'cause you're my king and I'm your lionheart

[selfie_centered]

♦️🌹

and in the sea that's painted black
creatures lurk below the deck
but you're a queen and I'm a lionheart

CODE

Comments

One Bed cos we all love it

[selfie_centered]

[Field trips at NRC are always a mixed bag, but it usually is some sort of monkey's paw situation where they get to do something that counts as being kind of fun but totally comes with a bunch of catches. Usually because of the headmaster.

This time the catch is shared rooms. It's not like Cater's spent two whole years waiting for his own room. It's not like Housewardens are used to single-room setups either! It's not like Cater has been running around splitting all day to keep track of a million freshmen and is looking forward to the next time he'll be alone, because there's absolutely no point to that.

But the others are all filed into their rooms first— Ace assigned to his and Deuce's usual roommate, Deuce paired up with Trey, and with all the others on the trip accounted for that leaves Riddle and Cater in the last remaining room. Which wouldn't be a problem...

...if it wasn't the only room in the inn with only one bed. It's one of those themed stays, too, with strange wallpaper and decor in each room, and this one really is... what it is. One could maybe make the argument that once it was intended to be a wedding suite, with everything covered in lace and white ribbon roses, but it's serving #Grandma. It's giving Little Old Lady.

And more than that, Cater's head is already spinning; because there is not a second bed in this tiny little closet of a room. Just one dusty bed with the fluffiest looking comforter Cater's ever seen.

He whistles upon seeing it, starting to take pictures of the whole room with his phone camera.]

Talk about fresh digs, huh...?

[It's... far from Cater's style, but he probably shouldn't be super rude in front of Riddle. Probably shouldn't give him any indication that this could be a bother. Maybe... maybe things will be okay?]

we do, but they don't--

[crimsontyrant]

[ Shared rooms. That, frankly, sealed the deal on this whole trip being a nuisance more than a good learning experience. The freshmen were excited, for a change of pace and a change of roommates, but for Riddle, the other housewardens, and all of the third years? This was more than frustrating.

Whatever. All they had to do was get through one or two nights in a room.
The last room in the Inn.
The smallest room in the Inn, the most intimate one, to Riddle's standards. The lace, ribbons, and white tone to almost everything was sickening. If he were a bit more inclined to make jokes, he might mention that this room could use some red paint to decorate the white roses.

He isn't at all inclined to do that.

Instead, he scowls. ]

It looks like somewhere they would shove the happy-go-lucky newlyweds to keep in the spirit of their celebration.

[ He's already in a bad mood, sorry Cater. It'd been a long day, especially for the Housewardens. Riddle shuffles in, ignoring the pictures Cater is taking in favor of dropping his small bag by the bed. ]

they can suffer for our amusement

[selfie_centered]

[Ah, RIP. Cater's sure Riddle's looking away when his shoulders fall. Alright, alright. Time to do some damage control and keep things cute with a little Cay-Cay magic.

The phone goes in the pocket, and Cater swings back over to place his bag next to Riddle's.]

NGL, I'd really hope we'd end up somewhere way more cammable if we got married.

[Body language is always important in the art of manipulation, and so Cater tries to model for Riddle in the cool-and-chill department. A casual lean, a gentle elbow to Riddle's— it's total bro time. Everything's fine.]

C'mon, it's a bonding opportunity!

Riddle and Cay-Cay, kickin' it in the world's gaudiest hotel room.

absolutely...................

[crimsontyrant]

[ Ugh. Cater's acting like this is all fine and dandy, when in fact, everything is a mess. He's tired, exhausted, ready to flop into bed and take a long-needed rest, but... ]

We would--

[ Ah. He's close. Riddle narrows his eyes briefly, before breathing out a sigh and turning his head up to look Cater in the face. ]

A bonding opportunity... Fine. But rest assured, we will not speak about the state of our room to anyone else.

... You better not be planning to keep me up all night.

[selfie_centered]

[Jeez. Riddle sure can level an intense stare. For someone unquestionably shorter than Cater, Riddle's presence may as well be ten feet tall...]

