Post by Emcee on May 23, 2005 14:20:05 GMT -5
Title: Observations from a Counter
Author: Emcee
Word Count: 1000
Rating: PG
Synopsis: Salome watches Connor get a visit at the coffee house.
Author's Note: Pre-TNP1x01 (obviously). I've had this one in my head for a couple of days, but I really like it. (BTW, 1x14 will be up on Wednesday, just so you all know)
****
It was a pretty average day. Salome had spent it leaning over the counter, flirting with the various guys who came in.
Those various guys had included Chess Club. He was Salome's favourite various guy.
His real name was Connor, but he had been Chess Club ever since they first met and he had knocked over the chess set he and his friend were playing with when he jumped up to ask her out.
Salome wasn't quite sure why Chess Club was her favourite. There was just something ludicrously endearing about his unassuming smile and shy, fumbled requests for dates. Oh, she would never actually go out with him. But she had been tempted on a few occasions. She had a tendency towards skinny sensitive types. Of course, most skinny sensitive types got a lot less sensitive when they woke up after a one-night stand with a purple demon beside them. That's why most of her relationships were one-night stands
Chess Club had come in first thing, right at opening. He had a pile of books with him. He came to the counter, ordered his usual and asked her out-- another part of his usual. Salome had smiled at him, made a sassy comment and shooed him to his table. That had been their routine for the past nine months and she liked it that way.
He had spent the morning working at the table. When Salome came by to give him another coffee, she had found out he was applying for an internship at Nabbit Enterprises. She didn't know what Nabbit Enterprises was, but she figured if she asked he would tell her in detail.
Salome never asked Chess Club things. They were about the casual flirt. She hadn't even asked him why he seemed so much moodier lately. She had heard a rumour he had been in a car accident, but since he appeared to be unscathed, she didn't bother probing. That might suggest she cared about him.
It was quiet in the coffee house. Salome ended up leaning over the counter and watching Chess Club. There was nothing else to do except maybe refill the napkin dispensers. And hey, she could admit that Chess Club was a really pretty thing to look at.
A guy had come up to Chess Club. He definitely wasn't a student. He was dressed in full black: leather duster, the whole affected morose nine. Salome wrinkled her nose at his spiky hair. That was a look she never liked. She liked running her fingers through a guy's hair. She did the mental judgment in her head: Six, maybe seven. Kind of a typical good-looking. She knew a lot of girls who would go for him, but she wasn't one of them. Too broad.
His arrival had made Chess Club stiffen, eyes growing wide. Salome had never seen him look so serious. Not even during finals.
She was half-tempted to listen in on their conversation. She had used her enhanced hearing a few times to pick up things Chess Club hadn't wanted her to hear, such as his favourable assessment of her black mesh top (since then she made a habit of wearing that to work). But there was something about the look on Chess Club's face, the surprise in his piercing blue eyes.
Instead, Salome decided to fill the napkin dispensers. She only heard snippets of the conversation. The Leather Coat had just made a proud declaring of receiving a vase from some woman.
When she had finished that and went back to the counter, she saw Chess Club's companion waiting. "Can I help you?" Salome asked, leaning against the counter.
He narrowed his gaze on her, his prominent brow furrowing. Salome shifted uncomfortable. He scrutinized her intensely, as if he knew her from somewhere and hadn't liked her on that meeting. He then shook it off. "Can I get some coffee?"
After Salome had gotten him two coffees and taken his money, she went to hand him his change. The crucifix on her wrist dangled down. He pulled his hand back quickly. "Keep the change..." He gave her a nervous smile. "Tip."
With a shrug, Salome slid the money into her pocket. Not many people would give change for a fifty as a tip, but hey-- gift horse.
Chess Club and the Leather Coat talked for what must have been an hour. A large study group ending up coming to the counter, so Salome didn't have much time to observe them. But when she did, she sensed a heavy aura around them. They definitely knew each other really well. And she suspected it wasn't a great history.
"Chess Club flirts with me too much for him to be an ex," Salome muttered to herself.
After a while, the Leather Coat got up and left, leaving Chess Club alone. He remained at the table, shutting his books. His pouty lips were drawn tightly together. He seemed to be contemplating something. He looked to the exit where the Leather Coat had gone. With a sigh, he got up and collected his books.
Salome started to wipe the counter as he approached, trying to look busy, hoping he hadn't noticed her watching. She gave him a smile when he stopped. "Heading out, Chess Club?"
He leaned in. His brow was furrowed, his eyes dark. "You want to go out with me, Salome?"
Salome laughed softly. "We already did this today, Chess Club."
"I know." He looked towards the exit again. He sighed. "I just don't know if I'm going to get to do it tomorrow."
He started towards the door, following the same path as the Leather Coat had gone.
Salome bit her lip. "Hey... Ace?"
He turned and looked at her, cocking his head in confusion.
She leaned in, her hands wringing the towel she had been using to wipe the counter. "Is everything all right?"
