splitmemory | riddle/cater shenanigans

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..?"

The comment falls off Cater's back like water, smile still unchanged on his face as they make their way to the bus stop. At least the pathways weren't too covered with snow, yet. That made walking easy enough, even if it was cold. "We," he says with a bit of a teasing air to his voice, "are going to get you out of those clothes."

To put him into much warmer ones, but he's not going to say it like that cause he wants to see Riddle get flustered--is that so wrong?

"But, until then--"

Cater somewhat reluctantly breaks the hold they have on each other so he can shrug out of his own jacket and wrap it around Riddle's shoulders.

"We're going to what?!" Riddle is quick to fluster, his face turning red as easily as when he gets angry. This time, it's obvious why, and it is far from annoyance. Cater's words slip into his mind, making it run with all sorts of ideas. Damn him, for being so able to say such things without skipping a beat.

"What are you--"

Riddle stammers out, his eyes wide as Cater wraps the jacket around his shoulders.

"I don't need--!" He denies, but...
Before he can move his hands to try and take the jacket back off, he begins to feel the lingering warmth from Cater's own body on the jacket, soaking it up like a small sponge. With a huff, Riddle tugs the jacket more comfortably around himself with both hands, his shoulders raised and his chin tilted down out of a clear embarrassment.

The jacket wasn't large enough to share, even if he tried. Riddle spares one glance up towards Cater, glaring at him.

"You're going to catch a cold."

Cater winks at Riddle. He said what he said and he's not going to bother correcting himself! Let the tiny king's mind wander...things will be clear soon enough. Anyway, it makes him happy to see Riddle relaxing--he looks so cute all wrapped up in his jacket, it's so big on him! Ugh, he wants to take a picture, but he knows it'll just ruin Riddle's mood, so he refrains.

"It's just for now. Anyway, it looks good on you, and I run hot."

Insert joke here that Riddle won't even appreciate. Sigh!

"Oh, see, there's the bus! We're right on time. It should be a little warmer on there, if we sit close."

Oh, Seven, save him. Was this a mistake? Cater knew so much more about going out than he did, and while that was an infuriating fact, Riddle found himself feeling at a loss, having to fall in line beside Cater. It made him feel so small. Not in a bad way, at all, but....

What was this feeling?!? Why can't he identify it?!!?! Ugh.

"... Fine. But only for now." Riddle relents, deciding he would steal the warmth from this jacket for as long as he could. Not that he needed it or anything! Of course not.

With a slight nod, Riddle shifts, stepping up into the bus with Cater. After finding a pair of seats, Riddle makes Cater sit by the window, before slipping into the aisle seat himself.

Then, he shifts, moving to lean against Cater, resting half of the jacket around Cater, using the seat to hold it up. Both of his arms wrap around one of Cater's, pulling his arm close.

"You said we should sit close-- will this work? If I let you catch something..." What kind of Housewarden would he be!!!

Cater follows along, letting Riddle choose where they sit and how they sit, though it's a surprise to him when the other teen pulls him in just as close as he does. Cater can't help but let out a small giggle, finding his phone. "This'll work. Let's take a selfie!"

He leans in even closer, practically resting his head against Riddle's as he holds the phone up.

"To start off our foray into town!"

Getting sick isn't even a concern for him. They'll be fine, they'll be fine! It's just brisk out!

Always so focused on saving these moments with pictures. Was that something that only Cater did? Their other classmates occasionally took photos, but he can't remember whether any of them are as obsessed with Magicam as Cater Diamond.

Still, he begrudgingly leans his head in ever so slightly, allowing the photo.

... They looked .....
Curse Cater for putting such strange thoughts in his mind.

Pressing his cheek against Cater's arm once the picture is taken, he feels- well. A little tired, already. The warmth of both Cater and the borrowed outerwear was too comfortable.

"I've decided something, Cater."

All smiles, Cater hums after the picture's taken, turning his attention down to his phone screen so he can add filters and hashtags. The bus starts up and begins its roll into town, and its easy to get lost in Magicam while they head toward their destination. Cater finds himself feeling pretty peaceful, sitting there with Riddle. Sometimes, outings like this with other people could feel exhausting, but so far, he was just excited.

"Yeah? What's that?"

"My goal for the day--" Aside from taking a break from studying, of course. "I'm going to catch you off guard at some point today. When you least expect it, I'm going to catch you on camera, too. Not in a bad way, no." Riddle seems to be thinking through his words carefully, trying to figure out how to say this aloud.

"Your smile. I'm going to capture it."

That could mean so many different things. What Riddle meant by it wouldn't be seen until later, surely. It may be extra confusing to hear such a statement, when Cater smiled in almost every photo he's in, but Riddle seems so sure of himself.

When Riddle makes his grand declaration, Cater's eyebrows raise. Capture his smile? What did that even mean? He was almost always smiling. In public, at least. As far as anyone knew, he was just a happy-go-lucky guy without a care in the world. Every day was full of fun possibilities, and today was no different from the other.

Except, it already was completely different from any other day, wasn't it? There already hadn't been a day like this, before.

He looks at Riddle fully in the face, his smile frozen in place for a moment before it gets a bit more mischievous.

"Oh yeah? That a promise?" He leans in a little, as if to make sure they aren't overheard despite no one else being on the bus with them. "I'll hold you to it."

Oh. Oh. What was Cater doing, looking at him in that way? With that frozen smile - that smile that takes on a completely different feeling. The mischief, coupled with the close way Cater leaned in--

Riddle's hand comes up, pressing against Cater's cheek and shoving at his face to push him away.

"Don't make it weird!" Riddle exclaims, his face flushing again. Had it even ever come down from the previous flush?

"Idiot. Fool." The insults are flung easily, as the small man declares his annoyance -- in this case, more his embarrassment -- with violence, both verbal and physical.

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