Sunday - espresso pump

[mandysinferno]

Who: Katie, Juice, Kyle, Catherine, Jonathan, Cynthia, Mandy, Nica, Gil
Where: Espresso Pump
When: Sunday, November 1

Katie was there to drink some motherfucking coffee. Actually, she preferred 'fair trade' coffee, but what can you do?

Juice skittered into the Espresso Pump. Like he needed more coffee. But damn it, after last night, he was pretty in need of some relaxation and caffination.

Kyle didn't. He had a job.


Juice headed up to the counter and collected himself a big frothy beverage, then spotting Katie headed thatway. "Uh, hey Katie- I just wanted to say um, sorry about last night. That crack was totally uncalled for."

"Yeah, it kinda was," Katie agreed. "Hi."

Catherine was sitting in the Espresso Pump, staring at a cup of coffee. She still kind of smelled like burned corn from last night. No matter how much she washed her hair, she just couldn't get the smell out.

Jonathan was sitting with Catherine, looking kind of awkward. "So um, hey.. yesterday, how about those corn demons?"

Catherine giggled. "Corn left a bad smell in my hair. It won't come out." She had it pulled back for once to keep it away from her. "Corn demons are bad news."

"I didn't mean to imply you, Dot, and Tina should have some sort of lesbian threesome," Juice said. "It just totally came out that way, and then once it got into my head I was like 'whoa, you know'... and yeah."

"Um.. it sounded like that was precisely what you were thinking of when you said it." Katie raised a brow.

"Especially for virgins," Jonathan said, looking down at the table.

"Only if corn demon takes a liking to you, like it did to Katie," Catherine said. She was feeling pretty damn awkward herself after last night.

"Well, okay, yeah but.. I mean, it just slipped in there. Like a thought ninja. A totally stealthy thought ninja," Juice said, faltering as he tried to not sound like he'd had a totally hormonal moment there.

"Yeah, that's true..." Jonathan said. "But there seem to be a lot of spells and all that require that whole viriginity thing. Virgin blood, virgin sacrifice..."

"Wow... I just walk in, and the first thing I hear is the words 'lesbian threesome'. Either I have impeccable timing, or this town is kinkier than I thought." Cynthia's bright orange hair made her stand out in just about any crowd, even one as sparse as this.

Juice waved a bit awkwardly. "It's not how it sounds... really."

Katie looked annoyed. "Hmph."

Sin blinked, and walked forward a little, cutely poking Juice in the nose. "For that matter... aren;t you gay?"

"Apparently, it's for purity or something," Catherine said. "I just think that it's weird."

"Supposedly. But his boyfriend is bisexual," Katie added.

"Yeah! I'm totally gay." Juice nodnodded. "See, I said a little comment last night about how Katie, Dot and Tina could totally share a room... and my mind went to the bad place thinking about lesbian threesomes. Dude, I don't understand it either."

"Me too," Jonathan said. "But... I did feel a little awkward that most of our friends didn't raise their hands for the virgin club. Even Andrew!"

Sin grinned and stifled a giggle. "You know it's bad when the appeal of lesbian sex grows so great that it even infiltrates the minds of gay men. I'm starting to think us straight girls don't have a chance of surviving."

Katie grumbled, and moved to sit at a different table.

"Katie, wait..." Juice frowned. "Man, I'm totally assing up this whole apology thing."

"Well, Andrew's had girlfriend for a while, yes?" Catherine asked.

Juice hoped that Dot and Tina weren't mad at him too. Kyle had thought it was totally funny, so that was safe. But still.. he didn't want his friends to be mad at him.

Sin felt bad plopping herself into the conversation, considering she really didnt know anyone that well. She knew Juice, but only barely. "Wait... Wells has a girlfriend? Am I this out of the loop?"

Katie sat at another table, and tried not to be cranky.

Jonathan nodded. "Yeah, but... we've been dating for a while, and we haven't... y'know..." He looked embarassed.

"Everyone goes at their own pace," Catherine told him. "Some go faster than others."

Jonathan looked up and over at Sin. "Um.. yeah, Andrew has a girlfriend. And... hi."

"Jonathan, right? We're in history together. I'm Sin." She offered her hand with a sweet smile.

Jonathan shook her hand. "Hey, I'm Jonathan - this is my girlfriend, Catherine. Nice to meet you."

