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TITLE: The Barista - Part 12: Unexpected Circumstance
SUMMARY: The Atlantis Grand Hotel was designed with a strong emphasis on water and sunlight. The result was impressive. Or had been.
CATEGORY: AU, Romance, Drama
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: These characters aren't mine and I'm making no money from them.
NOTES: I think this chapter actually turns out better than most of you seem to be expecting! Really, am I that much of a bitch to the characters?
Unexpected Circumstance
John wasn't the only one who arrived at the Atlantis Grand early on Friday night.
Elizabeth was already sitting on one of the divans in the foyer with her date, and explaining to him some of the expected outcomes of the evening. From the tolerant grin on his face, Branton was amused by her enthusiasm, but not averse to listening. He lifted a hand in greeting as John walked up.
"Sheppard."
John nodded briefly at the guy, noting that the neat-pressed suit didn't make the man look any less Amish. "Branton. Elizabeth."
She pointedly surveyed his lack of date. "Teyla's not coming?"
"We agreed to meet here," he defended. According to the clocks above the check-in desk, it was six-twenty-five. John turned to survey the lobby of the hotel, looking for Teyla.
He'd resisted calling her all day, just to reassure himself that she was going to come tonight.
The architect of the Atlantis Grand, one John C. Hudson, had designed the building with an emphasis on sunlight and water - both were heavily incorporated into the lobby's design, from the twelve-yard high stained glass window along the southern side of the lobby, to the flow of the stairs leading up to the galleries and the curving swirl of the wooden banisters that rose with them.
In its heyday, the darkened chandelier above had glittered vividly, illuminating the main lobby area. These days, the low lighting hid the worn carpet on the floor. According to the inspection reports of the last five years, the place was clean, just not particularly presentable.
That would change.
"Well, I see Sheppard's barista declined the invitation," said Rodney from behind him.
John turned to find Rodney and Katie just arriving at the divan, cutting off a redhead in a slinky cocktail dress, whose dark eyes glared daggers after the couple.
"Rodney." Katie's remonstration only reined in her fiancé for a moment. "Elizabeth, Mike, John."
"Katie," John leaned over and kissed Katie on the cheek. He liked Rodney's fiancee, although he thought she had to be mad to have encouraged Rodney in the first place, let alone agree to marry him. "You look gorgeous tonight."
"Isn't that my line?" Rodney protested.
"Have you used it tonight?"
"Well, er..."
John rolled his eyes. "Say it now!"
"But if I say it now, it's got no spontaneity!"
"Rodney, you wouldn't know spontaneity if it kicked you in the ass. Just say it."
The other man grumbled, but managed a reasonably sincere compliment.
"Thank you Rodney," Katie said, kissing him on the cheek. A smile glinted faint across her lips as she looked to John. "And thank you, John. You're looking very handsome tonight."
That got Rodney started, of course, complaining that John got all the compliments. John left it to Katie to reassure her fiance that he also looked handsome. A glance at the front desk showed it to be just on six-thirty, Elizabeth interrupted Rodney to suggest they go over to the hotel's restaurant where, apparently, the Pegasus group had hired a private room for the dinner.
John was about to tell them to go on ahead when he spotted Teyla crossing the lobby floor towards them.
With her hair swept up on her head in one of those hairstyles that seemed to have hidden all the ends, the shape of her face changed, defined by delicate cheekbones and the fine line of her jaw. The dress was something silvery-grey with a white sash - John wasn't noticing the details.
She looked better than gorgeous, and he went out to meet her a few feet away from the others so he could give her a kiss without feeling too self-conscious of the stares.
Her expression was laughing as they came up from the kiss. "I like your way of saying hello, John."
John felt his cheeks heat a little. "I rather like it myself," he quipped, and watched her smile. "You look beautiful," he said as he took her hand firmly in his own and drew her back to the others who were watching with varying expressions. "Guys, this is Teyla Emmagen. Teyla, you've seen Elizabeth and Rodney at the café; that's Mike Branton, and this is Katie Brown, soon to be McKay."
A chorus of easy greetings met Teyla's arrival in their group, although Elizabeth had an odd expression on her face. John gave her a warning look and she shrugged. Rodney cleared his throat and suggested they make their way to the restaurant.
