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[Open] Taking orders and breaks;
WHO: Minato and you!
WHERE: Expressive and the park
WHEN: End of February and beginning of March
WHAT: Life as a barista and as a student who sometimes takes way too much of a break
WARNINGS: None
I. Expressively Espresso-less, afternoon
[It's a relatively quiet day in Expressive for once and Minato's glad for it since he still doesn't deal too well with crowds, even if the coffee shop can hardly accommodate anything close to what a normal person would call a crowd.
The only problem is that he's the only barista on duty since not many customers are coming, and that means having to look each of them in the eye. Glasses can only help so much with obscuring his expression, not that there's exactly a lot to see when he's as blank as an order that hasn't been decided and his tone is similarly dry, as if he were an old librarian instead of a twenty-year old barista.]
...May I have your order, please?
II. Park, morning
[The park's usually silent enough in the morning that Minato prefers to be there before people start milling in, especially the children. Not that he has anything against them, children are simply too noisy for his own liking and they'd interfere in what he's trying to do today.]
Here, kitty, kitty... [He doesn't come here too often, but Minato tries to always bring food for the tiny group of stray cats living at the outskirts of the park, lips curling into a smile when one comes running to him mouthing a fond meow.]
You're Kuro, right? You look great today. [The black cat purrs, letting Minato rub its soft fur while it paws at the treats in his outstretched hand. The scene could go on for minutes with how blissfully content the pair are only to be interrupted the moment someone approaches from behind, causing Kuro to retreat into the bushes and Minato to look up from where he's sitting as if he's trying to explain what was he doing.]
Ah...do you like cats? I just happened to be passing by and I thought they could use some food. [Why is he asking that when he was clearly feeding one earlier?]
WHERE: Expressive and the park
WHEN: End of February and beginning of March
WHAT: Life as a barista and as a student who sometimes takes way too much of a break
WARNINGS: None
I. Expressively Espresso-less, afternoon
[It's a relatively quiet day in Expressive for once and Minato's glad for it since he still doesn't deal too well with crowds, even if the coffee shop can hardly accommodate anything close to what a normal person would call a crowd.
The only problem is that he's the only barista on duty since not many customers are coming, and that means having to look each of them in the eye. Glasses can only help so much with obscuring his expression, not that there's exactly a lot to see when he's as blank as an order that hasn't been decided and his tone is similarly dry, as if he were an old librarian instead of a twenty-year old barista.]
...May I have your order, please?
II. Park, morning
[The park's usually silent enough in the morning that Minato prefers to be there before people start milling in, especially the children. Not that he has anything against them, children are simply too noisy for his own liking and they'd interfere in what he's trying to do today.]
Here, kitty, kitty... [He doesn't come here too often, but Minato tries to always bring food for the tiny group of stray cats living at the outskirts of the park, lips curling into a smile when one comes running to him mouthing a fond meow.]
You're Kuro, right? You look great today. [The black cat purrs, letting Minato rub its soft fur while it paws at the treats in his outstretched hand. The scene could go on for minutes with how blissfully content the pair are only to be interrupted the moment someone approaches from behind, causing Kuro to retreat into the bushes and Minato to look up from where he's sitting as if he's trying to explain what was he doing.]
Ah...do you like cats? I just happened to be passing by and I thought they could use some food. [Why is he asking that when he was clearly feeding one earlier?]
i
His thoughts are broken when Minato speaks up, and Ryoji nearly catches a wisp of familiarity before it's gone in a blink, washed away like waking does to a dream. Oh. Well, "whatever," right? He makes his way to the counter to prop his elbows up on the surface and lean in slightly, shifting the glare of the overhead lighting off Minato's glasses. ]
Could you recommend me something? What's your favorite drink?
[ Something... warm is all he could remember from that dream, incredibly vivid but with so many blanks it can't possibly be anymore more than a dream. And yet it clings to his mind: a very distinct smell to a coffee blend he's unable to find anywhere in the city, a taste he can't recall but is certain would bring the memories back the moment the drink touches his lips, a certain somebody he needs to find, and coffee is his only clue. ]
no subject
He maintains eye contact with the stranger for a second more before breaking it off, an answer seemingly dropping into his head as if they know each other from somewhere.]
Hazelnut's good, but I could prepare something special for you if you'd like. [That's his purpose, isn't it? Minato's seen all kinds of people come and go working at Expressive, but rarely do they sit quietly and wait to be called on unless they're looking for something out of the ordinary. He doesn't mind- the stranger seems pretty harmless and everyone else is too focused on their own affairs to care about such casual chit-chat.]
no subject
[ Is hazelnut the right flavor though? Ryoji can't imagine that it's as simple as hazelnut creamer in black coffee... and to be honest, he isn't sure he can recall anything about the flavor that could help guide Minato into recreating it for him, because when he looks back on the memory, he'd been so focused on the person in front of him instead of the steaming cup in between his hands. And that person is the largest blank to the memory.
