Cole laughed softly, shrugging gently. “I guess that is a valid thing to be concerned about. Nancy will kill me if I run her customers out of here.”
He looked around for a moment, checking the clock before walking around the counter to flop down in the chair directly across from Lucky. He had time for a break. Besides, he had caught on that it was hard for the other to look up at him. He was tall.
“Some of…? Oh no. Sorry, I’m not allowed to take or eat any food customers give or have ordered. Against the code or whatever. Else I would. Trust me. I so would. I love the dessert with all my heart. Just can’t cuz rules.”
"That's lame," Lucky murmured, idly pushing the slice of cake around the plate with his fork. "Rules are lame. Who's idea was it to make rules, anyway?" He huffed, slumping back into his seat. With his arms now crossed, Lucky began swiveling his head around as he took a gracious moment to consider the atmosphere of the café. His gaze swept over the walls, coming to a brief pause on areas of interest as he examined them, before swiftly carrying on in his perusal.
"Nice place," he said, returning to a frontward-facing position. "You do the decorations?" he asked playfully, a smirk shaping his lips as he leaned forward in his seat.
(So sorry! Had a few things I had to do! Usually I’ll be more open on weekends.)
“I have no idea who created them but it makes me a little disappointed that I can’t enjoy cake offered to me.” Cole lamented over that fact a lot. He knew it was dangerous to take free food from a stranger, especially from one with a good amount of magic. Either way, he sat back and sighed, letting his own eyes wander around the space.
The cafe wasn’t a big one, built for a smaller crowd. The walls were paneled about one or two feet up the wall in a dark wood, the rest being just plain, cream-color paint on wall. Small shelves along the wall held decorations and fake plants. It was minimal, small, and yet oddly welcoming in a way. Small hanging lights throughout the building kept it well lit and the remaining darkness was chased away by the large windows out front. The counter stretched across the far wall, a small kitchen behind it cooking the small amount of desserts they sold. Nothing too large or extravagant.
Cole stared back at the other, scoffing slightly. “No…” a pause as he worked around his instinctive thoughts. “I’m not organized enough to do that. My own apartment is atrocious. If I did anything here, someone would have my throat for offending their eyes.”
(No worries! This weekend's been pretty busy for me too.)
Lucky rested his chin on the palm of his hand, his bottom lip stuck slightly out as he listened to Cole speak. "Oh, I'm sure it's not that bad. Besides, messiness has a certain charm to it, I think," he said, drumming his fingers against his cheek. "Spotless apartments are just uncanny. Makes me think the people living there aren't human or something."
(Its a weird time isn't it? Lots to do sadly.)
Ah. That was sort-of-kinda-maybe definitely not a cute expression. Cole silently cursed himself out. He should be more hostile, drive Lucky away. It didn't matter he was some sort of magic. Cole was still at risk. He'd rather not be outed to his own kind that he was working in a human cafe alongside humans. That would only make them want to kill him more and moving was such a hassle…
But at the same time… Lucky wasn't threatening. There was no odd scent to him. There was nothing there. Just a chatty, small male. Nancy did say Cole should make a few friends… maybe Lucky could be one of them…?
No no. That was ridiculous…
Right?
"Not human." He snickered softly at the wording. Not fully human. "You're right in that sense. It's weird, like they don't actually live there or anything. I always have books everywhere because I'm lazy about putting them away."
"Yeah…" Lucky trailed off, the word falling despondently from his mouth. He leaned back in his chair, the motion emphasized by the swooshing action of his hand running through his hair, fingers tearing at the few snarls in the curls.
"Ah, you're a book kinda guy?" he asked, his arm falling to rest on the back of his chair. "My room's mostly just dirty clothes. My housemate hogs the hampers, so I'm left to just toss my shit on the floor." He said this as though it were a joke, the statement even accompanied by a forceful nose exhale. However, the way Lucky's cheek twitched as he spoke and the way his eye shifted slightly betrayed just how irritated this fact seemed to make him.
"So…" he said, forcing the conversation along. He took a break in his next statement to chew on his bottom lip, doing so until the silence was too much to bear. "What kinda books do you read?"
“I am a book guy.”
Cole laughed softly at Lucky’s annoyance. He didn’t have a roommate and he was kinda glad he didn’t. The stories he heard were never really fun.
