Welcome to Tokyo, Japan. January, 1991. The world has entered the technology era, portable phones, home computers, internet, video games. Japan quickly became the epicenter of the latest and greatest. Companies and factories flourished. Where money was, people followed. And while many rose to live a comfortable, happy, and delightful life from this new found money... Others did not. You see, money has this effect on people that can't be outdone. People will do anything for it. And when it starts slipping into the wrong hands, it's impossible to stop. Benethe the day time laborers and the double-shift workers, a seedy underbelly of syndicates exists. Narctics, black market, organized crime, money laundering, you name it and it's been growing as fast as the upper world economy. While many do it just to stay alive, there's those who make it their posh lifestyle. Either way, there's only one question. What would you do if the money was good enough?
JAN 29 2021: Welcome!! ƎLEMENT has been open for two weeks now and we're so happy to see such a bright beginning! If you're new feel free to drop into the discord and say hi before joining.
Occasionally, his stormy eyes rolled over the other as he slept on the couch. All that tossing and turning...
Wonder what he's dreaming about...probably hasn't gotten to sleep long enough to dream in a while...poor thing.
I remember that feeling.
He thought, unaware of just what brand of dream Leo was really having. Milo always woke fucked up after those, teary eyed and shaking... The raven had no clue what he did during that time; perhaps he tossed and turned like Leo.
In truth, that was part of the reason he'd chosen this apartment...because it looked nothing like his childhood home. It wasn't speckled with needless bits of asbestos...nor did it have those telltale stick on stars that most everyone had. Y'know...the ones that only appeared in kids rooms. Had he been thinking of it, he might've gotten sick.
Despite being born there, he wanted nothing with any semblance to it. It was just another bitter reminder. The smooth ceilings of Japan were a welcome change, a little thing he'd be grateful for until the end of time. He didn't want to think about the terror that might've fallen over him if one day he awoke to a popcorn ceiling.
He took a sip of his coffee as he gazed over Leo, well diluted with milk and sugar to the point of it nearly being a dessert. The raven wasn't normally one for sweets but...damn did coffee taste like shit unless you put those things in it; at least in his opinion. His correct opinion.
When the kid greeted him with silence, he couldn't be too surprised; he wasn't a big talker first thing after waking either...hell he wasn't used to anybody being around for him to talk to so soon after rousing. He opted not to do that annoying thing that Jericho used to do: to try and repeat himself until Leo responded.
He tried not to make a face as that guy came to mind, but boy...did he want to grimace at the thought of him. Milo hated him.
The older man took another drink of his coffee, turning to walk away from Leo as he headed to the kitchen. "Morning, time for work already? No rest for the wicked, huh?"
The phrase made him pause, mug still tilted towards his lips.
Huh...might have to remember that one...there's no rest for the wicked.
After a moment, he turned to look at him again, finishing his sip of the caramel colored liquid before he replied, cool and even. "Hah, yeah guess you could say that."
If he was honest, he didn't want to hold onto the awkward events of last night...he knew what their implications were about the other's past. It wasn't his place to pry, if Leo wanted him to know...then he would eventually know.
He ventured off to the kitchen, intent on washing his mug out to use the following evening as he always did before he went about the process of getting ready for work. A shower, fixing his hair, and throwing on his usual garb featuring boots that'd seen better days...they were comfortable though.
The raven had flown away in those boots.
"Want any coffee? How's those cuts feeling?" He asked, voice raising just enough to be heard by Leo, yet not enough to be heard by his neighbors. "I can redress them if you want, probably wouldn't hurt to keep the bandages fresh."
Much to his surprise, Leo slung his feet over the edge of the couch and stood, acting as though he were about to leave. Milo merely watched him curiously, washing his mug out with his hands in the sink as he did so. When the other finally spoke, he nodded quietly, figuring that was what his intentions were.
Though his nodding wasn't, by any means, an indication of agreement.
“Care if I use your stuff one more time before I go?”
"Hmm, was actually thinking about that..." He started, pausing for a little bit as he pondered over his next words, the scent of dish soap in the air and the sound of flowing water filling the silence. "Was actually gonna offer to let you crash on the couch, til you could get something figured out."
Am I really doing this? Just because I woke up unharmed without my shit swiped...?
Some part of him knew it wasn't the best idea he'd ever had, to open his home to a stranger. Perhaps it would bite him in the ass but...he'd rather take the chance than watch Leo get hauled away in a body bag. If that happened...he'd have never forgiven himself, knowing he could've done something to help the kid.
Besides...not so many years ago, his boss took a risk on him and gave him a chance. Some kid from America who barely spoke Japanese, one that'd actually stolen food from him before, and yet he still gave him a shot. He didn't want to be dramatic but, some part of him knew that he would've died out there eventually.
Or gotten thrown in jail for stealing and ended up wishing he was dead.
"There is a catch though...well three or four." The raven thought it was better to be upfront, at least so Leo knew what the expectations were of this deal if he chose to take it. He paused another time after speaking, rinsing the white mug until it was pristine and cutting the water off. His hand reached for a towel hung on the age old oven, drying the ceramic as he turned to face and spoke to Leo again and named his terms.
"Don't bring chaos in here. Don't steal from me. Clean up after yourself and ask before you touch or use anything."
He saw no point in beating around the bush as he cut to the point, notably not making any mentions of rent or food money. Some part of him hoped Leo would take it, even if it was perhaps one of Milo's less brilliant ideas. Well...less brilliant was sugar coating it, it was stupid. He knew it was stupid, he knew he got nothing out of housing the other for free. His boss hadn't gotten anything out of taking a risk on him either. "That's it."
He didn't care what his willingness to try and help this kid said about him, whether it meant he had a savior complex or was a fool; in the grand scheme of things it didn't matter.
"I'm not gonna stop you if you want to go, but the offer's there..."
MADE BY VEL OF GS, WW + ADOX 2.0
Aslin Milo
OH, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WHEN EVERYTHING I LOVED WALKED OUT THE DOOR.
NOTES feeds himb noods and pat his head with one fingee, more noods are waiting in his pocket
At the sudden display of nervousness, Milo’s heart dropped, jeez now he felt like an ass. Poor guy was probably hoping he’d done a good job, he remembered how hard it was to learn this language, it wasn’t more than three years ago no. Though it seemed that once the English reached his ears, his eyes zoned back in on him and any traces of embarrassment just vanished. If he could’ve sighed in relief without alerting the smaller man, he definitely would’ve. Milo never wanted to make anyone uncomfortable, especially when they were asking for help, sometimes that took guts. At least now he knew for certain that yes, this poor little dove was quite lost from his nest. Given how small and just generally...harmless this stranger appeared, it concerned him that he was wandering around in such a...frankly questionable and sometimes dangerous part of town; especially given how nervous he was acting.
If there was one thing Milo had learned, is acting nervous would get you messed with, and some part of him was very determined to make sure that didn’t happen to this hungry, very lost boy with oceans for eyes. Typically, Milo wasn’t one for eye contact, but with this guy it just felt...different, it probably helped that his eyes were such a brilliant blue, very much unlike the gloomy variety that the raven had. In fact, they were near opposites other than clothing, but there were more pressing matters to attend to he supposed.
The compliment to his voice made him clam up slightly, oh how he wished he hadn’t been singing tonight. His voice had put someone in quite a predicament, though some part of him was very pleased to hear that someone else liked it so much. That brought a touch of pink to his cheeks, but he tried to get rid of that quickly by murmuring a sheepish “thank you” and looking away for a fleeting moment as bashfulness took him over. He was quite nervous about his voice and didn’t particularly enjoy talking about it with strangers...however this one seemed nice.
After a few seconds of silence, he managed to bring his attention back on the task at hand. Nodding attentively as he listened to the first parts of the other’s sentence, before he promptly cut himself off and seemed to have some sort of dilemma. Perhaps he’d forgotten? Perhaps he didn’t want to tell Milo where his house was...that was probably a smart thing just in the interest of general safety.
“If it would help, you could tell me wh-“ he started, though fell completely silent as he watched his fellow foreigner attempt to draw the kanji of a neon sign in the air for him.
That’s it, now he was dumbfounded. It was as though his brain just shorted out, what in the hell was he supposed to say? If he was honest...it was pretty damn funny, he almost choked trying to force back a laugh. After taking a minute to compose himself, he pushed some of his own hair from his face then, giving a sigh and shaking his head in a “no”. Truth be told, they were close to his apartment, but he didn’t exactly want to open the door for this guy to know where he lived if the other wasn’t wanting to divulge the same information. So instead, he bit back his desire to laugh and tried to be a bit more sensitive, if such a thing was possible from Milo.
He could already see the embarrassment creeping onto this stranger’s face and he had no desire to add to it. Besides, if Milo didn’t help him, who else would? Probably no one with good intentions, but maybe that was just him assuming the worst.
“N-no I don’t, how about we backtrack until the area looks familiar?” He proposed the idea, still unable to shake the image of the poor boy drawing Kanji in the air in the hopes that his dumbass would understand what he was talking about. After that, he walked around the other, maintaining a rigid 3ft distance between them at all times as he started to try to lead him back the way that he came.
“You can’t have wandered that far off, c’mon lets go.” He said, gesturing with a movement of his head for Emile to follow him.
When Milo moved, it was with a relative speed given how tall he was. He marched along back the way that he came among the neon lights and cracked bricks with his new temporary companion in tow. At least the guy seemed harmless enough...but he still couldn’t get the mental image of the other tracing kanji into the air, puffing his cheeks out and then almost seeming to...realize that it wasn’t going to get him anywhere. It took a good deal of restraint and a few deep, shakey breaths to keep him from giggling about the whole thing.
It was endearing in a way.
MADE BY VEL OF GS, WW + ADOX 2.0
Aslin Milo
OH, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WHEN EVERYTHING I LOVED WALKED OUT THE DOOR.
That rejection caused a shift in Leo that was all too easy for Milo to detect. The stammering, the avoidance of meeting his eyes, the uncomfortable movements; they stung like fresh wounds and brought empathy bubbling up inside of the raven. Confusion and the expression of a child who felt guilty for doing something wrong...how unfair it all was. He tried not to assume what it was from, but how could he not?
“O...kay,”
That simple expression played in his head over and over again as he went about the rest of his evening, so short yet it said so much in tandem with the body language. Some part of him wanted to say something, yet also feared the consequences of being wrong or right. You know what they always used to say about assumptions,
They make an ass out of you and me.
So he latched onto that phrase and held his tongue, instead stupidly offering up his couch as a potential permanent bed for someone he knew so little about.
What am I doing? I don't know this kid at all.
Truth be told, he didn't know why he'd said that...it just felt like the thing to say to someone who generally didn't say much at all. Perhaps somehow he felt that by offering to take Leo in that he would be repaying his debts from a time when something similar was offered for him...or perhaps he simply remembered how it felt and wanted to minimize the suffering of someone else.
As he went about the rest of his nightly routine, cleaning up the kitchen, showering, and then getting ready to turn in for the day, he couldn't help but glance over to Leo every once in a while. He sensed that the other man probably wouldn't like it very much...but he couldn't help but pity him. There was something so utterly surreal about watching someone struggle as you had and being able to ease their suffering just a little bit. It was an opportunity that, while he was thankful for, he wished he'd never had. The raven didn't feel good about being able to help Leo...because he'd rather Leo not ever need such help; nobody deserved to be put in such a position.
Yet despite the sympathy he felt for him, he still didn't trust him. He sensed that they were alike, yet also...he didn't truly know Leo Park or what his limits were. Just because another person suffered did not mean that they were automatically good, so he assumed the position he always did in bed.
His back pressed firmly against the wall and his body facing outward into the empty, dark apartment as city lights and dawn began to slip through the little cracks in the blinds of the only window he had. Glimmering streaks across his black comforter that was pulled up just below his nose as he slept; a state of unease and no true rest to be had with someone unfamiliar in his space. Every once in a while, he'd wake, tired and gloomy eyes flitting over Leo to make sure he was still where he should be, before sleep dragged him down into darkness once more.
The raven carried on like this until 6 PM that evening when his alarm clock went off and a heavy, tired sigh escaped him as he reached for the button to silence it. The anxiety of the previous night's encounter had faded like a dream. He had the night off, he could've stayed in bed for a little while longer; but with Leo there he knew he needed to be up. So with a bit of difficulty, he tossed the blanket off of himself, sat up, and stretched; his bones crackling like embers as he yawned and pushed himself to stand.
