The Piano Has Been Drinking [May 9, Open]

[dead_black_eyes]

Who: Lazarus "L" Lawliet, and OPEN to employees, customers, and everyone else
What: Like a scruffy hipster phoenix that insults its customers with immunity, Espresso Yourself has risen from the ashes of the Wise Snake disaster and is reopening today in a new location and under new management. Time to see how well everyone's efforts over the last week paid off, especially with the murder that is hanging troublingly over numbered heads.
Where: Espresso Yourself's new location, several blocks from the rubble of the old one.
When: May 9th



L had had his doubts about whether or not the shop would be up and running in time for his projected opening date, May 9. Fortunately, an overwhelming amount of support had come from numbered individuals who wanted to help and, in the spirit of true honesty, a paycheck. Now the two-story brick shop could boast espresso drinks and smoothies as well as a fully stocked alcoholic bar, comfortable furniture for dining and lounging, thorough and clean paint work including a mural covering one wall, space in the apartment upstairs to board up to six employees that had fallen on rough times, and enough employees, hopefully, to handle the result of the hype L's promotion team had built for the establishment over the previous week.

Not that the preparation saved L himself from working. Today, he could be found behind the counter, making drinks assisted by the arm brace that allowed him to hold milk pitchers, flitting back and forth to answer questions and correct mistakes, and occasionally disappearing into the back room, speaking Greek into a cell phone in a hushed, muted voice.



[OOC: Feel free to treat this as a mingle post! I'll post some prompts with L but you're encouraged to add your own and to split off into threads and conversations with other characters, too.]

Comments

We Are Stardust, We Are Understaffed

[dead_black_eyes]

A lot of owners got to sit back and relax on the day of their business's opening. Or maybe the opposite was true. Either way, L was behind the counter, a milk pitcher supported by the brace on his left forearm while the delicate, two-fingered grip of his right hand handled flavoring, pulling shots, and mixing surprisingly well.

He was wearing a black shirt, because no one wanted to know how much crap had gotten spilled on it today, and if he was stressed to hell he was hiding it decently, occasionally sneaking sips from a thermos of Athelas tea.

Whether you were behind the counter or on the other side of it, he was going to try to help you. The sound of espresso being ground was fortunately enough to conceal the occasional creaking grind of his clenched teeth.

Re: We Are Stardust, We Are Understaffed

[blastiaobsessieanonymous]

Britany Ruff, for her part, was keeping up surprisingly well. With Lazarus taking the lead at the counter, Britany was focused on keeping the stock in place. Every pitcher of milk drained was in the trash and replaced as quick as she could manage, coffee (every variety as it ran out) was being ground up and readied.

Surprisingly little of her time was going directly to customers, just because others were already in place there and the place was quite busy.

"Didn't expect it to be this crazy tonight, sheesh!"

[dead_black_eyes]

Thank goodness Britany was a fast learner who worked at a quick clip that could rival even a seasoned barista. The results of her efforts were apparent and very appreciated, since Lazarus couldn't very well handle the opening rush alone, even if he'd had perfectly functional and nimble hands.

"The promoters did a good job, I guess..." L said, the revelation bittersweet as he tried to keep the stress out of his voice. "We should be happy about this... it means that word got out, and people know about us, and we'll probably be turning a profit more quickly than I'd expected."

He paused before ringing in another order.

"...You're doing really well, by the way. You could probably handle an assistant manager's position, if you'd be interested in a promotion."

[blastiaobsessieanonymous]

"L-let's worry about that when it's a little slower," Britany quickly responded, getting another gallon of milk in place. Clearly, she was stressed as well, but she seemed used to handling that by this point... At least kind of.

Then again, who knew how long she'd keep up - even moreso than Lazarus, she hadn't really stopped, nor had she done a lot of the standard barista work - just keeping everyone else running smoothly was crazy enough.

"Uh, we may need to get more milk in a bit here, by the way."

[radiantchicken]

"Is there anything I can do in order to help out more?" Torin had shown up in an attempt to try this entertaining thing L had spoken of, but it was very hard to sit back and mingle when he knew the place was this busy.

[dead_black_eyes]

L's glance in Torin's direction was a little frantic, because by this point he was nearing the limit of what he could handle without snapping spectacularly. They were really far too understaffed, and keeping up was more than a little stressful, but seeing Torin on his perch in front of the lantern mural admittedly had a cheering effect on most people, and L was no exception. He dropped the dishcloth he'd seized a few moments before to clean up a spill into the sink, shuffling over to the parrot.

