Malleus and Leona find common ground during Leona’s second birthday vignette when Malleus gifts Leona with an old, specialist book on ancient incantations (Leona’s favorite subject), written in a dead language.
Malleus says, “We have the same book in our castle library. I can vouch for what a fascinating read it is,” and Leona responds, “This is a pretty thoughtful gift coming from you. Thanks–seriously.”
On the subject of shopping in town Leona follows with, “Please don’t tell me you brought your whole posse with you,” and Malleus assures him he did not, as “There’s no need to trouble guards over a mere student’s shopping trip,” and Leona agrees that it is more relaxing to run errands or walk around alone.
Malleus observes that Leona is enjoying experiences at NRC that he cannot have at home, much the same as himself.
Leona says that if he were to transfer dorms he would still aim for the housewarden seat. Malleus disagrees with Leona’s opinion that a vice housewarden is unnecessary, but says, “in general, I can relate to your thinking.”
When Malleus cautions Grim against opening a book he finds at a book fair in Foothill Town Leona responds, “If (Malleus) of all people are describin’ it that way, we shouldn’t do anything risky with it,” and they agree on the point of subduing Skully by force, if necessary.
Leona checks with Malleus if he has heard of a “ruler of Halloween,” and he is suspicious when Skully does not recognize Malleus.
When Malleus comments, “Graves is indeed foolish for even trying to slow me down with such pitiful ghosts,” Leona agrees, to Trey’s surprise: “Leona, are you actually agreeing about Malleus’s power?!” Malleus asks if he has hit his head.
Trey says that he is also surprised that Leona is so willing to acknowledge that Malleus is well known and Leona explains, “My acknowledgement’s got nothing to do with it. The lizard’s practically a household name. That’s just plain and simple fact. And I didn’t say he was famous. I said INfamous.”
When Vil asks how Riddle and Leona could have possibly condoned Malleus missing Housewarden meetings the previous year Leona responds, “You have NO IDEA how much I suffered last year” (Riddle: “You just gave the orders. I was the one doing the actual suffering”) and that they shouldn’t have to put in “a ridiculous amount of work when Malleus won’t” (Riddle: “Again, it was I who put in the ridiculous amount of work…”)
Leona says Malleus has got to be the worst housewarden at the school, and Idia agrees.
When Kalim volunteers to fetch Malleus for another meeting he has missed Leona says, “It defeats the whole purpose if he doesn’t take the initiative,” but Leona also does not approve of Malleus’ choice of initiative: teleporting the housewardens and Crowley to Diasomnia without warning.
While accidental in Malleus’ case because there is so much he does not know and strategic in Leona’s case because he knows so much, it is possible that both Housewardens doing what it is they are supposed to do, just not in the way that others want them to, is another thing that they have in common.
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 