2021-02-02 - Tea with Mr. Tumnus

It has been a busy week for Xavier, he quit one job and put one in it's place and he's feeling very good about this move. So since he has some free time, he remembers his promise to fetch hot beverages with Turner and sent him a text. He chose the espresso place because he is a bit of a coffee snob and a dinner didn't seem like the sort of place he wanted to go to. He's already here but he hasn't ordered yet as he figured it would be rude to do so, so instead he is leaning against the wall with a Kindle in his hand and is quickly reading and drowing out the people around him. He has on a wool coat, that is open and a hand knit scarf over his neck. His shirt is a dark grey button down and he wears a pair of well tailored jeans.

Entering the coffee shop a little hesitantly, Turner pauses in the doorway. He takes off his coat once inside, draping it over one arm. He's dressed in what can only be described as 'nerd chic', a slightly oversized dress shirt complimented by a black 'pussy bow', the sleeves rolled up over the gray cardigan, a pair of new-looking jeans with obvious buttons up the front. His normally somewhat wild curls are more orderly than usual, and, for a change, not pulled up and out of the way.

Spotting Xavier, the young man begins walking toward him, looking oddly nervous. Just meeting a possible new friend for coffee, nothing unusual here! Standing next to the table, he hesitates before speaking. "Hi."

Xavier is sucked into the book, whatever he is reading as brought a hint of red to his cheeks. It's Hi that finally pulls him out of it and he clears his throat as he closes the case on his Kindle. "Turner! So glad you could make it." The kindle is tucked into a small bag and he gestures to bar so they can order their coffee. "I like the jacket." He says honestly, though he's feeling just a nervous and he isn't sure why. He isn't sure what to say yet so he gets in line.

Awkwardness ensues as Turner reddens slightly in return, which only serves to make his freckles more visible. "Thank you." he manages. "I like your coat," is Turner's response, but it's slightly stilted, as if he'd been about to say something else but changed his mind. He follows Xavier to the line, fidgeting nervously with the hem of his jacket, twisting it between his index and ring fingers of his left hand.

"Thanks." Xavier responds and realizes that they're past the small and now he's going to have to find other topics. He notes the nervous gesture but isn't sure what to say about it. Maybe he makes him nervous? Maybe it's because he's Canadian? Either way he gets to the front and orders his coffee and something to nibble on and gestures toward Turner. "I'll get his too. It's the least I can do for all the help the other day." He smiles weakly as he steps aside, allowing Turner to order.

"O-oh, you don't have to do that, I can..." he trails off, though, as Xavier's already agreed to, and the poor barista is waiting. "Um... hot chocolate, please, with just a little whipped cream on top, and... a blueberry scone?" He sounds like he's worried about being a problem for the staff, rather than understanding that it's literally their job. The fidgeting continues, he thanks the barista, then steps aside, as well. "I was just doing my job, honestly, it's okay..."

Xavier shakes his head as he pays and gestures toward the hot beverages on the way. "Think nothing of it, it doesn't matter that it was your job, you still made me feel welcome." He waits patiently for their orders before heading toward a small table in the corner. It seems to be his MO, hide from everyone in plain sight. He isn't sure why he's feeling so awkward, or why there is a whole wave of nerves floating off of Turner but either way he sits and prepares his beverage. "Have you uhm, ben a librarian long?"

The librarian follows after, having ducked his head a little at the reply, but smiling all the same. "I'm glad I was able to make you feel welcome, then... I've only been at the library for a month. I graduated in May, but my Grams passed a way a few weeks after I graduated and I just... needed some time to process and sort out the estate..."

Turner sits opposite Xavier. It's definitely not a date, but it could totally look it to an outsider. "My parents and my older brother died when I was a kid, and then my sister ran away, so it was just... me and Grams... and this is really depressing, sorry. We can talk about something else."

"You do the job well for being so new at it." Granted all he really saw was reshelving and creating a new card. Hearing his tale, Xavier shakes his head and sets his mug down. "A death of a family member is nothing to take lightly, I am sure you needed that time. That's a lot to put on you." He frowns a bit but reaches out to gently touch his hand. "No it's okay, you sound like you want to talk about it and I am more than willing to listen." It keeps him from thinking about his own problems.

