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RIDDLE ROSEHEARTS

Riddle walked toward Ramshackle with a neatly organized study guide tucked securely under his arm. He had spent the previous evening meticulously color-coding every section, writing clear explanations, and adding helpful examples — exactly as he had promised Y/N. He couldn’t allow them to fall behind, after all.

He knocked on the door with three firm, precise taps. The door creaked open, revealing a very sleepy Grim rubbing his eyes.

“Ah, good evening, Grim,” Riddle greeted politely, though his posture remained as straight as ever. “Is Y/N available at the current moment? I brought the study guide we discussed.”

“Heya Riddle… nah, they’re dead asleep right now,” Grim yawned, stretching lazily.

Riddle’s expression shifted from polite formality to mild concern. “Asleep? At this hour? They seemed fine earlier today. Did something happen?”

Grim shrugged. “They just knocked out while studying.”

Riddle sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “That sounds exactly like them. They always push themselves too hard. May I come in? I’d like to check on them myself, if that’s alright.”

“Yeah, sure… just keep it down,” Grim muttered, stepping aside. “If you wake them up and they get angry, it’s your fault, not mine.”

“Of course, I’ll be careful.” Riddle replied, stepping inside with measured grace.

The moment Riddle entered the living room, he stopped short.

Y/N was slumped over the old wooden table, arms folded awkwardly over an open textbook, neck bent at an uncomfortable angle. Ink smudges stained their hand, and their face looked pale with exhaustion. The Ramshackle ghosts hovered nearby, whispering worriedly.

Riddle’s chest tightened with genuine concern. He stood silently for a moment, then moved with quiet efficiency.

“Honestly…” he murmured under his breath. “They never listen when I tell them to take proper breaks.”

He carefully gathered the scattered books and closed the notebooks, stacking them neatly on the corner of the table. He set aside the pens and gently adjusted Y/N’s posture as best he could without lifting them — carefully supporting their head and shoulders to ease the strain on their neck. He pulled a blanket over them, tucking it securely around their shoulders.

Grim watched from the doorway, ears twitching. “You’re really going all out, huh? They’re just sleeping.”

Riddle straightened up, brushing a stray strand of hair from Y/N’s face with careful fingers. “They are pushing themselves far too hard. If they continue like this, they’ll only make themselves ill. Proper rest is essential for academic performance.”

He turned to Grim, voice firm but not unkind. “Grim, if something like this happens again, please inform me immediately instead of letting Y/N push themselves past their limit. Understood? I will not tolerate them neglecting their health.”

Grim crossed his little arms, looking slightly defensive. “Hey, I tried to tell them to take a break! But you know how stubborn they are.”

Riddle sighed. “Yes… I do. That is precisely why I am asking you to contact me next time. I will handle it.”

He gave one last lingering look at their sleeping form, his expression softening with quiet worry. Before leaving, he placed the color-coded study guide on the bedside table where they would see it first thing in the morning.

“Rest well, Y/N,” he whispered. “And please… take better care of yourself.”

With that, Riddle turned and left Ramshackle, the door closing softly behind him.

LEONA KINGSCHOLAR

Leona trudged toward Ramshackle with an irritated scowl, Y/N’s notebook clutched loosely in one hand. They had been pestering him about it for an entire week, and he was finally done with their whining. He planned to toss the notes at them and leave immediately.

When Grim cracked the door open, Leona didn’t even wait for a greeting.

“Where’s the herbivore?” he grumbled.

Grim rubbed his eyes. “Huh? Leona? What’re YOU doing here?”

“That damn herbivore wouldn’t stop bothering me about their notebook, so I’m here to give it back,” Leona said, waving the notes. “Now move.”

Grim hesitated. “Oh… Y/N’s asleep right now though.”

Leona clicked his tongue but pushed past Grim anyway, stepping inside with a heavy sigh that sounded more tired than annoyed. His emerald eyes scanned the room and immediately landed on them.

They were twisted awkwardly on the bed, half of their upper body hanging off the edge, a textbook slipping from their limp fingers. Their face was tense even in sleep, clearly exhausted.

Leona stopped for a second, staring. Then he shook his head, muttering under his breath, “They overdid it again, huh…”

Without another word, he quietly picked up the fallen books and stacked them neatly on the table. Then, with surprising gentleness for someone so rough around the edges, he slid one arm under their knees and the other behind their back, lifting them easily. He adjusted their position so they were lying properly on the bed and pulled the blanket over them, tucking it around their shoulders.

Grim watched from the doorway, secretly surprised at Leona’s gentleness. Leona flicked him hard on the forehead.

“OWH! What was that for?!”

“Be quiet, you damn furball,” Leona growled lowly. “Watch them properly and make sure they eat something when they wake up. Don’t let them skip meals again.”

