No Rest for the Working Class

[kuro_kohee]

WHAT: Working and possibly forced socialization
WHERE: Hamato Cafe
WHEN: Tuesday October 2nd (?)
WHO: Sasuke (and annoying customers/ coworkers)
RATING: PG (Maybe PG-13 for language)
OPEN/CLOSED: Open for business!

Wiping his sleeve across his forehead Sasuke let out a small sigh. He'd spent most of the prior night packing in between reading huge

Comments

[bright_shirts]

Chad Sado let a small smile spread across his lips as he entered the Cafe, chocolate eyes wandering across the frankly charming decor. He'd never come here before, despite the proximity to school, and now he regretted the decision sorely. This place was nice. Finally, however, his gaze rested on the large menu posted on the wall, detailing more flavors and fancy trimmings for coffee than he had thought possible. Ah. He remembered why he'd never been here before; it had always seemed to be a waste of a good, simple beverage to muck it up with more trimmings than was reasonable. Gilding the lily, and all that.

Calloused fingers raked through the mop of his hair, and Chad approached the counter. He lifted a finger to catch the attention of the server, cleared his throat, and pointedly ignored the curly script emblazoned on the placard announcing a new something-or-other-chino.

"Uh....Hi. I'll take a large coffee, please. Also, I wanted to know if there was somewhere I might be allowed to post this." The paper in his hand gave a little shake as if of its own accord, the little strips of a repeated phone number rustling softly along the bottom edge.

ROOMMATE WANTED
2 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment
Cheap.
Call Chad

Sado was fully prepared for a refusal, but he'd tucked a few extra copies of the paper in his back pocket and planned to make the rounds of the businesses surrounding the school for the rest of the morning. With any luck, he'd have a roommate by the end of the week.

[kuro_kohee]

Sasuke wiped his hands hurriedly on a dishtowel and turned around to take the customer's order. As SOP, he'd only been half listening.

"I'm sorry. I didn't get that. What kind of coffee did you want?" In the back of his head he'd thought he'd heard the guy say "large". Very funny, jackass. We don't technically serve larges here. DON'T make me have to spell it out for you. It's retarded.

His eyes briefly caught the writing on the piece of paper the other boy was holding. "Room mate wanted." But he pretended not to be interested until he could feel this guy out, see how he was, figure out if that shirt was affecting him with UV rays. "Did you want to post that?"

[bright_shirts]

Chad's mouth quirked in a sympathetic sort of smile at the server's expression. He'd had that same look on his own face anytime a client tried to ask about the difference between the Perfect Posture Casket and the Mahogany Magnificence.

Giving a single nod, Chad gave the paper another small shake. "Yes. Do you have a bulletin board somewhere?" He hadn't noticed one coming in, but the too-sweet smell of flavored coffee was more than a little distracting. Though it was a bit like drowning in hazelnutmochawappafrappacreme, Chad had to admit it was making his stomach emit a feint growl. Glancing back up at the menu, he tried to find a pre-existing formula that would more easily communicate his desire for a cup of hot joe.

He found none, but tried again anyway: "I'll take a....uh...coffee flavored coffee, in whatever size translates to a large, please."

[kuro_kohee]

"The community bulletin board is next to the bathroom. You can just post it there. " He indicated the board covered with flyers, some weeks old, hanging on the wall near the short hallway that led to the bathrooms. Letting his dark eyes take in the fashion disaster that was this guys shirt he tried to make up his mind about whether this guy thought he was funny or was sincerely lost in this land of coffee snobbery. Pushing stray locks out of his eyes he settled on the latter with a rueful chuckle.

"Coffee flavored coffee, huh? That's one I've never heard before. I'll make you a Grande, that's Italian for large...or Spanish...I dont remember really. And I'll charge you for a Tall....which translates into small....dont ask....because you made me laugh." He reached over for an empty cup, hoping that that girl hadn't heard him giving the customer a deal when he really had no right to. "But dont let it get around that I was nice to you. I have a reputation to uphold."

He put the cup under the dispenser and watched as the warm brown liquid splashed into the cup. "You want anything special in this? Flavored creamers? Though you dont seem like the type."

[bright_shirts]

Chad looked for a moment as if he was going to inquire after the strange and incomprehensible world of designer coffee, his expression both confused and curious - a stranger in this strange latte land. But, wisely, the moment passed, and he thought better of it. Instead, Chad gave the server a grateful smile. "Thanks, Sasuke. For the board, and the coffee." Chad made it a point to read the nametags of everyone he'd ever met in the service industry; it was simple old-fashioned politeness at work.

He thrust his thumb at the little cart containing lids, straws, splenda and, mercifully, plain sugar, in response to the other man's question. "I'm not. I take my coffee black as night and sweet as sin. No flavorings needed." Or wanted, he added silently.

A wallet that had clearly seen better days was withdrawn from Chad's back pocket, and he carefully counted out exact change, easily calculating the sales tax in his head. He also dropped two bucks into the lonely and virtually empty jar labeled 'Tips'. They floated down like twin falling leaves and settled onto the bed of loose change along the bottom. Hopefully, Chad thought, those two would mate.

[kuro_kohee]

Sasuke took the money and put it in the till, noting silently the tip that Chad had left. This guy certainly wasn't the usual type of customer he dealt with at all. He put a lid on the coffee as well as the obligatory cardboard cozy that he'd never really understood the need for. To prevent people's hands from getting burned he'd been told once, but he was still dubious.

"Here." He slid the cup across the counter. "And I'll post that if you want." He put a hand out for the flier. If he posted it he could snag one of the little paper tags without asking for it outright.

[bright_shirts]

Chad exchanged paper for coffee and nodded. "Alright, thanks." Personally, Chad had never understood the need for a lid; if you were too distracted to keep from spilling hot joe all over yourself, perhaps you shouldn't be drinking it in the first place. A look of bemusement crossed Chad's face at his coffee being swathed in cardboard, as if it was delicate enough to catch cold if it weren't protected from the vicious elements of the cafe.

But then, Chad figured, logic was far less a part of coffee production and sales than winky names and cutesy flavorings. Leaving the counter with a gentle stride proportionate to his size, Chad made his way to the cart of condiments and added a few packets of sugar to his drink. After stirring with enthusiasm, he took a sip.

He understood, then, why the flavorings were ubiquitous to the shop. It wasn't bad, all things considered, but it certainly wasn't the fine beverage of the gods it claimed to be. Ah, well. At least the atmosphere was nice.

Chad noted the two other occupants to the shop as he made his way to a table. Settling in with relaxed ease, he withdrew a worn bright orange paperback from his back pocket. The book's thin and small size certainly allowed for ease of transportation. The Pillowman was one of Chad's favorite plays, and as a research paper for his Catharsis in Drama class was no doubt imminent, he'd figured a re-reading was in order.