The Perk- Tuesday Morning

[mother_love]

Was it fairly early to be out and about today? Yes, it was. But that was the thing about having a really messed up sleep schedule. Time didn't mean the same as it did for 'normal' people usually. And so, with his morning already well underway by that point, Billy was settling in at The Perk. His monster mocha monstrosity was sitting on the table beside him, paper and pen beside him, as he scrolled through his phone and enjoyed some people watching through the window now and then.

(Perk is open for all your coffee needs)

Comments

[lilac_eyed_lieutenant]

Tisarwat was trying to get out more, to put in an effort to meet whatever bar it was that Breq had set for jer to reach...or to make it so that Breq started to wonder if it was actually better keeping her mich, much closer. And, unfortunately, that meant some sacrifices had to be made.

Like drinking tea at the Perk.

It could be worse, she reminded herself, after reassuring the apprehensive bartender that it was fine, really. It could be the tea the Geck had served. It could be poick.

And once she had her so-called tea in her gloved hands, she took a glance around the coffee shop. Titled her head at Billy.

"You were the bouncer at Summer's party this weekend," she noted, and then, a second later, as if personal memories tried to wade through several thousand years worth of other ones, "You're her neighbor, actually, you live right down the hall, right?"

[mother_love]

Billy had glanced up when Tisarwat came in and started talking with the baristas, but more to just clock someone coming in than really paying attention to who it was.

He looked up again, giving Tisarwat the 'I know you from somewhere don't I' look and then nodded as it clicked for him as well and remembered seeing her around the complex, though it had been a while.

"Yeah, I'm in #3 over at MHA. I'm Billy" he said with a slight smile and nod.

[lilac_eyed_lieutenant]

"Tisarwat," she offered back, with a nod back and a tentative sip of her tea.

And a long, long moment of mostly managing to keep an impassive expression on her face through the whole thing.

"In #1," she managed to continue, and with a small smile no less, "with the piano. Good to see you again."

[mother_love]

"Same" Billy returned with a nod. "And the piano you say? I've heard it handwavely now and then. It's been a while since I've touched a piano, so it's nice to hear one again."

[lilac_eyed_lieutenant]

"It's my roommate's," said Tisarwat, with thay soft, telling smile that would always accompany that word. "If it actually sounds good, thst's how you know it's Lucille. If it sounds like a cat stomping all over the keys, then that's definitely me. I'm trying to focus a little more on the guitar now, anyway. So apologies in advance for that."

[mother_love]

"I'm sure I have heard worse" Billy said with a chuckle. "Drunk mariachi bands are a hard act to top after all" he added as he took a drink form his cup for a moment.

"So, you come here to The Perk often?" Billy hadn't seen her before but even during his caffeine fueled sleep deprivation week he wasn't there all the time, so he could have easily missed her.

[lilac_eyed_lieutenant]

"No," said Tisarwat, almost immediately, emphatically and with a small snort of a laugh. "Hardly ever. I generally prefer to make my own tea, but making my own tea lacks a certain sociability. I adore my roommate, but I really do need to get out more.

"How about yourself?" she then asked, daring another sip. "You come here often?"

[mother_love]

"Yeah there is a certain social-vibe to a coffee shops isn't there?" Billy agreed. "Even a small one like this," he added giving a smile and slight wave to the barista who was obviously trying to listen in without being too obvious (an totally failing at it for the record).

"I come here quite often. The coffee is good and I... have a bit of an odd sleep schedule lately so, sometimes I just need a change of scenery from the boring drab apartment. The caffeine also helps keep me going after a few restless nights in a row" he sad with a somewhat cold chuckle as he lifted the cup again and took a drink to demonstrate.

[lilac_eyed_lieutenant]

"Maybe you should try some tea," said Tisarwat, because of course she would, moving conversationally closer as she braved herself for another sip.

"But not this tea," she added, quietly, in a whisper, after checking to see just how much the barista might be listening. "It's honestly terrible."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon's tea was...well, he'd gone for the tea latte, so while the Earl Grey was strong, it was also highly milky and a little sweet.

He nodded to Tisarwat in passing.

[lilac_eyed_lieutenant]

Had the poor tea not suffered enough yet, Jon???

But any judgement aside, Tisarwat returned the nod with a soft, friendly sort of smile and a "Good morning."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

The tea deserved it.

"Good morning." Jon nodded back. "You're, um. You're Lucille's roommate."

[lilac_eyed_lieutenant]

"I am," her smile seemed to grow substantially as if pride for that question. "Tisarwat. Lucille saved me from a fate as a literal basement dweller by allowing me in. That was far too much space for just one person, anyway."

As if there wasn't a whole second bedroom still going to waste.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Ah, of course." Jon nodded. "I'm your...um. Well, downstairs neighbour, and building manager. Jon."

[lilac_eyed_lieutenant]

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Jon," Tisarwat nodded, her smile still warm. "Hopefully you haven't received too many complaints about the piano."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Oh, no!" Jon rushed to assure her. "None at all. The job has been weirdly simple so far, and nobody's complained about anybody. Even with all the parties. You, um. You play piano, then."

[lilac_eyed_lieutenant]

Tisarwat nodded again, taking not at that quick need to reassure a light joke. "Lucille plays," she said. "I plink. She's teaching me."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon stopped in for a tea after class, and nodded at Billy, looking him over a little anxiously. He didn't seem too bad, though, just tired. Which honestly Jon couldn't throw any stones at.

"Good morning."

[mother_love]

Billy returned the glance and nod over his cup of coffee. Good, Jon was still looking pretty decent, for Jon anyways, so that was good to see.

"Morning, Jon. How goes things?"

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Fine, thank you." Jon offered him a small smile that was more awkward than tense. "And I hope you've been well."

[mother_love]

"I got coffee so all's good" Billy said with a lift of the cup before taking another drink. "Had meant to mention this last time we spoke. If you ever want to come over to the shop, feel free. Got the hollo suite up and running at a half decent level. So..." Billy gave a slight shrug. "If ya ever want to get away from it all, it's been a good distraction for me at times."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"I...erm, I'm not sure a holosuite would help, but I appreciate the offer," Jon answered. "And I am definitely not a surfer," he added with a wry laugh.

[mother_love]

"Ah good thing there's more programed in than surfing simulations" Billy said with a smirk and chuckle of his own. "I've been using the basic beach program for some nice sunrise and sunset sessions. Better than staring at the blank walls in an empty apartment anyways" he added with a shrug.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"I...would be lying if I said I wasn't curious," Jon admitted. His eternal failing. "But I'm...I'm not really much of a beach person."

[mother_love]

"More of a mountain man? Or a nice quite woodland clearing?" Billy guessed, eyeing Jon slightly. "You know, that's the good thing about the easy programing of the thing. There are lots of options. Beach just happens to be my go to."

He considered Jon for a moment then gave a slightly crooked grin.

"You tell me where you would feel comfortable checking out and I will see what I can set up."