Oh, my god. You actually do have an explanation for next level note-taking. [ He laughs. ] If you weren't joking, I'd almost regret asking.
[ Except he actually likes it when she gets all dictionary-like. ]
Okay. Yeah. I can try for a couple of good study habits. School's never been like, my passion or whatever.
[ He's one of those kids who is clever enough but never puts in the time or effort into his studies. Not when there's wolf stuff and dad stuff and snow and boarding to think about.
But he's willing to make an effort now.
Even if it is admittedly, in part, to prove to Chuck that he's a decent study buddy. ]
Oh, but it should be. One of your passions, at least. I know it doesn't feel like it, but these classes, this whole school, it's going to stick with you forever, no matter where you end up. It's kind of up to you if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
[ sometimes Chuck sounds like an old woman giving out words of wisdom, okay, it just happens. she's an "OLD SOUL", like literally, so. he'll need to get used to that if he wants to be her study buddy. ]
Though I guess how you feel about this place also depends on why you're here. Though you don't seem like the type that's here because your parents thought you needed some discipline in your life. Or are you that type? Hmmm.
[ just giving him a slow once over from her spot across from him, eyes narrowing a bit ]
For all that he might act like a rebel without a cause, wanting to embody the James Dean life, he's actually a ridiculously good boy in the ways that count.
And with his big blues, he's just ... sort of staring at Chuck while Chuck assesses him from her seat. If you're expecting danger and a need for discipline, you'll be sorely disappointed. ]
I wish that was why I'm here. Nah, my dad ... he sent my sister and I here for 'our own protection'. Whatever that means.
[ He rolls his eyes, leaning back into his seat with an air of petulance. ]
Said it was for our own good. That it's like, dangerous out there or whatever.
Oh no, your dad wants you to be safe. What a drag, what a jerk. [ said with a teasing tone of course, but nothing too heavy. she plays it too safe with situations like this - she doesn't know his family, doesn't know if maybe he is a jerk, even if his intentions were good, sending him and his sister to school here. he rolls his eyes and Chuck grins a bit, because yeah, even when he's being kind of a brat, it's- endearing. she's endeared. ]
It is pretty dangerous right now, for a lot of us. The world's changing- fast. Some of it for the better for us, but that just means a lot of people are going to be trying to push back. [ she chews her lip, stuck in thought for a moment, but it doesn't last long ] Though now I'm curious - what are you? [ there's probably a better way to ask that but she hasn't learned it, still, even after being around for so long ] I'm a phoenix, we tend to blend in fairly easily. I'm guessing it's not the same for you?
[ Casey shakes his head. He could go into the reasons why his dad actually is a jerk, and why it isn't all just about safety but he's convinced it has to do with monitoring him and Charlie too.
Aunt Nev is here, after all, and she and Casey's dad are pretty close. Apparently. ]
Wolf. [ Case answers.
Whether there's a 'nice' way of asking the question, he's got no idea because he tends to go for the same approach. Better to be up front about it, right? ] I was born a wolf, not made one like a lot of wolves are, so the whole 'werewolf way of life' has kind of been like ... instilled in me since I was born.
It's easy enough to blend in, I guess, as long as no one sees me around the full moon.
[ He pauses for a moment. ]
I've never met a phoenix before. Didn't even know they were real, but that's kind of how I feel about a lot of our class. Like the angels and the fae and centaurs. Everyone here ... smells so different.
[ her expression lifts for a bit ( not that it was down ) but wolf! some of her closest friends have been werewolves, in her different lifetimes. somehow this keeps happening. maybe it has something to do with the transformative nature of their abilities. like there's some kind of pull there. she'll think about it more later, no doubt.
she's distracted from that train of thought anyway when Case says something particularly adorableinteresting, ahem ]
We are, in fact, very real. Although now I'm kind of curious what I smell like. Hopefully nothing too ashy or harsh. Toasty maybe? Do I smell toasty? [ she's teasing. she's genuinely curious!! but she's also teasing. she's even holding out her wrist, eyes bright. she's wearing perfume, something light and flowery, but still. she knows her scent is probably pretty strong there, yeah. that's just how bodies work. why is she thinking about this so much? ] You would tell me if I smelled like burnt marshmallows or something, right?
Is that what you want to hear? That you smell like burnt marshmallows?
[ Case laughs, but it's soft and almost just this side of shy, because wow, he's not even thinking about the question so much as the fact that she's holding her wrist out for him to lean in and ... well, pick up her scent.
It's like, kind of a weirdly intimate thing to do unless you're on the prowl and you're doing this simply for tracking purposes. Because right now, obviously, Casey is not, and the thought of touching Chuck's skin for any purpose at all makes his pulse jump.
He sits up straighter, shuffling his seat forward enough to make it easy to reach out and touch her wrist. ]
When I first met you, you smelled like what I remember back in Canada, when the log fire would be on in the cabin and it's smoky and warm. [ And, honestly, it's one of his favourite scents. ] Just FYI.
if Chuck is meant to take her hand back once he's done with his explanation, she doesn't get that memo. although her brain hop skip jumps around the idea of pulling her hand back just enough so that his touch slips from her wrist to her palm, for sure. she could be casual about that. it's totally something she could accomplish. she doesn't but the opportunity is there. instead she just lowers her hand, keeps it outstretched but resting on the table now instead. like it's just the position she feels like being in now and not something she's thinking really hard about, contemplating the pros and cons of turning her hand so she can touch his too. ]
Now I'm wishing I had some sort of ability that I could use as a way to be complimentary. Unfortunately, most of my abilities are self-serving. [ a beat ] Oh, but, if your tea ever goes cold, I can heat it up for you with no trouble at all. So. There's that.
