Collecting Strays {Ricio}

[Ricio Miller]

Ricio had a bit of a sweet tooth, though he didn't always get to have treats. So when he did get to pick, he always had sugar in his coffee. It was a nice convenience. And since he was already getting treated to doughnuts, he was hoping Antosha would load him up with sweet coffee as well.

Ricio actually wouldn't have minded seeing pictures. Although he didn't think it was personally important for him to have tons of pictures of his own sibling. He did have a few sketches of his brother at the moment though. But as a rule, Ricio tried not to carry anything with him that he didn't really need. Ricio didn't believe in being materialistic. And it wasn't like he had a phone to store photos in either.

Ricio took a minute to admire the tattoos that covered the man sitting next to him, well at least the ones he could see. Of course he loved tattoos, but he never had the money or inclination to get one of his own. He wasn't sure he'd be able to setting on anything that he would want permanently on his own skin. Also he had a feeling if he ever got one, just one wouldn't be enough. His skin wasn't a big enough canvas to express himself. "Well I think your decorations are nice," Ricio said.

Ricio sighed heavily as he stood up next to the man. He looked a bit defeated as the gazed into the doorway of Antosha's house. Taking a big breath, like he was about to dive off of a high dive, he stepped inside. "Which way to the bathroom?" he asked, ready to dash off in that direction. If he could just get in and get out quick maybe he wouldn't freak out. At least Antosha's place was pretty open in it's design.

"Well if you'd really like me to have it," he added. After all fluffy shirts were his favorite.

[Antosha Vikenti]

It was still a bit horrible to think about putting anything other than coffee in one's coffee. A bit unfathomable really. Antosha couldn't understand how someone would willingly ruin their coffee by putting things in it. But he kept his mouth shut, because how much worse would it be to scare off the stray with something so stupid? Plus... He was pretty sure he had sugar in his fridge. Or was it in his cupboard?

Antosha glanced over as he felt eyes roaming his skin. It didn't bug him to have someone studying his tattoos, but it always got a bit nerve racking if they took forever in their appraisal. Granted he didn't need other's approval to validate his decision to decorate his skin. But it might be nice to get it regardless. He smiled gently at Ricio's words and without thinking through the action he turned, reaching back to touch a tattoo on his shoulder blade. His favorite one. The one of a panther with glowing golden eyes to match his, looking as though it was tearing open his skin to get out. "This was my first." He explained easily, giving the other a few moments before turning back to his goal.

He walked further in the house before turning around to study Ricio, a puzzled frown on his face. There was obvious confusion as to why the other was acting like this was such a big deal. But maybe he really was just nervous about being in a stranger's house. With that conclusion Ant nodded to himself before pointing down the hallway. "First door on right. The sweater and a towel and if you want the fresher clothes are in there." He shrugged briefly, as though this no big deal. Which it wasn't. It was just doing hell to the Russian's nerves.

Here he was inviting a stranger into his house. A stranger he didn't even know, obviously. But more importantly he didn't know what Ricio was. The thought popped up and Antosha another wave of panic before he tilted his head up, speaking before Ricio could get into the bathroom. "Are you a meta?"

((Short.... Sorry))

[Ricio Miller]

Ricio was an artist who enjoyed exploring other forms of medium. Not that he'd ever have the chance, but he always wondered if he would be any good at tattooing. Looking over Anotsha's decorations, he was hit with the curiosity of what it might be like to leave something so permanent. Though he didn't think he'd be worried about screwing up. He wasn't sure how he'd feel creating art that also caused a bit of pain.

"Okay. Be right back," Ricio said, preparing to sprint off to take a fast shower. He was actually in something closely resembling a runner's starting stance when Antosha suddenly asked a question.

He was so anxious of being out of his element and indoors that at first he couldn't process the question. "A what?" he asked. "A meta? Yeah. Uh. Why you askin?" He wasn't sure where this was coming from. And why so suddenly. Though it was nice to have a distraction. And I reason to continue standing by the front door. "Is that okay?"

He knew some people didn't really like metas. Perhaps this guys didn't want on in his shower.

