Aston Public Library Libraries make shhh happen

[Max Kuryakin]

Outfit

In the daylight, the APL was far less spooky than it was later in the evening. Switching up his schedule meant Max wasn't wandering down its hallowed halls in the evenings only. He didn't have as much reason to hang around these days, having graduated in May, and his upcoming associate's degree in fire science involving less endless essay writing, but he liked the place, anyway.

It wasn't a very sunny day, but the library was well lit and Max, blessed by a high metabolism and higher body temperature thanks to his lycanthropy, was feeling cool and nice in a tank top. He had a jacket by the table he'd staked out, but he'd dropped that when he set out on his mission, along with his bag. The ratty satchel wouldn't be stolen, and his PC was just a few bad days away from breaking, so he wasn't thinking about leaving them unattended.

Right now he was actually looking for some texts on fire science, referring to the slip of paper in his hands as he searched around in the stacks. He had the correct numbers of where the books would be, but it was all about tracking down the right shelf. He was aiming to get a good leg up before he started, smoothing the way as he transitioned from being a paramedic into a volunteer firefighter.

So he was a little distracted, eyes on the spines of the books on the lower shelves as he moved along. So distracted that he missed the ladder standing upright and holding someone reaching for the very upper shelves. His shoulder bumped into it, a distracted werewolf enough to send it wobbling, and Max snapped into focus with a hushed, “Shit!” and reached out to steady it or, if the worst happened, catch the person if they fell.

[Laura Johnson]

The Aston Public Library was a solid-looking building, the architecture the very model of a style popular in the mid-1800s. Laura thought the lions guarding the stairs were particularly wonderful. She was dressed casually for the excursion in blue jeans, a white, button-down shirt, denim jacket and runners. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail.

Though she wasn't currently enrolled in any classes, there were certain places in a city that helped her get a feel for the soul of it. Museums were one, art galleries another and last, but certainly not least, were the libraries. In fact, she'd decided to start with the library in Old Town before venturing out the one on the UMass campus.

A few hours after her arrival, she was deeply engrossed in a search for fire places, of all things, considering building her own surround and installing an electric unit in her apartment. She wanted a design that would help create a vintage feel in her otherwise plain rental. She'd left her jacket on a nearby table and he small purse was slung around her neck, the strap crossing her chest diagonally.

Laura was up a ladder, holding on with one hand while using a finger from her other hand to gently graze the spines, looking for a book to inspire her design approach. She released her hold on the ladder to push her glasses onto the top of head, since she didn't need them for very close tasks. Finding what she wanted, Laura used both hands to retrieve a tightly shelved volume. The ladder suddenly gave a terrible shake and with a small cry of surprise, she found herself falling.

[Max Kuryakin]

Strike (Catch) Complete success

Max steadied the ladder, but looking up, he knew the person at the top of it had lost their balance enough that it didn't help. A heavy book tagged him in the shoulder, a flash of pain and an ache that faded as soon as it'd come, but he was paying attention to the woman who'd dropped the books. He immediately changed what he was doing, stepping back and holding out his arms to catch the woman as she fell backwards off the ladder. The entire event only took a few seconds, Max's speed and reflexes making it possible for him to act before he'd even thought it through.

She landed in his arms, being a short enough fall that the impact wasn't bad, and she was light for him, anyway. With her back and legs supported by his arms, Max hoped she wouldn't squirm and twist away and then fall on her face on the floor. He was being mindful of it, so if she tried, he'd try to help her get her legs under her.

“Oh, man. I'm sorry. Are you okay?” Genuinely concerned, Max hoped she was okay, considering it really was his fuckup.

[Laura Johnson]

Laura was surprised to find herself being held in someone's arms instead of sprawled in a heap on the floor, wondering if she had sprained, cracked or broken anything. She had lost her grip on the book and with the jolt of her sudden stop, felt her glasses slide from the top of her head to make a quiet click on the carpet.

He sounded concerned, she understood that much, and without struggling, which she knew would make the situation even more awkward, Laura started to reassure him.