No way!

I'll be on my best, most discretion-keeping behavior, housewarden~

Pinky promise.

[And he really does hold out his pinky— not that he's expecting Riddle to take him up on it. He's pretty sure this level of teasing is still well within reasonable bounds.]

[crimsontyrant]

[ There has only been one instance of a 'pinky promise' in this little Rose's life. He continues to stare for a moment, at the outstretched pinky and at Cater, before... ]

How... childish.

[ Lifting his hand, his pinky curls to grasp onto Cater's. ]

There. It's sealed now.

[ How in the world is this something that worked. Why did it work. Is the world ending??? ]

[selfie_centered]

[wait, that... did work? Cater hadn't planned for that. There's a second where he stares at Riddle's pinky curled around his, preoccupied with how cute his housewarden's hand is. Like he's never noticed (but oh, he's noticed). He has to swallow down the strange feeling in his chest, but he powers through, putting on a cutesy smile.]

Yay~♡

Now I really do have to behave.

[nailed the landing.

oh man. he can not be having thoughts like this before he's about to lay in bed with the guy, though! it's not like he wasn't aware his! HOUSEWARDEN! (he'll remind himself!) is adorable, but...

anyway Cater just so very casually pulls away to start looking for his bag again. The bag he just put down next to Riddle's.]

So, uh, you a closer-to-the-door kinda guy or a closer-to-the-wall type? When you're sleeping, I mean.

[crimsontyrant]

[ This would be just fine. That's what Riddle is telling himself, as the two of them stand there like that, pinkies locked for probably a minute too long. Cater's hand was bigger than his own, and-

And Riddle can't help but think about how it might feel to hold all of his hand.

Ugh. Come on, focus.....!

As they retract, Riddle shifts to where both of their bags are sat, lifting his own up onto the bed to begin pulling out his sleepwear. Might as well get changed before it gets too late in the evening, right? ]

The door.

[ A simple answer. He spares a glance towards Cater- ]

Will that be fine? I can be flexible, too, if necessary.

[ He wants to make sure this is comfortable for Cater as well, that he can sleep well despite their arrangements. It wouldn't do either of them any good to miss sleep, even if this may be a little more on the awkward side. ]

[selfie_centered]

[It's fine. It's still totally fine, and Cater definitely doesn't keep thinking about it. It's like his finger's buzzing or something...]

Oh, yeah, it's totes cool.

[It shouldn't be a problem. He shouldn't need to get up in the middle of the night for anything, anyway. A half-turn and Cater seems to remember where he'd put his damn bag down, and seeks to pull out his sleepwear, too, starting with the big ol cozy sweater he dunks his fingers into immediately. The softness of it is grounding enough.]

I get kinda cold sometimes, but everything should be good.

LMK if I'm stretching out too much or something though.

[Juuuust because Riddle's smaller does not mean he needs to be crowded off the bed.]

it's still a secret, isn't it?

[crimsontyrant]

[ One strange night that changed everything. The way that Riddle looked at Cater, the thoughts he had in the moments they were alone, brief as they may be. But none of that was outwards towards him. No, instead... the morning after, Riddle treated him like normal. As if nothing had happened between the two of them.

All they were were friends, who were exploring the world together one step at a time through their school lives. He goes back to bossing him around, treating Cater the same as always. Nothing changed. The longer that Riddle puts it out of his mind, decides on that fact, the easier it was to pretend it was true.

But something had, and it was a little lie that he couldn't keep up.

It's been, what? Maybe three days back on campus? Life seemed.. back to normal.

Riddle hasn't been able to sleep a wink since getting back. Sure, he'd fall asleep in his own bed, but he was tossing and turning, no longer comfortable in his bed alone. It's a strange feeling, one he isn't sure how to grapple with.

The only solution he can come up with?

... Was this.

He stands outside Cater's room, after lights out, already in his own pajamas, with a book and a pillow held to his chest. A soft knock can be heard against his door. Was Cater still awake? Surely yes- Riddle knows he has a tendency to stay up later than he'd like to know. ]

[selfie_centered]

[Normal was better. What had happened was.. unexpected, to say the least, and it should stay that way. Riddle's behavior makes Cater sure it should stay that way.

