The Perk | Thursday Morning

[defenderofdesmoines]

So, Annie had spent the better part of a week as an energetic, friendly, blonde...dog. And while it hadn't been the worst (given that her personality aligned much better to 'golden retriever' than it had to, say, bat), she was still working on getting somewhat back in the swing of normal human things.

Like doing a normal human workout! And going to get normal, human coffee (with normal, human pumpkin spice in it.)

"So do you only give cups of whipped cream to dogs?" she asked the barista curiously, just, like, wondering.

And now she was going to go to a table with her coffee, chagrined by the look the barista gave her and not even bothering to go ahead and ask outright for a puppaccino for her normal, human self.

Even if it sounded really good, okay? This was probably more appropriate to sip on as she flicked through Citizen Starlight footage with one earbud in, anyway.

(And maybe she could make up with it by just ingesting straight whipped cream at home later, with only Diego to judge.)

[totally open!]

Comments

[sharp_man]

While Hannibal did have a very good coffee maker and cappuccino machine at home, it didn't mean that sometimes he didn't feel like getting out and having somebody else do the work.

So here he was, getting a double espresso and indulging in one of his (other) favorite pastimes - people watching.

[defenderofdesmoines]

Which meant that Annie gave the guy she vaguely recognized from the hole -- he'd had a whole house down there! -- a little wave and a lift of her coffee cup. "Morning."

[sharp_man]

"Good morning." Hannibal smiled and nodded. "Annie, isn't it?" He held out his hand. "Dr. Hannibal Lecter."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Nice to meet you properly, with names and everything," Annie replied, shaking the offered hand. "It's such a small island that I know most people by sight, I feel like? Though apparently I'm learning that I've missed a bunch of arrivals while I've been in New York."

Or a dog. But she'd spent more time in New York, so that was getting blamed.

[sharp_man]

"I have noticed a few new faces around, yes," Hannibal agreed. "You work in New York, if I'm remembering radio correctly?"

[mother_love]

Billy had been sitting for a lot longer than he had planned on, but in a way it felt nice to be out and actually relax for a change. As he was finishing up his large and overly caffeinated drink he was about to get up and finally head out when he caught sight of the rather well-dressed man who had taken a seat nearby.

Billy offered a small wave in greeting as he consider the man for a moment. Screaming business and class, Billy couldn't help but wonder what had brought him to a small town place like this.

[sharp_man]

The opportunity to teach? Fleeing multiple murder charges? Fifty-fifty.

Hannibal nodded back. "Good morning. I take it you are one of our newer arrivals, then?"

[mother_love]

And there was the sticking out like a sore thumb aspect of small towns that always made Billy a little on edge.

"Yeah" he said with a nod. "Reluctant arrival but here none the less" he said with a slight shrug.

[sharp_man]

Hannibal smiled. "You wouldn't be the first to show up unwillingly and unwittingly," he said. He held out his hand. "Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Welcome to Fandom."

[mother_love]

"Billy" he offered simply as he returned the handshake with a firm one of his own. "I would say it's a pleasure to be here, but I'm not quite sure I am to that level of acceptance just yet" he said with a soft sigh. "Does seem like a pretty decent place though... could be lot worse places to be stranded."