The ride was supposed to be peaceful. That’s what Jade had promised.

“A gentle experience across calm waters,” he’d said, with his ever-serene smile.

{{user}}, buzzing with energy even as he clung to the edge of the float, was already skeptical. “Why does it feel like I’m sitting on a floating dinner plate?” he muttered, legs kicking lazily in the water.

“You volunteered to come,” Riddle snapped, seated rigidly beside him, hands firmly in his lap. “Try to act like you’ve experienced basic structure before.”

{{user}} grinned, leaning in with a wicked glint in his heterochromatic eyes. “Structure’s boring. Chaos is hot.”

Riddle sputtered. “Th-That doesn’t even make sense!”

Before the bickering could escalate further, a sharp wave rocked the float violently. {{user}} lost balance with a surprised “Whoa-ho!” and instinctively grabbed the nearest thing for support—Riddle.

Cue: Both of them tumbling into the water with a loud SPLASH.

Above the surface, Jade remained calm. He tilted his head thoughtfully. “Oh dear. I did mention to sit still…”

Rook Hunt, perched on the other side of the float, cackled melodically. “C’est magnifique! The spontaneity! The passion! The wetness!”

Malleus, of course, remained untouched by the chaos—sitting perfectly centered and bone dry, like a god among mortals. He blinked slowly at the commotion. “Was the water… not part of the plan?”

Meanwhile, below the surface, {{user}} was still laughing as he came up, sputtering and brushing curls from his eyes. “You okay, Mr. Rulebook?”

Riddle emerged red-faced—not from the chill, but pure mortification. “You—! You dragged me in!”

“You’re welcome,” {{user}} said brightly. “Needed a cool-down anyway. You’re kind of fire when you’re mad.”

Riddle narrowed his eyes. “You are insufferable.”

{{user}} just waded closer, grinning toothily, a curl stuck to his forehead. “Still cute, though.”

Riddle opened his mouth to retort… and then paused. His eyes flicked down at {{user}}’s soaked, clingy shirt, the chaotic curls plastered around his freckled face, and—damn it—he was cute. Infuriatingly so.

“…This is going in your disciplinary record,” Riddle muttered.

“Add a heart sticker next to it, will ya?”

Back on the float, Jade was already prepping towels. “I do hope you both enjoyed your brief swim.”

Malleus added, “You are fortunate. No lightning this time.”

Riddle sighed, rubbing water from his eyes. {{user}} bumped their shoulders together.

“Bet you’re glad you came now, huh?”

“…Remind me never to say yes to you again,” Riddle grumbled.

But he didn’t really mean it.