“Oh, no, I'm fine, please don't worry, I... ” She looked at him then, her hazel eyes widening when she realized not only had someone caught her, that someone was a handsome man who looked like he could have walked right out of an heroic epic. Her lips parted to say something, but nothing further emerged.

Inside, she was trying to jump-start her brain to stop staring at him and behave like a civilized person, for goodness sake.

“I, uh... I... just had the wind knocked out of me... is all.” It annoyed her that she did seem to have difficulty catching her breath.

[Max Kuryakin]

Max had steeled himself for a telling off, but instead he got a reassurance that trailed off into a speechless stare. Well, he assumed speechless, but he felt pretty confident in the guess. So confident, in fact, that he dropped the worried look for a sunny smile, a bit of a rakish tilt to his mouth that he knew some responded well to.

“I have that effect,” he joked with a wink. “Especially when I'm making pretty girls fall over.” Even as he lampshaded his own absent mindedness, Max knelt enough to let her get her feet on the floor and tip her gently out of his arms.

[Laura Johnson]

God, that smile could eclipse the sun...

Her running shoes touched the carpeted floor and this was her cue to stand on her own. A shame, since Laura realized she was quite content being in his arms.

Oh, get a grip, you idiot.

She laughed - well, it was more like a giggle, much to her chagrin - and turned to face him. He had to be six foot, at least, and with her at five-foot-six, it meant she had to tilt her head back a bit to see him properly.

“Aren't you a charmer?” she said quietly, her tone gentle, not sarcastic. Laura gave him a brilliant smile of her own. “Thank you for catching me. My landing would've been far less elegant, otherwise.”

[Max Kuryakin]

Grinning, Max resisted offering another joke as she called him a charmer, even if his mother told him the exact same thing. Instead, he pulled his hands away once she had her feet under her, giving her some space and trying not to loom. He was a fair bit taller and broader than she was, knowing some thought he was a little intimidating, so he stepped back and kept grinning at her. That she was smiling herself told him she wasn't too bothered about being knocked over, or his face had fixed it all.

“It was the least I could do. It was my fault,” Max freely admitted, grin turning a little wry as he took the blame. He leaned down to pick up the book that'd fallen, glancing at the cover and catching that it a book of fireplace designs. Specific, but he figured she needed it for, well, choosing a fireplace. Instead of lingering on it, he held it out to her. “Was this the book you wanted from up there?”

Grinning, he glanced up the ladder, seeing an empty spot for the book he held.

[Laura Johnson]

Do not stare, do not stare, do not stare -

The man stepped back as he grinned and she resisted the urge to step forward to be closer to him again.

Do not drool, do not drool, donotdrool -

Thankfully, she wasn't. With a small sigh, but still smiling, she accepted the book and checked the title to be sure. “Yes, this is the one. I hope, anyway.” Her free hand went to the top of her head, but her glasses weren't there. Laura looked down and turned from one side to the other until she spotted her glasses. Though she didn't need them for close-up work, it wouldn't do to forget them, especially since she'd be taking the bus home afterward. It would be helpful to be able to read street signs and the like so she'd know when to pull for her stop.

“My apartment is so bland, I thought I'd build a mantle and get one of those electric fireplaces and...” She realized she was babbling and laughed. “Sorry, you... you don't need the story...”

[Max Kuryakin]

Max let go of the book when she accepted it, then watched as she glanced around looking for something more as she continued, telling him all about her interior decorating plans. Max didn't mind, he'd waged his own little war against his rental apartment, but he'd never won the fight against the strange stain on one of the walls.

When her eyes alighted on the pair of glasses, Max's gaze followed and made the correct assumption that they were hers. She was rocking the hot librarian look, even if only the addition of the glasses really made Max think so, the rest of her clothing were just casually ambiguous about librarian specific looks. When she laughed off her explanation he bent down to pick the glasses up, handing them over without getting his fingerprints all over the glass.

