Casey Windsor

I uh - I - yeah.  I’m sure they’re okay if you um - like that kind of um - stuff but if you - don’t like loud music and um - and crowds then they probably wouldn’t um - be any fun.  I um - yeah!  I would rather um - go to either of those um - too.  You’d um - you’d want to go with me?  That would um - that would be fun, we should!  Yeah - uh - yeah!  You can definitely come help if you um - if you want to.  I’ve heard that if you make it just um - just right, cashews taste exactly like cheese and you can make a um - cream cheese substitute so I figured I should um - give it a um - a go.  You can um - you can help me taste test if you um - if you want.  To see if it actually um - tastes okay.  Oh, that um - that sounds really good!  If you want to um - if you want to make them I’d definitely um - love one!  I’m uh - well I’m glad you’re alright.  Yeah.  Of course!  She uh - she scared me.

Of course I’d like to go with you. Luna’d be bored and running around and causing mischief, but with you, you’d enjoy the music as much as I would and for once, I’d be able to actually hear it. It’d be amazing. Besides you’re a great deal of fun to be around. I always learn something new. ...gross. I don’t want to think about cashews tasting like cheese, but alright. I’ve probably put grossier things in my mouth, so why not. Let’s go. Can’t be worse than tofu cheesecake, right? ‘Course. I’ll get started on those. Do you need any help with the uh, cashews? I’m glad you’re alright too. Ah, yeah. Think she scared us all. Maybe I’ll bake her something too and just not tell her it’s vegan. 

Oh.  Did you uh - did you like working with Papa L more than Papa K?  Yeah, me either honestly.  Especially not this hospital, I think we spent enough time there.  And especially not if Harris is the one we’re visiting.  Well okay but I mean, don’t tell me that we all couldn’t use a big dance party to get everyone’s moods up.  We can just - I don’t know, lock Papa K in a closet or something.  Or send him on a walk with Noemi.  Hey, don’t you pretend like I wasn’t a perfect little angel child who was corrupted by you and your sarcastic ways.

I spent a lot more time with Agent Lacey. I don’t know that I can say that I prefer one over another right now. Yeah, let’s not jinx it. Dude’s been through enough lately. I don’t think some music and booty shaking is going to lift the moods here. If anything the sight of someone having fun and letting loose’ll just make people angrier. You’ve never been a perfect little angel. It’s why we got along so well.

Oh jeepers - there were some um - really good um - musicians.  I probably wouldn’t have um - been able to um - keep up with it if it wasn’t for um - for my uh - my dad and everything.  I’ve never been a um - a rave.  Or a - club.  They kind of - scare me.  That’s just a um - that’s a lot of people all in one - in one place.  You’ll have to go to a rock show!  When this is um - when this is all - over.  Oh um - thank you!  Not much has been um - new.  We gave the um - the pillow fort a renovation.  And made it um - bigger.  You are always welcome to come and um - see it.  If you - if you want to.  No new cookies recipes, but I think - I think I’m going to try to um - make vegan cheesecake.  Cashews are a um - a substitute, it’s supposed to be good.  What’s um - new with you?  Are you - doing okay?  And how’s um - how’s Lulu?

Oh yeah? Awwwwh. Well, I’m glad you had your dad. Raves and clubs are overrated, honestly. I went ‘cause Luna loved them. I don’t think they’re your scene. I’d rather go find a garage show or a group of kids around a bonfire just jamming, you know? Me and you should find one of those when this is all over. Did you? Well, then, I’ll definitely have to come and check out the new place. Oh? That sounds interesting. Can I help? I like cashews. I don’t know that I like cashews anywhere near my cheesecake, I’m a New Yorker, but... I’m intrigued. I made reubens the other night. Wasn’t sure if it’d be rude to offer you one and not have a vegan alternative for Coral, but um, if you’re hungry, I can make us sandwiches before you bake? Nothing new to report. I’m alright. She’s doing ... well you have eyes. She hasn’t run away yet, but I’m certain that’s only a week or two out from happening. House arrest was not made with her in mind. But thank you for asking. 

