19 Jan 2025, 00:27
Dazed From Interpersonal Connection
october 19th, 2024 wc: 1k interacting with: Casey | @Emily Shephard
Her stomach almost lurched when she finally stopped to collapse onto her knees, why was she so hurt? Emotionally she knew why, that girl had lashed out in a way that reminded Scout all-too much of Casey and Sage. No longer could she put on the brave facade of Scoutie, the Ultimate Gryffindor, but she was instead locked in the truthful face of who she really was. A coward. Truthfully, nothing had ever felt more true than that descriptor.
She was a coward.
It was why she sobbed when writing Zyair letters, or when she threw her red notebook in the trash, or how she felt a twinge of despair in her stomach when she saw herself in the mirror. Shiny fangs when they'd be stained just the lightest shade of red because she had eaten dòushā bāo redbean bao, that would make her feel the most lightheaded. She knew on a surface level that she was brave, her less-than-safe childhood was a reminder of how she never backed down from any challenge, no matter the difficulty... but...
Everything felt like too much.
Why had she left Zyair in the dust when faced with the concept of knowing Sabrina; while the girl had a right to be upset lashing out at Scout of all people was not the right way to go about dealing with heavy feelings! When she was upset or angry she made sure to never let anyone else see or feel the repercussions of her emotions! The only time there were exceptions was when she had jinxed Casey or yelled at Sage.
If only she could properly apologize to either. Emily had done her odd hand-thing with Scout and Casey but it really didn't feel like enough. Any thought or chance of saying "I'm sorry" to the boy died in Scout's stomach before it even had the chance to reach her throat.
It was odd to her, she felt marginally more terrible about being mean to Casey than she had for Sage, even though her argument with Sage was just because of Scout's foul behavior. Casey was in the wrong just a little bit, Scout thought. She wouldn't have confronted him if she wasn't a little under the influence that Casey was being an ass.
Pushing herself up so she could at least sit on the ground properly, Scout let out a bitter sigh. It was kind of late, but not late enough that the castle was dark. The Gala was still going on and people were still having fun. Why was she the way she was?
Her socks were stained from grass and mud, and she was certain there was a little bit of blood in the mix too. The dress her father had so lovingly made for her had been (for lack of any better phrasing) torn to shreds. Thorns stuck out in her side from her running escapade and from her earlier encounter in the Forbidden Forest, if only Emily were here now. Scout could really use a friendly face.
"My shoe..." she mumbled aloud, eyes adjusting to the dark rather quickly. There were some benefits to being a dhampir, she thought. But even if she could see okay, there were still no signs of her black shoe. Wherever it was in this mess of the Grounds, it probably wasn't close by. She was a little daft but not blind. Not yet, at least!
Knees wobbling and threatening to collapse under her weight, Scout leaned against a tree to get herself to a standing position. The adrenaline was wearing off, and her body was starting to ache. In all honesty, she would be fine (she always was), but the next few minutes were going to sting like hell. She'd have to make her way back to the castle anyway, so it was better to just get to it now instead of sitting and wallowing in her own pain and self-pity.
The silence of the grounds is far louder than its ever been, every sound and whimper that falls from her lips is amplified by tenfold, her legs were really starting to hurt and she could really feel the scratches she had gotten from carelessly flailing her arms as she ran. She just had to find her shoe, then she could go. Her bag was probably sitting right where it had been before she had taken off, if Zyair or Sabrina hadn't snagged it.
"Huh?" She mumbled, realizing that she was absolutely not alone. Maybe there were some kids that had snuck out from the Gala to snog or something like that. For a minute she wanted to crouch down to try and hide, but if she stopped herself from moving now... she wasn't too sure she could get the momentum to get back up "No way... is that-?" Scout's legs stuttered to an immediate halt when she realized she had not walked in on some random kids, but had in fact walked straight into Casey! Maybe he hadn't seen her yet, she could probably see better than he could.
Does she call out to him? Casey had first been 'her enemy' and was now 'Emily's friend', she hadn't really ever contemplated him also being 'her friend'. Talking to him would make her nervous. At least she wasn't scared of lashing out at him anymore, her wand was far away tucked (not) neatly in her bag. She couldn't be the 'knocker of jinxes' as he had so lovingly called her.
