Author's Note: I based Devon's Halloween costume on Vocaloid character Haku Yowane's Gothic Purple outfit, if any of you want a visual reference for it.
Grim beamed as he took another admiring look at the Halloween decorations set up in the Ramshackle lounge. "Alright! These decorations are perfect! And it's all thanks to my incredible leadership!"
Devon shared a look with Zephyr before playfully rolling her eyes. "Except for the whole part where you did absolutely nothing to make and/or set these up."
"That's not true!" Grim protested. "I made one of those lantern things. What did you guys call them again? Jack-o-lanterns or somethin'? I'll admit, I didn't really understand the point of turnin' food into a light at first, but now that I've made some of my own, I think it's actually kinda fun. I wouldn't be opposed to makin' more." He walked over and patted one of the pumpkins he carved. Well…'carved' might not be right word as it seemed he'd just cut a strange unidentifiable shape into the pumpkin. "Pretty good, if I do say so myself." He smirked over at Devon. "Looks just like you, don't ya think, Dev? Nyahahaha!"
"Spittin' image of me, Grim," Devon replied, playing along. "You really captured how much my head resembles a trapezoid. I have never felt so seen."
"Mornin', you two!" called the short Ramshackle ghost as he and the other two ghosts floated down through the ceiling.
Devon smiled. "Morning, tios!"
"So today's the first day of Halloween Week, hmm?" the short ghost asked. "Are you both excited?"
"Of course we are! I was actually just about to take my henchman for a walk to go see what the other dorms have put together!" Grim said. He turned and began walking toward the front door. "There's gonna be a lot to see, so if you'll excuse us, we really gotta dash-"
"Hold it!" the ghost shouted, startling Grim as they moved to block his path.
"Fgnya! Wh-What gives?!" Grim exclaimed.
"Heheheheheh," the short ghost chuckled with a mischievous smile, the other two joining in a moment later. "Heheheheh!"
"What're you smilin' at us like that for?" Grim asked uneasily.
"Yeah, every time you guys get those looks on your faces, it usually means there's a prank coming," Devon agreed.
"Okay, fair enough," the skinny ghost conceded. "But that's not what this is about."
"The truth is…we actually have a present for you two," the short ghost elaborated.
Grim exchanged a look with Devon before looking back at the ghosts. "Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"Heeheehee! See for yourself!" the chubby ghost said.
The three ghosts snapped their fingers in unison, causing Devon's clothes to change and something to appear on top of Grim's head. Devon looked over at Grim, unable to keep the fond smile off her face when she saw the adorable black witch's hat he was now wearing, a bluish-purple ribbon with black spiderwebs tied around the base along with a matching bow with a skull design in the center. His standard black and white striped ribbon had also been replaced with one that matched the ribbon on his hat. A clattering sound was heard as Regina moved a large standing mirror that Devon had found while cleaning one of the rooms but hadn't decided what to do with yet into the lounge so Grim could take a look at himself, the other Wisps coming out of hiding to take a look at the pair themselves.
"Oh… Ooh… OH MY GOSH!" Grim exclaimed as he marveled at his reflection. "I look incredible! This is the perfect costume for someone as amazing as me!" He turned to look eagerly at Devon. "What do you think, Dev? Pretty cool, right~?"
Devon couldn't help but giggle as she nodded in agreement. "Oh yeah. The coolest you've ever been, Grim!"
Grim beamed at the praise. "Myahahaha! Right? I figured you'd say that!" He took a look at Devon's costume. "You're lookin' pretty sharp yourself. Not as amazing as me, of course, but still pretty good."
Regina moved Devon closer to the mirror so she could see herself. She was now wearing a dress with black, purple, and blue tiers making up the skirt and a large black and purple bow just above her waist indicating where the skirt ended and the bodice top began. The bodice was primarily black with bluish-purple highlights and a black see-through material covered the areas of Devon's upper chest that her bodice didn't cover, extending as far as her neck and upper arms and stopping at a pair of long black opera gloves with gold cuffs and small red roses at each of her wrists. She also noticed a small rose at the center of the bow at her midsection and on the ankle straps of the black heels she was now wearing. She recognized both the heels and the dark stockings she had on as items she had purchased off-campus not long ago. She'd mentioned looking for an excuse to wear them at some point, but couldn't think of one off-hand at the time.
