"Okay," Kiyoshi said when Gris gave him a break-down of what they were going to be doing. Then he said he might need him to track a vampire and Kiyo nodded, his face growing serious again.
Would Evan be angry with him for doing this? He hadn't even thought about tracking vampires, he had been thinking more of werewolves. Now he'd already agreed to it though, and he did want t help his Pack and Gris. He wondered if he should mention it to Evan or not; there were things Evan did for his Clan that he couldn't discuss with Kiyo and Kiyo didn't hold it against him. This was probably a Pack thing that he shouldn't go into detail about as well. Evan would understand but Kiyo would feel terrible about keeping secrets. He hated to keep secrets. He'd have to give it some thought - was it a betrayal of his Pack to tell Evan?
A year ago he might not have cared. He'd been so lost and lonely and he'd always felt like an outcast. Now, however, he was beginning to find a place in his Pack and he didn't feel so outcast. Along with that came stronger feelings of loyalty to his Pack as a whole but to the good friends he had made. He would have to give it some thought.
Meanwhile he nodded at Gris. "I wonder if she ever needs our help," he mused. Kiyo had never had to track down a criminal of any sort; his keen senses were just always there, always present, and every once in a while they posed a problem when he was in a new city and the smells were a sensory overload. He had also used them to avoid Luis when they were younger. Never to find someone who'd done something bad. It would be a good exercise for him.
He looked up at Gris with interest when he told him Josh's occupation. "A diplomat? That sounds interesting."
Leave it to Gris to find someone just as smart-sounding as he himself was. They probably made a, imposing, handsome pair. Kiyo couldn't imagine Gris with anyone who wasn't as sophisticated and polished as he was. His thoughts strayed to Evan and again he wondered what Evan saw in him to love. He was not polished, or sophisticated, or particularly smart or even that incredibly good-looking. Yet there had to be something, because he knew Evan had good taste. Still, he wondered if once in a while Evan didn't want to be seen with someone as handsome as he was. Kiyo dismissed the thought - it could only lead him one way and that was not a good way to go.
Gris asked him what favor he wanted and Kiyo bit his lip and nibbled on his fingernail. After unsuccessfully trying to master his blush he sighed and looked up at Gris again.
"Do you think... I mean maybe sometime..." It was hard for him to ask. This wasn't something he normally did at all. In a very small voice he finally asked, "I was wondering if you would run with me sometime. I don't usually go with anyone and... and... I need to practice."
Being in the woods with Evan had almost been enjoyable. The parts with Evan were great but Kiyo had yet to grow comfortable with his wolf and since coming to Nachton he had begun to realize he should try. To that end he thought maybe if he tried with someone of his own Pack it would be helpful. Gris had been the first person to come to mind.
The Smell of Adventure
Evan smacked another orc in the head and then turned to look at Kiyo. There were two more orcs but they were beating up the paladin and leaving the little druid alone. He had to admit that Kiyoshi's avatar was just fun to watch. It was almost as cute as the real thing. Almost.
They were not playing their usual game. It was less high paced adventure but it was far more private and comfortable. They hadn't played with the guild in a couple of weeks but they still kept in touch with vent and the website.
Dev had gotten into their vent channel in the wee hours of the morning a couple of days ago and dropped in long enough to say hello. They hadn't seen much of him lately and Evan was vaguely worried about him. The guild had been the closest thing to family that Dev had. He was almost always around at least once or twice a week.
At first Evan thought that he and Kiyo had just been missing him. They had been spending an awful lot of time doing...other things. But he had spoken to their other guild mates and they had all said that Devian had been scarce lately. A lot of the girls were asking about him too, ready to send him cookies and kisses if he was having a difficult time at work.
Their friend had just dropped in to say hello and that he had been rather busy lately. He also said that he had started a new character in Everquest II. Evan and Kiyo had been playing the same game for several weeks now themselves. They hadn't given up on World of Warcraft completely but it was nice to wander around in a virtual world as a couple and not worry about it getting back to their very real friends.
After a brief discussion, without push-to-talk buttons pressed, they had decided to mention that they were also playing. They could always make different characters if they wanted privacy again. Dev seemed surprised that they were all playing the same game but suggested that they should hook up sometime and raid a dungeon. He didn't stay long and seemed a bit distracted.
