Alex Rogan (alexrogan) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-03-13 21:41:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, alex rogan, audrey |
Who: Alex Rogan and Audrey
When: After this post
Where: Baxter Bakery
What: Trying the special
Rating: Low?
Status: Complete when posted!
Alex parked and ambled into the shop. He was carrying his usual pack and when he sat down, he smiled. He set his papers up and pulled out the circuits he was working on now. He had a few new ideas he wanted to work on, so he was definitely glad to have a place like this to go to. He had a plaid shirt, jeans, and bright green sneakers on. Just because.
He walked up to the counter once he was settled and pondered the menu.
Ooo, that new special looked good.
Audrey was behind the counter helping a customer. She saw the bright green shoes come in, but only smiled to herself at that. When the customer she’d been helping walked over to the computers to jump on the internet (as this was both a bakery/cafe and an Internet cafe) she turned her attention to Alex.
“Can I help you with something?” She asked, giving him a bright smile to match his shoes.
“Hello, Audrey. Yes! Chai Scones, please, three of them! And a very large cold coffee drink... thing..., please.” He never remembered the name of the mixed cold drink they had.
Audrey laughed. “Blended coffee milkshake thingy? I think we’ve got one of those.” She said, then moved to get his order. “Do you want the optional frosting?” She added. She had scones with and without. One of her baristas was already busy making his coffee.
“Yess! Thank you!” He was forgetful, it was true. Once, he had shown up to her place with no pants on. But he had been wearing boxer shorts at least!
“I do, please. Thanks.” He smiled at her. “Need the sugar to jog my brain.”
“Sure. Not a problem.” She grabbed the scones with, and plated them, then met her barista at the register where they could give him his things on the counter. Audrey punched some buttons on the register and gave him his total.
“Three scones and a coffee.” She said, grinning happily. The scones were delicious, and people were taking them well!
Alex smiled back and paid. “Always worth it. Your food is good and your place is relaxed.”
He nodded. ”I’ll be in the corner, if you have a moment and want to hang out.” He thought she was interesting and a nice break from his work.
“Thanks.” Audrey said, beaming. “I’m almost done with my shift. I’ll come visit before I head home.” She said, then turned to help her barista reload espresso beans into the silo on top of the machine.
Alex nodded and smiled as he settled to his table to start working on some circuits. Within a half-hour, he had constructed a small thing in the table. It hummed softly. “Ah, maybe that will work.” He pressed a button, and the table shunk. he sighed. “Nope.”
He reached down and flipped a switch and it grew back to normal size again. Hm. Maybe a different wavelength.
Audrey came around from behind the counter, pulling her purse over her shoulder. She left her apron behind, and was ready to go home and do some laundry... but she wanted to stop by Alex’s table and say hi before she left.
“Hey.” She’d missed the table switching size, though. Thank goodness.
“Hello!”Alex stood, and smiled, grateful she had missed it also, a little. He realized he had eaten only one scone and offered her one as he stood. “Scone?”
“That’s okay. I’ve had like, three of them today.” Audrey said, giving a grin, then slipped into the chair opposite his. “...how are you feeling today?”
“I am feeling good.” he nibbled some scone. mmming. “These are good.” He looked down at his invention and nodded. “So far, nothing has been harmed. It’s a good day.”
“That sounds like a good day.” Audrey said, giving him a bright grin. “What’s this?” She asked, motioning toward the invention.
“It was supposed to be a device to decrease the weight of something, or increase it. But instead it seems to decrease or increase the size of things.” He sighed.
Audrey blinked at him. “...how?” She didn’t even know where to start with her questions. How? Why? What made him want to...? More importantly, how on Earth?
“Manipulation of particle movement between atoms.” Alex smiled at her. “I’m hoping to win a contract with NASA and work this out for them.” he nodded.
“Wow.” Audrey looked really impressed. She was still sort of staring. “...you must be really smart. Like, super smart.” She definitely wasn’t that smart.
Alex shook his head. “Not as smart as I wish I was. None of my inventions ever quite work the way I want.” He sighed. “I’m kind of bad at this.”
“You’re like, a thousand times smarter than I am, anyway.” Audrey said, giving him a little grin. She lifted her drink and sipped from the straw. Great thing about working in a cafe was she had as much coffee as she wanted. Today it was iced, with vanilla and nonfat milk.
“Bah. Not really.” He poked her. “You’re smart in a different way.” He nodded. ”I could never make this place work.”
“Well, it’s a lot of work, sure. But it’s nowhere near... um... manipulation of particle something something.” She said, then laughed.
“Audrey... everyone has different skills and talents. What I do with science, you equal or excel in baking. You make food into an art style. I just... mess up science and make things I don’t intend to.” He chuckled deprecatingly. “I mess up a lot, and make thing that are silly. You? You make your own business, you make awesome food, and you are a nice person. That is genius in it’s own right.”
“You’re so sweet, Alex,” Audrey said, blushing and smiling bashfully. “I never thought about what I do as being... I dunno. Smart. Maybe creative, artistic... not necessarily smart. I just know who to ask for help. And what to pay them for it.”
“And that takes smarts and skills. Not everyone is so skilled.” He grinned and poked her slightly. “You’re a smart one, Ma’am. And there’s no getting out of it.”
Audrey gave a little laugh. “All right, all right. I believe you.” She sipped again from her coffee. “Well, I should get going. I’ve got so much laundry to do today... and a 3:30AM wake-up call means that I’ve got a very, very early bedtime.”
Alex rose, then and smiled. “Do you ever have people here to talk to you and listen as you work?”
“At 4am when I show up?” Audrey asked. Sometimes she got there even earlier. There were times when she was there at 2, depending on the amount of work that she had for the day. “Well, it all depends on what we’ve got going on. Sometimes I’ve got other bakers coming in, sometimes I’m here on my own.” She stood and moved toward the door, still talking to him.
Alex walked with her, his stuff in his bag.
“Maybe some day I can come and hang out, and work out here while you do in there. Just... for the heck of it.” he grinned. “I’ll bring breakfast.”
“You want to come and meet me here at 4am?” Audrey asked, sounding surprised. “...I mean... sure. If you really want to.” She gave him a warm smile, then held open the door for him and gave one last wave to the girls behind the counter.
Alex smiled, and stepped out. “Yes, if you don’t mind. I’ll keep you company, while you work.” He nodded.
“Sure.” Audrey said, giving him a smile. “If you really want to. I would hate to get you up so early.” She said, turning toward the parking lot. “But I can promise some entertainment. I put the radio on and dance while I work... and the girls who come and join me are cutie pies. They dance with me.”
Alex chuckled. “Sounds like fun. I’ll be here.” He turned toward his car, then. “See you soon, beautiful baker.”
“Okay.” Audrey said, giving him a blush and a smile. “I’ll see you in the morning then.” She turned toward her own car, thinking how strange that was. But she was flattered. And a little excited.
FIN.