i will sail to the far shore

[magato]

[ Los Angeles is a city of easy prey, and that's nice, when he's not feeling up to a chase or trying to find new ways of getting close to Naoto. Not only that, it's where Heine lives.

At first he really thought the guy was fucking his beloved "sister". Continued denials and his own sniffing around have put that thought to rest, and then brought to light a new fact: Heine's pretty easy, too. It probably helps that he knows Magato has no interest in fame or fortune for himself. All Magato really wants is the fucking around—in all meanings of the phrase.

Speaking of fucking around, there's that one guy walking into the bar... Eames, if he remembers correctly. Sorta famous, sorta not, whatever. He definitely has a thing for Snowflake.

So of course Magato turns from where he's sitting at the bar and raises one hand in a lazy wave, fingers curling toward his palm. ]

Fancy seeing you tonight. You come here often?

Comments

[embellishing]

[The answer was expected but nevertheless a bit disappointing, and Eames had to laugh, settling back in his seat.]

My agent says I should do a full album and go on tour promoting it and everything. I have maybe five songs at the moment I feel could be put on an album after some serious work, but the rest...

[He waved a hand, as if to say 'it'll happen as it happens'.]

[canicide]

If you can get something out in the next couple of months, you'll ride the publicity of the show airing.

[ The last few episodes had broadcasted a while back, but Eames would still have time. That fame had never seemed to be his goal, though. Heine eyes him more directly before speaking again. ]

You're not in a rush.

[embellishing]

I'd rather put out something I'm proud of than something that will sell well.

[Which was his agent's biggest reason to drink, but it wasn't as if Eames wasn't still making relatively decent money. He shrugged, toying with the bottle in his hands.]

My channel is doing well so I can always promote through that.

[canicide]

Yeah? [ Ah, his channel. Nill mentioned something about it when Heine told her he was going to fly over. What was it she said..? ]

I'm not worried about your future.

[ Whatever. Eames is smart, he'll find a way. ]

I'm sure you'll be fine.

[embellishing]

That makes two of us, then.

[Eames beamed, before nudging at Heine leisurely with his knee.]

What about you? What are your plans?

[canicide]

[ Eames has calmed down, and relaxed, moreso. Heine remains where he is as relaxed as he can be when they'd just started talking again. ]

I don't know yet. Finish work here, go back to LA. They're starting production on a new season soon.

[ Next to Eames he feels a bit directionless. It was fine, before. Magato didn't have anything he was working towards, except maybe pissing Naoto off.

Well. Maybe he should change that. ]

I should probably look for some more work that isn't sitting in a chair and listening to shitty amateurs.

[embellishing]

[Eames had to laugh slightly at Heine's completely blase response, shaking his head slightly.]

You should. Your talents are being wasted on that show, not that I'm complaining mind, but are you still having fun doing it?

[canicide]

It's entertaining most of the time. [ Heine shrugs. He doesn't need the money right now, either, but it's a nice bonus. ]

Think you'll watch the next season?

[embellishing]

It depends. Are there going to be people worth watching? Other than yourself of course.

[Despite going on the show, Eames hadn't been able to really watch his season, and he wasn't sure if he could watch the next. He'd probably end up doing so, but he'd prefer to hear about it directly from the source.]

[canicide]

Ariadne's there.

[ Heine offers that with a small smirk. ]

If you don't think it's interesting then don't waste your time on it.

[embellishing]

That reminds me, you two should definitely have a bet as to who will win. It'd be interesting.

[And Eames wasn't living vicariously, nope. He hummed thoughtfully at that, shrugging.]

Maybe I just like the season I was on the best. It seems hard to top that.

[canicide]

Interesting enough for you to watch?

[ Heine's teasing, though; he's not that desperate for Eames to watch a partially faked reality show he happens to be on. ]

You did pretty well. You even improved.

[embellishing]

Maybe, but my money would be on Ariadne. She's nicer to her contestants and she knows how to motivate them.

[Eames paused, eyes widening slightly.]

That must be the second compliment you've paid me tonight. Are you feeling all right?

[canicide]

I'm fine.

[ Heine stops with the rim of the bottle at his lips. Looking at Eames doesn't hurt so much anymore, and he's glad that he tried, after all the drama and all the issues. ]

...I did miss you. [ With a short shrug, Heine moves and folds into himself, setting both of his elbows on his knees. ] Not just sleeping with you.