“Sounds rough. I’d hate that. I can hardly stand my own coworkers sometimes I have no idea how I’d live with someone.” He mused, watching Lucky’s expression closely.
As the silence settled between them he grew a little more uncomfortable with it. He debated going back to working until Lucky spoke again.
“Ah… a lot of lore kinda stuff. Old tales of dragons and monsters and the such…” not entirely a lie. He enjoyed reading about his kind more often than not. “But a good fantasy fiction is nice every now and then.” Even if it was inaccurate Cole found them enjoyable. Some tales of dragons were so ridiculous he couldn’t help but to laugh at them.
"Dragons and monsters," Lucky echoed, as though amused by Cole's answer. "Well damn. That's way more interesting than the boring bullshit books I read," he said, both his expression and tone falling flat as he waved a dismissive hand at his own words. "That shit looks like it would be assigned by an English professor at Yale or Havard or some other stuffy lawyer factory."
Lucky doubted that anyone in their right mind would care about the types of books he had lining his shelves, crammed into drawers, and scattered into piles near the corners of his room. I mean, theory? Innovation? Technological advancements of the past century? Yeah, you'd have to be insane to willingly read those snooze-fests.
Pushing aside his own perception of his reading habits, Lucky turned to stare at Cole, his face adorned with an interestedly quizzical impression as he said, "I never really looked much into mythology before. Like, I thought it was cool and stuff, but I never really got into it. Y'know? 'Cause dragons are awesome, no matter what culture you're looking at, but I couldn't ever really suspend my disbelief long enough for the myths to catch my interest. I dunno, it's probably just a weird me thing. Doesn't even make sense for me to be so damn skeptical."
It really didn't. In what world would it be reasonable for a man who could cause implosions with his emotions to be skeptical of anything? Well, this world, apparently. Because as far as Lucky was concerned, dragons and matter-collapsers were on entirely different ends of the "believability" spectrum.
“What do you read? I’m sure it’s interesting enough. If you read it then it must be good.” He replied with a grin, flashing his teeth playfully.
Cole listened to Lucky’s words in amusement. So this guy wasn’t aware of the magical world around him. How strange for someone who smelled so strongly of magic. Maybe he had a roommate or a partner or lover who was magical and the scent just rubbed off on him?
No.
Cole could tell it was Lucky’s own magic.
Maybe Cole could do the honors of introducing the other to the world of mythical and Magic’s and creatures of lore.
Or maybe he could keep his secret and remain safe and hidden away from his own dragon kin.
“Dragons aren’t all they’re clocked up to be but they sure as hell have interesting lore and history to them.” Cole replied, smirking. He should know.
“But you like dragons you said? What about them makes them cool?”
"Oh, I just mean, like, I think they're cool. Like, European dragons and their fire-breathing thing! Or Asian dragons with those cool noodle bodies! Or… Yeah, those are really the only two kinds of dragons I know," Lucky admitted with a laugh. "But I think they're pretty sweet. I mean, c'mon! Who doesn't like dragons?" The rhetoric was accompanied by a loose shrug and a small, incredulous huff, as though he was in disbelief that there were people who existed who actually didn't like dragons.
"Ugh. It's just boring stuff, really. Theory, technology, stuff that anyone with a shred of sanity wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole." He pulled a face of disgust, as though the words he was saying tasted bitter in his mouth. "Really, I'd much rather learn about dragons than about," he paused, as though reflecting on the next word prepared in his mind, before saying, with the conviction of a man speaking the name of a sworn enemy, "sociology." He added a fake shudder for dramatic effect.
Cole laughed at the words, nodding his head along softly. Lucky had a point. Dragon's were probably incredible beings to the humans who read about them. It made Cole a bit proud for once of his dragon blood. It meant that Lucky admired a part of him.
Hold on, hold on.
Cole could not be wanting Lucky's admiration and liking. No no. He couldn't make friends. No! None! Unfortunately he couldn't help himself very much. Lucky had a certain charm to him. It almost made Cole mad that he couldn't fight the emotions.
