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

[lucency]

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.

Comments

[lucency]

"I thought -"

Oh. Okay. Still, apologies are good precautions. Especially since she wouldn't want to ruin this so early in the game.

"You were joking, weren't you?"

[coops]

He chews and swallows, and then there's a mischievous smile. Of course he was joking.

"Was only playing," he says, grabbing a spare napkin to wipe at his mouth. Damn syrup. "You were getting pretty upset there. Sorry."

[lucency]

"I wasn't that upset." A rather pointed bite of pancake, even though it's mostly a cover. Maybe she was a bit more frantic than she wants to let on. She uses her napkin to cover her mouth while she talks and it becomes fairly obvious that they're the most polite people to ever grace this diner. They should feel proud. "I wanted to make sure you weren't upset. Wouldn't want to be rude."

See? Look at those aforementioned manners.

i s2g the worst fights these two will ever have... will be manner-related. or "omg r u upset??"

[coops]

"Such a fine young lady," he replies, chuckling. He crumples up his used napkin and drops it on the empty side of the table before picking up his coffee mug for a sip. "I don't upset easily. Don't worry about it. You'll come to find I'm a pretty easy-going guy."

at least until she puts sugar in his coffee just to see and he feels betrayed for a week.

[lucency]

"On just one outing?" Belle asks - mostly before she can stop herself, though there's not much reason why she would try to, once she actually stops to think about it. "Let's hope you prove that discovery fairly quickly, then."

And then she grins and her pancakes are half gone, so it's time to try to salvage the bacon from the ocean of syrup.

b e t r a y e d.

[coops]

"I haven't already? Darn."

He chomps on a piece of bacon.

w/ever it's happening you can't stop it.

[lucency]

"It has been less than an hour," she comments as she does the same, complete with a slight shrug. "I'm willing to give at least a little more time before I make that judgment."

[coops]

"I'll be on my best behavior until then," he replies, giving her a solemn nod. Then it's back to that bacon. And more pancakes. The ones that aren't drenched in excessive amounts of maple syrup.

[lucency]

For the last time, it's not excessive, it's perfect, and she's sorry that he can't see the light.

"You could be doing a lot worse, frankly," Belle says, considering it. But honestly, it just brings to mind all of the idiots her father's tried to set her up with and it's just nice to have control over that, for once. "I don't think you've got much to worry about."

[coops]

"D'you think you'd want to get breakfast with me some other time?" he asks, his tone quite nonchalant while he cuts up some pancakes. Note, he doesn't look up at her while he does so. Just waits for the reaction.

[lucency]

"You seem like a morning person," is all Belle says in reply at first. He doesn't look up and she doesn't give him a straight answer right away, pausing to take a drink of her tea. She doesn't show it, but the question has her ever-so-slightly giddy. And knocked off of her guard. Seriously, it's that easy? Drink too much iced tea and threaten to drown his food with syrup and she's already securing a second date?

I mean, he is paying. It is a date, right? The answer might be yes, but she'll figure that part out later.

"I'd love to."

[coops]

He's a reasonable guy.

"Really?" He drops his silverware, and they hit the plate with a clang. "You'd like to get breakfast again?" He looks so excited. Like he can barely contain himself. Because the prospect of getting more food when he hasn't even finished what he has in front of him is amazing. Oh - and he'll be spending time with a very pretty girl. Yes, that's good too.

[lucency]

"Is that surprising?" Belle asks, ducking her head slightly in a disbelieving look. Did her reaction really warrant such surprise and utensil-dropping? Does he just - drop things? Is that a habit? At least it wasn't his wallet this time.

But then she nods, confirming. "Yes," she says, "I would. Or dinner, even. Wouldn't say no to that, either."

[coops]

"Dinner?" Things are getting pretty serious. Because don't you know, a person can have breakfast at any time of the day they wish. "I can definitely arrange that, yes. When are you free next?"

[lucency]

Well, to be perfectly honest, he might be attractive and amusing, but maybe things should progress to something beyond wars over syrup. There's a method to Belle's madness, here. Or - progress. Progress, madness. Same thing, right?

Belle frowns slightly as she thinks the question over. She doesn't have a planner or anything of the sort with her, just a vague memory of meetings she's supposed to attend, luncheons, just being seen, and -

"I normally don't have much to do on weekends," she says. It's kind of a lie. She's sure there's something. But she'll get out of it. "Which day's best?"

[coops]

"Whichever day is best for you," he replies, "You'll find I'm pretty flexible."

He pours himself a fresh cup of coffee. "Although I like the sound of Friday. If you want me to be more decisive."

Then he takes a sip.

[lucency]

"And if I say Saturday, instead?" Belle asks - partially just to be contrary, honestly. Gotta get a little of that in, every once in a while. "That might work better." And she takes another bite of her remaining pancakes while she waits for an answer.

[coops]

"Saturday's fine too," he replies with a shrug. Cooper is easy to please. Not fussy when it comes to plan-making. He just rolls with it.

Besides, he'd rather pick a day that's more convenient for her okay. It's the gentlemanly thing to do.

[lucency]

Belle beams, taking a drink of her tea and then sealing it with a decisive nod. "Good. Saturday it is."

She almost wonders if she should shake his hand to make it official, but - no, Belle, don't be stupid. That's silly.

[coops]

Cooper actually moves to shake her hand - but when he notices she isn't exactly going for that, he just fakes her out and... picks up... something. Anything that's near his place. Ketchup? Sure. He'll just... put some... on... nothing.

Damn.

[lucency]

She just watches for a moment, biting her lip to keep from laughing. But - okay, fine, since he seemed to be all too ready for it, she plucks the ketchup bottle from his hand and sets it to the side, before taking his hand in hers and apparently this is a business transaction. Whatever.

"There."

[coops]

But - ketchup. And - dammit. He should've put it on the ham. Ketchup wouldn't have ruined it too much.

Oh but she's holding his hand. And that's nice. Really nice. So he's going to give Belle a firm handshake. And a nervous smile.

[lucency]

Ketchup's more important than officially having another date with her, Cooper? Oh. Okay.

But he's got a point. It is pretty nice. She notices. And maybe even keeps a hold on him an instant too long before reluctantly withdrawing her hand. And setting it in her lap. And clearing her throat. With an unsure smile of her own.

[coops]

The ham is more important than the ketchup. And none of those are more important than Belle.

Belle > ham > ketchup

If you need a diagram.

He clears his throat when she lets go. He wasn't going to be the one to do so first. Just because of reasons.

"Breakfast for dinner on Saturday. I can most definitely do that. Is there anything else you wanted to do? I'm open to suggestions."

[lucency]

Can we maybe get that in a bar graph instead of a mathematical equation? Just for statistical purposes. Might be helpful, just saying.

"Fantastic," she says, expression infinitely less unsure and then - oh, he's essentially giving her free reign? Huh. She won't lie, several options pop into her mind, but then again, most of them require a day trip and he does have a job. Which is good, but likely doesn't lend itself to such things.

Besides, she's only had, what - forty-five minutes worth of contact with him total? Her shrug is totally nonchalant as she said, "I've always been a fan of ice skating." Silly? Gotta deal with it.

Except maybe that's not a good idea given his dance record but.