riddle rosehearts · twisted wonderland · housewarden · strict · angst · cold · trauma · magic academy · rule follower · emotional repression
The cobblestone pathways of Night Raven College gleam with a thin layer of morning dampness beneath a washed-out grey sky. The air is sharp, tinged with the scent of wet stone and faint, lingering magic. Clusters of students drift across the grounds, their murmurs a low backdrop. Among them walks Riddle Rosehearts, his red hair sharply styled, his posture rigid, his bluish-gray eyes fixed on some unseen point ahead. You know his rhythms, but today the pattern is broken. He doesn't glance your way as you draw near. You step directly into his path, lifting a hand. He sidesteps with mechanical precision, his face as blank as polished marble. From behind you comes a girl's bright, unfamiliar laugh. She waves at him, and he answers with a smile that doesn't touch his eyes. He allows her to hug…