The Perk, Sunday morning

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Apple cake and coffee was a good start to any day, and especially one when Adah would leave Fandom. It was only for a week, River reminded herself, and tried to focus on the Christmas celebrations ahead. What seemed most important was to get Kerrigan to dance again. Then of course there was the opportunity to spend time with friends who were still here for Christmas, as she had found herself  too busy the past few weeks.

Taking one sip of her coffee, River then proceeded to attack her apple pie.

[Very open!]

Comments

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

As was becoming exceedingly frequent these days, Kerrigan entered the Perk a few hours into the morning with her still-groggy head set entirely on coffee.

This may have been why she walked right past River on her way in, demanding 'the usual' at the counter.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River watched Kerrigan, an amused look on her face. Morning. She took another sip of her coffee.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

She was halfway into getting her java off a nervous-looking member of the staff when the message connected. Kerrigan paused by the counter, practically pulling her cup out of the man's hand. Morning, River.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Join me? River smiled at Kerrigan, pleased at the company.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

Sure. She shot the man another glance, but was satisfied there wasn't anything added to the coffee, much to her specifications. Kerrigan turned around, walking towards River and sitting down.

Without saying anything, she took a long drink. Scalding hot. She barely refrained from making a face.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

All coffee cools down eventually. River pushed the plate with the apple cake towards Kerrigan. Share?

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

"Wisdom for the ages," Kerrigan snorted, smirking at River. Liquid breakfast first.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River chuckled, her eyes meeting Kerrigan's. She took another large bite of the cake for herself. "My first Christmas in Fandom this year."

[Will have to go shopping now, shouldn't take too long]

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

Kerrigan, on her side of the equation, took another gulp of coffee. Better. "Mine too," she replied, dryly.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Last Christmas I was invited to a space station. Babylon 5." That had been with Blair, who wanted to visit Ivanova. It had also involved an unwanted meeting with a telepath who had been able to look a little too deeply into her mind and trigger hidden memories.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

"What was it like?" She curled her hands around the cup. Nice and warm.

Still kind of needed gloves.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River stirred her coffee with her finger and then leaned forward to dip the tip of her nose in it. "Enjoyable apart from the telepaths."

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

"I know the feeling," Kerrigan snorted. Nothing more annoying than fellow Ghosts, back home.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River nodded, trying to push away the memory. "This Christmas will be better," she predicted. "Especially with dancing."

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

"Dance all you like," Kerrigan said, sipping at her coffee. "You can show up whenever, I'll..." Pause. "...Get you stuff for dinner."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Both comments made River's face lit up. "I'll bring you a present," she promised.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

She smiled back. "It's a deal."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River returned the smile, then drank deeply of her coffee, letting Kerrigan share her happiness.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Apparently coming in yesterday to get Assam had gotten Cassandra's body to expect her to do it again. Not that she minded as tea was pretty tasty. But as she walked in the door she decided that if she was craving it again tomorrow she'd just hold off. No sense letting her life become ruled by habit, after all.

She grinned widely when she saw River, and offered a wave as she ordered.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River's face lit up and she gave Cassandra a look and a nod that clearly said 'Join me!'.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

After collecting a steaming cup of tea, she did. She slid into the seat across from River and quirked an eyebrow.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"I'm staying here over Christmas," River said, taking another bite of her apple cake.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

"Me too," Cassandra nodded, sipping her tea. "Nowhere to go, anyway."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Could go back to Serenity," River said. "Decided not to. Wanted a Christmas on Fandom. First and last one." She smiled, then sipped her coffee.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Cassandra frowned just a bit, "You're... leaving soon?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"In the summer," River clarified. "Long time, short time." She smiled again, but there was sadness in her eyes.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

"Yeah." Cassandra thought for a moment. "Then what?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

That was the question. River shrugged. "Undecided." She lifted her cup again, drinking deeply.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

"'s long as you keep dancing," Cassandra admonished.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River put the cup down and a grin spread across her face. "Can't stop me. And I plan to make kerrigan dance on Christmas."

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

An amused snort almost caused Cassandra to choke on her tea. "That's an amusing thought."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"In a good way," River replied, looking as amused as Cassandra.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

"Definitely."

Cassandra took a long sip of tea. "How have you been?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"More good than bad," River replied. "And you?"

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

There was some silent tea sipping before Cassandra shrugged. "Could be worse." Which wasn't really great.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Could be better?" River asked, an eyebrow raised.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Another shrug.

"Just... old memories. Old... ways of thinking." Of everyone as a target.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Old meeting new. Always takes time. Takes patience." She smiled again.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Cassandra sighed, "Tired of things not making sense."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Tell me?" River sipped her coffee again.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Some time was spent staring down at her tea before Cassandra spoke without looking up, "Sometimes it's hard to remember that people are... people."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River didn't seem surprised by this. "Some things makes them seem less, some thing more?" she asked.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

"Just not used to it," Cassandra tried to explain. "They weren't for my dad, and then... they were..." she wasn't sure what they had been to Batman. Something more, something less.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Her head tilted, River watched Cassandra, wanting her to continue.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Cassandra opened her mouth to explain, then closed it, not sure what to say. Still, she tried: "I keep... thinking that people are... things. Forgetting they're more."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Takes time to change a point of perspective," River said quietly, taking another sip of her coffee.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

"Tired of it," Cassandra complained half-heartedly.