It's true that something had changed for Cater, that Riddle had a different gleam to him. That his smile shone more brilliantly, almost hard to look at. That his voice sent a startle through Cater, though not for fear of being caught breaking rules.

But hey, Cater's always been able to keep his cool.

And that's what he's been doing tonight too, lazing around in bed in his sweater (that he swears still smells a little like roses, but no, he isn't thinking about it) and scrolling through magicam when—]

Just a minute!

[who's knocking at this time of night..? he rolls out of bed, gets the door and—

stares down at Riddle with big ol eyes.]

...Housewarden,

[He isn't sure how to respond. Hadn't practiced for Riddle interrupting his hard work in avoiding thinking about him.]

What's up?

[crimsontyrant]

[ Normal was supposed to be better. Supposed to be right, what they were meant to aim for. Even so, normal didn't feel right.

Riddle doesn't know how he feels, doesn't understand what he wants to some degree (or, maybe he's just that deep in denial?), but he still found himself following his heart, following an impulse to even show up at all.

He clutches his pillow closer, turning his chin up slightly at Cater, as if he was looking down on him when really, that's impossible. Always has been always will be... aside from some special circumstances. ]

Is it not obvious?

[ He asks, eyes narrowed as if somehow, Cater was in the wrong for not understanding. ]

I came to ask if it would be alright for me to spend the night with you tonight.

[ Stand your ground, Rosehearts, make it clear what you want. Be obvious, be as open as possible. ]

... I've been having a hard time sleeping alone the last few nights. I thought maybe another 'sleepover' would fix the issue.

[selfie_centered]

[it's such a blessing that Riddle always seems to know what he wants. couldn't be Cater, but Seven, is it easy to fall in line.

Riddle's right. what was he thinking? any fatigue, any worry, any confusion blinks away from Cater's face as he puts on a grin.]

Whoa, back for another boy's night with Cay-cay?

Lucky~

[lucky. yeah. that's what he is. lucky, and not dry-mouthed, not stalling the sea of questions rushing to his brain.

Well, any of those questions he could ask, he'd rather not ask them with the door open, anyway. So he ushers Riddle in with an arm around the housewarden's shoulder.

...look, it's just that he can't have his housewarden going without sleep. none of them can.]

Sure, I'm down to hang with you any time.

[crimsontyrant]

[ If only Cater knew the struggle that Riddle was having, trying to figure out what he wanted in this case. Knowing what he wants here does not mean he knows what he wants in general.

Or, knows how to ask for it.
Or if he even can.

If that night was a secret, then surely they couldn't expand the secret to cover multiple nights, unless they re-establish the terms of the 'contract'. Not that they even had a contract in the first place. It was simply a deal made via the most childish promise type ever.

Yet here he is, following inside Cater's room and making sure the door ends up closed behind them. ]

I did not wake you, did I?

[ Instead of getting to the point, of thinking any more about the what if's and do i's, Riddle asks a simple question, his expression softening now that he'd gotten the main thing he wanted. He can't exactly he upset with Cater if he's been accepted with open arms, right? ]

Do be careful offering such a thing. I might just come spend every night with you, if that's the case.

[selfie_centered]

[Woof. Jeez. Cater hopes the heat he feels in his neck doesn't show. Hearing something like that said by Riddle... sure, it's a lot because it's Riddle. but Riddle's voice is so...

well, it's the kind of voice that makes it a little tough for Cater not to dwell too long on the idea of 'every night'. Riddle Rosehearts basically just said 'don't threaten me with a good time'.]

Hm~? I'm always careful~

[a practically sing-song voice. is Riddle... teasing him? that's cute. that's so cute. it's normal to think your underclassman loosening up is cute.]

but, nah. I was just checkin' out some new posts on the 'cam.

Hey, check it out—

[he pulls his phone out with the quickness to show Riddle what he's been looking at;]

Vil's new cosmetic promo just dropped~!