The biggest surprise, though, was the change to her hair. She was wearing a pointed witch's hat that matched the one Grim was wearing, but her hair had changed from its usual sky blue to a much darker royal blue that matched with her costume much better.
"I… This is… This is amazing!" Devon exclaimed as she bounced excitedly. "Did you use magic to dye my hair again?"
"Your costume was actually a joint effort between the three of us ghosts and the Wisps," the skinny ghost explained. "That Illusion Wisp, the one you named Mirage, enchanted your hat so that your hair color would change to match your costume whenever you put it on."
Devon looked back at the mirror again and carefully took the hat off. Sure enough, her hair was back to light blue as soon as the hat left her head. She put the hat back on and her hair changed back to the darker blue. Mirage explained that they could lift the illusion at any time if Devon didn't like it, but she was quick to shut that down, eager to try something new. Regina also pointed out that they had enchanted the fabric of Devon's dress to insulate it and help her stay warm. It was starting to get colder outside, after all, and they didn't want their human charge catching a cold.
"I don't even know what to say," Devon said softly. "This is incredible!"
"Heeheehee!" the chubby ghost laughed. "I'd say they're fitting costumes for a couple of great future mages!"
"Your friends told us that Ramshackle was the only dorm that hadn't prepared any costumes," the skinny ghost explained. "We knew how busy you've both been with the headmaster running you ragged to help get everything ready, but we just couldn't let that stand."
"Wait, wait," Grim interjected. "What do you mean by "our friends"?"
"Y'know, those two kids from Heartslabyul that are over here all the time," the short ghost explained. "One of 'em's got a heart on his face and the other one's got a spade?"
"You mean Ace and Deuce told you?!" Grim exclaimed.
"Right, those two!" the short ghost confirmed with a nod. "Halloween's supposed to be a fun time for everyone! It just wouldn't do for us to be the only dorm not to have anyone in costume. Besides, the two of you have brightened up this place so much since you moved in, we couldn't help but want to put smiles on your faces too!"
"We made your costumes out of curtains and other fabric scraps the Wisps were able to find for us," the chubby ghost added. He smiled as the Ramshackle staff flew directly to Devon, courtesy of Flapjack, before shrinking and sliding itself into a pocket she hadn't noticed.
Devon gasped happily. "And you even gave me pockets?!"
"What's the final verdict, you two? Do you like them?" the skinny ghost asked with a hint of nervousness.
"I love them!" Devon squealed as she pulled the ghosts into a hug. "These costumes are wonderful! I can't thank you guys enough." She smiled at the Wisps and patted the pocket holding her staff (and Flapjack) gently. "All of you."
"Well, I think this is just about the coolest thing I've ever worn!" Grim agreed.
"Heeheehee! Well, that's all we can ask for," the chubby ghost replied. "I'd say you two are all set now, so get out there and enjoy Halloween!"
"We'll be heading out to wander the campus in a bit ourselves," the short ghost added.
"Alright! It's time to head out for real this time, Dev!" Grim cheered as he began marching toward the front door. "Follow me! It's time to see what Night Raven College's Halloween is all about! Lalala~!"
Devon laughed before pulling her staff out of her pocket. "Alright. Last call for any Wisps wanting to check out the stamp rally stuff!"
Several of the Wisps immediately flew into the staff as Regina moved Devon and Grim out the front door and onto the front step. Devon smiled gently as she caught sight of the pumpkins sitting by the door. It was the pair she had carved with Horns not long ago; he had carved a spinning wheel into his while she had chosen a key for her pumpkin. Horns had explained to her that spinning wheels were a traditional symbol in Briar Valley, but Devon couldn't quite figure out what had compelled her to choose a key. She'd noticed that she'd been gravitating toward them lately, doodling them absentmindedly during lulls in her day and sketching some rather elaborate ones for no apparent reason. She'd opted to place them by the front door once they'd finished so that the guests from off-campus didn't run the risk of accidentally damaging them while still being prominently displayed for the Diasomnia students working on the stamp rally venue.
