May 12 23:17:47 <Knave>	Cass-Callum. <You busy? :)> Callum has recently started adding emoticons to his texts. It's quite the development. We're all very proud.
May 12 23:20:47 <Antichthon>	Cass' text, meanwhile, was uncharacteristically short and bland. <No.>
May 12 23:22:38 <Knave>	<Something up?> Comes immediately. If Cass is in their room, they'll hear the soft thump of Callum leaning against the adjoining wall. He does that, when they text. The dingus.
May 12 23:24:16 <Antichthon>	They sure did text a lot when they were just right next to each other. <Just come over.>
May 12 23:25:39 <Knave>	A few seconds later, he pops through the door. Jaw set and mouth-thin in concern, but eyes bright and hopeful. "Hey."
May 12 23:30:20 <Antichthon>	Cass was relaxed in his chair, gaze distant in what Callum would recognize as him being deep in his mind computer. He gave a sarcastic smile. "Hey want to hear a conversation I overheard in the bathroom? Too bad, you don't have a choice!" The chair did the playback. There was some chat between two girls about the newest Callum fliers going around. Then, "//God is he still cheating on that thing he calls a girlfriend? If I were dating that thing I'd cheat too. What's he see in that thing anyways? Must have a penis pump or something in that weird chair.//" Cass sarcastic smile widened go a grin. "Hilarious, rite? Such comedians at this school! Just about brings a tear to my eye."
May 12 23:32:47 <Knave>	Cass's own robo-bug floats in behind Callum, its eye trained on him as usual. He crosses the room and kneels in front of Cass' chair, kissing his cheek, hands on their shoulders. "Are you okay?"
May 12 23:39:51 <Antichthon>	Cass didn't respond much to the kiss, but he certainly didn't reject it. Still with that stupid, sardonic grin, "Oh, I'm just peachy! I mean, it's not like they're wrong. I am very much a 'thing.' Genetically male, physiologically female, freely skipping about the gender spectrum with a shit body that's ugly as fuck, with diseased-looking blue hair that looks like I never wash it, despite the fact I spend an hour a day caring for it just to get it looking even //this// horrendous instead of even worse. Oh, and don't get me started on its pallid, translucent skin! It really is a miracle that you find anything in it worth loving." Yes, He was calling himself an "it." "I mean, in the end the only reason it's not destined to die alone is that some people apparently have fetishes for the fucking gruesome mess that it is! So fortunate, right?" He wasn't crying, but his eyes were dewy.
May 12 23:44:36 <Knave>	Callum, on the other hand, was a little bitch, tears already starting to creep over his perfect cheekbones as he wrapped his arms around Cass. "I love you." He said, "I love you and I'm too dumb to know what else to say."  The hug is pretty tight, actually, which means Callum is damn near hugging himself too. He rests his head up against Cass', gently rubbing in a way that might not be conscious.
May 12 23:47:30 <Antichthon>	Cass didn't hug back. "//Yeah, I know you do,//" said the chair. Okay, maybe a liiiiittle hugging back. "//...I love you too.//" Beat. "//Just so you know, the reason I'm talking through the chair right now is because you are hugging the shit out of me so tight I can't fucking breathe.//"
May 12 23:49:44 <Knave>	"Sorry!" Comes the explosive response, Callum's arms flying outwards and giving Cass a lot of space before he recalibrates and puts one hand gently over Cass' hair, petting apologetically. "Sorry." He looks into Cass' eyes with his own gentle greens, pathetic and hopeful.
May 12 23:51:27 <Antichthon>	Cass looked back, and after a bit there was a hint of a smile in his expression. "At least my eyes are intense as fuck. Nothing wrong there."
May 12 23:52:59 <Knave>	"Nothing wrong anywhere." He puts up a finger before Cass can interrupt, "I mean, I know you're body isn't healthy. But that's not a bad thing. I mean, it's bad, but- it's only one kind of bad, and it's not something you should be ashamed of." He shuts his eyes in frustration and leans his forehead gently on Cass', "Sorry."
