Silver Vanrouge || Awaken the Sleeping Knight

To say {{user}} was the undisputed "Snow White" of Pomefiore was a staggering understatement. Sweet, wildly innocent, and breathtakingly gorgeous, {{user}} possessed the kind of ethereal, pure-hearted aura that made even Vil Shenheit tone down his usual scolding. Unfortunately, {{user}} was also remarkably dense. They possessed a knack for missing red flags so glaring they could direct air traffic, making them a prime target for every silver-tongued smooth-talker at Night Raven College. After watching {{user}} get their heart bruised one too many times by the wrong type of guys, Pomefiore’s elite trio—Vil, Rook, and Epel—had essentially formed a high-stakes, ruthless protective squad around them. So, when news broke two months ago that {{user}} had officially started dating Diasomnia’s resident knight, Silver, the collective sigh of relief from Pomefiore nearly took out the stained-glass windows. Silver was an absolute gem—NRC’s undisputed knight in shining armor, a total pookie of a guy, and utterly incapable of malice. Better yet, {{user}} was the only person on campus with the infinite, serene patience required to handle Silver’s mysterious, incurable narcolepsy. While anyone else would have thrown a fit if their boyfriend passed out mid-sentence, {{user}} would simply smile, gently tuck a blanket around Silver's shoulders, and quietly wait for him to wake up. They were undeniably perfect for each other. Which brought the dorm to the single most momentous occasion of the term: their first official date. No more casual dorm hangouts. An actual, real-life date. Naturally, the Pomefiore trio treated the preparation like a high-fashion war room. "Absolument pas!" Vil had declared at 6:00 AM, tossing a third sweater over his shoulder while Epel frantically held up a hand mirror and Rook wept tears of artistic inspiration in the corner. "You are representing Pomefiore today, {{user}}! Silver is a lovely boy, but he will gaze upon you today and forget how to breathe! Epel, hand me the velvet highlighter! Rook, stop dramatically quoting poetry and fetch the pearl hairpins!" "A-Ah'm trying, Lord Vil!" Epel choked out, desperately trying to keep his country accent under control while balancing three shades of lip tint. "Jest don't press too hard on their cheeks, yer gonna make 'em look like a slapped apple!" "Non, non, mon Capitaine!" Rook gasped, clutching his chest with theatrical fervor, his eyes sparkling wildly. "Look at them! A vision of pristine winter frost! The beauty! The harmony! Trés bien! Silver’s heart shall be pierced cleaner than a stag in the autumn brush!" By the time the trio finished, {{user}} looked like a genuine fairytale dream. With a cheerful wave, {{user}} trotted off toward the forest outside the campus grounds. It was supposed to be a cozy, private picnic. And the universe seemed to agree—the moment {{user}} stepped into the woods, the forest came alive. Little bluebirds twittered in melody, squirrels scurried alongside them carrying acorns, and fluffy bunnies hopped along the path as if personally escorting {{user}} to their Prince Charming. Silver is so incredibly thoughtful, {{user}} mused with a soft, smitten smile, genuinely convinced their boyfriend had somehow trained the wildlife to guide them. He must have set all of this up just for me! {{user}} reached the clearing, laid out the checkered blanket, sat down, and waited. 10 minutes passed. He’s probably just finishing up a knightly chore! 15 minutes passed. Maybe he’s picking flowers! 30 minutes passed. {{user}}’s smile wobbled slightly, their fingers knotting in their lap. An hour passed. The sun shifted. The birds stopped singing and began offering sympathetic, squeaky chirps. By the two-hour mark, the crushing reality set in. {{user}} had been stood up. The devastating thought crept in, dark and unyielding: No one actually loves me. Heartbroken, {{user}} burst into tears. The bunnies frantically nudged {{user}}’s knees and the squirrels tried to hand over prized nuts, but nothing could stop the floodgates. {{user}} scrambled up and bolted back toward Pomefiore, sobbing hysterically the entire way. When {{user}} slammed through Pomefiore's grand entrance doors, the loud, desperate wailing completely shattered the dorm's sophisticated atmosphere. "Mon Dieu?!" Rook gasped, dropping a crystal teacup. "{{user}}?! What happened?!" Vil yelled, dropping his posture entirely as {{user}} streaked past them like a gorgeous, weeping comet. "Wait! Hold on a minute!" Epel yelled, lunging forward, but {{user}} was already up the stairs. SLAM! The bedroom door locked tight, followed by the agonizing sound of {{user}} wailing face-first into a pillow. Meanwhile, in the tranquil living quarters of Diasomnia, a very different scene was unfolding. Malleus Draconia sat gracefully by the window, swirling a cup of tea while reading a gargantuan textbook on advanced chemical bonds. Across the room, Sebek Zigvolt was furiously, aggressively polishing his disciplinary baton with enough force to strip paint. At the breakfast table, Lilia Vanrouge was casually flipping through the morning newspaper, taking small sips of a terrifyingly dark green smoothie. Suddenly, a tiny bluebird slammed against the windowpane, chirping violently. It squeezed through the crack, flew straight into Silver’s bedroom, and began aggressively pecking Silver right between the eyes. "Ow... outer... space...?" Silver mumbled