Chapter Text
The magic screen had given the group a free day to spend as they wished. Riddle couldn’t help but sigh as he thought over everything they had seen and learned over the course of their time in the theater room.
The housewarden was feeling a mix of gratitude and confusion. Just who was controlling the magic screen and why did they grace them with a second chance? Things didn’t seem to end too poorly for their future selves so why was there a need to fix what had gone wrong?
Sure, an overblot was scary and painful, but Riddle’s future self had seemingly recovered well enough and even improved himself and his attitude about following the rules so strictly. Oh, well. Riddle would worry about that another time.
With a content sigh knowing he had a free day from the chaos that was the future, Riddle left the bedroom to get breakfast. He was greeted by a new message from the screen.
‘Good morning: Please note that starting tomorrow the viewing will change slightly. Instead of continuing to show future events, you will all react to small moments over the course of your school year. There are also a few songs created by you all that you will be shown, as well as some songs created from the feelings each of the overblotters had before their overblot happened.’
The message didn’t go away, likely to be broadcasted for the entire day to make sure everyone had a chance to see it. The last sentence worried Riddle but there was nothing he could do about it, he had fully accepted that all of his innermost thoughts and feelings were going to be revealed to the people he was stuck with.
It wasn’t ideal but Riddle could deal with the shame if it helped them all in the long run. He pushed the new knowledge to the back of his mind and entered the kitchen. Trey greeted him with a smile, pulling something out of the oven as he did so. “Hey. How did you sleep?” He asked.
Riddle smiled back. “I slept well, thank you. How did you sleep?” Trey could hide it all he wanted but Riddle knew that he hadn’t slept well since they had been taken.
“I slept fine. I woke up early and decided to make something. Jade helped me out again on account that I teach him more ways to use mushrooms in baked goods.”
It definitely sounded like a Jade thing to do. “I see. I can’t wait to try it.” It didn’t look like a tart of any kind, something new Trey was working on perhaps? The only way to learn was to try it.
Trey served him a slice of the dish, smiling all the while. From the way he couldn’t stop moving, Riddle could tell that he was excited to hear his housewarden’s verdict on the new creation. Riddle chuckled at the thought and took a bite. “Oh! It’s delicious, Trey.” According to Trey, his palette wasn’t refined, but clearly his opinion still mattered to the third year.
He should have expected as much, Trey had said himself why he baked for people so often, the dream conjured for him by Malleus spelled it out in bold lettering. Riddle smiled, while the dream had taken him off guard he could understand the original sentiment that had been distorted by Malleus’s magic.
“I’m glad you think so.” Trey sat down next to him, putting his hands up in surrender at Riddle’s raised eyebrow. “I promise I already ate some, Cater already gave me the third degree about letting myself enjoy the things I make.”
“Good. I’ll have to thank him later.” Riddle nodded once in approval before continuing to eat the delightful mystery dish. Once he had finished, Trey grabbed his plate and placed another slice on it. “Thank you.” He took no time digging in.
He was indulging himself for sure, but he was trying to do his best not to abide by the calorie limit his mother had made for him. He already had to make excuses for himself to abide by the rules of his dorm, since the tea and party dishes alone went over his recommended limit for a meal.
Trey placed a hand on Riddle’s shoulder, as if sensing where his thoughts had gone. “I’m happy you like it.”
“Quite so.” Riddle straightened up in his seat. “Though I will have to decline a third slice if I want to enjoy my lunch later.”
A chuckle escaped Trey. “Fair enough.”
Breakfast passed by just like that, their conversation turning into silence as they let the others enjoying their own meals chat amongst themselves. The rest of the day passed by similarly. The group split off to do their own thing.
Azul and Idia had managed to get Leona to play a game of chess against each of them, the prince beating both of his fellow housewardens. Riddle had played his own match against Leona as well and regretted it as his defeat was almost instant.
Lunch and dinner came and went, Jamil cooking alongside the twins. Trey made more sweets, Jade sneaking mushrooms into many of them, but they were still good so Riddle didn’t complain.
A large group later played a game of croquet before splitting off to get ready for bed. Riddle sighed as he got under the covers. It was nice to relax for a day, just doing as he wished without having to worry about anything.
His mind went back to the message on the screen as he burrowed his face into his pillow. Hopefully those mentioned songs wouldn’t be the first things they reacted to, Riddle didn’t know how he would feel if that recently opened wound were made worse.