The Perk; Late Monday Morning.

[perfectmissyork.livejournal.com]

Charlotte York had finally decided that she had lost another battle. Over ten batches of unsuccessful cookies later, she decided that her stove was evil, it probably had something to do with the island, and she was just going to give it up, pick up some cookies from that lovely pastry shop, and call that good. The disastrous attempts of this morning's attempt, though, had driven her successfully out of her apartment for the moment, into the coffee shop, where she could maybe relax a little in the ambiance and enjoy a nice skinny latte and attempt to read book to distract her from worry over whether or not the cookie bait-and-switch would be notice.

Although she was most likely to just blurt out a confession anyway.


[[ open, of course, for all your coffee needs! ]]

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[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

Juli stepped inside what had to be one of her most frequent haunts, unzipping her raincoat as she shook her hair out. It was still cloudy and looked like it would rain more later, so it was best to be prudent.

"Good morning," she said affably, because it was as far as Juli was concerned.

[Playing the SP game due to work mind, so I'll be slow. Woe.]

[perfectmissyork.livejournal.com]

Charlotte, certainly wanting to be friendly and personable on a day like this, as if that would help bring the sunshine out a bit more, glanced up from her book and smiled at the other woman as she came in. "Not much morning left," she commented pleasantly, "but I do hope the rest of it will be good."

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

"Not much left, no," Juli conceded. "But it's still too early to say 'good afternoon' instead. Though, I have to admit, it looks like it wants to rain more so your mileage may vary on how good a day that makes it."

Juli liked the rain. It felt alive.

[Lucky you with good weather! It's pouring here! Arg.]

[perfectmissyork.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I like the rain, sometimes," Charlotte said with a slight nod. "As long as it isn't too much, it's kind of nice and relaxing."

Deciding that a conversation was likely to come from this, Charlotte placed a marker inside her book and set it aside before adding, "I'm Charlotte, by the way. I don't believe we've met?"

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

“I’m fond of most variations in the weather,” Juli said, getting a coffee from the counter and stepping over so that they need not talk across the shop. “But moderation is, of course, key.”

She proffered her hand to Charlotte with a light smile. “Dr. Juli Mizrahi,” she responded. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Have you been here long?”

[perfectmissyork.livejournal.com]

"Not very," Charlotte said, taking the other woman's hand with a shake. "Just a few weeks really, although I think it might even be coming up on a month here shortly. Doctor of what, if you don't mind me asking?"

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

"Time does fly here, doesn't it? I don't mind at all." Juli looked slightly amused. "Though I doubt it'll mean anything to you. I specialize in Realian and cybernetic engineering."

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

Naminé was wandering past the Perk when she noticed a familiar face inside, and stopped briefly to smile and hope she wasn't interrupting.

"Charlotte? Congratulations on your gallery's opening."

Since she could say it now as herself (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomtownies/2680065.html?thread=117211905#t117211905) again.

[perfectmissyork.livejournal.com]

"Sounds impressive!" Charlotte commented, with a small that showed that she meant it. She had actually been hoping it was something diverting down that road instead of a more medical focused one; last thing she needed was to accidentally blurt something about Trey. "What does a doctor of Realian and cybernetic engineering do on a small island like this?"

[perfectmissyork.livejournal.com]

"Oh! Naminé!" Charlotte smiled when she saw the girl, lowering her book as her attention diverted gladly. "Hi! And thank you! I think it's been rather well received. Slow at the moment, but when we start rotating exhibits, it should get interesting. How are you?"

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

"Teach," Juli said dryly. "It wasn't exactly by choice that I wound up here."

[perfectmissyork.livejournal.com]

"Really?" Charlotte asked, eyes widening slightly as she leaned forward a bit in interest. "What happened?"

Normally, she probably wouldn't have asked, but so many weeks here had her leaving terribly deprived of gossip.

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

She doubted her story would be all that interesting really. It wasn't to her. "Was enroute to Bormeo University, when my transport took a 'wrong-turn' through hyper-space and I wound up here."

[perfectmissyork.livejournal.com]

"Oh." Charlotte settled a little more with slightly sinking shoulders. Perhaps not as interesting as she thought, no, especially since it dealt with things that Charlotte Tried Not To Talk About. Still... "So you decided just to get a job teaching here instead of trying to get back?"

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

"Not precisely." Minor irritation in her voice, though not directed at Charlotte. "More rather that I cannot contact anyone back home, and am effectively stranded here."

[perfectmissyork.livejournal.com]

"Ew," Charlotte said, wrinkling her nose with a frown, sympathetic, although she seemed lucky enough to have contact with at least a few of her friends back home. She would have gone mental if she didn't have that. Then again, her move here had been voluntary. "I guess the situations here tend to be a little bit different for everyone."

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

"I was told that Fandom brings those it wants here. Apparently by force if it must." She shrugged a little, a small 'what can you do?'. "I've had time to adjust."

Even if she still stayed up some nights trying to get a connection.

[perfectmissyork.livejournal.com]

Charlotte's eyes shifted slightly, her nose wrinkling in an expression of distaste as she considered that. Thinking particular of her nefarious oven, she couldn't help but feel a little irritated if that was true, considering what brought her here. Somehow some evil island willed it to be probably wasn't going to fly as an excuse for her marriage as well as no, you just fail at life seemed to.

"How much time?" Charlotte asked. "Have you been here long?"

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

"Since January." Juli sipped her coffee thoughtfully. "It's gone by quicker than I'd have thought it would. It's a nice island for the most part."

If you didn't factor in the oddities that happened so often.

[perfectmissyork.livejournal.com]

"For the most part," Charlotte agreed, but a little hesitantly with her eyes a little widened, "yes. That's a good way to put it."

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

Juli quirked an eyebrow at her. "You have reservations?"

[perfectmissyork.livejournal.com]

"You said you've been here since January," Charlotte quirked one back, "and you doubt that I do?"

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

"Making assumptions is a fool's game," Juli pointed out. "And much of the island is harmless if... odd."

[perfectmissyork.livejournal.com]

"I never said they were harmful," Charlotte pointed out. "And I think actually seeing girls having turned into boys and having a demonic oven is a step beyond assumptions. I'm not exactly as used to things like this, unlike some of the other people I've met."

[last-mizrahi.livejournal.com]

Juli looked amused.

"... a demonic oven?"

That was a new one.