy field. Beside it lay a still-gaming Lilia and Deuce setting up his telescope.
āIs this allowed?ā Jamil asks as he plops down onto the grass next to Lilia.
āYeah! As long as we donāt disturb the youth camp, Iām sure thereās no problem,ā Deuce briefly nudges his head to the left before turning his attention back to his telescope.
Everyone sits in silence for a few minutes. For the small group of four, the silence is uncommon but it isnāt uncomfortable.
It gives them the chance to take in the fresh air and peaceful atmosphere thatās a stark contrast to life at university.
Jamil could hear crickets chirping, and itās accompanied by the distant sound of childrenās yells and laughter. The mental image of their carefree spirit brings a smile to his face without him even realizing it.
āSo⦠what is it that youāre looking for, Deuce?ā Liliaās question cuts through the quietness first.
āStars, Lilia. Iām looking for stars,ā Deuce chuckles as he peers through the eyepiece of the telescope.
Jamil lays down onto the grass, his ears completely blocking out Liliaās onslaught of questions for Deuce and his eyes trained on the dark night sky.
And there it was: a familiar bright twinkle in the sky.
Out of all the stars that he could see ā and yes, there were many ā that one shines the brightest of them all.
Then Jamil remembers that particular habit he had of wishing upon a star when he was younger. Itās been such a long time that heād almost forgotten all about it.
But he feels certain that that star is the same star from his childhood.
A small smile plays on Jamilās lips as he thinks back to all the wishes heās made in the past. Most of them were silly, he was only a child after all.
His very first wish was for a plate of sushi in the middle of the night when he was only 7 years-old. It was on a night when he couldnāt fall asleep and decided to find his father who was still working in his home office.
āDad?ā Jamil whispers as he carefully opens the door and peeks into the dimly lit room.
Jamilās father glances up from the pile of paperwork heād been sorting through and smiles softly when he sees Jamil standing awkwardly at the entrance of his office, āhey, how long have you been standing there for? Come in, son.ā
āIām sorry⦠I couldnāt sleep,ā Jamil scratches at the nape of his neck, a nervous habit heād picked up on recently.
āThatās alright, I was just about done here anyways,ā his father shakes his head and closes a thick manila folder shut. āHow about we go out back? Maybe itāll help you clear your head.ā
āāClear my headā?ā Jamil echoes, the curiosity clearly etched onto his face.
āYes. Sometimes when I canāt sleep, itās because Iām thinking too much about something. So we have to do something to help fix that,ā Jamilās father gets up from his seat and holds a hand out towards Jamil.
āOkay, what are we doing?ā Jamil places his hand in his fatherās much larger one and follows the man out of his home office.
They walk towards the back of the house, towards the French doors that open up to a generously spacious backyard.
Jamil and his father take a seat on one of the benches there, and for a moment, no one says anything.
But, unlike how he is today, 7 year-old Jamil cannot sit still ā at least, not in silence ā for very long. Not even when thereās an ensemble of crickets surrounding him.
āDad?ā Jamil pokes at his fatherās shoulder, āwhat are we doing out here?ā
āWellā¦ā his father sighs before gazing up at the night sky. Jamilās eyebrows furrowed in confusion before he followed his fatherās gaze. āWeāre stargazing.ā
āWhy?ā the question comes out sounding a bit meaner than Jamil intended it to. He shakes his head quickly, as if to dismiss the question. āIāIām sorry, I meanā¦ā
His father chuckles before placing a hand on Jamilās shoulder, āitās okay, I understand what you meant. Have you heard about making wishes on stars?ā
āLike that one song? From Cinderella?ā he tries to say it rather nonchalantly, but due to his younger sisterās recent obsession with Disney princesses and their movies, Jamil begrudgingly has the song lyrics memorized at this point.
āJust like that,ā his father chuckles again, his eyes sparkling in amusement as if he could read Jamilās thoughts. āSometimes, when I canāt sleep, Iāll just sit out here and look at the stars. Itās very relaxing to me. And sometimes, maybe on the days when I feel too stressed out about something, Iāll make a wish on one.ā
āWhy are you stressed out, dad?ā Jamil inquires with a prominent frown to his face.
āBecause⦠of adult things that you donāt have to worry about for now.ā
āOh⦠but can I still make a wish anyways?ā
āOf course, you can. Just pick a star and think about your wish. You canāt say it out loud or it wonāt come true,ā his father ruffles his hair and gives him a kind smile before returning his attention back to the sky.
Jamil also looks up at the sky where a bright star immediately catches his attention. Perhaps it was because he didnāt take the time to look elsewhere, but he could have sworn that one was the brightest of them all.
He wasnāt sure what he wanted to wish for. Heck, he wasnāt even sure he believed in wishing on a star.
But thereās a first for everything, right?
So, with his dark orbs fixed on that bright star and his stomach inaudibly grumbling, Jamil wishes for the first thing that comes to mind: sushi.
He didnāt say it out loud and there weren't any special occasions coming up that would warrant it ā but when Jamil woke up the next morning, he found a wide assortment of sushi rolls laid out on the kitchen table.
He thought that there was no way it could have been a coincidence, that the star must have heard him and granted him his wish. That moment made him a believer, and he began to make wishes more frequently.
āDeuce, whatās the name of that star? That really bright one,ā Jamil asks without thinking, the question interrupting the conversation his friends had been having.
āWhich one?ā Deuce looks towards the sky, trying to pinpoint exactly where Jamilās index finger was gesturing towards. āI think you may be looking at Arcturus. Itās the brightest star in the Boƶtes constellation.ā
āSo thatās its name,ā Jamil mumbles to himself.
āWhat was that?ā Deuce asks with his head tilted slightly.
āNo, itās nothing. Thank you,ā Jamil shakes his head dismissively.
His silence after that is enough of a signal to his friends that he was done with the brief conversation. If he tries to explain his attachment to the star, would his friends think that he was being silly?
He thinks even Deuce, the one who is absolutely in love with them, would think that it was weird.
So, Jamil keeps the star as a secret to himself.
Perhaps he isnāt afraid of his friends thinking of him as foolish. No, perhaps it is merely a part of his selfishness that if the star could truly grant wishes, he wanted to keep that ability all to himself.
That brings him to a wish that suddenly blossoms inside his heart. Heās not sure when the seed was planted there, but a sudden thought occurs to him.
If the star could really hear me now, I wish I could meet them and say āthank youā to them.
Jamil has to fight the sudden urge to slap himself because of how silly he finds the thought. Where did it even come from?
The lack of sleep and feelings of nostalgia must be causing him to think irrationally.
He finally sits up and scoots himself closer to the small circle his friends have formed around Deuceās telescope.
āDo you want to take a look?ā Deuce asks when he notices the thoughtful look on Jamilās face. His body is slightly turned towards him as he nudges his telescopeās eyepiece aside. āAt the stars, I mean.ā
āCan I?ā
āSure. If it was Lilia, Iād think twice.ā
āHey! Iām not the one that spilled spaghetti on Aceās laptop!ā Lilia protests loudly which causes the other three men to shush him before they receive a complaint. He grimaces before lowering his voice, āsorry, sorry.ā
āI only spilled it because someone decided it was the perfect time to body slam me in the cafeteria,ā Jamil jokingly bites back before getting up and making his way towards Deuce.