[ Casey feels like maybe he should probably take his own hand back, pull out their books and notes and whatever else, and set to work. Studying. That's what they're here for, right?
But if he's going to be the one to break this incredibly charged moment, then really, you've got another thing coming, because he doesn't want to do that at all. He doesn't really want to do anything else right now but press his nose against her skin, or maybe his mouth. Just - lightly. Just to see what it might feel like to do something like press your lips against someone's wrist.
He breathes out. ]
Phoenixes ... they're birds of fire, right? And they - [ He shakes his head, corrects himself: ] - you're kind of immortal?
[ He still has his fingers against her wrist, the soft pads of his fingertips just there, exchanging warmth.
Werewolves tend to run a bit warmer than most regular people, it's just a residual wolf thing to keep their temperatures balanced during their shift, but Chuck's temperature beats even his own.
Jokingly: ]
Next time I need to reheat some tea, you'll be on speed-dial.
[ lyk fer sher. totally immortal? who says stuff like that? why is it suddenly really difficult to form eloquent sentences?
she knows why, but it's still a little embarrassing.
his touch is light, and maybe it's because she's paying so much attention to it, but after a quiet moment someone moves, it's either him or her, but either way it makes that soft touch drag across her wrist just a little bit, just enough to cause a laugh to bubble up. maybe it's nerves, energy built up making her overreact to something that's hardly ticklish, but it doesn't really matter because it happens and then she's pulling her hand back fast, her fingers curling around his. it could have been a sweet gesture, bold and deliberate, but it's not. it's the reaction of someone who was unintentionally tickled and hence has no control over her actions for a brief moment.
so there's that quick laugh, bright and surprised, then she's pressing her mouth shut tight, letting go of his hand a second later. embarrassed. life is embarrassing. both hands end up in her lap like she doesn't trust herself at the moment, cheeks pink. ]
I, um- Wow. [ she huffs another laugh ] There's no way to play that off, is there? Okay. What were we-? Oh. Fire. I mean, yes. We're immortal, reborn from the ashes. Most of the myths are pretty accurate.
[ The suddenness in her pulling away is echoed in the awkward, staccato-like movement he makes too, pulling back and holding onto something - anything - else as a kind of way to pass it off as intentional.
He absolutely meant to pick up his pen. Yep.
The small, thin, plastic ballpoint remains unused between his fingers when he laughs to join her, head shaking, a shoulder shrugging, his chest pounding like he'd just been out sprinting.
That was hella awkward.
It takes a moment for him to recollect his thoughts, scrambled as they are by what happened. There's a moment of far-too-long silence before: ]
Yeah.
So. When you're reborn ... I mean, how often does that happen? Or is it just like anyone, except when they go, they stay gone, but you don't?
[ bless him for moving right along with her, even if it took him a second to get there. it's fine. when you've lived a dozen lifetimes you learn to roll with the embarrassing shit you get up to without even trying. so she can move right along too. ]
Not that often. I've gotten pretty lucky. I mean, there's always one or two lives that aren't exactly what you'd call "long and happy", [ lol one or two ] but for the most part you grow old and hopefully you're not buried before you're, ah, reborn. [ bursting into flames makes that pretty easy though. even when she was hiding her abilities, she's learned how to make sure each rebirth is safe. but those details aren't exactly entertaining, so ] That was just a joke, by the way. [ a beat ] I keep clarifying every time I make a joke. That's not how jokes are supposed to work, is it?
[ she takes a big breath, in a very obvious "give me a second to compose myself" way, even considering the whole "has lived through lifetimes of embarrassment and should be able to handle it by now" thing. it's not so easy, every time she looks up and meets Case's eyes. he's so cute.
stop. nope. not the time. ]
I'm not sure I've ever met a born wolf before. Well, okay, maybe not ever, they just haven't told me that they were. Does that mean you have more wolf-like tendencies, or that you're better in control? Can you shift whenever you want, or is that just a myth? What happens if I scratch you behind the ears? [ she was half serious for a second but LOOK SHE'S NERVOUS she can't just.. be totally serious.. also she knows it's bad form, grilling someone about their life. it's personal. she's old enough to understand that far too well. ]
Nah, I think the joke's supposed to stand without the explanation. Otherwise it's just ... a non-fact being explained. [ Case laughs though, because u g h Chuck you're a problem. A really awesome problem. ] Kinda kills the joke.
[ He finally puts the pen down because it was that or chew on the cap in some poor attempt to keep himself half-busy. ]
Oh. I guess it just means it wasn't really a traumatic thing that happened to me, to make me become a wolf. You know? Like, I hear about some people who've been bitten, and it's horrible because a lot of the time it's this thing that's been forced upon them. It becomes this PTSD thing. For me and my family, it's just a way of life. Some of my pack, they think of themselves as more wolf than human.
[ Weird. He doesn't think he's ever had this conversation with anyone before. His friends back home don't even know he's a wolf and he wouldn't think to talk about this stuff with his pack.
