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The evening had passed into morning all too quickly for the buck, though he had done his best to try and drag it out as long as possible. He was simultaneously excited and terrified of the prospect of stepping into the dating world once again, having been burned too many times previously, but he trusted Audrey. She was an understanding friend, if a bit unpredictable, and always seemed to know just what to do to cheer up the mopey cervine. Thus as night gave way to day, and Jayne clocked out, he felt his anticipation shifting away from dread and into a slight giddiness.

Changing quickly in the locker room of the museum, the buck stuffed his legs into a loose pair of dark jeans, suspended by a thick black belt, and carefully pulled a t-shirt over the bony protrusions on his head. Sure it would be easier to wear button downs all the time, but that felt too stiff and formal for his tastes. Pausing in the mirror at his locker to make sure everything was in order, he pulled on his windbreaker with the museum badge stitched into the shoulder and zipped it halfway up. Cold didn't bother him so much, his thick winter pelt having set in already, and on top of that, his heart was beating fast enough to keep him sufficiently warm.

Slipping through the low lit back halls, he cut out into the employee parking lot, pausing only long enough to stash his duffel of work clothes in the trunk of his car. Checking his phone for the time, the numbers read 7:37. Twenty three minutes, more than enough time to walk around the the great edifice of the smithsonian and to make it to the coffee shop on time. Perhaps the stroll would even give him time to calm his rapid heart rate.

Rubbing his temples for a moment, trying assuage a building headache brought on by stress, he set off in a steady click of hooves across the asphalt and towards the concrete path that encircled the smithsonian. It was cool on West side of the marble building, still shaded from the morning sun, and the aroma of the well groomed conifers provided a pleasant perfume as Jayne walked, hands stuffed in his pockets.

Glad to have chosen the walk, it gave him time to clear his head of all the worry and doubt that had been building at a steady rate since he had awoken the evening before. He let it go with each and every step, smirking softly as he imagined it sloughing off in foul chunks and remaining on the path behind him, even his step becoming lighter and more vigorous. By the time he rounded the front of the building, he was a new stag, chest puffed, head high, tail held proud and erect as he descended the wide staircase that led up to the smithsonian doors. The first few streams of tourists and visitors were trailing upwards, the museum opening in a few minutes, but Jayne had his sights set elsewhere.

Checking his phone again, 7:43. Not a bad five minute walk, it had been productive to say the least, and Jayne felt for the first time, that he was ready. Punching the button at the crosswalk, he waited for the signal to turn, indicating it was safe, and marched smartly across to the small shop. The Local Bean as it was called, a mom and pop shop that had had the supreme fortune to be located in a portion of the strip mall right in the heart of the city's biggest tourist hub, but the constant flux of people had not stopped Jayne from making idle acquaintance with the shop owners.

"Morning, Jayne, how was night shift?" the short and somewhat pudgy badger behind the counter asked as she steamed some milk for an order. Dressed in a loose, yellow, floral print blouse, she had a paisley bandana tied to her head and a green apron with the name 'Denise' and the company logo embroidered on the front. She had made sure to make the buck feel welcome from the first day he had visited, and he had become a regular at the shop early on.

"Not too bad," the buck replied, leaning on the counter and waiting his turn, arms folded beneath him as he rested on his elbows. "But it's what's coming later that has me most excited..." he smirked coyly at the motherly badger woman as she turned away from the large chrome machine to take his order.

"Is that so?" she lifted an eyebrow curiously, punching in the total to the old antique till that she used, bronze keys polished and gleaming with constant use. "Well are you going to tell me, your dear friend, or will I have to hold your coffee ransom." She smirked right back at him as she handed him his change, the buck huffing in a quiet scoff.

"I do believe I am the deer friend here," he retorted, Denise rolling her eyes at the horrendous pun, "And I have a date for your information." He sniffed with mock injury, tucking his wallet away into his coat pocket. The barista always made his day brighter, and she was good morale boost before the fateful date. "I'm staying on a date technically. We have elected to utilize the premises of your fine establishment as the locale for our first meeting." The deer paced along the counter to the pick up spot as she went about her business, making his hazelnut infused black coffee with light cream.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, young man," she shot him a dirty look and huffed loudly over the hiss of the whipped cream, which he had not ordered. This game had turned into a regular part of their morning rituals, and it was something Jayne always looked forward to.