āArcturus, right? I adjusted the telescope so if you look, you can see it even more closely,ā Deuce takes a seat on a short bench besides the telescope, watching as Jamil closes one eye and peers through the eyepiece with the other.
āWhoa,ā Jamil says in awe under his breath once his eyes have adjusted to the new way of seeing the night sky, āitās even prettier through a telescope. I can see why you enjoy this so much.ā
āItās never too late to change your major if you want to join the dark side,ā Deuce chuckles as his head tilts back to look at the sky as well.
āIn your dreams,ā Jamil mumbles with a grin on his face when he finally leans away from the telescope. āPlus, Ace would literally bury me ten feet under if I left him in the program by himself.ā
āI heard that,ā Ace calls out before chucking a handful of grass towards Jamilās head that falls down almost as quickly as it was sent up.
Deuce laughs again and sends Ace an apologetic look, ādonāt worry, your best friend is safe and sound in the architecture department with you.ā
Ace immediately makes a gagging sound at the mention of ābest friendā before turning his attention back to the game he and Lilia were busy playing.
āWell, Iām just about done here. Maybe another hour and we can start heading back,ā Deuce announces. āAnd⦠thanks for coming out here with me tonight, guys.ā
The news is met with an unanimous āokayā from the rest of the group. Jamil moves away from the telescope so Deuce could take his place and continue whatever project heād been working on prior.
āHuh, thatās weird. Arcturus is gone,ā Deuce says aloud, mostly to himself, but the words capture Jamilās attention.
Jamilās gaze trails up to where heād been captivated by the bright star mere moments ago, only to find that it was truly gone.
Just like before. How strangeā¦
ā„
The following Monday, thereās someone Jamil has never seen before sitting at the seat next to his usual one in one of his classes. He makes eye contact with them almost immediately after walking into the room and thinks they definitely must be a new student.
Thereās no way Iād forget such an attractive face like that.
Someone behind Jamil clears their throat, signaling for him to move, because heās blocking the flow of traffic by standing right in the middle of the doorway.
āOh, sorry,ā Jamil mumbles and bows his head apologetically.
He makes his way towards his seat with his eyes glued to his shoes, all of his usual confidence slowly leaking out. Heās not sure why the unknown person beside him is making him feel so nervous, and heās not quite sure how to deal with it.
Lucky for Jamil, he doesnāt have to make the first move today.
āUm⦠excuse me?ā
Jamil feels a poke on his upper arm. It makes him look up and make eye contact with you once again.
āYes?ā Jamil answers, his voice barely above a whisper.
You laugh lightheartedly and lower your voiceās volume to match his, āJamil Viper, right? Iām Arcturus, but you can call me y/n.ā
Jamil blinks rapidly while his mouth continuously opens and closes. Heās clearly caught off guard by the mention of the bright star, but you seem completely unphased by his reaction.
āYouāre pranking me, right? Did Ace tell you to say that?ā
āWhoā ah, your friend with the heart marking? No, he didnāt.ā
āThen Deuce did?ā
āNot him either. This isnāt a prank, Jamil. Iām really Arcturus,ā you state firmly.
The man narrows his eyes suspiciously at you, āprove it.ā
āHm⦠letās see,ā you tap your chin as you mentally sort through the many wishes Jamil has made as a child. āAh! When you were 10 years-old, you wished for a pet tyrannosaurus rex after watching the Jurassic Park movies.ā
āThatās a lucky guess.ā
āFine. Wouldnāt it be better if you made a wish now and I grant it? You canāt tell me I just got lucky then.ā
āAre you tricking me into making a wish? Are you sure youāre not just a sneaky little genie?ā Jamil asks playfully.
āI can see why youād think that Iām a genie, but as you can see: thereās no magic lamps involved here,ā you state with a bright smile, one that doesnāt do justice to how brightly you shine in the sky. āAnd I wouldnāt trick you like they would either. Just tell me your wishes as they come to your heart, and Iāll make them come true. Thatās what Iāve always done, right?ā
Jamil wasnāt expecting for you to answer so genuinely. They were just rhetorical questions he asked without thinking, but he could tell that you were being truthful.
Still, a big part of him is suspicious.
In what world would a star become a human? And out of all the things they could do, why would they come and find him?
The other, smaller part of him wants to believe you. So he plays along and decides to humor you.
āJust like that?ā Jamil asks with an eyebrow cocked up apprehensively.
āWell, you know, there are rules. But yes: just like that.ā
āOkay⦠and what are the rules?ā
āTheyāre exactly what youād think theyād be: nothing illegal, nothing that can harm othersā which, uh, I guess ties into the first rule.ā
āAnd how many do I get?ā
āThree.ā
āAhah, so you admit that youāre a genie.ā
āNot a genie,ā you giggle before tapping the tip of Jamilās nose gently. āSo, what would you like to wish for first?ā
āThatās a very important decision, Arctāā
āY/n,ā you quickly interrupt the man to correct him.
āY/n,ā Jamil articulates with a raise of his eyebrows and a nod, āyouāll have to give me some time to think. Iām not even sure what I want to wish for yet.ā
āBoo!ā you whine, leaning over the long desk with your arms stretched out in front of you. āWell, if I have to wait then it shouldnāt be in the middle of a boring history lecture.ā
As if on cue, the screen of Jamilās phone lights up to indicate that he has a missed notification. He narrows his eyes at you one last time before unlocking his phone.
āHuh,ā Jamil makes a sound that's mixed with surprise and confusion when he reads a new email on his phone. āMy professor has never canceled class before. Did you⦠did you do this?ā
You shrug when Jamil points his phone at you accusingly. But youāre pleased to see that he seems to believe you a bit more now.
Thereās loud shuffling noises coming from all around you as students busy themselves by cheering for their canceled lecture and packing up their untouched laptops.
āSo?ā you ask, an expectant look on your face.
Jamil bites on his lower lip and taps the cap of a pen on the desk rhythmically. He stares off into space, seemingly deep in thought, and you wait patiently for him to sort through his predictably long lists of possibilities.
āWould itā¦ā you start, poking at Jamilās forearm to make him look at you. āWould it help if I mention that you can still make wishes even after the three?ā
āWhat do you mean?ā Jamil tilts his head, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
āI mean, I only came down here because hanging out in the sky all night long is so boring. You try doing it for a countless amount of centuries, then trust me ā youāll understand,ā you wave your hands dismissively. āAnyways, thatās besides the point. The point is: you had unlimited wishes when you were a child, and youāll still have unlimited wishes after I finish granting the three here.ā
Jamil nods in understanding before abruptly standing up and slinging a backpack strap over his shoulder, āyou shouldāve led with that, y/n.ā
āIām sorry, Iām not used to speaking to humans directly,ā you say before your eyes shift between Jamilās face and the hand heās holding out towards you. āWhat?ā
āI think I might know what my first wish is, so come on,ā Jamil inches his hand closer to you, a signal for you to place yours in his.