There's a little nod, and Turner looks down at his hot chocolate, which has more than a 'little' whipped cream, but isn't a ridiculous amount either. "No, it's too depressing for this nice hot cocoa." Turner says with a slightly sad smile. "I went to the Faroe Islands and spent a month. It was absolutely beautiful, like something out of a fairytale and the locals were really sweet once they realized I was trying to speak their language... and failing horribly." he laughs, blushing.

Xavier takes his hand away and sets it on his lap ans sips his coffee. "No I understand." He replies as he continues to listen. "That sounds absolutely lovely. I don't think I've been any place like that, but I felt that way in France. Despite being fluent in French, it was different than the French I was used to speaking. There were a lots of mis-understandings while I was there, but I adapted." The topic of Travel seems to be safe so Xavier continues with it. "Is there anywhere else you've wanted to visit?"

"Lots of places. I've always wanted to go to some of the major cities around the world, but I also want to be responsible with my finances, too. I'd love to go back to the islands, but there's this little village in France called Eguisheim that's got some beautiful architecture and a lot of history. The houses are so colorful and bright." Turner's eyes begin to brighten as he speaks, becoming more alive and animated than he's ever seemed in Xavier's presence, describing the town. "In the summer all the windows seem to have flower boxes, and there's this big fountain in the square that's surrounded by flowering vines spilling over and it just... looks like a beautiful place to spend a quiet weekend." his expression turns wistful and embarrassed now, "Sorry, I know it's something silly to get excited about. You don't go to France to see some medieval village, you go to see Paris and the tower."

Xavier lets Turner paint the picture for him. He's not familiar with the exact place, but he has been to some places in France that sound similar. It's nice to see him comfortable and not shy, an d he wants to encourage that. "Never apologize for a passion. Unless it's something weird like slapping people with fish or murder." He says thoughtfully. "Also if you go to France just to see Paris you're doing it wrong. I'm not saying don't go to Paris it has it charms but for me, the south of France is my absolute favorite. There's this village I went to, it's medieval like you mentioned, right on the coast of the sea. When the sun hits the water just right, it looks like a million diamonds as far as the eye can see. What you do is find yourself a little restaurant in view of the ocean, order yourself some very fresh seafood and a cool glass of wine. "

"That sounds amazing." Turner is looking at Xavier, actually looking at him, while the man speaks. "It sounds like a beautiful way to spend an evening with someone worth sharing the view." Oh. Oh! Turner looks away suddenly, back down at his hot chocolate, his cheeks suddenly flaming. "I love the water. I probably shouldn't, but I do. It's soothing, hearing waves, or being on the beach. Come spring, the beaches here are pretty, or if you want actual ocean, Ocean Shores is nice. It's no Southern France, but..." he shrugs a little and smiles again.

"It would be, and I hope to one day have someone worthy of taking there and enjoying seafood with." Xavier says casually but when Turner looks away he clears his throat and sips his coffee. He doesn't want to pry but he isn't sure why he's blushing so much. "Any body of water is fine. I get excited over a well kept pond." He smirks. "I grew up around water, but the St. Lawrence was my favorite. I look forward to seeing the beaches when the weather is nicer." Right now it might not be so great.

"I like going to the beach, but I'm not much for swimming. Anything deeper than a bath tub and I get anxious." Turner shrugs a little, then takes a nibble of his scone, smiling, closed mouth, at the flavor. "This is really good..." he murmurs, but it's not clear whether he means the food or the company.

"The ocean is so wild I can understand why you would feel anxious about that. I'm used to calmer waters while swimming, and I'm happy to get my feet wet, but I'll leave the serious diving to practiced people." Xavier says thoughtfully as he also nibbles on his scone. "It is quite good." Setting it down he holds up his hand. "Oh I forgot to mention, I got a new job, at a bookstore. No more boring tax problems for me."

