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 Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:37 am
Roki blinked a bit, and smiled. He'd never really been given a compliment like that before... and it felt good. That stubborn blush returned, though - with a vengeance.
"I... I'm just trying to be nice, that's all. And you're a really good artist, and I supposed you might want a place to practice your art without being chased away, or..." He went quiet for a moment, thinking.
"Of COURSE I'll take care of you." He took his stethoscope from around his neck, and showed it. "I'm medical minded, I guess... But I CAN bring you stuff to eat, and make sure you take breaks..."
He looked over at the wall, soon to be covered in beautiful art, and gave a happy little sigh. "Thank you. I mean, for... trusting me about this, yeah? I can't wait to see what you put on it... But in the meantime... are you hungry? I can have one of my dads bring sandwhiches or something down here..."
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:43 am
"Medical minded." He murmured, lifting a hand to absentmindedly scratch at his shoulder for a moment, it couldn't be see with the shirt he wore but where he was scratching was the edge of one of his scars, "You would be the best sort to look after me then." He found himself thinking that it was a shame they hadn't met years ago... a thought he shrugged off since he didn't really want to drag anyone into his life and how it had been when he could have really used a friend with medical knowledge.
"I wouldn't want to be a bother to your parents, making them come all the way down here for me." He said, dropping his hand from his shoulder before he shrugged out of the strap on his back, setting the heavy, rattling thing down at his feet. Without its weight he was able to stand easier and was less bogged down by it, allowing him to moved along in front of the wall, one hand reaching out to brush his fingertips against it as though he were already being drawn to it. He could... could start painting again he thought to himself... but if Rokiro's parents were coming it might be best that he wait until after lunch.
He turned his attention back to his new friend, "Will you be eating with me?" He asked of him, not wanting to eat alone as he would feel a bit like a glutton then.
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:09 am
"Yep. I'm really rather famished myself, so I'll have them make us both some lunch. You DO like sandwiches, right?" he said, pulling out a cellphone from his pocket, and hitting speedial 2. He waited until someone picked up.
"Hey dad. .... Yes, I'm fine... Down by the old highway wall.... Yep!... His name's Keiji, and he's an artist... ... DAD!"
Something on the other side of the phone had made Rokiro blush profusely again.
"... Y-yeah... Mhmmm.... I was just about to ask if you could bring us something..... Hang on, I'll ask him."
He put his hand to the mouth of the cell, and turned to Kei.
"My dad wants to know if you like cucumber and cream-cheese sandwiches with milk? Or water, if you want?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:28 am
Keiji did his best from listening in to what Rokiro was saying on the phone though it was tough to do when the world around them seemed so quiet other then Keiji's breathing and Rokiro's voice. He turned to look toward him at his exclamation of 'DAD' and he found himself starring curiously. Rokiro looked rather... flushed again. It made Keiji a touch worried for him, perhaps he was running a fever he thought to himself though only for a moment. Naw... that wouldn't make sense for someone with medical skills to get sick and no realize it, it must be something else.
He blinked a couple times when he realized that he was being addressed and he gave a thoughtful look, "I would like it with milk if that is alright." He said, finding himself quite curious about the food he was talking about. Cucumber and Cream Cheese Sandwich wasn't something that would ever me on the menu at home since he lived with three carnivores but to the young man who had once been an angel it actually sounded rather nice, "Thank them for me, please." He added quickly, not wanting to forget his manners with Rokiro or his family.
Keiji turned back to the wall once more wanting to give the other boy his privacy while he spoke on the phone. A part of him found it interesting that he referred to those people as 'his parents' and 'Dad' whereas he referred to his own guardian by his given name. It showed how differently the two dealt with the other people around them he supposed.
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:55 am
Rokiro smiled, and lifted his hand. "Yeah - that would be fine, and he would like them with milk.... Yeah........ Oh! Yes please!.... Mmmhmmm.... Yes, he says thank you..... Of course you will, you have to bring them, don't you?.... Mmmhmmm.... Maybe..... Oh, I'm sure that will be fine.... Okay.... Yeah.... Mmmhmm, love you too.... See you in a few.... bye!"