At the moment, Evan was distracted by the stray strand of hair that had fallen out of Kiyo's braid and was currently lightly touching his lover's cheek. He wanted to reach out and gently tuck it behind Kiyo's ear so badly that it hurt. His fingers twitched against the desk; he could feel the soft touch of Kiyo's face against the back of them. It was so real in his mind, so easy to do...
But they were sitting in the computer gaming area of Terminus. He had less than an hour to play before his shift began. Kiyo's would start later in the evening. Evan would use the time after his shift to go hunting while his partner was still working that way they had the rest of their time for each other.
A loud thud and a strange bleating sound drew his attention away from the Kiyoshi sitting beside him. Evan looked back at his monitor in time to see a whole new group of orcs trying to kill them. His little fawn, Dotmatrix, was kicking and flailing at the one nearest him.
Ooops, respawn.
"That was definitely my bad.†He muttered. Evan began targeting orcs and mashing appropriate buttons. When the threat of death was over, he sent a typed message to his partner.
/Tell Kiiyoshi: You could be a little less irresistible though. It makes concentrating difficult.
Kiyoshi Salinas
12 years ago
Greer Grayson
12 years ago
Gris shrugged his shoulders about Tavi needing their help. "She is probably a pretty good tracker herself. The Sarkis was a bounty hunter at one time. I think the detective thing is following in his footsteps." Though Tavi would probably never admit that.
Kiyo seemed hesitant to ask what he wanted to ask; that concerned Gris briefly but he supposed that his friend would be hesitant to ask for most anything. When the request did come to light, Gris smiled.[i] "Of course I will run with you." [i] He didn't like that Kiyoshi didn't run with his pack and had been running alone. A werewolf was vulnerable on the nights of the full moon without their pack. There was a sense of self that one could keep when they changed. It took practice. That sense of self was almost impossible to maintain during the full moon. The wolf took over and a vampire would be a threat that a wolf might not back down and run from when the thinking brain would have.
Frowning slightly in concern, he reached out for Kiyo's shoulders and looked at him closely. "Have you been taking Evan at least?" It was a strange comfort. One didn't think of a werewolf as being safer with a vampire around. However, Evan wouldn't hurt Kiyoshi and if another vampire tried to attack his packmate then hopefully Evan could stop them. Perhaps even his presence would deter them.
Knowing that his concern would upset his friend, Gris smiled and wrapped an arm around Kiyo. "I will go with you any time you want. We can go out tonight after your work if you like." [i] Josh already knew he was out with a friend. He could call and say they might be a little later. This was important. He would make it up to Josh when he got the chance.
Turning Kiyo by the shoulders, Gris marched his friend back toward the entrance. [i] "Let's go get some food and I can tell you all about gift from the heavens. "
Kiyo seemed hesitant to ask what he wanted to ask; that concerned Gris briefly but he supposed that his friend would be hesitant to ask for most anything. When the request did come to light, Gris smiled.[i] "Of course I will run with you." [i] He didn't like that Kiyoshi didn't run with his pack and had been running alone. A werewolf was vulnerable on the nights of the full moon without their pack. There was a sense of self that one could keep when they changed. It took practice. That sense of self was almost impossible to maintain during the full moon. The wolf took over and a vampire would be a threat that a wolf might not back down and run from when the thinking brain would have.
Frowning slightly in concern, he reached out for Kiyo's shoulders and looked at him closely. "Have you been taking Evan at least?" It was a strange comfort. One didn't think of a werewolf as being safer with a vampire around. However, Evan wouldn't hurt Kiyoshi and if another vampire tried to attack his packmate then hopefully Evan could stop them. Perhaps even his presence would deter them.
Knowing that his concern would upset his friend, Gris smiled and wrapped an arm around Kiyo. "I will go with you any time you want. We can go out tonight after your work if you like." [i] Josh already knew he was out with a friend. He could call and say they might be a little later. This was important. He would make it up to Josh when he got the chance.
Turning Kiyo by the shoulders, Gris marched his friend back toward the entrance. [i] "Let's go get some food and I can tell you all about gift from the heavens. "
Kiyoshi Salinas
12 years ago
Kiyo nodded at Gris. "I'm sure she is," he said, worried that Gris might have thought he was implying Tavi couldn't do her job. "I just meant if she needed help, we could help her too maybe."
