splitmemory | riddle/cater shenanigans

"How-- you--" Riddle stammers, before finally settling on the statement he wanted to lead with, "What are you even saying? That this is somehow purposeless? You have witnessed firsthand the lengths I will go to ensure no one fails or drops out within Heartslabyul. It's my job as Housewarden to watch out for all of the students under me, whether that be preparing study guides, keeping them on a strict schedule, teaching them the 810 rules of the Queen of Hearts, or doing something as simple as listening to them if they need someone to talk to." Riddle gets defensive fast, still avoiding the question as if the very question was something that, by answering it... he'd be letting someone down.

"This isn't holding their hand. It's preparation, to ensure each and every one of their success," Riddle sets his pen down onto the table, tilting his head back slightly at Cater.

That question still needed an answer.
Glancing away, Riddle seems to be looking for someone that wasn't there. Someone listening, watching, waiting for him to slip up. Finally, his gaze moves back to Cater. "No person in this world would find studying day in and day out to be fun. It's simply what I must do. Not only as Heartslabyul's Housewarden." But also... because he really doesn't know what to do otherwise. Gritting his teeth, Riddle looks away, trying to avoid Cater's gaze.

Cater takes the entire outburst in stride--because really, for Riddle, it was pretty tame. He expected much worse indignation. And there it finally is, at the end of the rant, avoidance.

"But as...?"

No, he knew the answer. After everything he learned from his overblot...

"There's nobody here you need to impress, you know. It's just me."

He perks up, hoping to lighten the mood before things get any darker.

"You should let me take you out! There's plenty of places in town on the island that I'm sure you'd really like! Anyway, the animals need feeding so you'll have to take a break from studying sooner or later. It's a good opportunity to take advantage of having the time off. I have so many ideas!"

He wonders if anyone had ever offered to take Riddle anywhere, before. Even Trey didn't seem to try all that hard when it came to breaking Riddle out of his over studying. Not that Cater did, either. There were usually too many people around.

Nobody here you need to impress. It was something that Riddle needed a reminder of, on occasion. He knew if he kept all of those feelings locked inside, buried deep within his heart, that he'd end up overblotting again, causing even further trouble for those around him. It was only a matter of time.

No one else was on campus. At least, no one in their dorm. Sneaking out for a little while... it would be just like when he snuck out during his breaks to see Trey and Chenya. The memory of his mother's angry face, the lectures he got--

No, she couldn't lecture him here. That's the whole reason why he stayed behind.

Moving to completely face Cater now, turned to sit sideways in his chair, Riddle inspects the other boy. Still in his pajamas, yet talking in such a mature way, capable of pushing even him to be tempted to slack off.

"Where would we go?" The question is asked almost hesitantly, the slight shake to his voice clear. His gloved hand, even, had reached out to grab onto part of Cater's shirt hem, tugging it almost like a nervous child. No one else was here. Who, then, we he trying to impress...?

Not Cater. No. That would be absurd. If he wanted to impress Cater, he'd need to start slacking off and posting on Magicam again.

"Tell me some of your ideas. You are right about the animals needing feeding, and..." No, he wasn't about to admit Cater was right, "And I shouldn't force you to study for your whole break. That would be cruel, even for me."

When Riddle does so much more than calm down--seems to even be considering his proposition, Cater brightens even further than before. "Even for you? Riddle, there's nothing cruel about you!"

Some might think so, but Cater knew better. He hadn't been privy to Riddle's history the same way Trey had been, until the overblot incident had blown that door wide open, but what he did know was even when Riddle had been at his most tyrannical, it hadn't ever come from a place of ill intent. No, he was just...kind of socially inept. But what did you expect out of a kid that was never allowed to socialize? He took his job as housewarden seriously. Too seriously, in some regards, even now, but he wanted to do right by the students he was leading. He wanted them to succeed, just as he said. He didn't enforce all those rules just to watch them struggle.

No, Cater knows that Riddle would be happiest of all if his soldiers were all smiling back at him.

"I was thinking we could walk through the park, enjoy the holiday atmosphere, and stop for lunch at this mega cute café that I've been dying to show you. If you feel up to it, we can go shopping, too."

Because he needs to get Riddle out of his uniform.

Cater was stupid. That's the one thought floating through Riddle's head, as Cater seems to brighten up even further. As Cater makes that comment. Did Cater...-- He saw him, didn't he? Even after the overblot incident, it was difficult to come to terms with the idea that anyone knew of his history, that anyone could truly see him, could understand.

Oh. That...
Everything Cater suggested sounded absolutely lovely for this time of year. Riddle's own expression seems to brighten some. Specifically, his eyes light up a little. Despite the feeling in his body, the slight weakness overtaking him in ways he couldn't quite identify yet, the uncomfortable slight warmth that creeped through him... Cater had successfully drawn him in.

