Blue Eyes, White Lies

Conversations and Eyerolls

(what the hell i haven't updated this since october-

well here's an update lmao)

With a night in the cottage thing, I can safely say that Julian is creepy in all the best ways. He's a good dude, at least to me. I haven't a clue about his age or why the hell he's still out here minus the local lore, though.

The mornings go as they usually did back home. If you have no clue what that means, it means things are boring as all hell. Not bad, but not fun. 

Somehow we have cereal in the woods. At least for breakfast. 

I think that's because Eric is allowed to go outside. He probably does the shopping here. Julian can't even leave the house, considering he's either thought to be dead or hated by 90% of the public.

Fruit loops are good, yanno? (Don't get me wrong, these dudes hunt all the time. There's deer heads on the wall and a bow by the door. They hunt) 

If I haven't said it before, this place is hand built. All wood, for the most part. Don't fret, there is electricity and plumbing. I think that's why Eric is here. Julian's edgy speech about loneliness shows that he doesn't have much, and I assume never will. Eric seems like the one who goes out and buys things. He's probably the reason Julian isn't completely primitive.

Besides that, this place has given me an entirely different view on artisanry. Hand crafted work can be the most beautiful. 

It reminds me of cabins in New York. We used to go to places like this for vacation. Before I became obsessed with legends, that is. I can't say my family was too fond of that. 

It takes all of me to not touch each and every one of the grooves in the wall. They're absolutely beautiful. He was being honest when he said he knew everything about me. Apparently that meant he knew my taste in home design. 

Ok, I might be a little obsessed with this guy. 

What can I say, nostalgia kicks in when it wants to! Especially when that nostalgia brings back happy memories of your family that you aren't in touch with. I wonder if he felt the same about the outside. Eric was the errand boy. He never left. Hell he probably hadn't seen a grocery store before. 

Once I brought him to justice, I'd show him. I'd show him everything. People, places, what it's like to leave those woods. Assuming I finished my degree and passed the BAR, it'd be easy. Even if it wasn't, I'd be happy to help a man who's been through all this. 

Enough with that random train of thought, back to the daily narration.

I walk downstairs, ready for the morning minus changing my clothes, because I didn't have anything else. 

Not to my surprise, Julian was already up, which would make sense considering he lives in the woods equivalent of a farm. 

"You're up late, Kei." He keeps a neutral expression.

Well that's a new name... I didn't think he'd be the type to give someone a nickname.

"Define late," I rub my eyes and smirk a little. 

He lowers his brows. "There's a clock on the wall. How about you read it?"

I think I can safely define his personality as "Sasshole." A sassy asshole who (for some reason) I've dedicated my life to.

But, being me, I read the clock. It's a quarter to ten, which is late in his terms. 

"Who put hedgehogs in your bed last night?" I return with a bit of sass. If he gives me an attitude, I'm giving him one right back.

He nearly glares at me. "Hedgehogs don't live in this area. There wouldn't be any in my bed."

Does he... not know what an idiom is? You might be an urban legend, but even then most people know what an idiom is... Did Eric not teach him about those? 

"I suppose hedgehogs wouldn't be in your bed then..."

First step to teaching him things. Idioms. Second thing. How not to be grumpy. 

"Your breakfast is over there. Eric made it."

He dismisses me to go back to whatever he was doing. Moping, probably. Maybe planning to do something?  

I grab my plate, noticing the way it was set. Eric seems like a good cook. He even laid out a fork and napkin. 

I go over to the table, sitting across from Julian who is still scowling. Breakfast is an omelet with meat, presumably beef or venison depending on who did the 'shopping' for it. Taking a bite, I notice that Eric is indeed a good cook. I've never been one for eggs, but he makes them well. Was he a cook before he came here? Maybe he was a culinary arts major? He didn't look more than 25, despite being fairly burly and tall. 

"Was Eric a chef before this? This is amazing!" I say with my mouth a bit full.

Julian just says silent for a second. "Don't talk with your mouth full. It's disrespectful."

Alright then... 

This is why they say never meet your idols, I assume. Sometimes they're rude assholes. And even then, you still admire them. I'm still dedicated to him, even if he is an asshole. Call me crazy, but I didn't get slammed into a tree for nothing. 

I finish my breakfast, putting my plate in the sink after wiping the crumbs on my face.

I take a bit of a breath. "...was he a chef? He's seriously talented." I ask again.

Julian huffs, clenching his teeth for a second. "Ask him, not me. And if you would, stop asking me things. You're lucky I brought you here to begin with, Keiji."

At that point I decided to give up on questions for the day, hoping maybe tomorrow he'd be a little less angry at everyone and everything. 

"Go find Eric. We need to restock the pantry, he can answer all of your questions while you do that."

I don't even feel like asking about where Eric would be at this hour. Instead of asking, I decide to see if he's outside. 

The cool mid morning air feels good. The leaves from the branches are long gone, being winter and all. My boots crunch against the snow as I go out back to a small garden area, kept under a greenhouse (which was also very small, roughly ten feet by ten feet, like an extension of the house). Inside stood Eric, watering a small square of plants.

He had some dirt on his hands like the average gardener would. A few smudges on his face matched the ones on his hands. He wore clothes suited for the garden. 

I went over to the door and knocked before coming in. It was warm, as the average greenhouse was. Beads of sweat clung to him. 

He jumps back upon hearing the door creak open.

"O-oh hey! You're Keiji, right?" He puts down his can, takes his hat off, and smiles. 

I nod. "Yep, that's me."

"Let me guess, Julian sent you out here because we need more food?"

I nod again.

"And he wants me to take you because he's fed up with questions."

I open my eyes wide. "Well, you hit the nail on the head..."

He brushes some of his hair out of his face and fixes his ponytail. "Don't mind him, he's like that some times. I'll get a jacket on and we can head out. He probably needs some space today."

I feel like he's been on the receiving end of Julian's attitude before. I mean, he's lived with Julian for god knows how long. 

He comes back, snapping me out of my thoughts. 

"Ready to go?"

I nod.

Here goes nothing.