"Casey!" Her words felt odd in her throat, she hadn't really gotten used to saying his name in a way that wasn't lightly filled with annoyances. "Are you- what are you doing out here?" She catches herself before asking such a question. They might not be enemies anymore but it was too weird for Scout to say that she might care about him.
before someone says YES i know scout doesnt have long hair but i like the card and im too lazy to edit it short >;[
pinging @Avery Gray too
Last edited by Scout Fu-Hai on 8 Jul 2025, 22:17, edited 1 time in total.
don't look at me; you can't understand, right? i'm just like a monstrous flower that bloomed too soon
scout fu-hai & zyair ona'je
19 Jan 2025, 02:37
Dazed From Interpersonal Connection
Roleplaying as Casey Stone from Ilvermorny
October 19th 2024
Speech: Bold #257379
Thoughts: Bold Italics
Friends...? With @Scout Fu-Hai
"You gonna be alright makin' your own way back?"
"Hufflepuff isn't far from here. I'll be fine...!"
"Okay... G'night."
"Na-night!"
Casey watched as Emily skipped back inside the main building. After taking a brisk walk outside for some air after dancing to near death over the course of the Ball, both Casey and Emily were tuckered out. Casey yawned as he left Emily off, turning in the opposite direction. He'd retire to bed soon but not quite yet. The night was still relatively young and he barely spent any time actively exploring Hogwarts. The most he had seen was the forest where he and Emily made their little friendship pact with Scout and Zyair.
His legs, though tired and slightly wobbly from all the serious dance moves at the Ball, carried him back out through the courtyard and towards the edge of the grounds. He locked eyes with the lake that sat by the edge beyond the trees. So big and pristine... Nothing like the misty mountain that was Mount Greylock where Ilvermorny resided, where one couldn't see beyond the slope of the descent on an average day because of all the fog.
Had it not been for the rumoured behemoth sleeping beneath the waters, Casey would've gone in for a dip.
With the clouds creeping overhead, Casey's vision impaired when the moonlight was blocked out. He felt his way through the sheltered grounds, the occasional slip or misstep breaking in between paces as he kept going. At one point he stumbled over something that didn't feel like a pothole nor as heavy as a stump. When the clouds parted enough to return the moonlight, Casey saw a stray shoe in front of him.
"The hell...?"
If this was what Emily was talking about before with students going missing every now and then at Hogwarts, then it would seem this season's Ball had befallen some odd going-ons after all. Either that or someone had a bit too much fun at the event. He held on to the shoe as he progressed onwards.
After nearly completing half the perimeter of the grounds, his eyes squinted on a shadowy outline by one of the trees ahead of him. He edged closer until he recognised a head of dark red hair and a face to match. He wanted to back away before she noticed him but it was too late, as well as confirmed his suspicions that it was indeed her.
"Hey... You're out late."
It wasn't until he anxiously got closer to her that he noticed the missing shoe on her foot and the leftover traces of misery on Scout's face. It was a strange look for her. A few hours ago she was in much higher spirits. Now, she looked so downcast... And quite frankly, almost a different person entirely. It was enough to rouse suspicion.
"It's not like you to look so mopey," he said flatly, perhaps just a tad too much. "I only wanted to get another five minutes outside. Catch the last of the moon, y'know? Bit of a walk."
He looked her up and down, almost frowning at the state Scout was in. "The same probably can't be said for you though, can it...?"
Word Count: 575
Stats: Stamina: 8|Strength: 7|Evasion: 7|Wisdom: 6|Arc Power: 6|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Fearless |Poison Resistance
Trust Yourself - Love Yourself - Be Yourself
iNPC = Casey Stone
19 Jan 2025, 04:13
Dazed From Interpersonal Connection
october 19th, 2024 wc: 650ish interacting with: Casey | @Emily Shephard
The words die on her tongue, suddenly the concept of explaining everything that had happened within the last six hours was just as difficult as standing. Scout feels like she's in a daze, totally woozy and unable to think in a coherent manner. How does she even tell him what's going on? The smartest action to take would be to make up some excuse, snag her shoe, and disappear off to Hogwarts so she could get out of her clothes and take a shower.
