[right][code]Downtown Portland[/code][/right]
The next day, Cass was feeling extra refreshed. After all, what was more recharging than an evening with people she loved?! Of course, her and Leon went out for some fun later in the night… But it had nothing on the night before. It didn’t quite hit the point where it went from energising to exhausting. 

Unfortunately, while Reyna [i]had[/i] taken the day off it didn’t stop her work calling her in the morning to help with some emergency bug. She’d told them to just go enjoy themselves, and that she should be able to join them by lunchtime.

It was a shame, but it did mean they’d be able to buy her a gift without her being there while they did. 

Cass had suggested walking to Downtown Portland, rather than driving- because it was actually fucking possible for once! Though St. Portwell was also a fairly walkable city, she’d learned not to take it for granted now that she lived in the States… 

[color=629c3f]”There’s an awesome record shop we gotta check out. It looks deceptively small, but you go in and it really opens up… and the amount’a shit they got! Some real rare, obscure stuff. We can grab something for Rey… I’ll probably pick up a bunch too since, y’know, why not? It’s right next to a music store too! I ain’t looking to buy anything there, but I always enjoy trying out all the different guitars and drum kits they got.”[/color] Cass chatted away, a constant bounce in her step.

She'd dressed a bit more femininely than she often did, with a red tartan pleated skirt flouncing about as she bounced. All the attached chains jangled as they hit each other. She'd put on a simple black headband to pull back the curls that normally fell down to her eyebrows, the hair twisted together in a cute style from her hairline to the band. Her leather jacket was doing a lot of work for keeping her warm, with the only thing underneath it being a black, strappy bra top that turned into fishnet just above her chest and down her arms. Not that it was a problem, with the green lux and her constant movements. 

[color=629c3f]"Maybe I can think about getting some drums now I kinda got my own place."[/color]

Leon’s long strides were constantly matched by the bounding, rabbit like energy of Cass. He was constantly impressed by how she skipped along and kept pace, even across a large boulevard where he’d usually just pick up whatever shorty he was with. Most people simply couldn’t match how far almost eight feet worth of legs could really propel a man… But there she was, every time he looked down and to the left. At least she stayed [i]roughly[/i] in the same position. It’d be a little embarrassing if she was running actual circles around him…

The only problem with doing so much walking was the fanfare. Portland was [i]not[/i] a combat sports city, as far as Leon knew, so the expectation was leaning more toward St. Portwell for fan traffic. Back home, a Leon spotting was like seeing a panda at the zoo: Exotic, but you expect it to be there. Different cities often had different reactions; going someplace in the Midwest, walking was practically a fool’s errand. Cities built for cars, sure, but try and walk into a gym, or head to any restaurant… Suddenly dozens of middle aged men crowded whatever table he was at to hear all the stories they could.

Sometimes there’d be someone closer to his age… But the fanbase was getting older and older. Hence, the forums had become such a refreshing source of praise. Anonymous, or near-anonymous posting meant a perfect opportunity to project his own imagination upon the faceless text. He could imagine everyone was an attractive admirer just like Cass, and the fantasy could pass for something Lelou could eat. 

But today? Today the fantasy seemed real, until he remembered the different social media platforms he posted on. Sometimes it happened where there’d be a reaction he didn’t assume would come. This time, posting a picture of the Portland skyline last night may’ve tipped people off. Today’s result; every ten minutes, some kind of stopping to sign a piece of paper or a laser disk package. Anything to say ‘Timberwolf touched this to sign it.’. It was great.

And having Cass there for it was even better. He just hoped she didn’t mind.

[color=C67C12]”Y’know, all the sex, we’ve barely actually talked about Rock n’ Roll… Do you listen to Decent Exposure at all? Not to make this all about me, I just… I never know if my fans realize I’ve only ever been on a couple of album tracks that got released. Honestly, like, there’s a whole other set of fans who think I’m some kind of rockstar. I like to tour, I guess; more people. Sales numbers don’t really do anything for Lelou, they’re too abstract.”[/color] he joked, looking both ways as they crossed another street.

[color=C67C12]”It’s a little ironic you drum though. Not unsurprising with the spastic energy, just… Lynette plays drums. If you can believe that… You’ve seen pictures of her, at least; is that a person who looks like she goes hard with a double pedal?”[/color] he asked with a laugh.

[color=629c3f]”Oh dude, I wouldn’t say I drum. I’ve dabbled, never had the chance to own em. So it was a bit’a playing at school, a longer period in uni cause one of my exes played em. Guitar’s the thing I actually got practice with. Always wanted to play the drums properly though!”[/color] Cass grinned at him. 
[color=629c3f]”And I dunno… Lynette looks like enough of a Goth Mommy to go hard on anything!”[/color]

She absolutely cackled as she said that, winking up at him. There was no dampening of her energy, not even when they kept getting stopped. Her only issue there was stopping moving was annoying, but it was something she could fix by absentmindedly hopping around Leon before they kept going again. It was pretty cool to see him getting recognised so much, anyway. 

[color=629c3f]”Of course I listen to Decent Exposure! Remind me to get you to sign some’ve my albums l got. But y’know, I can definitely tell when it ain’t you singing. The guitar’s a bit harder to figure out… But the singing ain’t! At least not when you’re attuned to your dulcet tones like I am.”[/color] Cass threw her hands up with a laugh. 

[color=629c3f]”Never got to see a tour, though. I wanted to, but couldn’t- wanted to hear more’ve you actually singing and shit, I guess! But the music’s still solid, even when you ain’t on it.”[/color] Her eyes narrowed teasingly at him. Of course she wasn’t the kind of fan that [i]only[/i] listened to a band cause she was a fan of one guy in it. It was her kinda music anyway- and part of a very expansive collection she listened to.

Leon grinned at the instant flattery, eyes narrowing until they closed fully, his big grin lingering as she finished speaking.
[color=C67C12]”The talent really speaks for itself; it’s my kind of music too. Honestly, I like only contributing part-time. I still feel close to the project, but I can appreciate it as an outsider more often than I can as a contributor. It’s liberating, I guess… Plus, God, if people recognized me more from them? That’s why appearing on the album as a feature is a lot easier than being [i]The Guy[/i], right? Marcus Pinsky is a great frontman too, I like to think I have charisma, but his little Devil is even hungrier for attention than Lelou. Dude’s a saint for dealing with that shit like he does.”[/color]

Ah yes… Another giant of an industry magically juiced by something or another. Was talent real? Or was it all magic, raw from the tap and syphoned by a less receptive mind? Maybe time would reveal all statistics to Cass as its inexorable march forward was spent traveling close behind the wake of Leon’s ship of fame.

[color=C67C12]”We’ll definitely go see them next time we match up with a tour. Maybe we’ll even get up on stage; you and I can duet. [i]Orbiting Bodies[/i] is my favorite…”[/color]
A deeper cut from an album smack dab in the middle of the discography. One that Leon hadn’t actually written anything for, but had been chosen to sing due to a certain ethereal quality Leon had that Marcus didn’t. A song about Marcus, and his at-the-time sick father, and the inability to reconvene before the inevitable worst happened.

Of course, Leon knew it wasn’t exactly the type of song to duet, but having lost his own Father before being able to reconcile certain things touched him in a place he couldn’t deny. He wanted to share the emotion with Cass, not so much the subject matter. 

[color=629c3f]”Oh yeah, I really like that one too. Made me fucking sob when I first heard it!”[/color] Cass admitted with incredible ease. It was empathy more than relation, but the kind of empathy only really possible having lost someone herself. Those who’d never suffered grief so young tended not to understand the conflicting feelings… Even if she was on good terms with her brother for his whole life. 

[color=629c3f]”I always find it’s the more emotional songs that really show a band's talent. Like… Anyone can be carried by [i]energy[/i]. But the sadder stuff? You gotta be skilled.”[/color] She looked up at him with earnest openness. 
[color=629c3f]”I can definitely understand why it’d be your favourite.”[/color]

As they walked, he couldn’t help but notice what was missing…
[color=C67C12]”So… Maybe too much to duet? We’ll get something lighter. Marc’ll love you, I bet. I know, honestly, uh… During the war, he went to go volunteer over there, I’m not sure what part of England, but…”[/color] he shrugged, vaguely waving his hands around.

[color=C67C12]”Y’know, it doesn’t matter too much so long as it’s with you. For now, let’s definitely get you some drums today. I want that to happen, especially if you feel like you’d be comfortable practicing up there.”[/color] he smiled.
[color=C67C12]”We’ll ask Casey to soundproof it too…”[/color]

Cass grinned, easily following along with the mood swinging back up. 
[color=629c3f]”I’d love that! I ain’t got any before cause they’re so noisy, y’know? I kinda figured I couldn’t till I was rich enough to own an actual house or something. Magic really fixes every problem, don’t it?”[/color]

She was exaggerating, of course. It didn’t fix everything… But it sure did fix certain problems that were otherwise expensive to deal with. Like soundproofing… 
[color=629c3f]”But if you wanna duet, we’re gonna have to practice… With clothes on! We’ve always played together naked, I ain’t sure if I’d have the confidence to do it clothed! Y’know… acoustics or something!”[/color]

Leon made a jokingly flat expression, shaking his head.
[color=C67C12]”You’ve finally said something that makes no sense! God, I was starting to wonder if you were human.”[/color] he said, finally laughing aloud as his hand moved up to ruffle into her curls.

Long, active strides carried them on toward the fabled record store of Cass’ itinerary. Having stopped for some coffee and a couple more rabid Timberwolf fans (and some serious flirting across all parties), Leon was grateful that their entry to this hole-in-the-wall storefront was met with zero recognition. In fact, the clerk at the front didn’t even bother looking up from his magazine, which was Leon’s favorite vibe to walk into. If the clerk was comfortable, that meant the store was too.

And what a wonder it was, as the initial storefront seemed to be mostly decorum and special offers locked up in tightly sealed display cases just waiting for the right hipster’s thousand dollars. And Leon was that rich hipster, who, upon entering and sweeping his vision across the panorama of rare and expensive collector’s pieces, instantly locked eyes on a small cassette tape resting on a little velvet bed. Predatory vision honed in on the [i]immaculate[/i] preservation job of what was probably the most amazing piece of box art ever made for the cassette era. 

He didn’t care about the music inside, although it was a wonderful album with a seriously psychedelic style: It was a piece of Gravity memorabilia even [i]he[/i] had a hard time getting his hands on. The depiction was of a nebula, and if one left the art within the package they’d never see the rest. But pulling it out and unfolding it revealed that the nebula was shaped like a man. And the man who that was, was a twenty-year old Maxwell IV just starting out on his own career. Such a subtle Gravity reference, especially having essentially nothing to do with boxing, made it an incredibly desirable piece to the right person.

Something that whoever owned this place clearly understood…

But he didn’t bring any attention to it, not wanting to have it brought out until they were ready to go. So, he followed Cass through the small clerk area into the greater shop. Around a single corner, down a small set of stairs, the place opened up into a warehouse that probably spanned the rear of the other buildings on the street. There was an abudding brick block that carved a section out, presumably for the music shop next door… Maybe it was a studio? It was [i]incredibly[/i] quiet for a big brick block that typically vibrated gently with talking…

[color=C67C12]”Do… They have a studio next door?”[/color] he asked quietly, taking in the rows and rows of records, and racks of laser disks.

Cass had to literally skid to a halt, in the process of absconding towards sections she knew had music she liked. Balancing with one foot up, she turned her head towards Leon. 
[color=629c3f]”Uhhh… I think so? They gotta downstairs in the music shop, at least. I ain’t been in it. Could be a studio.”[/color]

Her gaze went past him to the row they were standing at the start of, with its more mainstream selection of indie rock. Not the stuff Cass was so into anymore, but sometimes they had hidden gems… Or records that were hard to find because they were so popular. As her eyes quickly skimmed it, they widened. 

[color=629c3f]”Oh shit!”[/color] She shot forward, pulling a record out. It showed a cool purple cityscape on the cover.
[color=629c3f]”They got one’ve the earlier Numbats albums! Rey loves these guys- I mean they’re pretty popular, but y’know… She definitely ain’t got this one!”[/color]

Leon nodded, having seen the album before.
[color=C67C12]”Is this the dark print? I’m pretty sure there’s another version with a clear print that has the same cityscape as on the sleeve.”[/color] he asked, flicking through them to see if there were any that had a slightly pricier tag on them.

[color=C67C12]”Well, hold onto it. We’ll ask if they’ve got the collector’s print when we get up front; maybe in a cabinet up there or something.”[/color] he smiled, happy to be able to participate in gift hunting. If he ever had the chance to upscale the gift, he invariably took it.

[color=C67C12]”How ‘come they always call marsupials ‘bats’? Like, wombat, dingbat, numbat…”[/color] he asked with an incredibly puzzled voice as he stared at the record sleeve a little longer.

[color=629c3f]”I’m pretty sure for numbats and wombats it comes from, like, the native Australian name for em. So it ain’t bat in English but in another language.”[/color] Cass answered, somehow pulling the knowledge from her brain. But it wasn’t so surprising with her obsessive personality and general love of animals. She’d gone down many rabbit holes of the years about various obscure creatures. 

[color=629c3f]”And who’s to say they ain’t the original bat, anyway!”[/color] She laughed, putting the record under her arm after Leon had plenty of time to look at it. She continued to move down the row, cursorily scanning it in case there was anything else they could pick up for Reyna.