"You're doing fine. I think people really like you," L said. "Children in particular, though we admittedly don't get a lot of those in here. No one's given you a hard time, have they?"

You Done Goofed

[dead_black_eyes]

All new hires made mistakes. It was a fact that was as commonly and widely accepted as the theory of gravity, and yet, L had an innate gift for making people feel like their mistakes were the first and the worst of their kind. Approaching it in a way he thought to be kind somehow managed to intensify this curious effect.

"It's just that... I understand why you might think that chocolate goes in a caramel latte, but caramel is the only flavor in the caramel latte. That's why it's called a caramel latte. So next time, please try to remember that..."

Welcome to Espresso Yourself, Please Leave Soon. I Mean, Stay Awhile.

[dead_black_eyes]

Maybe you saw a poster or heard good things about the distributor or the mural, but you wound up here, and the only thing standing between the menu full of splendid and delicious possibilities was a spindly, strange guy who stared too much and managed to make you feel rushed without saying a word.

"You should try the chocolate peppermint latte," he said. He meant it to sound like a suggestion, but his voice was hoarse and abrupt enough to make it sound like an or-else demand.

[kyoumibukai]

He saunters in after school, planning on doing a little homework before he hops the bus to the late-night party he heard was going down. There's a pool at the house, if he remembers correctly. He blinks at the suggestion, and then purses his lips. "Hey, are you that one detective?"

He glances around. "Uh... I mean. You sound like someone I met online one time." L had never appeared on camera, so all he had to go on was a voice. Still, he looked pretty much like Lucas would have expected.

[dead_black_eyes]

If Lucas was good at remembering voices, that made two of them. L quirked an eyebrow (or would have, if he had any at all to work with), before quickly nodding.

"Most people aren't that quick to recognize me. You do your claim of an eidetic memory justice," he confessed... a rarity for him, as he tended to loathe admitting that others were intelligent. He would have been even more surprised to know that Lucas had expected him to look as he did, as most expected someone a little less... frayed and faded.

[ursoreckless]

"That sounds way too sweet," Shou said, leaning against the counter and smiling at L. He - unlike a few others - wasn't put off by the staring or the grumpy way L was talking, but he was pretty use to the guy's mannerisms by now. Shou himself was actually dressed down from his usual expensive clothing, looking like a college kid and causing a few heads to turn among those waiting in line.

"Do you have a really strong cappuccino?"

[dead_black_eyes]

There was something strangely comforting about a relatively long-time acquaintance like Shou attending opening day for L's fledgling business. It was either out of good faith or morbid curiosity, and L was willing to bet on the former, simply because Shou had gone so far as to offer him a small business loan if he needed it.

"The strongest," L confirmed, punching it into the cash register and passing a slip along to a newly-trained employee. Though he didn't return the smile, looking anxious and wary if anything, at the very least the serious young man didn't look outright hostile. "It's $3.47... don't you think it's going well?" he asked suddenly. "We worked so hard to prepare for this. Not that I'm asking for one, but if a business like this did ask for a loan, would you consider it worthy of one?"

[professorwolf]

"I'm afraid I've developed a bit of an allergy to chocolate," Lyall answered, coming up to the counter with a bit of a smile. He knew who this fellow was... which was, in fact, the only reason he'd come by. This really wasn't his kind of coffee shop, but he was intrigued by the mention on the network, so... here he was.

Still, he was less interested in the coffee than the person, so rather than make an order, instead he said: "So in addition to hunting down people's cats and interrogating people's teachers, you now sell fancy coffee."

[dead_black_eyes]

L glanced up at the familiar voice and the face that accompanied it, returning the smile stiffly and warily. On one hand, he liked Lyall; on the other, he had a feeling that he was being approached out of curiosity rather than a love for coffee, and the words that followed the teacher's introduction only confirmed that he was being watched more closely than he would have liked.

Still, for someone who watched things more closely than was sane or comfortable, it was only fair for L to accept that it would happen, occasionally, to him.

"Never a dull moment," he quipped, making a conscious effort to appear less exhausted than he currently felt. "An allergy to chocolate itself, or something in it? Regardless, it's unfortunate..."

Re:

[sylvanguard]

You bet she is there to get coffee. The second she heard it was open... and she wasn't working. Coffee was her life or at the very least, it kept her going. So when she got up to the counter, with a completely different order, the suggestion gave her pause.

"Uh... I guess I'll try the chocolate peppermint latte?"

[dead_black_eyes]

L was about to punch it in, but he glanced up, dark, shadowed eyes suspicious.