[Antosha Vikenti]

Antosha quite liked the idea of having something permanently attached to your skin. To him, it was like an extension of himself. A bit of his soul bared for the world to see. It seemed to be a bit like tree rings as well, marking the different years of his life. How the world (his world) was fairing during the specific time. What had ruled his heart and his head at the time he forked over money to hear that pleasant buzzing once again.

His soul and his life, out for everyone to see.

Amber eyes watched with a small amount of suspicion with Ricio's stance, wondering if he had made the other so uncomfortable that he couldn't wait to be done. Or perhaps he was simply eager for a shower? Antosha battled with the confusion and suspicion as he waited for the answer to his question. After what seemed like hours in his head, he came to the conclusion that if Ricio had a problem with his home he would have voiced it. Ricio just seemed like that kind of vagrant.

Plus the sense of relief washing over him at the knowledge of Ricio being a meta helped to kill the lingering doubts. He didn't even try to stop the small smile pulling at his lips when Ricio freely admitted to having a power, raising his hands slightly to gesture back to the house. "Yes, yes it is okay. Please, go ahead to shower." Yes, everything was easier once he knew Ricio was like himself. With that he turned and started walking to the kitchen. "I am as well."

[Ricio Miller]

"Uh...well..okay," Ricio said, sighing a bit. He was still a bit confused by why the question was so important to his new friend. And had hoped for a bit more of a distraction than what he'd been given. But he could think of no reason to extend the conversation at the moment so he resigned himself to his next task. "Be right back."

The shower was quick. He'd had the temperature a little too high without be able to realize it, so he came out looking with his skin looking a tad on the pinkish side. He was lucky most households didn't have showers that reach temperatures that could actually burn your skin. He dressed in some of the wrinkled clothes he had packed underneath his art and cigarette supplies. He hadn't planned on taking the shirt Antosha had offered, but it was very soft. And free. And though he worse a long-sleeved fleece over top of it, Antosha would still be able to see it underneath if he was looking.

He returned from the bathroom, still dripping a bit and his clothes sticking to his body from lack of drying off properly. "I'll just pop outside to have a smoke," he said, making a bee-line for the door without waiting for Antosha's reply. One of the things he liked so much about being a smoker was that it always provided a reasonable excuse to get back outside.

[Antosha Vikenti]

Antosha made Ricio a mug of coffee and left it sitting on the counter. After that he spent the majority of Ricio's shower in his bedroom to get ready for heading to Hammel. He changed his pants and pulled on a thin, soft black button up shirt that was pressed free of wrinkles. More amazing was the fact his shirt was free of animal hairs. As he was fixing up his eyeliner -a habit he never killed from high school- he heard the water to his shower turn off.

Prompted to poke his head out of the bedroom, Antosha watched with not a small amount of amusement as Ricio almost ran through the house in his haste to get outside. After the front door shut again the Russian made his way to the kitchen to grab the mug off coffee, heading for the door but stopping to grab his wallet, keys and phone before he locked the door and stood on the porch with Ricio.

"You look... Wet." There was a small smile at the fact Ricio's hair was still dripping wet. Like it was something Antosha should have been surprised by. He set the mug on the railing beside the meta and he nodded briefly at the cuffs of the shirt he saw. "Here is the coffee for you. Might not be enough sugar but I was not sure how much you wanted."

[Ricio Miller]

Ricio was much more calm and happy once he stepped out onto the porch. And yes, he was still a bit wet. His clothes were clinging a bit to his body and his hair and beard were dripping. Which reminded him, he should probably find a way to get a trim for both of them at some point.

He was already rolling up a smoke when Anotsha walked out onto the porch. He returned the other man's smile. "Yeah..." he said, shrugging. Though Antosha had to have figured out by now that Ricio wasn't exactly indoor friendly, Ricio still wasn't going to admit anything without being directly asked. He enjoyed playing the 'go with the flow' persona to admit what some considered a crippling phobia.

"Thanks," he said, taking the mug after he lit up his smoke. He then took a long drink of it, and burnt his tongue doing so. Although Ricio couldn't feel heat, he could still get burnt and feel pain. He sputtered a bit and set the coffee down. "It's fine," he said, smiling and hoping that would cover up his sputter.

"You headin out?" Ricio asked, noticing Antosha had changed clothes.