First of all, I don’t need you to offer an ear.  Second, I don’t think you should blame yourself at all for her actions.  However, I’m not to blame for them, either.  I think you misunderstand, mate.  I’m apologizing because I do feel badly for what transpired, and it would be juvenile to leave things the way that they were left.  That being said; I wasn’t asking for, nor do I wish for any sort of friendship past professional.  I merely want to make sure that we’re going to be able to work together if it ever comes down to it.

It’s literally my job to protect her - up to and including from herself, so yes. Some of the blame lies with me. No, but if you hadn’t jumped me - I wouldn’t have also gotten suspended so...it feels fair to put some blame on you. You think it’s juvenile to be awkwardly avoiding each other, but not juvenile to draw a line in the sand that says ew I don’t want to be friends with you. Fine, whatever. You apologized. I’ll see you when I must. Bye.

You don’t think Papa K would join in a big dance party?  I don’t know why everyone is so scared of him all the time, he’s really just a big teddy bear.  I really don’t want to give Harris a heart attack, though.  I don’t think it’d actually even be possible to turn up the music that loud, so you’re all safe.  You certainly are.  Well it’s not like you caught sarcasm from me.  Don’t you try to change the subject on me.  Whatever you say Casey Randolph.

Absolutely not. Agent Lacey on the other hand, that might have been possible. You aren’t a guard. You see the nice guy. Well, good. I don’t want to see the inside of another hospital...ever. Not here, but I’m sure you’ll find a way eventually. That’s probably a chicken/egg question. I’m not sure which of us started with sarcasm first or it was just our mutual native tongue. Llalalalala can’t hear you.

I didn’t realize that listening to music was something you could only do in this household.  Yes, actually.  I’m only going to say this once, so listen carefully.  I wanted to … apologize.  For losing my temper.  You shouldn’t have been suspended.  Not that it changes anything, which is why words can be so futile, but it needed to be said.

It is when the things I use to listen to music are in the house and I am not. Do you I really need to spell that out? You - what? I’m sorry you went through whatever you went through and if things were different, I’d probably offer to be an ear and try and help but too many people got hurt. Luna almost died because I wasn’t here and I - I’m finding it hard to blame solely myself for that. So while words are just words, I’m not quite ready to pretend like everything is peachy between us. Thank you for the apology. Forgiveness is still processing.

Casey!  I’m um - it’s nice to um - have you back.  Oh um - yeah?  I kind of like um - all types of um - music.  My dad would always um - sign really good um - bands and um - stuff so I’d always get to um - listen to their - stuff.  Classical is my um - my favourite though.  That’s um - that’s okay!  I don’t mind listening to um - to rock.

Awwwh, why thank you. It’s nice to be back. Do you? Why doesn’t that surprise me? I’m not sure I ever really paid attention to our local music scene. Luna was much more fond of raves and clubs. I only got to go to a real rock show once or twice. Well then, have an earbud. Come sit and catch me up. What’s been new with you? Discover any new cookie recipes? 

Yeah, music’s rad.  I miss like, the super loud music at the clubs and shit, you know when they play it so loud you feel like you’re in a tunnel for days afterwards.  You’re such a sarcastic little shit.  I don’t know who thought of Casey, but that’s a pretty rad name.  What I want to know of who thought of the name fucking Randolph.

Of course you do. I would not reccommend turning music up that loud here. You’d probably spark Agent Klein to actually break something in rage and give Harris a heart attack. Am I? Wonder who I got that from. I have no recollection of the name of whilst you speak. So the weather? It’s lovely. 

And was there something that was prohibiting you from enjoying music as you normally do?

Besides having not set foot in this house for awhile...a lack of a music-playing device, yeah. Can I help you with something?

That’s um - I’m glad that you’ve um - remember how much you um - like it.  What kind is your um - favourite?

Jeeeerrr!! Me too. Rock, mostly. You’re more of the fancy smacny type, right? I don’t think I have any of that.

How do you forget about liking music?  That’s like forgetting you have a left foot, or forgetting that your name is Casey.

