I didn't sleep super well that night.

Honestly, I don't know how I expected myself to after the shit I pulled. I was baited by beyond omega-level beings into turning my roommate into a quivering self-doubting puddle of obedience with likely a downright SCARRED mind I'd have to figure out how to put back together, and the school part of school hadn't even started. I was fucked so hard I didn't even want to fuck.

Granted, the sleep was incredible by default. The place had some INCREDIBLE bedding, like WOW. I really shouldn't be surprised by that, but it was just sooooo gooooood-

Right. Right. Waking up. That was what I was supposed to be doing.

I slowly got out of bed and walked to my door. I then almost tripped over the girl kneeling at my door.

"D'AAAAH!" I screamed.

"A-ah, I'm sorry, Mistress! H-have I upset you? Should I have not been awaiting your awakening so closely to the door? Oh, I'm so stupid..." Fan- no, the thing I created that looked like Fansa that I'd have to destroy- asked.

"Don't worry about it. I didn't do any real damage, did I?"

She looked at me with a doe's eyes. "N-no, you didn't, Mistress! I'm touched by your caring spirit... I thank you," she said.

The worst part, as I had discovered, was that she didn't even know how to act like the girl she once was. How that was going to factor into the day, I didn't know. At the very least, maybe she hadn't left too much of an impact on everyone else for the change in personality to be that noticeable...? Ugh, I couldn't count on anyone else not being a psychic and discovering the scarred mess in there- not to mention the identity of said scarred mess's creator.

God, I hated Mondays.

Getting out of the bathroom, I pondered my day. I had to order Fansa to get herself ready for the day and all that. Regardless, it was time for a special time of the day. One that would force interaction, sure, but one that would take a holy place in my books given what it meant to me back home.

Time for fucking breakfast.

"Fansa, it's breakfast time. Stick close, NOT TOO CLOSE because the implications would be a bitch, and we'll go to the cafeteria and continue trying to gain more information on everyone. There's a couple people I have in mind already. Sound good?"

"Anything you say sounds good to me."

"...right."

Why did I bother asking?

-     -     -     -     -     -

The cafeteria, lo and behold, wasn't actually that massive. One would expect a three-story ceiling, the walls stretching back as far as the eye could see, decorations to make the city of Prague blush. What I got was a large mess hall, dressed relatively richly. The clean ceramic tiles lined the walls for a modest-sized square footage, more than more than enough for a measly forty student-sized body. That wasn't what attracted me to the place, though.

That was the smell.

The smell of the food was utterly heavenly. Each different smell came through thick, distinct, and uuuuuutterly heavenly... god I needed some breakfast.

But before I needed breakfast, I needed a seat, and the seating partners I'd chosen in advance. Scanning around...

Ah-ha! The tired girl in the white blouse was sitting alone, as exhausted and dead inside as ever. I quickly walked up behind her. "Um, excuse me...?" She turned around, bags under her eyes. "Hi. Sorry. My name's Nico, and this is my roommate, Fansa. You don't mind if we sat here, would you? Oh, and if we invite someone else?"

The girl said nothing, only giving a nigh-imperceptible head tilt of approval before turning back to the table.

Hm. She was REALLY out of it. "Fansa, go get her some black coffee and some breakfast sausages. Nothing works better to put a pep in my step."

She straightened up and saluted. "Right away, M- uh, right away." She darted off before either of us could shoot ourselves further in the foot.

Well, now that that was taken care of, I could get to the other order of business. An order of business that was walking dejected away from a table that shooed her out.

The girl with the purple hair, the gauntlet, and the creepy eyes.
Gulp.

"Hey, uh, I noticed you're not having that much success finding someone to talk to. I'll... uh... I'll offer an ear to bend. Wanna sit down with us?"

"Finally... FINALLY... we have much to discuss and much to open your eyes to..."

Double gulp.

By the time I got the purple-head back to the table, Fansa had already gotten... everyone a plate of breakfast. Aw, that was nice. She even got me a sausage, eggs, and black coffee breakfast based on what I had said!

Either way, I took a bite and-

...woah.

WOAH woah.

That... was fucking delicious.

I had to eat more of this shit WO-

Nope, focus up. I had to remember priorities. I cleared my throat and started. "Um, so, some introductions, I guess? My name's Nicoletta Doulis, but you can just call me Nico. Fansa, you wanna go next?"

"I... do think... so..." Fansa uttered slowly. It was clearly taking a toll out of her to keep talking halfway close to a normal person. "M-my name is Fansa Tellion. It's... nice to meet you all." She turned to the brunette. "Do you want to go?"

The girl looked up, at last with a hint of energy. "Ariel Lockwing. Thanks for actually caring, I'm not gonna be like this for that much longer. I'm just doing what I can in the meantime, but I didn't expect anyone to care or help."

