down in a hole

   The feline had just been watching the city from above a building, much like she always did back home when she was younger. Today it was no different from back then; she felt down, and needed some alone time, and the best place to get that? Rooftops.

   She was a little coiled up, holding her legs to her cest, as she laid her head on her knees, watching the people below go on by with their daily duties. They all looked like little ants. Weird, 90% furless, tall ants. It would be so easy to squish everyone from up here, if only she were a giant–

   And then, a voice cuts through her train of thought. A voice she never had a chance to hear back at home before she got here. She immediately turns her head around, to make sure she wasn’t imagining anything. And there he was!

   “Oh my Go- Casey???” Her face went from surprise to a big ole smile. “Hey!! What a nice surprise!!!”

Seeing Mae again, and seeing her happy to see him, put a grin on Casey’s face, accompanied with a chuckle of relief. "Yeah, no kidding," the orange cat replied, walking to the edge of the rooftop and sitting down beside his friend. "I would say 'It's nice to see you here', but I'd rather be seeing you back home. Or literally anywhere else."

tagged by: @landsharkbite tagging:  ……………….slime man

DEFENSIVENESS. arms crossed on chest // crossing legs // fist-like gestures // pointing index finger // karate chops // stiffening of shoulders // tense posture // curling of lip // baring of teeth

REFLECTIVE. hand-to-face gestures // head tilted // stroking chin // peering over glasses // taking glasses off — cleaning // putting earpiece of glasses in mouth // pipe smoker gestures // putting hand to bridge of nose // pursed lips // knitted brows

SUSPICION. arms crossed // sideways glance // touching or rubbing nose // rubbing eyes // hands resting on weapon // brows raising // lips pressing into a thin line // strict, unwavering eye contact // wrinkling of nose

OPENNESS & COOPERATION. open hands // upper body in sprinters position // sitting on edge of chair // hand-to-face gestures // unbuttoned coat // tilted head // slacked shoulders, droopy posture // feet pointed outward // palms flat and facing outward // chin up

CONFIDENCE. hands behind back // hands on lapels of coat // steepled hands // baring teeth in a grin // rolling shoulders // tipping head back but maintaining eye contact // chest puffed up/shoulders back // arms folded just above navel // hands on hips

INSECURITY & ANXIETY. chewing pen or pencil // rubbing thumb over opposite thumb // biting fingernails // hands in pockets // elbow bent/closed gestures // clearing throat // “whew” sound // picking or pinching flesh // fidgeting in chair // hand covering mouth whilst speaking // poor eye contact// tugging at pants whilst seated // jingling money in pockets // tugging at ear // perspiring hands // playing with hair // swaying // playing with pointer/marker // smacking lips // sighing // rocking on balls of feet // flexing fingers sporadically

Ever since Steve mentioned to him that Mae is in Spirale as well, Casey has been feeling both excited and anxious at the same time. The combined emotions were so powerful, it made him feel a bit nauseous. His hands were balled into fists, and each step he took felt hesitant. But it was confusing. He’s already seen her once, back in Hive. He’s talked to her there before. And the only person he’s closer to is Gregg, and he isn’t here.

So why the hell does he feel so apprehensive?

Suddenly, a distant figure in the corner of his eye caught Casey’s attention and made his heart skip a beat. Yep, that’s definitely her. Can’t mistake those eyes for anything else. Mae Borowski, on top of a roof like usual.

Taking a deep breath in and a deep breath out, he jogged towards the building, scaling it by means of hopping on top of other objects, climbing up a ledge, and eventually trying to hop up and kick himself off a wall to reach the rooftop. Panting and shaking his head, Casey called out to his old friend.

"I guess Scriggins was right."

The orange cat shoved his hands into the pocket on his hoodie, smiling.

A rather odd, slightly unnerving feeling tugged at Casey’s nerves. It was a rather familiar feeling, but familiar isn’t always... good. The few times that the cat could identify what this usually meant, it was often some sort of strangely cosmic way of his body saying ‘hey, a friend’s here’. On one hand, ‘yes, a friend’s here’! But on the other hand, ‘oh no, a friend’s here’.

Trusting his instinct, the Hartley kid let his heart lead the way towards familiarity. And after some walking and riding a train out of Golden Ward, the boy found himself in...

One of the countless cherry blossom parks in Cotes Ward-- one with a real good view of the night sky. Beneath the radiant moon and the hundreds of shimmering stars, Casey wandered around, searching for someone, anyone that he could recognize. It took a few minutes, but he found that particular someone, sitting all alone and looking forlorn.

Carefully approaching the familiar face, the feline sat down a couple feet beside him.

Anxious feet dangled and swayed off the edge of a rooftop as a troubled Casey watched the sun set in the Golden Ward. His twin-colored eyes scanned across the roads and sidewalks that were a couple dozen feet below him, watching people going about their daily lives. Talking to each other, playing games, shopping together.

Yet there wasn’t a smile on Casey’s face. Digging into his pocket, the orange-furred feline took out his phone and opened the messaging app to stare at his previous few messages.

TO: Scriggins

FROM: Casey

- hey. - you have time to talk? - it’s kinda important. - meet me on the roof of the mall in golden ward

Sigh.