Characterization Corporation

Yvette grabbed a towel and set to wiping down the counter as she waited for her newest customers to arrive. Surely someone would want coffee eventually--or tea. And besides, the pastry display was full of delightful scones, brownies, bagels and muffins.

As she worked, she hummed softly, occasionally breaking out into song when she got to a good part. At any rate, the coffee shop was sparkling clean, and the large windows brought in ample sunshine and warmth from outside, regardless of the temperature. Booths lined the three walls, while the fourth was tucked behind the counter, the latter turning into a bar with stools at the far end for those who wanted to chill closer to the pastries. A few tables and chairs were arranged for smaller groups if they didn't want to brave the sun from the windows.

And then finally the bell on the door rang. She looked up with a smile. "Hi, welcome to The Half Calf."


(ooc: I figure we can use this as a sort of "all-ages-appropriate bar" for characters to drop in and get to know each other?)

Chase walked in looking down at his jacket pockets rummaging through them, hearing the persons voice he looked up and opened his mouth to talk "oh hey, i'll only be here a moment I need to borrow your wifi for just a few seconds" he said sitting next to the door and messing around on his phone

Yvette smiled and nodded. "Of course, go right ahead." She watched him as furtively as one could considering they were the only two people in the coffee shop at the moment. She wondered what he was looking for, that he only needed to swing by for a moment; then wondered if he was an espresso or a cappuccino kind of person. "Would you like to try a sample of anything while you wait?"

Chase ran a hand down his chin an looked back up "uh... sure could I sample a cappuccino?" he said looking back down to his phone swiping the screen switching pages to get to what he was looking for

"Sure." Yvette brightened and found a small cup to begin mixing up the beverage. Her hands tingled a little as she started it up, but she didn't pay any attention to it. Tried not to anyway. It didn't take too long to mix it up and she finished shortly, coming around the bar to approach him directly.

"Can I ask what you're looking up?" She offered the cup to him.

Chase shook his head "just some family matters, my baby girls got something coming up and i'm trying to help plan for it" he said grabbing the cappuccino and looking up to the lady and smiling "thank you" then went to take a drink and scrunched up from burning his tongue setting his cup down on the table

Well, that sounded interesting. Yvette smiled and nodded, feeling a sudden flash of warmth spread through her when he took the cup from her. She started abruptly, and then hastily drew back a step, rubbing her hands together. That was odd.

"You're...welcome." She retreated behind the counter and picked up the towel again, still glancing periodically at Chase. It had felt like a good fortune at least. Maybe, maybe something good would come of it. "For what it's worth," she said when she just couldn't get past the idea of the good vibes running through her, "I think it'll work out for the best."

Chase nodded "yeah, I hope everything goes as it should, she's only a year old so" he commented swiping off to a different page, then an idea popped into his head and he tapped onto a new page on his phone "hm... I wonder if any of these are available, probably not but worth a try"

Yvette had no idea what he was looking at, but her curiosity was piqued. "You never know," she said, wondering if she was about to see one of her fortunes come true. She knew they did, but she was rarely around to see it in person.

Chase took another sip of his cappuccino and gave a slight reaction to how hot it still was so he put it down again leaving it to cool off, he put his phone away and started out the door but turned quickly towards the lady behind the register "thank you for the cap, I owe you one" he said checking his pockets making sure he wasn't missing anything standing in front of the door

"Feel free to come back anytime," Yvette called to him, as he turned to leave. She smiled and turned back to her counter, humming softly again. She loved when things went smoothly during her shift.

Eventually she had to leave the safety of her counter to collect the cup and wash it out, but it was just a normal cup again--and her hands didn't tingle this time. One day, she thought wistfully, she would learn to control it. Then she could give everyone good fortunes like today.

Lister walked in holding the door open for Tiand, he smiled down when he was asked to pick a seat. He scanned the room and found a table over in a right corner. "Over here looks like a nice spot, not too crowded." He said with that cheerful smile he normally wore. He walked besides Tiand over too the table, despite peoples stares.

