undergrounds | [Open] Unary Game

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[Open] Unary Game

(This is a July catchall kind of post for Light/Snake so tag where you'd like or let me know if you want to work out something via plurk! You can also call him either name as both pretty much apply.)

A.

Nothing like moving across the ocean and having to figure out where to go in a new town. Especially in a place like London. Light "Snake" Averly, armed with a braille map, takes the time to explore London when he's not teaching at university. Each street and bus route he can travel safely is another piece of London memorized. Perhaps he might also meet friendly (and not-so-friendly) faces as he travels...

B.

He's heard about Redbright, now that he's been in London for a little bit. He'd heard rumors about the school having something to do with the supernatural, but nothing concrete. Snake would love to do nothing more than excise his powers from his brain, but the science hadn't gotten around to that. Yet. He didn't really feel any kinship to other supernatural, having stayed far the hell away from anything back home in Washington State. Still, he can't help but have some curiosity for the Institute.

C. Choose your own adventure.

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"Light?" It was getting a bit late, edging into evening, and the one person Heiji wasn't really expecting to see was precisely who he ran into with a Braille map in hand. He pulled up to the curb; his motorcycle idled as he took off his helmet.

"What're you doin' out this late?"

A familiar voice. Snake turned to face his new friend. "Hello, Heiji. I'm just doing a little bit of exploring. I've already found a bookstore and a teahouse along this route so I think I've done well in this neighborhood."

Eight in the evening isn't late. Really, Heiji, if he'd been wandering around at two in the morning, that might be cause for some concern.

"You're just... exploring?" Oh, thank god he was here. He had to think of some 100% non-suspicious way of getting Snake off the streets before the fae made their appearance.

"Look, um. You're new here, so ya probably don't know, but lately there've been a lot of... hooligans! Around. Lately. They kinda ride around, hassling people. It can get pretty dangerous! So, you know. You shouldn't be wandering around. By yourself."

NAILED. IT.

"I'm well acquainted with people wanting to harass me." He could defend himself better than one would think and if that failed, he had mace. He wasn't sure on the legality of that but he carried it around to make his parents happy.

"Also, the quicker I get to the know the city, the less frustrating it will be to get around. Besides, I have a timer on my phone." He patted a pocket in his jacket. "Once it goes off, I'll just go back the way I came and wait for a bus."

Really, Heiji, were you implying he couldn't take care of himself?

"Yeah, but..." How to explain that there'd be marauding fair folk about, disguised as drunk people on motorcycles.

"I mean, people have gotten hurt pretty bad. I wouldn't want that to happen to you..."

Snake canted his head in thought. Heiji hadn't known him long enough to know that he really could handle himself in all situations. He could actually be acting out of concern and not out of being patronizing. A fine line existed between the two.

"All right. Just to humor you, I'll go back to the bus stop." Snake tucked his map in his messenger bag. "What brings you over here? Just happen to be in the neighborhood?"

"Actually, I was thinkin' of getting a bite to eat. There's a really good Italian place around here, so I like dropping in every once in a while." Thank goodness Snake didn't seem to need a lot of convincing. Still, he did feel a little bad about making him go back to the bus stop like this...

"...Do you wanna come with me? I can always take you back on my motorcycle if you're worried about missing the bus. And two's better than one out here." He was fidgeting a bit now, though why asking some guy to eat dinner should make him feel nervous, he had no idea.

"Maybe we could trade stories about settling in?"

"Well..." Hmm. He'd been planning to go back to his apartment, eat leftovers and read. A perfectly fine and quiet evening. Exploring a new part of the city with a friend and trying out a new restaurant also sounded like a perfectly good way to spend an evening.

Perhaps it'd be a good way to get to know his new friend in London. "All right. I could classify my hunger as 'peckish' at this point."

"Great!" said Heiji, clearly happy about the prospect. He locked up his bike and returned to Snake's side. "C'mon, it's pretty close. Just straight up this block, a right and two more blocks. You're gonna love it! Their carbonara is delicious!"

Heiji... certainly did seem to enjoy dining out.

"You do paint a very edible picture." And true, it was an easy walk. Snake still hesitated when going across major streets. Who knew that the difference in traffic direction messed with what a "safe" and "unsafe" crossing sounded like?

"Have you found any luck with a new job? If you like this place enough, perhaps you should work here."

