[right][code]Cass' Apartment, San Francisco[/code][/right]
It sure was a night to remember. 

By the time Cass and Leon got back to hers, the sun was already making its appearance for the next day. It meant it was going to be a sleepless drive back, unless they had a quick nap… But Cass had no regrets. Zero! Wow. It had been fucking amazing. Everything she’d dreamed of, really!

But her high spirits didn’t quite beat the physical fatigue setting in as her stamina boosting spells started to wind down. An ache in her joints started to creep in as they properly got into her apartment, making those last few steps down the tiny hall into her room a bit of a drag. 

[color=629c3f]”Oh man, I’m fucking beat!”[/color] The moment she was inside, Cass made a dramatic display of flopping onto her bed. While the jump onto it had been energetic, the moment she landed on it she found she… really didn’t want to move again. Not right now. 

[color=629c3f]”Clearly I gotta work on my stamina and durability spells… I mean, I made it the whole night! No flagging till right now. And I mean, look, I look like I should’ve passed out hours ago!”[/color] She joked, one hand coming up to lazily gesture to the myriad of marks across her exposed skin. It looked like she’d been in some insane fights… And it wasn’t like she’d only been on the receiving end all night. That was the best part! She was actually able to jump around to whatever end of the spectrum she felt like… 

[color=629c3f]”Fuck, I ain’t felt like this in a long time. I thought all our night long fucking would’ve prepared me for this too!”[/color]

Leon was hardly worse for wear. The more Lelou got, the more she gave in return; nights like those were positively rejuvenating as Lelou ate to her heart’s content. Every little bit of carnality, drunk up by the beast within only to be slowly but surely eked back out to him on request. Right now, cruising speed. It was a powerful speed after a feast like that, so at least he had energy to spare. 

Hell, the bastard was practically glowing. He let Cass alone under her own power, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to try helping.

[color=C67C12]”Y’know, at one point last night you turned colors? I wasn’t sure what was going to come next, until you wound up turning back into the normal color. That wasn’t uh, intentional, was it?”[/color] he asked casually, laughing slightly at the circumstance.

[color=629c3f]”Shit, I did that? Wasn’t intentional at all! Fuck, I didn’t even realise… Damn, that mean I can become a human disco ball now?!”[/color] Cass giggled, holding up a hand in front of her eyes. With a bit of concentration her skin shifted, hiding the marks on her wrist… But no colours. Clearly, she was just as drained magically as she was physically. 

[color=629c3f]”Sometimes my body just seems to change without me casting anything actively. Like I’m just using the magic without thinking… I guess that’s probably pretty common when starting, right? Rey said some’ve her stuff came naturally, and the rest she had to figure out spells or learn from books. I’m assuming I’ll get to the ‘can’t just accidentally cast spells for the first time during sex’ stage soon enough?”[/color] While Cass was clearly physically exhausted, her mind was running at the same speed as normal- which was fast, and with a lot of talking.

Ah, more things Leon was knowledgeable about at least.
[color=C67C12]”Yeah, most Adepts Kindle with an associative spell or two inherent to them. Lots of research’s gone into what determines an Abstraction, but the associative Affinities are generally linked to a person’s natural temperament. When you start out, your body’s trying to push Lux around and out of you as much as it can. It’s not used to having it.”[/color]

However, what he wasn’t sure of is why Cass was [i]still[/i] experiencing stuff like that three years in. It could only be that she’d not been properly trained. Wild Adepts were uncommon, as they usually wound up finding something to kill them… Which made Leon all the more happy that she was at least somewhat domestic. Software engineering and the occasional urban excursion were nothing compared to a Wizard who found out they could fly and started doing it to get to work casually.

The viscera, [i]oh,[/i] the horror…

[color=C67C12]”We’ll get that ironed out, Babe. I bet in a year or so, you’ll have full control of your natural Abstraction. After that, it’s all study and practice. Well, it’ll all be study and practice, but… The first bit is actually fun. [i]Fun[/i]damental.”[/color] he grinned.

[color=629c3f]”Dude, that’s an awful one!”[/color] Cass pathetically kicked Leon, since she couldn’t quite muster up the energy to bend around and slap his arm like she normally was. But she was absolutely cackling, completely contrasting her words. 

[color=629c3f]”Well I sure am having fun! I just can’t wait to not pop out a pair of wolf ears whenever I get too emotional… It’s so inconvenient!”[/color] She let her leg flop back down onto her bed when she was sufficiently happy with the puny blows she’d dealt to him. 
[color=629c3f]”So if this stuff is all associative Affinities, that means I’ve got an Affinity to… Well, the animal shifting was first. And having an [i]awesome[/i] super powered body, which, of course! And… Changing colour? Where’s that fit in? Wait, didn’t I get kinda bendy last night too? Guess that was probably my magic kinda initiating yours or something…”[/color]

Leon shook his head somewhat conspiratorially, taking purchase in a spot she hadn’t occupied.
[color=C67C12]”Well, your Abstraction is probably some version of Animimic. Not-so-werewolf, it's a lot easier to target traits than fully transform; especially if they’re non invasive. Shit like your ears and your tail, they already have pathways to work with in the human body. You just link ‘em up. Ani-Mimic, you get it?”[/color] he grinned, enjoying theorizing and explaining from the vast pool of knowledge he’d managed to accumulate about general Lux Theory.

[color=C67C12]”Which means that it’s highly likely you have an affinity toward Biomorphism. That is, fleshcraft. The molding of meat. Which would also explain the changing color; the extra flexibility is almost certainly your base level Abstraction. Honestly, I can imagine it actually being your core, maybe a Biobolster. Still, same affinity if I had to guess.”[/color] 

[color=629c3f]”Ohhhhh… That makes a lotta sense!”[/color] Cass gave Leon her full attention as she listened, wriggling over a little bit so her head was closer to him. Made it much easier to stare up at him. 

It was stuff she didn’t have much idea of herself. The kind of thing passed down from magical parent to child… Except kindling had skipped a generation of her family, and no one from the generation before that was alive by the time she and her brothers kindled. They were just as blind as her… With less inclination to work on it.

Not that she’d done much more than play around since she kindled, till meeting Leon. 
[color=629c3f]”That [i]does[/i] explain everything I can do! All of the animal transformations came first, then the generic body enhancement… I only started shifting my skin to cover up bruises and shit recently, so I guess the changing colour is a natural follow on from that! It’s pretty good to know what my affinity probably is… Biomorphism. Awesome. I wish there was some Adeptal Wiki I could go on, but picking your brains is pretty great too.”[/color]

It was pretty good to know a possible direction her magic was taking her… And where she could concentrate in the future when she started actually having to study and figure out spells more actively. 
[color=629c3f]”Wait. If that’s the case, that mean it’s likely to start getting freakier? Like, what if I turn my hand into a ball or something? Or make all my skin melt off! That’d be an insane turn off if it happened while fucking!”[/color]


Leon turned his head downward slightly to stare up at her with a devious smirk.
[color=C67C12]”Nah, put it in my ass.”[/color]
Then he burst out into laughter.

[color=629c3f]”Well- Fuck- Since you asked for it… I fucking will!”[/color] Cass rolled onto her side as she laughed like an absolutely maniac, hitting the bed as she did. The image was just… it was too much! It was fucking insane! And if her skin ever melted off? She was going to make sure he went through that. 

[color=629c3f]”Dude, you can’t say that with that fucking face! You’re gonna kill me over here, gimme a break, fucking hell!”[/color] As the laughing fit subsided, leaving her a bit breathless, Cass properly wriggled her way over to Leon to flop as much of herself onto him as she could while still lying down. 

[color=629c3f]”Good to know even skin melting won’t scare you away. I feel extra secure in my sexiness and the future of our relationship.”[/color] Cass put on the best non nonsense, deadpan expression she could in that moment. Like she was stating something actually profound.

[color=C67C12]”Well, honestly Babe? Once you’re in the driver’s seat, I expect nothing but surprises. At least until it gets old. Maybe it never will; we’ll grow old with the Sunday joke being you rolling a newly demented penis in my face to say good morning.”[/color] 

He couldn’t not keep laughing at himself, totally breaking through whatever true or false seriousness Cass was giving him.  He laughed so loud and hard, he curled in until he was practically squashing her between his thighs and torso.

[color=C67C12]”H-o-ly [b]MOLY![/b] That-don’t… Don’t do that. God forbid anyone else is ever in our house.”[/color] he was still laughing slightly, finally coming down.

Cass had gone momentarily quiet in the midst of his laughter, brain silently whirring. Holy shit… She’d never actually thought about growing a dick! But that was something she could totally do, right? That was one to add to the list for later spell development… 

[color=629c3f]”Our house, our rules- Wait, wait, you don’t wanna wake up to that in the far future? Babe… I feel misled…”[/color] She snickered, flipping herself onto her back again so her legs could hook up and over his. 

She didn’t really let her mind dwell too much on the growing old and our house thing. It was pretty early to be thinking about that… But really, it was in the context of a joke. And even if it wasn’t? That was alright, she was chill. So long as there was no proper moving in together or any of that stuff till further down the line. She wasn’t someone to rush these things, but she could also deal with talking about it and it not happening in the end. 

[color=629c3f]”Oh! Actually, we gotta talk about that, since we’re now [i]official.[/i]”[/color] The moment she said that, Cass slapped a hand onto her face. 
[color=629c3f]”Fuck, that makes it sound some super serious talk! Not like that, like… expectations. Like, obviously orgies? Group sex? Okay, we’ve already done that. But, like… Sleeping with other people separately? [i]Dating[/i]? What about that kinda stuff?”[/color]

She looked at him with a completely open expression. She had her preferences here and there in this case, but she was pretty flexible at the end of the day. Maybe talking about it took some of the magic away but… It was healthier, wasn’t it?

Leon thought about the question like he was glitched. Slowly, surely, his eyes grew distant and unattentive as he tried his hardest to explore himself. What the [i]fuck[/i] did he want in the end?

[color=C67C12]”I mean… I’m not insecure. Even if, and this would never happen, but, even if we lost our sexual compatibility, I don’t think I’d be concerned about you betraying my trust in some wanton way. You really just don’t seem like the type. You’re in possession of an upstanding moral code, I’d say.”[/color] he offered her everything but an answer, because he was still trying to piece together whether or not something exclusive could ever actually exist.

But it didn’t have to be a static decision either, did it?