Once more, his eyes found Leo's perch upon his couch, a hand rubbing the sleep from them with another heavy sigh. He truly didn't want to be awake right now. Milo was one of those who no matter how much sleep they'd gotten, they never really wanted to stop sleeping. Comfort like that was something he wasn't afforded growing up...so he held it especially dear to him in his older years.
Drowsily, he made the trek to his kitchen to start up the coffee pot; yet another thing he couldn't live without. His voice came out like gravel towards Leo, raspy and drier than it was the night before from his delve into the dream realm, as it always was so soon after waking.
"Evenin'"
MADE BY VEL OF GS, WW + ADOX 2.0
Aslin Milo
OH, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WHEN EVERYTHING I LOVED WALKED OUT THE DOOR.
“It just hasn’t been particularly...welcoming. To me. Is all I meant. But I guess I was sorta stupid about it. I just...wanted out.”
That statement, though it seemed drenched in apologies that Leo wouldn't utter, didn't bode well for his assumptions about his guest. Though he wanted to, Milo didn't pry, figuring that if the kid wanted him to know; he'd tell him why he left...but that didn't settle the unease that the words brought him. To just dip half-way across the world like Leo had...like both of them had, so unprepared and without a thought; certainly said something about what they both wanted to escape. He didn't doubt for a moment that it was vile, whatever Leo had gone through to cause him to do such a thing.
He wanted to ask, he really did, but sometimes the best thing someone could do is just wait to be told. If he was meant to know, then he would in due time, there was no use pestering someone who'd obviously been kicked by life a few times. He wasn't entitled to his story, he'd wait for Leo to tell him to if he so chose.
With how young the other boy was and really how...stupid and fighty he seemed to be at times, it wouldn't have surprised him if things had been bad back home. Milo had no way of knowing what it was of course...yet as Leo began to speak and reach for him it sent a tremor up his spine; the hair standing on the back of his neck in all the worst ways.
“Are you not…? Um- You’re seriously just letting me sleep here without….anything?"
He watched in what felt like slow motion as Leo's hand reached for his own, harmlessly laying on top of it and offering something that was truly frightening in such a casual manner. That told him everything...that right there, at least he thought it did. He knew Leo wasn't trying or going to hurt him, yet that didn't stop the fear from brewing in his stomach.
“I don’t mind.”
Milo's jaw clenched noticeably, eyelids fluttering as he looked to their hands for a split second. Why couldn't he breathe? Why did it feel like his chest was being crushed yet his body so hollow all at once? Like a vase cracking under pressure...he was going to freak out, those words carried something in them that was far too familiar. It wasn't so much that Milo had done the same thing...but he sensed that they were rooted in a tale so closely related; like chapters succeeding each other in a book, bound together in something that shouldn't have ever happened to either of them.
Yet somehow, he managed to jerk his hand away, a little shake in his bones remaining as he fought to keep himself under control. It wasn't Leo's fault, he wasn't doing anything but what he was taught to do.
It's not his fault...don't snap...he didn't know...people don't just offer things like that unless they're raised that way
Don't freak out...it's not his fault
His head whispered, for once saying the right thing.
The raven managed to keep it together, taking a breath that perhaps hinted at how unsettled the gesture left him before he opted to speak.
"Don't...don't do that."
He spoke, looking away from him again as he finished packing up the kit. Twining his fingers into the handles as he stood with the container and walked past Leo to go stow it. Despite how much the offer scared him, he had no ill will towards Leo, no negative thoughts of him over it. People were products of their environments, if Leo offered something like that...it must've been because he was taught that he was supposed to do that...right?
It was so hard to think about, so unfair and horrible. Why did anyone else have to know what that felt like?
So he tried to push the thoughts from his head, at least so he could look the other boy in the eye as he came back into the dining room area, arms crossed at his chest as he tried to hide the anxious after-effects of a simple hand touch and unwanted advance.
"You're can stay...I don't want anything from you... the couch is yours for the night..."
"We can...see about it being yours after that if you want."
Did he seriously just offer that? God...he couldn't believe the words he'd just uttered.
Oh, I've been here before; when everything I loved walked out the door. Oh, I need more tonight, just to feel alive. So I'm chasing highs, gotta keep chasing, keep chasing highs
“Not sure what you think any of this is gonna do for me,”
God he was such a kid. A stupid one at that. With a heavy sigh, he began treating Leo's wounds, his touch gentle so as to not add more discomfort to the already uncomfortable road ahead. Hydrogen peroxide placed onto a cotton ball and then held carefully against the wound, Milo's head shaking as he watched the liquid bubble up and froth; killing the infection in it's wake.
"Well for starters, you won't lose an arm."
He replied, somewhat of a sharp quip as he shook his head at the other. It was hard to believe that just two years ago he was as young and stupid as Leo; and in much of the same situation. Well...unbeknownst to him, the exact same situation, one he wouldn't have wished on 99% of the population. There were only two people he could ever think of who might deserve such a fate, and even then...deserve was subjective.
The raven carried on bandaging his wounds, moving quickly and effectively, showing that he was not stranger to treating these sorts of things. When one worked in a kitchen was clumsy, or had a penchant for not shielding themselves from undue harm; they had to know how to do these things. Especially since Milo didn't like seeking medical attention, that just meant more strange people he didn't know touching him and asking him questions he didn't feel like answering.
Speaking of questions...
“Why’d you leave Seattle for a shithole like this? Worth it?"
Gloomy eyes flitted up to Leo's gaze then, their eyes locking like a storm, though there was no aggression nor hint of prickliness from Milo. Though he couldn't help but notice how the other man's gaze felt...heavy on him like he was waiting for some terrible truth to be revealed.
There was a tragic tale, a heartbreaking reason Milo fled his home country and ran halfway across the world with nothing to his name; but it wasn't something he'd divulge to a stranger...or really anyone for that matter. However, he did take some offense at the implications of this place being a shit hole. Perhaps it wasn't as beautiful and sparkling as Seattle, but comparatively...this was a much better world to exist in. Tokyo offered him some sort of safety and peace that Seattle could never give him. It certainly wasn't perfect but...it tried more than the rainy city he was born in; even if it wasn't intentional.
His eyes tore from Leo's then, nodding somewhat for a few seconds as he sucked his lips in, formulating an answer that would not only satisfy his question but might make him rethink his stance on Tokyo being horrible. It truly wasn't a bad place to be, even if you didn't speak the language or know where you were going.
When he finally found the answer he was looking for, his eyes met his guest's again, no trace of anger within them as he spoke. He knew Leo was just a kid, a prickly one at that; he likely didn't mean it the way Milo was interpreting it.
