return_to_nola

nola_steve posting in

Backdated to V-Day

It was Valentine's Day, which he remembered pretty much only because he'd made heart-shaped pancakes for anyone who'd wanted them that morning. Otherwise? For Steve, it was just a day like any other.

It wasn't that he turned his nose up at commercial holidays. He was a straight-up sucker for Christmas. It was just...this was a day all about romantic love, and that was a bug that had never managed to bite, no matter how many friends tried to set him up. So he wasn't exactly paying attention to what was going on around him until he headed into the campus cafe to grab lunch and realized the entire place was packed.

Also? They'd gone out of their way to make it look cozy and romantic, with candles flickering at each table.

"...huh," Steve said, looking around for somewhere to sit. He'd already gotten his food ordered and had his sweet tea in hand, but there didn't appear to be a single clear table in the place.

Before he could turn back and cancel his order (maybe try somewhere a little less quaint?), one of the waitresses caught his eye. "We're asking people to double up tables, if they don't mind," she explained, making a sheepish face. "We already got a few people to agree. Here," she added, grabbing a chair at a small two-seater table. A vaguely familiar young man sat in the other seat. "Sit here."

Steve stepped forward, then cocked his head as the man looked at him. "You sure you don't mind?" he asked with a friendly-yet-rueful smile.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

nola_buckybarnes

Joel was delighted by this turn of events. If he had to give up creeping into Williams' classes, at least this was a silver lining. "I thought you were making polite professor-student talk," he said with a widening smile. "But this whole time we could've been talking about kids today and how much grading sucks?"

From:

nola_steve

"I-- You-- There is no dignified way out but through," Steve finally said with a laugh. He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. No way was he going to admit there was a part of him that had actually been hoping Joel was a new professor or staff member. Jesus, a student: he should be ashamed. "Yes, those whippersnappers, etc."

From:

nola_buckybarnes

"With their snappy chats and sex texts," Joel added, things he'd heard his grandparents' friends actually say. "When will they learn the value of dignity?"

From:

nola_steve

"All right all right," he grinned. "I'm ancient and you're not. I get it."

From:

nola_buckybarnes

"Nah, you're not old—I mean, have you seen Dr. Lucerne?" Lucerne was legendary among the student body for being ancient, possibly even a revenant.

From:

nola_steve

"Spritely," he said, straight-faced. "Effervescent."

From:

nola_buckybarnes

Joel raised his eyebrows. "Absolutely, for someone who remembers where he was the day Lincoln was shot."

From:

nola_steve

"Great memory on that guy," he agreed easily. "Good sign of a very young brain."

From:

nola_buckybarnes

"Professor, he comes grave dust."

From:

nola_steve

Professor! He was Professor. He was Professor, and he was definitely crushing a little on this kid, and he was going to hell.

"Well, now, that's just hurtful."

Hell. Hell. Hell.

From:

nola_buckybarnes

Joel smiled sweetly. "I bet that's what Dr. Lucerne says when it happens."

From:

nola_steve

"And then, lo, he rises like a magnificent phoenix from the ashes to shake his fair plumage at quarterly faculty events."

From:

nola_buckybarnes

"Am I making fun of your work best friend? Sorry."

From:

nola_steve

"You should be. Shameful, youths today." He propped his chin on his fist, grinning, eyes bright. Utterly relaxed despite the butterflies playing pingpong in his chest.

From:

nola_buckybarnes

Joel would give up going to Williams' classes, all classes, just to have that smile directed his way. It was all worth it. He was speechless for a long moment, but finally managed to say, "Shameless Youths is my band name."

From:

nola_steve

"Sounds real punk," he laughed, just as his food arrived. Steve turned his attention toward the waiting, smiling his thanks and engaging in a quick, friendly back-and-forth that had her practically fluttering before leaving their table with a grin.

He turned back to Joel. "So, your studies. Tell me about them."

From:

nola_buckybarnes

Joel watched the server walk off with some apprehension, but he didn't know if he was worried or jealous, or why. He looked back at Williams. "Uh, history. It's good?"

From:

nola_steve

"I hear it's pretty fundamental to our understanding of ourselves," he said. "And, you know, history."

From:

nola_buckybarnes

"Also to the memorization of battle dates." At least, that's what it seemed like to Joel a lot of the time.

From:

nola_steve

"Well, maybe that part's just for busywork. Or to give you vital reference for important ideas."

From:

nola_buckybarnes

"It's just frustrating when more and more WWII survivors are dying every day, and I could be interviewing them but I'm memorizing dates instead."

From:

nola_steve

"Well," he said slowly. "As it so happens, I know a couple if you'd like an introduction."

From:

nola_buckybarnes

"I would love that, honestly, but I don't have a project, or funding for a project, and I don't want to put veterans through difficult questions without a strong direction."

From:

nola_steve

"That's fair," he agreed. "If you change your mind, or just want to meet some great people and get trounced at SCRABBLE--because believe me, they love nothing more--let me know."