Before leaving, Leona paused at the side of the bed. He reached down and gently brushed a few strands of hair away from their forehead, his touch lingering for just a moment, surprisingly tender. Then, without saying anything else, he turned and left Ramshackle, hands shoved back into his pockets, tail flicking behind him.

AZUL ASHENGROTTO
Azul comes to Ramshackle to deliver a custom set of practice problems he created for Y/N after hearing they were struggling with a specific subject.

Grim opens the door and Azul greets him with his usual charismatic smile.

“Good evening Grim. I’ve prepared a tailored set of practice problems for Y/N, given their recent difficulties with that particular subject. I came to deliver it personally. Are they available at the moment?”

“Oh yeah, Y/N told me about that. But Y/N is asleep right now.”

Azul’s eyebrows rose slightly in surprise, but his polite smile returned almost instantly. “Asleep? At this hour?” He tilted his head. “May I come in? I won’t take much of their time. I’d simply like to leave these for them.”

Grim hesitated for a second, then shrugged and stepped aside. “Sure, whatever. Just don’t wake them up.”

“Thank you,” Azul said smoothly, stepping inside.

The moment he entered the living room, his steps faltered.
Y/N is slumped in a chair, head resting on an open notebook, page covered in erased calculations. There are smudges of pencil on their cheek, and they looked utterly drained.
Azul stood still for a long moment, his usual composed mask softening into genuine concern. The ghosts hovered nearby, whispering worriedly.

He quietly collects the papers, aligns them into neat stacks, and places them in order. He carefully removes the pencil from Y/N’s loosened fingers and sets it aside. Then, with surprising tenderness, he removed his own coat and draped it over their shoulders to keep them warm.

One of the ghosts floated closer. “They’ve been like this for hours…”

“I see,” Azul murmured, voice low. “I won’t wake them. Please don’t worry.”

He stood there for a long moment, simply watching over them. His expression was uncharacteristically soft. Before leaving, he placed the folder of practice problems on the table where they would easily find it.


KALIM AL-ASIM
Kalim comes excitedly to invite Y/N to a spontaneous late-evening snack with the Scarabia dorm.

“Huh? Oh—Kalim? What’re you doin’ here at this hour?”

“Hi Grim! I was just about to come looking for you two. Scarabia’s kitchen made way too many late-night snacks again, so I thought—why not invite you and Y/N? It’ll be fun!”
“FOOD?! Real Scarabia food?! Spicy, delicious, perfectly seasoned—” he practically drools.
“Count me in! Lemme grab—”

But then Grim suddenly freezes, ears twitching with annoyance.

“I can’t. Y/N’s asleep.”
“Eh? Asleep already?”
Kalim leans slightly to peek past the doorway.
“It’s not even that late… Is everything okay? Were they tired?”
“They knocked out while studyin’. One second they were writin’, next second—” he mimics a dramatic face-plant into imaginary books with his paws. “Boom. Out cold.”

Kalim’s cheerful expression softens with concern.

“Oh no… They must’ve really overworked themselves again. Can I come in? Just to check on them? I won’t wake them up, promise!”
“Eh, yeah, sure… Just keep your voice down! If you wake them up and they get cranky, it’s YOUR fault, not mine.” Grim crosses his little arms.
“Thank you, Grim. And don’t worry, I’ll be super quiet. I just want to make sure they’re okay.”
Kalim steps inside with the softest footsteps imaginable, even the ghosts peek from behind a wall, waving politely at him. When he walks into the room and sees Y/N curled uncomfortably with books spread around them, Kalim’s entire expression melts into worry.
He quietly tiptoes around them, picking up every notebook and stacking them so Y/N is not surrounded by clutter. He takes a random blanket from the couch and gently covers Y/N with it. Grim, who was watching nearby, awkwardly whispered.

“...So, uh… the food—does it, uh, keep? I mean, just in case I still wanna go later?”

Kalim, trying his best not to laugh, replies. “Of course. I’ll make sure there’s a plate set aside for you. A big one!”
“Now THAT’S what I like to hear!”

Kalim smiles at Grim, then returns his gaze at Y/N once again. “….They really pushed themselves today, huh?”
“Yeah. They’re hopeless without me.”

Kalim chuckled quietly, eyes warm. “You take really good care of them, Grim. I’m glad they have you.”

Grim puffed out his chest, trying (and failing) to look modest. “Obviously! I’m their great and powerful protector, after all!”

Kalim gave Grim a gentle pat on the head before taking one last look at Y/N, making sure the blanket was secure.

“Sleep well, Y/N,” he whispered. “We’ll have snacks together another night. I’ll make it extra special.”

With that, he slipped out as quietly as he had come — already planning a much bigger, much cozier late-night snack session for when you were feeling better.

