Happy Halloween y'all!
So, yea, I know there's an actual Halloween special for TWST this month and the following one, but after reading the first part of the event, I'm adding in my own prologue to the event so it'll entwine with the actual event. You'll see what I mean 😉.
I've been working on this special all month long and am presenting you with the start. Hope you enjoy!
Prologue: Plan of Action
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The first thing I see when I wake up is light of the sun's rays passing through the glass window. And the start of a new day.
I get out of bed and start to work on getting ready for the day.
On my way to the bathroom, I take a look at the calendar: September 21st. it was time to prepare for....whatever else that came our way.
Hopefully, no more fuckery...
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The halls were dismally normal as I strode with Ace, Deuce and Grim into the main building.
"Man, I didn't get as much sleep last night...." Ace yawned.
"That's cause you stayed up all night finishing your homework at the last second!" Deuce chided.
"Not my fault class is a hell hole! Charlie, can I copy your work~?"
"Admit you're nothing more than a whiny bitch baby and I'll see if I change my mind." I said back.
"Rude?!" He scoffed. I snickered back, not sparing him a glance as we walked to the cafeteria for breakfast.
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She had gotten a breakfast sandwich, fresh nectarine and iced water, as the guys managed to find a table.
"C'mon! I need the answers to the 'read and response' section! Help me out!!"
"No way, Ace! Last time you copied my work, I specifically told you to make it different than mine! Trein nearly caught us! Remember?" The redhead paused his groveling to recall that horrid day both boys gotten a ten minute lecture on plagiarism from other students. Ace nearly dropped dead once the lecture was over. He shuddered at that memory.
"Don't remind me...." he muttered and started stuffing his face.
Charlie was halfway through her breakfast sandwich when she overheard two students whispering to one another.
"Man, can't believe they're gonna cancel clubs after the expenses taken from the Magift games..." one student whispered.
"Pfft, good. No one wants to join those lame ass clubs anyway. They're just for sissies!" The other scoffed.
"You say that now, but wait till the club leaders hear this and come after you with pitchforks..." the third sighed.
Charlie looked after them in curiosity as they left the cafeteria to go elsewhere.
"Whoa...school funds are draining that fast?" She thought aloud.
"Apparently, that's the new rumor floating around. The funds were so big for the festival, it may not be possible to supply funds for other clubs and sports events for the following months..." Deuce nodded with a frown.
"There goes basketball...." Ace muttered, throwing his fork in slight anger.
The female looked at her two compatriots with worry.
"You're really down about this, huh?" Grim asked.
"Of course! And if the headmaster can't find a way to raise money by the end of the month, well, goodbye to track and field...." Deuce sighed, too upset to finish his food.
'Damn, guess they were really looking forward to their seasons...' Charlie thought. '... I got to do something to help them. Crowley didn't give me a supervisor / Prefect title for nothing. Gotta think! Raise money for the clubs and sports teams...But HOW?!' The brunette wracked her brain for a logical answer, using something, anything that could be an efficient way to get the ball rolling.
Then, she had it.
"Lightbulb!" She smiled, making both first years jump at her erratic behavior.
"Fgyya! Jeez, you scared me!!" Grim chided, but the girl paid no attention to her second half of a student, she started forcing down her breakfast i'm grabbing her things in a frenzied manner.
"Uh, Charlie? You okay? What's with the rush hour?" Ace looked at her weirdly.
"Can't talk! Gotta do some research! See ya!!" She waved a quick goodbye over her shoulder and was out the doors in a flash.
The three stare at one another in confusion at the sudden change of behavior.
"It's probably a female thing..." Ace shrugs.
"No....she must be planning something....let's follow her!" Deuce stood up abruptly, and trashing his food, he followed after his friend.
"Hey, Wait! What about me?!" Ace scrambled after him, Grim clung you his uniform as he ran off.
"Don't drop Ore-Sama, human!!!"
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Charlie scavenged the library shelves for the specific book topic bouncing around him her cranium. Her mind was already a flurry of future planning, and visionary skills. She just needed to have a proper layout of her plan, and then once presented and approved, it'll be put into action.
