The United Kingdom is a lively country, that's for sure. Not at all bad, but a different way from the States are.
Getting off the double-decker bus that we rode, Azrael, Jane, Levi, and I hop out onto the sidewalk while paying up as we do. James is with us too, and he managed to show up yesterday, literally at the last moment when he drove up on the tarmac with the jet, and Azrael laughed a little as James stumbled out of his car with his suitcases.
Right now we're heading to a dinner with the business acquaintance of Garner Inc. here in the UK, and I think I caught his name as Raymond. I don't know his last name though, at least not yet.
We walk up to a restaurant with large windows and a dark wood interior. There are warm yellow lights and also long curtains of deep red that hang down to a thick carpet below. Some music with strings plays out and I listen to it as we walk up to a podium where a man stands.
"Hello, welcome to this establishment. Do you have a reservation tonight?" asks the waiter.
"Yes," says Azrael with a nod, "Mr. York. Table for six, I believe."
"Oh yes," says the waiter as he smiles and then indicates a part of the restaurant where curtains hide away a private table in a room connected to the main part of the restaurant, "I'll show you to your table."
"Thank you," says Azrael, and the waiter nods before showing the five of us to that table.
Pulling the curtain away, a large round table covered with a white table cloth is revealed with a middle-aged man with wavy brown hair and twinkling eyes. He notices us, and smiles before coming over to greet us.
"Azrael!" he says in a British accent, and hugs Azrael in a manner that I almost growl in.
"Hello, Raymond," says Azrael.
"Have you gained weight?" asks Raymond playfully as he pats Azrael's waist and grins.
"You'd know, wouldn't you," says Azrael with a chuckle, and I almost feel my eyeballs pop out of my head with the thought that these two were involved crosses my mind.
I glance over at Jane, who might know, and she gives me a look that she'll explain something later, but don't worry about it.
"Well, how have all of you been, Levi, Jane, James?" asks Raymond as he goes over to Levi and gives a hug as well.
"I've been great," replies Levi as he smiles in a friendly manner.
"Same here," says Jane as she also gets a hug.
"Still French here," says James with a laugh.
"Who might you be?" asks Raymond with a courteous smile to me.
"I'm Hogarth," I say and a hand-shake, "I'm Azrael's assistant."
"Oh, so I've heard," says Raymond with a large smile, "you seem to be the savior of Azrael's. As he said it."
"I hope I am," I say, and I think I see Azrael blush a large amount.
Though, as the lighting isn't the brightest in here that I can't be for certain.
Sitting down, we all put cloth napkins on our laps and waiters come by to ask what beverages we want and also tell us the dinner course that Raymond is treating us to.
"We'll serve an appetizer of soup, an entrée of steak, and an alternative of pork if you'd like, and desert," says a waiter, and another walks around pouring water for all of us and taking note of what wine or other drink we wanted.
"We'll also bring a tray of other delicacies that you can enjoy throughout the meal with the dinner course," says the waiter, "it'll be here momentarily."
"Thank you," says Raymond, then turns to Azrael as the waiters leave to get the food, "so, is that issue with the Collection finally over?"
"It seems so," says Azrael as he drinks water, "at least, they've all but dissipated as they have no real direction."
"Is that so, James?" asks Raymond.
"Oh, yes," answers James with a nod, "they can't at all figure out what they want. Right now they're trying to stay on their feet."
"It's a good thing that they're out of the game," says Raymond as he smiles and takes a drink of water, "there were talks of the Collection trying to expand over the pond."
"I heard about that as well," says Azrael with a nod, "I'm pretty sure James did too."
"Yes," says James, "but I hoped that it wasn't true."
"Well, it won't be," says Raymond with a wide smile, "there won't be any of the mess from America here, thankfully, and with no offense of course."
"None taken," says Azrael as drinks arrive along with soup for all of us and also a tray, or racks of trays are put around the table. Three for the six of us to share.
I sit next to Azrael with James on the other side of him, and beyond that is Raymond. Jane and Levi sit to my other side in that order. I guess Azrael and I will be sharing this rack.
Azrael sips some soft yellow wine while I stick to some darker version of the drink. I think Jane and Raymond are drinking brandy, whereas James drinks sparkling champagne. Levi refrains from drinking, sticking to some coffee.
"What is that?" asks Azrael to me as he points to one of the trays between us and indicates a food there.
"I think that's caviar," I say as I look at it, and recall how I had it once somewhere somehow.
"Oh, I've never had it," admits Azrael.
"Try it," I encourage.
Azrael nods, and with a spoon gets some and eats it. He pouts, before very quietly gets a tissue from the center of the table and puts it up to his mouth, before getting the tissue now folded up and places it under the rim of his plate.
I laugh, and Azrael looks over at me.
"I guess you didn't like it, eh?" I say with a smile.