"Just because somewhere is pretty doesn't mean it's a good place...you don't want to know the answer to that, but yes; it was worth it. If I had a do-over, I'd still leave for this place."
He replied finally, carrying on then with applying antiseptic and then antibiotic ointment to Leo's wounds, finishing him off with gauze and medical tape or bandages where needed. The raven even managed to tend to Leo's lip, though that was left open to the air, as there was no reasonable way to get a band-aid to stick to it. With that, he began to pack up his first-aid kit, sorting the items he'd gathered back into their rightful places.
"I won't ask why you came here, it was probably for a good reason."
He thought aloud, not necessarily intending to pressure Leo into telling him why more so just making a general statement. It genuinely was none of his business why his guest was now standing in his living room instead of wherever the fuck he was from, but considering he didn't know the language well and had no money...it likely wasn't a planned trip.
"You can stay the night if you want, the couch is open. If not, then you're free to go and can come back if those bandages start falling off or anything, kay? And of course for the ramen and whatever, that offer still stands."
MADE BY VEL OF GS, WW + ADOX 2.0
Aslin Milo
OH, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WHEN EVERYTHING I LOVED WALKED OUT THE DOOR.
A tiny bit of relief washed over him at the snort, that was a good sign at the very least. Perhaps things were starting a to look a little bit up...at least until she spoke again. That same, low-key anxious ramble that he'd spit out a thousand times now, on her lips.
"Thank you...I still feel like crap, and that was really embarrassing as hell,"
That sigh, that sheepish glance away, the ramble she went on that concluded in a question she really didn't want an answer to. He knew the feeling well and wished Sachi wasn't experiencing it right then. No one should ever think less of anyone for breaking down because they can't handle something, and if they did...well they weren't someone Milo wanted anything to do with. Everyone had their breaking point, for some it was easier to reach than others, but that didn't make those feelings any less real or painful.
He'd opened his mouth to say something, though she spoke before he could.
"I uh... I should probably get out of your hair now that I've calmed down.I uh... feel really bad for imposing. I hope you weren't doing anything important..."
The raven sighed then, noticing that she'd abandoned her grip on his shirt in favor of running her hand through that cool pink hair, giving him a very uncoollook while she did so. There she went again, thinking she was annoying him or interrupting something that couldn't simply be resumed at a later time. Nothing Milo did was time-sensitive, he'd gone out of his way here to ensure that much. So when she finished talking, he sought to let her know as much.
"Please don't feel bad about it okay? You weren't and aren't bothering me at all."
He finally got the words out, hoping that she'd find some solace in his words, though he doubted that she would unless he went more out of his way to state it again.
"You're totally fine I promise, I was just writing, nothing urgent that I can't just pick up later. You're not bothering me a bit if you want to stay until you feel better."
He noted her looking around the tiny studio he called home, though granted there wasn't really much to it. The raven kept his nest simple, only the essentials and things he treasured. His guitar that he'd saved for over a period of months, the few favorite movies he had stowed neatly under the TV, a stray picture of his mother framed on his bedside table; little things like that which meant so much to him.
"I could throw on a movie or something if you want to help you take your mind off of things?"
The raven offered, making no move to get up from the floor as he awaited her answer. He wouldn't feel one way or the other about whatever she ended up choosing, his chief concern for that moment was making sure his...friend...was alright. Yeah, he guessed she was a friend at this point, once you cry on someone you're no longer just acquaintances. At least that's what he thought.
"You don't have to stay though so...no pressure,"
MADE BY VEL OF GS, WW + ADOX 2.0
Aslin Milo
OH, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WHEN EVERYTHING I LOVED WALKED OUT THE DOOR.
Oh, I've been here before; when everything I loved walked out the door. Oh, I need more tonight, just to feel alive. So I'm chasing highs, gotta keep chasing, keep chasing highs
At the comment about coffee, he couldn't help but chuckle and roll his eyes a bit; what a sad life to lead, thinking coffee is gross.
"Black coffee? Yeah, that's disgusting. You probably just haven't had the good kind."
The raven quipped back before he fetched the glass of water his guest requested and placed it on the table for Leo. With that, they commenced with eating, Milo finding some relief that the other boy didn't seem too keen on chattering away during the meal. He was tired and somewhat worn in from his shift, not quite relaxed with Leo around; yet not necessarily on edge either. It was a state of limbo that he was willing to exist in, for the time being, his unease meant that the other might survive another day or live long enough to get himself out of this situation; that was a burden he was more than willing to bear.
However, as they finished eating, he couldn't help but be a bit surprised and confused that Leo stood and proclaimed he was leaving. Under different circumstances, such as if Leo wasn't so young and wasn't so injured, he might've just nodded silently and allowed him to go with no protest. Though this was not the reality they existed in, his guest had injuries that if infected, could kill him and thus defeat the entire purpose of Milo letting him in.
“Save ‘em for the next kid you bring in.”
What? What next kid? Did Leo just think he did this all the time? What a strange kid, taking his home for a soup kitchen and his sympathy for a charity organization.
"Uh, I'd really prefer to patch those up, that was kind of the point of having you here..." The raven replied, confused and raising a brow at his guest to show it. "I don't foresee there being a 'next kid', you're the only one I've brought in...this isn't like...a hobby of mine."
He knew he probably should've waited for an answer, but he didn't. Instead, he rose to his feet and moved back into the bathroom, leaving the door open as he squatted down to search through the cabinet underneath the sink. Thin hands rummaging through the items there until he located the decently sized first-aid kit he kept; essential for someone who wasn't the most graceful and was frequently exposed to heat. Once found, he grabbed the item and pulled it out, shutting the cabinet and carrying it back into the rest of the apartment, and placing it on the table. He quietly pulled his chair up before Leo's and went about opening the kit.
"C'mon, it won't take more than a few minutes. Then if you want to go I won't stop you," he stated, fishing out some cotton pieces and a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide as he looked to Leo expectantly, his eyes darting to the empty chair in front of him and then back to the young man; as though telling him to sit. His statement hinting that he had no intention of forcing Leo to leave tonight. His couch was more than available, should his guest decide to take it...if Leo could behave himself at least, though he didn't outright say it. He wouldn't unless he felt the need to.
