David Nolan is very charming. (knightinflannel) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-10-23 19:15:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, david nolan (prince charming), mary margaret blanchard (snow white) |
Who: Mary Margaret and David.
What: A proper meeting.
When: A delightful October weekend.
Where: A coffee shop/Huntington Beach.
Rating: Low.
Status: Complete.
David still wasn’t a big fan of popular coffee chains. He just didn’t understand why coffee needed to taste like pumpkin or salty chocolate, and he definitely didn’t understand why it was such a big deal. Coffee, he figured, should just be coffee, and maybe on the occasional day after a long week, a latte.
So a latte it was. There was a little coffee shop he’d come to know over the weeks, since it wasn’t all that far from his apartment building, and it was altogether easier to make a habit of going to the same place over and over. It was even better when they knew what he wanted before he even really had a chance to say. He paid for his latte, dropped a tip in the jar, then sat near the bar with his nose buried in a book while he waited.
Mary Margaret wasn't a fan of the popular coffee chains either, and preferred an intimate and quiet place that she could go to daily. Since she moved to Huntington Beach last year, she also became very fond of the small coffee shop that was in town. She was especially grateful for their free wifi on mornings like these, when she had loads of grading to do, and her internet, phone and cable were down at home.
So she sat at her usual table by the window, with her laptop and papers spread across as she worked. When she needed a break, she decided to order a hot chocolate with cinnamon. She was waiting by the bar for her order, when she recognized the cover of a good book that she read a while back. "That's a really good one," she finally said, offering him a small smile once he looked up.
David glanced up and looked around a moment before he realized she was talking to him. He smiled back, but looked back at the cover of the book to hide a bit of embarrassment. “Yeah, it’s not bad.” To be fair, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever read it before or not.
When his latte was ready, he got up to retrieve it, and as he pulled the mug closer to him he glanced over her a bit. “I’ve … Seen you in here before?” David was hesitant to say it, worried he was confusing her with someone else.
Considering how often she came here, Mary Margaret thought he looked familiar too. But she didn't want to bother him, and glanced at her stuff that she left on the table. When he mentioned recognizing her as well though, she turned back, and nodded. "Oh, um, you probably have. I'm... kind of always here." she said with a small laugh.
"Usually grading papers," she gestured over to the pile of exams at her table. Her order was not far behind his, and she greeted the barista who was just topping her drink off with cinnamon. She thanked the girl when she finished, taking her mug as well.
"I'm Mary Margaret, by the way."
He gave her a smile, looking relieved. “Mary Margaret,” David repeated, mostly because it was the easiest way to help him remember things anymore. “I’m David. It’s nice to meet you.”
David raised his mug in a slight toast, letting his eyes wander toward the table she had looked at. Grading, so she was a teacher. Something tried to click in his brain but he couldn’t put the pieces together so he let it slide. “I’m keeping you from your work. I’m sorry.”
"It's nice to meet you too, David," she smiled and raised her mug for a toast. There was a very familiar feeling she had about him, but that was probably because he was a nice guy. When he started to apologize, Mary Margaret shook her head and went to place her mug down at her table.
"Oh, no, no.. Not at all. I was just taking a break, actually. Um." She closed her laptop and put it, along with the papers she graded, back in her bag. "Do you want to join me?" she asked, looking at the empty chair at her table.
“If I wouldn’t be imposing.” But David smiled a bit more, glad to be asked, actually. He really did need to make more friends, and especially people who lived nearby. Grabbing his book, he set it down on Mary Margaret’s table, then pulled out her chair for her. “I don’t really know a lot of people around here yet.”
"It's an invite, so there's no imposing here," Mary Margaret told him, a little surprised and touched when he held the chair out for her. "Thank you."
She sat down then, taking a sip of her hot cocoa. "Oh, now I remember why you seemed so familiar... I think you referred me to a vet online? You did mention just moving here."