You comply, allowing the man to pull you out of the empty classroom and towards an unknown location.
Itās a sunny day, a perfect day for an afternoon stroll. And despite it being the middle of the fall semester, thereās more than a handful of students frolicking in the spacious college yard instead of studying.
The sight of them being so happy and carefree brings a smile to your face. Itās rare for you to see humans during the day time ā and even more rare for you to see them not stressed out by something when you do get the chance.
Really, most of the time the bright sun rays block the sight of earth from you. It restricts you to only observing them during the nighttime, when most of the population is already asleep.
Soon, the large crowds of students become much more sparse until only a few of them are left hanging around.
āUm, Jamil? Where are we going exactly?ā you chime up.
It takes a few more minutes of walking before Jamil finally stops, and your shoulder accidentally bumps into his back from your lack of attention.
āHere,ā Jamil turns around to face you, his ears completely blocking out your murmured apology.
You lean over to the side to peek behind Jamil only to straighten up and raise an eyebrow at the man a second after, āand what are we doing standing by this long stretch of pavement?ā
āWeāre here for my first wish: I wish to learn how to roller skate.ā
āReally?ā
āReally.ā
āThatās⦠a very tame wish,ā you state plainly.
You take Jamilās backpack off his shoulder before squatting down and unzipping it. Your hand digs into the textbook filled space and pulls out a pair of roller skates.
Jamilās eyes practically bulge out in shock when he sees them, because thereās no way something like that could have fit inside his small backpack.
āBut as you wish,ā you grin as you hold the roller skates up towards Jamil.
āWhoa, howād you do that?ā Jamil gasps as he takes them from you.
āDo you believe me now?ā you counter, crossing your arms and watching as Jamil hurries to replace his tennis shoes.
āIām ninety-nine percent convinced. Just depends on how quickly I learn how to roller skate now.ā
āYou know that Iām not a miracle worker, right?ā you stand up quickly, your arms reaching out just in time to catch Jamil as he slips forward.
When the man turns his head, your faces are so close to one-another that the tips of your noses touch.
āSāsorry. Thaāthank you,ā Jamil manages to stammer out, his ears immediately turning a bright shade of red from embarrassment as he straightens up.
Youāre undeterred from the close proximity, human feelings of embarrassment or shyness not a part of your vocabulary. So you giggle and merely find Jamilās reaction dramatic and adorable.
āDonāt be so jumpy. How am I supposed to teach you if you donāt let me get close enough to do so?ā you stand behind Jamilās wobbly frame, your hands placed on either side of his waist to steady him.
āWell, I thought youād snap your fingers and Iād just magically know,ā Jamil mumbles.
āI could, but thatās no fun, Jamil. And I came here to have fun.ā
āI thought you came here to grant my wishes.ā
āOh, that too,ā you nod, though the carefree tone of your voice does nothing to convince Jamil of your intentions. āNow, weāll start off by teaching you the correct posture. The most important thing here is balance, so Iāll have to let you go now.ā
āPerfect,ā Jamilās body stiffens once he feels your warmth leave his body.
The chilly autumn air does nothing to help him from missing your earlier proximity. But the more you try to coach him through the basics of roller skating, the warmer his body gets.
To anyone on the outside looking in, it may seem that Jamil is a natural at the sport. But, as fast a learner Jamil is regularly, there is no way heās able to pick up on things as quickly as he did today.
Not to mention, his friends have already tried multiple times to teach him how to roller skate before with minimal success.
Who would have thought all-rounder Jamil Viper actually had a weakness?
Now it feels as if Jamil is moving off of muscle memory. The things that you instruct him to do sounds unfamiliar to his ears, but his body follows everything to a T.
You watch like a proud parent while Jamil glides up and down the long walk of pavement as if heās been doing it his entire life. The sound of his gleeful laughter ringing through the air makes you smile brightly in response.
āShould we try doing some tricks now?ā you ask as Jamil passes by you again.
At your question, Jamil presses down hard on his right toe to break and gives you a panicked look, āare you serious?ā
āIām serious and I havenāt failed you yet,ā you place your hands on your hips, the determined look on your face telling Jamil that he couldnāt back down now.
āIf you can actually teach me how to do tricks by the end of the day, then Iāll believe you.ā
āOh, done deal!ā you clap in excitement, āletās get started then!ā
ā„
āRemind me again why weāre here, Jamil?ā you ask as you gaze up at the intricate entrance to the Centre Pompidou.
āIām studying architecture. I wanted to see all the famous monuments of France for my studies since my classmate Rook wouldnāt stop talking about it,ā Jamil replies, his hands busy taking pictures of the complex building with his phone.
āAnd here I thought you were just making any excuse to miss your classes.ā
āWould you judge me if I say thatās kind of true?ā
āNo, I wouldnāt,ā you shake your head before holding your hands out. āHere: do you want me to take a picture for you?ā
āOh, sure. Thank you,ā Jamil hands you his phone before jogging a few feet forward and facing you.
With a few clicks of the Camera app, you complete the routine thatās been established for the past few days since youāve arrived in Paris, France.
Jamilās second wish was quickly made the day after you taught him how to roller skate. After spending the night thinking about all the things he never got the chance to do, he went out to find you again.
It wasnāt hard for him to, youād already told him that youād be hanging around one of the many coffee shops surrounding the college campus.
āOh, thank goodness you found me. I was starting to get bored,ā you sigh in relief when you look up from your laptop to find Jamil sliding into the seat across from yours.
He doesnāt bother to ask where your laptop came from, or how you have the money to pay for the mocha latte in your hands. At this point, he believes that youāre capable of more things than he could possibly ever understand.
āAre you okay? Is there something on my face?ā you ask when Jamil doesnāt say anything.
You gently pat your cheeks in search of anything that feels out of place, assuming thatās why Jamil is staring at you wordlessly.
āWhat? Oh. No. Sorry, no. You, uh, youā you look great,ā Jamil shakes his head quickly before he presses his lips into a thin line and averts his eyes down to the coffee table. āI didnāt mean to stare.ā
You know that Jamil is usually not shy, usually not someone who stammers unless heās nervous ā itās a rare occurrence.
So, you think perhaps he finds you intimidating: a celestial body who could probably strike him down if heās not being too careful with himself.
It could explain why he treats you like one of his friends one minute but becomes flustered the next.
āYou know that Iām not going to strike you down with lightning, right?ā you lean forward with your arms crossed on the table and your lips curved up into an amused smile.
āLālightning?ā Jamil asks nervously as he scratches the nape of his neck. āWould you be able to? Strike me with lightning, I mean.ā
āMy name isnāt āMalleusā, but yes: I could if I really wanted to,ā you shrug nonchalantly. A horrified look appears on Jamilās face, and you would have found it comical if he didnāt look exactly like a deer in headlights. āBut you havenāt done anything to warrant that, so donāt be so scared.ā
āIām not scared. Itās just that youāre⦠kind of intimidating,ā Jamil huffs.