He hung up the phone, and turned to Kei, fairly beaming. "He's on his way with the sandwiches, and he really does want to meet you. You don't mind, do you? Oh! And we get dessert. He just made creampie minis, and if you haven't had a creampie mini, you haven't tasted anything! They're sooooo good!"
Another blush, he was talking too much. "Err... I didn't even think to ask if you liked dessert... I could call him back?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 11:02 am
The sound of the one sided conversation was a bit odd and enough to get him to turn and glance in that direction from time to time curiously. His eyes got a bit wide wen he told the one on the other end of the line that he loved him. Keiji found himself wondering if he loved his guardian... a part of him was really attached to the man, he'd taken him in after all, cared for him, and trusted him when many others didn't. If he loved him he was sure it wasn't in the manner one loved a parent though... after all he didn't really have a good relationship with his so called 'family' aside from his little brother Avery.
He turned to look over at Rokiro once more when it would appear that he was talking with Keiji again and not his phone, "Its very nice of him to come all this way to bring food to us." Not that he knew how far away his parents were but just the fact that he would bring something to them when they could get it for themselves was enough to make him smile. He tilted his head to one side before he nodded, "I like sweet things so its alright, I just don't get to have them often since I have to fight it out with the twins to get them and... well... they have sharp teeth." Last thing he wanted to do was willingly get bit just because he wanted a cookie or donuts.
"There is no need to worry so much, Rokiro. I promise I am in no way a spoiled person so you don't need to try so hard." He said in a reassuring tone, reaching out to pat his new friend on the shoulder.
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 11:26 am
Roki put his phone back into his pocket, and offered one of those bright smiles again. "I just can't help myself for feeling guilty, just a little, if I don't offer a friend something... Like, asking whether or not you wanted dessert, or just the sandwhiches... It sort of... I dunno."
He chuckled a bit, and rubbed the back of his neck in a fairly embarrassed fashion. "I don't know why I'm so NERVOUS around you... It's just... maybe..." He dropped his voice. "I've never actually had a real friend, before... Acquaintances, sure, but... never a real friend..."
His voice lowered even more, as he raised his head to look in Kei's eyes.
"Let alone one as talented, handsome, and kind as you. We've known each other, what... three hours? And already you're worrying about my putting myself out... You say -I- have a kind heart... but that's far kinder."
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 11:57 am
Keiji listened to what he was saying before giving a slow nod of his head, "That is something that I can relate to, someone like me... its a bit hard to make friends." He said, less because he didn't want to and more because he just found it hard to trust people. After what his own people had done to him he couldn't help but to look at everyone else in a slightly suspicious manner at times... but Rokiro was different, he didn't seem to be after anything did he?
"Perhaps the two of us will be able to be friends?" He said, sounding as though he would like it very much. If anyone could be trusted perhaps it was Rokiro? After all he had only been kind to Keiji so far and he didn't seem to have a dangerous or cruel aura about him. He was one that Keiji felt that he could put his trust into even though he was a little bit leery about it.
At the mention that he was 'talented, handsome, and kind' Keiji's cheeks burned a little with embarrassment, "Ahh... I don't know about all of that but... thank you none the less." He murmured, turning his attention to his back as he knelt down next to it, digging around in it as though he were trying to make himself seem busy while he was trying to get his silly reactions under control. Why he was blushing was beyond him... likely because he had never been praised in such a manner before? It was possible, then again things like his art were hidden from his guardian and the twins as he didn't want to get into any trouble with Shin and he knew the twins would tattle on him if they knew... He shrugged those worries off, at least now he had a better place to pain that wouldn't get him in a bunch of trouble he reminded himself. He took out a can of gold paint in one hand and blue in the other before he set to work on the very basic start of a new picture without even thinking about it.
It always looked so plain he found himself thinking as he started, it took time to make it look good... but at least now he had that time as well. The more he thought about it the more he felt guilty as he had no way to thank his new friend who was giving so much without asking for anything in return.