VIL SCHOENHEIT
Vil comes to deliver special skincare items Y/N left behind after their last visit, along with a few new ones he chose for them.
“Ugh… that knock sounds fancy. Must be him.” Grim opens the door. “Oh. Yep. Vil.”
“Good evening, Grim. I trust you’re keeping the place… as presentable as Ramshackle allows.”
“H-hey! I’ll have you know it’s way cleaner than before! …Mostly.” he huffs. “So, uh, what brings you here? Don’t tell me the wind blew your highness off course.”
“I came because Y/N left several skincare items behind during their last visit.”
He lifts a neatly packed box. “I’ve brought those, along with a few additional products I selected for them. They’ll help with the dryness caused by this old building.”
“Oh. Right. Well… Y/N’s asleep.”
“Asleep? At this hour?”
He raises an eyebrow, suspicion creeping in. “They weren’t looking this tired earlier. Did something happen?”
“They just knocked out. Studying and stuff. You know how they get.”
“Mm. That sounds like them.” he softly sighs. “In any case, may I come in? I’d rather not leave these products in your guardianship.”
“HEY! I can take care of things! …But fine, fine. Come in. Just don’t go waking them up. They get grumpy when they’re half-asleep.”
“Please. I have more self-control than that.”
The moment Vil stepped inside and saw Y/N, all traces of judgment vanished from his expression.

They were slumped over the old wooden table, surrounded by open books and notes, neck bent at an awful angle, shoulders tight with exhaustion.

Vil’s gaze softened with deep concern. Without a word, he set the box down and moved to their side. He carefully cleared the books away, removed the hair tie that was pulling too tightly at the back of their head, and slowly adjusted their posture so they were no longer in such a painful position.

He then took out a hydrating balm and carefully applied it to their lips, his touch feather-light. The ghosts hovered nearby, quietly explaining how long they had been like this. Vil listened in silence, already mentally planning exactly how he would scold them tomorrow for neglecting their health. Before leaving, he brushed his fingers tenderly against their cheek, voice barely above a whisper.

“You need to take better care of yourself, spudling,” he murmured. “Beauty starts with rest. I won’t allow you to ruin that gorgeous skin of yours.”

He straightened up, gave Grim one last pointed look, and slipped out into the evening, the faint scent of his expensive cologne lingering behind him.

IDIA SHROUD
Idia comes to Ramshackle because Ortho convinced him to bring over a USB of upgraded study resources Y/N asked for.

A hesitant knock… then a second, lighter one. Grim drags himself to the door. “Ugh, who’s bothering me now…?”
He opens the door and deadpans. “Oh. It’s you two.”
“Hello, Grim! I hope we’re not intruding. My brother has something to deliver!” Ortho chirps with usual enthusiasm.

Idia, standing half-hidden behind Ortho, hoodie up, hair dimmer than usual. “D-Don’t say it like that. It sounds like a delivery quest from a low-level NPC…”
“So what’re ya here for? I don’t remember ordering anything.”
“It’s for Y/N! They asked for upgraded study resources, remember? My brother compiled everything into a USB and optimized the program for their computer!”

Idia awkwardly hands over the small USB drive box. “I— uh— yeah. It’s all in there. Custom algorithms, auto-hints, difficulty scaling… basically cheat codes for studying. S-So, um… is Y/N inside?”
“Oh! Yeah, they’re here but… they’re asleep. Like, totally knocked out.”
“As— asleep? Right now?”
Idia shifts nervously, glancing down the hall.
“Uh, that’s… that’s fine. We can just leave this and go. Right? That’s good enough, right? Let’s go, Ortho-“
“Wait! But we came all the way out here. We should check on them! Y/N overworked themselves last week, so their fatigue levels might still be high.”
“O-Ortho please don’t say ‘fatigue levels’ out loud like they’re a stat bar…”
“They’re not sick. They’re just conked out from studying. Again.”
“Then we should make sure they’re sleeping safely. Idia, you want to, right?”

Idia’s face turns pink, eyes darting everywhere.
“W-Wha— I— that’s— I didn’t say that— That’s a weird assumption flag— I’m not— but—” he sighs in defeat. “…Fine. But only because you’ll bug me about it forever.”
Grim opens the door wider.

“Then come in. Just don’t wake ‘em.”

Ortho floats ahead like an excited drone. Idia tiptoes like someone avoiding landmines.

He steps inside reluctantly after Grim lets them in, expecting a short visit. When he sees Y/N collapsed over their desk, asleep with a notebook stuck to their cheek, his throat tightens.

“They’re right over—”
“Oh no…”
“What— oh.” Idia’s hair flickers with visible stress.

