caycay | the years aren't long enough

linking this here for easy reference

[Despite the strained start to the morning, Cater goes through classes feeling energetic. There's a pep to his step that isn't normally there, though most people won't notice anything really different about him as he goes around snapping selfies and chatting up his classmates. By the end of the day, he's definitely running low on his social battery, and as he temporarily forgets what he promised to Vil, he makes his way into the Heartslabyul kitchen where he's sure his favorite dormmate will be.]

Aaaah, Trey, what a day! What's for dinner?

[You know, because obviously his food sounds way better than anything at the cafeteria right now. And he's so cute, why wouldn't Trey want to cook for him? Cater gives his best innocent face, poising his face in his hands as he leans across the kitchen counter.]

How about something invigoratingly spicy for the most adorable roommate ever?

Edited 2022-12-12 01:59 (UTC)

[Trey's walking with Riddle back from classes, the two carrying a light conversation. Things have been going fairly well, and Cater has already shown signs of improvement. Even Riddle hasn't shown any signs of realizing anything was different... except, perhaps, for Cater's demeanor. While he didn't know him quite as well as Trey did, he'd commented that Cater did seem to be in unusually good spirits.

But the problem with celebrity romances? They're damn near impossible to keep under wraps for long.

The two come upon Cater with a few other boys. Trey and Riddle exchange glances before Trey calls out.]

Hey, Cater!

[A couple of the people confronting him look over, but Cater doesn't. And nor does he respond.

Riddle's expression hardens. Trey reaches out with a hand to touch Riddle's shoulder. Quietly, he whispers to him, then moves forward, heedless of the other boys.]

Yo, I've been looking everywhere for you. Let's get going!

Your glasses broken, four-eyes? We're in the middle of something!

[He's never felt so raw, so wounded before. Like an animal slowly bleeding out.

It'd taken everything in him to piece himself together enough to allow Trey and Cater to guide him back to the dorm and into his room. Everything to bottle the wracking sobs that threatened to burst forth again with everything breath. Everything to tighten the muscles in his throat to stop the whimpers from slipping out.

He managed, too, to keep it down while he was treated. Though he felt a persistent pressure behind his eyes, no further tears formed while the nurse tended to him. Quiet and subdued, he complied with any instructions, then thanked him for his service.

And when the nurse is gone, he's left staring up at the ceiling with Trey and Cater at either side, who'd been practically glued there since he came down from his Overblot. He looks drained, still feels like his heart has been torn open and like he wants to sob. Yet, the tears don't resume.

Instead, he takes a shaky breath, arm laying over his face.]

...you two can go. I'll be fine.

[Eventually.]

[After the stress of being outed followed by Riddle's Overblot scare, Cater is looking forward to some downtime. It feels like ages between the start of everything and the first real weekend without having anything to worry about: no Heartslabyul plans, Riddle in good health, and most importantly...Vil being free!

Happy just to have permission to leave campus and go into town, Cater uses his scrolling powers to find more options where they can eat healthy but otherwise lets Vil decide what would be fun for the day. Somehow, he's still kind of surprised when they end up shopping, though he knows he shouldn't be.

The store they're stopped in is way fancier than he's used to. Cater dresses trendy, of course, but he hardly has the funds to shop high end. It's hard not to feel a bit like a fish out of water as he eyes a rack of jackets.]

I've never been in here before--what kind of fit do you have in mind?

[The woman at the counter is clearly beyond dazzled to be in the presence of a teen superstar, so it goes without saying they'll be waited on to the best of her ability.]

[Rook had sensed trouble long before the sound of glass shattering reached him from inside the Housewarden's dormitory. From the Pomefiore common area, he had smiled when the lovebirds had returned from their trip into town--it had been unexpected to see them back so quickly, but their body language made it clear just why they were back. Even Vil's much more calm and collected manner couldn't fool the huntsman. Ah, l' amour...

He wasn't eavesdropping--was keeping a respectful enough distance that he wouldn't be able to hear the ins-and-outs of their conversation. But his deft ears couldn't help but notice a shift in murmurings, a change in tone, where anyone else might not have heard anything at all. And when Cater Diamond had shuffled out so quickly, body tight and tense, Rook had a suspicion what may have happened.

Oh, beautiful Vil, what have you done?

He's brimming with concern, but when Rook knocks at Vil's door and opens it upon approval, he has his usual smile on his face. Even ad his worst, Vil's still unparalleled...and there's a big part of him that itches to see those volatile emotions. Naturally, he has a first-aid kit with him; he'll be sure to prevent Vil from retaining any scars.]

Bonjour, Roi du Poison.

[The walk from Pomefiore to the Hall of Mirrors and through the Heartslabyul gardens is maybe the single longest one he's ever had to take. Cater thought that it had been rough trying to keep himself together after he and Vil had been outed on social media...but this was different. In some ways, easier. He found that he was going through the motions pretty easily, laughing and smiling and chatting idly with people who stopped him along the way.

But he feels much, much worse. It's the emptiness. There's a deep dark hole inside of his heart that's growing every second, pulling more and more of him in, and no matter how much more easily he keeps up his mask, each footstep feels like it takes hours. By the time he gets to his dorm and flops on the bed, he's completely lost track of just how much time had passed when in reality he's back home way earlier than he should be.

Cater doesn't bother so much as taking off his shoes.]

[The next day finds Vil's thoughts and feelings only more muddied instead of less.

The message from Cater has a knot forming in his stomach. Try as he might, nothing sounds good or right. After a solid fifteen minutes, he decides to put it off for a time.

Showering doesn't clear his head. Nor does his jog.

And as he finishes up, he sees Cater. He stops.

Then he turns, and briskly walks away.]

no subject

an aside

the truth come out

Post-Overblot Riddle

it's fashion week (not really)