The Perk - Saturday early afternoon

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando headed to the Perk after he closed the shop on Saturday. He truly enjoyed spending time in his shop but there were also times he wished to be a customer somewhere he could sit and watch the greater community walk around outside.

He obtained a cinnamon coffee and sat at one of the tables. A newspaper taken from his pocket was unfolded and he began to read. It was a paper from Mexico City because he liked to keep up with the news back home and just across the causeway in the nearby town was a small bodega that carried them.

An advert inside for one of Lito's movies. He quickly folded past that page.

The weather outside was warmish but also very damp. Sporadic rain would come and go, hitting the windows with a soft patter. It made being indoors with a hot coffee a simple but comfortable thing.

[Open.]

Comments

[spectre_alenko]

Kaidan went for coffee. It was a simple black coffee, instead of his usual monstrosities. Spotting Hernando, he took a seat at his table and smiled across at his friend. "How's your head?"

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando glanced up at him with a small smirk to let Kaidan know exactly how he was not answering that question. "I didn't have that much to drink," he protested, "and I am fine today but thank you for asking. I didn't expect to see you today. I thought you had plans?"

[spectre_alenko]

"I do, but since I was still here, decided to throw some caffeine into the system first." He took a sip of the coffee and made a face. Why did anyone drink it plain? Why was he? This was never a good plan.

"Anything good happening in Mexico?" he asked, nodding at the paper.

[hernando_fuentes]

"Not really, no," Hernando answered. He folded the paper back up. "I like to keep abreast of when new exhibits open at some galleries. Especially the ones at my university. The new winter season shows have not yet been announced. Perhaps soon."

He tried not to smile at the face Kaidan made when he tried to drink his coffee. "Why do you do that to yourself? It's not any more caffeinated than the coffees you usually buy so why drink the bitter?"

[spectre_alenko]

"Thinking about a trip back home?" Kaidan asked, curious. He knew why Hernando had stayed away from Mexico City, but he also knew his friend missed it. Especially with the weather up here turning cold.

He made a face at the cup. "No, I know it's the same, but it's kind of a psychosomatic thing. I can trick my brain into thinking it has more caffeine in it when it tastes burned."

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando nodded and then made a so-so with his hand. "Perhaps not my Mexico City. If the portals can access a wealth of places then perhaps they would have one that I could visit without such complications as a return to my native city might bring."

Lito. He did not want to bump into Lito.

Hernando drew his lower lip between his teeth and let it roll back out in a nervous fidget before adding, "I had a thought that maybe Sparkle would like to spend some small time on a beach. There are some quite nice beaches in Mexico." After a moment he asked, "Would that be too much?"

[spectre_alenko]

"Huh. Yeah, probably they could," Kaidan said after considering it a minute. "Neat thought."

He thought about the Sparkle situation and shrugged, "I'm not the person to ask, buddy. You could ask him how he feels about it. I wouldn't, like, make a plan and present him with tickets or whatever." He paused, "Well, no, that is what I'd do, which is how I know it's what you should probably not do."

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando threw him the wryest of looks. "Duly noted," he said after a moment, "I'll speak with him when he's back from wherever he's gone."

A moment later he asked, "Kaidan? You'll be safe, won't you? Wherever you are off to?"

[spectre_alenko]

"No promises," Kaidan grinned at him, but then held up a surrender hand. "I'll do my best to not get shot or anything."

He slid out of the chair and made a face at his cup. "Gonna head home for some last minute stuff. See if I can choke this down and get the engine revved."

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando laughed quietly and shook his head. Kaidan. Kaidan, really. You are lucky he didn't take the cheap shots you kept so conveniently handing him.

"Please do try not to get shot," was what he said, "Or stabbed, or drowned, or run over by something, or eaten by anything.."

[spectre_alenko]

Kaidan threw him a questioning look and then rolled his eyes. He could guess that he didn't want to know what had made Hernando laugh. He usually didn't.

"Again, no promises," he teased, "But I will try. You try not to be an entire hermit all weekend, yeah?"

[hernando_fuentes]

"Likewise no promises," Hernando responded with a lopsided smile, "but I will try. I have a pitcher of cocktails and some musicals loaded in the player so that is at least a part of my plan for the weekend. Perhaps tonight."

[spectre_alenko]

"Fair enough," Kaidan agreed. "See you Monday?"

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando raised his eyebrows, "Monday?"

[spectre_alenko]

"Dance lessons," Kaidan reminded him, "We've missed a few weeks. I don't want to have to re-learn all those steps."

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando blinked a few times and ducked his head a little. "Yes, Monday dance lessons. I shall see you then."

A beat.

"Kaidan? Thank you."

For the normal. For letting things be normal again.

[spectre_alenko]

"De nada," Kaidan replied with a grin as he headed out the door.

woo we finished a thread for once yay us go team!