[ Lab IC Inbox ]

[assumptions]

Comments

[caycay]

y not??? its smth 2 think abt 😊
This year I think I wanna take loads of pics w/ all my dream pals
what abt u???? any ideas??

[assumptions]

never really thought much about that kind of stuff. I just do what I need to get to my goals.

You have a lot of friends, huh…

[ he’s not jealous but for some reason it does make him think about the little mistletoe and cattening. ]

[caycay]

idk if I'd say a lot LOL I just try and b chill w/ everyone

[And there is, of course, a very real disparity between who he is friendly with and who he is friends with. Even those he considers friends he keeps a certain measure of distance.]

but we're friends 😊
so tell me more abt ur goals

[assumptions]

I only have a few… especially here.

I want to win every game I play so I can stay on the court the longest. It’s what I think about all the time really.

But I can’t really do that here.

[caycay]

[Cater is definitely learning that volleyball is a big part of Kageyama's personality. Possibly all of it? Jury was still out on that one.]

yea 😞 we gotta put out feelers 2 set up sum proper matches
what was it that got you so into volleyball???
I'm after ur origin story lolol

tw: grandparent death

[assumptions]

Kenma’s been working on that some too.

[ His origin story… well… ]

I was attached to volleyballs from the time I was born, I guess. I always wanted to hold one and carry one around. It kind of runs in my family. My sister played for a while… my grandfather is the one that taught me everything I know. He basically raised me because my parents are always traveling.

But he died when I was in middle school and… so… I work to be the best at volleyball that I can.

[caycay]

[Oh. Cater wasn't expecting such a personal answer. He thinks carefully about how to respond, not wanting to seem like he's trivializing the story.]

I'm sorry to hear that...it sounds like you two had a really great relationship.

I think it's really cool that you have something you're so passionate about. Most people aren't like that.

[He certainly wasn't. There wasn't anything in his life he cared about half that much.]

[assumptions]

[ Kageyama takes things very literally so if you wanted his origin story you got it. ]

What about you?

[caycay]

[It shouldn't be such a surprising question, but Cater still finds himself having no idea how to answer.]

what about me??? not much 2 say lol

[assumptions]

I want to know more about you…

I like you.

[caycay]

[Cater reads those three words a few times. He thinks about what Kageyama said at the party, before they kissed...and realizes very suddenly that he's not sure at all how to proceed. Coward that he is, he decides that maybe for now he can continue to get away with simply not properly acknowledging the feelings he's being presented with.

Irresponsible? Absolutely. But Cater had never really claimed to be a good guy.]

There's not really much to know. I like music and skateboarding and photography. Back at school, I'm in the Pop Music Club. One of my favorite subjects is astrology. I have two older sisters.

[assumptions]

[ It’s probably easier that way. Kageyama doesn’t know what to do with feelings, didn’t even quite realize he’d actually put it out there just as much as he had before they kissed. ]

You have a lot of interests.

[ after he sends that, a second impulsive anxiety driven text is sent… and he wishes he could unsend it the moment he hits enter. ]

Did I make things weird

[caycay]

[Well, shit. Cater Diamond, you are such an asshole.]

No you didn't! You're totally fine!!! Lol sorry 😅

was there anything in particular you wanted to know about me??? I'm really not that interesting that's all so I just kind of threw out a bunch of facts at once

[assumptions]

[ Kageyama isn’t sure he believes he didn’t make things weird but he won’t argue. He certainly isn’t thinking anything like Cater’s an asshole — Kageyama is generally the asshole in most situations. ]

I wasn’t… there’s nothing wrong with what you said! I think you’re interesting… I don’t know what it’s like to be able to be able to focus on a bunch of different things.

Why do you think you’re not interesting?

[caycay]

I'm just not really dedicated to any one thing. Like, I'm decently good at my hobbies but it's not any kind of notable talent and nothing that I'll ever try and see through to make a career out of.

I don't have any aspirations.

[Why did he even say that much? Cater frowns at himself, but he's already sent the text, so no taking it back now. This was why he shouldn't message people at the witching hour.]

But you have focus and dedication. You're definitely going to be a professional and make a name for yourself.

[assumptions]

I am.

But… you have something special. I think you’ll make a name for yourself too.

[caycay]

LOL

[He was a joke and he knew it...but he couldn't let his own cynicism override the fact that Kageyama had said something very kind. Cater takes a breath before continuing to give a proper...somewhat less miserable-than-he-actually-felt response.]

Thanks for saying that. Anything could happen in the future, right?

[assumptions]

It’s what we make of it.

Or you make of it I mean.

[caycay]

tbh I've always been a live in the moment kinda guy

[assumptions]

That must be nice. You… seem free.

[caycay]

Free as a bird! 😉 Who knows where the wind will take me next LOL.

[He hates it, actually. He feels the opposite of free--but of course he's not going to admit that, especially not to someone who seems to think so highly of him.]

As long as we're both here, I'm happy to help you embrace ur inner CARPE DIEM

[assumptions]

Do you want to talk in person?

I mean...you don't have to.

[caycay]

Like right now??? Or in the morning? I don't mind either way.

[One just involved him being careful of his weird housemate's traps in the dark.]

[assumptions]

[ Kageyama hesitates, it's a little long before he finally responds, longer than previous responses were coming. ]

Now? You really wouldn't mind?

[caycay]

I really wouldn't mind. Where should I meet you?

[There certainly weren't as many options, these days.]