It's about a minute of silent deliberation, Riddle staring up at Cater, his thoughts hidden behind those observing eyes. At last he responds, with a simple word. "Alright."

"Make no mistake," Riddle begins to add quickly, "We will spend more time studying during our break." He reaffirms, pulling his hand back from Cater's shirt hem to instead press his index finger against Cater's chest, to make his point clear. "Do not expect me to slack off all break."

Pulling his hand back, he offers the slightest smile to Cater.

"For today, I will follow your lead." It was... exhilarating. The very first time someone had actually asked him to go out with them, in such a way. The only time that came close was the first time he was asked to go play with those two foolish boys. That was completely different. This-- this was someone who he could consider a friend, asking him to do things friends did at school.

Never in his life did he think he'd be asked this, nor did he believe he'd accept the offer.

"Breakfast first. Then you'll need to change. I hope you aren't planning on wearing this...?"

Edited 2024-04-18 04:29 (UTC)

When Riddle relents with a smile, Cater's so floored that he can't contain his surprise and excitement. "Seriously? For realsies? OMG, we're gonna have so much fun! Okay, okay, lemme go change right now and if breakfast isn't ready when I'm done, I'll help myself finish up."

All smiles, Cater springs from his seat.

"No take backs! Today's a no-study day!"

Tomorrow, he'd make it up to Riddle and study along with him for real. At least until he got too bored to stand it. Today, though? Cater wanted to make sure he showed Riddle just how much fun he deserved to have. He zooms off, already pulling off his pajama top as he races out of the room toward the stairs to his dorm room, because clearly he can't get ready fast enough.

Cater was.... so excited. More so than Riddle had ever seen anyone be, especially when they had to spend a whole day with him. He's at a loss for words as he watches Cater practically rush off, unable to hold back a brighter smile, hidden away in the privacy of his own little world of books. The way Cater was all smiles -- oh, Seven, what's gotten into him?

Riddle decides to stand up from the chair, pushing it back lightly as he does. A small gasp escapes the small man, his hand coming up to steady his spinning head. That....

Could not bode well.

Shaking it off, his smile falling just as easily as it had come about, Riddle organizes his papers into a nice pile, pushing everything to one part of the table. This would allow the two of them to share breakfast here, once it was done being made.

Looking down to his teacup, Riddle narrows his eyes.

He should heat that up. Grasping the cup between both of his hands, he glances towards the stairs, then back towards where the kitchen would be. Hm... he stands there for a moment, before the tell-tale clack of heels against the floor could be heard by Cater's double.

By now, he's used to the doubles. He moves over briefly, glancing over towards the pan where his split was cooking, before shifting to slip his cup into the microwave.

"You have seen nothing." He informs the double, as if what he was doing was a crime in itself. It was, a little bit, but it didn't break any of the rules. He's simply ashamed that this is the way he's reheating his tea.

While Cater is busy getting dressed and making himself presentable to the public, the Split Card grins and Riddle with a wink, expertly flipping a pancake in the pan. "My lips are sealed, King," he reassures.

The second Cater makes good time with the breakfast, and is setting up two plates for the students by the time that the OG Cater comes back, dressed casually for a day on the town, hair and makeup done. "Oh, awesome, I'll take it from here, me."

He takes the plates from the other him before the Split Card is dismissed entirely, swinging around to bring them to Riddle's desk. First thing was first, of course, and as soon as the plates are where they're meant to be, Cater's pulling out his phone for a picture.

"I'm gonna document the whole day, starting with breakfast!"

Riddle nods to the Split Card in approval. Only when the microwave beeped did Riddle do anything more, simply keeping an eye on the Split Card in the meantime, watching him flip a pancake as if he'd been doing that his whole life. How easy Cater made it look, double or not, was frustrating.

He slips back out of the kitchen, steps resounding out through the hall as he moves back to the desk he'd taken up in the common area, setting his teacup down carefully upon the perfect coaster he'd claimed for the day.

Lifting his head as Cater returns, Riddle's eyes narrow yet again at the phone.

"Do you expect me to be in these pictures?" He asks, leaning back in his chair to stare Cater down. With him wearing his uniform, Cater dressed so casually... they didn't match whatsoever, did they? Riddle was going to look so awfully out of place among the public. Not that this was a concern to him in the moment.

Cater's grin is as wide and cheeky as ever as he slides over to get Riddle in frame. Even if the short king glowers down into the camera, that's not going to stop Cater from getting a photo of it. "Of course I do," he agrees. "Say #vaycaybuds!"

Of course, if Riddle was really uncomfortable, Cater would take different photos, and he's still undoubtedly going to take food pictures that involve neither of them.

Glower into the camera, no. Glance to Cater in annoyance before ultimately resigning to his fate, yes. Riddle breathes out the heaviest of sighs. For one single moment, Riddle seemed to tilt his head towards Cater, allowing one perfect photograph. He did not, however, say the phrase.

