[right][code]Home.[/code][/right]
Eventually, Casey had to go to work. They weren’t going to be left alone forever, as much as they might both want that. But he was still the Blade and had to deal with the aftermath of the attack.

Which left Trisha alone in their home. She didn’t make much fuss when he left- she felt she’d already been selfish enough, and didn’t want to make things anymore difficult for him. That wouldn’t be fair, it wasn’t like he wanted to leave either. 

Eventually, she got thirsty enough that she had to drag herself out of the safety of bed for something to drink. The sun was properly lighting up the space now, letting her turn off some of the lights on her way down. 

A detour to the bathroom found her standing in front of the mirror, staring at herself. Dark bags under her eyes weren’t enough to hide the puffiness from all the crying. Her eyes were bloodshot, turned dull brown in the dim light. Empty, almost… There were still makeup stains here and there, since she hadn’t exactly had the energy to properly take it off last night. Just the blood… 

Trisha rubbed her face red and raw with a cleaning cloth, as if she could rub away the dark bags. Or her own skin… Maybe if she peeled it off, she’d find something better underneath. Someone better. 

But washing her face that much just hurt. She didn’t bother with anything else. The thought of getting in the shower briefly crossed her mind, before disappearing again. She couldn’t be bothered. She didn’t really care. 

She went into the Den rather than going back to bed, glass of water in hand. It was just as comfortable. And there was a television, which she switched on. It was already set on some detective show she vaguely remembered Casey liking. That was fine. It was something. 

As the space was filled with more sounds than just her own thoughts, Trisha curled up into a ball at the back of the sofa. In that spot where Casey normally sat, and her with him. It was comfortable enough, but felt empty. She felt empty. 

There were things she should do. Coding her website and tending to the bees after last night… But the guilt of unproductivity only made her feel worse, and less willing to move. What was the point, anyway? The one person she had any business with had wanted her dead at one point. And why bother working on her magic? It wasn’t like it would ever be useful. 

She’d always be a burden. Worthless. Casey could tolerate it, sure. He was fine to protect her. But that didn’t mean she could… 

After a couple of hours, she managed to turn on her laptop. A couple more, she turned it back off. She wasn’t going to do anything on it. But she made sure to keep her phone close, in case he texted. She didn’t want to worry him… or anyone else. A brief bit of energy was given to responding to people. Pretending everything was perfectly fine, and that she didn’t feel like it would be better if she just rotted away on this couch. 

She only bothered leaving the Den to go to the bathroom. On the first trip she collected Princess, so she at least had something to hug around. Otherwise, the hours slowly ticked by curled up staring at the TV without taking anything in or the wall behind it. Thoughts crawled in, then slipped away to emptiness at points. There was no energy or motivation to do anything. It all felt pointless, anyway.

Casey hadn’t had much time to text, unfortunately. He hadn’t had much time in general, especially with what he was walking back into. The overall vibe was mixed as he made his way into the site, which had been magically cordoned off in order to keep any unaffected blinds out of the area. Several radial stasis spells were keeping both the event space, as well as the giant crab beneath, relatively time-stable in wait for the Blade’s proper investigation. 
It was, of course, Casey’s job to go over [i]everything[/i] in order to find out what, why, and how. Which meant that things hadn’t changed more than an hour from the time he left within the bubble.

Powerful Purple Adepts under Clarissa and Furio’s direction maintained the field, while the same duo had taken the mantles of their old jobs with total gusto. Like they’d never been away.
And that caused a fair bit of hostility between the two parties. With Lynette sequestered away, it was left to Clarissa to lead the entire Cult as the Crone-in-Wait, thus there was sudden impetus to discipline for duties shirked. By Lynette’s own demands, the entire stasis plan had been set up in order to give Casey the chance to compress. But, neither Clarissa, nor Furio, seemed entirely happy over it when he arrived.

Which wound up being the least of Casey’s concerns. Surveying the carnage bit by bit made him sick in a literal way, his stomach learning strange new dance moves as he personally verified each and every casualty based on whatever records they could get ahold of. Listings had to be made, cataloguing each of the three-hundred and fifteen dead. The wounded [i]had[/i] to be helped earlier, thus were pulled from the field before the stasis was applied. So, a fair count could be made once Casey and the tallytakers had finished their work. Thankfully, most were easily identified by identification cards left in wallets and purses… 

The trouble was, three-hundred and fifteen was a large number of dead people. Important, in some cases. Lives would be affected. Jobs. Futures. And suddenly, there had to be a magical solution to this.
A magical solution that the Temple’s reliquary stash was equipped to handle. Tallytakers were important for these situations. With twenty-eight unidentified “Doe’s”, the rest could be targeted by a miracle-craft known by the tongue-in-cheek name of “The Macguffin.” Meant to erase mass death events like this from the public conscience, the [i]many[/i] wounded and the fewer dead are able to be catalogued into the machine, then blessed by a pure Adept of each color continuously until all the names were delisted.

Three-hundred and fifteen dead. Another four-hundred and eighty eight wounded. And only twenty eight unknown or otherwise unidentified “loose ends.” The rest would take weeks of continual magic usage to clear up. And in that time, the entire city would be wondering what the [i]fuck[/i] happened at Beppo Park on Thanksgiving. 
Furio handed the entire bag of problems over to Casey like a man on a mission. The only thing he didn’t do was spit in Casey’s face on the way out. But Clarissa had plenty to say, and damned him in a stern fashion before following her husband out of the space.

There would be lasting consequences if this wasn’t handled properly. The PRA were already there to see them about it, and if it hadn’t been some kind of external attack they had no real proof of instigating, there certainly would’ve been arrests. But, with an organization like the Temple, there was too much red tape for the Federal system to just start kicking doors down and making arrests. For once, they had to yield to a group who knew a little bit more about covering shit up.

Or, at least, the PRA didn’t seem to mind, and had no clear intention of stopping the Temple from handling it themselves… Either they were stretched too thin to handle it themselves, or the incident wasn’t big enough to get dirty with.
Casey got plenty dirty, however… dirty enough that he had to stop at least a dozen times. He’d stopped trying to hide the shakes, which only stopped when someone begged him to take another dose of E-Vac to steady his nerves. And that made it incredibly hard to keep his magic up, or to focus at all…

So, a dose of Glass to pick things back up in the right direction. Not like his time there was short. Eight, ten, twelve… Eighteen hours after he’d left home, he was only now crawling back up the flight of stairs. His arms were laden bags; fresh fruit, and dinner for the two of them. He had to cook, otherwise he wasn’t sure what he was going to do. Having grown quite fond of it, and thankful that the E-Vac was somewhere in the rearview, he knew he’d at least have a moment to feel good about creating something. A necessary change from destroying a thousand thousand other things…

Snowflakes were starting to fall as he made his way into the dark of the rooftop, the canopy leading to the house the only thing lit up… He’d closed most of the blinds that morning, leaving the one shining onto the bed open for Trisha to look out from. And, thankfully, he could see light shining back out from the same place. It’d been [i]incredibly[/i] exhausting. He’d eaten some key lime before coming back knowing full well that he’d need any energy he had left to cope in case [i]anything[/i] came back up. 

Pushing through the door, Casey could easily see the glow from the television down the hall, and cleared his throat.


[color=577d06]”S-sweetheart? Perfect pretty princess?”[/color] Casey tried to sound playful, but there was a great deal of sadness in his voice. Sadness he couldn’t hide. But he’d always dreamed of coming through the door like this, to a family who would greet him when he called.
[color=577d06]”I’m home…”[/color]

There wasn't an immediate response. Some quiet shuffling, the soft thud of something soft hitting the floor. Then Trisha herself appeared in the half open door to the Den. 

She was wearing the same clothes as when he left- a t-shirt of his she'd stolen a few days before, large enough it covered most of the comfortable shorts underneath. At least the puffiness from crying has finally died down, leaving just the dark bags and red patches where she'd scrubbed her face too vigorously. Her hair was a mess, normally cared for waves turned into an unruly, frizzy tangle. Like she'd just woken up, except she didn't look like she'd slept. 

There'd been a few naps in the period of numb TV watching. An hour or two here or there, filled with nightmares and dreams that had her waking up feeling worse. It wasn't exactly restful. But hearing and then seeing him was enough to make her feel just a little bit better. Enough that she was able to get up and off the couch.

[color=d1b300]“Welcome home."[/color] She said softly, voice slightly hoarse from being unused all day. She shuffled towards him, arms beginning to lift up, but paused when she spotted all of the bags he was laden with. There wasn't exactly any room to hug him. 

[color=d1b300]“I missed you. Did you…"[/color] She pursed her lips, not sure what to ask. 
[color=d1b300]“Are you alright?"[/color]

He was still shuffling by the time she made it out, and he dumped the weight of his parcels onto the counter with a gentle thud. She looked wonderfully comfortable, and he wanted to feel that way too. Thus, rather than worry about any potential shame, he wriggled his pants off of his legs without hesitation. [i]Then[/i], he was free to hug Trisha close. It was apparent as he still hadn’t said anything to the contrary that the day was exactly what she thought. 

But did he [i]say?[/i]

[color=577d06]”No. Definitely not alright. I only have a few hours, then it’s back to all hands on deck. Someone asked me why I was coming home, which I thought was a dumb question. I nearly punched him.”[/color] Casey spoke softly, rubbing Trisha’s back as he held her tight.

[color=d1b300]“You shouldn't punch someone just cause they're stupid."[/color] Trisha managed to joke quietly, hugging him back just as tightly. She rubbed her face against him before tilting it again to look up at him. She felt safer with him there, and less consumed by the void filled with guilt and self-loathing. But only a few hours… That wasn't nearly enough.

[color=d1b300]“Clearly he doesn't have someone he loves to go home to… Uh… only a few hours? Well, uh, is there anything I can do to… help you? I'll do anything you want."[/color] As long as it involved being near him, that was. She couldn't bear to be too far away when they didn't have long. 

Casey nodded his head.
[color=577d06]”Grab the big chef’s knife and the serving platter. I got fruit for the girls.”[/color] he half-instructed as he began pulling boxes of strawberries and other sweet fruits from the bags. 

[color=577d06]”And decide if you want beef, fish, or… Well, I guess just vegetables. I want stir fry, but I want to make it, because I want a lot.”[/color] he shrugged, sliding two large watermelons from the bottoms of a couple bags.

Trisha nodded, moving to get the serving platter and knife she'd seen Casey use to cut up fruit out. It was big, so she assumed it was the big chef's knife. She put them down on the counter, immediately making her way back to slot in at Casey's side. 

She didn't really want to eat anything. She would if he made it, because she should and she didn't want to worry him. Because she appreciates the effort he put in, too. But it meant she didn't really care what, because she didn't want anything. Beef… didn't seem like a good idea? It was a red meat, wasn't it? She was surprised he'd even suggested it. 

[color=d1b300]“Fish. Or just vegetables if it's easier for you, I don't mind."[/color] She answered eventually. 
[color=d1b300]“I’ll eat anything if you make it… but you know I don't really have many preferences. Should I cut up the smaller fruit? There's, uh… still some strawberries in the fridge. I tried dipping them in chocolate and letting it cool, because I thought that'd be nice, if you want any?"[/color]

[color=577d06]”Oh, yeah! Please, that sounds nice. I’ll do the little shrimp for the stir-fry then. Save the beef for something else.”[/color] Casey intoned, nodding his head with a vague excitement.

Trisha smiled slightly, detaching from him again to go into the fridge. She quickly messed the strawberries up from the sappy heart she'd shaped them into before making her way back to him. She put the plate down and picked one up, holding it up to him with a silent smile.

Having his head turned, Casey wasn’t exactly paying attention as he rolled one of the watermelons around to a side for cutting. Yet, as Trisha held the strawberry up and let him bite into it, a combination of sensory factors flooded his brain all at once. The simultaneous crunch of the strawberry, and the knife sinking into the melon. The visual of the white-to-red stem of the strawberry being massive in his vision, the panic of turning only to see the deep red juice dripping down the knife.

He’d come down from the E-Vac almost an hour ago. Now was [i]not[/i] a good time. Constitution weakened, the turning motion swept every bit of blood from Casey’s brain, and in a single crumbling motion, he toppled over. The knife dug deeper into the melon, caught there so it didn’t fly away with his hand. But, Casey’s whole head mashed off of the cabinet beneath the island top, causing him to involuntarily grunt in the midst of his unconsciousness.

[color=d1b300]“Casey?!"[/color] Trisha tried to catch him, but she wasn't fast enough or strong enough to stop him from hitting his head on the way down. Panic flared up, but it pushed her to quick action even as her breath grew harsh. She grabbed the knife and pulled it out of the watermelon, putting it safely on the island before dropping to her knees. 

