splitmemory | vice swap gone wrong

See, Riddle used to be used to a certain cat leaning over and stealing his snacks, whether directly from his utensils or from his hands, so this was... really not all that weird to him. Rook accepted it far easier than most of his soldiers would. Even Trey would be nervous to accept -- and, in a way, this was a good change of pace.

Rook wasn't scared of him yet.

"The final product is always different, isn't it?" Riddle asks, setting the plate down briefly to hold his gloved hand near the underside of the fork, to make sure none of the pie ends up falling to the ground. "At least, that's something Trey has mentioned before. The love and care put into the test versus the final is different, making the taste different. Unless he was messing around again...?" The idle comment is made, before he pulls the fork back once Rook is done.

It's nice, isn't it? Easy, simple. Vil would never deign to share a treat quite like that; they would both use their own utensils, on the rare occasions they wanted to split something. But the rules are a little different in Heartslabyul, aren't they? The Queen's rules override common sense and widely-held etiquette--and here and now? Riddle himself is the Queen, well-positioned to pass down decrees as he sees fit.

"Oui! I couldn't agree more; it's like the difference between a preliminary sketch and a fully-realized drawing. Are you an artistic sort?" Rook straightens back up, reaching for his knife again. It's an easy conversation piece while Riddle finishes his snack, hearing that Riddle and Trey have discussed such things before. (Even if Trey had probably hadn't meant that comment as sincerely as the two of them were taking it.) Just a few broad cuts, and he should be ready to start plating!

Once he finds the plates, that is. How had Trey organized his kitchen? Was it as oddly as the dorm itself was laid out?

There may be different rules, different styles of Queens ruling over their respective kingdoms, but there are still so many ways that Riddle and Vil are similar, rules following similar patterns. That is, until Riddle's veer off into the strange, the unusual, or the odd. There are enough cases of the Queen of Heart's rules, too, that suggest precedent for some of them.

Anyways, he's being asked a question. The artistic sort...
"Not quite." Riddle replies with a tiny shake of his head. "I can respect art, the beauty of histories behind any form of art, but I hardly could produce anything artistic myself. Unlike an artistic type, I find I lean more towards logic rather than whimsy." A little bite, thoughtful; Riddle is taking the question seriously, as seriously as he would any question.

Does he even need to ask if a Pomefiore student was the artistic type in return? Instead, he just watches Rook, unsure where to move the conversation to. He is not quite the natural extrovert, after all.

"Why, you speak of it as though there's a difference! Logic and art are two sides of the same coin, Roi des Roses; there's no separating one from the other."

Don't worry, Riddle! He can chatter enough to carry a conversation for both of them. Rook just laughs, rummaging through the cabinets. Let's see, these tea saucers should be fine, right? They're small enough to fit plenty on a cart, once Riddle fetches one. Maybe if they're able to stack a few trays with legs on top of each other, they'll be able to get it all in one trip?

Riddle finishes up his piece, moving to the sink and carefully setting his dishes aside; he'll deal with them once they come back from their little journey around the dorm.

"I'm not sure I agree." Riddle states, as if he'd already made up his mind. He moves towards a nearby storage closet, peeking inside to see if that's where-- ah, yes, yep! He finds the cart inside, taking a few steps in to be able to bring it out properly. It should work - it's not a serving cart, but they do use it to transport boxes of supplies for Unbirthday Parties.

"... Will this do?"

"Oh, perfectly! Merci, Roi des Roses." That should do nicely. Not as elegant as a serving cart meant for a dining room, perhaps, but suitable nevertheless. It's certainly large enough for their purposes, if nothing else.

Rook sets to work plating the pieces, smiling perhaps a little too knowingly at Riddle's protest. "That's because you've only looked at it from the one perspective, haven't you?"

"Perhaps?"

Did it matter? Rook was going to go off on a tangent before he knows it, isn't he? How does he stop it before it starts? Riddle's brows furrow, knitting together, and he rests his hands on his hips, staring over at Rook.

"Any other perspective hardly matters, once you know the right perspective... is what I'd say to you a few months ago. What do you mean?" Might as well let it happen....

"Don't you ever think about how incredible it is that even a tiny seed somehow has everything it needs inside of it to grow into a beautiful rosebush? Or that a caterpillar knows how to become a butterfly, without ever being told? There are only a few fixed pieces that make up DNA, and yet it can express itself in such infinitely complex variety!"

Fear the tangent, Riddle. Fear it! Your crankiness has no power here. "How about the fact that there are elegant equations that help explain and govern why we find certain sights and sounds aesthetically pleasing? You can make equally beautiful music mathematically as you can composing by raw inspiration. You can know the science behind why you see a rainbow after the rain, or how far starlight has to travel to reach you, and it still doesn't steal the wonder you feel when you see them--if anything, understanding it only makes them more marvelous still!"

