Chapter Text
Riddle really would much rather spend his time preparing for exams than have to sit and get poked by needles by Cater.
“Ow.”
“Sorry, Boss.” Cater spoke as he pinned the lace on Riddle’s collar.
Riddle sighed as Cater continued his work, “If I could I would just use a mannequin with your measurements but I have a clone working on Deuce’s with my adjustable mannequin so I have to use you as a model.”
Riddle nodded a little bit, “It’s alright, I understand.”
Cater hummed a bit, “So… I was thinking, should we incorporate something more into our Halloween celebration?”
Riddle raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean?”
“Well, guests have their little candy goodie bags but I thought maybe we could do something like an edible handout ourselves?” Cater offered.
“We have four days til the Halloween week starts, and you want to edit our plans?” Riddle shifted an arm and Cater made an annoyed noise before fixing the pinned fabric.
“Well most of Halloween’s celebration at school is visual…”
Riddle’s breath stuttered, “Yes, I suppose it is, what of it?”
“Isn’t it your favorite holiday?”
Riddle frowned, “how’d you know that?”
“You don’t seem like a Winter Solstice person so it was Halloween or Summer Solstice, and you like kids and sweets which is half of Halloween all together.” Cater hummed happily.
Riddle didn’t answer, sometimes he wondered why Cater understood so many little details about him despite their lack of communication, but then, Cater was very observant so he didn’t really need to ask.
“Anyways… I thought if we had something less visual based like some sort of pumpkin flavored treat or Halloween typical cookie or something then maybe you’d be able to have something more personal, especially since you can’t really enjoy the costumes this year and I’m still repeatedly stabbing ya.” Cater laughed a little at the end, “Sorry again bout that by-the-way.”
Riddle shook his head, “It’s alright, we’d need to make a lot of that though, and I don’t think Trey is able to do that right now.”
Cater laughed awkwardly, “Maybe it could be something only for the kids and students? I have a feeling a lot of adults will attend based on the response to that picture of Grim and the ghosts on Magicam that I posted yesterday so having it be a kids only thing would probably cut a lot of the time and expenses.”
“Would it be in our budget?”
Cater hummed, “Well since we’re hand sewing our costumes we saved a lot of money just buying the materials and not having to pay for tailoring.”
Riddle nods, “I suppose we can do that then, and thank you again for agreeing to help sew these, Cater.”
Cater hummed as he pinned down a ribbon across Riddle’s chest, “Of course! The process videos of me making these will do well on Magicam anyways!”
Riddle smiled a bit, “Well, if they do let me know, I’ll be glad to hear you get more recognition for all the work you’ve been doing for this.”
Cater’s hands froze for a moment where they were measuring another piece of ribbon against Riddle’s chest before laughing, “You got it, boss-man.”
Riddle fell silent and Cater smiled softly as he worked on the younger boy’s costume.
“Ow!”
“Ah! Sorry!” Cater yanked the pin away.
Riddle laughed a bit and Cater snorted before breaking into his own laugh.
Trey looked into Carter’s room as he passed the doorway, seeing Riddle and Cater laughing happily. He smiled a little before continuing his way down the hallway.
~~
Aaliyah’s favorite holiday was Halloween.
Kalim had always stressed to make it enjoyable for each of his siblings, dressing up in costumes with them, telling scary stories, watching movies (with audio description for Aaliyah), having sleepovers in his room, sneaking them candy, all around Kalim worked harder than ever each year to make sure all his siblings were involved during Halloween and having fun.
So naturally, Aaliyah begged her caretaker to allow her and Najma to go see Night Raven’s Halloween event after hearing about it from one of Kalim’s offhand remarks.
And of course, spoiled as she is, Aaliyah always gets what she wants.
“Where first?” Aaliyah bounced on her toes as she stood next to Najma.
“Hmm.. well… Scarabia’s is at the school store, and that’s Kalim and Jamil’s house.” Najma offered as she read the pamphlet for Aaliyah.
“Hmm, but should we go immediately or surprise them later?”
Aaliyah shifted back and forth and as she did something hit her in the ankle, “Wah!” Aaliyah jolted away and then stumbled falling into something that came crashing down with her.
“Aaliyah!”
Najma looked at the two with concern, crouching next to the two, “I’m so sorry!” She apologized for Aaliyah as Aaliyah regained her thoughts.
“What… what just happened?”
A boys voice made a small hurt noise.
“Are you hurt?” Najma spoke.
“Oh gods- I fell into someone didn’t I? I’m so sorry! I don’t have much sight so I end up being scared by sudden contact and something hit my leg! I didn’t mean to fall into you!” Aaliyah apologized as Najma helped her up, Kalim had told her it was good to apologize sincerely when you make a mistake.
“It’s alright, I might’ve bruised a bit but it’s no trouble, I think I might’ve accidentally hit you with my walking stick anyways, so the blame is partially mine.”
“Walking…” Aaliyah gasped, “Are you blind too?!”
Najma made a small noise between amusement and panic.
“I- I’m-“ The boy stuttered, “Yes, I’m blind…”
“Oh my gods! I’ve never met someone else who was blind! Wait, do you have light perception or no? I do, I can basically see really really blurry colors! Uh… Kali called it something once, Najma do you remember?” Aaliyah stood with the assistance of Najma.
Najma smiled a little, laughing, what a bizarre situation, “Practical Blindness.”
“That!”
“I uhm…”
“Oh I’m so sorry! What’s your name, Mister?”
“I’m… Riddle Rosehearts, and yes I have some light perception, but it’s incredibly limited, it really only serves to tell me if I’m facing the sun or not.” The boy explained as he stood up again.
“Ohhh! That sounds disorienting! Though I guess so is my condition… or at least other people say so, guess it’s just a thing that people get used to? Anyways! I’m Aaliyah Bint-Asim and this is Najma Viper!”