May 12 23:56:03 <Antichthon>	Cass was about to respond, but his eyes crossed in on the finger at his mouth. It was rather adorable, actually. When Callum let him talk, "You don't have anything to be sorry about. And I shouldn't let the words of a couple of asshole bitches get to me like this, but..." He blinked away the tears that were threatening to fall. "They weren't even talking about me like a person. They didn't know I was there, so they weren't even trying to hurt me. They were talking about me casually. Like I'm not a person."
May 12 23:59:40 <Knave>	"They're assholes." Callum agrees, pulling his head away to a reasonable distance, "They're nothing. Just, just, losers trying to impress each other with how mean they can be. They're not half of you, okay?" He puts one big hand around one of Cass' squeezing softly as if to pass something through the connection, "You're important, Cass. And they're trying to be, but they're not. They just aren't. They don't get to matter like you do."
May 13 00:03:32 <Antichthon>	Cass glanced away, smiled. "You charmer, you." Smile was gone. "I know this is dark as fuck, but. Kinda want to hurt them. I wont," He quickly qualified, "But I kinda want to, just take a grinder to their face and act out some sweet mortal kombat fatality. Would be fun as hell. I mean, not for them, but." Beat. "By the way. I never did thank you for saying nothing about the cutting. So." He met Callum's gaze. "Thanks, for that."
May 13 00:04:38 <Knave>	Callum almost blushes at that, and looks away towards the ground, "Figured you'd talk to me about it when you were ready. Or not at all. 'S your business."
May 13 00:08:07 <Antichthon>	"Yeah, don't hold your breath. You're right, it is my business, and I'm glad you respect that." Grin. "You know, one of these days Callum Ellis, you're going to see me cry. And on that day...we're both going to pretend that never happened."
May 13 00:11:44 <Knave>	Callum wipes the tears off his own face with the heel of his palm. His lip wobbles at the idea - pretending stuff didn't happen doesn't help you face your problems. Finally, with a big sigh, he picks Cass up out of his chair and sets him in his lap, sitting down on the bed. "What are we gonna do, Cass?"
May 13 00:18:42 <Antichthon>	Cass was happy to be Callum's teddy bear, like always. Well. Most of the time "teddy bear" wasn't explicit enough for what Callum to did him, but it worked at the moment. "Well," Cass sighed. "What do we know so far? Yuki's not involved, I'm almost certain of that, now. Still think this might have something to do with the ghost you met; something might not like the idea of you looking into that little problem. It's a shapeshifter or mind control, because there's no way all these stories would add up if those pictures were just photoshop. That's...About it, I think."
May 13 00:23:04 <Knave>	The hand not dedicated to keeping Cass in a comfy cradle pinches the bridge of Callum's nose. "Ugh. It does sound like it's just someone we don't know, so. Yeah, guess it could be the ghost thing." He flops backwards, holding Cass securely as he goes to the mattress, a borgified stuffed animal glancing off his shoulder, "Just, when we find out who's doing this, make sure I don't kill them, please."
May 13 00:26:57 <Antichthon>	"I don't think that'll be hard to do. All I'll have to say is, 'That isn't a decent thing to do, Cal.'" Cass grinned at the ceiling. "Don't worry, Cal. This framejob is too grand and too botched and we're to smart to not get to the bottom of it. Besides, those new fliers? We need to interview the new people 'you' have been kissing. Get the times of the events. If I'm right - and let's be honest, when I not right? - these are recent and it'll conflict with the surveillance data I have on you. And if it turns out you are kissing these people at those times, then we know it's mind control. We win either way."
May 13 00:30:38 <Knave>	He pulls him in for a kiss, now unable to stop himself smiling. "You're great." A shiver runs through Callum, and consequently through Cass, "Don't much like that idea, though. My body kissing other people."
May 13 00:34:30 <Antichthon>	"Well, yeah. We're talking about a serious breach of your rights, here. That would be straight-up mind rape. Even if it is a shapeshifter, they're still doing some seriously punishable things. We catch this person, and they're going to burn. ...In the fires of the supernatural legal system, or some shit. ...Hopefully. Oh fuck, knowing this school they might take the perpetrator's side, like they took Moby's." Cass grimaced. "Shitty shit shit. I wish I was joking but that's a legitimate concern."
