Tea or Coffee?

[Christopher O'Connor]

Not that he was excited or anything, but he'd gotten to the coffee shop nearly an hour early. After finally deciding to try and get the girl to go out to coffee with him he was shocked she'd said yes. No, he didn't think he was beneath her or some nonsense. Though she was obviously at a higher financial level. Didn't mean he was less than she. The thing was he had a feeling she saw herself as such and would turn him down in a hot minute. The fact that she'd said yes made his head just a little big. Or maybe he had he all wrong, and was putting her in a velvet box she didn't belong in.

Sitting there drinking what was probably his sixth cup of flavored tea he put in another number for his sudoku puzzle. He was steadily going through every flavor that the place offered, and had even suggested a few flavors. Ever since he'd come here with Charlie he just had to give it a second chance. Looked like their teas were a lot better than their coffee, but maybe he just like tea more.

Chris glanced up at the sound of the little bells ringing above the door to see if it was Elsa. Not that he was anticipatory just it was getting close- oh bugger it he'd been looking up every damn time the bell rang thinking it was her. If she didn't walk in soon he was going to rip the bell off the wall.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa actually lived in that velvet box. She decorated it, set up furnishings and decided it would be the most formidable, impressive velvet box that ever existed. She only deigned to leave that box whenever something interested her or struck her as being useful. Chris O'Conner fit both those categories quite well, almost too well. Plus, he had been rather daring asking her, so Elsa didn't see any reason not to reward the action. Well, it was either that or shoot him down and watch the flames, which would've been about as entertaining.

So Elsa dressed in what she thought was a moderately flattering, blue floral print dress, complete with black leather half-jacket, pulled her hair back into a ponytail (leave the loose look to Erika). She had grabbed a small clutch to tuck into a pocket though, wanting to have some money on hand. She simply wasn't quite certain whether or not Chris had actually volunteered to pay for anything. It felt almost crude to have someone you'd paid turn around and spend that money entertaining you.

The bells tinkled as Elsa entered, and she nearly gave them a glaring look. She turned the expression about to look for Chris, soon seeing that he'd turned to look at her instead. Clearly someone had been waiting. Elsa frowned and dug her phone out of the pocket not containing her clutch, checking the time. No, she hadn't been late. Had he just been that early? Someone was certainly eager.

Elsa walked over at him, nodding in his direction as she drew close. "Hello Chris," she offered, extending a hand. Clearly someone didn't go on "dates" very often, if this even counted as that.

[Christopher O'Connor]

Maybe if he was lucky she would have another job ready for him, and maybe she'd pay like she did last time. If he kept getting jobs he'd be able to move out of the school and get his own place. It might mean a longer commute to class in the mornings but he'd rather have some solitude than live with roommates. Coming from a big family he'd never been truly alone is entire life.

Looking up at the sound of the bell he was glad that finally it was her. Chris flinched when she checked the time knowing that he'd obviously been sitting there for awhile. Still looking the proper little princess of Kalispell he grinned as she came up to his table. "'Ello, M'lady." He reached up and actually kissed the back of her hand his sly grin in place the entire time.

After he'd settled back into his seat he used his long legs to scoot out the chair across from him. "'Ave a seat. Unless you just came to tell meh tha' you donnae want'a 'ear fro' me agin." He slowly rotated his glass of tea first staring at the ice cubes then over at her waiting for her answer. It wasn't like he was expecting her to be his one true love or some nonsense. All he wanted was some time with a pretty girl. And maybe get a make out session, or laid. Either would work.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

M'lady? Elsa did happen to like that, as well as the accent that said those words. She didn't let any of that like show in her face though, keeping her expression as neutral as she could. He did have an entirely too sly grin on his face, which helped with Elsa keeping the whole neutral facial expression.

She slid into a seat across from him, adjusting and getting as comfortable as she possibly could. She gave Chris a look that hinted that the seating had been more because it felt like the natural thing to do, then because she was automatically accepting the seat, even if it had been so courteously provided for her. At least Elsa assumed that was what Chris was doing. she took the seat, setting her clutch beside her and eying Chris. He looked nice, she supposed, but far, far too comfortable by half.

