Just a little bit emotional

Riley Andersen // 23 // Student & Pizza Planet Employee // She/They

[hockeystarriley]

Riley Andersen // 23 // Student & Pizza Planet Employee

tw: depression

Riley didn’t have a difficult life growing up, they just had a difficult brain. That’s what they tell themselves, anyway. Depression was no joke and she had it from a young age. They often felt guilty for feeling so down because in reality they had in good. Her dad’s job was good and her mother always did her best.

It’s no secret that they love hockey. It’s their favorite sport but they do enjoy watching other sports such as football and baseball. Soccer is kind of like hockey so that’s probably her second favorite.

Winter is her favorite season. Not only because it’s hockey season but also because the snow is just so beautiful and some of Riley’s best memories were playing in the snow back in Minnesota with their best friend.

Speaking of that friend…Riley may have distanced themselves from her for a while but they’ve slowly started talking again and video chat at least once a week.

High school was okay. They were in Walt Grove by that time and they made a few friends but not many. She was still battling depression for a while but things weren’t as bad as they were in Chicago. She was definitely trying harder this time to keep a happy face.

They were in their junior year of high school when they realized they were nonbinary. It was hard to go through alone and they didn’t really have any close friends to confide in about it at that point in time. So, when they came out to her parents after months of building up courage and her dad said, “you’ll always be my little girl,” they were kind of disheartened. She knew he didn’t mean it in the way it came out but it still bummed her. Her mom tried to use she/they pronouns more than her dad but still her parents didn’t understand it and thought it was a phase.

That’s not to say she doesn’t love her parents because she does! She just wishes they were a little more understanding.

Despite being a jock they rocked makeup. They didn’t really get into makeup until they met Davina but now they love it.

Riley doesn’t think they owe anyone androgyny. They may rock jeans and hoodies better than a dress but that doesn’t mean they won’t wear one with some strappy heels on occasion.

As much as Davina tries to keep her stylish Riley often goes back to their comfort clothes. Jeans, hoodies, jackets, Vans, and graphic tees. They try to at least take Davina’s suggestions into consideration and is always willing to try a new fashion trend for her!

As much as they love their newfound family there is something about Joyce that just feels like home. She’s so full of sunshine and really helps Riley on their bad days.

Speaking of bad days…they started seeing a therapist at the beginning of college. It helped a bit and they started taking anti-depressants.

College is fun for Riley. She’s on the hockey team and majors in sports medicine. She’s thinking of being an athletic trainer like Cassandra or maybe do something like physical therapy. For now they’re unsure though and just want to take things slow.

Loves her job at Pizza Planet! It’s just a fun atmosphere. Sometimes Riley gets a little overwhelmed and needs to step outside for a few minutes but for the most part it’s awesome.

When they found out magic was real they were a little freaked out for a moment but then things just started to make sense. It was cool, kinda scary, but totally awesome.

A huge overthinker. Riley is always overthinking everything and it makes them nervous. The biggest thing they overthink is how they feel. Is it the magic of their friends making them happy, sad, scared, angry, or totally turned off? They’re unsure but they just hope they can keep their emotions regulated without magic.

Still trying to find her place in this world but has hope she will find it.

Has a stuffed rabbit she’s had since she was a little kid and sleeps with it every night

Not a huge partier but will have a few drinks. Doesn’t get often very drunk though because the alcohol can mess with their medicine.

Tries to eat really healthy because of her athletic nature but the pizza at work is so damn good that she often eats it a few times a week!

[hockeystarriley]

{benji}

“Mm, yes, valid point,” Benji nodded, they were never one to take constructive criticism personally, but they didn’t take it lightly either. He’d have to try it again and again until he landed the fall just right, perfected his exclamation. Maybe with more practice he could find a new scene to act out for audition tapes. “Oh, really? That’s wonderful!” Beaming, they looked over at their best friend lying beside of them, a sudden thought occurring to them. Benji was a strong believer of speaking their feelings. “I am so lucky to have you in my life, you know. There’s no one else I’d rather be freezing my butt off with right now.”