Najma saw the way Riddle recognized the names, “Oh, I see, you’re Kalim and Jamil’s sisters…”
“You know them?” Aaliyah smiled.
“I do yes, are you visiting to see them?”
Najma spoke this time, “Yes, Aaliyah also wanted to experience the Halloween celebration.”
Aaliyah smiled, “Mhm! Oh! Are you a student here? Since you know Mimi and Kali?”
“I am, yes, I’m Heartslaybyul’s housewarden.” Riddle brushed himself off, fixing the lace on his costume.
“A housewarden! That’s so cool…” Aaliyah smiled a little as she stared in Riddle’s direction.
Riddle smiled a little, “Thank you, If you’re looking for Kalim and Jamil, Kalim is at the school store for Scarabia, I’m not sure about Jamil, however.”
“Oh, thank you! Uh… Najma where’s the school store?”
“It’s along the main path that we’re on.” Najma spoke looking at the map.
“I’m headed there if you’d like me to accompany you.” Riddle offered.
“Oh! Yes please!” Aaliyah spoke immediately.
Riddle hummed, nodding gently as he tapped his walking stick against the ground a few times.
Najma smiled a bit as Aaliyah seemed excited, “Well that’s settled then, to the school store.”
~~
“Is he here?” Aaliyah asked her seeing companion as Riddle excused himself to head into the school store.
“He’s talking to some other Scarabia students, but yes.” Najma looked at her master and snickered at his costume, oh he probably thought he was so intimidating, she was totally teasing him about that.
“Kali!” Aaliyah yelled as she bounced on her feet.
Kalim looked around as he heard the nickname and set his eyes on his younger sister, “Aaliyah?”
Aaliyah grinned more, “Hi!”
Kalim excused himself quickly from the other students as he ran over and pulled Aaliyah into a hug, “I didn’t know you were coming!” He pulled away and looked at Najma, “Najma too! Does Jamil know you’re here?”
Najma shook her head, “Nope! Planned to surprise you both. How’s Jamil been by the way? He always ignores my texts.” Najma pouted.
Kalim laughed a bit, “He’s alright! If you ever want you can text me and I’ll send you updates, Najma!”
Najma smiled, “Sure.”
Aaliyah shifted her weight, “Kali! What’s your costume this year?”
“Oh! I’m a werewolf! Grrr!” Kalim growled in a cute manor and Najma covered her smile.
Aaliyah smiled, “Ooh! Scary! Oh! Oh! Do you have a fluffy tail and ears?”
Kalim laughed softly, “Yep! Here.”
He bent forward a bit and led Aaliyah’s hand to one of his wolf ears.
“Fluffy!!!” Aaliyah cheered, “Najma feel them!”
Kalim laughed as Najme brushed on lightly with her fingers before pulling away. After another few moments Aaliyah pulled her hand away as well and Kalim stood up straight.
“Glad you like them, Aaliyah.”
“Of course she does, Aaliyah loves soft and fluffy things.” Najma smirked a bit, “I have to say, you maxed out the cute factor this year, Kali!”
Kalim frowned, “Eh? I wanted to be scary!”
“I don’t believe anyone with as cheery a disposition as you can manage to come off as scary, Kalim, then again, maybe the visual makes up for it, I wouldn’t know.” Riddle spoke dryly from the steps of the school store.
Kalim turned his head, “Ah! Riddle! What do you mean by that? I can totally be scary!”
Riddle shook his head with a fond smile, “Sure.”
“For the record, the visual does not make up for anything, he is incredibly friendly looking.” Najma spoke to Riddle.
Riddle smiled a bit more, “Thank you, ah.. Najma, was it?”
“That’s right.” Najma looked at Kalim and then Aaliyah.
“Aaliyah! I’m scary, right!?”
Aaliyah giggled a bit, “Sorry, But I don’t think I can ever imagine you as scary! But I’m sure that’s just because you’re my brother! I’m sure you are to other visitors!”
Kalim sighed, “I need to work on my growl…”
Riddle shook his head gently, “You have my good luck wishes.”
Kalim perked up, “If you’re rooting for me then I’ll be sure to do it, Riddle!”
Riddle turned a bit red, “W-What does that mean?!”
Aaliyah laughed and Najma began snickering, bounced a bit on his feet, “Anyways! I’m really glad you’re here, Liyah, but how’d you even get permission?”
Najma snorted, “You know Aaliyah is spoiled down to hades, right? Of course she got permission.”
“Hey! I resent that you’re correct!” Aaliyah playfully pouted at the comment, though the girl knew it to be true.
Kalim tilted his head, “Huh, I guess you guys are pretty spoiled, but I like spoiling you all so it’s fine!”
Riddle raised an eyebrow, “I don’t think that means it’s okay…”
Najma shook her head whispering as she placed herself next to Riddle, “They don’t understand, rich people do as rich people wish.
Riddle snorted, “I suppose that’s true.”
Najma giggled as Aaliyah whined, “Are you two talking mean about us??”
Riddle smiled a bit, “It’s all in good intent, after meeting you I have no doubts that you and your brother are completely well meaning, so don’t worry.”
Najma nodded, “Anyways since we’re here can we get a stamp for our thing?”
Kalim perked up, “Oh of course!” Kalim turned going to get their stamp.
Riddle decided to take his leave, “I best be off, I have to return to working, if you stop by Heartslabyul I might be around.”
“Oh okay! Bye Riddle!” Aaliyah smiled as she shifted her head.
Najma hummed, “It was nice meeting you.”
Kalim ran back with the stamp, “Here! Oh ah- you’re leaving, Riddle?”
Riddle nodded in confirmation, “Yes, I have a few errands to run.”
Kalim smiled, “Alright! Then we’ll talk later!”
Riddle moved the items in his arms before turning to leave, “Goodbye, then.”
~~
“Ridda!!!”
Riddle’s head jerked at the noise and a familiar laugh came from the same direction of the high pitched voice.
