For dainty_ofcourse: Coffee shop in NYC

[ayden_aeterna]

OOC note: This meeting happens on Thursday 7th January 2010 in NYC, when Senri is dragged to NYC by Taiki, and arranges to meet up with Ayden, having been chatting on AIM and in mile-long journal comment threads for the past few weeks. IC journals about the entire event to follow

Comments

[dainty_ofcourse]

They were running late. Senri blamed Taiki for not waking him up on time and Taiki calmly recalled the three failed attempts to do so before he'd had to meet up with someone for work. Their time situation was the straw that broke the camel's back for Senri's nerves and he was especially snappy now...All of which the black haired psychic took in stride.

That was just Senri.

When the cab finally pulled up to the coffee shop Taiki had to practically drag Senri out...The little brunet was positive something horrible was going to happen; Ayden probably thought he was some crazed Internet stalker...This was just a bad idea all around.

Oh God, he was going to be sick.

"Calm down." Taiki quietly ordered, hauling Senri out of the vehicle by the arm. "You would not stop talking about this before we left Japan; your aura was practically smothering me with pink." Senri scowled and reluctantly ducked into the shop while Taiki held the door open.

"Did I ask you for an aura report? No. In fact, it's fucking creepy so just stop right now. And I'm calm. I'm fine, thankyouverymuch. And you'd better not embarrass me." He snapped in Japanese, glancing around apprehensively.

Ayden was hard to miss and Senri once again froze, ready to bolt. Taiki nudged him ahead and the brunet turned, swatting the hand away and scowling darkly. He had a nice cutting remark ready but they were at the table already so instead he turned and offered Ayden a nice, nervous little smile. “Mr. Welshman I presume?”

[ayden_aeterna]

Ayden had been watching the door like a hawk, concentrated on looking away when he saw a couple of rather nervous-looking Japanese men coming in. Wouldn't do to be caught staring. He looked up the second one of them spoke, right by his side, and stood up before he could think about it. Mercifully, there was only three or four inches in it. Not exactly eye-to-eye, but he didn't feel too freakishly tall.

"Senri," he guessed with a smile. "Hi. Yes. Welcome to New York. How are you?"

He wasn't too worried about the accent; judging from the fluency of his writing, Senri's English was pretty good. That said, as far as Ayden knew, Japanese schools didn't tend to teach their students English with one hell of a Welsh accent, and he was trying to tone it down just a little, at least.

Was it wrong to hug him? Ayden got nervous enough about stepping on the toes of Japanese culture (wasn't it all very strict and formal?) even over the internet; he didn't want to cause any offence. Although he was standing up already, and... that probably looked a bit odd, come to think of it. Never mind.

"Take a seat," he added quickly, before either of them had chance to reply to the earlier questions. "Can I get either of you a coffee?"

[dainty_ofcourse]

Taiki raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways when Ayden addressed his friend by his first name, but otherwise remained silent.

"I am tired and it is cold, but I am fine otherwise." He'd been practicing English all week with Taiki but his accent was still pretty heavy, making him all the more nervous. Both men shed their jackets and scarves and Taiki quietly volunteered to get them something to drink, slipping away despite the not-so-discrete panicked look Senri shot him. He adjusted his blue sweater and sat as instructed. "And yourself?" His voice was a bit high-strung...So nervous.

[ayden_aeterna]

Okay, pretty heavy accent, and Ayden thought he detected a hint of care about the words. There was a fine line between being obnoxious and being careful, and Ayden stepped out onto the linguistic high-wire cautiously. The last thing he wanted to do was insult Senri, but he also wanted to do his best to be easily understood and accommodating in any way he could manage.

"I'm all right, thanks," he said with a smile. "And yeah, it's bloody cold. Do you get weather like this in Japan?"

Oh, bloody hell, weather. He swore, creatively and in two languages, in his mind. Talking about the weather was an English trait, damn it, and he wasn't bloody English, he was Welsh.

At least it was a fairly safe topic...?

[dainty_ofcourse]

Senri had to resist a giggle...He actually said -bloody-! Instead he just smiled and settled into his seat, relaxing a bit.

"We do, but it is not for long. It is still about 9 degrees at home." He glanced to the side, making sure that Taiki was still there...It really wouldn't surprise him if the so-called friend just disappeared, abandoning him. Oh, and speaking of that... "Where is your friend?"

[ayden_aeterna]

"Couldn't make it," Ayden said, rolling his eyes skyward briefly. "I had three options and they were all otherwise engaged. Thanks a lot, guys." He shrugged, shooting Senri a little grin. "Still, since you're evidently not an overweight, ugly woman, I'm sort of reassured you might not be a serial killer, either."

Not to mention cute, he added silently. No, bad Ayden, stop that.

"How about yours?" he added, with a nod towards Taiki, hoping for a name, at least. "I take it that's Taiki?"

He could only hope he'd managed to pronounce that right. He'd only ever seen it written down, and hadn't the faintest idea about how to speak or pronounce Japanese. Oh well. No doubt Senri would let him know if he'd got it wrong.

