Ulysses Paradox (a Will Lenney fanfiction.)

chapter one

authors note: I already hate myself for this lmao. I'm not as cringe in real life (anymore) but fanfic is the only place I can comfort write a coffee shop meet-cute without feeling like a fucking trash bag no good writer. Thanks for understanding :)

Chapter One

"I'm just saying, if Leopold had been more invested into his relationship, I don't think Molly would have been interested in Boylan to begin with. She would've been happy enough in her relationship that she didn't feel that the grass was greener with a guy who only wanted her for her tits and potential fame," Ruby thumbed through the pages of Ulysses mindlessly, listening to Audre and Taj debate the nuanced relationship between the businessman and his wife.

"He's already dealing with so much else in his life, I can see where Molly might be more interested in a man who wants her back, I don't think our mate Leo had her best interest in mind, he was a self-serving anti-hero, that's the entire point," Taj insisted.

"Way to parrot every literary review ever, Taj," Ruby said, laughing. Audre nodded in agreement.

"You've not even read the book," Audre added, "just googled a review and noted the wittiest, most scathing remarks."

"That's not true, it's my own conclusion. If anything, the fact that my opinion lines up with common criticism of the work implies that I'm on the right path to understanding."

"Was it not Joyce himself who said he'd packed so many enigmas into this book that he'd have professors busy for centuries?" Audre countered.

"That's the only way of insuring one's immortality." Ruby finished. Taj rolled his eyes and threw his hands up in defeat.

"What's the point of readin through the classics if so many white blokes with fucking monocles and sports coats already've got their fifty pence in, eh? I thought we were bringing in a fresh perspective, not tearing down Taj anytime he comes prepared to have a discussion." He said to the girls, who finally cracked and gave it to him for defending himself. They'd been meeting up twice a month for some while now, after they'd spent a semester with almost identical schedules during their last year at uni. A study group had grown into friendship and a common love for niche literature and, even more important, a common disdain for classic literature. They'd started their pseudo book club to broaden their horizons and see each other regularly, and attempt to make it through some of their hand-picked collection of classic reading that held a sliver of hope.

Ruby grabbed her empty mug and went to the front counter to get a refill. She passed a handful of change over to the barista and nodded when he let her know it would be done brewing in just a moment.

When her coffee was done, she carefully carried it back to her seat, pausing to let two men walk in front of her.

"'scuse me, thanks," one of them mumbled as she nodded them forward. She made eye contact with the closer of the two, and smiled briefly, looking at his face just a moment longer than was normal. She pulled her eyes away and looked him up and down. He was nothing special, just an average guy at a coffee shop. They took up residence at the table next to her friends. As Ruby went to step over the backpack the two guys had brought in, her foot caught on the strap and tripped her just enough to spill some very hot coffee all over her fingertips. She hissed in pain and quickly set the mug down, shaking her hands.

"Oh, pardon, I'm so sorry mate," the man sitting closer to her grabbed the bag and tucked it further under their table. He had shaggy dark brown hair and scruffy beard to match, but looked friendly.

"It's okay, don't stress," she replied, sucking a bit of coffee off the back of her hand. "If it wasn't you it was gonna be me." The man chuckled amiably, and looked over at the three friends at the table next to him.