The Perk, Monday Afternoon

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

The afternoon found Mohinder ordering iced tea and cherry ice cream pie in defiance of the grey, cool weather outside. "You're missing out," he told the counter staff, with a pointed wave of a forkful.

On his last free day before classes, perhaps he ought to be doing something a little more work-related. Or maybe not. Instead Mohinder flipped open the paper he'd carried in under one arm, and opened it to the crossword.

Chewing thoughtfully at a pen, he looked at the first clue - Science of morals (6)

[Open as a coffee shop is!]

Comments

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Despite the thousands of coffee shops in LA, Veronica missed the Perk.

Which was why she was there, ordering a very large cup of coffee.

She nodded at the man doing the crossword puzzle, wondering if he was a fellow teacher or not.

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

He was, and Mohinder said, "Hi," as he looked up, most of his attention still on his paper.

Then he recognised her, and reflexively made sure he was out of her immediate reach. Their first meeting had been a little painful on his side. "Why are you here now? We don't have to go just yet." Mohinder sighed. "Or did your father change his mind again?"

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry," Veronica said. "Have we met? How do you know my dad?"

She didn't think she had run into this guy on the island before.

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"Well, only once, but you've forgotten me already?" Mohinder said, wondering what kind of game Elle was playing. "I thought I was more memorable than that."

"I work for" - spy on - "your father. He's the one that introduced us." Maybe the electricity had frazzled a few more of her brain cells.

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"My dad doesn't have any employees," Veronica said. "And he's certainly not in Fandom. He's in Neptune."

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"Of course, he doesn't," said Mohinder, a little more sarcastic now. "And I spend my day blatently lying to young women in coffee shops, Elle. It passes the time."

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"Elle," she repeated, memories of that one weekend coming back. "Right. Hi, I'm Veronica Mars," she said, pulling her driver's license out of her wallet and passing it over to him. "Fandom High graduate, class of 06 and teaching SAT prep this summer."

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"You're sure of that?" Mohinder took a look at the photo before handing it back, with an apologetic shrug. He felt a little relieved to hear she was teaching - no-one would put Elle in charge of children. Not those they wanted back in one piece.

"I'm sorry, but you look remarkably like a girl I knew."

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, she likes to zap people, right?" Veronica asked. "Have you been in Fandom long enough to know how sometimes people think they're other people?"

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"She has a pretty individual idea of what can be fun," Mohinder agreed. "Or appropriate." He nodded. "I've spent a weekend walking someone else's shoes."

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica nodded. "I spent a weekend in her shoes. It was... interesting. She was very... friendly."

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"That's certainly one way of putting it," said Mohinder. "You-She didn't hurt anyone? I mean, if you can't usually-" He flicked his hand at her.

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"Everyone came out unscathed," Veronica assured him. "And I most definitely don't have that ability. Though it would be rather useful, I would imagine."

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"You'd certainly never be without a light," Mohinder said. "Or a taser."

"I'm Mohinder Suresh, by the way," he added, remembering he hadn't told her that yet, and offering a hand. "Currently teaching at the school."

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"I am fond of my taser," Veronica said with a small smile, shaking the proffered hand. "What are you teaching?"

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"You use it a lot?" asked Mohinder. "This summer - logic. Though I know I may be on a losing streak with that here," he added dryly.

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica laughed. "Possibly. My teaching buddy, Miss Bennet, is teaching etiquette. So you two could possibly commiserate," she joked.

"And, no, I don't use my taser much these days. But it was invaluable when I was working actively as a PI."

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"You're telling me this island doesn't get any more polite and reasonable after all your time here?" Mohinder shrugged. "I am- not really shocked."

"You won't have much opportunity to use it in class, then?"

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry to have to break this to you, but not only does the island not get more polite and reasonable, it follows you when you leave," Veronica told him. "And, dear lord, I hope I don't have to use it. I'm pretty sure Principal Winchester would disapprove of me zapping my students."

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"If I find myself followed by any stray islands when I visit back in New York, I'll know not to be surprised. Or have myself committed."

Mohinder nodded at that. "I suppose it wouldn't come up; your workshop does seem more academically focussed than most."

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica nodded. "I'm hoping it will go well."

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

A glass of tea wasn't the usual choice of drink, but Mohinder lifted his glass to clink in toast. "To an interesting term."

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica lifted her Styrofoam coffee cup and tapped it against his glass. "To an interesting term."

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"I'd hope for better weather and fewer surprises too, but I haven't enough luck for that," Mohinder added.

[And now I sleep. Night!]

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica chuckled. "Surprises are par for the course around here."


[Sleep well!]

[famous-gut.livejournal.com]

"Coffee," Gibbs ordered. "Large. And I'm not going to say large in Italian and no I don't want anything in it. Just coffee."

The barista rolled her eyes and just shoved the paper cup toward Gibbs.

Gibbs promptly went over to the coffee station where he started to fill it up.

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

Mohinder looked up at the new arrival. "I hear they're working on administering caffiene direct to the vein."

[famous-gut.livejournal.com]

"I prefer the more traditional means," Gibbs said topping off his cup. "The other method is obvious and you get strange looks when you come in for a refill."

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"But you do get a more constant dose," argued Mohinder. "Fewer caffiene withdrawal headaches. The rest is just-- technicalities."

[famous-gut.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, but I like the taste," Gibbs replied. "Can't get that through a tube."