“I don't mind. So you're looking into some DIY?” Max leaned against a shelf as he asked, tucking a hand into his pocket as he indulged in his curiosity.

Did she rent? He was actually interested in hearing any renter-friendly approaches to livening up a space. His and Goki's landlady didn't seem to care much, but it was the principle of the matter.

[Laura Johnson]

Well, that was silly. She'd located her glasses and then didn't pick them up.

Gold star.

The man took care of that. Laura accepted them with a smile. “Thank you. Heroic and gallant.” Oh, crap, had she just said that out loud? She had. Shaking her head, she laughed again at her own slip, not cruelly just a 'wow' moment. Looking down briefly at the book, as if it was the most fascinating thing ever to be found, she added, “Yes, DIY. I've rented a very nice place, but it is a little dull...”

Laura noticed a man in a suit and tie appear at the end of the aisle and give her a stern look. Lifting the forefinger of his right hand to his lips, he made a drawn-out, “Shhhhhh...” Laura pressed her lips together and nodded acknowledgement: message received. The man looked from her to her rescuer and, apparently satisfied, disappeared behind the stacks.

She rolled her eyes a little and whispered, “Oooops...”

[Max Kuryakin]

As she complimented him–a pretty unique one, he was sure he'd only ever heard something similar with a healthy dose of sarcasm–Max barked out a bashful laugh and lifted his hand to scratch the back of his neck. It was a flash of bashfulness, as he wasn't trying to be gallant or whatever. A very 'aw shucks' response, but he couldn't help it here.

Max was about to say something when the 'shh' cut through the silence, twisting his torso to glimpse the guy in the suit as he left them alone, satisfied with chastising them, apparently. Turning back, Max held in a snorted laugh, cheeks puffing out as he forced the laugh back down again.

“Do you wanna grab a coffee at the lobby coffee stand, maybe?” Max invited, voice dropping into a hush, figuring if they actually wanted to talk, they'd have to get away from the grumpy librarian. “I know some stuff about DIY, could give you some tips.” Here he grinned, bashfulness forgotten, as he winked at her. A little bit of a flirt, a little bit of a serious offer.

[Laura Johnson]

Was he embarrassed by her description of him? Possibly. Then he made a face to stop himself from laughing and Laura had to press her lips tightly together to prevent her own laugh. The next moment he was asking if she wanted a coffee and capped that with a wink and that gorgeous smile again -

Get a grip, Laur.

He seemed like a decent sort and she was about to accept when it occurred to her that she didn't know his name and that he had probably been looking for a book himself when the Incident had interrupted both of them. She wasn't sorry for it. It was nice to have someone to talk to, even if they were currently in the Shush Zone and shouldn't really be talking at all.

“That would be lovely.” Laura set the book on the table nearest and put her glasses back on before draping the jacket she'd left there earlier over one arm. She collected the book with one hand before leaning a bit closer to him, whispering, “I'm Laura.”

[Max Kuryakin]

Grinning, Max leaned in a little closer himself, catching the layers to her shampoo, soap, and possible perfume, and offered a whispered, “Max,” in return for her name. “Let me grab my stuff,” he continued, before he crouched down to quickly scan the lowest shelf just under the ladder.

He quickly found the title he'd been looking for, having been close with the number befor their little run in. Max pulled it out and hefted it in his hand with a victorious flourish, grinning at Laura as he stepped past her to get to his table. It was quick work to grab his bag and jacket, slinging the satchel strap over his shoulder and tucking the jacket over the satchel itself, the book he held in hand as he returned, nodding to the broad arched doorway out of this section of the library, staying silent considering the lurking librarian.

[Laura Johnson]

Laura waited patiently for him to get sorted, watching him move with a graceful ease. She decided that 'Max' suited him, a strong name for a strong man. His choice of a sleeveless top, though, was a bit ditracting and she tried very hard not to stare. When he apparently found the book he was looking for, she matched his grin with a smile of her own.