āAre you intimidated because Iām not actually human, or because your charmingly good looks donāt have any affect on me?ā
āUmā¦ā Jamil looks at you in the same way a guilty child would look at their parents during a scolding: with wide puppy dog eyes and lips jutting out into a pout. āThe first one?ā
āYou mean the second one,ā you correct the man confidently. āItās not the first option because you still donāt believe me yet, but you will soon.
āSpeaking of which,ā you clear your throat before leaning in closer and lowering your voice, ādo you have any ideas for your second wish?ā
āOh. Actually, yāyeah, I do,ā Jamil says slowly, almost hesitantly.
āYou donāt sound very confident about that.ā
āWell, itās a very big wish. I, uh⦠I wish I could go to France.ā
āNow thatās the kind of wish Iāve been waiting for,ā you nod in approval before taking your last sip of coffee and firmly placing the cup down. āLetās go.ā
āWhat, now?ā Jamil emphasizes the last word with the raise of his eyebrows. āY/n, youāre always in a rush, arenāt you?ā
āIām sorry, Iām just used to getting these wishes done right away. So⦠not right now?ā
āOh, no, we can go today. Iād just need to pack some stuff first.ā
āAh, thatās right,ā your mouth opens into a small āoā when you realize youāve been rushing to get moving without thinking first. āYes, go pack whatever you need and come find me again when youāre ready to go.ā
āOkay. Iāll see you later?ā Jamil is already up from his chair before he could finish the question.
The excitement he exudes is contagious and you couldnāt hold back the giggle bubbling up in your chest.
āYou know where to find me,ā you wave the man off, gesturing for him to leave the coffee shop quickly.
Less than a week has passed since Jamil made the wish that has you turning into a tourist, but it feels like youāve spent at least a month together.
You spend every day in the same fashion as you did today: head off to a famous French monument that was in a far too long list Rook provided Jamil, he takes who knows how many pictures for future references, and then you offer to take his pictures.
You have the steadiest hands out of anyone you know ā which, to be fair, isnāt that many humans in the first place ā yet those pictures always turn out somewhat blurry.
Todayās pictures at the Centre Pompidou is no exception to this.
āIām sorry, I donāt know why I bother anymore. You should just delete those,ā you sigh, your shoulders drooping in defeat as you watch Jamil swipe through his camera roll.
Despite you telling him that every single time, Jamil always keeps the pictures that you take of him.
Then, when you arenāt looking, when youāre busy taking in the beautiful sights around you, Jamil sneaks in a few pictures of you.
Heās not sure what will happen to them once youāre gone. Would they stay on his phone and you simply become a J. Doe to the rest of the world? Or would they disappear forever as if you were never there to begin with?
He bets if he asked you nicely, youād allow him to keep those memories with him.
āSo, shall we go inside?ā you ask as you shove your hands into the pockets of your wool overcoat.
Your question interrupts Jamilās brief thoughts, who merely blinks before he turns his attention to you, āIām sorry, what?ā
āDo you want to go inside?ā you reword and repeat your question.
āOh. Yeah, letās go,ā Jamil nods and holds a hand out towards you.
You hesitate for only a moment before you take a hand out of your pocket and place it in his. Your skin feels cold against Jamilās, though itās uncertain if itās because of the weather or something else.
Still, in an attempt to keep you warm, Jamil intertwines his fingers with yours and sticks your hands into his kangaroo pocket.
How did Jamil get from jumpy and intimidated to becoming comfortable enough to hold your hands in a matter of a week? Even he wouldnāt be able to give you an answer for that.
Perhaps his courage is influenced by the atmosphere that the city of love provides; itās where couples in love roam freely, they hold hands and sneak in kisses whenever they can.
Jamil tells himself that the two of you are merely blending in with the crowd ā that thereās no way he has a crush on you.
But as he watches you studying the artwork displayed neatly along cream-colored walls, he finds that heād prefer to look at you instead of the exhibitions.
Snap out of it, Jamil Viper.
As if you could read his thoughts, you defy him, appearing in front of the man like an unexpected dream. Like always, thereās a beautifully wide smile on your face that makes Jamilās heart skip a beat just at the sight of it.
āAre you okay? Youāre all spaced out today.ā
āWhat? No, Iām not,ā Jamil huffs before he steps aside to let a group of tourists walk past.
āNo, youāre not okay or no, youāre not spacing out?ā
āNo, Iām not spacing out. I was just deep in thoughtā yeah, deep in thoughts of what this painting could possibly mean,ā Jamil gestures towards a medium-sized canvas to his right without really looking at it.
āThatās a painting of the Mona Lisa holding a chubby ginger cat. Iām not really sure that thereās any special meaning to it,ā you chuckle briefly before you reach out to gently tug at the sleeve of Jamilās hoodie. āCome on, mister, letās go.ā
āWhere are we going, exactly?ā Jamil asks as he uncrosses his arms and allows you to drag him past the long and heavily populated hallways of the art gallery.
āI figured you could use a change of pace from all the art museums and historyā not that thereās anything wrong with any of those places. But I planned a little surprise for you.ā
āYou did?ā Jamilās eyebrows quirk up in surprise.
āOkay, I admit the idea just popped into my head,ā you glare playfully at the man. āBut Iām not the one trying to find a deeper meaning to a cat painting.ā
Jamil doesnāt say anything in response, doesnāt try to tell you that he finds you even more mesmerizing than all the artwork in the building combined ā and that heād been staring at you this entire time.
He just lets out a short laugh and nods in agreement.
You stop in front of an emergency exit door before turning around to face Jamil. The serious look on your face is a rare sight to see and the man knows that he should take your next words seriously.
āDonāt freak out when I open this door,ā you say slowly, making sure to enunciate every word.
Jamil nods again before his eyes trail up to the bright exit sign above the door, āare we⦠going to trigger the fire alarm for fun?ā
āDefinitely not. Iām sure that actually goes against both of my rules,ā you take a few steps backwards until your back is pressed against the push pad of the exit device.
Jamil braces himself for bright flashing lights and loud alarms when you push the door open, but heās met with neither of those things.
Instead, he sees beautiful shades of orange on the other side of the door. Thereās a generously wide and long stretch of grass lined with various types of trees, and both locals and tourists lounging about the large space.
āDonāt worry, weāre here for a picnic,ā you nod your head towards the scene, waiting for Jamil to walk past the threshold of the door to follow him out.
Jamil glances back when the door softly shuts behind you, the surprise evident on his face when he finds that itās been replaced by a black Peugeot 208.
āSometimes I forget that youāre actually a magical being who can do stuff like that.ā
āAnd you donāt seem as shocked as you should be for a human being,ā you shoot back with a grin. āNot that Iām complaining. Iād much prefer that to you screaming in fear.ā
Jamil looks unamused at your last sentence. He knows exactly what you are referring to: the first time he experienced the unexplainable things that you are capable of.
That experience was similar to what youād done just now, and it was what solidified his belief in you.
