'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

[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?]

[crimsontyrant]

[ As much as Cater tries to hide it, there's this nervous energy to him that Riddle is catching on about, more and more. His words are chosen just right, but he still needs to choose them.

Also, didn't Cater just say he was just scrolling on Magicam? What is there to finish up? Does the confusion seem to stick on his face, making his brows knit together, as his hands moving to allow him to hug the silly plush close to his chest?

It was on instinct that he even wraps his arms more properly around it. His eyes are stuck on Cater, following the way he's fidgeting, squirming.

Okay, no, he isn't going to just sit there and be unsure what's going on. ]

Are you sure it's alright that I'm here? You seem off.

[ Is the first question, as he rests his chin atop the plush, hugging it a little tighter to himself.

Cater, you fucked yourself. He's even cuter with something like this in his arms. ]

[selfie_centered]

[for a moment Cater is safe, distracted by his 'finishing up', which apparently involves putting some hair oil in the ends, a step he might have skipped if left to his own scrolling devices.]

Huh? I'm cool with it,

[He answers, sounding rather surprised. did he seem off?

was his act not working?

Cater looks over his shoulder and—

oh. well. Riddle really does look cuter with something to hold.

it's maybe not normal to feel a little jealous of a stuffed shape.]

I uh...

[a blink, a smile, and Cater's back in the game.]

It's just a little unexpected! Maybe I would've invited you already if I'd known you were so into the idea.

[right. right! this is just... good, for Riddle!]

[crimsontyrant]

[ That answer didn't really satisfy Riddle. He continues to watch Cater closely, the tiniest pout forming and vanishing as quickly as it had come.

He can't be mad at Cater for something he's perceiving all on his own, without confirmation on it. Besides - it's up to Cater to tell him if he needs to go, if he isn't actually okay with this.

But... ]

Would you tell me if you weren't 'cool with it'?

[ The question is shot back, before he breathes out a little huff, reaching out a hand towards him. ]

Hurry up. Your little friend and I are cold all alone here, and I haven't the slightest clue how patient they may be.

[ Okay, the pout was back. Just a little. A small one, enough to show Cater he was serious. ]

[selfie_centered]

[But Cater looks at Riddle a little longer, his brow creased.

No, that's not what he's made Riddle think, is it? it's not like before. It's changed. it's different.

so Cater does join Riddle at the bed, but he doesn't quite lay down. he kneels instead, looking imploringly at Riddle.]

Yeah, I would.

You know that, right?

[the smile he gives Riddle is trying to coax another out of Riddle. but it's not the same candy-sweet as normal. it's just a smile.

this is more important than his stupid doubts.

Riddle is more important than any of his doubts.]

[crimsontyrant]

[ Things got very serious very quickly, didn't they?

A simple question led to a look like that from Cater, one that said more than either of them could parse, probably.

Riddle is sat, his knees part way up, arms pressing that plushy close and squeezing it to his chest. From where Cater's sat, he must look pathetic, doesn't he? He can only think, can only wonder, what might be going through his head. ]

I want to know that.

[ It's not wholly on Cater. Not at all. There's a struggle on Riddle's end, to understand that he can ask for what he needs, what he wants.

It's a terrifying thought, to think that Cater might be lying, might be harboring a hatred for him with all of his consistent demands. Or, even worse: a fear of him.

Slowly, he releases the plush, setting it aside and leaning forward, pressing both of his hands down on the bed as he does, to keep him up. He needs to shake this line of thought, when he was the one who forced them to go back to a sense of "normalcy" after what had happened between them.

He just needs. One more confirmation. One little answer. ]

You aren't lying, are you?

[selfie_centered]

[Cater doesn't speak at first. Just shakes his head, a flutter of ginger waves.]

No.

[There's a gravity to it. A reverence, perhaps. Because more than any of those stupid hormonal feelings, he hasn't grasped what he'd do in this situation, when Riddle really needs him— maybe not him, specifically, but someone, because of all the things that Riddle's mother wasn't. has Cater imagined it? certainly. he's had to. wanted to. wanted to be the person that he wasn't before, for someone who deserved it. for someone who never deserved the person he was being before.

for someone who almost died, because all Cater ever did before was run away.


but imagining isn't really the same as doing, and Cater isn't perfectly sure what he is doing, aside from being honest. because Riddle needs someone to be honest.

because he deserves someone to be honest, even when it's uncomfortable. because he deserves someone to actually recognize the work he puts in.]

For real.

I wouldn't say you've been doing better if you weren't, okay?

You've been putting in a ton of hard work, queen!

[ he's finding his confidence the more he speaks, throwing a little animation into it. balling his free fist up, cheering with it at 'queen'. ]

I know you'd hear me out! I'm cool with it.

[he is, of course, too dense, to self-abandoning, to imagine that some of the things he ought to voice are things that have to do with his own comfort as opposed to anyone else's but don't think too hard about that!

what he is thinking about, is how to hook Riddle in, get him to take the bait and trust him.

...that's right.

Cater pulls his hand away to instead offer a hooked pinky.]

Pinky promise.