[color=629c3f]”Y’know I considered imitating the long tongue that the numbats and anteaters got, for like a crazy party trick… But I only knew Rey had magic, and she wouldn’t find it funny. Not that the others would either… Trisha’d probably sting my tongue to oblivion!”[/color]

Leon grimaced.
[color=C67C12]”Oh, God, Babe please… The last thing I want is something long, thin and wet snaking into a place I didn’t expect it. Find me [i]one[/i] person who appreciates that as a joke and I’ll find you a sounding fetishist.”[/color] he laughed aloud, thanking the lord that the other people in the store were so few and far between. 

[color=C67C12]”So, how much is for Reyna? How much is for you? Don’t be shy, I’ll cover whatever you don’t think you could… If that sounds like a half decent arrangement?”[/color] he asked, wondering how she felt about the good ol’ premium split.

Cass stopped playfully pouting at him to properly think about his suggestion. She hadn’t come in her planning to get much for herself, but she also knew the moment she laid her eyes on records she wanted she’d be unable to resist. And while she had quite a decent amount of savings from her job, she did help her brothers cover a bunch of costs back home, so she couldn’t just spend money like it was nothing. But she also [i]didn’t[/i] want to use Leon’s money too much like that either. He already paid for most of the food, they weren’t asking for any rent on the Cannery apartment… It had a risk of making shit really uneven!
 
[color=629c3f]”We can get Rey maybe three records or something- anything more she’ll feel is too much. As for me… I ain’t sure! Depends what they got. That’s how it always is with this place! Sometimes they got a ton of obscure shit I want, sometimes it’s all stuff I already got.”[/color] Cass scratched her chin. She hadn’t really answered the money split question yet. 

[color=629c3f]”I suppose if I end up getting too much, sure, that works! It can be like an early birthday present! Well- there’s the drums too… that can be too, I guess? Early, kinda insane birthday present…”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Oh, no no… The drums are more like an investment into your enrichment as a human. I don’t really put a price on something like that; honestly I donate money to musical gear for like, different St. Portwell schools and charities for places elsewhere… It’s a special interest. Anytime someone’s like ‘Yo I wanna play an instrument’ I’m like sure, we’ll make it happen. In other words, I guess… Don’t be shy?”[/color] he smiled, already knowing that the cassette out there was never his to keep. As soon as she knew? He could only imagine the excited bouncing.

[color=C67C12]”Now, be on the lookout for any color-print. If it’s got a funky ass vinyl, I want it… Just point it out and I’ll see if I have it in storage.”[/color] he smiled, looking around for any distinguishing marks that would reveal the special prints that [i]weren’t[/i] products with four to five zeros in the price tag.

Not that he found anything before coming to rest on a banger of an album.

[color=C67C12]”Oh, hell yeah… Grain debut album. So many good songs, God… This came out, I was like… Twelve? Lynette played the shit out of it, I almost got sick of it.”[/color]
He broke out into an imitation of the most famous song on the album, featuring an oddly placed rock-scat solo near the end of the track which he was perfectly imitating.

Cass grinned, half bouncing half dancing along to his singing. She’d already bounded a fair bit away- but more than close enough they could talk to each other. Especially with the super senses and general lack of people around. Not many people went record shopping on a Wednesday morning… But that was great, cause she didn’t even have to worry about constraining herself. 

[color=629c3f]”Babe, I dunno if I feel jealous or sympathetic. Cause having that album almost ruined for you? Damn, I’d be well pissed. But also actually sharing some music tastes with your parents? Not getting yelled at to ‘turn that screamy bangy shit off’ whenever you try listen to it? Kinda outweighs the downsides I think. My parents are really ‘silence is the best kinda music’ people.”[/color] She laughed, shrugging off a statement that really summed up what a lot of her childhood had been like. 

Leon nodded, smiling.
[color=C67C12]”Oh, I can empathize with that. I guess that it would, ultimately, be way better to have parents who are into cool shit. Withholding the drawbacks of getting, y’know, crazy and dangerous in the genetic pool.”[/color] 

He could’ve thought of a million different things that he’d have given up their parent-child mutual interest in Numetal to have out of his life. But, it was Cass… He didn’t want to ruffle her feathers with his accidental trauma dumps.

[color=629c3f]”Well you can get crazy and dangerous in the genetic pool when there ain’t the similarities too- Not that I did. Just some people I know.”[/color] Cass shrugged one shoulder, smiling. 

It wasn’t really high up on her list of things she wanted to change about her parents. But maybe if they were more similar, her parents would have understood her as a person better? There’d be some sympathy instead of trying to force her into a specific box they wanted her to fit into… 

She shook away the thought, finally getting to a section full of stuff she was interested in. [i]Progressive rock.[/i] While generally Cass veered more into heavy rock and then metal, she had a soft spot for the weirdness you got with prog. Plus, so many of the big bands were British. There was quite a lot she already had, but-

[color=629c3f]”Oh shit!”[/color] She pulled out a primarily steel blue record, with a funky picture of a solid metal cube painted in a watercolour style on it. 
[color=629c3f]”Fuck, fuck- Look! Look, Leon! They got Rigid by No! Y’know how hard this is to get? Shit, it’s only like 60 dollars too… That’s pretty cheap for something that ain’t been in print since… I dunno, I think I was like, five? Either way, holy shit! I guess it just ain’t so popular over here, huh, so they ain’t asking for an arm and a leg?”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Oh, damn, that has [i]Straightaway[/i] right?”[/color] he asked, almost instantly striking an incredibly vogue-level pose to imitate the characters from the popular anime associated with the song.
[color=C67C12]”Sat through ten seasons of that show with Gin, shit was [i]bizarre[/i].”[/color] he laughed.

Taking a second glance over, he saw her staring at the vinyl itself. The swirling blue-into-grey subtly formed the telltale cube-structure that the Rigid album cover was known for. An attractive enough press that he figured he had a display it could go into. Having only cursorily cared about sleeves, which he kept in their own plastic protectors to be locked away in storage, Leon mostly cared about the vinyl itself. Any markings, interesting patterns, prints that weren’t the standard ink-tone presses, were all things he really valued. It was something of a hobby to get records and coordinate them in color or theme collages, sometimes having a dozen vinyls in a single piece.

[color=C67C12]”There a second one over there? I wouldn’t want to deprive you, but that’s definitely one I don’t have either.”[/color] he asked simply.

[color=629c3f]”Uhhhhh…”[/color] Cass scanned the vinyls on display, before flipping through them just to see. There were a fair few others by No, but no other copies of Rigid. She wasn’t surprised considering that it was a pretty difficult to find album, what with the popularity of Straightaway. 

[color=629c3f]”They don’t…”[/color] Her face fell a little bit, before very quickly brightening up as her gaze snapped up from the vinyl to Leon. 
[color=629c3f]”We can share it! Unless you’re one of those people who likes to only look at his vinyls and not, like, y’know… play em… like they’re made for…”[/color]

Leon gave a playful frown.
[color=C67C12]”I can listen to ‘em any time digitally, y’know? The LPs are artful… Soulful, even. Someone took the time to think about how the pattern would come out, and how it’d look spinning in the deck. I’m not ashamed.”[/color]

He loomed over her, looking down at the album and noting the color along with the given grain texture, trying to compare it to other things in his collection before shrugging and letting it go.

[color=C67C12]”You win, of course; my argument about being able to listen to it digitally just highlights how little I really [i]need[/i] it, I think.”[/color] he finished, smiling and kissing the top of her head. 

Cass let out a little giggle, tilting her head back and stretching up to kiss the bottom of his jaw. 
[color=629c3f]”I’d say thank you but y’know, finders keepers and all! It’ll look [i]real[/i] good [i]spinning in my deck[/i]. I gotta real nice setup! It was one of the first things I upgraded when I got my job.”[/color]

She carefully put it under her arm along with the Numbats record, taking small steps to the side to keep looking through the vinyls in this section. She was bound to find a couple more Prog ones she didn’t have yet… 

[color=629c3f]”What d’you do with them if you don’t play em, then? Please tell me they ain’t just stored… Or did I somehow miss the cool vinyl display in your place?”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”I’d say you’ve probably seen a few at my place and just didn’t stop to look. In the hall by the bedrooms there’s one between the trophy shelves, and then another on the left side of the TV. There’s also one in my office down there, which I know you’re not in much. And then I’ve probably got twelve or thirteen other displays in various locations. A few in some of Andrade’s restaurants where they fit, quite a few at the Temple… They’re around, and they’re mine, and I… Just like puttin’ em together and looking at them through my own satisfied mind’s eye.”[/color] he explained, all smiles as he thought about amassing the records, then finding a board, then actually mounting it all together… 

It was a supremely satisfying little hoarding habit that quelled the natural physical artist within. He was, after all, the only Richoux child without Orange Lux to tinker with things… And he truly was the only one who [i]didn’t[/i] tinker.

[color=C67C12]”All my siblings have something physical they do, like an art… I’ve got the instruments still, I’ve got the crazy hand-eye coordination. But, I’ve got no impetus to participate in much physical artistry these days. Lelou’s not really a patience-oriented partner, if that makes sense.”[/color]

He wondered what he’d even tinker [i]on[/i] these days. There wasn’t a lot that interested him; weapon making, or other crafting? Clothing design? Jewelry, like dear old Granny? None of it brought joy, probably because there was no magic to channel it through. 

[color=C67C12]”Getting a board together is like getting a little stash together. Something about it itches Lelou’s brain, so she itches mine in return. It may have something to do with the music too, she is absolutely a patron. Just doesn’t have any kind of patience.”[/color] he admitted, giggling a little bit as he moved back off to find a new target.

Cass nodded along. She didn’t have a literal impatience ghost in her brain, but she did have her own little mental demons. If she wasn’t into something she just didn’t have the patience for it either… But at least it was just based on her own whims. Double edged sword really, cause when she got properly into something it was hard to drag her away.

Putting together Vinyls on a display was the kind of thing that’d probably be in the boring category for her. But it was pretty cool to see the final results… She’d actually have to look when they got back.

[color=629c3f]”So if I become an awesome one woman band, both you and Lelou will be completely enraptured?”[/color] Cass joked, pulling out another vinyl and silently adding it to her collection. It wasn’t anything particularly special, just an album of an obscure, more recent prog rock band she’d forgotten to preorder a vinyl from when it came out… 

She quickly looked around to double check there wasn’t anyone in earshot before continuing.
[color=629c3f]”I bet if I grew a couple more arms I could drum and play the guitar at the same time. Might overload my brain, but hey, that’s the price I gotta pay to become uniquely talented and thus an extra hot musician.”[/color]


[color=C67C12]”I’m sure you’ll get to the point that you can bootstrap a second nervous system into your first one. Then you’re one step closer to psionism.”[/color] Leon half-joked, knowing fully well that there were Green Lux Adepts with enough power to physically multiply themselves, never mind just having a secondary nervous system. 

[color=C67C12]”Remind me again what I’m hunting for our girl for? Or, are you doing that yourself?”[/color] he asked, starting to flip absentmindedly through increasingly aggressive guitar riffs.

[color=629c3f]”I’m kinda looking, but I ain’t really in the right section… Uh, more like old school rock? Lighter stuff too, more indie rock and that. She always gets a kick outta anything that’s in Spanish too- ain’t so common, though. I could list bands but we’d be here ages so just… shout if you think you find something!”[/color] Cass responded after some thinking. 

She took a mental note of the whole second nervous system thing to possibly think about later and probably forget. It seemed pretty cool, but also an insane amount of work for what… didn’t seem like much reward. At least, for her! She didn’t [i]need[/i] to be able to do things doubly, normally. 

[color=629c3f]”Oh dude… You ever heard of the band Haken?”[/color] Cass asked, doing her best to sound as neutral as possible rather than super excited about something she’d just remembered as she picked up one of their vinyls.

Leon pointed.
[color=C67C12]”Ayyy! What fuckin’ color is it! Look for a yellow one, Babe, the only one I’m missing is fuckin’ yellow!”[/color] he started to encroach back toward her at a quicker-than-necessary speed.

Cass’ put on passive expression fell for just a moment- she’d remembered the band had sick as fuck vinyl’s, but of course Leon’s nose for colourful records clearly outweighed their general obscurity. She flipped the one she’d picked up- Virus, the album with the many coloured, collectible vinyls… What were the chances? Yellow must be the most sought out one, after all-

[color=629c3f]”Oh shit!”[/color] she literally jumped a foot off the ground, only managing to avoid dropping all the vinyls she was carrying thanks to her lightning fast research. She managed to keep her excitement to a more reasonable level of just the normal excited bouncing after she landed. 

Wait, fuck… She should’ve held it in. Then she could’ve teased him… Well she still could, couldn’t she? 

Cass smirked at the rapidly approaching Leon, hugging the vinyl to her chest. 
[color=629c3f]”Well look at that, it’s yellow… But I don’t actually have this album on vinyl yet, and it’s the only one, so…”[/color] She outright lied, stepping to the side to not so subtly cover up another copy of the same album.

[color=C67C12]”Oh, I don’t care about that, Cass! You can have all eight of my copies, I just… Need to know that I put them all together. [i]We[/i] put them together. Wherever they live, that’s just where they live. Custody with Mom, Dad, we’re hardly divorced. Just, add it to your pile. I just need to pay for [i]that one[/i] when we’re done.”[/color] he reactively compromised, years of doing so for the sake of his Mother turning his one pig-headed “my way or the highway” attitude into a soft, pliable bed of subtle suggestions.

In truth, that [i]was[/i] all that really mattered. If she was going to listen to them, as long as she promised to keep them displayed a certain way, she could listen all she wanted. It was, ultimately, the completion of a job. Probably the oddest high that Lelou gave him was from satisfaction in action and reaction. It made [i]killing[/i] feel good. If he aimed to do so, and killed without pause, she rewarded it. It was quickest, and what drove him most easily into a rampage. Even thinking about it in the subtle mind made his lip quiver.

