#chat format

[fancyfade]

Bruce, explaining why he has to have sex with khoa even though he doesn't consider himself gay: well, you know, he challenged me and we have to know who's best, it's kind of our "thing"

[miyamiwu]

Me: Seriously, does anybody still use this Chat format? The font is so ugly.

Ghost in my room: The font looks like the one they use on drama scripts, so it’s fine.

Me: But the thinness of the letters unbolded and the lack of spacing between each speaker make this format difficult to read, especially when the text is long.

Me: Before the NPF post editor was a thing, the Chat format served a purpose. It used to be that theme editors can easily format the Chat post to look like actual chat messages on their themes

Examples:

Dusk and Sempiternal by @ cactusthemes

Space Race by @ laurenashpole

Discord by @ starlightthemes

Me: Now, with custom Tumblr themes and the username.tumblr.com view being sidelined as a way to push users to the Tumblr mobile app and shove ads in their faces, theme-makers are less motivated to give the Chat format any fancy styling. That, or maybe it’s just not possible to make it fancy because of how NPF works. Idk, I don’t code.

Ghost: I see your point, but I think the Chat format is still handy for short text

Ghost: Like this

Ghost: or this

Ghost: People don’t really use it for long text

Me: True

Me: I still hate the Courier font, though

Me: It looks fine on print but not really on a screen

Me: May I propose a different monospace font?

Me: Like the lovely Roboto Mono or perhaps Source Code Pro?

[ara270904]

I'm bored so chatfic with my OC'S :D

Alessandro: Massimo?

Massimo: ???

Alessandro: Can we talk?

Massimo: I'm not going to lend you money, what did you break?

Alessandro: I didn't break anything? I think

Massimo: you think? What answer is that dummy?

Alessandro: That's not the point, I just wanted to talk?

Massimo: Yeah yeah, what stupid thing did you do?

Alessandro: Why do you always think I did something stupid?

Massimo: Because you always do stupid things

Alessandro: I don't, liar.

Massimo: Oh? Well then...

Massimo created a group chat. Massimo added Alessandro and Sebastian

Alessandro: Massimo? What is this for? Massimo: My plan

Sebastian: Uuuuh what did you do Alessandro?

Alessandro: nothing, I think

Massimo: You called me liar, that's NOTHING TO YOU???

Alessandro: Yeah, that.

Sebastian: And I'm here because? I like talking to my BFF but Idk why I'm here. Alessandro: Aww thanks Seb <3

Massimo: The point is...

Massimo changed the name of the group to "Alessandro probably did something stupid and didn't want to tell me and then called me a liar"

Sebastian: I think I forgot that insignificant detail about your cousin, Alessandro.

Alessandro: What detail? That Massimo is slightly spiteful and I also forgot?

Sebastian: Yeah, that.

Massimo: You talk about me as if I'm not here =⁠_⁠=

Sebastian: Oh yeah, you're here.

Massimo: I created the group obviously I'm here

Alessandro: And we deviate from the main point, Massimo I don't know what the group is for?

Massimo: So Sebastian can answer my question and then you can see the answer obviously.

Sebastian: I like answering questions :D

Massimo: Answer Sebastian, Alessandro does always stupid things??

Sebastian: Not always, but sometimes I help him because it's funny and he's my BFF. Like yesterday when the ducks were chasing us and we climbed a tree on Alessandro's idea

Massimo: Why were ducks chasing you guys in the first place???

Alessandro: Bread, obviously

Massimo: Explain

Sebastian: We had bread, we gave bread to the ducks in the park, we ran out of bread so the ducks chased us.

Massimo: Alessandro, why did you climb a tree? You've fallen a lot of times trying to climb trees, getting off trees, being on the tree etc.

Alessandro: I didn't fell from the tree

Sebastian: I grabbed Alessandro very tightly so he wouldn't fall and then helped him down :D

Massimo: Crazy boys.

[salad-juice-enjoyer]

Cooking: 🤩🥰🤘 Cleaning up after cooking: 😵‍💫🫠����

[loojii]

♥️ Prim and Proper ♥️

part 2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Riddle x King of Hearts oc Simply how they met and to communicate Prim's personality a bit better! Like the King of Hearts, often forgotten but happy :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Story under the line ~

Riddle’s POV

The Night Raven College library was Riddle Rosehearts’ haven—a place where rules were respected, order was preserved, and silence reigned supreme. At least, it was supposed to.

The soft symphony of pages turning and quills scratching was disrupted by bursts of giggling and whispers. Riddle’s brows furrowed, his concentration shattered.

The offenders were four girls from Lady Mystic College, currently permitted to use the library while their own was under renovation. They sat at a table in the far corner, their uniforms pristine and polished, yet their behavior anything but.

Three of them leaned in close, whispering and snickering, their laughter bubbling up despite the clear disapproval of nearby students. The fourth girl, however, sat quietly at the edge of the group.

Riddle hadn’t noticed her at first, his irritation focused on the noise. But as he rose from his seat and made his way toward them, she caught his eye.

She was smaller than her friends, with blonde curls tied into two neat pigtails. Her dark blue eyes flitted nervously between her tablemates and the books in front of her. Braces gleamed faintly while her upperlip rested on them. Unlike her companions, she seemed more like an observer than a participant.

“Excuse me,” Riddle said sharply as he reached their table.

The three louder girls turned to him, blinking in mock surprise. “Oh, hi!” one of them said, her smile overly sweet.

“This is a library,” Riddle stated, his tone clipped. “Your noise is disrupting others. Please keep your voices down.”

The girls exchanged glances and giggled again. “Sorry about that,” another said, though her tone suggested she wasn’t sorry at all.

The fourth girl looked up at him, her cheeks flushing pink. “I—I’m so sorry,” she stammered. Her hands fidgeted with the edge of her book. “We will be quiet, promise!”

Riddle’s frown softened slightly. She seemed genuinely apologetic, unlike her companions. But rules were rules, and they all bore responsibility for their collective behavior.

“Just keep it down,” he said, turning on his heel and walking away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later, Riddle found himself standing in front of a particularly tall bookshelf, searching for a volume on advanced spell theory. The book he needed was on the highest shelf, just out of reach.

He huffed, rising onto his toes, but it was no use. He debated summoning a step stool when a familiar voice broke through his thoughts.

“Um... Excuse me,” the soft, slightly lisped voice said.

Riddle turned to see the blonde girl from earlier standing a few feet away. She was craning her neck, gazing up at a book several shelves above her head.

“I didn’t mean to bother you,” she said quickly, flushing again. “It’s just... I can’t reach it.”

Riddle glanced between her and the book. “Neither can I,” he admitted dryly, stepping closer.

Her lips twitched into a sheepish smile. “Oh, yeah-” she said, hugging her arms.

Riddle sighed, lifting his hand. With a precise flick of his fingers, the book floated down from the shelf, landing neatly in his grasp.

The girl’s eyes widened, a spark of wonder lighting them. “Wow! That’s so cool,” she said, her tone full of genuine awe.

“It’s basic magic,” Riddle replied, though he couldn’t help the slight warmth that rose at her reaction. He handed her the book.

“Thank you,” she said, her braces glinting as she smiled. “I’m Prim, by the way. I, um, wanted to apologize again that we were so noisy.”

Riddle studied her for a moment. There was a cheerfulness about her, a childlike wonder that seemed at odds with her companions. “Riddle.” introducing himself. “And it wasn’t entirely your fault.”

Prim hesitated, her expression flickering with something uncertain. “They’re not always like that,” she said, though her tone lacked conviction. “I think they just... like having fun.”

“Just make sure to not disturb others when you’re in a public library. We prefer this place to be quiet.” Riddle said, not to scold her but he feared it may have sounded like that.

“No, you’re absolutely right! It’s basic rules.” She looked down at the book Riddle just got for her. “Thank you again, Riddle!”

Riddle responded with a simple nod and she hugged the book to her chest and turned back toward her table. Riddle watched her go, noting the way her steps seemed lighter, more confident.

For the rest of the afternoon, the library was quiet. But Riddle found himself distracted, his thoughts lingering on the small girl with the blonde pigtails and wondering if she would ever realize she deserved better.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day, Riddle was once again settled in his usual spot in the library. The silence was pristine this time, and he relished the peaceful atmosphere. He had nearly immersed himself in his studies when he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye.

Prim.

The girl with blonde pigtails walked hesitantly into the library, clutching her books and bag. She scanned the room for a moment before her eyes landed on him. A bright smile lit her face, and she made her way over.

“Hi,” she greeted softly, her voice still carrying that slight lisp.

Riddle nodded in acknowledgment. “Good afternoon, Prim.”

To his surprise, she pulled out a chair and sat next to him, setting her books down. “I hope you don’t mind,” she said cheerfully. “It’s nice and quiet here.”

“As long as you keep it that way,” Riddle replied, his tone neutral.

Prim giggled and nodded. “Promise. I’ll be quiet.”

She opened her notebook and began working on what looked like several assignments. Riddle glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, noting the way her handwriting flowed neatly across the pages. Occasionally, she would hum softly to herself, though it wasn’t disruptive—it was oddly soothing.

After a few minutes, he broke the silence. “You’re alone today.”

Prim looked up from her work, her curls bouncing slightly as she tilted her head. “Oh, yeah. My friends are out getting lunch.”

Riddle raised an eyebrow. “They left you behind?”

Prim waved a hand dismissively, her smile unwavering. “It’s fine. I had too much homework to do anyway. Besides, they’ll bring me something back.”

Her tone was so casual, so certain, that Riddle didn’t press further. But he couldn’t help the small pang of doubt that settled in his chest.

“They do seem to leave you out quite often,” he remarked, his voice carefully measured.

Prim paused, her pencil hovering over her notebook. Then she laughed lightly. “They don’t mean to. They’re just... busy. But they’re good friends, really.”

Riddle frowned but didn’t say anything. Her unwavering cheerfulness was admirable, though he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was excusing more than she should.

They fell into a comfortable rhythm, the soft scratch of pens and the faint rustle of pages filling the air. After a while, Prim closed one notebook and opened another, switching seamlessly between assignments. Riddle noticed she wasn’t just working on a single piece of homework—she seemed to be copying her answers onto three other sheets.

He glanced at her stack of papers. Each page was identical, and she was writing the same answers in the same neat handwriting on all of them. His brow furrowed.