I giggled. "Aw, shucks, it was the least we could do. Existence seemed physically taxing for you. Why on Earth would I deny you basic courtesy?"

Ariel feigned a smile before it turned genuine. "Earth...? Whatever, I appreciate it. Let's ju-" she turned towards Purple. "Actually... can I trust you guys a bit? Just to tell you why I'm like this?"

Boy, that was weird. If it was a matter of trust, why would she bring it out this ear-

Oh.

Didn't even need my psionics to figure out what she was thinking.

It's so SHE doesn't start talking.

It was time for MCU's greatest detective to get back on the prowl. Well, it wasn't so much of a prowl as it was a "look-up-and-see-the-cat-in-the-tree" level problem. Purple was creepy, everyone knew as much. Ariel wanted to keep talking to keep Purple NOT talking. But how much was I willing to let Ariel get away with? Poor girl didn't need to give up her everything in desperation, but none of us needed Purple's ranting and potential domination... hm, where to find balance...

Perhaps balance was to be found in getting down to business.

"Nah, that's okay, Ariel. Nice to properly meet you and all, but you don't need to tell us if it's that private. Speaking of privacy concerns, that's kinda why I called us here today," I began, locking and sweeping my eyes across everyone. "Not just to 'play nice' or whatever, but to ACTUALLY play nice. We're all at this school, we're probably all scared, but that doesn't mean we can't feel somewhat safe with people! And I'm starting that right now. What say you all? Friends? Acquaintances? At the very least, I won't stop here until I get a non-aggression pact, but if y'all wanna go further than that I'm game."

I held out my hands (big finish) and looked around with a doofy grin on my face. "Eh? Eh?"

I looked around at the table. One vacant stare, one slightly skeptical vacant stare, and one... hungry... vacant stare...?

Unsettling. Certainly unsettling. We sat there like that for what felt like an HOUR.

Later discovered that it was only five minutes.

Ariel's response marked the end of the five minutes: "I mean, I guess? We're acquainted now no matter what, and I guess I'd ask you guys first if I needed something? Maybe? Other than that, I'll agree to a nonaggression pact for now, that sounds fine."

Fansa spoke up next. Poor girl must've been borderline horrified of speaking first. "I-I agree to that. I know I trust M-Nico as my roommate, but I feel like we can come to an agreement to not-"

"𝕴 𝖋𝖊𝖊𝖑 𝖑𝖎𝖐𝖊 𝕴'𝖒 𝖇𝖊𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖎𝖌𝖓𝖔𝖗𝖊𝖉 𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊."

It felt like the room shattered on impact with those words. Was everyone still talking? Was everyone silenced? Was attention drawn to us? Were we still under the guise of anonymity? None of it... really... mattered. Ariel, Fansa and I were just... frozen, PETRIFIED, of the raw energy that came from that one declaration that arose from deeeeeeep within Purple.

Sweet Silver Christ, what was she...?

I had to think fast. Faster. FASTER! This Lovecraftian nightmare of a presence was hindering my mental capacities, and I had to do something NOW if I was to-

"Oh no, oh no, oh NO! I... borrowed their power? No, I couldn't have possibly done that on accident! Oh, I'll have to dust off the forgiveness rituals, I can't be put down as asking for the power of the Great Ones in such a petty manner...!"

And just like that, time resumed for us. The rest of existence going on like it always did was suddenly filling our senses. Purple seemed... flustered? Wow. When you think you've assumed a person... "Right, right! We totally passed you over before, I'm so sorry about that! Can you tell us your name?" I asked.

She looked up, face softly contorted in desperation and anxiety. "Goodness, what have I done? Yes, I can tell you my name. It is Harley Warren, and remember it well- that name will be remembered as one of the disciples that enabled the Return."

The way she said it, I HEARD the capitalization of that R, wow. "Oh, the Return? That sounds... fun. Return of what?"

"The Return of the Old Ones. Ever since my mind was opened to their ancient wonders, this tome-" she clutched her book- "-has been bound to my will. Its magic enables me to spread the word of their glorious, omnipotent majesty, and I seek the salvation of you all before I enact the ritual to RETURN THE OLD ONES TO THEIR POWER! HAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!" she let the laughter get out of her system for a little bit, calming down like it wasn't anything special, and continuing. "Ah... after all, what good is the Return if I don't have enough servants of Their will by my side to aid me, nor enough of the populace turned into Believers? I'd hate to see so many slaughtered simply because they didn't want to see the light."

She looked around. "Would any of you like to partake in the secrets? One student already has. Should she show herself in here, I'd imagine we'd have the most SPLENDID talk about the Old Ones!"

...

