Chance Encounter
Dec. 20th, 2009 06:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Any given Sunday around this time of day (or night, as the case may be, sometimes) will find Lorne seeking the familiar comforts of his favourite tea house. Francis', named after its owner and proprietor, is a very hush hush place most readily accessible from smack dab in the middle of Manhattan's China Town. Or rather, the tea house itself can be accessed from China Town in various locations, should you know enough to gain entrance.
One needs only find the right door, knock on it twice, and speak the demonic pass word to be let in. Inside, the lone bouncer will gruffily jab a thumb at the wrought metal staircase winding its way down, down, down to the tea house proper. The moment one sets foot on the first step, the scents of freshly baked bread and sweet pastries will seize one's olfactory sense and urge one down the may twists of the staircase. There are three floors made available for guests and patrons alike, full of tables and plush armchairs and couches of varying shapes and sizes and color that blend into a warmth one seldom finds above ground. At the very bottom of the stairs is a polished wooden floor, coated with several layers of protective magic for those unfortunate demons to whom oak is toxic. To the side, a massive counter with all manner of treats available for inspection, all of which - rare though it may be for such establishments - are safe for human consumption.
Behind the counter stands Francis himself, rivalling the counter with his own gigantic, infectiously exuberant bulk, ever ready to take one's order.
In the far corner, blanketed by the warmth emanating from the nearby kitchens, sits Lorne enjoying his usual treat of very, very green tea and very, very scrumptious red bean pastries.
One needs only find the right door, knock on it twice, and speak the demonic pass word to be let in. Inside, the lone bouncer will gruffily jab a thumb at the wrought metal staircase winding its way down, down, down to the tea house proper. The moment one sets foot on the first step, the scents of freshly baked bread and sweet pastries will seize one's olfactory sense and urge one down the may twists of the staircase. There are three floors made available for guests and patrons alike, full of tables and plush armchairs and couches of varying shapes and sizes and color that blend into a warmth one seldom finds above ground. At the very bottom of the stairs is a polished wooden floor, coated with several layers of protective magic for those unfortunate demons to whom oak is toxic. To the side, a massive counter with all manner of treats available for inspection, all of which - rare though it may be for such establishments - are safe for human consumption.
Behind the counter stands Francis himself, rivalling the counter with his own gigantic, infectiously exuberant bulk, ever ready to take one's order.
In the far corner, blanketed by the warmth emanating from the nearby kitchens, sits Lorne enjoying his usual treat of very, very green tea and very, very scrumptious red bean pastries.
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Date: 2009-12-20 05:36 pm (UTC)This means that when an unprepossessing-looking human in sneakers and jeans comes meandering down the stairs, anyone in the room can see him coming.
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Date: 2009-12-20 05:42 pm (UTC)One quirk of his brow later, Lorne raises his hand in a wave to call attention to himself. "Hey, doll face!"
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Date: 2009-12-20 05:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-20 06:00 pm (UTC)"Fancy seeing you here."
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Date: 2009-12-20 06:59 pm (UTC)But with a shrug, he turns and heads over to Lorne's table instead. "Hi," he says, when he's close enough to speak without raising his voice.
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Date: 2009-12-20 07:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-20 08:23 pm (UTC)It's a little cautious, but only a little; they parted on reasonably good terms.
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Date: 2009-12-20 09:54 pm (UTC)"You?"
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Date: 2009-12-20 10:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-20 10:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-20 10:19 pm (UTC)Well, what's the harm? He planned on spending the day maintaining contacts, after all, and arguably Lorne's a potential contact. Possibly a very valuable one. And ...
Who's he kidding. Lorne's likable, is what he is. And maybe, strange as it seems, a potential friend.
He gives a small smile. "Sure."
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Date: 2009-12-20 10:39 pm (UTC)"Then I'll leave you to your rubbing elbows with China Town's finest."
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Date: 2009-12-20 10:53 pm (UTC)He spends about ten minutes talking with Francis over chai and bearclaws. His teahouse doesn't tend to attract the big movers and shakers of the demon demimonde, or the types involved in serious violence; it's generally neutral ground by virtue of common agreement, rather than any house rule. But the people who come here do still gossip, and Francis is so easy to talk to that he picks up a lot of it.
Not that Andrew's pumping him for information today. Just ... passing time, saying hello. Making sure things are okay.
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Date: 2009-12-21 12:48 pm (UTC)"So I tell him, see, you not get to come here, this my home! Go to tea house!" He guffaws, unable to pace himself. "And he skits away so fast time makes him blurry! He never come to my house again. Is easy mistake, finding wrong door. Still, fond memory, scared little demon. We fix magic since then, no problems."
All the while, Lorne watches from his comfy corner, enjoying the amiable display. Francis is a darling, as always, and his accent is so cute.
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Date: 2009-12-22 02:59 am (UTC)And then meanders toward Lorne's table, mug in one hand, white paper bag in the other.
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Date: 2009-12-22 02:24 pm (UTC)Not that they ever outdo actual conversation. He looks up as Andrew approaches, a small smile doing wonders to his entire face. "So we meet again, Mister Wells."
Please pick up the glaringly obvious Bond reference.
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Date: 2009-12-23 02:46 am (UTC)Beat.
"Um, where 'advantage' is defined as having a bag of pastries."
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Date: 2009-12-23 09:50 am (UTC)Once again he gestures to the vacant seat, hoping that this time Andy will take him up on his offer and stick around for a while.
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Date: 2009-12-24 12:38 am (UTC)"So what brings you here?"
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Date: 2009-12-24 07:18 am (UTC)That he's telling Andrew this seemingly minute detail doesn't bother him nearly as much as he thinks it should, but what's done is done.
And, a small voice whispers to him softly. Andrew knows what happens to people who abuse your trust.
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Date: 2009-12-25 04:17 pm (UTC)He takes a sip of chai, and looks a little wistful. "I don't usually get time to hang out and relax here."
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Date: 2010-01-01 07:59 pm (UTC)"It's a good place for it. Comfiest seats in China Town, and the vibes are absolutely delightful."
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Date: 2010-01-01 08:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-01 08:08 pm (UTC)"They don't call Francis a humanitarian for nothing."
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Date: 2010-01-01 08:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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