[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

[saudadist]

[ Lucy doesn't laugh, at least. She pushes a stack of napkins across the counter for him to pick out a couple if he needs them. He has her sympathy even if she's going to be laughing about this in private much, much later.]

Where did you even find this recipe?

[likemybooks]

[He wipes his mouth with a napkin. There's no mess, but it makes him feel better.]

It's something I found on the Internet. There are these super-fans that know a lot of about drinks that put this list of recipes together.

[saudadist]

"Super-fans."

[ Yeah, no. She's doubting that. It's plain on her face but honestly? Her face is just like that already. ]

Sounds more like they're just making things up.

[likemybooks]

...But people have gone out and gotten these drink. [He takes a very small sip of the concoction. The flavor intensity is manageable.]

[saudadist]

Because management wants them to humor customers instead of tell them their ideas are absurd.

[ At least he seems to like it more the second go-round? Maybe?? As long as he's not ranting and raving that she redo it, she can deal with this, she supposes. ]

I didn't promise it'd be pretty, anyway.

[likemybooks]

It...tastes like something expensive. [But, as he has learned, sometimes expensive things...are grosser.] You know what, I change my mind.

[He sets the cup on the table and pushes it towards Lucy.]

What's the closest thing on the non-secret menu to this?

[saudadist]

[ The closest? That's easy enough. ]

A regular cappuccino. [ But since he's been such a good sport about his "secret menu" thing going awry, she decides to add on: ] You get to pick if you want cinnamon or cocoa on top of the milk foam.

[likemybooks]

[His eyebrows rise. Chocolate is expensive outside of Marquet, and despite the bounty of chocolate sweets in stores, it's surprising to hear it offered as a typical flavor in a chilly climate.]

Cocoa, then. That's pretty expensive in my hometown.

[saudadist]

Mm. Got it.

[ While her expression doesn't change, Lucy's demeanor is definitely lighter as she makes her way back behind the counter. A cappuccino is loads easier to make than...whatever that thing was he brought in. So much so that it doesn't take her long to bring back a cup with a thin rim of espresso lining the foam and cream of the center, which is dotted with a fine sprinkling of cocoa powder. The white foam in the center of the drink has the vague shape of a heart. Or perhaps a leaf? It's not immediately clear, but it's not a perfect circle either way. ]

Here. This should be better.

[likemybooks]

[It's a shape that Taryon doesn't seen on coffee in Exandria, so he'll take this in stride. All of this is new to him, and he's got to appreciate the joys of little things like flavored coffee, foam toppings, and chain stores.

His expression as he drinks from his cup is relaxed - there's no horrendous onslaught of taste and texture that tries to shut down his brain. Taryon sets the coffee gently on its saucer.]

I like it. And this is called a cappuccino?

[saudadist]

[ He's not the only one relaxed either. Having to make something normal, simple, has done wonders for her mood. Not enough to make her smile, mind, but still enough to keep her from glaring. As much. ]

Yeah. Not sure where the name comes from, but it's similar to a latte.

[likemybooks]

It's likely in another language. You know how things sound more exotic if you have no idea what the hell they're saying.

[He takes another sip.] And the latte is the one with a lot of milk, correct?

[saudadist]

Yeah, that's the one. It's almost more milk than coffee.

[ She's also heard it called cafe au lait but she wasn't paying close attention to connect the two. ]

[likemybooks]

[Taryon nods with the weight of the life-changing knowledge imparted onto him.]

I also heard of a "frappuccino", but that's something for warmer weather, I believe. Any other common ones I should keep in mind?

[saudadist]

Frappuccinos are good when it's hot because of the ice. Iced coffee is similar...and stronger.

[ Ah, and of course- ]

Macchiatos are alright. They're the same as cappuccinos or lattes but they're more espresso with just a little bit of milk.

[likemybooks]

[Taryon decides now's the time to take notes. Even though he has a notes app, he's used to using pen and ink. His job gave him a cheap, tiny notebook that's perfect for writing out what each type of coffee order means.]

Perfect. Okay, next time I'll order one of those.

[The last word is written with a flourish, and Taryon clicks the pen with his thumb.]

So you'll be seeing more of me around.

[saudadist]

Oh...

[ Honestly? She doesn't think she'll mind that at all. Weird first order aside, he hasn't been unreasonable. ]

Sounds good I guess.