"Nyaha!" Grim shouted, pulling Devon from her thoughts. He pointed a paw toward the base of the hill where a small crowd was beginning to form. "Look, Dev, look! People are already startin' to show up!"
"Are you serious?! We've only just opened, like, not even a minute ago!" Devon exclaimed. "I guess Night Raven's Halloween really is a big deal."
The pair made their way down the steps, encountering Sebek and Silver manning the stamp station. Well…Sebek was manning the station, at least; Silver seemed to have fallen asleep. They could see the frustration on Sebek's face, but he was too busy stamping cards to do anything about his snoozing companion at the moment.
"HUMAN!" Sebek bellowed upon hearing Devon and Grim approach him, startling Silver awake in the process.
"SEBEK!" Devon bellowed back. She'd been annoyed the first few times Sebek had opted to address her that way, but now seeing who could greet each other the loudest was like their favorite unspoken game. Granted, Sebek usually won unless he happened to catch Devon when she was angry, but they had fun with it regardless (even if Sebek would sooner pull out all his teeth than admit it). "I take it you and Grim are going to do some reconnaissance on the other dorms' venues. See to it that you report back with-"
Sebek's words died in his throat when he turned to face Devon, his ears turning red as he stammered and struggled to say something.
"You okay there, bud?" Devon asked with an amused smirk on her face.
Sebek cleared his throat loudly as his voice returned. "I-I'm fine. I just wasn't expecting to see you wearing something like…" He gestured toward her costume. "that."
Catching the confused (and borderline offended) look on Devon's face, Silver chose that moment to interject. "By which he means that he wasn't expecting you or Grim to be in costume. You both look great, by the way."
"There's no need for you to speak for me, Silver!" Sebek argued. "…But, yes, that is what I meant."
"Nyahaha!" Grim cackled. "I do look pretty amazing, if I do say so myself!"
"The Wisps and the Ramshackle ghosts really outdid themselves," Devon agreed. "Going back to what Sebek was saying, though, I wouldn't go so far as to call in 'reconnaissance', but we are planning to go around and see what the other dorms have put together."
"Good, good," Sebek replied with a nod. "Lord Malleus and Master Lilia had a number of positive things to say about the efforts of the other dorms, though I highly doubt any of them will truly measure up to Lord Malleus's vision."
Sebek gestured grandly at the Ramshackle garden. The large red serpentine dragon looked even more imposing than it had the first time they'd set it up and the lotus flowers and red cloud-like decorations looked incredible as well. The real draw for Devon, though, was the string of lanterns floating above the garden. She knew she was ignorant to a good deal about how magic actually worked, but from what she'd learned in class, she knew that it took a substantial amount of magic to keep those lanterns both floating and lit. It was truly a testament to the Diasomnia students' talent for magic and she couldn't help but find the glow calming. Between the decorations and costumes that the students working the stamp rally were wearing, it really was incredible to see all that work come together.
"Well, they'll definitely have a tough act to follow," Devon agreed. "Malleus and Lilia have certainly set a high bar." She glanced over at Silver, lowering her voice so the other Diasomnia students couldn't hear her. "Speaking of your dad, I need to talk to him about something."
Sebek and Silver exchanged a shocked look before Silver spoke up. "H-How did you…?"
"Dude, do you have any idea how many times you've nearly called him 'father' before backtracking?" Devon asked. "It really wasn't that hard to put it together. I'm not gonna ask what the circumstances were that led to you both coming to school here at the same time, but I figured it has something to do with your guard duties, right?"
"I… Yeah, more or less," Silver replied. "Nobody else knows Lilia is the man who raised me, though, so I'd appreciate it if you kept that to yourself."
Devon nodded. "Oh, for sure! I'm not about goin' around, spillin' people's secrets. But I do need to talk to him about something and I don't have his number."
"Gotcha. I'm sure we'll see him at some point. If we do, I'll let him know you're looking for him," Silver promised.
"Thanks, man. I appreciate it," Devon replied with a smile. "Now, if you'll excuse us, Grim and I have some venues to see…and judge."