[color=C67C12]”Maybe we can sort of, oh I don’t know… Tier-step the commitment? I don’t see anything wrong with saying, for now, that I don’t expect you to remain physically or emotionally [i]exclusive[/i] to me. Just [i]loyal[/i] to me. Does that make sense? Like, y’know, see who you want, meet who you want, enjoy St. Portwell, come and go as you please without pressure, and if we last another year? We can reassess. Or, six months, three, a month, however long or short.”[/color]

[color=a36209][i]Explain our royal nature. It is fit that a Queen take as many-[/i][/color]

[color=C67C12]”Uh, Lelou actually says you’re one of [i]her[/i] concubines? I don’t think that really changes things, she’s not in charge. Just, uh… Well, y’know, just don’t bring whoever else you’re seeing around me during a rampage and we’ll be fine.”[/color] he finally admitted, scratching his head.

[color=629c3f]"Heh, well that saves me asking if I'm also dating- I mean, one of her concubines."[/color] Cass smiled at him. She'd been patiently watching- ready to prompt him if necessary, but perfectly fine with just waiting. 
[color=629c3f]"Something more open for now that we revisit in however much time sounds like a good plan. Obviously the same goes for you… Well, that probably goes without saying. I ain't an asshole."[/color] 

She grinned, moving her head forward to kiss him. It was softer than normal… Partly from her exhaustion, reducing the normal intense energy she went about everything with. But there was also just a gentler emotion behind it. 

[color=629c3f]"I don't meant to put the decision all on you… I just ain't really gotta strong preference at this stage! I tend to go along with my partner's… there just weren't many who can handle me alone anyway."[/color]

Though, she didn't see herself getting emotionally involved with someone else. At least not right now… Thinking about it, she tended to be more exclusive in that way- whether with one person, or in a throuple. It changed when she wasn't mentally stimulated, or was neglected by partners. Physically was a bit different… It gave her an option for things to do when Leon was busy, or just a bit of fun when she wanted without having to worry about it. 

[color=629c3f]"I gotta couple of questions, though. Exclusive versus loyal… I kinda get it? Like… I don't just fucking abandon you for other people- which'd never happen, or is there more to it than that?"[/color] She pulled her legs back up to her chest and flipped onto her side. It was a bit annoying to get properly comfortable right now… 

[color=629c3f]"Maybe the difference ain't that important, since I ain't planning on dating other people… Eh, still best to clarify! Anyway! Other question- during a rampage… I thought I shouldn't even be around you?! Or will Lelou now very graciously allow me to live since I've been elevated to the status of Royal Concubine."[/color] She waggled her eyebrows- clearly half joking, half flattering the beast within.

Of course, Lelou would eat up whatever praise she could without question. But she liked Cass’ flattery enough to push Leon's explanation.
[color=C67C12]”Well, uh… First question: Just, don't cheat on me emotionally? Like, do your thing, enjoy who you're with, but don't let them leak into your thoughts without at least telling me that you're developing feelings for someone else. Now, question Two: It's, uh, a double edged sword. It guarantees nothing, except that you become prioritized by her senses. If she's in a whimsical mood, there's a chance you get King Kong'd to fuckin’ Idaho. If she's down, she may steal you away to a quiet Grove and confide herself in you. It's… Not something I've dealt with yet.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]"Oh, you don't gotta worry about emotional cheating. That happens, I'll say- shit ain't healthy unless there's communication, so as long is there on both sides, we're good."[/color] Cass nodded, mentally taking the whole relationship boundary conversation as all nicely wrapped up. Things were clear, at least. 

So then there was the Lelou situation. Getting King Kong'd to Idaho didn't sound like the worst thing to ever happen. Unless it involved getting thrown from the very high building she was kidnapped to, which would be probably deadly and definitely inconvenient. 

[color=629c3f]"Being prioritised by her senses doesn't seem like a [I]bad[/I] thing- not completely, at least. I'd rather be the focus of whatever attention it is- even if it's King Kong- than her use your body to, like, maul a bunch've other people or something."[/color] Perhaps that was a too simple way of viewing things. But who knew how it'd turn out. 
[color=629c3f]"If you ain't dealt with it before then we'll have to just take it as it comes, I suppose. Well- I will, heh. However it goes we'll deal with it when- if- it happens! Maybe she'll surprise us and become super enamoured with me, and act super romantic. It'd be showing off her good taste- well, both of you've got pretty amazing taste."[/color]

Only, they weren’t exactly linked to one another by choice. Lelou saw the most tasty host at the time, and assumed it’d be a slam dunk. The Temple had other plans, obviously. Now it was a moral impasse; let her praise the murderghost and feel the ego swell up, or finally draw a line in the sand that he probably should’ve before… 

[color=a36209][i]Oh, now it’s a problem…[/i][/color]
[color=C67C12][i]It’s a problem when things get serious[/i][/color]
[color=a36209][i]What if I was romantic?[/i][/color]
[color=C67C12][i]There’s not a lot of actual romance in Conan.[/i][/color]
[color=a36209][i]Still willing to educate me after all this time?[/i][/color]

Leon was now, very clearly, stuck in some sort of vague off position as the conversation in his head lasted more than a moment. 

[color=C67C12]”Sh-sh-e… Thinks romance is a pile of stinking corpses. Cass, if we really [i]are[/i] going to go much further… She’s going to get in the way. Maybe. Probably.”[/color]
[color=a36209][i]I’m in your head, how could I get in the way?[/i][/color] the voice in his head echoed, a pang of hurt in her voice.

[color=C67C12]”It’s the unknown factor that I fear. We can’t do anything about it, and that sucks… Because doing anything about it, means I lose everything. At least, everything magical. If you can imagine, it’s an important enough factor in my life that I’d… Live with these drawbacks to keep it.”[/color] he admitted.

Cass nodded. While it wasn't something she felt- that having magic was worth so many drawbacks- she could empathise. He'd grown up around magic and had it since he was young. It was an entirely different situation from someone like her, who hadn't even known about it until a couple of years ago. So she could imagine. There were certain things she'd struggle with living without. Things she'd watched people lose and struggle to move on from.

[color=629c3f]"I can say I completely understand, cause I spent most of my life without magic. But I can imagine. Especially now I have it, like I could probably go back… but in a few years? Even longer? It'll just get harder. So, I can imagine."[/color] Cass nodded. 
[color=629c3f]"But there's a lot about life that's unknown, y’know? Shit sucks but sometimes you just gotta deal with it. Sure, I can't promise I'll be able to stick around through anything but… there's a lot that ain't gonna push me away. From her, from you."[/color]

She considered making a comment about if there was another way to get him magic but… That must be something he'd already thought about. It wasn't something she'd want to say in front of Lelou either. She was much less experienced in magic. It wasn't something she could help with right now. 

[color=629c3f]"Maybe I'm being too optimistic… But I like to be, y'know? If you say we can't do anything about it cause having magic is that important to you? That's fine! We just gotta deal with shit as it happens… And I'm fine to do that."[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Oh, Babe… Never lose that. Courage to face the unknown, and the joy of doing so… Dad always praised Green Lux adepts, and the Deer itself; he said Joy is the ultimate expression of positivity. Even those who use pain to fuel their joy, it’s still, y’know, the highest version of itself. Love, courage, all that? They all [i]produce[/i] joy ultimately. Everyone funnels back down into it.”[/color] he explained the theory, one learned from and shared by years of Eurasian Lux research.

[color=C67C12]”Makes it kind of prone to weird things happening too. Like, you; you’re what we call a Wild Witch. Wild Adept, whatever. You’re essentially a natural kindle, totally undeveloped, but you have a pretty strong connection with it! You cast spells naturally. It wouldn’t surprise me if you’d not have a hard time actually wildcasting. It’d hurt, but I bet you’d get used to it; I mean, using your magic without the influence of a Channeler…”[/color] he stopped, looking up at her and giving her a goofy smile.

[color=C67C12]”I’ll keep going if you don’t stop me… I could talk for hours and hours.”[/color] he admitted.

[color=629c3f]"It's alright, it's cute! Y'know how I get sometimes talking on and on about things too sometimes."[/color] Cass grinned back at him. It was stuff she had no idea about and was actually interested in… it'd be a bit more difficult if it wasn't something she didn't care about. Then stopping her attention from drifting would be hard… 

[color=629c3f]"I like the sound of ‘Wild Witch.’ It fits me pretty well! I'll have to try out the wildcasting thing… I basically ain't been without my channeler since I Kindled."[/color] She reached to hook the thin chain around her neck, pulling it up so the guitar pick that almost always ended up under her top was more visible. She was always wearing it in some way or another- sometimes around her neck, but sometimes fashioned more into a bracelet or wrapped around her ankle. 

[color=629c3f]"I ain't gonna try now, though! Not got the energy… and we gotta think about moving everything and heading in an hour or two. So, you're gonna have to save the talking for hours and hours ‘bout it for the journey."[/color] Smiling brightly, she let her channeller drop back against her chest. 
[color=629c3f]"Oh, we should probably get some breakfast? We'll just order it… Wait, shit, I forgot to actually talk to you about what I wanna do with my stuff, didn't it?! Like… honestly I didn't wanna assume how much I could take to yours versus the room I'm renting in Rey's, but it totally slipped my mind to actually fucking talking about it."[/color]

Leon could only laugh at the momentum shifting as she spun back around to talking about the move. Not an unwelcome switch, and if she was giving him carte blanche to babble about magic on the way back, he had no intention of not. He simply [i]had[/i] to tell her about the Veridian Crater. Maybe they’d visit one day…

[color=C67C12]”There’s plenty of storage at the Cannery. Half the apartments are empty on purpose; Hell, you could set one up for yourself. I don’t care, really, and I bet Casey wouldn’t mind. Even if anything happened between us, you’d just wind up paying some kind of rent. We’d figure it out.”[/color] he offered, shrugging slightly.

[color=C67C12]”Obviously, I know you [i]want[/i] to live with Rey, because she’s your friend and whatever, but you shouldn’t feel like it's your only option… In [i]my[/i] opinion, anyway.”[/color]

Cass let out a thoughtful hum, scratching her cheek. She hadn't really thought about asking if there was an apartment in the Cannery, especially since the whole quitting her job and moving thing had been done on a bit of an impulse. Not one she regretted… She wasn't immediately sure what she wanted. 

She was pretty likely to end up spending most of her time in St Portwell anyway. She just needed a place- however big or small- that was 'hers' in a way. Somewhere she could escape to if really necessary. Not that she was too worried about it, cause she wasn't really someone who needed individual time and space very often… It was best to not trap herself in anything. 

At least with the Cannery, she did trust Casey and Trisha would deal with stuff fine if her and Leon broke up. Not that she didn't trust his word either, just… Best to not put all of her eggs in one basket. But on the other hand, if she [I]didn't[/I] move into Rey's her friend would totally freak out. In an incredibly calm way, but it'd be a bit of a freak out nonetheless.

[color=629c3f]"Aw, fuck, dude… Ok… Uh…"[/color] Suddenly having too many options, Cass threw her hands up before immediately dropping them back to cover her face. What the fuck did [I]she[/I] want to do. 