"Are you going to be buying me a drink?" she asked, adding a sly smile. "Or is that not something that your people do on dates?" Elsa left it up to Chris's interpretation as to what "your people" meant. she could have meant males, teenagers, or possibly people from wherever it was that Chris came from. More fun to let his mind fill in the blanks than to try and figure it out. She adjusted again, opting to get comfortable, before reaching for the clutch, her fingers playing along the clasp as if to hint that she could, and would, pay for her own drink if it came to it. She just wanted to see what Chris felt was appropriate first.

Always fun to test a date, right? That's obviously how these things worked.

[Christopher O'Connor]

Suddenly he really wanted to do something to wipe that prim little expression off her face. Either in laughter, astonishment, or even anger. When she started to set down an urge to kick out her chair flashed through him, but decided that would set things off on the wrong foot. It was just he didn't get people who walked around almost like robots not showing any emotion.

After she'd settled down he sipped his drink to unclench his suddenly dry throat. Which only seemed to clench shut again when she asked whether or not he was going to buy. A part of him wanted to ask why since she was filthy stinking rich, then his chivlous voice piped up. The only reason it existed was because of his mother telling to treat girls like princesses. "Surrr-What did'ja jus' say?" She had just said the wrong thing. "My people?" His accent was thick enough to build a castle on and about as hot as a poker fresh from the fire. "You got something against Irish? Or just people who don't-"

Chris felt his words stop as he stared at her then he got up a wicked smile firmly in place. "M'lady, why o'course I'll be buyin'. What will the lovely lady be having today?" If she wanted to play hard ball then he'd just have to bring his A game to the field.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Such interesting thoughts coming from Chris. Elsa actually arched her brows at the near venom coming off him now. The my people comment got such an interesting reaction that she nearly chuckled. "I was leaving that up to interpretation," she pointed out, gesturing." It could very well mean teenage boys, which are just so known for their generosity," there, let him sit on that one.

Of course, he was already offering to buy her a drink, thinking about his A game. Elsa nearly rolled her eyes, and she had to fight the urge to ask what he was even doing playing this particular game anyway. She tried to recall whether or not she'd let him know about her power. Something in how very, very free he'd been with his thoughts seemed to hint to Elsa that the answer to that was a definite "no."

Something ending in 'acciato,'" she replied, shrugging. "Definitely none of the house drinks though. They do... strange things to the coffee here. I heard they tried a coconut flavor to celebrate summer," Elsa snorted at the very thought of it, turning slightly to look at the menu, wondering if said option was there at this very moment.

[Christopher O'Connor]

"Interpretation." She might be a fine doorful of a woman but she was also a pain in the arse. What was he thinking being here trying to have a 'date' with a girl like her? Clenching his teeth he rocked back on his heels hooking his thumbs in his pockets. "Me mother raised me righ' I pay for my dates."

Seriously the tude from this girl was grating on him. How had he not noticed this before? Or had he just thought she was trying to be professional the last time. Now he figured she'd relax and talk like a normal teenager. Maybe in her world this kind of down talk is normal. Yet again, maybe it was just for 'people like him'.

"Gootcha, acciato, coconut." Nodding he headed to place the order knowing full well she didn't want coconut. He ordered something with acciato in it with no additives what-so-ever. If she didn't like it she could specify next time. If he ever asked a girl this pretty out again he figured going to a movie might be better.

Her drink in hand he returned to their table and set the steaming caffeine beverage in front of her before sitting. "Sorry, I should 'ave asked. Did you want a scone? Or a biscotti to go with your acciato?" He raised his eyebrows in question his sly grin still in place.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

This counted as a date? Well, Elsa supposed she had more or less insinuated that it did. Certainly no point in belittling the man for it. far more fun to sit here and grin as he kept thinking about her attitude. Had he really not thought about that before now? Honestly? You'd think someone would have at least warned him about the bitchy Bellefonte, especially if he'd mentioned that he was spending time with Elsa.

At least he got everything right; Elsa had to hand that to him. She was tempted to act like whatever he did was wrong at this point. Yes, yes, a movie likely would have been safer. If nothing else, it would have left her with decidedly less to complain about, though, truthfully, she didn't exactly spend a lot of time in the movies.

Drink and boy returned, and Elsa took it, "That's alright: I didn't ask for something to eat," she replied, smiling slyly, obviously more than a little pleased with his having thought it necessary. She took a sip, then looked up at him. "Did you really not think to look into Elsa Bellefonte before taking me out on a date?" she asked, quirking a brow. She took another sip, leaning back, interested to see what he had to say about the whole affair.

