II. New School Year (Part II)
A/N: The OCs of the ever-cooperative 'Nitro zeus' will be featured in this story! Really, thanks for the patience from all my questions, dude!
One is Ella Discord, daughter of Eris- Greek goddess of strife and discord. I just hope I did her justice.
The other is Shane Wukong, adoptive son of Sun Wukong- from Journey to the West.
(His dad's a very interesting character. Go look up 'Journey to the West' by Overly Sarcastic Productions in YouTube. So far, there's seven parts; all of which are HIGHLY entertaining. I highly suggest watching it because Sun Wukong is AWESOME. Well, that and OSP deserves more love.)
Yes, for those who've read this chapter before (insert date), I have edited it. All of it.
WARNING/S:
-Smoking. It's bad, kids; very harmful to your body, don't do it.
DISCLAIMER: Some lines are from the webisode itself. (Although, I did put some twist on it to 'make it my own'.)
Corvus is nowhere to be seen.
She glanced at where he should be sitting, worry rising up within her. It's just practice, sure, but if he's skipping practices, who's to say that he won't skip the actual event!? Legacy Day should be given the respect it deserves, even if it was just a practice session!
Apple told herself that it's fine. He promised to be her villain. He agreed to be her villain. He wouldn't flip the script.
However, no matter how much she tries to convince herself, now is a terrible moment for him to be absent!
Still, as more fairyteens swore to their roles, the feeling of panic and anxiety skyrocketed. Still no sign of Corvus. Not a hair, not a feather- nothing. Even as she stood behind Daring, she doesn't catch a glimpse of Corvus. The tendrils of doubt and ice-cold grasp of paranoia creep upon Apple and slowly clutch at her heart, causing her shoulders to freeze and feel sharp claws slowly drag down her spine.
Apple watched Daring strut to the podium and practice his signing. As usual, he was perfect and confident about it, but it still doesn't quell her ice-cold panic.
Her practiced signing came and went. Still, no Corvus.
"Corvus Queen!" Headmaster Grimm called. Silence. Nobody came forward to take the key. "CORVUS. QUEEN."
Still, nobody came forward. By now, the people have began whispering upon themselves, giving Apple pitying looks.
"He didn't even arrive!"
"You think he'll make it to the actual event?"
"I doubt it! Look at him, leaving Apple like that!"
"Yeah, poor Apple…"
She clenched her jaw and turned to Headmaster Grimm. "I'll go look for Corvus, Headmaster." She declared. Now's not the time to wallow in anxiety and pity.
The headmaster sighed, hexasperated. "Alright," he assented, "but make it quick, Miss White."
After asking around, Apple was told to head to the gardens of Ever After High. Deep inside- near the Enchanted Forest- will be where Corvus and his friends usually hang out. They'll be found underneath the largest tree, relaxing in the shade.
"…so, yeah, that's what happened." A feminine voice she's never heard before entered her ears.
"Well," a male voice- who is decidedly not Corvus- spoke up, "why the hex didn't you just-"
"Corvus!" She called out, not bothering to reign in her anger.
The sight that greeted her made her blood boil. There's Corvus surrounded by two other people she's never met before.
One of them is a girl with a short black haircut with hextremely colorful highlights at the front. She has rosy skin and mischievous green eyes. She wears a blue graphic hooded jacket with a proud golden apple designed at the front, black jeans, and leather shoes. She took notice of Apple first and whatever-after joy she had turned into a hostile glare. (If Apple just weren't so furious, she'd be shaking in fear at that glare right now.)
The other one is a boy bearing a resemblance to Daring's little sister, Darling, with his tanned skin and silver hair with blue highlights. His eyes, however, were dark gray. He's wearing a dark green leather jacket, light blue skinny jeans, and red sneakers. He holds a half-burnt cigarette between two fingers, clearly lit, and was midway to putting it between his mouth.
All three of them are lazing underneath the shade of the tree. The girl was situated away from the tree but is still inside the shade, her legs crossed and her arms resting over her knees. The other boy was sitting on the ground while resting his back on the tree trunk, legs stretched out onto the grass. Corvus, on the other hand, has his coat underneath him as a mattress of sorts and is using the right thigh of the Charming-looking guy as a pillow for his head.
