[hr][h1][color=#000000]A[/color][color=#131101]c[/color][color=#262303]t[/color] [color=#4D4607]O[/color][color=#605709]n[/color][color=#73690B]e[/color][color=#867A0C]-[/color][color=#9A8C0E]F[/color][color=#AD9D10]i[/color][color=#C0AF12]v[/color][color=#D3C014]e[/color][/h1]
It was dark. 

Trisha didn't know where she was, not exactly. St Portwell, a forest. She couldn't sense the bees. Shadows moved all around her, forming vague human shapes, with sharp claws that chased after her. Inhuman whispers echoed in her ears.

[i]You're all alone. You deserve to be. Why would anyone stay? You're a failure. Everyone will abandon you. No one loves you. It's all a lie.[/i]

She couldn't escape the words even when she tried to run in the endless forest. Shadows turned into monsters that came after her, and she had no bees to stop them. 

[i]You just hurt everyone.[/i]

The trees were painted blood red. Suddenly, it wasn't just the shadows. There were bodies of people she didn't recognise. She'd known them, but forgotten them, maybe. She didn't know. They were torn apart. But it wasn't her fault. Was it?

[i]It's your fault that they leave you. You'll always be abandoned. You deserve to be alone.[/i]

The shadows surrounded her, blocking off any escape. She could already feel the pain of their claws, phantom agony across her chest.

[i]Alone [sup]Alone [sup]Alone [sup]Alone [sup]Alone[/sup][/sup][/sup][/sup][/i]

Shadowed talons sliced through her stomach-

Trisha woke suddenly, one hand going to her stomach. Her chest heaved up and down, heart racing and sweat covering her. Her head pounded, nausea threatening to bring up everything she'd drank the night before. It was light, just. She didn't feel any weight against her, nothing holding her- he was gone, he was gone, he was gone-

Her head snapped to the side, breathing calming down slightly when she saw that Casey was still there, asleep. She was the one that was at the edge of the bed… she must have rolled away while she was dreaming. It only helped calm her panic slightly. She was safe, she was definitely safe… it was so hard to believe. The dream was so vivid. It wasn't often that she dreamt like this. Maybe it was getting worse because of the danger, the return of the coven… or maybe it was just the alcohol. At least she hadn’t called the bees in her sleep.

While the dream was vivid, what had happened last night was not. Her memories were fuzzy. She remembered drinking a lot with her friends, and Casey coming to get her… snippets of conversations. Refusing to let him go, saying some things she wouldn't otherwise… she didn't think he'd reacted badly? But she couldn't remember. It was a blur. Had they resolved things? She wasn't entirely sure, which didn't help the constant, cold flutter in her chest.

She wanted to cuddle up to him, but she felt uncomfortable, like something was scratching her skin. Glancing down, she realised she was still wearing the dress from yesterday. It stuck to her, all sweaty and gross. She didn't want to hug him like this… she'd get changed first. He wouldn't disappear if she looked away for a moment, right?

Trisha carefully rolled the last bit off the bed, trying not to disturb Casey. She didn't want to wake him when he'd actually slept in… at least, it couldn't be 5am. It was too light. She winced as her head swam, temples pounding. But it wasn't a long journey to the wardrobe. The shorts she'd worn the night before were dumped in front of it, so she pulled them on under the skirt. She frowned as it rubbed uncomfortably against her sweaty skin, just another horrible sensation pressing against her. 

Casey was still asleep, hopefully… she pulled off her dress, starting to rummage through the wardrobe in just her bra and shorts. What she was actually looking for was one of [i]his[/i] t-shirts among all of her clothes… but she couldn't even remember if he'd actually put anything in there. Maybe… hopefully. Her head hurt too much to think, so she just kept looking. The longer she did the more panicked she felt that she'd turn around and he'd be gone, but- but she'd set her mind to it. Find a t-shirt, go back. Her whole body trembled, but it was definitely the hangover. It'd be fine. 

Oddly, Casey found himself wrapped up and held tightly by the darkness of sleep. It was rare to have a night that he didn't wake up panicked, and rarer still that he wasn't sweating from his heart pounding in his chest.
It seemed to be proximity to Trisha, though the other dreamless sleep the night they met saw him still waking up at a normal time. His unconscious brain didn't bother trying to make sense of it.

But the brain cleared itself up. It always did, sometimes in spectacular fashion, and as Casey stirred vaguely to consciousness, he felt that both of his arms were available for free movement. He wasn't trapped under her, he wasn't pinned, he didn't feel her weight.
His hand shot across the bed, fingers sliding over the silky duvet on top of the bed. She wasn't there. Why? His hand kept shuffling about, assuming she’d simply found her way to some magical position that kept her just out of his reach.

But as he gave one last pass of his arm to feel nothingness, his eyes snapped fully open. As he pushed his body up toward an upright position, he found anxiety swallowing him as her name left his lips.
[color=577d06]”Trisha!?”[/color] Casey called out, not even looking. 

As she was actually still close, it'd be incredibly easy to hear the panic and anxiety in his voice. Of course he was scared of her being hurt, but he was just as afraid of her leaving. One argument, and in the middle of the night, she just up and leaves? 
He'd sat up just right to keep Trisha out of his line of sight, despite them sharing the same little room. Not on purpose of course; it's the pure panic of knowing that someone was next to you in the foxhole and now they're not there…

He didn't serve in the Pacific, and he thanked God for that. But the Special Services experienced its fair share of horror. He often wondered which actually ended up worse, but the convergent trauma was well documented. The psychological horror of falling asleep because you're exhausted, only to wake up and find your buddy's boot as the last reminder of them? It stuck.

[color=577d06]”Trisha!?”[/color]
He spun his head, and finally their eyes were able to lock as his foolish panic faded away.

Trisha was still fruitlessly searching for some clothes that weren't hers in the wardrobe when Casey woke up. She jumped, dropping the sweater she'd picked up. The sudden shout had her head pounding, immediate response dying on her lips. His obvious panic set off her own again, heart rate speeding up and breathing quickening. She spun around, ignoring the nausea that came with her sudden movement. 
[color=d1b300]“I was just getting changed,"[/color] Trisha said softly with an attempted smile, voice slightly hoarse from the hangover. She felt the need to explain. She hadn't left, he hadn't left, they were both still there. 

She didn't bother going back to looking, closing the small gap between her and the bed to crawl back onto it. In no time she was right beside him, climbing into his lap and pressing her face into his chest. Her body was still trembling, the lingering effects of her nightmare intertwining with the sick feeling in her gut and the worry his panic had set off. But… but that was good, right? It meant he didn't want her to leave. She didn't remember how much they'd resolved of the fight last night, but it meant he wanted her here. 
[color=d1b300]“I meant to be quick,"[/color] she said in a small voice, shaky limbs curling up against him. She didn't really care if he was bothered by how little clothes she was wearing - she had a bra on, he could wrap them in a blanket, it didn't really matter. The scar… well she didn't care about that either if he ended up seeing. She'd just needed to hug him. [color=d1b300]“But none of your clothes are in there. I was just looking for a t-shirt, but it's all mine. I wanted something of yours."[/color]

Wordlessly, Casey began shuffling and tugging until his sweater and shirt came off. It was the same collared shirt he'd worn the entire day previous, and he figured it wouldn't really work.
[color=577d06]”G-girls… like guy sweaters.”[/color]
He pulled the shirt out of the sweater and clumsily begin trying to pull it over Trisha's head and shoulders. 
[color=577d06]”J-just… wake me up next time instead. I thought you ran away from me.”[/color]

Doing his best, he figured the sweater would be enough to keep her there next to him forever. His arms got tighter around her, and as the haze of sleepiness returned, he found his fingers slowly but surely scratching her back in the same spot. It was a gentle thing, supposed to be comforting as his eyes closed back down. He wasn't even sure if she actually put the sweater on.

For whatever reason, he didn't feel entirely functional. Like it was a dream he was trapped in and couldn't get away from.
[color=577d06]”We're real…? You and me? No dreaming?”[/color] he struggled to ask her.

Trisha managed to half wriggle into the sweater, getting her arms and head through so that it was at least over her. She didn't bother detaching herself enough from Casey to let it fall down past the upper half of her body, pressing as close as was physically possible.
.[color=d1b300]“I wouldn't run away from you,"[/color] Trisha mumbled - because that wasn't what she'd done yesterday. That had been different. He'd shut her out first… she started getting a bit tense just thinking about it, though having him right there, holding her close. The constant, light movement of his fingers against her back meant there was no way to think this wasn't real. He hadn't left.