The wee man drew a deep, calming breath as he maneuvered his wheelchair through the doorway and over to the chosen table, reaching down to shift the levers for the wheel locks into place. After a moment of fiddling with the ivory skirt he wore to keep the outline of his legs - or lack thereof - from being obvious he placed his satchel on the table and habitually tugged up the high collar of his ivory turtleneck sweater-jacket. "Okay...s-so. I propose we take turns asking each other three questions each, Mr. Baker."

Lister took his seat next to the cute blond man and spoke in a soft voice not wanting others to hear their conversation. "Well, why do you like plants? Ir's not much of a conversational starter but I'm curious, you know with all those books and such." He said folding his hands into one anothers and rested against the table.

"Life," he began simply, dainty fingers toying with the clasp of his satchel. It was a simple thing of hand stitched canvas cloth and a cheap crafts-shop aluminum clasp, but it did its job well enough. "Plants are the foundation of all life everywhere, regardless of whether or not something is an herbivore, omnivore or carnivore. And in so many different ways!" Why, he nearly glowed as he gushed about his absolutely favorite topic, silvered-gold eyes glittering excitedly, becoming gradually more animated as his enthusiasm began to overthrow his shyness. "Food, air, medicines, craftsmanships, camouflage-oh! And that just opens up so many entirely new paths, the way certain animals need certain plants, how they've evolved right down to the color of their skin and fur-" He cut himself off abruptly once he realized how loud he'd gotten, those delicate hands stilling in the middle of a grand sweep and then tucking into his lap. Tiand ducked his head down between raised shoulders as a rosy blush painted pale cheeks, the lower half of his face disappearing behind the high collar and slightly muffling bashfully mumbled words. But he was able to keep his eyes on Listers this time, at least! "N-Next question..."

Lister sat there studying the way the man got so excited and cheerful talking about something he obviously loved. It tugged at his heart strings seeing how his face light up. He couldn't help but think of a doll with those rosy cheeks making his porcine skin look even more flawless. When Tiand looked down he chuckled. "Well, you do make valid points and I'm going to have too agree with you Tiand. If it wasn't for plants, or the living earth in general, we wouldn't be here." He smiled a warm smile hoping that it would once again ease the man up and relax him. "Hmm, next question.." He stroked his chin feeling his five o'clock shadow coming in. He was sure he looked like a slob compared too this perfect man sitting next to him. "If you could do anything, what would it be?"

The quirky scientists smile was absolutely infectious and Tiand did indeed relax quickly, unable to help himself. It was just so easy for the trusting little man to be himself around the brunette, and he actually seemed honestly interested in the answers he recieved. "I...I'm going to have to pass on that one." One side of his lips quirked up unsteadily in a half hearted, sincerely apologetic smile, his eyes pleading with him not to pursue the topic. "I don't think I'm ready to look at decisions like that." Oh yeah, 'protect myself' was right up there, but he definitely didn't want to rain a pity party down on such a lovely date. "But...I''ll tell you what." He hesitated, pearly teeth worrying at his lower lip for a moment in deep consideration. "To be fair, since...y-y'know, you only got two out of three this turn... I'll honestly answer your next question, no backing out."

He looked a little disappointed, but he understood. He honestly wanted to ask what horrible thing happened to him, but decided that wasn't the most appropriate conversation for a first date. So he leaned back in his chair for a moment to think. "I'm honestly not good at the questioning game.." He ran his fingers through his untamed curly hair biting his lip trying to think. "Well.. How about what you want, coffee wise." He chuckled not being able to think of anything else on the spot.

A relieved, grateful smile graced his lips as he fiddled with his sleeves, absently tugging them down until they covered half of his hands. Then he cast a sly, slightly mischievous glance sidelong at the scientist, covering his mouth to hide the growing grin. When he spoke his voice carried a gently teasing tone, eyes tracking Listers fingers as they ran through unkempt brown strands. "Are you certain you're a scientist? Isn't it your job to ask questions?" Ah, such mirth he displayed now! "Mmn...a white chocolate and cinnamon frappe, black silk roast. My turn! What sort of scientisty things do you do?"

Yvette had been in the back of the coffee ship, cleaning up some things, and when she returned to the front was surprised to find some more people had entered. She smiled a little, watching them for a moment before approaching them. They looked like good friends, maybe more than that.