Typically, Milo didn't get this close to people, three feet was usually his minimum distance. However, to prevent a painful death, he was willing to stifle that fear, which he knew to be irrational. He was a good deal bigger than Leo and realistically had very little to worry about.
MADE BY VEL OF GS, WW + ADOX 2.0
Aslin Milo
OH, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WHEN EVERYTHING I LOVED WALKED OUT THE DOOR.
Oh, I've been here before; when everything I loved walked out the door. Oh, I need more tonight, just to feel alive. So I'm chasing highs, gotta keep chasing, keep chasing highs
Some relief washed over him as his guest went for the shower option, the raven certain that it would help him to not only feel a bit better; but also keep his apartment from getting mucked up more than it needed to. Once Leo was gone, he took the opportunity to remove his boots and then go about the process of making coffee and getting the ramen on the stove to reheat. It wasn't long before the smells mingled and made something new as both began to heat. He sighed then, realizing the mess he might've gotten himself into by trying to do a good deed. For a millisecond, he almost regretted it...then he reminded himself that he'd once been just like Leo. Starving, stealing, getting the shit beat out of him for it, and wondering if it was better to just lie down and die or keep living as long as possible. It was a miserable existence, but even the smallest things back then helped. So if there was anything he could reasonably do to ease the suffering...what excuse did he have not to? What solid reason other than selfishness existed? There was none, at least none that Milo could find.
With that, he shook the thoughts from his head, concluding then that Leo had probably gotten into the shower from the sound of things. The walls of his apartment, and those surrounding it, were rather thin. Simply by the way the water hit the bottom of the shower, he could tell that it was time to bring in the clothes.
He kept comfort in mind when he selected them, opting for one of the few pairs of pajama pants, some worn in flannels, a shirt that was purchased two sizes too big at the time, and an old pair of boxers; all long since washed and stored with the intent of donation that just never happened. The raven was glad he'd kept them now, he'd never imagined running into someone so like himself that he felt obligated to help them. At least the items would see some use...perhaps if tonight went well he could see about helping Leo get on his feet and then just giving these things to him. Though that was a far off future, one that relied on many things going right and few going wrong; best not to allow himself to get too attached to that notion.
Quietly, he slipped the clothing into the bathroom, leaving them on the counter, folded neatly for Leo to find. He noted the freshly opened toothbrush drying there; good...at least his hadn't been used, though that meant Leo was fine going through drawers that weren't his. Without a word, he left the bathroom and closed it back up, returning to his task of making coffee and heating up their dinner with the hopes of both being ready once Leo got out. A hot shower and a meal would do him good.
Fortunately, that seemed to be the case, as the stranger entered the room as Milo was fixing himself a cup of the coffee; doing it up like some fancy starbucks drink minus the whipped cream. He loved whipped cream, but found that it added little to the flavor, to him it was better eaten on its own. His eyes flitted up from the cup as he poured in chilled milk, a touch of sugar and cinnamon, noting how much better yet also worse Leo looked. Poor thing...it was so obvious he hadn't slept in days now, his eyebags were as dark as the dirt once on his skin. As the other spoke, Milo took a sip of the delightfully warm, sweet drink he'd made for himself; sighing in satisfaction as it warmed him and satiated the sugar craving that always hit this time of night for him.
"The ramen's heated up if you're hungry, coffee's also made if you want some," The raven responded, watching as the other boy, now clean and free of grime...though his eyes were red and somewhat puffy; perhaps he'd gotten soap in them or perhaps he'd had the same reaction as Milo during his first shower after a month of being on the streets. He suspected it was the latter, but opted not to press the issue or acknowledge it at all. "You could say I did."
He managed to tear himself away from his coffee then, setting it down on the laminate countertop and turning to the cabinet behind him to fetch some bowls and silverware. Within a few moments, he'd poured the ramen into two bowls, one for him and another for Leo; naturally. "Coffee or water? Which one do you want?" He asked.
Though before Leo could answer he brought over the piping hot bowls filled with chopsticks, forks, and spoons, cloth napkins under each hand as he placed them both down on the table. They were both identical as far as Milo cared, though he was willing to let his guest take his pick from both of the bowls as he walked back to the kitchen, making it in only a few steps with how small the overall apartment was in relation to his height. It was...certainly not meant for a person who was primarily Scandinavian and had the height that came with that; however he made due and enjoyed his little space. It was his...it was safe.
MADE BY VEL OF GS, WW + ADOX 2.0
Aslin Milo
OH, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WHEN EVERYTHING I LOVED WALKED OUT THE DOOR.
NOTES feeds himb noods and pat his head with one fingee, more noods are waiting in his pocket
Milo couldn’t help but be taken aback by how this man beamed at him, it was like looking into the eyes of an adoring puppy; there was something about it that just made some of his defensiveness melt away like mist. Though when the stranger’s cheeks flushed a bit and he whispered something that Milo couldn’t make out, it certainly made Milo raise a brow, perhaps he was coked out on something real nice. Given this part of town...it wouldn’t have surprised him. Though nothing, no years of living in a questionable part of a huge city, not a thing on earth could’ve prepared him for the broken and botched Japanese he was about to hear.
At the sentence, he merely blinked a few times in a mixture of shock and confusion. “Ehhhhh?” He said, the confusion quite obvious in his voice as the sentence looped in his head over and over again, though finally Milo did manage to pick out that this young man was lost, and obviously knew very very little Japanese, he probably couldn’t even read the signs to get back to wherever he was supposed to be. Though it was only then that it dawned on Milo that he too...spoke English …, this guy was obviously an American by the accent, as Milo once was. He felt more than a little stupid then, but he managed not to dwell on it in favor of getting more information from this strange, yet sweet looking little follower.
“Oh you’re lost?” He asked for confirmation in English, his voice surprisingly sympathetic. He recalled the time when he didn’t know how to read anything here and when he needed to rely on many Japanese people knowing English to get around. It was...incredibly limiting and frustrating, so he could empathize with the small stranger quite well. Though his eyes went wide again at the loud growl of a stomach, and he had to mentally check that it in fact wasn’t his stomach.
With the way the other man reacted, blushing so brilliantly and averting his eyes, clutching his stomach, it most certainly came from him. All Milo managed to let out in that moment was a nervous chuckle, this was...quite the predicament that he seemed to have gotten this stranger into. The raven could feel guilt beginning to prickle at his skin, oh how far from home had he lured this little dove? Anyone else wouldn’t have blamed Milo, but Milo blamed himself for everything.