"Hello Sin," Catherine said, Russian accent coming out thick.

Juice followed the Katie, trying a different tactic. "If I let you hit me, will you forgive me?"

As was her trademark, Sin gave Catherine that cute little nose-poke and grinned. "You. Have the most awesome hair, girlie. And the accent? Totally boss."

Jonathan blinked at his girlfriend being nosepoked.

"My hair smells like...never mind. Thank you," Catherine said. Frankly, she was very close to paying a salon to wash the smell out of her hair with some special shampoo that she knew that they had. She wiggled her nose after it was poked.

"Look... can you just stop talking for a while?" Katie inquired. "Like... stop bringing it up every ten minutes?"

"...kay," Juice said. He tried talking about something else instead. "So, uhhh..." He wasn't a great conversationalist.

"You guys mind if I sit down with you? I'm really bored, and frankly, when I'm bored, I tend to get into all kinds of zany shenanigans. It's be better for everyone involved if I just sit." Sin gave an impish smile there.

"Um, sure," JOnathan said. He supposed talking to Catherine about the whole virginity thing could wait. It was really awkward, anyhow.

"Have a seat," Catherine said. She kind of wanted to avoid this conversation, too.

"Forgive meeeee," Juice cried, throwing himself at Katie's feet. "I totally hate fighting with friends."

"... would you just stoppit?!" Katie snapped. "Just... stop groveling!"

Sin sat down, cracking up at the sight of Juice's antics. "That guy is great, ya know? Never a dull moment, plus, he's more flaming than a blazing forest fire, which has to be admired."

Juice sniffled. "Fine, hate me forever.... but I tried!"

Juice sulked off to a corner table.

Katie grumbled and did her best to just blend into the furnishings.

"Wow, at least I'm not that bad at conversation," Jonathan said.

Sin leaned in and whispered to Jonathan and Catherine. "Damn... did I miss something? When did we get to Melrose Place?"

"I didn't think anyone was that bad at conversation," Catherine said. She looked at Sin and said to her. "Sunnydale is Melrose Place, only...in Sunnydale. It big drama."

"Occassionally with corn demons," Jonathan added.

"And virgin sacrifices," Catherine added.

Sin looked from Catherine, to Jonathan, then back and forth again. "....this town sucks, man."

Nica walked into the Espresso Pump, waved at people sheknew and went to the counter to order.

Katie waved back to Nica.

"Only occasionally," Catherine told her. "It has its good points."

Mandy walked in, shortly behind Nica.

Juice waved sadly to Nica and Mandy from his Table of Isolation and Shame.

Also known as, the corner where he was sulking.

"Yeah, sometimes it's nice here," Jonathan said. "Well, maybe that's just because all my friends are here..."

"What do you want, sweetie?" Nica asked Mandy.

"Nothing." Mandy said

"You know, it's gonna be a trip to see if anyone actually was crazy enough to vote for me as Queen." Sin curled her lips into a little snicker.

"I'll vote for you," Jonathan said.

"Me, too," Catherine said. "The other girls running are either mean or...well, just mean."

Juice lay his head down on the table and looked bummed. He thought maybe he should just head for the Sunset to hang with Kyle.

"I just want to sit." Mandy added "With friends, before its all over with."

"You totally should!" Sin laughed excitedly. "It's gonna make history if I win, cos if I do? I'm gonna abdictate the throne and walk out, then go to the party at Sunset."

Nica ordered a mocha for herself, then headed over to join the group. She looked over at Juice. "Hey ... you okay?"

Sin then looked over at Juice, and felt like hell. "You guys mind if I invite him over with us?"

Mandy walked over, and gave Juice a hug

Juice hugged Mandy and sniffled on her. "Katie hates me!" he wailed.

Katie facefaulted into the table. "Mrgh."

"I don't mind," Jonathan said. "We could combine tables."

"That would be fine by me," Catherine said.

"I don't think she hates you." Mandy said "She's just upset with what you said."

"Yo! Juiceman!" Sin stood and blew him a kiss. "C'mon and sit with us!"

"I tried to apologize, and I messed it up and.." Juice looked up at the kiss-blowing. "And omg, girls."

Juice did not understand them.

Jonathan waved. "Hey guys... want to come sit with us?"

"Girls are kind of weird." Mandy agreed "But they're your friends, and you need to make sure you're there for them when they need you. Oprah said so."

