bait and switch [mii]

[Asher Bastien]

Asher should have been suspicious. After all, he was a chronic worrywart, and it was one of the things that he did best. It should have struck him as slightly surprising in the first place that Florence had extended a coffee-shop invitation due to the infrequency of their interactions or the fact that they simply didn't have much in common other than sharing a babysitter and a general fondness for a certain recruiter; but then, Ash had always liked her. She'd never given him a reason not to, and for the most she had always seemed pleasant to him.

Which was why he was utterly perplexed that it was now several minutes past, and there was no sign of Flo. Had he offended her with his affirmative reply? Did something happen? Did she get into an accident? DID SHE SUDDENLY HATE HIM? Oh god what if SHE thought that HE thought that this was a date or something? Adjhalsdhfakjhdflkafsd!

Well aware of his penchant for jumping to conclusions, Ash breathed out a sigh and took a perfunctionary sip of his coffee, pale eyes shifting from table to table with wan interest. It didn't do any good to dwell on it- if it turned out that something had come up, that was that. Things happened. He'd was aware that Flo had a daughter and Mr. Bastien knew from experience that even the best laid plans could by interrupted by family emergencies, and he personally wouldn't bat an eyelash at canceling out on someone (... and forgetting to tell them...) if Henley needed him. Still, he couldn't help but feel a little snubbed.

Settling an elbow on the table - he had dressed warmly enough to weather a Vermont October in a pair of dark jeans and a leather jacket over a grey tee - he procured his cell phone from his pocket and toyed with the idea of texting the wayward recruiter to make sure all was all before realizing that he wasn't at all comfortable with texting her. Instead he pulled up Pretty Pet Salon, waiting idly for the main page to load.

Oh god Ash, this is how Mii's going to find you. You realize this, right? You're going to be sitting there looking like a stud in your little rocker outfit and then POW, Pretty Pet Salon.

First impressions were really not Asher's forte.

[Midori Hawkins]

Mii was far from suspicious. It wasn’t unusual for Flo to invite her out and do things together, particularly since Tory had been born. As another single mother, Flo had been a Godsend as far as information was concerned, not to mention support. So it hadn’t seemed unusual to receive an invitation for coffee on a Saturday morning. She’d merrily gotten dressed, gotten Tory ready, and made the drive downtown.

She was glad she’d left her hoodie in the car as she parked outside the cafe. Tory seemed content to watch the people walk by in the parking lot. Grabbing the sweater, she tugged it on and pulled both her diaper bag, and Tory, out of the vehicle. He’d developed the fantastic habit of playing with her hair recently, finding an obscene amount of join in tugging on the long dark strands, only to turn around and give her the sweetest, most innocent expression ever.

It reminded her astoundingly of his father.

She headed into the warmth of the cafe and placed an order for a mocha before looking around for her coworker/friend. It didn’t take long to realize a) Flo was nowhere in sight, and b) was that that security guard... Asher, outside?

Well, at least she’d have someone to talk to while waiting for Flo. She smiled and shifted Tory to her hip, taking her drink with her, and went out to stand next to Asher’s table. “Hi,” she said with a little smile. She remembered talking to him when she’d brought Tory in to say hello. “I’m supposed to be meeting a friend here, but she’s not here yet. Do you want some company for a bit?” Tory turned from pressing his face into his mother’s hair and giggling to look at the red haired man, a bright smile appearing on his face.

Be thankful she didn’t notice the game, Ash.