He looked thoughtful for a time, attention fixed on the road as he thought about this. "...I can see that." He said after a pause. "It was a pretty big change coming here from the city. I still keep waiting for the upstairs neighbors to come and yell at me for playing my music too loud, but thats nothing compared to what you woke up to, is it? I'd completely freak out if I'd gone to sleep in the city and woken up...where you came from. I think I'd handle it a lot worse than you just did. But then I guess you've been around longer learning to roll with the punches, huh?" He paused again and then gestured off toward one of the fields. "Hey, check it out. Horses. They weren't out yesterday."

The youth chuckled lightly listening to the man's stories and nodding as he let the information sink in. As more time passed, he couldn't help but fine the brunet quite a pleasant company. Not to mention that he was also quite a talker. It was through this talks that one would be able to learn more of the person.

Malaya wanted to know more of the man, and just why his neighbors disliked his music so much. Was it that atrocious that you could not find joy in listening to it?

"Hmm... Well. I'll be honest with you. Joseph, you played a large role in my good nature at the moment. Your kindness and hospitality touched me and I could not help but feel at ease. I have heard stories of which our kind were taken away and made into lovers of humans only to come back years after, broken hearted... You do not know distressing it is to receive your broken kin after years of estrangement. But I think we had a good start."

He smiled and then looked out as directed by the human, observing with curiosity just how horses were here in comparison to back home.

Though he felt that his so called "home" would be soon replaced by the idea of Muse's backyard garden from now on.

"Makes you wonder..." Joseph pondered out loud, looking out the window to see if any of the horses would start to run, which, accustomed to the passage of cars, they did not. "Were they broken hearted just because the people were jerks...or was it just because...they got too old?" Malaya was older than he was, which he never would have guessed, and it brought to mind an somewhat stark alternative reason for other engkanto to return in such a state. How young would Malaya still look when he himself was going grey and old? "Glad I could be a little help though, I mean I guess it's sort of my fault you got stuck with me in the first place. It's not like most people are going to call the plant nursery and be like "OH yeah, could you just make sure we're not displacing an tree spirit? Thanks." He pantomimed a phone with one hand, winking at Malaya to underscore the joke.
"I think we'll be there in a few minutes." He added, as more buildings began to appear sporadicly, more clustered together than they were out near his own house.

"Because they were jerks---Or that they had fallen in love and were found out thus the best way not to put their beloveds into danger was to take off."

Malaya cleared his throat and continued, "The most common instance is usually a human breaks a rule of a given agreement. Like...not saying the real name of the spirit or never to reveal or speak about their existence to others. Rules are quite important as it is..."

Then he looked at the fields again and smiled at the man's joke, "Don't worry. I have none. I don't see why I should. Though..." Slowly, the engkanto turned to him and traced a finger down the man's face up to his jawline, making the other face up, "More often than not, it's our kin who likes to be aggressive and take your kind into our world..."

The beautiful youth's tone had a slight purr of seduction and lure. After a moment of silence, he chuckled and shook his head, folding his arms behind his head then spoke, "Nah. Not my type either."

"I don't see why I should bother looking for love if I know it's not meant for me. If ever, it'll just come...and when I least expect it. When I do, I'll be damned if I don't do anything about it."

It sounded like a promise...a vow to himself and that Joseph was a witness to such a thing. And in the line that he would not be able to fulfill it, the mortal would have to slap him a few times and remind him.

Whatever he'd been planning on saying in vague apology for the harms his species had apparently inflicted on Malaya's species flew hastily out the window, derailed from its tracks by the Engkanto's delicate but firm touch and the brief tone of seduction that had appeared in his tone. Even when he was told a second later that he wasn't Malaya's type, it still took a moment to get the startled edge of a shake out of his voice, hiding it under an surprised laugh.
"Well I suppose thats good. I can see it now. "Yeah boss? I can't make that publishing deadline. Why? I've been kidnapped by a tree spirit. What are we doing? Uh. I don't think I can repeat that over the phone sir." He pantomimed the phone again, giving Malaya a lopsided grin, hoping he wouldn't notice the blush.
"But seriously...I don't know what to tell you on the last bit. I'm a believer in love, but I also believe in being cautious. I think the best of us have been burned a few times, I think it goes with the territory if you want something deeper than a fling, or what's basically 'friends with benefits'. It's a struggle of finding a way to find someone who you can be yourself with...and then knowing that they're with you because you're being yourself, not because they have this...image that you're going to magically transform into someone else for them."... "uh. Sorry. I guess I'm ranting again. Who me? Get burned? Don't know what you're talking about." He laughed again, flustered and embarrassed, trying not to spend any deeper thought on the touch than Malaya seemed to have meant it. God, it must just be that he was new here and lonely. Did he really roll that easily over a tease? "Just tell me if I'm running off at the mouth too much, ok?"

