fic: The Barista - Chapter 2 [PG-13]

[tielan]

TITLE: The Barista - Part 2: Music And Miss Piggy
SUMMARY: In which John walks into it.
CATEGORY: AU, romance, drama
RATING: PG-13
PAIRING: John/Teyla

Part 1

The Barista - Chapter Two: Music And Miss Piggy

Sharon was back in the Athos Bean the next day, taking the orders and leaving Teyla to work the coffee machine with her neat grace.

John waited for her to fill the order, figuring that conversation was completely out with her boss looking over her shoulder. But her lips curved in a smile as she frothed the milk. "John Sheppard who likes ferris wheels."

"Teyla who prefers tea." He responded in kind and tried to ignore Sharon Athos' faded blue eyes watching him with something that might have been amusement but was more likely annoyance. "You made it through day one."

Today's smile was a quirky twinkle rather than yesterday's brilliant flash. It still looked gorgeous on her face. On the radio, Faith Hill reminded him to 'just breathe'. "Yes. But there is still the rest of the week to go."

"I'm sure you'll do fine," he said."Yesterday's cappucino was amazing."

"High praise," she murmured as she swirled the milk in a kind of yin-yang pattern for the slim, Asian guy to take to his girlfriend in the corner. "Do you drink much coffee, John Sheppard who likes ferris wheels?"

John mock-scowled at her. "You know, if you're going to be like that, you could at least add that I like college football and things that go really fast."

Teyla laughed as she began the tap-and-handle routine of operating the machine, slipping the mugs from the shelves and laying them neatly beneath the various spouts. John angled himself the better to watch her work, and was relieved when Sharon went out the back for a bit. It left him alone with Teyla.

Okay, so it left him with Teyla and a café full of students, but it allowed him to talk to her, which he couldn't do when her employer was watching them.

"So you're going to be taking this job full-time, then? If Sharon okays you?" He tried not to sound too hopeful.

One bare, bronzed shoulder lifted and fell in a shrug. "Perhaps." A little silver disk hanging on a leather band gleamed at her throat.

John listened to the chug and hiss of the machine as it forced the water through the pipes. "Are you studying?"

"No," Teyla said, pushing back a wisp of hair as she cleaned the steaming wand. "My father did not think it needful, and neither did I."

"What were you going to do?"

Her eyes lifted to his from the coiling swirl in Rodney's double-espresso cappucino. John wasn't sure what she was looking for until a moment later when she said, "I wanted to be a professional singer," she told him.

"Rock star?"

There might have been a pink glow to her cheeks as she tapped the milk jug to settle the foam. "I was more interested in in country and western. Or opera. Or being Miss Piggy." Her eyes slanted up to his, waiting for him to laugh.

John manfully bit his cheek, but couldn't stop the smile. "What happened? With the singing, I mean, not being Miss Piggy."

"My family did not approve," came the explanation as she began heating the milk for Elizabeth's skim latte.

Ah. An old story. John's family hadn't approved of him going 'into business' either. It was probably the 'only son and heir' thing - Rodney hadn't had to argue half as hard as John, let alone take matters into his own hands.

"And now you're stuck as a barista," he said.

A smile settled on her lips, small and secretive. It took her a moment to answer, involved as she was in the feather-like patterning of Elizabeth's latte, and when she did, her voice was soft and low. "I would not say 'stuck'. It is...a means to an end." Her gaze pinned him. "Is not your degree a means to an end?"

"Oh, I'm not a student anymore. In business now." And trying to prove himself.

"But with a fondness for fairgrounds, football, and fast cars?"

"Surely you like something other than music and Miss Piggy?"

Teyla had a thoughtful expression on her face as she finished the cappucino with a floral swirl. "Making coffee," she told him, pushing the mug across the table. "Your order is ready."

As he carried the drinks back, John figured he'd walked into that one.

TBC

3: The Purpose Of Foofing

Comments

[goodisrelative.livejournal.com]

The banter was perfect here... in character for them and for your AU. Excellent job!

[tielan]

Thank you. Unfortunately, the banter kinda dims down in the next few chapters and things get a little more serious!

[goodisrelative.livejournal.com]

That is allowed... can't have banter all the time, then it would be come mundane and that would be no fun!

Here's to hoping LJ let's you post! :) (Since I can't again, I can't even upload a userpic! so far I can only do short comments/replies.)

[rhianona]

I like what you're doing here. It's been fun reading these two chapters and I'm looking forward to reading more. :)

[tielan]

Thanks. It's actually harder writing because the chapters are 'short' (ie. less than 1000 words apiece.)

But it's an exercise in brevity!

[lilyayl.livejournal.com]

Does Teyla's family own the Athos Bean? Is she making a statement? Or being made to learn the business from the ground up? Is that how she got her experience?

I look forward to more. I love the banter. Thank you for posting this. :)

[tielan]

Shhh! :)

The banter will be a little thinner on the ground over the next chapters, I'm afraid, but I am doing my best to incorporate it wherever possible!

[inimicallyyours.livejournal.com]

It's Teyla, even though she's AU, this still screams TEYLA to me.

[tielan]

I really must write that "Guidelines For Writing Teyla" essay. With a section on writing Teyla in AUs and how to avoid sidelining her.

[maxbo.livejournal.com]

Yes, you really must share those guidelines for writing Teyla, because you continue to amaze me with your ability to capture the essence of Teyla no matter how short the fic.

[2bluaeryn.livejournal.com]

Love the interaction between John & Teyla, they are still well within character although AU. Well done.

[tielan]

Thank you!

My personal take on AUs is that the characters should be recognisable in character, even if their situations are somewhat different. Teyla would always be dignified in whatever she did, with a thread of mischief that glitters like gold thread in a silk scarf.