“I’m sorry I got you lost, do you know what the place you came from is called or what it looks like? I could walk you back there.” He offered, deciding that he was better off speaking totally in English to this one, they’d never get anywhere if he tried Japanese. Some part of Milo wondered how long the other had been here...he certainly didn’t look the part of a tourist. Was he really from America? What part? How did he end up in a part of down like this? Milo had a lot of questions, but doubted that he’d leave this situation with more than a handful of answers. He supposed that food and his bed would have to wait a bit.
MADE BY VEL OF GS, WW + ADOX 2.0
Aslin Milo
OH, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WHEN EVERYTHING I LOVED WALKED OUT THE DOOR.
Oh, I've been here before; when everything I loved walked out the door. Oh, I need more tonight, just to feel alive. So I'm chasing highs, gotta keep chasing, keep chasing highs
At Leo's little jabs, Milo visibly cut his eyes at him, appearing as unamused as a single father might've at a child with an attitude.
"You shouldn't lie, you aren't very good at it." He responded in a cool, dismissive manner to all of Leo's ramblings. "Innocent also doesn't suit you, sorry."
Given that he'd just gotten off of a long shift and had been only trying to help the dude, he had no patience for the smaller man's bullshit any longer. That much was clear. Simply by his attitude and that look in his eye, he could read Leo like a book; the kid was far from innocent at the age of 18. For that, Milo couldn't fault him. Something had to have been wrong to make him just show up in Japan without knowing the language and evidently not bringing enough money. Losing his wallet as Leo liked to call it. He hoped it was nothing like Milo had been through, he wouldn't wish what had happened to him on anyone but his abuser; he wished that monster all the fucking worst.
Sleeping with Leo, or anyone for that matter, was the furthest thing from the raven's mind, if anything he was primarily concerned with making sure Leo didn't get an infection in that smart mouth of his and that his stomach, which was quite noisy, was tended to. Which hopefully wouldn't be too long now, considering how close they'd drawn to his place over the course of their exchange. Perhaps he'd just bite the bullet and offer the shower and extra clothes up to the 18 year old. It'd kill two birds with one stone. Leo would likely feel a bit better and Milo wouldn't have to worry about scrubbing down his apartment.
"Shower's open when we get to my place if you want one. I think I have some things that would fit you. A hot one may help with the pain." The words left his lips casually, those gloomy eyes transfixed on the road ahead of them as he listened to Leo following him. Milo didn't particularly enjoy people walking behind him, so he kept his ears trained for any sudden movement of feet. There was never a need to run up behind someone, at least in Milo's head. Though fortunately, they arrived at his apartment complex without an issue aside from the jabs Leo attempted to make.
He fished his keys out of his pocket then, sorting through them and unlocking both the deadbolt and the knob lock to let them both in. His place was a small studio, and considering how long he'd lived there, it was relatively empty with the few things he cared about stowed neatly around his bed. Everything else was merely the essentials. "Well this is it, bathroom is to the left of the kitchen if you want to use it. Otherwise I'm opening up this ramen and throwing on some coffee."
MADE BY VEL OF GS, WW + ADOX 2.0
Aslin Milo
OH, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WHEN EVERYTHING I LOVED WALKED OUT THE DOOR.
The raven chuckled some at her comment about punching the guy's face in, gods she was spunky; perhaps that's why he enjoyed her company as much as he did. There weren't many people he'd allow to interrupt his evening like this, but this newfound friend was certainly one of them. In some weird way, her fire brought him out of his shell a bit, he admired the extroversion and general I can be nice, but I'll bite the shit out of you attitude. In that way they were inverted, Milo could absolutely fuck your shit up, but he could be sweet.
In spite of his appearance, the raven was a fan of cutting to the quick with words. He was well fluent in the art of speaking in swords when people needed it.
"Well its a good thing then that you don't have to punch him to get back at him. A few choice words would haunt him longer," He suggested with a chuckle, the hand on her back beginning to pat gently as she pulled away from him but kept her fingers wrapped around the hem of his shirt. The raven scoffed at the name, it just sounded pretentious and stupid; suited its owner perfectly it seemed. "He sounds like a person that I wouldn't put up with for all the money in the world, regardless of what he's the heir to."
With that, he shook his head quietly, what was it with rich people and just being insufferable. He'd yet to meet one genuinely nice one that wasn't rotted inside with entitlement. "You'd be better off saying something like: Thank you for showing me that my standards were too low, I have nothing left to learn from you. If you're really trying to hurt him."
The way Milo saw that statement, it was a classy sort of put down, simultaneously thanking someone for being a piece of shit while also telling them that they didn't even meet the bare minimum. A blow to the ego, one that may haunt Jiro for months, while also keeping Sachi's hands clean. The only thing Jiro would have to whine about would be that Sachi gave him a taste of his own medicine while rejecting him.
"Besides, what'll he do then? Act like a weak ass because some words hurt his feelings?" A chuckle left him then, his palm falling from Sachi's back and into his lap as he relaxed a bit. He hardly remembered being so afraid of her grabbing him a mere moment ago. Perhaps getting touched wasn't so bad...at least not by friends like Sachi. "In all seriousness though, don't beat yourself up over being upset. I've cried way more over much less." He mentioned, looking away a bit with a tinge of shame as he admitted how sensitive he was. Though really, it was a small price to pay to make a friend feel better.
Anything to make her quit getting down on herself.
MADE BY VEL OF GS, WW + ADOX 2.0
Aslin Milo
OH, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WHEN EVERYTHING I LOVED WALKED OUT THE DOOR.
Oh, I've been here before; when everything I loved walked out the door. Oh, I need more tonight, just to feel alive. So I'm chasing highs, gotta keep chasing, keep chasing highs
Sure, okay, whatever. He thought in response to the kid acting like he wasn't thirsty with that cup no where in sight. When you were homeless with no access to water, you were always thirsty. No amount of scrappy attitude or desire to prove that one needed no one else would change that fact. When those eyes met his, and seemed to challenge him slightly, all he could do was gaze back in the most unamused fashion. He understood where the guy was coming from, he really, truly did, but that didn't deter him from thinking it was stupid. To have so...little survival instinct so as to not take help from someone who was genuinely and very obviously trying to help you demonstrated something that borderlined imbecilic, least that's what the raven thought.
