pyrighteous | [OOC] Folkmore IC Inbox

[ Well okay, that's pretty fair. Hunter knows Leo reasonably well enough but future Leo ... That's totally different.

He still hunches his shoulders a bit, feeling the sting even as he is determined not to let it get to him. Wouldn't Hunter do the same if there were some opportunity to have rescue a Belos who loved him? If only he could do it? Well okay, that's pretty fair. Hunter knows Leo reasonably well enough but future Leo ... That's totally different.

He looks Casey up and down again. ]

Is that why you're dressed like that? So he'd recognize you?

Edited 2024-04-28 02:05 (UTC)

...Ah... no, um.

[He shifts uncomfortably, plucking at the blue cloak a bit. This is a little awkward...]

After we got all the spoon fragments together, and his spirit kind of... woke up? He, uh. Possessed me. His ninpo changed my clothes.

.................

[ You know what? Hunter 100% cannot say a DAMN word about that. In fact he is suddenly and abruptly a thousand times more sympathetic to what Casey must have endured with Ciel waking up every night. (Ciel is staying at Rue's place tonight, or he might have had commentary too.)

He still stares for a moment, wide-eyed, abruptly struggling to reconcile the reality "someone else might be in my boyfriend's body and I don't like that" with "boyfriend put up with this nightly for months, the least you can do is be cool about it." ]

Is - is he still there?

[Yeah enjoy being on the other end, Hunter! Except the situation is not the same, thankfully; Casey is quick to shake his head.]

No, no, he's... it was only for a few minutes. Enough to... feel him, for a while. Talk to him.

[He hesitates, blinking rapidly. Probably going through the mental prep required to admit to himself how much he's going to cry over the next 24 hours.]

...Say... goodbye.

[ Oh. Oh, Casey.

Hunter's selfish worry is immediately replaced by relief - guilt - and then concern. He immediately surges forward to give his boyfriend a proper hug. ]

Yeah? I bet he was SO proud of you.

[He feels a burning ache in his chest at those words, but it's tempered by good, at the same time, and he melts gladly into the hug, arms lifting to hold Hunter back. He's been trying to hold back on the familiar bond sharing because of how overwhelmed he's been feeling since it all happened, but some of it bleeds through this time: the grief is still there, always, but now pride is with it, too, a rush of it twisting up around the grief and softening it like a blanket. There's so much joy and pain in his heart right now.]

He... he was. He was proud, and happy... this is- it's what he wanted for me. This life... [His hands curl against Hunter.] I'm happy. He could tell.

[ Hunter clings, then, digging his fingers into Casey's back. Good. He expected nothing less. Now that he knows what family looks like - now that he knows what a loving uncle looks like - that is the only response that could possibly be right.

He does have to ask one selfish question though. ]

Did you tell him about me? Did - um - did he approve?

[Another nod. He can understand the question, selfish or not. If Hunter had a different family, Casey would have wanted to earn their approval, too. ]

I did! I told him about you, and Mom. He... couldn't really talk back using words, but I felt it. You care about me, and you make me happy... that's enough for him. [He wonders idly if sensei would have wanted to give Hunter the talk, and then adds,] He'd probably ninja your face if you didn't, so. That's a good thing.

[Not quite a shovel talk, and the threat is toothless, but he feels like Master Leonardo would have approved.]

[ Hunter laughs a little at that. More than enough for him, really, especially that first part. ]

I promise I won't make him come back and ninja me in the face.

[Casey feels a bit lighter again, pressing his face against Hunter's shirt. He likes the way it feels under him when Hunter laughs.]

Don't have to try hard, there...

[He sort of effortlessly makes Casey happy, most days. He just has to be himself. Even on difficult days, his presence is such a balm.

He takes a slow, unsteady breath, blinking rapidly as the tears finally start to roll.]

I... I asked him if. If it was okay if he's... my dad. For real. And he- he agreed...

[ Well good. ALl of this is good! Even the crying is ... good? Well. Maybe. Either way, he holds Casey close and gentle here. he's got you. ]

I figured he would. I figured he already was, really.