āOkay, but you didnāt warn me that opening the door to a washroom was going to lead me to the top of the Eiffel Tower. This is a lot more acceptable.ā
āWell, I figured we could make the journey a lot easier and faster by doing that,ā you shrug, the contents of the picnic basket in your hands making soft shuffling noises as you move. āNow, letās go find an open space to sit.ā
You follow closely behind Jamil as he maneuvers around small clusters of chatty folks, most of which doesn't hear his muttered āexcuse me.ā
You follow him until you reach nearly the end of the grassy terrain where there is a decent amount of available space for you to lay a blanket on top.
āWhere are we anyways?ā Jamil asks once youāre situated on top of the thick blanket protecting your clothes from the damp grass.
āThe Luxembourg Gardens. I overheard someone saying that itās the perfect spot for a picnic, and figured you could use the change in scenery.ā
Jamil has to admit that youāre right about that.
The much needed fresh air aside, Jamil finds that he surprisingly enjoys seeing all the beauty that nature has to offer as much as he enjoys studying the intricate ways buildings can be made.
Or, at least, he used to enjoy it.
That was before he decided to take on as many classes as he could in a single semester when he started college. All his time is spent on studying and making sure he got all his assignments done on time.
Somewhere along the way, he even managed to secure an internship that took up even more of his time and attention.
What little free time he earned would be spent on making sure his friends knew that he was still a functioning member of society. Even then, Jamil would spend the entire time thinking about both the assignments heās already completed and the ones he left for later.
Ace would say that heās burned out and needs to step foot outside of the college grounds more often.
Now heās really taken that advice to heart, because how much farther away from college could he get than Paris, France?
āClear your head and eat a carrot, Jamil,ā you interrupt the manās thoughts by waving a baby carrot in front of his face.
āVeggies,ā Jamil groans before a look of utter disgust overtakes his features.
āWhat?ā you ask in the most innocent tone you could muster up and bring the carrot closer to Jamilās face.
āPlease, Iāll literally eat anything else,ā Jamil sticks his tongue out in a mock gagging motion as he leans further away from your hand.
āYou mean youāll eat anything thatās not fruits or vegetables, right? Thatās bad, you know,ā you click your tongue in disapproval before taking a small bite of the baby carrot. āMaybe you should use your last wish to make all of it taste like pasta.ā
āCan you do that?ā
āI could but I wonāt.ā
āWhy not?!ā
āBecause I will not be the person responsible for you getting tired of eating pasta. Youāll hate me forever and I donāt want that.ā
āWell, Iāll hate you anyways if thereās no pasta in that basket,ā Jamil says jokingly, his teasing causing you to throw the baby carrot towards his chest in retaliation. āOkay, Iām sorry, Iām sorry!ā
You narrow your eyes at the man before you stick a hand inside the picnic basket and pull out a plastic container filled with chicken alfredo. Jamil lets out a loud cheer at the sight and smell of the food, his abrupt holler earning him a few glances from nearby visitors.
āYou get so excited about food, Jamil. I remember you used to wish for sushi and ramen all the time as a child,ā you giggle, watching with sparkling eyes as Jamil takes the container from your hands and hurriedly opens it.
āWell, the purpose of life is to eat and enjoy as much food as you can, you know?ā
āOh, is it now?ā
āIt sure as heck is the purpose of mine,ā Jamil nods firmly.
You hum in response and curl up into a loose ball with your arms hugging your legs and chin resting on top of your knees. Your eyes flutter shut just as a gentle breeze begins to blow.
The sun is setting behind Jamilās hunched over figure, the warm sunlight illuminating your figure and making you appear nearly ethereal in Jamilās eyes.
Youāre so beautiful.
Jamil averts his eyes just as quickly as the thought enters his mind; and as he shoves forkfuls of pasta into his mouth, he tries hard to ignore the warm feeling igniting inside his chest.
ā„
āThis is a dream, isnāt it?ā
āWhat?ā you ask, turning your head to look at Jamil who is laying towards the opposite direction of you but with his head resting right by yours.
āI keep thinking that this entire trip ā and you ā are all just part of a really long dream,ā Jamil sighs before he also turns his head towards you.
āWould you like me to pinch you? Isnāt that what people do when they think theyāre dreaming?ā
Jamil laughs at your questions, his warm breath fanning across your face and his eyes curving into rainbows. He knows that youāre genuinely asking, but he still finds you too innocent and adorable for your own good.
āNo, I think Iād like to stay inside this dream. But thank you for the offer.ā
āYouāre welcome.ā
Comfortable silence blankets over the two of you as you resume your previous activities of stargazing. At least, an attempt is made because there aren't as many stars in the Paris night sky as youād like there to be.
Regardless of that, Jamil tries to savor every moment of relaxation heās been awarded since youāve come into his life.
He canāt remember the last time heās been able to take a step back to just breathe like this.
His normal life has no time for hobbies ā there isnāt any time to spare to learn how to ice skate, roller skate, snowboard, or any other fun activities his friends like to do.
This is the first time heās been able to travel out of the country, for vacation no less, and he isnāt even stressed out about the schoolwork heās probably missing out on right now.
It feels like a dream: being able to lay on the grass of the Luxembourg Gardens with no worries and with you by his side.
āI wish that this dream would last forever,ā Jamil whispers, his voice barely audible but youāre close enough that you can still hear him. āCan you make that happen?ā
āYouāll have to be more specific, Jamil.ā
āItās just that⦠since you came along, I feel like I can finally breathe again. This is the most relaxed and carefree Iāve felt in a very long time. I didnāt even realize how stressed out I was before, andāand I donāt want to go back. ā
You had an inkling that Jamil may have gotten attached to you, may have gotten used to having your constant presence by his side. Thatās why he feels so comfortable around you now ā at least, enough to make jokes and tease you when he could.
It never occurred to you that he may want to keep you by his side when youāre not able to do so. Not until now.
āI wishā¦ā
You hold your breath as you wait for Jamil to continue his sentence. You know that once he makes his third and final wish, youāll immediately and completely disappear from his life.
Perhaps, it is for the better that heāll have no recollection of you besides as a star in the sky.
āI wish I could continue to feel this way. I wish, among all the stress and madness, Iāll also have the time to be free and enjoy life,ā Jamil laughs at himself, finding himself silly for saying the words out loud. He turns to you with a soft smile on his face, ācan you make that happen? Itās a pretty tall order.ā
You nod slowly, refusing to look at the man as you mumble, āas you wish.ā
With those words, your body begins to emit a gentle white glow.
At first, Jamil thinks itās a reaction of you granting his wish. But as your body becomes more and more transparent, the panic settles more and more inside his heart.
āY/n?ā Jamil calls out, his voice shaky as he reaches out to cup your cheek. His hand passes through your disappearing body, causing him to panic even more and the volume of his voice rising as he calls out for you again. āY/n!ā
A final burst of bright white light makes Jamil shut his eyes tightly and shield them with his hands. Just as quickly as the light came, he finds himself surrounded by darkness and quiet once again.