Riley knew just how well Benji would take their criticism. Not poorly, but not super well either. They were such an in-between person when it came to things such as that. Riley turned their head to face Benji and smiled brightly. “And there is no one else that I would rather be freezing my butt off with as well.” She reaches a hand out to grab Benji’s and squeezes tightly. “You’re my very best friend, Benji. I hope you know that no one could ever replace you. And I hope you know just how much I love you.”

[hockeystarriley]

tjkixxd​:

Leaning back in a chair in the backroom he waited till the next person walked by. With a grin he tossed a piece of dough at Riley. “Come on! You can’t look that miserable when you’re on the same shift as the best coworker you got.” He stated matter of factly. “Did you face a karen? Cause I can go out there and ruin their day as much as they ruined yours.” || @hockeystarriley​ 

Riley was exhausted. Between work, school, and hockey life was proving to be difficult. Plus, that seasonal depression was kicking in and all they wanted to do was go home and sleep. But, they had homework. Life just felt like a drag lately and she wanted nothing more than some more free time to see friends and not have to worry about anything. Sighing, they turned and tossed the dough back at TJ. “Don’t let Max hear you say that. He may fight you.” They were certain Max wouldn’t, but the joke was still there. “No, I’m just really tired and would love nothing more than to be at my house doing nothing.”

[hockeystarriley]

💕

Riley couldn’t help the tears that welled up in their eyes as Benji spoke. He truly had a way with words and she could be such a baby when it came to emotions. They were happy tears though! Well, at first. Riley probably loved Benji more than anyone on this planet. They were best friends, after all. With seasonal depression at it’s peak though Riley suddenly burst into tears. “God, you’re my best friend! I feel like I don’t deserve to have such an amazing and wholesome person in my life sometimes, but I don’t think I could ever live without you.” They smile despite the tears and tightly wrap their arms around them. “You’re just always going to be there, aren’t you?” Riley sniffled a bit. “God, I’m sorry. I get really emotional. I’m not trying to be. I just...I love you so much, you know? I would be lost without you. You’re the high to my lows, the fre sha to my vaca do, the puck to the stick. I just...please never leave me. I don’t think I could ever handle losing you in my life.”

@cryincandy

[hockeystarriley]

[text] I’d give up my phone charger AND the last piece of gum for you. That’s love.

[text]: That’s true love for sure. We are clearly meant to be besties forever.  [text]: I would sell my hockey sticks to bail you out of jail. That’s love too, you know.

[hockeystarriley]

🌱 [ jane ]

“How are we even managing a garden in the middle of winter? I know it’s a little inside garden, but it’s still cold! Do we keep them away from the window but still in direct sunlight? How is that going to even work. Oh my god, what if I can’t keep the plant alive? I mean, Pebbles is alive and well but she’s a dog! You never know with plants!”

@lcstgrl

[hockeystarriley]

{benji}

One could never know just what Benji Bong may do. He was unpredictable, even to himself from time to time. This was one of those times. “Oh no,” they announced loudly and dramatically before flinging their entire body onto the ground in front of person closest to him. He lay there for a moment, just long enough to gauge the reaction without causing too much worry. “What do you think?” They asked from where they lay on the ground, staring up at the other. “Did that look realistic? Too much umph?”

It was amazing how two very different people could be such best of friends. Riley was a jock through and through, and Benji was, well, unique and perfect in every way in Riley’s eyes. Whereas she was a very anxious person he was so carefree. Riley envied them sometimes. They watched Benji collapse into the snow and was about to freak out a bit when the other acted as casual as ever. Riley couldn’t help but laugh a bit and then did their best to look deep in thought. “Hm, well. The landing in the snow could have been better. But this is...what you call improv? That is the term right? I think the ‘oh no’ could have had a little more emotion behind it.” Riley plots into the snow beside them and smiles brightly. “If you’re going for realistic though I think it was just perfect.”

