victory_road | [milk steaming noises]

Entry tags:

[milk steaming noises]

Who: Elsa + YOU

Where: Starmiebucks in Goldenrod

When: Flexible! Whenever/This month

Summary: Your local Ice Queen is now your local Barista

Rating: G+

Log:

[OPTION A

Of all the things Elsa saw herself doing in life, a job at a coffee shop named Starmiebucks isn't one of them. But after realizing she would be in Goldenrod for an extended period of time, she knew she'd need a steady job. And honestly, she'd really enjoyed all her trips to Starmiebucks upon discovering how good coffee is. Caramel Macchiatos are her jam.

Anyone in Goldenrod who happens to go out for some coffee will be greeted by Elsa at the register. It's been a week, so she's still pretty fresh, but she can at least greet people without being too awkward about it.]

Good morning! How can I help you today?
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[OPTION B

It's just about time for her break and she's been told to do a sweep of the lobby and restock the condiment bar and make sure it looks decent after quite the afternoon rush.

What she isn't expecting is that it looks like a bomb went off. There's sugar everywhere, no one seems to be able to throw their straw wrappers away and she very nearly slips on a small puddle of coffee. They warned her about having nonslip shoes.]

Does anyone even get any sugar in their coffee? [She can't help but mumble tiredly as she sets to wiping it down with a wet rag.]
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[OPTION C

Mmm. Bathroom duty.

Not a duty Elsa enjoys doing, but a duty that must be done. As the newest barista, she's naturally the one to get stuck with it and she mostly does it without complaint. That is until she happens to have to do it after someone absolutely stank up the place. And oh what a mess the toilet was!

Sparing anyone the dirty details, Elsa emerges from the bathroom near blue in the face and gasping for air as if she's been holding her breath the entire time.]

How can anything smell so- so awful??
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[OPTION D WILDCARD

Wanna post your own top level and mingle in Goldenrod Starmiebucks? Wanna have a Starmiebucks date w/ your SO? Wanna pick a different option involving Elsa herself?? FEEL FREE TO GO FOR IT IDC Y'ALL]

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[Hey, guess who's back in town! It's that asshole who wasn't around for Christmas because he was in Blackthorn for a loved one's birthday. He's just got off his own morning shift at the Pokémon center and has decided to make yet another attempt at dealing with Elsa. He has this sneaking suspicion that she's annoyed with him, but he's not entirely sure?

Okay, well. Nice smile. They are Friends?]

Hello, Elsa. I'd like a grande [He's learned the lingo, he's a smart boy] four shot white mocha in a venti cup with with extra whipped cream to the top.

[Stanford Pines is good to himself.]

I also have something for you.

_{[Henry makes his way into the Starmiebucks with a huge yawn. It was a long night at the Pokemon Center and he really doesn't want anymore 'hospital coffee' he wants REAL coffee. With tons of shit in it that made it more like hot icecream than coffee.]

[His Trubbish, Flower, trundles along by his heels also yawning and still wearing her little paper nurse's hat with skitties scribbled all over it to match Henry's scrubs.]

[He's almost to the counter when he witnesses the wasteland that poor Elsa has been tasked with cleaning up and he can't help a small sympathetic:]}

Oh no...

_{[From escaping him.]}

Edited 2018-01-12 19:42 (UTC)

[Since he'd started working at Starmiebucks, Izuku had gained a whole new appreciation for every single barista he'd met back home. Some thing, apparently, never changed between realities, and people being messy animals during rush hours on cafes was one of them.

So now that was part of his life; cleaning up the messes of people and Pokemon at Starmiebucks when he wasn't serving them coffee and cakes. It could be worse, he supposed. They could be expecting him to clean it all alone, instead of having the newbie help. That ought to speed things up enough, hopefully.

He was rolling a lint roller over a booth's seat to get rid of Pokemon hair when he hears Elsa mumble. He knew he should probably tell her to be careful in case customers heard her, but damn it, he needed to vent too, and the place was nearly empty.]

I'm not sure either.

[Elsa's Customer Service Smile™ falters when she realizes she's serving one Dr. Stanford Pines, but she plasters it back in a very forced manner.

It's not that she's mad at him- she's just... she feels a certain type of way about Christmas. That's all. It's hard to put into words- the weeks leading up to Christmas she'd kind of glamorized it all in her head. She, Anna and Ford would be together, along with all their Pokemon. Like a quirky little family.

Of course she had Anna, which was great!! But she definitely felt a void on Christmas morning when she found out Ford wouldn't be there with them. Try as she might to get over it, she still has Feelings.

Elsa looks him up and down, attempting briefly to comprehend his order before giving a stern nod.]

