Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Aaah, geez..." Parrah stretches her wings.

"Ugggh, I'm beat," Noya dangles lifelessly from the rafters.

The two of them hang about over the SINoTavern, where betting for the recent SIN coliseum just ended. Plenty of wails were heard and tears were shed over bets that were shoddily distributed. The ones that swam with the school picked the obvious favorites, while others tried to diversify their picks. Winners and losers in every game. The rewards had been doled out, leaving a smattering of now-useless tickets and an overall mess.

"Every single time!" Noya sits up and pulls out his phone, "Thank Yoko for maid service."

At the click of his phone, the four maids drop into the tavern suddenly: Cinderella, Cinderella, Dorothy, and the Three Little Pigs.

"Alright, clean it all up," Parrah makes a dismissive motion with her hand.

"I-I was in the middle of something!!" Snow White looks down with relief to see that she's dressed.

"You two are animals," Dorothy giggles, adjusting her glasses, "Such stamina and lust coupled together seem to absolutely multiply your potential energy... fascinating!"

"Shut yer glasses," Cinderella shoots Dorothy a look and then growls at the puppets, looking ready to smash them into pulp, "We have better things to do than clean up."

"Yeah, well, too bad," The puppets shrug in unison, "We gotta be ready to open for tomorrow. This place ain't just for betting, after all! It's a communal watering hole for all of you! So, get to it, you servants!"

Cackling, the puppets take their leave, locking in the four maids.

"Uu... This doesn't taste very good..." The portliest of the three little pigs munches on a discarded betting ticket. The other two go to try it as well, to the same result.

"Well, that doesn't exactly seem to be the most edible..." Dorothy adjusts her glasses, "It seems to be in our best interest to finish this chore over quickly! I, too, have important experiments to be tending to!"

"Don't you have some magical vacuum roomba that can do this in a snap?" Cinderella folds her arms.

"Unfortunately, I don't have that with me at the moment... Ah, though I can try and make one, maybe!" A bulb goes off in Dorothy's head.

Chapter Text

While Dorothy is off scrounging for parts to make her magical cleaning robot in the supply closet, Snow thinks it better to actually try cleaning. After all, Dorothy's inventions were less than reliable. She could easily create an axe-murderer instead of something useful. With a sigh, Snow starts sweeping with her broomstick. The three piggies get to looking for food since this is a tavern.

Then, from the corner of Snow's eye, she sees Cinderella having that mischievous look in her eye. The classic trickster precursor. 

"... What say we teach those puppets a lesson for interrupting us?" Cinderella plants a foot on a nearby toppled table, looking hungrily at Snow.

"What."

"They want us to clean the place? Let's make it dirtier. Heck, we'll burn it down afterwards," Cinderella grins, "Sounds good, right?"

Snow had no real drive to listen to the puppets, honestly. She seems to mull over Cinderella's words, her broom not moving. Cinderella steps off the table and closer to the maiden of white. She teases that unusually long lock of hair that constantly dangles on the right side of Snow White's face. The ash-pinkette leans in with an alluring smirk.

Yeah, fuck those puppets. Snow lets her broomstick fall to the ground and uses her teeth to take off her black gloves so she could caress that cinder skin with her own bare-

There is a sudden yelp from the three piggies that interrupts them now. 

Dark shadows had suddenly manifested from nowhere in their midst. Betting tickets stick to them like leaves. The shadow creatures populate the tavern. Low muttering can be heard. From the garbled gibberish arises lamentations.

"I can't believe I wasted my tickets..."

"I... want my tickets back... give me... a second chance..."

"This is... the only way... I can afford the new Rapunyan class..."

"Oh dear," Dorothy pokes her head out, "It seems the Desires of those who were betting are still lingering here!"

"Yaaay! They seem way yummier than those paper slips!" The three piggies cheer.

"... If it's not one thing, it's another..." Snow sighs, picking up her broom to fight.

"This beats cleaning, at least!" Cinderella brandishes her huge hammer.

After Battle

The tavern brawl unfortunately resulting in more than just the extermination of the remnant monsters. Lots of smashed furnishing decorates the place by the end of the day. Needless to say, Parrah and Noya return and can only shake their heads at the incompetent maids they hired.

"Good grief, you guys are useless! I'm giving you one star!" Noya complains.

