fandomtownies | The Perk, Saturday

The Perk, Saturday

It's been a week, or almost, since Baltimore, and Geoff's feeling the need to be social again. After a little wandering around town -- and when did all of these new businesses open? -- he finds himself at the Perk. Realizing that it's been quite some time since he's been in...months, in fact...he orders a cup of coffee and takes a seat at a table near the wall, facing into the room so he can watch people come and go.

[ooc: Mostly for

chasingangela, but open for interaction. And of course, feel free to use for your Perk patronage.]

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Angela's mood was slightly improved after she talked to Rory and the others in her dorm room, but it still wasn't great. She scowled and kept her fists in her pockets as she walked to town.

She waved to Geoff half-heartedly as she came in to order a large latte.

Seeing Angela's wave, Geoff returns it, with a small smile. She doesn't look any better than he feels, and when she turns from the counter he gives a welcoming motion toward the chair next to him.

Angela hesitated a moment before taking the seat. Geoff doesn't seem to be having a great day either, judging by his face.

"Hi," she said quietly. "It's been a really long time since we talked."

Mac is working on that 'get out more' plan she made yesterday, so she's making an attempt. The best starting place for any plan? Somewhere with coffee, of course.

She orders a large mug of coffee and settles herself and her laptop at a table. She's fiddling absently with something geeky, but honestly, she's bored.

"Lady Angela. It has been a long time."

He takes a sip of coffee and smiles. "You look...not so well. Want to tell me about it?"

"Hangover," Angela answered. "Bad night."

She ran a hand through her hair. "Have you ever been in a situation with someone where you thought things were okay, and then something set them off, and you found out things were really, really not okay? And, like, you had no idea what to do?"

Nodding, Geoff says, "Yeah, I know exactly what you mean." He gives her a rueful smile. "Is it...problems with Marty? Or...something else?"

"Did he tell you we broke up?" Angela replied, tiredly. "Because we did. Like, a month ago. And we were working on being friends. And I thought it was going well, all things considered." She paused for a healthy draught of coffee, hoping it would strengthen her nerves.

"And then last night he saw me at Luke's with this guy -- not an especially close friend, just someone I bumped into -- and things just exploded." She smiled ruefully. "It probably didn't help that this is someone he never got along with. But still, he just overreacted, and so did I, and it was bad."

"No, Angela, he didn't. I really haven't spoken much to Marty, outside of class. I'm sorry to hear that."

He looks at her, head cocked to the side. "If he's that upset, though -- it's a good sign. I mean, if you wanted to work things out with him, then it would be a good sign."

Angela shook her head, frowning. "I don't know. I mean, this is the second time we've broken up. Maybe we keep splitting up for a reason."

"A smart person might just go back to avoiding him, especially after some of the things we said last night."

"That is hard to say. Maybe you have a stronger bond with him than will let you avoid him, and I'll bet he feels the same. If he's been acting the way you say he has."

He rubs the back of his neck. "So, I guess the question is...how hard are you willing to try? Are you willing to go through the fights and the breakups, because you want to be together?"

"That's my question," Angela laughed, running her fingers through her hair. It's a miserable sort of laugh. "I always thought that when someone was right for you, they would just be right, y'know? Like puzzle pieces snapping together. Your hearts would just fit."

Shaking his head with a dry chuckle, Geoff says, "Oh, your hearts probably do fit. It's your minds that tend to cause the problems."

He gives Angela a serious look. "It's never going to be easy. Even if you love each other more than anything in the world, and you're sure of that. You're still going to disagree, and argue, maybe even throw things at each other. And there'll be days when you hate the sight of each other. But if it's right, you'll want to go back. I think...what you have to do is learn how to let each other have the space you need, to be yourselves. I think that's the biggest problem people have, is trying to spend too much time together, and trying to change each other."

Angela thought about that for a long moment. "That makes some sense," she said. "I think the problems we've had is ... we're great when things are going well. But when things get messy, or tangled, we just don't know what to say or do and it always ends with one or both of us hurt." She shook her head, trying to clear it. "I'll keep what you said in mind."

"You don't look like you're having a much betetr day than I am."

"I haven't been having a...very good month, I guess."

He gives her another wry smile and sips his coffee. "You probably don't want to be taking advice from me right now, to be honest. I haven't been very good at following it myself."

Angela winced at this. "What happened?"

"I've had sort of a...string of people leaving town on me. It started around the holidays, and...a few weeks ago and then again this past weekend."

He takes a deep breath. "Really important people, and one of them I was just starting to get to know. And...I'm getting better but I haven't been handling it well."

