[OPEN] Coffee Time

[saudadist]

WHO: Lucy/Kaede, open
WHAT: Coffee shop things
WHERE: SynBucks Coffee (name pending)
WHEN: within the first week of arrival
WARNINGS: None so far, will update as needed!

[ Lucy's struck for what to do during her downtime. And, as much as she abhors the thought, what better way to kill time than by going to her day job? I mean, they gave her a civilian name and everything for a reason. Might as well use it to stave off boredom, right?

So throughout the week, anyone who happens to walk into a particular coffee shop will see Lucy, or Momiji Akagawa, doing her best to make complicated influencer orders or those adorable 3D latte foam animals. The key words here are "doing her best" because such artwork is a skill and skills take time to master.

Please do her a kindness and order a black coffee, a caramel macchiato, or any the sandwiches instead. ]

Comments

[plagiarists]

[ What is kindness, can you eat it??

As much as Sooyoung would rather stay in her room and write, she knows that sometimes it's good to go out, take a walk and maybe visit the local coffee shop. When it's her turn to make an order, she murmurs with a blasé voice: ]

Three lattes, please.

[ Welp... ]

[saudadist]

[ In this case, literally yes? But also no.

Still, three lattes isn't too ridiculous of an order. It's just the same thing over and over, and she can do that! And based on the overall look of the customer...

Two shots of espresso for each. Looks like she needs it. ]

Did you want a carrier?

[plagiarists]

[ At that moment her eyes lay at the ad for the 3D latte foam which causes a slight delay in her response. ]

Yeah, sure. Are you taking requests for this or is it always the same cat or whatever?

[ It's obvious that she has a different animal in mind. ]

[saudadist]

[ Oh. Oh she wants that latte. Okay, well...that's still fine. Sort of.

She does her best to hide her disdain and only manages it by focusing on her work with latte #2. ]

There are a couple different animals, but the simpler, the better.

[plagiarists]

What about a squid?

[ If there's a list, she's ignoring it on purpose. What a nice customer. ]

Shouldn't be too hard, right?

[likemybooks]

[ Taryon had to do the proper planning for his first trip to a coffee shop. No, not a bog-standard gathering place where you had small cups of the drink, but whatever SynBucks does. It's got milk, it's got foam, it's got all kinds of flavors. His first cup must be amazing.

Which means pouring over internet forums and review sites, stumbling across "secret recipe" blogs, and deciding that yes, this complicated frappuccino will do.

He approaches Kaede with a small sheet of paper with the recipe scribbled on it.] Can you make this for me?

[His eyes are shining with so much hope. Surely, Lucy knows how to make a drink that's a mix of three milks, two flavors, and obscure techniques only superfans know about.]

[saudadist]

[ She's new to the job and yet this is her trial. This is how God in His heaven has decided to make her atone for her crimes. Exaggerating, of course. It's fine.

As she looks over the "secret recipe," Lucy is struck for words. Her eyes visibly trail from side to side as she takes in what's needed for such a...unique drink. Except, it seems some of her soul might be leaving her for how her complexion pales. ]

It's going to take a little bit. [ She glances at the other baristas, one at the drive thru window and the other very pointedly not looking her way. Of course they're no help. Sigh. ] If...that's okay.

[likemybooks]

Oh, that's totally fine. [Taryon gives her a smile.] I'm sure you need to take your time to perfect it.

[She must be worried because she's still new. Taryon leans on the counter to speak in a low voice.]

Hey. I was nervous when I started my first job. I'll just wait over here and read in the meantime.

[saudadist]

[ She should be grateful he's so understanding. She should be, but the fact that her newness to this job was so obvious grates at her. Sure she only has somewhat of a grip on things, but she was hoping she hid it better! Mortifying, plain and simple.

Luckily for her, she keeps the disgruntled huff to a minimum. Little more than a sigh through her nose. ]

Need a name for the order. Since it'll take a minute.

sorry for missing this!

[likemybooks]

[Taryon tries his best to be encouraging, but his efforts are hit-or-miss. He'll see how effective he was in inspiring Lucy to do her best soon.

When she asks for his name, he catches himself before giving his real name and needs a second to remind himself to stay undercover.]

Gary. [He refuses to give his fake surname. He cannot forgive the computer system for doing this to him.]

[kubricks]

Hmm.

[She’s thinking here, lots of choices. Which one, which one. It’s funny really, there’s no choice once she sees someone else’s drink. It’s so cute and she’s never seen something prepared quite that way. So when it’s her turn to order, she’s smiling, already thinking of what the finished product will look like.]

Can I get one of the lattes with the foam dog, please?

[saudadist]

[ Oh god. Oh geez. Where's the other girl who was here a second...ago...

And she's gone! Of course. Traitor.

Well, Lucy's managed to make a foam dog once. It didn't look as cute as the pictures though so... ]

I'm still learning how to do it. [ Might as well break it to her before rather than after. Retail is such a pain. ] It won't look as cute...

[kubricks]

[Oh well. Points for admitting it to set some lowered expectations now rather than nothing until seeing the final product.]

That's okay. I'm sure you'll try your best.

