John Constantine thinks pronunciation matters (rhymeswithfine) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-10-24 21:51:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, audrey, john constantine |
Who: John Constantine + Audrey
When: 10/18ish
Where: Baxter bakery
What: Catching up
Rating/Warning: Low
Status: Complete
It was morning. And that was an issue all on its own. Mostly because John was awake. Not only was he awake, he was damn near cheerful, considering the time and that he hadn’t yet had coffee.
Okay, maybe cheerful wasn’t the right word. But he had the potential to be cheerful, and that had to count for something, he was pretty sure.
Flicking his smoke into the parking lot, John entered with a not quite shamble, adjusting his coat as he went and flashing Audrey a smile. “Morning, love. Please magic up my day.”
Audrey was bright and cheerful. She’d had several cups of coffee so far that morning, and a couple pastries to boot. Not to mention the cottage cheese and fruit breakfast that she’d wolfed down, trying to be healthy. (She was never going to fit into a nice wedding dress at this rate.)
When John Constantine came into the bakery and up to the counter, it absolutely brightened the redhead’s day. She perked up, gave him a smile, and made him a cup of coffee. “Sparkling milk?”
“Whatever suits,” John half agreed, leaning on the counter to watch her work. There was no line, and he could afford himself the time and the laziness. It wasn’t as if he ever really had anywhere to be, anyway.
“You’re looking fine and chipper this ol’ morning,” he noted, feeling rather cheered himself, considering.
Audrey laughed. “Well, I am chipper. And caffeinated. That always helps. But the wedding’s coming up, and I’m pretty excited about it.” She explained, then turned back to face him, holding out his cup. “Tell me I can get you some breakfast to go with that.”
He took the offered cup with a pleased sort of hum, enjoying the warmth of it around his fingers and the strong scent it gave off. Nothing better than some strong coffee. “You know me,” he said, shrugging. He didn’t really do breakfast. Breakfast was for people who didn’t live on coffee and cigarettes. “When’s the wedding, again?”
Audrey was just trying to make everyone in the world fat. Then she’d feel a little less guilty about the curves that working for nearly a decade with pastries gave her. She brightened, though, when he asked about the wedding. “Halloween Night. It’s going to be Halloween Themed. So, come in costume.”
Constantine probably couldn’t manage fat if he tried -- at a few inches over six foot, he was lanky enough to hide behind trees and probably not be noticed. It was just how he’d always been.
“Are you wearing a costume?” He seemed bemused by the date picked. It was rather kitsch, but a cute idea he supposed. “I didn’t know I was invited.”
“I’ll be the one in white.” Audrey said, beaming. “I’ve got a pretty awesome costume for the reception, though. And of course you’re invited!” She was practically glowing with how happy the idea of marrying Merlin made her.
“Brilliant to hear,” John said, laughing. Hey, nothing like a party to go to on Halloween, right? “Oh. Before I forget. You got some kinda… earl grey to go? Not made already. Packets, or something?”
“Earl Grey? Sure. I’ve got the good stuff. Why? You making a tea delivery?” Audrey asked, smirking as she bent down under the counter and pulled out a huge tray of teas. She grabbed a couple of packets of Earl Grey and passed them along.
John took the packets and stowed them safely in the top pocket of his jacket. “Ta, love. Something like that. I’ve got a --er. Friend? Boyfriend?” They’d never quite put a word to it. “He’s addicted, but only to the good stuff.”
Audrey raised both eyebrows at the word ‘boyfriend,’ but she was grinning. “You sly dog you. Well, this is the good stuff, I can assure you of that. I don’t sell crap in my bakery.” It was true, too. She used only the finest ingredients. A lot of her fruit-filled pastries were only available seasonally, when she could go get the fruit fresh at the Farmer’s Market.
There was something sly about being able to trick someone into staying with him, wasn’t there? At least, John figured so. He grinned, a little crooked. “Ta,” he repeated, although a little smugly. “And I figured you’d be the proper person t’go to for it.”
It just seemed the right thing to say at the time. Audrey nodded once. “Please. Do come here for all your coffee, tea and baked good needs.” Beat. “Ooh, here,” she reached over into the case and pulled out two pumpkin-shaped and pumpkin-flavored cookies. “On the House. For you and your special friend.” Wink.
John laughed at that, taking the cookies and biting into one immediately, despite his no food in the mornings bias. It was hard to turn down the occasional treat. “Oh,” he said, crooked smile and charming. “Special or not, he may never get the other.”
Audrey beamed. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
John only smirked, lifting his coffee up in cheers.