[color=629c3f]”Aw, Babe, no…”[/color] Cass suddenly looked a little sad, holding out the vinyl towards him. She didn’t want to bulldoze over him like that… Not right now when it was a joke, but not when it was something serious either. Sure, maybe all he needed was to put them together. Maybe it was alright that she somehow ended up having all of them so she could listen to one. 

But how was that fair to him? He couldn’t display it. And she couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t mess with it either… Or just forget to put things back. 

[color=629c3f]”It was just a joke. I know we’re together and all- hopefully for a long while- but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important to have our own things. I hope you ain’t just gonna give me everything without even a protest if you don’t [i]really[/i] want to?”[/color] She wasn’t speaking with her normal loudness, but it was still [i]firm[/i]. Like she wanted him to actually think about it rather than just compromising again. 
[color=629c3f]”And I’m sorry. I just wanted to see you excited, I shouldn’t’ve played with you like that.”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Oh… N-nah, it’s… It’s not like that, Babe… Well, I mean, maybe it is? No! No, I’m serious, it’s… It ain’t like your apartment ain’t upstairs. I can come up, see ‘em. After all, how often are [i]you[/i] gonna listen to it? Enough that you think the little display I make for it is gonna be fucked up all the time? ‘Cuz, honestly, I’ll just fix it if it’s messed up. Sometimes I feel like a magpie.”[/color] he admitted, smiling down at her and stroking his thumb gently across her face.

[color=C67C12]”I’ve got plenty of logical ideas to back up my feelings toward it, as long as I examine it. It’s just split second seeming, or like there’s no protest, because I’m… Pretty good at making up my mind.”[/color]

Which wasn’t entirely a lie. The whole two-brain theory afforded him a great amount of time to think about things that crunched down into split seconds for others. Mostly because he could afford to let Lelou’s instincts take the motor function. But, that didn’t mean that her being concerned wasn’t somehow valid. He had to admit to being a bit of a beaten dog in a lot of regards.


Cass stared up at him, trying to hunt for any signs that he didn’t really mean what he was saying. Not that she [i]assumed[/i] he didn’t… She was just used to people who tried to hide how they felt. She couldn’t really read anything obvious from his face, even if she wasn’t entirely convinced. 

[color=629c3f]”Well, so long as you [i]do[/i] protest if you don’t want to do something, and other shit like that. Then I can protest back, then we come to a compromise together and all. No just bending to my every whim or anything!”[/color] She tilted her face against his hand with a slight smile. Her hands were too full to physically respond in any other way right now.

[color=629c3f]”And only if you’re sure about the vinyl. It ain’t that I think I’m gonna listen to it often, just that when I [i]do[/i] there’s a chance I’ll just leave it in the record player for days or, uh… When I swap it out for another one? I kinda just… put it into the sleeve for the vinyl I’m replacing it with… Rather than putting it back where it should be…”[/color] She admitted.

[color=C67C12]”And I’ll never make you feel bad for that. Your habits are yours, and I’m asking to make a little display for you. Pick the color you like the most, and that’ll be the one you can pull out of it freely. But, I think we can both say for sure, we only need [i]one[/i] sleeve.”[/color] he joked, looking down at the vague egg-froth yellow with the image of the virus on it.


[color=C67C12]”It’s something we can even do together; pick out a display you like since it’ll be in your apartment, yadda yadda. I’ll draw something up later.”[/color] Leon grinned, satisfied with the compromise as his hands reached out for what she’d gathered so far.

[color=C67C12]”I’ll hold ‘em if you want.”[/color] he offered with the same smile.

[color=629c3f]”Sure, sure, put those big hands of yours to good use.”[/color] Cass teased, easily handing the various vinyls over to him. She did generally prefer having her hands free after all… Less of a risk of throwing something valuable when she got too excited. 

[color=629c3f]”Thank you very much, Babe. Now my hands are free to do whatever I wanna…”[/color] As if to demonstrate, and possibly thank him further, she patted- then briefly squeezed- his ass. Then she darted further down the row to keep looking at vinyls with a bright grin.

She was more than happy with the compromise, as well. It’d be cool to have something like that up in the apartment- something they’d done together, among the gazillion boxing posters. She had band posters too, and a ton of pictures with friends and family… But not really anything that had been [i]made[/i]. She wasn’t creative in that way. 

[color=629c3f]”Making a display like that sounds nice! Maybe you can help sort out my other records- I always think about making it not just a random mess, then never bother.”[/color] She paused, letting out a little joke gasp, before laughing. 
[color=629c3f]”Oh God, with all these PG-13 plans we’re gonna become prudes!”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Woah, hella untrue. We’re hip regardless; don’t ever question that. Pervs can have PG-13 interests. Besides, it's not in my nature to miss degenerating by the end of a long stretch of good behavior.”[/color] he grinned, starting to move back toward some other softer, or more popular, rock.

[color=C67C12]”Does she like, uh… Ice Cold Cherries? Floridation double print, the red on one and blue on two.”[/color] He held up the iconic image of a Florida trailer park situated along a beach with palm trees surrounding it.

[color=629c3f]”She does- Whoa, I didn’t know they had a Floridation double print. Actually… I didn’t even know that was a thing?”[/color] Cass twisted around to stare at it with awe for just a moment, before laughing. It was just… It was an iconic image, of course, an iconic album, an iconic band. But the ‘Floridation’ double print seemed a little ridiculous. 

[color=629c3f]”She’ll- she’ll probably like it.”[/color] She managed to stop laughing long enough to speak again. 
[color=629c3f]”As far as I’m aware she doesn’t have anything against Florida either, so we’re extra safe with it.”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Well, alright! It’s pretty easy listening, some rock some pop, a little punk a little funk; they were definitely coming off that whole punk vibe from when they started. Streaming the music for the main vein, y’know?”[/color] he intoned, trying and failing to not sound like a nerd at a trivia competition.

[color=629c3f]"Ohhhh yeah, that's kinda where they lost me. Not that I'm one of those people who's all like ‘mainstream music sucks and I have superior taste', it just tends to not be my kinda thing! I was way more into the full punk vibe from the start… But hey, plenty of other punk bands to listen to."[/color] Cass shot right back, just as much as a nerd for music. It was, after all, one of her big passions. 

[color=629c3f]"Though it is cool when bands keep some if the original sound when they go more mainstream, and being people into new genres they wouldn't normally explore."[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Oh, man… I prefer they just stay the way I fell in love with them with. I know that’s probably a bad habit of mine, but I’m not the biggest fan of change. Especially after meeting and talking to a lot of these guys? I understand why they transition away from what they were doing… But, you can’t help falling in love with what you first saw.”[/color] 

Leon didn’t make many secrets about his everlasting nostalgia. Even after Severance, the emotion didn’t go away. He was no less bold, and no less wrapped up in idealized images of things as they were. It was the kind of talk he’d been molded by, after all; brave knights on horses come to banish the darkness. Heroism on grand and ancient scales.

[color=C67C12]”Definitely learning how to get away from that behavior… But letting go of the ingrained perception is probably difficult for most people, I wager.”[/color]

He saw Marcus’ other band, the incredibly famous MACHINE, and thought about all the music the guy had made over a decade and a half in the music industry. And yet, really, Leon never needed more to connect to him than one song. If that one song was the [i]basis[/i] of the attraction otherwise, then surely there was no need for anything else to come before or after. It was a difficult boiling down of his internal mindset over something that he’d actually bothered to internalize… Because he, again, wound up meeting a lot of heroes himself.

And most of them were disappointing.

Marc was a nice guy, he was great, but ten years ago just about exactly they’d met. And it was hard for Leon to admit that, in spite of Marc very clearly being that good person, [i]he didn’t actually like him.[/i] Not anymore, at least. He’d lost all the down to Earth qualities one should have when you’re first cutting your teeth in professional entertainment. The ground broke apart, hoisted itself in the air to lift that guy up to the sky from an [i]incredibly[/i] shitty position… 

And now he played private Temple concerts in the steeple, and schmoozed with people who plied his Blind behavior with magical trinkets and toys. Easily manipulated by miracles in his face, but then what Third-Eye wouldn’t be?

Moments like talking to him about his song, about what he [i]had connected over[/i], they were great. But they were also so long ago… And he just wished he could reach back in time to reclaim them. Because he hated that kind of change. 

[color=C67C12]”She’s probably not into MACHINE, right? Even the new stuff is a bit rough and tumble for casual listening…”[/color] he reflected his own internal thoughts quietly.

[color=629c3f]"You [I]really[/I] hate change, huh?"[/color] It was the blunt, impulsive question that came out of Cass' mouth, instead of any well thought through one. 

In the time that Leon had been staring at the MACHINE album like a frozen computer, Cass had made her way back over and right into his space. She stared up at him with a concern, while clearly pushing him to actually answer. She was close enough that she really had to tilt her head back to look at him, arms loosely winding around him in what may have been comfort or a trap.

[color=629c3f]"What happened? I ain't taking ‘what are you talking about' or anything as an answer, you zoned out for a solid few minutes. Kinda hard to not notice! Clearly some not fun thoughts up there so… Y'know, always better to share, rather than letting it stew."[/color]

She could vaguely guess, with the talk of change then the attention on MACHINE. Something to do with the band? People in it? She got it, a bit… There was some change she found easy to deal with. Bands changing their style? That was easy, because she could just listen to their older stuff and ignore the new. Practical things she could do something about? Annoying, because it often meant changing how she did things, but possible. But people, when they changed for the worst? She struggled with that. Everyone struggled with that. 

She just had a habit of directly confronting them over it, which never went well.

Like… Right now… Shit. Well, she'd said it now, might as well just go with it! Sometimes it was better to push people with these things, anyway. 

[color=C67C12]”People change too. I'm proud of my improvements. Marc's probably proud of his. That doesn't mean I like the person who came out on the other end, and I feel guilty. Objective improvement should mean good things, so why I'm so hung up on the past is probably just… nostalgia, holding me in the moment. Making me think things were better than they were.”[/color] he did his best to spit out the results of the internal debate rather than trudging endlessly through the meat and potatoes surrounding it.

Life was getting weird. Soon he'd be unhitching his own wagon from the prairie train to wander off for lands of his own. Thankfully the hills of gold were already dry: He'd be wandering off into the settled places, where life had already bloomed, and was well through withering.

[color=C67C12]”But it's hard, the ego still thinks that it's right, that its presumptions are all completely correct. It's not even a Lelou problem… and it makes me conflicted. Because I feel so strongly about being right, and I never am…”[/color] he admitted quietly, still holding the album in his hands.

[color=C67C12]”Marc's a great guy. Clean and sober five years now. Generous, kind, willing to give you the shirt off his back, always looking to have some kind of fun. But all the genuine humanity, all the stains that made him interesting as a person… They aren't there. He doesn't really listen anymore, he doesn't have time to just sit. Always doing something, always being seen by someone, doing something good. I have to genuinely believe this sanitized sterilized face that looks back at me with that blank fucking smile is the same guy responsible for this album?”[/color]

He quietly and calmly replaced the album on the shelf, letting his fingers drag across the surface. The psychedelic image of a hand covered in eyes stayed in his brain even as he turned away. For a split second, Leon dedicated some thought power into considering why he was feeling this way. Why this was coming out now. Maybe there was some underlying depression? He definitely wasn't sure of the months ahead. Father Wolf may've slowed his murderous roll, but the future marched inexorably onward.

Either he'd kill again, or the notes Greyson lifted from the House of Cards would put a lid on that chapter in St. Portwell's magical history. But Leon was fine… The only person here cared about who was gone now was Daisy, presumably with his collar…-

[color=C67C12]”I think maybe it's just… one of those days, y'know? Sorry, Babe.”[/color] he finished, sliding a hand up into hers and holding it tight.

Cass shook her head at his apology, squeezing his hand in response. 
[color=629c3f]"I ain't looking for you to apologise cause you're a bit more gloomy than normal. I'd be kinda a shit girlfriend if I was only alright with dealing with your good moments, wouldn't I?"[/color]

She wasn't someone dragged down by someone else's low mood anyway. [I]Maybe[/I] if she'd caused it… but even then, she'd just try her hardest to fix it. Sometimes it was hard to not just try fix whatever the problems were. That was always going to be her inclination… 

[color=629c3f]"Sometimes even if someone changes for the better, you ain't gonna like who comes out the other end. You can think ‘good on him' and ‘we don't get on like we did'. They ain't mutually exclusive. You can be nostalgic and accept that it's better for that person, right? So long as you don't try stop the change…"[/color] Cass trailed off, free hand going to rub the back of her neck. She was coming across as lecturing when she really didn't mean to. What was the point she was trying to get to? Oh, right. 

[color=629c3f]"It ain't bad to feel upset about it. Right and wrong ain't really so easy when it comes to emotions… And like, he's not the guy you became close to, right? You don't feel those feelings anymore? That's rough. It's like… a kinda grieving. Sure, maybe that's selfish. But you ain't putting it on him are you?"[/color]

Still felt a bit lecture-y. Oh well. She pushed up right onto her tiptoes, tilting her head right up to press a kiss against his cheek. Then she smiled. 

