"You'll be expected in four months, which should give you enough time to set your family's affairs in order. Oh! And before I forget, you will be rooming by yourself due to your bloodlines' tendency towards...Violence." Principal Weems's last words echoed in Lucius's head as he sat in his study with an open notebook
"Four months...I can make that work," Lucius thought, trying to stay optimistic. "But first, let's give this a shot. The process should be similar to the ones I used to read in fanfics. Hell, now that I think about it, even the system in Solo Leveling was basically a template system of Ashborn for Jin Woo," he rationalized, feeling a mix of curiosity and cautious hope.
He'd spent the last two days since Weems's visit going over and writing down every single thing he knew about the Wednesday verse. He was sorely dissatisfied with the results. "Ugh! Why didn't I just sit down and binge the damn show? I barely know anything about it, and considering that it's supposed to be a horror/murder-mystery show filled with supernatural monsters, being left in the dark isn't exactly the most effective starting point," He ran a hand through his hair and let out a few deep breaths.
"Okay, remeber what dad used to say... start with what you can control." He said to himself, "System."
A translucent screen hovered before him, pale and unobtrusive.
[Template: Rob Lucci (Cipher Pole 0)
Syncrenzitaion: 2%
Granted Abilities: Neko Neko No Mi Model: Leopard(Draven Bloodline Boosted), Rokushiki(Six Powers)
Leopard Transformation (Locked 25%)Hyrbrid Transformation (Locked 75%)Awakened Transformation (Locked ???%) Shave(Locked 15%)Iron Body:4% (Due to your lineage, your durability has naturally unlocked this skill)Paper art: 7%( Your Natural agility as a Wereleopard has unlocked & boosted this skill) Moonwalk: (Locked) Tempest Kick(Locked) Finger Pistol: 7%(You have claws...self explanatory)Six King Gun: (Locked 75%)
To unlock abilities and boost template progression, train and complete system-appointed missions.]
Lucius read the screen over and over again, his mind working through the information.
'I've never been into powerscaling, but..having a template like this in this verse, with enough hard work I'd basically become a furry god...Oh no, Uh-uh, rephrase that immediately.' He shook his head to realign his thoughts and flipped to a new page in his notebook, labeling the page "workout plan."
'Training...well, nothing worthwhile ever came without effort.' He thought, beginning a rough draft of an intense workout plan. Over the next few months, he was determined to put himself through hell, and he'd love every second of it. No, he wouldn't
-------------------
*Four Months Later*
The Addams Family stood at the entrance to Nevermore, saying their goodbyes to Wednesday. The doors opened, and Principal Weems stepped out of Looming School, making her way down the small flight of stairs.
The ever-elegant Morticia Addams spied her old friends approaching and put on a teasing smile.
"Larisssa, I'm flattered you came to see us off, but such a thing wasn't necessary."
Weems, ever prepared for a war of words with her friend, gave a slight smirk. "Oh, dont worry, dear, I didn't come out here for you."
Before Morticia could ask any further questions, the gates to the front courtyard creeked open, and a sleek Matte black Rolls-Royce Specter circled the fountain and pulled to a stop behind the Addams family's own vehicle.
The front door opened, and the driver stepped out, making his way around the car to open the back door.
Lucius stepped out of the car, looking around the School with impassive eyes that completely hid the slight apprehension in his heart. Dressed in a pair of black slacks, a black button-down shirt with gold cufflinks, and black loafers topped with a gold buckle, he approached the group with measured steps, scanning each person before his eyes landed on her.
'Wednesday Addams,' he thought, or Jenna Ortega. Though over the last few months, he'd come to stop thinking of the world as a TV show and more as his new reality. He'd had to, as far as Lucius knew; this was his home now, and the more realistic he was about it, the safer he'd be.
"Mr. Draven," Weems stepped up to greet him, extending her hand. "A pleasure to see you again."
"You as well, Principal," Lucius replied, his gaze briefly shifting to the family of monochrome enthusiasts, "I hope I'm not interrupting..." he nodded towards the family.
"No, not at all," Larrissa shook her head, "These are the Addams's, they were simply saying goodbye to your fellow new student, Wednesday," She motioned her hand to a said pigtailed girl, who hadn't stopped staring at him with a neutral expression.
Lucius gave them a curt nod, "A plea-," "I thought you said it was uncommon for Nevermore to accept students in the middle of the semester." Wednesday cut in, her never-unblinking stare now focused on Weems.