What did you normally do when someone fainted? She wasn't sure. It had happened so many times during the Stygian Snake era, but that was normal from injuries and blood loss. Sometimes fear… What if he hit his head? Should she get something for it- No, no, she shouldn't leave him. She definitely shouldn't leave him. 

She shuffled forward on her knees, trying her best to carefully turn Casey onto his side before pulling his head up and onto her lap. Having it raised seemed good. She gently felt around his head for any bleeding, holding back tears and panic. He'd wake up… it was just a fainting spell! He'd be fine, she just had to stay calm until he was. Or at least… not let the panic freeze her. She wasn't calm at all, she just wasn't letting the panic attack take full hold.

By the time she was rolling him over, he was at least able to help. It was only temporary, but seeing all the red juice and squidgy liquid surrounding him made him queasy to the point that he had to vomit. Half way up, he surged from Trisha’s arms and pressed for the sink before heaving up the strawberry and the [i]nothing[/i] he’d had since Thanksgiving last night. 

A fucking travesty. Couldn’t even save the food. Some serving trays were so full of blood they just decided to dump them [i]as is.[/i] The thought caused him to hurl up a bit more, head stuffed in the sink. He dared not open his eyes for fear of the lumpy glop of half-digested fruit he’d just eaten. Not to mention the bees were starting to move toward the little bit of juice leaking from the pierced melon on the counter.

Chaos had come again, if not in a slightly more mundane setting.

[color=577d06]”I’m- I’m- I’m okay! I’m-”[/color] he managed to choke out before his guts tried to purge themselves of their own meaty bits.

[color=d1b300]“No you're not."[/color] Trisha said softly, having moved to comfortingly rubbing his back. There wasn't any accusation in her tone, but it was obvious that he wasn't. 

At least he was moving. He wasn't physically dying. She took in a deep breath, nose wrinkling at the harsh smell. But luckily for both her and Casey, she was used to all kinds of shit. Both from growing up in a house full of far too many children, and the summer of hell. She knew Casey well enough now to be able to vaguely figure out what the problem was. 

She could sort it. For him. Was functional enough to… for him. Maybe it would help her feel a bit less useless. 

[color=d1b300]“It’s alright, just… give me a moment."[/color] Her hand pulled away from his back and she moved around to the watermelon. It was easy to shoo the bees, gently commanding them back to their previous spot in the rafters with a promise of fruit later. She wasn't sure what the right thing was to do with the watermelon… so she moved it into the fridge for just now. Out of sight, out of mind. Any juice that had leaked onto the counter was mopped up along with the knife- as best as she could without access to the sink. There wasn't any visible evidence of the cut made into the fruit anymore, at least. 

[color=d1b300]“Do you… think you can move? I can clean this up."[/color] She asked gently as she moved back to Casey, hand going to his back again.

[color=577d06]”The strawberry was… Great. I just… I wasn’t thinking, and I saw-”[/color]

Bone wrapped in flesh made manifest as the whitest part of the strawberry core gave way to fleshy red edges. Snapped tendon, the inside of the rib. So many places where the human body looked like a cherry cowtail… He heaved again, unable to prevent his mind from wandering back. Back further still, to a time where there was almost no memory. Yet, the oddest, strangest wisp of consciousness calling forward from the past. 

A scream. A bone flying at his face.

[color=577d06][i]What the [b]fuck[/b] is that?[/i][/color]

A bone. The outer rim of red, then the actual pale bone, and the marrow inside. Perfectly grilled. Seasoned to perfection. There was smashing going on in front of him. Glass breaking. 

[color=577d06][i]Why the [b]fucking meat!?[/b][/i][/color]
Casey reeled back again, giving his whole being up to hurling until the world became gray around him. 

Only once he could draw breath again did he moan out in pain.

[color=577d06]”I swear, I’ll eat the fucking strawberries, Babe, they’re good! I promise! I pr-”[/color] 

[b]Bone. Sinew. Tissue. Face.[/b]

There was nothing left to give back to the air, yet his gut still tried to give and give. To no avail.

[color=d1b300]“You don't have to, Casey. They're just strawberries. I don't care about them, I care about you!"[/color] Trisha tried her best not to start properly panicking when he just didn't stop heaving. She was worried. Really worried. Was there even anything she could do to help? Did she just have to watch? 

She turned her body to properly hug him without constraining him, so he could keep heaving as much as he needed to. 
[color=d1b300]“Its alright… I've put it all away… just tell me how I can help you."[/color]

Casey did his best to comfort her as she had to deal with the fact that he was working through this. He had to get the images out of his mind, but it’d all been there the entire day, and he’d just bottled it up behind a gate of drugs that prevented him from noticing it. 

His hand gripped hers as gently as it could while he was heaving, and once the action seemed to subside and his thoughts became quiet again, he looked down at her arms around him and spoke weakly.

[color=577d06]”I’m sorry… Y-you don’t ha-a-ave to b-be here. But… It’s enough you are. I never ha-ad- Nobody was there like this. I gotta quit thinking about… The tents. G-”[/color]
He buckled, doubled until his head bumped against the back of the sink. Wincing in pain, Casey tried to go for as deep a breath as he could get.

[color=577d06]”We counted everyone today. All of them. If the greater population knew? If they realized what happened last night? Witchhunts. The Blinds may just wipe us out if they ever realized shit like that happens all the time. Whole communities disappearing from the fucking map. Changing public psyche like we’re in charge… God, please fucking forgive me…”[/color] he pleaded, partially to God, but just the same, partially to Trisha.

Trisha still held him as best she could, leaning forward slightly as he did. It hurt to see him suffering so much for something that wasn't his fault. She doubted any of the other people in power within the Temple had the same concerns. She leaned in to rest her face in his hair for a moment, before kissing the back of his head. 

[color=d1b300]“You’re doing it to protect more lives, Casey. So there isn't a witch hunt. It's not your fault. Even if it was… I'm sure God would forgive you. You didn't ask to be put in this position! You're doing what you can."[/color] Trisha didn't believe in God, nor did she realise it was her he was partly pleading to. But if saying something like that helped, she would. She knew enough about Catholicism at least to know the core concepts. Forgiveness was a big one from memory, even if it was rarely in practice.

[color=d1b300]“And I’m not going anywhere. I'm going to stay with you, no matter how you're feeling. You've… been with me through so many panic attacks already! Even if you hadn't- I'm going to be here for you every time I can be. Because I love you and you're my fiancé… I'm here, Casey. You can get it out however you need to. I won't blame you…"[/color]

Casey’s anger and anxiety wouldn’t be so easily flushed away. It was easy to [i]get it out[/i], but what did that really do in the end? He’d gotten it out last night, and then there was supposed to be more? Hard to imagine it’d do much if there was more after that. He knew for a fact that it wasn’t just some silly problem to overcome. The ramifications of their actions would be wide spread, and explaining it away simply wasn’t enough. 

And the chances were that [i]this[/i] would be Lynette’s weakest. She’d be participating as the leader of the ritual to direct the Macguffin’s energies through her own powerful White Lux. It’d be a good time to move on her, just after the completion… But now there were chances other parties would acknowledge the same, and plot against her with that same sparse window in mind. Casey had to be thirty steps ahead in all directions, and trusting Lynette’s judgement of the future was becoming more difficult the closer to the New Year they got.

[color=8882be][i]”Your dinner’s fucking [b]cold![/b]”[/i][/color]
A mop of black hair swept out of the way.
[i]Marrow, bone, meat, bullseye.[/i]

Casey was just [i]staring down[/i]. No words, no whimpering. Just faint murmurs, not even close to vibrating the chords. Air to nothing. It wasn’t ten seconds, it wasn’t thirty. Minutes went by as his brain unraveled in all directions. Scrambled eggs growing like molten landmass in a pan, he tried to categorically list everything to spill to her so that he could finally get it out. But, it wasn’t working. It wasn’t coming out the way he thought, because every time he asked himself what the benefit of her knowing any of it was. His own selfish reprieve? A moment to rub it in her face that she didn’t have it so bad in the long run? 

Where did that even come from? What a rotten feeling to project, and totally unwarranted to her when she was just trying to do the right thing. Why was he suddenly bitter? He kept thinking about the number, and visualizing all those corpses lined up in neat rows and columns. Three-hundred and fifteen black bags. That wasn’t a night at the ballpark. That wasn’t twenty Adepts vaguely capable of defending themselves without weaponry. That wasn’t a group of magical gangsters protecting some secret documents. Some were Adepts, sure. But, a lot were trapped innocents. People killed brutally in the opening flourish of the attack. People who had no way of knowing what was coming, nor ways of defending themselves.

[color=34ebb1][i]”Oh, my God Lynn! You cleared him!”[/i][/color]
[color=8882be][i]”You, Bastard! You take care of it, since it was meant for you!”[/i][/color]

[color=577d06][i]What the fuck is this…[/i][/color]

The clock was ticking. He was like a statue, fingers white-knuckled against the metal of the sink. He couldn’t discern the relation. There were obvious surface things, the meat being a source of pain. Dinner, the table, so he stands. Cooks and eats. Couches it. Anywhere that wasn’t the fucking table. Alright. But, why now?

[color=577d06]”Trisha… I… Chair. Please?”[/color]


[color=d1b300]“Alright."[/color] Trisha quickly confirmed, rubbing his back once more before going to grab him a chair. The ones at the breakfast bar were closest and easiest for her to drag over- they didn't have a dining table, so it was those or couches, which she wasn't going to try to pull over. 

Even though she was close enough to a panic attack herself, she was managing to keep it all under the surface. She probably could manage that until he went back to work. She'd done it before… even if recently she'd been quite weak, she could suppress things well if she really put the effort in. Then she'd be there for him, and he wouldn't have to worry about her. 

[color=d1b300]“Here, sit down- do you need anything else?"[/color]

As he plopped down onto the seat, he absentmindedly raised his hands, wrapping them around her and pulling her down to cradle her slightly, letting her sit squarely in his lap. She’d be able to feel both his hands trembling terribly.

[color=577d06]”Y’got any bee hormones for shit like this? Otherwise… I don’t know. It’s like playing cards in the dark. Tarot with no candles. I just keep coming up with that same fucking image, this same person there. Some fucking Blind, some person I never met, they just came to have a good time. Came with their family or something, was on the outside edge next to a total stranger. The poor fucker. Near decap, a fucking steak knife. [i]Why them!?[/i] Was it so fucking hard to leave the innocent fucks out of it? What was the fucking message? Game on? I couldn’t even fucking look at it, Trisha. I couldn’t function, I couldn’t direct anyone in that moment. It was all gone. Like I was a kid again, and I couldn’t do [i]anything.[/i]”[/color] he continued to vent, not quite considering how badly Trisha may be ramping up.

After all, this is what she wanted, right? Transparency. Frankly he couldn’t hold it in, so it was this, or some alternative that didn’t involve the woman who was supposed to love him terribly.

[color=577d06]”The fucking… Pattern. Th-”[/color] he paused, throwing his hand up over his mouth to suppress a nervous gag.

Trisha turned in his lap to face him, her legs loosely wrapping around his waist. One hand went to his back again, rubbing comfortingly, while she leaned back a little to properly look at him. 

She didn't know what to say. What did you say to someone who witnessed horrors that threw them back to other horrors? What did she wish someone said to her whenever someone triggered her? She didn't know. 

But she did have bee pheromones. A gentle floral scent filled the air around her, ramping up until it was heavier and strong enough to soak through Casey's emotional field. A calming blanket of pheromones. The same kind she'd used on Tansy earlier to stop her freaking out about magic, but ramped up to work on someone magical. 

[color=d1b300]“They’ve spent months killing people in cold blood from a coven that hasn't existed since we were teenagers, some who left the Paranormal world entirely. I'm… not surprised they're cruel enough to kill innocents like that."[/color] She said quietly. But that probably wasn't helpful, was it? What would be? 

She leaned forward again, arms wrapping around his shoulders. She tilted her head forward to rest their foreheads together while leaving him room to cover his mouth if he needed to. 

It was a lot for her to deal with. The whole situation, when she was so low herself. But of all the lows she could be in, this was the one where she was most able to deal with shit. Good enough at pretending to be alright around everyone else before slumping when alone… Not like the erratic drops or intense panic. On the edge of panicking, sure, but her only motivation right now- her first motivation all day- was to help Casey right now. She'd suppress the heavy knot of emotions in her chest for him. Maybe it would prove that she was just as worth it as he seemed to think…

[color=d1b300]“No wonder you couldn't function, Casey. That's awful… not something… anyone should suffer or see. Nevermind when you've already suffered through so much before."[/color]

Did he not want her to respond? Was it worth it? Did another voice need to be present? Not letting her speak, or asking her to be quiet, would be tantamount to shutting her out, and that was [i]never[/i] the goal. She’d simply asked for this, and he was no longer willing to let his baser instincts get the better of him. He was going to share.

