(I'm so sorry for not answering but yes I did! It really fits Alex' vibe.)
Cas rolled his eyes with a playful smile. "Fine, if I can't deny it then neither can you." He reasoned, letting his hands fall back to his side when Alex took a step back. He shrugged "it gives me something to do other than feel more guilty. And yeah, he's one of the only vampires who frequents here." He replied, a slight frown flickering across his features as he thought about after the potion weared off. Would they still be together orngo back to being distant friends. Cas could definitely understand never wanting to be anywhere close to the witch that secretly drugged you with a live potion. But he still liked Alex, he still had that fluttering feeling everyone he was in the same room. He couldn't just stop not liking him. He glanced up, slightly distracted from his thoughts until he realized what Alex had asked. "You really want to know what I'm working on?" He asked, slightly in disbelief. He hadn't known many if any vampires interested in a witch's work. "Uhm, sure. I'd love to show you." Cas said, gently taking Alex's hand slowly guiding him to the back of the store where he usually worked on potions and spells. A large countron was setup in the middle of a large workspace, apothecary cabinets lined all the walls save for one, maticulously labled in alphabetical order with small, ancient looking tags. The one wall that wasn't lined with a drawers had Cas's work desk, littered with papers and things he was currently tinkering with. Inside the culdron, a wooden spoon was stirring a glowing blue liquid by itself. Cas smiled softly and waved to the couldron theatrically. "This is what I hope will be the reversal spell for the love potion. It's not the right color quite yet but it's slowly getting there."
(Yay! Thanks ^^)
“Dang, I was just thinking about making a self-deprecating joke just now,” Alex sighed dramatically, then laughed. He put a hand to his chin. “Well, maybe he shouldn’t be the only one who frequents here, then.” He winked at Cas, just a little. He wanted to be flirty, but noticed the little witch’s frown and was immediately concerned. “Is something wrong, chico?” he asked.
He blinked. “Um, yeah? Obviously?” He chuckled again, letting Cas take his hand and lead him to his workspace. His eyes drifted around, taking in all he could. His father would have never let him in here if he was here now. It almost felt like he was doing something bad, like sneaking out or kissing a boy. ”Increíble…” He smiled as his eyes landed on Cas before following his wave to the cauldron. “Ooooh. I’ve never been in a place like this before…. But you know, it really feels like you.” He laughed, because his words sounded cheesy. “You’re working hard, aren’t you Cas?”
Cas gasped "I'll have you know, there will be no self deprecating my store, mister, especially not in front of me." Cas said with a smile. He took up his usaly spot by the couldron and started stirring it himself. He glanced up and blinked, tipping his head slightly and giving a small laugh. "I wouldn't mind that at all, carinio, you're more than welcome to come by as much as you'd like." He watched with amusement as Alex walked around the little shop area, proud that someone he liked was intrigued with his job. "I'm glad you like it. Me and my family have been working at this little shop for years. My parents met at this campus and started it together in their junior year. Then I took over last year. It's been through a few changes but I think I've gotten it to place that feels my own, while at the same time a place that also is true to my mom and dad. Case glanced down at the couldron contence and shrugged "it's not so much work if I enjoy what I do. I'll admit being a witch is no walk in the park but I love what I do. Helping people and providing my goods and services is my little contribution to this world."
Alex grinned. “Alright, alright. Yes, sir.” He leaned closer, his grin turning into more of a smirk. “Then I guess I’ll have to come every day.”
He stood next to Cas, watching him stir the cauldron. As he listened, he ran his hands through his hair. Once again, he couldn’t tear his eyes away. Cas seemed to hold his gaze in place, and his rhythmic stirring only reinforced this. A small smile lingered as he looked at him.
“That’s really cool,” he said. “It’s amazing that your family even worked here when they were on campus.” Then, despite himself, he felt something like sadness creeping up on him. “I wish…” he shook his head. He chuckled. “You’re right about that. That also sounds really cool.”
Cas Glanced up through his eyelashes, heart thundering in his chest with excitement as he felt Alex leaned in close. “I would like that vey much, if you came to visit.” Cas replied softly, flicking his gaze back down to the contender in his cauldron. Instead of focusing on the persistent blush that seemed to only come up when Alex was around.
“Yeah, mom used to be a professor a few years before she met dad. Dad was a transfer professor from a witch academy back home but he wanted a change so he shadowed mom for a an internship. One thing lead to another and they started dating, then soon after got married and had me and my younger sister. She’ll take over once I graduate.” He stopped stirring and set the spoon down, letting the potion bubble and reduce for a bit. He hoped up into an empty space on his desk and waved to the chair, gesturing for Alex to sit. “Wish what, hon?” He asked softly, resting his head on his hand and watched Alex. “Tell what’s going through your head, querido. Nothing you say will leave this room, I promise.”
