The Perk -- Wednesday

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

Vala entered the Perk, ordered the biggest, fluffiest most-whipped-creamed covered thing she could find on the drink menu and a cranberry muffin, and settled down at a table to wait for Cam.

(Perk open to all, naturally)

Comments

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron entered a little while later. He smiled as he noticed Vala already there and moved up behind her.

"Yo," he whispered in her ear and slipped an arm around her shoulder as he kissed her temple.

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

"Yo," she smiled back at him. She was distracted... if the state of her partially, eyt artistically, shredded napkin was any indication.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

He hummed softly as he noticed the napkin and kissed her cheek again. "Gimme a minute," he said before moving to the counter and ordering a milkshake because he was just that crazy.

When he returned, he stood undecided beside the table as he considered whether to sit on the other side of the table or beside her. Giving in to the part of him that liked being close to her, he finally slid into the booth beside her.

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

Vala smiled up at him as he sat down, but continuted to pick at her napkin with far more concentration than the fine art of spontaneous confetti-making required.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

He watched her hands for a moment, but finally placed his on top of hers, stilling them. "What's wrong?" He asked softly.

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

She considered claiming "nothing", but figured he'd never buy it. Besides, it would be chickening out on conversation they needed to have.

"Crissmass," she said, finally looking up. "You should be with your family."

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron sighs and pulls his hand away. "I told you already," he said simply and drank from his milkshake as if to end the discussion.

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Vala frowns. "Well, now I'm telling you." She took a matching drink.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron splutters and nearly chokes on his milkshake. "You are telling me?" He asks as if to make sure he just heard that right.

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

Vala looks up, clearly annoyed. "Yes! If you can 'tell' me things, then I can do it to you too." Her glare dared him to deny it.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Fine, then I can not listen to you too." Cameron says simply, not looking at Vala as he pretends nothing happened and just continues to drink.

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

"So, what? You're just never going to go home again?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I put them at as much risk being there as you would," he still wasn't looking at her.

[mycanonhatesme]

Chloe followed Jake and Krycek in, making a beeline for the counter in desperate need for something sweet. Classes were done, after all, and she definitely deserved a reward. "What do you guys want?" she asked.

[courier-gavin.livejournal.com]

"Double mocha with hazelnut and cream and chocolate on top," Jake replied, glancing down at his cellphone for the millionth time that day alone. "Maybe some chocolate cake, as well."

[mycanonhatesme]

"Ooh, cake. That's a fantastic idea." Chloe put in the order, before glancing back at Jake. "Are you waiting for a call? It won't ring faster if you stare at it, you know."

[courier-gavin.livejournal.com]

"It might." Jake looked up from the phone though. "If dad's calling to cancel, he's going to have to do it today," he explained. "'Cause we'll be leaving tomorrow. I guess."

[mycanonhatesme]

"Cancel what? Your trip?"

[courier-gavin.livejournal.com]

Jake nodded. "'Tis the season for sudden VIP couriering needs and all. All those mistresses need diamonds, you know."

[mycanonhatesme]

Chloe snickered. "I suppose. That doesn't sound like a very good way to spend the holidays though, dealing with all of that. I'm glad my dad gets at least a few days off."

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

"So are you just visiting your dad, Chloe?" Krycek asked, ordering a drip coffee for himself. He glanced at Jake, shrugging slightly. "At least he'll let you know beforehand, so we don't make the trip for nothing."

[mycanonhatesme]

"Pretty much, yeah," Chloe said, nodding to Krycek. "I might visit a few people, but it'll just be me and my dad for the most part. It's nice to not have to worry about any of those big, painful relative gatherings that everyone always comes back from vacation complaining about."

[courier-gavin.livejournal.com]

And then Jake's phone rang. "Yeah? Dad! So what's the... Yeah. Yeeeah, but you don't have to-- I get that. No, it-- Uhuh. Yes. Yes. I know that, I just wanted -- yes." Jake bit his lip.

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

Krycek watched Jake with concern, sipping his coffee. He waited for him to finish the call, but he had a feeling Geneva was not in their immediate future.

[courier-gavin.livejournal.com]

"--Yeah, you too.. What? Yeah, he's here. No, definitely not. I don't know. Stay here, I guess. Yeah, no, it's okay. Really. Yeah, me too. Okay, bye." Jake hung up with a sigh. He poked at the cream on his coffee. "Guess what?"