[color=577d06]”It’s why I… Really want to fucking be there, Trisha. So I can put some of these images back into those evil pricks. I want revenge, no matter how hollow it’ll be. I’m not some common street Adept, I’m not a fucking idiot either. But, it’s so fucking exhausting, Trisha… I’m sorry… I’m so fucking sorry. It’s a nightmare to deal with, and- And- Fuck!”[/color]

He tossed his head back absentmindedly and mashed it off the corner of the island counter, causing the sharp reaction as he [i]almost[/i] dumped Trisha to the floor instinctively. Instead, in his wincing pain, he curled forward and whimpered like a wounded animal.

[color=577d06]”Fuck… I just want this to be over, Trish… Like we’ve talked about! Like we’ve said a thousand times already, like that’s anything other than the fantasy we share… I just want to [i]get there[/i] Trisha. I’m less than a dog right now, and it’s [i]killing[/i] me!”[/color]

Trisha curled her body forward slightly, arms moving to cradle his head and back. She took a deep breath to stop herself from trembling. 

[color=d1b300]“I wish I could just make it all go away for you. We [I]could[/I] leave… but it would mean abandoning everyone else. And- And I know you don't want to do that."[/color] She didn't entirely either, but she was more on the fence- more selfish. If she thought it wouldn't ruin things between them, maybe she would have pushed for it. To get out, fuck the Temple and everyone else in it. 

[color=d1b300]“We’ll get there. Together! I know I can't do much for you right now- I can't go and do all your duties instead so you don't have to worry about it, but… It won't last forever, Casey. And- And I'll be here for you until it's over and beyond that. I promise."[/color] It felt like empty assurances. But what could she say? She couldn't make it all go away as much as she wanted to. The only other option was to say nothing… like she was ignoring him. She couldn't do that. She had to try. 

The calming pheromones in the air intensified in an attempt to make them actually useful, Trisha ignoring the dull throbbing at her temple that came with it.

He sat in silence as he let the ponderous effect of the pheromones begin to spread out over his senses. This wasn’t bad… In fact, it was good. He’d had a “good” response to the aggression pheromones, so it only made sense that his reaction to this would be at least lukewarm. It was more than that, thankfully. Something distracting enough to give the images time to fade again.

[color=577d06]”You’re… Doing great. I’m sorry I’m like this, Trisha… I feel like a fool.”[/color] he cleared his throat gently.
[color=577d06]”I know I’m not, but, y’know. Putting all this on you. It ain’t fair. I’m just broken the fuck up about it, and it ain’t fair to either of us.”[/color]

Trisha nodded, one hand tangling in his hair and gently rubbing the back of his neck. The floral scent remained in the air even as Casey started to come down, lingering and calming. It was a shame that the space wasn't small enough for them to start affecting her too.

[color=d1b300]“It isn't fair on either of us… But you don't have to apologise. You don't let me apologise when I have… y'know…"[/color] She trailed off, feeling ashamed for a moment to even bring up something that wasn't anywhere near as bad. She really had it easy compared to him… 
[color=d1b300]“So… There's no need to be sorry. You're just lucky I'm used to gross things like vomit."[/color]

[color=577d06]”I’m just lucky to have you here with me… I should cook, or do something, but I just… God, the Bees. The girls, they need food. Go, go ahead. Wait for me in the den, maybe get the blankets and a pillow, I’ll try to fucking nap after I take care of this.”[/color] he grunted, loosening his arms around Trisha to let her get up. He knew he could get through it if he telepathically envisioned the fruit, setting the knife to do it without his interaction. 

[color=577d06]”Or… Maybe don’t. Maybe don’t go, y’know, maybe this is helping. Its like you’re crawling up into my brain through my nose. [i]So strange.[/i]”[/color] he absentmindedly commented, arms hesitating to tighten again in order to keep her there.

Subtly, but perhaps noticeable to Casey, Trisha tensed up when he told her to go into the den. A momentary stall in her self suppressing brought in a flood of panic that she wasn't wanted there, the pheromones wavering for a moment. But it all stabilised as his arms tightened again. 

[color=d1b300]“I don't want to be more than a few feet away from you."[/color] She admitted quietly, leaning in closer to him. He'd have to get up and let go to cook, obviously, but as long as she could be close it was fine. 

[color=d1b300]“The bees don't [I]need[/I] to be fed. Don't let their whiny buzzing get to you. They survive off nectar and pollen, which they have plenty of. You're just spoiling them."[/color] Her lips pulled up into a soft smile, before her face dropped into his shoulder. 
[color=d1b300]“And the pheromones… are kinda like that. The Queen could mind control people with them, I think."[/color]

[color=577d06]”We need to get working on that… It’ll make me feel a lot better if you’re better off.”[/color] Casey replied gently, taking a deep breath and standing on weak legs with her still clinging to him.

He put her up on the counter next to where the cutting board had been then reached back for his glove. Sliding it on, he tapped the counter and the fridge door opened wide. In the same moment, he had his eyes shut tight, the echoing of the tap radiating like a visual image through his brain. Each step created another echo, and he was able to walk to the fridge and get the platter with a completely colorless rendering of the world around him. 

[color=577d06]”You call it spoiling, I call it calorie bulking. If we’re gonna get them in shape, they need reserves.”[/color] he continued in a calm monotone as he placed everything back down next to Trisha.

Eyes still closed, his gloved hand grasped the knife, using his sonar-like imaging to make a perfect cutting plan for the knife to follow. Which it then proceeded to do completely against the laws of physics. 

[color=d1b300]“They’re bees, Babe, they… Can't calorie bulk. If you want to give them strength… you need to give them a whole pile of pollen to mix in their honey. And the honey [I]is[/I] their reserves."[/color] Trisha responded gently, giggling softly. Her legs swung slightly where she sat on the counter, watching Casey for any more signs of panic while being impressed- once again- by his magic. 

[color=d1b300]“They’re not people. They have muscles, but it's not the same… it's mainly their wings and thorax. They're not… going to get buff, if that's what you're imagining. These current bees are probably among the strongest and healthiest you'd find. The problem isn't them."[/color]

Classically, the joke went over her head. That wasn’t a problem. An involuntary smile broke across Casey’s face as he just couldn’t help but admire her sincerity. How could she expect him to make a joke at this point? Never mind something as great as that. [i]Bulking bees…[/i] He got images of those motifs that pilots would have painted on the sides of their planes. Angry Hornets, Black Holes, whatever the squadron had boiled down to an individual’s essential perception. All he could imagine was a cartoon bee with massive little legs and huge burly wings making ten times the amount of noise as it buzzed around.

[color=577d06]”Then there’s no problem. They can handle being spoiled.”[/color] he nodded to himself gently.

[color=d1b300]“You’re carrying them around when they get too fat to fly, then."[/color] Trisha playfully pouted, glancing away from Casey and up to all the bees waiting patiently in the rafters. It was probably impossible for them to do that… They loved their fruit, but didn't exactly gorge themselves like humans could. And her bees worked hard enough that they'd burn off anything they consumed. 

She was pretty sure bees couldn't get fat just as much as they couldn't get bulky, anyway. 

[color=d1b300]“I’m more worried they're going to end up liking you more than me. Which is fine… probably also my fault! I'm blasting you with so many happy and loving pheromones all the time it's no wonder they're falling for you too."[/color]

[color=577d06]”I’m surprised you don’t do this more often to yourself, or others even… I understand in a sense, that you’d maybe be worried about faking it, but people don’t ever seem to give you the benefit of the doubt. I’d fucking blast them.”[/color] he shrugged. 

In truth, it was nice. Actually helpful, though he hesitated in overuse. Dependence on any one particular thing wasn’t a good plan to keep. Once the watermelons had been cut and diced, he took a chunk for himself through his blind senses and still managed to eat it. It was a shame that one of his favourite fruits was such a problem to eat sometimes… Usually it wasn’t this bad, and thankfully Trisha’s influence was great for keeping the waking nightmare at bay.

[color=577d06]”Thank you… It helps. It’s like I can feel your love inside, in a way. Not, y’know, pervy, but… Like, I breathe, and it’s you.”[/color]

As he scraped the fruit off onto the platter, he queued up the knife for a new set of raspberries, which were easy to split down the line. But he had a piece between his fingers and held it out to Trisha with eyes closed.

[color=577d06]”Even if I couldn’t kind of see, I’d know where you were. I feel like a bee, I guess.”[/color]

Trisha giggled softly, leaning forward to eat the offered raspberry from him. 
[color=d1b300]“Cause you can smell me? Just follow the floral scent… Maybe I'll be able to communicate with you using them one day. Then you'll really be like a bee."[/color]

She smiled at him, though she was fairly certain it wouldn't show on whatever magic he was using in place of his sight. But that was fine. 
[color=d1b300]“I didn't mean these pheromones. I meant the subconscious bee ones I'm always giving off that only they smell… And I can't use them on myself unless it's a really tight space. I'm not sure why it works then… I only figured out [I]these[/I] ones recently anyway. Before it was just panic or anger inducing pheromones. I'm really glad that these ones are helping you… I like being able to help you."[/color]

[color=577d06]”You help me every day. Sometimes its in ways you probably wouldn’t like, but you’re a lot harsher than I am sometimes. Y’know, you help me learn more about patience, and about life outside of a base. About what it’s like to live with someone. To get annoyed about something small and dumb, then learning how to smile about it rather than hold it against the other person.”[/color] Casey explained calmly, knowing those waters were rocky.

[color=577d06]”I’m sure you get annoyed at me. But, then, that presumes that you’d get annoyed at what I’d get annoyed at. Like how you don’t close the toothpaste sometimes, or an area gets cluttered up with stuff and I’ve gotta get it cleaned off before I can relax. But, you do those things. So, chances are, there’s [i]other[/i] stuff that I do that bothers you. And, maybe you’re already good at smiling at the stuff I do, but… This is pretty recent for me. The idea that I can positively relate those habits to you. That they’ll make me think of you just the same as a good morning text. Does that make sense?”[/color] he asked, tapping the board a few times to get an idea as to how many raspberries were left.

Trisha did her best to not react in any audible or easily visible way. A slight tensing, her smile wavering… But he wasn't properly seeing right now. It was probably just her movements? 

She could stop herself from getting upset. She wasn't upset at [I]him[/I]... But at herself. Of course he got annoyed by things she did. Of course she managed to fuck up even domestic living. She wasn't careful enough, she left a mess… who wouldn't get annoyed by that? What if it got too much at some point? And he decided he couldn't keep tidying up her clutter? The fact that he was having to learn to smile at it… clearly he was used to people that didn't annoy him. And she did! 

So she had to do better. Because she didn't want him seeing something annoying and then thinking about her. He said it was a positive though, but was it really? Wouldn't it end up grating on him? Sure, he did some things that annoyed her too… but it wasn't the same, because she was probably being unreasonable. 

[color=d1b300]“Mhm, I understand."[/color] It was much easier to pretend it was the truth when he wasn't looking, and she was so deep in the depth of self hatred everything was immediately internalised. And she didn't want to get upset at him or put anything on him right now… because she needed him there! She didn't want to risk him deciding to leave early. 

[color=d1b300]“It’s my first time living with a [I]partner[/I] too. Where everything's shared and there's not a space that's solely mine to leave in whatever state I want to. I used to stay round at partners a lot but… it's not the same. So I'm learning too. Sometimes it's annoying to clear everything up if I'm going back to it the day after, but I'm getting used to… compromise?"[/color] She managed to sound calm and reasonable, even though she really wanted to cry about how he found anything about her annoying. So sensitive…

[color=577d06]”In the FFL, we were taught to be immaculate. We were supposed to look like toy soldiers as we marched out onto the battlefield. Bunks were clean even on the front. I’d come from a house with Leon and Mia living in it. The only reason Leon doesn’t live like a pig in shit is because someone comes once a week. You’ve never seen Mom with a [i]home[/i]. There’s a reason we had to have Clarissa basically living with us as a Nanny all those years.”[/color] Casey explained, attempting to highlight the contrast.

[color=577d06]”I don’t remember any of the cadets I did Basic with. I just remember the people in the unit I transferred to. The whole, y’know… But, even with them, it’s all blurry. When I was transitioning into the Army, I did a stint in the Marines. Those guys were animals; and when I got into the Army itself, I realized you could actually get worse. Disorganized, messy, chaotic cesspit…”[/color]

For a second, Trisha would probably be able to see the eyes beneath the lids roll slightly, bulging from one corner to the other as if he was passing a thoughtful gaze downward.