"And oh, in the event of such... Don't forget to tell your boss that there's no telling when you're getting back either." Then he modulated his voice, trying to sound akin to the man and continued, "Wish you were here though! Oh wait... Can't. There's only one room for this and he doesn't want to share..."

Malaya had been keen enough to also mimic the phone gesture though in reality he had no idea what that meant. He just hoped it wasn't anything offensive.

Realizing what he just said, the engkanto laughed as well, having revealed his...possessive nature when in love. Oh yes, he could be---given the circumstances. Especially when the youth felt that he was threatened or felt he had quite a catch, he would be...very, very jealous easily.

He listened to the other supposedly rant, wanting to hear of the human's wisdom upon the matter. Malaya had to admit that he agreed on some points...some even hitting the head of the nail a little too much for his comfort.

"You're doing fine. Stop being so conscious and be natural. Simply because I happen to be of finer, more nature oriented material does not make me any less of a creature to speak with. Go on."

Somehow, it amused him how nervous the other was still around him. At least he was already comfortable around the mortal. But not the other way around?

Musing out loud, Malaya asked, "What's your favorite color?"

Joking with Malaya about the kidnapping, and watching Malaya imitate his pantomimed phone made him laugh, which did make him relax a bit. "Sorry I guess I get a bit uptight when I'm meeting someone new. Call it human nature or maybe just one of my flaws. I like to know I'm making a good impression, so the more I tell myself to relax and be myself, the more geared up I get, I guess."
Just ahead, the small town came into view, as they pulled up to a stoplight to wait for a moment.
"My favorite color?" He pondered this thoughtfully, looking briefly down the street toward the market, or at least it's sign. "Um. Slate blue I guess, kinda like the ocean gets sometimes. Why do you ask? And what about you for that matter?"
He flipped on the turn signal as an afterthought, pulling out again as the light turned green.

"Green," he replied confidently. "I like the color green."

Malaya leaned back on the seat, resting his hand on a lever not knowing that pushing too hard would recline the chair. When it did move back, he shouted in shock and jerked upwards. The spirit having forgotten he was strapped ended up getting pulled back.

It took a while for him to realize what had happened.

Then he laughed.

"I don't know what I just did but this is just between us now. You hear? It would be for the best now."

He turned away, blushing softly at the incident, incredibly embarrassed at whatever he did. He looked up, through his lashes shyly and asked, "What just happened? I pressed something and it moved..."
___

HAHAHAHA.

No comment.

"I probably should have g...Are you ok??" As amusing as the answer was, although green did seem to suit Malaya, his nature aside, the dropping of the seat-back startled him into almost slamming on the brakes, though he laughed again, if a bit more from surprised, as he realized Malaya was indeed alright. "You, uh. Hit the lever to recline the seat back, or thats my guess. Either that or the seat just broke for no reason. Did you just find a leaver down by the side of the seat? If you did that was probably it. It's supposed to make it so you can adjust the seats and get more comfortable, or as comfortable as you can get in one of these things. You didn't give yourself whiplash or anything did you?" He asked, glancing at Malaya and then at the rear view to make sure everything was...relatively alright. "We're almost there. I'll help you upright the seat when we park, ok?"

He nodded to himself, looking over to the side and gathered his hands on top of his lap to avoid tampering with some part of the car that might shock him again.

The recoil from the incident had hurt quite a bit.

"I think---I'll be fine. I just..." Malaya couldn't bear to look at the human now. Comforted by the slightly unpleasing view of the insides of the car, he slipped up a bit to get some more of the window and contented himself looking outside more than anywhere else.

Outside the sky was just so blue and perfectly wonderful to stare at. Aah, the beauty of nature and changing topics.

"I didn't know your cars were THAT advanced now. But it sounds amazing thought. Can it move back and forth too other than moving up and down?"

"Uh, yeah actually. You can flip the seat back up and down, and there's a lever under the front of the seat you can pull up on, easier when you're not belted in, if you want to slide the seat forward or back to adjust how much leg room you have. And I can open the sunroof if you want." He gestured at the panel in the ceiling with another embarrassed look at Malaya. It wasn't -really- his fault, but it was his car, and he felt a smidge guilty over it.
He flipped the turn signal again, and after a moment or two, drifted into the parking lot of the supermarket. "You're not hurt or anything are you?"

Upon the mention of a sun roof, the engkanto looked up and squinted his deep colored eyes. The car's roof really did look like it had a panel for which it could be opened and accessed. Interesting, the spirit thought to himself... though he wondered for what reason or help that could be for.

Malaya shook his head, unbuckling the seat belt. "No...I'm fine. If anything, it's my ego that's hurt than my body. I don't know if I can get over that..."

