(Untitled)

[abar_starclog]

Carl went back to San Francisco after lunch yesterday... and promptly realized he'd forgotten to leave a note for Val, at the very least. Which wouldn't be such a big deal, only he's thinking her input on the paperwork stuff could be helpful

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[empath_wiggin]

Oh, look. There's a blonde woman sitting at a table, talking to herself in some harsh language. Strange, but typical.

[abar_starclog]

"Oh, hey. I was looking for you, actually."
Meanwhile, the gears are still turning on that mystery: It can't be Whistler, we don't get paid that much. Suzi has a job, but that's mainly for her tab and money when they go home...

[empath_wiggin]

Val looks up mid-sentance, saying something in the same harsh language, then turning slightly red, and starting over. "Oh, hey, Carl. Sorry about the language. I was working through something and talking to myself." She grins. "Have a seat. What's up?"

[abar_starclog]

"Don't worry about it. Anyway, I'm trying to get together some paperwork for Suzi so she can take the citizenship test eventually, the computer wasn't very helpful at all, and I'd rather avoid the library if I can, even if Suzi did point out the chance to get some acting in on the side."
It was a tempting point, yes, but still not tempting enough.

[empath_wiggin]

"Oh, sure. That's not a problem." Val smiles. "What sort of paperwork do you need?" And implied: What language, and what era?

[abar_starclog]

"I'd have to figure out how soon she's planning on taking the test to get the year right - she learns fast, so I don't know if she'll want to wait another seven years. But something late 1980s would probably work for everyone. I'm thinking somewhere in Central America would work best with her complexion, but I haven't really narrowed that down yet, mostly because it's so hard to find anything."
Really, this all got so much easier once Suzi said he didn't have to explain the tentacles after all.

[empath_wiggin]

Val wrinkles her nose. "You would pick the one era that I've totally skipped the history of." She pauses for a moment, then flips open her laptop and starts writing. In Spanish. In -Central American- Spanish. "Right. And I'm sure if you needed any help with the test, study materials, or anything, I'd have something in my library. I swear, I have books that I don't know I have." Gotta love magical tents. "How soon do you need these papers?"

[abar_starclog]

"I don't think there's any particular rush, but then, we don't exactly tend to attract that sort of awkward questioning. Fairly soon might be the best bet for everybody, though. Just in case."
And the back of Carl's mind, still on the tab question, reaches an answer. And he pauses.
And the blurts out, "Wait, you've been paying my tab, haven't you?"

[empath_wiggin]

Val looks up from attempting to figure out the exact title of the ruler of Nicaragua in the eighties, and cracks up. "Yes, I have. I guess I've been found out."

[abar_starclog]

Excuse the boy a moment. He needs to process the bit where Valentine Wiggin is paying his tab.
"...Thanks?"
Okay, Carl, breathe. Air is good. Really.
"Process of elimination, really. Haven't talked to that many people yet, we don't get paid that much so it probably wasn't Whistler, and Suzi's job is mostly for her tab and so they have spending money when they go home."

[empath_wiggin]

"It's not a problem, Carl. Really. I want to help out where I can." And, well, everyone else whose tab she was paying has disappeared. Whoops. "And, really. If there's anything you want, anything at all, please get it. You don't even has to ask me. Just do it." Seems like someone's been spending more time with Mark than her mun realized.

[abar_starclog]

"I'd ask if you're sure, but I get the feeling that'd be like asking Suzi if she's serious about a wild-sounding story. She doesn't lie well, which more or less means at all."

[empath_wiggin]

Val just smiles. "Oh, I can lie well. I just don't unless you're a politician, or an idiot, neither of which you are."

[abar_starclog]

Carl grins. "I'd hope not. I'd have some serious problems with either."

[empath_wiggin]

"Exactly. You're too sensible to go into politics, and, frankly, no one who comes in here is stupid." Until someone apps Forrest Gump

[abar_starclog]

"Yeah, it does seem to like smart people, from what I've seen."