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I Was Impressed (Part One)

Exterior Hallway

Oh, hey, Jack. Glad that freshmen assembly’s finally over. The headmage was going on FOREVER.

Ah, Ace. Yeah... It was all I could do not to drift off.

For serious. You coming to the cafeteria with me? I wanna try that ten-patty burger Deuce took on the other day.

Sure, but could you wait a sec? I wanna bring my robes to the laundry room first.
Bringing ‘em to the cleaners is easier, but it costs money.

No prob. But the laundry room looked super crowded when I passed by it earlier.
I gotta do laundry myself, actually. it takes foreeever to clean those ceremonial robes.

Yeah, you gotta wash ‘em by hand, use a special detergent, rinse ‘em and set ‘em out to dry... Fancy clothes are a pain in the neck.

Oh, I’ve got an idea.
Why don’t we play a card game? Loser has to wash both our robes.

What is it with you and card games? Rock-paper-scissors is tones faster.

It’ll be a while before the cafeteria opens anyway, so we got time to kill!
If you don’t wanna, though, it’s cool.

I didn’t say I wouldn’t. I never turn down a challenge!

That’s what I was hoping to hear! I got a pack of cards, so let’s head over to Heartslabyul.

Sure. I’m gonna head back to my dorm and get changed, then. You should switch into your dorm uniform, too.

What? Why? We may as well stay like this.
After the game’s over, one of us’ll have to take the other’s robes anyway.
It’d take way more time to have to go back to Savanaclaw.

Guess you’re right. Fine, let’s go.
Heartslabyul Dorm - Lounge

Home sweet home! Well, for me, at least. I’ll go grab my cards, so you wait here in the longe.

Sure.
I always feel like a bull in china shop when I visit Heartslabyul. So many delicate little decorations everywhere.
???
Oh? Aren’t you...?

Ah! I know that voice.

Jack, correct?

Riddle Rosehea---!
*ahem* Housewarden Rosehearts. Working hard as always, I see.

Not especially, no. What are you doing sitting in our dorm lounge wearing that outfit?

Uhhh, I’m waiting for Ace to... No! I’m just...waiting. That’s all.

To think we have a guest and no one has deigned to offer him tea. What an affront to our storied tradition of hospitality.
I will brew some tea for you. Would you prefer to partake of it hot or cold?

Oh, no, I couldn’t have the housewarden of Heartslabyul make tea for me! I’ll do it, so feel free to have a seat.

There is no need to be so humble. You don’t even know where we keep our tea leaves.

But...

Hey, I’m back! ...Oh, Housewarden. Why’re you giving him the evil eye, Jack?

I-I’m not! I’d never do anything like that!

Ace. Of course you are the one responsible for this. How dare you make a guest wait without---
Hm? What is the matter? You have the most unpleasant smile on you face.

I’m good, I’m good! It’s just that Jack looks toootally out of place here in Heartslabyul.
I mean, it’d be weird enough seeing him sitting in our lounge, but with you standing next to him, it’s so much more... Aha ha!

Shut it. I’m well aware.

I, for one, see nothing amiss here.
All that is required of Heartslabyul’s students is the same stringency the Queen of Hearts herself possessed.

Uh, th-thanks...

It’s not like we have many guys as buff and brawny as Jack around here, though.
And it’s not often I see folks from Sunset Savanna around, so that makes it feel extra weird.

I ain’t from Sunset Savanna. I was born ‘n raised in the Shaftlands.

What? Seriously?! I thought everyone from there was all flashy and dapper and stuff.

It is an extensive kingdom with a large population.
Because it encompasses multiple biomes, each region is home to a completely different culture.

Wow. I had no idea it was so big. So are there a lot of people here from the Shaftlands, then?

Yeah. There’s someone here that I knew from before school, even.
I was pretty shocked to find out he’d made so much of himself.

You are making yourself sound quite narrow-minded, Ace.
A person’s hometown or upbringing has no bearing on their character. All that matters is what they are capable of.

...!

So? You have yet to tell me what exactly it is you two are doing here.

Oh, we were just gonna play a game of cards. Isn’t that right, Jack?

......