“Prim,” he said quietly, his curiosity getting the better of him. “Why are you doing the same homework four times?”

Prim froze for a moment, her pen poised mid-sentence. Then she looked at him, her expression sheepish but still cheerful. “Oh, um... My friends forgot to do theirs, so I’m helping out. They’re really busy, you know, with... things.”

Riddle’s frown deepened. “You’re doing their homework? All of it?”

Prim shrugged, her smile not faltering. “It’s no big deal. I’m good at this stuff, and they always help me when I need it.”

Riddle didn’t believe that for a second. He leaned back slightly, studying her. She seemed so genuinely kind, so eager to help, but he couldn’t ignore the fact that her so-called friends were clearly taking advantage of her.

Prim seemed to sense his concern because she added, “I don’t mind, really. It’s nice to feel useful.”

Riddle opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Prim stood up, gathering her things into a neat pile. “I’m going to the restroom real quick,” she said with a smile. “Could you watch my stuff?”

He nodded, though his gaze lingered on her as she walked away.

Left alone, Riddle’s eyes drifted back to her work. The identical pages spread out in front of him confirmed what he already suspected—Prim was kind, but her kindness was being taken advantage of.

As he leaned back in his chair, waiting for her to return, Riddle couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of protectiveness toward her. She was cheerful and kind in her own way, but it was clear that she deserved better than what her so-called friends were giving her.

When Prim returned, still smiling as brightly as ever, Riddle resolved to keep an eye on her. Someone had to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Several days went by and Riddle found himself walking through the courtyard, a book tucked under his arm. It was his usual route to the library, but the sound of laughter and chatter drew his attention.

Underneath one of the large oak trees sat the same group of girls from Lady Mystic College. Their voices carried easily on the breeze as they chatted with a group of Savanaclaw students who seemed far too pleased with themselves.

Riddle’s gaze immediately went to Prim. She was sitting on the edge of the group, her blonde curls bouncing slightly as she nodded enthusiastically in response to the conversation. Despite her obvious effort to engage, none of the boys so much as glanced her way. Their attention was fixed on her three companions, who were leaning forward and giggling at every joke.

Eventually, the three girls stood, brushing themselves off and flashing bright smiles at the Savanaclaw students. “We’ll see you later,” one of them said, linking arms with another.

Prim started to stand, too, but one of the girls waved her back down with a quick, “Oh, just stay here, Prim. Keep the spot for us, okay?”

Prim blinked, then nodded quickly. “Sure! No problem!”

The group walked away, leaving her alone under the tree. She didn’t seem bothered, though. She pulled out a small lunch box and began unpacking it, her expression as cheerful as ever.

Riddle hesitated, his steps slowing. It wasn’t his business, and he wasn’t the type to meddle. Yet something about the scene nagged at him.

Prim’s so-called friends hadn’t even offered to include her. They left her behind without a second thought. And though she waved them off as if it were perfectly natural, Riddle couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t right.

Before he could stop himself, he changed course and approached her.

Prim looked up as his shadow fell over her. “Oh! Hi, Riddle!” she said brightly, her dark blue eyes lighting up.

“Good afternoon,” he said, stopping a few feet away. He glanced at her lunch box and then at the empty space around her. “You’re alone.”

She smiled and nodded. “Yeah, the girls went off with those boys. They didn’t want to intrude, and, well, it would’ve been rude for me to tag along since I wasn’t invited.”

Riddle frowned, his grip tightening on the book in his hands. “They left you here.”

Prim waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, it’s fine. I already had lunch anyway, and they asked me to keep this spot for them. It’s a nice spot, don’t you think? Nice shade, good view...”

Her voice trailed off as she gestured to the courtyard around them, clearly trying to paint the situation in the best possible light.

Riddle remained silent, his expression unreadable. He wanted to tell her that her friends shouldn’t have asked her to stay behind just to save a spot. That if they truly cared about her, they wouldn’t leave her sitting alone while they went off with boys who didn’t even acknowledge her.

But Prim’s smile didn’t falter. She continued to eat her lunch, completely at ease.

Riddle’s mind whirred. He had never been particularly skilled at making friends himself, and he often struggled with understanding social dynamics. Yet he couldn’t stand to see someone as kind and cheerful as Prim being so blatantly overlooked.

“Prim,” he said abruptly, his tone firmer than he intended.

She looked up, blinking at him. “Yes?”

“Would you... like to join me for lunch?”

Prim’s eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, she seemed at a loss for words. “Oh, um, really?” she asked, her voice slightly higher than usual.

“Yes,” Riddle said, a little awkwardly. “If you’ve already eaten, I could still use some company. That is, if you’re not busy keeping this spot occupied.”

Prim laughed softly, her smile brightening even further. “Well, I suppose the spot will still be here when I get back.”

Riddle stepped back, allowing her to stand. As they walked toward the cafeteria together, he couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction. It wasn’t much, but at least she wouldn’t have to sit alone this time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prim’s POV

The shade under the oak tree was nice, shielding them from the midday sun as the breeze rustled through the leaves. Prim sat with her three friends—Hazel, Trinity, and Opal—all of whom were laughing and chatting animatedly, their voices blending together in an upbeat melody of giggles.

Prim listened quietly, her hands folded neatly over her lap, her lips twitching upward in a small smile. Hazel said something that made Trinity snort, and Opal burst into another fit of laughter. Prim tried to join in, even though she didn’t entirely understand the joke.

They’re just so confident, she thought, watching them. “It’s one of the things I admire about them.”

Sometimes they’d say things to her that she wasn’t sure how to take. Like when Hazel turned to her mid-laughter and said, “Prim, I wish I could be as pure as you. So innocent!”

Prim chuckled along, though her cheeks flushed. They mean well, she reassured herself. It’s not like they’re being mean. I guess I don’t get all their jokes, so they’re right. It’s fine.

Then there was Trinity, who had tilted her head at Prim’s pigtails earlier and remarked, “Your hair is so unique, Prim. I’d never have the patience to deal with all those curls!”

Prim had thanked her for the comment, though part of her wondered if “unique” had been the right word. It was true, though—her hair never behaved like Hazel’s silky locks, Trinity’s sleek waves, or Opal’s perfectly tousled bob. But it was fine.

It was fine.

When a group of boys approached, Prim felt herself tense up slightly. She wasn’t used to being approached by boys—especially not bold, self-assured ones like these.

Hazel, Trinity, and Opal perked up immediately, their voices gaining a lilting edge as they welcomed the boys with coy smiles and casual jokes. Prim sat up straighter, her cheeks flushing pink as she tried to follow along with the conversation.

One of the boys told a story about his latest Spelldrive match, and Prim laughed softly at the right moment, hoping it sounded natural. But the boy didn’t look her way. None of them did. Their eyes were fixed on her friends.

She felt a small pang in her chest.

It’s okay, she told herself quickly. She isn’t his type. And that’s okay.

Her friends were tall, poised, and effortlessly pretty. Their hair shimmered in the sunlight, their makeup was flawless, and their laughter was infectious. Prim, meanwhile, was shorter, with unruly curls that seemed to have a mind of their own. Her braces made her mouth always stand open a bit, and as long as she can remember she talked with a lisp.

They’re just more... grown-up than me, she reasoned. And that’s okay. I’ll get there eventually.

For a fleeting moment, the pang threatened to grow into something heavier. But she shook it off, summoning her usual cheerful resolve.

I totally get it, she told herself, nodding slightly as if to reinforce the thought. I understand why they’d get all the attention. Besides, I don’t even need a boyfriend right now! I have my friends. And I’m happy for them. Really, I am.

When the boys eventually asked Hazel, Trinity, and Opal to join them for lunch, Prim was already smiling again.

“Oh, just stay here, Prim. Keep the spot for us, okay?” Hazel said over her shoulder as they stood.

“Sure! No problem!” Prim said brightly, waving at them as they walked off.

She settled back under the tree and reached for her lunch box. It’s fine, she thought as she unwrapped her sandwich. I packed a good lunch, and this spot is really nice. I’m totally fine. And they’ll be back soon anyway.

As she took a bite, she looked up and froze mid-chew.

Riddle stood a few feet away, his red hair unmistakable in the dappled sunlight. He was looking directly at her, his expression as composed and stern as always.

“Oh!” Prim swallowed quickly, straightening up and brushing crumbs off her lap. “Hi, Riddle!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riddle’s POV

Riddle wasn’t entirely sure why he’d asked her to join him for lunch. It wasn’t as though he usually sought out company during meals. Quite the opposite, in fact—he valued the quiet solitude that came with sitting alone, free from the noise and chaos of others.

And yet, here he was, walking toward the cafeteria with Prim by his side, her cheerful chatter filling the silence he usually preferred.

“I really didn’t expect you to invite me to lunch,” Prim said, her voice bright with surprise. “But thank you! It’s nice to have someone to eat with. It’s always fun!”

Riddle glanced at her, taking in her wide smile and the way her dark blue eyes seemed to light up with genuine delight. Her optimism was almost childlike in its sincerity, and though it was different from the carefully composed demeanor he usually gravitated toward, he found it oddly... refreshing.

As they settled at a table, Prim eagerly unpacked her lunch box again, chatting as she went. “So, do you always eat alone? Or do you sit with your dorm mates sometimes?”

“I usually eat alone,” Riddle replied, his tone matter-of-fact. “It’s more efficient. The dining hall can be... chaotic.”

Prim tilted her head, nodding thoughtfully. “I get that. It can get loud sometimes. But it’s nice to have people to talk to, don’t you think?”

Riddle hesitated. Socializing had always felt more like a chore than a pleasure for him. Yet, as he watched Prim, he couldn’t bring himself to agree. “Perhaps,” he said finally.

They fell into a rhythm of small talk, much to Riddle’s surprise. Prim carried most of the conversation, her cheerful nature making it easy to follow along. She told him about her favorite classes, how she was still adjusting to Lady Mystic College, and how much she loved the library at Night Raven College.

“And the oak tree in the courtyard!” she added with a bright smile. “It’s such a nice spot to sit. Perfect shade, good view... It’s the best, really.”

Riddle nodded politely, though his thoughts lingered on why she’d been left there in the first place.

Finally, he couldn’t stop himself from bringing it up. “You said earlier that your friends went off with those guys and left you behind. Does that happen often?”

