taxonomites | [Location: The streets, bitch] You don't believe, and your grievances show

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[Location: The streets, bitch] You don't believe, and your grievances show

Well, that had gone well. Cassie exited the nest, not crying as much or as often anymore, but definitely down in the dumps. Not only was Billy gone, but she didn't think and said a bunch of shit that made the hundreds upon hundreds year old vampires get emo. So, totally, not her intention. Not even a little bit.

Cassie started on a longish, roundabout way home, not wanting to get back there just yet. Pooch was off with that River girl, leaving Cassie alone in the house. That's why she'd gone to visit Billy. Because she was lonely and missing her bff. But he wasn't there. He wasn't anywhere. Cassie turned down a side street, hands tucked into the pockets of her hoodie, head lowered. There was the chance that Billy might come back. There was always a chance. But the odds of him remembering her when he returned? Were slim to none. And that made Cassie's stomach want to eat itself out of despair.

The sun was setting and Cassie lifted a hand to absently wipe at her cheek, feeling as if she was going to start weeping again any minute. She swallowed hard, then frowned, kicking at a rock with the toe of her boot. Not bothering to watch it skitter and bounce down the street.

((ooc: Backdated to directly after what happens at the nest in the SOB BILLY GONE thread. Yes, I'm too lazy to link it right now. Bite me. :D))

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Cassie sat down when the tram arrived, staring at the opposite side of the car, right back at the extra across from her. She studied the woman carefully, as if really looking at one of the extras for the first time. She was pretty enough, with this slightly vacant, but happy smile on her face. Like it was just enough fun to ride the tram to keep her from frowning. Which made Cassie's brow furrow. Fucking extras without a goddamn care in the world.

Cassie stood automatically, half a moment after Lassiter did, following him off the tram. They walked down the middle of the street, with only one or two cars, there really wasn't any need to worry about traffic.

As they made their way through the silent neighborhood, Cassie's hand shifted a little, reaching for Lassiter's. She wanted to make sure he was still there. That he wasn't leaving anytime soon. She'd had too many people leave her in her short life.

Lassiter kept an eye on her, but for the most part, just kept walking. Cassie was a big girl. She could handle herself, and Carlton had learned that doting over her for too long would only result in harsh words. So it was with complete surprise that he looked down to notice her hand lightly touching his. He glanced up at her, a touch of confusion covering his expression. It only lasted a minute, though, before his hand wrapped around hers and squeezed lightly.

"Home, sweet home." He said sarcastically as they walked up the steps. He pushed open the front door and showed her in. It really wasn't anything to look at. He'd barely had a chance to unpack the pile of hatched clothes he'd acquired since he came to Taxon, let alone about if the furniture needed adjusting.

"Make yourself at home. Hatch anything you'd like." He loosened his tie. Lassiter had always had a rule about making himself comfortable at home, no matter what. Spending time with Cassie didn't really count as work (or at least it didn't when the time was spent watching movies) so there was no need to keep his professional dress.

Cassie looked up at Lassiter when she saw him turn towards her out of the corner of her eye. She said nothing, but a small wave of relief washed over her features when he squeezed her hand.

Cassie climbed the steps beside him, entering the modest-sized home, looking around absently. It was easy to see that a man lived there. But that wasn't a bad thing.

She reluctantly released his hand, heading towards the nearest hatch and grabbing Blazing Saddles, along with a couple John Wayne westerns that she'd watched with her dad when she was little-little. And a blanket.

While she was busy with one hatch, he was busy in the kitchen, hatching a bowl of popcorn and a couple of sodas. He knew he had a tv and a dvd player, even though he never used either. Somehow, Taxon provided for all situations. He thought the whole place was odd, but damn, it was convenient.

He headed back for the living room just in time to see her with the movies and a blanket. Lassiter set the snacks on the coffee table and took the movies from her. He admired the Westerns she had also hatched, but decided the light hearted choice was probably best for now. He put the movie in and grabbed the remote as he made his way for the couch. Carlton relaxed, leaning back and giving her plenty of space if she wanted it. He put his arm out across the back of the couch, which could have been seen as an open invitation to get closer if she wanted. Who knows?

While Lassiter had set the foodstuffs down and picked up Blazing Saddles, Cassie sat down on the couch, bending over to untie her boots. She loosened the laces enough so that she could kick the boots off and they fell on their sides with a soft, muted thump.

She unfolded the blanket, a large Mexican style one, curling up underneath it. She may have scooted a little closer, her shoulder fitting beneath his armpit.