Once the photo was done, he picks his teacup back up, waiting patiently for Cater to take the photos of their matching plates. Well, matching aside from how Riddle's were drenched in strawberry syrup.

"Hurry up." The demand is light. He wants to eat!

"KK, I'm all done." Cater laughs as he gets a final couple snaps in and then mercifully puts his phone away to focus on eating. Oh pancakes, so delicious and so not unnaturally sweet unless slathered in syrup. He could eat his buttered or otherwise plain and they're still just as fluffy and satisfying as one could hope for.

He waits until Riddle has taken a bite first before he digs in, himself.

"So, what do you think? I'm not Trey or anything, but I don't think I did half bad."

Finally! The impatient Queen almost drops his teacup down into his coaster, quickly grasping his fork and knife as properly as he could when rushing to get a taste. It's with a careful hand that he cuts a small piece, popping it into his mouth without waiting.

Riddle pauses, his cheeks dusting a light red. It was so good, and not just because of the syrup he had slathered over his.

In one swift movement, Riddle is pointing directly at Cater's face with his knife. It must be so threatening, seeing his face slightly flushed and that knife pointed in the very same way that his wand had been many times before.

"..."
"You are on breakfast duty until break is over." No choice in the matter, apparently. But, in perfect Riddle fashion, he adds on, "We will share the duty of our meals, during Trey's absence. You will take care of breakfast and I will handle dinner. Lunch will be something we take care of for ourselves."

Cater startles slightly when he finds himself at knifepoint, but then giggles when Riddle gives his order. He winks, giving a slight bow from his sitting position. "I am at your command!"

It's fine by him, as long as Riddle doesn't expect him to get up at the crack of dawn to make breakfast each morning. He does wonder what kind of foods Riddle even knows how to cook for dinner...but they'll cross that road when they get to it. As long as he's not being fed sweets, Cater's perfectly fine dealing with whatever Riddle comes up with.

For now, though, he'll focus on polishing off his plate so they can get going. There wasn't any rush, but Cater had gotten himself all excited and he couldn't help raring to go.

For the moment, that sates Riddle. The knife is no longer pointed towards Cater, instead brought back down to his plate at once. "Good."

It's almost like watching Riddle go at something that Trey had made for him, the focus, the precision. He cuts each piece up before popping it into his mouth, unable to hold a small smile back as he did. Loosening up, allowing himself to be far more chill was a difficult task, yet... small things like this tended to drag the more childish things from Riddle, such as being happy over something as small as pancakes with his favorite strawberry syrup.

Upon finishing, Riddle wastes no time. He pushes his chair back, standing up and grasping his dishes in both hands.

"Are you done?" He asks Cater, offering a tentative hand towards his dishes too.

"Oh, yeah."

Cater polishes off the last bite on his plate and somewhat hesitantly hands his dish over to Riddle. Not like the housewarden was a slouch or anything, far from it, but it still felt odd to let him do the dishes, even if it was just to put them in the sink for later.

"I can get the dishes," he offers, needing to at least do that much.

Taking the dishes in hand, Riddle adjusts his hold on them all, keeping them in a simple pile.

The offer is taken in, Riddle tilting his chin up as if to look down on Cater, his eyes narrowing. Did Cater think him incapable of handling the dishes? Or, was it... that he was worried he might come off as lazy if he allowed Riddle to do this one little thing?

"Help me with them." He finally decides, "We should not let them sit in the sink for so long. This syrup in particular tends to attract more bugs." Dishes are not a two person job, but! With the two of them together, they'll be able to dry off the dishes and set them aside for later faster than with only one of them.

Having made up his mind, Riddle turns on his heel, beginning to make his way to the kitchen with the small stack of dishes, not allowing Cater even a moment to counter or argue.

Cater nods, the tentative look vanishing as he stands. "Deal! I'll scrub and you put them away?"

It felt like a good deal. The two of them could feel useful in their own ways. Now that they were alone for the break, they'd be sharing a lot of things with one another. It would be helpful to think of Riddle more as his equal and less as his housewarden. Maybe that would be good for Riddle, too. Cater figured he could do to feel more like a teenager--that was part of what going outside was for, after all.

Rolling up his sleeves so they don't get sudsy, he all but hops his way to the kitchen sink and turns on the water. He reaches for the sponge with one hand as he shoots Riddle a grin.

"And I'm not even having a Split Card do it for me."

"That sounds just fine to me." Riddle agrees, far easier than one might expect him to agree.

He's begun to come to the same conclusion as Cater -- for this break of theirs, it would do the both of them good to forget for the time being that there was any sort of difference between their roles here on campus. It was natural to slip into, for Riddle, which... would make it difficult, really, to act like they were just two teenagers, trying to make it in the world together.