"Well, that worked out," Cinderella smirks.

"Get out," Parrah points at the wrecked door.

Chapter Text

Kaguya and Cinderella are sitting at the bar just the night after the cleaning failure. The two of them are in their usual outfits, much to Cindy's relief.

"I am NEVER being anyone's maid again..." Cinderella empties a tankard of ale, "Buhaa, another!"

"Ufufu, it is impressive how this place fixed itself up despite the rowdiness I heard of," Kaguya sips from her sake bottle, preferring it to the tiny glass in a wooden box.

In the background, other Nightmares and even Characters are chilling after the SIN COLO fervor died down. Coliseum battles go back to being a bit more lax, at least until Gran Colo and then the next SIN... It's a never-ending run on a hamster wheel with the promise of shiny crystallized desires dangling at the end... that is, twilight crystals.

"You're drinking rather fervently," Kaguya chuckles lightly seeing Cinderella already with five empty tankards beside her and a sixth half-empty one in hand, "Trouble with the fair maiden?"

"Shaddap!" Cinderella snaps at her, "I can drink when I want, can't I?"

"Well, yes..." Kaguya then coyly smirks on the side, "And then you're the one that ends up regretting it later."

"What was that??" Cinderella glares at the busty princess, "You want a drinking contest? I'll give you one!"

"You're already at a disadvantage," Kaguya laughs airily, "I don't really fancy picking on the weak."

"Hmmf..." Cinderella looks down at her drink before emptying it. Even as she is approaching a threshold of regretful return, she knew Kaguya was right. 

It takes about three more drinks before Cinderella starts rambling a little about her adventurous sex life with Snow White. It's not entirely kiss and tell, but a bit more uncertain. Of course, that is how she is, and Kaguya knew that well by now.

"Not t' mention she's... dense as a golem..." Cinderella hiccups. Her darker skin doesn't show the drunken glow as easily.

"Mhm..." Kaguya sips her fourth bottle of shochu.

"Plus! She's a total... novice when it comes to the... kissing and >hic< eating part..." Cinderella waves her tankard around, sloshing its contents onto the counter, "Fuck, why do I... bother..."

"Well, you haven't said those magical words to her yet, nor will you ever," Kaguya chortles, "So, perhaps this is just the extent of your relationship for now."

"... Magical... bullshit..." Cinderella mumbles.

A tankard of mead comes flying their way. Kaguya deftly deflects it with a swat of her long sleeve. It seems the tavern has descended a bit into unseemly brawling. All it takes is one idiot to light the spark to the powder keg of drunken emotions.

After Battle

"... sorry about this. Again."

Snow sighs as Kaguya hands the passed out gunner to her arms. Cinderella reeks of alcohol and is muttering something about apples... and honey? Kaguya ended up hauling her back to Snow's place after the tavern brawl.

"Fufu, it's no problem. I find it relaxing myself," Kaguya smiles.

"Honestly... it does put me at ease knowing you're looking after her," Snow looks at the idiot in her arms and rolls her eyes.

"At least tonight, she won't be grumbling about bedroom problems~" Kaguya winks.

"............" Snow blushes a little and glares at Cinderella, "This... bigmouth..."

"Nn... 'guya, when..." Cinderella drunkenly wraps her arms around Snow's neck, "When'd ya... smell so nice...?"

"Teehee, I will leave you both to a pleasant evening then," Kaguya waves at the reddening Snow White as she leaves.

Chapter Text

"Why couldn't my coworker be a man..." Rapunzel sighs as she serves steins of beer to rowdy customers in the tavern. There's a good amount of hooting and hollering as she goes around in her World class outfit, which is modeled after a German Kellnerin.

Her said coworker is a frenetic Little Match Girl running from table to table like a busy bee in her hodgepodge outfit. Rapunzel can't deny the girl's skill as a service worker is excellent.

"One more? Coming right up!"

"Lemme clean this up real quick for you!"

"Thank you, come again!"

On the off-betting season, Characters can make some extra money working around here... if they didn't want to just farm Nightmares.

"Ack, here they come...!" Rapunzel hides behind her serving tray at the sight of their new group of customers entering. It's an entire clan of rowdy Viking Nightmares. They chant greedily for plunder.

"Mead!"

"Women!"