Prim blinked, caught off guard. “Oh, well... not often,” she said, though her tone wavered slightly. “They were just being polite, you know? It wouldn’t have been right for me to tag along if I wasn’t invited.”

Riddle frowned. “But if they’re your friends, shouldn’t they have invited you in the first place?”

Prim hesitated, her cheerful facade faltering for the briefest moment. “I mean, they’re just... busy. And I don’t really mind! I’m happy to keep the spot for them.”

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze steady. “Do you really think that’s fair to you?”

She shifted uncomfortably, her hands fidgeting with the edge of her lunch box. “Well, it’s not like they’re being mean or anything,” she said quietly. “They’re nice to me. And they’re so cool and pretty, you know? I’m lucky to have friends like them.”

Riddle’s frown deepened. “Are they really your friends if they constantly leave you out? If they treat you like an afterthought?”

Prim’s shoulders slumped slightly, and for the first time, her ever-present smile wavered. “They have to be my friends… if they’re not…” she said softly, “then... it would mean I didn’t have any at all…”

Riddle’s chest tightened at her words. He’d never been particularly adept at comforting others, but the sadness in her voice stirred something in him. He’d always been strict, proper, and precise in his interactions, yet in this moment, he felt compelled to say something more.

“You do have a friend,” he said quietly, surprising even himself.

Prim’s head snapped up, her eyes wide. “Mm?”

Riddle shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his face heating slightly. “I mean... I wouldn’t invite just anyone to lunch. So if that makes you feel better... consider me your friend.”

For a moment, Prim simply stared at him. Then her face broke into the brightest smile he’d ever seen, her braces gleaming as her eyes filled with joy. “Really? You mean it?”

He cleared his throat, looking away to hide his own embarrassment. “Yes. Of course.”

“Yeah!” Prim said eagerly, her sadness forgotten as she practically beamed at him. “Yeah, I guess we are friends, huh?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The park on Sage Island was quiet that afternoon, the soft rustle of leaves and distant chatter providing a soothing backdrop to Riddle’s thoughts. He didn’t come to the park often—it seemed frivolous to idle in nature when there were more productive things to do—but something had drawn him there today.

It was then that he saw her.

Prim was balancing on a low railing near the path, her arms stretched out for balance and her curls bouncing with each careful step. She looked utterly carefree, the sunlight catching the faint glint of her braces as she smiled to herself.

Riddle slowed his pace, his gaze lingering on her. The sight struck a chord in him—her innocence, her lightheartedness. She embodied a freedom he had never known.

Growing up under his mother’s strict rules, even the thought of such behavior would have been unthinkable. Walking on a railing? Playing games in public? There was no place for that in the rigid schedule of the Rosehearts household. And even now, as a college student, Riddle often felt the weight of responsibility pressing on his shoulders, keeping him bound to the rules he upheld so fiercely.

Prim, however, seemed untouched by such constraints.

When she spotted him, her face lit up, and she hopped down from the railing with a bounce. “Riddle!” she called, hurrying toward him. “Hi! What a surprise to see you here!”

“Good afternoon, Prim,” he said, straightening his posture.

“It’s so nice to see you,” she said, her grin bright as ever. “Are you here for a walk too?”

“I thought some fresh air might be beneficial,” Riddle replied. “And you?”

“Oh, I’m on my way to the bookstore,” she said, clasping her hands behind her back. “I need a new diary. My old one’s almost full.”

“A diary,” he echoed.

“Yep!” she said cheerfully. “I write about everything—what I did, how I felt, what made me happy. It’s nice to look back on later, you know?”

Riddle nodded, though he couldn’t fully relate. His own life had always been so structured, so focused on rules and expectations, that the idea of reflecting on daily joys felt almost... indulgent.

As they walked together, Prim continued to chat, her energy as boundless as ever. “I’ve been hanging out less with Hazel, Trinity, and Opal,” she said after a while, her tone casual. “It’s easier now that I have a friend.”

Her words caught him off guard, and he turned to look at her. “You mean me.”

“Of course!” she said brightly, glancing at him with a sincerity that made his chest tighten.

He felt his cheeks heat slightly and quickly looked away. “I... see.”

Prim tilted her head, her expression softening. “Thank you for having lunch with me last week, by the way. It was really nice. I hope I wasn’t talking too much.”

Riddle shook his head. “You were fine. I didn’t mind.”

Her face lit up again, and she clasped her hands together. “I’m glad! I’ve been eating alone more often lately, and I think I finally get what you mean—it’s nice to have that quiet sometimes. It’s efficient, and I can actually focus on my food!”

Hearing her repeat his words from before made something stir in his chest. She wasn’t just cheerful; she genuinely listened.

They walked in companionable silence for a few moments before Prim spoke again. “You should come with me to the bookstore,” she said suddenly, her voice bright.

Riddle blinked, caught off guard. “Me?”

“Why not? It could be fun! And I’m sure they’ve got plenty of interesting books for you to look at.”

He hesitated, searching for a reason to decline, but none came. “I suppose I could use a new reference book,” he said finally, convincing himself it was a practical decision. “Very well.”

Prim clapped her hands together. “Great! Let’s go!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The bookstore was small but inviting, its shelves packed with an eclectic mix of novels, journals, and academic texts. Prim headed straight for the section of journals, her excitement palpable.

“What do you think of this one?” she asked, holding up a diary with a floral cover. “Or this one?” She picked up another, this one decorated with stars.

“They’re both... adequate,” Riddle said diplomatically, though his tone lacked the sternness it usually carried.

Prim giggled. “You’re so formal, Riddle. You’re so cool.”

He stiffened, the unexpected comment catching him off guard. “I—cool is hardly the appropriate word.”

She laughed again, completely unbothered by his awkwardness. “I like it,” she said simply, flipping through the pages of a diary.

Riddle turned his attention to the nearest shelf, scanning the titles even as his thoughts lingered on her. She was so unabashedly sincere, so quick to express herself without reservation. It was entirely unlike him, and yet he found it oddly refreshing.

“What kind of books do you like?” Prim asked suddenly, breaking his train of thought.

“Primarily academic texts,” Riddle replied. “I don’t often read for leisure.”

“That makes sense,” she said with a nod. “You’re so disciplined, Riddle. I admire that about you.”

He glanced at her, momentarily speechless. She said it so matter-of-factly, as if her praise was simply the truth. “Thank you,” he said quietly, unsure of how else to respond.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The walk back from the bookstore was peaceful, with Prim happily clutching her new diary to her chest. She was chatting about the various things she planned to write in it—her favorite moments, her thoughts on the day, and even the little goals she set for herself. Riddle listened quietly, his hands neatly folded behind his back, offering the occasional nod or small response.

As they reached a crossroads in the park, Prim slowed her pace, her expression shifting slightly. “I should probably start studying when I get back,” she said with a small sigh. “I’ve got this one chapter that’s been giving me so much trouble.”

Riddle raised an eyebrow. “What subject?”

“Potions,” Prim replied, scrunching her nose. “There’s this one section about ingredient interactions that I just can’t wrap my head around. It’s like the words blur together every time I try to read it.”

He stopped walking, considering her words. He remembered studying potions theory himself the year prior. It wasn’t an easy subject, especially when it came to understanding the subtleties of ingredient dynamics. But he’d mastered it, of course.

Prim tilted her head, glancing at him curiously. “What is it?”

Riddle felt a flicker of hesitation. The idea of offering his help seemed straightforward enough, but his mind began to overanalyze. Would it be strange to suggest it? They were friends now, weren’t they? And helping a friend was a reasonable thing to do.

But what if she felt pressured to accept? Prim had always been eager to please, and the last thing he wanted was for her to feel obligated. Still, she had said she was glad they were friends. Surely she wouldn’t find the gesture unwelcome?

“Riddle?” Prim’s voice was soft, her gaze searching his.

He straightened, pushing his doubts aside with a deep breath. “If you’re struggling with that chapter,” he began carefully, “I could help you study.”

He watched her expression closely, his heart beating just a little faster as he waited for her response.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prim’s POV

Prim clutched her study books tightly to her chest as she walked toward Night Raven College. The path to the all-boys school was winding, but she didn’t mind. The weather was nice, the air crisp, and her heart felt unusually light.

She couldn’t stop thinking about the day before, when Riddle had offered to help her with her potions studies. It had been so unexpected, and the moment he’d asked, she’d said yes without hesitation.

Of course, she was grateful for his help. Riddle was brilliant—he knew so much, and she was certain he’d explain things far better than her textbook ever could. But more than that, the thought of spending time with him made her genuinely happy.

She smiled to herself, her steps quickening as she remembered the feeling. She’d made an actual friend.

In high school, she’d been alone more often than not. She tried to fit in, but it was like she didn’t quite know how. Her curls were too unruly, her braces too shiny, and her lisp made her stumble over words when she was nervous. She remembered watching other girls gather in groups, laughing and chatting easily, while she lingered on the edges, hoping to be noticed.

When she’d started college, she promised herself things would be different. She’d make friends this time, no matter what. And she had—Hazel, Trinity, and Opal had been quick to include her. But it hadn’t taken long to realize that their kindness only went so far.

Prim sighed softly, her grip tightening on her books. Her so-called friends weren’t really nice to her, not in the way that mattered. She knew that. But wasn’t it better to have bad friends than none at all?

At least, that’s what she used to believe.

But then there was Riddle. He was so different from anyone she’d met before—kind in his own quiet, composed way. He didn’t laugh at her or make her feel small. When he talked to her, it felt like he actually saw her, not just the odd girl with the curls and the braces.

Riddle is a real friend, she thought, her heart fluttering.

She almost started skipping as she neared the gates of Night Raven College, her excitement outweighing her nerves. The idea of walking into an all-boys school was a little intimidating, but she didn’t let it bother her. Riddle had offered to help, and she was determined to make the most of it.

When the imposing gates of the school came into view, Prim spotted a familiar figure waiting for her.

Riddle stood with his hands clasped neatly in front of him, his posture as straight and proper as ever. He spotted her immediately and stepped forward.

“Good afternoon, Prim,” he said, his tone formal but not unfriendly.

“Hi, Riddle!” she greeted, her voice bright as she hurried up to him. “Thanks for meeting me.”

“It’s no trouble,” he replied, gesturing toward the campus. “I thought it would be best to guide you directly to my dorm. Night Raven College can be... confusing to navigate if you’re unfamiliar.”