"O-oh, which store?" Turner asks, looking up, eyes bright. "It's almost like we're coworkers... except I think my job's trying to put yours out of existence and big corporations have been trying to strangle library funding for at least a generation..." he laughs, softly. "I love book stores, though. It's a different feel than libraries..."

"Likely Stories. I just happened to walk by and saw the help wanted sign. It feels better than the tax office. Or at least it will once I start. He also said I could write if we were slow and my duties were complete, and I can't ask for a better gig than that." When he hears Turner's thoughts on libraries and larger bookstores, he nods his head. "It does. A library you can see how many people checked it out before you. In a bookstore you don't have to give the book back because it's yours." Not that he's the sort of person to have late fees for overdue books."

"Oh, Mr. Weber's place? Careful, town rumor says he's a witch. His family came from Salem." Turner's eyebrows go up, and his eyes get playfully wide, before he gets more serious. "Unfortunately, a couple of his ancestors were actually hanged for witchcraft. Small minded people doing horrible things... probably because they were... like us... but... I didn't know you're a writer, are you published?" Turner leans forward in his seat slightly, clearly curious now.

Xavier tilts his head thoughtfully. "He didn't seem all that witchy to me." He smirks, but the information is interesting. "Of course they do. I come from a long line of small minded people. My aunt is one of the few in my family who actually thinks for herself without the stigma of 'what ever will the neighbors think?'" With a smirk he sips from his coffee again. "I am, but the books are not all that great. Lots of.. flaws."

"Small town gossip is all. You hear a lot when people don't notice you exist." he smiles, sipping his (now warm) hot cocoa. "My family was fairly open minded, especially Grams." Upon hearing that Xavier is, in fact, a published author, Turner brightens a little more, "I'll have to make sure the library has copies of your book." his voice is soft, warm. "I'm sure it's better than you say, we're always our own hardest critics."

"Clever." Xavier says as he sets his coffee down to nibble on a scone. "It's good to have people like that, someone on your side who actually listens." He says but hearing that he wants to have his books in the library. "Oh no, please this isn't modesty. There are so many plot holes and a poorly written main character that it's practically unreadable. I would rather it be buried."

"... Have you ever read Tolkien?" Turner asks, tilting his head to one side slightly as he does, regarding Xavier with a smile. "His pacing is terrible, he has an entire sequence wherein random side characters who never appear again are introduced, and despite living in a world where the Queen Herself was in the army, he has exactly three women in the entire world, and only one of them ever does anything of real consequence to the story. No writer is perfect, and early works are often less polished than later endeavors... though I would argue that once writers reach a certain degree of fame, the work can diminish again as they refuse to listen to their editors." It's the most words he's said in a single go, and he looks surprisingly confident on this topic... until he ducks his head again, blushing. "Sorry. I was a terror in my World Lit class."

Xavier purses his lips and sighs. He isn't wrong at all, and the smiles distracts him for a moment. The rant also brings a smile to his lips and perhaps it's the confidence that has him staring more than he should. When he apologizes Xavier sighs. "Don't do that. I like it when you rant about lit, I enjoyed those classes in college and I wish I could have taken more of them." He pauses for a second, fishing for more. "So who else do you despise?"

A firm shake of his head, "No, no, Tolkien was masterful at world building and his concepts. He invented entire languages, religions, folklore and had deep, overarching plans for much of his work. It's not that I despise him, I just... he had his flaws, and many of his fans kind of... forget that. He was a masterful world builder, but he needed someone to help him with pacing and the like. People like to make fun of the Silmarillion for being so dry and boring, but it wasn't really meant for us, it was meant for HIM, so he could remember all his details. As for the writers I despise... I think any story, however poorly I may think it's written or thought out, contributes something to the world. Even... Welfare Wifeys, A Hood Rat Novel. Or Twilight. Or 50 Shades. They're not my genre of writing, but I'm also not their target audience." Again, Turner becomes animated, more confident. This is a topic he's familiar with, sure of. "If you have a story to tell, you should tell it. If even only one person reads it and it resonates with them in some way, it was a story worth telling. If it's cathartic for you to tell it, even if no one reads it, it's worth telling."

