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Thin, seeded, rounds with peels of oranges, lemons, and limes whorled slowly in a pitcher of sparkling mixed ginger ale, peach reduction, soda water, and fresh muddled mint leaves. There were also a handful of bottles of plain spring water in his messenger back, thocking against thigh in the rapid rhythm of crossing the lawn from finished classwork. 'any personal conversation is better done outside of work.' A strange invitation, so specific in curiosity about a man met by chance. Is it the jewelry alone? Recognized for human bone, and made so important of that in its mystery to induce an invitation on the matter of getting its story out of me? A dangerous story that could tell too much.

How much am I willing to tell to a stranger? Improper disposal of bodies is already a matter illegal, done on United States soil. There are plenty of laws in place to avoid the hazards of putrefaction or the eventualities of murder hidden. What is the story, then, of this hand over mine clasped and my slain lover? He was a General, part youmafied. That much is clear to anyone of either side who does a minimum of research. Quenton Marinus was succor to General Bischofite, and a thorn in his loyalty. It has never born evil fruit, excepting the violation of the space of the apartment by agents taking things. But did they never seemed to know the significance. Or did they not care? Lack of care or research, or both. Latter.
Lies, or omissions, then remain the safest? He died in my arms. I took his hand. The body then? What did I do with the body, the rest of it?
What do you hope to gain from this, Blackwell? It isn't kindness or connection. You're always business. What is the importance of a story from a stranger who will be kept a stranger?
At least the dance may have intrigue.

Shale was easy to pick out compared to most of the student body. He was stronger in frame, less modern or fashionable, and marked by tattoos that had no sense for job-hunting convention except in the most liberal of cities or occupations. It left an impression strange against their very first meeting. Quenton approached without hesitation and lifted a hand in wordless greeting before setting the travel pitcher next to the grocer bag to rest itself while he pulled a thin fold of blanket out from bag, nested mugs and the bottled waters as well to make a culturally 'clean' mealing space on their hill. "Do weather and world find you fair, Blackwell?"

Orah?? Now there is a name I didn't expect to hear from anyone I knew that wasn't already a confirmed scout. You know Orah? On campus there's only one of those I've ever know. Archery. fitting to her magic. Does she think you dangerous as well? It seems a dangerous connection to allow to be made between us, though. What I bring on myself for admitting lover to Bischofite should go no further in association to her. Hopefully she realizes the same and stays her tongue on knowing me except as someone on campus. Are we repeating some sick acquaintance of the same person like Alois? I should hope not, but if she has intentions on you, and hears my name likewise, it comes to my mind that she might think so and act on emotional response. And a brother in trouble. It is hard to gauge if that is good, bad or indifferent. Reported with the same non-affect as gaining an archery pupil. Do you like your brother? Dislike? Someone might ask me as much of Stroud. "The summer session tends lighter with less students. Many go home. Those that stay are dedicated to a timeline for loan purposes or interest. It makes things at the University less of a trial. "

Quenton removed his shoes to enter blanket space, choosing to look downhill at passing students rather than on a lower corner looking up. The book's presence on Shale's lap drew inexorable attention, and approval- At least he's reading. Even if its only a show in my specific presence.

"I'm sorry that you've family trouble. Is he living in the city as well? I have no siblings, so I've never had the trials or boons. Sometimes cousins, nieces or nephews can provide like roles, depending on ages. I have a cousin in the area I grew up around, but that is all. " He left the tone conversational- Shale could continue the vine or not as he was comfortable. If either of us is. It is strange to speak of personal matters with anyone not Faust. 'Getting to know someone' with all it's requirements of giving and receiving information. And that the point. I must remind myself over and over, the point was personal relation.

While pouring the other a mug from the pitcher, he offered an additional topic of conversation that sat as a relation point between them, "Is there news on you potential dig? "

Quenton motioned to the book while holding out the drink to the man, "You pursue the subject, at least, in learning."

"It seems like it would take such dedication. You don't give the impression of a man easily troubled, " It would involve a measure of involvement on an emotional level for one. Family has instinct to afford it that pleasure, for better or worse. Before any other mechanism is developed, they are inside of us and a part of our earliest conceptions of others and ourselves. "Does your brother have a name?"