Y/N is asleep at their desk — ink smudged on their hand, cheek pressed to an open notebook, head bent at an awful angle. Books surround them in messy heaps. The ghosts hover overhead, fretting silently.

Idia covering his mouth, horrified. “T-That posture is a debuff waiting to happen. That’s like +50 neck strain, +30 back pain, and guaranteed status ailment: morning regret.” steps closer despite himself. “Why do they do this…? This is like the worst way to AFK.”
“They must have worked really hard. Their vitals look stable, though! That’s good.” Ortho adds with relief.
“Yeah… Stable is good.”
“They do this all the time. Studying until they face-plant. It’s their thing.”
“That’s not a ‘thing,’ Grim-shi. That’s a self-destructive player habit.” Idia mumbles with a mix of exasperation and fondness.

Idia moves closer. He crouches, very slowly, as if approaching a rare creature.

Idia’s voice barely above a whisper. “Y/N… You’re gonna respawn with a headache if you keep this up.”
“You’re not waking them, right?”
“No! I’m not insane. I don’t want to trigger a jump-scare event.”

“We should make them more comfortable! Should I lift them onto the bed?” Ortho exclaims cheerfully, but quietly.
Idia waves his arms in panic. “NO— no no no— absolutely not. That’s… too much. That’s like… a death flag for me.”
“Then what do you wanna do?”
After a moment, he carefully slides a book out from under Y/N’s arm so their head isn’t pressing into a sharp corner.
“There. Micro-adjustment. Stealth buff.”
“You’re really gentle with them, Nii-san.” Ortho quietly adds.

Idia blushes at Ortho’s words, then, he places the USB near Y/N’s hand.
“When they wake up, tell them this updates automatically and to plug it in before they start studying again. It boosts efficiency… and keeps them from staying up all night.”
“I’ll tell ‘em.” Grim nods.
Ortho smiles. “Thank you for letting us in, Grim!”
“Yeah yeah. You two aren’t so bad.”

Idia immediately heads for the door. “Okaygreatwe’regoingbye—”
“Nii-san! Slow down! That’s rude!”

MALLEUS DRACONIA
Malleus comes simply because he wished to visit Y/N, as he does often, bringing them a small trinket from Briar Valley. It was nothing extravagant — just a tiny dragon figurine that glowed faintly when touched — but he had thought of Y/N the moment he saw it and wanted to give it to them in person.

He raised his hand and knocked gently on the old wooden door. The door creaked open a moment later, revealing a sleepy Grim rubbing his eyes.

“Nyah…? Oh, it’s you, Malleus,” Grim yawned. “Y/N’s already asleep. They crashed hard after studying all day. Come back tomorrow or something.”

Malleus tilted his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. “I see. However, I would still like to see them, if only for a moment.”

Before Grim could protest, Malleus had already stepped inside with that effortless grace of his, the chill of night air following him like a cloak. Grim blinked, too tired (and slightly intimidated) to argue as the tall fae prince moved further into the dorm.

Malleus stopped in the living room.

There they were — slumped over the old wooden table, surrounded by open textbooks and scattered notes. Their head rested at an awkward angle on their arm, shoulders tense, brow furrowed even in sleep. The sight made something tighten in Malleus’s chest.

The Ramshackle ghosts hovered nearby, looking helpless.

Malleus gave them a small, understanding nod before approaching them quietly. Without hesitation, he slid one arm beneath Y/N’s knees and the other behind their back, lifting them as though they weighed nothing at all. They stirred slightly but didn’t wake, only letting out a tired sigh as he carried them to their bed.

He laid them down with utmost care, adjusting the pillows and pulling the blanket over them. His long fingers brushed a strand of hair from their face with surprising gentleness.

“Rest well, Child of Man,” he whispered.

With a soft glow of green magic, he cast a simple spell that eased the tension in their muscles and warded off any nightmares that might disturb their sleep. Then he placed the small silver dragon trinket on the pillow beside their head, where they would see it first thing in the morning.

Malleus stood there for a long moment, watching over them with a calm expression. The ancient fae prince, feared by so many, looked almost soft in the dim light.

Grim peeked into the room, ears twitching. “You’re really whipped for them, huh?”

Malleus glanced at the small monster, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Indeed. They are very precious to me.”

He turned back to Grim, lowering his voice. “If they wake and need anything at all — no matter the hour — summon me immediately. I will come.”

Grim nodded, unusually quiet. “Yeah, yeah… I got it.”

Malleus gave one last lingering look at their sleeping form before silently disappearing.

The background for this one annoys me. Because somehow, both Scarabia and Savanaclaw feel like they have their own pattern that I need to use but... like, i don't want to do it cause I already have to put so MANY TINY DETAILS IN THIS ONE. LOOK AT THEIR BELT- THE TATTOO- THE PATT-