InsaneJournal

Who: Laurence and Kala
What: Laurence pays Kala back for the coffee she bought him
When: Early April
Where: A coffee hop
Ratings/Warnings: Low/none
Status: Complete



Laurence was making a habit of visiting this coffee shop, which he occasionally thought about changing, though never very seriously. Yes, it was more expensive than brewing his own coffee, though he was hardly hard up for money, and perhaps the scones he often bought weren’t entirely healthy, but he enjoyed the atmosphere, the occasional conversation he was lucky enough to stumble into, and, in general, enjoyed being in a place so filled with people.

If someone hadn’t called out to a Will - a different Will, as it turned out - Laurence perhaps wouldn’t have noticed Kala entering the coffee shop, but he was glad when he saw her. She had paid for his coffee the first time they had met, and he had thought occasionally, when it crossed his mind, that he should repay the favour.

“And I’ll get whatever the young Indian woman orders too,” Laurence said quietly to the cashier, subtly gesturing to the woman in question and slipping the cashier an extra $10 note, enough to cover one of the fancier drinks and a snack if that was Kala’s inclination. “Whatever is left after her total, you may keep for yourself.”

Then, coffee and scone in hand, Laurence found himself a table, unfolded his newspaper, and began to read.

Kala didn’t stop for coffee often before work, but some days she needed that extra jolt of energy. Today being one of those days. She was so busy thinking about the day ahead of her that she didn’t notice William in line, nor did she notice him sitting at the table. To say she was surprised when the barista informed her that her coffee was already taken care of would be an understatement. However she didn’t argue, just thanked the barista and accepted her drink.

Coffee in hand Kala looked around for who could have possibly paid for her drink. It would only be polite to at least thank the person. Kala spotted someone vaguely familiar behind a newspaper at one of the tables. She was surprised she recognized him given she had only met him the one time. Though he had left quite the impression, and Kala was well aware that she had paid for his order. “Excuse me?” Kala said as she approached. “Would you be the one to thank for this?”

When Laurence heard Kala’s voice, he smiled, and folded the paper closed. He hadn’t been sure if she would spot him, or if she would approach even if she did, but he was glad for it nevertheless.

“I’m afraid so,” Laurence said. “I noticed you in line, and I thought I would repay the favour from the last time we had met.”

“Well, thank you,” Kala replied taking a sip of her drink. “Do you mind if I join you?” She had some time before she had to be at work. And really she wanted to get to know this kind gentleman a bit better.

“By all means,” Laurence said, folding up his paper completely and placing it in his bag. “Miss Dandekar, was it not?” he asked.

“You can call me, Kala,” she replied taking the seat across from him. But since he had gone by her last name she figured he would want the same in return. At least unless he said otherwise. “Mr. Laurence, I believe?” Kala replied with a brow raise and a small smile.

“Captain Laurence,” Laurence corrected her gently, and then added “But you may just call me Will, if you wish.” Out of respect, he always called people by their titles, but there was no need for such a thing if she preferred to go by her first name, then there was no reason to stand on ceremony. “I must admit that I am glad to have run into you again.”

“Oh, sorry. Captain Laurence.” To be fair when he had introduced himself before he had only said ‘William Laurence’ there was nothing about Captain. If Kala had known she definitely would have called him by his proper title.

“Oh?” Kala asked taking a sip of her coffee. “Why’s that?”

Laurence thought of his answer for a few moments, taking a sip of his coffee to fill the time while he formulated his answer. “I know we didn’t have a chance to speak much, but you seemed to me very well-mannered. I had hoped we might become friends someday, if you’ll forgive my boldness.”

Kala had never had someone ask her to be friends so bluntly before. But she liked the man sitting before her. He was polite, beyond polite actually. But even normal politeness was a rare find in Orange County. At least of all the people Kala had come across. “Yes,” Kala replied with a warm smile. “I think I’d like that,” she took another sip of her coffee. “Honestly? I haven’t made that many friends since I moved here.”

“Me neither,” Laurence admitted. Of course, there was Elijah, and he supposed that he could consider Pidge a friend, though his relationship with the teenager wasn’t quite the same as friendship. But Mary had left only a week before, and her departure had left quite the void. But Laurence had always enjoyed the company of others, and having a bustling social circle had always been important to him while he was landlocked.

Kala had Will. But he was more like family than a friend. Though having him was definitely helpful. And then there was Jemma. But other than that she hadn’t really made any. “Well,” Kala said pulling out her phone. “If we are going to be friends I suppose we should exchange numbers.”

“That would be prudent,” Laurence answered, and then once Kala was ready, he relayed his phone number for her.

After inputting his number into her phone Kala sent a quick text to him so he would have hers as well, then placed her phone back in her purse. It was rude to have your phone out in front of company after all. “So, Will,” Kala said trying out the name he asked her to call him. “What do you do?”

“I was a captain in Her Majesty’s Royal Navy,” Laurence answered. “I still am, I suppose, though these days I work as a liaison officer between the Royal Navy and the US Navy. How about yourself?”