[embellishing]

[Eames had no problem getting up on stage wearing ridiculous outfits ( most of the time he even encouraged them ). He rarely felt stage fright, and more than one person had told him he should learn the definition of the word embarrassment. He couldn't say he had many fears, but this... Admitting that he had missed Heine too when Heine had already hurt him without knowing he'd had that power... It was enough to make him pause.

He dropped his gaze, throat suddenly tight, his hands twisting together.]

Same here.

[The admission was soft, and as if to take away from it, he glanced up, grinning slightly.]

Though you did miss that too, I imagine.

[canicide]

Well, yeah. [ That lightens things up. Which is good. Heine snorts softly, shrugging like that can push off the feelings before he sits back again.

But. But. Heine opens his mouth to talk again, slowly. ]

I should head back. Are you doing anything tomorrow?

[embellishing]

[That got a small laugh out of Eames, and while he wasn't opposed to leaning in, to make up for lost time, but there was something nice about knowing that this wasn't going to disappear just after tonight. He shrugged when Heine asked about his plans, grinning.]

Probably cleaning and working on music. If you want to drop by, just let me know.

[He got up languidly, nodding.]

I'll walk you out.

[canicide]

I'll text you to make sure you're done cleaning up this mess.

[ He's joking, mostly. But seriously, it's pretty gross.

After Eames walks him out, Heine says goodbye to him at the door, having called a car to take home. As he promised, Heine texts Eames the next day before thinking about going over, at the comfortable hour of 2PM after lunch. ]

how's your spring cleaning going

[embellishing]

[As it goes, Eames stayed up late in implementing the changes that Heine suggested, tweaking them a bit further until he was satisfied. It kept him up until light was just breaking, and when he stumbled into bed, he was dead to the world. He woke up half an hour before Heine texted him, and he was in the middle of cleaning and debating about ordering take out when he got the text.]

It's a bit late for spring, isn't it? Just like my start to cleaning. What are you up to?

[canicide]

better late than never
finished my meeting. you want to meet for dinner?

[embellishing]

[Dinner outside of his flat was a good compromise, and he was glad Heine suggested it instead of rushing to make everything suitable for human occupation.]

Sure. There's a new Greek restaurant I've been wanting to try, or if you're feeling lucky, there are some good food trucks near my flat.

[With this still being new, he felt like going to places they had never gone before instead of retreading the same steps they had taken before, restaurants included.]

[canicide]

I can risk the food trucks.

[ And maybe being outdoors with distracting noise will offset some awkwardness. The weather outside now isn't bad either, so they can eat in the plaza, and then... go wherever the night takes them.

Did he seriously just think that? Ugh. After confirming Eames' address so they can meet at the food trucks, he goes back to his hotel room to put on more casual clothes and get ready to meet him there. ]

[embellishing]

How bold of you. I promise it'll be worth it. I'll meet you at [insert address] in two hours.

[The remaining time he finished cleaning up his apartment, making the conscious decision to make the rest of the apartment more inhabitable and leaving the bedroom untouched. Heine had seemed to want to take it slow yesterday, so remembering his room was a mess might be enough to deter him from doing anything hastily. Presumably.

After a quick shower and changing into nondescript clothing, he headed over to the food truck court, figuring with the five parked around a bustling park, one of them would be acceptable.]

[canicide]

[ Two hours of time is plenty to take a nap. Heine sets an alarm, lies down, and closes his eyes.

Somehow, even knowing that he's going to meet Eames again in a few hours, the exhaustion inherent to having a terrible lifestyle for months before trying to get his shit together means that he still falls asleep.

Heine's never that picky about food, so looking at the food trucks from a distance, he's already sure he'll get something. Which means all he has to worry about is Eames. ]

Hey. [ He'd napped in his clothes—a plain black t-shirt and black jeans that don't show much wrinkling—and he figures Eames has seen his hair in worse states. This is casual. He doesn't wave. ] Got a specific kind of food poisoning to recommend?

[embellishing]

Hey. You just wake up?

[Eames can't help but laugh at Heine's sleep mused hair, helpfully trying to make it lie down in the back before giving up and tucking his hands in his front pockets. It only hits him then how casual and forward that gesture had been, but he shook the thought off before it could take root and sprout a thousand thoughts that'd entangle him like thorns.

Instead, he huffed, mock offended.]

I'll have you know only one of these trucks gave me food poisoning and it was worth it. But in all seriousness, the Mediterranean fusion truck means business."