She nodded eagerly, her nerves momentarily forgotten. “I really appreciate it. I’ll try not to get in the way too much!”

Riddle gave a small shake of his head. “You’re not in the way. I offered, didn’t I?”

Her smile widened at his words, and as they began walking, she glanced around, taking in the grand architecture of the school.

“It’s such a big campus,” she said, her awe evident. “It must be amazing to go here.”

“It has its merits,” Riddle said simply, though there was a faint note of pride in his voice.

Prim followed him through the gates and into the courtyard, her excitement bubbling up again. She had no idea what to expect, but one thing was certain—Riddle was her friend now. She can’t wait for tonight, when she can write in her diary about today.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riddle’s POV

As Riddle led Prim through the gates of Heartslabyul, he noticed the usual shift in demeanor among his dormmates. Students standing idly by quickly straightened their postures, their conversations quieting as they noticed him. It was routine, of course—expected behavior from those under his jurisdiction—but it wasn’t something he’d ever given much thought to.

Prim, however, seemed to notice. She glanced around curiously as they passed a group of first-years who hurriedly bowed their heads in greeting.

“Good afternoon, Housewarden!” one of them called.

Prim blinked, slowing her steps slightly. “Housewarden?” she repeated, looking at Riddle.

He cleared his throat, feeling a faint warmth creep up his neck. “Yes,” he said stiffly. “I am the housewarden of Heartslabyul.”

Her eyes widened as the pieces seemed to fall into place. “Ohhh, that makes so much sense now!” she said, her voice light with realization. “No wonder everyone is so respectful around you. You’re in charge!”

Riddle frowned slightly, his usual composure slipping just a little. “It’s merely my duty,” he said, trying to downplay the significance.

Prim, however, seemed delighted. “That’s amazing, Riddle! You must be really good at what you do for them to listen to you like that.”

Her praise caught him off guard, and he quickly turned his attention back to the path, his face warming further. “It’s nothing remarkable. Let’s continue to my room.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When they reached his room, Riddle opened the door and stepped aside to let Prim in. She hesitated for a moment before walking in, clutching her books tightly.

“I’ve never been in a boy’s room before,” she said with a small giggle, glancing around.

Riddle stiffened, his hand tightening slightly on the doorknob. “It’s just a room,” he said quickly, closing the door behind them.

Prim wandered further inside, her eyes wide as she took in the neat, organized space. The room was larger than she had expected, with a tidy desk, bookshelves filled to the brim, and a large canopy bed. Everything was perfectly arranged, a reflection of Riddle’s meticulous nature.

“This is so nice!” she said, smiling as she turned to him. “It’s so... Riddle.”

He blinked. “What do you mean by that?”

“It’s so neat and organized,” she said, laughing lightly. “It just feels like you. I love it.”

Her laughter was high but not too loud often accompanied by a snort. It was infectious and Riddle found himself relaxing slightly.

Prim grinned, plopping herself onto the edge of the chair near his desk and opening her books. “Okay, ready to study?”

He nodded, pulling out a chair for himself and settling in beside her. “Let’s begin. You mentioned you were struggling with ingredient interactions?”

As they worked through the chapter, Riddle was surprised by how focused Prim was. Though she had trouble grasping some of the concepts at first, she listened intently to his explanations, asking thoughtful questions and jotting down notes.

Her enthusiasm was refreshing, and Riddle found himself genuinely enjoying the session.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A knock at the door interrupted them just as Prim was beginning to understand a particularly tricky concept.

“Come in,” Riddle called, glancing up.

The door opened to reveal Trey, carrying a tray of freshly baked cookies. He smiled when he saw them. “I thought you two might want a snack,” he said, placing the tray on the desk.

Prim’s eyes lit up. “Oh, wow! These look amazing!”

“They’re still warm,” Trey said with a chuckle. “Help yourselves.”

Prim picked up a cookie and took a bite, her eyes widening in delight. “These are so good!” she said, her voice muffled slightly by the cookie.

Riddle picked one up as well, though he was far more reserved in his reaction. “Thank you, Trey,” he said politely.

Trey turned to Prim, bowing his head slightly wearing a kind smile. “Nice to meet you, I’m Trey, the vice housewarden of Heartslabyul.”

Prim sat up straight and returned his smile with one of her own. “Nice to meet you too! I’m Prim!”

Trey smiled knowingly, glancing between the two of them. “Well… Let me know if you need anything else,” he said before heading out.

As the door closed, Prim turned to Riddle, her smile as bright as ever. “Your dormmates are so nice. And these cookies? Best study snack ever.”

Riddle nodded, feeling a faint sense of pride in Heartslabyul’s hospitality. “Trey is an excellent baker,” he said.

Prim grinned, holding up her notebook. “And you’re an excellent teacher. I’m actually starting to get this now!”

Riddle looked at her, his expression softening. “You’re a quick learner,” he said. “You just needed someone to explain it in a way that made sense to you.”

Her smile widened, and she leaned forward slightly. “Thanks, Riddle. Really. You’re the best.”

His face warmed again, and he quickly turned back to the open book in front of him. “Let’s continue,” he said, his voice a little tighter than usual.

Prim giggled, taking another bite of her cookie before diving back into her notes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riddle shifted in his chair, trying to focus on the textbook in front of him, but his thoughts kept wandering. It wasn’t the material that distracted him—he’d long since mastered the subject—but rather Prim, who was sitting just a little too close.

She was leaning forward slightly, her notebook open as she jotted down notes, the end of her pencil tapping lightly against her lip in thought. Her blonde curls framed her face in soft spirals, bouncing faintly with every movement. Her braces gleamed when she smiled, the colorful elastics drawing his attention in a way he didn’t expect.

When she spoke, her slight lisp added an unexpected charm to her words, her voice full of enthusiasm even as she struggled with the material.

Riddle frowned slightly, feeling a warmth creep up his neck. He wasn’t used to this—having someone so close, so lively, so...

He surprised himself when the thought crossed his mind: She’s kind of cute.

The realization made his stomach twist, and he quickly looked back at his book, his posture stiffening. Focus, Riddle, he scolded himself silently. You’re here to help her study, nothing more.

Still, it was difficult to ignore her presence, especially when she turned to him with that bright smile, her gratitude shining in her eyes.

When their study session ended, Prim packed up her books, her smile never fading. “Thank you so much, Riddle,” she said for what felt like the tenth time. “You’re seriously the best. I actually feel like I understand this now!”

“It was no trouble,” he replied, his voice clipped as he tried to maintain his composure.

Riddle walked her back to the gates, insisting on showing her the way in case she would get lost. Walking back they made a bit of small talk and Riddle could feel the stares. But he tried to ignore them, he was just walking his friend out. 

Prim slung her bag over her shoulder, pausing when they arrived at the gates. “I’ll see you soon, okay? Thanks again!”

She waved cheerfully before walking back to her own dorm, leaving Riddle alone.

He let out a small breath, his shoulders relaxing. The session had gone well, but he couldn’t shake the strange fluttering sensation in his chest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later, in the Heartslabyul lounge, Riddle sat with a book in hand, though his thoughts kept drifting back to Prim’s visit.

“Hey, Riddle!”

He looked up to see Trey and Cater approaching, both wearing knowing smiles.

“How did the study session go?” Trey asked casually, though there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

“Was she nice? Fun? Cute?” Cater added, leaning in with a teasing grin.

Riddle frowned, not catching the implication. “It went well. She understood the material by the end, and she was very polite.”

Cater’s grin widened. “Oh, ‘polite,’ huh? That’s it?”

“She seemed... eager to learn,” Riddle continued, ignoring Cater’s tone.

Trey chuckled softly. “And you were okay with her being in your space? You usually don’t let just anyone into your room.”

Riddle hesitated, adjusting his tie. “She’s a friend,” he said finally. “It’s natural to help a friend, isn’t it?” Calling her a friend almost made him feel proud.

Cater exchanged a look with Trey, his grin turning sly. “Right. A ‘friend.’”

Before Riddle could respond, the lounge door burst open, and Ace and Deuce strolled in.

“Hey, Housewarden!” Ace called, plopping down on one of the couches. “We heard you had a guest today.”

Deuce looked confused. “Guest?”

“Yeah,” Ace said, smirking. “A girl.”

Riddle’s grip on his book tightened. “What of it?”

“C’mon, spill! Is she your girlfriend or something?” Ace asked, leaning forward with an exaggerated grin.

Riddle’s face turned red, and he slammed his book shut. “O-of course not!” he snapped, his voice sharp.

Ace burst out laughing, clearly enjoying himself. “Whoa, calm down! I was just asking.”

“She’s a friend, nothing more,” Riddle said firmly, glaring at Ace.

Deuce, sensing the tension, elbowed Ace. “Knock it off, Ace. You’re being rude.”

“What? I’m just curious!” Ace said, still grinning.

Riddle stood abruptly, his expression stern. “If you’re finished with your childish remarks, I have work to do.”

He strode out of the lounge, his cape billowing behind him, leaving the others behind.

Trey shook his head, though he was smiling faintly. “You pushed too hard, Ace.”

“Aw, come on,” Ace said, leaning back with a laugh. “You can’t blame me for asking. Did you see how flustered he got?”

Cater grinned. “I don’t know, Ace. Maybe he’s just new to this whole ‘having friends’ thing.”

“Or maybe,” Trey said with a small chuckle, “he’s starting to realize that having a friend like Prim might be a little more important to him than he thought.”

None of them noticed the faint blush creeping up Riddle’s ears as he listened just outside the door, his grip tightening on his book.