Without a word, Connor turned and left.
Author: Emcee
Word Count: 1000
Rating: PG
Synopsis: Salome watches Connor get a visit at the coffee house.
Author's Note: Pre-TNP1x01 (obviously). I've had this one in my head for a couple of days, but I really like it. (BTW, 1x14 will be up on Wednesday, just so you all know)
****
It was a pretty average day. Salome had spent it leaning over the counter, flirting with the various guys who came in.
Those various guys had included Chess Club. He was Salome's favourite various guy.
His real name was Connor, but he had been Chess Club ever since they first met and he had knocked over the chess set he and his friend were playing with when he jumped up to ask her out.
Salome wasn't quite sure why Chess Club was her favourite. There was just something ludicrously endearing about his unassuming smile and shy, fumbled requests for dates. Oh, she would never actually go out with him. But she had been tempted on a few occasions. She had a tendency towards skinny sensitive types. Of course, most skinny sensitive types got a lot less sensitive when they woke up after a one-night stand with a purple demon beside them. That's why most of her relationships were one-night stands
Chess Club had come in first thing, right at opening. He had a pile of books with him. He came to the counter, ordered his usual and asked her out-- another part of his usual. Salome had smiled at him, made a sassy comment and shooed him to his table. That had been their routine for the past nine months and she liked it that way.
He had spent the morning working at the table. When Salome came by to give him another coffee, she had found out he was applying for an internship at Nabbit Enterprises. She didn't know what Nabbit Enterprises was, but she figured if she asked he would tell her in detail.
Salome never asked Chess Club things. They were about the casual flirt. She hadn't even asked him why he seemed so much moodier lately. She had heard a rumour he had been in a car accident, but since he appeared to be unscathed, she didn't bother probing. That might suggest she cared about him.
It was quiet in the coffee house. Salome ended up leaning over the counter and watching Chess Club. There was nothing else to do except maybe refill the napkin dispensers. And hey, she could admit that Chess Club was a really pretty thing to look at.
A guy had come up to Chess Club. He definitely wasn't a student. He was dressed in full black: leather duster, the whole affected morose nine. Salome wrinkled her nose at his spiky hair. That was a look she never liked. She liked running her fingers through a guy's hair. She did the mental judgment in her head: Six, maybe seven. Kind of a typical good-looking. She knew a lot of girls who would go for him, but she wasn't one of them. Too broad.
His arrival had made Chess Club stiffen, eyes growing wide. Salome had never seen him look so serious. Not even during finals.
She was half-tempted to listen in on their conversation. She had used her enhanced hearing a few times to pick up things Chess Club hadn't wanted her to hear, such as his favourable assessment of her black mesh top (since then she made a habit of wearing that to work). But there was something about the look on Chess Club's face, the surprise in his piercing blue eyes.
Instead, Salome decided to fill the napkin dispensers. She only heard snippets of the conversation. The Leather Coat had just made a proud declaring of receiving a vase from some woman.
When she had finished that and went back to the counter, she saw Chess Club's companion waiting. "Can I help you?" Salome asked, leaning against the counter.
He narrowed his gaze on her, his prominent brow furrowing. Salome shifted uncomfortable. He scrutinized her intensely, as if he knew her from somewhere and hadn't liked her on that meeting. He then shook it off. "Can I get some coffee?"
After Salome had gotten him two coffees and taken his money, she went to hand him his change. The crucifix on her wrist dangled down. He pulled his hand back quickly. "Keep the change..." He gave her a nervous smile. "Tip."
With a shrug, Salome slid the money into her pocket. Not many people would give change for a fifty as a tip, but hey-- gift horse.
Chess Club and the Leather Coat talked for what must have been an hour. A large study group ending up coming to the counter, so Salome didn't have much time to observe them. But when she did, she sensed a heavy aura around them. They definitely knew each other really well. And she suspected it wasn't a great history.
"Chess Club flirts with me too much for him to be an ex," Salome muttered to herself.
After a while, the Leather Coat got up and left, leaving Chess Club alone. He remained at the table, shutting his books. His pouty lips were drawn tightly together. He seemed to be contemplating something. He looked to the exit where the Leather Coat had gone. With a sigh, he got up and collected his books.
Salome started to wipe the counter as he approached, trying to look busy, hoping he hadn't noticed her watching. She gave him a smile when he stopped. "Heading out, Chess Club?"
He leaned in. His brow was furrowed, his eyes dark. "You want to go out with me, Salome?"
Salome laughed softly. "We already did this today, Chess Club."
"I know." He looked towards the exit again. He sighed. "I just don't know if I'm going to get to do it tomorrow."
He started towards the door, following the same path as the Leather Coat had gone.
Salome bit her lip. "Hey... Ace?"
He turned and looked at her, cocking his head in confusion.
She leaned in, her hands wringing the towel she had been using to wipe the counter. "Is everything all right?"
Without a word, Connor turned and left.