She followed silently when he turned for the archway, noting there were a few people who seemed to be studying, jotting things down in a notebook or typing on a laptop. The man in the suit didn't seem to be around. Perhaps he'd gone to monitor another floor.

[Max Kuryakin]

Max led the way, but he kept his pace slow enough that the two could walk shoulder to shoulder. Scanning the room for the be-suited librarian's watchful eyes, he came up blank. Ideally, the man had skulked into some other study hall or section of the library to terrorise them. That in mind, Max took the risk of turning his head to Laura, whispering a curious question.

“Your accent,” he started, leaning in close to keep his voice low but not whispering. “Midwestern?”

Even starting up the conversation again, Max led them out through the doorway and into the large echoing hallway, footsteps tapping over the marble decorating the floor. The lobby was downstairs, so he was aiming them towards the large bifurcated staircase that'd take them straight to where they wanted to be.

[Laura Johnson]

Laura's legs were long for her body, but with Max being taller, his strides out-paced hers. She thought it very considerate of him to stay beside her.

She didn't think he would start talking again until after they had wanded their books and left the library proper. Laura caught herself looking around for the man in the suit to manifest and stare at them again, but she didn't see him anywhere.

For goodness sake, you're not in high school and risking detention for talking in the halls.

“Yes, ”she whispered back. “Illinois.” They were making good progress and soon wouldn't have to worry about making noise. She was glad she'd signed up with the library system at the beginning of her day.

[Max Kuryakin]

As they closed in on the doorway, Max stopped caring about keeping his voice low, speaking normally. They were just a few steps away from the hallway anyway, so any librarian picking to die on this hill would just look a little silly. Still, Max glanced behind them as he did so, grin going a little crooked as he spotted the head of the grumpy librarian popping up from behind a shelf.

Bad luck, old man.

His attention went back to Laura, asking, “How long have you been in Easthaven?” He couldn't quite wipe the grin off his face, but they were just pleasantly talking, so he didn't try.

[Laura Johnson]

They were almost there. Laura didn't notice Max checking for the librarian who has shushed them, so missed the reason for his crooked smile.

They reached the front desk. She scanned her card, then scanned the book and that was settled. Looking up at him, she replied, “About two weeks now, I think. I mean, I was here before that, scouting for an apartment, but living here? It's been about two weeks.”

[Max Kuryakin]

Just before they got out to the hallway, a desk checkpoint waited for them to sign out any books, rather than overloading the main lobby reception desk. After Laura scanned her card and book, Max did the same, letting out a wordless vocalisation of interest at her recent move.

“So you're new in town?” He asked as they most past the checkpoint and into the large hallway. “I'm from down in Boston myself, but I've been here for a few years now.”

[Laura Johnson]

Laura smiled as they entered the hall.

“Boston, that's it! I couldn't place your accent. What made you decide to come here?” She nodded. “And yes, very new. Still taking in the sites, you know? Getting used to where the grocery store is located and the hours of the pharmacy...”

Boring, Laura. You're so borrrrrrring...

[Max Kuryakin]

Max laughed a little as she crowed a little at figuring out where he was from, aware that his accent could read quite neutral for many. The Bostonian in him lurked a little deeper than it did when he was in his early twenties. It came out rarely, particular phrases or when he'd been drinking, sometimes when he was angry.

“I was starting school again, after being out of the country for a few years. I missed the enrollment window for the universities around Boston, but UME had an open spot they offered me, so I moved,” Max said, a straightforward enough story, even as he grinned and continued. “So I've got a bit of experience with what you're going through, figuring out the best takeout spots, which to avoid, where to get the best deals: Star Market or Wegmans. Though, the Stop & Shop isn't too bad. Which neighbourhood are you in?”

[Laura Johnson]

“Really?” As someone who friends and family had called an 'eternal student', she new a bit about the ins and outs of higher education. “Well, I'm sorry they couldn't accommodate you in Boston, but glad you found something here.”

She sighed and shook her head. “Education can be so fickle. Universities, colleges, they're either too full or don't have enough students registered so they cancel the course. It's crazy, sometimes.”

