InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "let me be your oxygen"

It was in no way unusual to find Carol in a coffee shop. She lived in them when she was working, although this time it was a lot less like work and far more research into the potential powers she was developing. Not that Carol could just call up someone and ask them to explain the physics behind energy absorption and the breakdown of that into energy expulsion.

These powers were going to give her the worst headache of her life.

Thankfully, there was a constant supply of coffee on hand, even in Carol found it difficult to sleep, or stop jittering, later. Leaving her laptop and stuff at her table -because it was an exceptionally safe place, not like Starbucks, Carol made her way back to the counter, this time eyeing up all the cakes and treats as she did.

Audrey had been super busy lately. Ignoring the onset of some sick-and-tired feelings, she was working longer, harder hours. As soon as the new location opened, things would calm down again, but until then she was dealing with afternoon meetings on top of opening the shop and dealing with bakers and customers all morning. It didn’t put her in a sour mood, though. Audrey loved being busy. The only thing that sort of bothered her was the fact that Ben was going with Merlin more and more often to work--Stark had incredible childcare--and she missed her son a bit.

But dealing with happy customers made it all the more worthwhile. Audrey broke into a bright smile as Carol came up to the counter. “Good morning!” She said, re-tying her apron around her waist. It felt too tight all of a sudden. And was it hot in here? “How are you?”

“I’m great, thanks.” And Carol really liked how friendly this place was. “Um, can I have another large caramel latte and…” And this was where Carol was stuck, because everything looked good. “And… Okay, I’ll take recommendations on something to go with it.”

Audrey loved running a friendly joint. It was easy, fun work, she thought, and she tried her best to hire people who were easy and fun to work with, too. Though she was feeling a bit under the weather, she tried not to make it get the better of her. The warm smile was a little less forced as the conversation went on. “Caramel latte it is!” Audrey said, and rung her up. “...I really like the classic coffee cake with the caramel latte. Or… if you want something chocolate or fruity… the raspberry croissants are delish today. And the brownies are to die for.”

Like Carol said no to coffee anything. “Coffee cake it is then.” Because why not, she got the sweet from the latte she should enjoy the coffee cake for the coffee flavour. “God, I don’t know how you people manage to not spend the day eating these.” She supposed it was like anything, right? You got sick of it after a while and only had it on the occasion you felt like it.

Partially why Carol would never work anywhere to serve coffee. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to live with an aversion to coffee.

“Oh, I do spend all day eating these.” Audrey lifted up her arms as if her size was proof. The woman was definitely jolly. She had the curves of a mother, but the extra weight of someone who loved eating food. “You know what they say about trusting a skinny chef, right?” A grin and a wink followed. She rung up the purchases on the cash register, and went through with the transaction, then set about putting together the latte and the cake. “It’s a good thing, too, because when I was pregnant the first time I had the whole bakery at my fingertips. Always had something delicious to eat when I was feeling so sick.”

There was that saying wasn’t there, and Carol could understand it, tasting everything you cooked, eating it was the pay off for the hassle of cooking. Of course Carol wasn’t just as inclined towards culinary skills. She could feed herself, but it was hardly elaborate.

“That would likely be the best thing for random cravings.” Having never been pregnant, Carol couldn’t really compare it, but she had worked with a few females over the course of her career who were in the office and craving some strange, or even just normal, things at all times of the day. “The important thing is not making yourself sick of something.”

“Exactly. I’m lucky that I never made myself sick with any of the things that I serve in the bakery--never let myself grow sick of them, either.” Audrey explained. And she didn’t plan to, either, with the next pregnancy. Whenever that happened.

“Here’s your caramel latte and the slice of coffee cake.” Audrey added, smiling warmly, as she slid the order across the counter. “It looks super good, too, I might have to have some myself.”

Carol just beamed as she gathered up her goods, “I adore everything here, it makes it so hard to choose what to have.” Because it was good and Carol wasn’t just blowing smoke. She really did prefer Baxters to anywhere else.

“Well, you can always come back another time and have some more!” Audrey said. “I’m trying to provide more whole wheat, low calorie choices, with fresh fruit and lowfat cheeses and the like.” She wanted to feed people good food, but she didn’t want to cause a rise in obesity and diabetes while she did so.

“That does sound interesting,” healthier options were probably a good thing all told, and it could help people maintain nice, tasty foods without worrying too much about their health. “I’ll be sure to check those out next time. Provided I’m not in a eat my feelings kind of mood.” Or just a ‘need chocolate/coffee/unhealthy things’ kind of mood at least.

“Oh, I know those moods all too well!” Audrey said with a little laugh. “I’ll do my best to provide plenty of healthy alternatives. Though, it’s a whole lot easier said than done when one works in a bakery. So many sweets to choose from! Carbs galore.”

It did sound like a really good idea, and possibly useful for a lot of people. “Well, I’ll be sure to check back on that.” Dropping some change into the tip jar, Carol just gave the woman a bright smile. “Thanks very much.” Before taking her purchases back to her table to settle in again with he coffee fix.