It's kind of therapeutic speaking aloud about a lot of the stuff he keeps in his private thoughts. This is who he is; this is what he thinks of it. ]
We're supposed to be in better control because it's not something we 'have to live with'; it's just who we are. But it doesn't really change some of the myth stuff. Like, I know some wolves can shift whenever they want but I can't. We're not fans of silver. Hunters are real and there are hunters who do and have killed werewolves. It hurts, like a lot to shift.
Yeah.
[ And then, suddenly, Chuck talks about scratching him behind his ears and he laughs, his face growing pink. ]
[ she nods along with what he's saying, because sure, she'd probably be completely engaged in whatever he felt like telling her, any time, but this is the sort of thing she's fascinated in hearing from anyone. it's just a bonus that she wants to know basically all there is to know about this particular boy. it helps. she only winces a little bit when he brings up shifting, sympathetic because she's heard that before, yeah. she's never witnessed a shift, but she's seen people change back. friends that she promised to look out for, that kind of thing. she may or may not have an emergency backpack for those situations - stuffed with clothes, energy bars, gatorade, bandages. anything a post-moon werewolf might need if he or she finds themselves out in the woods unprepared.
she doesn't linger on the whole painful shifting thing for long though, instead opting to look a little bit shocked, like she just can't believe- ]
No one? But how? [ she rests her chin in her hand like she's truly baffled, when really she's just a d m i r i n g him. but she's just going to work with the assumption that guys don't notice things like that. maybe. ] You have such scratchable hair. If we weren't at the library I'd prove it right now.
I don't know ...? [ Case turns it into a question, the last word lilting upwards while he continues to laugh, getting a couple of looks from surrounding students.
Oops.
He clears his throat, makes an attempt to regain his composure.
So cool.
(Not.) ] It's just - never come up before? I mean, I live with wolves. My whole family's full of 'em. No one scratches each other behind the ears.
[ He shrugs, suddenly wondering what it would be like to have her reach out to touch him, her fingers running through his hair. Ughh. It'd probably be awesome, that's what. ]
[ the librarian doesn't even need to turn their way to shush them, it's like she knows ( she does actually know ) that Chuck will shush him up on her own. which she does, but with a bright smile behind the finger held up to her lips. her voice is at a whisper again when she talks ]
We can't skip out on studying for head scratches. [ she pauses to think, then bites her lip ] Though maybe that should be your incentive. Give me a full page of notes on the chapter we were supposed to read for homework and I'll give you a good head scratch.
Somehow I feel as though I should say 'no' to this. Isn't it like, kind of degrading?
[ Casey is absolutely not taking any of what he's saying seriously. But he really should ... you know, refrain. And be cool. And just - study. Or mope a little over how he couldn't do anything beyond study because his sister is right and he's got no game.
Throw caution to the wind, Casey M! ]
But now I'm curious. You look like you'd be really good at head-scratches. [ Okay, okay, that's probably too much caution. ] Wow, that's the weirdest thing I've ever said.
No, Case, no way. [ she looks worried then, eyes wide. degrading? no. he can't think that. he might have been joking but Chuck isn't exactly at her best either right now in regards to being cool and collected, so she shakes her head, hand on the table again. hear me out
but then he starts talking again
and saves her the embarrassment by saying something a little silly himself. phew. ]
I'm sure you've said weirder. [ her worried expression goes soft, friendlier instead of SO WORRIED SHE SAID THE WRONG THING ] And I would never joke around in a degrading way, I promise. [ wait why is she going back to this she had an out!! but she's all confidence, still sitting tall in her chair and only blushing a tiny bit ] I was just trying to come up with an excuse to ask to play with your hair a bit, that's all. Sometime. Not here. But in general.
[ And yeah, Case would have said more, maybe elaborated a little further on the understanding of what she'd meant, and how he actually isn't offended at all and doesn't actually find it degrading to be head-scratched, especially if it's coming from her ...
But then she has to go and say what she does, and it ... kind of stops him straight in his tracks, tongue tied up in his mouth, heart suddenly pounding in his chest. ]
Oh. [ His voice is a little quiet as he, too, turns a little pink. JUST A LITTLE. ] Yeah. I - uh. [ It appears he's forgotten how to talk. ] You can. You're always welcome to.
[ oh makes her smile perk up a little bit more, because that's- cute. and informative. oh's can be informative. she wasn't sure how he'd react to her honesty but this is a good reaction, she likes this reaction. she wants to bottle up that reaction and keep it in her bag for whenever she's having a bad day. ]
Always, hm. I can work with always. [ she wants to bottle it up because most guys are weird about things like that - they say they don't want their hair to get messed up but what they mean is that they don't know how to handle those kinds of signs of affection. Case, apparently, isn't concerned with that. she wonders if he's ever told another girl that before, maybe someone from his life before coming to school here. she wonders if he'd give someone else here the same permission.
but no, that's the cynical way of thinking about it. and Chuck is not cynical. Chuck sees the color of his cheeks and thinks that's just for me.
sometimes it's weird, being a teenager for the #teenth time. but right now she's okay with it. #teen lifetimes ago she would have been overthinking this, worried and over-cautious. but now she hears oh and she's only encouraged. ]
Well, as I said, it's not something I could do here. Highly inappropriate to play with someone's hair in the library. [ she looks pretty serious, but she's also packing up her bag, so. ] I could never. People are trying to study, after all. [ and she's pulling her bag onto her shoulder, standing up, pushing in her chair ] But I just remembered- I actually really prefer to study in one particular spot outside. I don't know why I thought the library would be the best place for your intense study session. I know the perfect spot.