The maitre'd was obsequious as they gathered at the restaurant entrance. "Ah, yes. You're out on the terrace. This way, ma'am, ladies and gentlemen..."
John followed the maitre'd through the maze of white-draped tables with their tea-light candles burning in delicate holders and out to the terrace that overlooked the sea with the setting sun far off to the west. In the background, Pink was singing, Who Knew?
Caught by the breathtaking sight of the sun sinking into the western sea, it took John a moment to actually see who was out on the terrace. When he did, he blinked.
Seated at the table, looking groomed and stylish were Sharon Athos, Cowan Genii, a sandy-haired man and a slender, blonde woman, a petite redhead with dark eyes...and the surfer guy from the cafe.
It took John a moment to recognise Ronon - the man in the collared shirt was a far cry from the casual surfer who'd eyed him over yesterday, or walked into the Bean on Wednesday. Judging by his presence here with Athos and Genii, he was a very far cry from who he'd appeared to be. In the silence just behind him, John could hear Rodney and Elizabeth rearranging their perceptions. A moment later, his own took a hard hit as Teyla dropped his hand and stepped away.
"Sharon, Cowan, you have already met John Sheppard, Elizabeth Weir, and Rodney McKay. Their companions are Katie Brown and Mike Branton." Teyla spoke with a brisk authority, her demeanour was businesslike, the casual amusement of the barista entirely gone. "These are Ronon Dex of Sateda Industries, and Ladon Radim, Dahlia Radim, and Sora Baraia from Genii Corp."
"And Teyla represents the hospitality arm of Athos Holdings," Sharon said in explanation of Teyla's presence.
Little things dropped into place like the whole of a puzzle, finally solved. John scrambled for something to say.
Rodney beat him to it, of course.
"You could have told us!" Rodney eyed her, probably grumpy because he'd been thrown off-balance. "Unless you did, and Sheppard just didn't pass the message on."
John's eyes narrowed briefly, but Teyla interrupted. "John did not know."
Her eyes met his, soft and steady, and he heard her words in his head. There are circumstances of which you are unaware.
"I am sorry, John."
- tbc -
13: Fortune's Fool
SUMMARY: The Atlantis Grand Hotel was designed with a strong emphasis on water and sunlight. The result was impressive. Or had been.
CATEGORY: AU, Romance, Drama
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: These characters aren't mine and I'm making no money from them.
NOTES: I think this chapter actually turns out better than most of you seem to be expecting! Really, am I that much of a bitch to the characters?
Unexpected Circumstance
John wasn't the only one who arrived at the Atlantis Grand early on Friday night.
Elizabeth was already sitting on one of the divans in the foyer with her date, and explaining to him some of the expected outcomes of the evening. From the tolerant grin on his face, Branton was amused by her enthusiasm, but not averse to listening. He lifted a hand in greeting as John walked up.
"Sheppard."
John nodded briefly at the guy, noting that the neat-pressed suit didn't make the man look any less Amish. "Branton. Elizabeth."
She pointedly surveyed his lack of date. "Teyla's not coming?"
"We agreed to meet here," he defended. According to the clocks above the check-in desk, it was six-twenty-five. John turned to survey the lobby of the hotel, looking for Teyla.
He'd resisted calling her all day, just to reassure himself that she was going to come tonight.
The architect of the Atlantis Grand, one John C. Hudson, had designed the building with an emphasis on sunlight and water - both were heavily incorporated into the lobby's design, from the twelve-yard high stained glass window along the southern side of the lobby, to the flow of the stairs leading up to the galleries and the curving swirl of the wooden banisters that rose with them.
In its heyday, the darkened chandelier above had glittered vividly, illuminating the main lobby area. These days, the low lighting hid the worn carpet on the floor. According to the inspection reports of the last five years, the place was clean, just not particularly presentable.
That would change.
"Well, I see Sheppard's barista declined the invitation," said Rodney from behind him.
John turned to find Rodney and Katie just arriving at the divan, cutting off a redhead in a slinky cocktail dress, whose dark eyes glared daggers after the couple.
"Rodney." Katie's remonstration only reined in her fiancé for a moment. "Elizabeth, Mike, John."
