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Captain William Laurence (betwixtsea_nsky) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2019-02-20 21:58:00

Who: Laurence and Kala
What: Random run-in
When: Recently
Where: A coffee shop
Rating/Warning: These two are entirely G rated
Status: Complete


It was hard not to let his joy at Mary’s return not affect Laurence’s daily life. Anyone who knew him would no doubt notice the extra jauntiness to his step, and the fact that his smile rarely left his face these days, except, of course, when duty called for it.

As a gentleman, Laurence had been raised with impeccable manners, which had only been honed by the dreams. Which meant that, when he saw a woman walking behind him, he paused his entrance to the coffee shop and held the door for her, with a friendly smile, a nod, and a “Good afternoon.”

Kala had worked well past her lunch time. To say she was exhausted was and understatement. Not only that but her brain was fried. She needed a pick-me-up before she got back to work. Taking a very late lunch she headed to a coffee shop near her office. She had been to this particular coffee shop numerous times before, but never had anyone held the door open for her. It was nice.

“Thank you,” Kala said as she walked inside. “You as well,” she added before taking her place in line. However just as she was stepping into the line another man rushed passed her and stepped in front of her. Kala frowned but didn’t say anything. She didn’t want to make a scene.

Laurence frowned, waiting a beat for the woman in front of him to give the man who had cut in front of her a stern talking to. Given her frown, she was clearly unimpressed by the man’s lack of manners, but, perhaps, she didn’t enjoy confrontation.

“Excuse me,” Laurence said, stepping beside the man and tapping his shoulder. “I believe this young woman was here first. Perhaps you might be so obliged as to go to the back of the line.”

The man looked at Laurence with a look of disbelief, and as though he were going to retort, but Laurence set his mouth into a stern line. With his broad shoulders and severe looks, he could, on occasion, look intimidating, and the man looked from him, to Kala, and then sighed.

“Yeah, sure,” he muttered, and moved to go back to the back of the line, but Laurence didn’t move from out of his way.

“I believe it’s customary to apologize in instances like this,” he added, and the guy looked from Laurence, to the woman again, muttered an apology that Laurence wasn’t entirely satisfied with but would have to make due with, and made his way back to the back of the line. Laurence stepped back into his place behind the woman.

Kala watched as the man who had opened the door for her confronted the man who stepped in front of her. She had to admit it was nice to hear an apology from the rude man. Even if it was only a half hearted one. Once he went to the end of the line she turned her attention back to the man that had held the door open for her.

“Thank you,” she said giving him a grateful smile. “Sometimes I wonder if Americans ever learned manners.”

Laurence couldn’t help but inwardly agree; it seemed there were very few Americans who held manners in any sort of regard, Elijah and a select few others being the exception that proved the rule. “Some just want for a reminder,” he said diplomatically instead. “I hope that I didn’t overstep just now.”

“Oh no. It’s fine,” Kala assured the man. “I probably should have said something myself,” she admitted. “I suppose I just find it easier to let these type of things go. I can’t change their upbringing.” But perhaps she should take a note from the man who had stepped up. Some things were just uncalled for, like cutting people in line.

“No, though I find sometimes a gentle word can help people realize when they’re being uncivilized,” Laurence said. Sometimes more than a gentle word was required, but he found most people had enough shame to become abashed when called out on rude behaviour, and he held hope that some of them, at least, continued to examine their behaviour after the fact.

“Forgive me for not introducing myself,” Laurence said, and held out a hand for her. “I’m William Laurence.”

Kala reaches out her hand to shake his. “Kala Dandekar,” she replied introducing herself. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Because it certainly was.

The line moved and now it was Kala’s turn to order. She ordered herself a chai tea latte. After placing her order she told the barista she would pay for William’s as well and motioned for him to come place his order.

“Oh dear, that’s quite unnecessary,” Laurence protested. As far as he was concerned, he had just done what was right, and he required no reward for simply having done his duty.

“I know,” Kala replied. “But I want to.” She was well aware that William wasn’t expecting anything from her. He was just a kind man. But still, she wanted to do something to show her appreciation.

Protesting anymore would do naught but cause a scene, which would only serve to further embarrass Kala and himself. “If you’re certain,” he said, and then turned to the barista. “Dark roast, black,” he ordered. It was his normal order, but he did take some comfort in the fact that a regular black coffee would not put her out too much.

“Of course,” Kala replied paying for his drink. She walked off to the side with him to wait for their coffees. “Do you often do things like that?” Kala asked curiously as they waited. “Stand up for strangers?”

“As often as I am able. It is the duty of those who are capable to stand up for those who aren’t able to stand up for themselves,” he said, in no way bragging or trying to toot his own horn, as it were. It was an adage that Laurence had always held close to his heart.

“I think you might be one of the few that feel that way,” Kala replied. Her name was called with both drinks waiting. She grabbed her latte and handed William his coffee. “I should be getting back to work, but thank you, again.”

“You’re very welcome,” Laurence said, smiling jovially at her. “Please, don’t hesitate to say hi if we see one another again.”