Xavier is happy to listen to Turner, watching him become animated and spout out his knowledge makes a slow smile cross over his lips. "That is a good point, I couldn't bring myself to read it, but you are right, he built a magnificent world. It was a wonderful escape when those movies came out, I used to pop in the extended editions when I was cramming for an exam." He watched it enough when he was younger that he only had to half pay attention. Xavier looks thoughtful for a moment before he sighs. "Was this your way of trying to convince me to let you read the stories?" He sighs and purses his lips. "My aunt has a few copies, and II can let you read them but... they don't need to be in the library."

"I mean... maybe a little bit?" Turner asks, absently toying with an errant curl briefly before tucking it behind his ear. "... did it work?" he asks, lower lip barely caught between his teeth, before he releases it into a full smile. "I'd love to read it, really. And I promise, if I think it's terrible, I will tell you, but I bet I'll really like it."

Xavier watches him play with the errant curl and doesn't realize that he's staring at his bottom lip and the way he is nibbling on it until Turner talks again. "Hmm yes?" He shakes his head and looks sheepish. "Please do. The online reviews were scathing enough as is that I doubt anything you could say would cut a deep." He chuckles to himself. "Just.. remember I was a college kid? A little dumber than I am now?"

"I'm barely out of college, so... I'm still pretty dumb, myself. I'm thinking about going back in a few years... Because a Master's in library sciences wasn't enough, apparently." He takes another nibble of his scone, which is almost finished now, and then takes another sip of hot cocoa. "I promise to be gentle."

Xavier laughs and shakes his head. "I haven't known you very long but I can tell that isn't true in the least bit." He smiles as he finishes his coffee and looks at the empty mug. "There is nothing wrong with pursuing more knowledge in my opinion." He says casually. "You don't have to be all that gentle, I have a tough skin. Somewhat. I'd rather have your honest opinion than a sugar coated one."

"Oh, I don't know about that, you haven't seen me trying to manage a household by myself. Did you know that if you don't buy groceries, they don't just magically appear in the fridge?" Turner laughs, self deprecatingly, then finishes off his scone. "I needed this. Getting out of the house... spending time with someone nice."

Xavier smirks. "Why do you think I'm living with my aunt instead of getting a place of my own. That and I love her to bits." He says thoughtfully before he sighs. "Yeah that was a rude awakening in college, having to fend for myself. My family was very.. well off. So groceries wasn't something we did, the food was just there." Hearing that he enjoyed their time together, Xavier smiles. "Me too. I've been burying myself in work since I ran away." He smirks.

"And not work you enjoyed, from what you've said... now that can change, hopefully." Turner smiles at Xavier, slightly shy, once more. "It's good to have a job that relates to your passions."

"It is." Xavier says as he gets lost in his own thoughts for a brief moment. "I am sure my father would say it is not a proper job, but his world view is very black and white." He pauses and pokes his coffee cup. "He's also a bit of an asshole." There is a hint of a smirk on his lips. "But I'm looking forward to having a job that I'm excited to go to. At least that's my hope, I may hate it." He says sheepishly.

"But you MIGHT love it. You're young enough and in a good position that you can afford to take some risks and decide what you want out of life, and if your dad doesn't like it he needs to get over it." Turner says, with just a touch of firmness in his voice, and a slightly stubborn set to his jaw. "And if you hate it, you can find something else."

"I might love it, and that's all that matters right?" Xavier says, and when Turner gets all firm he purses his lips and nods. "I suppose he will. He was so fixated on having me follow his footsteps that he doesn't know how to handle me not doing that." He shrugs. "All I thought I wanted was to do it better than he did. I'm realizing that isn't true."

“Just... remember that he’s probably doing it out of love, wanting you to have a good life, probably a better one than he did. I imagine it’s pretty frustrating, despite that.” The younger man smiles gently at Xavier, shrugging a little. “You know better than I, obviously.” Turner finishes off his hot cocoa, staring down into the mug.