Lassiter lazily flipped through the dvd menu, putting on the film after a few seconds. He left the snacks on the table, not really needing anything to eat or drink right away. Besides, he liked the way Cassie had relaxed and fit against him. He propped his feet up on his coffee table, shoes and all. As the opening credits began to roll, Lassiter already wasn't paying much attention. He gaze kept drifting down towards her. He was checking on her. Part of him wanted to talk to her, to get her to just get it all out there. But he knew that if she wanted to talk, she would.

So, instead, he would just sit and be patient. The movie wasn't half bad, after all.

"You want some?" Cassie asked softly as she shifted the blanket a little, offering it to Lassiter. She looked up and over at him. She didn't have to look far. He was, like, right next to her.

The movie continued on in the background as Cassie scooted a smidgen closer.

Lassiter took one edge of the blanket and pulled it over his lap, giving Cassie a small smile as he made sure she still had plenty to cover herself. He shifted slightly in his seat, which caused his arm to slip off the back of the couch. Gravity was a funny thing like that. His arm slid down until it rested against her shoulder.

He froze and looked at her again, wondering if he had overstepped his bounds. The question lingered in his eyes, even if his mouth refused to form the words out of nothing more than embarrassment.

Cassie returned her gaze to the screen once he'd accepted some of the blanket, head resting on his shoulder. The shenanigans of Mel Brooks continued onscreen, Cassie watching the actions, but not really paying any attention to the words.

His arm settled around her shoulders and she scooted a fraction closer, adjusting her head on his shoulder.

She didn't move away, so she must not have had much of a problem with it. In fact, Cassie moved towards him after his arm fell. That was confusing for the detective, but he assumed she just needed a friend and he was the closest thing she had at the moment.

As they watched the film, Lassiter just kept thinking about this friend of Cassie's. He'd gotten out. Somehow. There was hope. He wondered if there was anyone else, or any sign of how they had done it. He didn't want to bring it up with Cassie, as he was certain it would upset her, but maybe there would be another source.

With his free hand, Carlton reached over and grabbed the popcorn bowl, settling it in his lap. He ate a few pieces while he thought it all over. A moment later, he tipped the bowl toward Cassie, offering her some.

Cassie wasn't really thinking about much of anything at the moment. There were moving pictures on the tv across from her. An arm around her shoulders. Curled up under a blanket with her shoes off. This should be considered a good time.

But it, to a tiny extent, wasn't. There was always the chance that whatever took Billy or sent him home, would do the same to Lassiter.

When he offered her the bowl, she lifted her hand, taking two pieces, and popping them in her mouth.

He knew everything wasn't okay. But what could he do beyond sit there and wait for her to open up. She'd lost her best friend. He knew that much. He guessed this hadn't happened to anyone she knew before today. All he could think of was how he wished he knew how Billy had done it so he could get them all out Taxon as fast as possible.

Something happened on the screen that he knew was meant to make them laugh, so he chuckled even though he wasn't paying much attention. Another silent moment passed and Carlton sighed, looking down at her.

"You know, it's okay to talk about it. If you want to."

Oh, Carlton, you stupid man. If you manage to get them all out, you'll never see Cassie again. Think, McFly, think!

Cassie turned her head a little, looking up at Lassiter when he spoke. She blinked several times, a small sigh causing her shoulders to rise and fall. Returning her gaze to the television, she shook her head.

"Not right now," Cassie replied, her tone almost pleading.

"Alright." was his only reply before he shifted in his seat, arm still around her. He wouldn't push if she didn't want to talk just yet. It wasn't as if he had any time frame in mind. He just wanted to make sure she knew that the offer was on the table.

He turned his attention to the movie, trying to catch up on what he had missed. It had been so long since he had seen this one that it took him a minute to recall the plot. He grabbed another handful of popcorn and munched on it lazily, keeping an eye on her in his peripheral every now and then.

Cassie thanked him, mentally, of course, and she stared at the television screen. The blanket was warm and Lassiter was a little on the cozy side. She let herself slowly begin to relax, her eyelids drooping a little.

She wasn't 'tired', per se. She was...exhausted, actually. Johnny Depping a room like that was tiring.

He noticed her slowly drifting, but didn't say anything. He tried to move as little as possible, so as not to jar her. What Cassie needed right now was to try to shake off the stress. Maybe a nap would help that. It was his best chance at being helpful at this point.

Carlton Lassiter: professional pillow.

Professional sexy, gun-toting pillow. The best kind of pillow. Her breathing slowed as her eyes slipped closed. She felt herself relaxing, bit by bit. First her limbs, then her shoulders, then the slight throbbing at her side dulled to nothing.

Cassie made a small sound, her arm resting against Lassiter's thigh.