He pauses in studying the person in front of him now, trying to superimpose Minato's face onto the one in his dream, but he isn't sure. The kindness and consideration is there, but... well, maybe more will come to him later. ]
Is that really alright? There's this coffee I once had— it must have been a long time ago, because I can't remember much about it— but I can't get it off my mind lately. It's like... if I could taste it again, it'll bring back to mind somebody important I must have forgotten, that sort of feeling. [ Rarely does he get so fixated on something, that saying it out loud makes Ryoji laugh. ] It sounds silly, doesn't it? You're the first person I told.
expressively expresso-less
Oh! Um. I'm so sorry, I really spaced out just now. You're the boy I met at my work place before, right? The cupcake bakery?
[Unlike last time, when she was so flustered at getting caught writing letters that she didn't get a good look at him, right now she's the customer, and can get a good look at his face. Or at least try to, he's got a slouch that would rival an old grandma's.]
Nice to see you again! I swear I'm not this much of an airhead usually.
no subject
Nice to meet you too, and don't worry about it too much. Do you usually say that kind of thing to boys you meet at work? [He's staring back at Minako now, curious to know more about his sister's affairs even if he admits asking her about something this personal is probably not what he should be doing- it's almost their birthday after all, and it gets lonely having no one to talk to.]
no subject
[She laughs sheepishly, embarrassed to be called out like that. It would definitely be way too awkward to admit that he'd stuck out to her because she gets a weird sense of deja vu around him, so instead she opts for something more casual.]
I just wanted to make small talk to lead up to what I came here for! [Her expression gets brighter, as it always does when she's working on community events.] Is your manager in? I'm Minako Arisato, one of the volunteer organizers for the Recollé Coffee Cup Exchange event coming up in two months. I need to discuss some details about Expressive's involvement with her.
no subject
She's not in right now, but I can take a message for her. What do you have in mind?
no subject
[She pulls a file from her messenger bag with a stack of crisp flyers in it. The flyer is eye catching, announcing an exhibition where all the residents of Recollé can sample all kinds of coffee from all kinds of cafes. There is also the actual coffee cup exchange that the event is named for, too. Minako hands him a few sheets and grins.]
Just please don't write that on the message, I want to stay a little professional. And could you pin this to a bulletin board or tape it up to the front window? Somewhere your customers can see it.
no subject
Minato accepts the sheets carefully, turning towards the window to see where can he pin it so it'd attract the most attention- maybe near the entrance? He sees a lady walking by with a dog before coming back to Minako, setting the flyers aside in a small stack behind the counter.]
I'll ask her for the boring but necessary things when she's back, along with the list of coffees. Do you need it any time soon?
no subject
[She isn't bothered very much by the fact that he left without a word, waiting patiently until he comes back. She admittedly watches him leave (telling herself that she's just seeing what he's up to and it isn't creepy at all) before glancing around the cafe in the interim.
It's a nice one, quiet and homey. She like how comfy the chairs look, and the considerate murmur of the other patrons, so unlike the sugar high kids and eager cupcake connoisseurs she gets at her work place.
If the coffee's good enough, maybe she'll come back again.
Minako is pulled out of her reverie by his voice just in time, humming thoughtfully.]
My supervisor needs it by March 10th, if that's alright. If she has any questions she can call me. She should have my number.
no subject
Alright, I'll let her know as soon as she's back. [He pauses thoughtfully then, wondering if he should tell her his name. Surely it couldn't hurt to let her know she can always ask him if the list is ready.] Feel free to drop by anytime next week since we should be done by then. Anyway, my name's Makoto Yuki and it's nice to meet you again, Minako. [For how plain Minato's introduction is, he can't help but frown when he spies an elderly couple staring at him as if he'd said something scandalous.]
no subject
Thanks, Yuki-kun, I'll do that. Mind if I order a coffee before I head out?
II it's a l w a y s cats
She comes to a halt once she hears a meow and her first thought is is he in a tree again before realizing no, that's a real cat. And cats are as good an excuse as any to ditch her jogging and come wandering over to investigate.
She only gets close enough to peek over his shoulder and get a glimpse of a criminally cute little cat before it skitters off and she puffs her cheeks out. There it goes... ]
Yeah, I heard him meowing so I came over to see but I guess he had somewhere to be... geez, I wanted to pet him too, he's a cutie!
[ HEY MINATO, IT'S THE WEIRD CAT TREE GIRL AGAIN ]