He lifted his head from his fairy comfortable position to look at her. "Ah, fuck." He cursed, sitting up. He craned his torso sideways, took the cigarette from the other boy and inhaled deeply.
Apple faltered in her tracks, staring at him in astonishment. He exhaled to the side, eyes half-closed. A large puff of smoke exited his puckered lips, its invasive scent reaching Apple's nostrils. She quickly covered her mouth with a hand. He handed the cigarette back to the other boy, standing up and donning his grass-stained coat.
"Is there a reason you sought me out here?" Corvus asked, confusion etched on his face. Apple stared at him, silent in her disbelief. "A-?"
"I can't believe you!" She cried, balling her fists. She's trying her hardest to hold in her tears. He's not worth her tears no matter how important he is in her fairytale! "You-! You-! It's Legacy Day practice today!" Corvus blinked, eyes widening. He flinched, hands twitching beside him. "You left us- me- there to stand and wait for you! I was waiting for you to arrive and sign and when you didn't I thought that maybe you'd never sign and-"
"Oh," the girl behind Corvus scoffed, "grow up, princess! He's signing your cruddy villain role at the actual event, wouldn't he? Ain't that enough!?"
"Ella!" Corvus snapped over his shoulder, a frown on his face.
"Oookay!" The other boy hastily stood up and walked over to Ella. He shook her by the shoulder, putting his cigarette between his teeth. "C'mon, Discord, we ought to leave the adults to their conversation."
"What…?" Ella glared up at him. "I'm not just going to let this blonde princess walk all over Corvus!" The boy hooked his arms underneath her armpits and hefted her up. "Rakish, Corvus doesn't deserve th-"
"Ella." Rakish interjected firmly. Despite the ridiculousness of their position, he looked absolutely serious. "Let's leave these two to talk it out."
"But…" Ella frowned, looking at Corvus. Almost like she's searching for support.
Corvus sighed but sent her a soft smile. "Go," he gently said, "I'll see you two later at the usual spot."
"You owe me two hextra large fries, Queen!" Ella hexclaimed, glaring at Corvus. "Two. Hextra. Large. Frieeees!"
"I'd like a ton of croissants, please!" Rakish chirped, despite carting an fairy angry girl away from the two of them.
Corvus sighed, a touch of fond softness settled on his face. Slowly, he turned back to Apple with a guilty hexpression. "Apple, I'm sor-"
"Save it!" Her vision has blurred immensely as tears slid down her face. Apple's not sure if Rakish and Ella leaving the scene was all it took to actually let her lose control. "You humiliated me! You humiliated the entire Snow White fairytale, Corvus!" She can't stop the sobs from coming out now. The anger and confusion and paranoia that has built up from the beginning had all but reached its limit. Her shoulders shook from her sobs. " You promised, Corvus. You p-promised."
"Hey, hey," he softly said, placing his hands on her shoulders just as gently, "I never meant to skip practice. I'm sorry." He lifted one of his hand from her shoulders. she heard some minor shuffling. "Here."
She wiped away her tears. An unopened pocket pack of tissues was offered to her. She gratefully took it, using the tissues to wipe away her tears and blow her nose.
"Hey," Corvus glided his hands from her shoulder to cup her neck. There was no pressure, just the warm feeling of his hands as they tilted her head upwards. "I'll be there at the next practice session."
"Do… Do you promise that?" Apple feebly asked, staring right at his eyes. Most of her friends had mentioned they're unnerving to look at, having two different colors all at once.
He smiled at her- a literal, gentle smile. He pulled his left hand away from her, then presented her with his pinkie finger. All of his other fingers are curled, all hexcept his pinkie finger.
"I make sure to keep all of my pinkie promises." He stated. His Adam's apple bobbed. He flicked his gaze away from her, a light blush settling on his face. The smile on his face was replaced with a pout he's desperately trying- and fairy-failing- to stifle. "It might seem childish and stupid but-"
For the first time since the practice, Apple smiled, almost giggling. "It is childish," she agreed, curling her right pinkie over his outstretched one, "but… if you keep all of your pinkie promises then, I'll take it."