[ and then she turns to head out of the library, yes ]
Casey isn't even aware of his surroundings when he scrambles to get his things together too, his once poor posture very quickly straightening so he can shoot up from his chair and stuff pens and whatever else he'd taken out (not much, actually) back into his bag to follow Chuck.
He isn't the kind of boy who thinks a whole lot about the future. Next week, next month, maybe, but years from now? He isn't aware of it but he thinks he could spend the rest of his days following her wherever she goes and wherever that is, he'd be happy.
Anyway, he's about to leave the table, watching her head towards the door. He hastily pushes his chair in and moves to catch up, heart still pounding, head feeling a little light, but with a very decided spring in his step. He has no idea what Chuck has in mind or where exactly she means to study, but Case has zero intentions on leaving - now or ever.
Congratulations, Chuck. You are now the proud owner of a brand new werepuppy.
Teasingly: ]
So, am I expecting like, a letter grade-and-a-half up in this particular spot?
[ Because making a dumb joke is far easier than thinking about how he suddenly wants to take her hand in his while they walk. That might be him wanting to move along too quickly. Right? Right. ]
[ no, Chuck doesn't huff a huff of huffy relief once she hears him get up from the table, not at all. her shoulders were definitely this relaxed before she knew for sure that he would actually follow her. ]
Oh, definitely. I feel guilty for not suggesting this place to begin with. I almost risked you earning that extra half. I'm ashamed, truly. [ she's not reaching for his hand, in fact, both of her hands are on the strap of her bag. but she does slow down until they're walking side by side instead of him following her, close enough that her shoulder bumps his sometimes, but also close enough so that it's t o t a l l y natural to touch her hand to his arm every time she wants to lead them in his direction, and even tuck her fingers around his elbow to pull him in the other direction. y'know. they're walking side by side now, he can't follow her. she has to guide him. it's the only way.
what if he gets lost? she can't have that on her conscious.
but anyway, she leads him out to the south side of the school, where there are actual places to study, benches to relax on and trees to sit under. which means she has a choice. the benches aren't too big, but- well- now she's feeling bold. in a Chuck way. which is actually pretty tame, but that's neither here nor there. ]
-- So we have a few options, but I don't want to risk your grade or anything, so I'm just going to pick my favorite spot to study. Is that okay? Do you trust me?
[ Of course he trusts her. Casey has no real reason to not trust her.
The outside is actually a nice change to the stuffy indoorsness of the library. Here there's the sun and the clouds and the sky and the fresh breeze. It's warm and sunny and kind of the perfect place to not study, but also he's totally going to do his best to actually retain some of the information they'll go over. Assuming he doesn't fill his entire head with thoughts of Chuck instead. Because that's also a possibility. ]
My grades are in your hands. But like, in a good way.
[ what was that about not holding his hand? forget all that. she takes his hand because yes, she still needs to lead the way, make sure he doesn't get lost. nevermind that they're outside and there's no way he could actually lose her, that doesn't matter. she leads him across the grass to a particularly perfect tree, tall and broad, leaving the perfect amount of shade and sunlight at the roots. and it's obvious this really is a spot she spends a lot of time in, because she picks an area that looks like she moved the roots around herself, the way they're arranged so that there's room to sit on the grass but still put their feet up on the knobs if they want to, prop their backpacks, whatever. she's been here a hundred times. it's usually a spot she goes to when she wants some privacy, her back turned towards the school, the trunk of the tree wide enough to hide her.
but she's okay with Casey knowing about this spot. it doesn't even occur to her that she's showing him some kind of secret. she's not worried about anything like that. she only lets go of his hand when she needs to plop her bag down on the grass, moving to sit down with her back against the tree. she smooths out her skirt over her lap, crosses her legs at her ankles, then reaches to take her textbook out of her bag. ]
Forget what I said about notes before. I'll still show you how to take better notes when studying, but later. I've decided the best way for you to complete this homework assignment is to read it out loud. I will too. We'll switch off every paragraph. [ seems totally legit, yes, which is why she's grinning up at him like she's super proud of herself for all of this. but then- ] And you can either sit next to me, or lay down with your head in my lap so I can play with your hair. It's your choice. [ she's totally looking down at her book now instead of his face yes what of it ] But I've heard laying with your head on someone's lap makes it easier to absorb what they're reading to you. Just so you know.
[ For a moment Casey is actually pretty distracted by the spot Chuck shows him. It's really pretty and there's just the right amount of sun and warmth and shade. The tree is big enough to hide them from view so that they're still part of the school and the campus but there's privacy too. It's a good spot. It's a great spot.
And Casey's getting all kinds of weird warm feelings about her showing it to him.
He drops his bag down, reluctant to let go of her hand but also seeing the necessity in it. No wonder people aren't just attached to each other permanently, even though he's sure they could probably work around it if they had to. He likes the feeling -- the way her hand seemed to fit in his; the way her fingers wound through his; the warmth of her skin against his; the way people seemed to notice them when they walked past, eyes flicking from their faces to their joined hands. The stirrings of gossip and rumours to be spread across the school. Or maybe not. No one really knows who he is.
