The Perk, Tuesday morning

[future_sandworm]

Leto hadn't visited Fandom for a while, maybe for too long, but things had been busy in Arrakeen, and he could hardly ignore his duties. This would be a short visit, possibly a surprise one to some if they approve and of course he'd start it with a coffee at the Perk as usual.

After ordering, he found a seat by the window, as usual. And as usual, watched people walk past.

It was a nice contrast to having the leaders of one of the major Houses poisoned and causing a violent conflict among their potential successors. Not that that hadn't been interesting, but he did deserve some quiet time.

[Open! Leto needed some attention from me and I'm home sick and bored.]

Comments

[myownface]

Sparkle had been going to the mainland today to hopefully do some fabric shopping in Baltimore. He had a few requests for personalized costume pieces, after all, and he couldn't make anything without cloth. But he was swiftly and immediately distracted on his walk to the causeway by a familiar face in the window of the Perk.

So Leto would be treated to Sparkle, just walking along. And then pausing, doing a double-take, breaking into a grin, and bouncing over to the window to wave 'Hi!' before backpedaling and making his way inside.

The barista would forgive him for taking a fast detour to pounce Leto and attack him for kisses before he went to order a drink, right?

[future_sandworm]

Leto was going to ignore whatever the barista was thinking and return those kisses.

Then he said: "Not a very surprising surprise perhaps, but I missed you."

He brushed a hand through Sparkle's hair.

[myownface]

"Doesn't have to be a surprising surprise to be a good one," Sparkle declared, laughing as he leaned his head into Leto's touch. "Hiiii. How long have you got here this time?"

He wanted to be greedy and make him stay for a week, dammit.

He'd make the best of a day, if that was all he got, though.

[future_sandworm]

"Until tomorrow," Leto said, guessing they both would prefer more time. "Do you have any plans?"

[myownface]

Sparkle was absolutely just seating himself right there in Leto's lap, now.

"Funny thing, my schedule just cleared itself up? Just now?"

Somebody was absolutely skipping out on his Pick Your Poison shift tomorrow, yes.

[future_sandworm]

Leto wrapped an arm around Sparkle's waist.

He raised an eyebrow. "Really? So what do you suggest we fill it up with?"

[myownface]

"Welllll," Sparkle mused, "I think it is my turn to come up with a date, right?"

He'd been putting thought into this.

[future_sandworm]

"I think it is," Leto, who would have agreed on the opposite too, said. "Can I suggest that we start by you getting yourself a coffee though, so that I don't feel bad about drinking mine."

He wouldn't feel bad about it, but it was a good argument.

[myownface]

"You want me wired on way too much caffeine, do you?"

Sparkle was not complaining. Even if, 'way too much caffeine' was more, 'sugar, really only caffeine-adjacent.'

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando went to the Perk sometime before Leto had a lap full of Sparkle omg and smiled when he saw who was there. "Leto! Welcome back. How have you been?"

He had all but invited the man with flowers on Valentine's Day, after all.

[future_sandworm]

"Not bad, apart from being unable to visit," Leto said. "Which definitely wasn't intended as a rude response to a kind invitation which could have received a handwavy thank you card if that's ok. And yourself?"

He gestured for Hernando to take a seat. "I would have stopped by your tea house if I hadn't arrived this early which is an excuse for no post for it today."

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando collected his coffee and joined Leto with a chuckle, "You would not wish to visit my shop if you wanted coffee. It does provide coffee but I cannot in good conscience recommend it because it is terrible. That is why I come here on mornings I am too lazy to prepare the French press."

He took a sip of beverage and answered the question, "I am doing better. The stitches have come out and the headaches are less bad."

[OOC: Shannon approved the accidental throwing under a bus.]

[future_sandworm]

"I appreciate good tea as well," Leto said. "That has been rarer on the island before, though. You were injured?"

He took a sip from his coffee.

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando paused with his mug halfway to his mouth and then resumed, taking a drink to give himself a moment to consider what that question implied.

Leto didn't know about New York. Hernando assumed it was simply a matter that Sparkle had not spoken with him since then. However this was one of those situations where it should come to Leto from Sparkle first.

He took a drink and then answered, "I have many very fine teas. However, my shop is very near the beach so perhaps it would be better if I brought them to you? I am certain Sparkle would not mind opening his shop for a tea sampling."

Another sip. "The injury was the result of some.. unpleasantness.. in New York. I am certain Sparkle will tell you about it when he sees you. We are both ..better now."

Awwwwwwwwwwwwkwwwwwwwwwwwwwwward.

[future_sandworm]

Since both of them were alive and assumably reasonably well, Leto wasn't that concerned.

"I'll ask Sparkle lated," he said, then frowned. "He's not hiding in a bathtub, is he?"

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando actually got that reference and smiled even if it was a little lopsided. "No, no - we are both well enough. We went shopping for fishes yesterday. Pets, not food. He bought some plants for Milady also."

[future_sandworm]

"So Milady has friends now?"

Leto smiled.

"Has he named them yet?"

[sharp_man]

Hannibal walked by, saw Leto in the shop, and stopped in, getting a doppio before he came over to give Leto a small bow and smile. "Welcome back to Fandom. How have you been?"

[future_sandworm]

"Thank you." Leto inclined his head slightly and smiled back. "Busy, but not bad. A visit was overdue though. And yourself?"

[sharp_man]

"Much the same," Hannibal said. His smile softened a little. "Sparkle has me teaching him first aid and psychology," more or less, "these days. I must thank you for your gifts to him, though - both the lovely knives and the knowledge and confidence to use them."


[Another bus approved by Shannon!]

[future_sandworm]

"He used them?"

There was a small, approving smile.

[sharp_man]

Hannibal raised his eyebrows. "He hasn't told you?" Honestly, Sparkle. "He did. To good effect, protecting himself and his friend."

[future_sandworm]

"No, he hasn't."

Leto took a sip from his coffee.

"I'm guessing it bothered him. I'm not sure if he'll ever get used to using a weapon the way it's supposed to."

There was no judgement in his words, just a little bit of concern.

[sharp_man]

"And yet he used it when he had to, and I have no doubt he would again, if needed. That is all we can ask at the moment, isn't it?"

[future_sandworm]

"Yes," Leto agreed. "It is. I'm guessing some of that training has become instinct."

He didn't expect that Sparkle would ever enjoy it, like a Fremen, but being able to protect himself was important.

"I don't think he really understands why they are considered romantic gifts."