fandomtownies | The Perk, afternoon

Lyra walked into the coffee shop and waved to Evie. After becoming rapidly bewildered at the tea choices (back home they had Earl Grey and Orange Pekoe, period), told the barista, "I'll have what she ordered."

After getting her coffee (!) and paying, she settled down into the seat opposite Evie, sniffing her drink.

"So. What was it that I ordered?"

"Espresso. Very intense coffee, which is why they're served in such little cups," Evie said, smiling hello. "I rather like it, but you might want tea instead. How does this Thursday find you?"

"Oh, I see." she sniffed it again, and took a tiny sip. "It is strong."

She settled into her seat, pulling one leg up so that she was sitting half tailor fashion. "Not bad, I guess. Still getting used to being here. And you?"

"Trying to adjust, although I'm not sure with how much success." Evie smiled hesitantly. "In and around all the magic and science, the people are so very different, I have to keep notes on things that are new, or I fear I'll never stop being shocked."

"Yeah, I'll bet. That's one of the good things about having been to so many. Worlds, I mean. Nothing's so very surprising anymore." Lyra shrugged, then grinned. "Unexpected, disturbing and bewildering, but not surprising."

"Do you know how many you've been to?" Evie asked, curious, as she took another sip. "When did you start traveling like that? And, if you don't mind my asking... how? I'm not even sure how I got here."

Lyra looks down at her demitasse, suddenly serious.

"I can tell you a little. A bunch of it's... Well, I can tell you some."

She takes another sip fo the coffee, chasing the bitterness with the cookie on her plate ~~that had been there the whole time~~.

"My father decided it would be a good idea to blast open the veil between the worlds, in the North where it's thin. Through the rift was another world, one that was warm, called Cittagaze." She pronounced it 'chit ah gatt say.'

I... met a boy there, named Will," her voice caught, just a little, easy to miss if you weren't listening. "He had a knife that could cut through the veil, and make openings into other worlds."

"Where it was thin," Evie repeated, this part familiar from what Agnes and Stark had said. "Where there's more magic? And why did he do that? Was your world cold?"

Evie frowned, picking up on something, but having no idea what. "So you could blast through it, or cut through it. Science *or* magic?"

Lyra's brow furrowed. "I... dunno. I guess there might be more magic in the North; that's where the witches live. I always thought it was, it was science." she stumbled over the word, as if it was unfamiliar.

"I could tell you why he did it, but it would just bring up a hundred more questions. Maybe later I'll tell you." She finished the cookie in between talking. "And it isn't cold at home. It's like this world. Cold at the top and bottom, hot in the middle.

"Anyway, after Cittagaze..." she trails off in thought. "We went to, let's see, at least eleven or twelve. I forget exactly, there were people chasing us through most of them. I lost track of them after a while."

"Good heavens." Evie perched her chin on her hands, fascinated. "You and Will? Why were people chasing you?" It was like an adventure novel, even more than a school in a castle on a magic island.

Lyra tilted her head to the side, considering both Evie and the question. She took a short breath and another sip of the coffee.

"It all goes back to why Lord Asriel -my father- blew a hole in our world, which I'll call Jordan for now. It's kind of complicated, are you sure you want to hear it all?"

"If you want to tell it," Evie said quickly. "I don't wish to pry. But it's all so new to me, and *I* don't have any adventures to tell. So if it's not too personal...?"

"It isn't. Well, mostly. Just long. Hold on a minute."

She finished her coffee and went to the counter to order a cola. Cup in hand, she came back to the table.

"My favorite thing about this world," she said. "Well, that and the cinema.

"Okay. So, I'm lead to believe that the Maginsterium, the Church, doesn't run things here. Well, in Jordan, it does. Everything is judged according to Church law, and anything sinful is outlawed. Scientists -eperimental theologians in Jordan- thought they found the source of sin. They called it Dust."

She squinted at Evie. "Any questions yet?"

"There is an entity called the Church, but then, there's many of them, so no, they don't run things. Not for the last few centuries, anyway." She frowned. "Was Dust a physical thing, or a theological construct?"

Lyra smiled at how quickly Evie was picking it up. And, it was nice ot be believed. Or at least, not openly questioned.

"A physical thing, but very small. An elementary partical, like electrons. See, it reacts differently to children and adults, and I'm really getting off track. Okay. There were two big factions. Or maybe three. The Church, who wanted to get rid of Dust and sin. My father and his people, who really didn't care, they just wanted to overthrow the Authority. And me. I just wanted to figure out what was going on."

Lyra popped the tab on the can and took a long sip, blinking rapidly. It was overly simple, but it'd do for now.

"Both sides wanted me, though, though I'm not entirely sure why. So Will and me ended up chased through a bunch of worlds."

Evie frowned and nodded along, trying to follow all this. "How dreadful. You're a girl, you shouldn't have to run away from the authorities." She finished off her espresso, and looked thoughtful, and raised one eyebrow. "Do you know if they're still looking for you?"

"No. It's... It's over now. The Church lost, Dust is here to stay. And my father's plan didn't end up working either. Of course, it wasn't quite that simple, but then, nothing is."

Lyra took another swig of her cola. She smiled, but the skin around her eyes was tight with repressed emothion.