[color=577d06]”But, for what it was worth? That shit became organized. I realized I was wrong about how they lived; that everything we were doing was being done for ease of access and convenience. I learned to live with that mess, so long as I had my eight square feet of private space. A cot to keep clean, a place to stand, a spot to stash my shit in. Anything I didn’t want kept in that space, but still needed out, we just [i]kept out.[/i] Nobody gave a shit. You were in charge of your kit. In the end, it made a lot more sense.”[/color]

Clearing his throat, he finally tilted the board onto the platter and pushed it on toward the table.

[color=577d06]”Let ‘em get started on that. I got rid of all the red fruit.”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“Alright."[/color] Trisha nodded, sending out gentle signals to the bees to come feast. They'd been so patient, following her last command to stay in the rafters without any ignoring it. 

As a steady stream of bees came down towards the fruit, a matching stream of water began to trip from Trisha's eyes. A small amount at first, before it was a flood of tears that felt out of nowhere even to her. Delayed from being upset by Casey finding things she did annoying- but she'd pushed it down! She really didn't need to cry, she didn't. 

Hoping that Casey's magical sight wasn't good enough to see tears, she carefully raised one hand to rub her eye like there was something in it. She didn't want to worry him. She could stop crying before he noticed. She shouldn't make him worry or feel like he had to care for her after he had such a bad episode! 

[color=d1b300]“I’m glad the- the red fruit is done. They'll finish it quickly… I'll clean it up when they're done. Are- are you cutting more, or- or getting started on dinner?"[/color] It was a lot harder to sound like she wasn't actively crying when trying to talk.

Casey could only really see with sounds. Except, with so many bees around now, it was like he had a scrambled three dimensional map of his surroundings. He could see her wipe her eyes, and stopped to stare at her without opening his eyes as he tried to figure out why. Was it something he’d said? Or, was she holding something in? What if it was both, then he had to deal with the entire spectrum of issues.

It was worth it. He stepped closer, eyes still closed until he knew the bulk of the bee noise was out of his periphery, then opened them to look directly at her. Deep blue eyes stared expectantly, but with great softness as if he was pleading without words.

[color=577d06]”Your turn, Honey. Tell me about it.”[/color] he spoke softly, hands cupping her arms so they’d both rest on his while he supported her at the elbow.

[color=d1b300]“I don't know…"[/color] Trisha sniffed, eyes welling up with even more tears. It was sort of true. The previous conversation had been the trigger, but it was just the brick pulled out of the dam she was using to hold back all of her emotions. So it was more than that. But what did she even say? How did she explain it? Something as ridiculous as being pushed into a low, almost depressive episode because of all that had happened when he was still dealing with it all? And she had it so easy? 

[color=d1b300]“I don't want to burden you, Casey. That's not fair. You're dealing with enough. I'll be fine in a few minutes."[/color] One hand gripped onto his arm while the other raised to continue wiping away the tears.

[color=577d06]”Until you stop thinking of yourself as a burden to others, you’ll never heal, Trisha. I love you, and you’re already helping me. So, keep helping me, and let me help you in return. That’s what support is. I… I just need something to keep the people out of my head. It’s almost a dream you’re still here with me.”[/color]

Casey hugged Trisha without any more hesitation, his arms slipping under hers and tugging her close. One hand crawled up and entangled in her hair, rubbing the back of her head in a comforting motion.

[color=577d06]”Was it something I said? I’ll explain myself however you want me to…”[/color] he cooed.

[color=d1b300]“Sort of."[/color] She answered honestly, head drooping forward as she leaned towards him. If she didn't look she wouldn't see any negative reaction. But it was unfair of her to expect it when he was being so gentle with her… which only made her feel worse. 

[color=d1b300]“I don't like that I do things that annoy you… even though I know that's silly and unrealistic. But… I can't even do simple things and you're going to want to go into the den later and you won't be able to relax because it's a mess from yesterday and I had all day to tidy it but I didn't. I- I- I don't know, Casey, you keep saying I'm not a burden but I just don't understand how I'm not. You barely get a chance to breath before I'm getting upset about something small and then you have to deal with that and it's just not fair."[/color]

[color=577d06]”Trisha, you didn’t spend sixteen hour days being beaten with a switch and forced to march across France’s worst coastlines. You didn’t grow up being punched around by grown men because you were expected to be stronger…”[/color]

He looked at her sincerely, pulling away just enough so that she couldn’t escape him staring at her again with those deep dark blue eyes.

[color=577d06]”We have separate thresholds, Baby! I’m so fucking sorry… Y’know there’s spells we can go and have done. Things to totally change your brain; but I know you don’t want that either. And [i]I[/i] don’t want that. And if you started cleaning everything up all the time no matter what, this house would become very lonely! If I never saw any sign that we lived here, it’d lack the warmness of what I fought for to begin with. The chance for messy people to have happy lives. Maybe [i]that[/i] sounds silly, but it’s not so dumb when you get around to thinking about it like I have.”[/color] Casey added gently, trying to make sure that Trisha could have concepts outside of herself directly to grasp ahold of, so she didn’t feel like it was all so centered around her.

Trisha nodded, sniffling silently for a moment. She felt like she looked incredibly pathetic. Her eyes and cheeks had just calmed down from all the breakdowns overnight, red puffiness gone, and now she was at it again. 

[color=d1b300]“O-Okay, I understand, some mess isn't a problem. It should looked lived in… But just because you grew up like that doesn't mean you deserve to be constantly dealing with things. If anything you deserve the break more… I've been so privileged all my life I've barely thought about it… B-But it's not just that. That's… just a bit. T-the trigger, I guess."[/color] She shook her head, face scrunching up slightly. She just couldn't stop crying no matter how hard she tried to.

[color=d1b300]“I th-thought this wouldn't happen when I was with you. It normally doesn't… I'm not single, I have you, I love you… But I just can't do anything. And I'm so scared that I won't get better this time because normally it only happens when I'm alone! But I also feel like it doesn't matter because I'm never going to change anyway…"[/color]

It was like she'd decided to be honest with him, but skipped from one issue to the results of another without actually explaining the real problem. It wasn't on purpose. It was normally such a non issue that she entirely skipped over talking about the [I]definitely not depressive but similar[/I] episode. Like he should just know, or have guessed she was going through something different. 

[color=577d06]”Trisha… I love you… Come on, fuck the food. Let’s just… Go. I’ve only got so much time, I don’t want to spend it away from you, or preoccupied.”[/color]
He slipped her off the counter, holding her until her feet touched the floor, then he went for her hand.

[color=577d06]”We won’t clean the mess either. Because it’s [i]no problem.[/i].”[/color] he intoned gently, looking down at her now before stepping slightly to the side with his hand still holding hers.

[color=d1b300]“Go… to the Den?"[/color] Trisha asked, looking up at him with tear filled eyes. 

[color=577d06]”Unless you’d rather go to bed for now…”[/color] he replied gently. 

Trisha shook her head. She definitely didn't want to go to bed. Then she'd struggle to leave again, and she'd rather be stuck on the couch than the bed.

So she shuffled towards the den, clinging onto Casey's hand like he'd disappear if she let go. It wasn't as messy as she'd made it out to be. Princess was sitting precariously on the edge of the couch, with the blanket they'd got specifically for that room kicked all across it. Her laptop was in the middle, with a few books spread around it. There were a large amount of candles on the floor beside the TV, which was still playing the detective show. Then wrappers from snacks she'd eaten while getting ready before Thanksgiving here and there… it really wasn't that bad.

There were still a few bees in various spots just resting, having been the last group to check in Trisha before she emerged.

Her tears were beginning to run dry, but seeing the couch only made her feel worse. Like there was somehow a big, visible dent from where she'd planted herself for almost sixteen hours. 

[color=d1b300]“I’m sorry for stopping you from cooking…"[/color] she mumbled, even though she held his hand in a death grip and had led him in here.
[color=d1b300]“I’m just too selfish… I spent all day lying around and now I'm just going to keep doing it with you…"[/color]

[color=577d06]”I think we’re feeling similar, Trisha. You think I’m not feeling like that, maybe. Because I’ve got shit forcing me to go deal with it. But, it’s a lot of therapy to get to that point. Shit maybe you’ve never had to think about.”[/color] Casey mused as he looked up at the television. There was a vague smile.

[color=577d06]”You started watching Inspector Colimo? Definitely a good one for being down in the dumps. He always catches them, the show holds your hand the whole way. No questions necessary at the end.”[/color] he calmly spoke, sliding up into his spot before inviting Trisha into his lap.

[color=577d06]”Come on. Come get warm. Tell me more about all the privileges you were privy to when you had nobody who really loved you. We’ll get back to that one for starters, because it’s a good place.”[/color] he softly pushed, clearing his throat.

Trisha didn't need much inviting to climb up onto the couch and then Casey. She curled up against his chest, tension easing just slightly. She felt safe here, at least. Warm and safe… 

[color=d1b300]“Not- Not that kind of privelege… I just… I have so much money and I've never [I]had[/I] to do anything aside from study and even then… And I'm lazy because of it. Most people can't afford to just… not do anything for days. And I- I just don't have the motivation to fix it because everything's been handed to me on a silver platter aside from actual emotional care."[/color] It wasn't true, of course, but it was how so many people viewed her to the point she'd started to internalise it. And she was materially privileged. 

[color=d1b300]“I’ve… never had it that bad! But whenever I'm alone and single I just can't do anything, but I thought it was only then, but it's happening again and- I don't know what lying around doing nothing is except for priveleged?!"[/color]

[color=577d06]”Comfort? For once in your life, you feel good enough around someone else to act as you would on your own, with all the dirty little details that encompasses. For me, it only ever gets annoying when I know [i]I’m[/i] irritable. Sometimes that’s for no reason! But I never want it to be your problem, and so I don’t make it so. I remember how much I love you, and I remember that I’m being unreasonable too! I… It [i]is[/i] a discipline thing, maybe. Or, maybe it’s just a wiring thing! Either way, I’m not gonna hold it against you, because I chose to dedicate myself to you in the middle of this. Not some time where you were masking for my sake.”[/color] Casey attempted to summarize things succinctly, hoping Trisha would actually hear what he was saying.

[color=577d06]”These… Pheromones are really good, Trish. It’s calm…”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“I’m glad."[/color] Trisha said softly, while trying to process everything else he'd said. 

She couldn't entirely tell if he understood, or was still just talking about the [I]messiness[/I]. It was hard… She understood what he was saying. That him getting annoyed was a combination of her bad habits and his irritability, rather than a constant. And there were so many background things that pushed them both into worse states. 

[color=d1b300]“But I… don't want to be how I am when I'm alone. Not- not like this. I don't mean the messiness, or the habits that remind you of me and only annoy you when you're irritable. Not that stuff, I just… I can't do anything. I spend days doing [I]nothing[/I] because I can't. It feels like there's no point to any of it, it's like… there's this empty pit in my stomach… I don't know, it feels so lazy, but I get trapped and- and it normally doesn't happen when I'm with someone. And it's not as bad now you're here! But it's… I don't know… I didn't want to make you deal with it. You say you won't hold it against me but you haven't really seen it."[/color] 

She sniffed again, pressing her face into him. 
[color=d1b300]“Maybe- I'm probably just sensitive after yesterday. I'll probably feel better tomorrow."[/color]

[color=577d06]”Trisha? Did… You never [i]ever[/i] have access to mental health treatments? Has your doctor never asked you anything about shit like this? Or, do you just… [i]Lie to them?”[/color] he asked very simply, trying to figure out how she managed to avoid the very obvious conclusion that she’d been experiencing literal depressive episodes, probably for a very long time.

[color=d1b300]“I don't see my doctor that often. I don't really get sick… and I didn't [I]lie[/I] to them. It's not like they ask about this? I barely went since I've become an adult, anyway."[/color] Trisha pursed her lips, managing to look a little confused. 

[color=d1b300]“Well I've… lied about the panic attacks once or twice… Cause I was having some chest issues as a teenager. My Mom would've found out… But I don't know why they'd ask about this? And it's not like… I guess it's a mental health thing but it's not bad enough to need [I]treatment[/I]."[/color]

[color=577d06]”Oh my [i]God[/i] you haven’t been to the Doctor in years, have you? Y’know, before the war, they weren’t asking at every visit. Now, Jesus, it's like they want to know if they can send you to the psych ward before they’ve gotta treat you. Like, have you ever seen one of those questionnaires?”[/color] Casey asked, more for the sake of asking than actually needing the answer. That part was clear, after all.

[color=d1b300]“No, I don't think so?"[/color] She shook her head. She vaguely remembered Diyah complaining about some bullshit she kept having to fill in at the doctor's, but she'd never been that specific. Trisha herself had never been given anything like that… Nor questioned like they wanted to send her to a psych ward. Thank fuck… if that happened she'd run and never go back.

[color=577d06]”Well, my point was, you’re in no position to [i]do[/i] much of anything. And by luxury of your position, Baby, you don’t have to! I’ll never ever get on you for not doing anything if you don’t have to, Trisha! Because, if you [i]did[/i] have something to do for someone you love, you’d push through it just like I would!”[/color] Casey pressed slightly, tilting his head downward slightly to look Trisha in the eyes.

[color=d1b300]“I would."[/color] Trisha responded, glancing up at him for a moment before looking away. But that didn't entirely seem to be the point… or was it? It didn't really matter if she was miserable and unable to do anything for days on end, as long as it didn't affect anyone else. Especially Casey. 

[color=d1b300]“Is it really alright if I don't do anything? It's not… You don't think it's just me being lazy?"[/color]

[color=577d06]”No… I think you have some untreated depression that we should have you [i]see someone[/i] for, but I know that’s not a lazy behavior. I’m not an ignorant ass, I think. Not in that regard, at least!”[/color] he patted her leg with his free hand, squeezing her hand with the other.

[color=577d06]”I’ve got [i]so much to do.[/i] I can’t let myself hit the slump. But, you can bet your ass that once all of this is over? I’m going into a coma.”[/color] he tried to joke, shaking her gently.

Trisha reaction was noticeably delayed as she just stared at him for a moment. Untreated depression? But it wasn't that serious, was it? Didn't you need to be… suicidal for it to really be depression? But if Casey thought it actually was, she wouldn't argue right now. If seeing someone happened, then there'd be no debate whether it was or not anyway. 

[color=d1b300]“As long as I can hug you during the coma."[/color] She managed to say back, after visibly thinking for a while. She tried to relax against him- through the shaking- and put the impending many more maybe depressive hours out of her mind. It wasn't really possible, but at least she cuddled up to him better rather than being a tight ball in his lap.

[color=d1b300]“How long is it going to be like this? With the long hours out and only a few at home?"[/color]

Casey was sad to tell her, but this was never something he’d be able to lie about. She’d know one way or another.

[color=577d06]”As long as it takes to fix everything. I don’t know. At least a week or two. Really, as long as it takes to settle up with those bastards, and get the victims back on track with whatever magic we can spare. There’s a high chance this delays plans for months, even.”[/color] he admitted calmly, knowing full well it wasn’t something she was going to want to hear.

[color=577d06]”But, I told you… No more lying or omitting. I know we’re gonna get through this, or it ain’t true love, right? That’s the deciding principle, I feel like. Y’know, hardships and seeing the worst of one another so early is great. It means there’s no surprises! We should just be able to say shit, and accept it, and improve if we need or get over it if we don’t. And we will.”[/color] Casey finished with confidence.

A week or two was bad enough, but the chance it could delay things for [I]months[/I]. That was incredibly difficult to hear without just starting to cry again. But he was being honest like he said he would, and if she reacted badly then maybe he'd regret it. She didn't want him to regret it, or feel like she couldn't handle things. She could. Even if it meant weeks of barely being able to do anything, it was fine. 

She slowly nodded.
[color=d1b300]“That’s… a long time.  Does it mean we won't be able to do anything for my birthday?"[/color] She asked, before immediately biting her lip. What a selfish thing to ask. Like it was that important. 

[color=d1b300]“Sorry… I know you don't want to be dealing with this either. That's selfish to ask… I can handle whatever happens. Like you said, we're going to get through this. Seeing you a couple of hours a day is enough…"[/color] It wasn't really enough. The bare minimum was maybe a better description. She was still seeing him, at least.


[color=577d06]”No, Baby, they’re [i]good[/i] questions. The right ones. They pertain to you, and to us, which is what you care about. I won’t hold that against you… And I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what I said, y’know, about how you don’t care. I know you care about the people. But, it’s… Hard to think of it objectively. I understand you…”[/color] Casey intoned, knowing that he’d been a little more harsh than necessary over her problems the night previous.

[color=577d06]”I’ll make time for you. Hopefully by the time your birthday rolls around, we’ll have things just about wrapped up, actually. I’m [i]really[/i] hoping that’s the case. As it is, there’ll be some days where I’m stuck just downstairs in the office coming up… Logistical work requiring my attention. So, you’re not gonna lose me.”[/color] he added, hoping she’d be able to accept that.

Trisha nodded again, though she'd tucked her head against him, making it difficult to see her expression. She didn't want him to see that she was teary eyed again… she [I]could[/I] handle it. It was just difficult to close the floodgates after they were opened, and she was even more fragile than normal. Pushed towards breakdown as much as she was panic attacks… Maybe the one blessing was that neither tended to explode [I]outwards[/I] at him. 

[color=d1b300]“As long as you're alright with me coming down and cuddling you. I don't even need to do anything, so I can be perfectly still."[/color] She answered softly. It would be worse if he was there, but she distracted him too much that he ended up sending her away. That would hurt more than just not spending the time with him. 

[color=d1b300]“And it's alright if it's not much time when we get to my birthday. Just a few hours with you will make it better than any in the past."[/color] She admitted. It wasn't even a lie… the timing of it meant even when she had friends that cared about her, they couldn't exactly be there for the day. One year the four had called her in the evening, but it barely lasted an hour. It had been well past midnight for Cass and Sal too, with the former having to take the call outside with shitty internet connection and background drunks to avoid getting shouted at by her parents. 

It had still been one of the nicest things done for her on the day. 

[color=d1b300]“I can survive with whatever time you can give me."[/color]

[color=577d06]”I’m not gonna be stingy, Baby. I love you. I’ll be here as much as I can be, Trisha, you understand? I believe in you. And I know you believe in me, so it’ll all work out really well. We both know it will.”[/color] 

There were plenty of X factors that could take him away, but he figured [i]as much as I can be[/i] was a decent enough qualifier that if things started to get [i]bad[/i], he’d have plausible deniability. Not that he wanted to deal with raging inferno Trisha. Frankly, he could deal with smoldering depression way easier; she wasn’t trying to push him off of any mental cliffs at this point.

[color=577d06]”So, don’t make it sound like you’ll be neglected. Every chance I get? You’re with me.”[/color] he rubbed her head gently with his free hand.

[color=d1b300]“I’m not trying to make it sound like that…"[/color] Trisha whined almost pathetically, lips pursing into pout. She really hadn't been. She knew that Casey didn't want to be spending all of his time away and working either. Sure, the constant anxiety that he preferred being away from her would always creep in when he was away… but it was hard for it to clutch her right now when she was cuddled up to him. 
[color=d1b300]“I know you're not choosing to be away… It's not like you're someone who wants to stay at work longer to avoid your wife at home."[/color]

She was still worried he'd have the time to think and reflect on how she'd acted last night. Even though he was sorry for what he said right now, it was all still fresh. Anger tended to go to regret but when it all cooled off maybe it would become disdain. At least if she owned it, maybe it wouldn't reflect so badly. 

[color=d1b300]“I’m not… I don't think we're in some bad place and you're going to avoid me. I don't feel neglected, I… I'm not upset or resentful at you for last night or anything… I know everything you said was right…"[/color]

She was so [i]in the moment[/i] sometimes. Maybe she didn’t realize he could contextualize both at once.

[color=577d06]”Maybe it was right in concept, but it wasn’t right in timing, nor tone. We can both recognize that the moment was hectic, and neither of us were in our right minds, however. So, we’ll call that one a stalemate too, that way nobody needs to feel conflicted about pushing one way or another. Agreed?”[/color] he asked her quietly, surprised she could output this level of pheromone control after so much time.

Trisha was silent for a moment. She was trying to decide whether to lie or not. Well, it wasn't entirely a lie. It wasn't like she didn't agree. The moment had been hectic and they hadn't been in their right minds, but he'd been more right than she'd been. He'd just reacted to her being selfish after all. If she hadn't acted like that, then it would have been fine. Agreeing to that didn't alleviate her guilt. 

But maybe it shouldn't. Maybe she should continue to feel bad about it. It wasn't on him to make her feel better about it anyway. 

It being a stalemate was fine, then. Agreeing wouldn't be a lie at all. 

[color=d1b300]“Agreed."[/color] She replied softly, looking up at him for a moment before curling back against him. The floral scent continued to curl off her skin. She was honestly barely thinking about it at this point, the slight throbbing at the back of her skull no worse than when thousands of bees bombarded her at once. 

[color=d1b300]“It… wasn't a good night for either of us. I was…"[/color] She trailed off, biting her lip and trying to decide whether to continue with the thought. Well, it wasn't such a bad thing to admit. 
[color=d1b300]“Worried you'd be angry at me when you got back. It would've been understandable… but I'm glad you weren't and we can cuddle like this."[/color]

[color=577d06]”I’ll never be more upset than I love you, Trisha. I can absolutely promise that.”[/color] Casey quietly replied as he planted a gentle kiss on her head.
[hr]
[right][code]December 4th. Home.[/code][/right]

The next two days followed a similar pattern, with Casey working for most of the day while Trisha spent it trapped in a depressive slump on the couch or in bed. There were moments where she was able to get a little bit done- a couple of lines of code here, some business research there- but it wasn't much. 

She'd still barely slept, only catching a good hour or two when she napped with Casey. The other times were filled with various nightmares after a struggle to get to sleep in the first place. At least he said he would be working in the office tomorrow, so she could spend most of the day with him. She'd probably end up sleeping a lot... But that was fine, because it would mean cuddling him without disturbing him at work. 

It was another day of just lying half watching Inspector Colimo and half staring at nothing at all while losing herself to her depressive thoughts. Time ticked by slowly, waiting for the brief relief of Casey coming home for a few hours. 

But a loud knock on the door broke her relative peace. Trisha rolled over to grasp her phone, checking the time. 3pm… Far too early for Casey to be back. He wouldn’t knock anyway. Hopefully if she ignored it, they’d leave her alone. 

No such luck. It was barely a minute before there was another, loud and enthusiastic rap against the glass. 

She didn’t want to see anyone. Not in the state she was in. She hadn’t showered, she’d barely managed to change the t-shirt of Casey’s she was wearing, she looked a mess… She couldn’t deal with most people seeing her like this. There was only one other person who [i]had[/i] seen her in this state before. It wouldn’t be so bad… Though it didn’t mean she really wanted to see her. 

Frowning, Trisha ordered a group of bees with her to go out the half open window to check who it was. A rough shape or even height should be enough to guess, at least… 

Outside, Cass was waiting impatiently. She’d finally recovered from Luxal Fatigue the evening before, followed by a [i]great[/i] night with Leon. But he had to leave early in the morning, leaving her bored as fuck. 

So obviously she grabbed Ed, the one other person not overloaded with work, and dragged her up to try see Trisha. Cass had heard things through the grapevine about what state she was in… Just comments here or there from Leon, mostly. It was enough to guess, at least. 

She’d come up absolutely loaded in bags, filled to the brim with tupperware filled with food. Easy to heat up meals, each in a single portion… Or a half portion for everyone but Trisha, really. She’d gotten Ed to carry a bunch too, and one of the bags had fresh food so she could make the three of them lunch.

Cass had commandeered the kitchen in Leon’s apartment from early in the morning- woken up by him getting up, and not the kind of person to go back to sleep once she was properly awake. Driven by a shit ton of energy and sudden despair about how much junk food everyone ate, she’d ended up cooking a bunch of different meals in bulk. Enough to completely fill Leon’s fridge, half fill her own, and probably half fill Casey and Trisha’s too.

Not that any of them really [i]needed[/i] to worry about what they consumed. But a home cooked meal was just nicer! And she knew a certain person- Trisha- probably just wasn’t eating at all. 

Or coming to the door! Cass went to knock again, absolutely prepared to stand there and knock for hours, when a soft buzzing echoed in her sensitive ears. 

A small group of bees started circling the two of them. Cass’ lips pulled into a wide grin. 
[color=629c3f]”Oh shit, look! She’s totally tryna check out who we are! Heh, watch-”[/color]

Cass shot a more devious grin towards Ed, before antenna popped out of her head. It took a bit of adjustment to read the signals- she was relying on her natural magic to understand it and didn’t exactly have practice. But she vaguely got it… Then she started to imitate their pheromones. Giving off the friendliest vibes she could, a hint of a fruity smell entering the air.

The group of bees gave a confused buzz, circling her a few times before darting back to their Queen. 