He smiled happily when Gris said he would run with him; he had been a little afraid to ask. He had met with criticism in the past for not running with the Pack but Kiyo had so little control over his wolf under the moon that he feared it. Often, especially with Luis's Pack, running with them had meant he was constantly jockeying for a place amongst his peers and he simply did not have any form of superior speed or strength. All he had was a particularly ear-piercing howl that tended to make them angrier at him than when they'd begun.
Said howl had certainly kept them from harming him, but it didn't improve his popularity any when they'd been young.
When Gris asked about Evan Kiyo blushed and shook his head. "Once or twice, when it wasn't a full moon. But someone needs to mind Terminus and we can't both be off, usually," he said.
There were other bartenders, of course,but Kiyo was the main attraction usually and worked at least five nights, if not more. Since he'd begun living with Evan it was no longer a battle to make him take his time off but the workaholic in him was still there and Evan, too, had a huge load to bear. Not only did he tend bar frequently but he had to oversee the entire club.
Gris's concern was cushioned by a friendly arm around his shoulder and Kiyo tried not to worry so much; Gris wasn't upset with him. He knew that. His friend obviously cared about him, which was a new and wonderful feeling for Kiyo - to have friends who actually did care. He felt his face burn when Gris told him they could even go that night.
"Uh... I, uh... I want to but..."
An image of Evan kneeling on the floor of his office flashed into Kiyo's mind and he vividly remembered every detail of what had just occurred not an hour ago. He had promised Evan some reciprocation and, having been forced to go without, Evan certainly deserved it.
Kiyo twisted his fingers together, stammering furiously as he tried to explain to Gris. "I promised Evan I would, uh, spend some - um... quality time with him later. After work. You know. I have to close so he'll be stuck waiting on me and it wouldn't be fair to leave him. Maybe tomorrow night?"
It would be Evan's turn to close the bar then, and Kiyo would have several hours in which he could meet Gris and they could go then. "I'll be off earlier. If we went tonight, anyway, I wouldn't be able to do it until 2 or 3."
Possibly later. Gris was a lawyer; Kiyo doubted his job allowed for him to stay up quite that late on a weekday. Tomorrow, though, it would be a much earlier night.
They headed back around the building and Kiyo was happy to return his focus to Josh the Diplomat, who was a very lucky guy, Kiyo thought with typical loyalty. "I can't wait to meet him," he said earnestly. "Do you have a picture of him?"
He smiled happily when Gris said he would run with him; he had been a little afraid to ask. He had met with criticism in the past for not running with the Pack but Kiyo had so little control over his wolf under the moon that he feared it. Often, especially with Luis's Pack, running with them had meant he was constantly jockeying for a place amongst his peers and he simply did not have any form of superior speed or strength. All he had was a particularly ear-piercing howl that tended to make them angrier at him than when they'd begun.
Said howl had certainly kept them from harming him, but it didn't improve his popularity any when they'd been young.
When Gris asked about Evan Kiyo blushed and shook his head. "Once or twice, when it wasn't a full moon. But someone needs to mind Terminus and we can't both be off, usually," he said.
There were other bartenders, of course,but Kiyo was the main attraction usually and worked at least five nights, if not more. Since he'd begun living with Evan it was no longer a battle to make him take his time off but the workaholic in him was still there and Evan, too, had a huge load to bear. Not only did he tend bar frequently but he had to oversee the entire club.
Gris's concern was cushioned by a friendly arm around his shoulder and Kiyo tried not to worry so much; Gris wasn't upset with him. He knew that. His friend obviously cared about him, which was a new and wonderful feeling for Kiyo - to have friends who actually did care. He felt his face burn when Gris told him they could even go that night.
"Uh... I, uh... I want to but..."
An image of Evan kneeling on the floor of his office flashed into Kiyo's mind and he vividly remembered every detail of what had just occurred not an hour ago. He had promised Evan some reciprocation and, having been forced to go without, Evan certainly deserved it.
Kiyo twisted his fingers together, stammering furiously as he tried to explain to Gris. "I promised Evan I would, uh, spend some - um... quality time with him later. After work. You know. I have to close so he'll be stuck waiting on me and it wouldn't be fair to leave him. Maybe tomorrow night?"
It would be Evan's turn to close the bar then, and Kiyo would have several hours in which he could meet Gris and they could go then. "I'll be off earlier. If we went tonight, anyway, I wouldn't be able to do it until 2 or 3."
Possibly later. Gris was a lawyer; Kiyo doubted his job allowed for him to stay up quite that late on a weekday. Tomorrow, though, it would be a much earlier night.
