widowshill | one more cup of coffee for the road

Entry tags:

one more cup of coffee for the road | (coops)

There are certain perks to having someone else's wallet.

Not the money that might be stored in there; in all honestly, Belle hasn't even touched it. It could be three dollars or fifty for all she knows. No, it's more along the lines of identification. Contact information. The telephone number of a certain Special Agent Dale Cooper. That sort of thing.

Truthfully, her father and his connections could have likely had it back to him the same evening that he dropped it, if she'd told him. Or even handed it to one of the other guards working that evening. But Belle had decided to take matters into her own hands regarding this, call him up herself, completely innocuously arrange a meeting.

She hadn't been expecting breakfast, necessarily, but it's not something she's going to complain about. And she waits patiently outside, just as planned, wallet tucked safely into the purse that she has slung over her shoulder. She's not going to be the one to lose it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"This is one of the rare instances where you'd be safe ordering anything off the menu," he explains, scooting into the booth on the opposite side of her. "I speak from experience."

He smiles, plucking a menu up from by the sugar shaker and holding it out for her to peruse.

As for him? He doesn't need a menu. He's already known what to order since jogging down the street. Maybe even before that.

She takes that as confirmation, eyebrows shooting up curiously as she takes the menu from him and lays it out on the table to look at. Oh - wait - there are pancakes. So many pancakes. And iced tea. Is it too early for iced tea? The real question is, does she actually care?

"Oh!" she says suddenly, looking up from the listing of heavenly breakfast offerings and instead turning toward her purse. "I believe I have something of yours." And she opens it, pulls out his wallet, and holds it toward him.

Okay, so collateral's gone, but it's an even trade.

"Ah - perfect." Cooper smiles, taking his wallet back. He doesn't bother checking its contents. "Now I'll be able to treat you. You just order whatever you like, okay? As long as you save room for pie."

"Treat me?" Belle almost blurts the question out, taken aback, and she points at herself. A second later, once the surprise wears off, she tilts her head slightly. "What do you need to do that for?"

So, first breakfast, and now free breakfast? Double the unexpectedness. It wasn't as though she'd come empty handed; there's probably enough money to cover them both and then some in the change purse in her bag, but she's not going to complain. In fact, she's just going to smirk a little before scanning the menu once again for posterity's sake.

And then - she frowns and leans forward slightly just before the waitress approaches their table. "It's not even nine in the morning," she comments. "Are they even going to have pie?"

Cooper looks quite confused by Belle's confusion. "As thanks for returning my badge, of course," he replies. "Not to mention agreeing to come out this early and join me."

Because isn't it obvious? Let him be the gentleman here.

When the waitress is nearby, he gives her a slight wave. And yes, she recognizes him from the morning before.

"Of course they're going to have pie, Miss Belle," he says. "This is a twenty-four-hour establishment." He leans in to mirror her, dropping his voice to a whisper. "Besides, it's the best in the mornings. Trust me."

"Well," she says, with the slightest trace of a laugh. "It was no trouble, trust me. But in that case, you're more than welcome to." And she grins.

The Miss being added to her name is throwing her slightly, but for now, she doesn't attempt to say it's unneeded; after all, she's fairly certain Agent Cooper's probably still the suggested name for him, and it makes them even. And so, she keeps quiet, with one last glance at the menu before decidedly closing it and taking a breath.

When the waitress finally does come to take their orders, after a moment's hesitation, she definitely goes for the pancakes. With bacon. And a fruit cup. Because, dammit, she does not take this nor the iced tea she gets lightly. But no pie yet, despite a sidelong glance at Cooper. Is she a complete disgrace?

"Most excellent, Miss Belle!" he replies with a grin.

He lets her order her food first, since it's the polite thing to do. Then, without batting an eye at her choices, he orders for himself. He's pretty hungry, so today it's pancakes, bacon, hash browns, ham, toast, a pot of coffee, and a slice of cherry pie for when he's done with everything.

He'll comment about the lack of pie in her order later. Now's not the time.

Hey, she'll fix it in a minute, okay. Excuse her for not knowing what the protocol is for dessert at this particular restaurant. No big deal.

For now, she crosses her arms across the table and blinks at him, the slightest bit surprised and isn't he going to explode?

"That's a lot," Belle suggests, surprise evident. It's a little blunt (alright- maybe more than a little), but no judgment here. Go for it.

The look on his face.

It's like someone just slapped him. Or drank the last bit of coffee from the pot. Or took the last bite of pie straight off his plate.

He doesn't say anything at first, just sort of... stares across the table at her.

"Is it?" he finally replies quietly. No one's ever really said anything about his eating habits before. It's terrifying to him.

He doesn't really know what else to say. Just sits there. Thinking it over.

"I don't mean anything by it," she says quickly, sitting back and shaking her head, eyes widening. There she goes again, not thinking before acting - or, in this case, speaking. "I was just surprised, that's all."

Her foot taps under the table and she frowns, looking down at her lap, and then around the diner once again. Hopefully, she hasn't ruined everything - or even anything, and she casts Cooper an apologetic glance from across the table, finally.

"My appetite tends to get the best of me most times," he says with a slight shrug. "The food here is exceptionally good, so - I tend to look forward to it."

And hey look - his coffee is here. Thank goodness.