Corvus looked at her again. Several hexpressions flitted on his face. Apple can recognize some of them. Shock, hope, and sadness amongst others. Then, he just settled on a smile. A sad one but a smile nonetheless. The gaze he's sending her can only be described as tender. If Apple didn't know any better, she'd have said that he's smitten with her.
"I promise," there's a thickness to his voice, although Apple can't discern why, "that I'll be there." He sighed shakily as he pulled away from her. He reached into his pockets and pulled out his MirrorPhone. "Here, I'll give you my number, so you can call me in case I'm still away."
Just like that, the moment between them is ruined . "Alright…" She smiled, despite her disappointment. "Here's my number…"
Idly, she wonders if there were moments like these between her mother and Corvus's mother. She wondered if they, too, had a small moment of connection buried underneath their rivalry.
Corvus is the eldest of their fun little group. Rakish is younger than him for nearly a year. Ella is the youngest- being fifteen. As such, he's their designated driver every time they go on snack runs. In the middle of the night. Because food never tasted as good as it did at twelve a.m. After curfew.
So, now, here they are, in Corvus's black pickup truck. Some post-hardcore indie singer is growling his way through the car speakers. Ella may have won at rock-paper-scissors with Rakish earlier, but Corvus is tempted to hand over the aux cord to him, instead. Their screeching in the backseats and the screams and growls of the guy singing does not mix well. He's a few more song lines from screaming at both of them to shut the fuck up!
"…THAT'S A STUPID PLAN!" Ella Discord shrieked from the car's backseat. Corvus winced, eye twitching, as he kept his gaze at the front. "This year is Corvus's last and you will make him do something as puny as dropping a bucket of paint!?"
Rakish sputtered, gesticulating so wildly that his hands are banging on the car ceiling. "It's Headmaster Grimm we're gonna prank, Ella!" He hexclaimed. "Not some random teacher! Headmaster. Grimm. I think Corvus's final prank should be fairy epic but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't think about our future! I'm still a junior and you're, what, a freshman? Corvus is leaving, but we're not!"
"I'm a sophomore, you ass!" Ella said. "Besides, we need to make Headmaster Grimm pay for being such an asshole to Corvus! We have to make this entire prank so grand, so large, so spelltacularly epic that-"
"That I'll be hexpelled before graduation?" Corvus dryly added, glancing at them through the rear-view mirror. "Rake, stop banging my ceiling. Ella, stop screaming, your playlist already does that for us."
Rakish made a face. "Ella, where do you even learn these singers?" He grabbed Ella's MP3, scrolling through the contents. "Jonathan Young? Skillet? Who are these guys!? Where'd you find out about them?"
"Hey, you have no right to judge my music- you listen to Tailor Quick!" Ella yanked her item from Rakish.
Corvus groaned, knowing damn well that this will lead to another round of bickering if he doesn't stop it. Seeing the neon light sign of their destination, however, he stepped onto the acceleration pedal. Another blessing is the mostly empty parking lot.
"We're here!" Corvus hexclaimed. "Out, both of you! I'm starving!"
"What, Ever After High's dinners don't cut it for you?" Ella teased, opening the car. "And you owe me three hextra large fries!"
Corvus groaned, rolling his eyes. "It's two." He corrected, slamming his door shut. "And I didn't appreciate your words against Apple, earlier, by the way."
Ella scoffed, crossing her arms and glaring at him. "She was such a stuck-up…" She sighed, royally annoyed. "She didn't have the right to just push you around like that! Do you even want to be Evil Queen? King? How does that even work?"
Corvus pinched the bridge of his nose. "It doesn't matter what I want, because if it does…" He faltered, losing his cold hexpression momentarily. "It doesn't matter." He repeated, firmer this time. "And she cried, Ella!"
"Wasn't that supposed to make you feel good?" Ella asked. "As her villain? Isn't that some sort of prerequisite?"