He's settling by a set of particularly comfortable roots, completely in awe of Chuck, and completely speechless by her suggestion, but pleased too. Oh, man. It's crazy how much he wants to just do exactly what she suggests. ] That's a really good idea. I'm in full support of this idea.
I've been told I'm a pretty good story-teller and that I've got a good narrator's voice. [ Okay, that's not entirely true because his friend Jordan from home was mostly telling him that he sounded like an idiot when he had done a dramatic reading of some book once. ] I'll definitely learn more this way.
[ Yes, he's confident in that increase of a grade-and-a-half as he scoots closer to Chuck, suddenly a little shy about the whole head-in-her-lap thing, but not shy enough not to try it anyway. He shifts so he can lie horizontally across the grass, propping his head into her lap as directed. It's so cozy and intimate, he feels his face grow warm. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2017-04-22 03:53 am (UTC)[ Except he actually likes it when she gets all dictionary-like. ]
Okay. Yeah. I can try for a couple of good study habits. School's never been like, my passion or whatever.
[ He's one of those kids who is clever enough but never puts in the time or effort into his studies. Not when there's wolf stuff and dad stuff and snow and boarding to think about.
But he's willing to make an effort now.
Even if it is admittedly, in part, to prove to Chuck that he's a decent study buddy. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-04-23 12:36 am (UTC)[ sometimes Chuck sounds like an old woman giving out words of wisdom, okay, it just happens. she's an "OLD SOUL", like literally, so. he'll need to get used to that if he wants to be her study buddy. ]
Though I guess how you feel about this place also depends on why you're here. Though you don't seem like the type that's here because your parents thought you needed some discipline in your life. Or are you that type? Hmmm.
[ just giving him a slow once over from her spot across from him, eyes narrowing a bit ]
no subject
Date: 2017-04-23 12:45 am (UTC)[ LOL Pls.
For all that he might act like a rebel without a cause, wanting to embody the James Dean life, he's actually a ridiculously good boy in the ways that count.
And with his big blues, he's just ... sort of staring at Chuck while Chuck assesses him from her seat. If you're expecting danger and a need for discipline, you'll be sorely disappointed. ]
I wish that was why I'm here. Nah, my dad ... he sent my sister and I here for 'our own protection'. Whatever that means.
[ He rolls his eyes, leaning back into his seat with an air of petulance. ]
Said it was for our own good. That it's like, dangerous out there or whatever.
no subject
Date: 2017-04-23 12:57 am (UTC)because yeah, even when he's being kind of a brat, it's- endearing. she's endeared. ]
It is pretty dangerous right now, for a lot of us. The world's changing- fast. Some of it for the better for us, but that just means a lot of people are going to be trying to push back. [ she chews her lip, stuck in thought for a moment, but it doesn't last long ] Though now I'm curious - what are you? [ there's probably a better way to ask that but she hasn't learned it, still, even after being around for so long ] I'm a phoenix, we tend to blend in fairly easily. I'm guessing it's not the same for you?
no subject
Date: 2017-04-23 01:10 am (UTC)Aunt Nev is here, after all, and she and Casey's dad are pretty close. Apparently. ]
Wolf. [ Case answers.
Whether there's a 'nice' way of asking the question, he's got no idea because he tends to go for the same approach. Better to be up front about it, right? ] I was born a wolf, not made one like a lot of wolves are, so the whole 'werewolf way of life' has kind of been like ... instilled in me since I was born.
It's easy enough to blend in, I guess, as long as no one sees me around the full moon.
[ He pauses for a moment. ]
I've never met a phoenix before. Didn't even know they were real, but that's kind of how I feel about a lot of our class. Like the angels and the fae and centaurs. Everyone here ... smells so different.
no subject
Date: 2017-04-23 01:25 am (UTC)she's distracted from that train of thought anyway when Case says something particularly
adorableinteresting, ahem ]We are, in fact, very real. Although now I'm kind of curious what I smell like. Hopefully nothing too ashy or harsh. Toasty maybe? Do I smell toasty? [ she's teasing. she's genuinely curious!! but she's also teasing. she's even holding out her wrist, eyes bright. she's wearing perfume, something light and flowery, but still. she knows her scent is probably pretty strong there, yeah. that's just how bodies work. why is she thinking about this so much? ] You would tell me if I smelled like burnt marshmallows or something, right?
no subject
Date: 2017-04-23 01:41 am (UTC)[ Case laughs, but it's soft and almost just this side of shy, because wow, he's not even thinking about the question so much as the fact that she's holding her wrist out for him to lean in and ... well, pick up her scent.
It's like, kind of a weirdly intimate thing to do unless you're on the prowl and you're doing this simply for tracking purposes. Because right now, obviously, Casey is not, and the thought of touching Chuck's skin for any purpose at all makes his pulse jump.