[He knew coming home was the right call. He'd been tempted to fly around to cool his head, or just stare at the stars as if they could provide him with answers to all the feelings he's trying to sort through, still, or even go straight to Rue's after all. (Still tempting, of course, but he's settled and safe, and the familiar bond and his boyfriend's presence is enough, now. He'll be glad to see Mom in the morning.) Hunter's got him, that's plenty.]

He was, but he wasn't. We never talked about it... I never asked, and he never said. He was always... sensei.

[But now he knows for sure, for sure, that Sensei also means Dad.]

[ Hunter tucks Casey's head under his chin if allowed; he is here for maximum comfort. ]

Yeah? Guess it's tough in an apocalypse like that.

[He is tucked! And happy to be. he rests comfortably there, closing his eyes and breathing in the presence of care and love and everything Hunter has to offer.]

The world made everything messy... I didn't want to make it weird or harder for him, if he didn't want it. What we had was enough. But if- if this was really the last time I'd get to talk with him... I had to know. Even if he said no, I wanted to hear it.

[At least then he'd stop wondering.]

[ Less warmth than a human, maybe, but warmth all the same. Gentle and supportive. ]

I feel like you'll see him again. This place manages amazing things.

But I'm glad you took the chance.

[Casey doesn't mind his temperature anyway. Even after the staff ride home through the cold night air. the mystic energy that burned through him even for that short time left him drained and a little overheated. One cool (multi-leveled) boyfriend is good for him.

The thought of seeing sensei again here is something he's not sure he should try and entertain in the middle of his trying to get closure, but Hunter is right- Thirteen could always choose to... to bring him back here. He'll put that in the corner of his mind, to think on later.]

Me too. Like- I'm sad, I miss him, I lost him all over again. But... I'm really happy, too! It's so messed up...

[ The cuddles will continue until morale is AMAZING here. Hunter just beams down at him. ]

Hey, I totally get it. This is kind of a big feeling thing.

[Morale has already come a long way since where they'd started. It's just what he'd needed.

Hunter's cheer has him looking up, smiling tentatively.]

You're in a good mood. Am I forgiven for running out the way I did?

Honestly I'm so glad that you're safe that I skipped mad and went straight to crying with relief.

[Oof, that face. Casey untangles himself a little, just enough to lift a hand up to stroke his cheek.]

Sorry... I didn't mean to make you worry so much. There just wasn't any time to explain. At least, I thought that when I left. I was panicking, I didn't want to miss this chance.

[ Sorry Casey. He sniffles a bit and leans into that. ]

No, I get it. I figured - if you left like that, it had to be important.

[ Or he'd finally messed up so much that Casey had left for good but - you KNOW WHAT!! he hadn't felt any bad feelings over their bond so he had tried his DARNDEST to assume better. ]

I trust you.

[Hunter is the last person who should even think about apologizing right now. Especially now that he's realizing, considering his immediate rush to the door and the sporadic messages he'd gotten throughout the night, Hunter must not have slept a wink this whole time.]

I'm glad... thank you. [He keeps his hand right there, continuing that soft, soothing motion. Even if he trusts, it's clear he needs the reassurance.] I promise, I'd have called you right away if there was any danger. Or I'd have asked you from the start.

[It's not that he didn't want Hunter by his side. It's just that he'd been too frantic to think about what he wanted, beyond finding sensei.]

[ Oh yeah. Zero winks, maximum paces. He might have strongly considered trying to call Rue too, and only paused because it was possible Rue was involved and therefore should not interrupt!!

He still clings back a little hard. ]

I'd really like to come along next time. If there is a next time like that.

[ A beat. ]

But nothing is worth risking the chance to see your dadsei again.

[Casey chokes a little at that, a soft laugh escaping.]

D-dadsei... [That's a good one.] Yeah. Yeah, okay. Next time, if ever, we'll go together.

[He shifts again, this time to press their foreheads together, so Hunter can feel that contact and his presence everywhere he can demonstrate it. He's here, he's back. Everything's okay.]

W-well! I don't know what else to call him! Uncle is - um - a loaded word!

[ No Belos comparisons EVER thanks. Anyway. He leans back gratefully despite the fussing. ]

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