thread dump, cafe au edition

[connike]

everyone loves a cafe au

Comments

nerds, neeeeeerrrrrdsssss

[samehat]

[ It's a quiet Tuesday, which means like clockwork, around noon Laurent shows up with his much too large book-bag filled to the brim with textbooks and scholarly journals. His mother always took Tuesday afternoons off in order to have lunch with her colleagues, which meant Laurent had the free time to continue his scientific explorations with a nice, well-brewed cup of coffee.

He gives a warm smile to the barista behind the counter - a familiar face that he's always quite happy to see. (He never quite knew how to respond to Inigo... sorry kid.) ] Good afternoon, Gerome. Are you doing well?

you're gonna be seeing this icon a lot

[themaskstays]

[He'll never admit to it, but Gerome always makes sure he's out at the counter on Tuesdays, around noon, just for Laurent. He also makes sure he hasn't taken his lunch break by then by the off chance he'll work up the nerve to actually sit down and talk with Laurent.

Part of his hesitation comes from nerves, the other part is he worries he'll distract Laurent. The man always comes in with such a load of work to keep him busy - Gerome wouldn't dare keep him from it just for some small talk and bad attempts to flirt. Unfortunately, Gerome eyes the bookbag Laurent has with him; today is no different. But maybe he'll do it today. Maybe.

Regardless. Gerome offers Laurent a small smile in kind.] Mm. It's been a good day. [Not too many obnoxious orders. Only a handful of pretty people for Inigo to flirt with.] The usual for you?

love that soft soft gerome

[samehat]

[ Laurent chuckles, soft and light, and nods his head. ]

You know me quite well. [ No obnoxiously complicated orders here - he's a simple man with simple tastes. An Americano, a comfortable chair, and a pile of books are all he really needs. (Though that isn't to say he's opposed to shaking up his routine - a new drink, a tablet to replace the pounds of paper... some company to chat with about everything and nothing... ........)

He adjusts the book-bag to try and fish out his wallet. ] Admittedly, I'm not sure what I'd do if weren't here one Tuesday afternoon - I've grown accustomed to seeing you behind the counter whenever I arrive.

[themaskstays]

[A simple man with simple tastes who's still going to get the best Americano that Gerome can make. He's got fresh beans just for this.

Laurent's comments make his cheeks burn a little, though.] I'll have to train the others well. "When a handsome, bookish, young man comes in, make him -- this."

[Inigo absolutely fed him that line and he's dying.]

[samehat]

[ ... Ah. Well. Laurent wasn't expecting that. Color him surprised! (And his cheeks have some extra color, too!) ]

I- I suppose that would be an acceptable solution... [ Though not a favorable one. ] But I must admit, I may still favor your Americanos.

[ He rests a hand on his chin. ] Your coworker... Inigo, was it? It's quite peculiar - though you and him make the exact same beverages, and I presume had the same tutelage, there's a difference in taste between yours and his. I'm not expert on coffee, but I suppose yours are... smoother, and therefore more suited to my tastes.

[ elsewhere, inigo sneezes but feels the urge to yell GET HIM at gerome ]

[themaskstays]

[Gerome fumbles, very minutely, with the cup. DOKI?] Don't tell him that; I'll never hear the end of it.

[He presents Laurent with his drink and accepts payment. It's hot and hopefully smooth to Laurent's liking.] Let me know if you need anything else.

[Not that Laurent will have much time to because once it's clear, Gerome is slipping into the backroom to let Inigo know that he's going on break. He thinks they were flirting??? So he's gotta do it. He's gotta talk to the boy. He's doing it. He's doing it this time!!!!!!!!]

[samehat]

Rest assured - those words will remain our secret.

[ But yes! After insisting that no, this will be more than enough for now, thank you as always for making his coffee, Laurent makes his way to a table in a less busy part of the cafe. And as he's pulling out his books one by one, he pauses thoughtfully before arranging them closer to himself, making sure that there's a clear space for someone to sit at across from him and his towers of reading.