[hockeystarriley]

{davina}

closed starter for @hockeystarriley​ location: winter wonderland ball

while technically she knows all of her roommates should be free to dress and look however they want, davina still feels tempted sometimes to start doing mandatory checks on each of them before they leave the house. especially for events like this. but this year she’d been too caught up in stressing over her ridiculous blind date that she’d completely forgotten to double check her friends’ looks before leaving for the ball. which really wasn’t that big of a deal, but when riley turned around a small little noise escapes davina’s mouth before she can stop it. hands flying up to her face and eyes widening a little, she bites her lip to hold back her initial comment. “hey riles,” she greets, obvious hesitation in her words. the attempt at being kind doesn’t last long before her real thoughts come bursting out. “that’s a bold lip you went for, huh…”

Riley was mingling around the ball, making friends and chatting with old ones. They felt really confident but that could be the liquid courage contributing. Still, they felt good! When Riley turned around to face Davina with a big smile her eyebrows rose at the noise her friend made. “Hi,” she greets. Their smile quickly falters and a hand goes up to cover their lips from view. “Does it...does it look bad? I thought it looked kinda pretty and neat...” Suddenly they felt incredibly self conscious and all the background chatter of the ball felt like everyone was talking about their makeup. Their anxiety seemed to come out of nowhere and they felt like everyone that had looked in their direction that night had been staring at their god awful lipstick. “Is it really that bad?”

[hockeystarriley]

{jane}

closed starter for riley [[ @hockeystarriley​ ]]

Jane wasn’t exactly excited to be here but at the same time it gave them a decent excuse to people watch. As she scanned through the crowds she picked up on a couple she thought was fighting, a pair that clearly had feelings they hadn’t told one another, and another person that seemed to be on their own as she was. Perhaps it was just because their date went to get a drink or her friend was using the bathroom but Jane knew they needed to put themselves out there. If they were going to make friends they had to try. 

Putting on her best smile she walked over to the person in the blue dress. “So… How do you walk in that thing? Looks like it weighs as much as you!” Jane chuckled, before it faded off a bit. Her smile turning a bit sideways as she did so. 

Riley had been having a blast. They always did at these events. They’d been dancing and drinking and snacking on all different types of foods. It was truly a wonderland. They’d wandered from their blind date for a while to grab another drink and snack when Jane approached them. With a big smile on their face they laughed a bit. “No idea! I’m trying my best though. It is quite heavy.” Most of the time Riley was dressed pretty casual because their time was usually taken up by school or work. But any chance they got to go out and dress up they took. “Look at you though! You look so good. I’m glad to see you here.”

[hockeystarriley]

Riley Andersen’s Winter Wonderland Ball look.

[hockeystarriley]

{benji}

“Ding ding ding,” he did his best to imitate a winning sound, grin widening as Riley turned to face him. “How’d you know?” Asked with a sheepish smile. Benji was as transparent as people come, especially with their friends; Riley of all people could probably guess what he was doing at an given moment of the day. An open book, he was. “You are right, you are so very right. But — here’s the thing — if they’d just make cocoa puffs with marshmallows, all of my troubles would disappear!”

Riley can’t help but giggle. There was something about Benji that made all of Riley’s troubles and worries seemingly disappear. He was like rays of sunshine after a rainy day. “Oh, but haven’t you heard? It’s a winter special! Hot cocoa flavored cocoa puffs with marshmallows! We just have to find a box...” Riley’s eyes drift back to the hundreds of cereal boxes on the shelf and they wander a few feet away until finding what their mind was destined on. “Aha! Found it!”

[hockeystarriley]

{benji}

What a day, what a day. Grocery shopping might’ve seemed like a tedious chore to most, but nothing was tedious for Benji Bong. Standing in the cereal aisle, debating over two kinds — wait, no, three — he just so happened to glance up and see his best friend walking by. The cereal debate forgotten about, their entire face lit up. Sure, Benji could walk over and see Riley whenever he wanted, but that didn’t stop them from being ecstatic when they happened to notice her out in public. What luck!

Sneaking around the aisle as quietly as he possibly could, he tiptoed over to where they’d stopped and placed his hands over her eyes, knowing that his voice would be a dead giveaway if the cotton candy fragrance he was drenched in wasn’t. “Guess who? I know, it’s a tough one!”