She blinked at the question before putting on a practiced smile, "Mr. Draven is another with extenuating circumstances, like yourself, Mrs. Addams."
"Draven..." The voice of Gomez Addams cut in, his eyes scanning Lucius. A smile crept onto his face as he spotted the golden eyes of the young man, "Those eyes, just as intense as I remember. It's been nearly 30 years since I've felt a gaze that sharp. Gomez Addams...A pleasure," He extended his hand.
"Lucius Draven, likewise," Lucius shook the older outcast's hand, doing the same to his wife, Morticia, and son, Pugsley.
When he reached his hand out to Wednesday, instead of shaking it, she stared at the limb before raising he gaze to meet his own. She stared for an unnerving amount of time, the courtyard having gone quite other than the sounds of the breeze brushing through the trees.
He met her gaze without blinking, his hand still outstretched, his eyes lidded and portraying the same disinterest her own did. The awkward moment was broken when Morticia, with a practiced smile, lightly nudged her daughter.
Wednesday's response was a baleful glare at her mother, who met the gaze without flinching until the younger finally relented. She grasped Lucius's hand, but the moment their hands met, she froze, her eyes widened, and her head shot up to the overcast clouds.
_____________
*Inside the Vision*
The forest was dark, the moon's glow barely peeking through the thick trees. She looked around, taking a cautious step forward, only to pause at the wet squelch of leaves beneath her boot. Looking down, she spotted a body, the face obscured, but the torso had been clawed open, the gashes were deep and ugly, the flesh torn unevenly, as if the action had been repeated multiple times, even after life had bled from the corpse.
The sound growls caught her attention, and she spun around, only to see two blurs darting through the trees, one hulking and heavyset, its giant, manic red eyes locking onto her before it changed direction and lunged at her. The second figure was shorter, feline, and moved woth a frightening speed as it dashed in front of the first figure's path, its deep rumbling growl in its throat as its claws dug into the earth. Golden eyes looked upon the hulking creature with a predatory fury.
______________
Wednesday, sucked in a harsh breath through her nose, the tension in her body dissipated as she was once again in the courtyard of the School's entrance.
She looked around at the people before her, her little brother's questioning gaze, the knowing gazes of her mother, father, and principal Weems. And finally, the golden gaze of Lucius Draven.
'His eyes...they're the same as that creature's,' she thought, her gaze narrowing at him as she slowly pulled her hand away.
"You alright, you seem kinda out of it?" Lucius asked, his head tilting slightly as he scrutinized her.
Wednesday's face set into her usual flat expression, and she met his eyes calmly, "Yes, I just enjoy long handshakes, the extended physical contact brings me more joy than I can express."
Lucius blinked, the sarcasm in her voice not lost on him despite her tone not changing from its monotone cadence. "Right..." He cleared his throat, "If you'll excuse me, I'd like to get settled..." He looked meaningfully and imploringly at Weems, who thankfully took the hint.
"Right! Mrs. Addams dont take too long with your farewells," She told Wednesday before bidding a farewell to the rest of the Addams Family and leading Lucius into the School.
Wednesday's eyes followed Lucius until his figure disappeared into the building, something both her parents noticed with knowing smiles.
________________
Weems led Lucius through the expansive halls of Nevermore, giving him an impromptu tour while leading him to his dorm room.
"Now, you'd usually be placed in Thisbie hall, where the other shapeshifters stay, but due to having no open individual rooms, you'll be put in Caliban, with the psychics and gorgons. I hope you can manage."
Weems led him up a winding staircase to a black door, which he opened, revealing a sparsely decorated room holding only a bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and a large window showing the expanse of the academy's grounds.
"Here we are," Weems walked into the room, Lucius following. "Feel free to decorate it how you'd like. You'll begin classes tomorrow; until then, your time is your own."
"Welcome to Nevermore, Mr. Draven."
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A/N: Hello, Everyone. First, foremost, thank you all for giving this story a chance. I have been thinking about this for a while, and dont plan on dropping it. I also plan to continue my other stories. Now, some questions for you all,
What color do you want his Leopard form to be?
Description-wise, how detailed would you like things to be? Like character and setting design, I dont want to be too wordy in descriptions because I assume we've all seen the show.
Fun fact, I am writing this as I watch the show for the first time lol, but I have read multiple fiction pieces, so that's why I asked.
And relationship-wise, what direction do you guys' relationships head in, or would you rather wait and see?
Please leave comments, etc, let me know what you guys think. I'm aiming for 2-3 chapters a week.