Tessera

. . . he'll be fine .

i asked -- never mind . hand him over . janine will probably give him treats or something .

you're threatening me with sex noises and you think i'm going to stay here all night ?

. . . are you giving him to me now , then ?

i'll go to the sewers and you'll have to figure out what to do with fang , then .

i don't want to hear about carrion and i definitely don't want to hear about you .

bet you do .

. . . i don't think that counts . victoria might have married him , but i didn't .

i'm not the one going home with an old boyfriend .

harlot .

i mean i don't think strahd ever tried to genuinely kill me but kidnapping was on the table .

for the love of god .

I BET IT IS . FOCUS .

NAOKI . LOCK THE FUCK IN .

he shrugs a little . do they pretty consistently make things harder on themselves ? yeah . but , it's always turned out well so far . " i know , when it comes down to it , you'll make the right choice ." casey considers for a long moment , debating on the merits of telling him where his

“Let’s hope figuring it out doesn’t end up bringing more troubles down on us.” Sighs. Clearly feels bad for this— he’s overthinking it. “Guess my only real concern now is for what’s going to happen to the city. And what I might be getting roped into again.”

" we could figure out something ." he's sitting next to him again , leaning over a bit to rest his arms over his knees . " you , me , and carrion have always figured it out together ."

Takes the ice pack in hand, using it near injured flesh to numb the pain. He’ll take responsibility and clean it later. “My only true choice is me refusing to harm those I care for. It might cost me my life, but… I’ve done enough. I’ve brought all this upon myself.”

he's offering the ice pack to him now , tilting his head a bit . he doesn't talk for the time being , choosing instead to let naoki say what he needs to .

“. . . Maybe. But those choices are limited.” Shoulders slump forward. Boy is he exhausted. “Surviving grows slimmer by the day. Especially now I’m caught between two powerful forces. Running won’t work. Only choice I truly have is to fight until an impossible task comes and I refuse— and die.”

he blinks once , clearly processing what naoki is saying . " . . . end of the day , you have a choice in anything . can always choose how to go out ." he's getting up , heading to the fridge to make an ice pack for the other .

“Wish it was that simple.” Looking anywhere but Casey now. It’s not just physical pain— He’s really tormented on all of his. “Like I told Alucard. I don’t have a choice in anything. Just trying to survive, but I’m pretty sure I’m a dead man either way. My only choice is me refusing to harm you.”

" are you fucking with me or . . ." he's watching him closely now . " listen , i won't throw another punch . what you do now is up to you . i just don't want to end up on opposite sides of this on friday ."

Sighs. He can’t really deny that statement. “It really is. Still don’t think you’ll be happy with what I’ve been getting myself into. Especially after just getting back on good terms.”

" no ?" he's moving to sit properly after a second . " i guess that is kind of our thing now . didn't get into nearly this much trouble until i met you and carrion ."

Side glancing at the tv and then up at Casey. “Yeah, well… I definitely got myself into something. It’s nothing unusual.”

oh boy . " last time you asked that , there was a guy that was trying to kill us involved ."

“. . . Promise not to kill me?” If that doesn’t speak in volumes, he’s definitely been up to no good.

narrowing his eyes a little bit . " the link is closed . you can talk freely ."

“I, uh. . . Don’t wanna talk about it.” He’d rather not risk being tossed out there and then. As it is, the window crashing was /supposed/ to be into his own place.

will get him sat down and uhhh . . . he doesn't have a first aid kit anymore . damn . " what happened ?"

A weak nod. He’s toooootally fine. Slowly getting up with Casey’s help. Definitely wobbly and half conscious

. . . oh . " jesus , you okay ?" he will uh . . . hm . will help him up .

Poofs back into human form. Sprawled out on the floor. Bloodied all over his chest. Maybe a bit elsewhere, too—

IT WAS THAT BLOND BITCH , WASN'T IT .

blinking from where he's sitting . and then he's getting up to come look .

He does. Cue him crashing through Casey’s window in bat form.

MY CAR .

. . . does he need help ?