[color=d1b300]“Yeah, we're real,"[/color] Trisha said. She wriggled one arm out of the hold he had on her, hand moving to his bicep to pinch it. Unlike him, she was wide awake after the nightmare and getting up.
[color=d1b300]“See, if you can feel that it's real. Definitely not a dream. I'm here, you're here, we're both here, together."[/color]

It was as much a mantra for herself as it was for him. She was still worried he'd just disappear, somehow, even though she knew this wasn't a dream. She wouldn't dream of anything so nice. The few dreams she had were always nightmares.
[color=d1b300]“I can keep pinching you if it'll help you believe it? Or to wake you up more… well, you can go back to sleep if you want, I'll just be here."[/color]

Casey cleared his throat as he clung to Trisha. 
[color=577d06]”You’re not… Gonna sleep?”[/color]
Sniffling, he pushed up on the bed and sat up straight before starting to rub his eyes a bit more. Thoughts after blackout sleeping like that usually came at a slow trickle so long as the panic subsided, and he was thankful it had.

But now she was going to raw dog the day? He flicked his hand to look at his watch, finding the time closer to eight in the morning than he ever thought he’d see.
[color=577d06]”Oh, Jesus… I’m amazed Furio hasn’t come up to buzz us and see where the fuck I am.”[/color]
Despite work now being on his mind, he knew he was “free” for another couple of days. They hadn’t trusted him with the Manuals yet, and he hadn’t had some Pink Luxer in his mind handing him over any important secrets. Furio wouldn’t bother; but he would be giving Casey a hard time about not being more serious when he finally did show up.

So he shook the responsibility off in favor of cuddling his girlfriend. [i]His. Girlfriend.[/i] Still, after the tremendous amount of shit she’d given him and the cold response he’d initially given her, she was here. Arms held her tightly, keeping her as close as he possibly could while she was there with him.
And now she was wearing his sweater, which made her like a little loofa-blanket that he could pick up slightly and rub himself on like a cat. Before long, he slid the hood over her head and was rubbing his cheek against the fabric.
[color=577d06]”Do you remember what I said last night?”[/color] he asked very casually, as if it meant absolutely nothing.

With the hood pulled up it was more difficult for Trisha to see Casey's face, just to try figure out what he might've said last night from his expression. Her brow furrowed as she tried to pick through her incredibly fuzzy memory, hand wriggling up to play with a long strand of hair that had escaped from the sweater entrapment. She'd clung to him… he hadn't pushed her away. He told her he missed her. They'd talked when they got home but… she didn't remember the details. She wasn't sure what she'd said either. Something about trying harder? She pursed her lips, head just hurting the harder she thought.

[color=d1b300]“Unless it was that you missed me, I don't…"[/color] she shook her head slightly, which felt more like rubbing back against Casey's cheek than anything else. 
[color=d1b300]“Was it something I should remember? I was really drunk… we're not still fighting, are we?"[/color] The last bit was said in an incredibly tiny voice, barely a whisper. She really hoped that they'd resolved it last night. 

As she was asking questions, Casey’s smile slowly crept across his face. By the time she was done, he was shaking from the giggling. Pulling the hood far enough away from her face, he looked down to make sure she could see him smiling.
[color=577d06]”Nah… We’re not fighting, and there’s nothing you need to remember. You were just being really sweet, and so was I. We were both just tired, I think…”[/color]

If she was being serious, then she didn’t remember he said the L word. His arms tightened around her a little bit, and he rubbed her arms to give her a bit more friction warmth.
[color=577d06]”But, I’m pretty sure you’re going back to see them again today, so… I guess, if you’re gonna get that drunk again tonight, just let me know first? So I know if I have to go get you. I couldn’t ask someone else from the Temple to do it, that’d be embarrassing.”[/color]
His face got a little closer to hers, and he rubbed his nose against hers with smiling eyes. He loved her: Now it was his secret to keep until she said she felt the same. Could he? He didn’t know, but Casey wanted to try and make sure she was convinced of it by then.

Trisha wasn't entirely convinced that there was nothing she needed to remember - had she really just been sweet? She hadn't said something she normally wouldn't? But it was difficult to dwell on those worries when they were so close like this. She obviously hadn't said anything bad. If she had, would he still be here? 

[color=d1b300]“I could just get a taxi- but I'm not drinking anything today. Even if we go to a bar, I'll just drink soda or something."[/color] She tilted her head forward to press her forehead against his with a little smile, trying to ignore what felt like spiders crawling inside her chest at the thought of going to see her friends without him today. Not that she was worried about seeing them, it was the being away from him. She couldn't just shake the anxiety yesterday had brought up, and the situation that had led to her drinking so much in the first place.
[color=d1b300]“I didn't plan to drink that much, it just happened… I regret it, I feel awful."[/color]

The more she woke up the less her hangover actually felt all that bad. Sure, if she smelled too strong food she'd probably throw up, but the headache was lessening. That didn't mean she wasn't going to milk it. Trap him for as long as she could.
[color=d1b300]“I don't even know if I can get out of bed for a while… My head hurts so much. Not for another few hours, at least… I neeeeeed some cuddling time to feel better.”[/color]

His hand bumped against her shoulder, rubbing her gently again as he kissed her on the forehead. 
[color=577d06]”You [i]neeeeeeeed[/i] some cuddling time? Like deeply?”[/color] he giggled.
Posture shifted again, and he held himself upright while letting her go again.
[color=577d06]”Then you koala yourself around me. Get nice and comfy… I’m here with you.”[/color] he urged her in a gentle voice, patting himself. 

Casey swung his head equally urging her to cling to him as tightly and awkwardly as she wanted. It was necessary, he figured, after everything that had been said. He was happy she really didn’t remember, since it was all private feelings he could hold onto. Things he could know for certain weren’t even hers. Just for him.
Special feelings.

It wasn’t good to urge her to drink, probably… He could only hope that she’d be so open later on without the same influence. For now, he just wanted her to feel good about him feeling good.
[color=577d06]”And I’m only doing this because you’re really fucking awesome and pretty and cool and… Y’know, if you weren’t, I’d… Still really enjoy my time that I get to spend with you. What the Hell am I saying?”[/color] he started giggling, holding his arm out and waiting for her acceptance. 

Trisha turned around to properly face him, arms going under his as she burrowed herself against his chest. Her legs also wrapped around him so that, while she was still sitting in his lap, she was completely clinging to him. He’d have to work really hard to detach her, she really was like a human sized koala. 
It made her feel secure holding onto him like this.
[color=d1b300]“If I wasn’t so cool I probably wouldn’t be here like this,”[/color] Trisha responded with a slight giggle of her own, tilting her head up to smile at him. She didn’t really believe it all. She knew that she was pretty, the one thing she truly accepted, but the rest? Well… she wasn’t going to argue if he genuinely thought so. [color=d1b300]“Only super cool people move in with their boyfriends this early.”[/color]

If she didn’t live with him, and hadn’t been brought back home by him, she’d probably still be upset and ignoring him. She definitely would’ve been in a much worse mood if she’d woken up at the place her friend’s were renting.
[color=d1b300]“I’ll hold you to that if I become less cool and awesome and pretty,”[/color] she said, resting her head back down against him. Maybe she could… try open up a bit. Just a little bit. It wasn’t about anything deep. 
[color=d1b300]“This morning I actually woke up from… a nightmare, I guess? About the apparitions I had to fight, before. I’d rolled away so I thought you weren’t there but then I saw you and… it didn’t seem so bad.”[/color]

Casey was holding her tightly, and thankfully his face was pushed past her own so that she couldn’t see his eyes dim. 
[color=577d06][i]Of course she’d have the same nightmares, idiot… Tell her.[/i][/color]
[color=577d06]”Y’know I feel the same about you? Like, I almost always have them… But spending the nights with you, they’ve… Not been bad. Like, last night I didn’t dream at all.”[/color]

As he held her, he gripped the fabric of the sweater gently, bunching it up and letting it go in little crinkles.
[color=577d06]”I mean like… I know those kinds of dreams. And, you make them seem not so bad too. Or like even if they are bad, you’re there to comfort me.”[/color] 
He was somewhat satisfied by what he managed to get out, and shifted slightly to push his forehead against hers. 

He didn’t want her to think it was creepy, but it was important to get the eye contact in. His Father had always pressed that one should maintain eye contact when expressing things like sincerity, because they were the windows into the soul. There wasn’t any real magic there, it was just… Maybe it was magic.
[color=577d06]”I mean that.”[/color]

It wasn’t that difficult for Trisha to meet his eyes, and to try to believe the genuineness in them. That would be hard to fake. Of course he had dreams like that - worse, probably - but that he felt the same as her? She had to believe it here. He meant it, and it helped quiet down those annoying little voices in the back of her mind for a moment.
[color=d1b300]“I don’t have mine every night.”[/color] She decided not to tell him that she hadn’t had them in years, not until recently. It was the circumstances - Father Wolf, the reminders, meeting coven members again. What if he thought last nights was because of him, somehow?

