Log -- Prince Henry || Wei Ying ‣ WHO: Prince Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor || Wei Ying ‣ WHAT: Sometimes you just need coffee, lots of coffee ‣ WHEN: September 23rd, 2020 ‣ WHERE: The coffee shop where Wei Ying works ‣ RATING | WARNINGS: Low || None ‣ STATUS: Complete || Log
Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.
Henry & Wei Ying
Henry tried to limit the amount of caffeine he consumed in a day, in the vain hope that by doing so that he might actually get more than a few hours sleep, but then there were days when it was needed.
Today just so happened to be one of those days.
He had been up until the early hours of the morning, trying to draw his final chapter of his latest book to a conclusion worthy of the story that had been told over the seventy plus chapters and thousands upon thousands of words. Newsflash: it had not happened, the final bit was still taunting him in ways he never thought possible.
Idly Henry wondered if he looked as bad as he felt. He hoped that he didn't, he had made a conscious effort to piece himself together in a way that would maintain the facade of being cool, calm, and collected when honestly he felt anything but that. The line at his local coffee shop was blessedly short so it wouldn't take him very long to get his fix.
"Black coffee with as many sugars as you can conceivably put in it without putting me into a sugar induced coma, please."
"You sure you do not want a shot of cocaine instead?" Wei Ying asked with a little grin at the man on the other side of the counter. His accent was not strong, having lived in America for such a long time, but it was clear. "Are you looking for a sugar high or an energy boost?"
After all, these things were very different. Putting sugar in coffee was not something they did behind the counter anyway, but he thought that the tired blond might not have realized that.
Henry scoffed and lifted a brow, wry. "If only." He didn't think given his predilection towards certain difficulties as far as his mental health went that indulging in drugs was the smartest of choices. Tempting as they might be. "Energy boost, I think. I need to be able to get through the day without falling asleep."
"Tight deadline at work," he explained.
He gestured vaguely towards what passed for a brain between his ears. "My head is not cooperating."
"So you would want espresso instead of just adding sugar," Wei Ying said with a nod of his head, "and then you can add as much sugar as you want when you get it."
He looked at the other man and nodded, "I know that feeling: deadlines are horrible. Hold on, let me make you something up. It's something I tend to use when I have trouble sleeping, to give me a boost the next day."
Wei Ying tipped his head and pushed the card reader over for the man to tap his card on it. "And it is easy to make at home, if you have the right machine."
"Espresso it is," Henry concluded with a nod. "Strongest that you can make it, please." It never hurt to be polite.
Henry reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, his debit card being presented to the machine which chirped brightly to indicate that his payment had been taken. "I am more than happy to learn especially if it means I get a boost, so I can actually make this deadline."
It was not often that he was blocked creatively, but he was currently. Possibly because he had been locked up in his apartment doing nothing else but staring at his computer.
"Three or four shots?" Wei Ying asked, looking at the man over the counter with a grin and then, answering his own question before the customer could, "four. Four is a good place to start. It should do you for few hours."
He fixed up the drink quickly and walked down to the collection point, offering the guy a smile.
"Here, try it? Sugar is just there," he indicated with his head, handing the cardboard cup over. "This is quite bitter so you probably want to add some milk and sugar. But honestly, black coffee with espresso isn't hard to make. You look like the kind of person who has one of those fancy machines at home."
"Read my mind," Henry replied with a smirk as he followed the barista to the collection point. "The stronger the better. I think all I need is a couple of hours to blast through this block that seems to be plaguing me."
Being creative for a living was amazing, it truly was, but when you couldn't be creative? Literal hell.
He took the cup, reached for the milk and sugar, willing and open to listening to the suggestions from the guy who did this for a living. Then and only then did he take his first sip, and he blinked, rapidly. "Woah, that is strong." His lips eased into a grin. "Exactly what I needed."
Figuring it was rude not to introduce yourself to the man who had just provided you with the energy boost you were looking for he held his hand out. "I'm Henry."
"Nice to meet you, Henry," Wei Ying replied with a smile, leaning over the counter shaking Henry's hand when it was offered to him. "If you are struggling creatively, I would suggest that you consider going somewhere new and walking for a while. Sometimes a change of scenery helps too?"
After all, when he was not able to draw, he did something similar. After a second, he realized he had not introduced himself in return and gave a rueful, but unapologetic grin. "I am Wei Ying," he said, not for the first time wishing that he had a nickname of sorts. He should get on that. Maybe the name from his dreams?
"But that's a cultural mouthful. You can call me Wuxian."
"I wouldn't say that," Henry remarked with a shake of his head. "I don't think Wei Ying is that much of a mouthful. I have four names because my parents couldn't stop at just one."
The idea put forward by Wuxian was actually a good one. Might be worth a try. Honestly Henry was willing to try anything at this point to jumpstart his creativity.
"But Wuxian it is."
"That is a lot of names," Wei Ying agreed with a nod of his head. "But just Henry works well for you, I think."
He smiled brightly. "Let me know if you want me to write down how to make it at home. And hopefully a walk somewhere new would be helpful. I would avoid the beach: too many people."
"Thanks," Henry replied with a shy smile that was a touch bashful.
He reached into his pocket and dug out a small notebook and pen he carried with him in case inspiration struck. "I definitely want that written down." He offered both to Wuxian.
"I'm not overly fond of sand."
Taking the notepad, Wei Ying quickly wrote down the way to make the coffee at home - with both a coffee machine or a press - and then passed it back over.
"I do not like sand either," he admitted. "But there are some very nice trails you can walk along. Very-" he paused, trying to find the right word, "-picture nice."
Retreating back over the counter, he glanced back towards the register. "I should go back: I hope you get past your creative block. And that you come back soon."
Henry took the notepad and pen back as they were handed back, tucking them back into the pocket. "Thanks for the advice, Wuxian. I hope you have a good rest of the day."
He lifted his coffee in parting gesture. "I'll see you soon."
He gave one last smile and then headed out for the day.