He sits up straighter, shuffling his seat forward enough to make it easy to reach out and touch her wrist. ]
When I first met you, you smelled like what I remember back in Canada, when the log fire would be on in the cabin and it's smoky and warm. [ And, honestly, it's one of his favourite scents. ] Just FYI.
no subject
Date: 2017-04-23 02:00 am (UTC)[ it's pretty silly how true that is.
if Chuck is meant to take her hand back once he's done with his explanation, she doesn't get that memo. although her brain hop skip jumps around the idea of pulling her hand back just enough so that his touch slips from her wrist to her palm, for sure. she could be casual about that. it's totally something she could accomplish. she doesn't but the opportunity is there. instead she just lowers her hand, keeps it outstretched but resting on the table now instead. like it's just the position she feels like being in now and not something she's thinking really hard about, contemplating the pros and cons of turning her hand so she can touch his too. ]
Now I'm wishing I had some sort of ability that I could use as a way to be complimentary. Unfortunately, most of my abilities are self-serving. [ a beat ] Oh, but, if your tea ever goes cold, I can heat it up for you with no trouble at all. So. There's that.
no subject
Date: 2017-04-23 02:15 am (UTC)But if he's going to be the one to break this incredibly charged moment, then really, you've got another thing coming, because he doesn't want to do that at all. He doesn't really want to do anything else right now but press his nose against her skin, or maybe his mouth. Just - lightly. Just to see what it might feel like to do something like press your lips against someone's wrist.
He breathes out. ]
Phoenixes ... they're birds of fire, right? And they - [ He shakes his head, corrects himself: ] - you're kind of immortal?
[ He still has his fingers against her wrist, the soft pads of his fingertips just there, exchanging warmth.
Werewolves tend to run a bit warmer than most regular people, it's just a residual wolf thing to keep their temperatures balanced during their shift, but Chuck's temperature beats even his own.
Jokingly: ]
Next time I need to reheat some tea, you'll be on speed-dial.
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Date: 2017-04-23 02:39 am (UTC)[ lyk fer sher. totally immortal? who says stuff like that? why is it suddenly really difficult to form eloquent sentences?
she knows why, but it's still a little embarrassing.
his touch is light, and maybe it's because she's paying so much attention to it, but after a quiet moment someone moves, it's either him or her, but either way it makes that soft touch drag across her wrist just a little bit, just enough to cause a laugh to bubble up. maybe it's nerves, energy built up making her overreact to something that's hardly ticklish, but it doesn't really matter because it happens and then she's pulling her hand back fast, her fingers curling around his. it could have been a sweet gesture, bold and deliberate, but it's not. it's the reaction of someone who was unintentionally tickled and hence has no control over her actions for a brief moment.
so there's that quick laugh, bright and surprised, then she's pressing her mouth shut tight, letting go of his hand a second later. embarrassed. life is embarrassing. both hands end up in her lap like she doesn't trust herself at the moment, cheeks pink. ]
I, um- Wow. [ she huffs another laugh ] There's no way to play that off, is there? Okay. What were we-? Oh. Fire. I mean, yes. We're immortal, reborn from the ashes. Most of the myths are pretty accurate.
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Date: 2017-04-23 02:59 am (UTC)He absolutely meant to pick up his pen. Yep.
The small, thin, plastic ballpoint remains unused between his fingers when he laughs to join her, head shaking, a shoulder shrugging, his chest pounding like he'd just been out sprinting.
That was hella awkward.
It takes a moment for him to recollect his thoughts, scrambled as they are by what happened. There's a moment of far-too-long silence before: ]
Yeah.
So. When you're reborn ... I mean, how often does that happen? Or is it just like anyone, except when they go, they stay gone, but you don't?
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Date: 2017-04-23 06:40 pm (UTC)Not that often. I've gotten pretty lucky. I mean, there's always one or two lives that aren't exactly what you'd call "long and happy", [ lol one or two ] but for the most part you grow old and hopefully you're not buried before you're, ah, reborn. [ bursting into flames makes that pretty easy though. even when she was hiding her abilities, she's learned how to make sure each rebirth is safe. but those details aren't exactly entertaining, so ] That was just a joke, by the way. [ a beat ] I keep clarifying every time I make a joke. That's not how jokes are supposed to work, is it?
[ she takes a big breath, in a very obvious "give me a second to compose myself" way, even considering the whole "has lived through lifetimes of embarrassment and should be able to handle it by now" thing. it's not so easy, every time she looks up and meets Case's eyes. he's so cute.
stop. nope. not the time. ]
I'm not sure I've ever met a born wolf before. Well, okay, maybe not ever, they just haven't told me that they were. Does that mean you have more wolf-like tendencies, or that you're better in control? Can you shift whenever you want, or is that just a myth? What happens if I scratch you behind the ears? [ she was half serious for a second but LOOK SHE'S NERVOUS she can't just.. be totally serious.. also she knows it's bad form, grilling someone about their life. it's personal. she's old enough to understand that far too well. ]
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Date: 2017-04-23 11:01 pm (UTC)[ He finally puts the pen down because it was that or chew on the cap in some poor attempt to keep himself half-busy. ]
Oh. I guess it just means it wasn't really a traumatic thing that happened to me, to make me become a wolf. You know? Like, I hear about some people who've been bitten, and it's horrible because a lot of the time it's this thing that's been forced upon them. It becomes this PTSD thing. For me and my family, it's just a way of life. Some of my pack, they think of themselves as more wolf than human.
[ Weird. He doesn't think he's ever had this conversation with anyone before. His friends back home don't even know he's a wolf and he wouldn't think to talk about this stuff with his pack.
