[Open] Taking orders and breaks;

[moribound]

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?]

Comments

[moribound]

[Minato sees what Minako's trying to do (It has to be Minako, no one else would be that interested in seeing him again even if she didn't yet know who he was) and he raises his hand to push his glasses up in an effort to look inconspicuous. A situation like this...it's kind of awkward for the both of them.]

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.]

[complementing]

Not really?

[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.

[moribound]

[Recolle Coffee Cup Exchange? That's the first time Minato's heard of anything like it (Why would anyone do something like that, anyway?), but other than a raised eyebrow and a glance at the other customers milling about there's no indication he's responding in kind just to play along with Minako's story to see where it goes.]

She's not in right now, but I can take a message for her. What do you have in mind?

[complementing]

I've already talked with her about setting up your guys' booth, so now I need the list of coffees you guys will be serving and all those related expenses. Boring but necessary budget stuff.

[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.

[moribound]

Scout's honor I won't. [Seeing Minako like this makes him happy enough that he's willing to make a light joke, even if he'd never do something like that to Minako in the first place.

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?

[complementing]

Aw, thanks! It'll be our little secret.

[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.

[moribound]

[The lady outside wasn't the only one Minato's seen in the window. He'd also noticed Minako's reflection looking in his direction before glancing around the cafe, and while he couldn't make out the fine details in her expression she'd seemed pleased enough judging by her hum.]

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.]

[complementing]

[The frown catches her off guard, and while she knows it's incredibly rude she automatically turns her head in the direction his eyes had wandered to, noticing the elderly couple as well. She shoots them her best, blinding smile, the one she uses to disarm and confuse the most ornery of customers and volunteer workers, before turning back to Makoto.]

Thanks, Yuki-kun, I'll do that. Mind if I order a coffee before I head out?