For a minute too long, the silence lingers.
Scout sighs and shakes her head, is there even a point in trying to hide from Casey? She only had two modes when it came to information- keeping it exclusively to herself or sharing it with Emily. If Emily knew how she felt and everything that had transpired, it probably wouldn't be long before Casey found out as well.
The thought of being recognized by someone beyond her best friend was kind of eating Scout alive, but at the same time... she hadn't really ever had friends before, maybe it was her loneliness that made her feel overwhelmed. Casey understanding Scout to the same level as Emily or Zyair wasn't the worst thing in the world at least. It was the core of humanity to be understood, wasn't it?
"I don't know. I'm having a really bad day." She finally mutters, rubbing off the dirt on her hands onto her dress instead. That dress was probably ruined anyway, Scout didn't know how to fix it herself and she could already imagine the disappointed look on her papa's face if she brought it home in the state it was in. Maybe there was a spell that could fix her outfit for her.
"Did Zyair tell you he asked some other girl to the Gala?" Her voice is quiet, almost like testing the waters of conversation. "It kind of hurt me that he didn't ask me first, but he apologized so I thought it was okay. But it still kind of hurts." There's a stutter in her words, but then they move like water from a faucet. Fast and unmanageable. "And then like- like everything was fine! We met up with you and Emi and that was fine, but then as soon as we left we ran into that girl! And she totally blew the hell up, yelling at me and Zyair- and like Zyair I understand 'cause apparently he was really rude to her, but why me? Why did I have to get the brunt of it when it wasn't even my fault?"
Scout lets out an annoyed groan, sinking to her knees, staying crouched in case someone else decided they wanted to take a midnight stroll. Her hands are starting to burn from the dirt and scratches. "And like- it reminded me of like when me and this stupid Hufflepuff girl were fighting- and it kind of reminded me of when I jinxed you and I'm so sorry about that! I don't even know why I do the things I do and it's horrible! I feel like a little kid even though I know that I'm a kid and stuff- but it's like why do I feel like I'm so little and- ugh!" Her hands rip away from her face and slam themselves against the dirt. Once, and then twice, and then she stands up and sighs.
Frustration ebbs and flows at her skin, feeling dazed by her interpersonal connections.
Rarely did Scout let herself get as emotional as she was, why did the dam keeping her emotions in check have to break right now? She really didn't like Casey- right? Was that why she was so comfortable ranting to him? He felt like the perfect person to throw her frustrations at verbally, even if this time they weren't necessarily about him. Why does she feel so weird?
don't look at me; you can't understand, right? i'm just like a monstrous flower that bloomed too soon
scout fu-hai & zyair ona'je
19 Jan 2025, 16:27
Dazed From Interpersonal Connection
Roleplaying as Casey Stone from Ilvermorny
October 19th 2024
Speech: Bold #257379
Thoughts: Bold Italics
Friends...? With @Scout Fu-Hai
A bad day. Casey's first response to that was to chuckle. Nothing mean-spirited. In fact, it was as if a part of him was telling him that he should've been able to spot it a mile off, even despite the dark that surrounded the both of them. After all, right up until Casey and Emily solidified their friendship, he practically fed off a long extended diet of bad days since the moment Nick went missing.
His facial features were softer now but he still couldn't find it within himself to say something about it. He had a few words he could say, but given everything that happened between him and Scout, what were the chances that she would appreciate any of it? From his lips, she probably wouldn't see any value in them; more likely out of pity if anything, and everyone knew Scout hated being pitied.
However, his silence saved him for a little bit longer when Scout went into the ins and outs of her "bad day". If it was one thing Casey was thankful for - when it was in his favour - it was the fact that girls had that special knack for gossip.
