It's not the most pleasant thing he's ever done, smearing this concoction over his hands. It ranks pretty low on the "best textures ever" list, actually.

But the scent of the flowers in the air helps, and so does the company. The joy on Takashi's face is one he savors, he savors it every day. Something's happened since they'd gotten here. Or since he'd gotten here, at any rate. He knows from Vyng, Fern, Varian -- hell, Takashi himself that he didn't handle himself well in his absence.

Since then though Takashi smiled more often. He seemed weighed down less often. Neither of them were any more free than before, but sometimes it felt like it. Inexplicable.

And if this was all Takashi becoming an amazing actor who managed to keep this all hidden from Adam he'd find out very soon.