Ethan Demian Augustus: He's just
relaxing in the coffee shop, physics textbook open in front of him, occasionally
scribbling notes in the margins. There is a empty dish pushed off to the side,
and a coffee cup in easy reach.
Ethan Demian Augustus: [You want his DD
again?]
Michelle Morgan:
Into the cafe she steps, sunglasses coming
off...yes, this one wears sunglasses at night. Corey Hart would be proud. The
woman, upon first glance, is for once mistakable...the blonde hair has been dyed
black, well enough that it looks entirely natural, even the red streaks flowing
through. She's wearing an outfit that is very much NOT what you would expect to
see the host of the Anti-Spin in...no political T-Shirt, no full-length skirt.
Her look is pure sexy goth, in a daring halterneck mini dress with cut-out
diamond-shaped side panels and thigh-high PVC boots with strap back and high
heels. Very different look for the rock chick, as she steps in and looks around.
Michelle Morgan:
((Naah, I got it. *S*))
Ethan Demian Augustus: Scribble. Scribble.
Flip page. Pick up coffee cup. Register sexy goth chick. Michelle gets a
friendly smile.
Michelle Morgan:
She looks over to Ethan and smiles warmly to him,
before she heads to the counter and orders a double straight espresso shot, as
well as a white chocolate mocha. The drinks are paid for, and she moves to take
a seat, sitting in the booth across the aisle from Ethan. "Good evening," she
says as she takes a seat.
Ethan Demian Augustus: "Evening." He eyes
the amount of caffiene she just brought back with a tiny shake of his head.
"What did Morpheus do to you?"
Michelle Morgan:
She chuckles a little bit. "Nothing,
nothing...beyond not giving me enough hours in the day. More Chronos's fault
then Morpheus's." A little wink.
Ethan Demian Augustus: He chuckles. "I
tried that same question on this cute little snub nosed brunette about an hour
ago, and I think by the time she stopped talking she was convinced I was
schizophrenic." He offers her a hand. "But I'm Ethan."
Michelle Morgan:
She leans across the aisle, taking the hand and
shaking it. "Michelle. Nice to meet you, Ethan."
Ethan Demian Augustus: He nods.
"Pleasure."
Michelle Morgan:
She smiles a little, and glances over at the
textbook. "See, now you're a brave man. You lose a lot of resale value when you
mark up the books like that."
Ethan Demian Augustus: He glances over at
the book, making another quick note in the margin and then taking another sip of
coffee.
Ethan Demian Augustus: "Consideration of
resale value would involve intent to give it up. I may need for reference later.
You always build on the basics."
Michelle Morgan:
"Ahh, so it's not a class you're taking just to
get your science requirement out of the way." A bit of a grin.
Ethan Demian Augustus: "Not at all." He
smiles. "I'm taking the semester off, but I picked up a few books to review so I
don't go back and find my brain's turned to mush."
Michelle Morgan:
"Makes sense." She nods. "What are you majoring
in?"
Ethan Demian Augustus: He grins.
"Philosophy."
Michelle Morgan:
"Ah-ha." She smiles. "That's a hell of a major.
Teaching, I assume?"
Ethan Demian Augustus: "With the fallback
option of rocket science."
Michelle Morgan:
"Hey, as long as we're not talking rockets as in
guided ballistic missile systems, it's all good with me." She chuckles, picking
up the double shot. "What brought you to philosophy as a life path?"
Ethan Demian Augustus: "Religion
fascinates me. How people define morality, how they come to terms with death,
how they approach the infinite. It's amazing when you break it down just how
universal some truths are."
Michelle Morgan:
She nods. "No argument there. Just goes to show
how we all come from the same place...for some of us, it's just a matter of
getting back there." She gives him a warm smile and downs the expresso.
Ethan Demian Augustus: He smiles back.
"What about you? What do you do when you aren't discussing universal truth with
strange men?" He finishes his coffee and shifts carefully so that he's facing
her, one arm braced on the table.
Michelle Morgan:
"I sing, and when I'm not doing that, I shove my
liberal beliefs down the throat of anyone who's tuned into Air America radio
while my show's on." She grins and shrugs a bit.
Ethan Demian Augustus: He chuckles. "Ohhhhhhh...sounds
like fun."
Michelle Morgan:
"It's got it's joys." A chuckle from the
dark-haired woman. "Got it's headaches, too. But I'd go nuts if I wasn't doing
it."
Ethan Demian Augustus: "That's good. Not
enough people do what they're passionate about and they just wither. Tragic
really."
Michelle Morgan:
"Yeah, so I've noticed." She sighs a little.
"That's what I hope I can do, is inspire a few to break out of their
self-imposed walls and avoid that whole withering thing. We all do what we
can...those passionate of us. Just my part of it."
Ethan Demian Augustus: "Yeah," he says
with a quiet smile. "We do."
Michelle Morgan:
She watches him for a moment, head cocked
slightly to the side, then smiles. "Yeah. So what are you doing doing your
semester off?"
Ethan Demian Augustus: "I ah...needed some
time to change perspective. A lot happened in a short period of time. I wanted
to reflect before I just kept charging foward."
Michelle Morgan:
"Oh?" She gives him a curious look.
Ethan Demian Augustus: There is a few
seconds while he considers, and then with just a slight blush creeping in,
"well, among other things, I met this guy...."
Michelle Morgan:
"Ahh, I see." She nods a little bit, smiling. No
scorn, of course...no derision. He could have easily said he met this girl.
"That does tend to change perspectives a bit."
Ethan Demian Augustus: "Yeah." He
chuckles. "Sure as hell shook my life up."
Michelle Morgan:
"Yeah...I know the feeling pretty well. My
significant other did the same."
Ethan Demian Augustus: "Congratulations, I
think."
Michelle Morgan:
"And the same back to you." She nods a little
bit, smiling amicably.
Ethan Demian Augustus: "Thanks."
Michelle Morgan:
"Any time." That smile becomes a slight grin, as
she picks up the mocha. "So, then. Religion fascinates you...I have to ask. What
religious path do you find yourself walking, if any?"
Ethan Demian Augustus: "Kind of...ecclectic.
I don't have any specific focus, but I do believe there is something greater out
there."
Michelle Morgan:
"Makes sense. Someone who studies religion...I'm
sure you've picked up parts of here and there, this religion and that, that
resonate with you. I can kind of relate."
Ethan Demian Augustus: "Yeah. Pretty much.
What about you?"
Michelle Morgan:
"I...I guess the best you could call it is a bit
of a hodge-podge myself. Like I said, I can relate. I was raised Baptist..." She
winces a bit. "But found my own way. Some pagan, some Eastern philosophy, some
Christian, even. Whatever sounded right."
Ethan Demian Augustus: "Cool. Religion
should be about you and god. Sometimes dogma just complicates things. Ritual and
tradition are important, but too much of either without knowing why...just as
bad as no faith at all."
Michelle Morgan:
"Well-said." She nods. "It's about what you
believe, not how you believe it. That's what faith is...it's empowerment."
Ethan Demian Augustus: He nods.
"Delightful meeting you, but much as I'd love to continue this...I turn into a
pumpkin soon." He writes his number on a napkin and offers it to Michelle.
[Because it's pushing 5am here and thereby my naptime.]
Michelle Morgan:
She takes the number with a smile, and hands him
a business card with her work number on it. "All right. You take care,
Ethan...give me a call something. We'll get together, do more philisophical
talk."
Ethan Demian Augustus: "I look forward to
it." [And cut.]