"...Do you think all I do is wait tables?" Snake had a way of getting under his skin, even if (presumably) he meant nothing by his question. Why, if Heiji wanted to, he could get hired anywhere his heart desired...!

"I quit my old job at the cafe so I could focus more of my time on other projects. Wouldn't make a lot of sense to head right back into the same thing." His general plan was to keep talking so that Snake would know where he was and where to cross the street.

"So what about you? How you been holding up?"

Edited 2015-07-25 23:22 (UTC)

"I have no idea what additional things you do, Heiji. I've only known you for about two weeks." What, do you think he can read your mind? Probably not, since his mind powers aren't that strong.

Although quitting because of projects? Interesting word choice. The talking did help him focus, though. "Oh...you mean the writing?"

"As for me, I think I'm getting to know this town. I also got a little care package from my family, because they assume England is some kind of backwater." He snorted.

"Well, yeah, that's one thing I'm working on." Although mostly not that.

"Your family sends you stuff?" Heiji sounded suddenly more interested. There was something else in his voice, too: he missed his home, and while he didn't think about it too much during the day, little reminders like this brought the feeling back to the surface. "Like what?"

"Yes. Mostly things I wasn't able to take with me on my initial move due to cost. Books, so far." Braille books were larger and heavier and took up more space. "A few hand-typed braille letters. It does make the apartment feel more lived in. It would be better if I could find some art."

Art, huh...

"Sculptures? Or are you more of a tapestry kinda guy?" He turned in to the restaurant's front door. "It's right over here. Pazzi's. Oh, if you like sweets, they've got some nice anise cookies."

"Sculpture, for obvious reasons. Tapestries would be interesting but a bit out of my price range."

Wow, it smelled really really good. His stomach rumbled with anticipation. "I shall memorize it forever if the food is as good as it smells."

Heiji waved over a server. "Two, please! Do you guys have a menu in Braille?" By some small miracle, the restaurant apparently did. There was also an open table for two, which was even better.

"So," said Heiji as he sat down and scanned the list of dishes. "Met any cute coworkers yet?"

"First, I'm coming back, just because they have a menu I can read." Second, it was clean and not sticky as he ran his fingers over it.

Heiji's question made him smile a little bit. "Why? Do you want me to set you up with a cute girl? Of course you do realize my definition of 'cute' is going to be far different than most people."

"What? Hey, I don't need any help getting dates, okay?" Heiji's face was slightly red as he buried his nose in the menu. Stupid Snake. How dare he.

"So what is your definition, then?"

"Then you're a veritable ladies' man and I apologize." He didn't sound very sincere. He did consider Heiji's next question carefully. "Well...it's based on voice, obviously. The way someone sounds to me tells me how confident someone is. In in turn builds a picture in my head about their attractiveness. I like smart people, so that's another plus. So I'm afraid my level of 'cute' runs to librarians and academics."

"Hmm... sounds like a recipe for dating the same kinda person all the time." Heiji slid his finger down a row of names.

"I think I'll get the bolognese. What about you?"

"I believe the salmon and spinach fettuccine sounds wonderful, paired with the right glass of wine." It seemed to fit safely in his budget. Although then again, there was Heiji to consider. Although it was Heiji's idea to come here, the man was unemployed (as far as he knew). Perhaps if he just got the check? Snake would have to do that so Heiji wouldn't fuss.

"What kind of bike were you riding on? I can't tell if it was a scooter or a motorcycle."

"It's a Suzuki Hayabusa," said Heiji leaning forward with a smile. It was clear from his tone that he enjoyed the bike a great deal. "A sport motorcycle. 190 mph in 10 seconds!"

If that meant anything to Snake. "If you want, I could take you on a ride sometime." Fortunately, he remained blissfully unaware that Snake was thinking of picking up the check as the waiter came by and took their orders.

"That sounds ridiculously fast," Snake said, after the waiter had left. "I've never been on a motorcycle before. I can't really appreciate the view, for one. But I take it you're a fan of them?"

"Guilty," said Heiji with a little laugh. "I can't resist speed. Even if you can't appreciate the view, though, you can still enjoy the roar of the engine and the feel of the wind. It's great, really!"

You didn't know what you were missing, Snake. "Plus, I like it better for gettin' around than a car. Lot less to worry about parking."

A, mid-July

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