caycay | IC Inbox

kk perf! 👌 I'll get smth 2gether && head over
cya soon! 😁

[It'll be about 20 minutes or so, as Cater rummages around the kitchen and finds what he ultimately determines to be the best shareable snack that Vil won't whack him for taking. Once he's all set he makes his way to the other boy's house--which he's sure to clock as being the one with all the flowers.]

Heyo! Cay-Cay's arrived!

( Basil moves to greet Cay as soon as he arrives. He has a spot all set up for them. Marigold runs forward ahead of him, meowing at Cay before rubbing against one of his legs.

Basil offers a small smile, waving a bit. )

Hi, Cay! Thank you for coming...

Of course! I seriously needed a change of scenery--oh, hey, this must be Marigold!

[He crouches down so he can give the cat proper attention, shifting the picnic offerings he brought to the crook of one arm so he can use both hands. One for petting, one for taking photos--can't have too many!]

Thanks for letting me come over.

( He reaches in order to help take some of the items that he's holding, moving to set them on a nearby table. Marigold responds by meowing contently, headbutting Cay's hand. )

Heheh, it looks like Marigold really likes you already.

Ah, but I'm glad that you decided to come. It's been a long time since I had a picnic with someone...

I've got that animal magnetism, baby--jk! Animal linguistics was hardly my best subject in school.

[He nods to the items that Basil took.]

I brought trail mix and some fruits--I hope that works. My schoolmate that I live with is, like, big into healthy snacks so it's the best I could come up with on sort notice. You know, I'm not sure I've ever had a proper picnic, before, so this'll be a first for me.

Really? It's a lot of fun with more than one friend... Uhm -- a friend and I talked about maybe having a big picnic organized when it gets closer to fall -- if you wanted to come.

( He's not sure when it would be, considering that things seem to happen when one least expects it here. But, it's a nice idea to lift everyone's spirits... )

Ah, that sounds great, Cay! I have some baked goods and some fruits and vegetables, too...

( Considering that he's a vegetarian, those were his first choices. )

Yeah? That sounds sick! You can count me in, for sure.

[As for right now, though, with their much more private picnic, Cater finally turns his camera from Marigold to the setup that Basil prepared for them. Definitely gotta capture that, too!]

You really outdid yourself, Basil--this is great! Do you need any help with anything else?

Ah, I'm okay. I'm just glad you're here. A-And, it wasn't any problem.

( Basil doesn't think he's really done very much... But, it's not the first time he's done all of this, either.

He'll take a seat then, watching Cay for a moment. )

Do you like taking pictures of your friends, Cay...?

Hm?

[Once he's satisfied with the photos he's taken for the time being, he slides into place across from Basil, getting comfortable. Cater can't help looking back through the photos he just took, seeing if he wants to keep them all.]

Sure I do. I like taking pictures of pretty much everything, but photos with friends are the best way to really immortalize the fun times you have. If I had my smartphone with me, I'd show you some of the pictures I've taken at school. Maybe I'll get it back, sometime.

I... I'd really like that, Cay.

( He shuffles his feet then, staying quiet for a moment. He's gotten better about opening up to others, but it can still be difficult at times. )

I had a photo album full of pictures I took at home, too... I asked for it here, but I ended up giving it someone else. I only really used to like taking pictures of all my friends before...

[Basil had mentioned, before, that he didn't really do photography anymore. When it's brought up in this context, he can't help but be curious. There's a hesitation to Basil's words that feels like more than just his shyness.]

If you don't mind me asking, why did you stop?

[And why give away an entire photo album?]

( Basil stops then, expression falling. The question is enough to make his heart beat quickly in his chest with anxiety, and it takes him a while to respond.

In the past, the question would make him want to run away or side step the question. He was always avoidant when it came to Mari. It was such a sensitive topic, could he be blamed for it? And then, there was the secret that he'd carry with him to the grave - the secret that so few people knew.

He's gotten better about opening up, at least. Cay is a friend. Basil knows he can talk to him. )

I...

F-For a long time... I didn't really talk to any of the friends that were in the photo album... Uhm... I-It was hard to go back to taking pictures after everyone became distant...

Edited 2024-10-11 18:51 (UTC)

[Cater realizes from the change in Basil's demeanor that he might have just tripped into a topic that was a bit deeper than he'd anticipated.]

Hey, no pressure if you don't want to go into the details.

[Not that Cater would really know, but friends "breaking up" is usually a touchy subject. If it was hard for Basil to talk about, Cater wasn't about to press too hard.]

The person you gave the album to--I'm guessing they're one of the friends in the pictures, right?

I-It's okay, Cay... I don't mind talking about it a little.

( It's easier now then it was in the past. Having friend who accepted him despite the truth of it all... it helped change Basil significantly -- and for the better. )

... Yeah. Uhm.... He's-- He's my best friend. He's been through a lot. I thought that he could use a reminder of those good memories more than I could...

Edited 2024-10-12 00:35 (UTC)

[Cater nods, giving Basil plenty of room to speak before he considers how to respond, wanting to navigate the topic properly and not draw too many assumptions.]

It's the people that make those memories so good. I'm sure if those photos can cheer him up, it means that you're still important to him--distance or not.

[It would be hypocritical of him to advise Basil to reach out to those friends and close that distance--it's something he'd never been capable of doing, himself. No, he was the one who caused rifts, not mend them. Still, Basil seemed like he could use some encouraging words.]

As long as those memories are still important to the both of you, there's still a chance to make new ones together.

... I... I don't know. But, if it can bring him some happiness to him, then that's what's most important.

( There's so much distance between him and Sunny that it hurts, but Cay's words are indeed encouraging. Basil seems to relax a little, offering a small but weak smile. )

I'd... like to. Maybe if I can... you and I can make some memories together.

Hey, of course! We can make as many memories together as you'd like! Even if you don't feel like taking any photos, yourself, I can take some and share them.

[But he did hope that Basil would consider picking up his camera, again. It would be nice to have a photography buddy--and beyond that, it just seemed like it would be good for the younger teen. Progress in healing a wound that he only had glimpses of.]

So, we've got picnic under our belts, now. What other kind of memories would you like to make, if you could choose any?

I-I want to try. When I ended up in that other time, I promised that I'd try to save an memories that I could, while I could. So --

Next time we meet, let's make a lot of memories together.

( He wants to try to get another album together, too. It's a lot to think about, but he's going to do his best. )

Ah, well... I think I'd like to try something that you like to do. You have a lot of different hobbies, right?

Hey, sounds like a plan to me!

[Cater nods, twirling a lock of his hair through his fingers as he tries to think of what he and Basil could do together.]

I like singing, dancing, playing the guitar, and skateboarding.

[He couldn't imagine Basil in whatever kind of club or bar scene that Somnius had, but...]

I'll need to wish for one, first, but I could teach you how to skateboard! If you're down to try, I mean.

( Skateboarding sounds more like Kel's thing... or maybe even Aubrey's... )

T-Thank you, but... uhm...

What about trying something similar to the guitar...?

Yeah? You wanna learn to play? I can definitely help with that!

[He's immediately imagining Basil with a little ukulele, it just feels too picture perfect.]

I can introduce you to my friend Lilia, as well, if you haven't met him--he's great at plenty of instruments. Between the two of us, we can totally get you playing something in no time!

O-Oh... uhm... you want me to meet your friend? If you want me to, I could...

At least, I'll do my best to try to learn...

( He's suddenly feeling a bit shy!! It's something new, and then he's going to meet someone new on top of that... )

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