[color=629c3f]"Really, I'm tryna say I get it! Honestly!"[/color] Even if in the end, she'd been the person who changed so drastically that past friendships fell apart… 
[color=629c3f]"And you're allowed to feel upset about it, even if you know some of that feeling is wrong. It's only human."[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Well… That’s probably where the disconnect is. Y’know we were never [i]just[/i] kids. There was always something going on with our noble bloodline, our defense and patronage of a Blind society. The natural reaction being, of course, that ultimately we were more than them. Smarter, harder, like Elves looking at mankind. It was harder to parse as a kid. Imagine racism on a more abstract level, like what people look like don’t matter, it’s all in what you can do. Maybe I’d feel differently about Marc if he had some kind of magic. But, he’s just got money now. Like that fixed all his problems… I’ve got money, why aren’t all [i]my[/i] problems fixed? Oh, right, because there’s more in the world than your cocaine addiction…”[/color]

He finally threw his hands up, closing his eyes and tilting his head back with some exasperation. Leon could recognize when internal conflict was leading to frustration; the conversation was no longer just about Marc. It was tangential, and that was never good for trying to work through a single specific problem.

[color=C67C12]”Never mind this. It’s deeper than the album or the guy, and honestly it’ll kill my mood if I keep going.”[/color] he admitted with a more stern, firm tone than previously used.

Cass' eyes narrowed slightly, visibly thinking as she pushed down her initial reaction to what felt like being [I]shut down.[/I] It was never something she did well with. When she pushed and the iron gates came crashing down, she always wanted to just keep pushing further. To just get to the bottom of it all instead of leaving stuff in what felt like an unresolved state. 

But it wasn't an issue between [I]them[/I]. It wasn't really something she had any right to stubbornly push him on, even though she absolutely wanted to. She really wanted to get into it- but she was pulled back by the location. It really wasn't the place to push and push and risk an argument or bad mood. Not the middle of a fucking record store… Not when they were meeting Rey later either. 

She really shouldn't get so riled up about it anyway. It was Leon's issue. It should be at his pace and whenever he wanted to talk about it. 

Not that she could just leave it like that… 

[color=629c3f]"Alright, you're right, it ain't the time or place."[/color] She visibly wound down, shaking out her arms to get rid of the tensions that'd crept into them. 

[color=629c3f]"But! We're gonna come back to it sometime. I ain't the kinda person who can just forget and ignore stuff like that… that resentment ain't healthy. It's clearly something that's hurting you, y’know?"[/color] She held a hand out for his again. 

[color=629c3f]"I'll stop pushing for now… I gotta pick the right time and place to really push and push till I piss you off, yeah?"[/color] Her eyebrows raised up and down, and she grinned, trying to make it clear she was joking about that last bit.

Leon shook his head.
[color=C67C12]”You don’t need to [i]push me[/i], Cass. I feel like I’ve been pretty free with my thoughts thus far, at least from my own position. It’s just like you said, not here and not now. That doesn’t mean home later isn’t an option… Are you uh, like, used to people just clamming up and then never coming back to things?”[/color] he asked with an incredibly even tone. 

Asking a question like that had to be even… Too many times, he’d been caught off guard by asking a genuine question only for the person receiving to freak out about the tone. He’d long learned that it’s all about how one comes off.

[color=C67C12]”It’s just, y’know, we’re out. We’re doing stuff. I’ll happily be depressed and spill my guts later, and I’m sorry that I had a long enough reaction that you got worried.”[/color] he added, arms hugging around her and rubbing up and down her back before pulling away to take her hand.
[color=C67C12]”And thank you… You’re great at letting me know you’re here and active. Not shying away ever… The consistency is a boon.”[/color] he finished, planting a kiss on her head. 

[color=629c3f]"Heh, I'm like a rock. A real fast moving rock… eh, maybe not the right metaphor… But anyway! Consistent and bold are my middle names."[/color] She grinned up at him. She swung their joined hands, tugging him in the direction she'd come from to keep looking at records. She certainly wanted to pick up a couple more. 

Her mind went back to his question as she did. Not avoiding it, just considering how to answer it. The answer was yes, obviously, she was used to that. But did she give the simple answer, or explain it a bit more? 

[color=629c3f]"As for your question… Yeah, I'm pretty used to that. A lotta people I've had in my life just put up the walls in the moment, and they ain't gonna lower ‘em later. I grew up in a pretty traditional household, so my brothers were always pressured to be ‘men’ and not talk about their feelings, especially not to their sister. So I got pretty used to just forcing my way in, especially with the younger two."[/color] She shrugged one shoulder.

It was the first time she'd really mentioned the ‘traditional household.’ She always talked about her brothers, about what happened to the older two serving, about how annoying the younger two were… but details about the overall situation and her parents tended to be lacking. Not because she was hiding it. Not entirely. It just never seemed worth bringing up. 

[color=629c3f]"Then you've met Trisha. Diyah's similar, just with less issues and a bit easier to coax. And Sal… Well, we've been friends since we were kids, but once we hit our teens there was certain shit he'd never talk to me about even when I pushed. I see now it was magical family shit- but still. He was the worst for ‘oh we'll talk about it later’ and we never would."[/color]

Leon nodded along. Trisha, he definitely saw. The others, how could he? Having spent so little time with the names he knew, and zero with the ones he didn’t, he couldn’t. But, it made sense, as people were naturally like that more often than not. Nobody actually wanted to talk about what hurt. They didn’t really have to either, they simply had no choice. Not with a Mother who could read your mind.

[color=C67C12]”Maybe my ability to bring it up comes from an unhealthy place. Privacy of thought wasn’t an option as a child. If you were happy, Mum knew why. If you were sad, or mad, Mum still knew why. If you felt resentment or ‘unwarranted’ displeasure, Mum knew and made it a problem. You didn’t get to just walk away, you had to talk about it until you agreed with her. And she’d know when you lied. The only acceptable ‘I don’t want to talk about this’ was accepting a verbal lashing on the other end. If you bowed and scraped, and believed it, then you got off easy.”[/color] was his full explanation, moving the conversation to something entirely worse but far less oppressive in his brain.

[color=C67C12]”Obviously, that’s where the compromise comes from. I’ve been trying to redirect all that trauma toward good things, if that makes sense. Like, before, I’d always push back against anything anyone else said to me, because I was trying to claim whatever agency I could. I [i]had[/i] to be the one in charge, because going home meant giving all of it up. Being emasculated, driven like a dog… But now, I just try and remember I do have agency, and I did learn [i]how[/i] to compromise, even uncomfortably. So, try and compromise comfortably on my own terms, and maintain a level of control over my own circumstance. I’m not done yet, obviously; there’s plenty to work on. But, you’ll never know me at my worst. I’m thankful for that.”[/color]

Cass nodded along just like he had a moment ago, because she wasn't immediately sure how to respond. The openness about his abuse growing up wasn't unwelcome. She wasn't bothered by shit like that just suddenly coming out. Trauma dumping or whatever… It explained some things. The immediate compromise earlier. A [I]want[/I] to compromise. The ability to be open about things, because there'd been no privacy before. It was good she hadn't known him at his worse, cause she probably would've tried to beat his ass a lot. 

But… Why ask her the question to immediately make it about himself again? 

Did she call him out for it, like she normally would? Let it go, cause they'd been talking about his issues just before? There had to be a compromise there… some in between. 

It wasn't like it was [I]that[/I] bad. It was on topic, even if it was about him again. It just… Felt like there was no need for her to say anything in the middle. Like what she'd said wasn't actually listened to or acknowledged. [I]That[/I] was what she struggled with more than it going right back to him. It wasn't an active shutdown or anything, but it didn't feel great. 

But she didn't really want to get upset over something so minor… But she should just bring it up, right? Even a joke? Honesty was the best practice. But what if it ruined the mood again?!

Now there was a moment, and a long one for Leon, where there was perceptible gear-spinning in his companion’s mind. He could smell the smoke, and noticed it most in the way she actively stopped bouncing. Movement died. Momentum died.

[color=C67C12]”Woah, wait… I said somethin’ wrong, huh? What’d I miss?”[/color] he asked quietly, brow furrowed as he frowned down at her.

Cass stopped staring off into space and looked back up at him. Well, since he'd asked… 

[color=629c3f]"You missed everything I said, I think. Why bother asking if you ain't gonna actually hear it?"[/color] She bluntly answered, jumping right to full honesty since he'd noticed anyway.

Leon’s brow remained furrowed, but concern turned to confusion. He’d very clearly heard what she said, and offered the alternative counter to it… At least, he had in his mind? Lelou gave him an automatic playback, detailed word for word in the span of an eye blinking.

[color=C67C12]”W-ell… I did, though. You’re not a rock, you’re too fast. You’re a glacier. Slow as it is, it's faster than a rock. But, then you basically confirmed what I expected: That you really are used to people clamming up. Traditional family, men not talking, having to break into your younger brothers’ hearts because they were struggling with the exact same expectations… I just assumed offering my side would give you insight, not… Make you feel like I ignored you. I physically can’t. I’m paying attention to everything happening all at once. Two brains.”[/color] he made a funky motion around his head after pulling one hand away, but quickly swung back to grab hers again.

[color=C67C12]”I’ll say, I did lose my point… If that’s what you’ve gone through, then I definitely don’t want that to be how our relationship is. So, if your middle names are bold and consistent, then mine will be genuine and transparent. I’m [i]very[/i] sorry for losing that.”[/color] he did his best to tilt his body so they were closer to eye level. He didn’t want her feeling condescended to, but at the same time it felt odd forcing her to look up at him all the time.

Cass let out a long breath, rocking back on her heels. While it wasn't major, but there was some of that bouncy movement back. 

[color=629c3f]"You gotta remember to say that next time. I ain't gotta problem with the insight… I ain't really gotta problem with stuff reflecting back to you, or me, or whatever. Cause y'know, that's how people relate! Just without that lil bit it was hard to see the connection, y'know? The ‘I’m not like that so I won't do that to you' bit. I mean… I probably should've got it! But sometimes it's gotta be real blunt for me to realise."[/color] Cass responded pretty well. 

So it wasn't really on purpose. It was getting lost going towards a point and forgetting to make the actual point. She got that- she did it. She was just pretty aware of it nowadays and tried to circle back. 

[color=629c3f]"Thanks for explaining. You can probably guess that the other side've that traditional family was [I]me[/I] getting shut down or ignored so it kinda… Well, I can get a bit more touchy about it, yknow! But I understand it wasn't on purpose."[/color] She smiled again, squeezing his hand in hers.

[color=C67C12]”Well, I sure do understand now! God, I’m… [i]Really[/i] sorry, that’s definitely a feeling I know too. But, of course you’d be touchy. If something like that happens, just say, Babe. Chances are; I just forgot what the fuck I was trying to say. But, still, obviously that doesn’t mean it's excuse time across the board. I messed up, and money doesn’t make up for it, but effort will. Do you agree with that sentiment?”[/color] he asked politely, really looking her in the eye as he did so.

[color=629c3f]"Oh yeah, definitely. Effort's one've the most important things in making up for shit… just relationships in general, really."[/color] Cass nodded, stopping her initial reaction of it not really being that big of a deal. Sure, it wasn't the biggest mistake in the world… but why not set a precedent between them? Honesty, and making the effort after fucking something up. 

She grinned, looking right back at him with that honest, warm and energetic gaze she so often had.
[color=629c3f]"You can start by continuing to carry all my records around the store for me… I wanna hunt down at least a couple more…"[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Oh, I think I can handle that…”[/color] he grinned, shifting his arm to make the thin stack wiggle slightly.

Another hour passed in that shop, and by the end, the stack wasn’t so small. Maybe Cass had temperance when it came to spending, but Leon didn’t. They needed two milk crates to hold the haul, but it was well worth it. They’d gotten so much stuff and spent so much time that the far more enthusiastic clerk showed back up from her lunch break to help them… Probably the best thing that happened, honestly, as Leon wasn’t sure that other kid was going to scan a hundred records on his own with any speed.
So, they both scanned. It was way more efficient… And when the enthusiastic one was done, he was able to bother her about something else.

[color=C67C12]”So, uh… Either of you have keys for the expensive shit?”[/color] he asked calmly, looking back behind them at all the different display cases and crazy price tags.

“Oh yeah, for sure! Why, looking to cap things off?” she asked in return, a grin splitting her face.

[color=C67C12]”Yeah, please. The Nebula tape up there, the one with the special art.”[/color] Leon said calmly.

“Ohhhh, yeah! I mean, that means you can tell me why the Hell you’re willing to pay so much for it! Boss keeps saying ‘Oh, you wouldn’t get it Alicia, oh you wouldn’t get it.’ so, I continue to not get it…” she replied, a little annoyance in her voice as she sent the slow scanner off to get the ladder while she finished his work.

[color=C67C12]”Well, uh… It [i]is[/i] a present for my girlfriend here, but… Since you’re asking, I [i]guess[/i] I can tell you. Come here-”[/color] he intoned toward Cass at the last moment, head spinning to look at her before drawing her in close with a hand motion.

[color=C67C12]”The actual art in the cassette box is a full poster. The reason it’s so rare is because most of the inserts wound up plastered on gym walls across America, then getting ripped down for one reason or another.”[/color]

Nebula was a funk band from the decade of his Father’s youth. Even then, Maxwell IV was the spitting image of style and gallantry, and his ability to garner attention with his looks and physique were hardly matched. He was often mentioned in the same breath as Richard Weissklug and Ben Skinton when it came to the world of modern day fitness, especially for men. Gravity was, if nothing else, a gym icon even to this day. 

[color=C67C12]”So there ain’t a lot of ‘em left. And this one’s sealed, obviously, which means the creases haven’t even been exposed to the air. Cass, I bet you can guess who's on the poster…”[/color] he grinned at her.

Cass normally didn’t bother looking at the display cases out the front- she didn’t have money to burn like that. It’d just make her frustrated if she saw something she really wanted. Sure, maybe it was something to aim towards- but it’d probably be gone by then! 

