Morningstar Manor

Jason had the night shift tonight and that was fine by him. He didn't sleep much anyway. But he still had about half an hour before he was technically on duty - though most would tell you he was never off duty - and so decided a coffee as in order. Large Mocha Latte in hand Jason found a table where he could watch the room and took a seat.

***

Jack had just come off a 24 hour straight shift and stumbled into the Mocha in search of food and drink. It might seem silly to be going for coffee when he was now free to head back to his little apartment and crash but he needed the routine of a coffee and a muffin to unwind from work. Then there would be a shower and bed.

Jack's uniform shirt was already unbuttoned half way down his chest to show the white singlet beneath but now he untucked it from his trousers and let it hang completely open. He gave Joy his usual wicked smile - even if it was a bit tired - and she flushed and fluttered and soon he had his coffee and chocolate chip muffin and was finding a table.

***

Deacon had slept like a rock in his own bed for far longer than he probably should have but that was fine by him. He'd needed it. When he did finally get up today he'd worked out hard in the gym, showered, gone grocery shopping for real, and now - getting ready to head into the station for a late shift and to get caught up on his paperwork - he headed into the Mocha dressed in jeans, black boots, black button up and his leather jacket, gun tucked inside in its shoulder holster. Getting in line for the counter he tucked his hands in his pockets and smiled. It was good to be home.

The weather as cooling off quickly and many of the Manor tenants were stopping in the Mocha in the evenings for coffee not only for the ritual of it but for the warmth as well. Tonight for instance it seemed rather busy.

JJ was flipping through a magazine Deacon had let him borrow.

Jack was looking through some proofs of his latest batch of head shots.

Gabe was preparing the spa's next supply order and had decided that doing it in the Mocha - with coffee - was far better than doing it in the spa itself.

Max - dressed for once in jeans and a form fitting t-shirt instead of a suit - sat in one of the over stuffed chairs with an iPad in his lap as he sipped his coffee. But he wasn't doing work. He was playing Angry Birds.

Loki had another overstuffed chair, his coffee, and another old and battered book. Not Poe this time. No this one was the works of de Sade. And it was autographed.

Kara had worked two long shifts and was - thank GOD - done for a solid twenty four hours. She could get coffee at the Lamb of course but she had been craving a Mocha Latte all day and now she waited in line to get one.

Fall had finally come and the evenings were beginning to get cool. Which meant even more people than usual decided that a coffee in the evening was a nice idea.

Jack had just come from a long shift at the Lamb and was in desperate need of a coffee. So he got in line and sent a text to Declan.

Must have coffee. Want one?

***

JJ was already sitting at a table, sipping his coffee and looking through a car magazine. He'd had a long day at work, then a nice long practice with the band where he'd had that interesting encounter with the new bookstore owner. Now he had no more plans for the night and coffee and a magazine in the Mocha seemed as good as any.

***

Kara was headed to the Lamb but was also trying to fight off the cold that seemed to be going around. She'd taken a nap thanks to some cold meds and now needed a strong coffee to perk herself back up so was standing in the line for the counter.

***

Ruprecht stepped from the men's restroom and put a sign in front of the door that said Out of Order. He looked over the crowd of people and sneered a bit.

The shop was taking shape and new stock was arriving daily. Ben had got into a routine for dealing with it - he could shelve while workmen were there, they didn't like him under foot, so he did it in the evenings, when it was quiet - when he had nothing better to do.

Tuesday evening he got his sack truck and stepped out of the back door of the bookstore to fetch another crate of books from the lock up but what he saw made him scowl and then made him hurry across to the lock up opposite and hammer on the half open door.

Gabe was in the spa cleaning up. It was nearly closing time and he was ready to head back to the apartment for some food and rest. He made a mental note to call Sarah too. He'd had to take a rain check on their night out due to an omgemergency hair issue with a very high end client.

***

JJ hadn't had a chance to hang out in the Mocha since he'd moved in and tonight - since after the band try out he didn't have anything else planned - he decided to give it a shot. He sat in one of the overstuffed chairs, sipping surprisingly good coffee and playing with his iPad.

***

Jason was technically off duty - and out of uniform - but he was still strolling the Manor grounds. Out in the gardens he paused to light up a cigarette and take a sip from the bottle of beer he held in his other hand. He looked up at the night sky, unable to really see any stars due to the city lights. But still - it was a nice night.

***

At the Lamb Kara wiped down the bar and smiled at the regulars. Tuesday nights were slow but that was okay. After a busy Labor Day she could use an easy night. She looked at the clock and then caught Jack's eye, giving him a nod.

Jack grinned at her and cleaned up the last table. His shift was over so once he put this in the kitchen he could go home.