Hadn’t had anything that played music for awhile, have I? I just forgot how intensely it could affect you, is all. Wait, my name is Casey? Who the fuck thought of that? 

"Hmm … yeah, that could work!"  Luna nodded thoughtfully.  She hadn’t really given much thought as to how much of an advantage the guards had, but she supposed they really did, having done this kind of shit for like what, half their lives, and anything to challenge them a little was probably a good thing.  "I don’t know what we’d give you guys exactly but that sounds good."  All she could think of was rocks, and that seemed a little bit cruel to force all the guards to carry around big boulders or some shit.  Tangling her hands in her hair, she looked on in mild frustration as Casey came to the rescue and put the structure together in a way that actually stayed and looked pretty secure.  "Yeah - thank you."  She offered a small smile as she met his eyes and couldn’t help but note the sheer hesitation she found looking back at her.  Like he expected her to snap or something.  It made her sad, and it kind of made her miss him in a way she didn’t realize was possible when he was literally standing right in front of her.  Luna sigh softly and hopped up onto the structure so she could try it out as she was submerged in her own thoughts.  It wasn’t like she could really blame Case for being a little hesitant, how many times had they said they were cool and chill and shit, and then how many times had she turned around and exploded at him?  And she could keep apologizing over and over for the same thing but that wasn’t going to mean anything if she continued to be an absolute bitch.  He’d said that he loved her, and to be honest, she still wasn’t sure why.  She wouldn’t have loved her.  This shit wasn’t fair - it didn’t matter how frustrated she got, she was determined not to even accidentally lash out at him, because it just wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t cool.  It wasn’t his fault she had a fucking problem that she needed to kick, that was all on her.  And she really, really wanted her friend back.  Not as a bodyguard, not as a lover or whatever, but a friend.  Well okay - maybe a little bit as a lover but that shit could come later.

“Big giant stuffed animals or something,” Casey figured, nothing that would cause them to injure themselves, but enough to make it cumbersome to get over and under things. To his relief, his helping seemed to actual help this time and not spark off Mount Luna so he relaxed minutely as he continued to work on setting up the rest of the obstacle course. It took longer than he expected and he definitely needed a really long cold shower with the amount of sweat he’d worked up, but he still felt a foreign twinge of something as he surveyed the layout. Pride. He was proud of what they’d done. His eyes moved over to Luna, completely unsurprised she was nearly squirming with excitement to try it already. “Alright, go for it. I’ll sit out and that’ll maybe make it more fair if everyone else gets to walk it.” Amused, and partly concerned, he followed Luna through the maze, hoping she got most of her built up energy because wow was he dying for a chair and a cold drink and not moving for a few hours. But his stomach growled unhappily almost immediately following that thought so he had to revise it to include cooking something before collapsing somewhere and refusing to move again.

 "Okay.  Alright, I guess that’s fair.  We’ll still totally kick ass though.  Unless you’re not on my side and then I’ll be kicking your ass."  Not that she quite knew how they were going to divide things, but whatever.  Talking smack was one of her fortes.  However they did it, she’d totally win.  Luna had never been the best at the more traditional sports, she was too uncoordinated to play games where you had to run after shit, and to be particularly honest, she couldn’t ever bring herself to care.  She’d watch sports, sure, but playing them had never been her thing.  What she did enjoy, however, was the fun, stupid shit like this, especially if it became a competition.  It just seemed like a fun way to pass the time, because she really needed shit to focus on so she didn’t go batshit.  Shrugging, Luna hadn’t realized how salty she’d been with the redhead until she was walking away from her.  But like, it was Victoria’s fault Casey got suspended and it was her brother who had been the spawn of Satan.  Thinking about Maxwell made her cringe, and she was hit full force with a memory of her and Ryder running around the backyard, but she tried to shrug it off.  "Yeah well, whatever, she’s a bitch.  And not in like a cool, ‘Hey you say stuff that’s really true in a kind of funny way’ type of bitch, you know, the only bitches that anyone can stand, she’s just - a stupid ginger bitch."  Although, she was kind of secretly thankful that she was nowhere near as horrible as her brother had been, but whatever, she’d made up her mind.  Victoria was on her shit list.