[color=629c3f]”I totally convinced them I’m also a bee! Bet that’ll have her coming out to check who it is herself!”[/color]

The last few days had been difficult, but just like Cass, Ed was a quick bounceback. There weren’t many things that a stint of torpor didn’t fix, a “brief” mommy-daughter nap having cleared up most of the initial anxiety and sadness. There weren’t many names related to her that were affected, thankfully. So, she could afford to be with Cass this morning, doubly because of the Temple-Wide lockdown.

The wider Financial offices were all shut down due to the high security veil, and probably would be until the threat was eliminated. Most job-making endeavors were down, leaving any activity to the deepest echelons of the cult’s leadership. People like Elise and Hari took care of big jobs that kept the organization running; paying bills, situating payroll, keeping the on-site facilities stocked and supplied. 

The only problem was, they were missing a big revenue stream. And maybe Ed herself wasn't privy to all the relevant info, but she’d worked the After Dark accounts. She knew the illegal or otherwise untaxed goods and services hadn’t been paid. Logistics had made fifteen shipments of various standard goods: Oblivium materials, enchanted weapons and armors, completed goods, even exo-Shimmer materials. Big hauls like that usually came with big returns… But November had been a Red month. 

And if it was a red month, then all that shit happened? They’d never have a Black month again.

[color=66bb6a]”Dude! You’re gonna give her a panic attack, she’s gonna think it's some assassin or something tricking her bees. Did you text her?”[/color] Ed chided with concern in her voice.

[color=ded2b8]”I can just go in and ask her to let us in…”[/color] Serenity half-heartedly offered, her body clipping into the roof itself.
She’d formed antennae on herself just like Cass, and had formed a sweater on herself that had milky little bee-shaped clouds flying around on it.

[color=629c3f]”I texted her, but she ain’t responded. It’ll be fine, she might just shout at me a lil while…”[/color] Cass waved Ed’s concern off, looking up at Serenity with a smile. 
[color=629c3f]”Nah, don’t you worry, she’ll be out soon. Then you can show off your super cute sweater!”[/color]

Trisha had, in fact, been given a jolt of panic and confusion when her bees came back to report a massive, human bee was outside. She knew they sort of saw Casey in that way, but it wasn’t him, because she knew how they reported him. Her hand went for her phone, considering whether she should call him or not about the fact there might be some [i]massive bee imitation[/i] outside their door. 

Only to see a text from Cass in all caps about coming up. 

Oh. Of course. Panic dampened back into the same irritation she’d felt about anyone visiting. She really didn’t want to see anyone… But Cass was the one person that wouldn’t give up. 

She finally emerged from the den after a brief moment of making herself not look so awful. Her messy, tangled hair was pulled back into a bun to hide how awful a state she was in and she pulled on a sweater that at least hid more of [i]her[/i]. Not that Cass hadn’t seen her like this before. 

Cass started waving enthusiastically the moment Trisha appeared. Trisha just shot her a glare, managing a half smile towards Ed. She wasn’t particularly happy that there was [i]yet another person[/i] seeing her in this state, but… it could be far worse than Ed. 

[color=629c3f]”Fooooddd delivery!”[/color] Cass announced cheerfully when Trisha opened the door to let them in. 

[color=d1b300]“Did you have to confuse the bees?”[/color] Trisha asked tiredly in return, not even having the energy to really get angry about it. Especially not at the person who’d gotten hurt to protect her…

[color=629c3f]”Couldn’t help myself! I just got my magic back last night, anyway… Luxal Fatigue sucks balls! It’s pretty cool, isn’t it? We could totally talk via your bees!”[/color] Cass babbled, making her way towards the kitchen area with all her bags. Even as she put them down, she didn’t go for a hug like she normally would. She knew that Trisha as she was right now would want to be touched even less than normal. 
[color=629c3f]”Can I just put all this shit in your fridge? I bulk made a bunch of meals- for you and Casey!”[/color]

Trisha just nodded, turning towards Ed. After a moment of thinking of nothing better to say, she asked a simple question.
[color=d1b300]“How are you… doing after everything?”[/color]

[color=66bb6a]”Oh, just bolstering myself for when the other two actually make it home. Hari’s usually easy, but she’s putting a lot of Lux into the main magical solution right now, so whenever she’s on leave, she’s got no more energy to help herself… [i]Or[/i] Mia, which… Y’know…”[/color] Ed gave Trisha a vague smirk. Mia was never [i]not[/i] Mia, so there wasn’t much to report on that front.

As she brought her bags in, putting them on the counter for Cass to sort through, Ed ushered Serenity forward and upward. She was still sleepy from the long nap, and was terribly slow to make many motions at all, but she floated up through the floor completely.

[color=ded2b8]”Hi Aunty Trisha… You look like you need a nap. Wa-”[/color]
[color=66bb6a]”-No more sleeping, Ren. Show Aunty your sweater.”[/color]

Serenity puffed her non-existent cheeks slightly, lifting her ghastly arms with a wisp of smoke following each. The motif within her formulated design used the infinite depths of her ectoplasmic mass, creating infinitely spanning horizons that allowed the fake bee clouds to buzz about too and fro in a three dimensional space for as long as was possible to see, using the optical illusion of distance perspective to add to the illusion.

[color=ded2b8]”It’s a cloud of lazy bees.”[/color] Serenity said very simply.

Trisha stared at the fake bee clouds for a longer moment than she probably should have, momentarily captured by the shifting illusion she could mindlessly watch. But she managed to snap out of it to give some kind of response.
[color=d1b300]“It is… It’s nice. I wish mine were that lazy, sometimes.”[/color] 

[color=629c3f]”No you don’t, cause then you’d have nothing to send out to check out guests!”[/color] Cass piped up from where she was crouched in front of the fridge, perfectly stacking the tupperwares to make the most of the space.

Trisha didn’t even respond to that beyond a withering stare that Cass grinned in response to. 
[color=d1b300]“So Hari and Mia are about as busy as Casey, then? He’s only home a few hours a day… And it’s mostly spent eating then napping.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Leon’s ain’t been quite that bad, I think… Well, I ain’t really been awake the last few days. Still busy, but I think he gets like six hours back or so? Dunno! Last night he was [i]definitely[/i] around for more than a few hours… But there sure wasn’t much sleeping going on!”[/color] Cass laughed, eyebrows waggling. 
[color=629c3f]”Don’t think he’s involved in the solution thing, just other shit.”[/color]

[color=66bb6a]”Oh, yeah. Lee ain’t allowed on the Macguffin. Neither are any mix-color Adepts. Hari’s the main Pink anchor, so she hasn’t been home yet, I’ve just talked to her on the phone. Mia came back for maybe fifteen minutes, but I wasn’t awake. That’ll be an argument later on…”[/color] Ed grinned to herself.

[color=66bb6a]”They’ve got her working with the families of magical victims, since they’re not going to be affected by the magical burst once the piece of shit mind-wiper is charged. She makes toys dance, and she loves kids, so she’s working with the children specifically. I guess some of Andy’s people are teaching her medical stuff too, so she’s rather inundated.”[/color] she explained to the two outsiders, since they’d never seen the Macguffin actually used before. 

Though, Trisha had been around for its usage. Every big battle against the Snake needed some kind of help to keep the people of Shimmer ignorant of the magical undercurrents of the world. [i]Someone[/i] had to take care of things.

[color=66bb6a]”I’m guessing Casey’s spending so much time out because security is on level six. Protocol for a war status with an unknown threat. There’s a high chance that he’d be spending a lot more time away if uh… Y’know, he didn’t have you to come home to, Trisha. Things between him and Furio are [i]pretty bad.[/i]”[/color] she frowned, having been told by Casey to not keep Trisha in the dark about things that may affect her. Since there was a chance Casey himself may not have told her, Ed only felt it was right that she upheld her end of the agreement by telling Trisha. After all, [i]in her judgement[/i] this was necessary information. She didn’t know what was going to happen now that this was all happening, nor did she know about the Sycamore Flourish to end it all.

[color=66bb6a]”From what Hari tells me, they’re like two bulls constantly smacking against one another. I think a lot of people are worried about it turning into something it doesn’t need to be… Not that there’s anything you can do, but God forbid anything were to get back to you, I-”[/color]
She frowned for a moment, looking from Trisha to Cass, then back. 

Trisha frowned in return. 
[color=d1b300]“You think… Furio would do something to me because Casey isn’t spending every hour of the day out hunting a threat we already know the source of?”[/color] She asked, frown deepening. 

They knew it was the Dollhouse. They knew it was the same people after Sycamore, pissed off that the Temple wasn’t playing ball anymore. They even had a plan to end it all… but it made sense that Casey hadn’t told Furio that. Not if they were butting heads, and they’d probably end up… against each other when the Temple collapsed. 

[color=d1b300]“Those shapechanging things have been trying to kill me for months. Of course he’d want to…”[/color] She trailed off, hand jerking up in a frustrated motion.
[color=d1b300]“Sorry. You’re just informing me. I’m not surprised, because of how Casey’s been running things. But I don’t think he’d escalate it… Not yet. I don’t think he would want to properly clash with Furio even after [i]everything collapses[/i] unless he’s pushed to. Furio probably thinks Casey’s… slacking by coming home like… There isn’t a plan to end things…”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Far as I know, either we’re completely fucked or gonna be fine in a few weeks.”[/color] Cass finished putting things away and straightened up, rubbing the back of her neck. 
[color=629c3f]”But if Casey really ain’t around much and there’s a possibility of something happening to you, Trisha, I don’t mind camping out on your roof. Ain’t even gonna disturb you, I’ll be like a silent guard dog.”[/color]

Trisha shook her head.
[color=d1b300]“I don’t think it’s [i]that[/i] bad.”[/color] 


[color=66bb6a]”Well, that’s where even I don’t know. Hari’s only going to gossip so much over a recorded line, and uh, like I said I’m out of work. Finance Office [i]closed until further notice.[/i] So, I don’t get pipelined like that. She’s not used to what living with Uncle Max and Furio was like as a kid though, so she doesn’t know that he’s just… [i]Like that.[/i] Like, she knows, but she’s never really had to deal with him like that. Pretty insulated between their positions, y’know? But, if things got bad, Trisha… He’s Lynette’s assassin! Him and Clarissa, I mean they’ve probably killed hundreds of people for her. If she thought for a second that her plan wasn’t going to work? Aunt Lynn wouldn’t hesitate to send either of them.”[/color] Ed explained with a more serious face than she usually had.

[color=66bb6a]”But, I really didn’t mean to bring grief to your door. I know it’s hard enough for you, but Casey said… That we should tell you about things if we feel like they involve you, because he says it’ll keep him accountable too. So, I’m… I’m just gonna do that, and respect what he wants unless you feel like it’s a breach between us… I’m [i]sorry.[/i]”[/color] she almost shrunk as she spoke, realizing that she’d managed to bring what was supposed to be a cheer up session back into the negative world.

[color=66bb6a]”[i]The food is really good… I hope you eat a little bit. Casey said we should bring cut fruit for the bees too, so here they are.[/i]”[/color] She tried to move on, rather than forcing Trisha into the awkwardness of accepting or rejecting the apology.

In her right hand were massive tupperware tubs full of cut melons and berries, just like Casey had done a couple nights ago.

Trisha was silent, staring past Ed towards the roof outside. She knew that things could get really bad if Lynette started to really fight back before her death… They wouldn’t have this period of preparation. She expected it to happen eventually. Furio and Clarissa wouldn’t exactly sit back and happily let Lynette get killed… But if it happened soon? When she and Casey were separated? 

She wasn’t sure what would happen. And there was that fear that no matter what, Casey would end up sacrificing himself for her, leaving her to live without him. She was already feeling depressive, so the information wasn’t something she could do anything with practically… Even if she still wanted to know. Truth was a double edged sword. 

It made her really want to just turn back into the Den, close the door and curl back up into the spot she’d barely moved from again. 

[color=629c3f]”Oh yeah, it’s all food you like, Trish! But you ain’t gotta open any up yet… Cause I’ma make us something! Late lunch or early dinner I guess… Normal meal times ain’t really a thing for me now, I gotta have one every few hours.”[/color] Cass filled up the silence as she started getting out fresh food from another bag. Chicken, peppers, onions, and a whole bunch of jars of spices. 

[color=629c3f]”I’m gonna make us fajitas! You ain’t gotta eat much, Trish, but at least have some!”[/color] She continued, grabbing plates from where she remembered they were and sliding them towards Ed to put the fruit onto. 

