Isabella Margaret Delallo (bad_ass_babe) wrote in btvsal, @ 2009-12-16 17:54:00 |
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Current mood: | impressed |
Entry tags: | isabella delallo, place: la, ~stuart wallace |
Finding Decent Tea
Who: Isabella and Stuart
Where: Chloe's Sugar Shack
When: Monday morning, Dec. 14th
Rupert had let Stuart settle in a bit more before getting the lay of the land, in terms of Watcher duties and when he found out that the training grounds were underneath what the older gentleman could only think of as a mini Disneyland. While his grandchildren would love to go to the actual Disneyland (and he wouldn't mind taking them), having one's JOB underneath such a place just...seemed wrong to Stuart on so many levels. As he stood outside, taking his time with his cigarette, the man prayed that they brewed respectable tea inside the establishment. Stuart fiddled with his tie, loosening it again; the Watcher honestly looked like any other hard working man living in America. Which, might have horrified him on some personal level, but he really wasn't paying attention to that.
Isabella liked to be on time when it came to meetings, and today was no different as she walked down the pavement towards The Sugar Shack. It was a warm enough day that she left her leather jacket at home (gasp), and instead she was wearing a nice white blouse tucked into a pair dark blue high-rise jeans and black sketchers. Ordinarily she wouldn’t have dressed so… well, so nice. But she’d woken up in a good mood and decided ‘why the hell not?’ She slowed her pace as soon as she spotted Stuart, "Mr. Wallace?"
Stuart was pulled from his musings and what probably looked like a slightly horrified look at the building he was standing front of, cigarette between his fingers, he turned at the sound of his surname. The older gentleman was probably a little surprised to see the...attractive younger woman who seemed to know who he was and he had no idea who she was. Dropping the unfinished cigarette (who said he wasn't courteous?) to the pavement, Stuart ground it out as he asked, "You are...?"
"Miss Delallo," she replied, smiling faintly as she extended her right hand for the customary introductory shake. "Mr. Giles asked me to introduce myself. It’s my job to... basically make sure you’re up to par. That’s not to say that we’re second-guessing you, it’s just so we know that everything’s running as it should." She blinked and laughed a little, since that was a lot of information in a few sentences. "It’s also my job to make sure you have everything you need. And possibly to make you uncomfortable."
His brow quirked at "uncomfortable" and without missing a beat, Stuart pulled out another cigarette and lit up, not caring if he was being rude or not. No one got between him and his cigarettes except his immediate family who happened to be his daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. "Uncomfortable," Stuart repeated. That word could mean a multitude of things as he shook her hand and then smiled faintly, "You seem to quite a bit about me, Miss Delallo, and yet I know nothing about you."
"What would you like to know, Mr. Wallace," she asked, moving them away from the main entrance since they were congesting it a little. If she minded that he was smoking, she didn’t show it. The fact was, she’d indulged in a few less than savoury things in her life as well, and if smoking was going to keep him calm and collected? Then she certainly wasn’t going to bite his head off about it.
"Like what your intentions are to make me 'uncomfortable.'" Considering he was now living in Calibloodyfornia, he had to wonder when perfect strangers were going to get into his business about his smoking habit. Not that he'd listen a whit. Stuart fidgeted, a bit out of character for him, but it was the bustle of the city that made him antsy. The man was, what American's would probably call him, a country boy through and through. Stuart liked his peace; he liked his quiet that was occasionally interrupted by the laughter of his grandchildren. He did not like the noise of L.A. Sleeping, so far, had been a trial he wasn't sure he'd ever get a handle on. The man missed his sea-side cottage, the sound of the waves and the wind. Unconsciously, Stuart started counting the cars parked along the curb.
Isabella smiled faintly and leaned her shoulder against the wall beside him, stuffing her hands into her deep pockets. "I can be overbearing at times, most people find that… uncomfortable. Irritating, mostly. So I felt it only fair to warn you." Unlike Stuart, Isabella took to L.A. much like a duck to water. Sure, there was that little teething problem where she had to fight a guy, but ever since everything was just fine and dandy. She’d found a nice place to live and work and everything was just… falling into place for her. "It’s nothing personal. It’s just the way I work," she added after a beat.
"Overbearing," Stuart smiled at that, chuckling a little, even. Running a hand through hair that had gotten long, his hippy looking appearance was a far cry from his stern personality. "There's something we have in common." He took a drag off the cigarette, looking away from her and back again, "And what else should I be expecting from you?"
She watched him, oddly thinking that long hair suited him. Odd, since she’d never seen him with short hair. "Hrmh. I don’t know," she replied honestly. She watched people walk across the footpath, somewhat amused at the people who were scowling at Stuart. Since when did the world start to get to politically correct? She looked back to him again, "I don’t take shit from anyone?"