Though he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly as he listened to her. It all sounded like something out of a soap opera; Zyair being with Scout, then running into that Sabrina chick that he only just barely remembered from the Pyre incident, then Scout running into Sabrina, then Zyair going after Scout, then Scout running away from Sabrina--
Casey had to mentally draw a graph at one point just to feel like he was understanding her plot line. He didn't even think of Zyair as being a ladies' man by any means, which only got him more confused as to how someone like him would get caught up in the weirdest romance drama he's heard of thus far. The only bit he actually grasped confidently was the jinxing incident from all the way back at Summer Camp.
"That sounds..."
--Like it was not his thing, let alone his place to comment on. Casey didn't know the first thing about girls, except about how clingy and saccharine Emily was. Though he could see the effect the tirade was having on Scout. Compared to mere moments ago, she did look like she got a major weight off her chest, albeit her outburst channelled into her fists as she attacked the earth beneath her with them. Casey flinched at her.
He chewed his nail while he sought of something that would pacify her. If she didn't think it was meaningful, Casey would be helpless in this situation entirely.
The answer that felt "right" to him then clicked. He'd slammed the ground before. He'd gotten emotional before. He'd been in Scout's (missing) shoes before.
He got down to her level, one knee pressed into the ground as he looked at her.
"They're just bad days," he said. "But don't think that they're there to punish you or just to see you upset. Just carry on and do what makes you feel like yourself. If you let them get to you, you'll make yourself more unhappy... A bit like someone else we both know, eh?"
He got comfortable and sat with her, a few centimetres between them for respectable space. Thinking back about on what she spilled about Zyair, it made him laugh but not out of mockery.
"Zyair talked about wantin' to see a friend at Hogwarts when we were back in Hogsmeade. Then, when the explosion hit, he ran off to find Sabrina while my head was still spinnin' from the hit. But I've seen what he's like with her. Trust me... He doesn't look at her the same way he does when he sneaks glances at you."
He leaned back into the tree they both sat against. He focused on the speckles of light that snuck in between the gaps of the branches and the leaves above them. He remembered Emily telling him something in one of their many letters to each other, about how light filtering through shade and darkness could be interpreted as comfort in the face of adversity, or how the darkness welcomes the light to feel whole the same way that everyone needs to have a bad day every now and then in order to keep having good ones; to prevent burn out and collapse, she said to him.
"Hmm..." The analogy was quite sound when put like that. He could get it.
Realising he still had the shoe in his hand, he swivelled around until he was in front of Scout. He looked at her for any signs of discomfort before taking her foot and slipping the shoe back on, Cinderella style, before taking his jacket off and draping it around her shoulders.
"The cold doesn't really bother me all that much," he shrugged nonchalantly, before reclaiming his spot beside her again. "And forget about what happened at Summer Camp, yeah? Em knows we wanna put it behind us, so let's take her onboard with that."
He exhaled through his nose when he thought back to it. "I did kinda deserve it after bein' a twit to your friend."
How they've come a long way. Emily was too forgiving. He was sure of that. Or maybe a tiny part of him was still in denial that he didn't deserve her company.
"She's nice, her."
Word Count: 944
Stats: Stamina: 8|Strength: 7|Evasion: 7|Wisdom: 6|Arc Power: 6|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Fearless |Poison Resistance
Trust Yourself - Love Yourself - Be Yourself
iNPC = Casey Stone
24 Jan 2025, 21:05
Dazed From Interpersonal Connection
october 19th, 2024 wc: 650ish interacting with: Casey | @Emily Shephard
"Eh?! He sneaks glances?!"
Brown eyes flash wide, pale hands come up to smack at her face to cover her open mouth. What? That's totally not true, is it?! Scout wouldn't think Casey to joke about this kind of thing- he was mean but he wasn't mean. Though the idea of Zyair actually taking glances at her when she's not looking... that's not like him! She was the kind of person to do that (not that she would!!), not cool and calm Zyair!
Sometimes her eyes would naturally drift to the people around her (though she'd deny it). The way Emily would eat with a fork or when she'd see one of the McCoire boys running through the halls, there was always a subtle drift in her eyes at whatever she found most interesting that day. As of right now, it was Casey.
He was remarkably unremarkable. There really wasn't much difference in how he looked now versus some months back at summer camp. Well, he might be a little taller now but Scout wasn't too concerned with that. The tallest person she knew that was her age was still Zyair- that hadn't changed. It was like every time she would see him, he'd be just a little taller than the last time. Was he growing in secret or was she just imagining it?