It was enough to snap Trisha out of it, her head slowly nodding in a delayed response to Ed. While it was easy for her mood to drop right now, she wasn’t as reactive as she normally would be. Her main reaction was just not wanting to be there at all… But it was easier to push things down in the moment. 

[color=d1b300]“Are you sure? Isn’t Serenity scared of the bees?”[/color]

[color=ded2b8]”We talked about it… Ma says they only sting if you scare ‘em. She even showed me videos of this nice lady scooping bees out of people’s houses and stuff like, with her bare hands. They’re probably fine.”[/color] Serenity replied calmly, floating about on her back like she was in a pool.

Ed was able to focus on the child as well, and happily so. 
[color=66bb6a]”Goddamn, Ma’s proud of you Babe. Look at what we can do when we use our brains to think stuff through?”[/color] Ed smiled warmly, letting her free hand brush down to tickle Serenity’s stomach as the hand still laden with bags placed them down.

She went to work setting out a massive portion of each fruit, clearly not aware of how much the indoor swarm actually needed. Leon’s tupperwares weren’t small affairs. They were three gallon buckets, and these buckets were absolutely full of any random assortment of fruit salads.

[color=66bb6a]”I know Casey loves his fruit too, so I cut up like fuckin’, I don’t know, six or eight watermelons. Cantaloupe, fuckin… Cass, what else was in there?”[/color] she asked, having long forgotten how many deliveries had been stuffed into Leon’s magical kitchen fridge.

[color=66bb6a]”Strawberries, I know, and blueberries, grapes, uh… Was there any citrus?”[/color]


[color=629c3f]”Wasn’t there some grapefruit? I dunno, I ain’t able to keep track of it all! I just eat and eat.”[/color] Cass laughed, smiling over at the other three. 
[color=629c3f]”And you don’t gotta even worry ‘bout scaring these bees, Ren. They only string when Aunty Trisha’s scared!”[/color]

Trisha shot Cass a tired side eye, before looking at the insane amount of fruit being plated. She had enough bees to eat it all, but not in the house currently… 
[color=d1b300]“I’m going to have to call in a lot of bees to eat all of that… Maybe we can put some more of it in the fridge? If I call too many at once from the hive all of the alarms Gin set up go off, then I have to say it’s not an emergency and all that. I don’t think right now’s a good time to possibly cause any concern.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”I can just eat any left!”[/color] Cass grinned.
[color=629c3f]”Before I start… Am I good to use your cooking utensils? I can go get my own shit if you want!”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“So long as you tidy up and wash them.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Yeah, of course I will, boss!”[/color] Cass saluted Trisha before starting to bustle around the cupboards to find everything she needed. 

As she did, Trisha carefully called down the bees mostly resting in the rafters. There was a decent sized group in the den too that flew through the slight ajar door, all settling onto various bits of fruits Ed had laid out. Trisha reached out for a strawberry herself, slowly eating it. 

[color=d1b300]“Casey’s probably going to keel over from happiness when he sees how full of fruit and home cooked meals our fridge is.”[/color]


[color=66bb6a]”There’s breakfasts, lunches and dinners. I kinda know what he likes, it hasn’t changed much. Some are just, like, serving tubs? Stuff I know he likes a lot of. Two macaroni and cheeses. There’s a bunch of, like, hotpocket things. We’ve basically been cooking since like, well, Cass was up before me, but I remember seeing the clock at like six in the morning. We’ve been [i]cookin’[/i].”[/color]

Ed gave Trisha a smile as Serenity made her slow and plodding way into the swarm of bees. At this point, it was clear to her that they weren’t even [i]actually[/i] magical. And, therefore, without Emotional Fields of their own to effect, she never needed to fear anything to begin with. And she filled the room with giggling laughter that brought about a change neither Cass nor Trisha would’ve been privy to previously.

As she floated around in the cloud of bees, the vague trail of smoke she left behind started to grow pink, then red before bursting into petals that rained through the swarm and the island beneath the plates. Like the fuse on a stick of dynamite, the red blossoming explosion trailed up to Serenity herself, where upon arriving, it set her absolutely ablaze with blooming red light.
And she was no longer giggling. She was full on belly laughing as she felt the millions of individual points being tickled by the bees within her vague form. And her hair was strands of blood red poppy blossoms constantly tumbling. And her chest looked like it was burning hot, but in the very center were three poppy flowers entwined together and perfectly preserved.

[color=66bb6a]”Ooooh, someone’s in a good mood after our nap. I guess she deserved it too.”[/color] Ed said with almost a hollow voice as she stared up at the lightshow.

The bees were a little confused by the bright lights and not-quite flowers around them, but they were far too engrossed in the sweet smell and taste of the fruit to be that bothered. Trisha wrinkled her nose a little bit as a mix of happy and bewildered pheromones hit her. It was like all of her senses were being bombarded after days of not dealing with much at all. 

[color=629c3f]”Whoa, that’s awesome! Your own magical lightshow!”[/color] Cass grinned, pointing to the glowing centre. 
[color=629c3f]”I assume those poppies are you, Mia and Hari, huh? Since there’s three?”[/color]

Trisha didn’t say anything, silently reassuring some of her more jumpy bees who were thrown off more than the ones happy to just devour fruit.

[color=66bb6a]”The holiest thing is a trio. Hari says that a lot. Does everything she can in threes. One for the Father, for the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Keep digging, you find out three’s been a number in her life for a lot longer than she’s been religious. It’s probably why she clings so much to it.”[/color]

Ed was still looking up at Serenity as the Bloom began to taper out. Color faded from the extremities, ultimately leaving only a faint impression of the one-of-three still twisted deep in her milky form.

[color=66bb6a]”Spot on, obviously. They’re made out of our blood. Each of us, slice under the left boob. Heartblood. Mix it with the rest of the heroin we had, and a few other things I don’t care to mention. Then I took the dose. She was mine then on.”[/color] she cleared her throat, looking back down at the food she was trying to pack back up. 

Casually, she scooped the couple pieces of fruit that bees had landed on in the bucket and set them down before closing the lid for good. 

[color=66bb6a]”I’m just… Glad you don’t think we’re freaks.”[/color] Ed finished, hoping that they’d be able to just move on. She figured Cass would, and had high hopes for Trisha, so she wasn’t terribly worried, but all the same didn’t want to linger too long.

[color=d1b300]“I think you’re lucky to be alive.”[/color] Trisha intoned, though it didn’t seem that judgmental… At least, anymore so than she seemed on a constant basis. Not that she was [i]that[/i] judgmental, she just tended to look it more than she meant to. It was a genuine comment- taking a mixture of blood, heroin and whatever else didn’t seem safe at all. It was a miracle they’d ended up with a ghost baby instead of losing one of them.

[color=629c3f]”That’s Trisha’s way of saying she’s glad you’re alive, and she don’t think your a freak!”[/color] Cass translated with a bright grin. She’d gotten out two chopping boards, and was utilising her magic to create a second set of very long arms she could use to cut the chicken while also chopping up the vegetables. It took a bit of adjustment in terms of her mind, because she was still controlling both- but after this morning, she was an expert! It had made making the insane quantity of food she did easier, even if she’d had Ed there to help in the end. 

[color=d1b300]“I don’t. But I think you are for growing extra limbs in my kitchen.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Awww, I even went to the effort of making proper hands this time! God, no one appreciates my craftsmanship!”[/color] Cass joked, finishing cutting the chicken into thin slices quickly. Her extra long, second arms put a large pan on the hob and started heating up some oil. 
[color=629c3f]”Ed’s been watching me do this for hours and she hasn’t complained at all!”[/color]

[color=66bb6a]”No, but I did mean to say earlier that it’s a fairly impressive setup you’ve got going on. A bit on the gnarly side, and makes me wonder if you need to start wearing clothes with random holes in them.”[/color] Ed joked, shaking her head and laughing as the topic rolled back toward Cass. That was far easier to deal with, after all.

[color=66bb6a]”Y’got any honey left, Trisha? That shit’s delish, I was hoping to dip some strawberries in it.”[/color]

Trisha nodded, moving around to one of the cupboard to pull out a jar. It was about half full… But she always made sure to fill it up when it got empty. Both her and Casey enjoyed the honey, and the bees were producing enough to meet what she was contracted to give Andrade while leaving her some spare. 

[color=d1b300]“Here. If you ever want any, just let me know. I can spare a jar or two.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Damn, Trish, that’s like ten quid down the drain!”[/color] Cass joked, grinning as she started frying chicken with one half and cutting vegetables at a slower rate in another. She twisted her head round for a moment.

[color=629c3f]”Speaking of the whole holes in clothes thing… I was wondering, can Casey make like enchanted clothes that stretch with me?! Like, I can deal with this cause I just wear tank tops with larger sleeves!”[/color] She gestured with a normal hand to the baggy black tank top she was wearing, enough space for another pair of arms to slither out.

[color=629c3f]”But anything else is a pain! Especially when I start properly body shifting… I gotta basically just wear a bra and shorts. Even then it ain’t perfect!”[/color]

Trisha shrugged one shoulder.
[color=d1b300]“Probably? It seems like something he could do if he ever had time.”[/color] She glanced towards Ed for confirmation. Ed had, after all, grown up surrounded by their magic. She’d probably have a better idea than Trisha did about what was and wasn’t possible.

[color=66bb6a]”Oh, I’m sure there’s an orange spell somewhere.”[/color] Ed very casually replied, packing the last of the fruit into the spacious bottom drawers. 

Casey had clearly taken just as much offence to the size of this fridge as he had the one downstairs, as both were enchanted to have roughly the same volumetric storage capacity. Meaning this was all [i]snug[/i] but well organized. So, they were free from ordering out for at least a week.

She left a small plate of strawberries out, and immediately went for a spoon to start scooping honey out onto them.

[color=66bb6a]”Thanks, Trisha. How’ve they been doing in the new environments? I hear you started a new colony in one of the other biomes recently?”[/color] Ed asked, knowing that was something Trisha couldn’t avoid putting time into.

[color=d1b300]“They’re adjusting. It’s a little difficult… Since I haven’t really had time yet to make [i]more[/i] the way I wanted to.”[/color] It wasn’t really true that she hadn’t had time, so much as she’d planned to start after Thanksgiving and everything had gone to shit. She couldn’t exactly ask Casey to see if the Temple’s main doctor would create soul-less human bodies for her to grow bees in right now. 

[color=d1b300]“I created a new Queen in that colony… Casey hopes I can have ‘Princess’ bees that are between me and the others. This isn’t quite that but… They still obey me while being able to expand their numbers a bit. I’ll demote her when I’ve made up for lost numbers.”[/color] She explained it all easily. She’d figured now was the best time to create a Queen to make more bees in the way she had before… Only the colony in the other biome viewed that temporary queen as theirs and had the conflict.

But the rate with which she was creating more, she’d only need to be around a few more days. Then it would be a couple of weeks for them to mature…

[color=629c3f]”What’s the way you wanted to do it?”[/color] Cass asked around crunching on some pepper as she cooked. She really didn’t know much about the intricacies of Trisha’s Abstraction… it seemed like no one did aside from her and Casey, really. Leon certainly hadn’t been able to describe anything beyond what Cass had already witness herself.

Trisha glanced at Ed, then over at Serenity.
[color=d1b300]“It’s a bit gruesome. Maybe not the best pre meal discussion.”[/color]

[color=66bb6a]”Oh, [i]I’d hear about it[/i]. Gin’s a big blabbermouth, I’m sorry to say, so I know what you’re talking about already… But, like, damn.”[/color] Ed huffed gently, snapping down on a strawberry.

[color=66bb6a]”I heard about the jelly they make. Like, it’s not edible? So, what are they for?”[/color] she asked quizzically. 

[color=d1b300]“Well, that… It’s not the same as vulture bees. I could make vulture bees, I think, but not all of the bees [i]eat[/i] the flesh.”[/color] Trisha replied evenly.
[color=d1b300]“But the jelly is used for larvae nutrition. Normal bees make something called royal jelly too… Just not from flesh. So technically it is edible, just not to us.”[/color] 

[color=629c3f]”Alright, then what [i]is[/i] the method?! I’m real curious now!”[/color] Cass paused her double armed cooking for a moment to turn around and look at Trisha expectantly.

Since Ed already knew, there was no point holding back. Nothing could kill Cass’ appetite… and Trisha didn’t exactly have one to begin with.
[color=d1b300]“Growing them in human flesh. Back before she was sealed, the Queen would lure humans to her to grow her colony in them. It has to be human- or possibly apparitional- to work. She doesn’t view animal flesh as good enough. I was… Well, Casey suggested that Doctor Nedia might be able to make essentially soulless cadavers I could grow them in. Obviously we won’t be able to look into that until things calm down.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Ohhh… That’s so sick! Andy could totally… Wait!”[/color] Cass paused, throwing up one of her four hands.
[color=629c3f]”Why’s it gotta be her? You got a totally awesome, powerful Green Adept [i]right here[/i] with nothing but time on her hands to make you all sorts of grim body replicas. I bet I could do it!”[/color]

Trisha didn’t immediately respond, lips pressing together into a thin line. Would she want that?