"Just like that? You guess? I mean, it's fine if that's really what you want, but... commit to it." He pinched the bridge of his nose, looking vaguely troubled.

[arrowpoint]

When it's Liam's turn at the counter he looks at the menu suspiciously, checking information and brand labels. Some of the more food-like items in the case made his stomach grumble, but he would stick to his principles. It was bad enough that he even decided to get something out of the house and risk hidden animal products. He completely ignores L's suggestion.

"Okay, so, can I get a soy chai tea latte? NO milk. Seriously no milk."

[dead_black_eyes]

With a tremendous force of effort and will, L bit his tongue on a statement akin to you KNOW that taking milk from a cow doesn't hurt the COW, right?

A gulp of athelas later, he felt like he could handle it without ridiculing or insulting the customer. Quite a leap, and one he was prematurely proud of.

"Right. Soy. I think I got it," L said, trying to modulate the sarcasm as he punched it into the cash register with several odd, pecking motions. "Sorry you're lactose intolerant, if that's the reason. If not, and you're just a vegan... try not to think of the insects murdered during the harvesting process of the beans and the tea leaves, I guess."

He had been doing so well, too.

[brotimaeus]

"Nah, just a black coffee."

He brushed aside the suggestion-slash-demand with a faintly arched brow and leaned against the counter edge, cracking his fingers slowly. Really, he still looked like hell. It begged the question...

"How you holdin' up?"

[dead_black_eyes]

"Considering you helped me move in... it's on the house," L said. Generous, considering coffee was like 85 cents a cup. "And I won't even heckle you about how boring that order is, which comes with the coffee, for most customers. Part of the gimmick..."

He glanced up sharply at the question, surprised that it had been asked so directly. "Same boring story about not getting much sleep. I want to hire another manager so I can maybe... not spend so much time here? I have another job and other responsibilities, and keeping up with this as well has me stretched pretty thin."

[moreweaponsthanyou]

Fil was still studying the menuboard when L's voice startled him out of his thoughts on what to drink. He's not too fond of peppermint though. Besides, there was something else he's been craving these days. It was too bad it wasn't on Starbucks permanent menu, not to mention he's promised himself to cut down on Starbucks coffee.

"I don't suppose you have Pumpkin Spice Lattes here? If not, what other recommendations that don't have peppermint in it?"

[dead_black_eyes]

L bit his tongue on oh, of course, would you like some eggnog with that, too?

"Pumpkins aren't really in season right now. Come back in September and they will be. Since it's spring, now, there are a lot of berry flavored smoothies. Strawberry's especially good..."

He tapped his finger on the counter, preoccupied with something as he studies Fil. He'd never heard the man's voice or seen his face, but there was a certain family resemblance to someone he did recognize.

"I feel like we've spoken before. Is that the case?"

Open - Margaritaville central here

[jailbreaks]

Has it been a long night for you? Do you feel you are in need of a stiff, but good drink? Are you 21 years or older? (Or if not there's milk or something... Maybe even a Roy Rogers) Then look no further than your alcoholic bartender who happens to be behind the counter of the bar. Seriously, it looks like the guy walked in and just decided he wanted to play bartender, wearing a loose V-neck t-shirt and jeans and his long black hair in a high ponytail tonight... But no, George is somehow hired in this place.

But worry not, one of the very few things George takes pride in is cooking, and by proxy now, his mixology.

And no... he's not... drinking the left overs from your drink that he shook up in the cocktail shaker or from the blender. Why would he do that?

[dead_black_eyes]

God, yes, it has been a long night. And L, the person who somehow hired George, is in need of a stiff drink. Good isn't even necessary. Which is fortunate, because the specter who approaches the bar later in the evening looks haunted and harrowed and like he's not about to ask for something reasonable.

"Please take the first three alcoholic things you see and put them together. People don't count. Neither do mixers."

[jailbreaks]

George, who may have been sneaking a few drinks here and there, just blinks at L, understanding that he's not asking for something even remotely reasonable. Looking at what's nearby, he actually raises an eyebrow.

"You want me to mix tequila, rum, and triple sec?"

Now that sounded like an interesting combination, with the only saving grace being the citrus liquor that might actually make that kind of mix go down even a little smoothly.

"Hey, I know it's been a busy night, but how 'bout I get you some whipped vodka and I'll mix it with triple sec and you can have yourself the best fuckin' alcoholic dreamsicle you've ever had. I'll even mix in some vanilla ice cream and some orange juice to make it more 'authentic'."

Damn, that sounds really good...

"And if you don't want one, I'm makin' myself one anyway, because damn that sounds amazing right now."