The Perk, morning

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

After running with Peter, and stopping by to see Jack, Parker headed into town for coffee and to pick up coffee beans. Just in case Jake needed therapy or a security blanket after being kidnapped.

[open for all Perkly needs, and caffiene security substitutes]

Comments

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Worse than dead, sometimes," River said quietly. Knowing what it was like to be on the run, she felt it was the perfect revenge.

Her coffee arrived, and she stirred the whipped cream thoughtfully.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Maybe. I hope so." Parker stretched out her legs, and said, "What are you thinking?" She dimpled a little. "Only fair you share."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Being on the run. Never safe, never resting. It tires you out until you stop thinking about it and get used to it. Learn to live." She sipped her coffee, then a small smile appeared on her face. "I could stop running here."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"True enough. They'd never think to look for you here, or be able to do much about it if they *did* find it." Parker smiled back at her. "And you've still got-- what, two years left? Or is it one?" She looked wistful. "I'm going to miss you, come May."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"One year," River said. Her smile faded again. "Will miss you too." She had to hold back not to let that feeling emerge prematurely. "Will you be contactable?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Ohhh, yes. E-mail and phone and text and everything." Parker smiled brightly to hide her own feelings of anxiety. "I'll probably show up for Homecoming, and maybe Christmas, depending on where my father is. I'll be so bored there on my own, you'll get sick of hearing from me." She looked mischevious. "Aside from bugging Jack's good buddy in Cardiff. Ask him about the guy."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River was relieved to hear that at least Parker wouldn't be out of reach. "Perhaps I could visit you?" she asked. Getting to see more of Earth-that-was would be a bonus.

"Older self?" River looked curious. "You will contact him?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"You'd definitely be welcome," Parker promised. "And I think you'd like it. It's very different from the Island." She smiled, and said, "Jack told you about him? And yeah. I plan on tormenting him every chance I get."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Looking quite excited, River said: "Like to see more." She frowned. "But I'd need some documents of identity, wouldn't I?" It couldn't be a huge obstacle however, and her mind was already making plans.

River pointed at her head. "Told me in his mind. No details." She looked a Parker, her head tilted. "But you've met him. Torment?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker waved a hand, amused. "Not a problem. Angelo could get you those. At least enough for somewhere like England. And you could probably stay in my dorm room while you're there." She grinned, then, thinking of Captain Jack. "Imagine Jack ten or fifteen years older, ten times cockier, ten times more convinced he's charming, and ten times more pre-emptory and bossy. He occasionally needs reminding he's not the master of all he surveys." Whe did like the guy, but there was something about him that was just impossible not to mess with.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"I'll come and visit you then," River said firmly, and then burst out giggling. "Can see why, then. Would probably attempt the same," she said, adding a question: "Captain of what?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"You know, I have no idea?" Parker frowned, thinking. "I always assumed the Time Agency, but I really need to ask, sometime. Maybe if I get to see him on this trip, although it's unlikely we'll hit England."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River took another sip of her coffee. "Going where and why?"

It was always nicer to ask.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker cocked an eyebrow at her, then grinned. "You know. But thanks for asking. Europe, to rescue Jake from whoever's got him. Probably better not to spread that around, by the way. We'll be checking in with Rory and Mac pretty often."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

A wide grin spread on River's face. "Mindreading is bad for conversation. Unless it's with Bridge." Turning serious again, she nodded. "Emergency coffee?" She gestured towards the bag.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Yup. Who knows if they're treating him right? Jake requires massive caffiene at the best of times, and these are definitely not that." Parker smirked a little. "Hopefully we'll be able to track him down and get him back without anyone getting hurt, though."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Somehow River was quite sure they would. Get him back, that was. Hurt was always a possibility. "What's Europe like?" she asked, having a very vague idea herself.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Lots of different little places all up against each other. Italy's warm, and soft, and has gorgeous architecture. I spent nearly a year there before moving here. France has the best chocolate and champagne, England has the best bookstores..." Parker grinned. "And now we're going to a part I've never seen, that was cut off from most of the world up until about fifteen years ago. Should be interesting. Mountains and new music and hopefully not too dangerous."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River raised an eyebrow. "Cut off? Not too dangerous?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"The last government was totalitarian and isolationist. They've all broken up into little different countries now, I can't even keep track of them all. Sooooo, the locals may or may not be helpful. Kawalsky has contacts, though." Parker paused. "And that's not really as reassuring as it should be, is it?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"No," River said, stirring her coffee. "But I believe there are worse places." Unless it came to personal revenge, River had faith in Parker's judgement of situations.

A smile returned to her face. "Jack's better. And he promised to help me redecorating the Acorn."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Defintely," Parker agreed, remembering Miranda. No way it was going to get that weird. "And cool! So, uh." She grinned. "No more lava lamps? Or more of them in brighter colors?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Bright coloured lava lamps." River nodded. "And soft furniture attached to the floor in case of spinning around. And now murals."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Murals? Like the one you did of the fish?" That if she remembered right, had followed her up the stairs, once. "The last time Jack did murals, they were obscene stick figures. But funny."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Yes. Although now they mostly stay in one place. No magical symbols included." She grinned. "Stick figures? I think I'll have to do most of the painting. He can to the easy parts." Her enthusiasm over the project was obvious.