♛ GAME / JUMPED

Sneakers squeak against the ground with every step, surely riddled with the grime of the Earth encased in their very soles -- &&. yet Kacey ( no -- TURBO, as he had so pompously referred to himself as ) would tell you that it made his presence known. Be damned was that giant ego of his, more giant than the galaxies &&. their endless, vast seas of stars -- for as fragile as it could be with every blow, it only grew &&. grew like some manifestation. He had been something to talk about, after all ( or so he had convinced himself, in his state of delirium &&. safe importance ), someone to remember. Time wasn’t spared to those who he had spat out as mere ‘bozos’ &&. ‘lame-o’s &&. losers alike. 

But what could be said for the child who had earned his “good graces”? Well, she had been something he’d snorted off as a twerp, a pest, a pain in his neck -- but how much truth was in that statement? How much of it was a lie, white-hot &&. burning on his tongue as he shoved his hands into his pockets &&. turned away to hide his face? Was he so afraid of the truth, or was he simply giving a hard time to give a hard time? It was a mystery to surely anyone -- but to those with an obvious enough eye, a twinkle of fondness had surely been there. 

After all, if he hadn’t given a damn about her, why else would he have dumped a bag onto her lap -- for what else other than good old Trick-or-Treating?

There is irony here that isn’t lost on Casey, even as the expression painted upon his features resembles his own textbook frustration. Dark brows knit, his vision scaling over the scene before him – it’s a mess, in every sense of the word. An absolute travesty like this would be something that would send his temper skyrocketing, his face hot and his fists clenched so tight that the skin of his knuckles would turn white. And if it were any other unlucky soul, they’d be forced to the mercy of his barking, whether they’d listen or not, until he felt he had his fill.

But instead, he scowls. It’s thick, this sense of familiarity – too much like smoke, enough that it’s filled his lungs and left him unable to speak for a moment, his throat tight. It reminds him too much of himself – a sentiment that leaves him a touch unsettled. He’s quiet, the dryness of his lips becoming far too apparent, and as his gaze shifts aside, tongue running over the skin to wet it again. Comforting others, prioritizing their feelings, reassuring them … that wasn’t a skill he could say was in his forte. He didn’t care for it, nor for others, so why did he feel so compelled to make sure some so-called ‘snot-nosed brat’ wasn’t weighed down by guilt?

A sigh seeps out of his nose – slow, as if hushing the flames of his scorching temper, and his shoulders sag. His gaze moves from fumbled, misplaced car parts back to her, and he feels a groan rumble in the low of his throat without realizing it even began. Despite the roll of his eyes, he makes his way to her, height diminishing as he takes a knee to equal their levels. Any muttering is lost beneath his breath and the shifting of wires and metals away from her, but as a stack is moved aside, he huffs.

❝  ‘ey. Quit it with the freakin’ waterworks, will ya? You’re gonna get it all over me.  ❞ His tone is neither loud nor too soft, but it isn’t scathing. It’s meant to ground rather than ignite or freeze.  ❝ Cool yer jets. S’a friggin’ accident.  ❞

His gaze throws itself aside again, the inside of his cheek bitten down on as he struggles. It’s difficult, voicing his feelings like this. He doesn’t like it. He doesn’t like admitting to his own flaws. It’s like nails on a chalkboard to him.  

❝  I – look, I got my own fair rep a’screw ups, alright? An’ don’t go askin’ ‘bout ‘em – point is, s’just – s’fine. ❞  A hand musses through his hair, fingers lost in short, messy strands, twisting them against his scalp.  ❝  I ain’t pissed with you, so don’t go draggin’ yer feet through the mud-filled loser rut. ❞ 

“Pretty much so!”

“You see, I don’t do bullying anymore, no matter how gross a grease monkey actually is! I’ve turned over a fresh new leaf while you were gone. So you’d have to find your insults elsewhere, I’m afraid.” 

    ❝   Ooooh look’it me, I’m Art-it an’ I discovered this brand spankin’ new thing called a conscience. Watch out everybody, or I’m gonna start pukin’ out rainbows a’forgiveness an’ advocacy!  ❞

jfc is that a gremlin?

“Even I’m faster.”