Friday at the Perkolator. Again.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor stands outside the Perkolator. Though he has reservations about patronising the coffee shop since the owner threw Death out, Beka had suggested meeting there. Therefore, that's where he was meeting her.

If she ever showed up.]


((For the sake of not having the Doctor be in the same place as CJ 24/7, and for the sake of new interaction, we're going to say that this is NOT occurring at the same time as either the Shane/Maia conversation or the CJ/Methos and Shane/CJ texting conversations. If this is a problem, I apologise. This conversation is accessible to valentine_tart and any Perk employees.))

Comments

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka arrives, cheerful and somewhat out of breath from dashing across town. "Doctor!"

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Hello, Ms Valentine. [He smiles at her.] Busy day?

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Like you probably wouldn't believe." She offers a warm smile. "Not-campaigning for Homecoming Queen, campaigning for Academic Affairs, juggling classes and a love life and, apparently a relationship counseling service. It was easier when everyone was terrified of me."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Juggling more than one love life, is what I hear. [He opens the door and gestures for her to go inside.] And relationship counselling...imagine that. Do you tell them to just duel it out with a brace of pistols?

How does one 'not-campaign'? I've never attempted it.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka laughs. "More than one sex life, Doctor. For now anyhow, just one love life. Not campaigning is easy. At every opportunity, I tell people to vote for someone else." Her walk has all of its usual predatory grace, but her good humor has given it a bit of a sassy bounce.

Over her shoulder, she tsks him. "As for the counseling... Come, Doctor. If you really believed that about me, I doubt we'd be having coffee."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

I'm denoting the subtle difference, Ms Valentine. [He raises an eyebrow and orders a machiatto. and is totally not watching her ass for a second there--only a second] Want anything to eat?

And if that's not how you do counseling, then it should be. [grin] Might work better, given some of the relationships around here.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"It's not that subtle, Doctor. In my world, sex is something you do to stay alive, to get what you want, or because it's one of the few really pleasant things to do. Love is something else entirely." She checks out the board and smirks at the effect her sexual openness has on the Doctor orders a large French Roast, black. "Thanks, but I'll pass. Refined sugars don't agree with my system. No access to them in my world."

Orders filled, she gestures to a table by the window where she can see outside, watch the door, and the room. "I'd sooner encourage them to fight together in a den of pitsnakes. They'd have a better chance of surviving." The last sounds bitter, but it's not directed at him.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

What world exactly would that be?
[Then he looks up, startled at her tone, after adding a small sandwich to his order.] Pitsnakes?

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Pitsnakes," she confirmed. "Deadly, made-up no-cannon futuristic venomous snakes known to congregate in groups of several hundred in mining pits. Far safer for Rory and Logan than either of them holding a pistol. Trust me."

Beka holds the coffee, letting the warmth seep through her hands. "I'm not ignoring your question about my world, Doctor. It's a complicated question. And not exactly pleasant."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Those two definitely...need some help. Somehow. And they're not the only ones.

[He leans towards her.] And as for your home...try me.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

(([kicks LJ, which ate her comment]))

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"No. They're not the only ones."

When she drops her gaze, her bangs get in her eyes. She blows them back, then shrugs. "3500 years from now, give or take a hundred. I'm not sure whether it's this universe or a parallel one, even. Humans are not at the top of the food chain, and the things we fight make zombies look like poodles in pink skirts." It's not everything, but it's a beginning.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

((Nice job, as it reappeared directly upon the kicking, Fonzie. *snerk*))

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a bloody lot of fun. [sips some of his drink] I don't think I've been to that timeline. Yet.

Do you miss it?

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Bloody, yes. Fun...no." Sighing, Beka looks out the window at the green and brown of dirtside life. "I've never spent more than a few days on a planet in my life, Doctor. I've only just started sleeping through the night here." Her eyes slide closed, and it's clear she's embracing memories. "I miss the stars, flying slipstream, being free. I miss my weapons, odd as that is. But, no. I don't miss my 'world'."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

At least you miss some things about it. I think we're all disjointed, even those who live in a relatively similar Earth. We've got a lot of adjustment to do.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

She nods. "I think some of us are more 'disjointed' than others. It's a nicer word than the one I use, which is 'broken'. It's strange. In some things, I find myself stronger, better, more impressive than I've ever been. But this place is easy. Soft. And very social. It makes me feel..." A small shudder passes through her. "Exposed."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

It frightens you because it's too easy. Because things have never been simple.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Yes." She looks at him appraisingly. "And because I don't trust it to stay this way."






(OOC: In the dorms, Bek just posted a request for endorsements. She may hit you up for one. Just a warning. *g*)

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Neither do I. But I don't often trust people unless necessary. [He looks a bit grim for a second.]

Surprise you that behind this cheerful and smiling exterior lies paranoia? Then again, I don't think too much gets past you. [sip]

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"And yet, you seem to trust me." An encouraging smile plays about her lips. "Things get past me, but not the sort that might get me killed." She shrugs. "Assessing threat potential and instability is second nature. Are you asking what I see about you?"

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

You're not the sort of person who has ulterior motives I can't read, Ms Valentine. After 900 plus years, one gets pretty good at that sort of thing.

And sure, why not.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

((Mun's gotta go be social for a bit, back later.))

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

She shrugs, amused. "I don't have 'ulterior' motives, Doctor. They're all right out in the open. It's just that I have a lot of experience at showing people what they need to see."

Over the rim of her coffee cup, she studies him. Always dicey, this, telling people what she knows about them. But he did ask. "All right. I see a man-- No protests about that Doc, immortal or gender-bent or otherwise, you're still a man in normal daily interactions. A man who trusts people even less than he likes most of them.

"You don't let people close, but when you do, you don't want to let go of them. Which is why, post-zombie attack, even though we barely knew each other before, you want my company. It's familiar, and in that, provides a certain stability.

"You're very much in love with CJ, and even more afraid that she'll figure out that you're some kind of a freak - which you aren't, not especially anyhow - and take off with someone more 'normal'.

"Also, you tend to find us 'young mortals' exasperating and confusing, but occasionally amusing.

"Oh, and you think you're a bad guy, but your bad streak is hella more grey than black."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[For a moment, he just sits there, absorbing her statement. Then he begins to laugh.]

Quite astute. I'm going to have to concur, Ms Valentine, on most of your statements.

[Then he looks serious.] You do know what it's like, to not have people...and then when you do, to never want it to end. Don't you.