Just hanging around - Takumi (open tag)

[fryn]

The world looked very different when viewed from an alternate perspective.

The grey-azure sdweep of sea now formed the sky and the far brighter blue it replaced played the role of grounnd. Even more bizarre as said ground had a few puffs of white cloud currently skittering across it. And on the beach... No, that was now part of the sky... One the beach-sky played a couple of inverted children, their bright red kite sticking directly downwards.

It was beyond bizarre. Ethereal.

Takumi Yoshino currently hung - by his hooked legs - from a lower branch of an impressive Monterey pine tree on situated at the edge of the main beach, close to Santa Monica pier. His arms draped limply towards teh ground, fingertips brushing the coarse sand, and his hair performed a similar action, hanging straight down to earth. Luckily he'd removed his jacket before climbing into the tree to strike his odd pose, otherwise the cloth would have masked the strange scene from view by falling over his face.

Takumi scooped up a fallen pine cone and he brought it up level with his eyes. Pine... Matsu. For ever green and a symbol in his homeland of longevity and youth. Not normally seen this big and grown instead in bonsai form. He dropped the cone and frowned slightly, his attention caught by the arrival of a pair of sneakers. Blue and white. He stared at them, wondering if he could work out the identity of their owner without looking upwards any further. He could rule out Izzy and Dare as they were too large. Thad, too, had smaller feet.

He glanced upwards a little more... and smiled.

"Konbanwa!" he greeted before allowing his legs to loosen. Takumi broke his fall with his hands and then scrambled back to his feet. Giddiness momentarily claimed him as blood surged away from his brain in a sudden pull of gravity. "How are you this evening?" he asked as he tried his best to return his hair to its normal state as well.

[Connor Pearce]

After a rather energetic and thrilling morning, that turned into an afternoon, spent with his rather gorgeous and all too tempting boyfriend, Connor actually welcomed the chance of a night by himself. Not because he was sick of Kian, far from it, he couldn’t get enough of his fellow Irishman. But even with all his track training, he was starting to wear out, and so he appreciated the recovery time and a chance for a breather. And the chance to stretch his legs as well, they had spent most of the day bedroom bound.

Not having any definite plans, but not feeling like heading home either, he decided instead to wander around the beach at Santa Monica, take a few photos of the sunset maybe, of people wandering around themselves. He was going to have quite a portfolio if he got the chance to do what he wanted and apply to an art school, study photography. Only time would tell.

But not wanting to linger on such depressing thoughts, he instead amused himself with his camera, trying to take as many interesting shots as possible. Besides a busker doing a rather convincing human statue act, there wasn’t many interesting sights to be seen, until he came across a friend, hanging in a tree. Not exactly the kind of place he would expect to find a friend, but it worked perfectly, and Connor quickly took a couple of photos before Takumi let himself drop out of the tree and returned upright.

“Good evening.” he greeted cheerily, letting the camera drop to hang back around his neck. “I’m pretty good. I just thought I’d come down here, see if I could take any good photos. You? Hanging in a tree a habit of yours?” he teased.

[fryn]

Takumi laughed. "No. I don't do this very often. It seemed... aaaah... a good idea. Did you know that the sea looks odd when it forms the sky. Its hard to make your head understand why the water doesn't fall from it." Takumi straightened his t-shirt. "And did you? Get some good photos. I think that I should start charging you for mine!" he added with a teasing glint in his dark eyes.

"Walk for a while?" he went on to ask and Connor nodded. "I admit I am a little bored," the Japanese boy added in a confiding whisper. "Izzy is busy..." He paused. "I am poet, hai? That rhymes! Anyway, she is busy and otouto-san isn't answering my messages." Thad was probably grounded - as usual. "And Evan is doing something else. Everyone seems to be doing something else except me... and now you! But where is Kian?" The thought that maybe the two mighgt have argued - or even broken up - didn't enter into Takumi's thoughts. Connor and Kian were inseperable. Made for each other. "And tomorrow looks to be just as lonely. I may have to consider mischief," he finished with a wink.