“Oh. Oh!” David blinked as he sat down, then smiled. “That’s right. I knew you seemed familiar. It’s … A bit hard for me to put things together sometimes. Sorry.” He sat his mug down on the table, keeping his hands around it. “So. You’re a teacher. How is that?” David definitely thought she had the mannerism for it.
"Oh, that's okay. It's kind of a funny coincidence that we bumped into each other here." She laughed softly at that, just thinking back to their brief conversation. They had a bit in common it seemed.
"I am. I teach fourth grade, and I really love every moment of it. Some days are difficult, because they are children... But it's great. How about you? Are you still at the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals?"
“I am.” He took a drink of his latte, and shrugged. “It’s all right. I enjoy it, but I always thought I was going to be a police officer. But I have this sort of amnesia that makes making new memories difficult, so it wasn’t going to work out. Which is why I’m here. I’m seeing a specialist to try and figure it out. Which … Is a lot more information than you probably wanted. I’m sorry.” David ducked his head a bit.
Mary Margaret listened to him explain about his amnesia, and before she knew it, she was reaching out to touch his hand. "You shouldn't be. I think it's a great that you're seeing a doctor. Maybe you'll accomplish your goal out here." When she realized what she did, she quickly pulled her hand away, a blush rising in her cheeks. "Um. Sorry. I just... really hope you find what you're looking for."
David didn’t mind it. In fact, he didn’t really notice she had done it until she took her hand back, and he flexed his fingers a bit at the absence. “Thank you. I hope so, too. Even if I never get into law enforcement, I’d like the closure. Or at least to know what’s happening and why.” It was his turn to blush a bit, and he laughed. “I don’t know how well it’s going to work, to be honest. But it’s better to be optimistic about it.”
"You're welcome. I think optimistic thoughts can go a long way.. In the end, you'll have closure, and you can decide what you want to do next. You should have fun too, and travel around California since it's your first time here. There’s a lot to do and see." He was so sweet, she couldn't help but wish for the best for him.
“I’d like to. I think I might wait until I have someone to go with. Just to make it a bit more interesting.” He’d done so much traveling around by himself lately it seemed, it’d be nice to have someone other than the radio to listen to. “Besides, I’m not so sure my truck could handle it right now. It’s still recovering from the cross country drive, I think.”
"Cross country, huh?" she mused for a moment, glancing out the window. "It does look very tired," she said, as she spotted a truck in the parking lot. Mary Margaret wasn't even sure if the truck was his, but she went along with it, turning back to him with a smile. "And I agree, it's always better with someone."
“I can’t imagine trading it in for something new. Nostalgia, I guess. It’s pretty much been through everything with me.” David shrugged a bit. His book was long forgotten, and he was enjoying just talking to someone. He didn’t even stop to think why it was so easy to talk to her, but it was probably because Mary Margaret just had that way about her.
“So. I’ve told you a lot about me. I think it’s your turn.”
Mary Margaret nodded at his sentiment, understanding what he meant. She realized that he had shared a lot about himself, and they only just met. She gave a shy laugh, tapping her fingers against her mug. "My turn? Um, let's see... Well. I moved here a few years ago for college. I just.. needed a fresh, happy start. Some place different, you know?"
"I always wanted to be a teacher because of my mother. She volunteered a lot in the schools in Syracuse, and I went with her whenever I could. It's my fondest memory of her."
He ducked his head a bit. That was something he could understand. A lot of what he did in his life was motivated by his own mother, and while it was sad, it was a somewhat happy sad. Who would have thought he’d find someone out of the blue that he seemed to have so much in common with?
“I think that’s … Really great, actually.” David gave her a slight smile. “I do.”
Talking about her mother was such a sensitive subject, and she had a feeling that for David, it was perhaps the same. While talking to him was so easy, she didn’t want to bring up a tearful topic. Instead, she met his eyes and offered him a smile. “Thank you. Really. I’ve loved my time here so far. Oh, and I should have mentioned it earlier.. I did take my birds over to Thackery. He was great.”
