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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2021 21:21:31 GMT -8
Coffee, Java, Bean Juice, whatever you may call it - it was the fuel of life in all its many forms. If one was to believe that Archie Hartman didn’t have a complicated order for the coffee shops of Las Vegas they didn’t know Archie Hartman nor his love of fruity cocktails. So as was customary after getting out of a long and tense meeting the Arch man hit up a coffee shop in the afternoon to get himself a pick me up. At the same time as he was approaching the counter he would be finishing off a quick message to Clint about shifting some meetings around to make room for another one of his special clients. Members of the community always got special privilege. As he approached the counter he rattled off his order. “Hi, ugh, can I get a green tea latte, 130 degrees, almond milk, and two pumps of sugar free vanilla syrup please.”
Message sent, and he looked up to catch the Barista’s face and offer a kind smile and a sorry for being so distracted - he did hate being that asshole. But low and behold, here he found no stranger. “Ooooooh...Me oh my - What a coincidence!”
He locked eyes with none other than Fire herself, “Well, you know what they say. Where there is smoke, there is Fire, right?”
Queue the espresso machine screeching. Firebringer
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Feb 23, 2021 21:37:06 GMT -8
It had been a relatively chill afternoon. A regular ol' Tuesday, nothing weird. Her hair was done up in a simple bun, little fly away pieces framing her face. It would be very pretty if it weren't so frizzy and the curls more... curled. But she wasn't about to take a hot iron to it. She's got her make up done with a simple winged liner and a dark purple lip. The lipstick was a bold choice, but it wasn't bad. Her little barista outfit was just a pair of jeans and a v-neck, short-sleeved black tee, a blue apron overtop.
She is cleaning the counter, minding her own business when a new customer comes in. She hadn't had the chance to look up from her task when the familiar voice called out the order. When she heard them, she stopped dead in place before looking up to see none other than Archie.
She gives him a squinty stare and then rolls her eyes at his comment on fire. Of course the Fire would be serving hot drinks. Honestly, she'd wished she was better at things like forging, but that kind of crafts, not so much.
"Ha-ha very funny." she grumbles. "What are you doing here? And... what was that order again. It sounded annoyingly specific." Okay, the specificity was actually kind of funny, but only because it is a random addition to the day. Not that she liked it. She liked the fun drinks where people basically make up their own. This whole temperature thing though...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2021 21:45:19 GMT -8
“130 degree green tea latte, almond milk, two pumps of sugar free vanilla - and it is specifically annoying I do agree, but boy howdy once you have tasted something so marvelously hand crafted it is hard to go back to anything else. Don’t worry though, I do tip - so I am not a Karen, I don’t even care if your manager is here - unless you need a glowing review in which case just wink twice."
He gave his own set of double winks to the girl behind the counter. She hadn’t even sass’d him too hard so I mean - that was worth something wasn’t it.
“Almost done for the day? Or have a break? I would be willing to sit around and chit chat. Nothing on my calendar for the rest of the day really. Unless you would prefer that I just get out of your hair - I fully understand that too, but two members of the community finding each other in such an odd circumstance? The Wyrd works in mysterious ways.”
He nodded in affirmation of his own statement.
“Oh, also, what scone flavors do you have.”
He wasn't going to give her a hard time about running into her in this situation but he also wasn't going to cut any slack - and what sounded delish was a scone with his hyper specific green tea latte order.
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Feb 23, 2021 22:06:38 GMT -8
She can't help but roll her eyes a little as she takes a cup, writing down the specifics on it. "Yeah, if you were a Karen, me just existing would be enough for a tantrum about drinks before I'd even begun to make it. ...Obviously, I speak from experience."
"Yeah, you're looking at assistant manager, which really only happened because the last girl quit and I happened to be there, so," she shrugs. "Worse ways to get a pay bump, honestly." It's odd, you'd expect her to be more fiery, but she's actually rather calm when she's just putting things together.
And yet, even with a nice voice, she could antagonize in a friendly manner. "The degrees thing is ridiculous though, I hope you know that. The moment I get it to that level, it will drop. And how did you even figure out a specified temperature?" Again, she rolls her eyes a little bit, but she gets the process rolling even as she talks.