Niles was sitting in the Mocha, sprawled across one of the couches staring with an entirely confused expression at the cook book that was open in his lap. He'd been kicking around the idea of surprising Elspeth with something nice and boyfriendy. Someone had suggested a romantic dinner. He didn't know how to cook much other than Cajun food, which he prepared for them all the time. So... Something different? And how the fuck did anyone find a keish appetizing?

Smith was on his way from the garage back into the Manor, tugging impatiently at his tie. Who the hell decided formal dress on a day as hot as this was a good idea? Suits made him feel suffocated on the best day, and that feeling was only quantified when it was hot enough to melt balls outside. Disguested, he tugged his jacket off too for good measure and caught sight of the awesome wet rings under his arm pits from sweat in the reflective doors of the elevater. "Brilliant," he muttered to himself.

Declan was out in the garden, though he was safe in the shade as smoke billowed from his mouth while he talked on his cell phone. The daughter of someone his mother had known had recently gone missing and apparently they suspected the same person that had left the governor's daughter spread all over the City in little bits. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he muttered a series of "uh huh" "yes, mother" and "I will," as he promised to keep a closer eye on Sterrin. As though that were possible.

Drew stood in line in the Mocha, still in his hospital scrubs as he rubbed warily at his forehead. He was glad these scrubs, the rather unbecoming shade of green that they were, were at least comfortable and lightweight. They made days like today, after he'd had an especially bad day, more tolerable. Yes, it only meant that he didn't have to fuck with a button and a zipper when he was ready to crawl in bed, but sometimes you just had to appreciate the little things in life.

Seamus was in the lobby, having just come from visiting Conn to discuss something about the Lamb. Bloody hell, this place was swanky. It was the sorta gig that made him feel like he had to take his shoes off at the fucking door or something equally ridiculous. Shaking his head, he paused at the door to the Mocha and contemplated running in and getting a muffin before he headed back to the Lamb. He'd have to eat quick, though. Otherwise Dermot would get his grubby little dick-skinners on it and he'd never see it again.

Callan was in the Gardens, checking his cell phone while Amelia pranced around and slowly went about doing her business. He'd never understand the mindset of dogs. He certainly didn't play hopscotch before going piss everytime he went into the bathroom, but maybe he was going about it wrong. He waved to Declan who waved back, but looked entirely flusterd on the phone. Wiping at the sweat on the back of his neck, he muttered to the dog to hurry up.

Jude was in the Mocha, sitting relaxed and casual and alone at one of the tables while looking at a test run of one of the new roller coasters they were designing for the park. It was based off of one of the last movies, something about a frog that could dance, but somehow they could never get the roller coaster's safety bars to stay down when it went through the first loop. The human sized dummy fell out every time. Smirking a bit to himself, he contemplated suggesting to put the ride on through as is. It'd be a nightmare in one aspect, but in another...

The Mocha was hoping as it usually was in the mornings.

Max sat at his usual table, dressed in black slacks and a crisp white shirt, and went through his appointments for the rest of the week. He'd been a busy man and it was nice to be able to sit for a bit and enjoy a coffee.

***

Jack had a horrible hangover. He'd celebrated Cinco de Mayo in a big way and was now paying the price for it. Huddled in a corner of the Mocha he sat with sunglasses over his eyes and drank from a large mug of the strongest coffee they had.

***

Jason was taking a small break for another cup of coffee and leaned against the wall in the Mocha where he could see everyone. The workers on the roof were keeping him busy. The had contractors they always used of course but this job required more than the normal men and outsiders always made Jason twitchy.

***

Loki was bored. Bored bored bored. Which was never good for anyone involved. He was draped over his usual armchair but instead of reading from his usual book he was simply staring into the fireplace, the flames reflecting in his eyes.

Declan had taken the day off. He'd been in business meetings all weekend attemtping to negotiate for the next issue of Smashing, and he was whipped. Plus, even though they lived together it seemed like their schedules were conflicting and he hadn't seen much of Jack all last week. He missed him. 

So today he ordered in an elaborate breakfast since he was shit at cooking himself, and carried it into the bedroom on a tray.

"Hey baby," he whispered in Jack's ear and then pressed a kiss just beneath it.

"The Slaughtered Lamb," Callan said as he walked in and smiled at the pretty redhead working the tables immediately.  "This sounds like a good place to get nice and fucking stupid."

"No place is a good place to get nice and fucking stupid. No fighting."

"Right," Callan said, but smiled the entire time. "Do they have something on tap besides Guiness? Holy shit," he said as he and Declan took a seat at the bar. "They do!"

All the boxes had been emptied, and the ball room was full of clothes and clothes and clothes, on racks and on chairs and in stacks and in bags.