[color=d1b300]“I… I’m really glad you feel the same,”[/color] she continued softly, fingers pressing into his back and lightly running up and down. If she made his dreams better, then he’d want to keep sleeping beside her. 
[color=d1b300]“That means we’ll have to keep sharing a bed, forever and ever. It hasn’t been the same with other people for me… not really. Though the last person I shared with was Cass, and she kept kicking me in her sleep-”[/color] she smiled, eyes so close to his gently curving. It really did feel better. Like, even if the nightmares continued it would be fine.
[color=d1b300]“We’re like each other’s… good sleep charm or something.”[/color]

[color=577d06]”We are… So lets keep it that way, okay? Next time you’re mad at me, or something happens… We’re going to talk about it. And we’re going to make sure that even if we can’t resolve it, it’s understood that we’ll end up in bed together at the end of it.”[/color]
He took a deep breath. At least he had her right now, and she couldn’t escape the tender moment. He only hoped that she’d understand that the feeling wasn’t malicious. He only wanted to hear her say she’d try again while she was sober. It was, after all, what he remembered most.

[color=577d06]”Or, at least don’t run away. For now. With things being so not safe, I… Can’t say it isn’t a little tense knowing that anything could happen. If our info’s good, and lone people are being targeted,- God, there’s just too much shit, Trisha. I don’t ever want to lose you like that.”[/color]

Trisha bit her lip and glanced away, unable to keep up the eye contact while she thought it through. She didn’t like talking when she was upset. She didn’t like talking about things that set her off at all. Because the surface reason always came across as petty and stupid, and the deeper, real reason wasn’t something she was comfortable with sharing. The reaction to that would only be worse. Everytime she started opening herself up she got shut right back down.
But she couldn’t say that right now. 

[color=d1b300]“Alright, I’ll try,”[/color] Trisha said eventually, looking back at him again. She would, when it came to not running away. Even if she was still mad at him, and still didn’t want to talk to him, she’d try to stay here. Where would she go when her friends weren’t around? Anywhere else, like her sister’s place, would just be more empty. She’d sleep just as well alone as she would next to someone she was still upset with.

[color=d1b300]“But I didn’t run away, you-”[/color] she stopped herself, taking a long, slow breath. She didn’t want to ruin the moment. It was difficult to stop herself getting a bit grumpy about it again, especially when she didn’t remember resolving anything, but she was too comfortable hugging him. Being with him. She didn’t want to stop that.
[color=d1b300]“I’ll go into the Greenhouse next time. Then I’ll still be here, but it’s my space… I…”[/color] she trailed off again, struggling. It wasn’t like last night when she was drunk - though even then, it’d been apparent she still struggled. 

[color=d1b300]“I don’t want to die because I’m alone.”[/color] Though she’d been alone for so long, why hadn’t Father Wolf killed her before? He probably just hadn’t gotten around to her.
[color=d1b300]“I don’t- I don’t want to get mad either. I’ll try not to. I won’t run away, and I’ll sleep here anyway.”[/color]
There was nothing about talking about it. She couldn’t lie like that. She didn’t want to make a promise she knew she couldn’t keep, as opposed to one she could at least try to. If he hadn’t shut the door yesterday, she probably wouldn’t have left like that. She might still be ignoring him but… she wouldn’t have left.

He was, if leery, satisfied by her reaction. He wasn’t about to get upset this early in the morning, so whatever she felt like she had to say, he was going to let her without giving any kind of pushback. Frankly, Casey was just happy to have Trisha still safe and in his arms after something stupid. Something that was, ultimately, his fault.
[color=577d06]”And, I apologized to you last night. But, if you don’t remember, I want you to hear me say it now. I’m sorry for pushing you away. At first, I didn’t really consider that you maybe just wanted some private time… And by the time I did, I threw it in your face like I was a child. It was wrong of me, and I’ll try my absolute best to not… Like… Well,-”[/color]

He thought back to the sorts of things he had said before. Even moments ago… Authoritative; like she was [i]his.[/i] It wasn’t a road he wanted to go down. He didn’t even really know where it was coming from… But that seemed to him to be the more embarrassing element in it. 
Leon acted like that… Before. Like he was-

[color=577d06]”-I don’t know, admonish you like I’m you’re fuckin’ Dad or something. I’m not here to teach you how I think you should be, or make you fit into a mold you don’t wanna be in. So, me getting mad at you and like, trying to project myself on you… I should just go along with you, and learn how to accept things like that. Right? If I… Have feelings for you. Like I’m sure I do.”[/color]
At least he managed to scoot past the L word again.

[color=d1b300]“I accept the apology, now I’m sober.”[/color] Even though she was the one that had started it, really, and ignored him. [i]She[/i] hadn’t really pushed him away. She’d waited at the end of the corridor. She’d even sort of been talking about it. But it would be easiest if he went along with her every time. Then things could keep going smoothly. Things always fell apart when she snapped and people got sick of it… but maybe then he wouldn’t?
[color=d1b300]”My dad was never present enough to be like that, anyway.”[/color] She laughed slightly at that, as if it was a joke - it felt like it. Her dad’s lack of presence in her life wasn’t something she was touchy about as her mom. Everyone knew what a shit father James Vanburen had been, except a select few of his favourite children. 

[color=d1b300]“I really don’t like people trying to make me into something so… yeah, it’ll be better if you just accept it. For both of us. But I can take you getting angry at me, or shouting at me, or admonishing me. I’ll argue back, I’ll get more mad, just... don’t leave first. I-”[/color] she bit her lip, unable to take it back. The actual vulnerability, the peek into what really scared her more than anything. If he tried to project onto her, she could resist it. But if he was out of her sight, she couldn’t do anything. 
[color=d1b300]“I’d rather, if you can’t accept it, you get mad instead of leaving. If you like me, don’t walk away first.”[/color] 

[i]Patience necessary, inquire within.[/i]
She was fixated on it alright. Drunk, and now sober. He was happy to hear her bringing it up, and while it maybe wasn’t the greatest thing to deal with, he was sure he could.
[color=577d06]”I won’t, Trisha… And I didn’t mean to do that, so… If you don’t need some kind of personal space to sort your shit out, then I won’t worry about it. ‘Cuz, y’know… I’m used to shit like that at least. Being in a barrack with a bunch of other dudes? We just kind of sit and take care of shit. ‘Cuz you’ve gotta be ready for anything. Can’t let things get in the way.”[/color] 

He was good about blinking at least; hadn’t given her the two thousand yard stare yet. [i]Yet.[/i]

He didn’t mean to do that? Then why did he? No, no, this was good, if he wasn’t going to do it again. 
[color=d1b300]“Don’t worry about it, because If I need the space, [i]I’ll[/i] leave.”[/color] Reading between the lines, her actions were louder than her words. 
[color=d1b300]“Not our place, to another room- or the Greenhouse. But I’m also used to dealing with it around people. Because of all the siblings.”[/color] That wasn’t strictly true. When she was younger she’d always lock herself in her room. But it was different when it came to her partner, or even friends. She glanced around as she spoke, obviously uncomfortable with talking about it at all, forcing herself through it. Impressive progress, really. 
[color=d1b300]“I prefer sitting in the same room not talking.”[/color]

Casey made a soft [i]eeeyuck[/i] sound.
[color=577d06]”We can’t share such a close proximity and not talk about it unless you’re gonna like… Cuddle me or something. No way can I sit on pins and needles in the same room. I mean, I’m sure it’ll all work out and we’ll find some way to make things right for one another. So we’ll have to… Just wait and see what happens? And then hash it out again when the time comes.”[/color]

He nuzzled her nose again, rubbing Trisha’s shoulders and back as he took a deep breath.
[color=577d06]”My sweet Koala Bee.”[/color] he giggled.

Trisha [i]just[/i] about managed to not frown at that, lips twitching a little bit, managing to even out back towards an almost smile when the topic was mostly moved on from. Not having to keep talking about it was more of a relief than the future problems when they did fight again. 
[color=d1b300]“Maybe the time won’t even come,”[/color] she said softly, even though she knew it would. She was the one that had gotten irritated by small things building up before, and she would again. But she wasn’t going to think about that right now.