However, much to his surprise, the younger man accepted his offer...which raised a good deal of suspicion in Milo; suspicion that he kept veiled behind a stony wall and a mere nod. Was it perhaps the smartest thing to open his home up to a strange 18 year old? No, probably not. The raven was a lot of things, a cry baby being one of them, however he was not a weak ass. If that grin told him anything, the kid may try to pull something on him...and that would be the last mistake he'd ever make if that was the case. Milo was nothing if not distrusting, however his desire to help someone who'd fallen into unfortunate circumstances, someone that reminded him of himself not too many years ago; overrode that...for now. He thought about uttering some warning to the kid, however he doubted it would do much good. He seemed to be an ardent follower of the "fuck around and find out" path of life so...if he wanted to pull something he'd just have to get his ass handed to him to learn a lesson. Was Milo above punching his shit in and then throwing him out of his apartment if he tried something? No, he certainly wasn't.
So, alarm raised, he nodded in response to Leo accepting the offer, meeting his gaze with an unusually cold look for a few moments. Try me. See what happens. At least that's what his head said.
"Alright, c'mon then." He replied, giving a gesture with his head as he picked up the boy's ramen and resumed his walk towards his home. Which, fortunately enough for Leo, wasn't too far away. "You can eat this at my place, then the first aid kit can come out."
He briefly held up the ramen bag for the other man to see, by the time they reached his place it should still be warm. Though as Milo's mind began to wander...he began to think that he might should have the other take a shower and put on some different clothes beforehand. The last thing he wanted was to have to scrub down his entire apartment because, to no fault of his own, Leo was rather dirty; a shower might also make him feel better. Perhaps the raven had old clothes that would fit him, from days gone by when he was at a shorter height; things he'd meant to donate but just had never gotten around to doing it. Though perhaps that went too far, he hadn't considered permanently taking the other in, especially given the dark look he'd just gotten.
Yet...it seemed almost cruel to take him in, treat his injuries, let him eat, shower, give him fresh clothes and then send him back out into the cold where he'd just be suffering in different fabric. The raven sighed, conflicted; perhaps he'd let him stay the night as a test, one Leo wouldn't be made privvy to.
"So let me guess, you tried to steal from the wrong person and they pushed your shit in?" He asked, his tone not mocking in the slightest as he seemed to be genuinely curious.
"I think we've all made that mistake. Taught me not to steal from anyone bigger than me that's for sure."
MADE BY VEL OF GS, WW + ADOX 2.0
Aslin Milo
OH, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WHEN EVERYTHING I LOVED WALKED OUT THE DOOR.
Once he'd finished speaking and cleaning up the spill, his eyes merely searched Sachi for some hint that what he was saying was being well received. When her face contorted and more hot tears bubbled from her green eyes, his heart dropped; perhaps he'd said too much or struck a raw nerve. He cast her an apologetic gaze then, though whether she actually saw it or not was another question entirely. The raven just about to stand when suddenly she lurched towards him, a flurry of pink hair and dainty grasping hands took him by surprise and he fell backwards from his crouched position and onto his ass; though that was the least of his concern.
Even though Sachi could, and would, very likely do him no harm, he still tensed up like a statue for the first few seconds of her grabbing onto him, crushing his shirt in her hands and burying her face into his chest. On instinct, he'd prepared to open his mouth to reprimand her and raise his hands to pry her off but...once he realized she was sobbing and just really needed another person, he reconsidered; his heartache for the young woman overcoming his fear for a few moments. He'd touched her before while guiding her home, sometimes gently steering her by her shoulders in the right direction or having her lean on him so she didn't tip over in a drunken stupor; why could she not do the same?
So in that moment, he swallowed his fear and brought her into a loose hug, one she could very easily pull from if she so desired.
"Oh Sachi...it's okay, I'm sorry, I know it hurts," He spoke quietly, his voice almost a gentle coo meant to soothe as he brought a hand up to gently rub the top of her back; something his mother used to do when he was upset like this. The raven was still uncertain about all of this, though he couldn't help the slightly saddened chuckle that came out of him at her statement, shaking his head some at her. If you ever asked the raven, he wasn't a nice person; especially not with some of the vile shit he'd said to people during his lash outs...though that hadn't happened in some time. "Lets agree to disagree on that one," he replied, still embracing his newfound...friend?
Some part of him felt like they were friends now, he couldn't explain why. You didn't do stuff like this and then walk away as acquaintances afterwards; at least not in Milo's head. Even still, he kept talking.
"I'm just pointing out how I see things so...do with that what you will, but it's gonna be okay, I know it hurts a lot right now, but it'll be okay because it has to be." The raven carried on, telling her words that he often told himself when his head went so bad that he wanted to be taken out of it. For an instant or two, his eyes got a bit misty for her, he knew what it felt like to be kicked by someone you should've been able to trust not to do that. Yet he blinked the hurt away before it could take hold in him, deciding it was best to keep his head focused on Sachi and the little twit she spoke of; he felt a little bit of shit talk was in order for him.
"Besides...we both know he's gonna come crawling back, you can always push his shit in then."
Oh, I've been here before; when everything I loved walked out the door. Oh, I need more tonight, just to feel alive. So I'm chasing highs, gotta keep chasing, keep chasing highs
Definitely another American, as if the accent wasn't proof enough, you didn't tend to find names like that anywhere else...though honestly it suited the scrappy young man before him. Though no matter how feisty the other was, Milo couldn't help but notice how he perked up at the mentions of being offered free water as long as he came back here. He felt a pang of sympathy for him then, knowing that hearing that was probably more of a relief than it should've been. Yet he managed to keep such an expression off of his features; though his eyes still looked sad for the other man. What a miserable existence that was...he remembered it all too vividly.
At the question, he was a bit surprised, though really he shouldn't be; Milo was wondering the same thing about the other boy.
"Seattle, you?" He asked, eyeing the other boy, pinning him for someone from the opposite side of the US, but still northern. Perhaps Massachusetts, Delaware, somewhere like that; he fit the bill with the style of his greasy hair and his clothes...and the attitude. "You're the second one I've run into so...we're out there, name's Milo."
After all was said and done, and they had some semblance of introductions, they parted ways with Milo nodding in response to the gratitude. He hoped the young fool would come by and take him up on his offer, the last thing he needed was to run into a frozen corpse on the way to work.
Unfortunately, as the days passed by, it seemed that this might become the case. Even with 48 hours between them, Milo still hadn't forgotten about the half starved boy with the prickly attitude who called himself Leo. Yet, there was little he could do, no address to check on the kid at, no indication of where he normally hung around so...if fate brought them together again it would be so.