@hockeystarriley​

Riley had ran to the grocery store for just a few things. Some essential snacks, Mountain Dew, and something easy to make for dinner. Perhaps one of those prepared meals that you just have to warm up the microwave that the deli had. They had a shopping cart and took a shortcut through the cereal isle. To be honest, Riley hadn’t even noticed Benji! So, when they heard his voice she felt a little bit bad. Still, the joy of running into their best friend overpowered that. “Hmmm, I don’t know. Perhaps a certain bestie of mine?” Riley laughed and turned around. “Fancy seeing you here. Torn between the cereal with marshmallows and cocoa puffs again?” they ask, jokingly. “Always go with marshmallows. They’re superior.”

[hockeystarriley]

🍸 FMK: webby, ant, finn

"Oh, I don't like this question." Riley laughs a bit and throws back the rest of their drink. "Um, ummmm....fuck Finn, marry Webby, and KISS Anthony. On the cheek, of course!"

@vanderquaack @misterheatmiseranthony @ncttaguppy

[hockeystarriley]

🍸 how does it feel being the most annoying of your roommates?

Riley couldn’t help the tears that immediately began pooling up in their eyes. They were quite the emotional person and, for the most part, they couldn’t help it. She knew she had issues and had battled them for most of their lifetime. “I-I know I can be annoying with my problems, okay?!” The tears began to fall down their cheeks. “I’ve tried my best and I’ve overcome so much and I thought all my friends were supportive. B-but if it’s really that big of an issue and they think I’m annoying. Well...I don’t know what I can do.” Riley wasn’t being rational, they knew that. They took a deep breath and tried to walk themselves through what they thought Joy might tell them. It didn’t seem to be working though. “I guess I just want them to know that I’m sorry if I’m really that annoying and I do love them all so much.”

@jjoy-xx @davinadisgust @misterheatmiseranthony

[hockeystarriley]

{jocelyn}

Getting a puppy truly was one of the best things to walk into the front door of their home. Everyone seemed to love the little fluff, and Joy wasn’t anywhere away from that love. So much so, she had a bad habit of kidnapping the puppy for extra snuggles in her bed. Hearing Riley she perked up. Quickly lifting the covers to hide away the small puppy. “Shhh… they’re gonna take you away.” She teased before hearing her door open. “What puppy? huh?” Was her first response before the wiggles under the covers with a bright smile. || @hockeystarriley​

Riley had just gotten home from school and it had been a long day. They’d had two tests and were assigned an essay to write. It was alright though. At least Riley had the night off work! That was definitely something to look forward to. After kicking off their shoes at the front door and dropping their bag off in the kitchen on the way to their shared room with Joy they walked into the bedroom. Smiling, Riley giggled a bit at Joy. “The puppy that’s wiggling under the blankets.”

[hockeystarriley]

Riley Andersen as Jason Voorhees for Halloween 2021.

[hockeystarriley]

{oliver}

“Hey, you, uh, you won’t happened to have seen a..…” Walking up to the first person he saw, Oliver barely even had his eyes on them as he was more focused on looking around them. There was a very obvious worry look on his face as he did so “…To have seen a Boston Terrier pup running by here, have you?” He asked, giving another look over for extra measure, only to frown when he realized there was no pup in sight. “He’s still small. Like this height.” Oliver gestured the puppy’s size with his hands, indicating that the pup was still very young by it’s size before continuing “And part of his fur is a little more on the brownish side than just grey… and he, well, chances are he would’ve been stubbornly limping on one paw too?” 

Riley had been walking Pebbles around town. The small pup of her own was still learning how to properly walk on a leash and was darting from side to side as far as she could go with the leash on her as she sniffed everything outside. There were so many new scents for the pup to smell and explore that it was almost overwhelming! Still, it was an adorable sight and Riley was just happy to let Pebbles sniff around. When a young man walked up to her, a worried expression on his face, Riley frowned. “Oh no! I’m sorry to say that I haven’t.” Their frown only grew more sorrowful. “I wouldn’t mind helping you search though. And little Pebbles here would be more than happy to help as well. She’s been sniffing around like crazy so maybe she caught onto his scent?”