But Casey had a pretty face, smooth and untouched by the small scrapes or band aids that regularly would litter Scout's. Even if magic could heal most of the small cuts she got doing Scout things, she always kept a band aid in her bag or up her sleeve. A thought crossed her mind, had Casey been the kind of person to get in as much trouble as Scout did when she was younger? She couldn't imagine he was always brooding or moody, maybe he was different before his brother went missing.
Though that was the kind of question she would rather not ask. A part of not knowing was coming up with her own silly conspiracy theories of how he would've acted. Maybe she should ask Emily what she thought, then she'd get a funny answer!
"You're being so nice." She comments idly, "Where'd you even find my shoe?" How was this the same Casey she had jinxed over summer? Here he was acting like a sweet little gentleman! It was cute- just a little. Admittedly, his jacket was far warmer than the thin cardigan she had been wearing, so that was nice. Nice, yeah, that was the only word she'd use to describe this situation. No other one applicable!
Him bringing up Emily made Scout sigh, pulling her knees to her chest. "I really like Emily, she's a doll." Just as they had done before, her eyes drift back to Casey. "Sometimes I wonder how we're friends, you know? We're just such different people. But she's like my best friend in the whole world. I love her. She really has a big heart." Plus Emily would be the only person at Hogwarts to know her secret, save for now that weird Hufflepuff, Eugenia. Scout wasn't sure what was on those notes Emily kept on her, but she could probably guess her name and the word Dhampir were too close for it to be a coincidence of the meaning.
But that secret was one she couldn't share to even Zyair, let alone Casey. Even if the latter was being a little sweet.
don't look at me; you can't understand, right? i'm just like a monstrous flower that bloomed too soon
scout fu-hai & zyair ona'je
25 Jan 2025, 23:42
Dazed From Interpersonal Connection
Roleplaying as Casey Stone from Ilvermorny
October 19th 2024
Speech: Bold #257379
Thoughts: Bold Italics
Friends...? With @Scout Fu-Hai
It was hard to know where to truly start with Scout. Before, they were as compatible as cats and cucumbers in the early days of knowing each other but now they were actually talking like civilised people, albeit with strained effort between the two of them, as if either one of them could slip up at any moment. The underlying wariness and tension was thin but noticeable in the air as they sat together until Scout came out with an outburst that nearly jolted Casey into a new state of awareness.
"Y-Yeah... He looks at you. You haven't noticed?" He scratched his back awkwardly. Casey never liked gossip yet he was sitting there and acting like some teenage girl. "I dunno if he likes you in that way... But, he does have a fondness for you."
There was probably no better way to say it than the way Casey just did. Had it not been for Nick making similar eye contact and gestures towards the number of girls he watched him crush on over the years, Casey would shudder at the thought of him unintentionally leading Scout on. That itself would be another sure-fire excuse for her to jinx him a second time. Oh who was he kidding... Basing all of this on his brother's teenage antics when neither were similar at all was a terrible way to make this better.
Damn, girls were complicated. That sentiment only cemented itself a little more when Casey caught Scout looking at him like he was a work of art. Getting a look like that from Scout of all people made him a little self-conscious but looking back at her, he could see the genuine patience she was having with him. Last time, her eyes were fiery with an objective to kill. This time, they were soft and relaxed. Her hair, red as ever, didn't stand on its end with fuelled tension and anger like it was at summer camp. This time, it was smooth and flowy. He shifted in his spot before clearing his throat quietly once he realised they were both looking at each other a bit too long without saying anything.
"R-Right, your shoe..." Thank God Scout's chatterbox mouth hadn't changed in between the time they had last seen each other. "I only found it not too far from here. I didn't realise it was yours until I saw you without it. It was just a matter of being a Not-Twit and returning it, really."
For everything that Casey didn't know about Scout - which was close to zilch other than what she thought of him - Casey knew Scout would be singing like a bird when Emily was brought up into the conversation. In a revolutionary twist to the tale, Casey was nodding in agreement when Scout talked about her. Agreeing with her, or vice versa, sounded like something impossible for the two of them, yet here he was.
