“Those happen.”
Who: Go Go and Raven What: Coffee to Go Go When: Tonight Where: Raven's place of employment Status: complete Rating: PG
Go Go’s life style generally meant she needed fuel, and frequently. Especially after the end of a long day of classes. While she enjoyed her work, she’d skipped out on time instead of later like she usually did, just because she knew she needed a break.
That didn’t stop her from finding a place to grab some coffee once she got off the freeway. She sped into a parking spot, and stepped inside at a rapid pace.
Raven was just watching the clock. She really didn’t like the job, and while she probably didn’t have to keep the job now that she wasn’t trying to move out and avoid home, Raven still kept the job. Part of her was convinced she’d end up back at her dad’s, and just because it was better than nothing.
There was a lull in customers when she heard the car speed into parking and then the person walking into the shop.
“What can I get for you?”
“Iced caramel,” she said, sticking her hands in her pocket and giving Raven the slightest smile. She brushed some of the purple streaks in her hair out of her face and blew a bubble. “Large. Extra expresso.”
It wasn’t that late. Right?
It probably depended on a person’s definition of ‘late’. Raven saw plenty of people come in and want some form of caffeinated drink near closing. She didn’t judge. Actually yes, yes she did. But some people just took their caffeine way too seriously. So she just nodded and marked the cup, telling Go Go the cost.
And it also looked like she would be needing to make the drink, because someone in their infinite wisdom seemed to think that it would be a brilliant idea to leave Raven alone in the front. At least it wasn’t busy. There might be things exploding from annoyance if that were the case.
“Thanks,” she said, leaning her hip on the counter. She liked to watch. There was science to coffee making. Science in how the machine worked and in the movements required to make coffee a reality. Or maybe she was reading too much into it. Her bubblegum popped, loudly, in the quiet shop. She didn’t think she’d ever stopped in here before. “Long day. Going to be a longer night.”
Coffee paid for, the sixteen year old moved to the steamer and went to work on making the coffee. Which was a bit awkward as Go Go was just… watching. Well, okay then. Sure. Why not. Still awkward but it wasn’t like there was anyone else to worry about in that moment. The gum pop though did make Raven jolt some and a glass in the back break.
Oops? She’d clean that up later. Raven hadn’t even noticed she was as on edge as she apparently was.
“Those happen.”
Because Raven wasn’t that talkative and she didn’t see the point of small talk. But she also had to be polite or some nonsense.
Go Go tilted her head. “Someone breaking glass just happens?” Maybe - she peered at Raven’s nametag- Raven’s coworkers were a bit clumsy. She wondered if there was a way to remove the human equation from baristas.
The day they had a way to remove the human equation from baristas would either be a glorious day, or a horrible one because no more job. But at least she wouldn’t be dealing with this.
“Must have.”
Had she cringed at the breaking glass? Probably. Raven tended to get annoyed at herself when she broke things with her abilities because it meant she still didn’t have the control she desperately needed to have when it came to said abilities. But she also couldn’t just be all ‘no, that was me because I am a bundle of stress’, not that she actually would. Stranger and all.
“Everything okay?” The girl looked like she was on edge, and while Go Go didn’t usually pry, she was curious and had time to kill. And maybe there was that part of her that was actually decent human being.
And apparently her stress was noticeable. Even better! Raven was going to need to take time to mediate when this was all said and done, and as nice as Zatanna’s place was for that, part of Raven’s stress did still tie to the whole living there thing and waiting for the shoe to drop.
“Yeah. Just don’t want to deal with the clean up.”
Shrugging, Raven finished Go Go’s drink and handed it to her. After all, it wasn’t her fault that Raven was a bundle of nerves. But at least she could leave once her replacement showed up and would be off for the rest of the week.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks.” She took the drink and sipped it, nodding in approval. “Very good.” She dropped a couple bucks in the tip jar, mostly because the poor girl seemed stressed. As she turned to go, a group of about six people entered. She glanced back at Raven with a sympathetic look.
Well, at least she got a tip out of it. Smiling some in thanks, the smile quickly fell as she noted the group of six show up. Ugh. People. So much for her lull. Time to pretend to like people and then spit in their drinks if they were jerks about it.
So. Close.
They had some of the most complicated orders that Go Go had ever heard of and at least one that made absolutely no sense. The lady at the head of the pack seemed like one of those Homeowner Association Moms, the ones with too much power going to their heads and who took offense at even the most innocent thing. And god help you if you somehow got the order wrong.
Go Go suddenly wished she was old enough to buy Raven a drink.