"Hey, sociology is interesting in the fact that people are interesting at times." He defended, shaking his head with a soft laugh. "You're quite the academic man it seems. I'm impressed. I can't imagine the knowledge you must have about all sorts of things." He praised, curious to see how Lucky would react to it. He did mean it though.
Lucky couldn't help but roll his eyes at Cole's words, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "I guess it's not so bad, as long as you can get past the circle jerk of pretentious sociologists who gatekeep the entire study," he muttered, sneering slightly as he spoke. He let out a long, guttural sigh, accompanying the sound with the spinning of his index finger pointed into the air. "Although, I don't even think I'd really describe myself as a sociologist. I just kinda like being able to make informed decisions about… things. Y'know?"
As he was complimented, the corner of Lucky's mouth twitched once, before suddenly broadening into a pearly grin. At this point, he was smiling like a complete idiot. "Oh! Well, thank you," Lucky said, his pitch rising slightly as pride mixed with excitement crept into his tone. He'd never been described as academic before, but he had to admit that he loved the sound of the word, especially when it was being used to describe him! "I mean, I'd only really call myself knowledgable about engineering kinda stuff," he said, tapping his chin. "You seem awfully academic too, you know. I mean, mythology books? There's a lot of mythology in the world, so being knowledgable with that is impressive."
Cole snickered softly, grinning at the description. “So they’re that bad? I’ve never met one personally. I tend to not talk to too many customers. Only the ones I like.” He teased.
His chest warmed at the reaction he had gotten out of Lucky, grinning wider than he thought he ever could.
“It’s nothing much on my end. I’m not well versed in any of it. I only have a few.” That was truth. Cole couldn’t just wander into dragon territory and ask for the books on his own kind. He was forbidden to even live so there was no way they’d let him into a library or whatever they used to store books.
"Oh, c'mon. You don't gotta flatter me," Lucky said in mock embarrassment, the playfulness in his tone enhanced by the waggish expression twisted onto his face. "Really. 'Cause then I feel like I have to return the compliments, and I'm just not good at complimenting people."
Ironically, the next words out of Lucky's mouth were a compliment.
"Hey! That's better than a lot of other people can say for themselves. I'd be proud of those few books if I were you," he said, leaning back in his chair and pushing the front legs up off of the floor. "Actually, I think I meant to ask you this earlier, but, like, what do you like about dragons? Whatever it is, it's probably more in-depth than 'I dunno, I just think they're cool'… My lame-ass answer," he laughed, although it was hard to classify the noise he made as an actual laugh, as it sounded remarkably more like a disappointed sigh whistling past a pair of smiling lips.
“Don’t worry, you don’t have to return any compliments, Lucky. Only if you’re comfortable with it.” he reassured, eyes crinkling in a joy he couldn’t quite recognize.
So instead, Cole mused over his companion across the table, studying each movement and emotion carefully. This wasn’t too bad. Lucky was charming in his ways of speech and actions. Cole was a little enchanted by it. He never really did have very good communication skills as he tended to only talk to Shihiro, who wasn’t much of a conversationalist.
“Me? Dragons?” The question put a halt to his thoughts and musings. What did he like about his own kind? Not much he had to admit. They were cruel in making sure he didn’t exist. He chose his next words carefully.
“They’re very diverse in each region. I love that. There’s never the same look or type specific to their race.”
"Oh yeah, definitely," Lucky hummed, his eyebrow quirking at the caution behind Cole's answer. It seemed so bereft, so reserved. So unlike what he'd been expecting. He was half inclined to question further out of pure curiosity but decided instead that if Cole had wanted to elaborate on his response, he would've. "They're kinda like people in that sense, huh? I mean, they're both widespread, diverse, and damn fascinating to study."
“A little more like people than you could ever imagine. Just as intelligent and just as cruel at times.” Cole replied, a bitter taste rising in his mouth.
As much as he loved learning about his own kind, he couldn’t enjoy it fully. He wasn’t allowed the knowledge that the rest had. Not even Shihiro could give it to him. The lesser soul was literally bound under a Law of silence. He physically couldn’t explain certain things to Cole. Lesser souls were meant to guide their hosts towards the sources of the information they were seeking. Host souls had to learn for themselves. Lesser souls had to guide them towards that. And Cole wasn’t able to go to the places he needed to. Shihiro couldn’t do much but tell him which human books were actually dragon-written and correct to his kind. It was rough. Cole had visited more bookstores than he could ever remember just so he could search for potential half-truths and knowledge. There had to be some sort of rule that allowed Cole to exist. He had to find it. He needed to. He had to fit in with his own kind. He had to find some reason his existence was worthwhile. Else he was just Cole the abomination.