He finished his shift at work on the third day, closing up shop as usual and walking home at around 4AM as per usual with a melody on his lips and two bags filled with ramen containers; leftovers from the shift that he refused to let go to waste. The boss was alright, less trash going into the bin, less changing the bag, more money saved given the containers were dirt cheap. So more often than not, Milo would give the contents away to those who needed them, considering he had a fridge filled with food at home to pick at. His head wandered, wondering if he'd find that kid passed away against some building on his trek home...though fortunately it seemed that this story wasn't set to play out that way.
The raven rounded the corner into a smaller side street, a slightly nicer looking one with the same old bitter metal benches lining the sides, yellowed street lamps, neon signs, stores with no bars on the windows...it was incredible the difference that a block made here. At this time of night, or he guessed now it would be morning, the place was usually deserted; desolate and devoid of other souls save for the man with half his head shaved. However, on this occasion there was another figure, someone slouching on one of those horridly cold benches. They must've been particularly desperate to sit on one of those things, they felt like ice even with clothing on; especially at this hour in this season.
Initially, he'd opted to just ignore and pass the figure, though as he drew nearer, he began to recognize him.
Oh good, so he's not dead.
Was all that came to the raven's mind, however as more details came into focus he began to see the bruises, the cuts, and the obvious pained disposition that came along with such wounds. It was pretty obvious that Leo had played a game and lost, though fortunately he hadn't lost anything but his pride. So instead, he opted to stop, figuring he'd offer the kid one of the packs of warm ramen, perhaps some food would soothe his wounded pride; if nothing else it would take care of a need likely unfulfilled.
Unsurprisingly, the guy told him to fuck off just as he'd drawn near, and yet also unsurprisingly the raven ignored him completely, he knew shame when he heard it; though he didn't let the other off easy for his attitude either.
"So you fucked around and found out huh?" He asked, though the look in his stormy eyes said he already knew; that wasn't a question that needed an answer. If anything, it was a bit of a playful jab on Milo's part, some part of him felt that he could level with this youngin' who didn't seem to have much sense between those ears of his. He reminded him of himself just two years ago, desperate and unused to the coldness of the world.
"I've got some extra ramen from the shop, still warm and free if you want it," Milo offered, moving to gently set the bag down on the bench near Leo just to show him that he was free to take it. It was only then that he saw the bust in his lip and the gashes in his arms and a ray of concern showed up in those gloomy irises of his. "You haven't been back to fill your cup in a bit, I know that water's gotta be gone by now. Do you need some more?"
He hadn't yet seen the smashed container hidden behind the other man's thin form, if he had he simply would've taken off back to his place of employment to get another and fill it up for him. Although he was typically quite good about keeping his nose in his own business, the raven couldn't help but pry, especially given the young man's injuries. He knew he couldn't force Leo to allow him to tend to them but...he couldn't help but think of the first aid kit back at the booth or better yet the one at his apartment. It might've been too soon, but he felt the need to offer it up. The last thing he'd want was for either of those open wounds to get infected and make the poor guy sick; his life was hard enough without a fever and being delirious.
"You don't have to say yes but, if you want I can treat those for you at my place or back at the booth. It might hurt less if you get them cleaned and patched up."
MADE BY VEL OF GS, WW + ADOX 2.0
Aslin Milo
OH, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WHEN EVERYTHING I LOVED WALKED OUT THE DOOR.
Oh, I've been here before; when everything I loved walked out the door. Oh, I need more tonight, just to feel alive. So I'm chasing highs, gotta keep chasing, keep chasing highs
Milo watched as the spunky little fool seemed to debate taking it for an instant...honestly if he was that stupid there was nothing anyone on this earth could've done for him. Going as the stranger was now, he wouldn't be long for this world, either starvation or sickness would claim him and lead him down a river with coins on his eyelids into the unknown. Yet still, the raven seemed to hold his breath, stepping back from the food and only exhaling once the other slid into the seat and brought the ladle filled with broth to his lips. What followed next was well...half of what he expected; he predicted the emotion that bubbled up, yet made no comment of it and instead merely walked back to the register, flashing Leo a sympathetic glance for a millisecond.
He watched out of the corner of his eye as the starved young man wolfed the food down, a bowl that Milo himself couldn't even finish, with frightening speed. If the kid wasn't careful, he'd make himself sick or rupture his stomach but...fortunately he seemed to run out before he could do that. The raven just hoped he didn't throw it all up later; that'd be an awful waste and would just dehydrate him more. Perhaps he'd fight to keep it down, for all the other man knew this was a one time occurrence and...after seeing the display he just had; Milo was determined for this to become more regular. Granted, ramen wasn't the most nutritious thing he could be eating, but it would keep him from dying so young at least.
The last thing Milo ever wanted was for a young life to be snuffed out, especially by something like this that could be helped when he specifically could do something about it. He didn't want to clock out of work and run into this poor kid's corpse being eaten by rats or searched for valuables by the more dubious of Tokyo's denizens. So when the other requested more water, Milo was more than happy to oblige.
"Yeah, I'll get you a top for it too," he replied, noting the child-like wiping of his mouth...poor thing really was too young for this life; it hurt him to see it. Yet the raven took the cup from him, not flinching from his dirty hands or smell, a few years ago he'd been in the same position and recalled how much it upset him. The last thing he'd want to do was flinch or screw his face up when the guy obviously couldn't help it, no one would choose to be so dirty. He turned around then to fill it, not stopping until it was at the top with warm water given the cold evening and reaching under the counter for a lid to suit the container.
At the statement about paying him back, an eyebrow raised...yeah no he wasn't seeing that couple hundred yen ever again; he wouldn't miss it. He didn't care about it much.
"Don't worry about it," he replied, speaking over his shoulder as he put the lid snugly onto the container, shaking it a bit to make sure it wouldn't spill. After that, he grabbed a plastic bag for the kid to carry it in, figuring it would at least be a bit better than running around with it in hand; especially if he needed to outrun the cops or someone he pissed off. With the above accomplished, the raven turned and placed both things on the counter before the younger man, eyeing him for a moment before he leaned back onto the counter behind him and crossed his arms over his chest; as though trying to figure him out.
"What's your name kid?"
"Every time you need more water, come back here and I'll fill it up for you. No charge."