"No, I'm afraid I didn't," says Azrael with a smile.
"In all honesty," I say, "it's an acquired taste, so I can understand if you don't like it. I don't for sure."
"Oh, then, perhaps the others will," says Azrael, and offers the caviar to James, who gladly takes it.
"The soup though is nice," I say as I drink it, "it has a nice flavor. Subtle yet creamy."
"It really is," agrees Azrael as he drinks some of it.
"Do you think it's made from beef?" I ask curiously as I drink it.
"Actually, I feel it's from chicken, though I could be wrong," says Azrael, then shrugs his shoulder, "but I like it."
"Better than the caviar?" I ask.
"Oh, most definitely," says Azrael with a nod.
"It's really good though that the Collection drama is over, isn't it?" I say.
"It is," says Azrael, "they can't do or harm anybody that I may care about."
"Like who?" I ask.
"Well, you of course," replies Azrael.
"You care about me?" I ask, wanting to confirm what he said.
"Oh, I mean, um," says Azrael, "I think I do."
"I care about you too, of course," I say.
"Thank you," says Azrael as he smiles.
But somehow, I feel this little dialogue was meant to go farther, but he's stopped it from continuing. That slightly frustrates me, but I keep my mouth shut. After all, there are other people around us, so maybe he doesn't want them present.
"Have you heard about the update I talked about?" asks James to Raymond.
"I did," says Raymond with a nod, "but there's some details in that report that is quite strange, needless to say."
"I agree," says James with a nod, "I think they might've messed with the numbers because the details are all muddled."
"They're talking about a report on technology," says Azrael to me, "Raymond works with technology like James does."
"Oh, I see," I say.
"I really don't know much about technology, so can barely introduce knowledge regarding it," says Azrael with a shrug and starts to finish the last of his soup.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of," I say as I shrug also, "I may be from your view considered to be tech-savvy, but there are definitely more informed people regarding technology."
"There are always bigger fish I suppose," says Azrael with a chuckle.
After finishing the soup, the waiters bring out plates of steak with a garnish and take back the soup bowls now empty to the kitchen. The steak is cooked perfectly, not too red, but not too dry. Just right, and with a sauce that has a slight bit of tang to it, I can't believe I'm eating a steak so large so easily.
"Did you like it?" asks Azrael to me as we both finish.
"I did," I say with a nod, "it was probably the best I've ever had."
"I'd hope that your father never hears that if he cooks steak," says Azrael with a smile.
"He does, now that I recall," I say with a smile, "but, I'll ask you don't say that to him."
"I won't," says Azrael, "and he can make one better than that one from now."
"That's right," I say with a laugh.
"Here comes dessert," says Azrael, and it does arrive, plates of what I think are chocolate cake that looks extremely expensive, and very delicious.
Once the waiter stows my steak plate away to the kitchen, I dig my dessert fork into the cake, and put it to my mouth. I hear a moan of delight, and look over at Azrael as he's the one who made it.
It's not loud, and I think I'm the only one who heard it. But, looking at him with his rosy cheeks from the wine and also how he has his eyes closed while he enjoys the flavor, I get a different hunger in my stomach as I watch him.
Azrael opens his eyes and spots me looking at him, and he blushes and looks down, saying, "My apologies, that may have been inappropriate."
"Not at all," I say, but it may have been so and I still like him that way.
"Chocolate mousse cake though is on another level of delicious," says Azrael as he takes another bite of his.
"Is that what this is?" I ask.
"It is," says Azrael with a nod.
"I think I like it too," I say as I smile, "like you."
Azrael nods, but takes the meaning of what I say as that I like the cake just as he likes this cake. But in reality, I like him like I favor this cake. He's something I like, more than a piece of dessert.
After finishing the dessert, we talk for some bit and then head out to our hotel for the five of us, and Raymond waves good-bye and heads home. We ride a cab this time, two different ones with Levi and Jane in one with James, Azrael, and I in the other. James seems to have drank too much of his champagne, and he sits with us a bit tipsy and very rosy in his cheeks.
Azrael also seems slightly tired, as we've stayed several hours, and the night is settled in nicely now. He leans against his seat and keeps his eyes open a tiny amount, but seems to be drifting off.
"Are you tired?" I ask softly, to not disturb him too much.
"A little," says Azrael as he nods.
"You can lean against my shoulder," I offer, "and I'll wake you up when we get to our hotel."
Traffic is a little bit congested, and we're stuck at a pause right now. So it might take a while to get back.
"Is it okay?" asks Azrael to me.
"Sure," I say and smile, "it's not at all rude to me."
"Well," says Azrael as his eyes begin to shut closed again, "if...if you say so."
He leans his head against me, and I smile as he starts to sleep. His chest falling and rising as he rests.
I wish this could happen beyond than just in this moment.