Murdock parts the doors to the establishment of boiling puke and finds Kim at the counter already sipping away on some. Probably a dollar in that sip. Guess ten minutes early really wasn't enough to beat him.

"Yeah, I'll have a large caramel Frappuccino with extra cream and drizzle," Murdock says to the barista.

Kim gives a stupid look. Like he'd kicked a baby or something. Murdock shoots one back, like 'yeah I just did.'

"You mean venti, sir?" The young woman busies herself with some task or another but her eyes meet him for a second and they're annoyed.

"Yeah, large, whatever."

"Eight fifty down below, sir."

"Tch," Murdock hisses and swipes his card, "robbery."

Kim motions to a corner booth, taking another dainty sip from his cardboard cup.

"Let us give them some time to prepare that abomination."

"Abomination?" Murdock growls, wanting to express how boiling puke that made your heart skip beats wasn't any better but realizing he'd made the right choice staying silent as Kim produces a ten dollar bill and slides it to him.

"It is expensive here, their beans are well-sourced. It is only fair."

"Thanks," Murdock pockets the money, "I'll get you next time."

Kim grins, "Sure."

His mind brewing with ways to express his situation in a way that wouldn't seem suspect, Murdock taps his fingers. He feels his breaths going shallow. Teeth locking a little, like they're rusting shut. A woman's face appears in his mind.

"What did you wish to discuss with me?" Kim says.

"Uh," Murdock gulps, "do you think people can, like, change?"

"Cutting the small talk I see."

"Seriously, man."

"I would say it depends. I think past a certain age, people's minds tend to harden and to change them meaningfully it takes greater and greater experiences. This isn't about a girl, is it?"

Murdock scrapes a finger against the wooden tabletop, drawing a long breath.

"No, it's not. Honestly I think I've made my mind up, but I wanted your opinion. More specifically, do you think going through hardship together makes relationships between people stronger?"

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A heavy pause settles in as a blender starts roaring in the background. Clearly, Kim wasn't expecting this conversation.

"I'll be honest, Murdock, it's not really like you to ask a question like that."

"Yeah."

Another pause. Kim's glasses flash, and he leans in. Frowns.

"What's this about?"

A question to never answer. Not truthfully, anyway. Not even to Kim. Guy is sharp. Murdock thinks those hundreds of law books would've smoothed his brain in certain ways, but he clearly already knows something is up.

"You got me, man," Murdock grins and throws his hands up briefly in surrender, "it's about a girl."

Kim's gaze lingers for a moment, behind that glare in his silver-rimmed spectacles, but a smile breaks out, "Knew it."

He would've sussed out the lie if Murdock hadn't been thinking of that girl back at the dorm while he'd said it. The way he'd been looking, detecting lies isn't any new thing for him. Law school really warped him into one paranoid bastard.

"Bad breakup, I might've gone a little overboard honestly but it doesn't feel like I'm in the wrong."

"Huh," Kim looks a little relieved, "well I am glad you're starting to see people. These are good experiences to have early."

"You sound like you're forty, dude."

"Maybe I am at heart."

The conversation begins bobbing and weaving into various unimportant topics. Some good cold brew coffee Murdock would never try here, new bars in town there. Academics is the hardest to suffer through, especially coming off the bar talk. Eventually, an opportunity presents itself. One Murdock had been patient to reach.

"I'll head out in a few, but just for shits and giggles what's your answer to that question earlier?"

"What question?"

"That thing about girls."

"Oh." Again, a look comes over Kim's face. It isn't long lived. "I believe, if handled well, hardships produce very strong bonds."

"That's it?"

"Yes."

Kim isn't so bad. Even if he makes you look stupid sometimes.

"Thanks for chatting, man," Murdock says, rising to his feet and making for the door, "I'll get you back for that coffee."

"If you can call it that."

Kim might not have been wrong. The stuff tastes more like ice cream than coffee. Still, there'd been something in his friend's face as he left. Looking back to confirm feels tempting, but also like a wrong move. As though doing it would implicate him even more in some trial the guy holds in his mind. Are these jitters from caffeine?

----------------------------------------

From what Lae Vermillion understands, nobody really reads newspapers anymore. Nevertheless, those two were so engrossed in their conversation they'd not paid her any mind. Genius, truly. Being so suspicious it loops round into normalcy. The olive skinned one keeps staring at Murdock while he leaves, head ajar a little. His glasses catch sunlight, and…

Lae feels like he'd reached down and ripped her breath right out from her windpipe.

This 'Kim' can see her now. To someone ordinary it'd look like daydreaming, just staring at the parking lot through some windows. But he has used the sun's glare on those glasses in just the right way to make his eye shift seem normal. Like lining her up just in his peripheral vision isn't intended.

Lae swishes her newspaper and veils her face, and a grin, with it. How strange. There'd only been a trifling handful of those with a Will for Power in this insipid Earth town and two just so happen to be buddy buddy with each other. It would be worth keeping an eye on both these people. Their Will for Power is clearly-

Kim's chair grinds back, and his footsteps in those dress shoes click ravenously for the door. Lae lets her paper mask down, meeting two cold eyes. Kim, standing with a hand on the doorframe, gives a look. One which says "I know what you're trying to do."

Smiling, Vermillion waves and runs a couple fingers through her hair. Kim's expression softens, he waves back. Leaves. This would be interesting indeed. For a would-be terrorist this Murdock fellow is predictable. Kim, though… Yes, Kim has potential. A different kind.

Vermillion sets her paper down and rests her chin on two knit hands.

"Decisions, decisions…"