When Jamil finally opens his eyes, he finds himself lying down in the backseat of Aceās car. He groans, carefully getting up without moving Liliaās sleeping figure too much.
He rests his friendās head on his shoulder after he sits up and looks out the car window, āwhere are we?ā
āOh, youāre up?ā Ace replies as he glances up at the rear-view mirror to look at Jamilās dark silhouette.
āYeah, I had the strangest dream: I was in Paris.ā
āYou must have been hanging out with some mimes because you were laughing a lot in your sleep.ā
āWas I?ā Jamil raises an eyebrow skeptically. āI canāt even remember what the dream was about anymore. All I remember is standing on top of the Eiffel Tower.ā
āWell, donāt go back to sleep because weāre about half an hour away from the dorm now.ā
āSure,ā Jamil adjusts his position so he can prop his elbow and chin up on an arm rest.
He watches as they drive past a handful of traffic lights and countless street lights, a strange feeling of being out of place poking at him.
But he pushes the feeling away for the remainder of the drive back to the dorms. He continues to push it away when he sinks into his dorm bed in exhaustion 30 minutes later and dreams of seeing Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
The next morning, Jamil wakes up to about a dozen emails that all include some sort of revision to the class syllabi.
āWhat in the world?ā Jamil asks, his voice groggy from sleep and his eyes blinking against the bright light of his phone screen.
Once his eyes have adjusted, Jamil scrolls through the emails before logging into every student portal available to him. He double, triple, and quadruple-checks every platform to make sure his professors werenāt simply playing a trick on him.
āGood morning, Jamil!ā a familiar voice gleefully calls out.
Light pours into the room as the door is opened by none other than a smiling Ace. His cheerful demeanor further confirms that Jamil wasnāt simply imagining the emails.
āDid you hear the good news yet?ā Ace ignores the protests of Jamilās roommate as he prances into the room and plops down on the edge of his friendās bed. He doesnāt wait for Jamil to answer before he continues talking, ānow we have all this free time outside of getting our major projects done. What are we gonna do with ourselves?ā
Despite still being half-asleep, Jamil canāt deny that heās also filled with delight at the unexpected news. His mind is already going through all the things heās been holding off on doing ā but he canāt seem to wave off a major sense of dĆ©jĆ vu as he does so.
āOh, wait. How about we finally teach you how to roller skate?ā Ace pats Jamilās shoulder to catch his attention.
āNo offense, Ace, but youāre way too energetic in the morning,ā Jamil groans and pulls his blanket up to his chin. He squints at Aceās unwavering grin for a few silent seconds before he finally sighs and rolls his eyes. āOkay, Iām in.ā
āThatās the spirit! Iāll let the guys know,ā Ace silently cheers, saving Jamilās roommate from the unwelcomed noise before he saunters out just as quickly as he came in.
On a normal day, even if Jamil said that he was in, he still wouldnāt have enough free time to actually learn anything besides the basics ā if that.
So itās a nice change of pace when, less than an hour later, he meets his friends besides the same stretch of pavement as where you granted him his first wish.
He doesnāt remember those events in detail, only as fleeting events of a strange dream, and dismisses his sense of dĆ©jĆ vu as having been at this spot many times before.
āYou still remember the basics, right?ā his friend Kalim asks as he holds his arms out towards Jamil.
Jamil gratefully grabs onto the long limbs for support as he slowly gets up, his legs wobbling while he tries to balance himself on the roller skates.
āHave you been practicing without us?ā Lilia asks with his gaze fixed on Jamilās legs.
Itās a harmless question thatās only asked because Jamilās not very big on balance. No, usually he and Kalim would have to keep a close eye on their friend to make sure his legs arenāt floundering like fish on dry land.
But today, Jamil seems stable on his own, and they step back and watch in surprise as Jamil glides freely without them.
āOh, Aceās not going to believe this,ā Lilia laughs before dragging Jamilās backpack to his side and rummaging through the pockets for his phone.
Lilia unlocks the phone with every intent to take a video of Jamil acing the Basics of Roller Skating 101. But a recent picture displayed on the lower left hand corner of the Camera app catches his attention.
āJamil, do you have a partner? Theyāre cute,ā Lilia comments after heās clicked on the display and enlarges the photograph. āI mean, thanks a lot for not telling us though.ā
āWhat? Where? Who?ā Kalim quickly appears behind Lilia to peer over the shorter manās shoulder.
āI have no idea what youāre talking about. When do I have the time for a partner?ā Jamil furrows his eyebrows in confusion as he makes his way over to his huddled up friends.
Kalim and Lilia exchange looks of disbelief before Lilia holds the phone out so Jamil could look at whatās displayed on the screen.
His breath hitches when he sees a picture of you.
Theyāre the same photographs that you didnāt know heād taken of you. Theyāre proof that you were real ā and you existed in this world briefly although Jamil has no recollection of who you are.
And if youād known those pictures existed, theyād have been erased from Jamilās memory just like everything else had been.
āI⦠I have no idea who this is,ā Jamil says unconvincingly as he takes his phone away from Lilia.
He canāt bring himself to tear his eyes away from the still of your face. The bright smile youāve always graced him with is permanently captured within a photograph of a J. Doe.
Jamil canāt remember meeting someone with your face. He certainly doesnāt remember your name or why he would have your picture on his phone.
But the longer he stares at the pictures, the farther the warmth igniting in his chest spreads throughout his body.
A single, short thought enters his mind.
Thank you.
And although he doesnāt know why he thought that, he has the sneaking suspicion it has something to do with the person in the photographs.
āY/n?ā
The seemingly empty classroom is briefly illuminated followed by the sharp, loud crack of thunder. The shockwaves cause the floor beneath Jamilās feet to shudder, and he hears the faint sound of a whimper coming from the farthest corner of the room.
āY/n,ā Jamil repeats before making his way to the small space beside a long row of lockers at the back of the classroom.
There, he found you curled into yourself with your hands pressed firmly against your ears and your eyes tightly shut.
He was only gone for a second to retrieve the cleaning supplies from the janitorās closet. But heād underestimated how bad the thunderstorm had been, because a particular boom of thunder caused the lights in the nearly vacant school to shut off without warning.
Itās also just his luck that you have a fear of both the dark and thunderstorms. Heās not sure why heād suddenly felt guilty for leaving you by yourself, but his feet didnāt hesitate to turn on their heels and run back to the classroom where you awaited.
He stands there, waiting patiently for a few minutes to see if youād calm down on your own.
It becomes quite apparent that the answer is no.
āIām coming down,ā Jamil sighs before sliding his back down the wall until heās seated in a similar position as you.
You still havenāt moved an inch, but he can tell that your body is a lot less tense than before. But how can he comfort you?
A sudden thought pops into his head: a scene from a romance anime that Kalim had forced him to watch with him this summer. Would it work?
He decides to give it a shot.
Jamil shrugs his school blazer off and drapes it over your heads. The heavy material turns everything in your line of vision black, and you finally work up the courage to lift your head properly.
You donāt realize how close your faces are until you feel Jamilās warm breath fanning across your cheeks.
