Winn (computerlad) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2020-06-24 19:16:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, william laurence, winn schott |
Who: William Laurence and Winn Schott
What: Random encounter
When: Recent!
Where: Farmer's Market in Costa Mesa
Ratings/Warnings: Low/none
Status: Complete
Winn had only been in Costa Mesa for about a week. He was adjusting to work out here. It wasn’t like his job was all that different, but he did have different people working under him now. He was still working on gaining their trust and respect. Computers and code? Winn was great at that. People? Not so much. Especially when it came to him being in charge. But he had a job to do so he did it.
Now it was the weekend, he should probably finish unpacking, but he decided to put it off just a bit longer. He wanted to explore his new home. He found himself wandering around Costa Mesa, just taking in his surroundings, getting to know the place. Winn ended up stumbling upon a farmer’s market and figured he might as well check it out. See what all the hype was about. He walked through the stands, stopping at one that sold baked goods. A cookie sounded pretty damn good right about now.
Laurence loved the Farmer's Markets. It was his favourite way to buy his weekly groceries. Everything was fresher and locally grown and made. Being able to do his shopping out of doors, with the sun warm on his head and the sea breeze cool on his face was a pleasure immeasurable. There were always plenty of people about, and being able to have a conversation with the people who prepared his food for him was an experience that he would be loath to give up if he didn’t have to.
While he most often went to the Farmer’s Market in Seal Beach, when he had spare time he liked to explore others throughout the county on the chance that he might encounter a special treat. The baking goods stall drew his eye with its brightly decorated cakes and cookies, and he thought that this was where he was most likely to find that special treat he was looking for.
And yes, there it was, a package of cookies that he thought he might share with Pidge on their next Sunday dinner. He nearly reached for a package of the cookies, each of the cookies decorated with a dragon or a phoenix or another fantastical creature in the icing, but catching sight of another man looking at them, he withdrew his hand back to his side. “They look delicious, don’t they?” he asked.
Winn was taken slightly off guard by the man speaking to him. It took him a moment to realize the guy was looking at the same package of cookies that he was. “Oh, uh, yeah,” Winn replied a bit awkwardly. “Did you want them?” He could find another cookie to get. There were plenty of options and he was sure they all tasted just as good.
“Not if you were hoping for them,” Laurence said. “There are plenty of goodies to choose from, and I believe it’s first come, first serve, as the saying goes.”
“Well if you’re sure,” Winn replied taking the package of cookies. It was like the guy said there was plenty to choose from and he didn’t mind being the one that chose something different. But he had a feeling they could talk about who could take the cookies all day so he might as well.
“I’m quite certain,” Laurence said, looking over the table thoughtfully. “Have you ever had any of the baking from here before?” he asked. It was his first time patronizing the particular stand, and he hoped that the man might be able to give him a recommendation.
“Nah,” Winn replied. “I, uh, actually just moved here about a week ago. Haven’t had stuff from any of these stands before. You?”
“Did you?” Laurence exclaimed. “I’ve never bought from here myself,” he added. “I normally go to the Seal Beach Farmers’ Market, but I thought today I’d venture a little further away from home. Where did you move from?”
“Hopefully it pays off.” Though if the cookies were as good as they looked and the other man did end up getting something from here, Winn had a feeling it would be worth the trip. “The Big Apple,” Winin replied immediately feeling stupid. Who the hell called it that? Tourists maybe, but not someone that lived there. Sometime he regretted the words that came out of his mouth.
“New York?” Laurence asked, as if to confirm. “You know, I’ve often wondered why they call it the Big Apple. That’s quite the move.”
“Yeah,” Winn said with a shrug. “I was transferred out here,” which was the simplest way to put it. “So here I am.” Way to state the obvious, Winn. “Have you always lived here?”
Laurence didn’t laugh out loud, though there was a silent laughter in his eyes. With his accent, he thought it was unlikely that anyone truly thought that he had spent his entire life on this side of the pond, though he appreciated the attempt at politeness. “Only for the last three and a half years, thereabouts,” he said. “I was also transferred here for work, though it seems as though as though it’s become more like home than home ever was.” He held out a hand. “I’m Will Laurence.”
“Winn,” he replied, reaching out to shake the man’s hand. He left his last name out considering it was the same as a serial bomber. Even if most people just remembered his father as The Toyman, he still didn’t like to take the risk. “Nice to meet you,” he said as he let go of the hand. “And thanks for forfeiting the cookies,” he added with a large smile.
Laurence understood that many people preferred to give only their first name, though he still didn’t always appreciate it. Jumping straight to a first name basis with someone always felt intolerably intimate. It was one aspect of living among the public, outside of the circles of British nobility, and among civilians, outside of the strict military social order, that he had never quite been able to adjust to.
“The pleasure is all mine,” Laurence said, warmly. “I do hope that you’ll enjoy them.”
“I’m sure I will,” Winn said with another smile. “And I’m sure you’ll find something just as delicious.” Considering all the options at least, which made him feel less bad about taking the cookies.