Right, a tall Poké Place Coffee™ coming up!

[She grabs the tall cup and turns Really Fast to step over to the brewer and starts pouring coffee.]

[Elsa looks up quickly when she hears him say that, almost startled by his presence- but more so that a customer heard her complaining. She hadn't even meant to say it aloud, really, but she's had a Long Day.]

Oh, it's fine! It's not as bad as it looks...

[Can you hear her dying inside as she tells such a blatant lie?

His outfit has her smiling though and she takes a look between the two of them.]

You both match, how adorable!

[Elsa is glad to not get reprimanded about saying that out loud- not only did it just sort of slip out, but she feels like she makes so many little mistakes during their rushes that it's nice to not hear about something she's flubbed for once.

Or is that all in her head? She does get good feedback about how friendly she is, which is good... Good job Starmiebucks, you hired the most insecure Disney.

She looks over to see him lint rolling the booth and she lets out a small, tired chuckle.]

It's kind of baffling, honestly. I mean- you'd think people would be a little more... I don't know, considerate?

[She looks around as she talks, to make sure no one can overhear them- especially their shift supervisor. Wouldn't want to make a bad impression by smack talking customers.]

Our coffee station looks the same after a long day. Or night. I get it.

_{[Henry cracks a small smile as she compliments the GR-PC aesthetic.]}

Thanks. Hey, Flower, why don't you give her a hand?

_{[The Trubbish stops blushing from the praise long enough to snap to attention and salute with a small lumpy paw. She toddles forward and starts slurping up the straw papers and general Patron Trash with her tongue.]}

[If Elsa said her insecurities out loud, Izuku would definitely empathize. While this is certainly a lot easier than his aspirations of being a super hero back home, he's still by no means used to not being criticised (to put it mildly for what he sometimes got) in some way or another for something.

As it is, he just lets out a sigh.] I don't really understand it either.

[He moves further into the booth to lint roll the middle seats.] I mean... It doesn't really help them, does it?

[Ford frowns. His mouth does that perfect downward C thing it does and his thick eyebrows draw down. It's not the coffee itself that's an issue -- he can doctor up coffee to be acceptable, even if he'd prefer a dark roast when it comes right down to it -- it's Elsa's behavior. She is definitely annoyed with him. That's passive-aggression if he's ever seen it, and being that he's Stanford Pines, he has.

He leans over the counter a little and talks to her back.]

Elsa, there's no need to be childish.

[That's honestly validating- Elsa thought she might have just decided to work at the messiest coffee place. Maybe it's just universal coffee problems- maybe no one is capable of pouring their sugar without getting most of it everywhere.]

Oh no, she doesn't-

[Elsa stops when she realizes Trubbish is.. actually eating the garbage, and seemingly enjoying it. Whoa. Why don't they have one of those here?? Maybe she should get one...]

You're hired!

[Elsa moves over and leans across the handoff counter, gesturing for one of her coworkers to come over. After a quick exchange, Elsa comes back with a small cup of whipped cream.]

After all that hard work, you deserve something tastier!

[She bends down and offers the cup of whip, giving Trubbish a genuine smile.]

[Elsa stops mid-pour, the handle of the brewer clanking back into place as she loses her grip on it. That really strikes a nerve- and she's never been called childish before. She purses her lips.

Is she being childish?? Maybe. Honestly she can feel herself being petty and spiteful and it's not a cute look, but she can't help it. She just wants Ford to know that her feelings are hurt but she doesn't want to say why.]

Oh- did I mishear you?

[Elsa takes the cup and step to the sink, turning to look him dead in the eye as she pours out the coffee a little too deliberately.]

What can I get you instead? Decaf?

If you give me decaf I am going to pour the whole cup down your sink.

[That's so low, but lower still is threatening a man with decaf coffee. He didn't realize she was that angry with him. This is a lot more serious than he assumed.]

I can gather that you're upset. This would be much easier if you would tell me why you're upset.

[Elsa lets out a small scoff at that, as if he's being unreasonable right now. Threatening to waste coffee?? As if she didn't just?? How scandalous. Elsa tosses the tall cup into the garbage and moves back to POS, reaching into her apron pocket to grab a sharpie without making eye contact with Ford.]

I don't know what you're talking about, it's loud back here. I simply misunderstood what you said. My apologies, sir.

[She starts writing on the cup, still without looking at him.]

So that was a grande-in-a-venti white mocha, four shots, extra whipped cream...

[Elsa gives him a pointed look, finally.]

Are you sure you don't want that made nonfat? There is an awful lot of sugar in the whipped cream.

_{[Flower was BORN to do janitorial work! She scoops up every grain of sugar, every tiny scrap of paper, and even a few stray Pokemon hairs before she finishes. When she whirls around and finds a cup of whipped cream being offered, she searches Henry's face for approval. He gives her a nod and she lets out a happy TRUB TRUB before delicately accepting it and lapping up the cream. Then she eats the cup. She has made a new friend this day.]}

Well, Flower, looks like I don't have to bring home the bacon anymore. You have two jobs.

[At the word 'nonfat' he makes a face. You know the one. It's the one in his icon.

Now, Stanford Pines exercises regularly. Every morning, in fact. He has a strict and intense physical regimen designed to keep him in the kind of shape a man needs to be in to escape and/or kill all manner of alien bounty hunters. He is also a Pines, and that means his sweet tooth is the size of New Jersey. It balances out.]

Two percent is fine. For goodness' sake. I am not going to apologize without knowing what I'm apologizing for.

[Oh, bless. Elsa never thought she would find a living garbage bag adorable, but here she is. There's something just plain endearing and lovable about how enthusiastic Flower is at gobbling up all the garbage, and then the whip. Elsa presses a hand to her cheek and lets out a small 'awww' before realizing how dorky that is. Brushing her knees off, she stands back up, looking sheepish.]

She'll be store manager before you know it!

[Elsa lets out a laugh, before turning her attention back to Henry.]

So are you just getting off of work, or heading in?

[Elsa gives him a look back. You know the one. It's the one in her icon.

She sets the cup down in line with an audible 'clack' and begins ringing up his drink.]

Your total is 749.52 Pokédollars, please!

[Now she's just outright ignoring his question. Not because she doesn't want to talk it out- she does, but she doesn't even know how. And right now isn't the best time, either, all things considered. So instead of saying that like a mature adult, she's being PA instead. Way to go, Elsa.]

I'm sorry, if you could please hurry? A line is forming behind you.

[And her shift looks kind of irritated, which is. Not something she wants to deal with on top of everything.]

_{[Henry can't help but chuckle at the idea of Flower with an earpiece and a little nametag going around Trub-Trubbing orders.]}

She'll be a great boss as long as she gets to watch cartoons on her break. We're just getting off. Last night was a mess and I need some coffee that actually tastes good and doesn't just keep me awake.

[Hggghhhhh. Look, he's a belligerent old man at a Starmiebucks, of course there's a line forming behind him. Still, he sighs and hands over his card.]

Of course. How rude of me.

[When she hands it back, he tucks it away and then sets a small cylindrical tin on the counter. There's a red bow wrapped around it, and a tag with her name. He was going to give it to her in a nicer manner but you know what, fine, if she's going to be pissy he's not going to bother.]

Thank you. I'll get out of your way.

[Elsa is fully ready to let him go so that she can get back to her job- she'll deal with him later, of course. She knows she has to and that she can't keep being so frosty for too long. It would be highly immature and she misses him. She misses him a lot. After concealing and not feeling for so long, though, it's nice to just... feel. To just be angry for once.

But when he leaves the little tin there on the counter, she realizes immediately that she took it too far.

Her face falls and she can't really do much considering there's a customer to help behind him. It's her lucky day, though, because the closers pop out of the back to begin taking over and the SSV on duty sees it as a perfect opportunity to nip the drama in the bud.]

Elsa, you can go home now!

[She's about to argue and say she'll help get the line down, but she gets a look and knows she's landed herself in hot water. With a defeated look, Elsa grabs the tin and heads back to grab her things.

In the back, she looks down and realizes what Ford's given her- some really fancy looking tea. The description of it sounds absolutely lovely, and... oh. Now guilt settles hard in her stomach like a weight and she feels like an absolute jerk. The whole time he'd been trying to talk to her, to give her a gift, and-

And she'd been so cold and rude. To someone very dear to her. The tea feels heavy in her hands as she looks down at it, going through their exchange in her head and feeling like she came out of it with a little egg on her face.

Before she can stop herself, she shoves her apron in her bag and darts out of the back room, hoping that she hasn't missed Ford. It's time she stops being petty and actually talks to him like an Adult™.]

[Oh, he's still there, settled at a table by the windows with his terrible latte and his sketchbook. A Rockruff is snoozing beneath the table at his feet. This one is Lawrence Talbot, though Ford has found thus-far that he's the only one who can tell this one apart from his sister. He really ought to get them color-coded bandannas or something.

He thought about just going back to the hotel, but he came here to unwind and he is going to unwind regardless of Elsa's attitude.]

[When she sees him across the cafe sitting at his table, Elsa stops where she is and just looks at him for a moment, guilt washing over her even more. It's almost like there's an invisible barrier between the two of them and she's got to find a way to push through it.

The problem is she doesn't know what to say. Or.. how to say it. Or why she's even so upset. Or rather, she knows why she's upset but she doesn't understand why it bothers her as much as it does. So, unable to deal with that, she's being a tad destructive. Which... isn't fun, she's realizing.

This isn't a situation she's handled before, okay? This is... well, this is her first "argument" with someone.

Ah. Another reason her upbringing has come back to bite her. Thanks Mom & Dad. You didn't give her the ability to deal with conflict. You gave her a talent for running away from it. And if there's one thing their relationship has taught her, she's better than her upbringing. They've had so many talks about this.

She can do this. She can.

Just like that, the barrier is gone and she finds herself moving over to Ford's table. She sits down across from him, setting the tea tin down gently but keeping her grip on it, as if it's what's keeping her grounded right now.]

I wanted us to be a family for Christmas.

[As she says it, she wishes she'd chosen a different, less... pathetic way of saying it, but that's the only way she can get it out. She's faced a lot of truths about her family since she's been here and she has Ford to thank for that. He's wedged himself into her life as an extremely important figure. He's helped her realize a lot of things she wouldn't have otherwise. Her concept of family has shifted so much since she's been here, the idea of not having a piece of it for such an important holiday really got to her. Which... she' realizing is silly. Because that isn't how family works.]

_{[So, the biggest difference Bertolt can see right off the bat in Goldenrod? There isn't a single Stantler Coffee in sight. In Blackthorn there was one Starmiebucks inside of one of the hotels, but that was it.

Everything else was Stantler.

Bertolt had meant to swing back down to Goldenrod anyway before he heard about the contest anyway, though it meant he'd have to cut his recreational shopping short to prepare for travel again. Of course before he did any proper packing, he needed coffee. ...And he doesn't recognize a single thing on the menu, leaving him staring up at it with a Trapinch in his arms and a slightly bewildered expression on his face.

Grande? Venti? What did it all mean? Usually whenever someone else went here, he'd just ask for whatever they felt like bringing him back. He was never too picky about coffee.]}

U-Uh, sorry, it's... I've never ordered something from here myself before.

[Ford doesn't response for a moment, and then he closes his sketchbook and sets it aside. His hands fold on the table in front of him. It's very tempting to say you know I don't even celebrate Christmas, right but that's not the point and anyway now that she's finally talking to him he shouldn't ruin it by being a petty hypocrite.

He understands wanting family close. Since he arrived here (and especially since Dipper and Mabel disappeared so soon after) he's been growing increasingly homesick. He dealt with being alone for thirty-odd years, and he dealt with that alone, but that didn't mean that deep down he didn't miss his brother and wish more than anything things had gone differently. He just got very good at... uh. Concealing. Not feeling. Y'know.

The point is he maybe went a little overboard this year with gifts because he's trying to cling to the family he's made here to help ease the longing for the family he left behind. That single sentence gives him a lot of perspective. For a woman who hasn't really had a family in years despite living in a castle with them, who only recently got her sister back, any time spent with anyone she's close to is probably precious.]

If you had said that from the beginning I would have stayed.

[Bert's birthday wasn't until the thirtieth. He could have. His tone isn't accusing or reprimanding, just quiet.]

[Ford is very right in that regard. Right now, with all of her dawning realizations and acceptances re: her childhood, family is very important to her. Or rather, the family she has here in this universe. Given that anyone could disappear at any moment, a fear in the very back of her mind, she cherishes every moment. Not only with the Pokemon she's met, but the people. The man in front of her.

When he speaks, Elsa feels a cold feeling spread through her, as his words make her realize why she's so upset. Finally. Finally she understands it, she knows why and... and it doesn't actually make her feel any better. It makes her want to cry, honestly.

Her eyes are locked on the tea instead of on him, as she fights with herself over whether she should say what she's thinking. It's... it's selfish, she realizes. But it's what's been nagging her this entire time. She has to.]

I-

[Oh no. That urge to cry is stronger and she finds herself sniffing, trying to hold it back.]

I thought I... I might be important enough that you would decide to stay on your own.

[She sniffs again, her voice thin and a little shaky as she wipes at a pesky tear that managed to get out. This is silly, she's being silly. But- but it's true. Is she not important enough to him? She hates being that insecure, but she can't help it.]

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[milk steaming noises]

A, yes i'd like uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

B

B

uHHHH HOLD ON I FORGOT WHAT SHE WANTED LET ME CALL,

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A, gimme coffee

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