Twisted Wonderland Book 5: A Beauitful Tyrant

Chapter 27: Values Out of Alignment

Time has passed, and the SDC group continues to practice the dance routine.

Then Vil calls out, "Strike a pose. Now step, two, three, four. Get down, two, three..."

And everyone strikes a pose. However, things in the practice session have become difficult.

Vil says, "Stop, stop! You're completely off-base, Spudling Two."

"Huh? Is Spudling Two...me?" Deuce asks, confused

Vil replies, "Who else would it be?"

"Yeah, I'm number one, apparently," Ace says.

Vil then begins to explain, "You're too focused on your hands. You're completely neglecting your feet. And all of your motions are stiff as a board. Do you have a two-by-four tied to your back?"

"S-sorry," Deuce apologizes.

Vil continues to criticize, "You're not much better, Epel. You need flexibility for jazz hip-hop."

"But all these girly twisting motions... I don't...want to do those," Epel says, reluctant, and sounds embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, what was that? Are you seriously gendering MOVEMENTS?" Vil sternly questions, "What complete and utter gibberish. You sound like a lunatic raving in his sleep. Not that I'd give such drivel a pass even then."

Then Vil tugs on Epel's ear.

Epel screams in pain, "O-owww! Please, not the ear!"

"Since our darling apple seems to be dozing off while it's still light out, I'm helping you to hear more clearly." Vil says in a scolding tone, and lets go of Epel's ear, "Listen—twisting motions only look good when your inner muscles are properly toned. When it comes to attire and dance moves, there is no such thing as 'for boys' or 'for girls.' The whole idea of boys being ashamed of doing effeminate dance moves is so last century. Did you grow up a century ago and then take a time machine to the present? Hm?"

"N-no, sir..." Epel says, reluctant.

Kalim walks to Vil and says, "Now, now, Vil. There's no need to get bent out of shape about it."

Then turns to Epel, "Epel, I know it can be a little embarrassing at first, but just lean into it and exaggerate your motions. That'll make it more fun!"

"Kalim's right. There's no beauty to be found in weak-kneed fidgeting," Vil says.

"Huh?" Kalim replies, confused, "That wasn't what I meant—mmph!"

But Jamil covers Kalim's mouth and shushes him, "Kalim... Shush.

"That settles it. Starting tomorrow, you're getting a separate training regimen from the rest of us," Vil says.

"What?" Epel asks, shocked.

"You'll be taking ballet lessons alone until I say otherwise," Vil says.

"Huh? Valet? You mean when you take someone else's vehicle and park it for them?" Epel says, even more confused.

Vil also adds, "Try to pick up on context clues. Just because your face is soft doesn't mean your brain has to be. I'm referring to the dance performed by ballerinas, of course."

"Whaaa?! M-me? A ballerina?!" Epel exclaims in shock.

Vil continues, "I won't ask you to perform a relevé and stand on the tips of your toes, but I expect you to at least master the art of turning with grace. And more to the point, I expect you to toss out your antiquated notions of things being 'boyish' or 'girly.'

"B-but, you can't expect me to do that overnight..." Epel says, feeling discouraged.

Deuce remains silent through the whole thing.

On the other side of the room, Birar and the others have been watching the others practice.

"Yikes. He's even more demanding than Vargas in flight class," Grim says.

"I have to agree. Vil is kind of being a bit, well..." Briar says.

"Harsh and demanding," Jasper points out.

"I wouldn't let him hear you say that," Tanzanite says.

'We'd better keep our heads down. Wouldn't want to end up in his crosshairs," Ace says.

Just then, Deuce walks to Vil, "Excuse me, Vil?"

"Yes, Spudling Two?" Vil asks.

Deuce then asks, "May I join in on the ballet lessons?"

"What?!" Ace and Epel react in shock.

Ace shouts, "Are you NUTS? Why would you volunteer for that?!"

"For what reason?" Vil questions.

Deuce then explains, "I also fall into the trap of viewing things along a spectrum of so-called manliness. I've passed the ensemble auditions. If we're aiming for the top, then I want to pull out all the stops."

"Deuce..." Epel says, still surprised.

And with that, Vil accepts, "Very well. With enough ballet lessons, even a scarecrow might limber up enough to resemble a human. Today's session is adjourned."

"Oui. Come, let us all return to Ramshackle Dorm and enjoy a nice dinner together," Rook says.

Later in the night, the group head back to the Ramshackle Dorm and walk down Main Street.

"Maaan! I'm exhausted!" Ace says, tired, "I can't believe Vil made me get down on all fours and wipe the ballroom floor with a dust cloth after rehearsal. That's just mean!

"He made me clean the windows with really broad wiping motions. My arms and back are killing me..." Deuce says, just as tired.

"Who knew cleaning in earnest could be so difficult?" Kalim replies

"I'm absolutely famished..." Epel says, tired.

"Yeah, I'm right there with ya," Grim says, just as tired.

"I have to admit, that really was some hard training you guys did," Briar says.

Rook laughs, "Hah hah hah! The effort you spent on cleaning was not in vain, I assure you. Floor-wiping and window-washing are both forms of training that strengthen the muscles we need to do to win. It's a trademark Vil regimen, to ensure that both the practice area and your physical shape are beyond reproach."

"You've got a real understanding of Vil's methods, don't you?" Jamil replies.

"Sounds less like understanding and more like being a yes-man to me," Ace says

Rook explains, "My life is enriched by the mere existence of beauty in all forms. Beauty has the power to grant salvation to its beholders, or to drive them utterly mad. But it is also fragile and ephemeral. The moment you take your eyes off of it, it could be lost forever. Which is why I make it my goal in life to protect and support beauty to the fullest extent of my abilities."

The way you talk about Vil, you make it sound like he's a flower or a work of art. I mean, yes, he certainly ticks all the boxes... But Vil doesn't strike me as someone fragile or ephemeral, much less someone in need of protection," Jamil says.

"Same here," Kalim says, "Vil seems more like a diamond to me—firm and unbreakable.

"It's true. Vil has no need of my meddling," Rook says, "Were I to extend my hand to him, I would be on the receiving end of a thirteen-centimeter-heel axe kick. What I wish to safeguard is not Vil himself; it is the notion of beauty he embodies."

"Dude. Now you're making even less sense," Ace replies, dumbfounded.

"Pomefiore students are so weird sometimes..." Deuce whispers

But Epel whispers, "I'm a Pomefiore student and it barely makes sense to me, either."

"If YOU can't puzzle it out, the rest of us might as well not even bother tryin'," Grim says.

"Heh. I'm sure you'll all grasp it eventually," Rook says, "Your eureka moment will come once you meet someone whose mere existence illuminates your life like so many sunbeams."

"If you say so," Briar replies.