patheticvillain | eleven ➢ private + spam

private/video | chris

[Cassel is looking just - crazy excited right now. For him, anyway; he's grinning wide, one of his legs jogging as he speaks.]

Hey, Skywalker. [Guess who got out early. And guess who's caught up with what you've been doing.]

Point one, hi, but I said that. Point two, you totally are a weapon of mass destruction, I don't know why you never used that line on me before. Point three, I have a billion things to tell you, starting with - Star Wars?

spam 1 {mid-afternoon 5/13; deck}

[The first thing Cassel does when he gets out of Zero - besides calling Chris, which always comes first - is he takes Patches up on deck. It's kind of stupid, but he's missed this dog like crazy, and he's more than happy to spend an hour or two in the fresh air throwing a ball for him.]

[For those who know him, he looks weirdly content, like a weight's been lifted; for those who don't, he looks a hell of a lot more like a normal kid than he's ever looked before.]

spam 2 {mid-afternoon thru evening 5/13; gym}

[When Kon suggested he start working in the gym for real, it had seemed like a weird idea at first, but the more he thinks about it the more it seems like - maybe it wouldn't be so bad. So he says he'll try it out, at least, and if he's going to try he's going to start right away. No point waiting.]

[He's still learning the ropes beyond just cleaning tonight, but he's around, keeping things as organized as he can on Kon's direction.]

private/video | doyle

[The camera's on to prove a point: that he's genuine about this, because he is, extremely. Discomfort shows on his face, because he's not used to apologizing, and he can't look at the camera for more than a couple seconds at a time, but he goes for it anyway.]

Hi. Um.

I'd like to talk to you, if that's cool. Here or in person. Or I can just text if you'd rather do that, I - you know. Whatever you want.

private/voice | steph

Do you still wanna skip the apology? Because I have one. Up to you.

private/voice, later | zane

[It's tempting to yell at Zane, or to ask if he's okay, or to say nothing at all, or to go find him in person now that he can. None of these sound particularly right, though, especially after everything he's ~~stalked~~ read over the last hour or so, so he reverts to sarcasm. Decently affectionate sarcasm, but sarcasm nonetheless.]

You're such an idiot. I feel like you should win a prize for being as much of an idiot as you are.

private/text | barron

pizza?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He can make me forget you.

You couldn't do that. I wouldn't let you.

You can't stop him.

So what, you want to just give up being friends because you're scared of your shithead brother?

No, idiot. I want to leave my brother alone so I don't have to stop being friends with you.

You've been there. He hasn't. You give a shit, he doesn't.

God damn, we need to just tie him to a pole at port and leave him behind.

No. Not that. Not that or convincing him Mom's dead or anything else.

[His voice is firm, decisive.]

If he can get out of here, fine. But I'm not getting involved if he's not getting involved with me. He doesn't remember what family means.

His loss.

[He just looks at Chris for a second, surprise making him lace his fingers together. He was thinking tentatively that it was his gain, havin Chris for himself instead of Barron, even though it feels like a traitorous thought. Not Barron's loss.]

[Tries to think of something to say, but he really can't. No idea what to do with his idea.]

[Chris too falls silent; he himself is pleased he gets Cassel all to himself and doesn't have to share him with his older brother]

[Cassel's uncomfortable. Not bad-uncomfortable, just intensely confused. He'd thought once he was out of Zero he'd get to stop confronting new ideas, that he'd know what was right and what was wrong at all times, but it's not turning out like that.]

[He finishes his sandwich in silence, then reaches out for Chris's hand again.]

I should . . . probably go soon. To work, and stuff.

[He reaches out himself, taking Cassel's hand in his own with a nod]

Work?

Yeah. I'm working in the gym now. Kon wants me busy so I can't ruin anybody else's life for a little while.

[It's kind of an excuse. He needs to think. But it's also true.]

His words or yours?

His word on what?

Did he say you were ruining people's lives or did you say that?

Neither of us.

. . . Until me, just now.

You're not ruining people's lives.

Or, I mean, whatever with Doyle. You're making mine better, so it's karma. It balances out.

Are you trying to make me feel better?

Something wrong with that?

No. Just.

[After a minute, he leans over and pulls Chris into a quick, tight hug. Then he stands abruptly, picking up his plate.]

Thank you.

[It's always a pleasant surprise when Cassel hugs him. Chris gives a muffled noise in the back of his throat, hugging his friend back]

Yeah. Yeah, sure. No problem.

[He nods, looks like he's about to say something else, then turns his head with a tentative grin.]

I'll see you later, okay?

Yeah. Yeah, catch you later.

eleven ➢ private + spam

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