insurmountable | we'll try again // when we're not so different

[Ah, it's a boring day at work today.

But Thoma doesn't mind. In between customers, he's been tidying the place up. It always seems to be a mess when he comes back from a day off, at least in his eyes. The boba shop sparkles now, garnering praise from Ayato, the man who owns the business, and he really couldn't be happier for the praise. Though he hopes that his boss doesn't come back the next day with a "reward", which usually comes in the form of free lunch for Thoma, but somehow Ayato manages to find the strangest food for him to try.

And of course, he's far too nice to decline. It would be rude after all, to not eat the lunch that he's brought for Thoma, eating it and trying not to pull a face at some of the flavors that hit his tongue.

But despite that small inconvenience, Thoma likes his job, and it's even better from a certain someone who frequents the shop. His ears perk up when the door opens, a small bell ringing from the momentum of the door when it closes. A familiar head of golden hair enters, and Thoma's face brightens at the sight.]

Hey! I almost thought you weren't going to stop by today!

[Grinning, he quickly takes his place at the counter.]

What'll it be? The usual? Or do you want to try one of our new specialties today?

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[He nods quickly.]

Right... a movie sounds great!

[But then he still worries about Thoma. The small wound on the other's neck is still there.]

But you should get something to eat... and rest. And if you need to get something done around the house, I'll help, too!

[If he's supposed to stay here for a while, then he can't be doing nothing.]

Oh, I know. I... can't bring myself to eat anything, but I can definitely cook. Maybe I'll cook for you? That would definitely take my mind off things.

[Aether showering him like this is really nice, but the host in him simply can't let him do all that for Thoma in his own house. But he also knows Aether really needs something to let him step back into the realm of normalcy, given that only several minutes ago he was biting into his neck and drinking his blood in a hunger-induced haze.

So Thoma believes it's a good idea to compromise here, at least right now.]

I'm not used to people making food for me, so that would actually be really nice. As for the rest, please, let me take care of things. I can't have you doing chores while you're a guest here. But I am tempted to try your cooking! Maybe you can teach me a thing or two in the kitchen, I'm always looking to improve my culinary skills.

[Aether nods. It's a good compromise and really, he can't exactly argue with someone who is showing him kindness and allowing him to stay here. Especially considering the circumstances. So he smiles, his mind drifting to the recipes he really liked.]

Sure! I like learning recipes from all over the world so there has to be something that I can make and you'd like.

[It already feels nice to focus on something as mundane as cooking.]

How does... rice cake soup sound like?

[He looks over to Aether, almost as if he read his mind or something. Don't tell him his vampire powers include psychic powers too ~~they do poor Thoma~~]

Did I tell you that's my favorite soup? I didn't know you knew how to make it.

[It sounds delicious and he'd love some.]

Make sure you grab some for yourself before serving it to me, I might eat all of it otherwise.

Huh?

[Aether looks just as surprised! Is this some part of his new powers?!]

No... you didn't. It's probably a coincidence that I named it.

[He sure hopes so. He's scared of what he's become as is.

But Thoma seems happy with the idea, so maybe there's no need to worry.]

Don't worry, you can eat it all if you like. I probably still won't be able to eat much anyway...

[If he can eat anything at all.]

Do you have enough ingredients to make it though?

[Since... this isn't his house. He's not sure how well Thoma's kitchen is stocked up.]

Of course! I always make sure to keep a well stocked kitchen. Feel free to raid it as you please! ...Actually, keeping up on housework and being a good chef is sort of what I like to do in my spare time outside of work anyway.

[He rubs the back of his head a little nervously, it's not like most people like doing housekeeping. And honestly, neither did he, until he got really good at it.]

I was sort of hoping to open my own business one day, actually. Or, I was hoping that I could get a good gig at some rich person's mansion one day doing it.

[That would be the life, wouldn't it?]

Thoma's housekeeping business...

[Aether smiles at that, before nodding sagely.]

You can definitely count on me for support. [Even if he can't do much for the moment... but maybe, eventually there will be a way for Aether to repay Thoma for his kindness and truly support him!]

Alright, then just wait here and I'll prepare a nice soup for you.

Thanks a lot, Aether. It means a lot coming from you.

[Thoma relaxes as he nods to Aether, so he can go to the kitchen and work on making the soup. But his mind will still wander to what they need to do next, or maybe it's more apt to say what they have to wait for to come to them. He wants to not worry about it for now, there's nothing they can really do about it in the meantime, but it nags at the back of his mind.]

I'm really looking forward to trying your cooking, but don't feel the need to rush it. I'm sure it's going to be great.

[The cooking goes relatively smoothly, although, just as Aether suspected he feels no desire for human food anymore and he accepts this fact with a heavy weight on his heart. Regardless, he hopes Thoma will enjoy the dish and the mundane moments they spend afterwards.

When the night comes, the boy settles on the couch prepared for him, says a small "goodnight" to Thoma and hopes that when he wakes tomorrow everything will be better, more... normal. But it's hard to fall asleep when your own body is slowly growing cold and when there's no sound to be heard, except for a faraway heartbeat that does not belong to him.

Then suddenly, in a midst of the night a dark shadow appears outside the window, alarming Aether with footsteps that he recognizes.

And so the next morning there is no sight of the boy. All that is left on the bed is just a hastily written note that reads:

"Meet me at the park in the noon"]

[Thoma is glad for Aether's company the rest of the night, appreciating the dish cooked for him as they spend a little time together before saying goodnight. Thoma slips into bed, the stress of the day finally coming to weigh down on him more than he'd expected it to. It's tired him out more than he realizes, and within moments of settling down completely to sleep, he's passed out.

Not once does he hear anything that occurs during the night, and sunlight is streaming through his windows when he wakes. For a moment, he panics wondering if he's overslept and kept his guest waiting for him to wake up, but he soon discovers it's too early for that. Yawning and walking out of his room, he finds that Aether has disappeared save for a note that he picks up, feeling his stomach drop.

Meet me in the park at noon.

Thoma wonders what happened, why Aether had left the way he did. It can't be good, not with what happened yesterday. But there's not much they can do about it, especially since his friend has already gone. Breakfast is now out of the question, his appetite gone because of the worry that begins to plague his mind. Thoma tries to stay positive about it, but everything about this is worrisome.

At noon, he arrives, looking around for Aether, not knowing if he should be ready to grab his friend and run or if this is something good and they'll be able to make more sense of the situation.]

we'll try again // when we're not so different

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