The last time he was bored he'd come up with the idea of breaking into the old lighthouse up the coast a short distance and trying to find ghosts. That had involved several other friends and had ended with a couple of them being arrested. Mischief and Takumi didn't sit well together!

[Connor Pearce]

“No, I can’t say I knew that. I’m glad I do now though, it might come in handy.” Connor decided with a chuckle. “Well, I did get a few good ones, but yes, the best were of you. I’ll tell you what, when I start making money from your photos, I’ll give you a fair cut.” He laughed again at this, quite looking forward to heading home and developing these photos now, though that was something he was happy to wait for, now that he had interesting company. The dark room would be there when he got back for the night. “But actually, now that you’ve given me the idea, I wouldn’t mind seeing what a few photos would look like taken from upside down in the tree. Though...” he considered with an amused look on his face, looking at the tree in question, “I’m not quite sure I’d manage to get up in it, then hang upside down, let alone take photos. I might have to talk you into becoming my co-photographer for it.”

“A great poet.” he agreed with a grin, as Taki detailed just why he was bored. That’s what would happen when all of your friends were busy elsewhere, he supposed. “Well, it’s probably good that Izzy is busy, yes, I’m stealing your rhyme, absence makes the heart grow fonder, as they say.” Well, it couldn’t exactly be the case, as he and Kian sure spent a lot of time together, and they still hadn’t had enough of each other yet, not by a long shot.

Starting a slow walk with Takumi, he left his hand close to the camera, just in case another photo opportunity occurred. Never hurt to be prepared, and he would hate if he missed out on a good shot because he was too slow. “Kian’s at home, I think. We spent most of today together, his family was probably hoping to see him sometime this weekend.” Connor grinned sheepishly, running his hair idly through his hair. “I seem to hog him a lot.” He was used to some people being uncomfortable about his sexuality, not knowing how to act around him, it was a relief to come to Gould and have friends like Taki, who didn’t seem bothered by it in the slightest. It was good to just be able to talk about his boyfriend, the way that other guys would talk about their girlfriends.

“Mischief? You? Now I’m a little worried.” he teased, smirking at Takumi. “Well, I don’t have any plans for the day, you can always count me in for something. And Kian too, I’m sure. You know, if you do decide to get up to some trouble, you better invite Evan. He’d never forgive you if you were reckless without him.” Connor laughed, though he was half serious about this. Evan never passed up a chance to get up to no good. “And knowing him, he’d probably have a million ideas on just what you could do.”

He glanced out onto the ocean, seeing a few people out surfing in the distance, and took a couple of snaps before turning back to his friend. “Or we could so something that doesn’t involve the chance of getting ground, or arrested.” he smirked. “Yep, I heard about that. I hear all. Something noisy though, if you’re going to invite Evan. Or something that could involve him hurting himself. He’d be happy with that. He is kind of...colourful.”

A person walking a few dogs passed them by, and he took the chance to take a few more photos. “So how are things going with you and Izzy anyway?”

[fryn]

Takumi laughed loudly. "But of course the best photos are of me!" he retorted. "With such material to work with how could they fail to be?" He laughed again as he struck a comical pose. "I will remember what you say now for when you are a rich and famous photographer," he added in good-humoured warning. "You would like me to hang in the tree again and take some pictues? Sugoi! That would be fun! Perhaps on our return from the walk I can do that! The sun will be almost down by then and it would be pretty colours in the sky... well... the ground when I am back in the tree," he amended.

Takumi turned his head slightly so as to look at Connor when he spoke of Kian. He frowned slightly at one particular word. Hog? Like a pig? Why would Connor and Kian involve pigs? It was intriguing and he made yet another mental note to ask Izzy to explain as he felt sure he'd just witnessed another American slang word. Surely Connor hadn't really been referring to pigs... had he?

"Hai! Mischief!" Takumi felt he was on far safer ground with the new conversation topic. "So you and Kian will join me? That is great! I will text Evan now and see if he is free."

