Who: James and John Crichton What: Talking Where: Baxters When: Before Work in August Rating: Family Friendly Status: Complete
James took his order from the counter at Baxters. People were waiting in line and filling the tables, not unusual for the 8am crowd. Even though he had the day off, his body woke him early anyway, and coffee was needed. He began scanning the room for a table. Each one was occupied, which left him looking for people he might know.
He was about to give up when he spotted a familiar face. He was the man who he had met in the comic book shop. He remembered the face, quite easy on the eyes. John was his name. he remembered also seeing him on the network, talking about Astronomy. He hadn’t known that this John was a scientist, or something like it.
“Hi,” he said, approaching the man. “I didn’t know you came in here. Do you mind sharing space?” He was trying not to sound like an idiot, but he knew that he did. He was so bad at meeting people.
John looked up from reading his paper when he heard the familiar voice. “Oh hey, uh, no not at all,” he gestured to the seat opposite him. He folded his paper up and set it aside as James settled in the seat. “I come in here sometimes before I head into work. This week’s a bit exciting for us in the science community, so I was just catching up on the latest,” he smiled, referring to the paper he’d just put to the side.
“It’s too bad we always miss each other.” James stirred his coffee, letting it cool just a little bit. He didn’t know that much about science. Most of his friends were in the movie industry, or doing other things, like rescuing animals. “What all do you do?” he asked curiously. “I know you like to study the stars. I still want to see that telescope.”
“It’s not a regular thing, just needed some good coffee and a paper today I guess,” John shrugged. He’d been struggling a bit since his dinner with Sharon, being told you’d been used by the woman you were in love with would do that to a guy. “I’m a professor of astrophysics at UC:I. The university’s not too far from here, so I walk to work to try and work off the occasional pastry I may have for breakfast. And you’re more than welcome to come over and check out the telescope. Just let me know and I’ll put a six pack on ice,” he told him with a smile. “Are you a regular here then?” he asked, taking a sip of his black coffee.
“I’m here all the time. It’s on my way in to the studio,” James chimed in. The little man crush was developing quickly. This man was smart, a professor even. He was swooning a little, the same way he had over Tom, who was hopelessly straight. That was unfortunate. “I really would love to see it. A couple of beers and stargazing would be great.” He took a bite of the scone he ordered, reminding himself not to stare. It was a good distraction. “Do you teach over the summer?”
“Great! Just email me when you’re free,” John grinned at James. He needed more friends, more drinking buddies. He needed to get out more, that much was apparent if his latest debacle of a relationship with Sharon was anything to go by. Fishing out his wallet from the jacket he’d put on the seat next to him, he pulled out one of his business cards and handed it over to James. “I do a bit of private tutoring for some of my students, interviews and tours for new ones and sort out my next term’s stuff. I try and get a few seminars in over the summer too,” he shrugged. “what about you? What are you working on at the moment?” he asked, then took a sip of his drink.
“That is a lot of work,” James grinned, accepting the card. “We should wrap the current shoot in the next two weeks, then I’ll go back to the salon for a few weeks. I have a new project in the works for September.” He was looking forward to the salon time, which was also free time as he could make his own schedule. He had plenty of money from the studio to carry him for awhile.
“I do have a long weekend though. We aren’t shooting Friday.” He wouldn’t mind spending the time in present company looking at stars, that was for sure. “Does that work for you?”
“Absolutely, I’ll even order pizza. You eat pizza, right?” John asked, he was always suspicious of people who didn’t eat pizza. “What have you got coming up in September then? Something exciting?” he asked.
“Nope, going vegan.” James smiled, trying to control a laugh, but failing. “Just joking. I love food. I may be thin, but I do eat. You can pick what kind even.” There was at least interest in James’ work. That was a good start. “I have a film at the beginning of the month and another one coming at the end. I can’t say which ones yet. It’s part of the no-spoiler privacy clause.”
“God, give a guy a heart attack! My normal pizza’s a meat feast and I’d have no idea where I’d find a pizza parlour that’s vegan,” John laughed. “So you looking forward to these projects then? As much as you can say without spoiling things,” he smiled.
“I would love to say that I eat healthy, but the truth is that I get a lot of take out, and I don’t like enough to go vegetarian. If I went vegan, that would be even more stuff I couldn’t eat and then I really would be a walking stick.” When he was excited, he talked with his hands, and they were definitely moving. He enjoyed his present company.
“As for the film, I can’t even say who’s in it. The confidentiality agreements are pretty solid. I can tell you that this one is a period piece and will involve a lot of 18th century costumes, which means big, big hair, all swept up.” The work would take him hours. There were some wigs and hairpieces involved, but they also needed styling to look just right.
“Fair enough. Must make talking to your friend’s really difficult though. They must pester you for information all the time, who you’ve met, what’s coming up. Do you find it difficult?” John asked, taking a sip of his coffee.
“Always, but I can tell you afterward. I’ve met a lot of people, and most of them I love. There are a few divas out there, but there are some really good people. The tabloids really are full of shit most of the time. I’m such a fanboy, so it takes a day or so of me being starstruck before my hands settle down.” John really was such a nice looking man. James still didn’t know what he was interested in, but time to find out, at least during this conversation.
“How many years have you been doing this job? You still get starstruck?” John chuckled. He’d never really been one for following celebrities, he was still a bit of a nerd in that regard and his ‘celebrities’ were his fellow scientists. He wasn’t oblivious to that world but he wasn’t really fussed what that idiot Kim Kardashian was doing lately.
“I’ve been doing it for years, but whenever I meet someone new, I still get warm fuzzies.” Maybe he now included a scientist in those warm fuzzies. He would also never consider Kardashians attractive. “I know it’s probably not the kind of thing you are into at all. My ex really wasn’t either. He did come to visit me on set once or twice.”
“No, not so much I’m afraid,” John laughed lightly, taking the last sip from his drink. “Well I’m afraid I’ve gotta get going kid, have a great day!” he smiled at him, sliding out of the booth to head about his day.