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It is quiet in the apartment.

Moiraine has settled herself by the window with a book, but the text is being ignored in favor of the view.

There is a thoughtful look on her face.

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Cooper picks up his coffee.

He says to the reflective surface:

"It's going to be more difficult for you to adjust to life here than it was for me. If you stay. More difficult than... certain other options that you have available to you. If you stay... I'd like to think it would be because you truly want to be here."

She watches him, her gaze steady and level, waiting for him to look up.

"Other options."

A pause.

"You mean ... where we met ... I presume?"

Cooper nods.

"I see."

She toys with her coffee cup for a moment before pushing it away.

"Do you think that I will not be able to adjust?"

Mild: "No. You're more than capable of making the adjustment. Especially here."

The Aes Sedai arches an eyebrow at him.

"Especially here." A faint, wry smile touches her lips. "Perhaps."

Cooper echoes her smile -- no more than that -- and sips his coffee.

Moiraine sighs.

"Dale. Although I have reason to appreciate circumspectness, I would greatly value your advice in this."

Cooper puts down his coffee.

And says, gently, "Moiraine, I'll be frank. I would like nothing better than for you to make a life for yourself in Twin Peaks, and I'm willing to do whatever I can to make that transition as smooth as possible. It's certainly a possibility in this town -- several factors contribute to Twin Peaks being a welcoming town for outsiders -- and I can't think of a better place for you to do it. However, if you -- don't think you'd be happy here -- "

"You know you'd have more options. In the place where we met."

"I think it quite possible that I could be," she says quietly, after a moment. "It is only that I am not accustomed to idleness."

"No." A quick smile. "I don't imagine you are."

Moiraine returns his smile with one of her own, but it quickly fades to seriousness.

"And thus you see my concern. What here may be done by one such as I?"

Cooper tilts his head.

Considers.

"Moiraine, have you ever thought about teaching?"

"I have taught before," she replies. "Novices, in the White Tower."

"Teachers do need to attain certification, most of the time -- it would take some research, depending on what you'd like to teach, and to whom, even assuming that's what you'd want to do -- but that's one possibility."

She studies him carefully.

"You have been thinking about this, have you not?"

"Just a little," Cooper says with a faint smile and his eyes on the jukebox by the door.

"I see," she says, and the sudden warmth in the dark eyes might be surprising to one who did not know her.

He takes a sip of coffee, eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "Not Catherine Martell, not yet, which means not Pete. Although -- "

Although Pete and Josie were close. And Josie was from somewhere else as well -- not quite as far away, not as different, but the principles might well be the same. And everybody knows Pete, and he doesn't have any enemies.

Moiraine is certainly more than capable of handling Catherine Martell, as well.

"I think," he says, mildly, "with your permission, I might introduce you to Pete Martell. His family has been here for at least a few generations, and he's well-liked. He's also very good at chess."

Chess. T'cheran.

There had been a time, due to the actions of a man named Windom Earle, when Dale Cooper had pressing reasons to seek out those with expertise at the game, she knows.

The Aes Sedai inclines her head slightly in assent.

"I should be pleased to meet him."

"He and Major Briggs will be able to help, I think. They've lived here much longer than I have, and they can see things that I may not be able to see."

He pauses.

"Pete may want to take you fishing."

This is clearly a warning.

"Somehow, I doubt that much gets past you without you being aware of it," she observes.

"Fishing. I shall keep that in mind."

Moiraine takes a sip of her coffee, and this time manages not to evince any disapproval.

"Maybe. Maybe not." A small smile. "But it's different, when you're an outsider. And I'm still from outside. Pete's lived here all his life. It makes a difference." Pause. "You know, the library is within walking distance of the house. I'd recommend bringing an umbrella, but I think that's something you might have some interest in...?"

"The library?"

There's no mistaking it; light (life) sparks in Moiraine's glance.

"I would indeed be interested. Very much so."

"Good," Cooper says -- happily.

"And if we walk there later, we can walk off the pie."

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