“Though they’re incredibly fascinating.” He added after his thoughts had dispersed, cracking a smile. “If you’re ever interested I have a ton of books at my place about it. I wouldn’t mind loaning a few or inviting you over to study them.” He hummed, leaning back in his seat. Shihiro gave him a warning growl, which went ignored. Half the books Cole had were in different languages. He didn’t understand them but Shihiro did, which meant the information could be lent to Cole. He had written entire translations based on what the other had told him.
"Well, the only creatures capable of cruelty are the intelligent ones," Lucky mused, the fingers of his left hand drumming against the tabletop. A moment of silence passed between the two before Lucky let a faint laugh sputter out from his chest. "I'm sorry, that was super unnecessarily philosophical. Uhm, what were we talking—? Dragons, right." Lucky gently patted his forehead with the palm of his hand, the muscles in his arm noticeably tensing as he did so. Don't smack yourself, he quietly instructed, forcing his hand into his pants' pocket. Nothing's gonna happen just 'cause you forgot something.
Forcing his attention outwards once more, Lucky barely caught the end of Cole's sentence as it was spoken. He couldn't help but wince at what he heard—at the invitation to Cole's apartment. In all honesty, he didn't hate the idea of studying with the other—in fact, he quite fancied the idea—but he couldn't bring himself to feel comfort in it. There was always that fear of being rejected or betrayed or abandoned hanging over every emotional connection he considered making. He worried at his bottom lip, his eyebrows twitching in response to the sharp pain the habit caused. However, the pain wasn't what caused him to stop; He only stopped after having made a decision as to how he should respond.
"I realize that I'm irresistibly attractive in both my appearance and wit, but don't you think it's a little early to be inviting me over to your place?" It was the only way Lucky knew how to respond to difficult decisions: Deflecting through the use of jokes. His tone had been light enough for the statement to be able to be read as a joke, especially when accompanied by the frivolous smirk he offered Cole.
Cole only hummed in response to that insight. It did seem that way. In every shape and form it really was all based on the intelligence of the creature. Cole had met many intelligent species and races and creatures and they all seemed to have some sort of injustice written into their behaviors. None could help it. He himself had the inevitability of being cruel despite the knowledge he had of how awful beings could be.
“Philosophy can’t really be helped in this situation” Cole mused. He had been doing just that in his thoughts.
Lucky’s subtle change in expression and emotion wasn’t lost on the half-being sitting before him. Cole’s body language relaxed in an attempt to soothe the other before him. He had no bad intentions. He never did have bad intentions. The only people he ever invited over were the magical or mythical beings who didn’t understand there was more than just them with strange abilities. Cole could take care of himself. He had fought off many a being trying to kill him so far. He could afford the risk to tell another they weren’t alone. He wasn’t always kind about it either. Lucky had it, ironically, lucky.
“Maybe I’m trying to get murdered?” He teased, flashing Lucky a toothy grin to match his smirk. “The opportunity remains open. If you’d be more comfortable with finding more about me first, you have all the time to do so.”
"I hadn't even considered murdering you," Lucky defended, pressing his hand against his chest, as though offended that Cole would ever think such a thing about him. "Although, it doesn't sound like a half-bad idea now that you mention it," he said, his lips pursing in thought.
Lucky took a moment to genuinely consider the offer before him. Realistically, the worst that could happen would be rejection, and Lucky was fairly certain that he'd be able to survive that. Now, there was the threat of Cole potentially being a serial killer, which Lucky didn't think he'd be able to survive, but he reminded himself that he was trying to think realistically. That was just a silly delusion, and it was utterly unrealistic.
"Y'know… I'll think about it. Murdering you, I mean, not coming over. 'Cause I'm already pretty confident that I wouldn't mind visiting your place, as long as you're not dissuaded by the chance of me bringing over a knife," Lucky said, winking. And by winking, I mean slowly and dramatically closing his eye while tilting his head forward to mimic the act of winking.
