#Mortiemr Handee

[phantom-of-the-ruckus]

Headcannons #2 NOT A SHIP

Welp, what can I saw Mortimer and Riley are my favorite non-romantic duo in the entire game with the most interesting relationship throughout the entire game and now after finding some stuff relating to their closure (non-romantic) in the MS I'm hyperfixing in their complex relationship.

As a note, this is not meant to be cute or fluffy. These two have a toxic relationship. I do believe the puppets are in the cult theory, and I headcannon that these two have more of a Mentor and mentee relationship tho (if the devs said otherwise, please let me know)

After breathing the puppets to life, Mortimer was quick to find Riley had a great potential and had signs of having a more complex mind than the other puppets. This prompted him to take her under his wing and teach her everything he knew as he saw a potential that we could help her grow. This ended up with both forming a non-romantic bond that went through deeply understanding the other and fighting for one purpose.

Both know the other perfectly and know that they should never underestimate what the other can do. Still, Mortimer has always presented and established himself as the leader and the one Riley should give up control and follow.

As Mortimer was drowning in paranoia he started to be a tad little hostile and more serious towards Riley. She did not question that, but remained loyal to his side. Mortimer casually fed into her unhealthy thoughts that the other Handeemen would betray her and hurt others to get what they want. Ironically Nick being a dumbass ended up proving Mortimer's point further.

Both started to develop an unspoken trust and a sorta dynamic to get things done. Mortimer would simply tell Riley he needed something or wanted something done, and she would immediately know what to do. Sometimes they pop into each other's offices (or her lab) to talk or discuss plans.

Upon discovering Daisy loosing her memory and feeling guilty for accusing her of trying to betray her, Riley slowly started to question if Mortimer was being paranoid about others wanting to hurt them. She keep those doubts to herself afraid of Mortimer finding out, and sorta making her mentor feel betrayed by Riley who he has been very special and took good care of her before his paranoia broke down.

Out all the puppets, Riley knew that she was the one who Mortimer had a soft spot the most. Still, he was not afraid of "correcting her" (I do believe he brainwashed her into thinking his abuses were correcting her behavior. More on my cult theory), but nonetheless she was the one that he had the hardest punishing her over as he did not wish to destroy her. This is also why She took the blame for Daisy as her calculations led to Mortimer giving her a less severe punishment than the one he claimed he would give. Still she did not what prompted her, but only knew it was something Mortimer both could not explain or approve either.

Mortimer did start to notice Riley's behavior was slowly changing. He took this as a bad sign that she was starting to wish to leave the world he so "created for the puppet"/like the nest like she was starting to rebel or something that his paranoia told him she was doing. He started to shut down her ideas and started to be more careless with stuff (also his conflicting problems with his creator as well)

Mortimer started to built upon the idea Riley was secretly working on projects to overthrow him as his relationship with her started to grow darker and darker. During the tape where he found her working on her research to bring Rosco to life. After their argument he kinda did but also did not mean to ask Riley to burn Rosco down (As he was in a paranoid state, furious that she did not ask his permission to do stuff, but kinda in a blind state of rage.) He did calm down after Riley begged him not to make her burn down Rosco as he did sigh knowing as much as he wanted to snap and tell her no, all he could see was that little bird he took under his wing for years. This prompt him to sigh and sorta think about what to do. His paranoia and pride won the best of him so he tells her to burn it before leaving.

After Mortimer left he ended up having a reflection about what he just did. He doesn't feel guilty for hurting Riley's feelings, but rather is upset about himself in regards about how he ended up losing control over her and how they're slowly drifting apart. Of course, he knew Riley wouldn't be able to kill Rosco (since he knows her perfectly) but he was debating a way to "Win" her back to his side but also "testing" if he was actually wrong about Riley. He contemplated the idea of bringing Rosco back to life but with a price to make her stay.

Knowing perfectly his little sheep or subjects or have an idea when something was wrong, Mortimer instantly knew Nick Nack being happy about something means something was up. So after spending some good 4 hours of a retailing or Romeo and Juliet and a secret marriage plan (which is what I think Nick's OG idea was) Mortimer knew Riley was up to something which was obviously not related to Nick thinking about himself and his weird fantasy world. So he decided to figure out what was she planning as he figured out a way to convince her to stay using some of the things Nick told her he discussed with her. (ignoring the fanfiction aspects) He sorta found the whole thing humorous and decided to humiliate Nick in the process for being an idiot

Riley was always hesitant over her plan to take over the studio and rebel against Mortimer throughout the whole time. Yes she was aware Mortimer was becoming "unsteady" but there was also the fact that Riley was well aware she knew Mortimer in a sorta close way as he was her mentor, and she had a hard time overthrowing someone who took her under his wing, taught her what she knew, always was special to and let her know and fell she was great and was very special.

(I think Nick was meant to distract Mortimer while Riley gathered the others or something) So Mortimer knew Riley would try to overthrow him, so he decided to use Rosco as a plan to foiled he plans. He had two plans. One was to kill his non-romantic affections for Riley and use Rosco to torture her, or Use Rosco as a way to play upon her the whole "I'm correcting your bad behaviors" This would be all depending on what Reaction Riley herself had. There was something off about Riley talking with Daisy regarding what Nick told him they believe they talk. So, knowing Riley, he believed that Riley most likely was talked into the plan rather than something she decided to do. This end up being true when he saw Riley being slightly nervous when she attempted to take over. He toyed with her with his taunts as a way to make sure she was in fact talked into the plan.

So the whole Rosco is mine but I let you take care of him Riley, it's a special way he push the whole "I'm just correcting your behavior" mentality he got her into believing, but also an opportunity for both to start over and forget about the whole ordeal and remind her that she was still special and welcome to part take in her plans (this is a bit of mercy from Mortimer's plan as he knew Riley was talked over and didn't really want to commit treason) The other puppets did not catch on this because they weren't aware of the special bond Mortimer and Riley had. He was also upset with the puppets for talking Riley into the plan and "punish" their defiance, but also use them as scapegoats for his near-fall apart with Riley.

After the failed Rebellion, Mortimer decided to destroy any sort of bond Riley had with the other puppets as he try to use the fail rebellion as an example towards what happens with trust. This sorta work as Riley was ruling a bit more with an iron fist and disliked those who showed some sort of defiance to their ideal, but she knew Mortimer was wrong to some expect about not trusting people. She still sorta gets along with Daisy and kinda Nick (not really tho) as both had shown her that at least there are puppets she can trust and part of her do hopes that Mortimer would see things her way one day.