“Ah…”
“Hey, Red, the cub wanted to see his ‘unca’s’ friends, so I brought him over.” Ruggie explained as Riddle turned to face them.
Riddle tilted his head, “So that little voice must be Cheka then?”
Riddle gave a small smile as Cheka whined, “I’m not little! I’m a tiger! I’m ferocious and scary!”
“Are you now?”
“Mhm!”
Ruggie snickered more, “Apparently he wanted to be a tiger for Halloween, funny ain’t it?”
Riddle smiled a bit, he couldn’t quite imagine what Cheka looked like in a tiger costume, but he was sure, just based off the kids behavior, that he looked as adorable as he sounded.
“My friend Vivaan told me more about them! They roar! Do you wanna hear my roar?!” Cheka had attached himself to Riddle’s leg as he spoke, hugging the boys shin.
“Oh- ah, Sure, Cheka!”
Cheka made a noise that sounded even more adorable than Kalim’s attempt to sound like a wolf and Riddle held back a laugh, “Very good…!”
Ruggie snickered at Riddle’s reaction, “Yes, he’s very ferocious.”
“Grrr!” Cheka giggled at the end of the growl, “Oh! Ridda, can I get a stamp?”
Riddle shifted a bit, “Of course you can, but you’ll have to let go so I can walk to the station.”
Cheka did so and presumably returned to Ruggie’s side, Riddle extended his walking stick and checked his surroundings before walking in the direction of the station.
“Ruggie, do you think Ridda will take me to the other stations too?” Cheka was decidedly not a good whisperer and Ruggie made an amused noise.
“Maybe, you know, Ridda has a soft spot for kids like you, If I remember right.”
“Kids like me?”
Ruggie grinned, “Yeah, little twerps that torment their caretakers by running off the second they recognize someone.”
Cheka started giggling and yelping as Ruggie ruffled his hair, “Ah!! Ruggie!!!”
Riddle smiled softly, Ruggie was right though: Riddle had always had a soft spot for children.
“Look at that, Hey Ruggie, been a bit, hm?” Cater’s voice went up in an octave as they approached the main part of Heartslabyul’s area.
Ruggie shifted on his feet, something Riddle couldn’t pick up on but Cater definitely did, making the third year smile a little brighter.
“Yeah, hey Diamond.” Riddle did not think the air between his upperclassman and Ruggie would be so tense.
“Hello!”
The tense feeling disappated immediately as Cater took notice of the little cub that was standing up next to him now, “Ah! Riddle help! A ferocious tiger!” Cater made a step back and held up his hands in a way to show his ‘terror’.
Riddle laughed a bit and Cheka giggled, “It’s okay! I’m not a real one!”
Cheka pulled off the hood to his tiger onesie style costume and grinned up at Cater. Cater made a show of calming down, “Well you’re a very convincing little tiger to me, kid. You hear for a stamp?”
Cheka nodded, “Mhm!!”
Cater hummed a bit as he went to the table they had set up, “May I see your card, little tiger?”
Ruggie pulled out the card from his bag and handed it to Cheka so Cheka could hand it to Cater, Cater laughed a bit as he stamped the Heartslabyul section, “There ya go! And as a special treat from Heartslabyul students…” Cater moved to grab something from the storage bin decorated to look like a coffin behind him.
“Here!” Cater handed Cheka a little plastic bag with hálfmánar and loftkökur* cookies.
Cheka looked at the cookies with excitement, “Cookies!”
Riddle laughed a bit and the hyena leaned over to him, “Cookies?”
Riddle hummed, “Cater’s idea, he uh, wanted to incorporate something that I’d actually be able to experience.”
Ruggie made a small ‘oh’ in understanding, “That’s nice of him.”
Riddle nodded, “We made them along with Eirikur and Armann,* they’re only for kids cause we had a limit on how many we could make.”
Ruggie hummed, “Cheka, say thank you.”
Cheka looked over then looked back at Cater, “Thank you!”
Cater smiled at the kid, “Of course! Happy Halloween!”
Cheka rushed a few feet of distance over to Riddle, “Ridda! Your friend gave me cookies!”
“I heard, yes.” Riddle smiled gently, head tilted downwards.
Ruggie stretched before sighing, “Come on then, kid, let’s go, we still gotta get some stamps.”
Cheka suddenly attached himself to Riddle, grabbing his hand, “Can Ridda come?”
Surprise was evident on Riddle’s face and Cater looked over, “You’re leaving Riddle?”
Riddle shifted, “Oh, no, I-I couldn’t leave you to manage this on your own-“
“Eh, oh Dormhead!” Ace spoke with a happy tone and Riddle jumped from the sudden person being close to him.
“Hey!! Adeuce! What good timing, why don’t you two lovely boys go get into your costumes I hand tailored for you and come help me out?”
“Huh, but I don’t have a shift til later tonight…” Deuce mumbled.
“Riddle has had an unforeseen schedule change, don’t worry about it, we’ll sort it out, just go get ready, Kay?”
“A-alright!”
“Ugh, fine.”
The two boys left towards the dorm to change.
“See! I’ll be fine here Ri-Chan!” Cater was likely displaying a grin, if Riddle knew anything.
“Yay!” Cheka cheered and tugged on Riddle’s arm, “Let’s go to the dragon house next!”
Riddle tilted his head, “Dragon house?”
Ruggie sighed, “Running all over campus today… Diasomnia’s theme is longs and they’ve decorated the area in front of ramshackle, Cheka is calling it the ‘dragon house’.”
“Ah, I suppose that makes sense.”
~~
“Woah!!” Cheka jumped and squirmed his hands away from Riddle and Ruggie’s, running up towards the Ramshackle dorm.
“Ah- Cheka!” Riddle called out and Ruggie laughed.
“Hey, don’t touch anything without permission, okay?!” Ruggie yelled as he moved closer to Riddle, “Need an arm?”
