Informal visit (For Metody)

[evillurks]

The Shadow is hard at work coordinating things from the Rettigue apartment, today. The break from hunting out Khan's activities in his alternate's world is merely an opportunity to chase criminals in his own. Unavailable to gather forces for multiple raids and without the time to head up those operations himself, he's stuck compiling information and passing it to legal authorities through very careful channels. It's a lot of paperwork, and very tedious, but it gives him a physical rest he needs from his other activities.

When Metody arrives, he's in the most worn spot in the whole place; the center of the black plush sofa, bent over the coffee table. He regards his visitor over the rims of his reading glasses. "You've looked better. Coffee or tea?" The paperwork is shuffled neatly into a folder, out of sight.

The apartment is spacious and spartan, with sleek dark furniture. There's a grouping of the sofa and a few black armchairs around a black metal coffee table, all arranged on a vast Oriental rug. A bookshelf built into the wall opposite the sofa holds a television set that is archaic by Metody's standards, fewer books than one might expect, a sleek stereo system, and in spots of honour a card bearing Chinese calligraphy by Myra and the wrappings and knife Metody sent for Christmas. A floor to ceiling window dominates another wall, but the drapes are only open a crack. Apart from the kitchen doorway and a hall, there's little else to be seen in this room. It has quite a bit of open, empty space and the feel of somewhere that is only sporadically lived in.

Comments

[metody-green.livejournal.com]

"It probably wouldn't be. We have sky creatures you guys don't even have an- an- analogy is not the same. Equivalent? Equal? Thingie like it. Congruent."

He trails off a moment, lips silently working as he pondered over the word he wanted, and then he gave up.

"It is. It would be nice to have a guest."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

The eyebrows rise again, elegantly quirked. "That... sounds very interesting, although I wouldn't want to challenge them for a place in the sky. We only have birds. And bats."

His gaze drops to his coffee, but this is the only outward concession he will make to his awkwardness. "Thank you. When the Khan matter is over and dealt with..." He'll certainly need a vacation by then, although he may have to catch up on his sleep first.

[metody-green.livejournal.com]

"These are more like jellyfish. You get whales, too, but mostly near the open ocean and sometimes out in the Midwest. They prefer to be near flat places."

He nods a little bit, briefly wondering if the Shadow knows who Khan is - but he must. He saw his face, Metody assumes.

"Or - you know. If you can ever spare a few hours." He smiles a little. "Be like a trip to the zoo."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

"...Flying whales?" He looks intrigued, but less surprised than he might have a year ago. The Nexus makes anything seem likely.

Khan's face was just a face, but he was forced into seeing the other man's mind, and that it was his own alternate still haunts him. If it has occurred to him that Metody might have recognized Khan for who he was by the bones, he is not inclined to bring it up.

"That's... well, things are quiet now, but I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop." Speaking of time in terms of hours, of which he has few to spare, reminds him to glance at his watch. He's taken time out of paperwork for the social visit.

[metody-green.livejournal.com]

He nodded, grinning a little. He's slowly coming to see his world as something wonderful and unique and worth showing off, like a particularly dangerous man-eating lion.

"We have sea-whales, too."

When The Shadow glances down at his watch, he guiltily stirs. Oh, ye gods, he was sucking up the man's time. What, exactly, did you say to let someone know that you were enjoying the visit and while you didn't want to cut it short, you also didn't want to take up too much time, and really, it was up to them on whether or not it was time you go?

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

If his world is like a man-eating lion, then the Old Tiger may make for a very interesting visitor.

"I'm not all that familiar with ocean-going whales, when it comes down to it. I've spent more time in the air than it the water." He's spent more time on dry land than either of the alternatives, but tends to assume that goes without saying.

The Shadow drops his watch arm again without comment, although he makes a brief glance at the waiting paperwork. It looms, demanding, but he is also enjoying the much needed break. Semi-retirement doesn't look so bad, now that he's working in two worlds at once and wearing himself down at it. "I can't say when the current matter will be resolved, but I'd be glad for a vacation day afterward, assuming I survive." It's an offhand tone, but he's never quite recovered from the last big battle.

[metody-green.livejournal.com]

Metody would argue that The Shadow is not merely a man but rather the man. That's why he's called 'The' for short.

He smiles. "I look forward to it, then, or any other time you might come over and visit."

By the rules of good manners, he now owes The some coffee and polite conversation, after all.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

The Shadow would be flattered if he knew, but his ego hardly needs the additional support.

The old man cracks a smile, albeit a very weary one. "As long as you have coffee, I'd be glad to visit."

[metody-green.livejournal.com]

He hesitates.

"....chicory with...a...percentage of coffee, plus caffeine and flavor additives?"

That's like coffee, right?

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

The Shadow blinks at him, and while his face is often difficult to read, there seems to be a look of mild horror creeping across those angular, lined features.