[westywallowing]

my favorite scene redraw from S5E13: "Migration"

[fawcetttweets]

A Concerned Friend

I forgot I made this one!! You guys almost didn’t get to see it :0 I wonder how many of these I’ve made and forgotten about…

Masterlist // First // Previous // Next

[xavathun]

i am fucking Thinking about how death is handled in destiny 2 once again.

in regards to guardians it’s almost treated as like a joke or something deeply unserious? possibly even alien in a way due to how we kill and destroy and wreck havoc against our alien foes, but we ourselves never die. it’s really interesting to me cause there really isn’t a lot that can permanently kill a guardian so it makes sense we’d have this perception. like off the top of my head you have weapons of sorrow, hive rituals where the light is drained from a guardian, and paracausal beings which ofc includes other guardians. but that isn’t a lot, most deaths are not permanent and so this perception of death among guardians seems like death really isnt that big of a deal.

we jump off the tower and then get resurrected and have a little laugh about it. guardians constantly kill each other for fun in crucible. we are always doing incredibly stupid shit but we are rewarded because our enemies do not share in our immortality. it’s fascinating bc this not only makes us become riskier as time goes on due to being rewarded (enemies defeated) for our lack of self preservation, but this also makes guardians as a whole uniquely unsuited to handle grief and loss. if you spend your whole unlife winning and thinking that if a friend dies they’ll just come right back, it’s such a shock if (or rather when) they actually do die permanently. and then that guardian has to spend the rest of their immortal, undying life remembering. they have to live with that while they watch the newer guardians flood into the tower with the same naive disposition as they once had.

i’m sure guardians know theoretically they could die permanently at any point, especially because of those like dredgen yor, but i feel like for most it’s one of those things that most would say “well that would never happen to me” until it does happen. guardians seem to just have this inability to let go and it makes me want to bite drywall because i think abt it too long and start going feral. like!! the past may be the past but it sure doesn’t feel like it when you’re immortal and you remember that shit clear as day!!! aghhhh pacing around my room in circles and eating ROCKS

[rhapsoddity]

So its been almost two years now since this comic,,, do yall still have Spectrum fever?

This was a very fun exercise to redraw an old comic, and see how my style has changed and art improved! I definitely prefer certain aspects of the original comic, but there's no harm redrawing it so ppl can see Spectrum

Comparison between panels under the cut!

[eddis-not-eeddis]

How To Stop Killing Conversations

Talking is hard. People are confusing. Making friends is difficult, and interacting with coworkers is tortuous.

You want to make friends, you want to reach out, but it's hard and every time you start a conversation it dies, or limps along until both you and the person you're talking to are looking for excuses to kill it and put it out of it's misery so you can both escape the increasingly awkward situation.

As an introvert who has suffered a lot of social anxiety in my time, let me share a few tricks I've learned over the years going through hundreds and thousands of excruciatingly painful conversations until I found something that works. I've kind of distilled the process.

ALWAYS ASK A QUESTION!!!

The first thing is to always leave your partner an opening. You need to let each other talk for a conversation to get off the ground, but it's more than that, really. You need to actively encourage each other to talk. The best way to do that is to ask questions.

Here are two examples of an introduction: Example A

You: Hello.

Them: Hello.

You: Nice to meet you.

Them: Nice to meet you too.

Example B

Y: Hello, nice to meet you, how are you? T: I’m doing well, yourself?

Y: I've been really well. How are you liking the weather?

T: I'm so happy the weather's finally getting cooler, I'm looking forward to pumpkin spice season. Do you like lattes?

Do you see how in Example A the conversation wasn’t going anywhere? It just kinda died, because there weren’t any openings for new topics, whereas in Example B, there were openings to keep the conversation going.

But what do you do if your conversation partner is as socially inept as you were two minutes ago and doesn't play along? All is not lost.

Example C

Y: Hello, so nice to meet you, how have you been doing?

T: I'm doing well.

Y: That's great, are you enjoying the nice weather, then?

T: Yeah. I'm glad it's finally fall, I'm looking forward to pumpkin spice lattes.

Y: I love pumpkin spice lattes! Pumpkin spice anything, really. I recently got the best pumpkin spice candle at the shop down the road, have you been there?

Even if they don't leave you an opening, you can usually make one. It may be difficult, especially when they don't give you much to work with. This is where having a go-to script is a life-saver--me, I always default to talking about the weather, so when in doubt, you can do that.* The important thing right now is to keep fostering the conversation, so once you bring up the weather, segue into a question. When they answer the question, make a brief comment or observation from your own experience and build off of that comment or observation to ask another question.

"But I don't want to make it about me. Doing that's bad, right?"

This is why that questions are important. If you haven't been asked a question, you kinda have to make it about you, you don't have a choice. But to keep from being an attention hog, follow up your shared experience or anecdote with another question.

Example D

T: I love pumpkin spice lattes

Y: Me too. I had the best pumpkin spice latte the other day at the cafe down the road, have you ever been there?

Now you've circled the conversation back around to them again, and you aren't taking the limelight. Sharing an experience is so important, you're trying to show that you understand, that you sympathize, that you relate.**

This really is the most important element of being a good conversationalist. You have to keep asking questions.

The one other thing I will touch on is introductions. DO NOT get into turn based combat.

Example E

Y: Hello

T: Hello

Y: Nice to meet you

T: Nice to meet you too.

Y: How are you doing?

T: I'm fine. You?

Y: Me too.

This will kill any possibility of continuing a conversation. Instead, get it all out of the way all at once, if at all possible.

Example F

Y: Hi, it's nice to meet you, how are you doing?

This is good, but this is better

Example G

Y: Hi, nice to meet you, how are you liking the weather?

Don't ask how they are doing, or if you do, before they can answer, follow it up with your placeholder (weather etc.) so they have to say some thing like

Example H

T: I'm fine, and I'm really liking the weather.

or

T: Not so great, the weather sucks.

Either of those options are much easier to work with than your basic "I'm fine."

Usually, if you can get past the introduction, you can get a conversation going. And then, even if you don't end up hitting it off with the person you're talking with, you at least don't leave the conversation feeling like you've died a thousand tiny deaths.

In fact, if you get past that introduction, you may have just made yourself a friend.

Remember folks, basically everyone around you is more afraid of you than you are of them, and in this benighted age no one has been taught conversation skills, so we are all pretty much in the same boat. (Unless you were born an extrovert, in which case we are all deeply envious and would probably kill you if we didn't need you in our sad and lonely lives so much.)

Have grace for one another, and for yourselves because talking with people is difficult.

Go forth, and stop killing conversations.

*If you are one of those awful people who likes to brag about how you hate small talk and only want to talk about important and meaningful things, I have one question: Do you ever have a conversation that lasts long enough to become meaningful? I thought not. Small talk is an important skill. Develop it.

**This is how you deal with sad or difficult situations too. When you want to show you sympathize with someone going through a hard time.

Example:

Y: How are you doing?

T: Not very well. My dog died last week.

Y: Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. My own dog died last year and I still miss her a lot. How are you handling it?

Now you've circled the conversation back around to them again. You aren't making it about you.

If y'all want, next time I can share how to extricate yourself from a conversation.

[fancyfade]

me, a woman enjoying female characters in comics: I dislike that this female character is treated mainly as a love interest and treated badly when she's a male character's love interest, and think she was treated better when she was written away from him as a solo hero in her own right, without having to be nerfed to make him look better. Because of this, her writing is worse around her male LI

Green arrow fans: That's Just What Conservatives Want You To Believe.

[queer-coded]

> be me

> autistic tgirl in IT

> develop a crush on a cute robot girl

> offer to host a development environment for her on my home server

> she says ok

> struggle to install Debian because I'm a windowsfag

> set up Debian and add her account to the sudoers list

> try to set up a tunnel to a subdomain to point to the box

> mfw it works after an hour of reading docs

This feels like peak nerdy transfem flirting. Tell me I'm wrong.

Do you think she'll like me now? 👉👈

[neon--nightmare]

quick headcanon: fresh (the parasite) does need to sleep! however, he’s really really bad at both taking care of himself and his host because he sees it as a waste of time (“Brah, whaddaya mean peeps are up ‘n supposed ta sleep TEN HOURS a night?! Ya could do SO many other things, you’re wastin’ half the dang day literally doin’ nothin’!! Nada!! Zilch!!”)

and a MASSIVE vulnerability (“Ya tellin’ me ya just LIE there for hours?! Eyes closed, floppin’ around like a ragdoll?! A snail could kill ya with ya guard down in da ground like that, broham! A SNAIL!!”)

plus, where’s the guarantee that his host would stay asleep the whole time he did? his host could wake up first while fresh was still out, and do who-knows-what! pull him out of the body, maybe, and squash him like a bug! so instead, he pushes both himself and his host to the brink of literally passing out from exhaustion, and then finds a cozy little spot to curl up and power-nap in until he wakes up, preferably before his host, and the cycle repeats. he doesn’t realize sleep-deprivation affects him because it’s his normal, and that to be fair probably isn’t helping his mental state. but it’s FINE brah he’s FINE stop askin’!!!

this also ties in to how he feeds his host (“Breakfast is the most important meal o’ da day, bro!! Can’t skip it!!”) cardboard (“C’mon, yo, it’s totes edible, no point in wastin’ it!”) with frosting + sprinkles (“gotta get a SWEET TREAT ta start da day right! Haven’t ya heard it’s good for the soul? <3”) with a raw egg (“PROTEIN, homeslice!!”) because well. outside of the endless soul-rending torture do NOT let this guy in charge of your body (love him forever tho <33)

(if he ever had the chance to live a peaceful life where he wasn’t forced to be on the run 24/7, he’d have to learn how to take care of himself for the first time and how it feels to actually be rested, how it feels to be able to take care of himself more than the bare minimum, how alien it must feel. how strange it must seem to be well-rested for the first time in your entire existence)

[loojii]

♥️ Prim and Proper ♥️ part 2

part 1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Riddle x King of Hearts oc You bet your ass I'm throwing every cliché I can think off in this shit fight me ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Story under the line~

Prim’s POV

Prim sat at a corner table in the Lady Mystic College cafeteria, quietly picking at her lunch. The chatter of the other students buzzed around her, but she kept her head down, focusing on her sandwich.

She had been avoiding Hazel, Trinity, and Opal for the past few days, though it wasn’t as if they’d noticed. She hadn’t gathered the courage to confront them outright, but she also couldn’t bring herself to sit with them anymore. It’s not like they were missing her.

Prim sighed softly, taking a small bite of her food. It was better this way. She could focus on herself, and besides, eating alone wasn’t so bad. Riddle thought so too. Without noticing a small smile reached her lips.

“OMG, hiiii!”

Prim nearly choked on her sandwich, startled by the sudden, enthusiastic voice. She looked up and found herself staring at Yina.

Yina was impossible to miss. She was tall, practically towering over everyone in their class, and had a striking presence, with her muscular build and big bouncy hair. Her hyena ears twitched slightly, and her Magicam-perfect smile seemed to light up the entire cafeteria.

Prim had always been a little intimidated by her. Yina was one of those girls who seemed effortlessly confident, the kind of person who could command attention without even trying. And on top of that, she was a Magicam model with thousands of followers.