"Tara and Shane?" Angela asked softly, recognizing the pang in Geoff's voice. "I know you loved Shane, Geoff. I heard Ms. Cregg is searching for her."

She closes her eyes, imaging the town she had known a few months before. "And there have been others, too. I knew that, even if I wasn't close to them. It must be hard."

"Tara and Shane were the first." Geoff nods, looking down at his cup. "I didn't know CJ was looking for her. We don't...talk about it."

After a sip of coffee and a moment of not speaking, he continues. "Sonia, not too long after Shane and Tara. Loz and his brothers, just a few weeks ago. I suppose you probably didn't know them, or not well, I'd guess. Greg House...on Monday."

Running his hand through his hair, he adds, "Too many, too close together. I think that's what's thrown me. Give me some time, I'll get over it."

"But it's a lot of loss, so fast," Angela pointed out. "I mean, you lost the London you knew, too, barely four months ago. I get why it would be hard to stay adjusted, when normal keeps changing."

"There's no normal in this town, lady Angela," Geoff replies with a dry chuckle. "But...yeah. I think I've had a little trouble finding my balance lately. Especially lately."

He smiles again at Angela, and shakes his head. "I didn't invite you to sit down so I could pile my troubles on you, you know."

[ooc: Going AFK for about 20 minutes.]

"I did it to you first," Angela pointed out. "But okay. Change of subject."

"Um, I met a guy from 1057 today. I showed him how a light switch worked -- aparently his roommate hasn't bothered -- and gave him a flourescent keychain and I think he was ready to worship me."

[OOC: No problem, but I'm off for the evening at 7. SP or wrap this fast?]

"Really? 1057? Huh, he must be even worse off than I was." Geoff grins, grateful for the distraction, and sips at his coffee. "Does he know how he ended up here?"

[ooc: SP is good for me, but I'll leave it up to you, to decide what your time constraints are like. :)]

Angela shook her head. "We didn't really talk about that. He's Scottish," she added, as if that might explain something.

Apparently, to Geoff, it does. "Well, at least he's not French," he says with a grin. "And tell him not to feel bad, I just learned about recorded books myself. Greg-- ah, Dr. House, took me to a bookstore in Baltimore, and they told me how to order some through courier."

Angela raised her eyebrows a little, but didn't comment on Dr. House's name. So that's someone else Geoff misses.

"Books on tape? My mom is a big fan of those," she said. "I can see where they'd be more convenient than paper for dirving and stuff."

"Well, seeing as how I don't drive..." Still grinning, he shrugs. "Actually, I was thinking about finding some that are read by the authors themselves, maybe some poets, and playing them in class. To give the students a taste of what the work is like when it's read in the author's own voice."

His expression clouds for a moment. "Although...I'll be honest, Angela. I'm thinking very seriously about heading out of here myself."

Angela tilted her head to one side, and she swallowed. "Going where?" she asked.

"I don't know. I'd...my gut reaction is to try and find where..." Greg "...some of the others went. Although I don't have any idea where that is. Greg left his dog with me, and asked me to bring him, but...I don't know if I can."

Looking down at the cup in his hand, he says, "So London, I suppose. Back home."

"Oh," Angela said, feeling very sad. "I'll miss you, if you go. But if a place doesn't feel like home to you..." she sighed. "I don't suppose actualyl doing those cooking lessons would talk you out of it?"

"I don't have anyone left to cook for anymore, Angela," he replies softly. "But...I'll miss you too. There are quite a few people here I'll miss. I just...this place isn't for me. I always knew I'd have to leave eventually, and I really think this is the right time."

Angela nodded. "I see," she said, swallowing hard because she was not going to cry all over Geoff.

"So ... when? If you do go."

Geoff reached out and took Angela's hand, looking a little bit like he was holding back some tears himself. "I've been thinking...I know there's a break coming up. At the beginning of next month. I thought that would be a good time."

"I see," Angela said. "So ... two weeks? A little more?" She squeezed his hand. "I'll make sure i see you again before you go."

Nodding, he answers, "A little more than two weeks, yes. I'd like that, Angela. I'd like to see you again. Maybe...something other than coffee. Dinner or...something."

He grins a little, and adds, "Not a date. This is not me trying to suggest an inappropriate teacher-student relationship."

Angela laughed, a little astonished. "My love life is complicated enough without breaking that rule. But coffee sounds good."

Plus, the last student who dated you went evil, she thought, but managed not to say.

Echoing the laugh -- and it really felt good to laugh -- Geoff nods and says, "Coffee it is then. Maybe if the weather is good, we can get out in the park? That way I could bring Cash with me. I feel bad leaving him locked up in the shop all the time."

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The Perk, Saturday

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