[Christopher O'Connor]

At their table he swirled the tea wishing it was Irish coffee instead. He didn't normal want alcohol he wasn't actually a heavy drinker. But at this second he really wanted alcohol to at least take off the edge from the situation. He was still kind of steamed from her 'you people' comment. Seriously if a guy had said that they'd be knocking each other's block's off right about now.

"Yeah, you didn't." He smiled trying to keep up his positive attitude in place. Maybe she was just nervous and was acting like this to- Nope she was a just a- "Who took the sugar outta your tea? Seriously, lass, you are aboot as friendly as a badger." Crossing his arms he leaned onto the table his little positive attitude way gone.

"'ave I doon somethin'ta tee you off? Are are you jus' this pleasant to every bloke you go oot wi'h?" Quirking a brow up he seriously wanted to know if he'd done something. It wasn't like he'd made some crude joke or something. Though maybe she was just rattling his cage to see if he was man enough to call her out on it. He didn't know but he didn't like the game.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

So much for his positive attitude. Elsa took a sap, feeling a little sad that she'd caused Chris to lose that cheer of his. The badger bit was new though, new enough to have her chuckling. She set the cup down, leaning back slightly, meeting his gaze. She let him finish, his questions all laid out and all. Then she smirked.

"This is pretty much how I act," she replied, gesturing. "I'm not exactly great at pretending, and you'd find out sooner or later," though she did let the facade down. Not for people that she'd essentially employed who'd asked her out on a whim or because they thought she was some sort of pretty mountain to conquer. She lowered her hand for a moment, setting it on the table.

"That's why I was asking why you hadn't bothered to ask. You're acting like all this is a surprise, when you're the one who asked me out," she said. Elsa took another sip of her drink. "This is more or less how everyone would have told you I'd have acted. Why do you care so much if I'm pleasant anyway? Did you have some sort of expectation here that I'm not quite meeting?"

[Christopher O'Connor]

He sat there listening after he oh so politely went off on her. his mother would be mortified. But the way this girl just came in acting like she owned the world and he was just a servant that was so far beneath her it was vulgar to be seen with him. That just rubbed him all sorts of wrong. So he figured to drop pretexts and polite talk to perhaps end what could be a very unpleasant outing.

Chris smiled then actually laughed leaning back into his chair. With a shake of his head he kept smiling then shrugged. "I find that getting to kin the person themselves works better. Why go by rumors? Sure, I could ask a dozen guys about what a geebag you might be, but would it be truth?" Stretching his legs a little not bothering to keep up a decent posture. Why bother trying to look nice when this was so clearly not a date, or at least not anymore.

"I figured I'd see who you were for myself. What's wrong with that?" Unbuttoning the top button of his shirt he then ran a hair through his carefully styled hair. "I never asked you to pretend by the by, and I doona get why ye goot a stick up yer arse. But hey, maybe you got everything handed to you and it just comes with the territory." Chris's smile faltered at that eyes narrowing slightly then it returned full force.

"My expectation was we'd 'ave a pleasant chat get to know each other. Hell, might even make out later. Enjoy each other's company. You kin wha' people do on dates." The last was said with a bit of bite but he was still grinning like the Cheshire cat.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

A smile and a laugh now? The man's mood moved with the breeze, and Elsa wondered where he got that from. She had to smile at his assertions regarding rumors though, shaking her head. "You have to be the fifth or sixth person to tell me something along those lines. Why do I even bother cultivating an image if you all are just going to ignore it?"

Though most people didn't. Which is why Elsa Bellefonte's name still had weight... with most people. As she told Chris, Elsa did regularly meet people who barely blinked when they heard the name "Bellefonte" attached to a person instead of a building. It just amused Elsa each time, as did the various ways they all concluded that she was, in short, a bitch. She quirked her brow as Chris concluded that it must come with being handed everything.

"So I'd be pleasant were I not a Bellefonte? Interesting," she smiled and raised a brow, pausing only to take a sip. She was going to ignore his expectations, though the bit about making out nearly made her laugh (She did have a sense of humor, though it usually ran dry and black [much like Irish humor itself, believe it or not]). "Did you know I have a twin? An identical twin, in fact: Erika Bellefonte. As you'd guess, she looks exactly like me, though I usually straighten our naturally curly hair," she gestured toward her own tamed locks before nodding. "She's been given everything too, and I assure you," she leaned back, "she doesn't have a... how did you put it.... stick up her arse," she took another sip. "So I'd suggest you come up with another theory. That is, assuming that someone who's used to working for a living can use that much brainpower--oh wait," she raised her brows, "was I using your class to make a judgement about your personality? How bitchy of me."

