Shenanigans (Vincent Meian)

[Vincent Meian]

Giving the other staff member a triumphant smirk at his successful revenge, Vincent stood back as the botanist stood up. The accompanying wriggling of his little dance in a futile attempt to dislodge the snow sliding down his shirt was entertaining to the trainer, and given Suekeichi's own sense of humor it was likely well-received on his end as well (aside from the fact that he had to endure the cold himself, of course).

Still, it seemed that the joke was less than amusing to the fox this particular day.

The trainer responded in the affirmative and took his own course back into the building, walking past the main desk and the other offices with a few sort greetings to the staff he met along the way. Though he took his time, the tall man made it back to his own office relatively quickly, unlocking the door and entering without checking the room at all. He already assumed that Minamori would be inside anyway, so looking around for him would have been silly in the tiny office.

Closing the door behind him, Vincent leaned against the hardwood, crossing his arms over his chest nonchalantly as he surveyed his best friend. "It is not that I do not appreciate your company, Minamori," he began, still a confused despite the brief dispatch out the window and into the way things used to be. "However, I do not understand why you are here. Were you not employed in Switzerland most recently?"

He really did enjoy Suekeichi's company, and not seeing your closest friend in person for over a decade and a half tended to make one feel grateful for a surprise visit. This was just oddly out of the norm, considering that Kocher was still almost half the world away. Why come here when returning to Eisai to visit (or work) would have been enough?



((Sorry if this is a little confusing - my brain isn't tracking well. x...x ))

[Suekeichi Minamori]

Suekeichi had made himself at home after returning the katana to it's rightful place. If someone looked close enough, they could tell that he had wiped the sheath with the soft cloth of his scarf. Most people wouldn't look that close, however, and Suekeichi had laid his coat over it on the chair he sat in. He was respectful enough to leave Vincent's chair alone.

He was also comfortable enough to kick his feet up on the edge of the desk.

"Kocher was nice. Amazing campus, good kids," he started, looking over to Vincent. "But it distinctly lacked a you." He shrugged. "Besides, 'seeing the world' has always been on my list of things to do before I die. I'll tick America off of that list. Care to join me in an African safari sometime?"

[Vincent Meian]

The idea that Minamori had crossed an ocean just to be closer to him was... well, frankly, it was embarrassing. But humbling. His friend, in all of his erratic eccentricity, still managed to remind him that there were people aside from his family who cared for his well-being. Granted, the biologist was close enough to family as he could be without marrying into it, but that was neither here nor there.

Giving the younger man a brief smirk and a chuckle, the trainer pushed himself from the doorway and moved to his own chair, choosing to leave his friend's feet where they were. This wasn't a business setting; no protocols needed to be observed. "I must regretfully decline," he replied. "I have neither the will nor the want to go on such an adventure. There is excitement enough in my home to last me through the end of my days."

That did not mean that he would never go on a trip with Suekeichi. Far from it; the United States was bigger than almost any other country in the world, and it would be easy to take a road trip for weeks if they really needed to get away from the school. No passport required, and lower cost than taking a "safari".

Taking two bottles of water from his desk drawer, the tall man offered one wordlessly to the botanist and opened his own for a drink, taking a sip before retrieving his lunch as well. He had an hour (actually, only about 50 minutes) before he needed to leave for his next session, so the time could be spent as leisurely as he liked. "Would you like some of this?" he asked. "I felt the urge to make tofu rolls and inarizushi last night, so I would not be opposed to sharing."

[Suekeichi Minamori]

"Fine, I'll have a fantastical African safari, and all you'll get is postcards," he snorted. "And pictures of me with amazing animals and stuff. Because Africa." He'd never actually accomplish an African safari, though the idea absolutely enthralled him.

Suekeichi gladly took the bottle of water from Vincent. The adventure up the tree, through the snow, up the tree, and back into the office had left him a bit parched. Wordlessly, he opened it, and downed a good half the bottle and set it on the desk.

"Inarizushi? Count me in!" He replied rather enthusiastically. He'd not had decent inarizushi, --well any decent Japanese food-- in quite a while. Or, at least, not any that compared with Vincent's.

"So, what's fun to do around here, mate?" Suekeichi wasn't used to smaller towns. He was used to the bustle of the big city. Cities that didn't sleep, that had places that stayed open through the ungodly hours of the night and morning.

[Vincent Meian]

A smile broke the older man's placid features, and he shook his head, chuckling. It was a low sound and full of the amusement that often danced across his features. It was just like Suekeichi to become so facetious over such a small thing, especially something that both of them knew he would never actually do. "I understand," he answered, leaning back in the rickety chair he still had yet to replace. "Tell me when you decide to have this grand adventure, and I will be sure to supply you with souvenir money."

Shifting the lacquered box so that it sat between them, Vincent passed a second set of chopsticks to the biologist and took a piece of the tofu roll for himself. It had been a while since he'd made inarizushi, considering that it was normally a festival offering, but he simply felt like eating it this morning. Despite being cold, it was actually quite good - not impressive, but a taste of home nonetheless.

He shrugged slightly in answer to Minamori's question, swallowing his bite before he answered. "There are expansive woodlands surrounding the city, as well as a local lake which I have heard is a haven in the summer months," he replied, taking some of the pickled seaweed salad from the box in his own chopsticks. "There is a dojo, a burlesque, and a number of restaurants, though they often close before midnight. It appears mostly as a place to live, though I hear there are campgrounds further into the mountains."

