Who: Ash ketchum and Lara Croft Where: the Cafe What: meeting When: 08/23, after this conversation. Warnings/Rating: pg-13 Status complete
Ash was a little nervous. He was meeting someone for the purposes of exploration and fun, and no sex. It was a little out of his normal purview. He just hoped she liked his dog. He smiled as he stepped into the cafe. He had found the place by accident on day, and felt at home ever since, recognizing some of the usuals as people from the Valarnet.
He hoped this would be a good day, and he settled, with his dog at his feet, and a cold cafe mocha at his fingertips.
Would she come? He hoped so. He liked the idea of exploring new places.
Lara was fixing her pony-tail as she walked in. She rarely let her hair down and today was no exception. She didn’t know what to expect, but she was the adventurous sort. Today might be a good day.
Ash rose when she came in, and waved a hand, smiling. His dog rose as well and wagged his tail, having already been told this would be an ally. “Lara! here!”
“You must be Ash,” the Londoner said, holding out her hand as she approached. “Pleasure to meet you, and your puppy. What’s his name? Or hers?”
“He. His name is Apollo.” He grinned as Apollo mimike her and lifted his paw to shake. Ash shook her hand first, though, and kissed her hand. “He’s friendly as long as you pose no threat to him.”
“Interesting choice in names. You’d think it would suit a golden retriever better,” Lara noted idly. She held her hand out to the dog, as though Ash’s kissing it hadn’t even registered, save for a slightly embarrassed flush to her cheeks. “But I think he shines with an inner sun.”
Apollo shook her hand, then rubbed against it. “He loved people and he helps them. It fit.” Then he sat and Apollo settled at his feet. “Sit, please. How are you today?”
“I’m pretty good. I’m getting things settled so my house won’t be quite so lonely. At least until my best mate flies down.” She hoped eventually.
“Yeah? Awesome! Sounds pretty cool! If I can help at all in the not being lonely part, let me know.” He grinned as he peered at the menu, choosing some coffee and a danish.
“I’ll be fine, I have plenty of things to catch my interest.” She leaned forward in her chair, just selecting some coffee. It might be an addiction, coffee.
Ash grinned. She was a bit obvious, but that was okay. ”Good. Interesting things are good.”
He didn’t want to go too crazy, after all.
Lara did have a problem with wearing flimsy tank tops and leaning forward. And being oblivious about it. “I’m just more comfortable with picking up some ancient artifact than I am talking to someone at a pub or something.”
Ash noted that and sighed. “You know, you might want to think about what you’re doing when wearing something like that. A guy could get the wrong idea.” He had already realized she wasn’t flirting, but in any place, with anyone else, it would be taken as such. Why him?
She blinked at him. “What? My shirt? It’s just a shirt. I’ve always worn this in summer.” It was one of her comfort clothing!
“And you lean forward in it a lot, around men?” He shook his head. “I’m surprised you haven’t had some bad situations arise before now.”
“Nope. I don’t drink heavily when I’m in public. I’m usually the one pulling my friend in, really.” She gave him a funny look, and tried to think of she’d ever been hit on. She never paid attention to that kind of thing, most of the time. She didn’t date, there were more important things to do.
Ash sighed. “Well, word to the wise, the body language you are giving off, intentional or not, is that you are flirting, and interested in teasing people.” He nodded. “I get that this is not what you mean, but… just wanted to let you know.” He sipped his water, and wished he had a beer right about now.
She sat back, folding her arms over her chest, and feeling embarrassed. “Well that's hardly my fault if people want to confuse genuine interest in a conversation with interest in other things." Maybe she should have worn a different bra, or another tank underneath it, but it had felt muggy today.
“I’m not saying it is. I’m just trying to tell you.” He sighed again. “I just felt someone should tell you how a lot of people would take it, until they got to know you.” He smiled faintly. “I don’t like it when people are hurt.” And frankly, no matter how skilled Lara was, she was small enough that a large man could overpower her. And that… made Ash shudder, and not in a good way.
It baffled her. But then she was more the type to study people through the things they left behind, and not up close and personal. She shook her head. "I don't date. It's not a scene I take part in. I just...this is me." She gestured at her torso with her hands.
"Cargo pants and tank tops. Occasionally a Black Sabbath t-shirt. I can dress up, but the only person who could get me to do so is across an ocean right now. God, I'm usually the one telling her to be careful! I’m not trying to send…signals."
She laughed. “This is why I prefer ruins to people.”
“Sorry?” He smiled then nodded. “Tell me about some of the ruins you’ve explored?” Time to change the subject!
Now that was something that caused Lara to light up. "None, yet! Well that's not entirely the truth. I have visited Greece and Egypt. A mate and I went backpacking across Europe and I think she might have killed me every time I pulled out the map and marked off some ancient site I wanted to visit!"
“Wow, sounds like some amazing ideas. But there should be things right here in California worth visiting, right?” Ash was hopeful, anyway.
"I'm sure there are! Pueblos and native sites. Not entirely my area of expertise! But still very interesting. I'll have to study up."
“Mind if I do too? I mean, it’s nothing like my field, but if you do decide to take me along, I want to be useful.” Ash didn’t believe in just hanging out when others were working.
“I don’t see why not. You don’t always need a fancy degree to spot something spectacular.” She winked at him.
“Really? Cool! Thanks!” He smiled at her, bouncy. “What sort of things do you usually look for?”
“How a people lived. How they ate, how they worshipped. Even how they died.” Lara waved her hand a bit as she talked. “Something as simple as what the graffiti says.”
“Cool! Thanks!” He smiled to her and nodded. “You can count on me.”
“Can I? Then I suppose I’ll have to not look a gift horse in the mouth!”
Ash blushed. “You can.”
He stuck out his hand. This was going to be fun!
Lara took his hand. “How about next weekend? I’ve got plans this weekend.”
“Sounds good to me.” He nodded to her. “Say goodbye Apollo! We’ve got work to do.” Apollo rose and nosed at her leg, then raised a paw to shake, before they both left.