Then there comes Leona, mocking them all, especially Jamil - to which Jamil just huffs and tells him to hurry up.

(Like I said, happy delusions for NBC 🤭)

Like Leona and Jamil obviously have the spot of Jack and Sally during the first part of NBC.

How appropriate it would be for Jamil to be the responsible one, sighing at how these boys fell for such a stupid trap only to get trapped in kind by helping. Aka the boys did another mistake lol

I'm glad you liked the idea! Maybe one day it'll be finished... you know how it is, too many wips not enough time 😅

I adore how these three are the SSRs. The two first years who are always eager to fulfill their duties + have the normal knit family life. Then there's Ruggie, who cares for kids and is willing to do almost anything for the madol cause it equals a better life.

Swing is in trouble with this trio 😈🎁

I obviously was given Beauty & the Beast for the horror prompt, but didn't want to do the "love you/love me" and instead twist it to the horror of having to tell the full, unfiltered truth to your loved ones. With the rose acting like a virus instead of an hourglass.

rather significant scars left from where the roses burst through his skin.

In royal/governmental matters, that field should've long been destroyed after its ill usage against civilians and Falena was quick to issue the demand.

---

"Get out," Jamil glares at the professors. "Please."

They do, but warning the three that they're right outside the door.

Whatever is said for those few hours the professors don't know or won't ever tell.

All they cared about was that Leona was freed from the pollen effects. Just a handful of -

Still, some linger, and Jamil carefully takes Leona's phone from his bedside table and dials Falena's number.

"He won't abandon you, Leona. Even when you sometimes wish it."

Leona's hair covers his face, head tilted away from them all. The slight creak from a phone held too tight as answer.

is wrenched out of his back.

It's Ruggie who marches in front of Leona, grabs him by his shoulders, and barks to "just come out and say it!"

The professors can only look on as Leona whispers to both Ruggie and Jamil for a time. Whatever is said holds true for certain veins dried up and disappear.

really about love but honesty. The Beast of said story had to be truthful about himself before love even came about.

Jamil sits down on the bed with Leona and whispers he has to come forth with him and anybody else he sees as close.

Leona replies he's already done so and roars when another flower

It's a trifle of a detail when Leona screams as a flower bursts from his bicep even after kissing Jamil.

The professors are at a loss and Leona tells them off, growling that Jamil is it. He's not lying.

Jamil demands what the curse is based on. After a moment, Jamil quietly states the story isn't

agrees.

"Fuck off."

The professors don't budge, unimpressed with Leona's snarling. That's when Leona begrudgingly tells Ruggie to get Jamil.

They expected a confession, maybe some shouting, but become dumbfounded when they discover the two have been together for quite a while now.

Specifically, an old Shaftland curse made against beastfolk. (In which Crowley starts lecturing about the old land war between Shaftlands and Sunset Savana and everyone tells him to shut up).

Varga explains a love's kiss like the old story is the cure. Leona is about to tell him off until Crewel -

Until Ruggie barges into Leona's room like usual and finds Leona coughing up blood and what appears to be vines pushing out of his skin.

Ruggie shrieks at Jack to get any and all professors.

With Crewel's research, Sam's old treasures, and one lucky guess from Vargas, they find it's a curse.

Leona's hit with painful cramps. Sometimes, it's a dull pain. Other times, it leaves him reeling and having to catch himself before falling over. He thinks he's sick and the NRC nurses confirm it with his rising fever. Nothing bedrest and fluids can't fix.

It's annoying, but nothing to do about it.

The trio encounters a field of a type flower that's based on a Shaftland lore. Everything is going fine: Cater taking pics, Vil note-taking for film club, and Leona sneezing up a storm from all the pollen. Pretty uneventful for the norm that comes with the twst boys.

Then, after returning to NRC,

I say this cause you know Sunset Savana royalty had to conform somewhat to human relations. Yet humans still remark about their animal attributes.

It's why I giggle every time Leona says, "herbivores." Like technically beastfolk (plus merfolk) could eat humans and fae; it's just the food chain.

Can you imagine the Sunset Warriors seeing their new Commander and scoffing cause Leona's just a child. Then, during the monologue of accepting their new chief, this little lion cub just grabs a live bird from the air and *munch*.