Is that so? Well, carry on. I will remain here and enjoy a book.
What is the matter, Jack? You’ve gone quiet. Is there something on my face?

No, not at all!

What’s up with you? You’re sweating.

N-nothing’s wrong. Just deal the cards and let’s get started.

I Was Impressed (Part Two)

Heartslabyul Dorm - Lounge

Let’s get this card battle started. We’ll keep things easy and play a game of Big or Small.

Never heard of it. How’s it go?

The rules are simple! You take a card from the stack on the table and look at its number.
Then you take another card and lie it face down without looking at the number.
Then we both guess whether the second card has a higher or lower number than the first card. Thus, “Big or Small.”
After guessing, we turn the card over, and you get one point if you’re right. We’ll do five rounds. Whoever racks up the most points wins.
Sound fair? It’s all luck.

Fine by me. And the loser has to wash both of our robes, right?

Yep. Okay, I’ll get it set up. You seem like you’re not much of a card guy, so I’ll deal.

......

The first card is a six! I’ll lay the next card face-down. So, big or small?

Big!

Then I’ll go small. And the answer is...
Eight!
Crud. The point goes to you, Jack. Have you gotten the hang of this yet?

Yup. No sweat.

Okay! We’ve got four more rounds left.

Yesss! Three to two. I win!

A two followed the four and a twelve followed the ten. I got those two wrong.

......

Well, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. Since I won, I’ll hurry and give you my robes so you can---

Hold up. You moved your arm strangely just now.

What? It’s probably just your imagination. Hey, you’re gonna break my arm, man! Don’t be so rough!
Quit it! Don’t pull---gah!

......

......

What’re these?

Uhhh... Cards? I guess?

Why’d they fall from the sleeve of your robe?

That’s a good question!

You... You were cheatin’ this whole time!

I thought it was weird that you kept callin’ the one with lower odds.
When I tried to suggest we change our clothes before coming here...
...you insisted on keepin’ them on because you had card hidden in your sleeve, didn’t you?!

Bah. Fine. You got me.

That’s all you gotta say for yourself? You cheated in a one-on-one match. That’s low.

Precisely. That is against the rules, and rule-breaking will not be tolerated.
You did well to notice despite Ace’s high dexterity, Jack.

Oh! Uh, y-yeah.

Aw, c’mon, it was all in  good fun. Wait, Jack, is your tail wagging?

No.

Yeah, right! It’s wagging so hard that it’s sending the cards flying!
You’ve been acting odd ever since we got here. What’s going on with you?

I just... Uh...
I really...r-respect...Riddle.
What?!

He always ranks first in the written exams, he’s a talented mage, and he ain’t a coward like a certain Savanaclaw housewarden.
Above all, he isn’t scared of puttin’ in some effort get ahead. Again, unlike you-know-who.

O-oh... Erm...
*ahem* You clearly have a good head on your shoulders.

I’ve looked up to you ever since I saw you practicin’ that spell to change the length of rose thorns.

It may not look like an impressive bit of magic, but it IS quite difficult to change nothing aside from their length. It requires discipline.
If I can get it right, then it will save both the plants and their caretakers a lot of pain during the pruning process.

Yeah. I’ve practiced the same thing with cacti, so I know how it goes.
Roses are much smaller, though, so they gotta be harder. That’s why I was impressed.

If you’re that interested in the art, then allow me to teach it to you sometime. I’ll have you know I’m a strict teacher, though. Fair warning.

You’d do that? That’d be like a dream come true. Can’t wait, man! Er, sir!

Never in a million years would I have dreamed these two’d hit it off. Talk about an odd couple.

You are a diligent and upright young man, Jack. Unlike some of our freshmen.

Gah! I thought I was off the hook!

You ready to reap what sowed with all that dirty cheatin’?

I was just thinking my ceremonial robes could do with a good wash, too. I’ll let you take care of them.
Oh, yes. We should gather robes from the rest of the dorm members as well. I’m sure they’ll all be pleased to receive a complimentary laundering.

Good idea. I’ll keep an eye on Ace to make sure he doesn’t sneak off.

I like the way you think.

I never should’ve brought these two together.

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