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 1:08 pm
When the other started to work, Rokiro found a nice rock to lounge on. It had turned sunny again - partly cloudy as it were - and now the rock was warm and comfortable. Plus, this was and had always been his curling-up rock. Whenever he'd been conflicted or sad, he come here and curl up on this very spot. Sometimes with his fathers, sometimes without. But now... now it was a beautiful vantage point to watch his new friend ply his amazing talent. Talent, Roki was starting to realize, that he was never recognized for. Perhaps that's why Kei seemed... so shy?
He scootched himself up a bit, so that he was sort of half-lying, half-sitting. It was a fairly comfortable position, and one that he could easily see Kei from, as well as the path leading to the house. It would take about an hour for one of his fathers to bring the meal. They liked to walk instead of drive, being as they were both were-creatures and relished the chance to be out-of-doors. No matter - he had a perfect vantage point to keep an eye on Kei.
Truly, the artist seemed a bit run-down. Even Rokiro had to admit that. He LOOKED tired and worn-out, even if he was having fun doing what he was doing. In forty minutes, Roki would stop him to eat, then ask him to sleep over. He didn't know what sort of twins the boy was dealing with, but there was a mention of teeth, and... yeah... Really, truly, he didn't want to have his new friend deal with that for... at least one day. Plus, he wanted to get to know him a little better.
True to the time Roki guessed, one of his fathers, Caine by the looks of it, came down the path to the left side of the wall, toting a large cold-container that he supposed had the food. He approached the rock that Rokiro was on, and set out a tablecloth he'd had tucked under his arm, careful not to disturb the artist at work.
While HE was fixing up the meal, Roki slid off the rock, and walked over to Kei, touching him lightly on the shoulder. "Food's here... you're hungry, right?"
Caine was finishing setting up. The flat rocks out here made for stellar tables, and he'd set up the entire meal on one. Small cucumber and cream-cheese sandwiches on whole-grain white bread. Crusts cut off, of course. A plate of soft cheese, in case the boys wanted them. A few ham-and-cheese rollups on a pretty flowery plate, and a white pastry-box that was as-of-yet unopened. There were two huge thermoses set aside, also, one with Rokiro's name on it [bought for him], and the other with Keiji's name neatly done with permanent marker.
As Caine folded the edges of the tablecloth, he stood up, and stretched. The man had long brownish-red hair, tied back in a neat ponytail. The shirt he was wearing was plain white, with a ruffled collar, as though he'd recently removed a tie from it. He was wearing black jeans, and black-and-white sneakers specifically designed for running and jogging. He was probably about 30, maybe just a little older.
"There you go, boys. All set up. Roki, you will NOT touch the pastries until you finish your sandwiches, and one of the meat-rolls. Clear?"
Rokiro nodded, and gave Caine his best puppy eyes. "Yes sir."
"Good lad. And this must be Keiji?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 9:05 pm
Keiji had lost himself in what he was doing, hands moving steadily, slowly covering a section of wall with various colors. His art seemed to always have a religious feel to it, there were often wings, halos, clouds, the sun, things like that. No matter what people thought of him, his own people included, he wasn't actually to terribly bad a person unlike what he'd been accused of.
He was so lost in what he was doing that he didn't even seem to realize that more then a moment had passed. It was only because Rokiro came over to him, spoke to him, placed a hand on him that he came out of his daze. As Rokiro touched him on the shoulder the young man gave a jolt, turning around quickly, eyes going wide... and he starred at him for a moment, "H-Huh...?" He blinked a couple times, looking at the hand resting on his shoulder, then gave a little smile, "I... yes, thank you." He lifted on hand up to rest it against his chest as he drew in a deep breath, forcing himself to relax. It seemed that he could be easily startled when he was to deep in his art.
The young man looked over the picture that he was working on, it was very basic so far but he could tell who it was supposed to be... he turned to look over at Rokiro before he flushed a little bit. It would seem as though the kindhearted angel was really getting into his head given the fact that he was painting him... had he ever painted someone before? He didn't think so... perhaps Avery once or twice after he'd first fallen and wanted to find him but never like this. His blue striped wings gave a little flutter before he moved to put the caps on his cans of spray paint, "Thank you for looking after me, Rokiro." He murmured to the other winged boy. When his cans of paint were capped and put away his attention turned toward Rokiro and his parents.
