PLAY BALL

How sweet! Giving him a bright smile, the vampire slid the strap from her shoulder and held it out, realising a little too late that the oni might not necessarily be… hygienic enough to be allowed such an offer. “Here!” It was difficult to ignore the… insect life apparently inhabiting his hair, but she bolstered herself and persevered, “You can feel it if you like. My father had it made for me some years ago.” As was the case with many of her clothes, unfortunately. Unlike her siblings, she had yet to discover her own sense of fashion, and was still largely dressed in a similar manner to the family’s assistants. It was no matter - at the very least, it seemed that Akio was pleased by it… although he seemed to be pleased by many things. “Ah! I was only crossing the campus to the registrar’s office but I’d be glad of the company! I do hope I’m not keeping you from anything important, though. Were you busy?”

“Nuh uh! Not buthy. Jutht trying to lothe thome energy.” Even an intensive workout didn’t always burn off all the excess that built up in him, being extra-monster-y and all. It was something even his coach didn't seem to understand. He had to move! A lot! There was a reason he kept stealing bases when he wasn't supposed to, and that reason is staying still is hard. "Lead the way!"

✭ what is one of their favorite items?

Speakin’ of fellow athletes, one corner of the gym kept catchin’ her eye as she worked. Some big machote was liftin’ up a storm, and the werewolf found herself matching his pace instinctively. Mierda, the fucker could lift for sure. With a roll of the shoulders, Bea dropped her weights and left her station, padding across the gym to the big blue fucker. No sense in fuckin’ around - she was impressed, and liked what she saw. “Hey, amigo. Saw you ain’t got nobody spottin’ for ya. Need a paw?”

His routine was interrupted somewhere around the mid six range - he’d lost count - by the hairy girl from the other side of the room. He did actually manage to notice her trying to match him, albeit at lower weights. Was nobody gonna be able to do this? “Not uthally in need of one!” he stated, getting another couple reps in before setting the weights down and bowing his head to his new friend. “I don’t think it’th pothible for me to hurt mythelf like this,” Probably true, with the way his body was built. “But if you want to, I would not refuthe a hand.”

In her monogrammed leather satchel, her phone buzzed, and she knew that it was the dean of the faculty, predictably cancelling their upcoming meeting. He was often unsettled around her, for reasons she had yet to fathom - although it may have stemmed from her recent decision to organise his office whilst he was at lunch. Odd; she had assumed he would be thankful. At the oni’s question, Hazel smiled again, showing her teeth this time. “Quite right! I am Hazel Delaney, and I’m very pleased to have this chance to converse with you properly.”

His gaze followed Hazel’s hands as she checked her notification - oh, that was a pretty purse. “I like your bag!” he exclaimed, never having been one for verbal filters. “It looks soft.” Akio lifted a large hand to scratch at the base of his scalp, letting off a flurry of dirt and what might have been a bug or two. He wasn’t quite perceptive enough to catch Hazel’s displeased reaction, far too distracted with the pleasure of the itch disappearing. He’d never claim to be bred for manners. Suddenly, he managed to remember the full situation, hopping slightly in place and focusing back on the tiny woman. “Were you going thomewhere before I knocked you over? I can walk you! I’m thure you’re fine alone, but what are friendth for?” 

“It’s quite alright,” Hazel said lightly, brushing gravel dust from her blouse and flicking her hair back over her shoulder. “How is the college treating you so far this semester, Mr. Aoyama? I can’t say I know enough about sporting seasons to enquire as to… baseball, isn’t it?” Even without her many hours poring over transcripts and admissions forms, the vampire could easily recognise one of the college’s many sporting stars - it was hard to miss someone quite so large and blue. Besides that, it was always an advantage to have the conversational upper hand, especially so soon after being knocked off of one’s feet. 

“Oh, batheball theathon doethn’t thtart back up until thpring! February, to be prethithe.” Oof, maybe not his best choice of words if he was going for intelligible. Ah, well, she seemed to not have a problem with understanding him so far. “We train all year, though. Gotta thtay thtrong!” The sentence was punctuated with a wide, toothy grin and a flashy flex of his arms; t-shirt sleeves threatening to tear around his biceps. Akio looked down at the girl, settling his hands on his hips. “Hey, uh. What’th your name? You know me already. Can’t be friendth without tharing names!”