Riddle smiled, “Thank you,” he lifted his now unused hand and rested it on Ruggie’s, “So what was he so excited by?”
“There’s a giant Long decoration.”
Riddle nodded, “Hm, interesting.” Riddle let Ruggie guide him through, noticing some of the decorations changed the typical path he would use.
“Is that real?” Cheka’s voice seemed excited, and Ruggie made a small high pitched noise that Riddle didn’t recognize.
“Cheka.” Ruggie called with a more serious tone and Cheka’s ears must’ve picked up on it cause he ran over and grabbed Ruggie’s free hand.
“Ah, Bucchi, Rosehearts, hello.”
Riddle realized why Ruggie’s behavior changed, “Malleus, hello.”
“Who might the cub behind Bucchi be?”
Riddle smiled softly, Ruggie was likely more nervous because of the actions Savanaclaw took against Diasomnia, but Riddle had directly worked with the older, so he didn’t actually have to worry about that, and having spoken with Malleus, he knew the third year fae wouldn’t harm without reason, despite his power.
“Cheka, he’s Leona’s nephew, he’s visiting for Halloween. I hope he didn’t bother you by his question.” Riddle explained and Ruggie felt tenser.
Cheka tugged on Riddle’s dorm uniform and Riddle let go of Ruggie’s arm to turn towards him, crouching down as the boy tugged on his arm more.
“He has a dragon tail!” Cheka whispers a bit louder than necessary in Riddle’s ear, “and horns! They look real!”
Riddle raised his eyebrows and nodded, “Thank you for filling me in.”
Cheka was grinning, Riddle thinks, and he worked to stand in between Ruggie and Riddle.
“There’s no issue.” Malleus sounded amused, “For the record, yes, they are real.”
Cheka made a small amazed ‘woah’, and bounced a tiny bit on his feet, “I didn’t know there were dragon people!”
Malleus laughed a bit, “I am a fae, child.”
Cheka seemed even more excited by this, “So you’re like the dragon fairy with the horns from that book I saw!”
Malleus laughed a bit more and Ruggie seemed to be relaxing, Riddle tried to hold his amusement.
“I suppose you could say that.” Malleus spoke.
Cheka tugged on Riddle’s hand again to get him to bend down, “Can I touch is tail?”
Riddle raised an eyebrow and he laughed a bit, “Maybe, you’d have to ask him if it’s okay.”
“Can I touch your tail mister?” Malleus had definitely heard the first request but he acted as if he hadn’t, “I suppose if you’d like to I can allow it, child of the savannah.”
“Really!?”
Ruggie seemed fully relaxed at this point and only awkwardly unsure how to view this situation.
“Sure.” Malleus confirmed and Cheka separated from the second years to go pet by the black dragon tail, “Are you two going to make such a request as well?”
Ruggie’s laugh was strained at the teasing remark, “Think I’m good.”
Riddle shook his head, “I have no need to, thank you though, I suppose.”
“Mister, can I touch the big dragon snake?”
“You mean the long? I suppose it can be permitted if you are careful with it.”
Cheka cheered again and ran to look at the large long decoration more closely.
~~
Much to Riddle’s dread, the next place Cheka requested to go was Octavinelle. Home of three menaces, one of which purposely targeted him, one that simply irritated him, and one that was Jade.
Sadly, Ruggie seemed to take amusement in Riddle’s terror, and happily agreed to take Cheka to their Halloween lab.
“I can’t believe you.”
“The Prince asks, I deliver!” Ruggie snickered as Cheka ran a few feet ahead.
“Is that it?!” Cheka must’ve been pointing.
“Yep!”
Riddle sighed as they walked, “I hope those twins remember how to behave with children.”
“I’m sure it’s fine,” Riddle picked up on the light shrug from Ruggie as he held onto Ruggie’s arm, “The twins know when they need to real back their behavior.”
“Yes, I suppose.” The twins gave Riddle anxiety, especially Floyd, because they’re so unpredictable and Floyd couldn’t even be stopped by Riddle’s magic- there was no proper way for Riddle to measure or plan for their behavior.
Ruggie did pick up shifts at the lounge though, so perhaps he understood the twins better than Riddle.
When they arrived at the lab Cheka was already inside.
“Where’s your parents, baby sea Lion?” Riddle heard the voice of Floyd speaking softly as they walked in.
“They’re in the Savannah, making new trades!”
“You mean they’re setting trade disputes.” Ruggie corrected.
Riddle shifted as Cheka looked at them, “Ridda! Ruggie! This person has two colored eyes! I want two colored eyes!”
Riddle calmed himself before speaking, “It’s heterochromia, Cheka, people are naturally born with it.”
“Hetracoma.”
Ruggie snorted and covered his face as he started laughing.
“Close enough…” Riddle sighed.
“Ehh, Little Goldfish! Sharksucker! Who’s the baby sea lion?”
“I’m Cheka!” Cheka grinned at Floyd and Floyd tilted his head.
“Azulll, where’d I know that name from?”
Azul arrived from a part of the lab further back, “What name?”
Ruggie stepped in for the two, “Cheka Kingscholar, Leona’s nephew.”
“Oh!”
Riddle made a face at Azul’s tone, “Don’t try anything.”
“Why, Riddle! What a rude thing to suggest, I would never do anything wrong in the presence of such an important child to one of our leading global forces!” Azul spoke in that sweet tone he always used when he knew he could benefit from something.
“Uhuh, Cheka, these are Floyd Leech, and Azul Ashengrotto.”
Floyd and Azul smiled at the same time.
“Woah! He has pointy teeth! Ruggie look!”
Ruggie laughed awkwardly.
Floyd made a small, “Heh.”
Riddle sighed, “Oh Cheka…” he mumbled softly.
Cheka seemed to be having fun though, “Mr. Floyd, do you ever bite your tongue? Does it hurt a lot? Whenever I bite my tongue with my fangs they always hurt.”