"Blueberry, cran-orange, vanilla bean, pumpkin spice, chocolate chip, and cinnamon spice with little cinnamon chips in it." She rattles it all off as if she doesn't even need to think about it. "I get off in..." she looks at the clock, "Like an hour. Assuming Gloria shows up on time, which is iffy depending on how the drama between her and her roommate and/or boyfriend is doing. The tea is quality though."
She takes out a thermometer from one of the drawers as she is steaming the milk and even the sweet work face she puts on can't hide how ridiculous she finds the temperature thing. But, eccentric is eccentric. Aren't they all? Then again, some things can be overcooked based on temperature. A thought. Still. "So, you can wait or we can just chat in between customers, or both. It's been rather slow today anyway."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2021 22:18:50 GMT -8
“Most conventional coffee houses and the ilk serve at about 150 degrees, and a child's drink is typically 130 degrees, this is largely based on the presets of larger machines and these fancy bean milkers. Anyway, at 130 degrees doesn’t burn out the vanilla or green tea flavors and helps avoid that sludgey taste that Starbucks tends to give you when using their actual coffee drinks versus their sugar beverages. Can I get a chocolate chip just warmed up a touch with butter, that sounds scrumptious.”
He moved to the side counter where the pick up was and would be easier to chat with her in general as he leaned a bit while she prepared his drink.
“I am fine either way, you can always tell me to buzz off. Question though, I thought you were a Bartender and now I find you slinging Java? Humor a poor man and tell me is this a river changing course? I would hate to hear that the whole drink jockey thing didn’t pan out before I had the chance to come and order an obnoxious adult beverage.”
He grabbed a sleeve from the tray of them and began to fiddle with it, opening it to a full circle before closing it flat.
“Does being the Ass Man at least pay well?”
He mused, looking up from his fiddle sleeve.
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Feb 23, 2021 22:37:10 GMT -8
"Oh science." She says simply, as she steams the milk before adding it to the cup. For good measure, she sticks the thermometer in it and says with a dramatic gasp, "Oh no. It's a whole 131 degrees. How ever will we go on!" And then she laughs before putting the lid on it and the little cardboard heat protector thing she never remembers the name of. But, she isn't the one putting in the orders for them when it runs low, so...
The Elemental cocks her head to the side a little as she hands Archie his drink before working on warming up the scone, "I still work as a bartender. I just do it on weekends. And, I'm a working girl, so of course I have a second job." She pulls out the warmed scone and places it in a little bag before carefully handing it over to Archie.
She does roll her eyes again, "It's all good fun, yes. And tips aren't bad. It just isn't enough. I work most days when I can help it. Though it gets difficult when we go on weird excursions and I have to take a bit of time off. You never know with... things." Obviously she was talking about Hedge time.
"Did you never work a second job or something?" She asks as she then moves to clean up from the drink.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2021 22:45:57 GMT -8
“Are we on the same page for working girl? Because that is a very specific term that means a very specific thing, and as your pseudo Agent I have to say if you are a working girl and still have to sling coffee...We have to work on your clientele. At the very least OnlyFans is a disgusting amount of money to be made.”
Shrug!
“I get your pain, I worked three jobs a summer from when I was sixteen up. Always held something down when I was going through my undergrad. Studying and working was its own special place in hell. Now I work a job where sixteen hour days aren’t that unusual but you get to spend a lot of that time with a cocktail in hand so you know not that bad at all.”
Sip the drink,
“Oh, I think that one degree ruined it.”
He grimaced playfully a bit.
“Are you...Looking for better? I mean, I am no Frank Sinatra but I can apply a little bit of pressure here or there. Get you something better on the bar scene if you want to work evenings.”
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Feb 23, 2021 22:55:40 GMT -8
Fire looks up at the ceiling for a moment and rolls her eyes, "Oh my god. Archie you knew what I meant. I don't- not that there is anything wrong with that. It's just," she kind of references her body, "This, I'm not comfortable with. I admire people who manage to do things that require that kind of confidence. Also just not something I want to do."
That was probably too much explaining for the comment, but it was true.
She shakes her head though, "No. No. I enjoy working different jobs. It keeps things from feeling monotonous. I don't do stable, same thing every day kind of things. I get tired and then move on quickly. Not that I'll probably be doing this more than a year. I like moving around."
She shrugs and then moves to help someone who'd just walked in, quickly taking and fulfilling their order before they walked off.