Laura turned to look up at Max again. “I found a place in Lower Fens. It isn't a huge building, but has a nice feel to it, if perhaps a little lacking in character.”

[Max Kuryakin]

Max nodded along, although he wasn't sore about missing the deadlines in Boston. That was how it went. If anything, he'd blame the timing of his discharge, but he'd made it work, so it didn't matter. Moving to Easthaven had been a pretty good choice, all things considered. Cheap rent, plenty of opportunities, even people he'd known in Boston showing back up.

“No kidding? Lower Fens is where I am,” he shared with a chuckle, a turning a corner to reveal the cavernous lobby and the bifurcated stairs leading down to where a small coffee stand offered some of that black gold. “A bit of a rough neighbourhood, but the rent is better than the rest of the city. Can't say I'm surprised you wanna DIY it a little, I had to fix up some stuff in my place.”

[Laura Johnson]

He lived in the same neighbourhood? It wasn't as if he'd be down the street or anything, but it was nice to have someone she'd actually met living in the area.

“Really? Well, yes, the rent was a bit steep at other places I looked.” They took the stairs and Laura kept one hand on the railing as they stepped down. “It's older and needs some attention, but it's a decent size for what I'm paying. Far better than the studio I had when I was in Chicago.” That probably could be said of just about anywhere she'd lived since, but Chicago wasn't cheap.

[Max Kuryakin]

Max nodded along as Laura spoke, although he knew he and Goki were paying under the usual rent rates in Lower Fens. Their place being haunted and hard to rent out had done it, but it turned out flirting with your ghost roommate worked.

“Yeah, the same story back in Boston,” he shared, hand going to the marble handrail as he descended one side of the bifurcated staircase. The lobby wasn't busy, but a few people were wandering back and forth, some with books, some to get books, and there was a tiny little queue by the coffee stand. “Hey, what's your order? On me, since I knocked you off your feet.” Max smirked at her.

[Laura Johnson]

That comment made her laugh.

“I accept your olive branch. Just a coffee, please, black.” Laura cleared her throat and hoped she didn't look too disheveled. “So, you mentioned you had to fix some things at your place? Shouldn't your landlord take care of things like that?” She certainly hoped her landlord didn't expect her to take care of repairs like broken plumbing or any electrical issues.

[Max Kuryakin]

It was an easy order, so Max nodded and continued down the stairwell, turning to get onto the central staircase that'd finally take them to the marble paved lobby. Her question got a little chuckle out of him as he shook his head.

“Nah, she's on top of the stuff that needs fixing,” Max clarified, defending his little old lady landlord from his imprecise phrasing earlier. Sure, maintenance was her big, quiet grandsons, but they got the job done and done well. It reminded him a little of Uncle Pasha's boys, honestly. “The apartment had some quirks thanks to previous tenants. I just had to fix some things up, so it worked for me and my roommate. She gave us the green light to change what we wanted.”

[Laura Johnson]

As they traversed the marble floor, Laura tried to imagine what a previous tenant would manage that needed fixing. “Quirks? That sounds interesting. What did they do? Paint the walls bright green? Perhaps the had pets that shed a lot?” She shook her head and dusmissed that thought. “No, that wouldn't be a 'quirk', you'd just need to vacuum. I know - wallpaper! With trains on it or big, pink flowers!” Wallpaper could be a renter and landlord nightmare.

[Max Kuryakin]

Chuckling at her guesses, Max shook his head a little. “Yeah, the walls, but no wallpaper, thankfully. We also had to sort out the roof access, but the roof balcony is more of a work in progress.” Shrugging his shoulders, Max stepped off the staircase and headed for the coffee stand, queuing up and reaching into his pocket for his wallet. “So it's still underway. With summer coming, it'll be nice to work on it.”

[Laura Johnson]

“Good. Wallpaper is such a mess.” It made her mentally shudder just thinking about the process and disorder it created. Pausing beside him in line, she considered the benefits of reaching the roof.