She turned and waved goodbye to Regina as she always did. The window shutters and roof shingles moved as a sort of 'wave' in response, causing the small crowd gathered for the stamp rally to gasp in surprise.
"Did… Did that building just come to life?" one guest asked.
"I've heard that ghosts live there. Do you think they caused that?" asked another.
"I'm not sure, but it happened after that girl in the witch costume waved at it," a third replied as the group stepped toward Devon and Grim. "Excuse me, miss. How were you able to get the building to respond to you?"
"Is it haunted? Do you live there?"
"That green ball at your shoulder… Is that a Wisp?"
"Easy there, guys," Devon replied. "To answer your questions: Yes, Grim and I live here, along with a few ghosts and a colony of Wisps, one of whom has enchanted the dorm and brought it to life." She noticed that one of the guests looked like they were about to reach to try and touch Zephyr. She also picked up on Zephyr's irritated pulse. "Zephyr here is another one of the Wisps in the colony and really doesn't like to be touched." Zephyr crackled with energy at the statement, causing the guest to lower their hand.
The second guest began waving at Ramshackle, but got no response. "How come it's not waving back to me?"
"That's not really a surprise," Silver chimed in. "Regina doesn't usually respond to anyone besides Devon. She's the only one who can actually communicate with them."
"Speaking of," the first guest began, "I mean no offense, but I thought Night Raven College was an all-boy school." They turned their attention to Devon. "How did you come to be enrolled here, ah, Devon, was it?"
"That's…a little complicated," Devon replied. "I guess you could say I'm something of an exchange student." 'Despite the fact that there was no exchange whatsoever…'
"Ah, I see. I guess that makes sense," the guest replied.
A woman shyly approached the group as well. "Umm… Do you think the Wisp bringing the dorm to life would mind making the shutters move again? I'd really love to get a video."
Devon smiled before calling back toward the dorm. "What do you think, Regina? You wanna make these peoples' day?"
No sooner had the words left Devon's mouth did the shutters and shingles begin to move again, the front door opening and closing as well. All the nearby guests immediately pulled out their phones to start recording, a few applauding and cheering which, in turn, drew in an even bigger crowd. Devon smiled at the sight, glad to see that other people though Regina was just as incredible as she did.
"Oi!" Grim called out as he pawed at Devon's leg. "We gotta get goin', Dev! The crowds are only gonna get bigger, ya know."
"Yeah, you've got a point," Devon agreed. "If I remember right, Heartslabyul is set up in the botanical garden. Do you wanna head over there? It's the closest place to us."
"Sounds good! Now let's go already!" Grim cheered.
"Cater's sense of aesthetic never fails to disappoint," Devon commented as she and Grim reached Heartslabyul's stamp rally station. The gravestones everyone had worked together to make were placed throughout the area; it seemed at first glance that they were placed randomly, but Devon eventually noticed a pattern in the spacing and couldn't help but giggle. 'Of course. There's no way Riddle would've been okay with just random placement.'
"Well, helllloooo there, cutie~! I hope you're enjoying yourself at-" Cater stopped short when Devon and Grim turned to face him. "Dev-Dev?! Grimmy?! Oh man, I didn't recognize you at all in those costumes! You both look so cute~!"
"Wha?! No, you're supposed to say I look cool!" Grim whined.
Devon took a moment to take a look at Cater's costume while the redhead bantered with Grim. Deuce had told her that Heartslabyul had decided on skeleton costumes, but had insisted on keeping the details a surprise. She couldn't deny that she'd been a little worried that the costumes would turn out tacky, but instead of the traditional skeleton costumes she'd been imagining, Heartslabyul had gone with a very classy black outfit with white ribbons laced across the chest to resemble a ribcage. They'd also included a black top hat with a long dark veil as well. It was hard to get a good look at Cater's face from behind his veil, but Devon could see that he was sporting some heavy dark eyeshadow as well.
"And Dev-Dev!" Cater exclaimed as he turned his attention to her. "You look even more precious than usual! I could just eat you up!" He pulled her into a hug, catching sight of her curls in the process. "Did you re-dye your hair or something? You should've told me! I totally would've come over to help."
