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Frances Barton | Hawkeye ([info]hotshot_hawkeye) wrote,
@ 2012-11-27 08:49:00


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AU meme: Another Life
It's another Monday morning at little local coffee shop in the business district: which means packed, loud and caffeine-deprived. Baristas shout orders in cadence and toss non-steamed containers to each other. There are no pumps in the syrup, everything is eyeballed and regulars don't bother ordering as their drink is ready by the time they make it to the front. New customers are easy to spot by the first sip-moan of surprise. If the brunette behind the counter (next to the 'By your barista a shot!" sign) isn't flirting with the next customer, she's singing along to whatever is on the playlist as the drinks are assembled without pause or looking. 

"ROX-anne!" she and the other girl slinging the bean belt out, foaming enough milk for something with a dark mix of waiting syrup. "Alright, soy latte, hazelnut and toffee, four shots." She winks at the lawyer with raccoon circles for eyes holding her hand out for the cup. "Extra shot for luck, and remember, no coffee until after 2 with this. Go get 'em, tiger." 

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[info]fleetfootmac
2012-11-27 08:24 pm UTC (link)
The coffee shop ordered occasional flowers and such from the plant shop, so Mac flitted over with the delivery, tastefully avoiding running into anyone in the crowd with the box.

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[info]hotshot_hawkeye
2012-11-27 09:47 pm UTC (link)
The bouncing of flowers through the herd caught Frances' eye and she scooted around the counter to help. "Anyone jostles him and they get tepid drinks!" she warned and wiped her hands on the apron. "Mackie-dear! They've got you running around already? Oh those look amazing!"

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[info]fleetfootmac
2012-11-27 11:38 pm UTC (link)
"They hired a dude who can fly; they want their money's worth," Mac says cheerfully. "Thanks for the assist."

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[info]hotshot_hawkeye
2012-11-28 01:15 am UTC (link)
"And you'll note how I'm not calling you Hermes, I'm a good girl," she replied with great dignity before looking the flowers over. Fast delivery, yet not smushed or de-petalled. "Go ahead, pick a nosh for your services. Can't have the best courier fall over from hunger, can we?"

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[info]fleetfootmac
2012-11-28 01:17 am UTC (link)
"You're a gentlewoman and a scholar," Mac says, grabbing a brownie. "Business looks good."

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[info]hotshot_hawkeye
2012-11-28 01:58 am UTC (link)
"Filthy lies, I assure you." She beamed around at the mob. "Monday's are a double whammy of Sunday-baked goods and Oh-God-It's-A-Work-Day. Apparently we've got a rep for having good java. And pretty flowers!"

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[info]fleetfootmac
2012-11-28 02:12 am UTC (link)
Mac bows with a mouthful of brownie. "Flattery, ma'am, will get you...well, let's not get into that," he says when it's finished. "Sympathies on the workload."

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[info]hotshot_hawkeye
2012-11-28 07:34 pm UTC (link)
"Awww, you big tease," she teased with a pout. Wrinkling her nose, she shook her head. "Keeps me lively and away from soap operas. It's the chocolate croissants that'll do me in one day. Evil, delicious things."

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[info]magic_hands
2012-11-28 06:21 pm UTC (link)
One of the smallest regulars squeezes into line and rests his chin against the counter while drumming his fingers on it as he waits for his turn. Every time he came he seemed to have a different slightly-too-big hat on, clearly borrowed. Today's was a newsboy cap that he had to push back and prevent from falling in front of his eyes.

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[info]hotshot_hawkeye
2012-11-28 07:27 pm UTC (link)
Frances sees the hat first and grins, hunkering down to rest her chin on her arms on top of the counter across from Martin. "Awesome newsie, Boss, I think I'm going to be a little jealous of it." She winks and tilts her head to the side. "The usual or you wanna try something new? I think there's cinnamon rolls left, too."

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[info]magic_hands
2012-11-28 07:36 pm UTC (link)
"Thank you! I like it too. If you'd like you can try it. After a cinnamon roll though," he grins back. "Well the doctor sent me to get him and his friend extra large strong coffees because he's got a lot of surgery work stuff today. But he said I could get myself extra stuff too! So gimme something new! And a cinnamon roll, please." The friendly barista gets a tip of his newsie now, you had to be polite.

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[info]hotshot_hawkeye
2012-11-28 07:51 pm UTC (link)
She tried to not smile too hard, but nodded along. "Two larges, two shots in each, and, hmm," she called out over her shoulder and squinted at him, scrutinizing the little guy. "I think I've got the just ticket. Here, cinnamon roll and the drinks'll be right up." Grabbing the steaming milk and chocolate, she disappeared behind the coffee machines. "Didja go anywhere cool for the weekend or was it all homework and chores?"