"Yeah... She's sweet. And gentle. Practically the embodiment of love, at the risk of sounding melodramatic. She can be a bit clingy every now and then though... I mean, with you, does she ever do that thing where you'd say or do something, regardless of what it was and then she'd just hug you like you made some world-breaking achievement?"
Scout and Emily were best friends. Two peas in a pod. Peanut butter and jelly. He knew that. So while Scout may be well versed in Emily's habit for physical, platonic affection, it only begged the question of how does Scout have the patience for that? Maybe Casey was only thinking that because he wasn't all too physical when it came to hugs and high-fives and all that. His brother and his parents being natural exceptions to that, of course.
"I'm glad you've got her to lean on to... I'm still trying to find someone like that back at Ilvermorny, much less get used to the whole "friendship" thing in general. Makes me more grateful that Em can stand to hang around someone like me."
Word Count: 712
Stats: Stamina: 8|Strength: 7|Evasion: 7|Wisdom: 6|Arc Power: 6|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Fearless |Poison Resistance
Trust Yourself - Love Yourself - Be Yourself
iNPC = Casey Stone
7 Apr 2025, 21:03
Dazed From Interpersonal Connection
october 19th, 2024 wc: 500 interacting with: Casey | @Emily Shephard
Besides, any guy stealing glances at her was sure to make her giggle. How many times did anyone ever sneak a peak at her? Though she was generally unaware of her surroundings, she figured the number was less than the fingers she had. She wasn't an eyesore or anything, but she knew she was off-putting even at her best. There was just a terrible presence that followed her wherever she went, probably didn't help her case when it came to admirers- if she had any!
"Huh?"
The hugs, yeah, of course Emily hugged Scout whenever possible. She always returned them with even tighter hugs of her own, it was practically their own love language. Scout never really had anyone to hug or have any physical contact with besides her parents and occasionally Asteria, so having an Emily around to squeeze whenever she got the urge was definitely a good thing.
"Um, yeah, I guess. I think we're both just touchy-feely people, is all." The 'feely' part was definitely more on Emily's behalf than Scout's. She was still coming to terms with the idea that she had things she needed to talk about- and she still wasn't really comfortable with the idea of sharing those things with Emily, even if she did love her dearly. They were best friends, but Scout found herself feeling more guarded than ever. Maybe there really was something wrong with her. "You don't like the hugs? I think me and Em give really good ones! Especially Em, hugging her is like hugging a cloud with brown hair and a pink bow!"
It felt good, the deflection. Thinking about someone else was much easier than thinking about herself- or thinking about Zyair and his little 'girl problem'. Really, thinking about anything else was better than confronting her own thoughts. She felt tired, even if not much had really happened... well, that wasn't exactly true, was it? She had gotten her heart broken, stitched together, and then ripped apart again. It felt like sitting with Casey was mending the pieces that had snapped.
"Aw, Case, you've always got a friend in me and Emi," she thought for a moment, "and Zyair too, I'm sure. He thinks you're cool, he told me once." Scout may or may not have been exaggerating a little bit, but she did know that Zyair (at the very least) did enjoy being around Casey as a friend, so was it even really an exaggeration?
"You'll find your own Emi soon, I'm sure of it. You're a pretty good person, all things considered... you did turn into the prince from Cinderella and give me my shoe!"
don't look at me; you can't understand, right? i'm just like a monstrous flower that bloomed too soon
scout fu-hai & zyair ona'je
9 Apr 2025, 17:39
Dazed From Interpersonal Connection
Roleplaying as Casey Stone from Ilvermorny
October 19th 2024
Speech: Bold #257379
Thoughts: Bold Italics
Friends...? With @Scout Fu-Hai
Honestly, what else was Casey going to expect as an answer when he was asking the opinion of Emily's closest friend? All he did was smirk in response. All thing considered, Emily was just a huggy person. He wouldn't dispute Scout's description of her either just on that front alone.
"Like a marshmallow on legs," he added amusingly. "I guess I'm just not used to having a softie in my life again."