He could probably listen to Cas talk for hours on end. Alex still stood there, smiling softly at his beloved. As he watched him leave the cauldron to settle and sit at his desk, his head tilted. His smile wavered a bit. “Oh, it’s nothing…” he began, going over and sitting down in the chair that Cas had indicated. “You just made me start thinking about my own family.” He reached into his pocket and brought out his rosary, wrapping it around his palm. “They don’t share much in common, I guess.”
He stared at his hand and the rosary for a moment, then looked up at Cas. “I guess I just wish… that I could do something similar to what you’ve done. I don’t know. Build on something that my family started. I was going to, when I was younger, but I can’t now. It’s too late to do that.”
Cas' brows creased slightly in concern as he watched Alex sit down. For a moment he stayed quiet before slowly reaching out and gently holding onto Alex's wrists since his hands were occupied by the rosary.
"That doesn't mean you can start something now for your future family." He said softly, offering a small, encouraging smile. My parents started this themselves for their future kids only a few years ago. Who's to say you can't give something forwards to your own family now? Perhaps not kids if you don't want any but possibly neices or nephews or future students even." He suggested, tilting his head slightly.
"I'm sure that no matter what you decide to pass down, who ever recieces this will love it. Not because of the initial gift but because someone so amazing like yourself gave them something clearly filled with love and desire to make them happy."
A flush immediately came to Alex’s cheeks when Cas touched his wrists. He looked up at the little witch, still absentmindedly playing with the rosary in his hands, and returned the smile.
“That’s true,” he said. “I don’t have siblings, so no nieces and nephews. I’ve thought about having a family, but I don’t know. If I had my own kids, I would give them all the things my father and grandparents didn’t. Things which are intangible, but still important.” He shrugged. “I guess that’s something.”
He moved the rosary to one hand, then used his free hand to clasp Cas’s. “Even if I can’t start or build something, even if I don’t have kids, I can break down harmful cycles I’ve been taught.” He looked down at their hands and chuckled. “You’re hand is really soft, by the way.”
Cas' smile softened "I think they'd like that very much." He leaned forwards and pressed a gentle kiss to Alex' temple, proud that he was willing to try and give his future children as well as hinself the life he had been lacking with some of his family members.
"I think this is a good start," Cas gently squeezed their held hands and laughed, only now realizing how close they were. "Y'know I like being the taller one for once." Cas teased, arching an eyebrow and lightly stroking the back of Alex'' hand. "Ah probably all the stuff I work with. Some herbs and pultices I grow and use do wonders for the skin." He glanced up, watching as the potion boiled and bubbled away. "Seems to be doing alright." he murmured to himself, relieved. "I'll give a few more hours before letting it airate and bottling it." He nodded and yawned, satisfied with his little plan. "You'll probably be able to try it in a few days."
(I should make a correction- just his father and grandparents, not his parents and grandparents)
The blush on his chees deepened at the kiss and Alex seemed to melt a little. "Yeah… thanks." He laid his head on Cas's knee and laughed with him. "Y'know, I don't mind being the shorter one."
He put the rosary back in his pocket, rubbing Cas's hand in return. "Woah… not only are you a witch; you're also a gardener." He giggled, "Well, to be honest, you're soft all over. Especially your lips." Closing his eyes, he smirked to himself before he heard Cas mention the potion. He opened his eyes and watched the cauldron glow. "Sounds good," he said. "I think I'll be alright until then."
(i wish i could write more but I can't–)
(still here! So sorry, havn't been doing that great this week😅)
"I'm a man of many mysteries." Case replies if not a bit dramatically as he gwbtly combed through Alex's hair, winding a few strands around his finger and twirling it absentmindedly. "Gardening comes as second nature to us, since most what we use are plant based in our potions and brews." He explained, pausing when he felt Alex take his hand. He smiled softly "you're bold for a vampire who's only kissed me once," Cas teased, resuming his petting of Alex' hair. "I hope so, querido" he sighed softly, listening to the couldron bubble away and the crickets chirp outside. "Tell me about yourself. I've had a crush on you for so long but now that we actually get to talk, I feel like I don't know you all that well. We can go back and forth if you want, just so it's not as akward with just one of us talking all about themselves."
(Ahh it’s okay, I haven’t been doing great either. Hope things get better!)
(thank you, and genuinely same to you <3)
(<3)
He quickly closed his eyes again, melting as Cas combed through his hair. “That’s true,” he said. “Although, do you study it in your classes too?”
Alex giggled again. “Of course I’m bold, lindo, I drank a love potion after all.” He opened his eyes and glanced up at Cas. “How many times should I kiss you before my statement is reasonably backed up by evidence?”