"Ahh... What do we do?" Matchie looks to Rapunzel, her senior.

"Well... actually, since the last time they came resulted in disaster..." Rapunzel points over at a sign that has a red circle and a slash across the silhouette of the Vikings.

"Oh, they're banned! But I guess they don't care..." Matchie frowns, "Then, do we..."

"I just feel so bad shooing out these men out!" Rapunzel looks so conflicted.

"Well, I don't!!" The darker Matchie emerges.

Chapter Text

"I think there are a few regulars here... usually the quartet of trouble. That being Cinderella, Dorothy, Little Mermaid, and, of course, Princess Kaguya."

Aladdin looks with amusement at his two young juniors, Gretel and Pinocchio. The three of them occupy a booth in the SINoTavern, largely at the prince's behest. 

"Anyway, order whatever you want!" Aladdin plunks a large bag of gold on the table, "I'll cover all of it."

"A-are you sure this is a good idea when..." Pinocchio gives an apprehensive glance at the bar area. The bartender tonight is... none other than Dorothy herself! The crazy scientist is slinging drinks without batting an eye, a zany smile on her face. Sitting at the counter across from her is Cinderella, and Rapunzel is there, too, probably being roped into a drink.

"What do you want, brother dearest?" Gretel looks to his beloved cookie, "Maybe a Nightmare mule...? Or a Lethal Deal?"

"T-those sound really alcoholic..." Pino sweats a bit. He was intending on asking for a seltzer at most.

"No, those are excellent choices! Ham's favorite is the Piping Scorpion... Though, I guess Dorothy wouldn't know how to make that," Aladdin chuckles.

"Wait... what is Miss Dorothy making??"

Pino's alarm is well-warranted as Nightmares in the form of huge beer steins manifest suddenly near the bar. Their tops are absolutely foaming and spill all over the place as they dance around like spinning tops. 

"Drink us!"

"Drink me!"

"Augh!! Where's Alice when you need her??" Cinderella tilts one over and it douses her in beer. She curses wildly.

"Eek! Ulp!" Rapunzel is looking a little red.

"Ahaha, I guess that was the wrong reaction...!" Dorothy brings out her syringe gun, "Dear patrons! We have a last-minute happy hour special! Please hunt and drink to your hearts content!"

"Oh boy..." Aladdin makes sure to keep his juniors behind him as a Nightmare beer now charges their way.

After Battle

The tavern is sloshing with wasted alcohol staining its wooden floors and walls. Aladdin pushes back his beer-soaked hair and sighs.

"Well, that was one way to get into drinking!" He looks to Gretel and Pino, "You guys okay?"

"Urp..." Pinocchio hiccups, holding onto a table for support, "I-I can't drink... anymoooore..."

"..." Gretel looks a little pink, leaned back against the wall with a more-dazed-than-usual expression. The brother cookie somehow remained safely solid during the crazy beerfest.

Aladdin turns to see Rapunzel stumbling a little towards him. The blonde has a very red face. She practically falls into his arms.

"Ah, Rapunzel??" He holds her by her arms, "You've had too much, eh..."

"Oh, prince..." Rapunzel's head bobs a bit and...

... She throws up right on his shoes.

Cinderella is laughing her ass off in the background as the two puppets return to survey damages.

Chapter Text

"Uuu..."

"What's she crying about now?" Cinderella downs another glass of sangria, sitting between the Little Mermaid and Kaguya at a booth in the tavern. The mermaid has her head plunked on the table, with a trail of tears running off her face onto the table and forming a dripping river to the floor.

"Oh, I believe she's actually helping Dorothy with something," Kaguya points at the approaching bartender-slash-waitress. Dorothy is dressed in her Greedy Paladin outfit and approaches their table.

"You still got a job here after ya nearly wrecked the place last time?" Cinderella chuckles.

"Well, the same could easily be said for any of us!" Dorothy takes the comment in stride and she picks up a tub she had under the table, now filled with the tears of the mermaid, "Besides, Rapunzel had to take a sick day afterward and they were short-staffed!"

"Exactly what do you plan to do with that?" Kaguya points at the collected tears.

"Well, a mermaid's fluids are quite unique and warrant some studying! I think I have a potion that could use this!" Dorothy gives a mischievous grin, "In fact, on the menu today is a mystery flight of my concoctions for those with the heart of a lion to partake!"

