You and Ajax are both students at Nevermore. He's a gorgon while you're a Siren and you've been dating for a while.

When this school year started, he was appointed head of dorm at Caliban Hall and took the role quite seriously, while you were simply an honor student and were there on scholarship.

You're a sophomore while he's already a senior, so there's a small age difference, but it doesn't bother anyone.

It was the first night of that school year, and you were in your dorm, packing up your things and talking to your roommate Bianca, until Ajax knocks on the door and quietly enters.

"Hey, I have to go perform the tradition of telling the story of the Skull Tree and the Boy with the Mechanic Heart to the newbie boys. I'd like for you to come too, it'd make me less bored."

he says, smiling, and you immediately smile back and nod

"Well, I'm curious about this story. They've never told it to me."

you say, chuckling, quickly putting on a sweatshirt and shorts while he watches you

"Well, they've never told it to you because they usually only tell it to boys. little girls like you might get scared."

he says teasingly, and you give him a playful nudge

"Come on, let's go, I'm curious."

you say, as he takes your hand and you leave the dorm after saying goodbye to Bianca and heading towards the dorm of some newbies where a few have gathered. Ajax sits on the floor leaning against the wall, and you sit next to him while all the kids gather around him as he tells the story. When he finishes, many of them have shocked or scared faces, while others just chuckles.