[color=629c3f]"Alright… Let's do this for now- check with Casey if I can use one of those empty apartments? Doesn't even need to be the whole thing! Like, realistically? I'ma be spending most of my time at yours. I just need a place, y'know? I ain't really the move in properly with someone after a few weeks kinda girl. Don't ask how having most of my shit in a different apartment in the same building while always using your bed is different from that, it just is- mentally! Or some shit."[/color] She didn't really know how to explain it, but it felt like the right move. Probably. At the end of the day, it wasn't a problem, Reyna wasn't in a rush to get another flatmate so she could always change her mind… 

She did love Rey, and would enjoy living with her, but she knew she wasn't gonna end up spending much time in Portland. 
[color=629c3f]"Fuck, I'ma have to call Rey, she's gonna gimme one of her lectures…"[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Well, tell her she can come down whenever she wants. You guys showing up all the time will make Trisha more comfortable too, so I doubt Casey would have anything else to say besides yes.”[/color] Leon explained, pulling his phone from his pocket and rattling off a text.

[color=C67C12]”That being said, uh… Is your ex-roommate home? I can get this stuff moved a lot faster if she isn’t; like fast enough that you can go get in the car and figure out where you want to eat breakfast, and we’ll roll over there rather than waiting for delivery. It’d be about the same amount of time.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]"What time is it?"[/color] Cass asked, pulling out her own phone to actually check. At the same time she fired off a quick text to Reyna. Just a brief explanation and a promise they could call later if she wanted. 

[color=629c3f]"She might've left for work already but I ain't sure. Lemme check- [b]NAIMA?![/b]"[/color] She didn't bother moving, just tilting her head to the side and shouting in the direction of the door. The walls were pretty shit here, the only blessing being that their bedrooms were at opposite ends of the apartment. But if they were loud enough it was possible to hear each other. 

Cass waited a moment for a response- something thrown at her door, most likely- but there was nothing. 
[color=629c3f]"We're safe! You can do whatever you gotta do to move stuff quick just… be careful with my computers? They ain't the most delicate, but it'll be a pain if shit breaks."[/color] 

She started shuffling to the edge of the bed without actually sitting up, legs draping over so her feet hit the floor. She groaned. 
[color=629c3f]"You're… definitely gonna have to drive. At least to start. My whole body feels like a wet noodle!"[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Dude, last night you literally [i]were[/i] a wet noodle. It’s understandable.”[/color] he giggled, fingers sliding down to tickle her stomach slightly.

[color=C67C12]”Here… Let me get something square enough that I can lift a bunch of stuff at once.”[/color]
[hr]
[code][right]San Francisco > St Portwell > Reyna's Apartment, Portland[/right][/code]
In the end, only about an hour of the journey was filled with Leon's chatting about magic. It was all Cass could survive before her body wouldn't let her stay awake any longer. She wasn't bored or anything… And she didn't so much fall asleep as she did pass out. 

She only half woke up for a food break in the middle, not really coming back to her normal, energetic self until they made it back to St. Portwell. And by then it was like her battery had been fully recharged, from zero to a hundred. The insane boost in energy- non magically- stopped her from worrying about how unusual it was for her to just fall asleep without actually wanting to. It was probably just because she'd exerted herself far too much the night before. 

But there was no rest for the wicked, with Reyna demanding in a very polite manner that Cass at least come visit and stay the night as she'd taken the Wednesday off work. Which… fair enough, Cass did feel pretty bad about that! So after a nice apartment, courtesy of Casey, was chosen, they swapped from truck to car and were right back onto the road. 

She hadn't actually expected Leon to come along- not because she didn't want him too, just she'd already dragged him away for two days! But the more the merrier, and she was pretty happy to have as much time as possible with him. Plus, he got to continue the magical talk on the much shorter journey to Portland… 

[color=629c3f]"Alright, game plan!"[/color] Cass declared after they'd found parking in the right area, like Reyna was some kind of final boss rather than just a friend who honestly wasn't going to be that pushy about things.

[color=629c3f]"Maybe avoid talking about the whole magically spying cult… Not that it tends to come up much in most conversations, but I've already gotten pretty used to just talking to people who already know about it! That's the one thing that'll really make her freak out about both me and Trisha. It's not like she can drag either of us away, I'd just rather not worry her about that shit."[/color] Cass ran a hand through her short curls, before grinning. 
[color=629c3f]"Otherwise, I ain't actually worried about anything. Rey's pretty chill, even if Trisha'd disagree with me on that. I bet she would've just been fine with everything- after a lil lecture- if she hadn't taken tomorrow off work."[/color]

In truth, Leon was happy to spend as much time away as possible. He’d squared off blocks of away time and was currently spending it as much as he could. With Lynette terribly bothered by events elsewhere, she wasn’t so apt to force him into sticking around. The only problem was Layla Hyacinthus, but thanks to her fast friendship in the Adjoined-sphere, she was constantly around people who would at least protect her…

Alizee was there too, but… It wasn’t as trusting. Not that she ever could’ve been trusted, but now it was hard to imagine a world where Alizee was still roaming around with that menace… Nevertheless, with Casey on duty, there was no need to worry about anything. It meant some well-earned vacation time, ultimately.

[color=C67C12]”But, this is the magic one too, right? She’s uh, like, Pink or something, ain’t she?”[/color] he asked, slightly absent-minded as he scrolled through the latest gossip columns. As they were pulling in, he unbuckled, but wasn’t making much of an effort to get out; mostly because he wanted to make sure she went over everything she needed to.

[color=629c3f]"Yeah… Pink-White. But when we visited Trisha she couldn't wear her channeler cause you were basically blinding her. So, you've got like a built in anti Pink-White system, I guess!"[/color] Cass responded, assuming he was worried about her reading him lying or something… Like she had Casey when they first met him. But she also didn't think that Reyna was going to be actively reading either of them. She was generally pretty respectful, and her channeler was so obvious it was pretty impossible for her to hide she had it on. 

[color=629c3f]"I ain't worried. She's pretty good about not using it with friends, at least. But… She does know a whole ton more about Adeptal magic than I do, since both her parents have it."[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Well, I’m sure we’ll find good common ground to tread. As far as the blinding thing, I can’t really help it. It’s Her, uh… Imagine having never seen sunlight before, then all of a sudden it’s right next to you. If she’d never scanned an entity as powerful as Lelou, she probably had no idea what to look at.”[/color] Leon giggled, thinking about having scanned Lelou with his own magic those years ago.

[color=C67C12]”From what I remember, she’s an incandescent lightbulb of hunger and hatred. And lust, but I feel like that’s natural for everyone.”[/color]

Sliding his phone away fully, he popped the door and pulled his way up out of the car. It was hard being that tall and then getting into something only a foot and a half off the ground, and he’d become most used to the spinning maneuver to get upright.

[color=C67C12]”Best for Reyna to not stare, is all. She’ll get it, I’m sure it’s all fine.”[/color]
In truth, he was happy she probably wasn’t skilled enough to see inside. He didn’t need her taking a tumble into the velvet prison just to wind up as wolf food, after all.

Reaching his hand out for Cass’ after closing the door, Leon smiled.
[color=C67C12]”Ready. Lead the way.”[/color]

Cass grinned, slapping her hand into Leon's. She was right back to the normal, bouncy Cass after the rejuvenating nap… Like all of that fatigue was completely wiped away. Sure, there was still a bit of pain in her limbs, but it wasn't too bad!

[color=629c3f]"Yeah, don't worry, Rey won't stare… Which is a shame, since you're pretty nice to stare at."[/color] She wiggled her eyebrows up at him. 

It wasn't that far of a walk, with Reyna living in an apartment further out of the city with a decent amount of parking in the area. The buildings in the area were pretty nice, red brick with a bunch of the apartments having nice little balconies. Cass had visited enough times to know exactly where she was going.  

They didn't have to wait long after pressing the button for the right apartment, with Reyna just buzzing them into the building. It was a second floor apartment too, so Cass just skipped using the elevator and led them right up the stairs. 

As if by magic- and likely because of magic- the door to one of the apartments down the corridor opened as they neared it. 

Reyna leaned out with a gentle smile, slipping off her denim jacket as she squinted against the brightness that was Lelou.
[color=75a8ff]"You made it. And here I was worried you were trapped by St. Portwell, which seems to be popular right now."[/color]

[color=629c3f]"I would [I]never[/I] do that to you, Rey! I said we'd come so here we are!"[/color] Cass laughed. She let go of Leon's hand to run and jump at Reyna, wrapping the taller woman up in a tight hug. 
[color=629c3f]"Did you miss me that much, huh? It's been like… Two weeks! Aw, you're the best!"[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"I didn't miss the noise."[/color] Reyna hugged Cass back. Over her head she smiled at Leon. 
[color=75a8ff]"It's nice to see you again, Leon. Come inside… If Cass would stop trying to be a… Ah what is the animal? El percebe…"[/color]

[color=629c3f]"Barnacle?"[/color] Cass supplied, with basically no knowledge of Spanish, but plenty of knowledge of what she was acting like right now. She let go, hopping into the larger entrance hallway. 

[color=75a8ff]"That's it."[/color] Reyna nodded, stepping further inside too. She glanced between them both. 
[color=75a8ff]"I assumed you hadn't eaten, so I planned to make us something… If that is alright?"[/color]

Leon was just happy to be out of the car. It wasn’t his favorite place to be, though one he could tolerate at least. Coming into Reyna’s apartment, he didn’t feel unwelcome or like the place had been boxed off to hide anything. Over the years, he’d grown attuned to noticing when things were tidied up [i]too[/i] well. 

[color=C67C12]”Nice to see you too… Thanks for having me on such short notice… I’d be more than happy to enjoy a home cooked meal made by you; that sounds fantastic.”[/color] he smiled, holding out his hand for her to shake.

[color=75a8ff]"It's no problem… I already had a room set up for Cass, so there's no extra hassle letting you both stay in it."[/color] Reyna replied easily, shaking his hand. Honestly, she was glad he'd come along. It gave her a chance to get to know him a bit better… After all, any time had been cut short when she visited thanks to Trisha's blowup. While there was that small element of concern- sizing up a friend's new partner- Reyna trusted Cass' taste and ability to handle herself far more than she did Trisha's. So really, it was getting friendlier with someone she expected to be around more. 

[color=75a8ff]"It has a pretty big bed, with a [I]really[/i] nice mattress. I'd even gone to the effort of doing the bedding for you, since I knew you wouldn't bother after travelling…"[/color] Reyna's gaze drifted over to Cass. 

