Hey, Case! So. I know you're crazy experienced with the whole full moon thing, but I heard it's supposed to be unseasonably cold out tonight and I don't want you to have to worry about, um, preparing for that, so- I have a backpack with some stuff in it for you, in case you need it. A hoodie, some granola bars, water, ibuprofen in case you're achy after. I wasn't sure if I should leave it outside in case you're out by our tree anytime tonight, before I guess, or after? I don't know. So I have it with me. But I can leave it somewhere. I've read that sometimes the whole day leading up to the full moon can be a little weird, so I didn't want to just show up at your dorm and shove it at you or something weird.
Um-
Just let me know, okay? If you think you might need it. [ rushing rushing rushing now ] And if you don't, that's okay too. You can totally ignore all of this, I'm sure you don't even need the help, I just realized how ridiculous this all must sound. Anyway- if nothing else, please let me know you're okay once the night's over, alright? Okay. Bye.
[ Not once in all sixteen grand years of his life had he ever had someone try to take care of him the way Chuck offers to take care of him. He was a wolf by nature, born into this life, and his dad made sure he knew it. There was no coddling, no kiddie-pool to dip one's toe into, no training wheels. Casey was expected to follow his alpha without question, unceasingly brave and smart enough to survive full moon after full moon.
He did it. He did it without question, hiding the hurt and the pain of shifting, hiding his reluctance to follow in his father's footsteps when he and his sister were groomed to be the next alpha if anything happened to their pack leader.
So it's a little unnecessary to have a care package waiting for him.
But that doesn't mean Casey doesn't appreciate it.
In fact (though Casey would never tell anyone this), he listens to Chuck's message at least a couple hundred times, face growing warm, smile growing wide, heart growing three sizes bigger. It's kind of the nicest things anyone's ever done for him.
When the night is over and Case, exhausted to his bones, returns to his dorm room, the first call he makes is to Chuck. He hopes it isn't too early to start calling her.
Do phoenixes sleep? Of course they do, that's a stupid question. Maybe this was a bad idea.
[ yes mhm she sleeps like this. but she perks up pretty quick when her phone starts buzzing near her head, and there's a part of her brain that knows it's too early for her alarm to be going off, but she's still just so used to not questioning it. she's one of those infuriating people that only needs one alarm to wake her up. no hitting snooze for charlotte. but anyway, her phone buzzes and she peeks to see what time it is, and instead sees Casey's name on her screen. oh. oh.
she doesn't spring into action ( it's early ) but she does sit up, rubbing at her eyes with her free hand while her other brings her phone up to talk. her voice is a little rough, but that's okay. her curtains are drawn around her bed, but she still whispers, not wanting to wake up her roommates ]
[ His voice is a little drowsy, with just a little less pep than usual, mostly because he feels like his body has become a boneless mass, the tangible form of exhaustion come to life. ]
I know it's like, stupid early, but ... I wanted to hear your voice.
Oh. [ it's hard for a sleepy brain to process flattery, but eventually it sinks in. flattery and about ten other things. ] That's okay. I'm glad you called. Are you back inside?
[ said a little louder than she should have with a room full of sleeping people, but that's fine. she shushes up again quick
I mean, I still have that backpack. I can bring it to your dorm, if you want. It's technically past curfew but it's so early... It'll be fine. [ oooo almost-rule breaking, Chuck's rebelling in a major way here!! ] I want to say "don't move!" but I don't know if I can get into fire without being invited in. [ idk how much of Mythian is like Hogwarts oh god originality is hard ] Meet me at the entrance?
[ luckily! she's already headed towards the fire dorms, backpack slung over her shoulder, a list of three very plausible excuses for being out this early ready to be blurted out if she happens to run into a teacher. but she doesn't, because why would they be up this early? teachers gotta sleep, too.
it only takes a few minutes for her to get there at the pace she set, no people around to clog up the hallways, and she almost knocks but then she just sends a quick text ] right outside [ and waits for him to open the door for her.
meanwhile, guess who didn't even run a brush through her hair before heading out? or put on something other than her pajamas? this girl. she's realizing it now, now that the door is open and he's standing there looking equally, but differently, disheveled. ]
[ She might be a little sleep-disheveled, but Casey thinks she's really, honestly the prettiest girl he's ever seen. Oh, also? Her pajamas are real cute.