[Christopher O'Connor]

She'd cultivated an image of being a wicked witch of Bellefonte Academy on purpose? He didn't know women did things like that on purose. Didn't they all want to be loved and adored? Maybe she chose the path of her subjects fearing her rather than loving her. Like many evils queens in literature. Now he was calling her an evil queen; good thing it was only in his head. "Why do you want people to think you're a surly cat? Doesn't that like I dunno make getting friends hard?"

It just didn't make sense to him. People wanted other people to be around them it's like human instinct, right? To have other people want you? Maybe she was a sociopath. Okay, no he couldn't jump from stick up the butt, to evil queen, and now sociopath. Though honestly evil queen and sociopath were kind of the same thing.

"Nah, I didn' say anythin' bout you bein' a Bellefonte. Jus' tha' you were a spoiled lil' princess." He hadn't met all the Bellefonte's and he couldn't say that included all rich kids. There were some rich kids who were given a lot of crap, and thus turned out alright. However, some just seemed to take things for granted just because they'd never had to fight for anything.

Erika? Why did that name sound familiar? Didn't he meet an Erika on the trails once? Oh, boy. As she went on he had an inkling that he may have hit a tiny nerve. When she finally concluded a surge of anger reflexively poured through him. But his grandfather taught him at least one useful thing. She'd paid him once, and once was all that was needed. He had to patch things up to get more out of her later.

Laughing he pushed the anger out through the loud bray of sound until he was calm. "Why you got a right prickly side to ya. Course we already established that." Chris sipped some of his tea then leaned forward resting his arms on the table. "Now tha' we got the nasty oota the way. Did'ja need more coffee?" His characteristic grin slid back into place. "Or are ya wantin' ta fight more, wild cat?"

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Surly cats often get the mice," replied Elsa archly, taking what she was fairly certain was a slang term from Chris and turning it on its head. She did nearly wince at the mention of getting friends. Yes, yes her mood did mean that she couldn't get friends very well, no matter how she tried. Though the few that she actually did manage to gather close to her were just that: close, personal friends that she trusted.

Which, in her opinion, ruled out "sociopath," though she couldn't argue that point overmuch. Several people, including her twin sister, had pointed out those tendencies in Elsa before. So it was foolish to argue against it, especially as it was just a passing, well observed thought. The princess comment was one that she was far more tempted to leap upon and tear to shreds, though of course some part of her enjoyed it. Who wouldn't?

Chris had met Erika before? And he honestly hadn't noticed that the two were identical? He struck Elsa as being more observant than that, and she couldn't help but be slightly disappointed. She still didn't quite want to address his thoughts, especially as they turned almost suddenly, the thought of proper behavior and the reminder of her money coming up. Yes, she'd use him so long as he continued to be useful.

"Is there some rule against both?" she asked, arching her brows and looking up at him, even her look challenging.

[Christopher O'Connor]

Mice. Blinking slowly he just did not get this girl in the slightest. A part of him just wanted to walk out, a rather large part actually. But he could just leave things on rocky grounds and hope to get more jobs later. He hated that he depended on the money so much. Maybe he was more like his grandfather than he liked to admit. "Might get mice, but no friends."

Chris quirked an eyebrow at her arms crossing to cover his chest. Why was it that all the truly pretty girls were crazy? Why? Crazy or really controlling. They knew they were gorgeous therefore they figured they got away with more, then again it was true. Gorgeous people just tended to get treated better. He was guilty of it. Chris wasn't delusional about his own looks, but he knew he had some good attributes.

He didn't know why it never clicked that Elsa looked exactly like Erika. Maybe because the girls acted so different? Or maybe because he honestly hadn't spent that much time with either girl. Not like he memorized every face of every person he does a job for. The job was the important thing not so much memorizing the physical features of whomever was paying him. Still, he should've made the intuitive leap. Off day for him.

Her answer made his grin fade a little then come back just a bit less fake. "Alrigh'y then. More coffee? Same as last time?" Chris stood to get more coffee wondering what they'd get to fight about next. Weird thought that, most people wonder what topic they'd get to discuss not fight over. Interesting girl. Very different. He liked it, but yet kind of wanted to slap her. Weird, all very weird.