[ profile sixty-four ] Action

[ex_bloodcakedarmor707]

[Derek is still in a bad place with Cam having left so suddenly. But he's ventured out because he knows who he's seen on days like this before. He isn't really expecting anything or anyone, but he goes out anyway.

He's walking through the square close to the fountain where most people seem to congregate, looking over faces, through the crowds, into the eyes of people happy to see people they know, and those here for the day who look as confused as he remembers feeling when he'd first arrived here.]



ooc: yay! 4th wall! No duplicates, but otherwise anything is a go! :)

Comments

[on_the_line]

I wouldn't dream of depriving you of my beautiful face a moment longer than I absolutely had to.

[Hand in his, she steps back to look him over—not subtly—but also not really to check him out. That's just a fringe benefit. This is about the worry.]

How long has it been since I was here before? Have you been here this whole time? [However much whole time that might be.]

[ex_bloodcakedarmor707]

[When she steps back enough to really look at him, he tries to put on the tough guy act, like nothing could ever really get to him or bother him, like nothing could push past that wall he always has up around himself. But with her, he's never been able to put that wall up so completely that just a tiny bit of that vulnerability, of the sadness he feels doesn't seep through. She knows him too well.]

It's been a few months... too long. And I always seem to be here.

[He squeezes her hand in his, his features lightening up a bit, putting on a show that he's very adept at putting on.] How about I buy my girl some coffee? There's a shop right over here.

[on_the_line]

[There are definitely some chinks in that armor of his, but she's not going to poke at them right now. He said it himself. There isn't much time, but that doesn't mean there won't be some worry in these fabulous features.] This place knows when to hold on to a good thing. I'll have to have a talk to it about letting go. [If only this was something she could just hack away for him. But she smiles at the mention of coffee. Less crowded would be good.]

Oh, Derek Morgan, you know the way to a girl's heart. This is why I like it tall, dark, and full of muscles. I mean sugar. [It's not really a slip.]

[ex_bloodcakedarmor707]

[This is why he needs a Penelope in his life, always. She's just the right kind of light to counter his kind of dark. Everything about her exudes light. It always has. And that's what attracts him to her. He needs that light. And maybe someday he'll be brave enough to decide that he's deserving enough of it to take that leap. Or maybe that someday will be too late. He doesn't know. He just knows he needs her in whatever capacity he can get her.

He laughs a bit and turns, his hand holding hers as they move toward a small building with the sign 'Cafe Juliet' over the top. He'd known coffee might be just the thing for them. She likes it and he knows she does. He likes keeping her happy.]

I know all the short cuts to your heart. And there are lots of them. Might have a list somewhere. [He teases her.]

[on_the_line]

Just avoid the control, alt, delete shortcut, and I'll let you keep using the other ones especially if they lavish me in coffee, gifts, and other trinkets of your boundless affection. [That nervousness has dropped from her voice. It's hard to be too nervous with your very own Derek Morgan by your side even if you are in some freaky fandom fantasy land.]

[ex_bloodcakedarmor707]

I'll avoid that one at all costs. Promise.

[Derek opens the door to the cafe open for her and they step inside out of the crowd. It's still a little busy inside but not as crowded as it is outside. They get in line to the counter.]

I don't think the Youth Center was up and running the last time I saw you. I built it, remodeled this old building and added onto it. Crazy, right?

[on_the_line]

If you're asking me if it's crazy that you built something up and made it into a place to help youth then the overwhelming and obvious answer to your inquiry, sir, is no. That's exactly what I've come to expect from you.

Making things better is kind of your signature. [And this fond smile that comes with her observation is absolutely free.]

And to your unspoken offer, yes, I would like to see it.

[ex_bloodcakedarmor707]

[Alright, so she gets a full on, genuine Derek smile at that. Because once again, she sometimes knows him better than he knows himself. And she completely guessed his next thought, that he wanted her to see what he'd built, what he'd put together, where he spent most of his time here.]

You think you got me all figured out, huh? [Asked around a grin.

At the counter he orders a coffee with two sugars and then turns to see what Penelope wants.] They have all your mocha freppe latte whatever 'te' things here too.

[on_the_line]

I'll leave the profiling up to you, precious. But I've picked up a couple of things over the years.

[She smiles and shakes her head.] It's cute that you think you know what you're talking about when it comes to coffee. [She smiles at the person taking her order and rattles off a long description which includes a "te" thing.]

[ex_bloodcakedarmor707]

[She's right. He really doesn't know much about coffee besides black with two sugars. Sometimes just black. But he does know that she likes hers all complicated and unpredictable. He'd never think to try to order for her unless he was reading it off in some kind of legible handwriting, maybe a computer print out.

He pays for the drinks (after a brief hesitation since it means he has to let go of her hand) and they step to the side to wait for them to be prepared.]

Hey, I don't think what you order can be classified as coffee. It's something in a foreign language, but not coffee.

[on_the_line]

You have much to learn, grasshopper. You may be wise in the ways of profiling and general manly ruggedness, but you in this area I am the master and you are the one ordering coffee black. [This part is easy. The back and forth. The Morgan. Easier than thinking of him trapped here without his BAU family. How is he supposed to be okay without her support—technical and otherwise?]

[ex_bloodcakedarmor707]

[The answer is that he's not okay without her support, or even the rest of his BAU family, people who know him better than even his own family back in Chicago. But in true Derek fashion, he's very good at pretending things are okay to most everyone here, and even now to her.

So he settles into the back and forth, easily falling into their flirtatious game they always played.] Hey, I thought you liked it black. [He's only half black, but still...]

[on_the_line]

Don't be jealous of the coffee, my love. It doesn't become you. [She smiles up at him, noticing little differences in his appearance after his time here and misses the fact that their order is up.]

[ex_bloodcakedarmor707]

[Derek notices though, and he reaches out to take their travel cups and hands her to her. They have lids on them but he can still tell which is hers and which is his just from the small alone.

He starts out of the coffee shop with her, but instead of going back to the square, he turns off on a side road leading away from it.] The youth center is a block this way. It was an old abandoned building to begin with. Had a basement. I restored it and added a second floor plus a whole lot of rooms to the back. Laid out a basketball court in the back. I'm really proud of it, actually.

A few days ago the entire City turned into legos. [He smirked.] I spent the day making sure the building stayed in tact cause the legos just came apart in the walls and the windows. Kids couldn't resist playing with them.