“I have a small balcony with my unit,” she added, “And no roof access, which is fine. Who wants to sit up there with all the Aee-Cee equipment? If you ever need a hand, just let me know. Dad taught all us kids how to use tools.”

Though why Max would want to call on a random person he met at the library to help fix a roof when he probably had all kinds of friends for that, she didn't know.

[Max Kuryakin]

Max grinned at the offer, appreciative but ultimately it wasn't needed. And he wouldn't be able to apply his full strength with witnesses. He wasn't sure if Goki was any use with tools, but he'd grown up with a single mother and several brothers, so they'd taken the initiative with plenty of hassling of their 'shop teachers.

“I'll think about it, but if I invite you over I won't be thinking about building a deck,” Max joked, grinning and angling a smirk in her direction with a quick admiring glance down the length of her body. Not over the top, but definitely drinking his fill. “You doing anything tonight? I can come over and we can hammer some nails.”

He nudged her book on fireplaces with his own on the science of fire prevention, grinning at her to show he was being good humoured, although the bold line was delivered with enough of a flirting lilt to make it clear he was serious as well.

[Laura Johnson]

Laura stared up at him, her lips parted and words waiting to be formed, but nothing was happening. Much as when she fell from the ladder, he'd caught her again only this time, it wasn't quite so dramatic. It was bold and said with humour, of course. That seemed to be his thing and the way he looked at her -

She couldn't recall when anyone had last looked at her like that. Not even Steve and they'd dated for almost two years.

She glanced away from those blue eyes briefly to stare at her book, which had just been knocked by his book, which had all sorts of innuendo attached to it that she thought fit well with what he'd just said.

Laura met his gaze again and words formed. Sort of.

“Um...”

That was a good start...

“I'm not. Doing anything. Tonight, I mean. Not that I'm not adverse to nailing -” What had she just said? Shit. A faint blush added colour to her cheeks, but she continued to look at him. Lord, he was yummy...

Deciding to throw her hat over the fence, as it were, she raised one eyebrow and with a small smirk of her own, she said softly, “I think I'd prefer screws...” Then she couldn't keep a straight face and giggled.

[Max Kuryakin]

At Laura's momentary speechlessness, Max's smirk turned into a crooked grin, easing back on his intensity just enough to give her some breathing room. She didn't look like she minded him giving her a solid set of bedroom eyes, but he'd done a lot for being in the middle of a library lobby. Flustered her, definitely, which was only confirmed when she had to look away for a moment.

Her aborted start had his grin widening, the 'um' more endearing than awkward to Max. She rallied, starts and stops, but she got out the important bits. When she echoed his words and cut herself off, Max couldn't help the low chuckle, stepping in closer, just as she mustered a smirk to send a volley back to him.

Here, he couldn't stop the bark of a laugh, Max leaning into her shoulder and bowing his head to look at her face, pitching his voice low so it wouldn't travel.

He spoke with a wink and a grin, “Well, if the lady demands a screwing...”

[Laura Johnson]

Laura glanced around when he laughed. They weren't in the library proper, but the room was large and echoed loud noises like fireworks going off in the distance. Max's laugh bounced around a bit and they did get some curious looks. Nothing accusatory, but still.

There was that smile and wink again and he was so close she could smell... his cologne? Whatever it was, it suited him.

Lord, give me strength with this one -

She didn't look away - how could anyone? - and playfully patted his shoulder, convinced her face had been swallowed by a blush. “Down, boy,” she said with affection. She'd barely known him for half an hour, at most, and despite his play on words, he seemed serious. “Are you always so... intense?”

[Max Kuryakin]

With her face practically aflame in a blush, Max felt it was a job well done. So he felt smug as the queue in front of them cleared up and it was a clear shot to the coffee stand clerk. Leaning away as she swatted at him, he laughed again as she spoke, quieter this time but no less cheerful.