"No but it will get me fine confections from the sweetest lady I know," he grinned, taking the cup from her smaller paw and reaching across the counter to peck her pudgy cheek affectionately, as he would his own mother. She blustered a moment before batting him off with a blunt clawed paw.

"Honestly if I were twenty years younger, you wouldn't have been single for as long as you have been!" she exclaimed loudly, "Now shoo! Away with you! You've got a date and you're holding up my line!" This was not entirely true as the next two customers had only just ambled through the door on the cold lazy Saturday morning, but Jayne just chuckled and waved, turning back to go sit outside and wait.

Reinvigorated by the combination of hot drink, sugar, caffeine, and the infectious personality of the badger, the stag found himself smiling softly as he sat in wait. Hands wrapped around the warm cup, blowing steam away from the sip hole in the lid, he turned his collar up against the chill breeze. It really was rather brisk just sitting still. Looking again at the screen of his phone, he read the time. 7:56. Any minute now. Hopefully, he wouldn't be late because the buck was starting to freeze his buns to the iron seat!

Watching the passing crowd, the buck pondered what this mystery guy would look like. From what little he knew, boomers were supposed to be big and buff and brawny.... All the things that the buck didn't like in a male. But Audrey had assured him that he would like Nate, so what made her brother so different? He didn't have to wonder long as a pair of tall red ears bobbed through the crowd, a familiar profile he had come to associate with Audrey, only the bright red a sharp contrast to the muted grey-tan of his sister.

"Jayne right?" the male greeted as he approached, Jayne rising to meet him with a nervous grin. Nate was awfully short... and built rather like Audrey even. Slim, sleek, though it was hard to tell exactly with as many clothes as the marsupial was bundled up in. "I'm Nate, Audrey has told me... well... enough," he laughed lightly to cover up his own unease. The small boomer was just as uneasy as the other male. Nate had not expect his sister to suddenly call him up and persuade him to give a date a try. He was skeptical and certainly curious at the least, someone in a similar boat could at least make a nice trustworthy friend but his nervousness was barely concealed under the calm look he wore.

"That's me," Jayne agreed with a small forced smile, still a little too embarrassed by the ordeal to muster a completely genuine one as he stuck a hand out to shake the Roo's paw, wrapping the long, hoof tipped fingers around the smaller, padded paw. While he was no expert on the particular anatomy of these marsupials, despite a couple of lessons that Audrey had 'provided', Jayne could tell that Nate was not the typical male type of his species, but certainly not unattractive either.

"Sis certainly knows how to get her way doesn't she?" He chuckled a bit, sitting down with the buck, ears twitching slightly as they perked up with interest. Enraptured by the blend of features, it took the cervine a moment to wake up and respond, coughing a little to cover his hesitation.

"That she certainly does," he agreed with a light laugh of his own, "very persuasive when she wants to be." Smirking softly, he relaxing a little. Of course Audrey would probably be just as strong willed with her own family as she would her friends, if not moreso.

"Yeah sis is quite the free spirit isn't she, mate? It's nice to see her making friends though," Nate grinned gently, still watching his prospective new friend.

"So aaahh.... here we are," the buck said a little awkwardly, looking around the open air patio of the coffee shop. "And Audrey told you about me, huh?" He had given Audrey permission to tell, but didn't know yet if she actually had, the nature of the subject being rather delicate.

"Well helloooo boys..." they were interrupted by the sweet tones of a badger, Denise having been unable to resist butting in just a little bit as both males turned to face her. "Can i get you a refill Jayne? And what about you Mr....." she trailed off, pulling out her order pad and clicking a pen, a warm wide smile on her black and white muzzle.

"I uhh... Nate, ma'am, just Nate and i'll take some hot chocolate," the roo grinned up at her from his seat as she scratched down the order, his foot bouncing nervously.

"I'll have those right out dearies," she tucked the pad in her pocket before turning towards Jayne and half hiding her mouth before whispering, not at all subtly, "He's hawt!" Wadding up a napkin, Jayne threw it at her as she retreated, laughing, quickly back into the shop, a bright blush in his ears as he turned back to his date.

