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 Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:10 pm
Quote: Fall Fatigue (4): As the year winds down, a nasty ‘bug’ is being reported. In this new fall chill, people are reporting feeling particularly drained and fatigued. Scientists are puzzled because up to 25% of the city has reported experiencing this unnatural fatigue--and, more than that, the strange, foggy memory loss that accompanies it. It’s probably just a product of the season that people report seeing strange colored people and weird costumes before passing out. Most people make it back home and crash for twelve or more hours, so this isn’t a health crisis--just an inconvenience. Destiny City asks that you eat a balanced meal, get a lot of rest, and take care of yourself.
Caius had been settling in--sort of--to his new living arrangements. It was strange to go from ‘the house’ to ’home’, but here he was, with Nick and Arias, with his own room. With a new tablet. With a new chance. All of it still felt like a dream; he’d only recently been brought into their family and he was still walking on eggshells as he adapted.
Things were different now; he didn’t feel like a welcome guest, he felt like…
Well, he didn’t know. He had a key to the flat above the bakery, and he still felt like a burglar when he unlocked the door. He slipped his shoes off by the door and picked them up to carry with him so he didn’t leave a trace of his existence, tiptoed up the stairs, and was in the process of creeping to ‘his’ room when he heard a groan from the living room.
He immediately froze, expecting that Arias or Nick had just been mugged, only to find--Carlee?
His mind had to do mental gymnastics as he looked at her. Arias’ younger sister, who he had met a few times in passing but who he really didn’t know. They hadn’t talked much; Caius thought she was friendly enough but he was so afraid of making enemies or displeasing anyone that he sort of retreated into himself instead of trying to get to know her.
He was still wearing his pretentious school uniform, though his hair was tied up a little sloppier than usual. He had his bag tucked under his arm and paused, halfway between the stairs and his room.
No one was going to steal his things. No one was going to violate his privacy, or mistreat his personal belongings. He set the bag down in a chair by the table, and placed his shoes atop of it.
“Carlee?” he asked, quietly and without much confidence--was he supposed to be here? Did she know that? Was he going to get in trouble? No one had mentioned she was going to be here or he would have stayed downstairs and given her privacy. But...she hadn’t sounded good, so...better to be safe than sorry, right?
Arias would worry if something was wrong.
Oh, he was overthinking everything, this was stupid. After a brief pause, he finally just blurted, “Are you okay?”
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Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 5:14 pm
Carlee should have been down in the shop. She was the manager on duty, and while she trusted the girl working the counter...she should be down working. The room had spun and her coworker said that she looked as pale as death, and Carlee had made her way upstairs to lay down for a little while...and now she simply felt like death. She was so utterly, stupidly tired.
And thirsty...but too tired to get up and get a drink. The fact that Arias wasn’t home was an utter abomination and if she had the energy she would have had stern words for her brother. Leaving her alone in her time of need.
It took her a moment to register the fact that she was being spoken to, and when she looked up, she blinked in some confusion, wondering how Nick had managed to look younger...that…
“Oh...Caius! Welcome home.” She tried to sit up for a moment, then gave up and just slumped deeper into the couch. “...I’m so tired. Do you want to be a buddy pal wonderful nephew for me?”
If he was Arias’ son...technically he was a nephew. “...Could you get me some water? I...literally can't move.”
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Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2021 8:03 pm
He wasn’t exactly sure that he liked being called nephew, she wouldn't be that much older than him. He nodded before he even questioned any of it too much though. “Um. Yeah, I can get you some water.”
He moved into the kitchen, glad that it was open enough he could still see her on the couch while he got her a glass of ice water.
“What happened? Are you sick or something?”
He walked back to the couch holding the glass in both hands, like he didn't trust that he wouldn’t accidentally drop it or something; when he was close enough, he offered it to her with a worried expression.