He watched as the man finished up setting up their food and he gave a little smile as he gave the spread of food a look. It looked really good, didn't it? He gave smile, "That looks really good, thank you." He murmured to Caine, flushing a little bit as he felt as though he should be doing something but Caine already had everything all set up. He looked back when he heard his name and then nodded, "Yes, I'm Keiji. Its nice to meet you." He said, smiling at the man.
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:48 pm
Caine made a sweeping bow to the young artist, and smiled. "It's wonderful to meet you, as well, Keiji. Our little Rokiro is VERY shy, generally - and it's rare that he actually gets out there to meet people, let alone bring them home. But I'm glad he did - You seem like a very amiable young man."
Looking up, the adult noticed the sky... Rain looked imminent again. "I hate to be a bother, kids - but I really don't like the looks of those clouds." He steepled his fingers in thought. "I'll bring the car around. We've got that room inside that we meant to paint, and I don't want you two to get rained on."
He seated himself beside the two boys, and leaned back. "After lunch, what say we head back to the house, and you two can have fun redecorating that room any way you like? Provided you're not painting lewd images, of course."
The man chuckled, as he watched Roki and Kei eat. "I hope the sandwiches are to your liking. I tend to get carried away with the veggies every now and again - as Rokiro will tell you. I'm a pediatrician.. so I can't help but get health-conscious when it comes to my own family."
While Caine was talking, Rokiro was eating, daintily at that. He, also, looked up at the sky and wondered if getting inside might not be a bad idea. BUT - so the newly painted wall wouldn't run, he put down the sandwich he was eating, and grabbed a tarp from the other side of the wall - put there when he'd made a fort down here a long time ago. It was old, but it was serviceable, although he had to climb the rocks to either side to get the thing OVER the wall. Caine watched, and rose to help anchor the tarp with some heavy stones... that a man of his build really shouldn't have been able to lift.
"There! Now your work won't get ruined by the rain." Roki said, grinning at Kei. "Oh please won't you come inside with us? We can paint and... and I can show you my room, and..." He broke off, blushing. "Er... that is... if you WANT to see my room... It's a bit messy...."
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 11:36 pm
Keiji was happy to settle down where the food was set up, looking everything over with wide eyes. It all looked so good he thought to himself, waiting for his friend to eat first before he followed suit. He lifted his his sandwich with one hand before he held it there was he listed to Caine as he spoke, "I understand how he feels... I don't often get out either, I seem to get swept up with taking care of a lot of things at home since my guardian has a job that takes him away from home a lot." He explained, lifting the sandwich up so that he could take a bite out of it.
He was chewing when he heard the mention of rain and he lifted his head up, starring at the sky and his eyes got wide, "Ahhh..." Wait, what? Rain? He looked at the clouds and then to the wall that he had just been working on. Oh... no... that would be quite a terrible loss he thought to himself. He wondered if he would be able to recreate the piece... he couldn't say since he went into a bit of a trance when he painted. He tried to force his worry aside so that he could focus on what was being said to him, something about going back to their house after lunch? Redecorating a room, "I've never redone a room before... are you sure you trust me to do something like that when I am untried in that manner?"
As a question was posed to him he looked down at the sandwich before shaking his head, "Oh, no... its very good, thank you." He said, not wanting for the man to think that he was disappointed in what he was eating because he thought that it was really good. He turned to look over to look at Rokiro as he got up, abandoning his food so that he could set to work covering up the wall with the help of his father. The young blond couldn't help but to stare, eyes wide, as the two used a tarp to protect the fresh artwork. He blinked a couple times before dropping his gaze, head bowing, "I... thank you... that was kind of you both..." They didn't have to do something like that and yet they had, it was so... kind of them that he couldn't help but to be shocked at them doing something like that for a stranger.
He lifted his gaze when he was invited inside, to see Rokiro's room and he gave a little nod of his head, "I... sure, I would like to see your room." He murmured, finishing up the food he'd been holding and picked up the containing holding the milk so that he could drink it, not wanting to waste even a drop or a crumb of the food that these people had been so kind as to give to him.