[color=d1b300]“But now you’re in big trouble, because when the Koala Bee latches we never let go.”[/color] Trisha smiled again, finally properly meeting his gaze again. She relaxed more, rubbing her nose back against his. Then she tilted her head slightly and leaned in to peck his lips with a very light kiss. 
[color=d1b300]“We’re cute but clingy and fussy,”[/color] she laughed lightly. [color=d1b300]“But you already seem to be getting used to that.”[/color] [hr]

Some hours later, Casey had time to himself once again. At least this was scheduled, and nobody was in a bad mood as they left except… He giggled to himself thinking about Leon bringing Cass outside to meet with Trisha and their other friends who came to pick them up. She’s had the expression of annoyance toward Cass, and that little upturned nose with the leering eyes made him smile. 
He thought Trisha was tremendously cute when she was upset…

Casey’s headphones once again blocked out the loudness of the indoor range. It was his zen place, his favorite spot to be around home now topped only by Trisha’s direct location. Since she wasn’t there, it was a clear winner with no contest.
When he first got downstairs, Furio was quick to let him know that tomorrow, Sunday, he’d be officiated into his position and office. It’s when he’d have the knowledge and the lores passed down to him, and it was meant to be an occasion of celebration.

So, Casey was expecting guests. Furio had ceremoniously given him the day to himself again, but only one party really knew what was in store. He fired off a salvo of handgun shots, watching the different patterns that they split and fragmented into as the magical detonation forcibly blasted the slugs into miniature shotgun spreads. 
The ammo enchantment was coming along nicely. He liked what he saw, especially in the consistency of the blast pattern which seemed to be more or less identical between each shot. As such, it rewarded precision marksmanship, and he hoped that it would translate similarly into ammunition with better penetration capabilities.

But there was a body behind him. It didn’t reach out or stop him from what he was doing, but he could feel eyes. Not to mention the way the sound was echoing changed completely, muffling and tightening it more like there was a barrier. He flicked the safety, dumped the mag out of the well, then cleared the chamber before laying the empty firearm down.
Turning and pulling his headphones off, it was someone he wasn’t expecting.
[color=577d06]”Oh, shit… Mumma?”[/color]

He probably should’ve expected her. If the ceremony was tomorrow, it was only natural she’d want to speak with him… But at the same time, he didn’t expect her here. Not actively. She was wearing a black dress; simple, without frill or ornament. She didn’t wear a coat or carry any kind of purse ever, so Lynette Richoux was singular in focus.
[color=8882be]”Is that any way to greet your mother, Casaeu?”[/color] she grinned, holding up her arms for an embrace.

Casey accepted it, moving and hugging under his mother’s arms as hers wrapped around his back.
[color=8882be]”How’s my Late Bloomer? You’re all settled in, I take it?”[/color]

Nodding, he took his Mother tenderly by the hand. Usually he wasn’t so reverent, but they were supposed to have an agreement. So, he figured he’d play his part.
[color=577d06]”Yep… It’s great up there. But, I get how Furio and Clarissa were getting claustrophobic.”[/color]
Lynette giggled to herself, a serene smile painted across her face like comforting sunlight.

[color=8882be]”And our favorite newcomer?”[/color] she asked with an expectant tone. [color=8882be]”Did you both settle the problem you came to me with?”[/color]

Again, Casey nodded, but this time he felt the hair on his neck stand up. He had made the mistake of trying to get her involved, at least to comfort him or something, but… She’d practically shunned involvement. All she really did was blame him without context, them tell him to make it right.

[color=577d06]”Fixed. No sweat.”[/color]
Lynette’s hand reached up and pinched Casey by the cheek playfully.
[color=8882be]”Good boy. I’m proud of you navigating your first test of tender care… She’s damaged, Casey, just like you are. I’m sure there’ll be plenty more moments like that. So, always try and think about how you would feel, my Bubba. Now, c’mon. Toys away, lets go upstairs. I have a gift for her, and we need to discuss plans and necessary ritual expectations for tomorrow… And Eli’s here, so-”[/color]

Casey grimaced slightly.
[color=577d06]”Oh, well I mean… She’s not here?”[/color] he said, in reference to Trisha.
[color=8882be]”That’s perfectly fine, my sweet boy. We ain’t got anywhere to be!”[/color]

Lynette’s hand reached out, taking the shoulder of Casey’s shirt and lifting it, tugging it toward her as if she was going to pull her giant of a son along where she wanted him to go. Like a cat caught in the neck grip of its mother, he too practically went limp, finding himself being dragged up to his rooftop home by his mother.
As they exited the armory, Elise and Mia were both waiting and talking, laden with bags that most likely had freshly pressed clothing in them. When they saw Casey was caught in the dreaded [i]grip[/i], they both gave him a frown of knowing, meekly following behind to leave the hallway quiet once more.
[hr]
[right][code]The Harbor> Back Home[/code][/right][hr]

Across town, Trisha had taken her friends on a nice (if cold) meander across the harbour before going into Coastal Harbour mall. It lent itself more to her, Reyna and Nadiyah - but Sal had his gaming time yesterday, and Cass had her fun [i]all night[/i]. Thankfully she didn’t go on about it too much. If anything, it made things easier, because she was too tired to complain about being dragged from shop to shop.

After shopping was done - with Nadiyah having bought multiple bags of items - the four from out of town wanted to go get some food. Trisha really didn’t want to get food. Just the thought of getting food made her feel a bit queasy. 

[color=629c3f]”There’s a Red Lobster in St Portwell, right? Let’s go there for tea!”[/color] Cass grinned as they walked out of the mall, making their way towards Reyna’s car at the other side of the parking lot. Suffering through the shopping seemed to have had the opposite effect on her that it did others - she’d bounced right back to full energy. Somehow. 
[color=757abd]"Absolutely not,"[/color] Nadiyah was the first to say, rolling her eyes. [color=757abd]"I don’t understand your obsession with Red Lobster. We’re by the coast. We can go to a [i]nice[/i] seafood restaurant."[/color]
[color=629c3f]”Red Lobster’s good and cheap! I’m fuckin’ skint, alright!”[/color]
[color=757abd]"You wouldn’t be if you hadn’t bought all those new computer parts. I told you not to."[/color]

Trisha walked at the back of the group, rubbing her forehead with a small frown. She had a small bag slung over her shoulder - nothing she’d bought, but little household trinkets her friend’s had all pitched in to get her as a ‘housewarming’ gift. It was nice, but she was tired.
She could probably eat a little bit, but sitting in a restaurant surrounded by all sorts of food smells? She was still too hungover for that. 
[color=75a8ff]"You want me to take you home first?"[/color] Reyna asked quietly, slowing down to walk beside Trisha. 
[color=d1b300]“I didn’t say I wanted to go home?”[/color] Trisha looked up at Reyna, head tilted in confusion. She did, but she also… didn’t? She knew that if she went back she probably wouldn’t see them again for a while, but she also just really wanted to go cuddle up with Casey on their massive couch.
[color=75a8ff]"It’s written all across your aura,"[/color] Reyna laughed. [color=75a8ff]"And your face. You had a lot to drink last night, I don’t want you throwing up over our meal."[/color]

After some thought, Trisha nodded. Maybe she could see them later, or tomorrow before they left. She’d only get annoyed if she went out to eat and started to feel more sick.
[color=d1b300]“... yeah, you’re right,”[/color] she said eventually, with a smile. 

They’d reached Reyna’s car, bags stuffed in the trunk and all five piling in. Cass and Nadiyah continued to bicker over where they were going to eat, over Trisha who’d been forced into the middle seat thanks to being the ‘smallest’, with Sal occasionally interjecting. By the time they reached the apartment block it had been decided they [i]wouldn’t[/i] go to Red Lobster, but that they’d try to find a reasonably priced seafood place. All parties were reasonably satisfied in time to say their goodbyes.

[color=629c3f]”TRIISSHHHHAAA I’m gonna miss you!”[/color] Cass immediately pulled Trisha into an inescapable, tight hug while rubbing their cheeks together. Trisha leaned away from her with a half assed grumble.
[color=d1b300]“You’re just going to miss my boyfriend’s brother.”[/color]
[color=629c3f]”Hey, no way! It ain’t like that! Bros before hoes! You’re the one I [i]looovvvveeee[/i].”[/color] Cass sang the last word with a wide grin.
[color=d1b300]“Gross,”[/color] Trisha made a face, but she properly hugged Cass back. 

[color=ff984f]"Hey, let the rest of us in there,"[/color] Sal laughed. Cass reluctantly let go and Sal went in for a hug, once again lifting Trisha off the ground and squeezing her tight. 
[color=ff984f]"I’ll catch you online, so work on your fps skills… and say bye to your boyfriend from me!"[/color] 
[color=d1b300]“Fuck off,”[/color] Trisha rolled her eyes good naturedly.