Ed scrunched her nose.
[color=66bb6a]”Andrea Nedia’s an immoral, vapid cunt for starters, with no real regard for ethics besides what her boss tells her to do.”[/color] Ed sounded like she was just joking, but she never actually [i]talked[/i] like that about anyone.

Trisha would’ve had a much better idea of Ed’s individual issues with Andy, but those same issues meant that Andy was the most likely candidate. If Cass really wanted to try, Ed couldn’t judge her for it. But, she couldn’t lie and say the whole process didn’t make her a little uncomfortable.

[color=66bb6a]”To be fair, Gin made it sound like it was just, like, imitation flesh. Not [i]full cadavers[/i]. Like, what, are they gonna be people? Or, just, y’know, like blank flesh presses? Big silicon sex dolls?”[/color] she asked, looking a little worse for wear.

[color=d1b300]“I don’t know.”[/color] Trisha said quietly, gaze shifting from them to the floor. She really didn’t. She’d never tried it before, because the idea had always horrified her. There was easy access to dead bodies when she was fighting the Stygian Snake… she could’ve easily hidden one and grown a whole new army. But she didn’t. She only considered it when it wouldn’t [i]actually[/i] be dead people. 

[color=d1b300]“Whatever the Queen would accept. I’m sure it doesn’t have to be… like an actual body. A piece of human flesh is enough but even that… Sounds really unethical doesn’t it? I wanted to make the most of the Temple resources while it’s available to me… So I can help more when it collapses.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Oh, it’s [i]just[/i] flesh you need? Then that’s easy!”[/color] Cass said, throwing all the vegetables into the pan, along with what looked like a random assortment of spices. She only needed her normal arms now, so… She adjusted one of the extra ones until it was just a long tube of flesh rather than an actual arm and hand, then carefully shed it from her body. A free hand caught it, before holding it up towards Trisha.

[color=629c3f]”There. I make, like, a ton’ve extra parts all the time. It’s about the same if I discard ‘em or suck ‘em back in, honestly.”[/color]

Trisha’s eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth with her hands. She wasn’t exactly [i]squeamish[/i]. But she’d seen Cass have her arm blown off days before… It was part of what had pushed her into the depressive low. The only thing that saved them all from dealing with a full blown panic attack was that Cass [i]looked[/i] fine. There was no sign that the extra limb had been there before.

[color=66bb6a]”Dude! You just, like, [i]plopped it[/i]! You’re like a reptile, you just lop your tail off and it just doesn’t matter!”[/color] Ed giggled, seeming astonished by the prospect of flesh being so readily available.

[color=66bb6a]”What happens if you, like, eat yourself?”[/color] she asked, totally unaware of Trisha’s panic bubbling up as she pondered the wonders of autocannibalism.

[color=629c3f]”I dunno! Probably ain’t a good idea, though, cause of the Lux I use to make these… I bet it’d make my condition worse, y’know? Clog up my veins faster or some shit!”[/color] Cass shrugged, waving what was essentially a massive, human flesh sausage around a bit. Maybe it would give her all the energy back… But she didn’t imagine she tasted nice! She’d rather just eat normal food.

[color=d1b300]“Can we… Not do it in the kitchen? Or my home, preferably. I’d rather… Try in the Greenhouse. Or anywhere else. Another time.”[/color] Trisha managed to speak up, voice quiet as she took a deep breath to calm herself. Cass was fine. She was just as energetic as before… She wasn’t hurt. If Cass could just give her a few flesh discards, it would make things easier… It’d be more sustainable too.

Right now just wasn’t the time she wanted to deal with it.

[color=629c3f]”Oh, sure, of course! Where do you want me to put this? I can probably just… consume it? It ain’t like cannibalism, Ed, before you suggest that! I ain’t putting it in my mouth.”[/color] Cass shrugged, managing to step back from her excitement at being able to help Trisha- and actually have something useful to do!- enough to realise her friend wasn’t really in the mood for it now.

[color=d1b300]“I don’t know… Anywhere but here.”[/color]

Ed was just giggling away as she looked at this floppy lump of Cass being handled before her.

[color=66bb6a]”Jesus… I mean, I could store it in one of the freezers downstairs, if you have plastic wrap? I’ll just package it up like it’s hamburger. Though, maybe… You said the Queen’s picky? Maybe you can check with her and see if it’s good enough before we go taking up storage space?”[/color] she asked thoughtfully, licking a bit of honey off of her finger.

Trisha nodded, taking a shaky breath. It didn’t even look like an arm. Cass was fine. They were all fine. She held out a hand silently for the flesh lump, taking it with a slight grimace. It weighed more than she expected. She closed her eyes, slowly urging the Queen awake. She’d gotten more responsive recently, so it didn’t take long until she felt her presence stirring. Enough that she wasn’t going to be repeating her question.

[color=d1b300][i]Is this good enough for… hosting bee larvae?[/i][/color]

There was silence as she felt the Queen’s own pheromones gently flooding from her body and around the sort of arm in her hands. 
[color=c18e1b][i]Yes. But where did you get this from? It is filled with Lux as if it was alive, but it isn’t. How curious.[/i][/color]

[color=d1b300][i]Cass made it.[/i][/color] 

There was another moment of silence before the Queen spoke again.
[color=c18e1b][i]To sacrifice one’s own flesh… What made her want to do such a thing?[/i][/color]

[color=d1b300]“It’s suitable. The Queen [i]is[/i] confused about why you’d do it so willingly, though.”[/color] Trisha spoke out loud instead of responding to the Queen internally.

Cass just let out a little laugh.
[color=629c3f]”Well, I ain’t got use of it after I’m done, do I? May as well make some new life with it! Will that make me, like… Their surrogate parent? Am I gonna be a Mom with you, Trisha?”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“That’s not how it works.”[/color] 

[color=629c3f]”But it could be… Not all parenting’s traditional. Right?”[/color] Cass asked, looking to Ed for support.

Ed was simultaneously laughing at, but also infatuated with, the concept that Cass was proposing. It was something she had to deal with on her own: Was she [i]really[/i] this Ghost’s parent? Did Mia or Hari [i]actually[/i] have any connection to her? Of course, she felt they did, and treated it all as such. But that didn’t make it true, just that it sounded nice. But, in her case, all three had been a part of the ritual. In this case?

[color=66bb6a]”I feel like if every bee is being made with bits of Cass, it’s more like… Well, yeah. Honestly, what Cass said makes a bit of sense, Trisha, I’m not gonna lie.”[/color] she finally commented.

[color=66bb6a]”She’s giving herself up for them just like a mother does. I’m not gonna say it’s [i]more[/i] than what you do, because obviously you’re the one constantly telling them what’s what and making sure they’re cared for. But, I’d argue if you start making Cass-flesh bees, they’re closer to her babies.”[/color] Ed bit her lip, not really sure how to not be honest.

[color=66bb6a]”Still, if it’s good, get me the plastic wrap. I’ll bring it downstairs right away. Make sure she’s cool with it having been frozen, otherwise it needs to go in a fridge and get used soonish.”[/color]

Trisha didn’t even have to ask herself, because the Queen was awake and actively listening. 
[color=c18e1b][i]As long as it is not ice when it is used, then yes.[/i][/color]

[color=d1b300]“She’s fine with it.”[/color] Trisha answered, pressing her lips together when she thought about what Ed said. It didn’t really matter… She only half viewed her bees as her children, rather than… sort of magical companions. They weren’t human, and they couldn’t view her as anything but a Queen. They didn’t have the same concept of Motherhood. They probably wouldn’t recognise Cass at all. 

[color=d1b300]“I guess… Fine… If that’s what you want, Cass. As long as you’re not going to try to wrangle some kind of joint custody agreement out of me.”[/color] Trisha managed to joke, pulling her lips up into a thin smile. It wasn’t like the current ones had any part of her either, beyond their magical connection. It was the time she spent with them that really mattered rather than any biological connection.

It felt a bit odd to be thinking that about bees, anyway.

[color=629c3f]”Course not, they’re all yours. I just want visitation… Hell yes! This is super exciting, getting to make baby bees with you! I can’t [i]wait[/i] to tell Leon!”[/color]

[color=66bb6a]”I don’t think that there’d be any chance of getting that kind of thing contractualized anyway. Kind of no legal proof that she’s contributing to the business in any sort of meaningful way, so-”[/color] Ed kept giggling, shaking her head as she pulled and stretched a long strip of plastic wrap out for this hunk of Cass meat.

[color=629c3f]”True, you’d destroy me in court! Though I think I’d be laughed out for claiming a bunch of bees were my babies.”[/color] Cass laughed, turning back to cooking before everything started burning. 

[color=d1b300]“I think we’d have trouble from the whole growing in flesh thing.”[/color] Trisha shook her head. Some of the bees had finished with their fruit and were landing on her now, curious about the meat in her hands. She mentally shooed them away so Ed could easily take it to wrap up. 

[color=d1b300]“You know, when Casey and I first started dating and I was thinking about my business… My brother gave me a hard time for having the bees on this property, since it’s in Casey’s name. He said there was nothing stopping Casey from taking them. I found it pretty funny, considering they’re literally [i]attached[/i] to me. No court case is taking them away.”[/color]

[color=66bb6a]”There is a magical law culture, but getting a judge in a court where it’s safe to trial something with the use of magic is like getting shit on by a bird that eats gold. Only real big major cities would even think of having something like that buried deep in the state building or something.”[/color] Ed replied, only vaguely familiar with the concept of magical law. 

It was far more common for covens to sue nowadays, but then it was still rare. Why go through red tape and legal hoops? All sides had to agree with the greatest force, and so magical law was only as good as the peacekeepers who administered it.

[color=66bb6a]”And then, obviously your brother’s going off the idea that humans are inherently greedy. Which Casey isn’t.”[/color] she finished confidently.

[color=d1b300]“I know that. It doesn’t matter if Ezra does or not, anyway… I already said my piece to him at Thanksgiving. He can continue believing the worst in humanity while I live happily with Casey.”[/color] Trisha managed to sound confident saying that, because she was beginning to let go of her need for approval from her [i]siblings[/i]. 

It was more difficult when it came to Ezra and her business, since it was something he specialised in. But she had contracts with Andrade now, and trusted Casey. Finding out her brother had magic just meant that… Well, if he caused problems, she didn’t have to stop Casey from solving it however he thought was best. 

[color=629c3f]”Big business folk tend to think like that. It’s all about money and greed for ‘em… You don’t get that far without being an asshole! Unless you’re born into wealth… Which, uh, I ain’t saying anything against. You ain’t an asshole like your siblings, Trisha. God, if I coulda slapped Tansy at that dinner, I woulda…”[/color] Cass shook her head, getting a little mad just thinking back to it. 

[color=629c3f]”Ezra too! Pretending he didn’t have magic like we couldn’t smell it… Family’s hard, huh?!”[/color]

[color=66bb6a]”Ahhh, I only heard about that. By the time I was up there, well… Things were already crazy. I’m sorry to hear it went sour, Trisha. I know it sucks, but-”[/color]

[color=ded2b8]”-That guy who was your brother? I wish you could’ve seen! I was under the table, and while you guys were talking, his feet were [i]squirming![/i] Like he wanted to start dancing!”[/color] Serenity interrupted Ed, floating by Trisha as she spoke.

[color=ded2b8]”At the time I wished I could’ve tickled his feet. That would’ve been real funny with me [i]and[/i] Uncle Jay both messin’ with him.”[/color]

[color=66bb6a]”Oh, God, hearing you call him that makes me cringe.”[/color] Ed made a barfing face before holding out her hand for the big meat, which she began to deftly wrap up tight like a pork loin roast.

[color=629c3f]”You mean Junior? Fucking hell, he wasn’t much less of an asshole than Trisha’s siblings.”[/color] Cass shook her head. 

Trisha let out a short laugh.
[color=d1b300]“We were trapped between assholes… My brother probably wanted to run, Serenity. It’s nice to know he feels enough emotion that it made him feel uncomfortable.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Dude’s got the best fucking poker face… Oh, you should probably get that down to a freezer, Ed! I’m pretty much done cooking, and you wanna be here, cause I’ll inhale most of it otherwise!”[/color] 

[color=66bb6a]”Right! Be right back, so, don’t go anywhere!”[/color]