Mandy didn't say what she really wanted to say.

Nica smiled at Juice. "I don't think she hates you, either."

"Juice. Seriously." Sin curled her finger in a come-hither motion. "You're waaay too awesome and funny to be legally permitted to sit there and mope. Now get yer butt over here. Bring your friends, too."

Juice slunk on over to join the crowd.

"C'mon, let's merge."

Mandy waited for Nica to follow, before she followed Juice.

Jonathan pulled up some extra chairs for the incoming people. He glanced towards Katie to see if she wanted to come over, too.

Nica settled and sipped her mocha. "So, hello. Glad everyone survived last night ... "

Catherine scooted her chair over so that others could sit.

Mandy took a seat.

"A'ight... to everyone who doesn't know us, I'm Sin, this is Jonathan, and this is his awesome-haired girlfriend, Catherine." Sin made motions like she was presenting prizes on a game show.

Katie was doing her best to blend in and finish her coffee in peace.

"Hi," Nica said, pretty sure she'd met all of them before.

"I'm Nica," she added, in case she was wrong, "and this is Mandy."

"Now, watch, cuz this is where I get all smooth and everything." Sin stood up again, this time yelling over to Katie. "Hey! We're all hanging out over here... if you wanna forgive Juice's moment of dumbass glory and join us, we'd love it!"

Katie headed on over, if only to stop the yelling.

"Hi," she commented, and settled down.

Mandy waved to Katie.

"Hey, Katie," Catherine said.

"Heya, Katie," Nica said, and waved.

"So what's going on with you guys?" Katie inquired.

"Well... I stopped campaigning with posters, cuz the Principal didn't much care for my tactics. So I'm just kinda trying to be cool with everyone, and see if that helps." Sin laughed and motioned to the group. "Also, I hate seeing friends argue."

"We weren't arguing. Juice just won't drop it already," Katie answered.

"Is homecoming still happening?" Mandy asked

"Well... both of ya need to stop it, whatever it is. Because you don't want me to get mad." The orange-haired girl crossed her arms and smirked. "Cos when I get mad? I try to fight. And... I'm weak. So you'll both just end up kicking my ass."

"Um... I don't like fighting either," Katie said.

"You can't fight." Mandy said

"... that too," Katie said.

"Then it's settled. Juice said something stupid. He's sorry about it. You forgive him, but he has to stop blabbering about it already. Case closed. Shake hands, kids." Sin loved playing referee.

Catherine wondered if fixing arguments was really this easy.

Nica gave Mandy a squeeze and took another sip of her mocha.

Katie agreed to shake Juice's hand, and did so.

Mandy gave Nica a hug, then wandered off towards the bathroom.

"See? I can be all diplomatic and stuff. All wonderful qualities of a Homecoming Queen." Sin made a triumphant superhero pose.
Gil came in with a copy of the Sunday paper under his arm. He found a seat and started working the crossword.

Katie waved to Gil. "I just picked a name at random..."
Gil waved to Katie. "You did what now?"

Sin 'tsk'ed and shook her head. "See... if my ingenious 'Fanny is a Bitch' posters hadn't been taken down, those would have gotten me votes like gangbusters, people."

Juice waved to Gil. "Hey dude," he said.

"I saw those posters. Why did they all get taken down?" Catherine asked.

Jonathan pondered Homecoming. "I wonder if it'll be like last year?" he said.
"Hey Juice. What's news?" Gil frowned at the clue he was working.

"Eh. Language. I guess the Principal couldn't handle the truth."

"Well... I don't really think it's important, but this cranky rich girl said that she'd ruin my school year if I didn't vote for her. This other girl gave me muffins. The other girl is gender confused, and I don't really know you." Katie shrugged.

"Truth hurts," Catherine said.

"Any publicity is good publicity," Nica sad. "You say 'Fanny is a Bitch,' you're still getting her name out there," Nica said. "And no ... I'm not singing that song ever again ... "

"What happened at Homecoming last year?" Catherine asked, having not been there due to being in Russia at the time.

"Anna and Michael won," Jonathan said.

Mandy returned, and took her seat next to Nica again

"Michael as Homecoming King." Sin started giggling again. "They should really just retire the competition now, cuz nothing is ever gonna beat that."