His smile is small but bright when he pushes the door open wide enough to sneak her inside without anyone noticing. Not that anyone would notice because the campus is a ghost-town right now. They're up even before the jogging keeners. ]
Sorry, I really shouldn't have even woken you up. I realized that when we hung up.
It's okay. I would have called you as soon as I woke up anyway, which probably would have woken you up. So we're even.
[ and now she's been presented with another decision - pass the backpack to him, or step into the dorm. sneak in, it would be sneaking. and, somehow, she finds it in her to do just that. looking back behind her first, but then she's stepping past him, just enough to switch their positions. nothing too wild! she's still close to the door. maybe he wasn't inviting her in by keeping the door open. who knows? but she's in there now. in the fire dorm. which she's never been in. but she's not even looking around, instead sticking close to Casey and looking him over in the dim light of the common room. which honestly does nothing for making his expression look less exhausted, but she's not worried. he's right here on his own two feet. he's okay. ]
Did you want to hang out down here?
[ or did you want to get back into bed? is the second question, but instead she just bites her lip, brows lifted a bit. she can't ask that, no way. but- y'know. maybe. it could be nice. more privacy. y'know. whatever. ]
[ It's not some cheap pick-up line or anything that comes with a hidden agenda. Casey respects her far too much for that to be the case; and besides which, he wouldn't even have thought it to begin with. Much too innocent for that kind of sleazy thinking.
Instead he just wants to do stupid stuff like hold her hand and kiss her mouth and look into her eyes or something. Like, later. When they're both okay with it.
Wow. Charlie is right, he really is a romantic. ]
I mean, obviously only if you want to. It's just ... warmer up there. Less - [ He gestures to the big wide space of the lobby before them. Anyone could show up at any given time, especially once the sun starts to rise. ] And my roommate's cool. Probably deep asleep.
[ Chuck nods, with probably a little too much enthusiasm, but that's okay. she adjusts the strap of her backpack with both hands, keeps them on there like she doesn't trust herself not to fidget with her hands or something. because she doesn't. she's still tired, ready to curl up and sleep, but she still has a habit of being infuriatingly embarrassing when she just wants to- y'know not be that way.
but yes, she nods, because she does want to go upstairs with him, and she follows him there with careful, quiet steps, right up until they're both crawling onto his bed. curtains drawn. she leaves her slippers on the floor, but scoots them under the bed, hidden away. kind of. she sits at the head of the bed, slowly unzipping the backpack to take out a couple of granola bars and a bottle of water. it's no coincidence that she's by the pillows, legs stretched out in front of her, because this could be like when they hang out outside studying. he can't lay down and drink water, that's not safe, but. like. maybe after. he needs to sleep, she knows, and that's okay. she'll help with that, that's all. he's nearly dozed off with his head on her lap before, so. she'll be helping!
once he's on the bed with her, she holds out one of the granola bars, whispering ] Here.
[ The granola bars are an absolute godsend. He didn't even realize how hungry he was until he starts to dig into the first bite of the healthy snack.
His wolfkind don't kill or eat human meat. Sometimes some of the pack would hunt small game, but Case has never really been into it. He can still remember the taste of raw flesh in his mouth, the bitter tang of iron from blood on his tongue from one of the first times he'd gone along with the hunt. It's awful. It's not him. ]
Man, I didn't even realize how much I needed that.
[ He drinks some of the water she offers, washing down granola and chocolate chips. His stomach feels a million times better already. ]
[ she's not really hungry, but it'd be weird to just sit and watch him eat granola, right, so she takes a few sips of her own water while he munches away. which is cute? apparently? since when are hungry boys cute? whatever. her gaze drops when he asks about the backpack, but she's grinning. ]
Well, yeah. It's- cold. [ what ] I guess I just got worried that after wearing a fur coat all night, you'd get cold after you changed back. And I read that sometimes the full moon can mess with your appetite, so I wasn't sure if you ate dinner or anything, so. It- Yeah. Hoodie. Granola. Ta da.