They headed back around the building and Kiyo was happy to return his focus to Josh the Diplomat, who was a very lucky guy, Kiyo thought with typical loyalty. "I can't wait to meet him," he said earnestly. "Do you have a picture of him?"
Greer Grayson
12 years ago
"We can always ask her.†Gris shrugged and let the topic move on to other things.
They discussed going out and running. He was happy to hear that Evan had gone with Kiyoshi once or twice. He was not happy to hear that Kiyo had been running on the full moon without anyone. They would have to fix that. Gris wondered if he could convince Kiyoshi to let him invite Tavi. She wouldn't want to hear that her friend was running alone either. Once they got used to running together then perhaps they could convince Kiyo to join them with the larger pack. No one out alpha'd Tavi that he had seen; She didn't back down from anyone. Considering how small she was, it was kind of adorable and more than a little scary. He had run with the pack quite often now and she tended to run out front, racing past everyone with only a few wolves able to keep up. Gris hoped that she would wait for them if they ran with the pack; he knew she would if they were just running as a small group. She tended to run ahead and then circle around to rejoin the larger group when they were all together. He might not have noticed but a bright pink wolf, or whatever the current colour, was hard to miss.
Kiyo stammered through his request for a raincheck. Gris's smile widened as he listened to the reasoning, reading easily between the lines. A similar thought was on his own mind; he just hoped he didn't turn a similar shade of red when he thought of Josh. "I will have to see if Josh has any plans tomorrow but I think we can swing it.†If they ran early enough then he could still get home in time to shag his boyfriend senseless before they both needed to get some sleep.
"Of course I have pictures.†Gris stepped through the automatic doors to Terminus and reached for his phone. "Where to?†He gestured with the device at the large complex which had many different sections.
Holding up the phone he showed a picture of Josh to his friend. "Here is the one that I use for caller id.†It was a picture of Josh just coming home from work and looking all respectable. He liked that side of Josh, put together and in charge. "Here is one before we were headed out on a day off.†A less businesslike Josh. There was another of the two of them together, obviously shot while Gris held the phone away from them at arm's length. He grinned as the next picture came up. Josh was leaning back on one elbow, topless with just the edge of a sheet showing at the bottom of the picture. Gris liked that side of Josh as well. Truthfully he liked all sides of Josh that he had seen. "I surprised him with that one but he just looked so...†Gris sighed and clicked off the phone before he could get too distracted.
"So, let's find some dinner.â€
They discussed going out and running. He was happy to hear that Evan had gone with Kiyoshi once or twice. He was not happy to hear that Kiyo had been running on the full moon without anyone. They would have to fix that. Gris wondered if he could convince Kiyoshi to let him invite Tavi. She wouldn't want to hear that her friend was running alone either. Once they got used to running together then perhaps they could convince Kiyo to join them with the larger pack. No one out alpha'd Tavi that he had seen; She didn't back down from anyone. Considering how small she was, it was kind of adorable and more than a little scary. He had run with the pack quite often now and she tended to run out front, racing past everyone with only a few wolves able to keep up. Gris hoped that she would wait for them if they ran with the pack; he knew she would if they were just running as a small group. She tended to run ahead and then circle around to rejoin the larger group when they were all together. He might not have noticed but a bright pink wolf, or whatever the current colour, was hard to miss.
Kiyo stammered through his request for a raincheck. Gris's smile widened as he listened to the reasoning, reading easily between the lines. A similar thought was on his own mind; he just hoped he didn't turn a similar shade of red when he thought of Josh. "I will have to see if Josh has any plans tomorrow but I think we can swing it.†If they ran early enough then he could still get home in time to shag his boyfriend senseless before they both needed to get some sleep.
"Of course I have pictures.†Gris stepped through the automatic doors to Terminus and reached for his phone. "Where to?†He gestured with the device at the large complex which had many different sections.
Holding up the phone he showed a picture of Josh to his friend. "Here is the one that I use for caller id.†It was a picture of Josh just coming home from work and looking all respectable. He liked that side of Josh, put together and in charge. "Here is one before we were headed out on a day off.†A less businesslike Josh. There was another of the two of them together, obviously shot while Gris held the phone away from them at arm's length. He grinned as the next picture came up. Josh was leaning back on one elbow, topless with just the edge of a sheet showing at the bottom of the picture. Gris liked that side of Josh as well. Truthfully he liked all sides of Josh that he had seen. "I surprised him with that one but he just looked so...†Gris sighed and clicked off the phone before he could get too distracted.