"Did anything else happen?" Catherine asked.

"Vampires attacked everything," Nica said.

"And Anna had to sing the Titanic song to defeat a monster," Jonathan said.

"Which was even scarier," Nica said.

"Nothing go right in Sunnydale. Not Halloween, and not Homecoming," Catherine said with a shake of her head.

"...why do we bother DOING anything in this town?" Sin raised a brow, as though this thought JUST occured to her.

"You'll need sticks this year." Mandy said, casually

"I'm not going," Katie said.

"'Cause what doesn't kill us makes us stronger or some shit," Juice said. "Besides, some of it is funny. I'm going to be at the Requiem at the Sunset."

"Heh ... I'm going to the anti-Homecoming," Nica said.

"Why will we need sticks?" Catherine looked confused.

"Because sticks are made from wood, and wood is porous, where as metal isn't." Mandy said

"Uhhhh... what're the sticks for," Juice asked.

"So's pumice," Katie commented.

"Yes, the situation requires exfoliation," Nica said.

"But pumice isn't sharp." Many said "And it's not really very holy."

"Um... I don't really want to be close enough to things to have to stab them," Katie said.
Gil had been focusing on the crossword, but stray words like 'stab' and 'holy' and ...'pumice' distracted him.

"So.. are we going to have to stab things with sticks at homecoming?" Jonathan asked.

"You don't have to go." Mandy said "Anyway, I think I want a mocha, but I'm not supposed to have caffine."

"Never a night off," Catherine said at the idea of stabbing things with wooden sticks at homecoming.

"Yeah, perferably with poplar and rowan." Mandy said "Unless you don't go. If you don't go, theres nothing really to fight for."

"Good," Katie nodded.

"I have to work that night anyhow."

"I can get you a decaf," Nica said.
"Huh. Well, I'll be over at the Sunset anyway," mused Gil. "Sticks? Really?"

Jonathan looked to Catherine. On the one hand - fighting evil was kinda what they did. On the other hand... Michael was having a cool party with no death at the Sunset.

"I'm totally going to be with Kyle," Juice said.

"I think I'll just have water." Mandy said

"Okay, sweetheart," Nica said. She kissed Mandy's cheek and stood up. "Anybody else want anything?"

"Don't know if I want to fight evil on Homecoming night," Catherine mumbled. She really just wanted one night when she didn't have vampire dust in her hair...or burnt corn smell in her hair. Really...slaying was bad on the hair.

"No, thank you," Katie said.
"Nah, nothing for me, thanks," said Gil.

"So maybe we should go to the Sunset, then," Jonathan said.

"I'm cool," Juice said to Nica.

"You are," Nica said. She winked and headed off to get stuff.

"That might be a good idea, if monsters like Homecoming every year," Catherine said.

"Yeah, I think they like our big occasions," Jonathan said.

"Why? Does every dance have monsters?" Catherine asked.

"Hellmouth," Nica said, resettling. She handed Mandy her water and set down a new mocha for herself.

"Lots of people." Mandy said "Large crowds of humans are easy."

"It's like a buffet," Juice said.

"Small crowds of people are easier," Katie commented. "The less you are, the easier you are to be found."

"Stupid demons, ruining everything," Catherine said. "Why couldn't Hellmouth bring an infestation of kitties instead of demons?"

"Because they'd be hellkittens?" Katie suggested.

"Because they like to eat kittens." Mandy said

"Poor kittens," Jonathan said.

"They eat kitties?" Of course, they could ruin kitties, too. "Now I'm mad."

"I think I saw kitten tartare on the menu at Willy's, last time we were in there,' Nica said.

Juice wrinkled his nose.

"Yeah, it is." Mandy nodded

Nica's phone rang.

Katie made a horrified face.

"That's just gross...and wrong," Catherine said with a horrified look on her face.

Jonathan patted Catherine's back comfortingly.

Nica took out her phone (owing to recent events, she had started keeping it within close reach). "Yeah, this is Nica."
Gil gave up on the crossword and put the paper away. "I've gotta start paying more attention," he said.

"Hey Nica." Becky said "Just wanted to say hi and I got you a cactus and I got Juice a dinosaur."

Katie stretched a bit, still looking queasy.

"Hey!" Nica said. To Juice: "It's Bex. She got you a dinosaur." To the phone: "Wait, you got him a dinosaur?"