"Wow," Rakish drawled with a lazy grin, "look at you. Using words such as prerequisite."
Ella snarled at him. "Watch it, Charming. You might just find your eyebrows shaved from your face next time you wake up."
"Oooooh~!" Rakish snorted in an unprincely fashion. "I'm so scared. So scared, I'm practically shitting my pants."
"Stop it, you two." Corvus sighed tiredly. "To answer your question; no, Ella, I didn't feel good watching her cry. If Daring cried in front of me, I'd be laughing my ass off but… Apple?" He pursed his lips. "Don't do it again. I know you're not hexactly fond of her-"
"Understatement of the year." Ella muttered, glaring at the pavement.
"-but I would like it if you don't antagonize her." Corvus continued, sending her a glare that he didn't lessen as he waited for her reply.
"I'll try!" Ella spat out, crossing her arms and looking away with a frown. "But if she does or says something stupid, then I have the right to put her in her place!"
Corvus sighed, tiredly. That's as good as any as he's going to get from her.
As the three of them walked to their destination, Corvus spoke. "As for the grand prank, well…" He sent them a smirk. "We can always mix-and-match 'em. Classic ol' TP and sticky notes always work for me."
"But that would require time! Lots of it!" Rakish argued, pushing the glass door open. "Not to mention, we need someone who can teleport in and go to high places to plant in the paint bucket overhead of Grimm's desk. And distract his assistant, Mrs. Trollworth."
"I can teleport in." Ella raised her hand.
"You've never been in Grimm's office, though." Corvus pointed out as they headed to the nearest six-seater table.
"But you have." Ella chirped, grinning. "Plenty of times, in fact."
"No need to remind me." Corvus muttered, looking at the tanned boy walking towards them with a friendly grin and the menus. He has red hair and green eyes. A red button down shirt and black pants- the waiters' uniform in the eatery. He looks fairy familiar.
Ella turned to see what Corvus is staring at. "Heeeeey!" She grinned widely. "Shane, buddy! You're still here?"
Shane Wukong, Corvus remembered his name was, waved the menus in his hand. "Yo, Ella!" He greeted. "Yeah, I'm covering for one of my sick co-workers. 'Sides, I get paid OT." He placed the menu on the table then pulled a small notebook and a pen from his back pockets. "So, what'll it be?"
The three of them listed their orders and Shane, after nodding and sending them one last smile, took the menus and walked back to the kitchen. His monkey tail was flicking behind him. Corvus turned to Ella and Rakish, clasping his hands.
"Anyways," he cleared his throat, "while I'm fairy familiar with Grimm's smothering office, I can't hexactly transfer my memories to you, Ella." He paused. "Well, I can but there's so many unwanted side effects that it just isn't worth it. Besides, we need someone who can fly- or at least stay up high for quite some time- to set up the hook and the bucket."
Ella laid her palms flat on the table, grinning and sending them conspiratorial looks. "Well, what if I go in there with our fourth man?" She suggested. "Rake, you distract Ms. Trollworth. Charm her with your…" She waved a hand noncommittally. "I don't know, Charming magic? Then, Corvus will be lookout, occasionally help us out." She thought on it. "Well, he needs to help us out. Sticky notes take so much time pulling and sticking."
Corvus waved his fingers, letting green lights dance through them. "I can always use magic, you know?"
"Perfect…" Ella's eyes glinted mischievously.
Rakish cleared his throat. "I agree with this." He nodded sagely. "But I'd like to throw my five cents in and say- I'll also need backup. Ms. Trollworth isn't an easy woman to distract, you know?"
"So we need a fifth man." Corvus shrugged. "Big deal. This prank will be done at the end of the year, right? Plenty of time." He frowned at them. "Why… are we taking this seriously? Right now, I mean…?"
Ella stared at Corvus, aghast. "Because it's your last year!" She answered. "You can't honestly think this is a simple matter, do you?"
Corvus smiled, unable to deny the feeling of warmth in his chest. Ella cares, he knows. She shows it in… spelltacularly unorthodox ways. But she cares, and that's why, despite their age gap, Corvus is fairy fond of her. If he wasn't, he'd be intolerant of her antics.