āWāwhat are you doing?ā you manage to squeak out, trying to scoot away despite your back being pressed against the lockers already.
āIām distracting you,ā Jamil answers as if it should have been the most obvious thing. āIs it working?ā
āUm⦠kind of?ā you canāt say that the close proximity isnāt making you feel like a cage of butterflies have been released in your stomach.
A few moments of silence pass before another boom of thunder strikes, causing the goosebumps on your arms to rise and you instinctively reach out to grasp Jamilās arms. Youāre surprised that he doesnāt move away immediately.
āI want to try something,ā Jamil declares.
āRight now?ā you ask in disbelief. āWhat is it?ā
You feel his arms shifting in your grasp before his cold hands are cupping your cheeks, and you hold your breath as you wait for his next move.
Without any hesitation, Jamil leans forward and presses his soft lips against yours.
To say that youāre surprised is an understatement, but you respond to his touch anyways. Your lips move against one another, hesitantly at first, before Jamil makes the first move to deepen it.
You donāt realize just how fast your heart is racing until you finally break apart.
āUmā¦ā you gasp, your fingertips running across your lips. āWhat was that?ā
In that moment, Jamilās glad that the darkness provided by his blazer is hiding how deep red his ears have turned. He clears his throat before simply answering, āa distraction.ā
Ok. Soā¦Kalim and Jamil were just caught having a fightā¦
So⦠weāre not going to tell Kalimās parents that his āservantā just attacked him? Cool. Ok. Kalim probably forgives him anyways .š
Also, āhotheadedā? Kalim isnāt āhotheadedā the last time I checked.
IMMA BE REAL WHEN I FIRST SAW MALLEUS I THOUGFT HE WAS CREWEL, BUT WHY DOES HE LOOK SO šš I DONT LIKE THE SWOOP BANGS HE LOOKS LIKE EMO JUSTIN BIEBER š
ALSO JAMIL HOODIE COMEBACK!! WE HAVENT SEEN HIM WITH HIS HOOD SINCE DORM SSR šš LITERALLY THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME
AND THE JACK SSR!! FINALLY ANOTHER LIMITED EVENT SSR SINCE PORTFEST BRO DESERVED IT šš AND HES ACTUALLY EATING DOWN IN THE CARD TOO-
no notes on floyd's outfit, he looks great albeit its so similar to jade's outfit which is kinda annoying-
MALLEUS IM SO SORRY BUT YOUR BANGS LOOK SO BAD PLEASE STYLE THEM NORMALLY WHY IS YOUR HAIR SO FLAT šš BUT JACK ON THE OTHER HAND šš THE SLEEVELESS BLACK TURTLENECK IS SO AHHHHHHH
... that being said... (god i'm awful)
Seeing that we see Jamil's childhood and all his memories of being told to be subordinate, it's safe to say that Jamil is less affected by dissociative amnesia, aka traumatic-memory-repressing.
However, does this mean that even though he probably has some repressed memories about his childhood and traumatic experiences, he also remembers some of them?
What if he's the only one who really knows what Kalim has been through? But because of their tragic relationship, he's unable to admit that he feels sorry for Kalim, because in some sense (THAT HE'S TECHNICALLY RIGHT ABOUT), Kalim is the reason for his trauma too.
Both him and Kalim were never able to have normal childhoods, but beyond normalizing this idea, they both struggle to accept the fact that they didn't have it worse than the other.
Kalim deals with this struggle more easily, as you see him developing these realizations through out the main story line, like in book 5 - 30. In fact, he almost immediately forgoes this idea after Jamil stops overblotting, offering Jamil a choice that takes his traumatic past into consideration, while allowing them to still continue a relationship of some sorts. Meanwhile, Jamil has had less/little development on this. He did have a really nice moment in book 5-10 talking to Azul, but other than that, I really haven't seen more moments of his development, which I find rather disappointing on twst's part. I'd really like a nice moment, whether between Jamil and someone else (like the MC), or maybe even between him and Kalim, where he does atleast acknowledge this idea (Kalim having trauma) without compromising the truth that he has also been wronged.
In the end, I doubt this will ever happen, but a girl can dream.. I atleast wish that the fans wouldn't make their relationship in the fandom competitive in regards to "who's-more-traumatized". This isn't a debate, there doesn't need to be a right answer.
craziest fever dream ever š
Note: I just found a fanart of this scene on pinterest and it's the GREATEST THING EVER IM CRYING
THEIR FACES ARE SO GOOD- JAMIL LOOKS SO DONE WITH THIS SHIT AND GRIM IS JUST A LITTLE GUY CLINGING TO SEBEK WITH ALL HIS MIGHT š
(this art is NOT mine, credit to @5vyqMf2ItTU936W on twitter)
idk if i'll make this a consistent thing, mainly because i'm inconsistent- but I do like replying to other people's opinions on my posts, so yeah! expect these every week for the most part, unless there's no reblogs..
credits : @cafekitsune for the dividers
reply to @usurper-of-heavens - No, you're absolutely not underestimating them. I wholly believe that that the characters in-game mischaracterize Kalim just as much as the fandom does. I will argue that for the characters, it's actually reasonable, since not all of them know him all that well. Even so, the fact that a ton of them don't think about what it means to be an heir to a throne, minus the pampering and luxurious life, is kinda crazy to me..
I'm more so disappointed that the princes don't recognize this, and although Malleus was probably fine his whole life, why does Leona not acknowledge this idea? If I had to guess, it's mainly because some of Leona's trauma stems from his being born second and being outcast from the throne. Maybe seeing Kalim so oblivious and happy makes him forget the idea that Kalim could also go through anything similar to the rejection he faced during childhood.
reply to @magimerlyn - This is a wonderful statement that I totally agree with, Kalim is mindful enough to continue working with Jamil even after discovering Jamil's feelings about him, opting to try and become less dependent on him while not throwing him to the side, considering that he has the power to get rid of Jamil. Yes, some of his emotional stability relies on Jamil being around, but that's exactly why he's trying to grow more as a person, and be more mindful of the choices he makes involving Jamil. Chances are, Jamil wouldn't magically outgrow his habits of taking care of Kalim even if Kalim did immediately grant his freedom and close off their relationship. Either way, Kalim would probably be granted some reprieve from his grievances if someone as helpful and dedicated as Jamil came along that he could trust trust. Now whether this would affect Kalim and Jamil's relationship?.. we'll leave that to the fanfic writers..
reply to @flying-mochis - Yeah, Kalim has several moments where he openly shows his innovation in attempts to develop more personally by not relying on Jamil all the time. Book 5 - Chapter 10 is a great example of Jamil's development, because he's willing to continue aiding Kalim despite probably being able to prove himself as better than him. Of course, this is partially because of his ruined reputation, but you can't deny that he isn't being super spiteful despite the fact that his plan to overthrow Kalim didn't work.