"Yep! A raptor! It's really scary looking." Becky said

Nica said to Juice: "A scary one." To the phone. "Everything okay?"

"Yep! Oh crap.. talk to you later." Click.

"Oh cool! Where is she?" Juice said. "Some kinda dino land?"

Nica sighed and put away her phone. "She hung up. And I have no idea where she is."
Gil stood up. "I'm kinda thirsty after all." He threw Nica an apologetic look and headed up to the counter.

"Maybe she just wanted an excuse to wander off with her boyfriend for a few weeks?" Katie asked.

"No, she had good reasons for it," Nica said.

Juice frowned. "After last night... yeah, I can imagine."

Jonathan frowned.

Catherine looked at her coffee. "I'm going to go and get a refill."

Catherine got up from the table and went to get another coffee.

"I miss her," Nica said. "But at least she's safe. Her boyfriend's kind of a nut, but he's good to her ... he won't let anything bad happen."
Gil came back to the table with a cup of coffee and a giant blueberry muffin.

"Ooh, muffin" Mandy said
Gil nodded. "This is the best muffin I have ever eaten. I get 'em every time I'm here."

Katie frowned, and peered outside.

"I don't really know him all that well," Juice said. "I mean, I've hung out with her and him before yeah, but he's like.. hard to know."

Mandy gave Nica the 'I can haz muffin?' look

Jonathan watched Catherine go, with the look of a guy who was obviously in love with his girlfriend.

Catherine came back to the table with a black coffee and a muffin, 'cause muffins rock.

Nica smirked at the puppy-dog eyed look. "Muffin?" she asked.

"Want a piece?" Catherine asked Jonathan, offering her muffin.

Mandy nodded.

"Not much to know about Ethan. He likes guns. He likes Becky." Nica shrugged and got up ... again.
"Aside from you guys, I haven't managed to meet many people," Gil said between bites. "Schoolwork is a drag, and I've got my own stuff to investigate.."

"You all should hang out together more." Mandy said "And bring muffins."

"I love Kyle, but I like a lot more stuff," Juice said.

"Yes please," Jonathan said, and smiled as she shared the muffin.

Nica returned with muffins.

Catherine shared her muffin, then took a drink of her plain black coffee.
Gil didn't mention that he had to steal time to hang out with Kayla as it was, and it was lucky that he'd managed to interest her in his hobbies.

"She likes more stuff." Mandy said "She's just busy. More muffins would probably fix that." with that, Mandy started on her muffin.

Katie was about to say something, but had to stop because another thought came to mind about muffins and jokes.

"Getting busy," Juice muttered.

"This is a good muffin," Jonathan said.

Katie quietly hated Juice.

"These muffins are good," Catherine said.

Nica was glad everyone was getting along.

Mandy nodded in agreement

Katie finished her drink. "So what are you guys doing later?"

"Trying not to go insane." Mandy said "So, I'll probably hang out with Nica."
"I've got some maps to make notes on," said Gil.

Nica nodded. "And I ... don't really know. Don't want to go home, and we can't just eat muffins all night."

"Yeah. I finished my weekend homework hours ago," Katie agreed.

"Don't want to go home." Mandy shook her head "Sam and her gay boyfriend are there."

"I'm going to the Sunset to hang with Kyle," Juice said.

" ... if he's gay, that kind of negates him being her boyfriend," Nica said.

"I could do the Sunset," Nica added.

"Maybe that's what they want you to think, and they're really naked," Katie pointed out.

"I think Anna would kill something, if she caught them naked," Nica said.

Katie nodded.

"You guys wanna ride? I've got my car," Juice said.

"Yes, please," Katie said.

"I have mine, we'll just head over when you guys do," Nica said.

Katie got feetwards.

Juice headed for the door. "Let's go then!"

"I think I'm going to call it a night,"Jonathan said, waving to them.

"Have a good night." said Mandy

"Goodnight," Nica said, finishing her muffin.
Gil got up to throw away his muffin wrapper. "I'm gonna go too, you guys."

"You should come with us." Mandy said, to Gil
"Nah. Tons of stuff to do, remember? Thanks though!" Gil waved to everybody.

"G'night," Katie said, waving.

"Later," Nica said, and made the muffin go away. She got up.

Juice headed for the car with anyone who needed a ride, and drove off for the Sunset