Stuart ignored the looks and scowls from the people brave enough to do that. Another chuckle was drawn from him, another smile, "Ms. Delallo? I think we're going to get along famously well." The Watcher took another drag off the cigarette and admitted, "Now, if only I can find somewhere quiet and a proper cup of tea when I'm in the mood."
"Mm, yes. There’s a place not too far from here, if you’d be willing to give it a try," she asked. She wasn’t really in official mode here, it was more… English-people-love-tea mode. She nodded towards the direction of the store, indicating that he should follow, before leading the way. "And Mr. Wallace? I think there’s nothing more sacred than tea."
He warily looked to her destination and mentally sighed. Stuart was not really in the mood to deal with that environment, but if there was more to discuss with Isabella then he'd put on a brave front. Flicking the last of the cigarette away and running a hand through his hair again, Stuart followed him into The Sugar Shack.
Isabella ordered a tea, and not wanting to be presumptuous about Stuart’s tastes, let him order his own. Fortunately it was early, so there weren’t many schoolchildren around. She doubted she could stand it here, otherwise. Once they found a table out of the way she said, "I know it’s not the most ideal place to train, but I understand we might be moving soon."
Also ordering a tea, he tentatively sipped it and...it was better than the shite he'd been able to get at the local shop by his flat. At the good news she's presented, Stuart smiled and said in his quiet way, "That is excellent news." Setting his mug down on the table, the older man settled into his chair and absently rearranged the items already on the table according to height and size.
She watched him, mildly curious about his actions. She suspected he had some sort of compulsive disorder but as long as it didn’t get in the way of his job, she saw no reason to comment on it. Instead, she took a cautious sip of her tea. For a place that specialised in coffee, the tea wasn’t so bad. It was certainly better than most places she’d come across (and yes, she did look). She smiled faintly over her cup, "has Mr. Giles assigned you with anyone, or is he giving you a few days to get settled in?" For someone who had a hard arse approach to work she was being surprisingly… polite. The apocalypse is nigh!
His actions before Stuart settled into his chair again, were completely unnoticed by him. While most of the time, it was under control, pulling up his roots and triggered his compulsive behavior again. It had been hard on Stuart when his son had died over a year and a half ago. During those six months after, it was hard to keep it contained and giving in was probably, to Stuart, some form of weird control for him. But that was what the Scottish man was, orderly and neat.
"Aye, her name is Clementine Reynolds. Recently moved to Los Angeles, I suspect at the hands of the Council as it’s rather convenient." Stuart took a sip of his tea, setting it aside and folding his hands on top of the table, "I think it would be best if the both of us settled before I approach her."
Isabella was vaguely aware that Stuart had suffered a tragedy of some kind; fortunately she exhibited a little thing called tact. It wasn’t something she did very often (especially when it came to the Slayer, Gwen), but she knew when to ask for details and when not to. Now was not the time. She set her tea on the table when he did and leaned back in her seat, joining her hands together in her lap. "I think that’s wise. It takes time to adjust to new things," she smiled faintly.
She was starting to think she wouldn’t be having problems with Stuart, unless Clementine Reynolds had a few … teething problems, of course. "I’d like to meet her. Not straight away, of course, but… down the line."
"Of course," Stuart answered with a nod, a faint smile on his lips, "You have a job to do as well as I." He shrugged simply, "Not much I can do about that unless I have a strong disagreement of your job interfering with mine." The older Watcher lifted his mug to his lips again, sipping from it and setting it down.
"I should hope that it doesn’t come to that, Mr. Wallace," Isabella replied with a nod. She doubted she’d feel any differently if the situation were reversed. She lifted her cup to her lips and took another sip, letting the liquid sit in her mouth before swallowing. "If we do have a disagreement, then I hope we can settle it diplomatically." Although a small violent part of her hoped otherwise. Bad Isabella, Bad!
"I can be diplomatic...to a point, Ms. Delallo." Stuart warned. The Scotsman did have a temper when pushed too hard, but it took a lot to get under his skin. It all depended on the individual, of course, but most of the time when it wasn't "The Job," Stuart was a rather easy man to get along with.
"Hrmh, well. Won’t that be an interesting day?" She murmured, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Isabella had something of a temper as well, although it was, in all probability, easier to bait her into a fight than to bait Stuart. Especially when you knew which buttons to push. Otherwise… she was rather easy to get along with, too.
"Aye," Stuart replied, lifting his mug of tea to his lips again and sipped, "It will indeed." The older man gave her a wider, more humorous smile. While the man was fairly easy to get along with, Stuart also enjoyed a good debate. It would prove interesting what she had to say in the future.