She had gotten basic notes on her plan, and was reading over it carefully. Now to just find bonus material and she'll be on her way!
The warning bell had just gone off, so she hurried to class, skimming her notes as best as possible.
'I'll need to flesh things out when I've small breaks between classes. I'm all caught up on my work, so it shouldn't be much of a problem in class today...unless the idiot trio ruins something then I'll have their heads...." she muttered and hightailed to class, unknowingly leaving behind her mentioned compatriots in the dust.
"*wheeze* how...how is she so fast?!"
"Don't ask me...."
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Throughout Alchemy, History and Gym, Charlie was a whirl of hidden excitement. Although most of the other students mistook it as her usual bubbly persona, so they heeded her no mind. Except for ADeuce and Grim, who looked at her as if she just drank a dozen cans of soda and was about to explode.
Charlie's head was fleshing out the major details, and managed to keep it secret from the professor's eyes. By the time break rolled around, she was carefully, but shakily, writing out the fully thought out details.
"This is gonna be awesome!!!" She squealed at her plan and gave herself a pat on the back. Earning weird looks from several students.
"Charlie? What's going on?" Deuce asked.
"Yea, you've been acting weird all day! What's up with you?!" Ace shook slightly. She turned to see them trying to hide behind one another, pushing the other in front as a human shield, and holding out their pens at her.
"Uh, not a lot. Why?" She asked, nearly densely.
"You kept smiling to yourself and snickering like you were Ace about to pull a stupid fast one on Riddle!"
"RUDE!!!"
"Oh....uh, was it that obvious?!" She whispered to herself. Looking back at her friends, she gathered herself. "Yea, I think there's some explaining to do...."
"Charlotte!!!!" She turned to find Riddle striding towards her. "Crowley has requested your presence in his office. Immediately!"
He turned nervously to her two friends, and finished, "....right after this!" And left without a second word.
"Eh-Charlie?!"
'Phew, close call. Can't have them finding about my secret plans yet....'
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Crowley rapped his fingers on the desk, as he waited for the last of the leaders to show up. He had sent Riddle to find Charlie, being that he was one of the few leaders she trusted so far.
"Where could they be?" He muttered.
"Ugh, who cares? Can't we just call things off?" Leona grumbled.
"And let Charlie miss an emergency meeting?! No, she'll be saddened if we exclude her!" Kalim defended.
"We can't exclude her, yet Malleus is the exception?" Vil retorts. No one said anything else after.
Then the doors were slammed open. "I've found her!"
The others turned to see Riddle, Charlotte in tow.
"Ah! Miss Luchessi! Glad to see you've made it on such short notice."
"Not that I had a choice in the first few seconds, sir...." she mumbled.
"Now then! Onto the topic at hand. I'm sure all of you are aware of what has been flittering around." Crowley folds his hands together at his desk. "The funds for sports teams as well as clubs....have gone down the drain."
Shocked gasped swept the room between the men, except Charlie, who presses her lips into a thin line of disappointment.
"Wait, the funds for the teams and club aren't here?!" Riddle screeched.
"How did this even happen?!" Kalim's cried.
Suddenly, all eyes flared accusingly at the elephant, or should I say lion, in the room.
"Eh? You think I'M responsible for a stunt like this? Tch, don't blame me for the Magift team's rambunctiousness." Leona scoffed.
"This certainly has NOTHING to do with the Magift team!...okay, that was a lie, but most of it wasn't their fault!....and that was a lie, too-"
"With all due respect, Headmaster, who's fault is it really?" Vil spat, a knowing look crossed the faces of all the students present in the room.
"Anyways!" Crowley moves on. "Yes, it's true, expenses have been forfeit since Magift season has closed for the time being. And with the month about to end, it has been brought to attention that....if we don't find a way to raise funds for the school teams and clubs....we'll have to shut them down."
Anger, shock and denial swept through the room.
"REPEAT?!"
"C-Cancel?!"
"How dreadful...."
"I refuse to let this be true!"
"Everyone, please!" The headmaster calls for order. "Yes, I know all of you are against this, but I'm deeply sorry. It's only ten days before the end of the month, and we are very behind schedule! I wish I could help you in some way, but it seems my hands are tied. I shall give you the time you need to say farewells until the funds can be found again..." Crowley frowns.
Everyone looked at one another in awkward silence. Most were in shock, others depressed at the news and others pissed at the revelation. It seems nothin could save their clubs and teams now....
"IT'S NOT TOO LATE!" Charlie spoke up for the first time. The leaders stare at the girl as she strides forward to the headmaster's desk, a fire under her ass. "Headmaster, I know you mean well, but I know it's never too late to save what's lost!"
"Miss Luchessi, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but-"
"Just listen to what I have to say!" She pleads. "Give me a few minutes to change your mind!" She smiled. He stares at the female for a few seconds before relenting.
"Very well. The floor is yours."
"Grazie!" She nods and spins to face her comrades.
"I've overheard about the situation earlier today before classes were in session. And yes, I'm as sad and pissed as the next guy, but-!" She pauses. "It's never too late to fix things! During the day, I was able to concoct a plan that will guarantee that we get the funds back!" She flips through her notes with ease. "Back in my world, my school would always host a yearly food faire! All of the clubs and sports teams on campus sign up to sell homemade food and sell to the students! One club sells churros, another can sell iced drinks, the possibilities are endless! And the food sells out fast due to popularity! The students can buy their food by purchasing tickets with their own money, and they use the tickets to buy the food. And in the end, all the clubs and teams gather up all the tickets they've earned selling their food, turns it over to the faculty and the tickets acquired will be converted into real money and fundings to their teams!"
As she spoke, the leaders listened very carefully to the plan, and started to nod after absorbing all the details.
"I believe that each dorm, sports team and club should have a set quota for how much they earn. The maximum amount reached will go towards their teams and clubs, and anything leftover can go towards the school! Maybe, if we teach a total goal, we may have enough to throw a celebration Ball!!" Charlie squealed in delight.
"So, both a food faire to get back our funds, and a Ball to up the social anti of the school population...Miss Luchessi, you are a blessing sent from the Great Seven above!!" Crowley cheers.
"I admit, this would actually be a good time for us to prove ourselves responsible in taking the reins of fundraising." Riddle steps up. "And in her Majesty's name, she would've loved to attend one of these 'Halloween parties'."
"Charlie, you had me at food and dancing!!" Kalim hops up and down.
"A ball...? And the chance to show these potatoes just how elegant in the Queen's name Venetian costumes are taken? Intriguing...." Vil mused.
"And a chance for the Mostro lounge to snag a few more dollars for business...." Azul smirks.
"I-I don't really see a difference...this is just like Cosplay....b-but, I'll admit...I'd be down for a good horror game or two!" Idia mumbled.
"See? Everyone's on board with the hw ideas!" Charlie smiled victoriously.
"Hmm...this would also be a good chance for publicity...ahem! I-I mean, a chance for the cultures of two different worlds to grow!" Crowley smiled.
"I glad you think so, Sir. But I can't do this alone. I'll need all the help I can get to make both the food faire and the ball a success!"
"We shall help you Charlotte." Riddle pats her shoulder. "You have done a lot for us, now it's time for us to help you."
"So: All in favor of the food faire fundraiser and Hallow's eve ball, day 'aye'."
"Aye."
"AYE!!"
"Aye."
"A-Aye..."
"Aye~."
"And those opposed?" Everyone glares at Leona who was silent through the whole thing. He didn't look any of them in the eye, but could feel a glare burning his head straight through from someone quite obvious wasn't taking 'no' for an answer.
"Tch, aye...."
"Then it's settled! We shall set up the venue for the food faire this week!" Crowley put in stone.
"Perfect! Now, I've a few plans in mind!" Charlie gathered the leaders around her as she prepared to lay out the plan.
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The next 3-4 days were filled with announcing the event, getting volunteers, setting up the plan layout, sign ups on food and entertainment stalls, the works.
Charlie agreed to the suggestion, under Crowley, to open the food faire to the public as well (more publicity and whatnot) for higher chances at meeting the quotas.