[No pressure? At least Makima's not acting like there's any pressure here. Other than that comment about trying her best, but she's not making a big deal out of it. She's sure there's been more demanding customers about this, especially if Lucy's still learning.]

[saudadist]

Uh...thanks.

[ At least she's understanding? It's more than she can hope for from customers based on how today's going.

To her credit, Lucy is very meticulous with her attempt. The body of the foam puppy comes first, then the ears, then what's supposed to be a tail but just ends up looking like a blob. The color pointing for the ears is shaky too, and the face? Well, it has eyes. That's about it.

She's almost embarrassed to present it but nonetheless, she presents the half melted Shiba with a crooked gaze. ]

[kubricks]

Hmm.

[That noise again while she looks at attempted dog. It’s doesn’t match the image she had in her head based on some of the others, that’s for sure. It’s sort of dog shaped sure, but not quite what she thought she’d get. There’s an awkward silence here, sorry if the thought that she might insist a redo occurs. But no, she doesn’t taking the cup and looking it over again.]

It’s cute.

[In its own kind of half melted way.]

[skirm]

( though wanderer has no need for nourishment of any form, he has spent many years experimenting different tastes. it's... not a hobby, per say, but to this day he still partakes in the act when it comes to new food and drinks. neo-tokyo falls under this category, and his first order of business is, of course, a coffee shop - because at least he enjoys coffee, if only when it's bitter.

he scans the menu with an uninterested look, as though nothing there seems appealing, and eventually turns to the barista, who doesn't look half as confident in her job as she should be. oh well. )

What do you recommend?

( surprise him, lucy-chan. )

[saudadist]

[ Short on confidence and short on patience in general, Lucy doesn't catch herself in time. ]

A black coffee.

[ In the back office, the manager says "Akagawa..." just loud enough for her to hear. ]

Unless you have a sweet tooth...then you might like a cappuccino.

[skirm]

I don't, ( lucy wins this time, mx. manager. ) I've had black coffee before. Don't you have something unique?

( what would make someone pick this shop over any other?? add something fun to your menu!!! )

[saudadist]

[ Unique. Of course. A few things come to mind, but she's still going to go for what she thinks is the easiest one. ]

Maple bacon latte, then.

[skirm]

( ???????????? BACON????

... he has his doubts about that one, but, )

Sure. That works.

( at least he won't get food poisoning or something... )

[agnitio]

[ Look who is on his break?

In his arms, he carries in sweets from the shop that he works. A few lollipops are poking out of his mouth as he pushes his way into the coffee shop. ]

Hwah. Ouhi gurlie. [ Hey, oni girlie. His chin tips up as another greeting before crossing the short distance to plop some of the candy on the counter. He pauses before lifting his hand up to pull the other sweets out his mouth. Ignore the line of spit that comes with it, please. ]

I got a break. How about that, huh? I get some downtime at the Foundation, but ah-- [ He forgets people don't know what that means, or maybe he just doesn't care to assimilate that much. Probably a mixture of the two. Pavia assimilates in his own way and that is just acting like normal and complaining as usual. ] -- I got all these nice sweets to eat on my break.

So, what drink goes good with them? [ Yes, he's just showing his haul with no intention of sharing. ]

[saudadist]

[ She is bad with names most of the time, so her initial thought is "oh it's that guy" rather than his actual name. Come to think of it, did she even ever ask his name? She can't remember, but if he's ordering, there's an excuse.

His manners are appalling, though, and that's coming from someone who ordinarily wouldn't care in the slightest. That, and showing off all those sweets as if baiting her. Is this a grown man or a child?

Still, they hit it off well enough that she feels compelled to give him more of her patience than she might otherwise. ]

Bitter drinks go well with sweet things. They balance out and neither taste overstays its welcome.

[agnitio]

Hmmm.... an Americano, then. [ He breathes in sharp. ] Seems like you're getting along with your job.

[ Pavia points at the candies that he has scattered over the countertop. ] Look at these - they weren't much, either. Not enough to dent into that measly bit of money that they gave us to start. [ A pause as he takes a second to lick the lollipops. ] Though, can't say the quality as good as I've had, but --

[ A shrug follows. ] -- anyway, oni girlie, should have a tip... but anything I give tips into my sweets' reserve. So pick some of this cheap candy as your added pay. [ Could he just have offered without insulting her first and insinuating how little he had to pay for what he has? Yes. Did he want to? No. ]

[saudadist]

[ Americano, huh. She can do that. It's just espresso and water, albeit the latter has to be at just the right amount. Before she goes to make it, however, she stops to consider the candy he's laid out all over the counter. ]

Tips aren't necessary anyway... [ It's frowned upon in Japan, which is news to her. But then again, she's never exactly gone out to eat at places where it might come up. ]

[agnitio]

Huh?

[ He clicks his tongue. ] Fine, you don't get anything, then. [ His tone comes out sharper than intended, but when doesn't it? Instead, he flicks his finger to knock a few pieces of candy out of the pile. ]

Except for those. I got them, but I don't like the flavor. [ And he flashes a quick, smug smile. ]