Even though the fox had never seemed to appreciate the act of camping as much as the trainer did, simply being out in the woods and hiking was often enough to get him enthused about the outdoors. Once the weather warmed, they would have to attempt a trip again. "If you would like, I can guide you through the city soon," he offered, eating the small bite before adding, "once you have settled into your new home."

[Suekeichi Minamori]

Suekeichi took the offered chopsticks and gave a slight bow of his head. "Itadakimasu," he smiled before snatching up one of the inarizushi pieces. He adored Vincent's cooking. It was markedly better than his own. Dr. Minamori couldn't successful cook anything more involved than a casserole, and even that was a gamble. The man could burn water, was a master of hard boiled egg grenades, and had managed to mess up microwave macaroni and cheese.

He wrinkled his nose at the mention of camping. Setting up tents was infuriating, and while he loved being out in nature, he hated sleeping on the hard ground. Yes, he'd admit that he was a spoiled rich kid in that regard. He'd be the one renting a cabin at a KOA campground just for the comfort factor.

"I would love a tour of the city. Maybe go out to lunch," his eyebrow twitched a bit. "Maybe invite Nik along. I might eventually get back in her good graces." He fought the urge to laugh. While he knew she had a love of flowers, he also knew her passion for them wasn't near the caliber of his own. And he probably over did it. Then there was the fact that Nik really didn't like him. Suekeichi just hadn't grasped why. That was a mystery that would probably accompany him to his grave.

[Vincent Meian]

Something in Suekeichi's tone as he made that suggestion caused the trainer to pause mid-swallow, chew thoughtfully on the roll a couple more times, then attempt the act of digestion again. Perhaps it was the idea itself, but his old friend didn't seem terribly enthused by the prospect, even if he'd been the one to offer it. "I am certain that it can be arranged," he replied, settling back and taking a drink of water. "I will have to arrange such things with my eldest, however - I believe she has tests before the break commences, and I do not wish to impede her studying."

He didn't comment on the idea of the poor man getting back onto his wife's "good side" as it were, however; the botanist had made a distinctly bad impression on the woman the day they met, and over the course of the next few years. They all understood why he'd acted that way, yet the fox seemed to be the only one who didn't understand that it was just the way it was.

Maybe he'd understand before one or all of them died. Who knew; sometimes miracles happen.

"Have you had the opportunity to explore on your own?" he asked, taking another piece of the fried tofu for himself. "The townspeople are highly interesting, and many are quite friendly. I could introduce you to a few that I have met, if you would like."

[Suekeichi Minamori]

"Studies come first," Suekeichi nodded in agreement. "Working together has it's advantages. We should have similar free time. At least as far as breaks in term go." Suekeichi might have been a laid back slacker to the outside eye, but he was raised in typical Japanese fashion. Studies were important, education in general was important.

He took another bite and gave a shake of his head. "Not yet. I've had time to settle in, and learn my way around here. Not much more than that." He shoveled the rest of the piece of inarizushi in his mouth and cleared it before continuing. "I'd like that, but I'll see about doing my own wandering. See who I run into. That sounds fun." There was a wink there, but it wasn't an obviously mischievous one. He surely wasn't planning anything ostentatious. He might have had a reputation of his own that included being a prankster, but he'd take his time establishing that here. Besides, Vincent was an easy target who was used to his antics. That was amusing enough for a while.

[Vincent Meian]

The trainer didn't correct his friend on the subject of school breaks. Trainers and teachers had difference scheduling regardless, but for Vincent the student almost always came first. Many of his sessions were maintained even during breaks (as his sessions with Lei often were), and it was at the student's discretion whether or not they chose to take the time off. Regardless, he was on-call for work anyway, especially since he now lived so close.

However, he did roll his eyes at the implied amusement in Suekeichi's wink; the man needed to watch himself, as news in small towns traveled fast. "I am certain you will find a place here," he stated simply, taking another piece of the roll. "Would during the break be an appropriate time? Many of my students will be visiting relatives, so I will be able to spend a day or two with you."

[Suekeichi Minamori]

It didn't need to be said that Suekeichi would work just about anything around Vincent. Especially if it was during the plant manipulator's own free time. Most of it was spent tending to his beloved plants anyway, that wouldn't prove to be a problem. At least until he obtained more of a social life.

He smirked again and nodded. "I'm sure I will," he agreed with Vincent.

"Just let me know when works for you. My schedule outside of school hours is pretty open." That was the point that he set the chopsticks down. As much as he adored Vincent's food, he wasn't going to be a pig and eat it all. That, and he was still familiarizing himself with Hammel's layout, and should probably let the trainer get back to his life. He stood now, pulling a small leather case from the inside of his coat as he put it back on. From the case, came his meishi. One thing that Suekeichi maintained from his home country was that tradition. And he'd already had his cards updated for Hammel. He stepped closer to the desk, gave Vincent a respectful bow, and extended his card in Japanese fashion. "Since I'm sure you don't have all my updated information, here you are."

[Vincent Meian]

Vincent stood as his friend did, setting his own utensils down before retrieving his own silver card case from the front pocket of his shirt. Not much usually changed with the man, but he had new business cards for his new place of business and so forth as well. Accepting the proffered paper with both hands, he bowed as well, stowed the card in the meshi, and handed over one of his own.

"I thank you, my friend," he answered with a slight smile. "I will be sure to arrange a time with you after school hours. I hope you enjoy your classes; these students are... very much like we once were."