It's kind of therapeutic speaking aloud about a lot of the stuff he keeps in his private thoughts. This is who he is; this is what he thinks of it. ]
We're supposed to be in better control because it's not something we 'have to live with'; it's just who we are. But it doesn't really change some of the myth stuff. Like, I know some wolves can shift whenever they want but I can't. We're not fans of silver. Hunters are real and there are hunters who do and have killed werewolves. It hurts, like a lot to shift.
Yeah.
[ And then, suddenly, Chuck talks about scratching him behind his ears and he laughs, his face growing pink. ]
Uh. I don't know, no one's ever done it.
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Date: 2017-04-25 05:31 am (UTC)she doesn't linger on the whole painful shifting thing for long though, instead opting to look a little bit shocked, like she just can't believe- ]
No one? But how? [ she rests her chin in her hand like she's truly baffled, when really she's just a d m i r i n g him. but she's just going to work with the assumption that guys don't notice things like that. maybe. ] You have such scratchable hair. If we weren't at the library I'd prove it right now.
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Date: 2017-04-26 06:13 am (UTC)Oops.
He clears his throat, makes an attempt to regain his composure.
So cool.
(Not.) ] It's just - never come up before? I mean, I live with wolves. My whole family's full of 'em. No one scratches each other behind the ears.
[ He shrugs, suddenly wondering what it would be like to have her reach out to touch him, her fingers running through his hair. Ughh. It'd probably be awesome, that's what. ]
Well, we don't have to stay here ...
[ Oh. Uh. Did he just use his outside voice? ]
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Date: 2017-04-26 10:00 pm (UTC)We can't skip out on studying for head scratches. [ she pauses to think, then bites her lip ] Though maybe that should be your incentive. Give me a full page of notes on the chapter we were supposed to read for homework and I'll give you a good head scratch.
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Date: 2017-04-27 02:47 am (UTC)[ Casey is absolutely not taking any of what he's saying seriously. But he really should ... you know, refrain. And be cool. And just - study. Or mope a little over how he couldn't do anything beyond study because his sister is right and he's got no game.
Throw caution to the wind, Casey M! ]
But now I'm curious. You look like you'd be really good at head-scratches. [ Okay, okay, that's probably too much caution. ] Wow, that's the weirdest thing I've ever said.
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Date: 2017-04-29 03:33 am (UTC)but then he starts talking again
and saves her the embarrassment by saying something a little silly himself. phew. ]
I'm sure you've said weirder. [ her worried expression goes soft, friendlier instead of SO WORRIED SHE SAID THE WRONG THING ] And I would never joke around in a degrading way, I promise. [ wait why is she going back to this she had an out!! but she's all confidence, still sitting tall in her chair and only blushing a tiny bit ] I was just trying to come up with an excuse to ask to play with your hair a bit, that's all. Sometime. Not here. But in general.
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Date: 2017-04-29 04:20 am (UTC)[ And yeah, Case would have said more, maybe elaborated a little further on the understanding of what she'd meant, and how he actually isn't offended at all and doesn't actually find it degrading to be head-scratched, especially if it's coming from her ...
But then she has to go and say what she does, and it ... kind of stops him straight in his tracks, tongue tied up in his mouth, heart suddenly pounding in his chest. ]
Oh. [ His voice is a little quiet as he, too, turns a little pink. JUST A LITTLE. ] Yeah. I - uh. [ It appears he's forgotten how to talk. ] You can. You're always welcome to.
idk dates
Date: 2017-04-29 11:52 pm (UTC)Always, hm. I can work with always. [ she wants to bottle it up because most guys are weird about things like that - they say they don't want their hair to get messed up but what they mean is that they don't know how to handle those kinds of signs of affection. Case, apparently, isn't concerned with that. she wonders if he's ever told another girl that before, maybe someone from his life before coming to school here. she wonders if he'd give someone else here the same permission.
but no, that's the cynical way of thinking about it. and Chuck is not cynical. Chuck sees the color of his cheeks and thinks that's just for me.
sometimes it's weird, being a teenager for the #teenth time. but right now she's okay with it. #teen lifetimes ago she would have been overthinking this, worried and over-cautious. but now she hears oh and she's only encouraged. ]
Well, as I said, it's not something I could do here. Highly inappropriate to play with someone's hair in the library. [ she looks pretty serious, but she's also packing up her bag, so. ] I could never. People are trying to study, after all. [ and she's pulling her bag onto her shoulder, standing up, pushing in her chair ] But I just remembered- I actually really prefer to study in one particular spot outside. I don't know why I thought the library would be the best place for your intense study session. I know the perfect spot.
[ and then she turns to head out of the library, yes ]
im?? dying?? this is adorable!!1
Date: 2017-04-30 01:24 am (UTC)Is she -
What is she doing -
Okay, is she really -
Yes. The answer, very clearly, is yes.
Casey isn't even aware of his surroundings when he scrambles to get his things together too, his once poor posture very quickly straightening so he can shoot up from his chair and stuff pens and whatever else he'd taken out (not much, actually) back into his bag to follow Chuck.
He isn't the kind of boy who thinks a whole lot about the future. Next week, next month, maybe, but years from now? He isn't aware of it but he thinks he could spend the rest of his days following her wherever she goes and wherever that is, he'd be happy.