Devon laughed. "It's actually an illusion spell, believe it or not." She took off her hat and her hair reverted back to its light blue color. "Mirage cast it on my hat."
"Well, it looks great! The light blue's adorable too, but you might wanna think about keeping this color," Cater told her.
"Devon! Grim!" Deuce called as he rushed over to them, the heeled boots of his costume clacking against the paved walkway. "You guys made it!" He gestured around at the venue, looking at them eagerly. "What do you think?"
"I think you all did an incredible job!" Devon replied as she put her hat back on. "I wasn't sure what to expect at first since y'all wouldn't tell me anything, but I'd say you struck a perfect balance of spooky and fun."
"Thanks!" Deuce exclaimed, beaming at the praise.
"Yeah, this doesn't look half-bad, considering you and Ace were on the job," Grim commented, earning a dirty look from his navy-haired friend.
"C'mon, Grim, don't be like that," Devon chided. "We really should be thanking him, y'know. He and Ace are the reason we have our costumes, after all."
"I appreciate that, but I'd say Ace deserves the credit there," Deuce told her. "He was the one who actually mentioned it to the ghosts; I was just there when he did." He stepped back to get a better look at Devon's costume. "You really do look amazing, though. It's too bad Ace isn't here to see you."
"He's not?" Devon asked, deflating slightly.
"He's got a basketball tournament coming up, so he headed to practice early to try and earn some brownie points with the coach and hopefully get himself a spot on the roster," Deuce replied. "I'm sure you'll run into him at some point, though."
Mmhmm~!" Cater hummed with amusement. "I think he's gonna like that costume the most, Dev-Dev…" He leaned closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear him. "And I'm sure Jamil will too."
Devon felt her face get warm and let out a 'nnyeeeh' sound before she could stop herself, gently pushing Cater away before covering her cheeks with her hands. Before Deuce and Grim could ask what was going on, they heard a young girl's voice behind them.
"Wow! Look at all the Halloween stuff, Daddy!"
The group turned to see the girl walking through the garden with her father, looking around eagerly as she tried to take everything in. Her father watched her fondly, making sure to keep a grip on her hand so they didn't get separated in the crowd. Memories of her own father giving her a similar expression flooded Devon's mind unbidden and she had to pinch herself discreetly to stop her homesickness from rearing its head again.
'Not now. This isn't the time or the place,' Devon admonished herself.
"Pretty impressive, isn't it?" the girl's father agreed. He caught sight of the group and nodded toward them. "And look over there, sweetie. Those ghosts sure look like they're having fun!"
Cater smiled, immediately getting into character and striking a pose. "Boo! I'm a spooky, scary skeleton!"
"B-Boo…!" Deuce said uncertainly, trying his best to imitate Cater's pose. He laughed nervously. "Please tell me that was at least a little scary…"
"Ahahaha! Nope, not scary at all!" the girl giggled.
"It's kind of adorable how stiff you are, Deucey," Cater commented.
"I can't help it," Deuce replied defensively. "I have no idea how to act around kids. Like, how scary is too scary? I don't wanna overdo it, y'know?"
"You're thinking way too hard about this. You just gotta relax and have fun with it!" Cater advised before turning back to the little girl. "Come to celebrate Halloween with your dad, kiddo?"
The girl nodded eagerly. "Yeah!"
"She looks forward to NRC's Halloween celebration every year," the father explained. "Would it be alright if she gets a photo with you two?"
"Of course! We'd be happy to!" Deuce agreed.
"Thank you! This'll make for a great memory for her to look back on," the father said as he pulled out his phone.
Devon gently tapped the man on the shoulder. "Actually, I'd be happy to take the picture for you if you wanted to be in it with her."
"Oh, that would be great! Thank you so much!" the father replied, handing the phone over to Devon and joining his daughter.
"Okay…," Devon said as everyone got into position. "Squeeze in a little bit closer… Little more… Okay, perfect!" She held the phone ready. "You know the magic words!"
"Happy Halloween!" everyone shouted as Devon snapped the picture.
"Umm…," the little girl said shyly as Devon handed the phone back to her father. "Could I maybe…take a picture with you too, Ms. Witch Lady? Your costume's so pretty and your kitty cat is so cute!"