"It's also easy. I don't have to worry too much about giant screwups." I mean, who wants to work a job where you have to really worry about destroying your career? And it isn't that she's that worried about working to have a more expensive lifestyle. She's comfortable enough between the two jobs.
"And I get a weird feeling you are about to go all psychologist on me..."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2021 23:06:29 GMT -8
“I get you, everything can be weird - no judgement. Just be happy you can pull off your look without needing a moustache. This soup catcher goes and call me King of Fall because it is scare-ee.”
He used the time to butter a scone and take a bite with a delightful mmm, before brushing the crumbs out of his moustache.
“See, the trouble I go to to not frighten everyone.”
Pause, back to his delightfully warm but not too hot tea latte.
“Honestly I can give you my best Doctor Phil if you want, but I totally get you. We all what we are comfortable with and what we are not. I have files upon files of people trust me with their futures and dreams. I can only make everyone go so far. Not everyone is Beyonce, or Justin Timberlake, or whatever. Trust me when I say I have lost sleep. This is what I do, this is what makes me feel accomplished, makes me hate myself a little less, makes me feel like I am getting somewhere. Risk - Reward, right? But that is me - and if you meant go psychologist on myself then sure, I’ve already crossed the line.”
Tea break.
“If you are happy, I am happy. Consider it infectious.”
He raised his cup in cheers to her.
“Besides, I don’t usually criticize until I am paid to do it - and I do pride myself on not being petty about it and trying to get my clients to be the best version of themselves.”
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Feb 24, 2021 19:46:25 GMT -8
"Well, now you've made me curious. Watch out, you might get buzzed in your sleep." She says with a laugh. "Just kidding."
The Elemental is probably joking.
"That's a giant load you are putting on your shoulders, but at least you're aware of it. Though, do you have someone who tells you when it's too much?"
She begins working on a drink, even though there is no one in the store, so one can presume it is for herself. Ingredients start going together, several syrups working themselves into a cup, some kind of powder. Milk is steaming. The way she works is so streamlined, it's kind of mesmerizing.
"I'm the kind of person who goes overboard. I know I have a dangerous way of going all in for people, but I also know that part isn't going to change. Because of that, I know I need someone to hold me back sometimes."
That was Cecilia's job. And Erin's was to be secretly evil... but you know.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 21:01:12 GMT -8
“Just me, I am the distinction of being most people's sober second thought - so it means I must have some kind of level head on my shoulders. I talk enough, and have enough creature comforts to not need to have to really worry about things I find. Haven’t ever hit the gas pedal too hard really. If anything I have been holding back - and that is a scary notion.”
He chuckled a bit.
“But if I can do a little good along the way - well then burn out or not it's worth it. Do a good enough job and hey - eventually someone will remember your along the way right? Who knows, one day you may even see Archie Hartman, executive producer on some schlock movie. And if that comes to it I expect you to rate it five out five thumbs in a tomato or whatever.”
He smiled at her as she finished her drink up.
“But knowing your limits is a big thing, so hey kudos to being better about that than me, right?”
He offered his hand out in a congratulatory fist bump to her.
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Feb 24, 2021 21:12:15 GMT -8
Fire doesn't leave him hanging, of course, giving him a fist bump. Then she finishes making her drink, taking a sip even as it steams, fresh from the steamer. She looks to be thinking.
"Eh. I never said I was better at knowing my limits. I said I need people to hold me back - that's actually kind of the opposite. I know it is a problem, but I haven't figured out how to fix it yet. So, you're probably making off better than me." she kind of echoes him.
She didn't know why, but she was feeling like playing barkeep.
She takes a minute to handle a couple of customers that come in and out of the shop, quickly making drinks, warming up food.
It isn't really until it gets to that point that it is actually obvious that Dani is working the shop alone. Not that that has ever bothered her. She also gives off enough of an intimidating resting face that even the Karen's waiting in line on busy days don't try to piss her off. Most of the time.
"Okay. But, Arch," She starts once it's gotten a bit quieter again, "What do you want? Like, that has nothing to do with helping other people."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 21:54:10 GMT -8
“First the money, then the power, then the women? I think that is the generic answer in this sort of line of work - or something like that, right? Secondly what is wrong with helping people. We would all be a lot better off if we all helped each other. Thirdly, I just hope someone remembers me when it's all said and done. When the curtain closes on my show that I made an impact that mattered. And since I can’t do much of anything else may as well keep doing what I do well.”