Reaching the kitchen, Riddle sets the dishes on one side of the counter for Cater, rolling his own sleeves up carefully to avoid getting them wet. He grabs a dishcloth, flashing a tiny smile towards him.

"Look at you. It is unavoidable that you'll be able to use your Split Cards for menial tasks like this, however..." Riddle nods, in approval, "The practical side of housekeeping is important to do yourself, at times, without relying on any magic at all."

Riddle might notice the way that Cater seems to preen at being praised. Still, he laughs. "When I'm back home, I help with the housework plenty." It's not like it's fun or anything, but he's not going to complain about it. Especially when he doesn't have to deal with his sisters whining and hassling him throughout the whole ordeal.

With the plates still fresh, it isn't too hard to scrub them both clean under the running water. Cater hands the first one over to Riddle once it's wet and clean before getting to work on the second. After a moment, he passes that one off to Riddle, as well.

Between the two of them, cleaning up the rest of the mess from making breakfast doesn't take long, either. Once everything is put away, Cater stretches out.

"Great! Ready to get going? Anything that needs doing before we head out?"

Riddle allows them to fall into an easy silence, allowing the comment Cater makes to be the last aside from simple instructions or requests between the two of them during the process of cleaning up. He did his best to dry everything thoroughly, setting each piece perfectly where they belong after.

The process felt somehow domestic, between the two of them. An easy, comfortable task for the two of them to do, working together in a way that felt natural.

Finishing the task couldn't come any quicker, though. He's eager to get out, as much as he's trying to hide that behind a calm expression.

Unrolling his sleeves, Riddle carefully smooths out both of them, before doing the same with his vest, adjusting the way he's standing. "Not that I can think of." Riddle should, probably, get a jacket or something warm to wear, though he seems to forget for the time being that it was, in fact, cold out.

"Have you planned out everything down to the minute? It's important to be punctual, to keep ourselves to a schedule." This was not, in fact, a necessity for fun. Does Riddle know that???

"Yay! Let's go!"

Apparently, answering Riddle's question isn't happening. Does it need to be? Really, they both know that Cater made up this entire thing on the fly and will not be sticking to a schedule. Nope, today's about flying by the seat of their pants and going where the wind takes them. Laughing, he reaches for Riddle's hand to tug him toward the door.

"This is gonna be so much fun!"

While he didn't expect the hand to grasp onto his own gloved one, it would be way too easy for Cater to grab him, to tug him along. Riddle's cheeks quickly dust pink as he follows along, the smallest of laughs escaping him. It was impossible to hold that one back, with how cheerful Cater was.

How was Cater able to be so casual about this? To grab his hand like that, without fear? Is that what... having a friend was? Being able to touch them, to hold their hand and drag them along without a care in the world? It's almost overwhelming--

Riddle's hand finally returns the hold, instead of simply being dragged along, becoming an active participant, as he picks up his own pace to keep up with Cater.

"Slow down-- I can only go so fast!" The exclamation is filled with laughter instead of annoyance - a sound that, really, wasn't often heard from Riddle.

The infectious laughter has a doubling effect--when Riddle laughs, Cater's cheered even further. Still, he does slow down the pace a little so Riddle can walk along with him instead of being pulled along behind him. Oddly, Riddle's dainty hand fits so nicely in his. He can't feel the warmth of the other boy's skin through his uniform gloves, but there's something so nice about just having their palms fit together. Cater doesn't even think about releasing it after Riddle's fallen into step beside him.

Side-to-side like that, the walk out of Heartslabyul is quick enough. As soon as they get into the hall of mirrors, it gets much colder, no longer protected by the magical temperature of the individual dorms. Cater's dressed for winter, but he also hasn't particularly thought of Riddle being a bit under-dressed. They'll just have to get to a clothing store quickly and bundle him up.

"I made sure to check the bus schedule. They're still running even during the break, just not as often. We should make it to the bus stop with a few minutes to spare, and that'll get us into town."

The cold air hits faster than Riddle could have planned for. Even if he'd worn his uniform jacket, he's sure the chill would seep through, would chill him to the bone. Unfortunately, Riddle couldn't say he even had clothes that would work to bundle him up back in his Dorm room, so used to the magical protection from the elements that he never planned on it. The freezing weather causes him to step slightly closer to Cater, his hand staying put where it fit just right.

Riddle's opposite hand comes up, fingers grasping lightly against the sleeve of Cater's own jacket. It's a small, futile attempt to steal some of the taller boy's warmth.

"At least you had the foresight to check that." It sounds like a half insult, which it was. He's trying to be playful, even if he doesn't know how to effectively do it. Oh, but it was so cold. Riddle sniffles slightly, ducking his head down as if to hide it. The cold wouldn't get to him, as long as he pretended it didn't, right?

"Where are we going first, once we reach town..?"

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