“My ma says I'm playful, thank you very much,” Max countered with a grin, even as he stepped forward and turned to the coffee stand clerk and asked for their two coffees, handing the appropriate amount of change over. The two cups were poured quickly, so he ambled back to her with his bounty in hand. “Why? Don't think you can handle me?”

Max offered out the cardboard cup of coffee, cocking his head like a curious dog, still wearing that crooked grin. So far, she'd taken his flirting in stride, and she didn't seem to want to back off, but calling him 'intense' wasn't the usual fare for him. 'Ridiculous,' maybe, with how he enjoyed getting a laugh out of people before he got them flat on their backs.

[Laura Johnson]

While he ordered the coffee and paid for it, Laura took a moment to compose herself and hoped the blush was at least receeding. She doubted it would disappear completely with Max around.

As he returned with two cups, she commented, “Playful, certainly. Incorrigible would be more fitting, I think.” She accepted the cup he offered her, noting that smile again and wishing he wasn't so damn sexy. A woman could get lost in so much attention.

At his question, she stared at him for a beat before laughing softly. Laura had a sip of her coffee, possibly to hide any anxiety, before stepping toe-to-toe and looking up at him again.

She sighed and whispered, “Oh, I'm sure I can handle you, Max. I think I might like to get to know you a bit better before you... show me your tools.”

Did she really just say that? Yes, yes she did.

[Max Kuryakin]

Max couldn't deny the accusation, so he didn't, offering Laura a one-shouldered shrug and a beatific smile as he lifted his cup up to sip his coffee. It was still piping hot, but he was well used to guzzling it down fresh off the brew and even if it burned his tongue, he'd recover quickly.

When Laura stepped close, near toe-to-toe and forcing him to look down at her, Max quirked an eyebrow as she began speaking. Still holding his coffee cup close to his mouth, he managed to hold in the laugh when she referenced his tools, but he smirked as he took a slow sip and considered her. Lowering the cup, drawing his tongue over his lower lip to catch any stray drops, he cocked his head to the side again as he spoke, gauging her reaction as he wore an affable grin.

“We could go out for drinks,” Max began, lifting his cup to take a sip, but finished what he was saying before he did, “Even know a couple of good places around the Lower Fens.” Tipping the cup to take his sip finally, he arched an eyebrow at her over the lip as he did.

[Laura Johnson]

Laura watched his tongue as it traced his lower lip and found herself staring again. What was wrong with her? Were there pheromones at play here or something? It wasn't like her to consider what might be a one-night-stand, just casual sex to scratch that itch she tried to convince herself wasn't there.

She didn't get the impression he would do her any harm, but how a man like this who looked like that was currently without any female attention? It didn't seem likely. If - if - anything intimate came of this excursion to the library and it went well, she hoped he wouldn't ignore her after.

Laura wasn't the clingy type, but she liked Max and thought, perhaps, they could be friends, if nothing else. That she was even having this internal debate meant she was thinking about it seriously and here they were, just having coffee.

Oh, for pity's sake, get a grip, girl.

At his suggestion of drinks, she smiled brightly. “I would be delighted! I haven't really explored the options in Easthaven yet.”

[Max Kuryakin]

Max didn't miss the lingering gaze on his lips, so he knew she was interested in him, even if she wasn't interested in going from the library and into bed. The library wasn't his usual place to pull chicks, even if he'd had some success with it, so he understood her maintaining her boundary. He was also vain enough to just feel smug about her obvious fixation, giving her a knowing look, still feeling flirty.

But they agreed to coffee, which was a satisfying result even if he might strike out later. He'd taken a shot at it and not quite landed the bullseye, but that was how it went. Plenty of the thrysts he had were typical one-night stands, but he found he preferred having friendships with the people he fucked, and keep being friends even if they found out they weren't so interested in the fucking anymore.

“Well, we should fix that. How about this? Meet me at the Witch & Broom this evening. We'll get to know each other, see where it goes,” Max began, tipping his chin down a little as he watched her, grin turning mischievous before he gave her another once-over. “I can point out any interesting spots when you take me home with you.”