Anyway, he's about to leave the table, watching her head towards the door. He hastily pushes his chair in and moves to catch up, heart still pounding, head feeling a little light, but with a very decided spring in his step. He has no idea what Chuck has in mind or where exactly she means to study, but Case has zero intentions on leaving - now or ever.
Congratulations, Chuck. You are now the proud owner of a brand new werepuppy.
Teasingly: ]
So, am I expecting like, a letter grade-and-a-half up in this particular spot?
[ Because making a dumb joke is far easier than thinking about how he suddenly wants to take her hand in his while they walk. That might be him wanting to move along too quickly. Right? Right. ]
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Date: 2017-04-30 01:38 am (UTC)Oh, definitely. I feel guilty for not suggesting this place to begin with. I almost risked you earning that extra half. I'm ashamed, truly. [ she's not reaching for his hand, in fact, both of her hands are on the strap of her bag. but she does slow down until they're walking side by side instead of him following her, close enough that her shoulder bumps his sometimes, but also close enough so that it's t o t a l l y natural to touch her hand to his arm every time she wants to lead them in his direction, and even tuck her fingers around his elbow to pull him in the other direction. y'know. they're walking side by side now, he can't follow her. she has to guide him. it's the only way.
what if he gets lost? she can't have that on her conscious.
but anyway, she leads him out to the south side of the school, where there are actual places to study, benches to relax on and trees to sit under. which means she has a choice. the benches aren't too big, but- well- now she's feeling bold. in a Chuck way. which is actually pretty tame, but that's neither here nor there. ]
-- So we have a few options, but I don't want to risk your grade or anything, so I'm just going to pick my favorite spot to study. Is that okay? Do you trust me?
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Date: 2017-04-30 01:48 am (UTC)[ Of course he trusts her. Casey has no real reason to not trust her.
The outside is actually a nice change to the stuffy indoorsness of the library. Here there's the sun and the clouds and the sky and the fresh breeze. It's warm and sunny and kind of the perfect place to not study, but also he's totally going to do his best to actually retain some of the information they'll go over. Assuming he doesn't fill his entire head with thoughts of Chuck instead. Because that's also a possibility. ]
My grades are in your hands. But like, in a good way.
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Date: 2017-04-30 04:24 am (UTC)[ what was that about not holding his hand? forget all that. she takes his hand because yes, she still needs to lead the way, make sure he doesn't get lost. nevermind that they're outside and there's no way he could actually lose her, that doesn't matter. she leads him across the grass to a particularly perfect tree, tall and broad, leaving the perfect amount of shade and sunlight at the roots. and it's obvious this really is a spot she spends a lot of time in, because she picks an area that looks like she moved the roots around herself, the way they're arranged so that there's room to sit on the grass but still put their feet up on the knobs if they want to, prop their backpacks, whatever. she's been here a hundred times. it's usually a spot she goes to when she wants some privacy, her back turned towards the school, the trunk of the tree wide enough to hide her.
but she's okay with Casey knowing about this spot. it doesn't even occur to her that she's showing him some kind of secret. she's not worried about anything like that. she only lets go of his hand when she needs to plop her bag down on the grass, moving to sit down with her back against the tree. she smooths out her skirt over her lap, crosses her legs at her ankles, then reaches to take her textbook out of her bag. ]
Forget what I said about notes before. I'll still show you how to take better notes when studying, but later. I've decided the best way for you to complete this homework assignment is to read it out loud. I will too. We'll switch off every paragraph. [ seems totally legit, yes, which is why she's grinning up at him like she's super proud of herself for all of this. but then- ] And you can either sit next to me, or lay down with your head in my lap so I can play with your hair. It's your choice. [ she's totally looking down at her book now instead of his face yes what of it ] But I've heard laying with your head on someone's lap makes it easier to absorb what they're reading to you. Just so you know.
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Date: 2017-04-30 05:26 am (UTC)And Casey's getting all kinds of weird warm feelings about her showing it to him.
He drops his bag down, reluctant to let go of her hand but also seeing the necessity in it. No wonder people aren't just attached to each other permanently, even though he's sure they could probably work around it if they had to. He likes the feeling -- the way her hand seemed to fit in his; the way her fingers wound through his; the warmth of her skin against his; the way people seemed to notice them when they walked past, eyes flicking from their faces to their joined hands. The stirrings of gossip and rumours to be spread across the school. Or maybe not. No one really knows who he is.
He's settling by a set of particularly comfortable roots, completely in awe of Chuck, and completely speechless by her suggestion, but pleased too. Oh, man. It's crazy how much he wants to just do exactly what she suggests. ] That's a really good idea. I'm in full support of this idea.
I've been told I'm a pretty good story-teller and that I've got a good narrator's voice. [ Okay, that's not entirely true because his friend Jordan from home was mostly telling him that he sounded like an idiot when he had done a dramatic reading of some book once. ] I'll definitely learn more this way.
[ Yes, he's confident in that increase of a grade-and-a-half as he scoots closer to Chuck, suddenly a little shy about the whole head-in-her-lap thing, but not shy enough not to try it anyway. He shifts so he can lie horizontally across the grass, propping his head into her lap as directed. It's so cozy and intimate, he feels his face grow warm. ]
My head's not like, too heavy, is it?
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