*INTERNAL SCREAMING*

Okay, screaming wasn’t going to get me anywhere. I had to consider the best course of action without a screaming brain. I did NOT want to hear about the Old Ones and their secret kill-me powers, that sounded like a disaster show. And distracting Harley with fake bullshit sounded like a plan full of equal amounts of bullshit. There HAD to be a way out of this…!

Wait.

No.

Perhaps the way out was the way I had dismissed.

“The Old Ones, eh? They sound incredible! Certainly far more real than any God I’ve been told about in my world. Wonder if they exist between dimensions somewhat?”

Of course this was the answer. Getting people to talk forever about what they were interested in! Surefire success.

“Oh, their reach extends to all, I’m sure,” Harley shot back. The grin on her face was softening, becoming more earnest and pleased. This could work.

“You’re sure because of your faith in them, or you’re sure because you know that for a fact? “All” is a blanket category everyone here thought they knew until they got the invite. Not saying right away they don’t reach ALL all, but still, we don’t know that for sure yet.”

“You… YOU… yeah, unfortunately, that is true. It’s all on faith,” Harley said. Her eyes lit up. “But what if… yes, with the resources available to us here we could SURELY extend their influence to all they have yet to touch!”

...I think I made it worse. I had to end this, and fast.

“Sure, that sounds… really interesting. I’d love to give it more discussion later. But for now, I think Fansa and I have to go, so about that non-aggression agreement…?” Moment of truth…

“Hm? Oh, yes, why would I want to hurt you? I’ll gladly agree, if only for posterity.”

Well. That was… something. But it seemed like this little soiree was over, so I had to run through that open door. “Well, thank you very much and this little shindig has been fun and you two seem like you got things going on so byeeeeeeeee!”

*POW*

The cartoonish sound was me grabbing Fansa and running out of there towards Room 7 at the speed of cartoon logic.

No, like, we ACTUALLY moved like cartoon logic.

How in the flying HELL did we accomplish that?

“...Fansa, do you know what just happened?”

“No, Mistress. A-am I supposed to?”

“No, no, I wouldn’t say that… but I would definitely say that we need to think about this. We got a bit of time before class, so let’s use that time to sort out possibilities, huh?”

"Very well, Mistress. Let's discuss what it could be on the way to class."

My eyes wandered all over Fansa for a hot second, taking in the GIRTH of my fuck-up once more... and I just sighed. "Actually... no discussion, not in the mood. Let's just get to class," I moaned as I trudged off.

"M-mistress, wait for me!" Fansa cried out as she ran up to keep pace.

My god, she was so innocent.

So helpless.

So devoted.

SO...

SO FUCKING PAINFUL TO LOOK AT.

God, it was still eating away at my soul. How could I DO that to someone? How did I ever think that was in any capacity... HOT... or... ANYTHING?! Why did I just let myself get used like a fucking PUPPET by forces I wasn't even fully convinced EXISTED and fucked around with powers I HAD NO BUSINESS FUCKING WITH, ALL TO DO PERMANENT DAMAGE TO AN INNOCENT GIRL HELL-BENT ON DOING GOOD?!

WHY...

Why...

Why was there a smoking crater in the side of the dorm building wall?

So, there was a smoking crater in the wall. That... didn't bode extremely well, but I steeled myself to investigate and there was just a girl in a poofy orange hoodie peeling herself out of that crater and taking stock of her surroundings.

That had to have been a new record for deductive speed. Regular ol' Batman over here.

...a regular ol' Batman with a bad habit of freezing up at the two moments where that could NOT AFFORD TO HAPPEN as I was reminded, as the girl turned around and stared me dead in the eyes with a sort of grizzled curiosity. The kind that told me "...ah, shit, what's going on now?"

"...sup. Who the heck're you?" she asked.

"Um... hi," I responded. "The fuck do I owe to the company of your pleasure... or however that goes?"

Her nose scrunched up. Didn't take too well to the rude intro, huh. "Fuck if I know. I was trying to aim for my castle, but instead I warped myself to an entirely different class," she explained- RIGHT before letting out that last word and going bug-eyed.

Oh god, my worst nightmare: so open and readable I didn't even have to try.

"Your own..."

But... wait... she was from... another MCU class...?

Another version of this pocket dimension?

Other realities?

Other students?

Maybe there was some connection between the two of ours, something that motivated them being this close. I mean, no MCU student this early on would have the power to warp ANYWHERE in the multiverse that fast, right? Something had to connect our classes, let alone the fact that she popped up right in front of ME.

So... either she was connected to the conspiracy AND to me somehow, or I lost all of the braincells.

In the half a second it took me to process all of THOSE implications, I flipped my script and went in for the pleasantries.

"...Wait, you're from ANOTHER MCU class?! Well. Um. Hi. How're you, and what brings you my way-ward?"

As much as I could through the stammering, anyway.