[color=629c3f]"Aw, Rey, don't give me that look…"[/color] Cass immediately pouted, trying to make herself look as cute as possible. 
[color=629c3f]"I'll do anything to make it up to you… Anything!"[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"Oh? Well you can help me cook, then."[/color] Rey's gentle smile was responded to by a bright grin from Cass. There was no actual guilt tripping there- Cass had planned to offer to help, and Rey knew her well enough to know she would. 

Reyna gestured them properly into the apartment, before giving a very brief tour. The entrance hallway was spacious- neat but lived in, with a rack for shoes and plenty of coats hung up on a hook. It felt open, a feeling that continued throughout the apartment. The room that was going to be Cass' was mostly bare aside from the bed- which was much bigger than her one back in San Francisco. It had a large window looking out the back of the building, the sun setting visible in the distance. 

Reyna's own room was skipped, and the bathroom just pointed out. There was a comfortable living room- plush looking couches, with an armchair nestled in at the window with a book left half open on it. One wall was lined with shelves, with a variety of books, photos and other items on them. It felt cozy, without being too cramped. 

The last room was the kitchen-dining room. The kitchen was an open plan, with a four person table away from it to the side of the room. It left plenty of space to cook without having to worry about walking around anyone sitting down as well. 

[color=75a8ff]"There's beer in the fridge if you want any… or sodas if you'd prefer. Help yourself. I made sure to stock up, and hid any expensive food I didn't want Cass eating."[/color] Reyna gestured to the fridge with a teasing smile towards Cass. 

[color=629c3f]"Oh shit, I ain't gonna say no to booze… Want anything, Babe? There's… a whole mix of shit! Ooh, will you be able to stomach something that ain't St Portwell brewed?!"[/color] Cass joked, having already bounced over to the fridge and pulled it open. 

[color=C67C12]”Oh, geeze, I’m not [i]that[/i] snobby, I don’t think. What the [i]heck![/i]-”[/color] Leon joked, beaming as he watched Cass flit about. 
[color=C67C12]”-Uhhh… I mean, I’ll have whatever you have. Surprise me.”[/color]

Leon couldn’t help but do a little sniffing as the fridge popped open. The lingering scent of fish and other daily products mixed with the overpowering tartness of fresh fruit; mango and passionfruit, limes, persimmon… Things he didn’t usually bother snacking on. He could smell the hops in the beer, the corn syrup in the soda, the lingering funk of crema, and then the fridge door closed to leave him basking in the scent of something he’d certainly never had on his own.

[color=C67C12]”Jesus… Onion, garlic, cumin… Orange? Th’fuck is that pork in there?”[/color] he asked enthusiastically, vaguely recognizing the scent profile from something Andrade had once cooked.

[color=75a8ff]"Good nose… I suppose I shouldn't be surprised when you literally sniffed out all of our magic."[/color] Reyna laughed, moving over to lift the lid off the large pot to check how it was doing. The smell of it escaped further, filling the room. 

Cass sniffed at the air too as she grabbed two funky looking craft beers that Reyna had. Shit… it really did have all those things in it. She could tell now, but only with the pot open. 

[color=75a8ff]"It's Fritada. An Ecuadorian dish… I've made it so often at home that it's like a second nature. It's easy to just add more and more meat to bulk it up too. I know what Cass' appetite was like [I]before[/i] she kindled, nevermind now. I heard yours is even bigger, so…"[/color] She held up her hands in a shrug, smiling. 
[color=75a8ff]"And i's nicest to share meals from home when cooking for others, I feel… Cass, can you get some onions out the fridge?”[/color]

[color=629c3f]"Ohhh, shit, you've never made this one before!"[/color] Cass was still sniffing the air, eyes practically shining. She held out one of the bottles of beer to Leon- interestingly named ‘Love Bomb', it seemed to be some kind of IPA? Strong, too. She started back over to pull out onions, while also pulling out a bottle opener to pop open hers, holding it out to Leon.

[color=629c3f]"It's always stuff with fish… not that I dislike fish. But when all I had was fish and chips to offer to our food sharing pot lucks… it kinda made mine look like shit."[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"It was more of a problem that we were the only ones that could cook- can you cube them?"[/color] Reyna laughed, taking the onions and directing Cass towards a big pile of potatoes that needed chopped up. 

Cass got started, tilting her head to look at Leon with a grin.
[color=629c3f]"You're super lucky! Occasional bad British food aside, I'm a pretty awesome cook. Poor Casey's stuck with Miss Managed to Burn Pasta."[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Well, good for her, that boy has [i]always[/i] loved the kitchen. He’s been cheffin’ it up, making bread and shit. Granted, easy to suck up knowledge for a guy like him. Literally sucks it up. Me? I’d order out, but if you’re tellin’ me you can cook, I’m not gonna say no to filling my fridge up again.”[/color] he grinned, imagining a massive fish and chips meal to slather in ketchup.

Taking a swig of the beer, he realized why it’d smelled so strongly, even from under the cap.
[color=C67C12]”They brew this with… Some kind of spice? It’s neat, it kind of mixes with everything else. I wonder if Andre carries this at Tournesol… Anyway, uh- I mean, yeah I definitely ain’t much for cookin’. Dad showed me how to do the bodybuilder diet, but he didn’t even eat like that honestly. Boiled chicken and white rice? Th’fuck?”[/color] he grimaced.

[color=C67C12]”I love fish though. What other sorts of dishes do you make? I did smell a lingering smell from the fridge, is it just like uh… Shit, what’s that soup…”[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"Encebollado? It’s an onion based one… Ah, no, you’re probably smelling the Viche de Pescado I made a week or so ago. That’s a proper soup, if you can stomach every part of a fish. I make both of those, a lot of other stews… Empanadas, fried fish. Nothing as plain as boiled chicken and rice. That’s not a meal… I’ll be making Llapingachos today as well, which are fried potato… Pancakes?"[/color] It was a topic Reyna was happy to talk about. Though she was no professional chef, she’d grown up helping her parents cook- and learning directly from her Abuelita too, while she was alive. 

[color=629c3f]”Oooh, Llapingachos…”[/color] Cass cooed longingly. Rey had made them enough that she remembered exactly what they were… And they were really fucking good. Her mouth was watering just thinking about it. That explained all the potatoes she was cutting!

[color=75a8ff]"And you’re right about the beer. That one is from a small beer maker back in Chicago- my parents have ended up close with the owner. He’s from Peru, I think… My younger brother bought a whole batch when he last visited. I’m surprised Cass went for that one instead of one of the more normal beers. I even bought Guinness specially."[/color]

[color=629c3f]”What’s life without a bit of spice? I like this kinda stuff too!”[/color] Cass grinned, taking a big gulp from her own bottle. She paused rapidly chopping the potatoes to face Leon, knife thankfully left on the chopping board as she wagged a finger at him. 

[color=629c3f]”Also, I [i]can[/i] cook, but I never said I was gonna cook for you, did I? What, you tryna shove me into traditional gender roles?! Nuh uh, I’ma cook for myself and make you watch me eat it all!”[/color] She cackled with a mischievous grin. She then put on a full body shudder, all of her movements energetically playful. She was absolutely alright to take up cooking for them- she was already getting a little sick of ordering in- but why just agree so easily when she could tease him?

[color=629c3f]”I can’t believe it… You’ve been after me for my cooking this whole time! Now you’re showing your true colours… And here I thought it was my sexy body!”[/color]

Not unfamiliar with the concept of flattery, Leon buckled his neck, tilting his head toward Cass as he grinned deviously.
[color=C67C12]”Oh, no, no! See, you’ve got it all wrong: It was you big, fat and round personality.”[/color] he said with a flat tone.

[color=C67C12]”Now, don’t think I’ll eat you out of house and home or anything, but do you have any leftovers you’re looking to get rid of? I’m on a bulk between fights, which means a caloric count like you wouldn’t believe. I’m definitely [i]not[/i] just trying to taste as much of your amazing cooking as I can, Rey. Swear.”[/color] 

Flattery, flattery for everyone as Leon did his best to charm his lady [i]and[/i] her lady. Understanding there probably wasn’t going to be any funny business, he wasn’t exactly pressed. It was Portland, after all; all he and Cass had to do to meet another weirdo was knock on the next apartment door. No, this flattery was for the express purpose of a good impression, which was oh so valuable to him. First impressions being what they were, he now had to make sure things were actually convincing…

He never wanted to be in private, resentment filled talks between friends. So, Leon strove to leave a lasting impression as a friendly, jovial and humorous person. Someone who wasn’t famous or spoiled… Or messed up.

[color=629c3f]”[i]Ohhh[/i], you’re so lucky you’re hot.”[/color] Cass teased with a wide grin, reaching up to pat Leon’s cheeks before turning back around to potato cutting. Not without a little wiggle of the aforementioned personality…

[color=75a8ff]"He’s a charmer too."[/color] Reyna said with a good natured smile. She gestured to the fridge, and then to a cupboard just above Cass’ head. 
[color=75a8ff]"There’s a tupperware of Viche in the fridge, you’re welcome to it. I won’t eat it before it goes bad… It’s the only real leftovers I have, unfortunately, so you can’t try too much of my cooking. There is some chicken I cooked a few days ago too, though it doesn’t have any sauce. And that cupboard is where I keep all of my snacks. There’s a whole mix- nuts, dried fruit, protein bars, chips, and I think there’s still some chocolate… Help yourself."[/color]

It was relatively easy to tell there were no hard feelings from Reyna about anything that had happened prior. She was trying to not hold onto any preconceived notions, and just get to know Leon as Cass’ new boyfriend. It hadn’t been so bad when they’d visited St. Portwell, anyway… And Rey had always been a relatively easy going, calm person. It was pretty obvious that Cass was happy and doing well, so that was what really mattered. 

[color=629c3f]”You’ve always got so much shit, Rey! You’d think you’re feeding a whole army all the time. I’ma eat my body weight in snacks after dinner, I swear!”[/color] Cass laughed. 
[color=629c3f]”You have no idea how much I gotta eat now, Rey. It’s increased so much in the last few weeks… This Green lux shit ain’t a joke! I’ma be out eating Leon soon!”[/color]

He was immediately in the fridge and back out eating cold soup with a spoon.
[color=C67C12]”Impossible, I hate to say. Not that you [i]couldn’t[/i] figure out how to get rid of it, but it’s never going to be as important to you. Three thousand, or thirty thousand, if you’re burning it just to burn it I can still beat you.”[/color] he playfully stuck his tongue from the side of his mouth.

[color=C67C12]”If I’m fully transformed, how many calories do you think Lelou burns through in a twenty-four hour period?”[/color]
He looked at Rey then, and smiled.
[color=C67C12]”Uh, not sure if I mentioned, I’m… Basically? A werewolf? But on crack. For context.”[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"You didn’t, but I could roughly gather the basics around being blinded."[/color] Rey shrugged one shoulder. With time, she could have gotten over the bright aura and looked past it… But she chose not to. Her Lux types weren’t something she could choose, but she tried to use them as… Consensually as possible. At least on friends and people close to them. 

