Multipup! / an interdimensional watering hole

[mm_adiva]

Comments

[border_prince]

One of the less-advertised aspects of working for Torchwood: paperwork.

James is thrilled to open a door to an excuse to avoid his for a couple more hours. He picks up his customary pint at the Bar, then turns to scan the room. Well, as much of it as a person can scan without going cross-eyed, at any rate.

It doesn't take long for him to spot a familiar figure by the fireplace. He smiles and approaches.

"Hello, Echo," he says, taking a seat across from her.

[doingeverything]

She looks up and breaks into a smile.

"Good evening, James."

[border_prince]

The fireplace is nice; the weather has been a bit on the raw side. Not that that's terribly unusual in Cardiff at this time of year. James relaxes contentedly into his chair.

"How've you been?"

[doingeverything]

"I'm well. It's cold outside," she tells him seriously. "It means I can't go swimming, but I like it in here."

[border_prince]

James nods.

"'Snice in here," he agrees. "It's cold back home, too. And the Hub's underground, so it's always a bit chilly."

He isn't sure whether Jack keeps the temperature down to save on fuel - it's a consideration, even for an alien-catching organization with access to technology lightyears ahead of the best the Earth has to offer - or just because he's cold-blooded himself.

Or he's just a bastard. That's always a possibility too.

[doingeverything]

"Do you have any fires there?"

[border_prince]

"Only if something's exploded," James can't help saying, but follows it swiftly with,

"Nah, no fireplaces in the Hub. Or my flat, for that matter. Have to go out special to find one if I want one."

[doingeverything]

She considers, and then brightens.

"You can come here!"

[border_prince]

James smiles.

"I do whenever it shows up," he says. "Lovely fire, lovely company."

[doingeverything]

"I'm glad. I like seeing you. Do you want hot chocolate? It's nice next to the fire."

[border_prince]

"I have this, thanks," James says, raising his pint.

"I like to see you, too. Oh, which reminds me" - sort of, in an indirect and random kind of way - "I did finally meet Topher."

In case Topher hasn't mentioned the meeting to her.

[doingeverything]

She perks up. "You did?"

[border_prince]

"I did." James sips from his pint, a bit reflective. "We had a nice little chat. I showed him the lake."

Well, he's hardly going to get into his lingering doubts about the entire situation with Echo.

[doingeverything]

"I'm glad." She leans in a little, conspiratorially. "It's hard to get him to go outside sometimes."

[border_prince]

James chuckles.

"You could ask him to swim with you sometime," he suggests. "When it's not so cold."

[mm_batya]

If Topher knew that comment was being made, he would thank God he wasn't there to hear it.

... if he believed in God.

As it is, though, he's meandering down the stairs in search of breakfast. Any moment now he'll catch sight of the two in conversation by the fire.