He gives a nod of thanks to the waitress as she sets everything down. He doesn't bother adding anything to it, simply drinking it black.

And excellent, her iced tea's arrive as well. If anyone can get excited about a typical non-alcoholic beverage, it's Belle, and she downs about a fourth of the glass in one drink. She offers him a grin at his response and a nod in understanding. It's not like she has much room to talk, really.

"And I assume your job requires that much energy, anyway," she says, pushing her glass away slightly before she finishes it too quickly. See? Bright side to everything.

"Mm, that it does," he replies with a slight nod. "That it does." Give him a moment, Belle. He's silently worshiping that first sip of coffee of the day. It's good. Damn good. So good that he holds the mug with both hands.

That's fine, he can have that moment. She'll stay out of it for a second, silently sitting back against the booth, just observing him for the time being, hands neatly in her lap. See, look, Belle knows already that it's impossible to interfere in the special relationship between Dale Cooper and his coffee. Not that it's too difficult to pick up on, but.

It's a great moment. Now Cooper feels like he's ready for anything the day has to throw at him. Breakfast dates included.

"Fine cup of coffee," he finally says, setting the mug down. Then he nods a bit, reassuring himself.

He shoots Belle a smile. "How about you? I can't say I've ever tried the tea here. Is it any good?" Judging from how fast she's practically drained her glass...

"Sort of a connoisseur or things like that?" she asks. Not too far of a leap, she doesn't think. He did treat the coffee sort of like a wine-tasting, after all. And he's got the whole pot to go along with it. Two points for deductive reasoning. A regular detective over here.

A glance toward her glass and she grins and nods. "Fantastic. I'd say it was addictive if I didn't know any better. You've already picked a good place."

"Well, not exactly," he admits. "I just like hearing your input. If everything's up to standards. That sort of thing." Tea is great, but not right now. Coffee is king.

Before he makes even more of a fool of himself, their breakfast shows up. Look at him opening his napkin in his lap and making sure his silverware is lined up properly at his place.

She takes a moment to consider - and another sip of iced tea to keep it fresh in her mind. "Right now, I think it is," Belle replies with a nod and the tiniest little smirk. "But don't relax. You're still being tested."

And then there are pancakes in front of her, and she takes a look at his almost ritualistic preparations, and - nope. Still amused. But like she said - still being tested. This is it. But she reaches over to one of the pots of syrup and once she practically drowns her plate in it, it won't matter. Hold on.

There's a ritual to it, alright. A method. Once his plates are set down in front of him, he moves clockwise from the top, occasionally stopping for a nibble toast or a sip of coffee. Cooper takes his time, savoring each bite like it's his last, like all the pigs in the world are dead and there ain't gonna be any more bacon. Or ham. Or - you get the picture.

"Do you need any more pancakes to go with that maple syrup?" he jokes, pointing toward Belle's plate with his fork. "I could ask the waitress to put in another order for you."

"I happen to prefer it this way," she replies, taking on a fake haughtiness as she reaches out, and, in an oh-so-daring move, moves his wrist (and therefore the fork, as that's actually what she was going for), away. Eyes on your own food, Cooper.

The syrup is, in fact, more or less drenching everything she ordered (apart from the fruit cup, thankfully. Belle doesn't quite know how she'd feel about that. It'd be almost like maple syrup and ice cream. Which would be bizarre.), and that's completely okay. But she takes a break for a moment, fork stabbing a piece of melon as she regards him for a moment. Popping it into her mouth, she reaches over for the pot of syrup again, almost brandishing it.

"After all, you don't see me saying that you don't have enough."

Whoa whoa whoa. Excuse you. Cooper looks positively scandalized when Belle swats at his hand. He puts both of his hands up in front of himself as if saying it's all good - don't worry about it.

"I believe I've poured enough syrup on my pancakes. But I value your professional opinion."

Belle isn't actually sure whether he's legitimately offended or not.

So she sits there for perhaps a beat too long, pot of syrup "threateningly" lifted between them, trying to figure it out. Until she puts it back down and busies herself with wiping her hands with the napkin in her lap.

"Well. As long as you know that the offer still stands." And that's a resolute nod before she decisively picks up her fork again.

Cooper doesn't dare remove his eyes from the threatening maple syrup. He silently wills her to put the damn thing down. Too much syrup would be a travesty.

Then she sets it back down on the table, and he visibly exhales the breath he'd been holding.

Thank goodness for that.

He just goes back to eating his perfect pancakes, okay.

Alright, lesson quickly learned: nothing comes between Dale Cooper and his breakfast routine, not even a tiny rich woman. Good to know. Filed away for future reference.

But without any input from him other than an incredibly relieved sigh, she's still ever-so-slightly wary that he was more serious than expected. So her fork dances around her plate (through the syrup because that's the best part whatever whatever), and then comes a somewhat hesitant, "Sorry," from Belle across the table. Just in case.

"For what?" he replies, mouth full of pancake. Obviously his manners escape him at this moment.

But he doesn't like seeing her look like that. Uneasy. Upset?

one more cup of coffee for the road | (coops)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

i tried to get in a shot at your denny's sundae but then i couldn't find anywhere for bacon so.

rude.

you need to go back and see if that guy will make you another one.

i do.

no subject

no subject