blue_ajah | (no subject)

She wakes early enough that it is still full dark outside, although the first stirrings of birds hint at the dawn to come.

Some few minutes later, Moiraine is seated at the small table in her kitchen, a cup of tea steaming untouched near to hand as she looks out the window, watching the trees and waiting for enough time to pass that she can make a phone call without waking the person she wishes to reach... and without disturbing his morning meditation session.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

tibetanmethod

Dale Cooper meditates pre-coffee, as a disciplinary measure. The professional he sees twice a month in Spokane -- which he keeps quiet, as a general rule -- concurs that this is a healthy practice.

So he meditates pre-coffee, and performs his morning ablutions pre-coffee, and he is standing in his kitchen contemplating his coffeemaker, hair combed, shoes shined, deputy's uniform creased hard enough to cut something.

Before his hand strays to the hand-grinder and the airtight container of whole arabica beans (yirgacheffe), his hand strays to pick up the phone. If someone's calling him this early, it's likely the overnight dispatcher, and that means there's a problem. "Cooper here."

From:

blue_ajah

"Dale? Light illumine."

Over time, Moiraine has become far more accustomed to the technology of this Age, in this world - the more particularly after having served at the sheriff's station in Lucy's absence. As a result, her soft, serene tones are bell-clear.

"I hope that I am not disturbing you."

From:

tibetanmethod

He exhales quietly, and turns to lean against the counter, holding the handset against his ear. "Not at all -- I was just about to start the coffee. Is something the matter?"

From:

blue_ajah

"I do not believe so."

Her response is both immediate and certain.

"But there is something I would like very much to talk with you about, if you have time before your shift."

From:

tibetanmethod

Cooper knows that Moiraine wouldn't ask if it weren't important.

And so it is with no hesitation whatsoever that he glances at the clock on the wall, which reads 5:15, and he says, "I'm on duty at seven, and as long as there's coffee in the offing I can meet you anywhere between now and then. Do you have a preference?"

If she wanted to tell him what it was about over the phone, she'd tell him.

From:

blue_ajah

"If you would be willing to stop by here, I could have coffee waiting for you when you arrive," Moiraine tells him.

"If that is not too much of an inconvenience?"

From:

tibetanmethod

It's not his own coffee, but Lucy taught Moiraine how to make it for the sheriff's station, when Moiraine was filling in during Lucy's maternity leave. Lucy's coffee is good. Moiraine's attention to detail means that her coffee is also good.

One day, Cooper thinks in passing, he will talk to Moiraine about arabica and robusta and the importance of hand-grinding and the pros and cons of each method of brewing. But today is not that day.

"It's not an inconvenience at all. I'm nearly ready to leave for the day -- when can I be there?"

From:

blue_ajah

"Whenever you wish," she replies. "I have been awake myself for some time."

From:

tibetanmethod

"I'll be there in ten minutes."

It means he'll get there before the coffee's done -- but that won't be so bad.

"See you soon."

From:

blue_ajah

"See you soon," she murmurs, and hangs up the phone with a soft 'click.'

Moiraine draws a soft breath, lets it out in a soundless sigh, and crosses over to the counter to take down the coffeepot.

From:

tibetanmethod

He goes to the coatrack, shrugs into his jacket (tugging it automatically over his badge), grabs his keys, checks his holster, and leaves the apartment.

Exactly nine and a half minutes later, just as the sky begins to lighten, Cooper gets out of the car and moves steadily up to Moiraine's door.

He hasn't allowed himself to wonder what this might be about. The best response to heightened anxiety is to dwell in the present, and at present, there's nothing to worry about except remembering to turn off the car's headlights.

From:

blue_ajah

A slender shadow moves at the window beside the front door, and a moment later the lock clicks.

Moiraine pulls the door open and steps back with it so that he may enter unimpeded.

"True to your word, as always."

From:

tibetanmethod

"I strive to be a credit to the badge, Moiraine." Cooper enters; he can smell the coffee. "Now that we're not on the phone -- are you sure nothing's the matter?"

From:

blue_ajah

"I do not think that anything is the matter," she replies, very carefully. "But something has happened that was ... surprising."

Extremely so, to judge from the care in her words, and the steadiness with which she is holding herself.

She gestures gracefully toward the kitchen, where a mug stands waiting by the coffeepot.

From:

tibetanmethod

If Cooper was a betting man, he'd say it involves either an unexpected opportunity in Twin Peaks, or something that means she's leaving Twin Peaks.

Cooper heads for the coffeepot, and picks up the mug. "Oh?"

From:

blue_ajah

"Yes."

She glides past behind him, toward the small table she has set up at the side of the kitchen, near the window, and rests both hands on the back of one of the chairs there.

"I had a visitor."

From:

tibetanmethod

Cooper doesn't watch her move -- he's pouring coffee.

And once he's done, once she's spoken -- he doesn't say anything. But his head lifts, and his expression is wary.

From:

blue_ajah

She draws a breath, and turns to him.

"It was Morpheus. Here, in Twin Peaks, in my dreaming."

From:

tibetanmethod

It is a testament to his will that Dale Cooper does not drop the cup of coffee.

Still, it's several seconds before he takes a sip, and he's a few shades paler when he does it.

"The coffee's quite good," Cooper says.

From:

blue_ajah

"I am glad you find it so," she murmurs, but she is studying him carefully as she does. Even if she had not been half expecting it, it would have been impossible for one such as the Aes Sedai to miss all the nuances of his reaction.

Moiraine leaves the chair without hesitation and crosses the small room swiftly to stand before him. She looks up into his face, her dark-eyed glance seeking his, and reaches for his free hand.

"I am sorry. I did not know how else to say it."

From:

tibetanmethod

"Well," Cooper says, tone quite mild, "there really wasn't any other way, Moiraine."

From:

blue_ajah

"I suppose not."

She takes a soft breath.

"I do not expect that it is likely to happen again, however."

From:

tibetanmethod

Cooper wants details. He wants a lot of details.

(He wants to get to work and go in Harry's office, with Hawk, and close the door.)

The problem is that, among all the other things, Morpheus is Moiraine's ex-husband.

Morpheus is Moiraine's business.

And Cooper has no right to ask for any kind of information.

No right at all.

Still, his hand squeezes hers briefly, and lets go. "But it didn't go badly?"

From:

blue_ajah

"No, but--"

"I thought you should know, because -- "

It is a rare thing to see the Aes Sedai even this flustered.

From:

tibetanmethod

It is, and that's why Cooper waits, patiently.

If it's bad enough that she called him at 5:15, and asked him to come over immediately, and she can't find the words on her first try, then prompting her for an answer won't do anything but heighten anxiety for both of them.