But at the mention of Nebula, her head snapped up. She knew it, of course. She wouldn’t be a real Gravity fan if she didn’t. Ironically, it was one of the few bands she’d listened to that her parents hadn’t [i]absolutely hated[/i]- if her dad enjoying it and her mum still hating it counted, that was. 

The tape, though… She looked up at Leon with excitement shining in her eyes as he explained it. The more he talked, the more she couldn’t keep still, and the more familiar it sounded… 

[color=629c3f]”Gravity, obviously! Wait, shit- is this- is this-!”[/color] Cass was so excited that she was struggling to form the words she wanted to say, bouncing within the constrained space she had next to him. Her mind was running at light speed and her mouth just couldn’t keep up. 

[color=629c3f]”The one where the fuckin nebula makes the picture of him? That one?! The one that’s super fucking rare?!”[/color]

Of course she knew about it. She knew, but had shoved it down to the place of her mind where she stored ‘cool things she’d never ever see or find.’ It was easier that way to not become an extra mopey teenager who missed out on so much Gravity stuff because he was missing when she really got into him… 

[color=629c3f]”No. Fucking. [b]Way[/b]!”[/color]

While he did his best to keep her from smashing into the cases, Leon knew not to hold her down otherwise. He could only smile from her to the girl at the counter.

[color=C67C12]”And Gravity was a famous-”[/color]

“-Boxer, right? My Uncle loves uh… What, fighting sports?” the girl behind the counter chortled as the ladder arrived. She even pulled out a glove to handle it as she brought it down from the case.

And there it was, the sealed [i]Fight to Funk[/i] cassette. It glimmered there on the glass counter, radiating an aura that just wasn’t matched by anything else there. Though, she was clearly a professional, as she placed it far enough back that she’d get it before anyone trying to snatch it would. Now that she actually understood the value, it made a lot more sense to keep it at hand.

[color=C67C12]”Uh, combat sports? “[/color] Leon laughed, scratching the back of his head.

“Oh… That’s how I recognize you…-” the quiet younger man finally spoke. “-You’re like, some famous fighter too, right?”

“Oh, shit, well… Boss would be mad if we didn’t get a picture. Is he, like-”

“Yeah, yeah, definitely. Dave’d freak, actually.”

“Should we call him?”

“No, fuck him. Uh, so, can we get your picture? Or an autograph?” the woman finally asked, grinning back up at Leon.

He could only laugh in return, smiling down at Cass before looking back.
[color=C67C12]”You didn’t know who I was five seconds ago, now you’re twisting my arm?”[/color] he joked, pulling the trusty sharpie from the back pocket.

[color=C67C12]”You want it on the receipt? Or, maybe you wanna go get a copy of [i]Carousel Clearance[/i] by Decent Exposure, I’ll sign that.”[/color]

“Why…-” she started to ask before the guy stopped her.

“-He played on it, pretty sure you sang too?”

Leon nodded with a smile on his face, and the young man rushed off for a copy somewhere in the store.

“Yeah, our boss’ll definitely like a signed sleeve.” she affirmed looking up at Leon with a smile.
“Anything else in here that caught your eye?”

[color=C67C12]”Nah, next is the music shop, sort out how big of a drum set we can get someone without her head exploding.”[/color] he chortled.

“Right on, cash or credit?”

[color=C67C12]”Uhh… Debit?”[/color][hr]

There was only a few feet between the doors of the two shops, but they were [i]definitely[/i] going to need a place to keep all the cumbersome stuff. And having such an expensive piece with them only made Leon feel a little more paranoid. However, he wasn’t going to let that stop Cass’ excitement as he held the door open for her to leave. He trusted that she’d cling to her new gift like a piece of candy after the world ended.

[color=C67C12]”So!? What do you think, did we overdo it or what!?”[/color] he grinned, soaking up the warmth of excess.

[color=629c3f]”What d’you mean [i]we[/i]?! [i]You[/i] overdid it! I ain’t taking any responsibility for that!”[/color] 

It was a good thing that Leon held the door open for her, because Cass would’ve walked right into it otherwise. She was just [i]staring[/i] at the cassette in her hands. She held it like it was a fragile, precious jewel. Delicately like just touching it would ruin it somehow, but also firm enough that it’d take magical strength to tear it away from her. 

She was just about starting to come out of her excited stupor, though. Enough for other thoughts to slip in. Like… the fact it was an absolutely insane gift. But she couldn’t reject it now, could she?! She’d lost her chance… Fuck, this was way too precious for her to own. And-

[color=629c3f]”Fuck, we shoulda brought the car!”[/color] Cass froze exactly midway between the doors of the two shops, finally looking up from the tape to stare at Leon. 
[color=629c3f]”Where are we gonna put all this stuff?! I’m sure Rey’ll be driving but… That doesn’t help for going into the next shop! Aw fuck, maybe we did this the wrong way round?!”[/color]

It was [i]cold[/i], but not rainy or windy in spite of it being Portland in November. In fact, lately it’d been getting so cold that the rain wasn’t making it to the ground as such. Thin layers of snow, followed by winds strong enough to brush the layer off into the sea. Leon took a deep breath, then looked upward at the height of the building before looking around. Too many people…

[color=C67C12]”Come on; we need an alley, or a corner. Something we can break line of sight.”[/color]

Hastening forth, he headed toward the corner of the building and rounded to see the hook of the alley ahead. Cass was [i]so[/i] adept at keeping his pace, he had no qualms about breaking once he rounded and saw his goal. Long legs pounded his feet against the pavement, and in three bounding lunges, he was kicking off the side of the building in the alley. No hands whatsoever, total leg power drove him up the wall like he was making for the world’s most difficult incline. 

It was only a moment before he was up the lip of the roof and descending back down the fire escape, which he was sure to loosen the ladder to as he made it all the way back down.

[color=C67C12]”Theeeere… Safe and sound, there was even a cardboard box up there that I put on top, and tucked the mouth under the crates so it can’t blow away… You just hold onto the tape in your jacket, and if you don’t think you can, I’ll get it. Alright!?”[/color] he asked enthusiastically, poking playfully at Cass’ cheeks.

At the poking, Cass closed her mouth that’d been hanging open. Sure, she’d seen Leon get up buildings before. Seen him jump off them too… But generally he had hands?! Generally it wasn’t quite that insane?! Holy shit!

But there were other, more pressing matters than being impressed by Leon’s vertical scaling ability. The tape… No fucking way could she put it in her jacket!

One of two things would happen. Either she’d spend the whole time paranoid as fuck about getting near anything, or she’d totally forget where it was an undoubtably damage it while bouncing around. 

[color=629c3f]”Please take it!”[/color] Both hands shot out towards him, her body leaning forward a bit. It made it look like she was offering him a sword in some kind of samurai movie…

He laughed, nodding. Somehow, he knew that was coming.
Sliding it into the pocket of his own jacket, he made sure to put it on the side that Cass [i]usually[/i] didn’t slam into on instinct.

[color=C67C12]”Alright then, let’s go look at drums.”[/color] he smiled, playfully scooping under her arm and skipping out of the alley from whence they came.

Cass grinned, way more relaxed now that she wasn’t holding an incredibly expensive tape- and really, its emotional value was priceless. So… onto the music store with no fear about how intense she got trying out drum kits!

Unlike the record store, the top floor of the music store was much more open, with a large amount of space. It was hard not to assume the two original owners of the stores hadn’t somehow designed it that way. But maybe that was just how they were leased, and it was a coincidence there was a music store right on top of a basement full of records… 

Just like in the record store, the clerk was comfortable reading at the till. She glanced up as they came in and gave a slight nod, before going back to it. There was a big sign saying ‘ask for assistance’, so that was probably seen as enough. There were probably a few more people in the back, but the shop was practically empty at this time…

Wide windows meant natural light spilled in, making it easy to see the vast displays of instruments. Right at the entrance was the cheaper kind, and racks of sheet music… But stepping further in, round the corner past where the record shop had it’s little square, revealed a much wider variety. While there were all the typical classical instruments, the focus was clearly more on the kinds you’d find in a rock band. Walls covered in at least four rows of guitars and basses - with the topmost being high enough that it required Leon height to reach, or the little step stool provided. 

Then there were the drum kits. At least four fully put together kits, along with racks of various cymbals and individual drums if anyone wanted to mix and match, or add more onto the pre set up kits. 

[color=629c3f]”Fuuuccckkk, I always forget how awesome this place is!”[/color] Cass was practically vibrating from excitement, head darting about to look at the drum kits they had set up. They all seemed to be the standard five drum, three cymbal and a hi-hat kits- it was probably more about testing the difference between the wood the drums were made out of and the like than figuring out a setup. 

[color=629c3f]”I dunno where to start! I’m pretty sure this place is just a pick up and try kinda thing, just y’know… don’t try to run out with a guitar or drum.”[/color]

Right away, Leon understood where he’d been confused when it came to the soundproofing. Maybe they didn’t need it at this time of day, but he could imagine the place being more than cacophonous during peak hours. With the vibe next door being so chill and quiet, he couldn’t imagine having to deal with a practical symphony band playing from the hours of two to nine at night. Still, there were places with guitars free for testing, and most other stuff had [i]’Wait for Attendant’[/i] if they didn’t want you [i]just[/i] touching it. Easy enough to understand.

There were some brass instruments available, though he wondered how the Blinds dealt with the potential infection passing. Not something he’d worried about even before Lelou.

[color=C67C12]”I think you start at one side and work your way to the other. Try and uh… Use your [i]special talents[/i] to really listen to the tones that come out of the drums. And always remember, there’s a thousand ways to get the sound adjusted just a little bit. You’ll really notice the subtleties when you put your soul into it.”[/color] he advised her, snagging a bass from the wall and plucking a few strings.

Cass nodded. Going from one side to the other made a lot of sense… That part seemed like such a silly thing to get stuck in, but she just tended to flit about so much. She didn’t want to somehow not try one!

[color=629c3f]”[i]Oohhh[/i] yeah it’s gonna be way easier to figure out the tone now I got those.”[/color] She grinned up at him. She bounced over to the leftmost drum kit- they formed a sort of loop with two wider apart near the front and two further back. A nice amount of space between them. There was a little rule set next to where the drumsticks were. Just the basic things- to treat the instruments with respect, don’t hit them too hard ect. 

Cass slipped into the seat, immediately having to adjust it to be a bit lower so she could properly reach the foot pedal. She pressed it a couple of times in an even beat just to get the feel of it, whistling quietly as she tried to figure out some tune to play rather than just bashing. Did she even remember any from the year or so she’d been able to consistently play? 

She twisted slightly to get her other foot on the hi-hat pedal. She spun the drum sticks in her hand, running them along all of the drums and cymbals as a quick test. Seemed pretty good. She… She could definitely still remember a couple of the songs she’d properly learned. 

So with a grin she launched right into it. One stick hitting the hi-hat, the other the ground Tom, before launching into what was a mostly recognisable beat from right in the middle of a [url=https://youtu.be/p2kRc2aHTnk?si=APqbV2k1-6WdcQ7C&t=279]song.[/url] It wasn’t perfect by any means, and she was pretty sure her ex had a couple more drums- but the more she got into it the more it came back to her. Since it was one of about three songs she’d actually perfected (well, maybe not the whole 9 minutes), it sounded pretty good for an amateur. 

It helped that she had a natural sense of rhythm and had picked up drumming easily in the first place. 

She got so into it she almost forgot to actually [i]listen[/i] to the tone, having to adjust half way through to concentrate on that just as much as playing. The mistakes increased at that point, but she still went at it with intense enthusiasm. Like she was actually playing on a stage to an audience soaking up her energy… She probably played like that in private too. 

She finished with a little flourish, rolling the sticks along all of the toms. Not that she really [i]stopped[/i] playing, still lightly hitting them as her head snapped up towards Leon. 

[color=629c3f]”It feels just as good as I fucking remember! You recognise that one? I get if you don’t cause like… I’m well outta practice…”[/color]

Her perception wasn’t wrong; for it being a rusty performance of a song long lost to the haze of days passed, she had her fundamentals down to a T. Or, maybe a W, if he had to compare letters. He’d listened up for her, keeping track of how hollow it sounded, getting a vague feeling for how tense the actual heads were based on the echoes they made. Watching as the sticks came up and off the heads as they smacked along to the rhythm, the dance they did as they patiently wriggled within her hands.

Skilled hands. Unnaturally so, maybe. A talent for these sorts of things, raw and unnurtured besides that short, passionate amount of time spent. Maybe it was magic all along. But he had his hands in his pockets, and his head was nodding along all the same. 

[color=C67C12]”Great! You’re telling me you don’t go to a community center and practice occasionally?”[/color] he asked her, genuinely sure that she was a special kind of creative. A real talent.

Cass’ head tilted, her eyes widening as the constant beat of the bass drum slowed. 
[color=629c3f]”That's a thing? You got drum kits in community centres here? You mean I could’ve been keeping it up this whole time?! What the fuck! Nobody ever told me that!”[/color]

She threw her hands up, making sure to keep a good grip on the sticks so she didn’t throw them. It wouldn’t be as regular as having one at home, but something like that existed? She was pretty sure none of the- admittedly rare- community centres back home had shit like that. Pianos, sometimes… And her school had a kit, but you only got to use it if you were [i]paying[/i] for lessons. 