Floyd made an interested face, “Nehhh, not really, Jade used to as a kid though.”
“Jade?”
“Was I called?”
Riddle jumped and clung to Ruggie’s arm in surprise, his magic coming to life and bubbling, filling the room and raising the temperature a few degrees. Ruggie slowly set a small hand on Riddle’s back to calm him, Riddle leaning into the hand a bit as he took a few moments to collect himself.
“Oh my, My apologies, Housewarden Rosehearts, I had no intention to frighten you.” Jade spoke gently, one hand over his chest.
Like hades he didn’t! Riddle’s eye twitched behind his glasses and he smiled tightly, “It’s fine.”
Cheka waved at Jade, “Hello!”
“Oh? Hello there, little one.”
“Hi! Are you Mr. Floyd’s brother?”
“I am, yes, and you are?”
“I’m Cheka!!”
“Leona’s nephew.” Azul filled in the details, “He seems to be fascinated with yours and Floyd’s features, Floyd was sharing how you used to bite your tongue as a child.”
Jade’s expression shifted a bit with his tone right as Riddle’s magic finally returned to normal and relaxed, “I see- Ah, Azul, I have what you requested from Vil.”
Azul hummed, “Ah, thank you, bring it here please.”
Jade walked across the lab and Riddle let go of Ruggie’s arm with his other hand and Ruggie decidedly did not tease Riddle.
Cheka decided to look around the lab as Floyd approached Ruggie and Riddle, “Why’re you babysitting the little sea Lion with Sharksucker, Goldfishie?”
“No reason that is your business, Floyd.”
“Ehhh? Don’t be mean, Goldfishie…” Floyd pouted.
Riddle huffed softly, “Cheka requested it, that’s all, and don’t call me that!” His face grew a bit red.
Floyd hummed, smiling lazily, “Goldfishie and Sea Lion have been together more lately, mm?”
“You can say that, yes.” Riddle shifted his weight.
“Say, Goldfishie, can-“
“Floyd! Come here!” Azul’s voice rang out sharply.
“Ehhh?” Floyd began to complain as he approached his friend.
“Ruggie! I need my stamp!” Cheka called.
Ruggie pulled out the paper and gave it to Cheka, who ran over to the ‘mummified’ Jade and excitedly watched as he stamped it for him. When he finished, Cheka gave the teen a big grin and took back the paper, hugging Jade’s leg, then running over and hugging Floyd and Azul’s legs too.
“Thank you!”
Cheka then ran back and grabbed Ruggie’s hand, “I’m ready to go now!”
Ruggie snickered at the expressions of the merfolk in the room, before smiling at Cheka, “Alright, say bye, Cheka!”
“Bye!!”
“Ah- goodbye, and happy Halloween!” Azul called out as the group left.
~~
Cheka was happy to leave the rest of the dorms (Pomefiore, Scarabia, and Ignihyde) to the next day, as per Ruggie’s request, due to the fact that he had a shift to do at Savanaclaw’s shipwreck for the rest of the day.
“Does that mean I get to stay the night with Unca?”
Ruggie snickered and Riddle elbowed him, “We’ll see if Unca Leona and your parents agree, Cheka.”
Cheka took that as a yes, and began to run towards the Savanaclaw’s dorm.
“There he goes.” Ruggie sighed.
Riddle hummed.
~~
“Why?”
Riddle hummed, “We’re playing chess, that’s our usual activity.”
Leona sighed, “Okay, Cheka you remember the board setup?”
“Mhm!”
Cheka started moving the pieces into their spots on the board and Riddle hummed gently, thinking as he did.
“So am I playing against both of you, or Cheka?” Leona spoke.
“Both of us, clearly.” Riddle smiled, “Let me know what the board is ready, Cheka, we’ll be making the first move.”
“Kay!”
At their first move, Riddle spoke to Cheka, asking him what piece he wanted to move first before telling Leona their play as Cheka moved what he told him to. Leona followed up quickly and Riddle smiled.
“So the game begins.”
~~
“Yay!” Cheka cheered at their victory.
Leona grunted a bit as Cheka gave Riddle a hug.
“We won, Ridda!”
“That we did, you should be proud Cheka.”
Cheka giggled and he started talking about how his father would be so jealous that they won against Leona. Riddle listened to the boy happily talk while Leona seemed to stay silent through the boy's words- eventually however, he cut the boy off.
“Cheka.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s time to go to sleep.”
“Aw… but it’s Halloween!”
“Not for another five days, it’s not.” Leona’s voice was unamused as he scooped the cub out of Riddle’s lap where the boy had placed himself while they were playing chess and pulled him into his own, before leaning back and falling onto his bed.
“I’ll see myself out then.” Riddle stood from the bed.
“You’re not staying?” Cheka’s voice sounded as if he were pouting.
Riddle laughed gently, “No, I have to return to make sure my dorm is okay, I’m sorry, Cheka.”
Cheka whined for a moment but Leona nunged him, “You can visit him tomorrow, Cheka. You want someone to walk you back, Red?”
Riddle shook his head, “No need, I know my way back by now.”
Leona grunted, “See you then.”
Riddle hummed before leaving.
“Alright, go brush your teeth, there’s a spare toothbrush under the sink, go on.” Leona lightly shoved the kid.
“Ehhhhhh Uncaaa!”
~~
Riddle is not a patient person.
He is aware of this flaw and tries to better himself.
But when his walking stick is taken directly from his hands by a lay person under the idea that it’s some form of prop, Riddle is understandably, not only completely unable to decipher his complete surroundings, but is also pissed.
“Please return that! That’s not a prop, the housewarden is blind he needs it to be able to get around!”
Kanina is a soft spoken person, the type of person that literally does not seem able to be mean and is in most ways an unintimidating pushover. However even Sindri and Jokull (both of which are panicking right now)- people who have a tendency to be tone deaf, can pick up on the underlying anger in their upperclassman’s voice (something that really is terrifying if you know him).
