Well... if that wasn't a complete dismissal on all fronts, Aurum didn't know what was. Nothing to talk about? Nothing to talk about?!

He tilted his head at her. "We've still got plenty to talk about. It isn't all about work and work. And who said I was condescending...?" A hint of exasperation and a dollop of self-consciousness crept into his tone. He looked at her with a bit of worry. She'd hit him in the pride area, and it had hurt. He wasn't a condescending dick... was he? "Okay. Maybe a little?" Aurum scratched the back of his head, uncomfortably admitting to his crimes. "But you've been mean to me every time I've met you, and that kind of gets one defensive. Sorry. If I've been a jerk beyond any influence Lonnie had on your opinion of me."

"So, anyways?" Aurum's face cinched as he grimaced through the awkwardness. "Do you need that book rung up soon? I think the guy at the counter just went off on his break. Might be a while. He's kind of a slob." Aurum offered to help, with a gently-extended hand.

Riley was going to answer Aurum’s question. Who was condescending? He was. Riley almost smiled at his surprise…he would be surprised by the fact. He was an idealist! He was a genuinely nice guy! There was no possible way he could be condescending. She opened her mouth to say exactly what she was thinking…and Aurum owned his condescension, resulting in Riley’s mouth being stuck open as she stood at the counter.

She stood that way for a second, while he admitted that maybe he was a little…pointed out that she was mean to him every time they met, and apologized for anything he might have done beyond her preconceived notions because of Lonnie. Dammit. He was right. Again. It was absolutely infuriating!

”Defensive…I can understand.” she said, the closest she would get to admitting that she’d treated him poorly when maybe…just maybe he didn’t deserve all the ire. ”And if not work….”

Aurum suggested that maybe she needed her book rung up soon and Riley subconsciously hid the thing more thoroughly under her arm. The last thing she needed was for Aurum to see her reading a silly romance novel. Why she cared what he thought, Riley didn’t know…but after the progress she’d made with his condescending nature…it just wouldn’t do.

”This really is a nice place.” she said, looking around, the sarcastic twist leaving her mouth as she looked around the little shop, ”And I’ve got quite a while until my next job today. I was going to stick around…unless, of course, my kind aren’t welcome here.” The words weren’t sarcastic, they were filled legitimate humor that he could hopefully hear…anything to move the topic of conversation away from the book she had.

”I think I could easily stick around until he comes back.” she added, in reference to the slob at the check-out, smiling like it was the best idea in the world, ”How does a baby-lawyer end up with a job here anyway?” More deflection from the book. More deflection was good.

Stress levels dropped a little as she gave him the smallest of victories. She could understand him being defensive. Okay. They were getting somewhere that wasn't in this weird and confusing territory of awkwardness.

As for his offer to change the subject, and ring up her book... Riley rejected it, subtly hiding her literature. She said the place was 'nice'.

Yeah, Aurum mentally agreed, not looking around to check the validity of the statement himself. He knew it was. He'd known for a while. She was just noticing the place was nice? And she wanting to stick around... at least, until the guy got back from his break. So, she wasn't anxious to be free of him, suddenly? Okay. Small steps forward? But, to what?

And, she was smiling?

He was smiling back, he guessed.

How had he gotten his job at the Full Circle?

"I applied," Aurum said, simply. He didn't elaborate on any of the flaming hoops he'd had to jump through to get the job. There hadn't been any. There was no story. "Don't worry about not being allowed here." He added wryly. "We take all sorts. Even strippers."

He had been called a stripper before, had he not?

Oh, he hoped she didn't think he was calling her a stripper, now. The realization she could interpret it that way had him hoping she did not. Aurum smiled innocently, waiting to see how she'd respond.

Somehow the smiling was less awkward than the constant ire, so Riley stuck with it. She wasn’t going to start talking about the book again. There was only so much she could make up about a non-existent book on the pin-up industry in New York City. While she knew a fair amount, Riley wasn’t an expert…she’d never cared to be, the excuse had simply been the first thing to pop into her head.

Annnnd Aurum had simply applied to get his job here. There was no long, funny story to segue into another cute funny story. Riley almost frowned, but instead focused on the comments coming from the golden-boy’s mouth. Another woman might have bristled at what sounded like insinuation, Riley knew exactly what Aurum was talking about though and simply laughed and shook her head.