The Faire will last for three days, and with enough time to set up for the Ball. All the clubs had agreed to helping out with setting up the venue during the day of the fair as payment for their funds.
Finally the day before the faire was to open, flyers were printed and sent out all around to gain the public eye and a huge crowd of hungry people with loads of Madols in their pockets.
The day of the faire, Charlie got up early and got ready as fast as possible. Dressing in her casual clothing, she took Grim with her and started for the main buildings. The crisp morning air stung her face, but she didn't mind. She was feeling energized already.
"Fgnna...this better be worth waking up at 7am..." Grim yawned.
"Don't worry, lil guy. It will be." She chuckles. She takes one of the venue maps and opens it to reveal the school map layout and where certain things will be held.
The ticket booth was past the main gate, for people and students to buy their food and entertainment tickets, as well as students passing out the maps of the school and the booths set up. The day before, while tickets were being printed, Charlie was given a few 'extras' courtesy of Azul. She insisted to pay him back, but all he told was for her to start singing on the weekends during her shift at the lounge.
She kept her extra tickets hidden, and kept ahold of the main ones she bought for her and Grim to split. She wasn't risking the menace to steal her own tickets for his personal use.
She checked the map one last time and silently read off all the names of the booths and what their food or activity was.
Night Raven's Food Faire
🍙 Food 🍿
Basketball Club - Ice Cream floats $2.00
Board Game Club - Chessboard Cupcakes $2.50
Diasomnia - (3) Rice Balls with Onigiri and Blood Red Punch $4.75/$2.25
Heartslabyul - Strawberry Parfaits $2.75
Mostro Lounge - Sea Food hors d'oeuvres $3.75
Mountain Appreciation Club - Mushroom Risotto w/ crackers $3.25
Movie Appreciation Club - Hand Pressed Smoothies and drinks $4.00
Savanaclaw - (2) Churros $1.25
Scarabia - (3) Pork Buns and Iced Tea $2.75/$1.50
🎟 Entertainment 🎮
Horseback Riding Club - Horse Rides $3.50
Ignihyde - Virtual Horror Reality Simulator $4.50
Light Music Club - Guitar Hero $4.00
Magift - Arm Wrestling $3.75
Octavinelle - Jellyfish bungee shot ride $4.25
Pomefiore - Haunted House $5.00
Science Club - Archery and Alchemy 101 $3.50
The Mystery Shop - Card fortune telling $3.00
Track and Field - DDR $2.75
There were a lot more booths that had other food and entertainment than I could list, but the gates were about to open and it was time for business to begin!
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Grim scarfed down his churro with ravenous glee as I nibbled on a pork bun while we walked. We went to go check out the booths and see how business was blooming so far from the past two hours of opening, after enduring about a half hour talk with Crowley, but we're not getting into details on THAT.
So far, the basketball club's ice cream floats were a success (despite the fact Ace tried to take a swig of every kind of soda and ice cream available which was not only gross and unsanitary, but also gross and unsanitary).
Kalim snuck me an extra pork bun when I visited Scarabia's booth for food since Grim snatched one from my loot when I wasn't looking. But with an extra bun and a small kiss on the cheek, he smiled and went back to checking on the food. Thank God he didn't notice the small blush my face as I left in a hurry.
When I passed by the Haunted House Pomefiore was running, I didn't even need to look at the line to know how popular it was. It's stretched from the Gateway entrance right to The front of Night Raven.
Grim had demanded Churros once we got passed the terrified shrieks and a few students coming out the exit, looking like they had all their blood sucked out their bodies. I just nodded and we ran, even if the stand was on the other side of the venue. Once we got to the Churro stand, Ruggie supplied us with the last ones available before they started on baking new ones.
"Charlie!!!" She turned around to see a familiar bluenette running up to her and she smiled.
"Deuce!"
"Man, this idea you had was amazing! I've never seen this many people in my life for an event!" He smiled back. "What would we do without you?" The girl snickered and shrugged on embarrassment.
"Want some company?"