"I'm not." He replied, tracing patterns on the table. More to feel the wood, more than anything. "But… let's just focus on something closer to recent times. Like, I don't know, maybe let's try pranking Grimm during Legacy Day." He threw his head back, laughing awkwardly. Upon seeing his companion's calculative gazes, however, he paled.
"That's a great idea!" Ella hexclaimed, grinning widely.
"I second the motion." Rakish said, resting his elbows on the table and weaving his fingers together. He rested his lips on his clasped hands. "This one's more recent- and it's payback for all the bullshit Milton Grimm's pulled. Remember last year?"
That sentence caused Corvus's mood to drop fairy, fairy quickly. He leaned on the backrest, snarling, with his arms crossed. "Don't fucking remind me." He grouched. He closed his eyes, trying to rein in his anger. His foot tapped underneath the table incessantly. Inhaling and exhaling deeply, he tried to rein in his temper.
It wouldn't do to release the rage that's been simmering in his veins since last year. Not right now.
He opened his eyes, anger searing through them. "Alright." He tightly spoke. "We'll make sure that Grimm's in for one helluva ride the fairy next day he uses his office."
Rakish and Ella hollered their joy, fist pumping in the air. They were so caught up in their joy that they didn't notice Shane approaching.
"Here's your fortune cookies." He cheerily said, placing a bowl filled with the stuff at the middle of their table.
Ella gasped, causing all three of them to turn to her. She's looking at Shane like she just had an epiphany. "Shane, Shane, Shane…!" She chanted like a mantra, "Would you like to join us in a prank?"
Shane raised a finger. "First, who are we pranking?"
"The Headmaster."
Corvus and Rakish sputtered at her blunt reply.
"Wha-!"
"You can't just say tha-!"
"Ella Discord, WHY-!?"
"DISCORD!"
Ella burst into a fit of laughters, throwing her head back and clutching at her stomach. "You should see the looks on your… on your faces!" She giggled.
Corvus reached over to clench her in a headlock. Simultaneously, Rakish reached over to poke her tickle spots. "You little-!"
"I'll do it." Shane said, causing all three of them to freeze in their positions. Their gazes snapped to him. "I'll do it. I'm in the prank."
"You sure?" Rakish asked.
"Why?" Corvus asked at the same time.
Shane shrugged. "Go big or go home." He reasoned, pointing at the area behind him with a thumb. "I gotta go. Just hext me a time and place and we'll meet up."
The three of them stared at his retreating back. Once he's inside the kitchen, Ella sent them a wide grin.
"I vote Kitty to be the fifth man."
Corvus and Rakish whirled to Ella. "No!"
Landing on the balcony as a crow, Corvus shifted back into a human. He stretched his back and rolled his shoulders. Transitioning from wings to arms is far less smoother than people think. It also doesn't help that he's carrying take-out from a .
Glancing at the glass door, he saw that the entire room is dark. He needs to be quiet, lest he wakes up his newest roommate. If he were in his old room, his roommate- who's a villain in some obscure fairytale- reveres him enough to look the other way when he's out after curfew. Unfortunately for him, Apple is none other than the future President of the Student Government- if she had her way this school chapter. She'd be… less lenient with him breaking the rules.
He casted a muffling spell over his footsteps then grasped the door, a lock-picking spell ready. Upon finding it already unlocked, he entered the room cautiously. He stepped inside, staying still for one second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Four seconds.
He relaxed a bit, sure that nobody will jump on him. Turning to the balcony door, he frowned. He's… going to make sure that the door is locked tomorrow night.
With a hexhausted sigh, he placed the take-out in his mini-fridge. He walked to his dresser and began peeling his clothes off of his body.
CRASH!
Startled, Corvus froze midway in taking off his coat. Focusing once more, he ran to the balcony, summoning magic at his palms. Pushing the door open, he raised his arms, setting his body sideways, and setting his right foot forward.
He paused, however, upon seeing who the trespasser is. It's none other than Apple White herself. Her blue eyes are widened, hands raised at chest area, and she seemed to be wearing her outfit from… hours ago.