Nadiyah was thankfully more reasonable, a light hug and whispered comment about how annoying the other two were. Trisha laughed.
[color=757abd]"Call me if he ever annoys you. We can bitch about it together."[/color]

Reyna was last, hugging Trisha with a warm smile. It lingered a bit, Reyna patting Trisha’s back before pulling back.
[color=75a8ff]"I’ll try and visit more often, since I’m so close. You should also come to Portland sometime. Bring Casey as well. I hope it works. He seems nice."[/color]
[color=629c3f]”Awww shit, he got the most difficult seal of approval to get!”[/color] Cass grinned from the side.

[color=d1b300]“... yeah, that’d be nice,”[/color] Trisha smiled, ignoring Cass. She wasn’t so sure about visiting - Casey would get busy soon, and she didn’t want to travel alone, but it would be nice if Reyna came around more often. Maybe with a bit more warning next time.
[color=d1b300]“Well, bye… Maybe I’ll see you all in the morning.”[/color]  

They all laughed, clearly not believing that, and Trisha just shrugged. With a last wave she backed away towards the lobby. She wasn’t one to linger on goodbyes - they always sucked, because as soon as someone was out of her sight the worries started to creep in. But it was better to get it over with. 
Inside the elevator she leaned against one of the walls with a yawn. The small group of bees she’d brought with her crawled out of her coat and onto her neck, buzzing softly. The shaking of the lift near the top still made her jump a little bit, bees scattering. But it wasn’t as bad anymore. The bees all came back to her shoulder as she quickly made her way along the corridor and up onto the roof.

She really couldn’t wait to get back and just relax for the rest of the evening. Maybe she’d have a nap, or they could watch a movie. It would be nice.
[color=d1b300]“Casey, I’m home-”[/color] Trisha froze just one step through the door. With the place being so small it was impossible to not notice the guests immediately. Her wide eyes went to Casey, then to Mia, then the woman she didn’t recognise - his other sister, judging by her looks - before stopping on Lynette. 

She forced a smile.
[color=d1b300]“Hello. Casey didn’t tell me we had guests. I would’ve come back earlier if I’d known.”[/color] That was a well told lie, of course. If she’d known, she wouldn’t have come home until much later.

[color=ed145b]”Oh my God heyyyyyyyy!”[/color]
Classically, Mia jumped at the first hello. She seemed perky and clean today, dressed in some fairly comfortable clothing as she’d probably been downstairs. Her hair was tied up and mostly hidden away under the hat that she always wore, and she tore from where she was to embrace the much shorter Trisha.

She had to bend her knees slightly to get deeply into it. But she smelled nice, like lilac and vanilla; and when her head pulled away she was grinning ear to ear. Mia, like Reyna, was decent enough at reading auras through her Mother’s preferred method, and could always sense the tension coming from Trisha’s eyes whenever she was hugged. 
It wasn’t great knowing you weren’t wanted in such a way, but she knew she couldn’t hold it against Trisha. Only work to better the relationship. So, she hoped that the consistency would be good.

Mia moved to give Trisha a better look: A better look at Casey, who was standing with different fabrics draped across his otherwise scarcely clothed body. Lynette was, until Trisha entered, fussing about with a string of ties draped across her arm trying to match one with another fabric she was holding.
At the other side of Casey, Elise Richoux stood staring with cold blue eyes that shimmered in a way the others didn’t. She was holding tightly to a teddy bear who seemed to be dressed with some bandages and other medical dressings. 

Eerily, its face also stared at Trisha with beady little black eyes that somehow conveyed intelligence within. When Trisha’s gaze would inevitably meet hers, the expression instantly shifted to one of comfort and kindness. She looked very much like her mother and sister, and with all three of them now looking at Trisha from different distances, it was impossible to not see it…
[i]The Smile.[/i]

[color=577d06]”I’m real sorry, Babe… I honestly didn’t know what time you’d be back or when they’d be done, so I just kind of winged it. Next time I’ll let you know…”[/color]
And there he was like a beam of sunshine among a painted facade. His tender grin was the same one he’d given to her that morning, and the same one that he’d given her last night when he picked her up.
[i]The Smile[/i] was trained expression. Casey’s face was full of love, as if he were in the middle of a joke he wasn’t aware of.

[color=577d06]”I’m super glad you made it though… Mom and Elise wanted to finalize the measurements on your dress for tomorrow… It’s my Ascension Ceremony, Babe! And we’ve gotta match… But I told them you would maybe get pissed off, so I’m expecting to hear your honest thoughts when you see what they picked.”[/color] 
Not that it probably wouldn’t have been obvious instantly to Trisha as to what the theme was by looking at the cloth colors already draped over Casey…

Gold and black. It was honestly a coincidence that the colors for the office somehow made the resemblance of the Bee, but it was probably some strange twist of fate in the end.
[color=8882be]”Mhm! Oh, but please, Elise! Introduce yourself sweetheart!”[/color]
Elise had been staring daggers at Trisha despite the automatically adjusting smile. The look didn’t change as she piped up…

Except, the shimmering in her eyes died away. Somehow the smile lost a little bit of the fake porcelain nature. She softened. Placing the bear down, she stepped across the room to hold her hand out. Dressed mostly in black, she looked like an office woman working for Hot Topic’s corporate branch. Even the tattoos on her fingers spelled out things like “goth” and “blood”. 
[color=f0cd8d]”Right. I’m Elise, Casey’s big sister. I guess Mia’s too”.[/color]
[color=ed145b]”You fucking [i]guess[/i]?”[/color]

Casey and Lynette both laughed, and Elise smiled. The women hoped singularly that it would somewhat break the tension for Trisha.

It was a lot, as it always was with Casey’s family… in just the few days Trisha had been around them. Mia’s hug was less unexpected but still uncomfortable, even if she was slowly adjusting. The fake smile they all wore didn’t bother her. She was used to something like that among certain siblings of hers. It was easy enough to return it with one of her own, softening more genuinely when she looked at Casey.
[color=d1b300]“You’re making me out to be fussy in front of your family, Case, I’m not that bad,”[/color] she laughed lightly, before stepping enough into the house for the door to shut behind her. The likely bee motif that would come with her dress didn’t bother her - because to her clothes weren’t for herself, they were to present an image to others.

But she had no idea what on earth an Ascension Ceremony was. Something Temple, something important. It didn’t really matter. She put it to the back of her mind and reached out to shake Elise’s hand lightly.
At least it wasn’t another hug.
[color=d1b300]“Nice to meet you, Elise. I’m Trisha… but I’m sure you already know.”[/color] It was all polite, with a pleasant smile. She glanced over at Mia. [color=d1b300]“I have siblings I don’t want to claim either.”[/color] 

She took off her coat to shake off the urge to run, trying to push away the discomfort. She didn’t like coming home to people unexpectedly in her space, but she could tolerate it. She was used to it. Her clothes were more casual than yesterday's - dark green, wide legged corduroy pants with a light, knit white top tucked into them. She hung up her coat before turning back to the four, gesturing to Casey, with all the fabrics and lack of dress.
[color=d1b300]“I’m not going to have to do that, am I?”[/color] 

There was a momentary exchange of glances between Lynette and Mia that were ultimately subtle. Elise laughed openly, catching it and shifting the tension.
She moved around behind Casey and pulled the bag with Trisha’s pre-emptive dress inside off to hand to her.
[color=f0cd8d]”Uhh… No. No need to be so undressed; we just weren’t really sure what we were doing for him yet, so he’s getting more attention. Mia actually-”[/color]
[color=ed145b]”-Fucking designed the dress…”[/color] Mia finished in a fairly despondent and distant tone. Very far from where she’d started. [color=ed145b]”It was supposed to be cute, but, whatever, it’s not-”[/color]

Casey, ever vigilant but not so observant, cleared his throat.
[color=577d06]”Mimi?”[/color] he questioned, looking at his younger sister. She didn’t respond, taking a deep breath.

