The Perk, Sunday Morning

[peace_n_war]

Warren had, before the day even really had a chance to start, decided that he needed coffee. Maybe it was because he'd spent his night with unexpected roommates (which he really didn't mind, though it was something he hadn't completely been expecting, either). Maybe it was more that he'd been kind of iffy about coming back here in the first place, and he'd already lit several zombie gremlins on fire on his way through town. And considering the fact that the island's last all-out zombie invasion was the reason he'd decided to move away from here in the first place...

Look, some things just required coffee, damn it. And if the barista didn't stop looking at him hungrily and snapping her teeth at him instead of just making his damn drink order, there were even odds he was going to snap and burn this place to the ground while he was at it.

He did eventually just give up on the prospect of coffee and hold her at bay with a chair while he grabbed a teabag, a mug, and some hot water. That looked like it was going to be the only service he was going to get around here, at least for a while. He'd go back for the counter for coffee once her gremlin bite wore off, but for the time being he was sitting in a window seat, drinking his tea and watching the chaos unfolding outside.

"... Fandom. Ugh."

[OOC: Open!]

Comments

[gods-gymnast.livejournal.com]

Maron did not have the ability to set fire to things, but she was a mean hand with an umbrella, and when she'd first encountered the zombie... gremlin... things... she'd bought one.

And then made her way to the coffee shop anyway because Maron did remember how this went. She made it to the Perk unscathed and in fairly good spirits.

And then stopped.

"Oh," she said surveying the baristas. "I guess I'm not getting coffee today."

She could have just stayed in the hotel room with the dinosaur. She could've.

[peace_n_war]

The dinosaur was pretty cool, wasn't she?

"Yeah, they're not super useful behind the cash register at the moment," Warren shared, raising his eyebrows and glancing Maron's way. Hey, a familiar face. Would you look at that? "But I can get back there and grab you some tea, if you want. I'll even do it without lighting her on fire."

Probably.

[gods-gymnast.livejournal.com]

The dinosaur was awesome.

She shook out her umbrella and grinned over at--

"Oh! Hi, Warren!" Maron said happily. "Yes, if you wouldn't mind, that'd be amazing of you."

[peace_n_war]

Warren flashed her a (very) brief grin, and then gestured for the seat across from him.

"Make yourself comfortable. I won't be long."

He was bringing his chair with him again while he made his way back there, though. Because he had no interest in being chewed on, whether she was actually a zombie or not, thanks.

[gods-gymnast.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," she said sincerely and simply, heading over to take the seat. Maron watched with slightly wide eyes as he took the chair with him though.

She hoped he didn't actually set the poor barista on fire. She'd probably be just fine later, since it was Fandom.

[peace_n_war]

"Don't mention it."

Yeah, Warren kind of figured the same. Which was why he was (effortlessly) holding the barista at bay with the chair while he deftly opened the teabag packet and prepared Maron's drink with his other hand.

He was a restaurant employee, going way back. This was nothing, really.

"You want cream or sugar or anything with it?"

[gods-gymnast.livejournal.com]

"No thanks, black is fine," Maron said, though it was almost a shame to cut short his display of... skill?

It was skill, wasn't it, to hold back the barista while making her a tea?

[heromaniac]

Momoko and Jaime had somehow managed to avoid the oddly acting gremlins - it was pretty easy with them actually running about in public for once - and were heading into the Perk for morning coffee. Well, Jaime was going to have a morning coffee. Momoko was going to have the biggest sweetest pastry she could find.

Compromise was LOVE.

"If I drink water, can I have TWO?" she asked him as they entered.

[weldedtomyspine]

"I suppose that depends on the kind you want to get," Jaime teased, leaning over to lightly kiss her temple.

[heromaniac]

"The giant pecan cinnamon bun with the cream cheese icing! The one that's got the bottom dipped in white chocolate, hopefully, but I'll totally settle for an un-dipped one!" She was totally not drooling. Honest.

[weldedtomyspine]

"And you want two of those?" Jaime asked, making a face.

[heromaniac]

"Why not? They're delicious!! and I can't find them anywhere but here."

[weldedtomyspine]

"You'll get cavities," he warned.

[heromaniac]

"I'll brush extra hard tonight!" She giggled, leaning in to bump him. "Maybe I'll get a stomachache instead?"

[peace_n_war]

Don't mind Warren, Momoko. It was just, he would know your voice anywhere, and if he just so happened to be staring silently at you from behind his tea for a minute... well...

Maybe it was because he was trying to figure out if it would be rude to clear his throat, and maybe it was because he was contemplating if he ought to at least warn you and your boyfriend about the fact that the barista was a biter today.

...

Maybe both. He cleared his throat.

"Hey."

That was a very eloquent warning, Warren. Well done.

[heromaniac]

"EH?!" Momoko would know that reluctant and yet somehow plaintive 'hey' ANYwhere!

She stopped stock still and spun round to find him. "WARREN?"

AHHH!!!!

She was going to run over and glomp you, Warren. Prepare! "WARREN!!!!!!!!!"

Hopefully he was the right Warren this time.

[peace_n_war]

He was! He was the right enough Warren to be smiling a bit as he pulled himself out from his seat and held his arms open to her, anyway. Only for you, Momoko. Honestly.

"Hey," he said again, because he was a regular wordsmith, here. "It's been a while, Momoko."

[heromaniac]

"It's been FOREVER! You need to stop not calling me back when I leave messages!" She squeezed him tight and kissed his cheek. Then hugged him again. Because Warren!!!

"How are you? Are you okay? Did everyone come back after the Nothing? Ho's your mom? And your dad?" Ahhhh TELL HER EVERYTHING!!!

[peace_n_war]

"Dad's still serving about a million years in prison," Warren replied, wryly, "but he's there. Mom's fine, too. She's busy as usual. But everything is back and seems to be the way it should be. Has been for a while, actually."

And then, the tiniest of smiles.

"Have you been keeping out of trouble?"

[heromaniac]

"Probably more than you!" She poked his chest and scrunched her nose at him. "I've moved to a different world where there are more heroes, but even more villains, so I'm still in the game. Fighting more smuggling and alien technology than I want to, but it pays really well. Oh! And I finally got an Associates Degree!" BEAM BEAM!!

[weldedtomyspine]

Well. This was kind of awkward.

"Hey."

[peace_n_war]

Tiiiny bit awkward, yep.

"You're looking well."

He was looking like he was still with the girl. Which was 'well' by Warren's books, anyway. Close enough.

He'd be lying if he said he wasn't tempted to not warn him about the barista. Warren never claimed to not be shallow.

[weldedtomyspine]

"Thanks."

Um.

"You too."

Jaime studied Warren, then glanced over at Momoko. It was hard not to think that they looked good together.

[peace_n_war]

"Thanks," Warren replied, monosyllabic as ever. The actual words were reserved for people he cared about, generally. Or ones who he was actively threatening. "Here for breakfast, are you?"

[weldedtomyspine]

"Coffee for me. As many pastries as she thinks she can get away with for her." Despite the tension, Jaime couldn't help but smile as he glanced over at Momoko.

Sorry, Warren. She tended to do that to him. It was kind of annoying even to people who were their friends.