Logs:Busy Season
| Busy Season | |
|---|---|
| Dramatis Personae | |
| In Absentia
|
Christmas "Fair enough, issa busy season for a lotta things." |
| Location
<NYC> Evolve Cafe - Lower East Side | |
Spacious and open, this coffeeshop has a somewhat industrial feel to it, grey resin floors below and exposed-beam ceilings that have been painted up in a dancing swirl of abstract whorls and starbursts, a riot of colour splashed against a white background. The walls alternate between brick and cheerfully lime-green painted wood that extends to the paneling beneath the brushed-steel countertops. There's an abundance of light, though rather than windows (which are scarce) it comes from plentiful hanging steel lamps. The walls here are home to artwork available for sale; though the roster of prints and paintings and drawings and photographs changes on a regular basis it has one thing in common -- all the artists displayed are mutants. The seating spaced around the room is spread out enough to keep the room from feeling cluttered. Black chairs, square black tables that mostly seat two or four though they're frequently pushed around and rearranged to make space for larger parties. In the back corner of the room is more comfortable seating, a few large black-corduroy sofas and armchairs with wide tables between them. There's a shelf of card and board games back here available for customers to sit and play. The chalkboard menus hanging behind the counter change frequently, always home to a wide variety of drinks (with an impressive roster of fair-trade coffees and teas largely featured) though their sandwiches and wraps and soups and snacks of the day change often. An often-changing variety of baked goods sit behind the display case at the counter halfway back in the room, and the opposite side of the counter holds a small selection of homemade ice creams. A pair of single-user bathrooms flanks the stairway in back of the cafe; at night, the thump of music can be heard from above, coming from the adjoining nightclub of the same name that sits up the stairs above the coffeehouse. This isn't Evolve's first holiday dinner of the month and it won't be the last, but tonight the place is merry and bright, the walls and windows edged with strings of light and streamers and all kinds of tastefully arranged winter plants. The feast hasn't started properly just yet, but the eggnog and wassail are flowing freely along with a steady stream of hors d'oeuvres while the party-goers meander about exchanging season's greetings. Blink has been mingling, festive in a bright red high-low dress with black tights and high-heeled black boots, her hair done up and pulled back where they usually at least somewhat disguise the slender points of her ears, her makeup leaning into her unusual color and markings, sporting a white jade bangle that's all the more eye catching for how little jewelry she usually wears. As far as the woman thought, she didn't think Evolve would be having a Christmas party. She wasn't going to assume, given the fact she was still newer to the city and state as a whole. Wouldn't hurt for her to check it out to see if the coffee shop still had its doors open though. The woman stepped in front of the shop, stopping to admire the lights, streamers and wide variety of the plants that lined the windows and the walls inside. Clearing her throat she walked inside after noticing it definitely was still open, not feeling her most confident at first. It was all due to her get up. Jade decided to be Christmas-y, opting for a thyme green lipstick, her usual black smoky eye was replaced with green eye makeup and a bit of glitter of the same color. She was sporting a crimson red body con dress, green long stiletto nails and some red kitten heels. The hair had been dyed all red for now, and she carried a small black clutch purse. The only accessories she adorned were a set of silver tennis bracelets. Jade noticed a few look her way as her heels clacked against the floor as she made her way to where the others had gathered, striking up greetings and small conversations with the rest, laughing quite a bit. For a second, she thought she recognized someone in the crowd. Blink spots Jade out of the corner of her eye and proceeds to excuse herself from the auntie who has been chattering amiably at her. Once freed, she goes up to Jade. "Oh hey, welcome! Spitfire, right?" She quirks a lopsided smile. "How have you been?"
"Oh! Good!" Blink sounds...relieved, maybe? "Thank you, and you look great! I could not pull off that dress. I'm glad you're doing good. Holidays can be rough for people who are far from home." She shrugs, small. "Anyway, I'm doing alright. Busy season for couriering, you know?" Jade nodded and placed her chin her right hand as she listened to the other talk. "Oh, thank ya, thought ah'd look awkward in it. It's not so bad cause ah talked to mah mama a few days ago, but yea, still does get a little bit rough now an again. Fair enough, issa busy season for a lotta things." Blink nods her agreement. "Yeah, I had a video call with my parents and sister this morning, it was really nice. But there's still something about this. Or, maybe not this specifically, but you know. This community." She looks around, looking a little distant, then shakes it off. "So uh, what have you been busy with? I have no idea what you do -- for work, I mean." The woman listened, moving her lips from side to side after smushing them together to make sure her lipstick was still spread evenly. She nodded and began to reply. "Ah been busy workin', hangin' out here in the off time, workin' on the powers, all that. Ah work as a barista, usually it'd be just gettin' by, but a lotta customers are generous tippers there for all the others too. Makes ma heart feel good cause most of ma coworkers are mutants too." "Oh, wow, that's great! I'm really glad you're doing well." Blink smiles sincerely. "What's the name of the place? If your management isn't weird about hiring or serving freaks, I'll put it on my list of places to recommend." She looks around the party, her eyes drawn unerringly to the hors d'oeuvres table. "I guess I kind of intercepted you before you got a chance to check out the offerings, but you should do that before they move on to actual dinner, because the small plates are amazing." The woman cleared her throat as she began to speak. "Is called Brew-tiful Dreams, best thing is it's near where ah live, just gotta walk a few minutes an ah'm there. The owner's names Dan, granted ah don't know for sure if he knows most of us are mutants, but by talkin' with him a few times ah don't think he'd care anyways. We don't show it much neither, just wait until we on break in the break room and kid about with our powers sometimes. Or just make life easier without people havin' ta see. Yeah ah caught a glimpse a it, got sucked inta a conversation with some guy for a second. I'm glad ya seem to be doing just as good, Blink. If not better! Ah'll definitely be comin' back for Christmas next year." "Brew-tiful Dreams. Got it." Blink's smile dims, but she's nodding a bit more enthusiastically as if to compensate. "Getting to work with a bunch of other freaks without being treated like one...sure must be nice!" Her cheeks flush faintly. "Sorry. That sounded a bit more...I'm glad you got a good thing going on, I really am." She dips a small bow before drifting away toward the latest batch of appetizers. "Enjoy the party, and merry Christmas!" Jade noticed very quickly as she saw the smile on the other woman's face fade away a bit. It didn't help that her cheeks were flushing just the slightest bit. "If ya need work, he's always hirin' Hun. I'm glad you're doing well." The woman held her clutch under right arm and bowed a bit as well, looking as the other went to the batch of appetizers being served. She turned to a corner for a second. "Hope she's alright, didn't mean ta upset her, but at the same time, didn't know that'd trigger somethin'." Jade whispered to herself before turning around, flipping her hair back with her right hand and going towards the table. | |