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 11:49 pm
Caine smiled at the boy, and reached over to very lightly ruffle his hair - just enough to show affection, and not enough to be creepy. "Don't mention it. If I were an artist, I'd want my work protected too, yeah?" He rose, stretched, and started to pack up what hadn't been eaten yet. "I think we should finish this lunch INdoors, as it's about to turn nasty out here. Plus - I'd love to get to know you better, Keiji. Also.... Who cares if you're 'untried' in decorating a room? You'll never LEARN how to do it if you don't experience it, am I right?"
Roki started to help his father pack things up, and grinned at the artist. "Our house is big, so even if you think you've screwed things up, it doesn't really matter... And you WON'T screw things up..." He dropped his voice, and met Keiji's eyes. "I know it. I KNOW you won't screw up. It's impossible for you to screw up, because what you do is art."
Stretching himself, he looked up at his father. "Dad - can I give him something out of my plushie collection?" he asked, a pleading look to his eyes. "Please? Everyone needs a plushie."
Caine laughed, and nodded his head. "Of course. But no more than two. And make sure it's what he WANTS. I don't want you forcing things on people, but.... I don't have a problem with it, so long as Jason doesn't."
Rokiro giggled. "DaddyJ MADE them!"
Another nod from Caine. "I know - hence he won't mind. Keiji - You'll have to excuse my husband's absence from the house. He's on a business trip of sorts, and won't be back for another week."
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 12:16 am
They were very kind and understanding people, weren't they? Which wasn't to say that his own guardian wasn't the same but he was... different from these people he thought to himself before he found the man gently ruffling his hair which had Keiji tensing up ever so slightly before he relaxed again when he realized that it was alright. It seemed the boy was a little leery of contact though the reason wasn't something he was to forthcoming about.
"I will do my best." He murmured to them both, finding himself growing quite embarrassed by Rokiro declaring that he couldn't screw up because art was what he did. He could only hope that he was right in what he was suggesting. He got up to his feet, brushing himself off before he looked over at Rokiro in a somewhat confused manner before he found himself shaking his head, "Oh... no, no... I couldn't take something that belongs to you. Its kind of you to offer, Rokiro, but I couldn't do that." He said, not wanting for Rokiro to think that he needed something of him for Keiji to be friends with him.
From some distances off there was a clap of thunder that made Keiji's wings snap open in response, not liking the loud, startling sound in the least. His wings gave a rapid flutter before he forced them to close against his back once more, "Ahh... its quite alright." It wasn't as though his presence was so important that Caine should worry about asking Keiji to excuse the absence of his... wait, his husband? He tilted his head to one side, "You have a husband?" He found himself asking in a curious manner. He could only hope he didn't appear as rude but such a couple wasn't one he'd run across yet himself aside from on the television so he couldn't help but to be a touch curious.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 12:48 am
"Oh yes. Jason and I have been together... oh... fourteen years now? We met in medical school, and that was that." He chuckled, and started to roll up the blanket. "We were married... Gods, was it on a Wednesday? I believe it was. Private ceremony - nothing all that special. Us, and some friends."
He reached over to ruffle Roki's hair this time. "Rokiro was our second child. Of course... Aekepi was our first, and he... isn't around anymore. About a year back, something happened. Our first house burnt to the ground when we were all on vacation. Aekepi had been at a friend's house, and only came home to see the wreckage, apparently. We've had a private investigator searching for him ever since, but..." He trailed off. "No luck thusfar. One day, I'm hoping he'll just come home.... He probably thinks we're all dead."
He paused, and pinned the corners of the blanket together in silence. Waiting for a moment before speaking again. "But yes. Jason and I are married. Rokiro's been raised in a very... open.. household. Both Jason and I aren't exactly what you'd call human. Well.. not all the time, anyway."
Rokiro took the basket, and closed the lid, popping a ham-rollup into his mouth, and grinning as if he'd snuck it. He went back to helping his dad with the cleanup afterward.
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