Cass’ whole face had scrunched up as she tried to figure out a number to guess. She wanted to be right, of course. How much was normal? Three thousand? It wasn’t really something she’d ever bothered tracking. She just followed what her body wanted.

[color=629c3f]”Is it… Oooh… A hundred thousand? Or is it even more than that?!”[/color] She tilted her head back to look at him with burning curiosity. 
[color=629c3f]”If it ain’t ever gonna be as important to me, that means it’s gonna stop increasing at a certain point, right? Like my appetite will stabilise?”[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"That tends to happen with most magical fuel requirements. Green Lux is one of the most taxing, but others need fuel too. There’s a reason I always keep something with sugar on me. My magic is taxing on my mind rather than my body, and the sugar can help."[/color] Rey offered an explanation. 
[color=75a8ff]"Normally it stabilises in the first year, so I’m surprised it’s been increasing so sharply recently. But I don’t know any other Green Adepts."[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Ohhh…”[/color] Cass looked from Rey to Leon. 
[color=629c3f]”You must know plenty, Babe- It’s normal I’m constantly getting hungrier, right?! Especially since I’m working on it so much recently.”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Well, yeah for the most part. Lux is great, but you go and make a tail and a few ears, then attach all the nerve endings and shit: Yeah, you used Lux to [i]command calories[/i]. You metabolized a bunch of fuel instantly, and grew a new part.”[/color]

The tupperware of soup was delicious, and he shoveled another mouthful in before he carefully extracted a near-whole fillet of fish from it.

[color=C67C12]”Now, think in a new way: We eat food based on calories. Maybe you think about it, maybe you don’t, but this fillet is like… Three hundred calories? Not much in the grand scheme. But imagine I come and rip the side off the fish while it's alive. Obviously, to grow it back doesn’t cost three hundred calories. It’ll cost considerably more, as it's done over time.”[/color]

He sat back and gulped the fillet down half way, biting it off and offering the rest to Cass as he stood next to her. Then he smiled, and kissed her on the cheek before looking at Rey.
[color=C67C12]”This is so fucking good by the way. Thank you. And, to answer my proposed question, Babe? Our researchers determined that, in Lelou’s heyday, based upon the sort of prey she’d go for regularly: One million, eight hundred thousand calories. Roughly, two full grown auroch bulls per day. Bones and all.”[/color] he grinned, going for another bite of soup.

[color=629c3f]”Holy shit!”[/color] Cass almost choked on the half fillet she’d taken from Leon, tilting her body back a bit to make sure it didn’t get trapped anywhere. That was… A lot of fucking calories! Not that she had any idea what an auroch was. But the calorie number?! Yeah, she got that. 

The amount of calories she was having to consume made a bit more sense with Leon’s explanation. She was always hungriest after growing something extra. So she was always going to have to eat a shit ton after using her magic… But eventually she’d figure out exactly how much she’d need. That didn’t sound so bad!

[color=629c3f]”Thank fuck I’m never gonna get up to that number! Even growing a whole ton of limbs ain’t gonna cost that much… I mean, even after I’ve had the ears and other extra parts pop in and out a buncha times I haven’t had to eat as much as you. Oooh… so I only need to eat more cause my calorie cost is increasing.”[/color] Cass grinned at him, pretty happy to come to that conclusion. It was good to know how things worked, at least.

[color=75a8ff]"Auroch? Like, the ancient cow?"[/color] Reyna’s eyes were a bit wide as she digested the number too. 
[color=75a8ff]"Your adjoined Ghost must be very old. How did your researchers determine that? White Lux tracing?"[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Actually, if you can believe it, genuine modern day hypnotherapy. She blocks out every other stimuli available, magical or otherwise… But she can’t avoid what, essentially, amounts to jingling a set of keys in front of a baby. Once we determined what the most responsive stimuli was, it was pretty easy for us to get her calmed down.”[/color]

He grinned at the prospect of having to rampage in a room that constantly played a low frequency noise while every surface in the room was a shatterproof monitor playing recordings of various North American Squirrel species in trees.

[color=C67C12]”Granted, it’s pretty niche therapy, but she’s fairly pliable in her own way. The procedure is pretty dangerous for me, however, so we’ve only gone through with it a few times. God forbid she gains some sort of an immunity to it, suddenly they can’t coax her into giving me back: I only have like six hours in a rampage before I start to lose myself. At twelve, the chances of me coming back out of it are slim enough that we only really did the calculations. We’ve only ever pushed eight.”[/color] he admitted, with Cass never having seen what an uncontrolled Lelou actually looked like.

Not that he ever really wanted her to. Not only did he have to worry about what Lelou may do to her, he found himself vaguely worried that she may end up liking it. There’d be nothing more awkward than getting body swapped with your ghost just for your then-girlfriend to end up liking the ghost more than you…

[color=C67C12]”But, if you ever did let it go, there’d be a pretty high chance you’d have a hot girlfriend instead, Cass.”[/color] he raised his spoon like a toast to her before taking another sip.

As much as Cass was into sexy warrior women, she wasn’t so sure about losing her boyfriend to the murderous wolf ghost. 

[color=629c3f]”Duudddeee, I’d get so sick of washing blood outta everything!”[/color] Cass shook her head with a laugh, like that was her only concern about that future situation. But she sincerely hoped it wasn’t something that’d happen. As much as Cass was happy to flatter Lelou, and there was a spark of [i]primal[/i] attraction there, and sure the sex would probably be insanely hot- But! Not a fun scenario. 

[color=629c3f]”Is that the only way she’s calmed down? Hypnotherapy? Damn, I guess if she’s got a proper strong emotional field.”[/color] Cass scratched her cheek, finally finishing chopping the massive pile of potatoes into small cubes. She scraped them into the waiting pot of boiling water Rey had prepared. 
[color=629c3f]”I mean, I sure as shit hope it doesn’t ever happen! That’d kinda blow. Well, I’m sure it’d be real fucking hot for a while but it’d get old-”[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"Are you thinking through the scenario where your boyfriend is taken over by a Ghost?"[/color] Reyna interrupted Cass gently. She’d also finished her cooking prep- cutting up a healthy mixture of salad- and turned around to lean against the counter and look at them both. She regarded Leon with a bit more seriousness in her gaze.

[color=75a8ff]"How high is the risk? Of going into this Rampage, and possibly hurting Cass?"[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Lower with her in my life. I haven’t had a steady partner in some time, since before I had the ghost problem. Turns out, she likes the familiarity. It just isn’t something that comes up when we’re trying to get an idea of the migrations of nomadic empires from… Gosh, hundreds of thousands of years ago at this point. But, the ease of interaction is good, she gets frequent workouts… Cass is adventurous and spontaneous enough that her energy level is enriching.”[/color]

Of course he understood why she’d as a question like that. If he had to tell an honest truth, he hated the fact that he was shackled to something so dangerous. Nobody would have these questions if he was still an Adept… But he wasn’t, and they did. All he could do about it was the same thing he did with the rest of his life: Be honest as possible.

[color=C67C12]”Still, higher than I’d like it to be. People who I’m close to are taking steps to remedy the situation: Recently, a cousin of mine went missing. It wouldn’t be so bad, but she happened to be a priestess of my Mother’s tribe capable of utilizing an artifact made to bind her to me safely. With her, went the artifact. We’ve been trying to recover it for months now, but there’s no luck. And even though Lelou could probably sniff it out, you can imagine she’d be uncooperative in doing so.”[/color] Leon admitted.

Reyna nodded slowly, with some acceptance in her eyes. While as a close friend, she didn’t want Cass near any danger… She also knew her friend well enough to know where to step in and not. Minimising it was fine, but Cass had always been someone who sought thrills regardless of others opinions. And Rey [i]did[/i] trust her to look after herself- and Leon’s honesty helped. At least he [i]knew[/i] and wasn’t trying to cover it up. 

With all her kitchen duties done for now, Cass bounced over to Leon. Not that she stayed still when she got closer, rocking from toe to heel constantly. 

[color=629c3f]”You really ain’t had a steady partner since before Lelou? That must’ve been… Years ago. Awwww…”[/color] She looked up at him with an incredibly adorable expression, eyes shining and cheeks puffed out slightly. 

Then her mind immediately switched to everything else that’d been said. 
[color=629c3f]”Wait, the artifact can only be used by someone from Lynette’s… tribe? That’s pretty inconvenient even if you do end up finding it!”[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"I assume it requires a certain type of… Lux or Luxal energy?"[/color] Reyna’s brow furrowed a bit. 
[color=75a8ff]"It’s a shame it can’t be easily found, and that you have to deal with it. Obviously… I’m concerned for Cass. But I do trust her enough that I know it’s not my place to do anything more than feel that. I do appreciate the honesty as well. I know a couple of Adjoined, but most are in situations like Trisha is. That seems much easier."[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Probably so; I dream about the days I used to be an Adept. Fully in control. As for the artifact, it was made in a non-standard way attuned to our family’s specific genetic predisposition. It’s one of those ‘disorders’ that isn’t really anything, y’know? Just a funky little kink in the DNA, and our White Lux is channeled slightly differently. Cockeyed, I guess. So the enchantment is cockeyed too. Takes a special brain to make it happen.”[/color]

He was coming to the bottom of the bowl, and while it was delicious, it was hardly satisfying. A sensation he was getting more and more used to as time passed, unfortunately. It was fine… He had her. And she was close, and she was warm, and she was being cute in spite of his nerdy babbling.

[color=C67C12]”There’s a keeper lined up, I just didn’t want to pressure her with it at the time.”[/color] he admitted, putting the bowl down in the sink and hugging around Cass.

[color=C67C12]”Still, I really appreciate your attitude, Reyna. I don’t imagine many people being emotionally strong enough to decide that as a reaction.”[/color] he explained.

[color=75a8ff]"I try my best to not react with my gut instinct where possible. It’s rarely the correct one."[/color] She smiled, moving over to check how the potatoes were boiling. 

[color=629c3f]”Yeah, she’s the most emotionally stable of us all!”[/color] Cass grinned, leaning back against Leon. 
[color=629c3f]”It’s how she managed to date Trisha for four months!”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“[i]Don’t[/i] say something like that around her.”[/color] Reyna shook her head, moving past the couple to get back into the fridge. She pulled out panela cheese and pre-chopped chorizo. 

[color=629c3f]”She’d know it's outta lovveee!”[/color] Cass laughed, one hand coming up to wave in front of her. She got away with saying a lot more around Trisha than most people did… Well, it seemed Casey was now beating her when it came to that. She was glad about that. She was happy her friend was so happy… And it had brought extra benefits to her! Mainly the extra fit guy hugging her right now.