It was at least something to actualize this mysterious third party by, a label individual from 'Blackwell's brother.' The question of flavored beverages came a a surprise on the heels of notes regarding the thankfully postponed dig. 'Here' as in the United States? Modern, first world society? Where are you even from, Blackwell. "People need to drink more water than they do, but find plain water boring. Or difficult to consistently drink in proper quantity to stay hydrated, especially during activity. Flavor, and to some degree sweetener, encourage and enable the body to drink more. Have you ever done an endurance sport or training? People tend to vomit if they try to push plain water down to maintain hydration. Their body signals 'full' after one glass. But 8 ounces isn't usually enough in that sort of case to replenish what is lost in working out. "

" Business gets involved, and it's a different story. The University of Toronto and a few others have been conducting studies that find the 'added minerals and vitamins', which are usually synthetics in manufactured beverages, aren't absorbed correctly or in appreciable amount. And since almost all have added sugar, you could actually be harming your health. "

"These, being home-made, are infusions without sweetener additives. Infused waters give the flavor without the drawbacks. It's just the fruit and herbs left in water for a few hours. Some gourmet's argue that the flavours of beverages can compliment and enhance the pleasure of a meal- it's why specific wines or beers are recommended to certain meats. "

"Very few places are excepted from exposure, even to bar coffee, tea, or sodas by way of gas stations, that flavoring a drink is strange? " Quenton watched the glitter of reflected light from the ambient world to the beverage and from there the bounce light on the darker complexion. Even the Amish drink coffee.

* * *

Some students started settling here and there around, blocks of classes letting out for many subjects much the same as Quenton's own had. None of them were very near, most people have more inclination to enjoying the coming of the sun and worried about looking their best for the spring and/or summer break visiting a Beach location according to tourist trends. A few really were Quenton's own, at first ignorant and then scanning their surroundings to startle and chatter about whether the fall of bone hair and ramrod posture sitting under the tree was their Graduate Assistant. Doubt didn't last long.

'But who is Mr. Marinus with? '
'Have you ever seen that other guy before?'
'Business or pleasure?'
'I think I drew that guy in figure studies.'

Your parents named you Shale and your brother Slate? Theming, how postmodern. If they have another, maybe it will be named Granite. Or Sandstone to keep with the 'S'. Hopefully they had some reason and significance to the choice other than being 'witty'. Focus on hunting and survival in life does seem like a tendency towards being a mountain man. The choices of why and how far it goes become the distinctinons. He shaves regularly, at least. From the smell of his hair, not so much on the bathing regularly with a surfectant to dissociate aggregates and unfold proteins. At least there's a breeze.

The squinting into the distance was enough of a social cue that Quenton followed with his own eyes to assess whatever goings-on had drawn the other man's attention. It was in time to see the gesture and discern that the girls' attentions were in the direction of the picnic. As they moved off, Quenton looked around the rest of the area if there were any other likely subject nearby. There wasn't one very likely. "Those were students from my early recitation. Trying to fail, were circumstantial evidence or inappropriate behaviour enough to warrant it. Rumor and it's proclivities, unfortunately, are not. Nor is hearsay. "

"There is a possessive interest students hold for the lives and doings of their teachers, whether they paint them heroes or villains. I may have drawn you unwanted attention. There's nothing for it now. Are you often around campus?"

Quenton worked on plating up fixins, rather than staring at what was meant to be eaten. "This seems more substantial than survival fare. Do you cook?"

Quenton looked up from a forkful of turkey, paused perfectly still while considering. Being uninvested in sexuality and/or romance was not always related to knowledge of it. Unless Shale was just particularly bad at following implicit meanings from word and gesture? It was a puzzle that offered some interest, rather than annoyance, in interacting with the man- a solid mystery of character and piece of information to follow that might add pieces to the general blank curtain that was Shale Blackwell. At the least he has a brother and a roommate. He cooks. He is teaching Orah archery. Drinks mostly tea, coffee or water and might have a preference for living in the woods. At the very least mostly did so. Spoke of his brother 'welcoming connections' and not having trained out of it. That implies...Shale has? Or endeavors to. Then why the interest in me, on the account of Alois' hand? I can't tell. My stipulation that there be a connection first to divulge the information at all puts this all in a strange place. Is such a personal story worth as much as that? It wouldn't seem so, but that requires more knowing about what he would do with the information, if anything.
"They were probably discussing if I was on an actual date with you, or if it was a meeting of convenience spiced up with a picnic as arranged on Grindr. The gesture is one that indicates penetrative sex through motion mimicry. "