“That sounds like quite the important job,” Kala replied. She was impressed at least. “I’m a pharmacist,” Kala informed him. “Helping to create drugs. Not the kind that gives medicine to you at a drugstore.” Because of course that was what most people thought of when Kala said pharmacist.

Laurence had immediately thought of the pharmacists behind the counter when she said it, and he was glad for the clarification. “That is also a very important job,” Laurence said. He took a sip of his coffee. “There’s nothing more noble than being able to heal people.” Laurence’s job may have entailed the opposite, but he held a great respect for those in the healing arts. “What kind of medicine do you develop?”

“Right now we are working on a new allergy medicine.” Which wasn’t exactly curing anything. But at least it helped relieve people’s symptoms. Granted them some relief throughout their day. Still Kala was more interesting in helping to develop medicine to cure diseases. “Do you enjoy being a liaison?” she asked bring the conversation back to him. “I feel like that must involve solving a lot of arguments.”

“Good for you,” Laurence said, encouragingly. He didn’t have any allergies himself, but he was sure that those who did appreciate her efforts.

“It’s certainly a change of pace,” Laurence answered diplomatically. Laurence had always prefered being out at sea, as opposed to being walled up in an office. And he was not entirely impressed with the Americans that he had to liaison with. Admiral Proudmouth was the kind of gentleman that Laurence prefered to avoid, when he could help it, and the men he surrounded himself with were only marginally better. “I’m afraid I’m not terribly diplomatic myself, but I think I’ve managed to get my sea legs under me, so to speak. There has been a bit of a learning curve, however.” Especially since Laurence had a short temper himself, and he had often had trouble reining it in.

That actually surprised Kala. Will seemed like he would be quite diplomatic. “I suppose that could be said for any job,” Kala replied. The learning curve that was. And maybe even being diplomatic. Although it wasn’t quite on the same level as having to be a liaison between two different Navies. But it was still good to be diplomatic in any workplace. “Are you liking it more now that you’ve been doing it awhile? Or do you want to go back to being a captain?”

“I think I will always prefer the sea,” Laurence said. She could be unpredictable, it was true, but he always made sure to run a tight ship, and there was something about having a well disciplined crew under him that could not compare with anything else. “Though, I will say that California has rather grown on me, and if I must be landlocked anywhere, it is not such a bad place to be.”


“At least you’re close to the ocean?” Kala offered with another sip of her drink. “But I must admit this place has grown on me as well.”

“Yes, there is that,” Laurence said. He was no great swimmer, as was evident when he had attempted to rescue a drowning boy and had needed to be rescued himself, but he supposed it would be no great chore to buy himself a small boat that he could take out whenever he needed some time away from the city. “How long have you been here?”

“Not very long. Less than a year,” Kala replied. “But I can’t imagine going back.” Especially when her dreams practically laid out the life she would have had if she stayed. “And you?”

“A little over two years now, though I did need to leave for some time about a year ago,” Laurence answered. Still, whether he was away for work or not, he had still thought of California as where he would return. “As for returning, if the Navy deemed it necessary I would of course return him without hesitation.” He found himself hoping that they didn’t, however.

“That’s quite some time,” Kala said taking another sip of her drink. “Do you want to return?” With the way he was talking about how he missed the sea just a few minutes ago she thought he might want to return.

“To the sea? Every day,” Laurence said. “To England…” Well, he loved England with all his heart, but “less so, I think. I’ve not much in the way of attachments in England anymore,” aside from his family, at least, and other than his mother, his relationship with the rest of his family was tenuous, despite the love he had for all of them.

“Made a new life for yourself here?” Kala questioned. It did sound like it if he had been here two years already. At least it was entirely possible that he had. “I understand,” she went on. “I don’t have much desire to return to Mumbai.” Though Kala was still running away from her life back there.

“Yes,” Laurence said. At least, he had been well on his way, before Mary had needed to move back to England. Still, important though she’d been, Mary was hardly the only bit of life that Laurence had built for himself. “At least, I am trying to. It is difficult to form any sort of stable life when you’re not entirely sure when you will be made to move once again.” That didn’t mean Laurence couldn’t try very much.

He wondered if there was any particular reason why Kala had no wish to return to Mumbai, but decorum prevented him from asking such a forward question. “I hope that you will find California more to your liking,” he said instead.

Kala gave a small nod. “That doesn’t really sound like any way to live life.” Although Kala was still adjusting to her live in Orange County it was hers. The choice to stay or go was up to her. She could get settled. And she had been. “I’m liking it so far,” Kala admitted. “Although it certainly takes some getting used to.”

“One does learn to adjust. It is not so bad as it sounds,” he said. Of course, that had been his way of life for more than half his life. While Laurence greatly desired to be married and to start a family of his own, he would not trade such niceties for his duty.

“Getting better every day,” Kala replied and it was true. Especially with the new friends she was making. William included.