"Katie," John leaned over and kissed Katie on the cheek. He liked Rodney's fiancee, although he thought she had to be mad to have encouraged Rodney in the first place, let alone agree to marry him. "You look gorgeous tonight."
"Isn't that my line?" Rodney protested.
"Have you used it tonight?"
"Well, er..."
John rolled his eyes. "Say it now!"
"But if I say it now, it's got no spontaneity!"
"Rodney, you wouldn't know spontaneity if it kicked you in the ass. Just say it."
The other man grumbled, but managed a reasonably sincere compliment.
"Thank you Rodney," Katie said, kissing him on the cheek. A smile glinted faint across her lips as she looked to John. "And thank you, John. You're looking very handsome tonight."
That got Rodney started, of course, complaining that John got all the compliments. John left it to Katie to reassure her fiance that he also looked handsome. A glance at the front desk showed it to be just on six-thirty, Elizabeth interrupted Rodney to suggest they go over to the hotel's restaurant where, apparently, the Pegasus group had hired a private room for the dinner.
John was about to tell them to go on ahead when he spotted Teyla crossing the lobby floor towards them.
With her hair swept up on her head in one of those hairstyles that seemed to have hidden all the ends, the shape of her face changed, defined by delicate cheekbones and the fine line of her jaw. The dress was something silvery-grey with a white sash - John wasn't noticing the details.
She looked better than gorgeous, and he went out to meet her a few feet away from the others so he could give her a kiss without feeling too self-conscious of the stares.
Her expression was laughing as they came up from the kiss. "I like your way of saying hello, John."
John felt his cheeks heat a little. "I rather like it myself," he quipped, and watched her smile. "You look beautiful," he said as he took her hand firmly in his own and drew her back to the others who were watching with varying expressions. "Guys, this is Teyla Emmagen. Teyla, you've seen Elizabeth and Rodney at the café; that's Mike Branton, and this is Katie Brown, soon to be McKay."
A chorus of easy greetings met Teyla's arrival in their group, although Elizabeth had an odd expression on her face. John gave her a warning look and she shrugged. Rodney cleared his throat and suggested they make their way to the restaurant.
The maitre'd was obsequious as they gathered at the restaurant entrance. "Ah, yes. You're out on the terrace. This way, ma'am, ladies and gentlemen..."
John followed the maitre'd through the maze of white-draped tables with their tea-light candles burning in delicate holders and out to the terrace that overlooked the sea with the setting sun far off to the west. In the background, Pink was singing, Who Knew?
Caught by the breathtaking sight of the sun sinking into the western sea, it took John a moment to actually see who was out on the terrace. When he did, he blinked.
Seated at the table, looking groomed and stylish were Sharon Athos, Cowan Genii, a sandy-haired man and a slender, blonde woman, a petite redhead with dark eyes...and the surfer guy from the cafe.
It took John a moment to recognise Ronon - the man in the collared shirt was a far cry from the casual surfer who'd eyed him over yesterday, or walked into the Bean on Wednesday. Judging by his presence here with Athos and Genii, he was a very far cry from who he'd appeared to be. In the silence just behind him, John could hear Rodney and Elizabeth rearranging their perceptions. A moment later, his own took a hard hit as Teyla dropped his hand and stepped away.
"Sharon, Cowan, you have already met John Sheppard, Elizabeth Weir, and Rodney McKay. Their companions are Katie Brown and Mike Branton." Teyla spoke with a brisk authority, her demeanour was businesslike, the casual amusement of the barista entirely gone. "These are Ronon Dex of Sateda Industries, and Ladon Radim, Dahlia Radim, and Sora Baraia from Genii Corp."
"And Teyla represents the hospitality arm of Athos Holdings," Sharon said in explanation of Teyla's presence.
Little things dropped into place like the whole of a puzzle, finally solved. John scrambled for something to say.
Rodney beat him to it, of course.
"You could have told us!" Rodney eyed her, probably grumpy because he'd been thrown off-balance. "Unless you did, and Sheppard just didn't pass the message on."
John's eyes narrowed briefly, but Teyla interrupted. "John did not know."
Her eyes met his, soft and steady, and he heard her words in his head. There are circumstances of which you are unaware.
"I am sorry, John."
- tbc -
13: Fortune's Fool
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