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[info]magic_hands
2012-11-28 07:58 pm UTC (link)
Martin shuffles along as the line moves but loses sight of her behind the coffee machines and tries to stand on his tip toes to talk to her. "We went out of the city on like a mini road trip to pick up Mrs. Clea. And on the way there we went to this one place with the best milkshakes! You should try them." He takes a bite out of his cinnamon roll as she makes the drinks and chews thoughtfully. "Did you make the cinnamon rolls?"

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[info]hotshot_hawkeye
2012-11-28 08:15 pm UTC (link)
"Ugh, milkshakes?! I love those, especially chocolate mint or toffee ones. Were the trees still pretty out there?" Her head pops around and after looking around for eavesdroppers, she nods with a beaming smile. "Yup. On Sundays, the baker comes in to make the week's yummies, but those are totally mine."

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[info]magic_hands
2012-11-28 08:22 pm UTC (link)
"Mhmm, the prettiest," he nods and the newsie cap bobs with him. After a quick look around too, he grins and whispers, "I knew they weren't the same! Yours are much better. Don't worry though, I won't tell anyone." With that he makes a 'zipping my lips and throwing away the key' gesture before taking another big bite out of his rolls and giving her a very pleased smile.

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[info]hotshot_hawkeye
2012-11-28 08:35 pm UTC (link)
She has to laugh, but nods back in return tapping the side of nose and winking to confirm the secret was sage. "If you can tell that maybe you can come work for me when you're tall enough. We have a rep for only having tasty foods. Now, you better unzip those lips because ta-da!"

She hands over a small cup, smaller than the usual sizes. Raising a hand, she adds, "I know it looks like a tiny drink but it's mighty: this is a sipping chocolate. It's practically a melted chocolate bar." To prove so, she wiggles the cup and the thick drink wobbles more than sloshes. "So you gotta sip it instead of guzzling." Handing it over, she waits for his opinion.

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[info]magic_hands
2012-11-28 08:42 pm UTC (link)
"But then I won't be Boss anymore! You'll be!" Placing the remains of his cinnamon roll back in the bag and on the counter for a moment, he cups the drink in both hands, peers in, and sniffs. Definitely chocolaty. Very carefully, so he didn't burn his tongue, Martin takes a small sip of the drink. "Ooh it's really chocolaty. I like the Tiny but Mighty!" It had a new official name now according to him. "Do you have any caramel? Please?" He even puts the drink down for a moment to add a gentlemanly hat tip to that request.

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[info]hotshot_hawkeye
2012-11-28 08:50 pm UTC (link)
A blonde, Amanda, popped her head around the machine and smiled. "It's okay, we don't call her Boss either." Frances stuck out her tongue and snapped Amanda with the drip towel. She watches Martin sip, waiting with anticipation and then tosses her arms up in victory. "Tiny but Mighty it is! That's going on the board!" Laughing, she reaches for the caramel drizzle and leans across the counter, swirling it over the chocolate's surface. "Just say when." Yup, the Doctor was going to thank her for this.

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[info]magic_hands
2012-11-28 09:38 pm UTC (link)
Martin giggled at Amanda and cheered at getting his own drink. "I get my own drink on the board! Yay!" He's absolutely beaming now as she pours him caramel but there's a very long pause before he stops her. Boy likes his caramel. "When! Thank you!" Another sip to check and...Mmmm it was even better now. After placing it back on the counter for a moment, he takes off his newsie cap and holds it in both hands while looking at her wide-eyed. "Can I write it on the board? Please? While you make the doctor's stuff? I'll even let you wear my hat..."

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[info]hotshot_hawkeye
2012-11-29 01:57 pm UTC (link)
Even if she didn't buckle under the sheer volume of cute, there was quite a few cooing squeals behind her. He had her shop wrapped around his finger, her included. Frances squinted at him once more, clearly dragging out making the decision before very carefully plopping the hat on her head. "You're going to need something to stand on. MARK, THE BARSTOOL," she called and went to the cash register. After the Snarky-Comments War, the dry erase markers were kept under lock and key. The dish-washer brought over the stool and settled it under the large board and Frances handed over the markers. "Here you go, Boss."

