icarusalsoflew | 003. and in every raindrop... // open post.

Him, and a couple of other people.

[ Because the folks over at Rhiannon know how to live it up. There is also Gabriel. And Brianna. And Kaz. And the fact that now that he has cash to spare and a job that he likes? Yeah, he can afford to spend and not worry. ]

I hear the sashimi is great?

It's some of the best in the city, actually.

[And pausing a bit to thank the nice waitress that comes over with an ashtray. It's lovely how the Vigil made Metro Manila a lot more like Japan: now you can smoke inside restaurants.]

The only place that has establishments that could top this one is Little Tokyo.

[ He's passing an order for you both to the same waitress just then, and smiling his thank you before she heads off. ]

That's in Makati, right?

[ He vaguely remembers it, from the walks he used to take with Rethe back when... well, months ago. ]

Yeah. We can go there sometime. Maybe for another date.

[Because he is starting to like the idea of dates.]

[ And you're getting a quiet smile from this one just as the waitress comes back to give you your drinks. ]

I'd like that. Very much.

Thought you would. There are a lot of other places to check out in this city too.

[Saying that as he leans back and takes a moment, yet again, to admire his surroundings.]

We have time.

[Either they really do, or they'll make sure they do. It'll all work out somehow.]

We do.

[ He says that softly as he's following the way your eyes fall towards the room's set-up. He'd been worried that maybe it would seem a little much, but the look on your face earlier had been totally worth it.

That is, of course, when the food finally arrives. ]

[And it looks marvelous. Yes, the Blade King is a Keeper of the Vigil and therefore used to roughing it out or having very little to go around on the battlefield.

This is not the battlefield, and the Blade King also happens to be Hikaru Shinta, a Bladian. Bladians are all about drive, and sucking out the marrow from the bones of life whenever they can. The long and short of it? They know how to enjoy themselves, and appreciate it when somebody indulges them.]

You know, making sure that Japanese food down here was up to snuff was a bit of a long-term project for my Whisperers for a very long time.

[ He's enjoying a cigarette in time to enjoying the amount of sashimi he decided to indulge in because wow hell yeah, this is really good stuff. ]

So, the food here back in 2012 wasn't as excellent as this?

[ It tastes autentic, okay. And he can actually say he's had authentic thanks to that little trip you guys had with the Hounds down to Ebi-san's little restaurant in Ginza. ]

Food down here has always been great in general, but my country's stuff could have been worlds better.

[Oh, that reminds him.]

You have been trying more Filipino stuff, right?

[ He nods. ]

Here and there. If not at the Great Hall then when I'm at Ateneo.

[ It's cafeteria food, but he did note that most were treated like home-cooked meals. ] But if you have places you want to suggest, I am totally game.

[ Grinning at you now, as he takes a sip from his drink. ]

What I'm thinking about isn't so much of a place as it is a road trip.

[Work with him here. He's gone places, done shit, and is amazingly familiar with the Philippines. This country became his second home in so many ways, and also served as his safe place for a long time.]

[ Okay. He's listening. ]

And... where exactly were you thinking we should go?

[ He hasn't been around. Sure, he's read up some, the information's just out there ready for the taking -- but anywhere you pick is bound to be interesting. ]

Everywhere. This place is beach central, and there's nothing quite like eating fresh seafood on a beach that's nowhere near the hustle and bustle of a city.

[Good times, good times...]

[ ...Beach. Right. Okay, he can work with this. ]

Where's your favorite place to go?

[ You must have somewhere in mind, surely. ]

[Hmm!]

That's probably a toss-up between Bicol, Batanes, Palawan and Dumagete. And that's only if we're talking nature stuff.

[His list always varies according to what he's looking for.]

[ He's going to cross his arms over the table and lean forward, because listening to you talk about places you've been has always been something he has enjoyed. ]

Well, my last experience in Palawan wasn't exactly the recreational sort. [ Mission from Jessiah Vice? Instructions to push the red button ( and how is a red button supposed to be a good thing anyway ) if Rhiannon couldn't hold the target back? Well, at least he got a blademate out of that. ]

But okay, what if we aren't talking nature stuff?

[Riiiight, that was how you met Brigade. Oops.]

Cebu and Davao are always nice. So's Baguio, Vigan, and Taal.

[He has a soft spot for Taal, actually. But that's a story he'll tell you about some other time.]

[ You're definitely giving him things to look up. ]

Well, wherever you want to go, I'm always game.

[ Saying that with a soft look in his eyes directed your way. Both your schedules might be an issue, but that can be worked out. ]

Even if it happens to be Antarctica?

[Because there is actually stuff to see there now, even if it's bloody fucking hella really cold.]

Or the Middle East? Or Africa?

[Which are probably the single most dangerous continents in the Fifth World right now.

He's totally teasing you.

Maybe.]

[ And this one's doing his very best not to laugh.

He also has a comeback for you, because he does feel good about a lot of things tonight. ]

And if my answer is 'yes'?

[ The look in his eyes might be hinting at just a little intense. ]

[And now that chin is going on that hand, with a tiny upward curve of those lips.]

Then I'm going to wonder what happened to that shy, unassuming Sin-Eater who found himself on Shinta Airways a couple of months back.

[ Yep, there goes that not-really-biting-at-his-lip-but yeah, you get the picture.

The pitch of his voice has also dropped a notch. ]

That same shy and unassuming Sin-Eater trekked three months from San Diego to Canada. [ Travel was a thing he couldn't indulge, but it was his favorite part of having games out of state. ] I've always wanted to go places, I just... didn't have the chance to.

[ His eyes are still fixed on yours, by the way. ]

Besides. Gotta keep up with my boyfriend somehow, right? He seems to have been everywhere.

[ No shit, Sherlock. ]

Oh, not everywhere. Places keep changing, you know?

[It's not false modesty: it's a fact. Only close-minded folks, practically immortal or otherwise, could be arrogant enough to assume that some things don't change at all, most especially if they happen to be countries and the manifold living spaces within them. Even the relatively untouched expanses of wilderness shifted around.]

There's always something new to check out, and that sort of thing is especially fun to experience when you've got excellent company.

[ That grin on his face is broadening, because for someone who's lived 29 life cycles, you've got a world of curiosity in you -- and he's heard people warn about that curiosity but honestly? It's refreshing and very, very cute. ]

I hope you keep me in mind if you decide to go jet-setting to wherever.

[ Or blood-walking. Which he'll be concerned about, but mostly because he'll always be concerned about you exerting yourself too much or stretching yourself too thin. If you say that you can handle it though -- he's going to practice taking your word for it. ]

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