fandomtownies | The Perk, Friday afternoon

Eliot's head wound had faded down to just a mess of pink lines on his temple, and the corresponding headache was also down to vague, manageable levels. With the last remaining physical evidence gone from Hardison and Parker, things were finally starting to approach normal again. Normal enough that he hadn't gone to hunt Hardison down at the diner yesterday to make sure he was safe. Normal enough that he no longer felt the urge to grab everyone he cared about and hole up in a non-existent bomb shelter under his house.

Normal enough that he wasn't planning to build a bomb shelter under his house.

So he and Val stopped by the Perk at the end of their daily run. Eliot ordered his usual (Americano for him, bowl of water for Val), and graciously accepted the dog treat the barista offered for Val. Val enthusiastically accepted the treat and the accompanying cuddles, and the two of them settled in at one of the outdoor tables for what they both hoped would be a nice, quiet Friday-before-Graduation.

[ooc: work is going to suuuuuuuuck today. Please to be distracting me? Open!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"'Course not," Eliot said. "Those dorm rooms can't be that big. Tell ya what, I got an attic I ain't usin' for much other'n storing gardening supplies. I should have plenty of space for Kathy and Raven's things."

He'd have to warn Parker about them so she didn't decide they were free reign for stealing, but other than that, it wouldn't be any trouble at all.

Ringo blinked. "Really? You, um, wouldn't mind? They'd be safe there?" It wasn't going to, like, get rained on, or anything, was it?

Eliot would be a terrible housekeeper if things in his attic got rained on. "Nah. Kathy's a friend of mine, too. And Raven was my boyfriend's TA. He'll be glad we got an extra excuse for 'em to swing by when they get back."

"Okay. Um, could I bring them by sometime this weekend, then? That's not too imposing, is it?" She still needed to find boxes.

And get up the emotional energy to actually pack up the room.

"Sounds good," Eliot said. "You want my number, so you can text when you're ready to bring 'em over?"

"Oh, that's a good idea."

Ringo smiled, then frowned. "Um, how do you move a bunch of boxes around, anyway? Should I just carry them over?" One at a time might take a bit.

Eliot smiled a little ruefully. "You could, but it'll probably take ya a long time. I'd suggest hirin' a rickshaw or two. Maybe recruitin' some friends to help you load 'em up at the school."

"Oh, yeah." Ringo tended to forget about rickshaws. Except when she was dodging them on ATs.

"So, um, I guess I'll text you? This weekend?"

"So long as it ain't during the graduation ceremony, that'll be fine," Eliot said. "I'll even see about getting Hardison to help unload on our end. Guy's a lot stronger'n he looks."

Ringo managed a smile. Not a strong one, given the topic of conversation, but it was still there.

"Thank you." And not just for getting help unloading.

Ringo's posture shifted, going formal again, and this time the bow she gave Eliot was long and deep.

Eliot had never seen the two of them interacting much, but he heard about Kathy and Ringo on the radio all the time. And interacting with the girl, he could see where the two of them had been tight friends.

"You're welcome," he said formally, and bowed his head back to her again. "Now get goin'. And try not to run anyone over, huh?"

She straightened and smiled.

"Hai!"

And with that, she headed off, going much faster than she had been when they'd stopped to talk. Fewer worries weighing her down, and now all she had to do was get to the post office before it closed.

The Perk, Friday afternoon

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject