Taking it slow, but it's not typical

[callbacks]

Who: Dave Strider callbacks and all y'all's lovely faces!
Where: Goldenrod City
When: Throughout the month of March
Summary: Come bug Dave at his part-time gig at the nice combination café/bookstore. OR, if we have plans (or you'd like to make plans; hit me up at asherdashery, it's public) I can write up a starter just for you!
Rating: Probably nothing over PG-13.
Log:

[Food service is...well, it's everything movies told him it would be. But as far as workplaces go, the café isn't half-bad. The bookshelves make everything seem quiet even during busy hours, and the comforting scent of paper and coffee fills the space. Dave actually kind of looks forward to his shifts there.

The best part, though, is making the latte art. It took him a while to get the hang of it, because it's got to do with as much science and math as it does art, but Dave is nothing if not a master of timing. Most customers will get a heart, leaf, or tulip, but at slower times of day, he might experiment with drawing a little more.

(He has, of course, also figured out how to draw a dick in your latte. But that's neither here nor there.)

He's a quiet, friendly server, and as long as it's not caffeine crunch time, feel free to request your favorite Pokémon. Or if you're the only one there on a slow day, just wait--he might surprise you.]

((OOC: So! Since this log is open all month, please give me the date you want our thread to go down. I'll also be updating a thread tracker of sorts below so it'll be easier for all of us to find the right thread. Threads do not have to take place in the café! I just provided that as a starter for people who just want to chill with Dave. I'm gonna be throwing a bunch of non-coffee-related starters in here, too.))

NAVIGATION
March 4 - Carolina and Karkat, lunch
March 7 - Kaneki, café | March 8 - Maka, café; Chihiro, café | March 9 - Naoya, Honeyed Souls | March 11 - Jimmy Two-Shoes, text-->action
March 13 Banjou, café | March 14 - Karkat, pale confession

Comments

3/9 - For Naoya, at Honeyed Souls

[callbacks]

[His shift is over for the day, and Dave decides to take a different path back to the hotel today, not in a real rush to get to training or anything. The street leads him past Honeyed Souls, and Breeze Nuts the Swablu tugs at his hair and twitters as they pass so Dave slows down.]

What, what.

[Breeze releases another warbling, insistent cry and flaps his wings, hopping from the pushed-back hood of Dave's coat to his shoulder. He hops again and looks pointedly at the sweets shop.]

Seriously, dude? You want candy? [Blu!] Ughh, fine. You're lucky you'll still be cute if you're fat, fatass.

[He enters, looking around for a familiar face. He knows at least one person who works here, after all; his coat is the red one Naoya sent him.]

[crouching_sin]

[Naoya has been slightly stressed today, but mostly since he's been pulling shifts at the counter and not back in the kitchen where he can ignore people. He glances up at the sound of someone entering, tucking his Pokegear back in his pocket, and -]

[Oh. Huh.]

Good to see you in person, Dave.

[Like anyone could mistake those glasses.]

[callbacks]

Hey, dude.

[He comes up to the counter for a fistbump. However he felt at the end of their last talk, it looks like it won't stop this friendship from taking place.]

'Sup?

[crouching_sin]

[It takes him a moment, and then he lifts his hand for a fistbump. Sure. Whatever, you strange American child.]

Not too much. It's been a little quiet here today, so I've just been making notes for a program I want to write. Nothing exciting, unfortunately - just something to optimize how the bookkeeping here works.

3/7 - at the cafe, shortly after the Gligar incident

[samsa]

[The soft jingle of the front door opening can be heard at the head of the cafe. Thankfully, it's not accompanied by the sound of flying bats striking the windows or something, even though there are a lot of them perched on the roof right now. Seems like no town can escape them, even Goldenrod.

Kaneki is a lot less wet than he was when Dave saw him earlier this morning, complete with a dry pair of clothes. His Zangoose trots at his heels as usual, though she's compulsively looking over her shoulder every now and then to make sure they aren't being followed by Gligar again. Thankfully, the two troublemakers got left behind back in Olivine. At least, Kaneki is pretty sure they did.

So whether Dave is cleaning tables or behind the counter making drinks, he'll see Kaneki walk up with his hand fiddling with his tie before moving to smooth out his apron as he ducks behind the counter to prepare to get busy.]

I hope things weren't too busy while I was gone. Thanks again for covering for me.

[callbacks]

[Dave looks up from the coffee he's finished making, then smiles and hands it off to the waiting mom.]

No worries, man. Monday mornings are always crazy, but things were a little nuttier than usual on account of the bat invasion. Staggered people's schedules, I guess. So not the worst day we've had.

[With Kaneki taking the counter, though, Dave feels free to get on cleaning tables.]

What'd you end up doing about your groupies?

[samsa]

[Nodding, Kaneki tightens the bow on his apron before checking what the next order is that he needs to make, answering Dave as he walks.]

As far as I know, they're still back where I left them...waiting for me to come back.

3/8 | Cafe | hey doov, don't make it stride

[soundmind]

[It's been a while since Maka's come back to the cafe, not since the last book club meeting, and it's not as though she isn't aware Dave is working there now. Despite this, when she walks through the door she balks a little in surprise at seeing Dave. The Gardevoir at her side looks up in concern at the change but still hangs onto the little package she's carrying instead of...doing Gardevoir things.]

...You're taller than I expected you to be.

[That's. Okay. She was just surprised at him being taller than previously assumed. Her Gardevoir takes this as an indication that boy over there is shaped like a friend and not a threat, so she trots up to the counter and sets down a round wrapped package that simply reads "Ken."]

How's life in the big city been?

[callbacks]

Oh. Hey, Maka. It's been chill.

[He goes back to wiping down a table, looking faintly pleased either by the comment or getting to meet her face to face.]

Come on, though, didn't you say you've seen me before? In the lolita dress. Did that not showcase my magnificent stork legs or what.

[soundmind]

I didn't see you in person and, frankly, I would have found it weird if John did a shot of your legs in his broadcast.

[Like...really weird.]

Has Ken been showing you how to do latte art and stuff?

3/11 - Text, then Action later on

[awesmazings]

[It's Friday, and you know what Friday calls for? It calls for going out and doing stuff. Doing stuff with friends, specifically, which is exactly why Dave can expect to be getting a text to his Gear sometime in the afternoon.]

Dave
Dave
Daaaave
youre in Goldenrod now right?
we should hang out if youre not busy!
I wanna see you and theres a game corner like right here in town with our names on it

[callbacks]

oh shit dude
you know im all about the big game
(corner)
ive got the day off what about you

[awesmazings]

ive been working on getting stuff all squared away at Jack's mansion, checking on the pokemon, making sure its still got creaky floorboards and cobwebs everywhere
just like Jack wanted
so now ive got the whole day to do whatever!

3/8 - Cafe

[codeforhope]

[It's been a busy past couple of days preparing for a trip through Johto on Chihiro's part, but he's used to the routine of packing by now. In fact, he's looking forward to it quite a lot. It feels like it's been a while, and he could use some time on the road to clear his head. But no matter how busy, it's always good to take a break.

That's why he's visiting the cafe today with just his Gear instead of his laptop this time, intending to sit down, have a drink, and try to make a list of some things he needs to get from the store before leaving tomorrow. He's come in after lunch so it would be a bit quieter, giving him the chance to enjoy the atmosphere and relax a little. His Dedenne is accompanying him today, with white cheeks that stand out against shiny brown fur, yet somehow he almost blends with the wood table as he sits perched next to Chihiro's hand, nibbling on a cookie.

Right now, Chihiro is just waiting on the coffee he ordered. Just a simple latte, nothing too special.]

[callbacks]

[Of course Dave's noticed the Dedenne. He's got his own non-shiny buddy, though he doesn't keep Wiglaf out and about while he's on the clock. For one thing, Wig is bashful and prefers to stay in the Pokéball when a lot of people are around; for another, health regulations. Pokémon are allowed out, of course, but it's better not to be serving people coffee with mouse hair in it, no matter how cute the mouse.

So when Dave brings over Chihiro's order, it's a little special, whether he asked or not.]

Your latte.

[codeforhope]

[Chihiro looks up from his Gear almost in unison with Seiri, whose whiskers twitch curiously when Dave approaches. His expression brightens when he sees what Dave has made, pushing the Gear aside for a moment so he can take the cup in his hands, letting the warmth seep into his palms.]

Ah, it's so cute! Thank you so much!

[Seiri nods in approval. The likeness is uncanny.]

3/4 - Carolina and Karkat, the promised lunch

[callbacks]

--So be cool, Karkat, okay?

[They're on their way to the place Carolina picked out. Dave doesn't exactly consider it his duty to get Karkat out and about, but he's got to get familiarized with other places than the hotel and Dave's place of employment. Shit's just sad.]

Carolina's an adult and she could kick both our asses up and down Route 34 without breaking a sweat, but she's actually really awkward and funny. And she's from the future and one of her friends has an alien kid, so she gets stuff. All right?

[quadrangle]

[—Hey fuck you, okay, those romance novels aren't going to read themselves. Karkat's put-upon frown at Dave are largely for show, though (like that's any surprise). He may be somewhat wary of meeting an adult in person because no, he still hasn't gotten over how weird that is yet, but if this Carolina merits that sort of praise, she ought to be cool, right? Probably. Fuck, Dave had better not be screwing with him.]

I make no promises, douche lord. And what kind of alien are you talking about? Wait, how does her friend "have" an alien kid, are they not an alien too? How the fuck does that work?

[callbacks]

I didn't ask, bro, not after she said the dude was human. I kind of figured I didn't want to know.

[Dave does not really need to hear about the brief, sordid pregnancy of Lavernius Tucker, alien fucker.]

But he works as an ambassador now or something, so I guess her world's generally pretty cool about interplanetary friendship. [FALSE. But you keep thinking that, Dave.] So it'll be chill. It's just lunch.

3/14 - Goldenrod Inn

[quadrangle]

[All right, so... he's actually doing this.

He's making this happen.

Wow. No. Fuck. Start over.

Karkat, who is absolutely not so far fucking gone that he's making mental SBaHJ references, is loitering in the hall outside his and Dave's hotel room, a lumpy parcel held loosely in his arms. By now, it's been several minutes; he's not nervous, he's just. Preparing. Rehearsing, maybe. Except all his romcoms apply to strictly troll/troll relationships and humans are fucking failures at quadrants, to say nothing of how Dave's Dave and practically guaranteed not to get it. Doesn't matter. He'll just have to... improvise. Not a big deal. People improvise all the time, right?

Fuck, he should have asked Ashley for advice before doing this. Even Jade would have been able to offer some insight, but then again it's bad enough that Sharru has been giving him shit over it. He doesn't need anyone else involved. Just. It would have been nice to feel more confident.

... Staring at this door is pissing him off. Fuck it, he's just going to do it, and if Dave rejects him, then... then he'll just get a separate room and try to forget this ever happened. Something reasonable and mature like that.

... Yeah.

Taking one last deep, deep breath, Karkat squares his shoulders and lets himself into the room.]

Hey, Dave. How's it going?

[Totally fucking casual and also totally delivered without waiting to see if Dave is even in the respiteblock and not, say, on the load gaper. Or asleep. Or any number of other things. Shut the fuck up, he is completely in control right now.]

[callbacks]

[Dave is, in fact, in the respiteblock, and, even better (well, for a given value of better more in line with conversational purposes than not), he is not asleep. He looks up from his very important business designing Sweet Throh and Hella Jeff characters on the hotel notepad at the same time Valentine the Togepi does, sitting happily in his lap.

Because what the fuck is that opener, Karkat. Could he be any less natural?

Dave checks for signs of distress, but doesn't see any he's come to recognize. Karkat is stressed, maybe, and definitely keyed up somehow, but he doesn't look upset. They're probably not looking at a meltdown, here, just. An inexplicable Karkat thing.

Dave inclines his head, but lets his voice stay even.]

Fine.

[With one hand to steady Valentine, he shifts in his seat so he can face Karkat, ready for...whatever is about to happen, he guesses.]

'Sup?

[quadrangle]

[Stage One complete. Commencing Stage Two. Or, fuck, wait, what else was he supposed to be doing in Stage One? Was it just one thing? How is he screwing this up already, that shouldn't be possible!

Karkat wastes a moment or two making sure the door is shut behind him (it is), then continues to speak, not moving any further into the block and only incidentally making eye contact. Shade contact. Whatever.]

I, uh—I got you something.

[Smooth transition, bro. The smoothest. God, it's no fucking wonder his only moirail had ever been nope, not thinking about that. Just. Some master of romance he is.

Ignoring the growing heat in his face (this is supposed to be pale, not flushed, ergo he is not turning red, he is not), he drags himself further into the block and holds out the parcel he's beginning to wish he'd just hurled at Dave's head before absconding.]

Here.

3/13

[irenicly]

[Not surprisingly, the cafe is one of those regular stops for Banjou. Even if he's been here for over a year, and been human for over a year, a ghoul's habits can only change so much for their own safety. Drinking coffee?

It's still one of those things he'll do as much as possible, especially not that he can actually enjoy things such as lattes.

The giant of a man wandering into the cafe is bound to stand out, and he sits down at what's probably his usual spot.]

...Dave, right?

I didn't know you were in Goldenrod now.

[callbacks]

[Dave looks up from his order pad, then brightens some with recognition.]

Oh, hey, dude. You're...shit, sorry. Your name's Japanese, it's harder for me to pin down the sounds.

[irenicly]

Banjou. Kazuichi Banjou, in Western order.

I usually go by my surname.