“Blind? You mean like colorblind right? Hah! There’s no way such a prestigious institution would admit an actual blind person! What would they do?”
Riddle reached for his magic pen and someone grabbed his arm, “Just- Just get out of the flower beds and return our housewarden’s property.. please.”
The strain in the older boys voice was so evident and yet the lay people didn’t even care.
“Just let us take our pictures then we’ll be outta your hair, Kay?”
Riddle started mumbling and Sindri and Jokull had to pull him to their sides as the multiple rules Riddle was listing became concerningly long. Nobody could quite tell if he was listing them to distract himself or listing the ones the visitors were in violation of.
Then the damm snapped.
“Annnd, click! Oh shoot I stepped on one!”
Riddle gasped for air in an attempt to keep oxygen in his lungs, yanking his magic pen from his belt, “How d ARE YOU-“
“Woah! Riddle! Calm down! No magic on lay people!” Trey spoke, trying to get his friend to back down.
“Housewarden, you know they can handle your magic!” Ace tried from next to Trey as Jokull and Sindri backed off.
“Shiiii- Riddle’s totally peeved!”
“He was already arguing with them when I showed up, Even Trey can’t calm him down now.”
“So he’s at the end of his already short fuse… alright Duecy!” Cater’s voice began whispering.
~~
“Jeez! They’re gone!”
“Alright, what happened?” Cater’s voice was calm.
Kanina grabbed Riddle’s walking stick from the ground as they spoke and began to brush the dirt off.
“They we’re picking the magic flowers from our botanical garden flatbeds! They actually said, and I quote: “The flowers are totes pretty! I wanna put some in my hair and post it on Magicam!” Of all frivolous reasons! Treating such rare and valuable plants in such a way… the behavior is simply unacceptable! Furthermore as per rule 228 states that “flowers are not to be picked on a Wednesday.” Which furthers their wrongdoings!”
“Okay- to be fair lay people wouldn’t know those rules, you can’t expect them to follow it.”
Riddle huffed, “Not know the rules? Those rules used to be the laws of our very home country, Ace! I may not expect people to know all 810 of them but I sure would hope people would know at least a hundred!”
“ I don’t even know 100 yet…” Riddle decided to ignore that comment from Deuce for now.
“Anyways… you can see why we were having trouble, the visitors got a kick out of Riddle’s anger and that made him more mad and so… it just kept going.” Ace sighed.
Trey spoke up at this point, “In Riddle’s defense, he was exercising an exceedingly large amount of restraint, he knew he was dealing with guests- but they just wouldn’t listen, if Riddle was oil, they were water.”
“I got it… that must’ve been tough.” Cater sighed.
“I’m… I’m sorry for putting you all into that situation, thank you for stopping me when you did.” Riddle spoke gently.
A scoff was heard, “No offense, Riddle, but I woulda snapped way before that.” The soft voice had a tint of annoyance on it that Riddle had never heard before.
“Huh…?”
Kanina gently grabbed his hand and put the cleaned walking stick in it, “I mean, the flower bed stuff, that’s irritating, watching them treat such things with that amount of disrespect when people work hard to grow it- I mean- I’m partially in charge of these flatbeds even- that’s hard. But the things they said specifically about you? I had half a mind to roundhouse them ‘cross the face.”
Riddle held the walking stick close instinctively after having lost it for so long- he hadn’t registered how much he relied on it before.
“Huh- what did they say to Riddle?” Cater tilted a head.
The others in the group fell silent, Riddle tilted his head up to try and avoid the awkwardness filling the air, eventually Kanina spoke again, “They took his walking stick, thinking it was a prop, then they ah… said he musta not actually been blind cause nobody would allow him in a school like this if he were.” Kanina had such a disgusted tone from the thought, “Total bull, honestly, the mirror don’t care bout a person's physical ability, if it did I wouldn’t be here with all my chronic pain, but those guys… ugh.”
Cater was silent for a few seconds before he spoke in a dark tone that shook everyone in the dorm down to their core, “Maybe we should've done more than just kicked ‘em out huh?”
Despite the offsetting way he spoke, nobody disagreed, and Riddle knew all of them had the same facial expression.
Anger.
~~
Riddle took a break for the rest of the day as per the rest of the dorms insistence.
He had been sitting at a bench in the garden when he head his name.
“Ah! Riddle!”
Ah, Najma, was it?
Riddle raised his hand and waved in their general direction.
“I didn’t realize you were staying for multiple days.” Riddle spoke as they approached.
“The headmage said it was okay, so we’re staying in rooms with our brothers.” Aaliyah hummed happily, “Kalim braided my hair this morning.”
This girl sounded happy and Riddle gave her a small smile, “I see, we’ll I’m glad your day has been going well.”
Najma hummed a bit, “What about yours then, Riddle?”
“Ah, It’s been alright. Nothing particularly of note.” He lied quickly, “Have you two gotten your Heartslabyul stamps yet?”
“Ah, we did yesterday, yes, the only ones we hadn’t gone to were Pomefiore and Savanaclaw’s.” Najma sounded happy to talk to the boy- she really did seem much more content and happy than her brother did, didn’t she? Though she did still hold the kept together maturity that Jamil maintained.
“Yep! Oh! Do you wanna join us?”
Riddle hummed, “I don’t know if going to such places would carry much use but I suppose I could since I have some free time and since you both are requesting it.”
“Yay! Oh! Kalim told me you were teaching him proper chess techniques so he could play against his kid friend, Leona! Do you play any other games? Najma and I have been looking for new ones to play!”
Riddle perked up at the topic, “Ah, yes, though actually l, are you any good at Chess, Aaliyah?”
“I think so! Najma and I participated in a tournament of blind chess last year, I didn’t win but I was in the runner up spots!”
“I won.” Najma spoke gently.
