(Untitled)

[likesthecoat]

Ianto is in a simple mood.

TONIGHT'S SPECIALS
Martinis
vodka
burnt
dirty
absinthe
chocolate
etc.

COFFEE
any way you like it

One teaboy, ready to serve you.

Comments

[chronodisplaced]

One teenager (firmly sixteen. black shirt, cuffed jeans, and blue knit cap) sits at the bar and folds her hands over the counter top, and orders:

"May I have one café au lait, please?"

[likesthecoat]

"You may," says Ianto and goes about making one for her.

[chronodisplaced]

"Thank you."

And she goes about picking up her book of Rilke and reads.

[likesthecoat]

After a few minutes he sets the cup in front of her, complete with a biscotti (because he likes giving those to people) and says approvingly, "I love Rilke."

[chronodisplaced]

She smiles, and brightens even more at the addition of biscotti.

"I do too. I can understand some of the metaphors now, and always, the imagery is lovely."

Pause, to introduce herself.

"Alba DeTamble. It's nice to meet you."

[likesthecoat]

"Ianto Jones. Nice to meet you too.

"Are you reading it in German or in translation?"

[chronodisplaced]

"In the German," she shrugs with a scrunched nose expression, "I need the practice for school."

She takes a small sip of her au lait.

[likesthecoat]

"Languages are valuable. I wish I'd paid more attention sometimes."

[chronodisplaced]

She confides: "I'm awful with sciences. We all have something we're terrible at, right?"

[likesthecoat]

"We do," says Ianto.

Ordinary mortals do, anyway. The Teaboy may not.

"What's your where and when, Alba?"

[chronodisplaced]

"Right now? I'm from Chicago, Illinois. On Earth. October, two-thousand and seventeen."

Beat.

"But I came in from nineteen sixty-seven. Visiting my Dad."

[likesthecoat]

Ianto tilts his head.

"You...look very young."

[chronodisplaced]

"I'm sixteen. I time-travel," this information is shared in a very matter-of-fact manner, "and it's genetic."

She nibbles the biscotti and dunks it into her coffee. That's the best part.

"He had a nightmare and I read him a book until he fell asleep."

He was four.

[likesthecoat]

"That ... is brilliant. Terrifying, but brilliant."

[chronodisplaced]

"It's a very interesting life."

She smiles broadly, sitting up straight, opened book resting on the counter for the moment.

"I'm learning how to control it too. To go where I want. Sometimes, it works."

[likesthecoat]

"It sounds like it must be.

"The only other time-travelers I've known need gadgets to do it."