This & That

Chapter One

He switches the color from orange to green, drawing two lines across the bottom and feeling the slight sweat beginning to form between his fingers. It's something he's missed, and a smile stretches over his lips as he inhales deeply and leans back to look over the drawing. Throughout the past few years, London's weather had been cold, and the sun illuminating his skin as it passes through the window reminds him of home. He dares to look up, sees the different people coming in and out of the café, and it's a bit early for the place to be full; the lazy movement of the waiters as they round the counter to greet each table, and the yawn the person behind the register hides behind a hand. He turns his gaze to his sketch again, remembering the time he had spent in college, and all the flights that had followed to various other countries to secure him a better job. A long-awaited phone call from his childhood friend had been enough for him to yet get on another plane, and he probably should be on his way by now, but inspiration had hit him, and he had to sit down for another hour to complete the design.

With a drag across the screen, an arrow points to the top part of the design, and he writes down the materials that would best suit it, thinking that he might get it fully rendered before crafting. He should ask about where to get the materials from; the apartment he had rented is too big for just one person, but it's the closest he had found to Bainbridge Street where he would be spending most of his daytime now, and with one additional empty room, he can turn it into a mini studio and push all of his chaos energy into it. He tilts his head as he looks at the design, the sheer material covering the main body would be in yellow or nude, and before he can write down which material to craft it from, there's a reflection on his screen, and he pauses.

"Tulle," a voice says quietly from his side, and he has to turn to look at the person. "It would give the same effect as those curtains," the stranger points out as he lifts his head, one hand hovering around his ear where one side of his bangs had been tucked behind, dark roots blending with a lighter blond color at the edges, a dangling clear crystal earring and a few rings around his fingers, and where his eyes are currently staring indicates that he was able to pick on which part of the café had inspired this drawing, and that says a lot about the stranger. When he looks back, there are sunglasses balanced on top of his head, and a pair of golden orbs glance at the design first before they meet his eyes, a small smile playing on his lips.

"You're an art student?" He can't help but ask, because he'd met a lot of them inside the campus, those who were not attending the same classes but with striking talent that got him interested just as much as they had been interested in his own work, too.

"No." The person straightens up. "Nice drawing by the way," he points at the tablet screen. "Really innovative."

"Thanks," he offers a smile back, and before he gets to say anything else, his phone is vibrating on the table, and the stranger glances at it before he offers a polite smile and turns to leave. Nicollas Romero's name flashes on the screen, and he slides to answer.

"Kuroo!" A cheerful voice greets him. "Couldn't guess that you'd be awake right after your flight."

"If I took a nap, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night, and that would mess with my sleeping schedule to the point that you wouldn't be seeing me next week." Kuroo's eyes glance up, seeing the stranger looking over the desserts placed in the display as he hears a chuckle in his ear. A simple red tee with various random letters painted in grey decorating both the front and the back, and he pairs it with black slacks and black leather loafers. It's smart, and Kuroo actually likes his taste in fashion.

"Right. Well, welcome to Philadelphia!" Nicollas brings his attention back to his phone call. "Unfortunately, Akaashi and Bokuto don't live nearby, but I guess being close to the premise means that you do get to see them before next week. They'd be so happy to see you back in the city. God, how long has it been?"