[color=629c3f]”Rey’s mind of steel aside, step back- there’s magical genetic disorders? DNA can affect that kinda shit? I suppose it makes sense… I never really put together kindling and genetics. But course it’d be in the DNA. [i]Oooh[/i], is there something extra in there that Adepts have, or does it just have a different structure? It’s gotta be one of em if a DNA kink can change how you channel.”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Astute as ever, my Dear… Adepts have a sequence called the Ancient Strand. Tacked onto a chromosome end. Again, thanks to crazy Green Adepts, we know about this stuff. And we can confidently trace it back to a single source, which is also pretty cool.”[/color] he smiled.

It was hard to hate where he came from or what they did, especially when what they did involved discovering the secrets of a history before history.

[color=C67C12]”If you can guess, Green Lux is most prone to disorders. Really anything where you can rapidly change your biological standard. Red, Pink, uhh… Purple even.”[/color] Leon added, not really thinking too hard about it. 

After all, that fact aside, he didn't want either of them worried about using their magic.

[color=629c3f]”Whoa, I’d love to see that- the DNA, that is! Course Green’s got the most. Someone changes their own DNA, passes it on to kids, whoops! Magical disorder! I bet that shit sucks. Do you know about the kinda disorders that exist?!”[/color] Cass didn’t seem at all worried that her Lux type was most prone to those. She wasn’t even thinking about herself- there wasn’t a single thought in her head about it being something that could affect her. Just enthusiasm. While she’d ended up switching major, she had started with one in Biology… Something she found genuinely interesting, just not as much as tech. 

It was why ending up a Green Adept was so cool! And she loved learning about this kinda shit. 

[color=75a8ff]"Are you going to switch careers to magical disorder specialist now, Cass?"[/color] Reyna teased lightly, mashing cooked potato cubes, caramelised onions and spices together in a large bowl. She wasn’t worried. If she had something like that, she’d know by now- she’d been kindled for almost ten years.

[color=629c3f]”Well, nah- I ain’t just allowed to be interested in something? That kinda shit’s what I miss most about when I did biology! Looking at things in a microscope and tryna figure out how it’d been fucked up, and how that affected everything. Just wasn’t as fun as coding!”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”There's a ton of little ones. Shit like what my family has, forces you to make spells work in a certain fashion. Those are the natural ones usually, and you get those the same way you get most genetic disorders… Lack of diversity. Old lines will stay tight knit for a few hundred years; your kid may not have a club foot, but he may not be able to force Lux out in a spell without a toasty seizure for his troubles either.”[/color]

Grimacing, Leon took a long swig of beer before moving onto the next topic. Long enough to need a new bottle, which he got and popped open.

[color=C67C12]”The bigger disorders are almost always from someone trying to mess with a perfectly good setup. Some overly ambitious Adept trying so hard to push the boundaries of their humanity, only to get bitch slapped by their Ancient with a [i]not[/i] curse. In other words, a ‘fuck your bloodline’ button. For the former stuff, the names are for the discoverer. [I]Wigman's Disorder[/i], [i]Butcher and Petrov Syndrome[/i]. Stupid shit. But the bad ones? Get cool names. [I]King Leonard's Folly[/i]. [I]The Shame of Clan N'gouba[/i]. Stuff having to do with how it was born.”[/color] he explained, eyebrows raised and expression tense as if he was trying to make things scarier or more intimidating.

Cass tilted her head back to look up at him, her own eyebrows raising in turn. 
[color=629c3f]"You're looking at me like you think I'ma mess with my DNA and fuck up my descendants! I ain't [I]that[/I] crazy."[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"You aren't?"[/color] Reyna was only half paying attention to the conversation, whole making cheese filled potato patties to fry. 

[color=629c3f]"I ain't! I mean, that shit sounds like it sucks. Imagine, you're stuck with some shitty disorder but at least it has a cool name?"[/color] Cass flung up her hands. 
[color=629c3f]"Thank fuck I'm pretty sure my ancestors were just boring ol' Adepts. I can't imagine dealing with that shit! No thank you."[/color]

Not… that she actually knew. There were no records of her Ancestors before they were taken by force to the Caribbean islands. Even the history there was a bit shady. Her Nan told stories, but had died before Cass was old enough to fully remember. So it wasn't like there was anyone to ask about their Adeptal heritage. 

[color=629c3f]"I guess none of its stuff that can be studied easily, if it's like… whatever percentage are Adepts, then an even smaller have the small stuff, and even less have a ‘not’ curse. I assume it ain't a curse cause it's still baked into the DNA, just magically? I wonder what that looks like…"[/color] She trailed off, before her eyes widened in self realisation. Broken out of her bubble of fixation.
[color=629c3f]"Uh, I ain't really being very sensitive, am I?! You maybe even know people affected and I'm getting all excited… shit…"[/color]

[color=C67C12]”I don’t think you need to worry about that. You’re asking questions out of genuine curiosity, not morbid fascination. You’d not see anyone with an issue like that as any different, and I don’t think that’s because you wouldn’t know where to look; I just don’t think it’d matter to you. No hate in that heart… If there is, it’s reserved for rapists and Nazis I presume.”[/color] he joked.

In truth, he knew plenty of them. There were actually enough participating Adepts in the Temple’s network of contacts that their research team [i]could[/i] get a cross section of the population and find some averages. It’d done wonders for modern day Luxiturgical studies, and was pretty much the sole reason the Temple actually garnered any amount of respect to date. Their unbridled innovations in cross-Lux sciences and techmaturgy were widely revered as cutting edge in the fields of Paranormal research. And that was totally absent of all the black-bag projects regarding Apparitions and their various uses… 

[color=629c3f]”Oh yeah, I save all my hate for the real bad guys!”[/color] Cass grinned. Though, he was yet to see how she reacted towards someone who [i]did[/i] something she hated. But it wasn’t the same. That wasn’t discrimination or anything. She wasn’t entirely sure she was just curious and not morbidly fascinated, however… 

[color=629c3f]”You’re right, I ain’t gonna start seeing Adepts like that as lesser. If anything, it’s impressive if they can keep going and using magic even with limitations! I doubt I could.”[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"I’m sure there’s some things you could deal with. But there’s no point thinking too hard about it, is there?"[/color] Reyna said. As she spoke, she threw a couple of the Llapingachos on a sizzling frying pan. The aroma of spiced potatoes, cheese and chorizo filled the air, mixing with the marinating pork still lingering. 

[color=629c3f]”True! I’ll put my disease interest back in the box, it ain’t really a dinner topic, is it?”[/color] Cass laughed, knocking back her beer to finish it off. She bounced back over to the fridge to pick out another, just going with one of the cans of Guinness Reyna had specially bought for her. 
[color=629c3f]”Not that we tend to stick to dinner safe topics… You should’ve seen how Trisha started glaring at me the last time we all ate together! I mean, it was super cute, but still! We’ll try for you, Rey. Won’t we, Lee?”[/color]

Leon grinned first, but then tucked his head as he couldn’t prevent the laughter. It was just too much. 
[color=C67C12]”Yeah! Of course, uhhh… Gosh, y’know, I love when you call me that? So cute, you’ve been talking to my sisters so much it rubbed off.”[/color]

For a moment he grinned at her, leaning to kiss her cheek as she made her way back to her seat.
[color=C67C12]”Dinner safe topics are… What? Books? T.V. shows? Reyna, what do you do for work?”[/color] he asked, the most safe for work topic possible.

[color=75a8ff]"I’m also a software developer… Which makes things very uninteresting."[/color] Reyna laughed, looking at Cass and shaking her head. 
[color=75a8ff]"I don’t know why you’re trying so hard, Cass. You’ve said plenty at a dinner tablet that should not have been said. And there can be no worse impression than those exes of yours- does he know the story?"[/color]

[color=629c3f]”About the throuple that went wrong? Yeah! And y’know, instead of laughing at me like everyone else, he was real sympathetic about it!”[/color] Cass practically beamed at Leon, kicking her legs like a little child waiting for her meal. 

[color=75a8ff]"I’m glad I didn’t live with you for that… It was bad enough the time they joined our monthly dinner."[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Oh yeah…”[/color] That had been just a few weeks after the attempted fivesome. The three of them had seemed to be going back onto the right path, so Cass figured it was a good way to smooth things over with her friends. How wrong she’d been… 

[color=629c3f]”They, uh- My two partners invited their partners without asking. Y’know, the two that made it a fivesome but were also the reason it was so shit? Then those two had an argument in the middle of dinner, made out, made up, went and had very loud sex in my bed-”[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"They often seemed to do that."[/color] Reyna shook her head, beginning to plate up a salad as the Llapingachos cooked. 

[color=629c3f]”And my partners just… didn’t even try with my friends! They were just all like oooh let’s feed each other, we’ll feed you too Cass, let’s pretend no one else is here and our other partners aren’t banging next door and we can’t all hear it and Trisha and Diyah aren’t a step away from flipping the table!”[/color]

Leon looked [i]sad[/i]. It was the kind of pain that one got from hearing about a loss. The loss of the poor woman’s experience, the pleasure of a solidly good foundation… Maybe it was something he romanticised because it was so infrequent in his own life; the solidity of people’s influence in one’s life, and the consistency of making the [i]right[/i] choices rather than the wrong ones. That kind of influence was pivotal in the meaningful relationships that one experienced not just on a day to day level, but over the span of an entire life.

[color=C67C12]”Y’know, they broke the mold with you. I don’t even know where to begin, honestly.-”[/color]

He let the comment hang for a moment to let the two question what he meant.

[color=C67C12]”To anyone else, that shit would’ve been pretty disturbing. Devastating, even.  You? Like water off a seal’s back. Your strength of will [i]consistently[/i] impresses me, and I think that’s what makes you such a capable Adept…”[/color] he finally admitted, grinning down at her.

[color=C67C12]”I see [i]exactly[/i] why you’d want to hang out with someone like her, Rey.”[/color] he added, head turning slightly without letting his eyes leave Cass’.

[color=629c3f]”D’awww, you’re gonna make me blush!”[/color] Cass waved a hand in front of his face, smiling brightly up at him. She knew she had a strong will- because it was something she’d worked to build over the years. Six, seven years ago, when she lived at home? She didn’t have it in the same way. Her first reaction to someone hurting her was to hurt them back- normally by punching them in the face. Now? Well, she was incredibly confident in herself. [i]They[/i] were the ones missing out. 

