The Perk, Saturday Morning

[stykera]

It was raining this morning. The rain was fine, and the slightly cooler temperatures that resulted were as well. Stark didn't mind the rain. He could have lived without quite so much humidity in the air but that wasn't a real problem either. All of this was infinitely preferable to cold or snow.

He ordered a chocolate cream cold brew at the recommendation of one of the baristas and then took himself and his drink over to an empty table by the windows. If it ended up a quiet day at the coffee shop at least he could watch and listen to the rain for a while.


[Open coffee shop is open for caffeine and alien needs, obvs.]

Comments

[sith_happened]

As foretold on the radio, Anakin was heading home. But he was not a stupid man, so he was first stopping for coffee for his wife.

"Stark," he said with a tiny smile, nodding as he came into the shop.

[stykera]

Stopping for coffee before heading home was a wise move.

"Anakin." Stark gave a small nod in acknowledgement. "How was your trip?"

[sith_happened]

It was such a habit that he did it even when Rory wasn't home!

"Odd," he admitted. "There was a pie eating contest but no one used their hands? And then the town mayor did a thirty minute presentation about hand sanitizer."

[stykera]

"You're not planning on having that on a Wednesday, are you?"

Stark, why would you say that out loud? You fool.

[sith_happened]

Anakin had a speculative look on his face, now, yes. "Do you think I could get a deal from JGOB?"

[stykera]

"I'm sure you could," Stark said, sounding resigned. He'd just doomed them all to a day full of messy food related activities, hadn't he?

"They would probably appreciate the business."

[sith_happened]

"They could try out some new things," Anakin said.

[stykera]

"I shouldn't have said anything about Wednesdays," Stark sighed. "I ought to know better by now. Should I ask what sort of new things you have in mind?"

Maybe it was better to be prepared. As long as Anakin didn't ask Summer to supply the pies.

[sith_happened]

She probably had lots of cheese left over!

"Well, we've already done enough finding things with our toes," he mused. "Probably."

[stykera]

That cheese was left over for very good reasons.

"We have, I think," Stark agreed warily. "That doesn't mean we need to be face first in pies." Although face first in pie was preferably to face first in many other foods.

[sith_happened]

It was probably running away under its own steam. Ew.

"But it's an American tradition!" That he'd just learned about.

[stykera]

"You could have invented it and I wouldn't know better," Stark pointed out. "How can I be sure you're telling the truth?"

[sith_happened]

"I have a trustworthy face?"

Nope.

[stykera]

"Oh, do you?"

Stark was not convinced, Anakin.

"I must have missed that for all this time."

[sith_happened]

"It happens sometimes," Anakin said.

Or "most of the time."

[stykera]

"Oh." Stark was very much fighting back a smile now. "I'll try to pay more attention in the future."

[sith_happened]

"I'm very subtle," Anakin said.

Possibly the least true thing ever said.

[stykera]

"Oh, is that the word?" Stark asked, eyebrow raised. "It isn't what I would have picked."

Stark was, of course, always subtle. Except when he really wasn't.

[sith_happened]

"What would you have picked?" Anakin asked, smirking.

[stykera]

"I know better than to answer that," Stark told him.

[sith_happened]

Anakin grinned. "You've learned wisdom."

[stykera]

"I thought it was just self-preservation," Stark said, offering a small grin in return. "I wouldn't want to be overly punished on Wednesday."

[sith_happened]

"You're just the right amount of punished," Anakin decided.

[stykera]

Obviously Anakin hadn't been to his office since returning yet. Or maybe he had and just had an excellent poker face.

"According to you," Stark pointed out. "There may be other points of view."

[sith_happened]

"There are," Anakin said. "They're all just incorrect."

[stykera]

"Oh. Of course," Stark said very seriously. "Aren't they always?"

[sith_happened]

"That's why I teach ethics," Anakin said with a grin. "To imbue my wisdom."

[stykera]

"Oh. Your wisdom." Stark nodded sagely. "That only explains ethics. What explains Wednesdays?"

[sith_happened]

"Rory says it's my deeply weird sense of humor?" Anakin offered.

[stykera]

"Deeply weird," Stark echoed. That sounded more like it. Not that he was going to say that out loud.

"I suppose that could explain it."

[sith_happened]

"I think she's just jealous of my shirt collection."

That wasn't it at all.

[stykera]

"I think were extras from this week," Stark said.

There were. A full set was waiting for Anakin along with so many space deorations!

[sith_happened]

He'd be thrilled. "Maybe we'll have a grab bag at the end with all the leftovers from the summer."

[stykera]

Hey, the shirts Stark gave out were great!

"Is that a reward or a punishment?"

[sith_happened]

"Little bit of both," Anakin admitted.

[stykera]

"Good to know," Stark said. "I don't need another shirt with a beaver on it, thank you."

[sith_happened]

"One is enough," Anakin agreed.

[stykera]

"More than enough I think."

Poor Steph had had to explain it to him, Anakin!

[sith_happened]

Anakin grinned, completely without remorse.

[stykera]

Stark just smiled back and took a long sip of his coffee.