(no subject)

[gabriel_tam]

In the last few weeks, he's been keeping hours that start before dawn and end deep into the darkest hours of the night. He looks it, too, enough so that a few media reporters have inquired.

When they do, Gabriel just smiles and tells them that some things are worth giving up a little sleep for.

Still, he knows he can't keep this pace up forever. He doesn't care-- it doesn't matter, as long as he can keep going long enough. Which means, of course, that he's got to find at least a little more time to rest, and soon.

With that in mind, Gabriel brings a sheaf of documents with him to Milliways, and settles at a side booth to review them. If he can get a few hours' work done here instead, then he can spend those extra hours sleeping back in New Mayfair.

Or so he hopes.

Comments

[gonna_live]

After about half an hour, a waitrat comes over, bearing a small carafe of coffee and a cup to go with it. It's accompanied by a small note, scrawled:

Nǐ chǒu fán máng -- wǒ wàng zhè yuán zhù.

Kaylee

She's sitting over near the bar, though not at the bar, with a cup of tea and a book, head down.

She hasn't seen Peter Petrelli today, and she doesn't know whether to be glad or sorry.

[gabriel_tam]

He reads it, then looks around the room, finally spotting her at the bar. Gabriel takes a pen and adds to the note, then sends it back.

It does, xièxie nĭ. What would make it even better is if I might convince you to share your company with me, if you're not too busy?

[gonna_live]

Well.

Maybe it won't be an exercise in masochism or antagonism. Stranger things have happened.

Kaylee slips the card inside her book to mark her place, and brings the book and her cup along with her.

"Ni hao." With a small smile -- warm, but small.

(And a little curious, and a little concerned -- he does rather look like hell, not that she'd say as much.)

[gabriel_tam]

"Nĭ hăo." Gabriel's tired, but the answering smile he summons up is cordial and sincere.

"I'm glad to see you -- you're well, I trust?"

[gonna_live]

"Oh, I'm doin' all right." Quick, as though it doesn't matter.

She's got her fingers curled around the handle of her cup. "How about you?"

[gabriel_tam]

"Fine -- well, busy, of course, but that's nothing new."

His smile broadens slightly, and there's something of surprised wonder about it.

"Although speaking of things that are new-- I understand congratulations are in order?"

[gonna_live]

"...reckon so." With a crooked smile. "He told me he told you."

[gabriel_tam]

"He did. Gōng xĭ gōng xĭ, then."

Gabriel shakes his head, a little bemused.

"I'm afraid I'm still getting used to the idea of being a grandfather."

[gonna_live]

"Xiexie" Kaylee picks up her cup of tea. "And -- it's a hell of a thing to get used to."

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

In a few short minutes, Puck has every intention of stopping by the Delicate Flowers party. He's even dressed up! (By which we mean he borrowed one of Havelock's shirts without asking.)

The sight of the fellow with paperwork provokes a look of pitying amusement. Why do so many people feel this is a place to get work done?

Or perhaps the question is: Why do so many people feel the need to get work done?

He appears rather conspicuously out of the air by Gabriel's booth, eyeing him curiously.

[gabriel_tam]

He startles, visibly-- and recovers just as quickly.

"Nĭ hăo, sir."

It's a little crisp, but still cordial.

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck tilts his head, birdlike-- it's probably at the language.

"Hardly a sir," he says cheerfully, leaning against the side of the booth. "But good even all the same. Are you quite well?"

[gabriel_tam]

Both eyebrows rise slightly.

"Is there another title, or perhaps a name, that you would prefer as a form of address?"

A beat, and Gabriel adds,

"And I'm quite well,

xièxie nĭ

."

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

"That is a question," Puck says musingly, tapping his chin with a slim finger.

"Well, I do suppose it depends. Tonight 'Foxglove' shall likely be in vogue, though if it were left to me, I should quite prefer 'Puck.'" He smiles pleasantly. "And you, sir?"

[gabriel_tam]

Gabriel's answering smile is perfectly pleasant, but there's a quick flicker of recognition in his eyes.

"Puck. Gāoxìng jìandào nĭ. I'm Gabriel Tam."

A pause.

"Perhaps you'd care to join me?"

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck may or may not catch the flicker. However, at the name Tam, the corner of his mouth quirks up.

Amiably, "Perhaps I would, at that."

And he slides onto the bench opposite, planting his elbows on the table.

"'Tis a pleasure to meet you, Gabriel Tam," he addds cheerfully. A tilt of his head.

"Should it be altogether too presumptuous of me to assume you are of some relation to the other Tams who frequent this place?"

[gabriel_tam]

"It's not as though you're back in the Core," Gabriel informs him. "It's a much more common name there, I'm afraid."

A beat.

"I'm Simon and River's father, yes."

[un_fallen]

There appears to be another man hard at work in the bar tonight, bent over papers and yellowing file folders as he is. On closer inspection, though, it's clear that he's been staring at the same page for quite a while.

After a few minutes, he looks up, blinking, and rubs his eyes. The soft turning of pages in Gabriel's booth catches his attention and he looks over, sighing.

[gabriel_tam]

It's the sigh that draws his attention, and upon noticing the stack of paperwork in front of the other man Gabriel offers him a quick, half-rueful smile.

"It seems you've a long evening in front of you, I'm afraid."

[un_fallen]

"It's gonna get a lot longer if I don't get past the first page," Raguel agrees, returning the smile in kind.

"You seem to be making progress."

[gabriel_tam]

"I've had a lot of practice," Gabriel says dryly. "I advise coffee, if you're at all fond of it. It seems to help."

[un_fallen]

"I've had quite a bit of practice myself, but coffee's not a bad idea. Helps me focus, sometimes."

He stands up, stretching as various impressive cracking noises make themselves known from his joints.

"Would you like some, while I'm going?"

[gabriel_tam]

He glances at his cup as if surprised to find it empty, then nods.

"I'd appreciate that very much. Xièxie nĭ."

[un_fallen]

Raguel hesitates at the last comment, but goes to get the coffee first. Coffee first is always the best plan. He returns with a tray containing steaming mugs, cream, sugar, saucers - the works.

"Guess she's going all out tonight," he mutters, sliding the tray onto Gabriel's table and pausing to add a boatload of sugar to his coffee.

"There's only one other person I've met here who throws Mandarin into conversations," he says casually, eyes on the mug. "I don't suppose you know Mal Reynolds?"

[gabriel_tam]

"I'm acquainted with Captain Reynolds, certainly," Gabriel informs him, with a cordial, pleasant smile and a nod of thanks as he takes a mug of his own.

He shifts it to his left hand and offers his right.

"Gabriel Tam."