There were a few makeshift curtains between the pillars, and Lewis was hopping between them like a goblin, bringing new suggestions for outfits, or parading his makeshift models in front of a big mirror.

He was being followed by a calm woman in her fifties who was wordlessly scribbling on a large pad, Andras who was snapping the 'winning' outfits with a compact camera, and a little girl of about five who just gaped at everything and tried to stay out of the way.

When Andras almost fell over her, he just turned, grabbed her, put them on his shoulders before she could even squeal, and just carried on working as if she wasn't there.

He'd finished up two quick jobs that were on his list then gone back to his apartment. For a moment he just looked around. It was small, usually cold, but it had been home for a while now. But not anymore and while he might miss it a little, Jack was looking forward to the change. He'd lived in shitty hotels and apartments his whole life. Time to move up.

Out of uniform and in jeans and a dark blue button down Jack headed down into the basement, looking far more calm than he felt, and to Ruprecht's office, knocking and poking his head in.

"Decided to show your face did you?"
( I Quit )

My answer is yes. Meeting w/boss now to give notice.

"There you are," Nick said, leaning on the edge of the balcony. He frowned at Jack who looked blue. "Are you sure those windows need cleaning? Couldn't you have found a job in the warm?"

"Dude I'm sorry I bailed on work yesterday. I'm sure Ruptecht is on the war path. I need to talk to you before he finds me though. It's really important."

Ruprecht had heard - somehow - and the moment Jack had returned to work had kept him busy. So busy he'd had little time to breath much less check on Declan. He'd sent a text message but gotten no response so figured Dec probably had his phone turned off. And with the number of messages Jack was getting at the front desk he had a good idea why.

Now he'd managed to sneak off for a break and wanted a coffee.

Joy - wanted an autograph. She put Stunning on the counter and smiled at Jack and Jack sighed inwardly and signed it then got his coffee and went to hide in a corner for a bit.

****

Zack was curled up by the fireplace - looking a bit shadowed around the eyes. He was looking through his files for his next project and sipping Karma tea. He'd been out of the smoking leaves of the tea for about a week and it was showing. In both his appearance and his pain level. So far he'd hidden it pretty well he thought.

****

Deacon was at a table drinking coffee and working on his laptop. Nia was with him, little feet kicking as she sat in her chair and colored in her coloring book. She had a nice chocolate chip muffin that was crumbled over a good portion of her picture and her top but she was singing softly to herself and apparently quite happy.

Deacon smiled and continued typing.

Nervous didn't begin to describe what Jack felt, though you'd have to know him really well to see it. It had taken a bit of convincing but he'd gotten the time off - both here and at the Lamb. He was free until Sunday morning and he was headed to New York for a big party.

The Stunning launch party. Declan's new magazine. The one with Jack on the cover.

Granted he didn't have to do anything but stand there and look good but still. Fuck.

Now he stood in the lobby, his bag on the floor next to him, and waiting for Declan and their ride.

They had about a week before the gig at the Lamb and, as luck would have it, Jack and Nick both had a bit of free time late this afternoon. So Deacon called an impromptu rehearsal - but in the ballroom instead of their usual rehearsal spot in the Square. Jack for one was technically on call so had to be close to hand.

As usual there was a good bit of joking and teasing as they set up their equipment but once they were ready they all got down to business.

Kate sat in the Mocha again by herself at a corner table, people watching with a confused look on her face. People were fascinating creatures sometimes, she pondered as she watched a gentleman walk by with what looked like fist-sized holes in his ears. "Why would he do that?"  she said out loud to no one in particular, not disgusted or anything like that. Just... Confused.

Declan was definately not in the Mocha or even anywhere close to the Mocha. He could kill his sister, he decided for about the millionth time since last Saturday as he puffed on a cigarette up by the pool. He hadn't had coffee in days aside from the swill he'd tried to brew up on his own and it was just - not working.

Olivia was down in the laundry room tediously folding a stack of her intimates and singing along with a surprisingly good voice to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs song that was playing through the one iPod earbud she had in.

Smith was down in the gym currently pounding the crap out of the punching bag with a knife wound he'd stitched up himself on his right bicep. He felt restless and uneasy and was snapping quicker and easier now, which had lead to the fight that had caused the wound. He hadn't seen Laura in forever, however he was keeping tabs on her to make sure she was staying safe. Had he seen her, the stitches might have been a little prettier.

Drew was a little drunk, he decided as he made his way into the lobby. He'd had a few Ketel One martinis and while they might look  like pussy drinks - whoa, was he trashed. Smiling at Frank, he tipped an imaginary hat and ripped down a bright yellow flyer that he'd seen other places in the City. "Motherfucker," he murmured to himself.