Grin going wide, Max couldn't help setting his teeth against his bottom lip, knowing he was pushing. But he lived to push, playful, friendly, and flirty all at once.

[Laura Johnson]

“The Witch & Broom,” Laura repeated, then processed the part where she was to take him back to her place after, and that damned smile -

“Oh, stop it,” she said, feeling her cheeks blush again. “People are looking at us and we'll get ejected from the building for disturbing the peace or... something.” Probably not, but she was attempting to make a point.

She punctuated her (mostly) playful protest with another friendly smack on his shoulder, rolling her eyes this time at his insistent flirting. Was it warm in here? It was all his fault, obviously.

Laura pointed her forefinger at his mouth, which was currently biting his lip, and whispered, “Don't do that, Max, it isn't fair.” Trying not to laugh, she added, “You have so much more in your flirtation arsenal than I do.”

[Max Kuryakin]

Arching an eyebrow at her as she theory crafted their expulsion from the premises, Max's grin persisted. In fact, it only widened the more she kept going, getting another barked laugh out of him as she pointed at his mouth–conveniently stopping him from biting his lip.

“Oh, my arsenal,” he murmured, leaning in closer to Laura so she wouldn't be so twitchy about them getting kicked out, but he was still grinning. That was a first for him, although he knew similar sentiments had been said. “I'm afraid you'll find I'm opportunistic in a fight. I don't play fair. See? We're learning stuff about each other already.”

[Laura Johnson]

Laura could see that if she hadn't been in trouble before this particular moment, she was certainly in trouble now. Not in a bad way, though feeling her heart beat faster as he spoke, close and low, and having her body react like that while she was in public?

It was all she could do not to drag him back to her apartment right now.

“We certainly are,” she murmured in reply, managing through sheer stubborness not to take a step back from Max, who was a shining example of the male apex predator. “What time at the Witch & Broom?”

[Max Kuryakin]

The only sign Max had of what could be running through Laura's mind was her racing heart. But those uncontrollable signals had been going haywire for a bit. He couldn't read much into it other than assume he was making her heart skip a beat because he was charming her pants off. Hopefully.

Straightening up from his lean, with them moving into far more innocent subjects, Max considered Laura with a smile, wondering what kind of evenings she preferred. Another thing to know about her, but he figured he'd find that out in good time. He sipped from his coffee, humming idly, before he threw out a suggestion.

“How does nine sound?”

[Laura Johnson]

Max straightened and truth be told, she was simultaneously releived and disappointed. She took a few breaths to calm down some, then had a sip of her coffee, which really wasn't bad considering it was from a kiosk in a library.

He suggested nine and she nodded.

“Nine sounds good, ” she said, figuring she would have an early dinner in case the appetisers looked appealing. Laura didn't want to load up on food in case the evening did go in the direction they were both probably thinking it would go.

[Max Kuryakin]

“Nine it is,” Max confirmed cheerfully, gently bumping their coffee cups together in an amusing cheers gesture before he took another sip. “We can sit and talk some more if you're not in a hurry, I've got a little time.”

He tipped his head in the direction of a bench not too far off, an invitation for them to sit down. He thought he could ask her a little more about what she'd done before coming to Easthaven, maybe find out what she worked with, other than DIY.

[Laura Johnson]

Laura wasn't in a hurry. She had given herself the gift of a few months off to have a sabbatical from... most things, really. Nothing pressing, no paperwork, no juggling of schedules.

“I've got the time,” she replied. Laura followed to where his head tilt indicated and nodded. Sitting on the bench, just having a chat, would be nice. “I'd like that.”

She had another sip of coffee and headed toward the bench.

[Max Kuryakin]

Laura went ahead and Max followed, smiling as he took another sip from his coffee. The bench was empty, with plenty of space for the both of them. When they sat down, Max sat a polite distance away, but turned to face her, open body language as he leaned his elbows on his knees.

“So, tell me about yourself,” he prompted with a sly grin, deliberately vague in his question. What people decided to lead with was a little revealing, he always thought.