"You sure you wanna stay with me? What about the booth that Track and field are running?"
"Ah, they've got it covered. I've been taking tickets for people to try the DDR machine since we opened. Jack told me I deserved a break. So, I figured why not find you and hang out?"
"Aww, thanks. To be honest, I could use some of the company. Grim was the only one I've been listening to yap all day." She started walking while she nibbles her last pork bun.
"Hey!!" Grim was offended.
"Thanks. I appreciate it." Deuce walked alongside her. "I can't believe THIS was what you were planning in a single day! And it got so many people on board! You're a miracle worker."
"W-Well, I wouldn't exactly say that..." she trailed off with a nervous blush. "I just want to help out in what ever way possible and have my voice heard."
"Then I wish I had your state of mind when it comes to being helpful..."
"But you do." She made him face her. "You're becoming a better you than the you before this one. You're bettering yourself. And that's a good thing. Sure, you've got some fallout and flaws, but you're still someone who does their best no matter the obstacles. And that is someone you should keep striving for. You understand?"
Deuce looked at her with amazement. He kept asking himself where did she get all of this new found knowledge? Did she go through the same thing he did back in her world? Was is something that made her make a complete turn? Whatever the reason, he knows that she and him carry the same thing life threw at them: change that was for better or worse.
"Y-Yea...I do..." he smiled shyly as she giggled.
"You look cute when you look nervous~!"
"Wha-what?! No I don't!!"
"Nah, you look like a schoolboy who just confessed to a childhood friend!" She ruffled his hair as a response.
"Hey!!!" He smoothed out his hair only to see her snickering.
"Sorry, I had to." She smiled. "Oh, hey! We're right by the Track and Field booth! DIBS ON DDR!!!" She took off, Deuce just standing there, eyes following her.
'Wow....she can be serious when needed and lively when she knows to be....she's crazy....but a good kind.' He thought with a smile and walks after her.
Charlie gave her tickets, despite Grim's protest as he watched from the sidelines, to try out the DRR dance machine and flipped through the song list after choosing her avatar. Then, she found it.
"No way!!! This was one of my favorites!!" She squealed as soon as she saw the title. Immediately she slammed the green button, locking in her song choice, and picking the expert level.
The machine loaded up to go, and the music kicked in as she turned back to Deuce and motioned for him to join her, but he shook his head.
"Your loss!"
Charlie followed the arrows with precision and focus. The number she scored kept getting higher and higher, earning extra points for hitting the star marks. Her dancing had caught eyes that passed by her.
Deuce was amazed. He knew she was capable of dancing after what went down with the VDC, but this....was another thing!
"Ey, Deuce! You seeing this?!" Ace shouted over the cheers.
"Y-Yea! It's cool!" He shouts back.
"Go, Charlie-Chan!! You're a star!!!" Cater fangirled beside him, his phone out and filming her.
Deuce rolled his eyes, and cheered on his best friend as the music kept going.
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I got back to the Ramshackle Dorm once the day was over. I was tired after going around and making sure things went smoothly. And all I wanted was to grab a nap in.
But when I opened the door,
"Ah, Milady! She's here!" Rook grabbed my hand and dragged me into the lounge to see Vil, Epel surrounded by several tape measures and pins, needles and scissors with several charts and sketch pads with pencils littering the floor.
"Okay, what's going on?! And how did you get in here?!" Grim demands, being pushed elsewhere.
"It's simple. We picked the lock." Vil ushered me towards a small stand. "And I'm here to help you with your clothes! You can't go looking like you just got something at the last minute! Now hold still, and let me measure you." He snatched a measuring tape and started on my torso.
"Wait, what?! First off, I didn't agree to this! And second, You can't just sneak into my own home and demand that you make me a dress!!" I rebuttaled.
"Non, milady. I wouldn't doubt him if I were you. Roi des Poisson is a mastermind of these things." Rook backed him up.
"Plus, he did say he wants to try and use you as a Model for one of his projects. Getting a better range when it comes to fashion..." Epel puts in from his place at the chair.