"I thought that for a while, but postponing the wedding cost him a fair bit of money and he wasn't happy about that at all." Now it's his turn to fidget with something, he chooses the napkin. "You are wise though, he probably wants the best for me but doesn't know how to say that with words, or actions. He just throws money at it."

“I don’t know about wise... I just... try to think the best of people... until they prove me wrong, at least. Then I listen to what they’ve proven.” Turner shrugs slightly again, once more toying with a strand of hair. “I just know... if I had a child I would want them to be happy... so you’re engaged?” Why does he sound slightly... disappointed?

"Well you're a better person than I am." Xavier smirks, though he can hear the disappointment in his voice and he isn't sure why. He wants to ask, but he has a feeling that unlike the topic of books, Turner talking about himself isn't something he's passionate about. "Yeah, I think so." He shrugs. "I wanted to call it off, but the compromise was putting it off? We've been together for ages but, I don't love her? Or even really like her anymore." He sighs and starts tearing bits of the napkin apart. "They're all hoping that absence will make the heart grow fonder. So far..." He trails off.

“Oh... I’m really sorry. For both of you.” He sounds genuine, reaching across the table, pausing before he touches Xavier’s hand, as if unsure the contact would be welcome... clearly thinking back to when he touches Ravn’s hand and caused pain.

Xavier doesn't pull away or flinch when he's touched, but he does furrow his brows. "You know I think you're the first person whose said that to me, because everyone else is calling me angry and selfish." He sits quiet for a moment, stopping his nervous tear of the napkin and shrugging his shoulders. "I feel she is more in love with the lifestyle than me. The wedding became extravagant, the small apartment I fell in love with was pushed away for something closer to the center of town, and twice the price. I don't wish her any ill but, I honestly believe she would be happier with anyone else."

“It’s not selfish to want to spend your life with someone you love. If you don’t love her, and you think marriage should be based in love... you shouldn’t get married. I mean...” he shrugs slightly, “not that I have any experience, but my parents loved each other fiercely, so I know what a happy marriage should look like. It takes respect and patience and communication... and if not the same goals, compatible ones...” Turner realizes he’s still touching Xavier’s hand, and pulls away, slowly. His hands are soft, well moisturized. “I think you did the right thing. I hope she can understand that too.”

"Wow they were? I felt like my parents married for the wrong reasons. My father wanted to work in New York and become a citizen and my mother was happy to leave her over-crowded house and authoritative parents. Needless to say their marriage didn't make it, but they both agree that micromanaging their children's lives is their favorite pastime." When Turner removes his hand his twitches and almost reaches out for it before he stops himself and returns to napkin destruction. "I didn't want their marriage and as the time passed, I felt that it was exactly what I was doing." He clears his throat and shakes his head. "But that's a depressing topic and we said we'd skip those right?"

"Mine definitely loved each other, so much. Sometimes they would have disagreements, but they never raised their voices, at least in front of us, and they loved spending time together, too. It was a great way to grow up, even if I didn't get to keep it for very long... and they apparently still had something for each other, because I'm almost a full decade younger than Kenzie and Cooper." Turner looks amused, embarrassed and a little uncomfortable to be talking about his parents' private life, but amusement is winning out. "Yes. No depressing topics. What's your favorite book?"

Xavier smiles as he listens to Turner's story and nods his head. "If there is that large of a gap between you then they must have really loved each other. I am happy that you at had that in your life even if it wasn't for as long as you wished." When he asks about his favorite book, Xavier's face blanks and he blinks several times. It appears his brain has broken. "Ehm. I like a lot of books, and it's really hard to pick one. I do perfer ro... mystery novels. Something to get the blood pumping." He clears his throat and attempts to sip from his empty cup. "What about you?"

"Mystery, hmm?" Turner tilts his head slightly, the stray curl still twined around one finger. He caught the slip, but isn't commenting... yet. "I... really like the Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix. It's magic, but not in the way we're used to thinking of it, and it has a rather unique take on a fantasy world, too. After that, I guess anything by Mercedes Lackey. It can be sort of formulaic sometimes, but it's still enjoyable. It... got me through some rough times as a young teen."