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2021 9:36 am
Carlee took the glass and had a few sips of the water before she spoke again. Even the act of drinking just made her feel so utterly exhausted. “I seriously don’t know. I feel kind of like I’ve been hit by a truck after running about three marathons while not sleeping for a week. I don’t want to be sick, but…”
She sighed and shook her head, shrugging. “I’m not like...coughing sick or nose running yet...I don’t think I have a fever or anything but...I feel like heck. Utter and complete heck.”
Sighing again, far more dramatically, Carlee pouted at Caius. “My big brother will just have to pamper me until I’m feeling better, I guess...what a shame, hm? You should take notes, so if you get sick you’ll know how to get Arias to bend over backwards for you! He does that for the people he loves.”
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2021 5:09 pm
Caius stared for a long moment and then wound up looking worried. “Notes? What do I need notes for? Do you want me to go get him? I don’t know anything about pampering people when they’re sick. Mostly I just pick a corner and stay there when I’m not feeling good. Wait it out.”
He shrugged, because it felt a bit weird to reveal something personal, and something that seemed like it was so drastically different from what she was talking about but--when was someone going to pamper him? The last time he’d gotten sick he’d wound up in the hospital and then they’d packed up his bags for him and sent him off somewhere else, and he hated the idea of anyone touching his things.
He probably wouldn’t have been comfortable with anyone taking care of him, he’d have just hidden until it went away.
Still, he stayed near Carlee, as if waiting for her to let him know if he could get her anything else to make her feel better.
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Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 6:01 am
“Nah. I’m just going to sleep, Cai. But.” She hesitated and gave a little smile. “I mean notes for when or if you get sick. Arias and Nick would go and raid a pharmacy for you, I bet…”
The smile grew softer. “...You really make them happy, I hope you know that. It’s like having you around eased all of the tension between the two of them...and for a while there really was a lot, but now they’ve adopted a kid! And my parents have a grandson! You…”
Carlee laughed and shook her head. “You’ve made the whole world a little brighter...and I just thought you should know it. I’m so glad you came in to their lives.”
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Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 5:18 pm
Caius’ face turned red and he looked incredibly embarrassed; he opened his mouth and then looked away, crossing his arms over his chest and chewing on the inside of his cheek. He didn’t know how to respond, and it was almost painfully obvious. He talked himself out of receiving compliments and never really seemed to know what to do with them, and now didn’t seem to be any different.
“Oh,” he said, and sounded much quieter than usual. “Well. Thank you.”
He was quiet for a few more seconds and then said, “I don’t think I did that much. I hope they’re not only in a good mood because of me.” He swallowed, and looked guilty suddenly, because he was really good at ruining nice moments. They were sweet sentiments and sweet comments, and now all he could worry about was if they were going to get tired of him and then start getting into fights and then regret ever bringing him home.
...But that wasn’t Carlee’s problem.
Caius just really liked it here. And it wasn’t like a foster situation where they could just pass him off to the next family, they’d signed papers for him.
They were stuck with him. He just hoped they weren’t going to realize they regretted it.
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2021 5:00 pm
“I’m sure it’s not just because of you…but you’ve really helped. And I’m glad that you’re here too. It makes me so happy to see them so happy. Anyway…enough…” Carlee broke off, yawning hugely and wincing as her jaw cramped from the effort. “..ow. Enough um. Me praising you. Just know that you’re loved and all that jazz…”
She smiled, obviously tired. “I’m going to nap, if you could wake me in an hour, that would be great…and thank you for the water too. I appreciate it.”
Yawning again, Carlee rolled over, pressing her face into the back of the couch. She needed to sleep, and needed to not get sick.
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2021 8:09 pm
Caius lingered for a few seconds, like he didn’t know what to do. He was still getting used to family and he didn’t want to overstep his boundaries. He chewed on the inside of his cheek for a few seconds and then moved to adjust the blanket so it was better covering Carlee. He pulled the curtains shut to make sure the room wasn’t too bright, and then he turned out the lights.
“I’ll wake you up,” he promised. “Feel better, Carlee.”
...He was still getting used to all of this, but…
Carlee was sweet.
He liked this. He liked here.
He wanted to be as good for them as they were for him.
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