[OOC] Folkmore IC Inbox

[pyrighteous]

[ Instead of a welcome message, there's just muffled noises as Hunter tries and fails to get his comm to do what he wants it to do. ]

Comments

[pyrighteous]

[ Oh. That - gets Hunter to relax a little. ]

I don't mind putting in the work for you if you put in the work for me.

[apuckalypse]

I don't mind at all.

[Casey smiles brightly.]

So, should I apologize for being work, too?

[pyrighteous]

-- no! Of course not!!

[apuckalypse]

[The expected answer, which Casey is pleased by. (Trap caaaard)]

Then you don't need to apologize, either! We should be saving those for when we actually mess up.

[pyrighteous]

...

[ Oh. he gets the point. it took him a second. ]

I ... I guess you're right, huh...

[apuckalypse]

I think maybe you still worry too much about being imperfect. But we're both messy, and that's okay. I'd even say it's good.

[They probably wouldn't have bonded so well if they weren't.]

[pyrighteous]

My uncle -

[ No. Not his uncle. Not his uncle EVER AGAIN. ]

... Being perfect seemed good. I'm glad it's not.

[apuckalypse]

[Casey's arm around him tightens a little, a squeeze of a hug.]

He wasn't perfect, either. For him to expect you to be is crazy.

[pyrighteous]

... I guess it is crazy, huh.

[apuckalypse]

[He winces a bit. He should ease off on the Belos issue, if Hunter wants to avoid talking too much about it.]

Sorry. I'm supposed to be helping, not making you feel worse.

[pyrighteous]

[ Well - Hunter mostly seems conflicted, as he frequently does in this situation. ]

I don't feel worse. At least, I don't think so. It's just sore? Like healing.

[ He looks down at his left hand, waggling those new fingers of his. ]

[apuckalypse]

Oh... yeah, that makes sense.

[His gaze follows Hunter's. Still getting used to that, but it's a positive change, right? So many of them are positive changes, even if it's strange or new or complicated. It really is healing.]

Healing always takes so long. But it feels good to bandage things up... when you take it off later, it looks so much better than how it started.

[Sort of like revisiting sore issues after a few months of letting your heart mend.]

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter nods at that. And gives Casey a soft smile. ]

Yeah. That's exactly right.

When I think about how I was before...

[apuckalypse]

[Casey returns it, taking note of how it looks. It was a gradual thing, but now that he's thinking back-]

Your smile's changed a lot.

[pyrighteous]

-- huh?

[ It's true, of course, but not what he was expecting. ]

Really?

[ Now he's getting out his relic to check selfie history. ]

[apuckalypse]

Really! Remember the first ones we took? I think I sent them to you.

[He peers over Hunter's shoulder. The first first one was the initial night, and Hunter definitely wasn't smiling. But the original selfie smile was when he gave Casey the tree illusion, and he'd... tried? To smile? But it was very awkward, like he didn't quite know how. Compared to some of their recent pictures, it's so much more natural, either bright and boisterous or the softer smile from just now. Like night and day.]

[pyrighteous]

[ Absolutely like night and day. Hunter is quick to pull up that very first picture from the dance, where he is 100% two inches away from a full scowl. And then the tree awkwardness, and then ...

The relic has auto-sorted them in a folder, so it's easy to just keep swiping. From that first scowl, through a range of decreasing awkwardness, and then finally, into genuine joy ... there seems to be a distinct increase in smile warmth that corresponds with things happening in his life. First Rue's Halloween party, then asking Casey out, then with Ciel perched on his shoulder, and most recently, his birthday party ...

It's like watching a slow motion transition, one picture at a time. ]

You're right. It's - totally different.

[apuckalypse]

[The change isn't quite so dramatic, but even Casey's smiles have changed since they first met. He'd still been awfully fresh from the end of his world, not even adopted yet, trying to find his place in the new reality he'd been dumped into. His smiles were genuine, but over time, the subtle sadness he'd been carrying had begun to fade from the background.]

Pretty cool to see the proof of it. It's one thing to feel happier, but to see the evidence right there... [He rests his chin on Hunter's shoulder as he gazes down at the pictures.] I'm really glad I got kind of selfie-addicted, now.

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter beams down at Casey now, his own smile extra warm. ]

Me too. And you too - I can see how much happier you are now.

[apuckalypse]

[Casey blinks, viewing the relic pictures in a new light for a moment.]

Really... [Not quite a question, though. He can see it, too.] Well, it makes sense. I am a lot happier, thanks to you and everyone.

[pyrighteous]

And less sad too.

[ He kisses Casey's forehead. ]

[apuckalypse]

[Casey's cheeks turn pink.]

W-well! That's... healing, too.

[Time and distance, and all that.]