"You were saying?"

"I certainly was told quite a bit about ya and your uhm, condition," Nate fidgeted nervously, now acutely reminded of the public setting though none seemed to be paying attention, "It is rather mutual though, I would bet she told you, eagerly at that. She can be all mouth sometimes." Jayne actually belted out a laugh that surprised himself. It just bubbled up out of his stomach and was past his lips before he knew it.

"All mouth indeed," he shook his head softly. Nate lifted an eyebrow when the buck suddenly burst into laughter smirking in his own turn. He knew why, or he assumed so. No doubt she had bedded such a strapping buck rather quickly. "And yes, she told me about you too, but only after I agreed to the date, in her defense. As wild as she can be, there's a little sense in that airhead, and a heart of gold." He couldn't and wouldn't deny that, the flyer having proven repeatedly, even in the short time he had known her, to be a loyal friend.

"I suspected as much," Nate nodded slowly, "Though I must confess I am surprised to find another person like... well like me, like us," the roo grimaced sheepishly, but pressed on, Jayne was surely aware of the struggles. "I've done my fair share of research, mate, and there's several different -err- kinds. If ya don't mind my asking...." he trailed off with a shy grin, rubbing the back of his neck as the buck stared back at him, ears flattening a little with timid consent and a subtle cough.

"I uhhh..." Jayne picked up on the hanging statement, eyes flitting around apprehensively, "Yeah i don't mind." he cleared his throat again, taking another sip of coffee and a deep breath, steeling himself to let it all out. "I am a medical chimera," he began slowly at first, just as he had several other times, "a type of conjoined twin. The doctors say that as a fetus in the very early stages of development, I cannibalized my twin sister, and we basically fused into one cohesive whole." The buck was gradually gaining confidence and speed as he went along, Nate's ears perked in rapt attention. "Mom and dad thought I was a doe fawn at first, but as i began to grow older and mature, and my first antlers began to grow well..." he chuckled lightly, "That raised a few questions so they took me in to run some tests and that's how this mystery came unraveled." He tipped his coffee cup back, draining the last of the now tepid liquid. Just in time, Denise returned with two cups, both topped with large mounds of whipped cream.

"You two enjoy those, these ones are on me," she winked at each of them, tucking the empty tray under her arm as they opened their mouths to protest, but their jaws snapped shut at the stern look she shot over her shoulder. "Have fun you too!" The door clicked shut behind her as she resumed the rest of her duties and Jayne shook his head, slurping the cream noisily off of his drink and Nate did the same.

"So as i was saying, I am technically two people, carrying my sisters genome, as well as my own and ahm... well, she gave me her that too," his eyes flicked downwards towards his own lap and he grinned a little bashfully, always one of his favorite conversation pieces. "But besides that, I am by all appearances and by half of my genetics, male." He finished determinedly, and almost out of breath as though it had been a chore to get it out there in the open between them. All the while, the roo had nodded, listening intently, blinking slowly, drinking all of it in and committing it to memory for further reference in regards to this buck.

"That is honestly quite fascinating, so yours is more of a dead set line in the sand mix of traits then?" Nate leaned forward on the table, clutching the warm drink between his paws, soaking in the heat before lifting it to his lips.

"As far as visible traits go, yes, there are definite lines, but if you were to take tissue and blood samples, I'd show up as two different mammals. One male, one female..." Jayne nodded in the affirmative, idly swirling his own cup and watching the last vestiges of whipped cream spin in lazy circles, feeling rather self conscious, Nate's gaze seeming to scrutinize him closely.

"All male aside from parts that are all female, huh, that is interesting!" He grinned, wide and buck toothed, clapping his paws together. It put Jayne at ease, feeling less and less uncomfortable. "Mine is more of a uh, gradient you can say, more blended. I mean as you can see I have a females body type and build, but male pelt," here he lowered his voice to a softer hiss, leaning across the table, "and genitals are fully male, but I have a pouch. So my body is not sure what to do with itself really!" he laughed it off, sitting up again and keeping his little grin firmly in place despite the apparent sensitivity of the subject.

