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Kitsunegari (July catch-all)

A: After the full moon

Heiji had been lucky to walk away from his run-in with Tal as well as he had -- a werewolf during this particular time of year was even more dangerous than usual. But he was still badly hurting, and he did not yet want to return to the Other Realm, where one of his own kind might see an excellent opportunity to take advantage of his wounds. Nor could he wander the streets as a human slowly bleeding through his clothing.

So instead he limped along quietly in the early hours of the morning in the least energy-intensive form he could. A small black fox, looking for a burrow to hole up in and lick his wounds.

B: You are cordially invited (July 7)

In light of his new title as well as his decision to stay in London for the foreseeable future, Heiji had had a home constructed for himself in Faery -- a little out of the way for his non-fae acquaintances to come visit him, but much less likely to arouse undue interest from any neighbors. It was a Japanese-style house, of course, with a small pond and cherry trees outside the windows.

Now he sat out the steps, sipping at his sake and waiting for company.

C: Fox hunt (Evening in Richmond Park, July 11th-ish)

Hoofbeats sounded in the distance, accompanied by the distant baying of hounds. A flit of red fur through the grass, and then the sounds of the dogs took on a new, excited cast. Panicked and frightened, the young fox ran blindly through the trees. The paths looked the same, the woods were unfamiliar. Meanwhile, the sounds of her pursuit was getting closer...

Heiji ran through the park, looking for any sign, but he'd lost sight of the hunting party. All he had to go on now was the baying of the hounds. There were thousands of foxes in London, and why hadn't she listened to him?

He grimaced as he charged through the grass. "Of all the rotten luck...!"

D: Choose your own adventure :')

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Snake took another sip and enjoyed the interplay of flavor. "I'm not sure how you did it, but this has a wonderful taste." He canted his head to one side. "I didn't memorize everything on your menu in that first meeting but I think I should get something sweet to compliment this coffee."

"Oh, I know just the thing." Heiji brought out a rectangular slice of layered cake on a plate, setting it and a small fork in front of Snake. "Slice of opera cake. Not too sweet, and the layers create some great variety."

Nothing like someone who really knew how to appreciate a good cup of coffee.

Snake was certain that if you didn't have SOME coffee knowledge and you lived in Washington State, you could possibly be asked to leave.

He took another sip of his coffee and set it aside in favor of the cake. "Opera cake? I don't believe I'm familiar with that." However, one bite of the confection made him a fan for life. He opened his eyes in surprise and delight at the taste.

His open eyes changed his face completely. You couldn't help but stare at his eyes that were of a dark color and looked dead and blank, like a snake's. Then he shut his eyes and he looked formal and proper once more.

"This is wonderful, Heiji. Thank you for all of this."

"Um, no problem," said Heiji, a little taken aback. He was seeing a lot of reactions from Snake today that he hadn't expected. Then he recovered himself a bit.

"I'm glad ya like it. That's one of the reasons I enjoy working here. It's nice to brighten someone's day a bit." A pause. "But I'm not gonna be here too much longer. I turned in my notice earlier this week."

"You...you are?"

Snake internally chided himself at his tone. Of course Heiji wouldn't stay here forever. He had his own life to lead and it wouldn't be somewhere that Snake could find him. "This cafe will hardly be the same without you."

Was his chance at making his first friend in London already shot? Heiji was a different sort of person than the kind Snake usually made friends with. Different wasn't always bad.

"Yeah, but..." What was he hesitating for? This was ridiculous. So maybe Snake would tell him to buzz off, so what?

"But I can give you my number. I mean, if you wouldn't... if you wanted. I know it's tough settling into a new place, and um. I'd like to talk to you. Maybe hang out sometime?"

This sounded pathetic, even to Heiji.

"Oh...really?" Well, of course Heiji would know about being overseas as he clearly was himself. They might have started off a little rough but Heiji clearly wanted to be friends. This time he couldn't help but smile a lot bigger.

"I would like that, Heiji. I'd like that very much. However, in order to do that, I have to repeat everything into my phone. I'll attempt to not broadcast your number to all and sundry if I possibly can."

W-well. This was what Heiji had wanted, right? Even if he hadn't quite been expecting Snake to smile at him like that. But he just didn't want Snake to feel all isolated! After all, Heiji knew firsthand what that felt like; he had to get a grip here.

"That's okay." He recited his number for Snake so he could enter it into the phone. "...So what's yours?"

Snake repeated the number into his phone and tagged it as "Heiji." His phone chirped back to him: "Snake's phone saves Heiji's number. Do you wish to save a last name to Heiji?"

Snake tilted his head toward Heiji. "I actually don't know what your last name is so I can tell my phone to ignore that information if you'd like."

"Hasegawa," he said. It was his human-world name, the one he had because he couldn't trust anyone with his real one. The thought sobered him a little, which showed up in his voice as a slight subdued note to his tone.

"I guess this is kinda weird, huh? I don't usually give out my number to people I just met."