Not that he's necessarily invited anyone to coffee with him. Just. Y'know. If company decides to surprise him. ]

HE'S GAY

[inigay]

[ He's gay. He's gay. He's gay he's gay he's gay and in love with his best friend. Why did he have to fall for his best friend?! Sure, he's stupidly handsome and sweet and has a really nice smile that sometimes he only sees but why couldn't he get a crush on someone else?! Like one of their customers. They have attractive customers sometimes. Surely moaning and groaning over one of them would be better than this. Then he wouldn't have to bottle it up inside (unfortunately for him, Gerome's the guy he's always talked to about his fleeting crushes), or feel guilty for staring at Gerome whenever he's not looking, drinking in the muscles beneath his shirt, his firm ass, his strong jawline, his-

From the kitchen, where Inigo's supposed to be cleaning dishes, Gerome can hear a very, very loud groan. ]

[themaskstays]

[Inigo's gay and Gerome's an idiot. Because guess who's also in love with his best friend and, not only that, has definitely noticed said best friend staring at him. YOU GUESSED IT!!!!! But Gerome has plenty of reasons why Inigo wouldn't be staring at at him, though, trust him. And even if Inigo does stare at him sometimes, it surely doesn't mean anything and Gerome has plenty of explanations for that too.

Why would Inigo even care? It's not like he likes Gerome or anything? Gerome's not his type -- Inigo usually goes for either really beautiful people or people who could break him in half (like that one guy. the blonde with all the siblings). Not that Gerome doesn't think he's good looking or strong or anything but just -- no. Not like Inigo's usual prospects.

Gerome's also sure that if Inigo was in love with him, he would know by now. Inigo can't keep his mouth shut when he's in love. This instance would be no different.

So clearly, that groan has nothing to do with him. He has to approach Inigo with his usual attitude anyway, lest Inigo catch on to something.

Gerome heaves a sigh and peeks into the back room.] We still have customers on the floor, Inigo. Customers who can hear you.

[inigay]

[ There's no one else working this shift besides the two of them, but that doesn't stop Inigo from letting out a yelp in surprise. ]

Gerome-! [ be cool inigo be cool be cool be cOOL

He laughs a little, nervously, and rubs the back of his neck with a soapy hand. Ignore how red his face is, please. ] Haha... sorry, sorry. Lost myself for a moment there. [ He gives Gerome what he hopes is a reassuring smile. ] But I'm alright - sorry if I worried you. Do you need me back up front?

[themaskstays]

[Yeah. He's not buying it. Gerome will never make it easy for Inigo to outright lie about his feelings - not anymore - he cares about him far too much for that.

He stares hard at him.] Are you sure you're okay?

[inigay]

[ sweats ]

I'm sure! Positive, even! [ ... he's really not giving a convincing performance this time. But before Gerome can question him more, he sets the rest of the dishes in a rack to dry and slips right by him, giving him a pat on the back as he passes. ] Come on, now - we can't keep the customers waiting any longer!

[ AVOIDING CONVERSATIONS? NO, NO WAY. ]

[themaskstays]

[Oh boy...Gerome's not sure if this means Inigo's issue is exceptionally silly or exceptionally serious. Whatever it is, he wont pry anymore.

He will, however, be keeping an eye on Inigo through the rest of their shift and he wont be subtle about it.]

HE'S FRIEND GAY

[inigay]

[ During a lull in their shift, Inigo rests a friendly hand on Gerome's shoulder. ] Hey Gerome, are you busy on Sunday?

[ This is Inigo. This request could mean so many things. ]

oh no

[themaskstays]

[ OH NO............. This request really could mean anything, so forgive him for being....... cautious.]

That depends.

[inigay]

[ Inigo gives Gerome a cheeky grin, which really isn't helpful in regards to making Gerome less cautious. ]

Oh come on now, I'm not asking for any bad reason. [ A beat. ] There's no alcohol involved this time, promise.

[themaskstays]

[Squints.] There doesn't need to be alcohol.

[It'll be terrible regardless.]

[inigay]

You wound me! [ He even looks hurt for a moment, for dramatic effect.

But then the smile is back on his face (though it's less cheeky, more sheepish) as he pulls out a folded up piece of paper from his back pocket. ] But seriously. If you're busy, that's okay, but there's this thing coming up and maybe you could come...?

[ He offers the paper to Gerome - it's a flyer advertising a small recital at the dance studio Inigo's a very active member of. For friends and family only. ]

[themaskstays]

[Oh. Geez. This is an entirely different story. If there's anything of Inigo's that Gerome actually supports its's his dancing. There's no way he'd miss this.]