He spoke with a somewhat half dramatic tone with a tinge of truth in it.

"...Does your car have a manual or guide?"

Better safe than sorry next time he rode in the vehicle!

"Ego's are fragile, but they do heal surprisingly well." he grinned again, stopping in a parking space and unclipping his belt. "It does, it's in the glove compartment." He answered, tapping the handle to the glove box and then reaching over to unlock Malaya's seatbelt. "Did you want to read it now or when we get back? Because we're at the supermarket."

Sighing in relief, the spirit felt safe with the idea of being able to access such a book for his well being. He observed where Muse tapped and made a mental note to borrow it so he may read when they got back. "I'll read it when we get back if you don't mind," replied Malaya as he watched the seatbelt slip back to where it had been before he used it. He was slightly fascinated at it's rather automatic nature. Ingenious, he thought to himself.

"We are?"

He seemed rather in disbelief and in surprise at how fast they arrived. Chuckling to hide his shock, the youth looked out the youth and was a little... disturbed at how different things were.

"...Uhh. I hate to say this but I think I'll be sticking very, VERY close to you. I hope you don't mind."

Malaya turned to the other, grabbing his hand, in a death grip, "I will kill you if you suddenly left me in the middle of nowhere inside of that place. I MEAN IT."

And frankly, he meant business.

Such a strange new world he had walked into.

"I'm not going to leave you stranded in the supermarket. What do you take me for?" He asked, startled by the intensity in the Engkanto, and reminded of his surprisingly powerful grip, wincing slightly at the unexpected grip. "It's huge in there, and I'm not some kid pulling a prank on his little brother...But if you keep trying to break my wrist with your grip I might ask you to stay here." He frowned slightly, trying to get his surprise under control. Malaya probably wasn't trying to actually hurt him, not from what he thought he knew about the other man, but he wasn't sure Malaya had a good idea of how strong he was compared to others, and he wanted to make that clear before someone did get hurt by mistake.

Realizing how embarrassingly desperate he sounded, the forest dweller turned away, releasing the human's wrist and looked outside. Dear Bathala...Why must it look so intimidating from where he was?!

He folded his arms across his chest and refused to look back at Muse. Why was he suddenly so irrational...and moody about this human?

"Glad to hear that then!," Malaya said trying to look brave when he was panicking at how MANY humans there were inside. Not to mention things looked...identical and crowded.

Muse himself, untroubled by the number of people around, which for him was actually quite few, found himself wondering how the engkanto was so good at yanking his moods around, and reached over to put his hand on Malaya's shoulder gently. "Are you ok?" He asked, seriously. "Do you want me to take you back to the house? I can do this later. I can just order out tonight. We can get a pizza. Or maybe Chinese." He offered, his concern written on his face as they sat in the car. He didn't really want to leave Malaya there, in spite of his threat. It would take a while to find things in the new store and he didn't think the engkanto would be very comfortable sitting in the car.

"Darling, we're already here," scoffed the engkanto at being babied by the other. "I might as well get out and explore right?" Though as he spoke, his voice broke out and began to trembles ever so slightly.

Malaya sighed and looked over his shoulder, frown in place. He finally turned to Muse and let out a deep sigh.

"...I'm sorry. I was being unreasonable. Pride, fear and among many other things. I just overreacted again, didn't I?"

He was playing with the tip of his long braid, brushing it against his palm and over. "And...I feel--I don't...Fine. Let's get going. I'm just slowing you down. Bah. What a selfish thing I can get."

After what seemed like a peculiar confession and an apology all rolled into one, he slipped out of his seat and went outside then quickly clung to Muse. In the sense that he stayed close to the long haired brunet, and if possibly would hold his hand, twining their fingers on occasion.

And when they did join their hands together, Muse would come to realize that Malaya's hand was shaking.
___

NOTHING BEATS THE BLOCK BUT A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.

((Woohoo! <3 ^_^ Now you just need to share. [email protected] I keep dragging this week. -plays dead on the keyboard-))

"Sure we're here, but we can turn around too, you know. He reminded Malaya as they got out, giving the Engkantos trembling hand a gentle squeeze as the others hand slipped into his. "Just...let me know if it's too much. Ok? This is a big deal for you. I can tell. For me, this is a pretty small crowd, but I grew up in the city. Not the middle of a forest, that just makes what we're used to different, not right or wrong or selfish." He nodded toward the doors as they walked, partially hoping to let Malaya see in advance that they opened on sensors. "I'm going to grab a hand basket when we get inside." It would leave one hand free, and besides they didn't need the cart, and being inside her less would probably be a little less traumatic for Malaya. Was it like stage fright, he wondered? The dreadful fear you were going to be total obvious, screw up, and then be even more so? Or was it just that there were so many things here not at all like him.

