Hitting on beautiful people in the uni cafeteria

[wisdom_of_cats]

Who: Heracles and Emiliana
Where: University cafeteria
When: Afternoon
What: What it says on the label

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[salylimon]

If there was one thing Emi hated, it was the cold. Though she supposed, given that it was still early November, she should consider herself lucky that it had yet to get too cold. But still, bundled up in her red coat and scarf, Emi all but hurried into the university cafeteria, seeking warmth, a place to sit, and maybe a decent cup of café con leche to warm her up further before going home. Some time alone with a good book before heading back to the isolated cave that was hers and John's apartment seemed like a good idea, especially if it meant distracting her from the odd dream of the day before and of the even odder state of her relationship with Matthew

[wisdom_of_cats]

Heracles didn't continue the conversation right away, instead throwing the occasional sideways glance at the young woman who seemed immersed in the book she was reading. Briefly, his mouth fell into a slight pout, hidden behind a cup of coffee. Surely that book couldn't be that interesting?

Setting his cup down, Heracles leaned over the table, peering at the text and trying to catch the girl's eyes in the process.

"Spanish, huh?" he said softly, talking more to himself than anything.

[salylimon]

Briefly, Emi contemplated the possibility of getting up to seek out a different table. However, she was much too stubborn for that. She had arrived here first, as far as she knew, and she had found this table first. But maybe the brunette seemed incapable of reading social cues so Emi forced another smile on her lips as she glanced up once again before straightening in her seat.

"Mmhm," she murmured, fingers tapping lightly against the inside of her novel. "La muerte de Artemio Cruz,," she continued before pausing. "Ah, it's a novel by an author named Carlos Fuentes. The English translation is, ah, The Death of Artemio Cruz." She was half-tempted to ask what he wanted from her. But now wasn't the time to pick an argument with a stranger so instead she allowed her gaze to linger on the man's face, dark eyes almost challenging him to continue before they finally lowered to focus on the text once again.

[wisdom_of_cats]

Ah, not the best moment after all. Clearly she was just moments away from dismissing him as a jerk. And a bad first impression was poison on any sort of friendly relationships.

Still...

Heracles laughed a little, a soft, surprised sound, and widened his eyes slightly. "I've read that one! Not in Spanish I'm afraid... but I did rather like it," he had, even. As part of an assignment, but unlike much compulsory reading, he'd actually read the whole thing and not just it's wikipedia article. "Rather terrible man, that Artemio Cruz, not that I can throw any stones."

[salylimon]

She could feel the blush on her cheeks getting warmer as she shifted on her seat, trying to ignore the faint sparks of embarrassment. Regardless, Emi was able to keep further signs of her suddenly flustered emotions from showing. Of course, this was still difficult as she was much too used to these situations propping up...in private with whomever she was dating at the time or places such as bars and clubs and not university cafes.

"Mm, no, you're right," Emi eventually said, unknowingly licking her lips in thought before her eyes flickered back toward his own. "Though, don't need to try? Sounds a little vain, querido," she teased lightly.

[wisdom_of_cats]

"It's not vanity if it's based on fact," Heracles replied blithely, grinning unrepentantly.

He glanced at the slight flush remaining on Emiliana's cheeks, and toned down the grin a little.

"I'm not making you uncomfortable, am I?" he asked, tone much gentler than before. "I sometimes forget not everyone is as... open about such things as I am."

[salylimon]

"Fact, huh?" Emi repeated before she started at the sudden inquiry. Now she could feel her cheeks begin to heat up at the realization that her slight unease had been noticed, expression embarrassed for a different reason as she shook her head.

"No, no. It's fine. I mean, technically I should be used to it considering the types of friends I tend to make. Especially since....most of my friends tend to be male to begin with," she responded with a sheepish laugh.

[wisdom_of_cats]

"Mm..." Heracles replied, his fingers playing absently with the cup half full of cooling coffee. To ensure it didn't go to waste, he took a few large sips, sighing as he placed it back on the table, finger circling round the rim, before he tapped it to his lips. For all his languidness, Heracles was surprisingly prone to fidgeting like that, though he himself would have explained it as being a tactile person. And, that much he could admit, rather easily bored.

As his attention returned to Emiliana, he smiled though.

"Still, you're free to tell me if I'm too," he made a vague gesture with one hand "Anything. I've told in the past I can be a bit overwhelming. Though, it wasn't always a complaint," he couldn't resist adding with a flirty smirk.