It's really cool of you, Chuck. Thanks. It's kind of the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me, actually.
[ Not that he's asking for sympathy or pity or anything. His life isn't bad, he'd never been abused or mistreated (unless you count the his-dad-being-a-jerk stuff) but everyone's got a role to play in a pack and little thoughtful gestures like this don't tend to happen. It promotes favouritism or whatever.
He finishes off granola bar #1 and crumples the wrapper. ]
[ ahaha so clever, Chuck is just so funny. but she reaches into the bag to pull out the hoodie, which is dark green and well worn, the logo on the front faded out almost entirely. it is clearly a Favorite Hoodie. it's folded up neat when she passes it to him, and she pulls out one more granola bar before sliding the backpack to the edge of the bed and carefully dropping it off the side. it's just taking up space now, so. bye backpack. ]
[ Casey rolls his eyes in exasperation, like nooo you did not just make that joke, but he's endeared too. It's pretty clear by the indulgence in his eye-roll. It's not a serious eye-roll.
He grabs the hoodie, thumbs at the logo, and shakes it out to put on. ]
I like it.
[ There is a nice well-worn, well-loved factor to it that makes it all the nicer to wear. He'll give it back to her in an hour or so ... but for now, he's just going to keep it on.
Then he makes a swipe for the second granola bar, not even realizing until then just how hungry he is, before shifting from his current spot on the bed to sit alongside Chuck, pillows propped up behind them. Their arms touch with the movement.
Case takes a bite of granola bar #2. ]
You know, I could get used to this kind of treatment.
[ she doesn't really think twice about linking her arm through his, loosely for sure, the bend to her arm is very very slight, but it's mostly just to put them a little closer together. makes it easy to rest her cheek against his shoulder and sit with him that way. her other hand reaches over to rest on his arm too, though she ends up sort of fussing with the fabric of the hoodie's sleeve. fussing, yeah. she wasn't super worried about him, she knows he's capable, but it's different. knowing someone's been dealing with their abilities their whole life is all well and good, but when you start to care about them it chips away at that knowledge. it doesn't matter, that practically, factually, she knows he'll be fine. it's more than that now. ]
I could too. [ well, get used to treating him this way, yeah. being right here with him. ] But maybe not only after a full moon. [ she hides her smile against his shoulder, nosing there a little bit. just being affectionate without being too risky about it. sometimes she feels brave, sometimes she just wants to sit and maybe let things go unsaid. maybe. ehh. it's tough for her, though. she's shy, but she's not used to masking her feelings. so she'll be physically affectionate but beat around the bush with her words. it's a mixed bag. ]
[ Casey jokes, just a shade sleepily, but more content with just how peaceful and chill this feels right now. With the early pre-dawn morning being what it is, he could almost imagine that they're the only two people in this whole school - maybe even the world - right now.
He tilts his head far enough to rest against Chuck's hair, not at all minding the necessity to pull themselves closer to one another but feeling it as succinctly as Chuck is. With their arms loosely linked, his hand finds hers, fingers gently twining. It's slow and tentative at first, just to get a feel for it, to see if he's being totally crazy or if he's got a proper read on the situation. He's got no idea what he's doing; it's just instinct guiding him now. ]
I'm sure I could make myself available for it. [ it's way too easy, getting comfortable with Casey. basically all the time, but especially right now. she might be taking her time with all of this, whatever it is, nerves bubbling up, but each step of the way always seems to pay off. she's embarrassed herself a couple of times, sure, but it's never because of something she did. mostly things she says. but anyway, he links his fingers with hers and she happily holds on, almost embarrassingly transparent in how much she likes all of this now. she just keeps snuggling up closer. ]
I know I should probably go and let you sleep, but I don't- want to yet. [ or at all ] So you have to tell me when you're getting really tired, okay? Don't let me keep you up.
