LOG: Something He Might Regret

[protective_logic]

What: Delta calls the number, Gets some coffee
Where: Green Fairy Cafe
When: Wednesday, April 1st
Warnings: None

He's been playing with the piece of paper for three days now. Ever since it went into his pocket, Delta has been fiddling with the number. He tells himself it's because of the offer of good coffee. Tells himself it's because the week has been a strained one at home. Tells himself a lot of things. But come Wednesday when he finds he's got a few hours that could charitably be called free before he has to go grocery shopping, Delta gets the comm number out and calls. Waits through the prompt and then leaves his message.

"Hey. It's Delta. We met on Sunday at Smithson's Helmet Shop? Anyway, you gave me your number and offered to buy me real coffee if I had some free time. And I could sure go for a cup right about now. So... Call me if you can find the time in the next few hours and I'll meet you there?"

Comments

[depthlesslock]

'I'd say so,' he says, leading them over to a table. 'It's my favorite place in town, and trust me, I've tried all of them.'

It had been his mission once he'd decided to settle in Gulch. Now not only is the Green Fairy his favorite coffee shop, but the t-shirt honoring it is also his favorite.

[protective_logic]

"I couldn't tell from the t-shirt," Delta teases. It's almost natural, like doing it to a family member. He sits down across from the man and puts his helmet under his chair nervously. "What do you recommend?"

[depthlesslock]

Look at that, Delta's teasing already. Laughing, York taps the logo on his chest. 'A sign of my loyalty,' he says.

Helmet safely stowed, he picks up the menus and passes one to Delta. 'That depends on what you like. The flavored lattes are delicious, but so is anything made with coffee here. Oh, and the baked goods are awesome as well. They've just got someone new in, and she's brilliant.'

[protective_logic]

Baked goods would definitely be too far with a guy he's meeting for the second time who apparently wants to make friends.

"I'm mostly a coffee purist," Delta admits. "Black with some sugar. You?"

[depthlesslock]

'Caramel latte's sounding pretty good,' he decides, scanning the menu though he knows it off by heart. 'You stay here, I'll order.'

He gets up and picks around the tables to the counter. Katie greets him there and he orders their drinks, plus two choloclate chip cookies before making his way back to Delta.

[protective_logic]

Delta frowns as he looks at the menu. There are at least seven different types of coffee beans here, and none of them are going to be the cheap ones he gets at home. What will it be like?

When the other man came back Delta smiled faintly up at him. "So what was wrong with your helmet?"

[depthlesslock]

'Mod got damaged,' he says, sitting back down. 'The mod that helps me with my eye, actually. So kinda needed it fixed ASAP.'

[protective_logic]

Ah, Delta could get that. "I can understand that."

He taps just over the spot where he can manipulate his sub-dermal implant. "Mine has to integrate with my helmet too. Smithson is quite good with assistive tech. He's been helping me most of my life."

[depthlesslock]

'He's the best,' he agrees. 'I knew him before this' he gestures to his eye 'and once I needed the help, he got the mods I needed fitted in really quickly.' He'd be lost without those mods.

'So I assume the mods help with getting the sound more directly routed your implants when you've got your helmet on?'

[protective_logic]

"Pretty much," Delta smiles. "You may notice how helmets are not always the best sound-system wise. They inherently hamper things. I also can reach my controls, so the helmet needs to be able to compensate for it and help me focus on conversations as directed."

[depthlesslock]

'Yeah, they're not great, that's why we have the speakers and sound system. Having complications when you've already got issues must suck.' He lean foward, resting his elbows on the table. 'You can control them? I thought sub-dermal implants were permanent.'

[protective_logic]

"Of course they are," Delta smiles, but he chuckles. "But they're pretty great tech. If I touch the right spot on the right way, it controls sound levels. Counterclockwise is increased, clockwise is decreased."

Why is that hard to understand?

[depthlesslock]

'Really? Huh, that's handy. It's like when you're small and you wish for earlids as well as eyelids so you can shut out boring teachers and annoying sounds. You can actually do that.'

[protective_logic]

Well, when someone puts it like that. Delta chuckles and shakes his head. "My younger brother does that. I..."

Delta bites his lip. "I can't. It's... scary."

[depthlesslock]

Scary? He can... Yeah, he gets that.

'Worried you won't get it back? That you can't do anything if you can't hear?'

[protective_logic]

"Yeah," Delta admits. Not that he's ever said it to anyone before. "I... I could miss out on one of the littles being hurt if I can't hear."

[depthlesslock]

'Sounds like a valid reason to be scared,' he says gently. He knows this fear, he can sympathise.

Their coffees arrive, along with their cookies and York pushes Delta's mug and one of the cookies over to him.

[protective_logic]

Cookie? Delta stares in shock at the treat. "I didn't ask for this."

It's got chocolate chips and they look melty. He can't help but lick his lips.

[depthlesslock]

York chuckles at his expression.

'No, but I got you one anyway,' he says, taking a sip of his latte. Heaven.

[protective_logic]

"Why?" Delta asks. Has to ask. That doesn't make sense. Still, he pokes a chip and... licks his finger. It tastes so good.

[depthlesslock]

'Why not?' he returns, watching Delta with interest over his coffee mug.

[protective_logic]

"That isn't an answer," Delta points out, a touch amused. "That's something my five year old sister would say."

[depthlesslock]

'It's totally an answer.' He takes another sip of his latter and puts it down. 'But fine. I thought you might like it, so I got you one.'

[protective_logic]

Well... He supposes he can respect that rational. Delta takes a bite of the thing and smiles at the flavor. It's actually quite good. Enough so that he's licking his lips without hesitation.

"You're right. The baked goods are nice."

[depthlesslock]

Mission Make Delta Smile and Happy: Accomplished.

'Told ya so,' he teases, picking up his own cookie and starting on it. Never fails to impress him.