You could have just asked me like a normal person. I'll go.

[outserve]

[Niles has been dating Inigo for a while now. He’s been dating Inigo for enough time, at least, to feel almost terrifyingly comfortable with him. To the point where he’s spilled his guts, fired up in his own despair, revealing all his insecurities about being a parent and being in a relationship. He trusts Inigo with Nina and she adores him. And the fact that Inigo has put up with that all, and continues to loves Niles and Nina endlessly despite the walls Niles still puts up and his shitty personality, means so much to Niles. He loves Inigo, too.

He’s still not sure how to show Inigo just how much he loves him, but he thinks he has a start. There’s a long weekend coming up and he’s already promised Nina that they would go somewhere but neither he nor her had specified where.She would love if Inigo came, too. It can be, like, a family thing... (h,,)

With the heat in their city starting to get intense, it only makes sense that they would go to the beach then. And after hours of searching during downtime at work, Niles has found the perfect location. Not too far away from them, maybe a couple hours, there’s a modest bed and breakfast located right on the water. It’s small, but has two bedrooms and wifi so he’s not sure what more they can ask for.

Now, with the weekend already booked because he’s going with Nina regardless, all he has to do is bring it up to Inigo. It’s become routine now for him to drop by Inigo’s café before picking Nina up from school so that’s where he goes with the intention of asking.

Thankfully the café is empty this time, no line, so Niles can really ham it up. Inigo is at the register as usual, so Niles slides in and puts on his schmooziest moves. He leans over the counter, chin in his hand, and smarmy quirk to his lips. ]

Hey – Imagine – [He’s going to start before Inigo can greet him.] Imagine – you’re on a beach, sun setting over the ocean. You’ve got sand in every crevice of your trunks and are only mildly enjoying a homemade pina colada -

[chaines]

[ Inigo has been in love before - fallen fast and hard for many people with beautiful smiles and attractive bodies. But as passionate of a person he is, he's never felt as much as he does toward Niles and Nina. He loves them more than words could ever express, and the fact that they return those feelings means the world to him.

And though they've been together for a while, he still can't help but grin whenever Niles pulls something like this on him. ] Okay, I'm imagining it. [ The thought does sound nice, admittedly - maybe not the sand bit, but everything else about that would be better than returning to the too hot apartment he shares with his best friend and his rather large lizard. (No offense, Gerome, but he's melting in a bad way.)

For now, though, he pulls out a paper cup and starts jotting down Niles's usual drink order, putting more than one heart next to his name. ] Am I by myself on this lovely beach, or do I have some company with me?

[outserve]

Of course. Who do you think made you that mediocre pina colada. [Niles doesn’t know how to make a pina colada.] Also it’s a virgin because Nina is with us.

[He sinks down further on the counter.] Three days of soaking up sun and salt water with me and the kid. It’s a little last minute, but… How does that sound?

[chaines]

[ His pen falters mid-heart, and for a moment he just stares at Niles. This... isn't what Inigo expected. At all. But his heart begins to pound heavily in his chest and his cheeks turn pink and before he can think twice he blurts ] --Yes!

[ Which comes out much louder than he intends - the blush only grows, and he reels himself in a little (though that love-struck smile of his is still very much on his face). ] That all sounds so wonderful, I- I would love to go with you and Nina. [ hhhhhhHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ] When would we leave?

[outserve]

[Niles can't help but smile. He doesn't deserve this over-eager, precious little nerd. His own cheeks burn a little with how fond he feels for Inigo.] This Friday. It's a teacher work day at Nina's school.

We'd leave early so we can really take advantage of all three days. So you could sleep over our place Thursday, but no late night activities allowed. [Wink.]

[chaines]

[ He is absolutely, without a doubt, going to gayly scream to Gerome about this later. But all Inigo can manage at the moment is a fond chuckle as he leans over the counter to kiss one of Niles's now very warm cheeks. ]

Then I'll see you Thursday, Niles. [ As much as he wants to just go home with him right now, because his heart is feeling that full of love and affection, he's still got work to do. And packing when he gets home. And some swimsuit shopping, potentially...

When he hands Niles his drink (but not before drawing a cute smiley sun and a palm tree next to all those hearts on the cup), he rests his hand over his briefly and says, with all the warmth in his voice: ] I love you. [ And then he'll let him be on his way. ]