"Hey! I'm not a cat!" Grim protested.
"C'mon, Grim, she didn't mean any harm," Devon said, scooping him up and mussing the fur on his ears before looking back at the girl. "I know he looks like a cat, but Grim's actually a monster." She smiled as Grim hopped onto her shoulder. "We'd be happy to take a picture with you."
"Yay!" the little girl cheered. Her father snapped the picture as she posed with Devon and Grim, and she wrapped her arms around Devon in a quick hug. "Thanks, Ms. Witch Lady!"
"You're welcome, sweetie," Devon replied with a smile.
The girl bounced back to her father excitedly, waving goodbye to the group as they walked off to explore the rest of the campus. That pesky homesick feeling began to bubble up again as Devon watched them. She couldn't help but wonder what it would've been like if she could've gone to an event like this in her world…or if they could somehow come to see this one. Her brothers would've loved it, as would her father and uncles. Her mother…was a little tougher to call. Devon figured she would have definitely appreciated the creativity showcased in the displays and costumes, but would likely be a bit concerned about all the magic usage; more specifically, the toll it might be taking on the students. She could just picture her mother asking after each of her friends and coming prepared with snacks and drinks to keep their energy up.
"…ev? Devon?" came Grim's voice.
Devon blinked as she refocused. "Hmm? Sorry Grim, I didn't catch that.
Grim rolled his eyes. "You can't go spacin' out on me like that, henchman. I asked which venue we should hit up next."
"I think Octavinelle's set up in the lab," Devon recalled. "That's the closest place to us."
"Alright then! Onward!" Grim exclaimed.
The pair waved goodbye to Cater and Deuce before heading off toward the lab. Deuce couldn't keep the concerned look off his face as he watched them go, something Cater was quick to pick up on.
"Worried about Dev-Dev, Deucey?" he asked.
Deuce blinked in surprise. "You can tell?"
"You really oughta give me more credit," Cater replied with a small smile. "You've been watching Devon for a while now, haven't you?"
"Sounds like you have too," Deuce countered. "Something's off… Something's been off with her for a while now, actually, but I couldn't quite tell what. Seeing the way she was watching that little girl and her dad made me realize something, though: I can't remember the last time I heard her talk about her family."
"Why're you actin' so weird all of a sudden?" Grim asked as he watched Devon cautiously peek into the lab.
"Because I'd really rather not get cornered by Azul or those twins," Devon said, stepping inside once she realized the coast was clear. "I know Floyd's on the basketball team with Ace, so he's probably at practice and Jade's supposed to be working at the front gate of the school, but Azul might still be lurkin' around somewhere…"
She had to hand it to them, though; Azul and Jade had put together a perfectly creepy mad scientist lab for their dorm's venue. A large metal operating table was front and center, covered with some sort of bright green liquid and surrounded by what looked like storage containers for other chemicals. There was also a large glass observation tank filled with a blue liquid near the back of the room and Devon couldn't help but wonder if they planned on putting something in it at some point. Given that they'd chosen to set up shop in the chemical storage room, there were plenty of bottles and vials to add to the creepy factor.
The real draw had to be the costumes, though. Octavinelle had gone with mummies as their costumes but, much like Heartslabyul, they had forgone the typical 'wrapped up in bandages' look and opted for something more modern. The Octavinelle students working the stamp rally wore black shirts and pants underneath a white coat made with strips of fabrics dangling down to resemble bandages. They also sported hats with the tops wrapped in white fabric as well.
"I've gotta give 'em credit," Devon admitted. "I never thought I'd see a classy mummy costume, but here we are."
"Why, thank you! I'm so pleased to see that you're enjoying yourselves," said a voice from directly behind Devon and Grim, causing them to jump and Zephyr to instinctively summon a Wind Whip.
Devon whirled around to see Azul standing there with a smug smile on his face. She glanced at Zephyr, silently (and reluctantly) urging them to stand down. "Okay, I get that it's Halloween and all, but you're liable to give someone a heart attack if you keep sneakin' up on people."