Clearly, what Metody suggests is nothing like coffee at all.

"Do you not have real coffee? I can give you real coffee. To take home. I had no idea..." Certainly he keeps plenty on hand and he can afford to give some away to those in need.

[metody-green.livejournal.com]

"The purely real stuff is expensive back home. And it tastes kind of funny to me. It's like eating chocolate that's not the stuff you grew up with - you might know that the really expensive stuff tastes better, but when you crave, you want Hershey's." He peeks into the mug, then smiles at him. "But this is marvelous. Sometimes I think the best thing about the Nexus is all the great foods I get to try."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

Having slid forward slightly in his seat, prepared to fetch a bag of coffee grounds to send home with Metody, he pauses. "...If you say so. Are you sure you don't want some to take home?" The Shadow himself will eat and drink nearly anything, but that does not mean he has to like it.

[metody-green.livejournal.com]

He hesitated, good manners warring with the desire for a luxury. A luxury he knew wasn't very prized in other worlds.

"...perhaps...a little...?"

If nothing else, he could serve it to The when he visited.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

Certainly the knowledge that he'll have The Shadow's own favorite brand of coffee will make a valuable incentive to visit. That Metody is willing to accept the offer seems to put the old man at ease. "Do you have a grinder?"

[metody-green.livejournal.com]

"Yeah."

Both of the mortar and pestle and the hand cranked variety. Between the two, he feels he can deal with anything.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

The Shadow would find such methods only slightly primitive. Most people simply grind theirs in the store, but he is a connoisseur. With a nod he stands, and fetches a fairly sizable bag from the kitchen. It is more than a little, and it does not appear to have been opened yet, as he's still finishing off another bag.

[metody-green.livejournal.com]

In theory, Metody was communing with nature. The PIN ran rather counter to that, as did the generator hooked up to a nearby stream, though that last one was to run the radio.

He blinks once at the size of the bag, but reaches out to take it with a smile. "Gosh. Thankyou."

Maybe he'll make one cup of coffee for himself. Just one.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

If The Shadow knew Metody was meant to be roughing it, he might disapprove, but on the other hand he might consider going without coffee inhumane. Certainly he could make an entire pot of coffee, with this bag, and still have enough left over for another pot or two. It is whole bean coffee, however, so there will be slightly less when it's ground down.

"Not a problem. I always keep some on hand, in every apartment." He resumes his seat with a quiet wheeze, and settles back.

[metody-green.livejournal.com]

In his defense, the generator was provided by the Service. Even on a pattycake assignment like Metody's, radio contact was considered important. You had to report the hundredth straight day of nothing happening somehow, after all.

He grins, cradling the bag in the crook of one arm like a small baby. "I will have to keep that in mind."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

"It's relatively easy to come by, here. Just ask when you run out." Whether he means to let Metody purchase it in his world, or simply intends to keep giving him coffee as some odd payment for his reports is left open to interpretation.

[metody-green.livejournal.com]

Metody hugs the coffee, looking rather thrilled. There's a difference between popping into the Nexus and going to a Starspawn's to get a cup of coffee and being able to make it in the comfort of your own hovel.

"Sure. But I hope you'll accept some meat in return. I promise, only standard animals."



((Sorry! The past few days were a bit tougher than I thought they'd be.))

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

The Shadow raises one eyebrow over Metody's overt enthusiasm, but something about his eyes hints at mild amusement. "That's... fine, but not too much. I end up having to put things in the freezer." While he has no great need for what Metody's offering, he is also too tired at the moment to start an argument over it.

((That's fine! You might look into the writing meme I posted the other day, when you have time.))

[metody-green.livejournal.com]

"Okay. Not too much," he agrees, amiable. Single serving things would probably be best, because he somehow doubts The spends a lot of time on cooking for himself.

He hesitates, then fidgets with the bag of coffee as he tries to think of something else to say. Nothing comes to mind.

"I...guess I ought to, uh - "

((Oh, spiffy. I'll be sure to check it tonight!))

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

The Shadow is, in fact, a perfectly capable cook. A lifetime of living alone and not always in ideal circumstances has taught him to be resourceful, and he can manage something palatable even with limited ingredients. On the other hand, the modern age has left him somewhat prone to grabbing take-out of one kind or another. Metody's offerings have been a welcome break.

"Mmm." The old man regards his nervous attempt at speech with an impassive face. "You should go home and rest. Make the next report when you feel up to it."

[metody-green.livejournal.com]

He smiles apologetically. " - I should stop filling up so much of your time, too. Um. But thankyou very much. I feel much more clear headed now."

Much-much-much. He had the brief urge to chant the word after saying it so many times. He resisted; it was more from a cracked kind of social perversity than any real craziness, and would not have helped. Chanting never helped.