The Perk, Monday Morning

[stykera]

It wasn't quite cold enough for Stark to start wearing his fluffy muppet skin coat. Today it hadn't been too chilly of a walk from the apartment building over to the coffee shop. Of course, it was a short walk and he hadn't lingered outside any longer than was necessary. Longer walks might require warmer clothing.

It was definitely a day for hot coffee, even if it wasn't yet full-on fluffy coat weather. He'd ordered the chestnut praline coffee despite not being entirely sure what that was going to taste like. He wasn't sure he'd ever eaten a chestnut but the barista assured him it was good. And, he reasoned, if he didn't like it he could just get another drink to wash down the first one. 2 coffees might be slightly excessive but they certainly wouldn't cause any harm and it would help him to get through all the new seasonal flavors.

Taking his coffee to a table by the window so he could enjoy the sun while it lasted, he sat down and pulled out his phone. He was looking at recipes at first, trying to decide if he ought to attempt cooking something on Thursday. He had no idea how to make anything that seemed Thanksgiving related.



[Open for your alien or caffeine needs. Please join me in manifesting a workday where things are not terrible and I don't end up crying. Standard questionable availability disclaimers apply until ~3:30 EST]

Comments

[doctorgingerspice]

The barista had convinced Will to give a caramel brûlée latte a try, and… yeah, it wasn’t bad. A little sweeter than he usually took his coffee, but he wasn’t entirely against ordering this again.

“Hey, Stark,” he greeted. “Mind some company?”

[stykera]

Excessively sugary coffee was the only way to go, Will.

Stark shook his head and waved at an empty chair. "No, of course not. I'm not here when I want to be alone." He stayed shut up in his apartment for that!

[doctorgingerspice]

Will, meanwhile, was actively fighting the urge to just stay holed up in his hotel room most of the time.

... Look, it wasn't paranoia when there really were people out to get you.

"Makes sense," he acknowledged, pulling up a chair. "How's your morning been?"

[stykera]

Been there, done that, got the ugly t-shirt.

"Quiet, so far. A little colder than I like but at least it isn't snowing. Yet. "

He could deal with the cold he just kind of hated having to do it.

"Yours? The weekend was uneventful this time. I hope that helped."

[doctorgingerspice]

"It did, a little," Will acknowledged. "I didn't do much besides check out one of the bars around here."

Which had oddly made him feel a little homesick, thanks to the person who'd been tending said bar at the time.

[stykera]

"I didn't either," Stark admitted. "Do much. Just enjoyed the quiet, for now. I usually go on Wednesdays. To the bar. Not lately, but Summer is back now. I think."

[doctorgingerspice]

"Summer?" Will asked. "Don't think we've met, yet. Which is surprising, considering I feel like all I've been doing for the past two weeks is meet people."

Stark and McGarrett were basically the only people he'd talked to more than once, at this point.

[stykera]

"She's been away," Stark said. "But they said she was back, on the radio. I haven't seen her yet."

Maybe Wednesday. He hoped.

"There are still people who came before you I haven't met. Sometimes it takes a while."

[doctorgingerspice]

Okay, that just raised more questions. Or one question, anyway:

"The radio? What do you mean?"

That's right, no one had explained Fandom Radio to Will just yet.

[stykera]

"You haven't heard the radio yet."

Stark was sorry to have to break this news to you, Will.

"Have you seen the squirrels? They're... very interested in everything that happens. With everyone. And then we, some of us, end up reading what they've found out. For the radio. I know it doesn't make sense," he added with a soft sigh. "Squirrels don't do this anywhere else." Except when they followed people on vacations.

[doctorgingerspice]

"I did see a squirrel carrying a pencil the other day," Will admitted. "Thought maybe I imagined it." Sleep deprivation was a hell of a thing.

He was just going to take a minute to process everything Stark had said after "Have you seen the squirrels?" though.

[stykera]

Stark shook his head.

"Not imaginary. Irritating, sometimes. No. Often. Not imaginary. I read the notes on Wednesdays. Usually early."

[doctorgingerspice]

Will was genuinely starting to wonder if the FBI's plan had been to stick him here until he went crazy, and then have him committed to a psych ward somewhere.

The Burkes probably wouldn't look for him in a psychiatric facility, that much was true.

"You read the notes," he repeated slowly. "That the squirrels wrote. Over the radio."

[stykera]

"I do. They just... broke in one day and decided it was my turn. And they've kept coming. For months." Half the year, pretty much.

"They're harmless. Just... persistent." And occasionally too into glitter.

[doctorgingerspice]

"I have so many questions," Will admitted. "And I know you probably don't have the answers."