“Uh, hi,” Prim managed, her voice a little shaky.

Yina beamed. “Why are you, like, eating alone? Is this seat taking?! Can I sit here?”

Prim blinked, completely caught off guard. “Oh, um... yeah, of course!”

Yina plopped down across from her without hesitation, setting her tray down with a flourish. “Thanks, girl! I was, like, totally not in the mood to sit with the usual crowd. They’re so boring today, you know?”

Prim nodded awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

Yina leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand as she studied Prim with an amused expression. “You’re in my class, right? You’re, like, so cute! I love your hair.”

Prim’s cheeks turned pink. “Oh, uh, thanks,” she said softly.

“I’m Yina, by the way,” Yina said, though it wasn’t necessary, everyone in their class knew who she was. “You’re, like, Prim, right? Omg, I love that name. So adorable!”

Prim couldn’t help but smile. Yina’s energy was infectious, and she seemed so genuinely nice despite her intimidating presence. Unlike her old friends, she actually believed Yina’s compliments, she seemed so genuinous.

“So, like, what’s up?” Yina asked, casually poking at her salad with a fork. “You usually sit with those girls, right? Hazel and, like, the others?”

“Oh, um...” Prim hesitated. “I guess I’ve been sitting alone lately.”

Yina pouted dramatically. “Aw, no way. That’s, like, so sad! Eating alone is, like, totally boring. Unless you, like, want to be alone. Then I’ll leave, no problem-”

Prim quickly shook her head. “No, it’s okay! I don’t mind you sitting here.”

Yina clapped her hands together. “Yay! I hate eating alone. It’s, like, the worst.”

Prim found herself relaxing a little. Yina’s bubbly personality made it easy to talk, and before long, they were chatting about their classes and classmates.

At one point, Yina leaned forward conspiratorially. “So, like, tell me something fun! Got any tea?”

Prim tilted her head. “Tea?”

Yina waved a hand. “You know, like, gossip? Anything exciting? Omg, wait! You said you’ve been eating alone, so you ditched your friends? Don’t tell me you got no friends right now, right?”

Prim nodded, a small smile creeping onto her face. “O-oh! No, I do have a friend. But he attends Night Raven college so we can’t eat lunch together- ”

Yina gasped, her eyes widening. “Night Raven? OMG so like, a boy? Yeah you said he of course- hihi! So what’s his name? What is he like? Is he cute?”

Prim blinked, momentarily thrown off by the rapid-fire questions. “Oh, um, his name’s Riddle. He’s really smart and nice. He’s been helping me study lately.”

Yina squealed, practically bouncing in her seat. “Omg, that’s, like, so cute! Let me tell you, finding a guy that wants to help you out with boring stuff like school is, like, so rare. You’re very lucky to have a friend like that!”

Prim blinked again, not quite catching the implication. “Yeah, I’m really glad he’s my friend!”

Yina smirked knowingly. “Mmhmm, sure, just your friend. Sounds to me like you’ve got, like, a little study buddy romance brewing.”

Prim laughed softly, shaking her head. “No, no, it’s nothing like that. He’s just helping me with potions. He’s really good at explaining things.”

“Whatever you say, girl,” Yina said with a wink, taking another bite of her salad. “But, like, you’ve got to introduce me to him someday. He sounds adorbs.”

Prim giggled, finding Yina’s enthusiasm oddly comforting. She had never expected someone like Yina to approach her, let alone be so friendly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riddle’s POV

Riddle sat at his desk, carefully organizing his notes as Prim closed her notebook with a satisfied smile. Their study session had gone smoothly, as always, and she was clearly pleased with how much progress they’d made.

“Thanks again, Riddle,” Prim said, her voice cheerful. “I always feel so much better about potions after studying with you.”

“It’s no trouble,” Riddle replied, his tone measured. “You’re an attentive student, which makes it easier.”

Prim giggled, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “I try! Oh, I almost forgot- I wanted to tell you something!”

Riddle raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”

“I made a new friend!” she said brightly, her eyes sparkling. “Her name’s Yina, and she’s in my class. She’s super nice and really fun to talk to.”

Riddle felt an unexpected sense of relief at her words. He’d been quietly worried about Prim spending too much time alone, especially since she’d started avoiding her old group of friends. Hearing that she’d found someone who valued her lifted a weight from his chest.

“That’s good to hear,” he said with a small nod. “You deserve friends who treat you well.”

Prim smiled, leaning forward slightly. “Thanks, Riddle. I’m really glad I have you as a friend, too.”

He cleared his throat, feeling a faint warmth creep up his neck. “Of course.”

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, but it wasn’t long before Prim’s curiosity got the better of her.

“So, what’s next for you?” she asked, resting her chin in her hand. “Any big things coming up?”

Riddle hesitated for a moment, then replied, “There’s a dance coming up at the school. As housewarden, I have to oversee the preparations for Heartslabyul’s contributions.”

Prim’s eyes lit up. “A dance? That’s so exciting! I’ve heard about the dances at Night Raven College. Some of the girls at my school were talking about it, hoping a guy from here would ask them to go.”

Riddle adjusted his bow tie, feeling slightly uncomfortable under her enthusiastic gaze. “Yes, the dances are... a significant event,” he admitted.

Prim clasped her hands together, her voice brimming with excitement. “I bet it’s amazing. NRC is already so beautiful- add a dance, and it must look like something out of a fairytale!”

Riddle hesitated, his thoughts swirling. The way she spoke about the dance made it clear how much she’d love to see it for herself. It wouldn’t be unusual for a student to bring an outside guest, plenty of his dormmates had done so in the past. And Prim was his friend, wasn’t she?

He frowned slightly, his thoughts spiraling. Surely someone else might ask her. She was... well, adorable, wasn’t she? Though he hadn’t realized it at first, he’d come to see just how lively, kind, and pretty she truly was. Surely, another guy would notice that too?

“Has anyone asked you to go?” he asked carefully, trying to keep his tone casual.

Prim blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question. Then she laughed, shaking her head. “Me? No, of course not!”

Riddle’s chest tightened as he echoed her words. “Of course not?”

Prim shrugged, her expression light. “But that’s fine! I bet Yina was asked, she will probably tell me all about it! Oh, I should ask her to take photo’s too!”

Riddle pressed his lips together, her words lingering in his mind. It didn’t sit right with him how easily she rejected the idea that someone could ask her. That she couldn’t experience it by herself, something she clearly deserved, to see how beautiful the Great Hall would look, and to feel included.

Taking a deep breath, he gathered his courage. “Prim,” he began, his voice quieter than usual, “would you like to attend the dance? As my plus one?”

Prim’s eyes widened, her lips parting in surprise, her braces on full display.

“Just as friends, of course,” Riddle added quickly, his face growing warmer. “I thought you might enjoy seeing it for yourself.”

Her surprise melted into the brightest smile he’d ever seen. “Yes! I’d love to! Thank you so much, Riddle!”

The sheer joy in her voice made his heart flutter in a way he wasn’t prepared for. He quickly turned his attention back to his notes, hoping to compose himself. “Good. I’ll make the necessary arrangements.”

Prim clasped her hands together, practically glowing. “This is going to be so much fun! I can’t wait!”

As she continued to talk about her excitement, Riddle allowed himself a small smile. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prim’s POV

Prim twirled around in her room, grinning as she looked at the dress spread across her bed. Her mom’s old dress was everything she could’ve hoped for: the pink glitter shimmered in the soft light, the voluminous sleeves added a whimsical touch, and the exaggerated eighties silhouette made it feel like something out of a movie.

When her mother had brought it down from the attic, Prim had squealed with joy, hugging her mom tightly. “Thank you, thank you! It’s perfect!” she had exclaimed.

Her parents were always so sweet, letting her express herself however she liked. Her mom had joked, “It’s a miracle this dress survived all these years! Just make sure you don’t let it blind anyone at the dance.”

Her dad had chimed in with a chuckle, “I think it’s going to turn every head there. No one’s going to forget this look!”

Now, as she gazed at the dress, Prim felt a warm glow of happiness. This dress wasn’t just an outfit- it was a part of her mom’s history, and now it would be part of hers, too. She couldn’t wait to show Riddle.

A knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts. With a puzzled look she opened the door to see- Hazel, Opal, and Trinity.

“Hi, Prim!” Hazel said, her voice overly sweet.

“Uh, hi,” Prim replied, blinking in surprise.

“We need your help,” Opal said, her gaze flicking over Prim’s room. “You’re good with hair, right? Your curls are always so... wild. You must know how to tame them.”

Prim hesitated, clutching the edge of her door. She wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or not, but she couldn’t say no. “Oh, um, sure. What do you need?”

The three girls stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, chattering among themselves. It wasn’t long before their eyes landed on the dress lying on Prim’s bed.

“Oh my gosh,” Trinity said, covering her mouth as she stifled a laugh. “Is that what you’re wearing tonight? Who hates you that much?”

Prim flushed, her hands fidgeting nervously. “Huh? My mom gave it to me-”

The girls exchanged glances, their amused expressions making Prim’s chest tighten.

Hazel giggled. “Oh, honey. Never let your mom choose your dress.”

“It’s so... pink,” Opal said, her lips curling into a smirk.

“And those sleeves!” Trinity added. “Are you going to fly away?”

The three of them burst into laughter, and Prim felt her heart sink.

“We can’t let you wear that,” Hazel said, shaking her head. “Come on, we’ll fix you up.”

Before Prim could protest, they were pulling her into her chair, smoothing her curls with a hot straightener until they hung limply down her back. They dabbed shimmering makeup across her face, accentuating her features with sharp lines and bold colors. Finally, Hazel let Opal run to her room to grab a tight black dress Prim could borrow.

“Here,” Hazel said, holding it up. “You’ll look amazing in this. Trust me.”

Prim stared at the dress, feeling a lump form in her throat. “But—”

“No buts,” Hazel interrupted. “We’re doing you a favor, Prim. You’ll thank us later.”

And just like that, the pink glittery dress was forgotten, left lying crumpled on her bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prim followed Hazel, Trinity, and Opal into the grand hall of Night Raven College, her hands clutching the unfamiliar fabric of the borrowed dress. The room was breathtaking, filled with twinkling lights and elegant decorations.

