Diego

[nola_yvaine]

Hanne had gone out drinking and dancing with some of her dancer friends, something that didn't happen nearly enough for her taste now that she was back in school. Afterwards, she was the last to get dropped off, obviously in no condition to be driving herself. Maybe she gave the wrong address, or one of her friends had and she hadn't noticed, but somehow she ended up at Diego's place. Their place. Diego's place. Still riding high on the good energy of the night and, okay, a little drunk, she conveniently forgot that she didn't live there anymore.

How many nights--how many years of nights--had she come home to this place? It was all too easy to fall back into that rhythm: Coming in the door without saying anything in case Diego was already asleep. Kicking off her shoes in the middle of the room with a little less grace than she usually possessed and padding into the kitchen. Getting herself a glass, and filling it with water, and standing in front of the open fridge to look for a snack, wondering why it didn't look right. And, as usual, not doing any of it nearly as quietly as she thought she was, from the thumps of her heels hitting the hardwood to the cabinet door shutting a little too hard.

Russel

[nola_littlemermaid]

Early spring was one of the nicest times in New Orleans, and that was especially true for those in the service industry. They were between one major flux of tourists for Mardi Gras and another for spring break—though there was never not tourists—so things were pretty calm in Phoenix Effect. It was mostly regulars and locals during the busy morning and lunch hours, and Andy actually felt like he had time to think now and then.

He also had time to get out from behind the counter and wander around the coffee house, straightening up as needed. That was less thrilling than being able to hear his own thoughts, but well, he was getting paid for it. So he did, wiping spills, pushing in chairs, tidying up newspapers, just generally being busy.

When he paused by an empty table to sweep clear an abandoned chess game, he noticed a light-haired guy around his age alone in a nearby seat and politely said, "How's everything going?" because that's what you were supposed to say to a patron.

Andy had been hoping this job would help him with his social skills, and he'd been right, sort of. It was going off script that could be the hard part.