reply to @tinisprout - Exactly, like my poor boy!!! We'll listen!! ššš In reality, I don't think Kalim would ever willingly vent if it wasn't in private like that moment, because of his fear of ruining his reputation as the happy go-lucky housewarden who's always oblivious and naive yet kind. It's a standard he needs to uphold, and maybe Kalim is afraid of getting help from others because he might be a burden to them, in the same way he limited Jamil from ever showing his full potential. This is more of a theory, but still.. Our sweet boy doesn't deserve this.. šš
reply to @twsted-canvas - Yeah, I can't blame you... Twst's put 0 development into Grim's character in regards to caring for others, which is so lame- Give us student Grim who secretly cares for his first year friends and Yuu, but denies it!! In all aspects, if he didn't have a bad personality, he would be a very cute lil kitty. (still don't forgive you for changing the topic while kalim was venting you asshat)
i prefer to post all jp leaks with spoiler warnings, but the entire fandom has already seen this so- (ill put warnings for chapter 7 spoilers)
all the fanart of him using magic to put up his hair is canon!!! and it's wavy!!!1!1
WHY DIDN'T WE GET THIS AS HIS CARD SPRITE?? THE BANGS?? HE ATE SO HARD BUT WERE STUCK WITH THE HEADBAND š
and this was only 21 chapters before 5-30..
(spoilers for chapter 7 scarabia stuff under the cut!!)
Everyone's been talking about how much it would hurt to be punched by Kalim with his bangles and jewelry on, but can we talk about the SOUND? like im just realizing that their fight during book 7 probably sounded an awful lot like this š:
"YOU A**HOLE, I HATE HOW TWO FACED YOU ARE!!"
*jingle jingle*Ā
"YOU JUST REALIZED IT NOW HUH, YOU INSENSITIVE B*STARD?!!"
*jingle jingle jingle*
"DONT WORRY ABOUT THAT YOU SARCASTIC IDIOT!!"
*the sound of jingling intensifying*
I get between the shouting and all, you wouldn't be able to hear it all that well, but I would be trying so hard not to laugh if I heard the the equivalent of "keys! keys!! *aggressive keychain shaking*" play out while i watched somebody deck their best friend in the face š
who's your favorite twisted wonderland character, and why?
How do I even choose?
I have different reasons for liking all of my favs
(I will expand on all of these if asked. Please ask. Please. Id analyze any character in twst if asked I love them all)
Ace: I love how blunt he is. He doesn't sugarcoat his feelings as he speaks up for himself, others, and what he thinks is right. He can be an idiot, but I love him nonetheless! Although I feel like canon doesn't do much with his character and he's just used as a way to make other characters have development. (Ex: Riddle in ch.1 deuce in ch.5 the fairy gala remix in his card story) But all in all I think I love him because he's the opposite of me. (I can't speak up for myself...)
Trey: Like Ace, canon doesn't do much with his character and fandom doesn't really do anything with him besides using him as a way for cater angst? (No hate to Cater stans of course) so a lot of his character is my speculation. (He is not a normal guy he is lying to himself.) I love how I can pick apart his character without canon coming in and crushing my dreams. (I project onto him frequently.)
Leona: Oh boy. Here we go. God I love Leona so much. Obviously, he's a depressed bitch and neither canon nor fandom properly recognizes it he also has some serious trauma. (knowing you could be better but, why try? Your goal is impossible anyways.) Also, (as far as I know) he's the only Overblot victim who didn't properly redeem himself. (Ripping up Azul's contracts out of selfish desires is not redemption.) So that's canon mischaracterizing their own character and the fandom, is the fandom. Overall Leona is mischaracterized way too much and I kin him. (That's the reason I love him. I kin him.)
Azul: Azul is literally my baby. I love him because I just wanna give him a hug. The way his ED is implied a few times and then never brought up again is really annoying to me like- if you're gonna give ED rep at least mention in more than his chapter! It's a key part of his character and it's barely there. Oh also he was bullied and I relate to that.
Jamil: The vibes. Gender Envy. The pyromania. The way he hates Kalim even though it's not his fault because he needs someone to be angry at and it's so easy to hate the person directly causing your problems rather than blaming the system behind them. Oh also he's brown and I'm brown so it's like-
Vil: VILLL MY BEAUTIFUL QUEEN. Gender. Envy. The things I could do if I was him- she's so- can you imagine if I was amab? I could be feminine and still not be seen as a girl. Anyways the way he's always second place but doesn't blame the person who's above him but rather blames himself is so sad but so me.
Idia: his gamer talk is so funny sometimes. Oh also I wish I had an older brother like him. Oh also I haven't finished ch.6 but I'm really excited. Oh also technological characters always have a special place in my heart. oh also he's depressed and I find that relatable.
Sebek: I love him. He's so loud and so rude (humans) but I love him he's such a dork. He's trying his best okay? Id really love to see his character when it's not revolving around Malleus though.
Authors Note: tldr: angst, badassery, gender envy, character studys and more not necessarily in that order.
So uh...
An anon( I think) asked for Jamil/Azul headcanons Azul/Idia headcanons or Azul/Idia/Jamil headcanons and I accidentally posted the answer before I was ready, panicked, and deleted it not realizing it would delete the ask too.
Oopsy?
(IM NOT IRRESPONSIBLE I SWEAR)
Anyways I'm doing all of them
Jamil/Azul:
An OTP of mine. I love them. Chapter Four was the gayest shit since sliced bread.(and vampire nails those are-)
@masterofrecords has an amazing fic for them it's gorgeous. (MARRY ME YOUR WRITING IS SO GOOD)
Anyways. Headcanons!
In above mentioned fic Jamil makes food for people to say that he cares about them. And he makes food for Azul. A lot. Soyeahthatsathingnow.
Azul comes to ALL of Jamils basketball games! The American football movie stereotype!
Azul likes Jamil's shiny hair things. Octopus instinct.
Jamil gives Azul shiny things as gifts.
"hey I found this coin in the vault at Scarabia do you-" "YES"
Jamil will never see that coin again
Azul/Idia
BOARD GAME CLUB BOARD GAME CLUB!!!
The nerd duo
This ship has really grown on me!
There's a comic on the Twisted Wonderland subreddit by u/Kamapon that really introduced me to the ship! It's slightly suggestive but it's so good! The art honestly looks official.
Gossip buddies over chess
"Did you hear? The science club room was set on fire." "EXCUSE ME WHAT?"
Idia is so shocked his hair flares up and the Board game clubroom almost catches too.
Idia takes Azul to a Premo concert and Azul just stares at their shiny costumes and light sticks
The blue lipstick gets everywhere.
Jamil/Azul/Idia
THE GRAND FINALE!!! This is so cute!
Obviously Azul and Idia go on dates to Jamil's games.
Jamil and Azul once held a conversation as to who could make Idia's hair the pinkest.
The only time it turned fully pink was when both of them worked together. Yay! THE POWER OF... Ship? What's a romantic word for friendship?
Azul introduces Jamil and Idia.
"this is Idia! He also doesn't like people!"
"...Azul. listen to yourself."
Everyone else on campus thinks they're weird.
They are.
Authors Note: IM SO SORRY ANON šššš