While keeping an eye on Blackwell's reactions, Quenton left the explanation for sampling the food, with pleasant surprise on the orzo. Mixed with the game bird it avoided being clinging to the tongue the way other meat tended towards. "I own a Cat Cafe, so I make coffee and take care of cats. Between teaching, my degree, and making ends meet there is not much time otherwise. During undergrad I worked with student affairs and took the discounted bus trips to other cities to look around. Visited museums. Expansion of experience and skills- admittedly I've never been hunting. Camping, yes, mostly in autumn and winter. "

"This is excellent, by the way." He made a motion to the plate of food, now wary of implicit communications with Blackwell.

"It isn't any of their concern. But people involve their interests in judging the choices of others to reinforce in-group and out-group culture and taboos all the time. Greater and Lesser extents, but it boils to as much. As a teacher, I'm an authority figure, so it's somewhat established in current culture that my personal and professional life are both open to scrutiny for how they will influence my pupils- much of learning is mimicry and exposure-acceptability. " Quenton watched the other man. The extrapolation on that particular topic wasn't one he would have normally thought necessary, but after the topic of beverages, it seemed likely that Blackwell may really have no concept learned or personally meditated on of culture dynamics, learning patterns, authority figures and the roles of censorship and reward. All the more as the man asked the second question, in all honesty. Most people might figure it was cat-themed, if not involving actual cats....not so much ever eating cats.

"Many states bar the unnecessary killing of animals, with a specific exemptions for livestock and farm-use animals. Cats aren't commonly associated with farming in food industry. There are states with specific laws prohibiting any person to slaughter or butcher domesticated animals, cats and dogs, to create food, meat or meat products for human or animal consumption. While there's give as to whether the eating itself is outlawed or only the butchery, preventing one prevents the other for the most part. People in the United States of America do not eat cats, culturally, unless there's extenuating circumstances. "

"It's unusual that it's the first conclusion to come to your mind. " It was said wholly devoid of personal judgement, but with a note of inquiry as to the cause. "Regardless, the Cat Cafe serves beverages and cakes, and has a room with resident cats who are available for socialization with customers. People enjoy the company of cats, especially those who cannot own any for zoning, expense, space, or other reasons. And cats enjoy the adoration. Most of them are also available for adoption to a permanent home if a customer proves capable and particularly attached. "

Each time, people note that something must lack in such a schedule and that it must be the sleep. "I don't sleep much, and irregularly. You?"

"Jaguar is a car company, Puma is shoes and sports wear, Camels are cigarettes, and Food Lion, while they sell groceries, does not and will never have lion meat in the deli department. I suppose it works for restaurants, but other retailers not so much. " Quenton considered, taking a drink and allowing a pause to consider some of the filter of light through leaves of trees. "Business is going well. There haven't been any adoptions yet, but clientele is steady and they all enjoy the cats company. Much of the clientele is students and teachers from the university. The student's can't have pets in the dorms or university housing. Maybe some of the local business owners or teaches will eventually get around to adopting. Less of a 'stock' thing than a grocery store. "

"Do you generally interpret the world around you only in literal terms? " The man didn't seem to extrapolate meanings or symbolism the way one might expect even of someone dumped overseas in a separate country with separate cultural mores. It wasn't particularly a problem, but it seemed to make Blackwell's life experience a unique one. "Symbolism, simile and metaphor are used in most communication in cultures to express greater depth of representation in idea, belief, action, or entity, implicit features, mnemonic device...there's a whole branch of anthropology dedicated to the study of cultural materialism and understanding. It's part of what would be missing in that project you'd mentioned, that an amateur might not have the depth to recognize in a lion glyph on a wall of a dig- is it a symbol of royalty? A restaurant? A decoration? And from there, what any of those possibilities then express about the culture and cultures they would have had relationships with. "