Kaguya and Cinderella share a look. The Little Mermaid looks up with a miserable face.

"Of course you're going to profit off my tragedy..."

"Next time, I would like some of your other fluids. Don't worry, I can extract them painlessly! Or, painfully. Whichever you want," Dorothy winks.

"Ah, so shameless~" Kaguya sighs almost dreamily.

"... Just get me a Poseidon's Tide..." Little Mermaid just plunks her head back down.

"Give us a flight of those mystery drinks!" Cinderella grins and points her thumb at Kaguya, "We're sharing!"

"Ohh, how adventurous! Coming right up!"

5 minutes later...

"So... so I was saying..." Cinderella drawls, hiccupping out purplish bubbles, "We... could totally go and... go on a cruise or, or summin'..."

"Ohh, the seeeeaaaaa, miiiiiiine mother yonder... hence forth commeth the tiiiide..." The Little Mermaid sways in her seat as she sings a drunken song, her fingers clasped about a small keg of grog.

"A cruise? Lovely..." Kaguya looks absolutely smashed, which is just her usual horny face also, "But... Ohh, it should have... rough, rough-handed handlers aboard for ... aauhh..."

"Well, that didn't take long," Dorothy glances over from where she's standing at the bar.

"Fuck it, not even a cruise...! Let's... steal boat like... like the pirates! Yeah, like One Piece o' shit or whatever they're called..." Cinderella's hand on her glass is tilting wildly, "Plunder that booty, fuck yeah!!"

Around this time, a table of Nightmare sailors are just as shit-faced as the Characters are. They erupt into a hearty sea shanty and everyone joins in.

"Racing all around the seven seas
Chasin' all the girls and makin' robberies
Causin' panic everywhere we go
Jumpin' on and off the Titanic~
Sailing, sailing, jumping off the railing
Drinking, drinking, til' the ship is sinking
Gambling, stealing, lots of sex appealin'
Come, let's sing the sailor song!"

Cinderella is just dancing with some of the sailors at this point. Kaguya complains that she's getting too hot, and her beast-boa growls in alarm as she begins just stripping in public. The two purple skulls are unhelpfully hooting with the sailors. The Little Mermaid's voice begins to climb the octaves and people start hearing ringing in their ears.

And then, at the climax, like all drunken climaxes, a fight breaks out.

After Battle

"What. The. Fuck."

Snow had to end up coming to pick Cinderella up herself this time, per Dorothy on the phone. The Character of justice arrives to find the trashed tavern with Nightmare and Character strewn about... with some lacking clothes.

"You should come more often and join in the fun!" Dorothy chuckles.

Snow almost chucks Cinderella at the scientist.

Chapter Text

It started out as a very different night than the usual raucousness. 

The booths are in tables that gather around the center stage. A limelight is cast onto the stage with a single standing microphone. There are shadowy patrons in the tavern holding smokes that fill the room with a foggy veil, almost like a dream-like state.

The Nightmare Ghost pianist begins with a low and somber set of keys alongside the slow beats of the snare drum. The singer takes the stage.

Alice, dressed in her fancy Luxury class, is sitting by the bar with a cocktail between her fingers. She glances over her shoulder to see the familiar head of ash-pink hair among the patrons. Cinderella is also in her Luxury class, sharing a table with Kaguya, who had changed into a dress based off of her Alternative but with her usual beast-boa and the two accompanying skulls. For tonight, the skulls are quiet. The beast-boa blinks its eyes slowly, whiskers twitching in the smoky atmosphere.

Kaguya has a long pipe in her hand, from which bluish purple smoke flows out. She looks over to her companion, whose ash-blue eyes are focused on the singing figure on the stage.

"I want you to know..."

The singer is none other than Snow. She's dressed in an unfamiliar white dress with lace. A black, sheer stole with golden accents drapes loosely by her elbows. Silvery metal adornments dot her attire. A near-glass-like silvery necklace adorns her neck, with her red aura heart flickering in tandem with the roses on her head.

Luxury was usually black and gold, like how Alice and Cinderella are dressed. Additional color schemes that complement, like Red Riding Hood's red cape, are also allowed. However, gold and black clash with silver and gold... Or, well, they should.

But there is no such dissonance to be seen in this case.