“Mhm. With all due respect, I’m not actually looking to get murdered.” He replied with a soft laugh. “Though I’m glad you’ll think about the offer. It gets a little lonely around here and you seem like someone who’s worth getting to know”
Cole glanced up at the clock and chewed on his lip. He only had a few hours left on his shift but it still felt like it would be forever until he could actually be free.
“I hope I haven’t scared you off either.” Cole turned his head back to Lucky. “I promise I’m not some sort of weirdo or killer. I’m honestly just boring old Cole.” Who happens to not be entirely human
Lucky leaned back in his chair, the wood creaking slightly beneath his shifting weight. He had to admit, he didn't see what it was about him that made him "seem like someone who's worth getting to know", but he wasn't about to vocalize that belief. He honestly wouldn't mind making a new friend, especially with someone as comforting as Cole, considering his current friends were, at their best, poor influences. The rest of the time they were just fucking psychotic. It'd be nice to finally have a rational, sane friend.
Of course, that's assuming he's telling the truth about not being a weirdo or serial killer.
Actually… that's a pretty good point.
Well now you're just looking for a reason to not go over, Luke, you dumb piece of shit.
Damn. Another good point.
He'd already rationalized this. He was going over because, statistically, what were the chances of something bad happening? Infinitesimally small, assuming he'd be able to reign himself in if something got overwhelming. Which, for his own happiness, he was willing to assume.
"No, no. Of course, you haven't scared me away," Lucky insisted, waving a flippant hand in Cole's direction. "I was just joking earlier." Interlacing his fingers over the tabletop, Lucky tilted his head to the side, his lips twitching into a vague smile. "And I hope you're just joking about being boring. 'Cause, from what I've seen of you so far… Well, I just don't think 'boring' is a good descriptor for you."
Cole’s strange eyes glinted in curiosity as he sat patiently waiting for a reply. His eyes roamed the edges and lines of Lucky’s face as if trying to commit every detail to memory.
Now he could only take this two ways. The direct way and openly admitting he knew Lucky had some sort of power, or the less direct way in which Cole took it slow and built up towards admitting. He’d have to find out what kind of person Lucky was exactly and work off of that.
A little complicated but it could be done.
Cole’s delight shone a little more transparently on his face when Lucky spoke again. His eyes twinkled with an excitement he was sure Nancy would absolutely adore and never leave him alone about.
”Someone’s got a cute little friend.” He could hear her say it now. ”Good for you, but be careful, Cole darling. Your situation is extremely difficult.” He understood that.
“Me? Joking? I would never~“ He replied dramatically, dismissing the thoughts that intruded on his happiness. He could allow himself one friendship right?
“Though I’m glad you seem to like my company. I enjoy yours too. I guess I can’t argue with you either, can I? If you find me interesting there’s sadly nothing I can do.” He cracked another grin.
"Never joke?" Lucky asked, an amused huff of air whisking from the back of his throat, the noise seeming to resemble a pitched-down snake hiss. "If it's no joke, then it's either a lie or a misunderstanding. And certainly, you'd never lie to me, especially about a topic as serious as your boring-ness," he said, wagging a finger in Cole's direction.
Lucky took a moment to pluck at his eyepatch's strap, like a musician testing the strings on their guitar. "How unfortunate," he muttered lamely, his bottom lip puckering out as though offering pity to the other. "You'll have to live with the knowledge that you're not as boring as you'd always thought you were. Sounds like a curse to me. Anywho," he began, his tone completely shifting with the final word, gaining a light, airy quality, "What time do you get off work? If you don't mind me asking."
Cole gave the other a dramatic eye roll and yet he couldn’t wipe the stupid grin off his face. How delightfully fun the other was. Even if he was playfully pitying Cole for pretending to be so absolutely boring.
“Oh it’s such a curse on my soul! Such a blemish I can’t erase.” He brought a hand to his head, feigning a distressed damsel about to faint from the pure awfulness of his blight. “Woe is Cole!”
The dramatics brought a few unwanted eyes in his general direction, leaving Cole a little uncomfortable as he straightened himself in his chair and chuckled nervously at himself. Whoops.
“Ah, around 5PM, today is one of my shorter shifts.”