"Luckily most just see me as a smaller guy, not many associate me as girly, then again, you've seen my sis, we roos aren't the best at being feminine and cute in that regard!" he just laughs and flicks his ears a little, the buck shaking his head no. The marsupials were definitely not what one might refer to as effeminate in most cases. "But I don't think either of us are complaining mate, I am rather partial to men truth be told," he admitted freely, "And one as weird as I am just sounds like a treat, no drama of dealing with explaining myself every date." He snickered a bit, as though he knew full well Jayne struggled the same dilemmas. Which he did. On those few occasions the cervine had ever tried to date anyone male or female.

Jayne had to admit he was loosening up around the roo at an astonishing rate, as evidenced by his growing grin and the release of tension in his shoulders. It was a great weight off his chest to be able to just cut loose, knowing he wasn't being silently judged as a freak. "Roos are something else to be sure," he agreed, "on a superficial level I've always leaned more towards women," he confessed with a small shrug, relaxing back in his seat, though his eyes never left the boomer in front of him. "I've had a guy or two, but those were one night stands when I needed to get off." He didn't feel the need to hide anything from Nate and felt that full disclosure was likely the best policy.

"Best of both world then huh mate? Girly bod and the bits to pleasure ya!" He teased right back with a wink of his own green eyed gaze to the buck who chuckled back at him.

"Though, I've always thought if the right guy came along.... whatever it takes to be happy right?" Jayne shrugged dismissively, "there's only one other guy so far I think I coulda settled down with, but he snagged himself a husky girl," he sighed wistfully and Nate nodded sympathetically. "A horse and a husky! Can you believe it?" He asked with a chortle, shaking his head in mock disbelief, "but yeah. I have to say I like what I'm seeing so far to be sure."

"We certainly are a bit different but I guess that weirdness is a treat, just like that odd combo of your friend and his dog hmm? Then again I might be a little biased, when the only other roos around are either your parents or your sister, you learn to find the perks in other species," he laughed to himself a bit and Jayne blushed, prematurely it seemed as Nate carried on, "and no word a lie, but I can't turn down a lovely buck. Been with a few, hell, even dated a rat for a while, lovely man, adored my pouch." He snickered as Jayne was still stuck on the previous statement, ears flat with self conscious chagrin, though he smiled right back.

"What can I say, we're irresistible," he snorted, striking a pose, as if for a photo shoot, tossing an imaginary lock of hair over his shoulder, smirk spreading wider, "though I'm not your ordinary buck," he had recovered quickly enough, though he couldn't suppress the blush in his ears, "But we've already determined that."

"If I had to blame anything I would vote it's that lovely rack," Nate taunted in turn, winking to the buck as his grin remains plastered on his maw, he leaned back across the table. Giving a playful wink as Jayne leaned closer as well, the buck looked around, making sure the coast was clear.

"We can't tell her..." he whispered, tapping the side of his nose secretively, "but maybe Audrey was onto something." And it seemed to be true, the two were getting along splendidly, and tired as he was, Jayne didn't want the day to end, and Nate seemed to be in agreement.

"Yeah, would be dangerous to tell her she was right, she might try this again, if not worse!" Raising a furred brow, the roo stuck out his tapered tongue playfully and Jayne returned the gesture in kind, giggling stupidly. He was actually beginning to have fun, something he didn't normally allow himself to do in public, but like Denise, this person just seemed to infect the usually grumpy cervine with an irrepressibly good mood.

Fuck if Audrey hadn't been right about this, he was enjoying this date more than he had any other. Ever. And he could relax. No tension of 'what will they think? Will they blab?' No, just a pleasant date, with a dashing, if slightly feminine looking, kangaroo. He really couldn't find a single thing to complain about and neither could Nate it seemed. "She'll figure it out though," he sighed in defeat, slumping back into his seat, "we won't have to tell her, unless you'd like to try and keep it from her as long as possible." He stuck his tongue out at the thought, a few vestiges of playfulness clinging on. "See just how long we can keep it under wraps? Could be a fun game. Give her dose of her own mischievous medicine?"

"Oh you know she will force it out of one of us, likely tackling me out of nowhere or putting you in a headlock, who knows, either way I think she's gonna find out soon even if we don't want her to!" he snickers "You have known her long enough for that I am sure! "

This was true. Jayne was willing to bet money she was waiting in ambush at one of their homes or another.... she'd pry it out of someone for sure. He shuddered at the thought of the things she would likely do to him to make him squeal as it were, and sincerely hoped she would be waiting for her own brother and not for him.