[color=629c3f]”I went into shops a few times after me ‘n my ex that played broke up, but the ones near me started getting judgy I wasn’t buying…”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Oh, yeah… I mean even frequent customers rarely get the benefit of the doubt, I mean… These guys don’t really [i]want[/i] people in here, right? It’s just a necessity of business… But, yeah, there’s plenty of places. Most are probably not great, or missing pieces, but some old retired music teacher loves ‘em all the same.”[/color]

His finger pointed toward the set she’d been on, nodding up and down.
[color=C67C12]”That one already seems fine. Good place to start as a base, I’d say. Feel good?”[/color] he asked, already knowing the answer. Of course it felt good, it was fuckin’ drums.

[color=629c3f]”Hell yeah it does!”[/color] Cass grinned, hopping up. She loved the guitar and singing, but there was nothing quite like the intensity that came with playing the drums. The high pace, the variety of beats all at once… It really made her feel alive. Even more so than normal. 

She moved onto the next kit, excitedly sitting down. It was amazing how all the normal movement channeled into her arms and legs when she started playing- her torso posture was pretty perfect even with her legs bouncing about and her arms going all over the place. The energy was channeled in a specific direction… 

On the second, she did an incredibly energised performance of the well known Boogeyman’s Escape. There were more mistakes in this one, but it was made up for by her enthusiasm and ability to just keep fucking going rather than freaking out and slowing down. But she didn’t like the second kit quite as much… It didn’t feel quite as bouncy or easy to use.

For the third, it was a song from the very album Leon had signed earlier- Carousel Clearance. That one was the most accurate of the three, and clearly the one she’d practiced the most. It was still pretty raw… But with all of them, the intense passion she played with came through far more than the mistakes. 

By the final drumkit, she’d run out of songs she remembered how to play. So she tried out a little, incredibly rough mix of all three that ended up with her almost laughing herself out of the seat for how ridiculous it sounded. But it did the job of letting her try it out and figure out how the set felt.

[color=629c3f]”I think…”[/color] Cass put down the drum sticks with some reluctance, only able to do so because she knew one was coming home with her, and bounced back over to Leon. 
[color=629c3f]”I like the third the most. And not just cause I played a Decent Exposure song on it- it felt the nicest! Sounded it too. At least… it has the kinda tone I like. Like… it was the liveliest sounding!”[/color]

Leon had, admittedly, spaced out during Boogeyman’s Escape. He’d heard it a thousand thousand times, and had [i]actually[/i] gotten sick of it. But it wasn’t destroying his ears at least… Checking his phone during it had revealed a text from Reyna letting him know that she’d finished up her work and was making her way downtown.

[code]Empty trunk I hope.[/code]

His quick reply gave him a smile as he thought about the cold stash of records on the rooftop. But her rendition of [i]Dreamer’s Dance to Death[/i] on the third was certainly the best. Long ago, he’d have determined [i]exactly[/i] why with his Lux. Instead, he could only hear the subtle differences.

[color=C67C12]”I am [i]pretty[/i] sure that it’s a 24. The bass, I mean, 24 inch. Big, deep, rumbly. I’d say, since you like it so much, we should get measurements for it. Does it have it on the tags?”[/color] he asked inquisitively, lurching toward the drum set to take a look at the tags.

Some were paired or matched sets, meant for a specific style. But this one had been [i]shuffle-built[/i], and as such, each individual piece had a different tag for info and price. Between the two of them going back and forth, they were able to figure out [i]exactly[/i] which sizes Cass liked the best to put her ideal set together. Then, it was a matter of inventory checking, making sure they had the right pieces, which left them with a little more time to play around while they looked. After all, Leon didn’t want Cass to wait! He wanted her to start drumming [i]tomorrow![/i]

[color=C67C12]”So… We gonna customize them when we get them home? Should I call someone from the 313 to pimp your drumset?”[/color] he asked playfully.

[color=629c3f]”[i]Baabbbee[/i]… Y’think I’d let someone else pimp my drumset? No way! I’ma use my full artistic… talent…”[/color] She broke of into a fit of giggles. What was her artistic talent? When it came to actual art, very lacking. 

[color=629c3f]”Did you not see those amazingly drawn boobs on the board in my old flat? Y’know, right by the entrance? I drew em. I know, I know, they were so good it's probably hard to believe I’m that talented.”[/color] She puffed her chest up like she was talking about some amazing painting rather than something that looked like it was drawn by a teen boy. 

He laughed again, holding his stomach as he did so.
[color=C67C12]”God, you’re so right again! Of course, it’s way more punk to draw your own crappy set of dick and balls on the snare than it is to have some artist paint a suggestive flower.”[/color] he giggled still, pulling her in close.

[color=C67C12]”Has anyone ever told you how cute you are when you tell jokes?”[/color] he asked playfully, smiling down at her with immense joy.

[color=629c3f]”Hmmmm…”[/color] Cass put a finger on her cheek, tilting her head as if she was thinking deeply about the question. An even brighter smile lit up her face, cheeks squishing up extra cutely. 

[color=629c3f]”Not enough! So go on, keep telling me I’m cute! I gotta blow up my ego so it’s the same size as yours!”[/color] She cackled, arms loosely draping over his shoulders as she leaned in against him. 
[color=629c3f]”Maybe impossible, since that seems proportional to overall size…”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Oh, you… Can’t get enough, my little glutton…”[/color]
He wrapped his arm around her waist tight, slipping down to kiss her deeply. In the interim, he felt his phone vibrate again.

[color=C67C12]”Ah… That’s probably Reyna again.”[/color] he said calmly, pulling one hand away to grab it out of his pocket.

[color=629c3f]”Wait- why did she text you and not me?!”[/color] Cass let out a gasp of mock betrayal. When had they gotten close enough to cut out the middle woman and exchange texts about meeting up right now? How had that happened?! 

Like Leon guessed, it was a text from Reyna. Simple and to the point. 
[code]Here. Trunk empty. Where are you, I’ll come meet you.[/code]

[code]Tinwhistle Music, on 38th and Austin.[/code]

[color=C67C12]”Because she and I both know that you don’t know your phone exists when there’s something else in your hands.”[/color] he laughed, shaking his head and kissing her on the head again.
[color=C67C12]”She’s here, just about. Said the trunk is empty.”[/color] he nodded, eyes turning to look over at the counter to see whether or not they’d gathered all the pieces.

They seemed to be almost done- just one or two pieces still to collect. The person who’d stayed behind the counter while her coworkers went to get everything was going through it all to make sure there were no issues or flaws, scanning them at the same time. 

Cass had pulled out her phone to find out that she had gotten a text from Rey that she’d completely missed. Two, in fact, with the first saying she was finishing up, and one right after saying she’d text Leon too so Cass didn’t need to worry about it. Of course… 

[color=629c3f]”Well, thank fuck for that! Rey’s got a pretty roomy car too, so we won’t have to worry much space wise. It’s always been the preferred one for road trips and the like.”[/color]

As Cass spoke, the last two pieces- the bass drum and a cymbal- were brought up. The clerk glanced over at them with a smile, though didn’t say anything, not wanting to interrupt the two. It wasn’t like there was a rush.

Cass folded her arms, looking up at Leon a little more seriously.
[color=629c3f]”Are you [i]sure[/i] you’re good to buy these for me? It’s… a lot. Especially when there’s the tape too!”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”So sure. You deserve a gift. I’ve even got a nice frame for the poster in the tape if you happened to want to take it out.”[/color] he nodded, making way for the counter to make the transaction happen.

By the time it was done, he was getting a whole phone call. Parking was an absolute shitshow, so Reyna was apparently bumped up and hazarded outside the store waiting for them. There was simply no room nearby. Thankfully, the store had a dolly that they could use to roll it out to the back of her vehicle, loading it in as swiftly as possible before seeing the clerks off with their equipment. 

[color=C67C12]”Alright, Reyna! I hope wherever we’re going to eat has parking… Listen, I need you to circle the whole block, alright? I’ll meet you somewhere on the other side with the rest of our stuff; we had to stash it somewhere before we went into the music shop…”[/color] he instructed, speaking through the rear hatch and waiting for confirmation before heading off and leaving the two of them to deal with driving around the block in traffic.

[color=75a8ff]"How much did you buy?"[/color] Rey had a chance to glance at Cass incredulously before she pulled back out to drive. [i]Not[/i] that she got very far before getting stuck in traffic. 

[color=75a8ff]"You don’t have a job right now…"[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Hey now! I, somehow, ain’t the impulse buyer in this relationship!”[/color] Cass immediately defended herself, throwing her arms up. She was a little bundle of energy in the passenger seat. A bit jealous of Leon not being trapped in a car, really. Not that she had a problem fitting, just she had nowhere to direct her energy. It was fine when she was driving, but she wasn’t, so… 

[color=629c3f]”I got a bunch’ve records well within my budget. Leon got a shit ton more, [i]and[/i] he insisted on getting the drums.”[/color] She decided not to mention the very expensive tape. Rey probably wouldn’t understand [i]why[/i] it was worth so much, and Cass herself was still accepting that she owned it!

Rey laughed, side eyeing Cass as the crept forward a little bit. 
[color=75a8ff]"If I didn’t know you so well, I’d be worried you got a sugar Daddy instead of a boyfriend…"[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Only in the kinky way!”[/color] Cass cackled, hitting the car door beside her. It was just… hearing it out of Reyna’s mouth… It almost brought a tear to her eye outside of her laughter. Her crude humour was really rubbing off on her friend!

[color=75a8ff]"What do you mean- Actually, no, don’t answer. Some things I don’t want to know."[/color] Rey shook her head at Cass.

[color=629c3f]”Alright, alright…”[/color] Cass giggled, grinning. 
[color=629c3f]”I mean, y’know what it’s like to date someone who’s uber rich. They just throw money at things! I mean, at least they’re both pretty conscious about it?”[/color] 

They stopped again, in perfect time for Reyna to turn to Cass with a completely dead pan expression. 
[color=75a8ff]"Trisha’s not really sugar Mommy material though, is she?"[/color]

[color=629c3f]”What the- fuck, Rey, are you alright?! Has someone replaced you?! Not that you’re as judgy of this shit as Trish and Diyah, but damn!”[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"I find the easiest way to relax after unexpected work is to joke about things that are very much not work appropriate. Besides, just because I can’t compare to you and Sal doesn’t mean my sense of humour is perfectly pure. You’re just too busy dying of laughter normally, or distracted by Trisha yelling at you."[/color]

[color=629c3f]”I-”[/color] Cass shook her head. Reyna was right. They’d spent time just the two of them plenty… But if Cass was honest, Rey was the friend she knew least well. Because she lived with Trisha and Diyah for two years, and had known Sal since she was young. While she’d met Rey first, after a while most of the time was in a group. The calmest person was always going to be a bit overshadowed. 

[color=629c3f]”Shit, you’re right… Well, is it helping? How bad was it?”[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"Frustratingly easy. A product manager panicked and thought it was in a domain only I knew. Our tech lead apologised when he found out, as he wasn’t informed. He would have fixed it himself instead of calling me in. But, they need to pay me, at least."[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Man, that’s the shit I don’t miss about work. All the incompetent people! Just lemme sit down and code, fuck. Then they drag you along to meetings… See, Trisha has the right idea. Be a contractor and just code without any of the worries about process and shit.”[/color] 

[color=75a8ff]"She’s been forced into plenty of meetings when contracting for my company. But, it does seem easier, if less stable. Not so much of an issue for her."[/color] Reyna smiled. They’d finally moved, turning the corner to a much clearer road, then again to get to the other side of the block. She gestured out the front window with one hand.

[color=75a8ff]"Look, he beat us."[/color]

The German Shepherd grin on Leon’s face would’ve been matched by a wagging tail if he had one. Too bad he didn’t! What he did have, however, was a double stack of milk crates with a whole bunch of records in it. As she pulled up and the hatch opened again, Leon slid the product carefully into place before closing it back up and jumping into the back. At least they were both short; but being a Richoux in a back seat situation [i]never[/i] went according to plan. 

With his legs tucked into his gut, he settled into a leaning position in the back.

[color=C67C12]”Heyyyy… Good time, I was going to start walking in the direction you’d be coming in, but stopped when I saw you up ahead. I can’t wait to show you what we got you, Rey!”[/color] Leon exclaimed with joy in his voice.

[color=75a8ff]"Yeah, traffic’s awful in this part- you really ended up getting me something?"[/color] Reyna turned her head to briefly smile at him before she was driving again. For a solid couple of minutes, at least. 
[color=75a8ff]"I’d say you can show me now, but the traffic’s start-stop enough I wouldn’t want to risk it. Someone will drive into me."[/color]

Cass fully twisted herself to sit sideways in the passenger seat so she could look at both of them with a grin. 
[color=629c3f]”You’re gonna love it! Just, y’know, don’t get [i]as[/i] excited as I know you can. I don’t want anyone overshadowing my reactions.”[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"Ohh, of course, I’ll hold back for you, Cass. You know me. Known for my intense reactions to things."[/color] Rey laughed. 