Snake added Heiji's last name to the phone's address list and then gave his own number to Heiji. The name had alliteration and Snake knew he could easily remember it.

"I suppose that is true, but think of the alternative. In order for me to run into you again, that would literally need to happen. That would only put us in a bad mood and running into things hurts." The amount of things he had run into while learning to be blind was staggering.

"Besides, you're as voracious a reader as I am and that's something I particularly enjoy with my friends." He slipped the word in there as though it belonged. Surely Heiji wouldn't give him a number if they didn't consider them friends. He drank his coffee and ate his delectable cake, feeling as though something was finally going his way.

Heiji looked down and smiled -- a little shyly this time, a change from his usual friendly grin. "Yeah, that's true." On both counts.

He cleared his throat. "Speakin' of reading, I also really like detective novels. They're one of my favorites! Actually, that's kinda how come I like learning about all kinds of other stuff. You need to be a bit of a generalist in order to be able to crack a case."

"Detective novels?" Snake made a little bit of an annoyed sound. "Had I known that, I would have gotten you something else but I hope you enjoy this all the same." He reached into his messenger bag and pulled out a paperback novel. "All I had to go on was that you had a fascination for medical knowledge. This book isn't in braille or by audio as far as I know, but I was told it's enjoyable."

Heiji took the book, a bit taken by surprise. Snake had gotten him something?

When he spotted the title and blurb, however, he brightened at once. "A book about cadavers? That's perfect!"

Wow, he sounded really happy to receive a book about dead bodies. Actually, maybe that wasn't so surprising. "Thank you! I'll be sure and read it right away! Um... it's okay if I call ya Light, right? I can call you by your last name if that's better."

"Oh good. Although judging by your tone, you either will enjoy the work by its own merits or you secretly are a mad scientist and I just gave you a key to world domination."

Snake sipped his coffee and ate up the rest of his cake. "Light is fine. I've also acquired the nickname 'Snake'." He chuckled. "Originally someone used it to try to tear me down, because of my eyes, but then I ran with the name and quite enjoy it, actually." Humbling people for stupidity was one of Snake's favorite pastimes.

"I guess you must be used to dealin' with that kind of thing, but I like Light better," said Heiji, tucking the book away for safekeeping. The origin of the nickname might not bother Snake, but he didn't like the thought of using a former insult to refer to his new friend. Because that was what they were now, right?

"So. I don't actually know all that much about you. You wanna tell me a little about yourself? You got any hobbies outside of coffee, sweets, and reading?"

Snake finished off his cake and wiped his lips with a napkin before speaking. "I enjoy research in the sciences. If I had had the ability and the time to excel in multiple fields, I would have. However, I chose physics because trying to decipher how the world works is fascinating to me."

He chuckled with self-depreciation. "A bit dry, I admit. I also enjoy music."

Wow, what a nerd. Heiji had a sudden and powerful urge to reach over and mess up Snake's hair. He didn't, though.

"What kind? Classical?" Heiji was interested in music himself, being fae...

"Classical and jazz, most of all, but I like any music with what I'd qualify as a good sound and that could be nearly anything. Once I save up enough money, I'll have to buy a ticket to the London Symphony."

Symphonies held a special place in Snake's heart. It would take time but he'd be able to enjoy the symphony here.

"Yeah? Kind of a coincidence, then! I play the violin." And a few other instruments, but he doubted Snake was all that interested in traditional Japanese music.

"We should go together sometime!" Hmm. Were Snake's finances tight? Heiji didn't really have to worry about money, of course, but...

"I mean. If you'd be okay with that. I don't meet a lotta people who like the symphony."

You are a veritable Renaissance man, Heiji. "Really? Do you play as part of a group or just play for your own enjoyment?"

Well, well. Color Snake surprised once more. "You've been to the symphony before? What's it like? How good are they around here?"

"Not the one here, not yet!" Heiji laughed. "But I used to go listen to the Osaka Philharmonic."

"And yeah, I mostly just play on my own. Haven't found a group or anything that I'd like to join. So I'm fine with just practicing solo for now. What about you, do you play anything?"

A cultured Japanese man who liked to read? Really, Heiji had all kind interests. Snake was thankful he hadn't brushed the man off back at the library.

"I haven't had the time to do it seriously as of late, but I can play the piano." And the harp, but he didn't say that out loud. He reserved that for making his family happy. Also, who just happened to have a harp around to play?

"Hey, then maybe we can play together sometime!" He sounded rather pleased with this idea; back home he had any number of opportunities to play with other people. Here, not so much.

"Kinda wish I'd brought my violin today... but what are you doing now? You got a keyboard to practice on?"

"I suppose we could, although I'm not sure what we'd play." All they needed was someone with a tamborine and they had a band.

Snake shook his head to Heiji's next question. "I did have a keyboard to practice but it wasn't practical to take with me. I much prefer practicing on an actual piano but I haven't found a place yet to do that. Besides, I have to spend more time and money on more practical things, like setting up my home the way it needs to be."

Kitsunegari (July catch-all)

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