He rummaged for his odd-looking phone, complete with katakana symbols instead of numbers and such like. A brief text was sent, asking if Evan could join them the following day 'plans yet to be made', he added at the end.

He pushed the phone back into his jacket pocket. "Izzy and I are good," he answered. "I was at the funeral for her mother yesterday." He frowned slightly again. "It was... different to funerals back home in Japan and so I hope I didn't do anything wrong or say something I shouldn't have said." He'd tried to keep very much in the background, though... Just in case! "She is to stay here in America after all and doesn't have to return to Korea with her father so that is good news!" He'd been worried that the complete opposite might happen instead!

He shot his friend a terse look. "Connor-kun... Do you ever find people treat you differently just because you aren't as they are? I mean I am finding that for myself. I look different and speak different. I even dress differently and I know I do things wrongly sometimes. I think..." He ran one hand through his hair. "I think I am struggling to be accepted and I don't know what to do to make that right." He threw Connor a wry grin. "Or perhaps I shouldn't care... right?"

[Connor Pearce]

“You know, that’s something I love about you, Taki, your modesty.” Connor complimented with a grin, bumping his friend teasingly. “It’s a refreshing thing to see these days. And thanks for the vote of confidence, I’ll try my best to get rich and famous now, and not let you down.” The fact that Takumi was actually happy about going back into the tree, upside down, and attempting to take photos while like that, was bewildering, but good news for him at least. He really was interested in how those photos would turn out. Not interested enough to actually try getting up in the tree himself, fearing that would lead to a broken limb or a hanging by scarf. The other guy was more than welcome to take on the danger if he thought it would be fun.

He went silent as Takumi texted Evan, sure that their mutual friend wouldn’t be able to refuse such an open offer. Anything that involved fun in any way, shape or form, Evan could not resist, nor would he be able to help himself in evolving whatever they got up to into something just a little stupid or risky, or a combination of both. It meant that hanging out with the rather hyperactive teenager was usually always fun, even if it did result in the occasional bout of frayed nerves. Then the phone was put away, and he allowed himself to speak again. “Well, I can’t speak for Kian, but I’m sure he wouldn’t say no. It’ll be too fun for him to refuse. And I don’t think Evan knows how to say no to anything to begin with.”

“It must have been really tough on her. I’ll check in on her tomorrow, I think. Either before or after our mischief.” Connor cleared up with a faint laugh. “But I’m glad she’s doing better. And more than glad she’s staying. I would have hated to see her go back to Korea. Though, I’m sure you would have suffered worse from it. You and her seem pretty close lately.” he pointed out with a knowing smile.

Then the subject of conversation quickly turned more serious, and Connor thought it over for a few moments, wanting to say the right thing. “Well, yes, to be honest, it doesn’t happen much anymore, our school’s filled with some pretty open-minded people. But at my old school, if there were gay students....well, to put it simply, they kept it to themselves. I was one of the only few who didn’t, and I wasn’t exactly popular for that.” he shrugged. “Their loss, I like to think.”

“But if there’s one thing I’ve learnt from that, it’s not that it’s just okay to be different, but great to be. It’s not that you do things wrongly, just differently. You’ve already got a big bunch of great friends, and I include myself in that,” Connor laughed, “Who’ve accepted you for exactly who you are. And if someone can’t, really, it’s their problem, not yours. You shouldn’t have to change who you are for somebody else. But I can’t say you shouldn’t care, it’s hard not to, I know. But really, if someone can’t accept you for who you are, maybe they’re not worth being friends with.”

“And that’s my rant done with.” Connor grinned once more, pausing to instead sit on a bench as he kept his focus on Takumi. “So, why do you ask in the first place? Is someone giving you troubles? I can’t really offer to fight them, because I know I wouldn’t really have a chance. But I can stare meanly at them if you like. That, I can do.”

[fryn]

Takumi nodded slightly. "Izzy I know would be happy to see you, Connor-kun. Maybe she will even join us for our evening of adventure tomorrow. I will ask her and see if she is able," he added in a decisive tone.