[do not think about how they absolutely fucked up their first one. totally doesn't count.]

[crimsontyrant]

[ Difficult as it was to untangle his heart, his feelings, to push aside any hormonal desires or needs in favor of understanding how he felt, Riddle finds himself sat there watching Cater, both awaiting his answer and then following as he begins to gain more and more of that confidence.

There is, undoubtedly, something missing. A reassurance of Cater's own comfort in the situation. Not just was he okay with this but did he want this? They're words that Riddle struggles to speak, struggles to bring to life in his current state, trying to listen and understand.

Then there's that hooked pinky, outstretched for him.

And he laughs. Quiet, incredulous, amused in all senses of the word at how much of a silly boy Cater was at times. ]

...

You're a fool, Cater.

[ Riddle's hand comes up, his pinky hooking with Cater's easily, accepting that. Trusting him, for the moment. Either of them could fuck this up within seconds. Riddle wants to trust that they won't. That this will work out, whatever 'this' is.

He keeps their pinkies hooked, offering Cater a smile, finally, on the tail end of that little laugh.

... It's nice.

To have someone play the fool, in a way that is so very endearing rather than frustrating. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because of who is playing the fool, that Riddle doesn't mind it.

Would it be different, if it weren't Cater?
How different would this moment be, if it were, say, Trey?

Riddle's gaze is focused, on their linked pinkies. A fond, quiet and distracted gaze.

Cater knew just what to say, didn't he? ]

[selfie_centered]

[It's probably better that Riddle can't manifest the words he's looking for. they're not really words Cater is ready to confront. the confident, secure Cater that he's always presented to Riddle doesn't have answers for him, and that's not really Riddle's fault.

but right now, as it is? Cater is so happy to be called a fool. so happy to hear Riddle's laugh. so sure he's said exactly what his queen needs to hear.

so thoughtlessly, blissful for just a moment in his little victory, happy little Cater just stares at their linked pinkies and smiles, giving Riddle's a squeeze.]

Well, I'm pretty sure the Queen's court had to have a jester at some point.

What do you think?

[flashing Riddle a grin, he tilts his head to the side. just to seal the deal. has to have the follow through. ham it up a little longer, and Riddle might get a little stronger.]

Am I the right guy for the job?

[crimsontyrant]

[ Is Cater's history a little rusty? Yes, the Queen had a jester of some kind... sort of. But that person couldn't be Cater. No, that person was never Cater, as foolish as he was.

There was one other, who Cater fit the role of.

Almost instantly, as Cater's asking with that dopey grin on his face, Riddle shakes his head, a quick little shake to showcase his opinion on the matter. ]

No, I don't believe so.

[ Riddle squeezes back, lifting his eyes to look at Cater, and bringing a hand up to his chin in thought. ]

You're more similar to the King of Hearts.

Her trusted confidant, the one she would listen to no matter what. The only one who could change her mind, to force her hand to be a little more gentle, a little more kind.

[ Riddle only seems to realize what he's saying after the words leave his lips.

Ah.
He-- totally didn't mean it in any weird way. Please, Cater, don't take it weird.

His grip tightens, as he tries to keep his heartbeat steady.
No, he's not like, asking for your hand in marriage, but he's also not not??? Seven save him. ]

[selfie_centered]

[ Cater does take it in a weird way, perhaps, but maybe not the way Riddle expects.

there's nothing but pure surprise in his eyes. not overwhelming. just the clear and present vibe that Riddle has said something that Cater has never even thought to consider before. disgust or concern or whatever else Riddle is worried about can't even begin to occur to him.]

That's— how you think of me?

[it's not that he thinks Riddle is lying. Riddle wouldn't lie. not to him. not about this. it wouldn't make any sense. there are no stakes. so it doesn't sound accusatory; just as innocent as anyone asking a question about something they don't know.]

[crimsontyrant]

[ Riddle did this to himself. He's the one on trial right now, but not a trial like in the Queen's court. No risk of being beheaded.

This is a trial of feelings, of honesty. A love trial?

All he can do is nod, a quick, curt nod. Then, he's lifting his chin up, avoiding looking at Cater, despite how their pinkies are still locked together so tightly. ]

That and more.

[ His voice is quiet, as if he doesn't want Cater to actually hear him admit that.

It's weird! It's embarrassing!! It's totally how one should think of a friend, right?? Right. ]

sorry for sending you a 'they said the title of the movie' tag but

[selfie_centered]

I—

[Cater's brows knit, one quirked in a stupid way, his smile sheepish and— shy. a rare thing to let show. Selfie-centered Cater Diamond? shy? surely not. and yet, he admits;]

I don't think I know what to say to that.

[but for all his attempts at honesty still comes the damage control;]

B-but— not that you should take it back, or anything. No backsies.

[crimsontyrant]

[ In those books he reads, this would be the moment where one character kisses the other. Where they embrace in a way that seals the reality of their relationship, whatever it may be.

As much as Riddle cannot keep his mind from wandering there, he also will not make that move. Not right now.

