Steve, In A Way, Both Did & Did Not Expect Cesare's Appearance, The Way He Always Knew Where To Find

Steve, in a way, both did & did not expect Cesare's appearance, the way he always knew where to find him and the way at times, Steve did not want to be found. ━ Cesare was the eternal exception, & for as flighty a creature as Steve was, he would never run from him in sincerity. His presence was almost startling, perhaps, the way it always was, but in equal measures it was comforting to him. A sweet thing. He doesn't think anyone's ever called Cesare sweet, or if they have, nary as sincerely as he.

When Cesare seeks & finds him, short knees tucked in the driver's seat that jolts but quickly, effortlessly relaxes when he realizes who it is ( perhaps fast enough to miss, if Cesare was too occupied with his curiosity ), he'd be fiddling with a silvery contraption, composed of many spoons and forks. Steve pauses his fiddling to look over, eyes squinted slightly at the name he knew was his but was no less jarring, as Cesare talks.

There's a moment of thought, genuine as he taps his chin, as Billi & Penny chatter in the back of the truck. ( 'I mean.. I don't care about Steve having a boyfriend, but you know.. it'd be kind of nice if, uh, they like... removed the cannon from their truck. That's not like.. a weird ask, right..? like.... they have cannonballs.' 'oh yeah, very normal ask, but oh, I don't know, I kind of like it! Gives it a rascals charm, y'know! Ooh, maybe we could ask him to make it a confetti cannon instead! That'd be a good idea!' 'a. zombie themed confetti cannon...?' 'yeah!' )

"... do you know what an underwater kazoo sounds like?"

[ starter @quillheel's steve! ]

💀 — " Babygirl, " [ Cesare drops the name ( a bit too ) casually, emerging from the back of the truck. he plops down into the passenger's seat. ]

" If I went berserkus and had a taste for living flesh, and I tried to eat you, would you squeak like a dog toy? "

*blep*

"Why hello, hello, there, little godling."🌹

@lcngdays - pete & remy; the long walk!

Pete's face was calm, that of someone older beyond him, and maybe that's what was scariest.

there was an apathy that only a 17-ish boy could have in his life, where even death is an afterthought to the act of memorial, like the funeral was the cake to him ; death, the disease hidden inside. A lack of existence, an absence, just oblivion. That's what this was, and that's what McVries was going after. Insane, fucking insane, maybe he always has been.

Pete bends down like a broken bulky lawn-chair after it'd been kicked in, tying his shoe all scuffed with mud and grass stains from the rain this morning as they talk. The school was busy as it flooded open like a cracked egg, chattering and loud, the metal fenced gate shuddering with the stampede as they went by, far enough to be comfortable; close enough to be masking. He was calm in the ways he shouldn't be, casual, you can't tell if its a joke or not. — in a way unique to Pete, you know it's not, but you pray it is. a poison that only gets worse, toxins congealing, growing, concentrating in the pouch of your inner cheek ; his fucked up sense of humor.

Remy knew him just long enough to know it's not. That's worse, that you have to question it, question if he's fucking with you, and pray he is in the way it'd make you hate him. He wants you to hate him. He'd wanted it for a long time now. maybe now this'll do it, finally tip you off, break you down.

McVries leans back up, hushed tones all nonchalant on broader shoulders clad in a camo-patterned jacket he's had for as long as you've known him, the striking scar on his tanned face like the beginning of the end; knowing this was coming, but now he was dedicated. It'd only been a few months time since it healed. Something changed. Something never went back.

” I don't. “ he concedes. easily. too easily. it means nothing. ” But I'm just as shit as the people still signin' up for it come registration. “

like stabbing an aching wound, one he knew was torn open for a long time now — sentimental bastard — one he didn't seem to care about, now, when it mattered most. the way it's almost easy conversation is like nausea lining the stomach as Pete grabs his backpack from a puddled bench, sky overcast, his eyes just as sharp. A normal school day, except it's not, except it's not. Apathy — always the reaper — she changed him.

or maybe he just changed.

you & me, always, forever

@tenebriism ━ x

"Ah. ...Thank you for admitting to your mistake, Yusuke." ( IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE. )