"They're right. Plus, I'm doing you a favor. It's not every day you get my eye of clothing, and for something extravagant no less." Vil moved to my waist and hips, muttered something under his breath and scribbled down on a measuring chart the measurements he found. "Unless you don't want my help, then we can just leave and pretend that all this never happened...."
"N-no, it's not that I don't want it, this was just unexpected! W-Were you planning this from the beginning!?" I asked nervously.
"For a few times, more or less." He answered. "Now stay still, you can trust me, can you?"
I stayed silent as an answer and let him do his work. Don't get me wrong: I was used to being measured when it came to clothes, especially costumes for the theatre department back at high school. I might as well just suck it up and wait until this is all over.
"S-So, Charlie. You've any idea what you've wanted to go as for the ball?" Epel asked me to try and ease the tension in the room.
"Well... I did have one idea. But I don't think you'd want to hear it...." I shrug.
"Milady, why doubt yourself? You trust us, non?" Rook asked as he stood beside the first year.
I rack my brain for an answer, but there was only one: I did trust them. Not to the same level as the others, but enough to the point where any problems that came to mind were solved in a minute. So...I guess there's harm in that.
"Well...okay." I gave in. "There's an old fairytale back in my world, and it was one of my favorites since I was a child. The story's about a princess, Odette, who was cursed to be a swan by a wicked sorcerer named Rothbart. He captured the princess because he wanted her kingdom to become his. And only a vow of love by the prince, Derek, who loves her can break that spell. But should he declare his love for another girl, she would die as a result. But in the end, Rothbart was killed by Derek and Odette returned to normal and they were together."
"Ah, tres bien! Such a marvelous tale!" Rook swooned dramatically.
"That's a very nice story..," Epel hummed. "But...was she a swan throughout the entire story?"
"No! Rothbart told her that the spell when it was first casted was temporary. She could retain certain forms during the time of day. When Night fell, with a full moon, she would become human. But when the sun rises, she would go back to being a swan. That was the only drawback of his curse. Once the vow of love was made, depending on the outcomes, she would be back to normal, or stay a swan until her last breath."
"Wow....those kinds of curses are horrible...." Epel muttered.
"Oh? And you think being a swan isn't that bad?" Vil perked around to eye the younger boy, measuring from Charlie's hip to the floor.
"I-I never said that!" Epel corrected himself. "What I mean is, to suffer such a fate is horrible! I couldn't imagine something like that would happen to anyone...."
"Yes...well, be thankful I wasn't planning anything of the sort." Vil finished as he marked down the last measurements.
"And....finished." He started gathering his things. "I've gathered the last of your measurements and now I will start with the process of dress making."
"Okay." I nodded and stretched my arms.
"I'll need you to be over every day after the event so we can discuss more of your costume, my dear. Is that a problem?"
"Not...that I'm aware of..."
"Good. Until then." He nods as good bye and left with the two with a flourish.
"Yes. Uh, bye...." I waved as the door shut behind them.
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"Everyone! I need your attention!" Vil calls out, gaining everyone's eyes in the lounge as soon he entered. "As you are all well aware, the plan to make the finest gown ever is commenced! I've the design of a project and the measurements with me here. This process will take extreme dedication! And I need all hands on deck! NOW!!!" Everyone scurried towards their rooms to gather their sewing materials for the project.
"Uh, Vil, are you sure getting anyone involved is necessary? This is Charlotte we're talking about. If she finds out what measures you took to get her costume ready, she'll throw a fit, and demand to pay you back." Epel chewed his nails.
"I know what I'm doing. She'll never find out. While she's busy with the faire, I'll be behind the scenes doing my magic. It'll work itself out, I know so." Vil said, his head leveled. He scowled at the first year, slapping his hands away from his mouth. "And stop that! You'll ruin your nails that way!"
Vil strode you the sewing rooms to wait for the several students gathered to begin. This will be a long time, but he's willing to make them worth it.
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On day 2, the Haunted house had less than the crowd it gathered on its first day, mainly because people kept trying to sneak onto the ride without having to pay their ticket fine, and got kicked out as a result. Served them right.
But on the bright side, Ignihyde's VR got a lot more people attracted since a few of the dormies created a rollercoaster simulation that drew more people into the immersive experience.
Charlie drank her smoothie as she watched a few small kids squeal and gurgle on the horses that were being trotted around in a circle.
"Look out!!!" Someone screamed. The next thing she knew, Charlie was tackled to the ground just as a loose arrow zoomed right past the space where her head was before.
She groaned in pain, after the small fall at the concrete. She used her hands to lean up, and checked herself to make sure she was okay.
"Charlie!! That arrow nearly took you out! I had to save you either way, I'm sorry! I saw it go flying from the Science club's booth and I had to stop it!" She looked over to see Epel on his knees, bowing over and over, his uniform splotched with smoothie.
"E-Epel! It's okay, really! You just wanted to save me, it's okay. Thank you." She waved off. "But you got a little, uh...." she motioned to his jacket.
He looked down at his uniform to see dark pink liquid. "Oh no! My clothes! Ugh, Vil's gonna kill me!!" He started worrying.
"I can help you. It's the least I can do to say thanks for saving me." Charlie offered with a Smile.
"Really...? You sure about that?" The first year asked.
"Mhm! C'mon, let's get to the Bathrooms. Or else that stuff won't be so easy to get out." She hauled him to his feet and latthing onto his hand, she started walking towards the nearest restroom, not seeing the first year's face as scarlet as an apple.
After washing off any dirt as grime gathered, Charlie took a small cleaning cloth she bought from the Mystery Shop from her bag, soaked the corner in water, and started dabbing at his uniform. The pink liquid started disappearing as soon as the water touched it. Before long, Epel's uniform was splotch free!
"Whoa...thank you!!! I mean it!!" He glomped her into a tight hug, with a cheery smile.
"No problem." She laughed at his enthusiasm. "You wanna walk around with me for a bit? I could use the company."
"You sure? What about Grim?"
"Oh yea, Deuce agreed to watch him for me for the next two days until the faire was over. He said I could use some space."
"Oh. That's nice of him." Epel nods as the two walked off.
"So, how's the armwrestling booth doing so far?" She asked.
"Well, not much. It's mostly students who wanted to try it and they ended up losing a majority of the times. They wasted all their tickets just to beat Leona or Ruggie, and they got so mad they nearly started a fight."
"Typical behavior." Charlie shrugs after listening. A small silence followed after.
"Hey, may I ask you something?" The boy asked.
"Sure, go ahead." She nods.
"I thought about the story you told behind your costume, and... for some odd reason I think that you and the princess, Odette, are the same: you're both trapped under a curse somewhere else and the only way out is to find love."
"You think so?"
"Well, it's just a thought of mine..."
Charlie let his words sink into her mind and she wasn't gonna lie, she did see a few similar ties to her and Odette in the story. But while the Swan Queen wanted to find romantic love, the Seer wished for familial love. Or maybe more....
"You're actually right." She nods. Epel looks up at her in confusion. "Both she and I are a part of a fairytale unlike anything. And sometimes they say... 'dreams can reflect upon reality'. So, you may be onto something there."
"So, you wish to find love?" He asked curiously.
"Something like that." She nods. "But who knows what fate has in store." After her shrug, she looks up to see that they stopped by the Board Game club's booth, with a. Fresh set of cupcakes out and displayed for sale. "Ooh! Cupcakes! I'll get some for the two of us!" She ran off without a second thought.
Epel's bluebell eyes followed her figure in wonder. He thought about her words and started asking what it meant that she'd be okay with whatever love she wanted to find. 'Familial or romantic...she's torn between both....well, whatever she finds, I hope she'll be happy.' He thought in his mind, his eyes lighting up at her giggling figure.
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The two first years nibbled their cupcakes carefully as the sun started to go down. The last few morsels of food had been sold, booths were being closed and students were getting their things to go back to the dorms for the day.
"Thanks again for buying me these. You didn't have to!"
"No, it's also another something after what happened today with the arrow mishap." She assured.
"Ah, I see..." Epel chewed his cupcake carefully, mindful of getting crumbs on his uniform. "We should head over to Pomefiore. Vil needs you again for the Costume."