That wasn't to say he hated it. But he still had a long ways to go getting used to Emily's arms welding to him every wits end. He chuckled. It was probably a tactic to bring out a soft side of his own. Wait.
That chuckle became a sigh of realisation. That crafty little badger. She knew exactly what she was doing. That, and she was enjoying it too.
But what surprised him more was that he could "find a friend" in Scout, let alone in Emily. He couldn't help but laugh. Nothing mean-spirited though it was ironic in his eyes. Weren't they scratching at each other's throats not too long ago? Then again, both seemed pretty eager to leave all that unnecessary baggage behind them.
Still... Friendship. It still felt foreign to him, the whole concept. Or maybe he was just rubbish at reciprocating it in a way that was meaningful. Not that he wasn't genuine. He was. Scout was right. Touchy-Feely was not him.
He smiled weakly. He liked Emily. There's been the odd flash of thought when he was convinced he would be lost without her. And that was true. But there was something else he couldn't dare say to her. But he would say it to Scout for no other reason but to just tell someone.
"To be honest, I once thought I'd have a chance with her later down the line if I ever thought I deserved a shot of happiness. But I ain't been happy in a long time... And I doubt that'll change much for me to..." He trailed off.
A hand quickly covered his face. Out of embarrassment? Disappointment? Probably both. Or maybe neither? Casey didn't know what he was feeling. He just knew he felt something about her. About all of this.
"Well, it don't matter now. I'm grateful she's in my life and I ain't gonna let her go. Same with you. I need someone sweet to lean on, and someone strong to kick my butt when I'm doin' somethin' stupid." He lifted his face to look at Scout thoughtfully.
"I don't think I'd mind relying on Emily's right hand woman when I need to," he said, his smile growing.
He chuckled shyly at Scout's compliment. He was better versed in muggle fairy tales than anyone ever realised but surely to God he was a thousand times worse than an arguably perfect boyfriend-material character from a story. "No one's accused me of being Prince Charming before," he quipped. "Though if I kiss enough hands maybe I'll live up to that title."
A terrible but humorous thought went in his head and he nudged Scout's shoulder playfully.
"I could start with you if you want to see more of my 'princely' persona," he joked lightly.
Word Count: (545)
Stats: Stamina: 8|Strength: 7|Evasion: 7|Wisdom: 6|Arc Power: 6|Accuracy: 7
Abilities: Fearless |Poison Resistance
Trust Yourself - Love Yourself - Be Yourself
iNPC = Casey Stone
23 Apr 2025, 01:08
Dazed From Interpersonal Connection
october 19th, 2024 wc: 600ish interacting with: Casey | @Emily Shephard
"You have a crush on Emily?! Seriously?" Before she could stop herself, Scout puffed out her cheeks, eyes widening. Of course- of all the people Scout knew, Casey would be the most likely to fall for her best friend. They were a textbook opposites attract, Emily was soft and warm, whereas Casey was cold and hard. They would be the kind of couple you'd see in movies, where you'd watch two hours of them trying to work together. It was sweet, in the movies.
She reached out to pull his hand down from his face, "C'mon, Casey, you totally deserve to be happy. You're a good person, y'know? I don't really know what all you've been going through, and I know it's not my business, but you really do have a good heart. Sometimes you just need someone to remind you to use that heart."
This conversation reminded her of Zyair, and she tried to wipe the memories out of her mind. Zyair wasn't a bad person, either, but she was still hurt by what he had done. He hadn't meant to hurt her, he had a good heart- just like Casey- but she was still upset. It hurt even more knowing that he had unthinkingly pushed her away. But... she knew that he didn't mean to do something wrong, so why did it still make her so upset?
No, she didn't want to be upset. She needed to clear her thoughts from Zyair for just a minute, so she could stop feeling so dazed. She wasn't with Zyair right now, she was with Casey, talking about how-
"Holy shit I still can't believe you have a crush on Emi..." The weight of his words hit her like a truck. In all honesty, she'd prefer Casey and Emily over Colin and Emily, because at least Casey was sweet and kind and not... anything like Scout.