[dainty_ofcourse]

Senri narrowed his eyes. "'Couldn't make it'?! I can't believe you! What if I -had- been?! There'd be nothing you would be able to do!" Exhasperation. "Ayden, you're far too trusting." He most likely pronounced your name incorrectly, Ayden.

"Yes, that's Taiki. But you should call him Kayashima...He gets a bit cranky about that." Senri made a little face but corrected it when Taiki came back with a -very- full mocha. He made a happy little noise and face at the prospect of chocolate-coffee and practically hovered over the mug...Aaahhh, warmth.

[ayden_aeterna]

"The barista's looking out for me," Ayden said meekly, with a glance in her direction. She was indeed watching, presumably keeping an eye on where Taiki had got to, and shot Ayden a little wave. Ayden waved back, quickly, with a small smile. "See? She has a panic button under the counter and everything."

He looked up as Taiki returned, smiling a silent 'hello again'. Kayashima. He could manage that. Kay-ah-shee-mah. Sort of. "Hi," he said brightly. "Kayashima." He'd probably just managed to mangle that, despite Senri telling him how to pronounce it all of ten seconds ago. "Ayden Jones, pleased to meet you."

[dainty_ofcourse]

Senri wasn't convinced but he let it go, shaking his head. "I can't believe you." He had relaxed with the little outburst; it was just like talking over the Internet...Right?

Taiki smiled minutely and nodded, carefully folding himself into his seat. "It is nice to make your aquaintance, Mr. Jones." He hesitated for a moment, a ghost of a smirk on his lips. "I have heard quite a bit about you."

There was a little commotion under the table as Senri kicked at -and missed- Taiki's leg. Neither's expression changed despite the exchange.

"Yes, yes." Senri growled, irritated. "Ayden, Taiki...Taiki, Ayden. So how are your classes going?" Senri rushed, trying to cover over Taiki's words.

Damnit, how hard was it to understand the phrase 'don't embarrass me'?!

[ayden_aeterna]

"Pretty good," Ayden said brightly. "I've got all of my classes sorted out for the new term, and there's the band on top of that, and work -- I'm keeping busy," he finished cheerfully. "It's all good."

He glanced across to Taiki, cupping his own coffee mug in both hands. "Please, just call me Ayden. 'Mr Jones' is my Dad." He resisted an urge to add 'or Ianto', fairly sure neither one would get the reference -- and you could only be so sad about a certain science-fiction programme before people started to look at you funny.

[dainty_ofcourse]

"Good, good..." He fidgeted with his cup, at a loss for what else to say. "Busy is good..." Senri stared down at the foam of his mocha.

Taiki just nodded. It was likely that he'd keep addressing Ayden formally, despite the request. "What is it you do?" He asked, clearing his throat. He couldn't help but feel a bit protective over Senri and wasn't completely convinced that them meeting up was appropriate.

[ayden_aeterna]

"I'm a History student," Ayden told Taiki. "First year of my BA. Though I also work part-time in a tattoo studio, and in February I'm starting some bar work. Oh, and I'm in a band."

It was a fairly impressive resume, put like that. Well -- maybe less so when you considered that the words 'tattoo shop' had been in there, along with 'bar' and 'band', but at least he didn't sound like an absolute ne'er-do-well. His hair was hiding the three piercings in his left ear, though, and just for a split-second, under what he interpreted as a slightly accusing look from Taiki, he was glad of it. And the tattoos were definitely well-hidden...

[dainty_ofcourse]

"History? Any specific area?" He wasn't judgemental about Ayden's pastimes and occupations, it was more like he wanted to get a feel for him. Ayden's aura seemed to be good, though several of his chakras were severely off balance...But that wasn't uncommon for a twenty-something male. Still...These were not ideal circumstances.

"He plays the violin and cello as well." Senri offered, not really picking up on Taiki's interrogation. Violin came out a bit more like 'baiorin' and cello was 'chero', but at least he knew what he was talking about. "You're not playing this weekend, are you?" He asked, a bit hopeful.

[ayden_aeterna]

"I could be," Ayden said with a grin to Senri. "Band practises are a bit chaotic at the minute, but I've got a cello and a violin at home, so..." He trailed off there, willing to let Senri make his choice there. He briefly considered adding 'If you trust me enough to come back to the flat', but decided that might be a bad plan, all things considered. Let's not go there. High time the trust jokes were finished with.

He turned to Taiki, leaving Senri to think about that one. "Folklore, mostly. Welsh, once I get back home, although I haven't really had the chance to specialise yet."

[dainty_ofcourse]

Senri set down his mug and grinned. "I believe there's something on the list about you owing me some proof that you can play." He was excited; things were going well and Ayden was good looking. It wasn't so horrible after all.

Taiki's eyebrows rose. "Folklore?" He looked at Ayden thoughtfully for a moment. "Have we spoken before?"

[ayden_aeterna]

"I think there is," Ayden grinned to Senri, daring a split-second flicker of a wink, before looking back to Taiki.

"I don't think so," he said. "Unless..." A vague memory floated to the surface of his mind. "No way. Was it you I talked to over that community that one time? The Mabinogion? Story of Prince Madog?"