A break for delicious scone that he worked on, tea almost finished while she was busy going about her routine.
“Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. When it doesn’t it hurts, when it does it's great. But who wants to hear the truth about things? That is why I normally make people pay me before I give them the dirty. But hey, if you got a medium white hot chocolate with two scoops matcha - I would trade it for a normally $300 deposit for my time, just promise not to hit me.”
He laughed it off as he bid to get some hot chocolate.
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Feb 24, 2021 22:24:10 GMT -8
Danica furrows her eyebrows at Archie. For some reason, his response just seemed defensive.
"Everything you do has an effect on someone else, whether they know it or not. What was it...? Oh god, there is this Reading Rainbow book, Mole Music." She sips on her drink as she thinks about how to put the summary, "Basically, it's about a mole who decides he wants to learn how to play the violin and he practices for years and years while he also digs tunnels under ground. There is this little tree that grows above him and over time, it gets bigger and people start to gather around it. Going about their daily lives. One assumes the people can hear Mole's music, but he doesn't know it.
"There is this line I distinctly remember: He wondered what it would be like to play for people. He dreamed of playing his music for presidents and queens. He even dreamed that his music could reach into people's hearts and melt away their anger and their sadness. But oh, how silly I am, thought the Mole, thinking my music could do all that when no one has even heard it? And it ends with him going to sleep, still unaware of the impact he is having on the world around him." Was Talia's favorite book as a child.
"You're making an impact whether you are aware of it or not, making differences in peoples lives that they'll remember for years and you won't even recall. And you're right, it is better to spend that helping people, because you don't want that impact to potentially be negative."
She shrugs a little then and wordlessly begins working on a drink. She does roll her eyes a little though, "Pretty sure you owe me for my time. I just gave some hella good pep talking right there." She laughs, eventually handing him the hot chocolate and shaking her head. "You're lucky I'm nice at work."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2021 1:10:35 GMT -8
“Well what can I say - never thought I would have so many of my mortal quandaries solved by a violin playing mole - but the point stands, right? Color me a little sad if I don’t get a statue though, a nice bust or a park bench at the very least. And you can’t leave the money behind to do it yourself - that is just gotty.”
He tossed his now finished tea away and reached into his jacket pocket, and slipped his hand to the tip jar, dropping in what was clearly three one hundred dollar bills.
“Well, split that with everyone working right now - and for the record that is for the scone, the tea was one degree off and I never agreed to pay for the pep talk - remember the importance of getting it in writing.”
He supped the hot chocolate, and gave an oooo
“This is really, really, really good - you kick the ass of the place by my house. Anyway, hot chocolate in exchange for my services, right - and of course the promise not to punch me.”
He made eye contact until she relented on the fact and sipped his devilishly good hot chocolate as he waited.
“Now - let me use an on the nose example of a fire. Fire needs fuel, and with fuel fire can go strong, be furious, and do all sorts of incredible things. But thing is, once the fuel is gone the fire clings and slowly fades away. Now if there is someone to stoke that fire? Keep the flame burning bright, warm, and strong? It goes for much longer and can do a lot more good.”
“What I am saying is you need to do you and have some people that are there for you as much as you are there for them. It makes a world of difference. Its what makes going up on stage and shouting about what your passionate about and getting those shouts back so powerful, it's what makes you that much stronger when the person you are trying to protect tries to do the same for you - the really emotional stuff, ya know?”
“I am not here to tell you what to do and not to do, I am just calling what I see from what I have seen with my own two eyes. Want to try and see how full of garbanzo beans I am? I have a party coming up, it's low key right now but it will be big. A client of mine got something and myself and some other up and comers need to show face. A certain someone I also represent I will also be there and is in need of a plus one, and I am sure they would be amenable to a friendly. Come out, have a night, be social, and not have to worry about yourself - and you will find with your personality? People will give right back.”
“A person should be willing to give up all his tomorrows for one today, so that he doesn't end up wasting all his today’s on one tomorrow. - A person should be willing to give up all his tomorrows for one today, so that he doesn't end up wasting all his today’s on one tomorrow.”
“So how about I give Riles a call right now? I’m sure they doesn’t have me on mute.”
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