"Yup! The name's Star," the girl responded. "Star... actually, just Star. I'm a student of class 927! As for what I'm doing here... well, to make a long story short, I was trying to teleport myself to a friend, buuuuut I accidentally sent myself here instead."

Didn't even have to feign interest. "Wow, that actually sounds really interesting. Hey, what number's my class, if you know?"

"That would be..." Star stopped. "Sorry, who are you again? Didn't actually catch your name."

"Oh, uh, don't worry, I didn't actually say it yet. Name's Nicoletta. Call me Nico, everyo-" I was cut off as I felt Fansa's hand tug on my jacket sleeve like an infant.

Well. It was time to test if there really WAS some connection between the two of us. "Ohhhh... don't mind her. She's been having some issues here that I may or may not have caused BUT YOU KNOW, we all make mistakes sometimes, right?"

"Yeah, I dig," she muttered into thin air. Dammit, she was barely paying attention. "Now, let's see. Nico, Nico... oh yeah, class 7... 6... 2..."

...why did her face go white? Uh oh. Keep it cool. "762, huh? Cool. What's your class like? Anyone who makes, these, uh... mistakes like I did? And why did your face go white?" Misery loves company, and BOY was I miserable over my mistake. It's the only reason I thought to ask.

"Ah, heheh, well... let's just say I know a lot more about the other classes, and how MCU as a whole functions," Star giggled nervously. "Ahem, but yes, my class is... well, it's OP. We've got fairies, an evil stage magician, a kitsune chemist, and they all tried to fuck my brains out at least once... and it's the first day of classes. I've been attacked on like six different occasions. As for your mistakes... trust me, there have been far worse things people have done than you."

Ah, Christ. This really was some sort of parallel freakadry. "...oh god. I really fit right in, don't I?" I grumbled, slumping down onto the pavement.

Star waddled up and crouched next to me. "Yeah... you wanna, uh, talk about it? I hear that helps. Besides, it's not like I'm any better."

Wow, she wanted to play that game. "Hah, you hear? I bet you've had plenty of party stories to tell, haven't ya?"

"Nah. Total nerd, introversion is life. But hey, we're both going through some tough times. Misery loves company, yeah?"

"Really? What of your 'tough times' could really compete with: getting violated by your teacher getting off on how good you are, almost ending up a vegetable for the rest of your existence, and psychically scarring the only friend you've made after devoting her entire existence to you, WHICH I MIGHT ADD also involved the deaths of both innocence AND one of the few erotic fantasies I thought I would always be able to fall back on?!"

She barely hesitated. "How about meeting the Eldritch abomination that is pure perversion, having to swim through a river of latex, cum and sand, knowing the full extent of the hell you're walking into, and nearly being enslaved a total of seven times in less than 48 hours?"

My jaw was dangerously close to falling off.

"Oh, and also the teacher violating."

"...alright, shit, point made. Still doesn't meant I feel good about anything I've done. Yours was all stuff HAPPENING to you, I just disappointed myself by sinking lower than I ever thought possible."

"Well, you HAVE a choice in what you do. More than I do, at least. And that means you can turn it around somehow."

...what? "You... really think so? Cuz I sure as hell don't."

"Yup. Redemption arcs are a thing, you know. You don't have to stoop to the level of your enemies 24/7, but at some point you have to ask yourself 'me or them?' Whatever choice you make, make it one that the you from before this shithole can be proud of," Star smiled. "Keep it real, ya dig?"

"...huh. I... think I do dig."

"Cool. So, what're you gonna do now?"

I stood up, brushed my skirt, and straightened out my jacket. "...I think I'm gonna go to class."

Star, a bit of pep in her step, backed off a touch. "Right. Welp, I should probably head out. Oh yeah, let's swap numbers. Ain't no rule about being friends with other students in other classes... although, I think there is one about controlling students from other classes..."

"Really? Shit, I REALLY missed more from Orientation than I thought. Here, put yours in."

bee bop

"Yeah, and this is mine, so... okay, we're good. Also, they don't tell you this kind of stuff in Orientation. Mesmerra is kind of liberal about information like this. Like I said, I know more about this school than most first years."

Heh. A dimension-hopper? Certainly would track... wait a minute. "Hold on. I know you got places to be, and I got places to be, but you CANNOT have done exactly what I did to know what I know. What the hell did you do?"

"Let's just say I know a guy and leave it at that. Trust me, this kind of knowledge can break a brain."

"What?"

"Don't think about it too hard. Anyways, call me if you're dealing with anything eldritch or need a summon, I'll be happy to help out! I'll be watching!" And with that, Star ran through the fucking wall and vanished.

Huh. Well that was... something.

Something that... I kinda needed. A lot, actually.

I smiled. "C'mon, Fansa. Let's meet a teacher who hopefully ISN'T as bad this time."