May 13 00:36:59 <Knave>	Callum breathes in deep, then sighs out. "Maybe I'll rough them up just a little." Both arms cross over Cass in a protective cuddle, "Or I'll just hit them until you say stop. That sounds fair."
May 13 00:39:32 <Antichthon>	Cass laughed. "Yeah, not going to take that off the table. But, uh. Make sure you check with me before you do anything like that. Fuck knows if you beat the shit out of the perp, the school will salivate the prospect of putting all the punishment on //you.//" Cass sighed. "Fuck I hate this place."
May 13 00:43:22 <Knave>	"I didn't think I could hate anywhere until now." He says mildly, "I mean, I've never been anywhere. But I figured it was all fine. I wasn't some idiot who thought Kansas was the only place worth living in, I just never really got the urge to wander." A hand strokes Cass idly, "But this place sucks. Sooner we're out, the better."
May 13 00:45:19 <Antichthon>	"Once I'm safe from this place, I'm bringing the power of my family down here. They won't know what fucking hit them."
May 13 00:49:15 <Knave>	In response, Callum just kisses the top of Cass' head, squeezes the hug.
May 13 00:50:22 <Antichthon>	"By the way, what day do you celebrate as your birthday?" Not 'What is your birthday,' Cass knew better than that.
May 13 00:55:27 <Knave>	"February 21st." He says evenly, "That's the day my parents found me, so... far as anyone's concerned, that's when Callum Ellis was born." A little smile.
May 13 00:57:01 <Antichthon>	"Good to know. Now, second question: What do you want for Christmas? I mean. I'd offer you anal or some shit, but we both know I'd give that to you any day, or any other sex thing, so. Kinda can't use that as a gift."
May 13 00:59:34 <Knave>	He thinks for a few seconds, then smiles and says "World peace." with as much earnestness as he can manage.
May 13 01:00:31 <Antichthon>	The upside-down glare Cass looked up to give him was nothing if not adorable. "Oh yeah, I'll get right on that."
May 13 01:02:11 <Knave>	Callum kisses the forehead while he looks up, "What about you? What do I get the genius who has everything?"
May 13 01:05:21 <Antichthon>	"Dude, you //know// what I want. Speaking of which, have you been collecting your jizz? Or have you not been beating it at all since you earned me as a cocksleeve? Fucking hell, I want a gallon jug of that stuff." He held up his hands like holding a jug. "Or some sort of infinity glass, that magically refills itself. Like The White Phial from Elder Scrolls." Cass laughed. "Gives a new meaning to the 'white' in white phial, doesn't it?"
May 13 01:05:31 <Antichthon>	"Seriously though, I need to know what to get you."
May 13 01:05:55 <Antichthon>	"And keep in mind I'm broke as shit and have no job because this fucking school turned down my application."
May 13 01:08:28 <Knave>	He thinks much longer, then shrugs, "I don't know. I don't really want for anything, except seeing your smile."
May 13 01:11:29 <Antichthon>	Cass sighed. "Real cute."
May 13 01:11:39 <Antichthon>	"Also, you didn't answer my other question."
May 13 01:13:39 <Knave>	"There was another question?" Callum says innocently, raising an eyebrow. Maybe he did just miss it. He's gotten into the habit of just addressing the most recent thing Cass said.
May 13 01:15:03 <Antichthon>	"Jiiiiiiiiiiiiizzzzzzzz."
May 13 01:17:02 <Knave>	"Well I mean..." He blushes a little, "You're right next door, usually." He says bashfully, like an excuse, "Seems like a waste to, you know. On my own."
May 13 01:20:09 <Antichthon>	Cass sighed. "Yeah, I was afraid that was the answer. Goddamnit, all this magic you'd think...er. Nevermind. But honestly, you don't need to get anything for me for Christmas outside of a seriously brutal skullfucking. You know, like last time. And I know, I know, you prefer me to not pass out, but...hey, it only comes around once a year. And I'll figure out something to get you, too."
May 13 01:23:08 <Knave>	Callum kisses the top of Cass' head, "Until you pass out. Just for you." He pulls him into him, snuggling his face into his neck, "Whatever you get me, I'll love it, because it's what you got me."