He glanced down when her arm touched his thigh, noticing that she had fallen asleep completely. Lassiter smiled just slightly and gave a small rub to her shoulder. He turned his attention to the movie and leaned his head back against the couch, allowing his mind to wander now that he didn't need to worry about her quite so much.

For now, he'd just let her rest. Maybe when she woke up, she'd be ready to talk.

Cassie slept through the rest of the movie and then some. At least another half-hour to forty-five minutes or so. She stirred a little, shifting on the couch, snuggling a little closer to the warm body beside her.

After another ten, fifteen minutes, Cassie woke up slowly, then jerked up into a sitting position, not recognizing her surroundings. "What the fuck?"

Carlton had fallen asleep by the end of the movie. He never realized how tired he was until sleep crept up on him all of a sudden. When Cassie stirred, so did he, but he didn't fully wake up until she jerked up and spoke.

"Huh? What?" He opened one eye, squinting the other against the offending lighting in the living room. "Calm down, Hack. We were watching a movie, remember? You fell asleep. I didn't want to move and wake you."

Cassie turned to look at Lassiter, confusion etched across her features. Wait. She was at Lassiter's new place to watch a movie because she was alone-slash-depressed because of "Billy," Cassie said softly, swallowing hard.

"He's gone." Her chin trembled as she fought the urge to tear up. Cassie lifted her hands to her forehead before raking them through her hair.

He caught all the small signs and instinctively reached out for her. She hadn't gone that far, but he wasn't going to let her fall apart if he could help it. His hand rested on her shoulder as he took the time to try to think of what to say.

"Hey, it's alright. I mean, it will be." Smooth, Lassiter. He sighed and dropped his hand, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Cassie exhaled sharply at his hand on her shoulder, said shoulders dropping and she swallowed hard. "I met Billy at some party. He was off, against a wall, by himself and looked so fucking sad. So I walked over to stand by him...and it started from there."

Cassie rolled her eyes, having found herself to be tearing up and she looked at the ceiling as she wiped below her eyes. "I attacked him when I went all psycho and I scratched up his face, generally fucked him over. I feel worse about that than I do anything else I did that night."

He listened. So far, he had done a lot of that since he had met her. First professionally, now personally.

"Went all. Psycho?" Lassiter hadn't heard this story. He shook his head quickly. "Nevermind. Doesn't matter. I'm sure it doesn't have to do with that, though." How? Well, he was guessing, mostly. "And maybe he found a way out, back home. Wouldn't that be a good thing?"

"It should be a good thing, but dammit, I'm still here. And now, he's gone. He's the first and only person I told about what happened to me after the...psycho thing."

Only in the sense that she hasn't told anyone else about the dreams. Except Godric, but he already knew about them because of the blood bonding thing.

[location: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOES /GRABBY HANDS]

Re: [location: Lassiter's place (NO MORE CAPSLOCK EXCEPT NOT BECASUE IM A LIAR)]

[location: Lassiter's place/YOU CAN'T STOP THE CAPSLOCK BB]

[location: Lassiter's place/I WOULDN'T WANT TO IF I COULD]

[location: Lassiter's place/GOOD. EVERYTHING IS GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN]

[location: Lassiter's place/WE DO THINGS AND WE DO THEM RIGHT]

[location: Lassiter's place/I'M THE BEST AT WHAT I DO AND WHAT I DO ISN'T VERY NICE]

[location: Lassiter's place/I'M OUT OF FUNNY CAPSLOCK THINGS]

[location: Lassiter's place/TIS A SAD, SAD DAY.]

[location: Lassiter's place]

[location: Lassiter's place/I SHALL MISS THE CAPS. ;_;]

[location: Lassiter's place/SHH THIS IS SRS BSNS]

[location: Lassiter's place/BUT BUT...SIGH. ALRIGHT FINE.]

[location: Lassiter's place]

[location: Lassiter's crib]

[location: Lassiter's crib]

[location: Lassiter's digs]

[location: Lassiter's digs/DID SOMEONE SAY GUNS?!]

[location: Lassiter's palace of sex/MAAAAAAAAAAYBE]

[location: Lassiter's palace of whaaaat?/HERE HAVE MORE GUNS]

[location: Lassiter's palace of you heard me/WOO fapfapfap. Okay, that was weird.]

[location: Lassiter's palace of I did and I liked it/BAD MARY]

Re: [location: Lassiter's palace of took you long enough to notice the subtle changes/YUS]

[location: Lassiter's palace of no I noticed, it just wasn't funny enough to reply til now/SWKDEJAF]

[location: Lassiter's palace of I see, I'm glad I did it , then./HOT TUB, BB. ;)]