[color=ed145b]”It won’t be a problem to change the design one way or another, Trisha. You’re not fussy if everyone throws something like bees in your face all the time and you don’t want it themed like that. It’s [i]fine[/i]. Just, go put it on please, so that we can get your measurements and make sure everything’s good so we can leave you and Casey alone.”[/color]


Trisha took the bag, compliments towards Mia for designing a dress in the first place dying on her lips before they could get out. She genuinely thought so. Sure, her older sister was also in fashion design, but Sabrina was able to magically create any clothes. That was cheating. Perhaps Mia had used magic too, but she didn’t know. But Mia’s sudden glumness stopped her from saying so. She didn’t know what had caused it - was it her? Did it matter if it was? She wasn’t sure.
[color=d1b300]“Alright, I’ll go try it on. I really don’t have a problem with the bee theming, it’s not like many people… know about the magical bees. I even have earrings now to match.”[/color] 

It took a lot for Trisha not to get a bit snappy in response to how Mia was talking, grounding herself by looking at Casey, and thinking about how she didn’t want to look bad in front of him. She smiled and went past them all, jogging up the stairs to their loft bedroom with a trail of bees following behind her. Once up there, alone, she was able to relax for a moment. Deep breath in, deep breath out. Then she pulled out the dress, gently unfurling it and holding it out in front of her.

It really was beautiful.

Black, with perfectly embroidered, golden honeycombs across it. There was delicate beading on the bodice, a few beaded bees among the honeycomb. Trisha had seen, and worn, a lot of nice dresses - for galas she was dragged to, all the formal occasions a rich child and teenager was forced to attend. But she’d never actually had something made specifically for her. Either it was made to match her family, or just something incredibly expensive that fit without much thought put into it. She actually… really liked it.
And she wasn’t sure how happy she was about that.

Putting it on was a bit more of an ordeal. The skirts were longer than she normally wore, with multiple layers and gathered at the bottom before poofing out even more. It was difficult to find which one was the inner skirt, with so many underneath the outer, slightly sheer, layer. Eventually she managed to wriggle into it, arms straight above her head to get in through the much tighter bodice. Then… there was a zip at the back she just couldn’t do up the whole way herself. Getting the bees to do it was possible, but would be an ordeal. She’d just have to ask for help. 

The fit wasn’t bad. It was a bit oversized, both around her waist and with the skirts going past her feet. It wouldn’t be so bad if she wore heels, but it was obvious they hadn’t estimated her shorter stature quite right. It meant that she had to hold them up as she made her way back down, a lot slower than she’d gone up.
[color=d1b300]“I can’t quite get the zip at the back done up,”[/color] she said as she reached the bottom of the stairs, still holding up the skirts so they didn’t trail on the floor. The bees had settled on the bodice, practically blending in. It was a casual entry and she gave Mia a slight smile before her gaze turned to Casey.
[color=d1b300]“You were wrong about me getting pissed, I like it. It’s… really nice, actually. I might need quite high heels to not trip on it… though I guess that can be adjusted?”[/color] 

The mood had somewhat shifted between the time Trisha left and came back. As she mentioned she liked it, everyone cheered in unison. Casey, throwing off the different fabrics that were draped around him, curled his arms toward the sky in excitement.
[color=ed145b]”Thank God!”[/color]
[color=f0cd8d]”See!? You’re nervous about nothing, Mimi! All the fuss!”[/color]
[color=8882be]”It was written, my baby girl… Now apologize to yourself…”[/color]
Mia’s hands clasped together and she mouthed something to herself before smiling brightly at Trisha.

[color=ed145b]”I’m sorry, Trisha… I’m just like, nervous about it. I literally made a suit for Casey that matches, and it’s totally done, and then he said you may not like it and I… I was just thinking the worst, and… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, like, give you attitude.”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“It’s fine, don’t worry about it,”[/color] Trisha waved a hand, awkwardly laughing. It had bothered her, but at the same time she recognised that she shouldn’t make a big deal about it. Couldn’t. She was the same. Getting upset over something reasonable like perceived failure, that was. 
[color=d1b300]“I’m used to being given outfits that fit my family rather than me. I love my bees, so I like things themed after them.”[/color] At least, things like this. She wouldn’t go for anything too cutesy, in public at least. 

[color=d1b300]“Do I get to see Casey in his, then, or do I have to wait till tomorrow?”[/color] She smiled over at him, before looking back at Mia, gesturing at her back.
[color=d1b300]“Could you help with the zip, Mia? I’d ask Casey but…”[/color] she laughed, smiling teasingly at him. It wasn’t exactly difficult, but with the calluses and larger fingers, he’d pos

She slapped her forehead and moved behind Trisha to zip her up fully. From there, she began to mess about with the length to get an idea about how much had to come off. Casey naturally looked toward Lynette with an expectant grin and hopeful eyes.
[color=8882be]”Well of course, we want to see him too!”[/color]

Elise laughed.
[color=f0cd8d]”Some of our seats have colors associated with them; it’s traditional. Furio wears very little of it these days, but Gold represents Casey’s position. Our general ceremonial garments are usually black; so, black and gold in the pattern of something like this is… Only natural. We’ll all match, save for Mama.”[/color]
While she spoke, Casey was starting to unzip the outfit, grinning and nodding as he started to get dressed.

From what was already visible on the table, it looked to be a very militaristic-style uniform. Maybe to be like his own service uniform, it even had his medals and service award bars already attached to it alongside his rank. The brimming of the hat, the cuffs, the inner lining of the jacket, every little bit of it was the same as Trisha’s dress. Repurposed, refined, and identical to her own.
[color=8882be]”I get to wear my favorite color…”[/color] Lynette beamed, moving to a box that they were keeping by the bags.
[color=8882be]”Now, Trisha… Jewelry? I’m sure you have some of your own, darling, so if you had any specifics please feel free to wear them, but… We will need you to wear a ring. Don’t worry, there’s no magic or anything, it won’t bite. It’s just very old, and its symbolic of your… Our… Recent commitment to one another spiritually.”[/color]

Bringing the box to Trisha, she opened it fully. There were different bands, different colors and jewels, and even some platinum necklace bands in case one didn’t want to wear it on their finger.
[color=8882be]”The choice doesn’t necessarily matter, since there’s not any sort of reading we’re trying to do for you. But, I’ll say, each ring has a very old story, and usually we… Like to gleam certain portents from which ring you pick… I can tell you, or I can [i]spare you[/i]. Since, we wouldn’t want you feeling any more pushed than you already may.”[/color] Lynette offered.

Trisha’s gaze moved from what she could see of Casey’s outfit, the way it matched her own tugging her lips up into a genuine smile, to the box of rings. The smile fell, lips pulling into a thin line as she stared at them. She didn’t remember agreeing to any kind of spiritual commitment… whatever that meant. She wasn’t committing anything to [i]them[/i]. Hers was to Casey but… his was also to them.
So she couldn’t just refuse.

The thought of picking a ring that would cause them to try and ‘gleam’ things didn’t sit well with her. It was just another way to put labels on her without knowing her. But if they were going to do that anyway, she would want to know. 
[color=d1b300]“Picking a ring doesn’t bind me to anything, does it?”[/color] she asked, glancing up beyond the box to Casey. [color=d1b300]“It’s just for the ceremony? I just want to know what I’m agreeing to when I take one.”[/color]

The four of them turned to one another in small bursts. Casey really cut it though.
[color=577d06]”No, Babe, don’t worry about it. Ma? Momma? Please, I understand it’s important to you, but it’d be really important to me if we can just skip that. Us. Don’t ruin…-”[/color]
Lynette huffed, tilting her head back and grabbing the bridge of her nose with her free hand.
[color=8882be]”Fine, fine. To answer your question, Trisha, so you don’t get the wrong idea: No. There’s nothing magical or enchanted about it, no binding, no oaths. It’s just… We know these people’s stories so intimately, it… Means something, to us, about which you’re drawn to. Which you pick. Like that… Fucking… Blasphemous book by that no good lady from England about the wizard schools…”[/color]

Elise laughed through her nose again, shaking her head.
[color=f0cd8d]”I’m certain she means the wands.”[/color] she did her best to explain.

Blasphemous book from England… like the wands… Trisha held a hand up to her mouth to smother the intense laughter she couldn’t hold back. It was just too funny. There was just something disconcertingly entertaining about Lynette bringing up [i]Harry Potter[/i] of all things. Calling it blasphemy… haha. Bad writing, sure, but blasphemy?
Not that Trisha had actually read the books. It wasn’t on the approved reading list her mom made her stick to.

[color=d1b300]“So it’s another way to judge what I’m like from something I choose, rather than actually making the effort to actually get to know me?”[/color] Trisha said, rather bluntly. She couldn’t help it. Maybe it was because she was brought up differently, mundanely. She truly didn’t believe that her picking out a ring that she thought would suit her correlated in any way to her as a person, no matter what the story was behind it. 