“Did you?” It was a good change of conversation. “Good. I probably could have recommended one more local, but he’s a good guy, which always sort of wins in my books.” He shrugged. A good attitude went far. “Why birds, by the way? Not really a cat or dog person?”
"That's okay, I didn't mind taking the drive over to him. At least I know of a few local people in case of anything. A girl named Jessie had messaged me... She's about 15 minutes from here."
It was a good and welcomed change. She laughed a little when he asked about her choice of pets. "I get that question a lot. I don't know... I never really thought about getting a cat or dog. I'm sure they're great pets, but there's something so sweet and lovely about birds. They sing beautiful songs."
She stopped when she realized she was rambling. Now she was ducking her head. "Um, what about you? Have you had pets?"
Strangely, David didn’t mind her ‘rambling.’ She had the sort of voice you could just listen to for hours, probably. He laughed.
“I guess that’s fair. I don’t have any. I always wanted a dog, but the place I’m in right now is too small for me to feel fair keeping a pet in there with me. Some day, maybe.”
"Yeah, I think that would be great for you. And hopefully there's a big yard, so your dog can play outside." Smiling was oh so contagious with him.
"So what are you up to for the rest of the day? When you leave here."
“That’s the plan. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.” He took a sip from his mug and shook his head. “Nothing. I’ll probably just go back home and lament the fact I don’t have a dog,” David teased. “I’m not very exciting. I was thinking maybe I might go down to the beach later, just to see it before it gets too cold. I’m sure it’s not really any different than the beaches back home, but, it seems like something I should probably do.”
"Or you can think positive, and look forward to having a dog in the future," she countered. "Oh, I'm the same way. That sounds nice though, you should enjoy it. Once you've lived somewhere long enough, you never really do the tourist thing."
“Right. I’ll do that instead.” David smiled at her over his latte, and had a thought about inviting her to join him. But she had come to the cafe with work to do, and he felt like maybe he’d taken up enough of her time already. “I was never a good tourist in the first place anyway. I just don’t want people to somehow be offended that I live in Huntington Beach, but I haven’t actually ever gone to the beach.”
She felt compelled to join him on his walk.. It was crazy, since they literally just met. She had invited him to sit, but worried that asking for anything more would be too much. "Really? Well, don't laugh, but.. One of the first things I did in my freshmen year was go to Disneyland with my roommate. I also made sure I visited the beach here because I felt like I should."
“Why would I laugh at that?” But he laughed anyway, mostly at the notion of being told not to laugh. “You have one up on me. I haven’t even ever been to Disneyland. Do you think I should do that, too? I mean, it’s literally just right there.”
She shrugged and gave him a smile. "I'm just glad you don't think it's silly then. I mean, I've always loved Disney movies, and it was really fun. You should definitely go." She decided to muster some courage then. "Maybe.. Well, if you need some company, I.. can go with you."
David tried not to smile too much at the offer. He hid it beyond a long drink of his latte. “I would love the company. Besides, I need someone who knows their way around, otherwise I guarantee I’ll get lost.” Truth be told, he was glad she asked. He never would have found it in him to just say it.
"Well, I wouldn't want you to get lost. Disneyland it is." She smiled, happy that he accepted her offer. She took the last sip of her hot cocoa. "Just let me know when you feel like going. I know you'll be busy with the other stuff you have."
At that, he really did laugh. “I’m not really ever busy. It’s probably better if you let me know.” David glanced down at his unfortunately empty mug. “I guess I should probably leave, though. Let you get back to your work instead of distracting you.” David wrote down his number on the back of his drink receipt and passed it over to Mary Margaret.
“So you can get a hold of me. Whenever.” He didn’t want to come off too eager.
"Oh, of course. The weekends are usually best for me..." She mentioned, watching him write down his number. At that, she pulled out a post it note from her bag, giving him her number too.
"I will. It was.. really nice to meet you, David. And you weren't a distraction, it was a fun break from grading," she said, giving him a parting smile.