Casey’s eyebrows rose as Luna stared after Vic with an unfamiliar look on her fact. He hadn’t realized the two had conversed enough for Luna to form such a strong unfavorable opinion of the tiny girl, but he wasn’t going to try and talk her out of it. From what he’d heard, Luna’d gotten the brunt of Vic’s brother’s idea of “helping”, so he could understand where she might blame Vic for it. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to a catfight during the obstacle course. Then again if it wasn’t Vic and Luna, it was bound to be someone in the house. People going stir crazy made the pettiest of slights turn into full on wars. Amused, he listened to her ideas before gently shrugging his shoulders. “It does make it a little complicated, especially for those guardees that have difficult standing on two feet most of the time. But we could play with it. Maybe there’s a way we could foolproof it a bit for the ones that need it. Or even it up. Maybe tiny things that could fit in pockets for you guys and like unnecessarily big cumbersome things to challenge the guards a little more?” Casey figured they had enough water to make mud for at least a few hours before the sun baked it off. “Sure, pool of mud. And that sounds good.” His eyebrows rose at the snap before she was wandering off to start working on the balancing thing and he got busy finishing the rope swing. It was to be expected, Luna’s moods would swing with her cravings and her recovery, but it wasn’t something Casey wasn’t prepared for. Between her highs and crashes, it was pretty much all he knew anymore. So he just gave her some space and set up the army crawl net too before he couldn’t help but overhear some more cursing that made him look up before nodding. “Circle works.” Unlike the thing she was trying to build.

They’d told her at the hospital that experiencing a “great dissatisfaction with life” was a common symptom for detoxing, and Luna couldn’t really figure out if it was a new feeling or old, or maybe just really heightened from before.  She was sick with literally not having a life, but who could blame her?  She’d never been a homebody, and here she was, literally not allowed to leave her house.  Luna understood why, obviously, and she was certain she didn’t want to put anyone else in danger, it was just … hard.  And it wasn’t like she could blame anyone, so she was trying as hard as she could to keep her mood swings under control, but it was just a fucking shitty situation all around, and if she literally had nothing to do, it was seriously only going to be a matter of time before she accidentally exploded on the most unsuspecting person.  It was great having Harris’s mom around, and sure, it was also nice to still have Harris as a buddy at 2 am, but she was tired, she wanted to be hungry, and more than anything, she wanted to get high as shit and pretend this whole thing had never happened.  Although, to be fair, as selfish as it probably made her, she was really, really glad to have Casey back, and really glad he hadn’t decided to hate her forever.  That relief and support was certainly something that was keeping her going, because she hoped that maybe things would finally go back to normal.  Not quite the way they were before he left, obviously, but she felt bad enough for the way she’d treated him that hopefully she’d be able to figure out a way to start making it up to him.  Trying to fight her attraction for him was harder than she thought it was going to be, especially when they were sharing a bed, but she was trying really hard to respect his platonic wishes.  Especially because she did have to get her shit together before she worried about anything else, and in all honesty, she still didn’t know what she wanted.  But whatever, they could worry about all that later.

Casey shot Luna a playfully flat look at her quip. Wasn’t every morning a rough one lately? It was always a hard call as a guard to make the decision to follow your guard 24/7 or trust they had things for another hour or so while you caught some sleep. Given that Casey knew Luna was rarely alone when she slipped out of bed, he tried to take advantage of the empty room to get an hour or two of restful sleep but it rarely worked. His mind was just as dominated by her whether she was lying next to him or not. And she probably knew it. So he just tipped his coffee up to his mouth as she nearly face planted herself as she got up to her feet, unable to suppress the small smile on his lips. It was nice to see genuine excitement from her again, to look at her, and know that she was really there on the other side looking back at him. “Really,” he repeated, following her lead to stand up and hummed slightly to himself. She did have a fair point. In setting up the obstacle course it gave them an unfair advantage. “We’ll just give everyone time to walk the course before we start the clock, that way it’s fair. They can try things, and plan things, and nobody can yell at us.” Trust this house to take something made for fun and turn it into a full-scale war.