Tea for Two...at Three [RP for Val]

[autumninnewyork]

Subtle Tea was one of Charlotte’s favorite places in the city for people watching. The small shop and café catered to all sorts from the eccentric artist to the occasional celebrity, the college kids from the nearby campus, the rogue Starbucks employee that knew what real tea should taste like. They all fascinated her and the tea really was worth the trek across town.

Thursday afternoon found here there, nestled into her favorite spot between the front door and the street side window. Charlotte still wore her knit cap and a pair of fingerless gloves, but her coat was draped over the back of her chair. In front of her was a binder filled with the poems she had printed from her last internet query, each page in the process of being turned into a mini-work of art as she adorned then with colorful inks, beads, feathers…little notions and flights of fancy that made her smile. There was also a small rolled scroll of handmade paper tied with a combination of ribbon and raffia—a gift for her new friend.

The friend she was patiently waiting for and she was willing to bet she’d recognize him even though this would be the first time they’d come face to face. He had that sort of tangible exuberance about him that Charlotte was sure she’d feel as soon as he came through the door.

She hoped.

Comments

[vavarner.livejournal.com]

"For me?" Valentine asked, taking the paper carefully. His eyes lit up with excitement that she'd given him a gift - but he didn't know what to say in beyond that. He took a deep breath when she got up to head for the counter - relieved that he didn't have to think of anything.

He untied the roll of paper, and opened up the scroll. He stared at it for a long time, then slowly reached out and ran his finger along the words, entranced by what she'd chosen to highlight. In some cases, they were words he would have chosen himself- but in other instances they differed. He kinda liked that, another insight, another interpretation. She'd even inked heavier in some places, and lighter in others.

He swallowed hard against a sudden lump in his throat, then carefully re-rolled the paper so he could tie it up again. Later, at home, in the privacy and semi-darkness of his room, he might unroll it again. But for now, it was almost too much to look at and think about. He tucked it carefully into the pocket of his Christmas-Road-Trip-Coat, and reached into another pocket for a handkerchief to dab at his eyes before she returned. Just the cold, he told himself. The cold making his eyes wet.

[makerofhats.livejournal.com]

Charlotte would have taken it as a sign that the gift was well received had she witnessed Val's reaction. As it was, the petite woman sated her curiosity with a glance or two towards their table as she waited for their order. Smiling, she paid for the tea and various accouterments, thanked the barrista and carefully balanced a tray loaded with cups, saucers, a pot and an assortment of cookies.

"Could you imagine me doing this on roller skates?" She asked Val with a peel of laughter as she made her way to their table, tray wobbling in her grasp as she tried to keep it level and steady. "I've always thought they must have been the most amazing waitresses. Not only taking orders, risking being run over by motorists and carrying hot, so bad for you food, but to do it on wheels? I bet the pay was lousy though, huh?"

Conversations with Charlotte rarely followed any logical pattern. "I didn't know what kind of cookies you liked so I asked for a bunch of pretty ones."

[vavarner.livejournal.com]

Valentine looked up from his thoughts and got quickly to his feet. "Careful, here - let me give you a hand."

He reached to take some things off the tray and place them on the table,laughing too at the thought of roller skating while doing something like this. "Oh yeah, you know these days they'd turn it into a sport -maybe with X-Treme in front of it. X-Treme Waitressing! On roller skates! It's hardcore..."

When the tea and cookies and such were settled on their table, he smiled at her before retaking his seat. "It's real nice of you treat- the broke college student in me really appreciates it. Next time's on me though, okay?"

This implied, of course, that there would be a next time - which he hoped would come true. He reached for a cookie, snagging one with a bunch of sprinkles on top.

[makerofhats.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome. I chose this place because I like it--pretty rude without considering your budget." She took a cookie for herself, another icing and sugar sprinkled concoction that Charlotte took the time to divest of each layer of decoration before nibbling at the plain shortbread underneath. "You know, I'm not sure if waiting for tea to steep is the best part or the worst about drinking it. Waiting is so...it builds the anticipation and it mocks you. Can't have it yet."

She jabbed a finger at the pot as if it offended her somehow. "But if you pour too soon, the tea isn't any good so you really should wait if you want good tea. And who goes out to order sub par tea? I don't."

Now the sprinkles were her focus and she licked one fingertip, pressing them into the candy, letting them stick until she decided to eat the sweet substance. "Have you ever wondered what it would be like to end up in a sugar coma?"

[vavarner.livejournal.com]

"Sticky. And kind of dazed, and maybe drooling..."

Valentine contemplated while nibbling his cookie. He liked how she jumped through random topics of conversation- he sometimes did that himself, and not many people liked that sort of thing. It was refreshing to see he wasn't the only one.

He eyed the teapot, wanting some tea to dip the cookie in, but not sure if it was done yet. "How can you tell when it's ready, anyhow? Doesn't whistle for you or anything.."

[makerofhats.livejournal.com]

"I think," She lifted the lid and peeked at the dark liquid inside, "that you actually have to be British to know for sure."

Shrugging, Charlotte poured one cup and then another, one for each of them. Giving him a smile she offered in her best faux-Cockney, "By jove! I think we've got it."

[vavarner.livejournal.com]

"Pip pip cheerio and all that rot," Valentine replied in his best upper-crust British accent. He held his cup of tea with pinky crooked up, affecting a disdainful expression and trying not to just crack up laughing instead. It was a bit of a struggle.

"I say, you can't get a good cuppa this side of the pond. Americans - beastly lot. Haven't had a decent bit of tea since they dunked it in the harbor, shortly before their distasteful 'rebellion'. Well, bottoms up with the bathwater, then..."

He took a sip of the tea, and then smiled, his normal accent and expression returning in the process. "Mmm.... it's good!"