But as beautiful as everything was, Prim couldn’t shake the discomfort settling in her chest. Every time she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirrored surfaces, she saw someone completely different—a polished, glammed-up version of herself that didn’t feel like her at all.

And then she spotted Riddle.

He stood near the entrance, waiting for her with his usual composed expression. But when his eyes landed on her, they widened slightly, and he straightened his posture.

“You look... very nice,” he eventually got out.

Prim hesitated, her fingers brushing against her skirt. “Do you mean that?” she asked, her voice quieter than usual.

Riddle nodded, though his expression seemed thoughtful. “Of course.”

Prim gave him a small smile. “Thank you. Hazel let me borrow this dress.”

At the mention of Hazel’s name, Riddle’s expression darkened slightly, though he quickly masked it. “Borrowed?” he asked. “Didn’t you already have something to wear?”

Prim’s cheeks flushed. “I did, but they saw it and... well, they thought it wasn’t a good choice. It’s fine, though.”

Prim looked at everyone going in to attend the dance. Hazel and the others were quick to ditch her, surely having a great time with their dates right about now. She looked at Riddle, who was still looking at her with furrowed brows. She didn’t want to delay the night by something as silly as a dress.

Riddle frowned, his sharp eyes narrowing. “Where is the dress you planned to wear?”

Prim hesitated. “It’s back in my room. But it’s okay, really. This dress is fine, and I don’t want to ruin the night.”

“You’re not ruining anything,” Riddle said firmly. He glanced at the dance already in full swing, then back at Prim. “Wait here.”

Before she could respond, Riddle disappeared for a moment and returned with a broom in hand.

“Come with me,” he said, holding it out to her.

Prim blinked in surprise. “What? But the dance- don’t you have to be here?”

“It can wait,” Riddle said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Let’s get your dress.”

Though still uncertain, Prim couldn’t help but feel a spark of excitement as she climbed onto the broom behind him. “O-okay!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riddle’s POV

Riddle stood outside Prim’s room, his hands clasped neatly in front of him as he waited. The faint sounds of rustling fabric and soft humming drifted through the door. He took a calming breath, willing himself to be patient.

When the door finally opened, Riddle turned to face her- and felt his breath catch.

Prim stepped out, beaming with pride. Her sandals, adorned with little fabric flowers, peeked out beneath a bright pink glittery dress that seemed to shimmer with every movement. The sleeves were big and puffy, almost comically so, and the skirt flared out in exaggerated layers. Her hair, no longer straightened, had returned to its lively curls, half pulled back with a crown-like clip. Her makeup was gone, leaving her face fresh and glowing with natural cheer.

The dress was, by all conventional standards, hideous.

But Prim? She was beautiful.

Riddle’s eyes traced her from head to toe, taking in every detail- the bold color, the whimsical design, the unrestrained joy in her expression. She didn’t seem to care that her outfit clashed with the elegance of the Night Raven College dance or that others might scoff at her choice. She stood there, utterly unapologetic, her smile radiating confidence.

The way she embraced herself so fully was... admirable.

Riddle felt a pang of something unfamiliar in his chest. Was it jealousy? He’d spent his life meticulously crafting his image, conforming to rules and expectations. And yet, here was Prim, completely unbound by such concerns. She didn’t dress to please anyone but herself, and she was better for it.

Her fashion sense was undeniably eccentric- a strange blend of grandmotherly charm and childlike whimsy. And yet, as he watched her, Riddle found himself... liking it.

“Well?” Prim asked, tilting her head slightly. “What do you think?”

Riddle cleared his throat, regaining his composure. “It suits you,” he said sincerely. “I prefer this dress over the other one.”

Prim’s smile widened, and she clasped her hands in front of her. “Really? That means so much to me. Thank you, Riddle.”

Her words were simple, but the gratitude in her voice made his chest feel oddly warm.

“Shall we?” he asked, stepping aside to let her through.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When they mounted the broom to fly back to the dance, Prim climbed on behind Riddle, her arms wrapping tightly around his waist. The warmth of her touch made him momentarily stiffen, but he quickly relaxed, focusing on the path ahead.

The night air was cool, and the lights of the campus glittered in the distance as they soared through the sky.

“I really do love this dress,” Riddle said, breaking the comfortable silence.

Prim leaned her head against his back slightly, her voice soft and full of emotion. “Thank you, Riddle. And thank you for taking me back to my dorm...”

Riddle didn’t respond immediately, but a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Of course.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Great Hall was alive with music and laughter, its opulent decorations shimmering under the soft glow of enchanted lights. Riddle stood at the edge of the dance floor, watching as Prim twirled happily in her bright pink dress. Her curls bounced with every step, and her joy was palpable, radiating through the room like sunlight.

But the whispers reached him.

“Who let her in wearing that?”

“Did she raid a costume shop?”

“And those curls... Honestly, she looks ridiculous.”

“I feel so bad for her, omg-”

Riddle’s grip on his gloves tightened, his jaw clenching as the words filtered through the noise. He turned his head sharply, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on a group of students huddled near the refreshments table, smirking and murmuring among themselves.

Anger flared in his chest, his short temper on full display. He wanted to march over, to demand they hold their tongues, but he stopped himself. A small glance at Prim, still twirling to the music, was all it took to calm him. She was so happy, so blissfully unaware of the cruel words. He couldn’t take that away from her.

But he was also... confused.

How could they not see it? How could they fail to notice how lovely she was? Her bright happy eyes, the lively way she smiled, her curls framing her face like a golden halo. Even the dress, as unconventional as it was, suited her perfectly.

“She’s pretty,” Riddle thought, his brows furrowing. “Anyone can see that. Can’t they?”

The question lingered in his mind, unsettling him.

When Prim finally noticed him standing at the edge of the floor, she bounded over, her face glowing with excitement. “Riddle!” she said, holding out her hand. “Dance with me!”

He hesitated for a moment but relented, letting her pull him onto the floor. The music was slower now, a waltz, and he took her hand, guiding her into the proper steps.

Prim giggled when she stumbled slightly, but Riddle steadied her. “You’re doing fine,” he said, his grip tightening. 

“Thanks,” she replied, her smile never faltering.

As they danced, Riddle’s thoughts drifted to his mother. He could already hear her voice in his mind, sharp and disapproving. She would never have approved of someone like Prim- her bold, mismatched fashion, her carefree nature, her unpolished joy.

His mother valued order, refinement, and perfection. She would think Prim ridiculous.

The thought brought an ache to his chest. Just like the whispers in the hall, his mother would scold her for her dress choice. For how she styled her hair or how her shoes were not appropriate for the occasion. 

Before, he would’ve agreed with his mother, aided every word that left her lips. But now… He couldn’t disagree more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When the dance slowed further, Riddle glanced at the open balcony. The night sky stretched beyond the doors, stars twinkling brightly against the darkness. He turned back to Prim.

“Would you like to step outside for a moment?” he asked.

Prim’s eyes lit up. “I’d love to!”

He guided her through the crowd and onto the balcony, where the cool night air greeted them. The music faded into the background, replaced by the soft chirping of crickets.

Prim leaned against the railing, gazing up at the stars. “It’s so beautiful out here,” she said.

Riddle stood beside her, his hands resting lightly on the railing. “It is,” he agreed. After a moment, he added, “That dress- does it mean something to you?”

Prim turned to him, her smile soft. “Yeah. It was my mom’s. She wore it to a dance when she was young, and she kept it all these years. She thought it’d be fun if I wore it, too.”

Riddle nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “It suits you,” he said quietly.

“Thanks,” Prim replied, her voice warm. “She and my dad were so excited when I told them I’d be wearing it tonight. I think they’re just happy I have a friend to go with.”

Riddle hesitated. “You told them about me?”

Prim giggled. “Of course! They wanted to know who I was going with. I told them all about you.”

He shifted slightly, his brow furrowing. “Do you think... they’d like me?”

Prim blinked, surprised by the question. “Of course they would! If I like you, then they’d like you, too!”

Riddle fell silent, her words lingering in the air.

She said it like it was a thing all parents do. He couldn’t imagine his mother ever being so accepting, so kind. No matter how hard he tried, nothing he did was ever enough for her.

“Riddle?” Prim’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.

He looked at her, her expression tinged with concern.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly.

He managed a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yes. I’m fine.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prim’s POV

Prim leaned against the cool railing, gazing up at the stars with a soft smile. The night was peaceful, the faint music from the Great Hall carrying in the breeze. She glanced at Riddle, who stood beside her, his posture straight and composed as always.

“This is nice,” she said, her voice filling the quiet night. “Thanks for suggesting we come out here.”

Riddle nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “It’s... refreshing. The dance can be overwhelming at times.”

Prim giggled. “I didn’t think you’d ever get overwhelmed.”

He turned to her, his lips twitching upward in the faintest hint of a smile. “I’m not immune to it.”

She tilted her head, studying him. “You’re always so calm and collected, though. It’s impressive.”

“Not always.” Riddle said simply, though his expression softened slightly. “But you... you seem to have a way of balancing everything without trying so hard.”

Prim blinked, surprised by the compliment. “Me? I don’t think I’m very balanced at all,” she said with a laugh. “I just... do whatever feels right.”

“That’s precisely what I mean,” Riddle said, his voice quieter now. “You act so freely, without worrying about others’ opinions. It’s... admirable.”

Her cheeks warmed, and she glanced down, her fingers fiddling with the glittery fabric of her dress. “Well, I guess I’ve always just thought... life’s too short to worry about stuff like that. If you like something, why not go for it?”

Riddle’s eyes lingered on her for a moment, the starlight reflecting in his gaze. “That’s a... unique perspective,” he said.

Prim giggled again, her nerves bubbling to the surface. “You make it sound like it’s a bad thing!”

“Not at all,” Riddle said quickly. “It’s... refreshing.”

Prim’s smile grew, and she turned to him, leaning slightly closer. “You know, for someone who’s so proper all the time, you’re actually really sweet.”

Riddle stiffened slightly, his cheeks tinging pink. “I- sweet isn’t the word I would use.”

“Oh, come on,” she teased, nudging him lightly. “You’re sweet. Admit it.”

Riddle’s gaze faltered for a moment, his posture straightening even further. “If you insist,” he said finally, a hint of awkwardness in his tone.

Prim giggled again, her curls bouncing. “Don’t worry. It’s a good thing.”

Riddle hesitated, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. “You... have a way of making people feel at ease,” he said quietly. “Even me.”

Prim’s heart skipped a beat, and she felt her cheeks grow even warmer. “Really?”

“Yes,” Riddle replied, his voice firm but sincere.

They stood in silence for a moment, the air between them growing heavier, though neither seemed to know why.

“Riddle,” Prim said, breaking the tension, “You’re a good person.”

Riddle’s lips parted as if to respond, but he hesitated, his gaze searching hers.

Prim tilted her head. “What? Did I say something wrong?”

“No,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “It’s just... I’m not accustomed to this.”

“To what?”

“To... whatever this is,” he said, gesturing vaguely between them.

Prim laughed softly, leaning closer. “I think it’s called being friends.”

“Perhaps,” Riddle said, his tone laced with something Prim couldn’t quite place.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riddle’s POV

As Riddle walked Prim back to the Great Hall, her laughter still ringing softly in his ears, he found his thoughts drifting back to earlier in the week. The teasing from his dormmates, particularly Ace’s bold question, lingered in his mind, no matter how hard he tried to push it away.

“Is she your girlfriend or something?”

The word had made him bristle with indignation at the time. A girlfriend? It was preposterous! She was his friend, nothing more.

…Right?

But now, as they re-entered the Great Hall and Prim immediately brightened at the sight of the glittering decorations, Riddle found himself wondering. What did it mean to have a girlfriend? What would it entail?

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She was talking about how pretty the hall looked, completely unaware of his inner turmoil. Her curls bounced with every movement, the glittery pink dress catching the light in a way that made her look almost ethereal.

If she were his girlfriend, would that mean spending more time with her? More moments like this—walking under the stars, sharing quiet conversations? Would it mean holding her hand?

His thoughts spiraled further, and he felt his face grow warm. What if it meant things like… like kissing?

Riddle quickly cleared his throat, straightening his posture as though he could will the thought away. It was ridiculous. He barely understood what it meant to be a friend, let alone anything beyond that. And yet...

He found himself glancing at her again, his gaze lingering on the way she smiled, so bright and genuine. The way she didn’t hold back, the way she made him feel at ease, the way she seemed to light up the room simply by being in it.

If being her friend was this fulfilling, what would it be like to be something more?

Riddle shook his head slightly, his cheeks burning. It was absurd to even think about. She probably hadn’t given the idea a single thought, and here he was, getting flustered over something so hypothetical.

And yet, the question lingered.

Would she even want someone like him? Someone so rigid, so tied to rules and propriety? She deserved someone who could match her energy, her openness, someone who could make her laugh without overthinking every word.

“Riddle?”

Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and he turned to see her watching him with a curious tilt of her head.

“You okay?” she asked, her blue eyes searching his.

“Yes,” he said quickly, clearing his throat. “I was just... thinking.”

Prim smiled, seemingly satisfied with his answer, and turned back to admire the hall.

Riddle exhaled softly, his thoughts still a tangle of confusion and warmth. The teasing from his dormmates had felt irritating at first, but now he wasn’t so sure.

Was it really such an absurd idea? Or was it something he was too afraid to consider?

As Prim giggled at something a passing student said, Riddle realized one thing for certain: the thought of anyone else calling her their girlfriend filled him with an uncomfortable knot of jealousy.

And that was a realization he wasn’t quite ready to face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The dance was winding down, the enchanted lights dimming as the final song played softly in the background. Students milled about, some still dancing while others gathered in small groups, their laughter and chatter echoing through the hall.

Riddle stood with Prim near the entrance, her hand lightly brushing the glittery skirt of her dress as she spoke animatedly about her favorite moments from the evening. Her excitement was infectious, her blue eyes sparkling as she recounted their dance, the food, and the decorations.

“And the stars outside,” she said, grinning. “That was my favorite part. Thanks for taking me out there.”

“You seemed to enjoy it,” Riddle replied, fiddling with his own gloves.

“I did,” she said, grinning as she nodded. “It was perfect. The whole night was, really. Thank you for inviting me, Riddle.”

He looked at her, her sincerity evident in every word. For a moment, he found himself unable to respond, his mind replaying the evening, the way she had lit up when he complimented her dress, the warmth of her arms around him on the broom, and the way she had smiled at him under the stars.

“You’re welcome,” he said finally, his voice steadier than he expected.

Prim adjusted a strand of hair, her movement reluctant. “I guess it’s time for me to head back.”

Riddle nodded, though a part of him wished the night didn’t have to end. “I’ll walk you to the gate,” he offered.

Together, they made their way out of the Great Hall, the cool night air wrapping around them as they started their walk to the gate. The grounds were quieter now, the distant hum of voices fading as the other guests began to disperse.

When they reached their destination, Prim turned to him, her smile soft but bright. “I had so much fun tonight, Riddle. It was one of the best nights ever.”

“I’m glad,” he said, meeting her gaze. “You deserved to enjoy yourself.”

She looked at him for a moment, her expression thoughtful. Then, to his surprise, she stepped closer, her cheeks slightly pink.

“Goodnight, Riddle,” she said softly.

Before he could respond, she leaned up and pressed a light kiss to his cheek.

Riddle froze, his breath catching as warmth spread across his face. Her lips barely lingered, but it was enough to leave his mind reeling.

When she pulled back, she was smiling, her own cheeks glowing faintly. “Thanks again for everything,” she said, her voice light and cheerful.

He managed a small nod, his voice failing him as she turned and began walking away.

“Goodnight, Prim,” he finally murmured, though she was already out of earshot.

[giftcasket]

rip mike the cool person you would've loved cryptocurrency

[r0semultiverse]

How Homestuck Beyond Canon Candy Timeline has/will have parallels with Homestuck proper around and during the events of [S] Game Over

Jane Crocker heavily aligned/influenced by with Crocker Corp. Notice how her neck accessory looks very similar to the Crocker computer tiara. There's also the circuits surrounding the button, which are reminiscent of Crockertier Jane's visual mind control effect by The Condesce.

Jane also kind of looks like The Condesce with how she's silhouetted here.

The head of Crocker Corporation on a large Crocker space ship. A ship which I would like to point out looks eerily similar to the ship that The Condesce flies around in except the forks/sporks are facing the opposite direction and it's got black on it instead of mostly red.

Jake dying at the hands of Crocker influenced Jane and coming back to life parallels with this Jane coming close to killing Jake, but stopping right before death. Same green text too.

The cast of characters surrounding this time in the comic are also similar.

We also got the whole Crocker laser beam of death being hinted at which we've absolutely seen before.

I talked about this in one of my previous theories, Jake is getting a better grasp of his hope powers; so, I think we could see another hope explosion again in some capacity out of Jake's concern for Tavvy.

I could also totally see Jake being held hostage by one of the Crocker Clones A.K.A. the Brig Boys and Kanaya cutting them up with her chainsaw (hopefully avoiding Jake).

This is more of a little side detail, but Vriska is once again on the sidelines while this massive important fight takes place because she's trapped in her own personal Hell this time.

CHARACTER DEATH FLAGS - I don't know how to organize this post and there was a lot more potential evidence to this than I thought there was going into it.

Let me preface this with the fact that the existential split between Meat and Candy sometimes seems to try to course correct itself and much like certain peoples DNIs, it doesn't want any doubles. We see this with Dirk, Dave (he died even if he ascended to ultimate self afterwards), June/J/John, Terezi(seemingly), Meenah (her other self is in the black hole with Lord English so we can't necessarily confirm death but yknow), Aradia (is just Aradia), Gamzee, Calliope (that is a whole complex situation), and Rose (if her future sight is correct, but we'll get to that). Those are the only examples I can think of at this time, but it's absolutely a repeating pattern of the universe sort of course-correcting to have only one of each of our main characters exist at a time. This, at least in the cases of Dirk, Dave, & Rose seems to be related to the ascension to ultimate self, but we can't really say if that's why the other characters only get one existence at this time.

Karkat has has at least 2 deaths from around this time, one involving Crockertier Jane as well which could be a sign of things to come.

Rose's death flag is that she has literally foreseen her death in her future sight. She is thinking about Kanaya and Roxy in the same thought process while seeing her own death, feeling full of regret (even though she's trying to repress her own feelings) about her relationship to Roxy and Kanaya. Very similar to her being regretful as she was dying in Roxy's arms. I'm also guessing the bullet that hits her will be from Jake's gun, just throwing that out as a possibility.

ROSE: What... ROSE: Happened to me? ROXY: the witch got u ROXY: with her fork ROXY: but youre gonna be ok ROSE: Oh. ROSE: That's nice. ROSE: *Cough.* ROXY: maybe you uh ROXY: shouldnt try to talk now ROSE: You saved me, didn't you? ROXY: ... ROSE: Thanks. ROSE: But, ROSE: She's gone, isn't she. ROSE: For good, I mean. ROXY: ? ROSE: I saw her die. ROSE: And. ROSE: It's a shame how... ROSE: *Cough.* ROSE: A shame that I never even... ROSE: Got to tell her... ROSE: I loved her. ROXY: who?

ROSE: Kanaya. ROSE: But... ROSE: You too, mom.

Kanaya also has a death flag here in getting hit by The Condesce's laser beam of death, but it's more of a maybe given that we see Rose's future vision of Kanaya holding her body in her arms. Keep in mind though we also had this bit of dialogue about the reliability of future sight right before we saw that vision.

JADE: dont forget im more than a little versed in future sight myself ok JADE: i dont care how credible it seems, you cant depend on that information!

Jake and Jane are also on the chopping block potentially, but I can't think of a way at this time, unless Kanaya mistakes Jake for one of the clones amidst her rage and ends up cutting through him along with the Crocker clones. The one pictured below was done by Aranea who is out of the story. Maybe Meenah's trident hits Jake somehow or something, I don't know. We also have meat Jake and Jane who are doing more okay.

On top of the parallels to the doomed timeline that was [S] Game Over, we also had Vriska say that this reality was fake and didn't matter. I'm paraphrasing and I don't know if we'll get a doomed timeline situation yet with the 4 kids still in it, but I just thought the amount of parallels was interesting & worth pointing out.

I also wanted to get this out before the next update in case it's related to the flash animation and any of my predictions come true.

Alternatively I think the flash animation will be Ultimate Dirk kick starting his SBURB home brew session on Deltritus. He probably has all the tech and narrative powers to do it based on what we've seen, they just need a species they'll both be satisfied with as the players for the session.