What.
They both stared at each other. The atmosphere between them went from hostile to shock to confusion then, lastly, to awkwardness that rose from being unsure of what to do with the situation. Corvus lowered his hands, magic evaporating from his fingertips. He straightened his back, squinting at her.
'This… is Apple… right?' He gave a quick glance to her side of the room, quickly scanning it for lifeforms using a spell. When he found none, he turned to her, shock now more apparent on his features. 'Apple White… is out after curfew.'
He threw his head back and laughed. "What is he…?" He can hear Apple mutter. "Shh…! You're going to wake the entire school!" She hissed, pushing him back into the room. In his great amusement, he barely minded; allowing himself to be corralled. "What's so funny!?"
He wiped a tear, still snickering. "You're out after curfew." He stated.
"I was out helping people!" She defensively hexclaimed. She stepped back from him, squinting at his outfit. "Well, it seems so are you- so you don't have the right to accuse me of something you've been doing too!"
He crossed his arms, still grinning. "I never said anything about accusing you." His grin widened at her frown. "Merely stating an observation, princess. A fairy true observation. So true, it's called a fact, even. Shouldn't facts be stated, Miss White?"
She sighed, clearly hexasperated. "You're insufferable!" She threw her hands up. "Alright, I was out after curfew." She sent him a glare at his giggling. "Because I was so caught up helping people! Where were you?"
Corvus shrugged. "Eating out." He shamelessly admitted. "You hungry?" He asked, sobering up.
"Is it poisoned?" She asked, almost beaming.
Corvus staring at her like she grew another head. "Wha- NO!" He recoiled, indignant. "I wouldn't… No! Last I checked, I'm gonna poison you with fruit- not an Oriental meal." He groaned loudly, glaring at her. Whatever-after's humor from earlier faded immediately. "No, princess, it's not poisoned. It is, however, one hex of a Chow Mein." He was hexpecting slight hexcitement from her hexpression, but all he got is a blank stare. "Chow Mein? Oriental fried noodles." Her blank stare didn't let up. He looked at her, horrified. "You've never had Oriental food before?"
She hesitated. "Not… royally." She shifted her footing. "I've had some taste but… I'm not sure I had this Chow- Chow Mein…?"
Corvus gave her one last, long stare. In that span of a few seconds, he made his mind up. "Wait here." He commanded before retrieving his take out. He returned to her a perplexed look on her face. He wrapped his hands around the wrapping and sent a mild heating spell. Her gaze immediately caught on his magic, eyeing it suspiciously. "Relax, I'm only heating it up. Aaand… done." He pulled her to his side of the room by her wrist. Sitting on his bed, he patted the space beside him. "C'mon, I won't bite." He teased. At that, she scoffed before taking a seat beside him.
He wasted no time, handing her one of the two containers, along with a pair of disposable wooden chopsticks. She eyed it, unsure of what to do.
He let out an amused breath. "Here." At her complete attention, he pulled the two chopsticks apart. He held it in one hand, making sure to let her see the positioning of his fingers. "Hold it… like this…"
The absolute concentration can be described as nothing but adorable. Her lower lip was jutting out lightly, almost a pout. Her brows were furrowed and her eyes squinted ever-so-slightly. Corvus bit his lower lip, right on his left lip ring, to stop himself from chuckling. Though, her slow progress with chopsticks will make their meal cold once more.
He set aside his chopsticks and reached out for her hands. "No, no." He placed a hand on hers. "Here's how it's done…" With uncharacteristic gentleness, he positioned her fingers so she's gripping the wooden sticks much better. "And… that's how it's done." He finished, grinning at her proudly.
Her gaze wasn't on him, however. It's on their hands.
Realizing that he's still holding onto her, Corvus flinched. He can feel his blood rushing to his cheeks, warming them up. "A-Anyways…" He fake coughed behind a fist. "You can now see that you can maneuver your fingers easier this way."
"Oh!" Apple hexclaimed, repeating the motion of closing and separating her chopsticks. "Oh, that's easier than I imagined!"
