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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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