[color=629c3f]”I just ain’t gonna let other people get me down like that. I spent enough of my life bending to em!”[/color]

Reyna smiled. 
[color=75a8ff]"I’m glad you can see it, Leon. That’s a good sign for the future… Cass is the centre of our little group of friends, really. Without her we wouldn’t still be a group. Especially not after me and Trisha broke up. It was Cass who kept us all together."[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Aw, c’mon, you’re gonna make me blush too!”[/color] Cass shouted, actually beginning to go a little red. A little more than a little. She matched the tomatoes on the big plate of salad Reyna brought over to the table.

Leon had, since they first started existing in one another’s sphere, done a bit more mental digging about Trisha. The lasting impression of her was being a fiery little witch who used far more of her mouth than her abstraction. But, he’d never really considered that he was aimed downward in regards to the age brackets. It’d never even occurred to him, due to the proximity of others like Sully and Stormy, or his cousins, that he’d been in the highest age bracket that summer. There were a couple others close, but he only knew people like Stormy because he’d been a senior when they played the annual cross-grade game. 

High schoolers and middle schoolers, playing on mixed teams to promote partnership for the next group coming in. It was all very [i]school[/i] driven. But, Trisha had been even less tangentially involved, despite being closer to Stormy’s age… So why had he [i]hated her[/i]? Why did he have memories of looking at her stupid little teenage face and yelling at her about how dumb she was? He was [i]so much older.[/i] Apparently, not so old that he couldn’t act like a child. Maybe he still acted that way now…

[color=C67C12]”What [i]was[/i] that like? I only knew Trisha when she was a little shit, so… Definitely not the best impression to leave off on.”[/color] he admitted, still curious about his brother’s chosen partner. 

[color=629c3f]”She was always pretty touchy, especially when we just met. She was like… A prickly hedgehog! You said something that upset her and she’d puff up. But it was all just self protection, y’know. Like, she’d never talk about it, but she had it pretty shit growing up. Like for her graduation? Nobody turned up.”[/color] Cass said openly. She knew what to share and what not to share, after all. The minimal things said in secret? Of course not… But anything that had been public? Witnessed? That was fine. 

[color=75a8ff]"She was definitely more comfortable when we dated. It was… almost five years ago? We were twenty. When I broke up with her, she reactively lashed out and tried to isolate herself."[/color] Reyna’s smile was slightly sad. At the time, it was exactly what she knew would happen. She’d even been prepared to step back from their friends so Trisha at least had someone…

[color=629c3f]”I didn’t let her, of course! It’s just like… She had these massive walls I crashed through, and she tried to put em back up, so I crashed right through em again!”[/color] Cass made a punching motion as she shot up out of her seat, moving to grab plates and cutlery for Reyna so she didn’t have to. She knew where everything was, after all. 

[color=629c3f]”It was pretty difficult, honestly. I love Trisha, but she was quite snippy with Reyna at the time. Testing her, I think. Then she softened up. When she’s actually herself? She’s super fun. Sure, she’ll still make snide remarks, but you can tell it’s just teasing. When she gets super into something she’s really cute too… It’s so hard to drag her away. And there’s a bunch of stuff she’s enthusiastic about that you wouldn’t guess. But I can only imagine it was harder to get through when she was a teen. She rarely lets herself just be… Her.”[/color] 

Leon nodded, frown turning into more of a questioning glare that went from Cass to a mostly empty spot of cabinet behind her head. He really couldn’t piece together why Casey liked her then… Had it been something between putting them together and that next morning? It had to be [i]something,[/i] but ‘what’ was a question he couldn’t even begin to fathom. 

[color=C67C12]”I mean… That’s definitely not something any of us had the wherewithal to deal with at the time. We were fighting something nutty while the adults all tried to kill one another. I guess the natural disaster level Apparition was a pretty good distraction. Still, the younger ones didn’t stop being teenagers that Summer. Neither did I, I guess. Magically, my fight schedule was cleared for those like… Six months.”[/color] Leon explained, thinking about how little time he actually spent dealing with most of the riffraff to begin with. 

Most of his interactions were during big group interactions. Tall, older, he figured being some kind of imposition on them would mean that they’d respect him. It only pissed most of them off. Especially people like Trisha, who had a seemingly innate need to push back against that kind of authority. He’d never been a great [i]friend[/i] to any of them at the time. It was only later when he came back, found some of them a little older, that he tried to include them in more things. Tried to include himself too…

But Lynette always had other plans. If he wasn’t making money, he wasn’t worth money.

[color=a36209][i]And here we are now, Lover… And you’re worth so much more carrying all my [b]weight.[/b][/i]

The first time he questioned if he really loved what he did. The first real time he wanted to take a break. The End of Gravity.

[color=C67C12]”I was probably never a good candidate to be their friend… But, I think a lot about how I could’ve been a better mentor. You’re not grown at nineteen, I guess. But, it’s been nice having the opportunity to make things up to her. I’ve already fucked up a couple times, so maybe things’ll never be right. But, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a shot.”[/color] he finally smiled.

[color=629c3f]”I’m glad you’re trying!”[/color] Cass said cheerfully, pressing a kiss to the top of Leon’s head on her swingby holding plates. She put one in front of him, where she was sitting, and where she guessed Rey would. 

[color=629c3f]”We all know Trisha ain’t always the easiest to get on with. Honestly? I can see why you guys clash. It ain’t all on you or anything. She takes a specific type’ve person to get through to her… Like me!”[/color]

 [color=75a8ff]"And Casey."[/color] Reyna added. She was serving up the food now- and soon there were three large plates in the centre of the table. She really had gone all out with the amount of pork for the Fritada, then there was a whole mound of Llapingachos, and a mixed salad to add something more healthy. She grabbed her own bottle of beer before sitting.

[color=75a8ff]"Help yourself, by the way."[/color]

Cass didn’t need to be told twice, starting to pile food on her plate, while continuing the conversation. 
[color=629c3f]”Really, you just gotta keep trying, Babe. Consistency is the best thing with her… Like sure, you’ll probably fuck up a few more times. She’ll probably fuck up too. But like, the more you stick around- as Casey’s brother, as my boyfriend, tryna be her friend- the less she’ll react around you. Maybe it’ll never be great, but I’m confident you guys can be friendly at least.”[/color]

Leon slid up to get himself another drink too, and sat bag down to politely wait for the two others to fill their plates before he descended upon whatever remained. The temperature of the food, he found, no longer mattered to his palette. It was all the same, incredibly hot or ice cold, his flavor receptors were so adept at picking everything out that the intensity in variability only served as an added sensation. 

[color=C67C12]”Oh, that’s my middle name Leon Consistency Richoux, nice to meet you both.”[/color] he joked, smiling as he looked down at the plate with so many colorful morsels on it.
[color=C67C12]”Also, uh… [i]Please[/i], help [i]yourself[/i]. Grab all you think you’ll want, I’m going in on whatever’s not nailed down. It’s in the nature.”[/color] he admitted, a little shy about the idea that he’d almost certainly still have to order food or run out later to get some vast army-sized order of fast food to meet his caloric needs.

Reyna had served herself a relatively normal portion, so didn’t go for anymore.

Cass, on the other hand, absolutely wasn’t going to miss out on eating an extra portion of Reyna’s cooking. She’d been polite with her first one, but now the Chef herself was served? It was all up for grabs. So she piled a whole bunch more onto her plate, until it threatened to topple and fall over. 

[color=629c3f]”All yours, Babe- I mean, thank fuck you ain’t like an actual wolf, or I feel like we’d be having a fist fight everytime we wanted to eat. Like fighting over a corpse or some shit! Can you imagine? Actually, that might be kinda fun.”[/color]

Rey hit Cass with a flat gaze. 
[color=75a8ff]"You’d find fighting over meat like a couple of stray dogs fun?"[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Well yeah!”[/color] Cass shoved some pork into her mouth with a pleased groan. It was so fucking good. 
[color=629c3f]”Spices things up! Keeps it exciting! You never know when you’re gonna get pounced for eating!”[/color]

Leon could only laugh. The wolf references wrote themselves practically.
[color=C67C12]”Well, like you said, this isn’t like real wolves. I’m definitely a much more uh… Well, benevolent alpha just sounds like cringe bullshit doesn’t it? I’m a courteous glutton. And, Rey, if you haven’t had your fill, I don’t mind treating for anything extra. Hell, I’ll fill your fridge back up before I go if you want.”[/color] he offered as only a rich child knew how.

Money was always the solution, at the end of the day. A few extra dollars in any one direction usually bought enough breathing room to slip through a crack and end up in a brand new impression. But, he’d found with the company Trisha kept, the attitude was anything but that. Whether it was because they were all somewhat wealthy, or just because they really were genuinely decent, he could only tell for Cass.

But the offer still came from his mouth. It wasn’t born of condescension, rather genuine desire and ability to simply pay his own way. If he made a wave, he wanted to wait until the water was smooth before he started to swim.

[color=75a8ff]"Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s normal to feed people that you host. I won’t stop you from buying whatever food you may need outside of what I have, but I’m comfortable enough that this much isn’t an issue."[/color] Reyna replied politely, without any judgement on her end. She could understand someone feeling uncomfortable when another housed them and fed them without asking much in return, even for just a night. But it wasn’t a problem to her… Not now that she had such a well paying job and the money to do these things sometimes. 

[color=629c3f]”Oh yeah, we’ll definitely have to hit up a shop sometime. Otherwise I [i]will[/i] eat all your snacks, and Leon’ll start eating the table.”[/color] Cass joked between mouthfuls. 
[color=629c3f]”Even if you don’t want it, me n’ Mr Benevolent Alpha over here will at least buy you a meal tomorrow! I ain’t just staying for free… And don’t say some shit about how my company is the best payment. I know it is! My company’s great. But it ain’t a valid currency in this stupid world!”[/color]

Not that she felt so uncomfortable about it- the reverse would happen anytime Reyna visited St. Portwell. Which she would do. Cass would drag her across for her birthday in early December, whether her friend liked it or not.

[color=75a8ff]"I won’t stop you, if that’s what you want to do."[/color] Reyna smiled.

[color=C67C12]”Maybe a little gift too, I’m sure we can find something around. What are you into? I saw a record player in the other room; did you ever think of upgrading? I wouldn’t mind hitting a music shop tomorrow.”[/color] Leon added, hoping to make the impression a little better. 

After all, he did love throwing dollar bills around. Unlike Casey or Junior who had to go through Elise for money, he had his own career. His own safely accrued millions to dump on whatever lavish personal expenditure he wanted. A few thousand dollars for a top line record player for a woman who, otherwise, didn’t seem to live any other way but modest? It was just desserts, frankly. She probably deserved it regardless of their personal connection.

[color=C67C12]”Obviously, I can understand not being comfortable with a gift like that. I’m not an arm twister. But, I think that people often underestimate the gratitude that we feel toward one another. One may not find themselves in a position to give a great gift, even if their heart would compel them to. Uh… Does that make any sense? I feel like a bit of a goober talking like that, but we were taught to say how we feel in my family.”[/color] he shrugged, finally starting to fill his plate before tucking in.