He listened carefully as Connor answered his last question, nodding from time to time and instering the odd 'hai' to indicate he was paying full attention. What he said made perfect sense. Be himself and while he shouldn't do that with a completely arrogant disregard of other people he shouldn't let them change him.

Perfect sense.

Their problem and not his. So what if he liked to dress differently? Maybe most people here hadn't seen a boy wearing a skirt over his jeans... and if his favourite one was the French flag then so be it.

He grinned at Connor's final words. "I am struggling to view you as mean in any manner," he admitted. "But your offer is greatly appreciated. Arigatou, Connor-kun," Takumi added. "You have put my thoughts at ease. I onoly asked because... I suppose I am still not really fitting in all that well. I know I have a lot of great friends. More than I had back in Osaka even. Just... sometimes I think I make people laugh when I had no intention of doing that. Like I say or do something that is wrong. And I have seen my clothe can earn me some odd glances." Today he was dressed reasonably normally. For him, at least.

"You are a good friend," he finsihed with a bright smile and Takumi added a shoulder slap for good measure. "Look!" he quickly said, pointing up the beach a short distance. "Get your camera... Quickly!" A small dog had somehow balanced on top of a large inflated beach ball and was standing on its back legs. The ball was rolling all over the place but by a miraculous amount of flailing front limbs and pedalling rear ones the dog was remaining upright.

[Connor Pearce]

“Great! I really hope that Izzy can come, I think she could use a bit of fun.” Connor knew that when he hit rough patches, a distraction, a reminder of the good things in life, was exactly what he needed. And what better distraction than a few hours out with your friends, getting up to trouble? “Well, your boring Sunday is starting to turn into a really fun one. I’m looking forward to it.” he admitted rather happily, always enjoying it when his weekend was booked up. Sure, spontaneity and lazy days were fun, and had their own appeal, but so did knowing that you weren’t going to spend the next day completely bored, and having something to look forward to.

He couldn’t blame Takumi for his appraisal. Connor could be protective at times when it came to his friends, sure, but mean? He most certainly was not. He was sure that if he even tried to seem that way, it would seem more funny than intimidating, which wouldn’t be what he was aiming for, unless he was trying to force someone into submission through laughter. He didn’t mind, really, there were worse things to suffer from than a lack of meanness. Not that he was always overly nice to people (as the bruises he’d once had covering his arms, due to his treatment of Wynn, courtesy of his absent best friend, had proved), he just couldn’t be overtly mean and spiteful. He didn’t like people like that though, so it was a good thing, really.

“Don’t let the odd glances bother you. If it helps, I actually happen to like the way you dress. It’s different, which is great for out here.” Connor complimented. “Kian and I get odd glances sometimes when we go out, holding hands. And Evan gets odd glances when he’s being himself.” Their friend really was a good example of a lot of things. “And he makes people laugh all the time when he doesn’t mean to. So don’t let it worry you.”

They were both distracted then at the sight of the dog, Taki kindly pointing the animal out to him, and it only took a couple of seconds of staring before Connor snapped to attention, standing up and quickly taking half a dozen photos of the dog and the ball. “You’ve got to be careful, Taki. The dog is competing with you for funniest photo of today.” With a laugh, he let the camera hang around his neck once more.

Having had enough of a break, he started walking again with his friend. The weekend really was shaping up to be a fun one. “Are you, Dare and Evan going to have another jam session anytime soon? I’d really like to come to it, I didn’t get to make it to the last.”

[fryn]

Takumi threw Connor a bright smile. That said, when weren’t his smiles bright? Ärigatou, Connor-kun,” he replied. “To know you think I dress ok makes me feel a lot happier!” He knew his clothing was unusual. Even back home in Osaka he’d been known to life a few eyebrows on occasion. Despite that Takumi knew he would find it hard to change his style. Even the suit he’d borrowed for the funeral had felt wrong and as if it had been attempting to strangle him. He laughed. “I can easily see why Evan would earn himself similar looks,” Takumi agreed. He was very fond of Evan but he had to admit the other boy easily competed with himself in the area of hyper-activity. Where Evan was worsened (bettered?) by chocolate Takumi didn’t need the sugar boost to become out of control. Boredom tended to do that to him all on its own.

