The Perk, Sunday Afternoon

[lockestheway]

Had Envy and Peter really needed the stopover on their way to their next multiversal vacation? No. But taking a brief pit stop in Fandom had become something of a tradition, a routine.

Peter would be worried about it serving up one too many opportunities for someone to take a shot at one of them, but their vacations were irregular enough that it didn't seem like much of a problem.

Now, this vacation, on the other hand-- was going to be the first time since last year they'd actually have time to sit down and talk about certain personal matters. And if that was going to happen any time soon, then Peter needed to be properly caffeinated.

So long story short, but there he was at the Perk, a massive container of coffee in hand, making his way through a bagel. Without his suit, he could almost be mistaken for a regular early 20-something, instead of the Hegemon of Earth.

Or actually mistaken.

[[ open ]]

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[whenshewasnice]

After their arrival in Fandom, Envy had taken a brief stroll of the town. Ostensibly to go grab some of her favorite nostalgic snacks, but the freedom of being able to just walk into a grocery store by herself without a security detail or just a general hubbub may have played a part, too.

She showed up at the Perk a little later, carrying a bag from Turtle & Canary, and headed for the counter, first, for an order that did not quite make the barista cry, but...

Look. Envy knew what she wanted.

[lockestheway]

"How's the town?" Peter asked from his seat by the window, a few moments later.

Sometimes he just liked watching her work.

[whenshewasnice]

"The same it always was," Envy replied, turning while she waited for her unnecessarily complicated coffee. "Doesn't seem like there's anything particularly Fandom going on."

She was almost disappointed. But only almost.

[lockestheway]

"I guess we can continue on to the multiversal space Bahamas without fighting purple unicorn monkeys on our way out," Peter said, amused. "There goes that plan."

[whenshewasnice]

"Too bad," Envy drawled. "Been a while since I last got to kick anyone or anything in the face."

Somehow that didn't come up a whole lot in being a rock star? Weird.

[lockestheway]

"It helps when even your exes are something approaching grown-ups now," Peter said. He picked up his cup.

[whenshewasnice]

Envy rolled her eyes. "Ugh." Please don't remind her that even Scott Pilgrim was pushing thirty, now. Thanks.

Her order got placed on the counter in front of her, and she picked it up to bring it over, unfairly graceful in her stupidly high heels. She'd packed some more relaxed clothing for the actual vacation part of this vacation, but... Guess Fandom was still full Envy territory.

She took a seat across from him, with her ridiculous coffee and, honestly, about equally ridiculous muffin.

[lockestheway]

Much as Peter enjoyed her when she wasn't full Envy, he also didn't mind the opportunity to see all that power on display in a more relaxed setting. (Also known as: when he could watch her, instead of having to jump up because some dimwit foreign secretary in England did something stupid.)

He took another sip of his coffee.

"It's almost soothing, how little this place changes," he said. "Takes a man back to when he was a teenager broiling in sexual tension and resentment."

[whenshewasnice]

"Oh, so someone else's teenage years?" Envy teased, her lips - blood red because it completed the look - pulling into a little smile.

[lockestheway]

"Exactly," Peter said, "I was the next room over, just trying to write my essays and take over the world in peace."

[whenshewasnice]

"Mm, poor Locke."

Still amused, Envy picked up her cup.

[lockestheway]

Peter smiled at her. "Trying to manipulate Topher," he said, "And then trying to get rid of Topher when he became too clingy."

[whenshewasnice]

Envy's eyes went almost comically wide. "Oh my God, Topher," she said. "I haven't thought about that guy in years. Do you think he's in jail by now?"

[lockestheway]

"I can't really imagine him being anywhere else," Peter admitted. "Except maybe someone's basement."

[whenshewasnice]

Envy nodded. "Also a valid option." Sorry, Topher. It was what it was. "That he even survived Fandom is a small miracle."

[lockestheway]

"We should probably send him a wedding invite as a 'good job, kid'," Peter said, amused at the thought.

[whenshewasnice]

Envy, though, immediately pulled a face.

"Only if I can tell security to stop him from actually coming in, should he be foolish enough to actually show up."

[lockestheway]

"He used to pull the funniest expressions about you and me, though," Peter said. "It'd be cheap entertainment."

[whenshewasnice]

"We don't need that cheap," Envy retorted, over her coffee.

[lockestheway]

"Spoil all my fun," Peter said lightly, and sipped his coffee. "I wonder what became of Kenzi, too."

[whenshewasnice]

Envy's eyebrows quirked.

"Who?"

[lockestheway]

"Multi-colored hair, perpetually on too much sugar, complete busybody?" Peter said. "She used to hang around me and Topher, too. A million years ago."

[whenshewasnice]

Envy listened to that explanation with a squint, then shrugged.

"I... kinda, maybe have an idea of who that is?" she offered. She was definitely picturing something like a hyper Ramona, though. "Didn't really pay that much attention to your friends back then."

[lockestheway]

"I can't blame you," Peter said, "They were very well-meaning morons."

[whenshewasnice]

"I can't believe you used to hang out with morons."

She was back to teasing, now. For the record.