"Sure!" She popped the last morsel of cupcake into her mouth and walked to the Mirror Hall. With something lurking in her head.
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Sitting in the Pomefiore lounge with tea while talking about the costume was....in a word, eventful. That is, if you Count Charlie nearly trying to behead Rook when she first saw him with decorative swords on the wall as payback for tryna shoot her own head off, but he managed to explain that one of the students at the booth purposefully shot the arrow at her to scare her, but ended up getting reprimanded not only by Rook himself, but a very traumatizing beatdown at the hands of professor Crewel. Then it was all chill from there on out.
"So, any ideas of what you'd like this dress to be? You mentioned that Odette is the Swan Queen, so I was thinking something along the lines of what a swan has: grace, majesty, beauty." Vil thought aloud as he filed his nails.
"Well, yes. Swans are beautiful birds. But if I remember anything from the fairytale, Odette has a dress of feathers, specifically swan feathers. And a small tiara signifying her title." Charlie explains, racking her mind for memories of the story and ballet back in her world. "If the dress involves feathers, that'd be a nice touch. But I don't want to look like I'm drowning in them! I'd rather not be mistaken for a bird and get shot again by you-know-who...."
"Agh! Milady! You wound me with your poisonous dagger of words!" Rook fainted dramatically, lying his head on her lap as he feigned dying at her words. Charlie tried to hold back her laugh as she watched his over-dramatic gestures.
"Maybe...you could add a small cape? It'd also add to her regal air..." Epel inputs, swirling his tea in his own cup.
"Yea, that'd be nice." She nods.
"Well, this is a lot of ideas you've got floating in your brain, Charlotte-San..." Vil tapped his drawing pencil against the drawing pad. "But remember: we don't want you looking like you have too much."
"Says the one who flaunts all his shtick like he's king of the peacocks...." the girl snarks under her breath, gaining a snicker from the vice leader and the first year.
"If you don't mind-!" Vil grit his teeth, hiding the prominent blush at her remark, snapping the three's attention back to focus on the project. "Now, back to work at hand." He continued.
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After Charlotte left, Vil strode to the sewing room where several students were at work. He bursts in and made his way to the mannequin with Charlotte's measurements. All his work from the day before was laid out on the work table, for his eyes to see.
"Vil, you're smiling....and I don't like it..." Epel fidgets.
"That's because I've got it. I've the dress in my mind! Now out!! I can't have you see my work!" He shooed the first year away as Rook gathered the students already present. "Prepare the needles and thread! We've work to do!"
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Today was the final day of the faire. From a strawberry parfait to onigiri rice balls and punch, and a few hors d'oeuvres with an ice cream float, the food for the ramshackle prefect was satisfactory. And after nearly getting both Ace and Floyd stuck on The jellyfish bungee shot for over a half hour, the day ended with several rounds of Guitar Hero between Kalim and Lilia.
The venue itself was packed. About more that the last two days combined. And drew in a lot of money. And I mean....ALOT.
"Charlotte, we've just finished counting the final tallies of tickets earned and....well..." Riddle trailed off.
"Yea....?" I urged him, suddenly nervous. Did we not do as good as I had hoped?
"Each team raised over 5,000 tickets in snack and entertainment sales!!!" Kalim squealed.
"Yes, it's true." Azul's confirmed a she handed over the sales reports from the past three days. "Apparently, publicity had spread so wide, that's what caused sales to skyrocket these few days."
"No way....but how?!" I asked exasperated.
"Who cares?! All we know is that SPORTS AND CLUBS AREN'T CANCELLED!!! Thanks to you, Charlie!! You saved us!!!" Kalim threw himself at her into a tight hug and kissed her face over and over again, getting a few giggles out of the girl.
"Over 50,000 madol." Crowley nods as he looks over Azul's shoulder to see the total scribbled in the top right corner. He stares at Charlie from the corner of his eye, who had managed to push Kalim off her and tried getting herself together after a fit of laughter. "Maybe we should keep this in mind for the next year.....but as for the ball...."