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[info]magic_hands
2012-11-29 02:10 pm UTC (link)
He nearly bounces, he's so excited at the prospect of getting to write his own drink on the board. This really was the best, and he was going to make it as awesome as possible. Martin collects the dry erase markers and puts them somewhere where he can reach easily, and clambers up on the bar stool. "Thank you, I'll give you a christmas bonus for being a good employee!" And he gets to work writing in big block letters, of alternating colours, "Martin's special: TINY but MIGHTY!" He's very careful and takes his time to make it as neat as possible, sticking his tongue out a bit at parts that need more concentration. When he's done, just for decoration, he draws little fireworks in the corners.

Because fireworks were awesome.

"What do you think?" Still standing on the stool, he turns around and puffs up proudly at his work.

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[info]hotshot_hawkeye
2012-11-30 12:15 am UTC (link)
She stands back far enough to not crowd him, but God help her, if he falls, she could try to catch him before he cracked his head. The cap she wears more toward the back of the head than Martin did, having a bigger head than the cap fit and being an old hand at making clothing work. Pretty good handwriting for a little squirt, mostly legible and if anyone complained they'd get the stink eye. "Nice color picks, Boss." She's smiling and nodding when he turns around and she gives him a thumbs up. "Fireworks are awesome all the time."

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[info]magic_hands
2012-11-30 12:25 am UTC (link)
He grins back and hops off the stool, like most kids, not seeming to care about the height, and walks up to her with the markers in his arms and holds them out in exchange for the hat. "Oh! Wait!" Before anyone can ask, he's scurrying back onto the stool and takes a moment to add something before hopping off again. "There!" The 'M' in "Martin's" now has a newsie (as best he can do) perched on it. "I wanted to put all my favorite things on the board for my drink," he explains.

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[info]hotshot_hawkeye
2012-11-30 01:29 am UTC (link)
"That is a masterpiece. Perfecto." She slides off the hat, flipping so it sits on his head with just a little tip to the side, then collects all the markers from his arms. "Alright, from now on, we offer Mighty but Tiny sipping chocolate, drizzled with chocolate. Today, they're just two dollars for people to try." Looking down, she shrugs apologetically. "I'd do it for free but that's a lot of chocolate and heavy cream."

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[info]magic_hands
2012-11-30 01:35 am UTC (link)
She gets a bright smile when the hat is put back on his head, and he makes sure not to drop any of the markers as she takes them back. "I have my own drink! And it's okay, because I got extra caramel on mine. Hat bonuses!" He shuffles back to where he left his stuff on the counter then goes on his tip toes and seems to look around behind the counter for something before tipping his hat her way again. "May I have a tray thing? I can't carry everything without one by myself."

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[info]hotshot_hawkeye
2012-11-30 10:12 pm UTC (link)
"One tray thing," she echoes and swings behind the counter for the little carrier. Popping it open and sliding the three drinks in to fit, she adds a croissant into the last sopt before sliding it back to him. "That last spot was lonely and really strong coffee shouldn't be taken on an empty stomach. Doctor's should know that." Looking satisfied with the order, she claps her hands clean and smirks. "Anything else, Boss? You're going to be cool with getting back?"

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[info]magic_hands
2012-12-01 03:58 am UTC (link)
"We should never leave spots lonely," he nods sagely and then pushes the carrier along and makes a Vroooom noise, pretending it was a plane until he comes to a stop in front of the cashier and smiles up. Taking off his hat, it turns out, he's tucked in the few bills in part of the seam despite having jeans pockets. Hats made great storage really. "Nope! This is perfect and I'm really fast at getting coffee back to him so don't worry!" He holds out the bills for her, Dr. Strange had given him enough.

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[info]hotshot_hawkeye
2012-12-02 05:22 pm UTC (link)
Smirking, she takes the bills to the register and returns with the change. "Alright, well back to the Doc's office with you, he may be half asleep right now." If she goes outside and fiddles with the marque, check nothing's been smudged to illegibility, with the street he travels down directly in her line of sight, well that's just a coincidence. Things like that happen in the city. "See you next time, Boss!"

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[info]magic_hands
2012-12-02 06:10 pm UTC (link)
He takes the change and goes on his tip toes to lean over the counter and put the coins in the tip jar. "Oh! You're right! Mrs. Clea says he's not allowed to sleep in the office chair, I should hurry!" Jumping to his feet, Martin takes his hat off to her and gives a little bow like he saw on TV, and then plops the newsie on and scurries with his carrier through the crowds and to the door. Once there he stops and turns around to give a cheery wave. "Bye bye! See you later!" Then the smallest regular is out the door and shuffling down the street as fast as he can without spilling anything. Good thing it was close by.

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