"So, let's find some dinner.â€
Kiyoshi Salinas
12 years ago
Gris said he would check with Josh and see if he had plans; something about the way he said it made Kiyo happy. Gris was happy, that was so very evident. Kiyo liked this Josh already. Anyone who brought Gris such joy was Kiyo's friend.
As they went back into Terminus Gris showed Kiyo the pictures on his phone. Kiyo looked at them curiously. The first showed a man with dark hair and incredibly pale skin in a dark gray suit. Kiyo knew very little about suits but he had seen both Gris and now this man wearing them and he only wished he could look like that in one. The next one had Josh in a sweater and a pair of jeans, somehow still looking polished and formal.
After that was a picture of the two of them with Gris holding his phone out. Josh had a very faint smile on his face; Gris looked exuberant. "You guys look so good together," Kiyo said.
He flushed at the next picture, which showed Josh naked from the waist up, leaning on one arm, looking disheveled. Kiyo let out a little giggle as Gris tried to shake off a dreamy expression, returning his attention to dinner.
"It looks like you're having fun," Kiyo said. Josh wasn't smiling in any of those pictures; not like Gris smiled. Still, though, there was a sort of serenity on his face and the very faint smile that looked quietly happy.
"I want to grab some sushi," Kiyo said. While Terminus was one of very very few places in Nachton that would serve Kiyo a raw steak, he was aware that Gris had completely opposite tastes. He wasn't going to consume a red bloody steak in front of his friend. Sushi, at least, was mainstream enough in today's culture. And not pulpy and bloody (delicious).
The other benefit of eating at work, though, was that Kiyo and Gris could order from different parts of the club and both come away with something they liked. Before long they were both taken care of and they continued to chat easily while they ate. Kiyo invited Gris to stay for a little bit after he had to go to work; he had a new trick he was going to debut and he would like it if Gris were there to see it. He didn't often play with knives but he could juggle them competently and had been practicing at slicing fruit in mid-air and mid-juggle. more importantly, Evan had been practicing catching flying fruit and that was what really made the trick fun and not wasteful.
Kiyo went to work happy; Between Evan and Gris he had been given many reasons for that, and he had never felt luckier. He supposed that would bode well for the up and coming knife-wielding.
((ooc: Both out))
As they went back into Terminus Gris showed Kiyo the pictures on his phone. Kiyo looked at them curiously. The first showed a man with dark hair and incredibly pale skin in a dark gray suit. Kiyo knew very little about suits but he had seen both Gris and now this man wearing them and he only wished he could look like that in one. The next one had Josh in a sweater and a pair of jeans, somehow still looking polished and formal.
After that was a picture of the two of them with Gris holding his phone out. Josh had a very faint smile on his face; Gris looked exuberant. "You guys look so good together," Kiyo said.
He flushed at the next picture, which showed Josh naked from the waist up, leaning on one arm, looking disheveled. Kiyo let out a little giggle as Gris tried to shake off a dreamy expression, returning his attention to dinner.
"It looks like you're having fun," Kiyo said. Josh wasn't smiling in any of those pictures; not like Gris smiled. Still, though, there was a sort of serenity on his face and the very faint smile that looked quietly happy.
"I want to grab some sushi," Kiyo said. While Terminus was one of very very few places in Nachton that would serve Kiyo a raw steak, he was aware that Gris had completely opposite tastes. He wasn't going to consume a red bloody steak in front of his friend. Sushi, at least, was mainstream enough in today's culture. And not pulpy and bloody (delicious).
The other benefit of eating at work, though, was that Kiyo and Gris could order from different parts of the club and both come away with something they liked. Before long they were both taken care of and they continued to chat easily while they ate. Kiyo invited Gris to stay for a little bit after he had to go to work; he had a new trick he was going to debut and he would like it if Gris were there to see it. He didn't often play with knives but he could juggle them competently and had been practicing at slicing fruit in mid-air and mid-juggle. more importantly, Evan had been practicing catching flying fruit and that was what really made the trick fun and not wasteful.
Kiyo went to work happy; Between Evan and Gris he had been given many reasons for that, and he had never felt luckier. He supposed that would bode well for the up and coming knife-wielding.
((ooc: Both out))