”You have to admit. That was pretty good…and believable.” she said with a cavalier toss of her head and a slightly satisfied smirk. ”And I’m glad you don’t discriminate here. It would be a shame. You don’t see very many places like this. I’ll bet you pull an interesting crowd considering the fact that the big chains sell thing cheap and fast…and so much of New York is…well…cheap and fast.”

>>”You have to admit. That was pretty good…and believable.”

She hair-tossed. He just shook his head with a laugh. "Maybe." Not his kind of job, though. And wait, could she picture him doing that? Dear god, why would she want to? ... That wasn't the kind of question one asked. Any questions like it, Aurum left unanswered!

"This place is neutral," He agreed with Riley's comment on 'all types'. "That's one of its charms. Both humans, and mutants. It's probably my favorite book store ever."

Riley smirked slightly at the look on Aurum’s face. She’d caught him off guard, and shocked him a little. Good. She didn’t want him to think he was getting the upper hand. Whether Aurum was a lawyer-in-training or not, Riley was going to come out on top of the conversation. Was she really thinking about Aurum as a stripper? Unless he wanted to laugh in his face, no. No she wasn’t. ”Oh don’t be so uptight about it. There’s worse things you could be. If the lawyer thing doesn’t work out, I could give you the name of this guy I know. You’d make a fortune.” Perfect. The last thing he’d be thinking about was her book.

The happy smirk slid from Riley’s features though, at his next comment. There was no way he knew what she was or what she could do. Lori and Lenna hadn’t said enough to clue him in, but still. He’d said it. She didn’t snap, she didn’t snark, she simply let out little ‘heh’ at his words. He didn’t know, and ignorance really was bliss, but the wind was already gone from her sails.

”Well, that’s everyone important, isn’t it?” she said, a slight, tight smile turning up the corners of her lips and Riley nodded towards the bag and donut. ”I should probably eat that some time.”

Had he had an uptight reaction? He'd been laughing, hadn't he? It hadn't been an uncomfortable laugh, as far as he'd noticed. He knew she was teasing him, though, so Aurum just smiled calmly through it. "No thanks."

He hadn't had that reaction, had he? Gosh, now inside his head Aurum was hoping his face hadn't paled when he'd considered stripper thoughts. He doubted he had, but... one never knew the kinds of tells they gave off. A true connoisseur could point them all out, one by one. Maybe Riley was somehow a master of reading poker faces? Maybe, they'd have to play cards some time. He absolutely didn't know a thing about Poker.

Why was he suddenly considering playing cards with the customer?

He changed the subject, onto something Riley had mentioned earlier, because even one fraction of a second without speaking seemed too long. This gal had a skill for getting his goat, or goading him... maybe. Who knew? He hardly knew her! And, wait. Had she stopped smirking for some reason?

Everyone important?

The donut. That was more pressing than shrugging to that other statement.

Aurum nodded. "Yup."

A sound from the back caught his attention. He turned towards the sound. A moment later, the manager stepped into view between shelves. She looked around, annoyed look on her face, then her eyes settled on Aurum. She crossed her arms, and addressed him. "Ricky says he has food poisoning. I'll need someone to fill in for him at the main register. Close up the cafe for a while. We aren't too busy with the food service."

Ricky was the guy they'd been waiting for, to ring up Riley's book.

Aurum nodded to the manager. "Alright."

Nodding curtly once, she turned and left Riley and Aurum to themselves.

Aurum turned, closing up the cafe counter, locking the register.

"Sorry about that," He apologized, back to the woman.

He finished what he was doing, then turned back to her. "I'll have to ring you up at the main register. Follow me."

He slipped out, and led the way brusquely. There was absolutely no time for her to make excuses. There weren't any excuses she could really make.

Apparently Aurum had decided to no longer rise to her bait. That was disappointing and Riley mourned the loss of the ability to get under his skin. It was fun, and easy, and it had been a really nice way to pass the time while she waited for the other guy to come back. Stupid Aurum and his one word, no-fun answers. Riley frowned a bit at how familiar she’d suddenly become and then frowned more as he agree with her statement that he’d blanketed everyone important when he’d mentioned mutants and humans. Again…not his fault that he was ignorant…but somehow it was easier to blame him a little.