“Mhm! Oh! Don’t tell anyone though, we made the people not spread it around cause Najma would get in trouble for it.” Aaliyah whispered.
“In trouble for winning?”
“In trouble for showing Aaliyah up.” Najma explained, “Though the Asim’s wouldn’t even pay attention to it, my family is very strict about how we should never show ourselves to be better than our masters in anyway, Jamil’s always been pretty stubborn on following that rule, but Aaliyah heard my parents criticizing him once for it and since she’s basically made it a point to make sure I was giving my all in everything I did competition wise.”
Aaliyah giggled, “I just want to win or lose on my own terms! Plus it would suck if Najma didn’t enjoy things because she had to do badly at it.”
Riddle didn’t pry into that matter anymore- feeling as if it was an invasion of Jamil’s privacy to ask Najma any more, “I see, I’ll make sure not to spread the word then, congratulations though, Najma.”
“Thanks.”
They began to walk towards the Savanaclaw shipwreck set up in the arena, “Ah, but, I was going to suggest you two might try Alice Chess.”
“Alice chess?” Aaliyah asked, “What’s that?”
Riddle hummed, “It’s a rather well known game among nobles within the Rose Queendom, I played it with my friend, Alchemi, growing up: it’s named after the young girl who United the glades with Wunder. Essentially it’s the same rules as chess, yet there’s two boards, and every time you move a piece it switches the board it is on. It essentially adds a third dimension of planning and thinking ahead as to capture you have to be on the right tile on the opposite board so that when you move your piece will end up on the same tile your enemy is on when it switches boards.”
“The added rule is simple, yet it changes the entire strategy to the game, that’s actually very interesting.” Najma mumbled and Riddle smiled.
“If there is anything the Rose Queendom is good at, it’s interesting games.”
Aaliyah seemed excited as she spoke, “We should go one day then! Oh that would be fun! If we go, will you be our tour guide, Riddle?”
Riddle hummed and he had a prideful feeling in his chest from the request, “I’d be happy to show you around my homeland, should you visit.”
“Yay!”
~~
“Ridda!”
Riddle was half tackled by a fluff ball right as they arrived.
He stumbled a bit- near falling if it not for Najma moving to steady him.
“Ridda there were a bunch of people earlier! And Unca was sleeping and I joined him because he says that I need to sleep more to grow big like him and Baba, but then the people walked over and they started poking Unca which Unca doesn’t like so I asked them to stop, but- but then they started poking at me too. Unca then was like- really angry and he told them that if anyone touched us again he would make them regret it- which Baba would’ve scolded him for saying but I promised not to tell- but they didn’t listen and they kept touching our ears and tails, so Leona made me go to Ruggie and then he was trying to fight the people- but Ruggie did a cool magic thing and stopped him and then-“
“Cheka, that’s enough.” Leona cut into the conversation.
Riddle was still holding the boy who clung to his legs, “Leona.”
“Riddle.”
“Leona!!!” Aaliyah’s voice was happy and cheerful as ever.
Leona was quiet for a bit.
“Kalim’s little sister.” Riddle offered.
“Yeah, Aaliyah. You’re still a screechbox huh?” Leona spoke unamused.
“Guess so!”
“Who’s that?” Cheka whispered to Riddle much louder than he intended.
“Aaliyah Bint Asim and Najma Viper.” Riddle answered gently, “They’re siblings of some of the Scarabia students.”
Riddle looked at Leona, “So your door also had some trouble with visitors today?”
Leona grunted, “Yeah, what happened to you.”
Riddle sighed, “Long story, my dorm forced me to take a walk essentially however, and Cater is running damage control and Kanina is more upset than I’ve even known him to be.”
“The herbivore?”
“Yes.”
“Huh, surprising.”
“What’s going on?” Aaliyah watched them.
“Just some visitor trouble, don’t worry about it. Cheka why don’t you guide these two to Jack so he can stamp their cards?” Leona suggested.
“Ooh! Okay!” Cheka grinned and grabbed both Aaliyah and Najma’s hands, pulling them towards the shipwreck.
“They we’re trying to touch Cheka?” Riddle frowned.
“Took a bunch of photos two, bothering me was bad enough.”
“But Cheka is only a child, I understand.” Riddle sighed.
“Yeah.” Leona huffed.
Riddle sighed a bit, “I hope other dorms are having a better time, though, Kalim is really the only dorm leader who isn’t easily angered so I doubt it.”
Leona snorted, “You’ve met Viper right? He may act mature but that snake will bite anything that moves near him, they’re all having issues, no question.”
Riddle sighed, “Aaliyah and Najma are going to Pomefiore after this, I’m sure Vil is being driven up a wall to standing on the ceiling.”
“What?”
“What?”
“Ain’t it just up a wall?”
Riddle hummed, “Perhaps, the Queendom has a habbit of extending or literalizing metaphors.”
Leona sighed, “Whatever. If I were you I’d be more worried about if the herbivore and their cat are fine, I can imagine their trouble with their disaster of a dorm.”
Riddle tilted his head, “Ah… hopefully Diasomnia has some wards set up to keep visitors from entering?”
“Yeah.” Leona yawned, “So what made your herbivore mad?”
“Kanina? The visitors said some rather rude things to me, Kanina was… not amused to say the least.”
Leona seemed suspicious, “What’d they say?”
Riddle sighed, “Nothing of any actual importance.”
“Ridda! Alya let me stamp her paper!!” Riddle tilted his head.
“You mean Aaliyah.”
“Aalya.”
“Not quite, Aaliyah” he spoke slower.
“Aaliyah!” Cheka mimicked.
“Good job, word of advice, always practice names, they’re important so you should get them right.”
“Okay! Thanks Ridda!”
Riddle laughed a little, Ridda was close enough for a child that struggled with his L’s.
“Oh! You should come play pirates with Jack and I, while Aaliyah and Najma go in the ship! Come one, come on!” Cheka tugged on his arm.
