The Perk, Monday Morning

[suitably_heroic]

Yeah, so Atton was still here. Partly because he had this coffee date with Sia set up. Partly because he'd been spending some time yesterday, staring lovingly at the Hawk thinking about the future.

And staring lovingly at the Hawk.

Having to think was muddling it. Back when it had been an instantaneous response to too much stress, a need to jettison everything and put his life back into some kind of order, it had made sense. Now he wasn't sure about it. Or anything.

... Well, okay. He was sure that the giant cup of strong coffee he had in his hands right now was something he badly needed. He paid the barista and turned towards the rest of the store. So maybe he was a little early, he noted, tugging on the beanie so it covered his way-too-short hair a little better. Whatever.

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[notconflicted]

When Sia got there, she waved and stopped long enough to order her coffee, then came back to the table. "I didn't leave you waiting too long, did I?"

[suitably_heroic]

"You gave me just enough time to finish the first giant coffee," Atton said, "And now I'm on number two, so I'm actually awake. Nice timing."

Especially since now he could play off the jittery as caffeine overdose.

[notconflicted]

"Oh, so it's that kind of morning," she said, taking a seat.

[suitably_heroic]

"Some nights you sleep clean through, some you don't," Atton said vaguely. "How are you doing?"

[notconflicted]

"All right. Feeling surprisingly disorganized trying to get things settled, but that will pass," Sia said. "Yourself?"

[suitably_heroic]

"Like I could pound back at least two more of these things," Atton said, setting the cup down. "Graduation's a weird time. You know where you're heading to, yet?"

[notconflicted]

"Not yet. As of Saturday morning there was some fighting going on, so it'll probably be a day or two before I get word on where they settled," she said.

[suitably_heroic]

"Are they going to put you in the field?" Atton asked.

[notconflicted]

"Yes. Perhaps not immediately, if they want to make sure I can handle myself there," Sia replied. "But I will be going in at some point, at least."

Because she was a princess and she'd make them put her in.

[suitably_heroic]

Atton nodded. He didn't like war, but he approved a hell of a lot more of a princess who was willing to get her hands dirty than one that kept hanging back as long as possible.

"My offer from a few months back still stands," he said. If he was around for her to contact, anyway, "You can com me if you need backup. Not that I'm saying you will."

[notconflicted]

"I may," she countered. "And thank you. I really do appreciate that."

[suitably_heroic]

Atton shrugged lightly. "I got into this line of work to help people," he said. Or to protect one particular person, but details. "If you're going back to do the same, I owe you enough to extend it to your time."

[notconflicted]

"I imagine a lot of eyerolling at squads of Imperial Knights, you know," she said lightly.

[suitably_heroic]

"That's just part of the service I provide," Atton said, taking a sip of his coffee. "Bet they're all absurdly straight-laced."

[notconflicted]

"Many of them even moreso than me," Sia said, actually a bit proud. "Anyone who isn't completely serious about it doesn't usually last."

[suitably_heroic]

Atton snorted. "Being serious about the job and being overly serious are two different things," he said, "But you know that. You've gotten pretty good at letting your hair down."

[notconflicted]

"I have," she agreed. "I probably won't have a lot of opportunities for that in the near future."

Which was why she did it in Fandom. Girl was smart enough to think ahead.

[suitably_heroic]

"I'd advise against the drinking for the time being, at least," Atton said. "But try not to drive yourself all the way up the bulkhead, will you?"

[notconflicted]

"I'll do my best," Sia said. "I'm going to hope I've learned about finding a happy medium."

[suitably_heroic]

"You could try sabacc," Atton said. "I mean, it's no pazaak, but it'll keep you occupied, and it's good practice reading people without having to get all mind trick on someone."

[notconflicted]

"I could," she said. "I wonder how that would go over with a group of Force users..."

[suitably_heroic]

Atton shrugged. "Tell them not to go all mind trick on everyone?" he offered. "I mean, that's good advice in general."

[notconflicted]

"Well, yes. I'm not sure everyone can turn off the part of them that knows when someone's bluffing, though," Sia said.

[suitably_heroic]

"You don't want them turning that part off, you want everyone to get better at bluffing," Atton said easily, taking a big gulp of his now rapidly-cooling coffee.

[notconflicted]

"That would be good practice," she said, considering.