It works well because I don't want you to go either.
[ Like, ever. Basically, stay here for the rest of the morning until some other force of nature makes them have to leave the room and get on with the day. And maybe, even then, they can make a case to not go anywhere. Who knows, really. ]
Just ... stay here, okay? Maybe tell me something.
[ wait was there more to that statement, or does he just want her to talk? because she can do that, she's pretty good at just talking about basically nothing. or something really important to her. or something homework related, or class related. she waits a moment before continuing, turning her face so her nose is squished against his shoulder, eyes on his face. well. sort of. he's too close to really look at his face, but she's looking face-wards. ]
[ Casey feels like he might turn to goo at any second, the way she's looking at him right now. It's so ... cute. It makes him feel hot and cold and numb and on the verge of bursting all at the same time.
He makes the barest of shrugs and shakes his head. ]
Something about me? That'll help you drift right off to sleep.
[ she grins, though it's still kind of hidden by his shoulder, then she pauses, trying to think of something. ]
-- I'm not even sure what to say. I don't talk about myself a lot anymore. Life becomes a lot less about you when you've been a you for a few centuries.
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voicemail; PRETEND THIS WAS SENT A WEEK AGO
Date: 2017-05-19 02:50 am (UTC)Um-
Just let me know, okay? If you think you might need it. [ rushing rushing rushing now ] And if you don't, that's okay too. You can totally ignore all of this, I'm sure you don't even need the help, I just realized how ridiculous this all must sound. Anyway- if nothing else, please let me know you're okay once the night's over, alright? Okay. Bye.
im dying this is too cute ... oh, also voice;
Date: 2017-05-22 06:02 am (UTC)He did it. He did it without question, hiding the hurt and the pain of shifting, hiding his reluctance to follow in his father's footsteps when he and his sister were groomed to be the next alpha if anything happened to their pack leader.
So it's a little unnecessary to have a care package waiting for him.
But that doesn't mean Casey doesn't appreciate it.
In fact (though Casey would never tell anyone this), he listens to Chuck's message at least a couple hundred times, face growing warm, smile growing wide, heart growing three sizes bigger. It's kind of the nicest things anyone's ever done for him.
When the night is over and Case, exhausted to his bones, returns to his dorm room, the first call he makes is to Chuck. He hopes it isn't too early to start calling her.
Do phoenixes sleep? Of course they do, that's a stupid question. Maybe this was a bad idea.
Maybe -- ]
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 06:10 am (UTC)she doesn't spring into action ( it's early ) but she does sit up, rubbing at her eyes with her free hand while her other brings her phone up to talk. her voice is a little rough, but that's okay. her curtains are drawn around her bed, but she still whispers, not wanting to wake up her roommates ]
Case- You okay? Hi.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 06:17 am (UTC)[ His voice is a little drowsy, with just a little less pep than usual, mostly because he feels like his body has become a boneless mass, the tangible form of exhaustion come to life. ]
I know it's like, stupid early, but ... I wanted to hear your voice.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 06:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 06:31 am (UTC)[ He lets out a soft laugh. ]
I could probably use a granola bar or two right about now.
And definitely a million hours of sleep.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 06:36 am (UTC)[ said a little louder than she should have with a room full of sleeping people, but that's fine. she shushes up again quick
I mean, I still have that backpack. I can bring it to your dorm, if you want. It's technically past curfew but it's so early... It'll be fine. [ oooo almost-rule breaking, Chuck's rebelling in a major way here!! ] I want to say "don't move!" but I don't know if I can get into fire without being invited in. [ idk how much of Mythian is like Hogwarts oh god originality is hard ] Meet me at the entrance?
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 06:50 am (UTC)[ And, okay, an excuse to see Chuck first thing in the morning? Yep. That's definitely high priority there.