Cass hoped at least she would have a reaction. Normally she did to gifts, it was just quite muted in comparison to Cass’... Then again, most were. So, it’d be fine! She doubted Leon was expecting anything like what she’d given earlier. 
[color=629c3f]”You can get ‘em over lunch!”[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"Oh… No. Much too dangerous."[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Huh, where the fuck we going? A fucking warzone diner?”[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"Well, I know you like a thrill."[/color] Rey intoned, before shaking her head.
[color=75a8ff]"I thought we could go to a hotpot place, if that works for you guys."[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Oh hell yeah- wait, is this the place we went for your birthday? That pretty pricey all you can eat place?”[/color] Cass was immediately excited again, doing her best to not bounce up and down in her seat too much. It had been fucking good. Amazingly good. God, she could practically taste the meat that came right out of that spicy broth…

[color=629c3f]”But I thought that’s a celebration kinda place for you? What’s the special occasion?”[/color]

Rey took one hand off the steering wheel to gesture to Leon with her thumb, tone completely neutral. 
[color=75a8ff]"Having money bags back here with us. Why not take advantage?"[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Whoooaaa!”[/color] Cass giggled, slapping a hand against her thigh. 
[color=629c3f]”And you were accusing [i]me[/i] of having a sugar daddy earlier, but you’re [i]soooo[/i] quick to take advantage!”[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"Your short term memory is quite faulty, Cass…"[/color] Rey’s deadpan expression broke for a laugh, shaking her head. 
[color=75a8ff]"No, it’s just a good place for two people with large appetites, and a treat for no reason is nice every now and then."[/color] 

Leon clapped from the back seat like a giant kid, smile plastered on his face.
[color=C67C12]”Oh, you’re both going to watch me do heinous things to that place’s meat supply. I’m [i]so[/i] ready to tear something like that up. You said it’s pricey? Upscale kind of place? I can’t imagine a hotpot shop being [i]that[/i] upscale that you’d worry about it. Is it?”[/color] he asked simply.

Hotpot was one of his favorite things socially. There’d been a couple of times where the organized Apparition event for the month was hotpot and movies. They’d set the projector up, each table would bring its own ingredients, and everyone would go crazy. 


[color=629c3f]"It's pricey if you bring along Trisha and Diyah, who barely eat a person's worth between them!"[/color] Cass declared passionately. That'd been before her appetite was extra increased by her lux usage, so she'd made herself sick eating three portions worth of food. Even though Trisha and Diyah paid for their share equally, it was just the principle of it! 

[color=75a8ff]"It's more upscale than the hot pot place I'd go to back in Chicago. It's nice, but I wouldn't say it's fancy. But it's more of a… Comparative thing. When you balance it out, really the value for money to the amount of food is better, especially when you have a large appetite. But the upfront price being higher than a similar, not all you can eat restaurant makes it seem expensive. Especially when you grow up without much money, it's sometimes harder to justify, rather an unable to afford it thing."[/color] Reyna gave a full explanation where Cass didn't. Not cause she didn't want to, just she thought that the whole eating for three people thing was enough of a point! 

[color=C67C12]”That is [i]definitely[/i] not something I think of from a day-to-day. I’m sure my cost of living in food alone is entirely unrealistic for a normal person’s daily existence. I mean, I can’t remember the last time I ordered takeout that wasn’t at least a hundred fifty dollars. More, most times.”[/color] he admitted, knowing full well what she meant once she said it.

It was purely the use of the phrase “pretty pricey”. It struck a chord in his brain, thinking his wallet may yet be challenged. Sure, he wasn’t private jet all the time rich, but his kids would do well after he was gone certainly.

[color=C67C12]”Hard to justify is definitely tough for a place like this, yeah? Like Cass said, you get someone who can’t eat their own plate never mind someone else’s? You had a great idea picking the place.”[/color] he grinned, looking at Reyna through the rear-view mirror.

[color=75a8ff]"I thought so. Between the two of you, it'll be more than worth it. I'd say I eat my worth as it is, so I'm a bit more concerned you might want the place out of business…"[/color] Reyna laughed lightly. She was glad he seemed to understand what her and Cass meant by the price, even if it wasn't something he could relate to. Everyone had their different backgrounds… She laughed a bit more remembering the little pouting face Trisha made as she questioned why they were so put out by her barely eating her fill the last time. 

[color=629c3f]"Oh dude, I sure hope they gotta good stock. Can you imagine comes to evening and they gotta close cause we ate all the meat?!"[/color] Cass cackled. 
[color=629c3f]"I can't wait to tackle it now I got that proper Green Adept appetite! This time I refuse to throw back up all the precious, tasty meat…"[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"Do you really need to be so blunt about it before we plan to eat?"[/color] Reyna shook her head, knowing full well dependent on traffic it could be a while before they actually got there… and found parking. The one blessing was it was on the outskirts of the downtown, and they could go a bit further out to find an annoyingly rare parking garage. The walk without a full drum kit wouldn't be much of a problem. 

[color=629c3f]"You and Sal kept eating after I ran off to the bathroom, so don't gimme that like you got a sensitive stomach!"[/color] Cass flung her arms into the air, managing to hit the roof of the car. Those two had eaten nowhere near as much as her, but they had made it through the whole two hour period. Part of the problem for Cass was that she'd stuffed her face far too quickly trying to eat three portions worth, then just kept going. Her much weaker Green Lux hadn't been able to keep up… 

[color=629c3f]"I really regret not properly working on my magic sooner… then I totally would've been able to eat for three that time…"[/color]

Leon was utterly cackling in the back seat, knees buried deep in his stomach as he laughed and laughed some more until he couldn’t.

[color=C67C12]”Y-you… You… Babe! [i]Shameless![/i] You go eat [i]until you’re sick[/i] then go back!? I’m so [i]crazy[/i] mixed about how I feel! I’m so proud of you, but also, [i]Goddamn![/i]”[/color] he laughed again.

[color=C67C12]”You’ll absolutely be able to hold it down this time. And if you don’t, just baby bird it into my mouth.”[/color] he started cackling again, remembering something from a couple weeks prior.

[color=629c3f]"Not in public, Babe!"[/color] Cass snickered, practically beaming at him for what was really a strange compliment. The confidence she'd be able to eat so much this time, and pride over her absolutely shamelessness.
[color=629c3f]"Keep that for at home overeating! I don't wanna actually get banned! That's [I]wayyy[/I] worse than going and neatly throwin' up into the loo."[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"God, I can really see why you're dating now."[/color] Reyna would've face palmed if she wasn't driving. 

[color=629c3f]"The matching sexiness wasn't enough?!"[/color] Cass laughed. 
[color=629c3f]"I'm telling you, Rey, if anyone can actually keep up with me, it's him!"[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"I can see that. He's not looking too tired after… Over a week with you?"[/color] Reyna lightly teased. It was clearly good natured ribbing, the warm, fun atmosphere everpresent.

[color=629c3f]"Oh you're so lucky you're driving and I can't hit you, Rey!"[/color] Cass shot back jokingly, sticking her tongue out at her friend. She then twisted around to look more at Leon.
[color=629c3f]"Are you listening to this, Leon?! She thinks [I]I[/I] could exhaust [I]you.[/I] You! How insane is that?! God, I can't believe these baseless accusations!"[/color]

[color=C67C12]”I'm certain Rey's got a good hold on things. I believe in her!”[/color] Leon continued to laugh, arm twisting around to the front in order to poke at Cass in whatever way he could.

[color=C67C12]”You know as well as I do that we both love getting bullied! So, let her talk her shit!”[/color] he continued to joke, prodding and jabbing with his fingers.

[color=629c3f]"Whoaaaa… I plead the fifth! I dunno what you're talking about!"[/color] Cass giggled, twisting her body to try and avoid Leon's pokes without disturbing Rey's driving. She very quickly gave up on that, instead grabbing his hand with both of hers to try and keep it still. 

[color=75a8ff]"Who are you trying to fool, [I]Cassandra[/I]? Your best friend is Trisha… Only someone who enjoys being bullied could tolerate that."[/color] Rey said drily. 

[color=629c3f]”Hey, don't go throwing shade at me and my girl's friendship like that! Damn! There ain't any bullying there, I just replace everything she says with nice things in my mind!"[/color] Cass cackled. 

[color=75a8ff]"Oh, and goading Sal into shit talking you whenever you game is the same? Doing things you know Diyah will comment on?"[/color]

[color=629c3f]"[I]Reeeyyynnaaa[/I] you're making me seem like some crazy pervert! Like I'm getting off on my friends being mean to me, God-"[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"I never said that. You're the one taking that from what I said."[/color]

[color=629c3f]"I can't believe it. I didn't think this would come from you."[/color] Cass threw her head back and dramatically sniffed, as if she was about to cry. She wasn't, of course. She would've grasped her heart too if she wasn't trying to keep Leon's hand trapped. 

She twisted her head to look at him again with an exaggerated pout. 
[color=629c3f]"I can't believe you'd out me like that, Babe! How am I ever going to live this down?!"[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Well obviously you just won't. It's stuck to you forever and ever now: Cassochist. Can't vibe unless someone's trying to knock her kidneys out of her body.”[/color] Leon retorted, still laughing to himself as he took her hand in his.

His long arm reached around the seat, rubbing her arm before slotting in to hold her hand.

[color=C67C12]”Don't be afraid, Cass… There's places to go, treatments we can find. I won't ever leave you, just because you're a [i]total perv[/i].”[/color]

In truth, he liked her vulgar. No need to trim himself up, no desire to clean her up. Just two vulgar people getting along like peas in a pod. In a dirty, smelly, moist pod. The consideration alone made him laugh even louder.

[color=629c3f]"Ohhh, are you gonna be in the padded anti-perv cell beside me?!"[/color] Cass cackled, holding his hand tightly enough that it'd hurt a normal person as if to prove a point. 

Reyna was laughing along with them both, shaking her head. 
[color=75a8ff]"I'm not sure I can even imagine a non-pervy Cass. What would be left?"[/color]

[color=629c3f]"Heyyy, I got plenty other things going for me!"[/color] Cass defended herself, puffing up her chest. But it wasn't the only thing she wanted to defend herself on… She pointed her free hand directly at Leon. 
[color=629c3f]"Besides, you [I]love[/I] that I'm a total perv! And, for the record! I like knocking kidneys outta other people's bodies too!"[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"... That's what your upset about?"[/color] 

[color=C67C12]”Of [i]course[/i] I love you being raunchy. I never imagined myself with someone stuck up, so that's perfect for me. No shame, no need for constant comparisons, or foolish validations… You're genuinely you, and that's the best. Right Rey?”[/color] Leon replied with a big grin, leaning forward a little more and planting a kiss on Cass' cheek.

[color=75a8ff]"Absolutely,"[/color] Reyna agreed with a gentle smile. 

Cass let out a little ‘heh heh', practically beaming at them both. Of course she already knew that… but it was always nice to hear! 
[hr]
After eating the hot pot restaurant out of a large chunk of their meat supply- the staff visibly elated when the group's two hour period was over- the three went back to Reyna's to just chill for a bit after the meal. Or, at least chill as much as possible when Cass was involved.

She [I]had[/I] managed to eat the quantity she did last time, and more, without getting sick. And it was just as fucking good as she remembered. The whole thing was! Leon and Reyna were getting along well, which was one less friend she had to worry about feeling iffy about their relationship. Not that she'd ever let it affect her- it was [I]her[/I] relationship- but it was always nice to prove that she really wasn't making some insane impulsive decision. 

And Reyna really had loved her gifts. Though the reaction wasn't as obvious as Cass', there was visible happiness. She was especially happy- and shocked- at the Numbats vinyl with its cityscape print on the record itself. Most of her own were the plain dark print, after all.

Sadly, afternoon drifted into early evening, and the couple really had to make their way back to St Portwell. 

Reyna insisted on walking them down to the car before saying any goodbyes. 

[color=75a8ff]"Thank you for coming. I'm sure a last minute trip like that isn't so easy when you're employed."[/color] Reyna said with a smile towards Leon, shooting strays at Cass. 
[color=75a8ff]"You're welcome to visit anytime."[/color]

Cass paused dramatically clutching her heart to grin at Reyna. 
[color=629c3f]"Course, if we ever get time again and wanna take a lil trip we will!"[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"Oh… I meant just Leon. He's calmer company."[/color] Reyna teased lightly. As Cass pouted, Rey stepped forward to pull her into a tight hug. 
[color=75a8ff]"I'm joking, of course. Visit as much as you want, Cass. I don't expect to have a roommate anytime soon, so there will be a bed."[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Well don’t let work stop you either, Rey. Come down for a week sometime; we’ll get you set up in the apartment adjacent to Cass’, all your computers and stuff. Otherwise, I’ll make sure her unemployed ass gets up there plenty.”[/color]

Just as happy as Cass was about the arrangement, Leon instinctively opened his arms to hug, but held himself back while passing Reyna a questioning, permissive look.
[color=C67C12]”Ahhh… I’ll take a handshake, but, we hug in my family.”[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"Mine too. Try find a Latin American family that doesn't."[/color] Reyna smiled, easily moving in to hug Leon. While she wasn't as much of a touchy person like many others in her family- constant hands on shoulders and the like- hugs were always something she was comfortable with. Especially greetings and goodbyes. 

[color=75a8ff]"I'll see about visiting, as I often have to go into the office a couple of days a week."[/color]

[color=629c3f]"Visiting for my birthday is mandatory!"[/color] Cass shouted, bouncing a little bit. 
[color=629c3f]"You got… like three weeks to prepare? But you gotta be there! No choice!"[/color]

[color=75a8ff]"Hmm… I'm not sure."[/color] Reyna smiled, tone clearly joking.
[color=75a8ff]"I'm a little worried that I'll go to St Portwell and be immediately paired up with a Richoux. It seems to be the trend for our friend group, doesn't it? Trisha, you… Maybe I'm next."[/color]

Leon made a gagging noise aloud.
[color=C67C12]”Noooooo luck, sister. The three Richouxs worth being around longer than a few minutes are all taken. Though… Who knows, maybe Elise has come around emotionally after trying and failing to be with a dude.”[/color] he smirked, shrugging.

[color=C67C12]”Last girlfriend she had was [i]not[/i] doing well in that relationship. Still wouldn’t recommend it.”[/color] he added, laughing again.

[color=75a8ff]"Oh, that means I don't have to worry, then. I think it would get much too messy if a third person followed the trend."[/color] Reyna laughed. 