Corvus laughed. It wasn't mocking, in any way what-so-ever-after. It's simply jovial.
"Now, here's how you eat using chopsticks…" He dug in his Chow Mein, making a show of lifting it high from the container before bringing it to his mouth. He watched her do the same, albeit a clumsier attempt. He saw how her eyes widened at the first taste, beaming at him.
He waited for her comment, although from her hexpression, it's not odd to see what she's thinking. "It's weird," she said, covering her lips with the back of her hand, "but a good weird!"
"Glad you liked it."
She dug in. "I love it!" She beamed at him. He laughed, before eating his own meal. "You should take me sometime to where you got this."
"Are you asking me out on a date?" Corvus asked, teasingly. In retrospect, he shouldn't have considering that she's shoveling food down her throat. She made a choking sound, clutching at her chest. He lightly slapped her back, feeling guilty at what he's done. "You okay?" He asked, once she's calmed down.
She nodded. "Y-Yeah." She shakily said.
"Do you need water?"
"Please."
Corvus snapped his fingers, summoning a bottle of water from within his mini-fridge. "It's cold, sorry." He handed it to her. She took it, muttering a 'thank you' before drinking. "A-Anyways, if you royally want to go to the restaurant with me, I can take you there." He said. "But… unless we want the attention, we should go there in secret."
She mulled this over. "That… would make sense." She wildly gesticulated. "T-That doesn't mean that it's a date, o-of course!"
Corvus waved it off, despite the hurt bubbling in his chest. "I was just joking." He said in a soothing manner. "You have my phone number, right?" She nodded. "Well, if you're feeling like you just haven't had enough of the Village of Book-End after curfew, then call me." He sent her a friendly smile.
Apple remained silent, eating once more. At her silence, Corvus also followed suit in eating. Though, it wasn't long until she spoke again.
"Why are you so nice to me?" She asked. The confusion on her voice and face borders on desperate. "You're my villain, aren't you supposed to be cruel and antagonizing?"
Corvus paused. He set down his hand, inhaling deeply. "Well, I only have to be an asshole to you and everybody else at broad daylight. Behind the proverbial curtains, I can be whoever-after I want to be. Nobody's around us right now, so I think I'm allowed to be as nice as I want to be." He reasoned, looking at her straight in the eyes. "Besides, would you rather I'd greet you with scorn, especially after a hexhausting day?"
Apple shook her head, still quite unsure. "I… suppose you have a point."
He smiled at her. "I do have a point." He arrogantly preened. "Hex, I greeted you with food, didn't I?"
She giggled. "Thank you," she smiled at him sweetly, "Corvus."
He swallowed, looking away, feeling a blush rising once more. "L-Let's just finish this." He stammered. "We have classes tomorrow, after all!" He hexclaimed, shoving more food in his mouth.
Apple just laughed.
A/N: I imagine Corvus's pickup truck to be the '2012 Honda Ridgeline'. I didn't say it specifically because, y'know, Honda probably doesn't exist in EAH world. We don't really see cars there, come to think of it, only dragons.
In case you guys never read the books, Tailor Quick (Taylor Swift) IS canon. Not as a character, but as a cultural icon in EAH's world.
I didn't use the word Asian because Asia doesn't exist in Ever After. Oriental, however, is an adjective to describe things from Asia- particularly east Asia. (Using it to people, however, is offensive… so don't.)
In this episode, we have: Apple White crying, Corvus and Crew planning two pranks over Headmaster Grimm, and Corvus and Apple bonding over Asian food- in the middle of the night.
Apple White's lack of knowledge on Asian cuisine comes from the fact that I don't think Ever After cafeteria doesn't serve Asian cuisines. That, and I don't think royalty serves meals other than their own brand of 'fancy' food. (And she's fifteen here! I've met people who doesn't know how to use chopsticks when they're fifteen!)
Chow Mein is also one of those food that's a hit-or-miss. Sometimes, for me, it's a miss. Sometimes, it's a hit.
edited: 6/26/2020
edited: 6/15/2020
edited: 7/21/2021