"I gotta say, you aren't as nerve wracking as I was preparing for today. I expected it to end like the rest, that awkward inferiority and uncertainty that often follows, but nah, ya get it mate and that is damn calming!" Nate broke the train of the cervine's thoughts with the compliment that made him flush tremendously.

"I have to agree, this has been an extreme relief. This must be what a normal person feels like on a date," he chuckled quiety, eyes drifting back into his half empty paper cup.

"Anyways, So Audrey said ya work security if I recall? Tough work but admirable."

"Security?" Jayne silently welcomed the change in subject, as nice as the compliment had been, "In the three years I've worked there, we've had one incident. A five year old locked himself in the bathroom stall," he snorted in jaded amusement, "little Brat made a mess before we could get in to him, I'll spare the details, but that's the worst I've ever had to deal with, knock on wood," he rapped the tabletop with his knuckles. "Otherwise i just pace the same halls, file the same empty reports, and check the same locked doors night after night. But it pays the bills."

"Well fair enough, but I guess no incident is certainly better than something major. But still, respectable work either way." he winks before he gives a shrug. "I work construction, with the occasional contracting work, simple stuff but hey, it's what I'm good at. Just a little perk of being rather unfazed by heat or exertion. Got no real stories to tell there though, other than the time I had to spend a workday with Tess in my pouch, that was certainly a chain of trying to keep him quiet and not act suspicious. It's easy to forget in those tired early mornings!"

Jayne chuffed his amusement. "That was a strange day I'm sure," he smirked. He had to admit he was fascinated by the pouch, and the few times he had been with Audrey, well.... it had become somewhat of a plaything to him, and he was suppressing his excitement to know that Nate had one too!

"Though I'm glad we quit working for the most part this time of year. These colder months are awful for me," Nate chuckled, gesturing to his own thicker choice of outfit.

"Well if the cold bothers you, we could go somewhere warmer if you like?" The buck offered, standing up and stretching, draining the last of his drink and dropping the cup into a nearby trash bin. "I'm not bothered too terrible much, but there are certainly warmer places to be," he snickered, giving himself a shake to fluff his exposed fur, ears flopping comically.

"Oh I will live, just might complain a little but then again I am not lovely northern deer with a proper coat for this as if it was nothing!" he teased as he rose to his own paws, stretching a moment as well to work the cold stiffness from his limbs. "Maybe next time we can have this date inside!" Jayne folded his ears back in chagrin, they could've moved this inside... "Well where did ya have in mind then mate?" the roo asked, unconcerned, and grabbing up his own half finished hot cocoa.

'Next time,' Jayne mulled it over in his head, definitely a next time. "Well there's always the museum, I can get you in free and even 'backstage'," he offered, not minding to go back into work, especially if he was giving a private tour to a friend. "There's also the movie theater, or if you prefer something more private...." he cleared his throat as a light blush touched his cheeks, "my apartment isn't too far away and I'm parked just across the street...." he finished quietly.

Nate was about to agree to the movie idea but then he sees that awkward little motion of embarrassment from the buck "If I didn't know any better you are wanting to take me home already, mate! Got ideas running through that mind of yours? Wanting to seduce me?" he tormented Jayne, his tone obviously playful to complement the words as he shrugs. "Well we could go visit your place, nice and quiet, but I wouldn't complain to a movie!"

"Hmm...." Jayne pondered, tapping his chin and wracking his brain before alighting on a workable idea, "let's compromise with a movie at my place then!" he exclaimed happily, it fulfilled both their desires, and the buck certainly didn't want to part ways just yet.

"Sounds like a plan mate, lead on!" the boomer just keeps his big grin as he moves along with his new friend.

"There's a rental kiosk next door and if we don't like the movie, well.... I think we've already elucidated to other activities that we might pursue to occupy our time." He smirked taunting back and turning to walk with Nate. Close, but not too close. Luckily he was already accustomed to a kangaroo's atypical gait, and kept almost perfect stride with the male. This had turned out remarkably well in the stag's opinion...