[color=629c3f]"Awwww, you've ruined my plans, Leon! I was hoping to drag another one in!"[/color] Cass shook her head at him in mock disappointment, slapping his arm a couple of times. 
[color=629c3f]"Man, and here I had a three way wedding planned out- wait, what happened to Elise's last girlfriend?"[/color]

It was the normal switch of Cass' brain from thinking of one thing to another without much logic behind it, aside from it having been talked about… 

If they weren’t in mixed company, he may’ve said…

[color=C67C12]”You’ve heard enough stories about my Mom, you can probably put together an idea or two.”[/color] he said simply, doing his best to subtly brush the conversation off. It was hard enough trying to make first impressions for other people [i]without[/i] them being fucked up.

[color=C67C12]”But, she’ll never be [i]Junior![/i]-”[/color] he gave a very clear nervous laugh that was meant to be part of the overall joke… [i]A sad, sad joke.[/i]
[color=C67C12]”-Point being, you’re safe. No fucking… Three way marriage, [i]what?[/i] That’s so out of the blue, Babe!”[/color] he laughed again, this time truly.

Cass was observant and emotionally intelligent enough to realise Leon was redirecting, and brushing off her question. But it was a point where she knew not to push, and she didn't exactly want to make him uncomfortable. She reached out to rub his arm comfortingly.

Reyna knew too. Even without her magic, she was good at reading people. But she'd always been a gentle prodder when it seemed necessary. Here? It wasn't something that was her business. 

[color=629c3f]"Well clearly I'ma be the one walking Trisha down the aisle if she gets married- obviously. So if it all works out, may as well just make it a joint wedding, y'know! One big ass insane celebration! Add another person and it's even more fun!"[/color] Cass answered after a beat, grinning playfully at him. Of course, it was a joke. She didn't even know if she wanted to get married at all, nevermind to the guy she'd only known for a couple of weeks! 

[color=75a8ff]"Does Trisha know?"[/color] Rey asked with a soft laugh at Cass' continued antics. 

[color=629c3f]"No, but she ain't gonna say no, is she?! She loves me too much! Just you wait, another year with Casey and she'll be coming to me like ‘oh Cass please walk me down the aisle and also get married at the same time.’!"[/color]

[color=C67C12]”God, please! Let’s [i]not[/i] move as quick as those two love birds, maybe? You’re moving into my apartment building: Nothing says we’re getting [i]married[/i] in the next six months… ‘Cuz you [i]know[/i] that’s coming next. They’ll disappear to some quiet place and show back up with a couple rings.”[/color] he laughed, rubbing Cass’ shoulder.

[color=C67C12]”Preferably, I’d not see our good time shared so heavily anyway. I want a big marriage, for [i]us.[/i]”[/color] he added, tapping at his head.
[color=C67C12]”It’s practically a must.”[/color]

Cass swept a hand across her brow as if she was wiping away non existent sweat. 
[color=629c3f]"I'll be honest, thank fuck you ain't wanting to go at the breakneck pace! I was a lil worried it was a family trait!"[/color]

Of course she was the one who'd started the whole joint wedding joke… But she absolutely didn't want to get married as fast as Trisha was likely to. Cass wasn't exactly ‘traditional’, but there was an order to these things- at least you properly moved in together first. And that wasn't something she foresaw herself fully wanting until after that six month period anyway… 

[color=629c3f]"I was fully joking about the shared thing, of course- even I [I]ain't[/i] that… communal? Anyway- you're lucky if something big's practically a must, cause I ain't got any preferences about that! Big, small, quiet, loud, gaudy or cheap- ain't something I've thought about much!"[/color]

Reyna didn't say anything- since the conversation had taken a turn where she couldn't entirely tell how serious Cass was. But it certainly didn't seem like her place to say anything… so she just smiled gently at her friend, not seeming too bothered that it had turned away from something she was involved in.

To Leon, however, the further away a conversation drifted from any periphery individuals to it, the more an indication it was that the conversation was focal. Only… That probably wasn’t the case for Cass. He was starting to get a slightly better handle on that sort of social buzzing she did whenever she could. Never concerned about being locked down into a single topic, her mind seemed to froth and roil at the slightest provocation. The swells of speech and emotion followed the whim… 

[color=C67C12]”We’ll have plenty of time to work out gory details. For now,-”[/color]

Holding Cass in one arm, he scooped Reyna in again and brought them real close.
[color=C67C12]”-say your see ya’s, because bye is forever, and let's get [i]out[/i] of this poor woman’s hair with our bullshittery.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Oh yeah, we’ll stop bothering! In person at least- I’m never getting outta your hair over text.”[/color] Cass grinned, managing to wriggle her arms in to hug Reyna. 

[color=75a8ff]"Well, I’ve almost missed your frequent boredom spam texts, so it won’t be entirely unwelcome."[/color] Reyna smiled, easily going along with the second, closer hug. As it ended she stepped away, back towards the apartment block. One hand raised up in a half wave. 

[color=75a8ff]"I’ll see you both another time. Drive safe."[/color]

[color=629c3f]”My birthday! You’ll see us on my birthday, if not sooner!”[/color] Cass darted round to open up a car door, before she got herself stuck in dragging out things even further. 
[color=629c3f]”See ya, Rey!”[/color]

There was a brief moment of silence as they pulled away and started the drive back to St Portwell. A moment where Cass’ brain got stuck, at least. It was one of those occasions when her mind didn’t just move on to something else. A tiny, nagging worry… And her motto was always to be as honest as possible. 

[color=629c3f]”I dunno if I ever wanna get married.”[/color] She blurted out, incredibly bluntly. Probably too honest. Immediately a hand came up to smack her face. 
[color=629c3f]”Wait, that came out wrong! Like I suddenly expect it to be on the table, even though it definitely ain’t for a long while… I know we ain’t been together for long, but I just think it's better to be honest about it. Cause it can be a deal breaker for some people, right?”[/color]

Leon was pleased with the trip, and had a wide smile even after she spoke up about her feelings. Granted, it was a little out of the blue, but he saw [i]where[/i] her mind was at. They had been about it in the apartment, but having let the time pass, he figured there wasn’t anything left to talk about!

[color=C67C12]”Oh! Well, I mean… Married? Or, like, [i]married[/i]? ‘Cuz, the Church really ain’t gotta have anything to do with it. And, it ain’t gotta be traditional or anything with me. Last wedding Lelou had, there was a [i]lot[/i] of blood, and no matter how many weddings I’ve been to since I Adjoined, none have been [i]so metal[/i].”[/color] he giggled, looking at her with an encouraging smile.

[color=629c3f]”Like, married at all? Ain’t anything to do with the Church, or the possible Lelou bloodbath- Or worrying ‘bout what a wedding would be like! I just don’t know if I’d even want one.”[/color] Cass rubbed the back of her neck. Maybe it wasn’t going to be an issue. Maybe they’d never make it that far! But she wanted to treat it like they would- like she did all her relationships. Hoping for and working towards longevity, but without any false promises. 

[color=629c3f]”Most people know if they want to or not, right? Whether they’re with someone or not… Especially if they're with someone. But say in two years we’re still together, and you turn around and propose? I can’t guarantee I’d say yes.”[/color] She was completely honest about it, at least. 
[color=629c3f]”Maybe that ain’t a problem! And it ain’t something I’m thinking about all the time, y’know… Or even that worried about? I just don’t want to turn around further down the line and say outta nowhere. It’s best to be completely honest as early as possible, right?”[/color]

[color=C67C12][i]At all?[/i][/color]
[color=a36209][i]What is [b]Matrimony[/b] if you consider it? Love is love, lust is lust, honor is honor and trust is a must. Is she any less your woman without some silly rock?[/i][/color]

[color=C67C12]”Loyalty and commitment? Some kind of honor ceremony? A party, just to say ‘Hey everyone, we’re’-”[/color]

What [i]was[/i] the hang up? The necessity of that word and the attachment existing along with it, totally unable to separate the very concept from his most basic and subliminally mind washed instinct for… What!? Exclusivity?

[color=C67C12]”-uh… Is it… What [i]is[/i] the difference against it? I’ll be honest, I’m struggling right now trying to figure out what my arguments [i]for it[/i] actually are. But, I know you’ll be honest with me too! Right?”[/color] he asked with an incredibly thoughtful tone behind it.

Cass nodded. Of course she would be, but she had to take a moment to actually think about it. Why was it something she was so unsure of? She wasn’t one of those people who just didn’t believe in it. She wasn’t like Nadiyah, whose upbringing had turned her against it… Or was she? Her parents were happy together, but… 

[color=629c3f]”It’s legally binding.”[/color] The answer came eventually. Not just that…
[color=629c3f]”And I grew up being told I had to. It was, like, expected? I ain’t come outta that against it… But it makes me a lot more unsure. Like, what if I end up trapped?”[/color]

She grimaced a bit as she said that. But she had to be honest.
[color=629c3f]”That sounds bad! I know [i]you[/i] ain’t like that. It’s just a hangup I’ve been working on for a long time, and I dunno if- or when- I’ll get over it. Maybe it won’t be so much of an issue in a couple of years, maybe when the time is ‘right’ I’ll be like ‘[i]hell yeah![/i]’ It’s not cause I don’t want commitment or anything cause… A relationship’s built on that. It’s really the fear of being trapped, the more I think about it.”[/color]


[color=a36209][i]Ah, you weren’t paying attention again. Missed the forest for the trees.[/i][/color]

She was right. Cass had, in fact, not expressed whether or not she intended on getting married. She expressed her indecision about the desire. He’d reacted, heard what he wanted, and was thankful that there was only a little time between the misunderstanding and the clarification. Probably so little she’d never get the chance to notice.

[color=C67C12]”Oh, definitely not like that! In fact, we’ll set up a stipulatory lease for your new apartment! Anything I can help to make it feel like you’re not, y’know, hitching your wagon to my horses. Frankly, it’s smart! Better, y’know, that it’s separated. That way, nobody in our life can think anything fucked up either. And, we’ll just continue knowing that if we last that long, there’s a possibility that you’ll always be Ms. Wallace! Would we hyphenate our kids? If, I mean… Well, honestly, I’d have kids with you. Even if you didn’t wanna take care of ‘em, I think we’d make a great baby. I’d fuckin’, y’know, lock it down. Single dad shit.”[/color] he grinned across the seat at her winking.

There was a moment’s pause, before Cass started laughing. 
[color=629c3f]”Oh man, how did you know my dream was to pump and dump like that!”[/color] She shook her head as she laughed, relaxing again. Not that she was too worried… But there’d been an occasion or two when a partner had broken up with her because of her uncertainty. 

[color=629c3f]”I’m a lil more confident I’d wanna have kids. Not like, so much I’d insist on it with anyone, y’know? But I’d have em and I’d raise em- even if it was into little hellions. Which, I mean, ours would be! An awesome, nightmare baby.”[/color] She could already imagine how insane any child of theirs might be… At least, if they were [i]anything[/i] like she was, they’d be troublemakers. 

[color=629c3f]”It would help to have the stipulatory lease. I just need that fallback, in case. And so long as you’re really alright with it being a possibility. I know it doesn’t even really change shit, but you’d be surprised by the amount of people that it’s super important to! Like me not knowing is the worst thing ever.”[/color]


[color=C67C12]”Well, speaking frankly, it [i]is[/i] important to me. But, like I said before, thinking about it now? I can’t really figure out why. Monogamy, I guess. Expectation? Like you said? I mean, not exactly, I never really saw it as a negative thing. Getting married was [i]my[/i] expectation. That I’d grow up, meet a woman who looked like my mother, and we’d get married and I’d be just like my Dad. It’s all sentiment, but none of it seems to have anything to do with any concrete conviction. Not religious, not moral, so-”[/color]

He laughed and shrugged openly, tossing his free hand in his lap.

[color=C67C12]”-at this point I’m basically telling myself that it’s stupid to get hung up on. That you’ll have that kind of monogamous love and respect and trust with me in spite of there being nothing crazy binding us. Nothing religious, nothing traditional. Nothing but us. I can respect it… But we’re still gonna have a party. If we get there, and you don’t want my last name, [i]please[/i] tell me we can still have the party.”[/color] he grinned.

[color=C67C12]”I want people to treat us like we’re getting married. Just, like, ten or fifteen years down the line, y’know? People recognizing us and our love, like ‘Oh these two idiots made it work.’ I guess.”[/color] he had a much more playful look in his eye when it came to this.

[color=629c3f]”Who’re you calling an idiot?! I’m very smart, thanks.”[/color] Cass turned her head slightly to grin back at him. That really didn’t sound so bad. At the end of the day, her possible issues with marriage were the more legal and practical things. [i]Not[/i] the thought of a loving and committed relationship. 

After all, she’d always been… More emotionally monogamous, at least? Or at least, committed. Whether it was with one partner, or a throuple where they were all together. Rarely was she emotionally open outside of neglect within a relationship… So she really was happy with the future Leon talked about, if it came to be. 

[color=629c3f]”But I ain’t gonna say no to a party, don’t worry! Cause, yeah… I [i]will[/i] have that kinda love, respect and trust with you by the time it’d even be a consideration. So even if it ain’t a marriage in the legal sense, it can be a big ass celebration of our love.”[/color] She glanced at him again with a slightly softer smile. 
[color=629c3f]”If you ever figure out why it’s important to you beyond the expectation, make sure to let me know. Maybe it’ll help me make my mind up too.”[/color]

Leon simply scrunched his nose and shook his head. A smile curled up across his lips, and he thought about the security of the number one. One and only. [i]The[/i] one. Could be.

[color=C67C12]”I don’t think I will, Babe… I don’t think I will…”[/color]