"Let them into... Let me in you..."

Cinderella blinks slowly and swirls her drink in her hand, allowing that singing voice to lull her into an almost hypnotized trance. 

It's like sweet honey... time slows and you forget where you are...

[No battle. Instead, insert some rhythm game]

Snow really should come to the tavern more often.

Paid Luxury class idea (Snow)

Chapter Text

"... You sing well," Alice remarks offhandedly to her companion at the bar. She sips her Gibson idly.

"Honestly, this is hardly my idea of a good way to spend the night," Snow sighs, her hand about a glass of tequila sunrise. She's sitting with Alice at the bar in her unofficial Luxury class outfit. 

Her song ended about half an hour ago. The Little Mermaid is singing right now, with her woeful voice drawling out and drawing out the tears of many patrons. The song of the sirens makes a bit of a dreary mood for those who are weaker willed. Some of the listeners are crying uncontrollably.

"... Why don't you sit with her?" Alice says, purposely not looking in a certain direction, "She's been eyeing you all night."

"So?" Snow says a bit coldly as she sips her drink deeply. It's a bit sweet.

"... Didn't you come here to... you know," Alice raises an eyebrow.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Snow scoffs, wiping her lip with a napkin.

At the unmentioned table, Cinderella knocks back another mimosa, her eye roving over to the bar. Kaguya sighs next to her, emptying her pipe onto the ashtray. Kaguya and Alice momentarily make eye contact.

"... Here, lean closer," Alice lowers her voice as she leans in toward Snow.

"What?" Snow looks to her like she'd grown three heads.

"Just do it." 

"I refuse."

The golden chain of bondage momentarily manifests in Alice's hand, looped around Snow's neck. Before Snow can react, Alice pulls that pale face close to her own with a slight yank. Snow blushes as their noses touch, and its not just the alcohol heating her face.

"What are you doing??" She hisses.

Alice's orange eyes glance to the side and see that she got the right reaction. Cinderella is now striding towards them.

Chapter Text

Cinderella grabs Snow roughly by the wrist and starts for the back of the tavern. Alice's chain has dissipated, its purpose served. She tosses a glance over at Kaguya, who just smiles and shrugs.

"Hey, what are you-" Snow protests as the other woman's grip on her is tight.

Cinderella wondered if they should take the back entrance out or go to the bathroom... Well, it's a bit chilly tonight and they both were kind of dressed a bit thin. So she pulls Snow with her into the bathroom and locks the door.

"..." Snow looks at her and sighs with some slight irritation in her breath. The cinder-skinned woman turns to face her and finally lets go of her wrist.

"..." They both kind of stew in the tension of unspoken words.

"What the hell was that?" Cinderella spits out first. She probably already knows the answer, though.

"... Let me out," Snow says without answering whether in affirmation or denial, "You can't just drag me in here."

"Why not?" Cinderella smirks.

"... Are you drunk?" Snow narrows her eyes just a little.

"Says the one that's still red~"

Snow glances to the mirror by the sink and sees that, yep, she still has that blush. And then she watches her own reflection get pushed back against the wall by the other rapacious woman.

"..." Snow doesn't seem surprised, just a bit angry as she feels Cinderella pinning her wrists to the wall.

"Did you come tonight just for a birdsong to stir shit up?" Cinderella half growls in a low voice. Her breath can be felt on that pale skin by the collar area.

"Like I would even dream of messing with your watering hole," Snow White rolls her eyes, her own voice lowered.

"...Well, you know what kinda things happen in these places?" Cinderella now begins to smile and she nuzzles her face against the side of Snow's neck. The sensation sends a slight tremor through the whiter maiden as she suppresses a soft breath.

"... Did you want me to come all those times... for this?" Snow White says a bit breathily, feeling a tongue on her skin, "Kh..."

"Oi!! Open up!" Some rude person bangs on the door.

Cinderella rolls her eyes. She forgot this was the weakness of the bathroom setting. But it's not that big an issue.

To her surprise, it's Snow that ends up pulling out her mathematical compass gun of justice and fires through the door. There is a brief "YEEP" and then the sound of the interruption running away with their tail between their legs. 

"... Now, where were we?" Snow looks to Cinderella expectantly as she dispels her weapon.