“Oh- ah- alright I’m coming!”
~~
“No pictures in the mirror chamber- please-“
Riddle felt a kinship for Epel honestly, the both of them were often not taken seriously due to their stature, so he understood.
“At that point you might as well confiscate phones at the door.” Riddle mumbled and Vil sighed from where he was standing.
“I might start if I’m honest.” Vil huffed, “Truly, it’s as if they have no care for anyone but themselves.”
Riddle hummed, “So it seems.”
“If only I could go to this school.” Aaliyah sighed, “Ugh, all boys. Stupid.”
Najma hummed, “I’m sure you could get into Night Raven’s sister school if you wished, Aaliyah.”
“Oh! Good idea! You should go with me Najma!” Aaliyah cheered.
Riddle hummed, “At least they’re having fun.”
Vil sighed, “Yes.”
Epel finally removed the annoying visitors and Rook praised him before returning to stamping Aaliyah and Najma’s cards.
~~
As the week went on Riddle really did meet his wits end, but when the teachers mentioned canceling the Halloween feast it really pushed him to the edge.
Riddle didn’t have enough mobility without his sight to take part in their dorms ploy as an actor, but he did have a lot of unused anger and magic energy he could use to channel into illusion magic.
“There’s no need to use Ice and fire to make dog just…” Riddle smiled at Kanina as he flipped his pen in his hand, imagining the foggy afternoons that often came to the Queendom each year as the spring began.
“Woah…” Kanina spoke gently, “I didn’t realize you could do that.”
“Illusion magic is much more than visual, it’s mental, that’s why it’s harder to convince people with stronger mental defenses. While vision is a primary factor, other senses fall into play.” Riddle hummed, “Besides, what kind of Cardian or Miraman would I be if I couldn’t cast a simple illusion like fog.”
Kanina hummed, “I’ll make sure to fill in any bits you miss then.”
Riddle nodded gently, “Good.”
~~
“You got dirt in my mouth!”
“You shouldn’t have had your mouth there then!”
Riddle laughed gently as the twins argued with Deuce.
“Let’s just hope every other dorm does what they said they would.” Riddle spoke.
Trey hummed, “Yeah.” He brushed some dirt off his clothes.
“Alright! Everyone! Let’s wrap up!” Riddle called.
“Yes Housewarden!”
~~
“I have to say, you’re dorm was very spooky this year, Queenie! And you did great in the parade!!” Che’nya laughed.
“Thank you, Alchemi.” Riddle hummed as the boy leaned into him.
Riddle are more as he listened to Che’nya talk about how he had came on
“Ridda! Ridda! Will you take a picture with Unca and Ruggie and Jack and me?” Cheka pulled at Riddle’s hand, leaving no actual room to refuse.
Riddle fumbled a bit, turning his head towards Che’nya.
“Go on ahead, Queen, I’ll go search out Clover.” Alchemi laughed a bit, “Have fun with the cubby!”
Riddle was dragged over to the three Savanaclaw boys, Cheka had him stand next to Ruggie in front of Leona and Jack before he bugged Leona and Jack into letting him sit on one of their shoulders.
“Alright then, One three, say trick or treat, Kay?” Yuu held up their ghost camera, smiling at the group.
“Kay!”
“3… 2…”
“Trick or Treat!!” Cheka yelled and The four students said the same.
A picture was snapped.
~~
“Riddle! While we’re still here can you play Alice Chess with us! I wanna make sure we understand the rules!”
Riddle was called over to the Scarabia table, “Hm? I suppose I can spare some time, do you have chess boards?”
“Yep!”
“You’re playing chess?” Cheka asked Riddle.
“A special type of chess, it has some added rules.”
“Oh! Can I play?”
Riddle laughed, “I suppose you can help me, Najma, Aaliyah, are you alright with Cheka joining me against you?”
“Sure!” Aaliyah hummed.
“I don’t mind.” Najma’s voice was light and cheery.
Cheka placed himself next to Riddle as Najma set up one board and set a spare board next to it.
Riddle began the game, having Cheka move a pawn for him forward two to the other board.
Leona and Kalim both watched from where they had been eating, Kalim with a large smile and Leona with light interest.
In the end, Riddle and Cheka won against Aaliyah, and Najma traded to play against him.
By the end of the night, Cheka fell asleep leaning against Leona as his uncle played against Najma in a game.
Riddle stood with Kalim and Ruggie, “So is the only way you make friends through chess, Red?” Ruggie teased.
“It’s just a common topic of interest at the moment I suppose.” Riddle hummed, “Would you like to seal our friendship over hop-scotch instead, Ruggie? I cant guarantee I’ll be good but I can make an attempt.”
Kalim laughed a bit quietly, “Riddle’s just good at games in general I think.”
Ruggie hummed, “Yeah, suppose that’s true.”
“Riddle! Ace and Deuce are getting in a fight with a third year again!”
Riddle stood up, “Guess I have to go then. Excuse me.”
“Happy Halloween Riddle!”
“Happy Halloween!”
~~
“Thank you for coming!” Riddle called out as the last of the guests left.
“Geez…” Ace sighed.
“Was that the last of them?” Epel asked.
“Seems so.” Vil let out an exhausted sigh.
“Congratulations students! We’ve truely had the most successful Halloween week! Now why don’t you all go to your dorms and rest so that we all can get up bright and early to clean up tomorrow!” Crowley cheered.
“Ugh cleaning.” Yuu sighed, “I didn’t even decorate but I suppose we’ll help out.”
“Cleaning? No way! I’m sleeping in!”
“Yeah we should put it off…” Ace mumbled.
“I do hope I didn’t just hear a deep voice planning to do irresponsible things.” Riddle called out.
“Eep.”
Riddle sighed, “Alright! Heartslabyul, back to your dorm! Get some rest!”
~~
“Halloween is almost over?”
“What!? Noo!!”
“I haven’t even had any fun yet!”