[color=d1b300]“I actually don’t mind if that’s all it is, but I’m not doing it if Casey wants to skip it.”[/color] She’d been watching him pretty much the whole time. If he genuinely wanted to skip it, she was more than happy with that. But she could also choose one. Whatever came out of it didn’t affect her, and if it coloured their views of her? Well, they were probably already coloured from all the information they’d gathered anyway. 
[color=d1b300]“But I’m fine to do it. I already know which I’d choose.”[/color]

Lynette looked toward Casey who, midway through fixing his shirt into his pants and belt to show off the dark black versus bright gold radiating from beneath the collar. He frowned back, then shook his head and looked at Trisha.
[color=577d06]”I’ll… do… something special. For you. If you genuinely don’t care, they’re just… Like, they’re saints’ rings. Certain people who are close to me are [i]supposed[/i] to wear them to keep us protected. You don’t need to wear one, because there’ll be plenty of people. But, yeah. You kind of nailed it. Only, this one… I don’t think it’s ever been malicious as far as I’m aware.”[/color] he weakly informed Trisha.


[color=8882be]”And that’s really all this was supposed to be! I said, I’d spare her the meaning, because… W-well, just like she said! She already saw one that spoke to her, and if we don’t make anything about it, then… I… It’d make me feel so much better, Trisha-”[/color] 
Lynette’s hand crept nervously toward her own face, near clawing at her chin in anxious motion as she turned her face to Trisha again.
[color=8882be]”-if your energy toward him is as strong as I hope it is, then spiritually, the representative will be with us. Y-you kids… Call it vibes. Right?”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“...Right. I understand.”[/color] Trisha bit on her lip to stop another fit of laughter over something that was clearly serious. She didn’t get the whole spiritual thing, or any of that. It being compared to vibes? Didn’t make it any clearer. But if it wasn’t magic, it couldn’t track her, and was only meant to be some positive spiritual energy check and protective charm… she could handle that. It was just like when her mom used to make her wear a necklace with the cross on it. 
Before she chose one she pointed at Casey with a smile. [color=d1b300]“I’ll hold you to doing something special for me.”[/color]

She then looked back down at the box, kind of thankful for the excuse to look away - Casey already looked unfairly attractive. Her finger moved down to point to one of the rings. It was silver, different from her usual golden jewellery, with a spiral design across the band and a gem that seemed to shift from green to blue to purple. It was the gem she was more drawn to, and the fact it was a bit more delicate than the others. 
[color=d1b300]“That’s the one I choose… Uh, can I just take it, or is there some ceremony to that?”[/color]

Lynette looked down at the ring, looked back up at Trisha, and smiled widely.
[color=8882be]”Yes! Well, yes, take it for now, but… No, no ceremony or anything. Would you rather put it on a chain? It may not fit your finger well, I believe the woman who wore it was even smaller than you.”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“I am average height,”[/color] Trisha said offhandedly, picking up the ring. She held it up to look at the actual size, then compared it to her fingers. She had quite slender hands, but it wouldn’t fit on her index or middle finger… obviously the left ring finger was out. She carefully slipped it onto her right ring finger. It was a bit of a tight fit, but once it was on it fit quite snuggly. While she hadn’t bothered with any today, she was used to wearing rings, so it didn’t particularly bother her.
[color=d1b300]“This is fine, I prefer rings over too many things around my neck anyway,”[/color] she held her right hand up to show that it fit with a slight smile. 

[color=d1b300]“I’m not sure if it goes with all of the gold in our outfits.”[/color] She dropped her hand back to her side, wriggling her fingers. It didn’t feel any different from a normal ring. Probably not magic. If it was, the ghost sleeping inside of her would eventually sense it, anyway. 
[color=d1b300]“But it suits me enough that I don’t mind wearing it, if it really is meant to protect us.”[/color] Not that she believed that, but it was one thing she could go along with, after confirming that there really wasn’t anything more to it. It was just wearing a ring.


Lynette bowed her head in near reverence. 
[color=8882be]”Thank you, Trisha. Seriously. It means a lot, and he… Probably won’t tell you, but I know it means a great deal to Casey. He’s…-”[/color] she turned her head back to look at her son, who was beginning to blush.
[color=8882be]”He’s always been a diligent disciple; and regardless of anything, I know he holds a special place for these seemingly foolish little things we fuss over.”[/color] 

Casey took a deep breath and nodded.
[color=577d06]”Literally, anything you want. Don’t even worry about asking or anything, it’s gonna be so fine.”[/color] he refused to confirm his mother’s chiding, causing her to smile.
Mia rose back up, looking at Trisha’s hand.
[color=ed145b]”Oh, hey… Mal [i]does[/i] have a cool story. Like, I try to tell people all the time, even if you take all the faith and worship out, a lot of the stories that are anecdotal are still generally cool. They read like fantasy books.”[/color]

She waved her hand forward toward her Mother, who opened the box again and smiled. Mia’s hand instantly reached for a pop-corn colored nodule of amber fixed into an egg shape that topped a rounded frame. She slid it on immediately, and held hers up to Trisha’s. They didn’t do anything besides look old, ornate and pretty.
[color=ed145b]”Also, see how your dress feels now. I pinned it up a little bit to where I think you’ll like it better. Unless you want to wear heels, but I sure as fuck don’t suggest it.”[/color]

Trisha nodded, keeping in the back of her mind to think about what she wanted from Casey… and she would think about it. Though, she had a feeling he’d do something special for her if she ever asked even without something like this. 
[color=d1b300]“I’ll be honest I’ve… not read many fantasy books. They became less interesting when I discovered magic. But I imagine a story that someone with magic finds cool is probably actually interesting.”[/color] 

She smiled, and twisted her hips around a few times to sway the skirts before taking a few steps to make sure she wasn’t going to trip over it. It was still going to be a bit annoying if she had to walk up any stairs, but that was just the nature of longer dresses.
[color=d1b300]“That feels much better, no more risk of me falling over in the middle of things- but is it that long? Longer than an unnecessarily boring ceremony and party that lasted for almost twelve hours? Because I’ve survived that in heels before.”[/color]
[color=8882be]”Oh, you’ll be fine darling. You’re not even going to be participating in the actual ceremony, so you’ll be nice and comfortable while we’re… Passing everything along. The ceremony will be quite a while, but… We do want your supportive energy in the building still, just… Sparing you from the oaths necessary and the madness that can occur within the sanctum.”[/color]

Casey was fixing his coat up now, shiny black shoes reflecting the overhead light back upward.
[color=577d06]”Which may suck; I would understand you like… Bringing stuff. Like your laptop, or a book or something. But, after that I’m pretty sure we’re going to Andrade’s? And that’ll be really good.”[/color]

Trisha was actually quite relieved she wasn’t going to have to participate in the actual ceremony. She’d suffered through her fair share of church sermons that had her wanting to rip her hair out, and there hadn’t been any… madness involved in that. She didn’t think her being in the building for some kind of supportive energy was necessary at all, because it was an energy she rarely brought anywhere, but that was fine. She’d do that for him.
[color=d1b300]“Don’t worry, I’m used to entertaining myself. I’ll just download some books onto my phone so I don’t even need to worry about bringing anything along. I can suffer through any amount of waiting around if there’s nice food waiting at the end of it.”[/color]

Though, she wasn’t sure if food at Andrade’s restaurant counted under what Leon had told her not to eat. She couldn’t exactly ask. And really, it wasn’t about the food. She probably wouldn’t be able to stomach much if they were in a large group. It was about making sure Casey knew she could handle it all.
Once he was done fixing up his coat she stepped towards him, reaching out to take one of his hands in both of her own. She tilted her head back to look up at him with a warm smile, a slight blush tinting her cheeks darker.
[color=d1b300]“You look really… good in that,”[/color] she said softly, both wanting to tell him but feeling embarrassed about his family being around. She glanced down at her own dress, then the matching fabric on his suit. [color=d1b300]“And it matches really nicely. It’s impossible to miss, so everyone will know we’re together.”[/color]
As if that wasn’t always obvious anyway…

Casey gave Trisha a wide grin, knowing how frustrating and annoying dealing with this probably was for her. Of course it meant a great deal to him as well, which he was more than happy to express; just not here. Not in front of everyone like this.
[color=577d06]”I think you look incredible.”[/color]
His thumbs rubbed against her hands, and the ring she now wore. He also appreciated who it was and where it came from, so seeing the old thing on her finger gave him a great deal of pride.