"But you must be tired of hearing about me. What about you? You sound like a Brit, but there's something else, too; the way you say some words..."

[ooc: I'm off to eat, but I'll be back later. Or tomorrow, depending on how inviting the bed looks after.]

"I don't see how microscopic particles can really be responsible for sin... but then again, I'm a scientist, not a theologian." Evie frowned a bit, then, at Lyra's requested subject change, hastily jumped in, not wanting Lyra to be any more upset. "Yes, I grew up in Cairo. Among the British community, of course, but my parents were Egyptologists, so there was a great deal of work and socializing with several different cultures there." She smiled a little, amused. "Really, nowhere near as many as here of course, but at least I have some experience with many different kinds of people living near each other."

"Cairo? Tha'ts in Iskandria, right? In Afrikka?" Lyra leaned her chin on her fist, looking genuinely captivated.

"What's 'egyptologist'? It sounds interesting.

"An egyptologist is someone who studies Ancient Egypt-- the remains of their civilization, the architecture and ruins, the writings, everything," Evie said, waving her hand and smiling happily. "Yes, you've got it right, it's on the coast of Africa. And Iskandria was one of the ancient names of sites near there. At least, in this world. Perhaps it never changed in yours. My parents have been working on excavating the past since before I was a baby." She sighed. "They can't get to Egypt this year-- there's a war on in my time. So they're settling for a little local site in Wales."

"Oh, Wales. I know that place, at least. The housekeeper from Jordan college used to holiday there. I think her daughter lives there, or something."

Lyra smiled. "It must be nice to be interested in something that your parents loved."

"It's lovely, but it isn't Egypt." And thus always second-best to Evie. "And yes, it is nice. Thy're very supportive. I think it might have been different if I'd loved something else, but, well. I've always been fascinated by the artifacts and stories, and the language..." Evie trailed off, a little embarassed. "I miss them very much." She finished off her espresso. "Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"No, no siblings. I didn't, ah, grow up with my parents. Do you?" Lyra finished her Coke and started playing with the tab.

"One, my older brother. Jonathan. He's in Egypt right now, lucky thing. But better there than in France or Germany." She sighed. "There's a war on in my time. I'm rather relieved he's nowhere near the fighting."

"I'm sorry. About the war." Lyra blinked; it was a stupid thing to say, but still. "He may be in Egypt, but I bet he doesn't learn half as much as you do here."

She rather hoped that was comforting.

"True. And, at least I know we win the War now," Evie said, looking down at her hands. "It's rather a relief, that someone told me that my second day here. So, no reason to worry, really." She smiled a little hesitantly.

"Well, that's good, right? That you won?" Lyra looked askance at Evie. "Do you, I mean, would you rather talk about something else?"

"Yes please," Evie blurted, then looked abashed. "Which is silly, since I brought it up, but... it just preys on my mind. Anything else is welcome." She smiled a little more brightly. "Why don't we go for a walk, and see more of the city? Town. It's really, almost just a village."

"Yes, a walk. That sounds nice." Lyra stood up. "I'm going to get another Coke, would you like one?"

"I've never had that. I think I should like to try it, if it's your favorite." Evie smiled and got to her feet. "Tea in Fandom isn't the same, but I think I quite like it anyway."

Lyra laughed. "To be honest, I haven't dared try. Maybe we can import some."

Lyra went to the counter and got two more Cokes. Upon her return, she handed one to Evie.

"After you."

[ooc: do you want to continue, or shall we just ahndwae it? up to you.]

"Then let's see what we can see."

[ooc: handwave! much fun, and thanks! We can have them meet up again later. Now. Whichever. :> ]

Dean came into the Perk, bag of newly-bought school supplies in hand, and went up to the counter to order. He caught sight of Evie over by the window and waved, smiling sheepishly as he remembered their last conversation.

Evie meep'd for a second, then shyly waved back, feeling her face warm up, but giving him a smile all the same. "Hullo."

After getting his cup -- regular coffee with milk and sugar, since he was a regular coffee kind of guy -- he walked over to the booth where Evie sat, just standing by the table, not wanting to intrude if she was meeting someone. "Get through the first aid training all right?" he asked with a quick smile.

"Yes, thank you," Evie said, gulping a swallow of espresso. "I now feel confident about any number of bruises, cuts, and burns, as well as how not to tie a triangle bandage." Mr. Gavin's warning ringing in her ears, she said, "I'd invite you to sit down, but your roommate is meeting me here fairly soon. You'd be welcome to join us if she doesn't mind, of course...." She might have looked a little hopeful.

"Oh, I don't think I knew you knew Lyra!" Dean said, smiling. "I'd love to, but I actually still have some shopping to do as soon as I'm done with my coffee, so. Maybe some other time?" He definitely looked disappointed, and hoped she didn't think he was blowing her off or anything.

"Oh, that would be lovely!" Evie put a hand to her face, then quickly tried to regain her savoir faire. "I mean, yes, certainly, some other time. Have fun with your shopping?"

"I'm not really into shopping, but I'll see if I can't try and have some fun for your sake," he said, grinning. "See you soon, hopefully." Good, that went over well.

"See you then!" Evie waved happily, and bounced a little in her chair. There, that wasn't awkward at *all*. Yes. Yay!

The Perk, afternoon

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