"Or consider the fact that this moment has brought us together at all! Here, we're inheriting the knowledge that countless people have spent thousands upon thousands of years searching for and refining before us. The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the technology we use--all of it connects us to the people who strove so passionately for it with all their hearts. Even if we never got the chance to know them, we still touch each other's lives through their legacy. Just by living and learning, we become a part of something far greater than any one of us alone could ever be. Isn't mortal ingenuity beautiful?"

.... That was far more than he ever expected to hear Rook say, on this topic. He regrets asking, his nose wrinkled in a slight annoyance as he stares blankly at Rook, clearly in shock that he would go on and on and on without any end in sight. Finally, he stops. Finally, he finishes his statement, coming to a question that Riddle's unsure if he should even attempt to answer....

He sighs.

"Has anyone ever told you you talk far too much?" Is how he answers, stepping over to a drawer to grab a set of forms to settle on the cart. "That's all so complicated and convoluted."

"Ahahaha! A number of times, I'm afraid. It's hard to resist sharing things you're passionate about, isn't it?" Rook smiles, apologetic yet clearly completely unrepentant all the same. Surely it's the same with Riddle, isn't it? He's shares the Queen's rules with his entire dorm because he cares so deeply about them learning to become fine, upstanding subjects!

Riddle should just count himself lucky he escaped Vil's fate of listening to Rook expound on his ideas for five hours straight. ~~You, sir, have had your sense of child-like wonder stolen from you. It's no surprise at all that means that you struggle to understand the concept of adult wonder as well, then, is it?~~ Even if he's less effusive in his explanations, though..... well, that doesn't mean he takes his desire to share his thoughts and feelings any less seriously! Or takes Riddle's protest any less literally. Knowing how dedicated Riddle is to his studies, it only stands to reason that Riddle must genuinely want to understand, but be having difficulty doing so, right?

It's okay, Riddle, he's happy to help with this too! "It all seems quite simple to me..... What about it are you having a hard time understanding, exactly? I'm sure you'll grasp it in no time!"

He wasn't getting the hint. He might never get the hint, if he doesn't explain it in blunt detail that he doesn't want to have any sort of lecture right now. Maybe his face says it all, with the slightly annoyed expression on his face, the way he turns his chin up at him, glares up at the taller boy.

"Now is not the time." Riddle states, his tone firm. He motions to the pie, "Focus on the task I've given you first. Only after we've got everything ready and have passed out the pieces can we talk. Got it?"

Maybe that would work???

Oh, poor Riddle. Just getting grumpy isn't nearly enough to stop him from rambling! Rook can be redirected, at least temporarily--but in time, he may come to regret admitting he doesn't understand how and why the world is beautiful. Not only that, but showing that it's a sore enough subject that he doesn't want to talk about it! Hitting a raw nerve with such a topic has implications, ones that Rook is filing away along with the rest of his observations about Riddle.

For now, though? There's some mercy; Rook starts filling and stacking trays with their tiny dessert plates, so they can make progress on making their rounds. Better gather up enough forks, too, and a bin so people can give back their dirty dishes! "Oui! I've always found work goes faster when you have something to talk about, myself--but I suppose you can't tell me where to go if you're distracted, can you? Shall we feed your subjects while it's still warm, then?"

Assuming they can find everyone before it finishes cooling, that is. But why go on a wild goose chase through the whole dorm, when he suspects it will be a fairly simple matter to rally the troops instead?

This was meant to be a simple task. Something that would get Rook to understand the layout of the dorm, the complexities of it all and where each student was staying. Surely one round would be enough-- if they ever completed it. Their journey came to a halt, after they'd passed through one of the winding halls, when a group started to form. Chattering was happening, boys sharing words and whispers, and... really, it was a little too much for Riddle. He hadn't meant to have them assemble in any sense of the word, and now, here they are.

He can't demand them to go back to their rooms. Not when they are dutifully greeting Rook and taking their slices in an orderly fashion. He makes a face, clearly frustrated and annoyed with the group that had formed, biting back a comment as he grips onto his staff, pressing it into the ground by his side. Can Rook feel the rage that's seeping from the small Housewarden, that he can truly say nothing about?

Riddle breathes out a huffy sigh, turning his gaze away. Should he let Rook find his own way to the room he'd be staying in? Or, should he stick here to let him finish up and THEN finish the tour-?

Either way....
This wouldn't have happened in this manner if Trey was here. Or, if Riddle were to yell at them, but he doesn't want to ... do something foolish, when they're not doing anything wrong.