May 13 01:25:27 <Antichthon>	"Good." Patpat to Callum's hand. "And it wont even have anything to do with sex, because I know my freakish obsession probably gets tiring after awhile. And I want you to know I love you for more than just your dick."
May 13 01:26:17 <Knave>	"I know." Callum smirks, "I seem to remember you going on about the thickness of my wrists."
May 13 01:29:02 <Antichthon>	Cass looked up, smiling but a little worried about his eyes. "You do know I love you for you, right? Even if tomorrow you were turned into a box with wheels. ...I mean, we'd have to change a few things since I have needs and shit, but. I'd still love you."
May 13 01:32:27 <Knave>	"I know, sugar. I'm kidding. It's a new thing I'm trying out." He can't put down that little self-assured smile as he pulls Cass up him again to kiss, longer this time, sweeter, reassuring.
May 13 01:35:30 <Antichthon>	It was a little bit of an awkward position to kiss, but hell, Call would take it. He wrapped one arm around Cal's massive shoulders, made to look all the more massive by Cass' tiny body. When he pulled away, "Hey, here's an idea. What do you think about cosplaying as Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope von Schweetz someday? Or would that be //too// creepy?"
May 13 01:37:05 <Knave>	"Never saw that movie..." He says absently, "But sure, I guess. You can dress me up however you like." He smiles wide.
May 13 01:38:41 <Antichthon>	"Just, someday. You know there's goign to be some sort of cosplay shit happening at this school eventually. Oh, Hey, speaking of cosplay...I've decided to make things right with Yuki. You have a paint, maybe we could have done something. Maybe we still can. Having some friends surely can't hurt her. And I promised her we'd be friends, no matter what. Don't plan on breaking that promise."
May 13 01:40:12 <Knave>	Callum makes a little grumbling noise, eyes shut. "We don't owe her anything." He says quietly, but he doesn't sound like he believes it. Then, he reminds himself of some of the things she said, and his voice hardens properly, "You didn't hear what she said about you that night."
May 13 01:43:48 <Antichthon>	"Hey, Dude. I'm a piece of shit in a lot of ways, but I'd like to think of myself as someone who keeps their word." Cass wasn't about to tell Callum about Yuki breaking into his room, going full Yandere on Hex and unambiguously threatening him with some sleep-apparition of her weird-ass powers. A part of him wanted, to. Most of him, actually. "And I still want to be a part of that baseball club she's putting together. Also, I'm virtually certain she has nothing to do with the framejob shit."
May 13 01:45:58 <Knave>	"Hrm." Callum settles underneath Cass, "If you say so. I'll do my best with her. But if she says anything about you again, that's it." He pauses briefly, then adds, "And you're not a piece of shit."
May 13 01:47:20 <Antichthon>	Cass was silent for a while. "I'm not the nicest person, Callum. I know this. And I think it's best you realize that, too."
May 13 01:48:23 <Knave>	"Doesn't make you a piece of shit." He says with determination.
May 13 01:52:10 <Antichthon>	Cass chuckled. "Alright, Cal. You win. Doesn't make me a piece of shit. ...goddamnit, you know we're going to fall asleep like this, right? We're getting so much more sleep than we need."
May 13 01:53:30 <Knave>	"Ironically enough." He smiles up at the ceiling goofily, "You'd think we'd have the opposite problem." He doesn't confess that sometimes when Cass is sleeping on him he just closes his eyes for a while. He doesn't need much sleep.
May 13 01:55:03 <Antichthon>	Cass, however, worked best on twelve hours of sleep a day. "Yeah, you'd think." Cass closed his eyes. "Gonna sleep now. This ends your daily witty banter broadcast. Tune in tomorrow, same crappy school, same awesome Cass."
May 13 01:57:11 <Knave>	For his own amusement, Callum puts his hands up over Cass's face, from the camera-bug's perspective, mimicking a clapperboard. "That's a wrap." He says gently, cuddling Cass up in his arms again.
May 13 01:58:13 <Antichthon>	That made Cass snort and crack up, but nevertheless, he was soon asleep.
May 13 01:58:41 <Knave>	-scene shot-