[color=577d06]”And I’m glad everyone will be able to see us as a pair. An item.”[/color]
[color=8882be]”Ooooh, this is great. You both look fantastic, I can’t believe it…”[/color] Lynette interjected, now very close with both hands clasped together at her chest.
[color=8882be]”And all that fussing, when she loved it, Caseau… Shame. I hope you consider better next time something like this comes up. Now, does it fit!?”[/color]

Casey nodded wordlessly.
[color=8882be]”Then I’d say our jobs are done. Casey, we expect you bright and early; Trisha, you’ll be getting picked up around eleven thirty, probably by Furio and Clarissa. I hope you understand, we’ll just need him a little early.”[/color]

Trisha turned her head towards Lynette, unable to hide the coldness in her eyes when she not so subtly shamed Casey for making a fuss. Trisha would rather he did, and be wrong, when it came to her and things with the Temple. He'd been wrong this time, but what about the next? What about when it was something more important? 
But she managed to cover it back up with a more neutral smile that grew warmer again when she looked back up at Casey.
[color=d1b300]“That’s fine, I'm not so clingy that I need to be with him all the time… I appreciate the extra sleep."[/color]

She squeezed Casey's hands, fingers gently scratching them, before letting go. 
[color=d1b300]“I’ll go take this off so you can get it adjusted."[/color] She didn't wait for any confirmation that was needed, because she assumed Mia hadn't used magical pins that magically shortened it. She went back up to the loft. Thankfully, taking it off was much faster than putting it on, and she came back down in the clothes she'd been wearing before, dress carefully folding back in its original bag. 

[color=d1b300]“Here you go,"[/color] Trisha held it out with a smile, while slotting in against Casey's side and taking his hand again. She was still wearing the ring. She looked up at him, and then at the other three.
[color=d1b300]“I guess I'll see you tomorrow. It was nice to meet you, Elise, and thank you for the dress and the ring."[/color] A not so subtle queue for them to leave, but Trisha didn't feel particularly rude in giving it when Lynette had already implied they would be on their way.

Casey was, once more, stripped down to his boxers as Elise and Mia were slowly and carefully re-packaging the articles of clothing. Lynette was folding the other sample scraps, getting everything that was loose back into the tote she’d brought up.
[color=f0cd8d]”Of course, Trisha. It’s nice meeting you too, and hopefully we can get more time together; we can talk about [i]stuff[/i].”[/color]
[color=8882be]”Ooooh, we’re upgrading to [i]stuff[/i]?”[/color] Lynette cooed, eyes opening wide and brows rising up her forehead.

It was pretty difficult to tell when she was speaking, as she mostly kept her mouth tight, but Lynette deigned to open in a wide enough expression of shock that Trisha would’ve caught a good look… At what? As Lynette’s mouth gaped, smile crawling an extra inch up her face than it should’ve, the shadows within continued unnaturally across coal black flesh that made up her gums and throat.
The whole inside was dark. 

[color=f0cd8d]”Hey, I won’t pretend to know what she’s into… But I’m flexible. It’s my job- NOT THAT talking to you is a job, of course. I like making friends, it just happens I get to do it [i]as[/i] a job. But, I promise, no recruitment shit, I’ve been…”[/color] Elise paused, almost trapped by her understanding of her Mother’s previous orders.
[color=8882be]”Well, obviously I had to make sure we didn’t have any more uncomfortable mix-ups, right? I hope that’s alright, Trisha…”[/color] Lynette did her best to back her daughter up, being sure to keep the promise on their end.

Trisha's hand holding Casey's tightened, and she flinched slightly. She bit down on her lip to dampen a more extreme reaction to the unnaturalness of Lynette's smile and whatever was inside. It was creepy, and the strangeness of the shadows set off fears that had recently been brought to the surface after years of dormancy. 
[color=d1b300]“Ah,"[/color] was all Trisha said at first as she processed what was being said to her, far more slowly than she'd like. She kept up a smile, forcing her gaze away from Lynette and towards Elise. 

[color=d1b300]“I’m glad you're making sure there won't be anymore mixups. I'm sure there'll be plenty of opportunities to spend time together in the future, Elise, seeing as I plan to be with Casey for a long time… We can talk about [I]stuff[/I]. I'll have decided by then exactly what that is."[/color] She laughed, trying to make it appear as a joke, going along with everything. Did she want to spend time with Elise if her job, reading between the lines, was recruitment? Not particularly. As with all things she could do it for Casey. It was better to get to know all of his family members, in some way.
[color=d1b300]“Of course it's alright. I'm not as difficult as everyone seems to think I am."[/color] A half lie, of course. Normally she wasn't willing to put effort in for people she didn't want to, but when it came to someone she did? The people around that person? She could and would.

[color=8882be]”Oh, no… You’re absolutely not difficult, Love. We’re well aware that… Well, we’re the weird ones. Which means making adjustments sometimes, for people who have reasonable expectations. Elise… Helped me understand that!”[/color]
Beads of sweat began to curl from around Lynette’s hairline. It probably wasn’t the temperature inside, as it wasn’t overly hot…

[color=f0cd8d]”It takes different perspectives! Sometimes we get wrapped up into our own little world out here. Of course, that’s the goal! But, right, later later alligators! Come on, Ladies, lets go bring these back down and get them fixed. Casey? We’ll leave both of these in [i]your[/i] office when they’re ready! So you have them for the morning!”[/color] Elise took up the bag with Casey’s suit, and each of them gave Casey a smooch on the cheek as they funnelled out. 

Save for Mia, who frowned and turned her gaze downward.
[color=577d06]”Hey, Mimi? You alright?”[/color] he asked aloud, a frown forming on his face. 
She didn’t turn, simply waving him off with her free hand before the door closed.
It was just the two of them again; quiet, and Casey stood without a shirt or pants. The scars and tattoos all across his body on full display, including a fairly nasty looking scar that looked as if it carved out a section of his chest when it happened on the same side as his heart.

His brow furrowed, and he took a deep breath, looking at Trisha before it turned back upward into a grin.
[color=577d06]”Well… I’ve got you back at least!”[/color] he turned, his arms opening wide. [color=577d06]”What do you think? Sexy, huh? Like the surface of the moon is sexy?”[/color] he laughed, referring to some of the distinct crater mark burns and old wounds dotting his abs and chest.

[color=d1b300]“Mmm, very, I might jump you if you aren't careful,"[/color] Trisha smiled, visibly relaxing now that everyone else had left. She meant the first half genuinely, the second half mostly as a joke - she had no problem with scars or tattoos, they were all part of him, and she found him attractive. 
[color=d1b300]“And it means we match just a little bit more, which is very sexy."[/color]

She giggled, pulling up her knit top - at first it looked like she was about to take it off, but she stopped just before her bra was visible. On her upper abdomen was a dark, thick and raised scar that stood out against her light brown skin. It curved around almost the entire front, and onto her right side. It being seen by him didn't bother her - most partners would see it on the first night, the few that asked about it got a lie about teenage accidents (Reyna aside). It just seemed right to show, though. She smiled and dropped her top. 
[color=d1b300]“Sexy too, right?"[/color] She laughed, finally stepping close to him. Her arms reached up to wrap around his neck loosely and she smiled up at him. 

His hands gripped around her waist, sliding up under the cloth. His thumb gently stroked part of where the scar was on her stomach, and he leaned down slightly to kiss her. 
[color=577d06]”It [i]is[/i] sexy. Maybe not where it came from, but that’s usually how these things go.”[/color]
He grinned, holding Trisha tightly. 
[color=577d06]”I’m really glad you liked that fuckin’ dress…”[/color]

Trisha smiled warmly up at him, pressed closely against him as she let out another laugh.
[color=d1b300]“Did you think I was going to throw a fit about it like all the rich girls in movies? Demanding it needs to be perfect and shit?"[/color] she teased, reaching up to poke his cheek playfully. 
[color=d1b300]“I don't… have a problem with many clothes. But I've never really had something made specifically for [I]me[/I] like that. As kids we all had to match, or it would be whatever Tansy wanted us to wear, or what Sabrina made because she works in fashion. This was a first, and it looked good, so of course I like it."[/color]

She pulled her hand away from his cheek and turned it to show the ring as well.
[color=d1b300]“Things like this too, I don't mind. As long as it doesn't come with magical spying or Temple commitments, it's fine."[/color]

[color=577d06]”It’s just the bee thing… I didn’t want you getting the wrong idea, I don’t know. I’m paranoid over nothing I guess. Maybe I’m nervous about tomorrow.”[/color]
Casey shook his head, looking down at himself.
[color=577d06]”But, y’know, it’s not a problem right? So, we can just goof off for the rest of the night…”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“We better be able to, I need the break,"[/color] Trisha laughed. She leaned up to kiss Casey quickly, before smiling softly at him. [color=d1b300]“Let’s go cuddle somewhere comfier…"[/color]