Instead, ]

Then, [ Riddle releases his pinky finally, leaning back some. ] Don't say anything. It isn't as if I asked for a response. All I was doing was being honest; you may be a fool, but the role of a jester wouldn't fit you. Simple as that.

[ BUT IT'S NOT NEARLY THAT SIMPLE!!!! ]

[selfie_centered]

[it's not. it's not so simple. wouldn't it be nice though, if it was?

but Riddle said it himself. he didn't ask for a response. and that slight little permission, that loophole, is what Cater slips through like a cunning little dormouse as he pushes himself up onto the bed with Riddle.]

Well, I'm king of the bed now, and I'm pretty sure it's almost time for lights-out.

So!

[he crawls in, starting to pull back the blankets, and cues;]

Time to get cozy! King Cater's orders~

[he winks. King Cater's alllll your fault, Riddle.]

[crimsontyrant]

[ Pff-- okay, Riddle will regret that later. For now? He stifles another small laugh, shifting to move off of the blanket, to let Cater pull them back.

Then, he's shuffling in, to get under them and get comfortable in the bed, already getting cozy, but

There's something else he wants.
Something more than just laying next to each other in bed.

He moves, reaching out to grab onto Cater's sleeve, of that sweater, to try and pull him closer. ]

I was not kidding-- I'm cold. It's your turn to take care of that, is it not?

[ Asking directly, without beating around it, while still... somewhat asking indirectly. He's mastered this, truly. ]

[selfie_centered]

[with the blankets pulled halfway over as though he'd planned to, perhaps, throw them over the both of them, Cater finds himself pulled a little closer. he can't help but think Riddle's asking for more than just a cuddle.

maybe it's terrible of him to wonder that. well, it's fine. he still thinks he's the jester. he can play it off as a joke.

Cater leans in close, twisting some of Riddle's earlier words against him.]

Careful,

[asshole. he can give a mean bedroom eye when he wants to.]

I might start wondering what kind of sleepover you're really here for.

[punctuated with a wink. see, queen? he's just joking.



unless.]

[crimsontyrant]

[ Just because Riddle was amicable and in an okay mood, especially after Cater's reassurance, did not mean that Cater had permission to get that close, twist his words, use them against him in a way like this.

Riddle opens his mouth to speak, his eyes narrowing in annoyance.

His hand comes up to Cater's face, pressing to his cheek in a way that might seem intimate at first-

But then he shoves him. ]

Idiot.

[ He's not completely mad. It's more of a playful annoyance, if that makes sense? It's easy to tell he isn't actually angry, with the tone of his voice, the way he shoves Cater rather than threatens him. ]

Must you make such comments???

[ And now his other hand is pushing at his shoulder, shoving him lightly to prove his point.

Ignore that his cheeks got a little pinker, okay??? That's nothing. ]

[selfie_centered]

[how could Cater possibly resist any indication of play from Riddle Rosehearts? the guy deserves to play and Cater Diamond is up for a playdate any time anywhere. mostly.

even past that, it's totally not the reaction Cater expected. Cater's possibility predictions were so thrillingly off base. so he laughs, taken aback, and leans into it— both literally and figuratively.]

Whaaaat~? It's not against any of my rules.

[he returns Riddle's shove— gentle, testing, like a puppy testing another for a game.]

[crimsontyrant]

King of the Bed's rules are trumped by the Queen's rules, are they not?

[ Riddle's little declaration is followed by another push, a squirm of his smaller form, already gearing up to all but pounce Cater, if he keeps pushing back.

Hell, he's already shifting his weight, sitting up partially so he can look down at Cater better. ]

... Or must we fight, to see whose rules reign supreme, in this uncharted territory?

[ A direct challenge, a hint of fire in those bright blue eyes. He's Ready, he's... having a good time, being stupid with Cater.

Besides. No one will know, right? It's just them, just another time to bond and spend together. ]

[selfie_centered]

[Cater's so overcome with amusement and surprise that getting the physical highground on him is easy. he's incredulous, listening to Riddle talk like this, so much so that the idea that Cater probably shouldn't be as into it as he is fails to occur to him.

playfighting so outranks whatever dumb thoughts his brain wants to keep jumping back to!!]

You're really gonna fight me on this one? Might be the Queen's castle, but it is the King's bed!

[he levels Riddle with this mischievous, almost dark sort of smile that Riddle probably rarely sees thrown his way. he is so very serious about their very unserious playfighting, and reaches out to grab Riddle's wrist with a surprisingly firm hold.]

[crimsontyrant]

[ Upper body strength isn't a spot that Riddle excels in. However... he doesn't pull back when his wrist is grabbed. He's going to use that against Cater, just you watch! ]

I am. How else would we define the rules, to make sure they're set in stone?

[ Riddle's leg moves, to allow him to use what actual strength he does have, to push and shove. The leverage of his own wrist being grabbed? Yeah, he'll use that, falling into Cater and squirming to get atop him.

Or, whatever this position ends up being, with one of his hands grabbing his shoulder, the other trying to claim Cater's own wrist, and his legs straddling one of Cater's thighs.

Totally helping with the dumb thoughts. Yeah. ]