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

[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.

[protective_logic]

"I'm easy to impress," Delta rolls his eyes. "I like chocolate enough that all they had to do was whisper chocolate over it and I'd be impressed."

[depthlesslock]

'Oh really?' That's information he'll file away to use another day. 'What else do you like?'

[protective_logic]

Wow, why does this conversation feel like it's about him?

"I read," he says cautiously. "Sci-fi novels mainly. What about you? What do you like?"

There, conversation buck passed.

[depthlesslock]

'Coffee,' he says, holding his mug up in a toast. 'And puzzles. Not just jigsaws, but all kinds. Musically, I prefer old Earth stuff. The music these days just isn't the same. Have you ever heard of ABBA?'

[protective_logic]

Delta chuckles and does toast when York gestures for it. "I enjoy puzzles myself, but I've never really understood the appeal of music. Perhaps it's a deaf thing."

[depthlesslock]

'Could be. Some people like music, some don't, and I happen to be one who loves it, but to each their own and all that.' He takes another sip of his drink. 'How about films?'

[protective_logic]

"I don't really watch a lot of movies," Delta admits. Is that a bad thing?

[depthlesslock]

York shakes his head, but his expression is soft.

'Dude, we've gotta get you out more. There's so much stuff out there!'

[protective_logic]

'We'? That was a bit presumptuous, in Delta's opinion.

"I hardly have time to spare in such things," Delta answers, sipping his coffee. And yeah, there's a slight sigh of pleasure at the taste.