[see? it's all chill. it's all casual. it's very in vogue to accept very sudden sleepovers from your adorable housewarden you definitely are in control of your feelings for.]

[crimsontyrant]

[ Cater took his little tease in stride. Good, things must be okay between the two of them, then. Riddle is watching his every move, trying to make sure that the two of them hadn't ruined anything between them.

If anything, this felt like... they were even closer than before. It was a positive, something that meant... this was okay. A new normal was beginning to form for them, shaping their interactions in ways that Riddle never thought possible.

Riddle begins to move towards the bed, dropping his pillow there and only turning to look back as Cater pulls out his phone. He certainly doesn't understand the appeal of Magicam, despite it being something Cater spent so much time with, but he can appreciate their classmate's posting all the same. ]

Is that a new cleanser he's promoting? I wonder if it does any better than what I use currently...

[ Riddle hums lightly in thought, before already moving to climb into Cater's bed. Yeah, no stopping him now, this is happening. ]

You have Advanced Potionology with him, yes? Could I trouble you to ask him for a top ingredient list? I could use a new cleanser for my makeup, but some of the fancier ones tend to react poorly to me.

[ This kind of sounds like a conversation a couple would have before bed, asking the other to do something during their day for them--

It's fine. That's normal. That's Fine. ]

[selfie_centered]

[Oh yeah, that's so normal. Riddle all wrapped up for sleep, crawling into Cater's bed. he bites the inside of his cheek— yeah, okay, definitely not dreaming.]

—Yeah, sure. I bet that's just the kind of question he'd like to answer, actually.

[as opposed to Cater's poorly disguised selfie opportunities. rip.

he should probably do something other than just stand there— so he kind of fidgets in place for a second before—]

Oh, I have the power strip over here if you need to charge anything. And—

[Cater picks up one of his silly-faced stuffed pals and plomfs it in Riddle's arms, definitely not a temporary buffer between the two of them.]

Watch my friend for me while I finish up~

[finish up what. his inner crisis?]

stargazing

[selfie_centered]

[it's definitely past lights out in Heartslabyul.

as far as anyone else saw, a Cater definitely made it back to his room at the right time. it's an easy trick to use to score an hour or so more in the night, to get a look at the man-made stars in their pocket of reality.

how crazy even is that? there's so many things magic can do. sometimes, Cater feels about as real as those stars.

visible. notable. perceivable. but not really there. even the real stars are ones whose light is reaching them after years and years and years, stars that may very well be gone by the time they're seen from Twisted Wonderland.

what a thought to have, sitting out by the rose maze in the grass in his pyjamas, phone in his crossed-legged lap. ah, well.

at least he's alone out here, he thinks.]

[crimsontyrant]

[ There are not often times that Riddle stays up past lights out. Even less often that he sneaks out of his own dorm room. Further so that he manages to make it out of the dorm and into the gardens in his own pajamas, wandering somewhat aimlessly.

Tonight was a ... strange night.

There were others. Occasions, in which he'd wander from his room before lights out, to get some air. To not feel so trapped.

He needed more, tonight. To breathe, for a little while, the air that was supposedly fresh, man-made as this whole realm was.

... So here he was. Wandering near silently through the maze, his eyes moving from roses to the sky and back down to those roses. One particular white rose seems to have been brushed awkwardly -- probably by a freshman -- some of the petals having fallen to the ground.

It takes him a moment to scoop them up, holding those four little petals in his hands. And he continues, up until that point where he finds out he isn't alone.

There, sitting among the roses, was Cater.
He doesn't say anything.

Riddle walks, soon moving to sit down next to him, sitting directly on his knees, with his thighs on his shins, akin to a child who plopped down to look at something pretty in the grass.