"I really hope we can have another jam together,” he went on. “The one we had a few days ago was great fun. I didn’t see a lot of Dare though. I think he was getting to know Mike but it was good to meet Dare’s sister. Do you know her? Her name is hard to remember but I call her Hai. Something like Syn. Haisyn? She said to call her Syn but I like Hai. Then when I say hello I can say Hai, Hai!” Takumi laughed loudly, startling the balancing dog who landed on his back when he tumbled from the ball.

“Gomen!” he called out to the dog in apology who yapped back at him and then attacked the inflated ball with a flurry of wagging tail, flopping ears, sprayed sand and growls.

Takumi threw Connor a wry smile. “Maybe Kian can come to the jam as well? We could make it a fun evening... Perhaps we should see if Dare is free to do that tomorrow instead? Although...” He leaned a little closer to Connor... “I have heard of a murder mystery event that is happening tomorrow night. It would be fun to take part, wouldn’t it?”

[Connor Pearce]

It could just because he was open minded, and didn’t judge people by their dress, or their hobbies, what they liked, their sexuality (obviously, otherwise it would be a rather large case of double standards when it came to him), race and other things of that nature, but Connor had never had a problem, or thought any less of Taki, with the way that he dressed. It was just an eccentric style, he reasoned. And eccentric styles, actually fashion in general, was something he was becoming more familiar with, even since he had started dating Kian. The guy knew how to look good, that was for sure, and going clothes shopping certainly was made easier by bringing him along. So if airing his thoughts made his friend happier, then it was an easy thing to do. “True, but the only thing is, I think Evan really likes people looking at him weird.” Connor laughed.

“Yeah, from what I’ve seen of Mike and Dare lately, or, should I say, the little I’ve seen of Mike and Dare lately, they seem pretty crazy about each other.” he chuckled, knowing he couldn’t really judge, he and Kian had been the same, holed up in their own little world when they first started dating, unable to stay away (not to mention keep their hands off each other) from the other for long. He liked to think they improved in their restraint since then, if only a little. He couldn’t be blamed for it, really, no one should be expected to restrain themselves too much if they had such a cute boyfriend.

“I think I’ve might have met her, as in, I walked past her once in school and Dare introduced us, but no, I don’t really know Syn that well.” Connor admitted, before bursting into laughter, joining in with Taki, though the other guy clearly beat him in the loudness factor. Very few people were as loud as his friends, not that he minded. In fact, it just made this evening more entertaining, having such good company. “Hai, Hai, I like it.”

But then their amusement (mainly Taki’s, he was sure) made the little balance dog fall off the ball, this only making Connor laugh more, though the dog seemed far from pleased with this. “I think the ball is winning.” he commented with another laugh when he watched the dog turn against the object, which had to be at least twice its size. It made him wonder how the animal got on top of it in the first place. Now, that would have made for some funny photos.

“Sure, well, I can ask Kian, I’m sure he’d love to come. And sure, send Dare a message.” He raised an eyebrow at the mention of the murder mystery, not having heard anything about it previously. “Really? Well, that would be fun.” Connor agreed. Who wouldn’t like that though, dressing up, having some fun, solving a murder. “I’m sure whoever’s hosting it wouldn’t appreciate us crashing it though.” he pointed out with a laugh. “Who is hosting it?”

But now that Taki put the idea in his head, Connor really wanted to do it. “Hey, maybe we should have our own murder mystery night. I’m sure we could get a heap of our friends interested. It could be fun. We’d have to think of a good theme, something that involves everyone dressing up. I mean, you’d look nice in a wig.” Connor laughed. “We could always just ask around, see if anyone’s got any ideas about what they might like to do.”

“And speaking of murder and death, want to go and get something to eat, before I die of starvation? Look at me, I’m wasting away here.” he teased. “I think I feel like a hot dog.”

Tag for wrap?