The Perk, Saturday Morning

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

Almost the moment the Perk was opened for business, Kerrigan had appeared, hair unwashed and face covered in grease marks, face grafted with the edges of someone who hadn't slept in a while.

That washed away the moment she moved up to the counter, though-- ordering a coffee, she let tiredness slip away behind the vehement veneer of confidence and not-thinking-about-it she liked to call her Ghost mask.

Settling down at her usual table for her usual drink. Routine was good.

[ open for all your Perkly and/or Kerriganly needs ]

Comments

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River was up early and had gone for a walk, stopping by the Perk for coffee. Noticing Kerrigan, she immediately walked over to her table, taking a seat, hands around her coffee mug.

"You look like you have a story to tell." There was a hint of worry in her eyes.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

People. She didn't particularly want to deal with people-- she curled her hands around her cup and pulled the mask tighter.

Right up until the familiar thought patterns penetrated her mind, worry upon worry connected in a loop, and when Kerrigan's head snapped up, all that stoic determination drained.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

If Kerrigan wanted to talk, River could listen. If not, she could be silent too. She sipped her coffee.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

Kerrigan leaned back in her seat, forcing herself to compose. She pressed two fingers to her forehead, shutting her eyes for two beats before opening them again. Back to composure, if a subdued one.

"It's nothing big."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Small then?" River didn't look like she quite believed Kerrigan's words. She smiled a little.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

"Teensy," Kerrigan replied, with a slight smile. She finally went back to sipping her coffee-- it'd cooled slightly.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River gave Kerrigan a look that told her she wasn't that easily fooled. Good that you're here.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

She sipped her coffee again. Nothing I can't handle.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

How many dead? River tilted her head.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

Kerrigan paused. But only-- minutely. The damage was just a little too great not to show cracks in the mask. That was all it was. It doesn't matter, she replied. "Have you ever considered TAing?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River noted Kerrigan's reaction and did not pursue the subject.

"Have never been asked."

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

"Would you consider it if I did?" This was a safe topic, and it was bound to come up, anyway.

She wanted River somewhere she could keep an eye out.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Yes." There was no hesitation, and River looked pleased.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly wasn't surprised to find Kerrigan at the Perk this morning. She would have been more surprised if she wasn't there really. Getting her own cup of coffee, she sank down into a chair across from Kerrigan without particularly bothering to ask permission.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

Oh, lovely.

Kerrigan took a sip of her coffee, then glanced up at her, composed entirely. "Aly."

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"How do you do, Kerrigan?" Aly asked, eyes scanning her as she took her own sip of coffee.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

"I got coffee," Kerrigan replied, neutrally. No point in getting into a lie, here.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"Not only coffee, but good coffee too," Aly remarked. "Better than many days."

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, nothing says good morning like a good cup of java." Still speaking neutrally enough that the statement failed to slant any way at all, she took another sip of the java in question.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"How much longer do you think we could keep going in platitudes?" Aly asked blandly.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

"Physically, or until one of us gets bored and leaves?" Kerrigan returned, coolly.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"I'm fairly certain the second would come first," she said. "Otherwise we'd be here for days."

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," Kerrigan said, looking away as she took another sip of her coffee. "I could pull a few hours of platitudes right now."

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly watched her, eyes sharp again. "I wouldn't doubt it. A few hours of sleep might do you more good."

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

"You people need to stop mothering me," she snapped, putting her cup down.