[color=75a8ff]"It’s better to say it than not. Normally, I need to magic things out of people. I understand what you mean. I’ve been in the position to not be able to do any gifts at all, before. But material goods aren’t everything when it comes to gratitude."[/color] Reyna smiled gently. 
[color=75a8ff]"I can’t accept a gift that big for something so simple. That’s hardly a ‘little’ gift. If you would like to get me something, records, books, or herbal teas would be nice. Cass knows what I like, at least."[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Hell yeah I do.”[/color] Cass paused eating to reach out and pat Leon’s arm. It was hard to tell if she was comforting him for his large gift being rejected, or thanking him for thinking of doing it in the first place. 

[color=629c3f]”You’re preaching to the choir, Babe. At least when it comes to not being in the position to give massive gifts, haha! But your rich side is coming out by just offering to replace a fucking record player! Like damn, that’s some marital partner birthday gift shit! Eh, actually, I don’t think my parents ever got each other something so big…”[/color] 

[color=C67C12]”It’s a privilege I can recognize. I won’t say I didn’t do a little work to retain my family’s status, but nepotism put me in the hot seat. I benefit from a system that was around long before I was born… So, I just want to give now. To whoever, however. Why hoard  what wasn’t mine?”[/color]

It was a simple position, but one he at least felt comfortable standing on. It was true enough, after all; none of it had been his to begin with. And, even through all the other bullshit, he didn’t qualify to take over for their Mother. His Lux was gone. There was only [i]money[/i] left to inherit. And, frankly, far more than he thought was possible… But his father fought in Boxing’s last golden age. MMA had crawled its way into the world of combat sports, leaving the pugilists to convert or die. Only a good few still filled the smokey dens they fought in now.

[color=C67C12]”But, that’s fine. Books, records, herbal teas… If Cass knows genres and flavors, I won’t push my luck. But, now I’ve got to ask; what’s the best gift you’ve ever gotten?”[/color]
At least the game of verbal pinball was easier than imagining what could’ve been… A cult of his own…

[color=629c3f]”Oh… that's a good one!”[/color] Cass exclaimed, excitedly shoving food into her mouth as she thought about it. What was the best gift she’d ever gotten? She’d gotten a lot over the years, even if they’d never been expensive ones. But that was never the point… It was the emotion behind it. Oh, but how could she choose? She’d gotten so much random, cute shit from her brothers over the years, then from her friends too! Oh God, it was so hard to choose!

[color=75a8ff]"My denim jacket- my channeler."[/color] Reyna answered, not having to think anywhere near as much as Cass. 
[color=75a8ff]"It doesn’t seem like much, but my younger siblings all saved up to buy it for me by doing odd jobs. My parents tried to help, but they refused because they wanted it to be from them… And they knew my parents didn’t really have the money spare anyway. It was a sweet gesture. It’s why it’s my channeler."[/color]

Cass nodded along in understanding. 
[color=629c3f]”I think for me… Ugh, fuck, it’s so hard to choose! But probably, when I turned thirteen? I was going through puberty and shit, there was some stuff going on… My older brothers got me this stupid fucking t-shirt with some stupid slogan like ‘I may be small but I’ll still kick your ass.’ It was [i]so[/i] stupid, and they got me some other small things too- but it was also, like, the only not girly thing I got that year? So I knew it was really for me! Even if it was… Incredibly fucking stupid. It’s maybe not the ‘best’ but it’s my favourite! Well, one of- anyway, what about you, Leon?!”[/color]

Leon already had a warm, fuzzy expression crossing his face.

[color=C67C12]”I’ve had a few nice ones too. My little sister makes toys; she enchanted one of mine when we were younger. Well, she was. I was a little too old by then to pay much mind, but now I cherish it. That said, around the same time, I went with my Dad alone for the first time. Actual tournament stuff. I was in a youth league that was running alongside the adult promotion. Dad had gotten me my very own set of entry attire. Y’know, the robe and stuff? It’s super, uh, like corny and exactly what you’d expect a fifteen year old to want as their first impression. These skull-shaped stars exploding in the middle of a crazy nebula background; the whole gravity theme.”[/color] he blushed, scratching his head absentmindedly.

[color=C67C12]”I still have it, Cass. Yes, you can see it. I just don’t have another spot on the wall in the office to hang the display of it.”[/color] he admitted.

[color=629c3f]”Whoa, you read my fucking mind!”[/color] Cass grinned, not even needing to ask the question on the tip of her tongue. He knew her so well… Not that it took long to learn something like that, when she asked to see his boxing shit so frequently. 

[color=629c3f]”I mean, it sounds super fucking corny but also super fucking cute. I bet you were adorable in it!”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Well now you sound like Mom. I was, from what I was told. But, I never felt cute at that age. I’d started to put on a little muscle, but my voice hadn’t fully changed yet. So I was a squeaky, half-hairy giant freak. Definitely the awkward phase before I filled out and managed to get my hair growing how I wanted.”[/color] Leon laughed, thinking about what she’d said.

He had, in fact, heard it a million times. From phone calls to in person when she’d made him dress up [i]again[/i] and have mock fights with his Father for her entertainment. 

[color=629c3f]”Aw man, I don’t wanna sound like Lynette!”[/color] Cass gasped. Certainly not a comparison she wanted from her boyfriend, even though in the short period they’d been together she’d already started to sniff out the Mommy issues. 

[color=629c3f]”The awkward phase [i]is[/i] pretty cute, though. Man, puberty was pretty wild for me too. Like I had the opposite for a while! I’d gotten these kiddy muscles from always fighting with my brothers and stuff, and then I started [i]losing[/i] it! Honestly, it was devastating. I mean, I did go from looking like a long haired boy to a hot girl- but! The muscle loss wasn’t worth it! It was so hard to build back up!”[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"And you didn’t even gain much height from it, no wonder you’re still so upset about it."[/color] Reyna teased. 

[color=629c3f]”Hey! I’m above average height! A whole inch above average! It ain’t my fault I’ve ended up surrounded by tall people!”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”That seems to be a common curse for the vertically challenged.”[/color] Leon tossed the comment out so quickly it almost didn’t register in his brain that he’d said it. But, how could he miss the chance to tease Cass? So, he stuck his tongue out to make sure she knew he was messing around ultimately.

[color=C67C12]”Regardless! Rey, this is [i]delicious.[/i]”[/color] he did his best to redirect back to the real subject matter at hand.
[color=C67C12]”You really don’t, like, have any sort of background in cooking? Just that good ol’ family knowhow, huh?”[/color] he asked with genuine interest.

Cass squinted at Leon, lips pursed into a joking pout that was half faked upset, half flirty. She wasn’t actually bothered, of course! She was perfectly fine with her height… And whenever she needed to be taller, she could just climb him!

[color=75a8ff]"Just family knowhow. I’ve been helping in the kitchen since I could remember. I always enjoyed it, especially when I was younger and could help and learn from my Abuelita back in Ecuador. Thankfully, my parents and one of my younger brothers are decent cooks too, so I never got resentful of doing it."[/color] Reyna offered quite a full answer. 

[color=75a8ff]"I’m certainly no professional. I can cook certain dishes very well, others are average. And proper cooking comes with a certain… Inventiveness?"[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Hey, you were pretty good at making dishes outta what I suggested!”[/color] Cass stopped fake pouting to rejoin the conversation, tilting her head towards Leon with a grin. 
[color=629c3f]”Cause no one else ever cooked for the dinners, me ‘n Rey started doing these like… Surprise dishes, where I’d think of something and then we’d make it happen. Some of the shit was pretty fucking wack.”[/color] 

Leon grinned widely.
[color=C67C12]”Don’t even get me started on crazy made up bullshit meals. We had Andrade from the time I was a young kid; at first he lived with us, then he moved out but kept coming over to make our meals. So, the only times I didn’t have fuckin’... Like, Michelin level dinner, essentially, was when he was gone somewhere. Then, oh… Dad would [i]try[/i]. With what he knew… Like, y’know, ‘Hey, let me get this boiled chicken split up and blended into a thick consistency. It’s like patte!’”[/color] Leon grimaced, faking a gagging motion.

[color=C67C12]”That guy was a fucking menace. We’d watch him slurp one of those down, not know whether to feel like shit because you just couldn’t, or feel angry because this dumbass was the world champion of Boxing.”[/color] he laughed.

Reyna grimaced too, looking visibly disgusted at the thought of blended chicken. Like it was an affront to cooking itself. It was.

Cass, on the other hand, looked thoughtful.
[color=629c3f]”Y’know… It’s actually a pretty ingenious idea! Like, if you gotta eat tons, that takes a bunch of time, right? And I dunno, protein shakes made with the powder and stuff kinda sucks. I ain’t so sure about the boiled chicken bit, like at least fry it, but- blending it and drinking it is super efficient! You just gotta get over the texture which… Well, I’ve definitely eaten worse before! Y’know, I might need to try it sometime…”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Thanks for confirming his theoretics, Babe. He said the same thing. Like the whole dunking the hotdog in the water at the hotdog eating contest thing… Purely less resistance. Or, it is if you can make it past the occasional strand that makes it through.”[/color]

Punctually, Leon took a bite of his food and giggled thinking about the kind of bullshit he was now conditioned to eating as an adult. The high octane garbage food of his adult life was only sustainable thanks to the ever-hungry nature of the parasite within.

[color=C67C12]”I’m not gonna stop you from liquefying your dinner, but I’ll ask you to do it in the privacy of your own space… Lest you trigger my fucking latent PTSD.”[/color] he joked.

[color=75a8ff]"I will disown you as a friend if I so much as hear about this happening."[/color] Reyna snorted, managing to go back to her own meal after that disgusting thought. 

Cass tilted her head back and laughed. 
[color=629c3f]”Aw, don’t worry guys! I ain’t gonna do it in front of you, Babe- and I’ll never tell you, Rey! Honestly… Maybe I’ll just perfect swallowing food whole instead! Then that’s even [i]less[/i] effort. No need to blend it, but also no need for chewing! It just goes right down… And y’know how good I am at swallowing big things.”[/color] She winked at Leon, unable to hold back that last bit.

Rey let out a mock groan of annoyance.
[color=75a8ff]"I thought we were keeping it dinner table friendly?"[/color]

[color=629c3f]”I’ve managed to hold back this long! That’s pretty good for me!”[/color]

Leon laughed, pointing playfully at Cass.
[color=C67C12]”Jesus Christ, I mean… I’d find that more acceptable honestly. I guess you’re a Green Adept, so, anything goes?”[/color]