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Kirin stared at the small piece of paper pinned to a cork board. The board was propped up on a chest of drawers, pinned with reminders-to-self, the odd photo, and mementos he wanted in easy sight but didn't rate a picture frame or similar. What had his attention right now was a thin strip of paper - tattered edge obviously ripped off a full page) - with a quick scrawl of numbers across it.

In his hands, he flipped a mobile phone over and over. It wasn't a new action for the day. All morning, Kirin had wandered into his bedroom, considering the number and his mobile, then wandered back out again. This behaviour wasn't like him. But he'd never have a guy give Kirin his number before. Well, okay, not that Kirin had kept, because usually any numbers were from morons thinking with the brain in their pants, mistakenly assuming they could get into Kirin's pants.

This was the first time Kirin had called a boy. For a date.

Kirin made a face, immediately protesting the classification. It totally wasn't a date. Karaoke had been nice, but Kirin took anybody and their dog to karaoke - no date there. And this was just a chess game, which they'd agreed to on their first not-date. A totally platonic not-date chess game, simply because Ara was dead and Kirin was down a decent chess partner. That was all.

With that firmly in mind, Kirin opened his mobile and dialled the number Zac had given him.

Kirin blinked at the formal greeting - and at Zac's surname, which he filed away for future reference. "This is Kirin. Uh, we met last week in the park," he replied, a touch formal himself, following Zac's lead. It wasn't like Kirin rang people on a regular basis or 'hung out', unless you counted karaoke excursions. Kirin felt a bit out of practice at even those, after Barren Pines. It was easier to organise things where you all live din the one building.

"I was calling to see if you were still interested in a chess match." Totally platonic. A budding rivalry, even. "We could meet at the park, or on the way there, if you wanted a bodyguard before entering." Kirin's lips twitched, remembering how they'd met.

It was gratifying to be remembered so quickly. Kirin hadn't been sure if this was a regular thing for Zac - he thought not, based on Zac's temperament and the trouble he got himself into, but you never knew. And, another bonus, Zac seemed very excited about meeting up. It made Kirin feel better about being the one to call and ask.

"Anywhere you want to meet," Kirin said easily. He was determined to enjoy the smooth sailing while it lasted. Not scaring off a new chess partner before their first game was also an idea. The idea of anyone 'owing' him for karaoke was foreign to Kirin. He'd organised so many groups and covered for others so many times - as long as Kirin enjoyed the outing, he didn't care about the cost. It wasn't like he spent his living allowance on much else besides the essentials. But some people took those kind of 'debts' seriously, so he shrugged and compromised. "We can always get food after, I suppose."

"There's a coffee shop at the corner of the park. We could meet there?" Kirin offered. And he could indulge his caffeine addiction.

"Eh, I can do things other than karaoke," Kirin said, half protesting. He could. He just preferred not to, most times. But they'd done that last time, and even though Zac said he'd enjoyed it, Kirin thought going again so soon might be overkill for a newbie. "We can always save the dark rooms for bad weather days."

Uh... offering more not-dates wasn't a date-like thing to do, right? Here Kirin was assuming they'd meet up again.

Goddammit, he was starting to sound like a girl, worrying over all this! They'd just meet up, play a game, and then decide together where to go next.

"I'll see you there, then?" he asked.

Kirin made record time getting to the coffee shop, though he would have sworn he wasn't rushing. There was just an extra bounce of energy in each step, which he chalked up to anticipation for the upcoming chess game.

A long skirt flowed over skinny jeans, of which only a few inches were visible before disappearing into ankle boots. (He'd actually gone and bought the same style and brand that Barren Pines had insisted on, just because he was used to wearing them everywhere.) A fuzzy, scalloped-necked sweater completed the outfit, the weather still too cold for Kirin. The sun in the sky might as well be an illusion for all the warmth it cast. But the chill made it perfect coffee weather, so Kirin was glad he'd suggested this place to meet up.

Reaching the doors, Kirin stomped his boots and glanced around. If he didn't see Zac very quickly, he was going inside to wait where it was warm.

Kirin sighed happily as he entered the store, glass door swinging shut behind him. Nice and warm in here. And, he sniffed air appreciatively, filled with the aroma of roasting coffee beans.

The sudden voice in his ear had Kirin spinning around, hands raised to fend off a suspected pervert. "Oh, Zac. Hi," Kirin said lamely. He lowered his hands, feeling foolish now. Of course Zac would be person talking about perfect timing, not some freak about to follow up with how much he was "enjoying the view" from behind Kirin. There were some worrying people out there.

To cover, and hopefully divert attention from the laughable idea of five foot Kirin attacking someone, Kirin pointed at the menu board. "Feel up for a drink first? I don't know that I want to head back outside without something to keep me warm."

Kirin let out a low snarl at the mention of decaf. Nothing too horrendous, just the normal reaction of a caffeine addict to such an unholy suggestion. "Try it and die," he warned, eyes flinty for only a second before flashing back into a better mood. Somehow he didn't think Zac would actually follow through on the threat. Besides, if Zac wanted Kirin off caffeine at any point, surely it would be depriving Kirin of coke (and/or alcohol) during karaoke, when the energy levels were even higher.

Eyeing the menu, Kirin pondered their selection of frouffy, frilly-named drinks. He was used to whatever crap he could manage to not-burn in the mornings, as well as whatever was offered in a dorm room. He didn't recognise half these drinks, apart from hearing them ordered by silly characters in sillier tv shows.

"Caramel latte?" he eventually suggested. The idea of putting flavoured syrup into a coffee was interesting. Kirin would try this. If it sucked, he'd stick to normal coffe next time.

Kirin nodded, glad Zac understood. The quickest way to a grave would be to stand between Kirin and his caffeine. Or maybe to try and rip his clothes off. Or maybe... Well, coffee prevention was high up on the list, anyway.

"No," Kirin wrinkled his nose at the idea of whipped cream on his coffee. He wanted to be warmed up! Not feel like he was drinking a dessert.

He quirked an eyebrow at Zac, wordlessly inviting more information on this 'chai'. "That's like... spiced, overly milky coffee isn't it?" Kirin honestly had no clue. Frappachino was foreign enough to his ears in a coffee store, let alone all the other foreign drinks they imported these days.