"Ah, my apologies," Azul replied, though he didn't look the least bit sorry. "It wasn't my intention to startle you."
'Yeah, that's not what the smarmy look on your face says, bucko,' Devon thought.
"It's just that I happen to notice you and Grim looking around and I thought to come over to greet you," Azul continued. His eyes landed on Zephyr and his expression grew covetous. "It's bad form to leave such treasured visitors waiting, after all."
"Uh-huuuuh…," Devon drawled, unconvinced, as she tried to subtly back away from Azul.
"Actually, this is quite the fortuitous turn of events," Azul said, either not noticing or not caring that Devon putting space between them. "I've been meaning to speak to you about something. I'm sure you're aware that the end of the fall term is fast approaching, as are our final exams."
"We were aware of that, yes," Devon replied.
"I admit I find you intriguing, Devon and I've been watching you for quite some time now. I imagine it's all been quite challenging for you, trying to stay on top of subject matter completely unfamiliar to you," Azul said with a condescending look of pity.
"Well, if you've been watching as closely as you say, then surely you've seen my test scores," Devon countered. "I might not be at the top of my class, but I'm not in any danger of failing."
"Yes, of course, but there's always room for improvement, right?" Azul continued. "I'm only bringing this up because I'd like to help you, if you'd permit me."
Devon quirked a brow. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"
Azul's expression brightened. "Oh, I'm so glad you asked! I can offer you a study guide of my own creation to help you prepare for exams. Obviously, I have no way of knowing what the exact questions will be-and just giving someone the answers would be cheating, besides-but I've done quite a bit of research on the subject and I've noticed some trends and patterns with regards to the exams. I'd be more than happy to share my knowledge…for a small fee, of course." He smirked. "With your grades, Devon, I imagine you might be able to net a perfect score or two."
"Fgnya! You can do that?!" Grim exclaimed. "S-So, uh…do you think that study guide of yours could help someone who was maybe…not doin' so hot…in just about every class? And didn't wanna spend a lot of time studyin'?" He caught sight of Devon's glare. "N-N-Not that I'm askin' for myself or anything! Nope! Totally just askin' for a friend!"
Azul chuckled but it sounded more predatory than amused. "Well, it depends on how your, ah, "friend" chooses to use it, but I can guarantee it would net at least an 80 across all exams. Not enough to make them a top-scorer, but enough to prevent them from having to repeat a year."
"I see…," Grim replied. "And, ah, how would…my friend go about getting ahold of one of these study guides?"
The glint in Azul's eye instantly put Devon on alert, but he quickly covered it up with a close-eyed smile. "Why, all they'd have to do is stop by Mostro Lounge, the café that I manage in the Octavinelle dorm. Simply request a meeting with me and I'd be happy to work out an arrangement that is beneficial to both parties."
'This is bad. I can tell Grim's startin' to get sucked in and I don't like the way Azul keeps lookin' at Zephyr,' Devon thought. She looked around for a way out, wanting to put as much space between them and Azul before the bespectacled sophomore could put any more ideas into Grim's head. Unfortunately, the cramped room and the angle Azul was standing at meant it was impossible for her to move around him; she'd have to physically push him out of the way to get by. She was considering doing just that when a voice called out to her from behind Azul.
"Devon, Grim, the headmaster's looking for you both."
Ending Notes: Who just showed up to save Devon from Azul? Find out in the next chapter!
Devon has apparently learned nothing from the Overblots she's faced since she refuses to acknowledge that she's hurting. She and Grim will be finishing up their Halloween tour in the next chapter; hopefully seeing all the families won't be too much for her.
I got this really funny idea the other day about Jack and Devon both getting the zoomies when Devon and Grim stay at Savanaclaw during the Octavinelle arc. Like, it's the right at the crack of dawn and these two dingus' are out running and parkouring like:
Jack: Gotta RUN!
Devon: Gotta JUMP offa stuff!
Jack: Gotta GNAW ON A ROCK!
Devon: Gotta PUNCH THE SUN!
Ruggie: *still in bed and completely done with their B.S.* Guys please, it's 4AM.
Thank you all so much for reading! As always, feedback and constructive criticism are more than welcome. Geekinthepink, out!