Just to clarify: ]
Yeah, I'll meet you at the entrance. Thanks, Chuck.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 07:05 am (UTC)it only takes a few minutes for her to get there at the pace she set, no people around to clog up the hallways, and she almost knocks but then she just sends a quick text ] right outside [ and waits for him to open the door for her.
meanwhile, guess who didn't even run a brush through her hair before heading out? or put on something other than her pajamas? this girl. she's realizing it now, now that the door is open and he's standing there looking equally, but differently, disheveled. ]
-- Hi.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 07:14 am (UTC)[ She might be a little sleep-disheveled, but Casey thinks she's really, honestly the prettiest girl he's ever seen. Oh, also? Her pajamas are real cute.
His smile is small but bright when he pushes the door open wide enough to sneak her inside without anyone noticing. Not that anyone would notice because the campus is a ghost-town right now. They're up even before the jogging keeners. ]
Sorry, I really shouldn't have even woken you up. I realized that when we hung up.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 07:25 am (UTC)[ and now she's been presented with another decision - pass the backpack to him, or step into the dorm. sneak in, it would be sneaking. and, somehow, she finds it in her to do just that. looking back behind her first, but then she's stepping past him, just enough to switch their positions. nothing too wild! she's still close to the door. maybe he wasn't inviting her in by keeping the door open. who knows? but she's in there now. in the fire dorm. which she's never been in. but she's not even looking around, instead sticking close to Casey and looking him over in the dim light of the common room. which honestly does nothing for making his expression look less exhausted, but she's not worried. he's right here on his own two feet. he's okay. ]
Did you want to hang out down here?
[ or did you want to get back into bed? is the second question, but instead she just bites her lip, brows lifted a bit. she can't ask that, no way. but- y'know. maybe. it could be nice. more privacy. y'know. whatever. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 07:35 am (UTC)[ It's not some cheap pick-up line or anything that comes with a hidden agenda. Casey respects her far too much for that to be the case; and besides which, he wouldn't even have thought it to begin with. Much too innocent for that kind of sleazy thinking.
Instead he just wants to do stupid stuff like hold her hand and kiss her mouth and look into her eyes or something. Like, later. When they're both okay with it.
Wow. Charlie is right, he really is a romantic. ]
I mean, obviously only if you want to. It's just ... warmer up there. Less - [ He gestures to the big wide space of the lobby before them. Anyone could show up at any given time, especially once the sun starts to rise. ] And my roommate's cool. Probably deep asleep.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 07:43 am (UTC)but yes, she nods, because she does want to go upstairs with him, and she follows him there with careful, quiet steps, right up until they're both crawling onto his bed. curtains drawn. she leaves her slippers on the floor, but scoots them under the bed, hidden away. kind of. she sits at the head of the bed, slowly unzipping the backpack to take out a couple of granola bars and a bottle of water. it's no coincidence that she's by the pillows, legs stretched out in front of her, because this could be like when they hang out outside studying. he can't lay down and drink water, that's not safe, but. like. maybe after. he needs to sleep, she knows, and that's okay. she'll help with that, that's all. he's nearly dozed off with his head on her lap before, so. she'll be helping!
once he's on the bed with her, she holds out one of the granola bars, whispering ] Here.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 07:51 am (UTC)[ The granola bars are an absolute godsend. He didn't even realize how hungry he was until he starts to dig into the first bite of the healthy snack.
His wolfkind don't kill or eat human meat. Sometimes some of the pack would hunt small game, but Case has never really been into it. He can still remember the taste of raw flesh in his mouth, the bitter tang of iron from blood on his tongue from one of the first times he'd gone along with the hunt. It's awful. It's not him. ]
Man, I didn't even realize how much I needed that.
[ He drinks some of the water she offers, washing down granola and chocolate chips. His stomach feels a million times better already. ]
So you really made all this up for me?
[ He gestures to the backpack. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 08:02 am (UTC)Well, yeah. It's- cold. [ what ] I guess I just got worried that after wearing a fur coat all night, you'd get cold after you changed back. And I read that sometimes the full moon can mess with your appetite, so I wasn't sure if you ate dinner or anything, so. It- Yeah. Hoodie. Granola. Ta da.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 05:03 pm (UTC)It's really cool of you, Chuck. Thanks. It's kind of the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me, actually.