He trailed behind the brunet, keeping some close distance with him but often found himself bumping against the human and apologizing ever so often. The stares people gave him made him feel like some circus act. Not to mention how they condescendingly looked at how his hand would find itself in Muse's larger own.

Malaya found himself looking around, being so obviously at awe with everything and anything. He would open bottles that could be opened and smelled what was inside. Or shake boxes on occassion. The engkanto was most attracted to the shampoo and soap section for it's lovely scents...Only to end up protesting that something was mixed in to make smell...somewhat artificial.

When they arrived at the fruits and meats section, he was rather...at awe with how they were prepared. Somehow, the spirit could tell which was fresh and no by mere smell and look. Not to mention that he would often point out that the vegetables were laden with something not natural. "What is it? It...doesn't seem friendly to me. Does it hurt your stomachs when you have fruits coated with it?"

He meant chemicals in fruits in general.

Muse seemed to have shrugged on an protective demeanor like a coat, shoulders going squared, back straight, as though to let other peoples stares, the curious and the disapproving alike, roll off his broad shoulders, making a few jokes about the content of the shampoos and their perfumes, and his own recent time in the city.
He was caught slightly aback at Malaya's open sensitivity to the treatment on the fruits and meats however.
"Hm? Oh...uh. Not really...or...I've never noticed a problem. You're technically supposed to wash them first anyway...It's supposed to keep them from getting all chewed up by bugs."

Malaya picked up an apple and smelt it. He let out a pleased little sound only to end up pulling away and then tossing it back among the rest. "I don't like that. There's the chance that the chemicals get removed anyway. I won't eat anything chemical. I'll teach you how to grow stuff in your backyard---WAIT. I know!" The engkanto's features lit up as he took the man's free hand and clasped it excitedly with both hands. "Buy me some seeds...I don't know where but get me seeds. I'll grow you a garden in your back yard---tomatoes, cabbages, anything! We can harvest and stuff, that can be my rent! What do you think?"

Back in his forest home, the scholarly youth grew a garden... but it wasn't a vegetable garden. Rather it was of flowers and other decorative plants, trees even. It was one of the very few comforts he really had there. Malaya was quite fascinated by his innate ability to make things grow and blossom quickly and studied botany on his spare time. It was one of their abilities as engkantos ng gubat -forest spirits if translated, engkanto being spirit or fairy, ng meaning of and lastly gubat being forest- to be able to control the growth and lifespan of plants and other growing greenery.

"Don't worry! I'm rather careful and I like plants," he chirped in happily.

Muse was somewhat taken aback by the entire suggestion, blinking as he debated how this would all work out. "Well...we'd kinda need a green house to make things grow in the winter...I mean unless you like living on a very limited diet half the year....and we still need something to eat tonight." He pointed out, reeling as he tried to figure out the extent of what would need to happen to get a full blown fruit and vegetable garden growing. His own plantings were usually flowers or the occasional seasoning herb, since he'd been limited to things he could put in pots before. "I mean...we could do that, there's just a fair amount we have to do. I mean I think we could get some seeds here pretty easily, and if theres a garden place we can probably get starts of things."

Malaya blinked at him, smile in place as he curiously asked, "What?...Winter? I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about." The spirit released his hand and tucked some strand behind his ear as he looked to the side and thought. Was he THAT far away from home?!

"There's no winter where I live. Only sun and rain. So...," he wanted to say more but decided against it and simply nodded, "You're right. We do need some place to keep them so in the face of the cold." He remembered he had some readings about some places having four seasons, unlike where he was from. Back then, he felt sorry for them since they would have to experience the cold and loss of plants, flowering and the earth's bounty in general. Now, he would have to live it too? Interesting...but scary.

"Is it costly using...I mean you go by what currency? Dollars?...Pesetas?" He was trying to guess at the top of his head now, "Yen? I don't know... But is it? If it is then... I guess we'll just have to settle and put that selfish little dream aside but---Nevermind." The youth waved his hand in dismissal and smiled a little, "I'll have to learn how to go...chemical covered stuff then."

He wouldn't want to burden the human with his little desires and such. Besides if what Muse said was right, then oh dear...his home would lose it's splendor too!

"Dollars." Joe supplied, chuckling slightly. "No, I can do it, I just hadn't thought about it until you mentioned it. I mean we don't get as cold here as in other parts of the country, or I'd never have tried transplanting your tree, but it still gets a little too cold for most smaller plants. I mean some potted stuff would do just fine being in indoor pots, but others would probably do better with an green house, but we can look into what it would take to get one set up if you'd like. It's not selfish really, it's just faster than I'd planned on moving with my gardening." He shrugged faintly, picking up an apple and examining it. "...If you keep an eye out for some of the 'organic' stuff, some of that might be more to your taste....does that help? We can go looking for farm stands tomorrow."