A manager showed up, barking orders at Aurum, then turning to walk away. It took Riley a moment to digest what the harridan had said, and then she nearly paled visibly. The other guy had food poisoning. Aurum was taking over at the check-out…he would be the one who sold Riley the romance novel.

She wanted to scream in frustration, all that hard work, completely down the drain. The subject had been changed…this had been going excellently. Had. She hung her head as he shut down the little coffee bar and made his way to the front of the store. She followed, like a convict being led to execution…because he was going to rake her over the coals for this…especially after all of her teasing about strippers.

They got to the counter and Riley stood there, book still concealed as she looked for a last ditch effort to escape the inevitable ringing up. There was nothing. Nothing to help her. So, Riley raised her chin, marched up to the counter as soon as Aurum was ready, and plopped the book right down in front of him…almost daring him to say something about her choice of reading materials. There would be no excuses, Riley didn’t need any.

Behind the counter, Aurum gave the book a once-over. His eyes glanced over the title, like the sweep of his laser scanner. Noted the author, the front cover's picture, the steamy contents the back cover alluded towards existing within. He rang her up. Said nothing, till it was in the bag. Then, he said something.

He gave her the price.

"Better than radioactive glowing vampires," He jokingly added.

Truly, the more boring of responses he could have given. A truth, rather than a nudging, a condolence, begrudging. She really liked that sort of fiction? She was into that? If they ever talked again, he was definitely giving her book suggestions. He was familiar was so much better stuff than that.

Could he mentally abuse italics more? He didn't think so.

He didn’t judge her…at least not too harshly. To be honest, Riley had expected more and she smiled a bit when he pointed out that at least she wasn’t reading about glowing vampires. She’d heard of those books, seen the raving crowds, and had avoided the series for that exact reason.

His eyes were roaming over the back of the book. There was nothing really scandalous about it, but Riley’s cheeks still darkened slightly, she shrugged her shoulders, ”What can I say. When I read fiction I like to read about the stuff that’s really fictional.” she commented, holding out the cash to pay for the book.

”Besides. I’m a romance snob. You won’t catch me reading a trashy harlequin.” she nodded towards the book. ”This stuff is quality. It’s like the difference between a pin-up girl and a stripper. Can’t judge the book by its cover.”

"Guess not." The transaction was completed. Riley got a little bag, and a receipt. Aurum got some money, which he stuffed in the cash register. The thing dinged shut. "I'm a mystery snob, myself. So, I can definitely get that. It applies to all sorts of things, too."

Anyways.

"Enjoy that book," He nodded politely to the thoroughly fictional reading material. "If you ever need suggestions, by the way, I know a good book or two myself." It wasn't a smug comment. At least, he hoped it hadn't come out that way. Moreso, volunteering information.

Were they done here? Was there anything he was forgetting? He couldn't recall.

Good. He understood. She didn’t have to write it out for him. Riley was actually a little relived. Why she felt the need to justify her reading tastes to the golden boy, she had no idea. She did, though..and Aurum understanding simply made thing easier. That’s why she was happy. It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he seemed to get it…and that they were on the same page. That would have just been annoying.

He told her to enjoy the book and offered suggestions if she was ever in the market for something new. Riley answered without thinking, a genuinely fond smile on her face, ”Oh, I will…I’ve read it five or six times.” she said, then shrugged her shoulders at his offer.

”If I end up on this side of town again. Yours will be the first opinion I ask for.” she said with all the brightly smiling sincerity she could muster. It wasn’t exactly sarcasm…because the comment was made in good humor, but it was not quite sincere. She hoped he’d get the joke. They’d made civil progress today.

”Thanks though…for the coffee. It’s not half bad…and I’ll let you know about the donut.”

"Glad you like it." Yup. There was something he was forgetting here. Aurum still couldn't place it. He told her 'goodbye'. Nope. Still nothing came through to him. She walked out the door.

Wait.

There it was, as the revolving doors turned. The thing he'd forgotten. He hadn't gotten her number.

Why was that suddenly important?

He held his forehead, checking for a fever.

What the heck...