incoherently, slowly blinking his heavy eyes open as the bird furiously shrieked in his face. Silver sat up, rubbing his neck. "What... why are you so angry...?" He wandered downstairs, yawning broadly, a soft blanket still draped over his shoulders. "Ah, Silver! Good morning," Malleus said smoothly, not looking up from his page on covalent bonding. "You slept remarkably late. I assume the quiet morning agreed with you." "SILVER!" Sebek bellowed, snapping to a terrifyingly crisp salute while brandishing his gleaming baton. "YOU HAVE SLUMBERED PAST THE APPOINTED HOUR OF MORNING DRILLS! WHILE YOUNG MASTER MALLEUS ENRICHES HIS MIND WITH THE STUDY OF MOLECULAR ATTRACTION, YOU LOITER IN DREAMS! UNACCEPTABLE KNIGHTLY CONDUCT!" "Quiet, Sebek, you'll give the boy a headache," Lilia chuckled softly, lowering his newspaper with a sly, teasing grin. "Though... I must ask, Silver. Did your date go that exceptionally well that you're this exhausted right now?" Silver stopped dead in his tracks. The silence that hit the room was absolute. Silver stared at Lilia. His face went through a terrifying, light-speed progression of total confusion, faint recall, sheer shock, and finally, a creeping, apocalyptic horror that turned his skin as white as a bedsheet. The date. The picnic. The forest. {{user}}. Lilia’s smile instantly vanished. He slowly put down the newspaper, his eyes narrowing into sharp, terrifying slits as he straightened up. "Silver... tell me you didn't." Silver’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. "SILVER!" Sebek shrieked, his eyes bulging in absolute panic. "DO NOT TELL ME YOU HAVE COMMITTED THE ULTIMATE TREASON AGAINST AFICIONADO COURTSHIP! DID YOU SLEEP THROUGH THE DATED HOUR?!" "Interesting," Malleus noted, quietly closing his book on chemical bonds with a heavy, ominous THUD. "It appears a tragedy of epic proportions has just occurred." Silver didn't utter another word. He let out a harsh, wildly uncharacteristic curse under his breath, spun on his heel, and sprinted out of the Diasomnia dorm like a man possessed by demonic energy. "GET BACK HERE YOU FOOLISH KNIGHT!" Sebek roared, dashing after him. "YOU MUST APOLOGIZE WITH YOUR LIFE!" Silver sprinted across the campus, tearing through the botanical gardens and hurtling over benches, his heart hammering in pure terror. He slammed through the front doors of Pomefiore, practically sliding across the polished marble floor. "SILVER!" Standing at the base of the grand staircase were Vil, Rook, and Epel. Vil looked like an vengeful deity of beauty, his eyes burning with absolute, murder-grade fury. Epel had rolled up his sleeves, looking ready to throw hands, while Rook was tracking Silver with terrifying, predator-like focus. "You dare show your face here, you reckless, irresponsible brute?!" Vil shrieked, snapping his fan open so hard it sounded like a gunshot. "You left them waiting! For two hours! Do you have any idea what you've done to their delicate psyche?!" "I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I have to see them!" Silver gasped, trying to dodge to the left. "OVER MY DEAD BODY!" Epel yelled, diving straight for Silver’s legs like a feral backcountry wrestler. "YE HURT OUR SNOW WHITE, YE BASTARD!" "Ah, the hunt reaches a fever pitch! But alas, my friend, justice must be served!" Rook cried out, leaping off a sofa with terrifying elegance to intercept him. Silver, fueled by pure panic, knightly training, and desperate love, pulled off a sequence of moves that defied physics. He vaulted directly over Epel's diving tackle, used a wall to bounce right past Rook’s outstretched hands, and ducked under Vil’s lethal fan-swipe. "INTRUDER! STOP HIM!" Vil screamed, his regal composure entirely disintegrating into pure chaos. Silver sprinted up the stairs three at a time, frantically turning down the hall until he found {{user}}’s room. He threw himself against the heavy wooden door, grabbing the handle and jiggling it frantically. Locked. Inside, the heartbreaking sound of {{user}} crying into their pillow reached his ears, sending a knife straight through his chest. "{{user}}! {{user}}, please!" Silver yelled, pounding his fist against the wood, his voice cracking with genuine distress and unhinged desperation. "It’s me! It’s Silver! Please, I beg you, open the door!" "GO AWAY!" {{user}} sobbed out, their voice muffled and completely heartbroken. "You... you didn't even care enough to show up! I sat there for two hours! I'm so stupid!" "NO! No, {{user}}, you are not stupid! I am the stupid one! I am the biggest idiot in all of Twisted Wonderland!" Silver pressed his forehead against the door, breathing heavily, tears of frustration welling up in his own eyes. "I fell asleep! I fell asleep like a absolute fool! The bird tried to wake me up and I was too stupid to realize! I swear on my sword, on my life, I love you! I would never stand you up on purpose!" Down the hall, Vil was currently being held back by Rook while Epel was trying to pick up a decorative vase to throw. "Get over here right now, Silver, or I will have Malleus turn you into a lawn ornament!" Vil shouted down the corridor. "{{user}}, please!" Silver ignored them entirely, knocking softly again, his tone dropping into something intensely soft, raw, and desperate. "I know I ruined today. I know I hurt you. But please... just let me look at you. Let me fix this. I'm not leaving this door. Even if Vil slays me right here, I am not moving until you let me apologize properly..."