Cas, trying to figure out cat mannerisms, stuck out his tongue for a full minute before he leaned forward and touched it to Nix's forehead. Nix seemed to almost be laughing at him as he pulled him close with one paw and started grooming him again.
Halm laughed a little at the interaction, smiling softly.
"Even if your in a cat body your still human," he says with a grin. "Nix can tell that too."
Cas huffed and fluffed out his fur a bit, embarrassed. "Yeah, yeah… I'm trying." Nix brushed his cheek against Cas's and purred.
Halm smiled a little, reaching down to lightly scratch the top of Cas's head.
"You'll get it," Halm said encouragingly.
Cas purred softly and pushed his head up into Halm's hand. "At least I know Nix is gonna be forgiving."
Halm smiled softly, continuing to pet Cas.
"Right."
"Mm… that feels nice…" Cas stood up on his tiptoes and nuzzled against Halm, purring.
"I'm glad it does," Halm said with a smile. He gently rubbed Cas's head, enjoying this.
Cas lay down on Halm's lap, purring contentedly. He yawned a bit and stretched out his paws in front of himself.
Halm pet Cas, smiling softly.
"Enjoying this?" He asked with a smile.
"Mhmm…" Cas purred a bit louder and closed his eyes, seeming content to just sit for the moment.
Halm smiled, petting Cas for a moment more. Eventually, though, Halm took his hand away.
"I gotta get to work," he said softly.
Cas meowed unhappily and climbed up onto Halm's shoulder. "Take me with you?"
"Sure thing," Halm said. He helped Cas up, and he stood.
"You warm enough?" He asked.
"Mhmm… I think cats have a higher internal temperature than people." Cas huddled close to Halm, his head pressed up against Halm's neck as he purred.
"That's good," Halm said. He patted Cas's head lightly, making his way outside. He walked out to the gardens, kneeling down. He was harvesting today.
Cas kept his eyes closed, not wanting to see any of the memories of the souls. He was more fragile than Halm with those, and it typically upset him to see the deaths and such.
Halm stayed quiet as he worked, patting Cas's head lightly. He gathered up the memories, then started picking some of the souls out of the flowers.
Cas soon drifted off on Halm's shoulder, purring softly in his sleep. After a while of this, however, he slid off Halm's shoulder and startled himself awake. He clung to Halm's leg, his fur puffed out in fear and his eyes wide.
Halm's hands darted up when Cas fell, folding around him and holding him gently.
"Are your alright?" He asked, very concerned.
Cas nodded and huddled up in Halm's hands, quivering a bit. "Y-Yeah… m'fine…"
Halm carefully lifted Cas up.
"I'm glad you are. Maybe it's time for you to go back to normal…"
"Mm… but this is nice…" He whined, climbing back onto Halm's shoulder.
"Okay then," Halm said. "But maybe we should think of a safer place for you to nap." Halm chuckled softly.
"Alright, alright… where should I sleep, then?" Cas asked, looking up at Halm.
"Over here." Halm gently moved Cas inside his collar. The fabric would keep Cas from sliding.
"Mmkay…" Cas purred softly and settled himself in Halm's collar to fall back asleep.
Halm looked down at Cas as best he could for a moment, then gathered up all the souls he had collected to take them to the river. He stood, beginning to walk there.
Cas stirred a bit and looked up when they reached the river. His eyes widened and he became transfixed on it. After a few seconds, he jumped down from Halm's shoulder and slowly started walking towards it.
"Cas?" Halm asked when Cas jumped down. When he realized what Cas was transfixed on, he set the basket down, quickly scooping Cas up in his hands.
"Cas?" He said softly again, breaking Cas's gaze at the water.