There was only a little semblance between herself and Case. They were both hotheaded, but Casey was much more contained with his anger. Scout had a tendency to let her emotions control her totally and truly, she was always vivid with energy. Although she was much more restrained now, her energy levels reminded her too much of Colin, and Colin reminded her too much of herself in the beginning of the first year. Back when she was... a much different person.
She knew it was unfair, to judge Colin like that, but thinking about him and the way he acted filled her with upsetting memories. 'I will never be that person again, I don't get why he can be so carefree when I can't.' It was completely unwarranted and unreasonable, and it was impossible for her to explain that to Emily.
Maybe that was why she liked Casey more than Colin.
"I think I'd rather have just my normal Casey, rather than Prince Casey." Scout hesitates, but pulls him into a quick hug. "I like you for you, in all your messy, hot-headed Casey-ness."
don't look at me; you can't understand, right? i'm just like a monstrous flower that bloomed too soon
scout fu-hai & zyair ona'je
1 May 2025, 00:56
Dazed From Interpersonal Connection
Roleplaying as Casey Stone from Ilvermorny
October 19th 2024
Speech: Bold #257379
Thoughts: Bold Italics
Friends...? With @Scout Fu-Hai
Oh good God.
Casey knew the second he thought of it, he'd pay for saying it out loud. Admitting he once cared more for Emily than what he allowed people to see, that is. Why did he say it out loud to Emily's best friend? Why did he make it a point to say it anyway?? What even made him think that in the first place??!
It didn't matter now... Scout knew. But also, times have changed. Casey had changed. Emily had changed. They're good friends still, but they've come a long way to turn back and change course. Casey was quick to wave his hands around, imploring Scout to keep her voice down. No doubt Scout would leak it all even if at one point it was kind of true.
"Whoa, whoa, hang on-- Before you go yappin' your mouth, that was before all-- all-- this!" Casey gestured stiffly. "Obviously I'm over it now. I mean, we already get along fine as friends and quite frankly, I like it that way. Besides, look at her. I bet that girl couldn't tell the difference between romance and... What does she call it? Hufflebuddy energy?"
Casey carded a hand through his hair. "The fact she's in my life at all is a damn miracle considerin' my track record for being... This". He pointed to himself. His expression softened and he sighed gently. "All I know is that I don't wanna let her go. Sure, she's a hyper ball of l fluff but... I'd choose her over any other ray of sunshine as a friend".
That should clear it all up now. If one thing Casey has been humbled in before, it's learning to appreciate what he has in the Now. Both Scout and Emily were in his life. One name couldn't be left out without mentioning the other. Without Emily there was no Scout. And as much as Scout would probably throw a fit, Casey needed her too. He dare even admit he's grown to appreciate her for giving him a challenge in World's Sassiest Soul.
For all her surprising knack for complimenting others - like, Casey with a good heart? - Scout wasn't too versed in giving herself some of that self love. Casey could tell. She had that distant look in her eye. He had it once before until he started cutting himself some slack for all his snappy moments.
"The day I have a good heart is the day pigs fly," he joked quietly. "I'm working on it though, even if at bare minimum. Unlike you, who can balance patience and ass-kickin' pretty well. It's quite appealing actually, to see a sugared pretzel like that. That's what my dad calls it, people who can balance a sweet personality with a strong one".
He decided to humour her with that last bit. His smirk grew into a genuine reflective smile. "I guess that makes you more of a princess than me as a prince if you're able to keep grounded like that".
The light of the moon got brighter as it filtered through the trees. Casey squinted his eyes and leaned closer to Scout.
"Huh. How long has that been there?" He pointed to a small but fairly obvious mark on Scout's cheek. Dirt maybe?
"Hold still, princess. You've got a smudge on your face". He stretched his sleeve and wiped it across Scout's face, the smudge transferring itself from her face to his shirt. Fixing himself and leaning back away from her, he smirked at her again, but without the sass.
"There. That's better".
Word Count: 597
Stats: Stamina: 8|Strength: 7|Evasion: 7|Wisdom: 6|Arc Power: 6|Accuracy: 7
Abilities: Fearless |Poison Resistance
Trust Yourself - Love Yourself - Be Yourself
iNPC = Casey Stone