"Yes, ehm mysteries. I cut my teeth on Agetha Christie, my aunt gave me her novels when I was young and I love spending the whole book wondering just who dd it. Also she herself had her own mysteries that have never been explained. I'd love to know why she disappeared and why she doesn't have a memory of it." Xavier says thoughtfully. "Sometimes formulaic is comforting, like a favorite sweater, but for your eyes." The words sounded much better in his head and he winces.

"Clearly, the butler." Turner jokes. "As to her disappearance, perhaps it was a fugue state. They happen sometimes, and even in people with no apparent history of mental illness... and goodness knows strange things happen in the world." The sweater comment gets a barely stifled giggle, an actual giggle, out of Turner, which ends with a snort... which causes more deep blushing. See? Everyone's embarrassed, it's fine. "Oh, god... I'm so sorry. I know what you meant, but... I'm picturing Grams knitting eyeball sweaters."

"It's always the butler, unless the story is starring the butler." Xavier smirks, and nods his head. "I wonder if she was like us, that would make her all the more interesting to me. Not that I can ask her because she's quite dead." When Turner starts giggling it's his turn to turn red, but he has a shy smile on his face. "Yes well, it made sense in my head. See this is why I can't write books my brain comes up with eyeball sweaters."

"I... maybe you could. If... people like us exist, maybe spirits do too." Turner says, very softly, looking down at his hands. "I don't know whether to hope they do, or hope they don't... Maybe I should ask Joe next time I see him."

"I don't know if I want to know if spirits exist. I'd be too tempted to contact them and with my luck summon something unsavory." Xavier pauses for a moment as he fiddles with his coffee cup. "Though if you do find the answer let me know, just to sate my curiosity."

"I will. Can I... buy you another cup?" Turner offers, tilting his head a little. Hesitation is evident, as is... something else. It's hard to pinpoint, even for Turner, but... hope seems to win out.

Xavier looks at the cup then his watch. "I'd love to, but if I have another I'll be up all night, and I really should stop taking up so much of your time." He smiles innocently as he moves his cup around. "I've had a lot of fun though, we should do this again."

"Okay." Disappointment and understanding both flit across Turner's fine features, but then he smiles back, "We definitely should. I would like that, very much." Turner has his hands on the table, the index finger of his right hand trapped between the index and ring fingers of his left, thumb absently rubbing the back of the finger in another of those fidgety, nervous gestures. "This was really nice."

The disappointment is hard to miss, and Xavier realizes that Turner probably doesn't have a whole lot of people he can lit out on. Granted he felt the same way back home, where everyone read books off a best sellers list and cared little for the classics. "Good, perhaps you can even visit me at the store once I start next week." He's actually excited about it, to be surrounded by books all day and the ability to write all he wants. "This was, I'm glad you came out to have hot beverages with me."

"A-absolutely, I would like that very much. And feel free to text me, whenever. I don't sleep a lot, I have weird dreams so I'm up at least twice a night..." At least he isn't levitating things while he's mostly asleep, anymore. Turner rises and busses the mugs and plates. The disappointment has been replaced with a bright smile, of anticipation now. "I'll see you soon, I hope."

"I will, and forgive me if I am not quick to respond, I forget the phone is there sometimes." Xavier laughs as he gets to his feet and starts to put his jacket back on and ties his scarf around his neck. "My dreams are very boring. Usually an endless stream of tax documents." Or wedding related but he doesn't voice that. "Yes! See you soon!" He waves as he walks out of the cafe, leaving his poor neglected kindle behind on the table.

A quick dip into the restroom as Xavier leaves, and then Turner is about to head out... but an older woman at another table catches his attention and gestures to the Kindle left behind. Turning, he grabs it, thanks the woman with a smile, then heads out the door after Xavier... but by the time he gets outside, Xavier's long gone. Cradling the Kindle gently, he drives home... He'll text Xavier when he gets home and let the older man know it's safe.