Sighing a little, he glanced away from Cas for only a moment before looking back, unable to keep his gaze off of him for very long. “Ah, is that so? Hm, not sure where to start, cariño.” He thought for a moment. “Well, I don’t know if you know this, but I go by my middle name. Jeremías is my first name, but I don’t like to be called that.” He paused. “Also, I like to write my own songs.” He chuckled to himself.
Cas nodded "yeah, it's usually not enough to know what plants work with each other. We have to know how to grow and sustain them, the anatomy of a plant, all the science behind, what to do and not to do at specific times in a plant's life. It's all very maticulous but it's a necessity for most witches. I grew around that sort of thing with mom and dad being professor so I'm used to it." He explained, lifting his hands slightly when he felt Alex move. "Ah but of course. It explains a lot." Cas tipped his head with a smile and lightly tapped Alex's nose. "As many times as it takes for you to kiss me without the love potion having an effect on your confidence." Cas challenged, moving his hands back into Alex' hair as he started to speak again. Cas was surprised to learn about Alex's first name, having heard it before used by some teachers though they often resorted to using Alex instead eventually. "I like both, but Alex suits you better." Cas' smile softened when Alex mentioned writing music. "You do? Have you always liked music?" He asked curiously, amused by the image of Alex singing in his mind.
He hummed. “Ah, so basically biology with a side of gardening 101. Right.” He chuckled. “Sounds very meticulous, yes.”
Blushing faintly when Cas tapped his nose, Alex pouted, though playfully. “Aww, is eliminating a love potion affecting my confidence really necessary to assess the softness of your lips?” He reached up and tapped Cas’s bottom lip.
He never really liked his first name. It was long and rather stuffy. Only his family called him that, and to be honest, he didn’t like his family all that much. “Exactly,” he said, leaning into Cas’s hand as he stroked his hair. “Hmm, I don’t think I always liked it,” he considered. “I think the moment I found out there was more to music than hymns and worship was when I really started to love it. I started writing— well, it was basically just poetry in middle school, but then I got my first guitar and I decided trying to turn my poems into songs.” He laughed, remembering how small and inexperienced he was back then.
"Pretty much, though a bit more intense." He huffed softly and reached across the table to grab a folder he had tossed aside earlier. "Which reminds me I have homework for that my Medicinal Plants Class." He looked over the homework and, instead of starting it like responsible witch, he set it aside and glanced down at Alex, a blush of his own rising to his cheeks when the other touched his lips. "N-no, it does not, though I'd prefer it not being a factor at all." he admitted, gently taking Alex's hand pressing soft kisses to his fingertips. "No? I had always heard of musicians loving music basically since they were born." Cas mused with intrigue. "It must have been cathartic for you, branching out from your religion to find something you enjoy. Not saying that your religion can't be enjoyable but from the way you talk about it seems like you needed something else to focus on. I'm glad something like music was able to be that passion for you."
Alex glanced over at the folder, intrigued, but his attention was quickly taken over by Cas again. He giggled faintly when he saw him blush.
“Ah. Well, I understand,” he said. “Honestly, I don’t want it to be a factor either. I want to be myself when I kiss you…” his voice lowered a little at the last few words. His eyes glowed crimson as Cas peppered kisses to his fingers.
He chuckled. “Eh, there was a time I did love it, but hearing the same type of music with the same type of lyrics, the same melodies, the same rhythm? I just didn’t care for it for the longest time. I wasn’t allowed to listen to almost anything secular, mind you.” As he listened to Cas, something about what he said made his eyes burn blood red. “Ah, yes. I had to do it in secret, but it was very enjoyable. And my faith, my religion limited me in a lot of ways. Finding music that I truly enjoyed was like a small way of breaking free.” His eyes slowly darkened again.
Cas half opened his eyes and smiled softly as he watched Alex. It had first surprised Cas when he had seen Alex's eyes change, soon realizing it was tied closely to his emotions, particular those of affection, and Cas dare say, lust. Cas flicked his gaze away for a moment so as not blush even harder, if possible and gently laced his hand with Alex's. "
"Perhaps you could learn to love it again. Maybe not in the strict way you grew up in your religion but in a new way, one where it respects the traditions you value but also fits to your wants and views on life." He shrugged and offered a grin. "And if you don't want to do that, then don't. Keep going with your music. Play and make whatever you like." he encouraged, waving his free hand to his little shop. "If you don't have a place to play and make music at home then you're more than welcome to come here. I'd love to hear you play if you're comfortable with that."
(Um, just to clarify, what is he referring to with “you could learn to love it again”?)
(his religion, sorry I wrote that a little weird.)