[ Not that he's asking for sympathy or pity or anything. His life isn't bad, he'd never been abused or mistreated (unless you count the his-dad-being-a-jerk stuff) but everyone's got a role to play in a pack and little thoughtful gestures like this don't tend to happen. It promotes favouritism or whatever.
He finishes off granola bar #1 and crumples the wrapper. ]
Can I see the hoodie?
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 05:17 pm (UTC)[ ahaha so clever, Chuck is just so funny. but she reaches into the bag to pull out the hoodie, which is dark green and well worn, the logo on the front faded out almost entirely. it is clearly a Favorite Hoodie. it's folded up neat when she passes it to him, and she pulls out one more granola bar before sliding the backpack to the edge of the bed and carefully dropping it off the side. it's just taking up space now, so. bye backpack. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 05:50 pm (UTC)He grabs the hoodie, thumbs at the logo, and shakes it out to put on. ]
I like it.
[ There is a nice well-worn, well-loved factor to it that makes it all the nicer to wear. He'll give it back to her in an hour or so ... but for now, he's just going to keep it on.
Then he makes a swipe for the second granola bar, not even realizing until then just how hungry he is, before shifting from his current spot on the bed to sit alongside Chuck, pillows propped up behind them. Their arms touch with the movement.
Case takes a bite of granola bar #2. ]
You know, I could get used to this kind of treatment.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 06:16 pm (UTC)I could too. [ well, get used to treating him this way, yeah. being right here with him. ] But maybe not only after a full moon. [ she hides her smile against his shoulder, nosing there a little bit. just being affectionate without being too risky about it. sometimes she feels brave, sometimes she just wants to sit and maybe let things go unsaid. maybe. ehh. it's tough for her, though. she's shy, but she's not used to masking her feelings. so she'll be physically affectionate but beat around the bush with her words. it's a mixed bag. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 06:31 pm (UTC)[ Casey jokes, just a shade sleepily, but more content with just how peaceful and chill this feels right now. With the early pre-dawn morning being what it is, he could almost imagine that they're the only two people in this whole school - maybe even the world - right now.
He tilts his head far enough to rest against Chuck's hair, not at all minding the necessity to pull themselves closer to one another but feeling it as succinctly as Chuck is. With their arms loosely linked, his hand finds hers, fingers gently twining. It's slow and tentative at first, just to get a feel for it, to see if he's being totally crazy or if he's got a proper read on the situation. He's got no idea what he's doing; it's just instinct guiding him now. ]
no subject
Date: 2017-05-22 06:49 pm (UTC)I know I should probably go and let you sleep, but I don't- want to yet. [ or at all ] So you have to tell me when you're getting really tired, okay? Don't let me keep you up.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-23 03:42 am (UTC)[ Like, ever. Basically, stay here for the rest of the morning until some other force of nature makes them have to leave the room and get on with the day. And maybe, even then, they can make a case to not go anywhere. Who knows, really. ]
Just ... stay here, okay? Maybe tell me something.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-23 04:53 am (UTC)[ wait was there more to that statement, or does he just want her to talk? because she can do that, she's pretty good at just talking about basically nothing. or something really important to her. or something homework related, or class related. she waits a moment before continuing, turning her face so her nose is squished against his shoulder, eyes on his face. well. sort of. he's too close to really look at his face, but she's looking face-wards. ]
Tell you what?
no subject
Date: 2017-05-23 05:40 am (UTC)He makes the barest of shrugs and shakes his head. ]
Anything. Tell me something about you.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-24 02:54 am (UTC)[ she grins, though it's still kind of hidden by his shoulder, then she pauses, trying to think of something. ]
-- I'm not even sure what to say. I don't talk about myself a lot anymore. Life becomes a lot less about you when you've been a you for a few centuries.
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From:ahhh i just need more casey icons in general but smooches are priority
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