For now, all he does is look up at those same stars, quiet. ]

[selfie_centered]

[it takes way too long for Cater to realize Riddle is approaching him. way too long!

when he does, Cater bristles immediately, a hand reaching for his pocket, his mouth ready to murmur and—

and it's Riddle, not anyone else.

and it's Riddle, not coming to scold him or anything like that, just sitting quietly beside him. Cater stills, relaxes a touch, staring at his underclassman, his housewarden, and takes him in.

it might be tough to tell what's on Cater's mind by the crease of his brow, the hesitance in his voice. it crackles like he hasn't used it in an hour or so, sticky from the way his mouth has been set in contemplation.]

...Soooo, is it off with my head or just off to bed with me, then?

[crimsontyrant]

[ It's Riddle, not even looking Cater's way as he sits quietly with him. Those stormy eyes are focused up above.

Similarly, it's near impossible to tell what's on Riddle's mind, too. Only when Cater speaks up does he actually look to him again, his emotions imperceptible even through that gaze of his.

He shakes his head in response. ]

Neither.

[ Unheard of, really.
There's a reason for it. If he scolded Cater, it would be easy to turn it right back onto him. He can't exactly say that Cater's doing something wrong when he, too, is sitting here far enough after lights out that he'd need to write them both up. ]

We can stay out here a while longer.
I won't tell.

[ Unless Cater wants to be alone?
... He's not going to ask. ]

[selfie_centered]

[I won't tell.

You already promised; no one has to know.

It'll be our little secret.

what were they doing?

it startles a quiet laugh out of Cater, who pushes his hair out of his face almost as if nervous, shakes his head.]

Oh, good.

I was kinda worried there, for a second.

[he casts his hand through his hair all the way this time, lets his fingers curl in the ends with just the slightest tug. did he want to be alone? part of him, sure. but part of him had maybe wished to be closer. a part of him that he was ignoring so desperately really wanted to be closer.

not that it matters. Riddle is here, and Cater won't push him away. not yet, anyway.]

I... kinda figured you'd be asleep by now.

[crimsontyrant]

[ Whatever they're doing, it's certainly breaking out from some of the rules that Riddle set out for himself. The ones he thought were right, the ones his mother instilled in his head.

He's supposed to be asleep by now.
He's supposed to focus on his studies.
He's supposed to not allow anything to distract him from being who he should be.

How can he deny that he wants more? ]

I... tried.

[ He doesn't sound so sure about that, even if it is the truth. He tried, sure, but not all that hard.

He lets his own gaze fall back down to his hands, where one holds those little flower petals. He breathes out a quiet breath he'd been holding, setting those petals down onto the grass, near the closest rose bush. ]

What about you? I'd heard you had already slipped into your room, a short while before lights out. One of your little tricks, I assume?

[ It's not accusatory, more... mentioning it, that he'd noticed. Or that he'd gathered this information, one way or another. ]

Better be careful, Cater. I've heard our housewarden can be pretty strict on rulebreakers.

[selfie_centered]

Oh yeah?

Iii caught a rumor somewhere he always lets me off the hook, so.

[Cater laughs, but it's not particularly mirthy. he smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. gaze trained on the stars he continues to convince himself that it's funny. that it doesn't matter. that it doesn't bother him.

does it bother him that Riddle saw through his little trick? of course. of course he is.

what else is Riddle seeing through?

what does Cater keep doing wrong?]

But, uh, hey.

Who even said I'm not the copy, huh?

I could totally be in bed right now.

[crimsontyrant]

[ There's a lot to unpack in that one question.

What if this is the copy?
Would it matter? Would Cater remember this? Is it still really Cater, if this one he's talking to is just a copy? He has a surefire way to check, if he were to collar this one in front of him. It would vanish, if it were a copy. If it were the real Cater, then... there would be no change.

It isn't something Riddle wants to do.

Instead, he leans slightly towards Cater, as if scrutinizing, inspecting. ]

It doesn't matter. Either way, I'm still here with you. A you, regardless of copy or original.

[ Then he leans back again, forming that same distance between them as before, his chin tilted slightly up towards Cater. ]

Although, I think I am pretty confident in saying you are not the copy.

And if you are the copy, well. Then at least I will be humored for a short while, to believe I have a little of your time. Even if it may be nothing more than an illusion of it, a silly delusion of my own.