"Oh boy, you're more eager than I thought~" Cinderella smirks and re-engages with her tongue in the other's mouth.

Chapter Text

"Did I tell you whippersnappers about how I singlehandedly sunk the Nightmare ship Lina?" Nutcracker reminisces fondly. In the background, a Nightmare bard is playing the lute to drum up the mood. It's a slow night in the tavern, with many of the usual culprits thankfully missing.

"... Wasn't that Lina's own doing?" Pinocchio timidly speaks up. He is sitting with Kaguya as they listen to Nutcracker. Apparently, Kaguya's usual drinking partner, Cinderella, had stuff to do at home...

"Quiet! Let me tell the story! I remember it as if it were yesterday..." The wooden puppet says with nostalgia.

It was a sunny day asea that suddenly was overtaken by a whale of a cloud.

I commanded all hands on deck to hold fast to the ropes as rain and lightning fell from the heavens like... rain and lightning!

The wind... She was howling like a mad mistress! 

And then I saw it... the ghastly shadow of Lina herself! The femme fatale of the deep!

So I told our men to aim the cannons and let them fly true-

"Hey, are you listening?!"

Nutcracker fumes, jaw clacking as he sees Pino and Kaguya have started playing a game of karuta while he was monologuing.

"Ah, sorry, Kurumiwari-san. But... you did say you did the feat singlehandedly... and yet you had a crew with you on the ship?" Kaguya chuckles with pity for the senile doll, "That doesn't match up, unfortunately."

"I... I don't even know how he had a crew..." Pino mumbles a little as he looks over his poetry lines.

"Oh yeah?! Well, maybe this next story will capture your hearts and minds! It's the story of how the superb me bested three conquerors at the same time! They were three sisters, Aello, Ocypete, and Cele-"

"Those are just the Harpy sister nightmares," Kaguya sighs, "They're not three conquerors, but three parts of one..."

"Bah! You young'uns don't know how a good story goes at all!" Nutcracker angrily downs a beer. The liquid dribbles out from the cracks by his jaw since he lacks proper lips, "It's called embellishment!"

The Nightmare bard starts a more comical piece of music as the puppet now starts mouthing off about the intricacies of good storytelling to the two that couldn't care less.

Chapter Text

The two puppets glance over the various mannequins strewn across the tavern. Void of Lifeforce, a Character becomes a mere inanimate shell that is no different than a puppet with cut strings.

No more betting. No more tournaments. No more tickets. It's all over now. 

The wooden floors and tables here have been stained and broken many a time. 

The puppets flip a switch on the wall by the 'Employees Only.' Slowly, the establishment's structure begins to vanish into streams of that familiar and unknown runic alphabet that fills the entire Library.

The peppered dartboards that occasionally held a picture of someone you hated still had a photo handing in the bullseye, one of Dorothy's face. That was after the whole fire potion special incident.

On a corkboard hanging with the "WANTED" signs are various Polaroid photos of the common patrons. A shitfaced Cinderella shows up way too often in those. Here and there, you see a grumbling Snow that was dragged into camera view against her will. And then there's Aladdin showering in his betting winnings while Hamelin is on his knees in the background. 

Hanging on the wall was the dirndl that Rapunzel bought for Matchie to wear instead of her hodgepodge outfit when she worked part-time here. Matchie was speechless.

In the pantry cabinets are cans of old soup that no one ever wanted to open. They were the clam ones made without Lammy. 

The whole place crumbles into nothing but the purest of base form in the Library. The runic letters drift about now as the entire structure dims.

Chapter Text

"Ugh..." Takako rubs her head with a pained face as she lay sloppily in bed with the blankets roughly strewn about her. She was naked but had to bother putting on a tank top at least because the forever-nurse was so uptight about it.

"This is why you should drink plenty of water," Miki grumbles as she brings in a classic hangover cure of miso soup, "And go to the bar less."

"Oh c'mon, you had fun, didn't you?" Takako sits up.

Miki shakes her head, "Don't move too fast or you'll just get sick. Again."

"Come gimme a good reason to lie back down~" Takako invites her.

"I'm going to pour this on you," The nurse says quite seriously.

The two sort of bicker after a night of drinking, one being more responsible than the other. From outside the fringes of their [R]eality, two familiar voices chuckle at the scene.

"Kukukuku... Those two."

"Some things never change."