It's really not hard to take advantage of the situation. All it takes is a little commotion, like a few enthusiastic greetings and the buzz of animated conversation--and like a swarm of busy bees gathering around a rosebush in full bloom, the card soldiers found their way to them one after another. Why wouldn't they, when those who were finished with their treats and didn't feel like chatting were bound to wander off and tell their friends?

It's a fun, lively occasion, after all! What's your name? What's your favorite treat? He's never tried making those before, but he promised Trey he'd do his best to keep everyone happy and well-fed. There isn't anything he can help with, is there? That's why he's here for the whole week, if they need anything! Oh, that book you're carrying--he lovesthat author! If you like them, he has a few other recommendations you'll probably enjoy, too. You watched a movie this weekend? Which one? Isn't that actor dreamy? Maybe they should have a watch party sometime! Did you see their latest interview? What do you think that new mystery release they were hinting at is? Did you know the movie they did a few years ago is actually based on a stage production?

They're certainly sticking to the letter of the law, if not the spirit; the line moves along, quick and orderly. Rook is busily flitting around, handing out plates and accepting dirty dishes in turn, eagerly chattering away with the group collecting along the edges of the gathering as he works. Riddle had wanted him to get to know the students he'd be serving, right? Their tour may be stalled out for the moment, but he's certainly going above and beyond in fulfilling that particular duty. Doesn't he look happy, making everyone smile while they all get acquainted?

Even Riddle's simmering anger isn't enough to dim his mood any, when he's having so much fun settling in. Careful, Riddle; you might just find yourself cozied up to, if he finds a moment to spare. Why don't you come enjoy mingling with your subjects? Don't you want to have fun with everyone?

It's too much.

Yes, Riddle is used to mingling with his subjects, on a mediated basis. Usually, Trey and Cater are by his sides, taking the brunt of the social interaction. Now? Now, Rook seems to almost be inviting the conversation, encouraging those around them to continue talking, to keep having a conversation that they were interested in. He's a people's person, that much is obvious.

So, Riddle does what he needs to. He shifts, and slips out when he can. Between a few different people, dipping away with the crowd and...

Well, Rook will come find him when he's done mingling, yes?

Hopefully he doesn't catch up to him and stop him, or... well, Trey did warn him about the jumpscares. But, surely he can't be worse than anyone else, right?

Sorry, Rook, you're on your own now~!

The conversation keeps flowing on and on, Rook keeps working faithfully--but perhaps Riddle feels the prickle of eyes on the back of his neck, as he flees? Rook's task may not be done yet, but his escape hasn't gone unnoticed--only unremarked on. For now.

He can go find Riddle again after this is all over, once he's proven that he can be trusted with a task independently, too. It'll even go faster than it otherwise would, in spite of the chatter; at least one or two students are bound to be engaged enough in their conversation to follow him into the kitchen, and help him wash up and put everything away. That's what teamwork is all about!

Now, to go find Riddle again..... It's not hard to guess where the boy might be, given his intention to show him around earlier. The tour was bound to end where he'd be staying. But he's visited Trey plenty of times, hasn't he? He already knows where his room is. It's not hard to find--nor is it hard to open the door and approach silently. Rook only speaks up once he's directly behind Riddle, smile bright as he peeks over his shoulder at what the boy is busying himself with. "Do you need any help with that?"

Thank Seven he was able to get away. The crowds, where he was used to controlling them, had become too much. Being on the same level as his subjects was usually no trouble, except in a case like this one: where he was not the host, not the one putting on the little show. He could control them if he decided to break it up, to be a cruel queen all over again... but he's trying to change, to be better.

So sneaking away it was.

He ends up in Trey's room, making himself... 'look' busy, for the most part. He first adjusts the sheets, making sure that the school-issued blankets were in order. Then he moved to the desk, grabbing a pen from the drawer and nabbing a piece of paper. Surely Trey wouldn't mind. If he did... that's his problem.

He just about starts to jot down a list when the voice comes from behind him, startling him to the point he drags the pen across the paper as he's writing, squeezing it tight. He turns his head to look at Rook.

Really, Trey did warn him, but.........

"Must you not announce your presence before getting so close?!"

"Ah, pardonne-moi! I thought you would be expecting me." After all, Riddle had left him to his own devices, hadn't he? Surely he had done so with the expectation that he would come find him again--at least to be told about his other duties and given another task, if not for a proper tour.

Oh, well! It's not like startling the poor thing is anything to worry about, now that he's apologized, right? The height difference between them is even more pronounced, now that Riddle is sitting down; Rook easily leans over him to take a closer look at the list-in-progress. "What are you working on?"

vice swap gone wrong

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