We have this strange obsession / You have the means in your possession

[gotbottle]

Who: Rachel Conway and THE ENTIRE CITY, I guess. If you want.
What: Hanging out at the tea house for tea, conversation, and CR.
Where: The Shrove's Wing.
When: Shundi, from midday until well into the evening.
Notes: Note the time of day if it makes a difference to your thread.
Warnings:

Potential for people Rachel knows to get mashed together like Barbies IT'S FUN SHE ENJOYS IT OKAY.

Working the middle shift is a mixed bag. On the one hand, Rachel's day is pretty much shot for anything else; not long enough before her shift for much in the way of adventures, and while her later evening is free it's not like she has a circle of friends or dates or anyone to go out on the town with after.

But the trade-off in being there for this shift is seeing the customer base turn over, from the people doing lunch to the leisurely afternoon lollygaggers, from those arriving for midafternoon tea to the evening dates. A wide range of people, alone or with company, comes and goes over the course of her shift, and she's happy to wait on or hang out with them all.

She can be found manning the tea bar, or sometimes carrying pots, cups, and food to and from tables. Sometimes she even gets to crash at a table or in a booth for a few, or she gets to go upstairs to wait on someone in one of the private rooms. It's a busy day and there are a lot of people to see.

Comments

[bangyoudead.livejournal.com]

After some bug adventures, Remy's taken to exploring the city - it's big, and it's diverse, and as much as he doesn't like being abducted and trapped, he appreciates the depth and dirt this place has. It'll take him a good while to know Baedal like he does so many other cities at home, and small comforts are important ones when you're in prison.

As such, he's here at a teahouse, not because he's a big tea drinker but because it's attached to an urban legend, and what's more fun than that? (Okay, a lot of things, but work with him here.) It takes a special kind of guy to still look rakish while wearing a an off-white leather biker jacket that seems to be vaguely alligator-print-like (..it's starting to get beat to shit, what was he doing earlier), but Remy is completely That Guy, now looking over the tea menu.

[gotbottle]

Rachel finishes with one customer, checks on another, and then sidles over to where the newcomer in the white jacket sits. "Hi," she says, offering a bright smile. She sets a napkin down just to one side, noting that he's still looking over the menu.

"Do you need a minute? I can come back. I can also answer any questions you have about the menu."

She's so cheerful, waiting there without making it obvious she's waiting. You'd never guess she never held down a service job before this.

[bangyoudead.livejournal.com]

Pretty girl, neat place, smells that aren't terrible - could be worse. Remy smiles, charming but not flirtatious (even he knows it's a dick move to pull that on someone while she's working), and leans on one elbow, facing her.

"I dunno if I right know enough to be askin' questions," he admits, though he doesn't exactly sound abashed by his ignorance. "Never did drink much tea, but when in Rome, no? You got any favorites?"

[gotbottle]

Rachel's been on the receiving end of more than enough of said dick moves, because so many dudes think they're the first one that ever had the idea to hit on their server. She's grateful he stops at charming without blasting straight past that toward flirting.

"I have a few," she offers, smiling. Her gaze holds his a moment, taking in those eyes--but that's as far as it goes, noting they're different without making anything further of it. "A lot depends on what you're in the mood for. Something sweet? Fruity? Spicy? Kinda traditional?"

[bangyoudead.livejournal.com]

Remy has, in fact, been the perpetrator of many-a-dick move, but fortunately he's grown up since then, and also been knocked around something fierce a good number of times. (Some guys just turn into worse assholes, some guys evolve. Remy is good at evolution, in many ways.)

"Let's go for tradition," he says, and seems to be genuinely interested, in a carefully curious sort of way, like he's not sure what he's supposed to be curious about, really. Tea. What the heck. "What counts as tradition 'round here anyway?"

[gotbottle]

"It's a bit of what's traditional from all over," she explains, "may I?" Rachel tugs gently at the menu he's holding, so she can lower it enough to point at things while she's speaking.

"So there's a couple of from-this-city traditional blends. This one's sort of like apples and mint. And that one, it's herbal. Pretty strongly herbal. This one here is kind of like sweet tea with lemon, only hot. There's your Earl Grey and Oolong. This one here is kind of a green tea, with ginger. And then this--well. I can totally recommend that to anyone who enjoys the fragrant bouquet you find when you stick your head in a cat's litter pan."

Her smile doesn't falter once, especially not with that last explanation, though it may have gained a slightly mischievous cast.

"I'm Rachel. I'll be happy to make you a pot of whichever you choose."

[bangyoudead.livejournal.com]

"Hiiii Rachel," he says, laughing into that through the end of her explanation. "I'm Remy. Enchanté, of course." Trolling a little, but it's obvious.

"I think the hot sweet tea one sounds okay. Pass on the cat litter."

[gotbottle]

"Oh, good. I didn't want to have to go out to the alley for a cat anyway." She's laughing now too, all attempts at pretending she was not just being a troll herself abandoned. "Hi, Remy. It's nice to meet you, too. Excuse me for just a minute, okay? I'll get everything together."

She moves down the counter, checking on one patron, picking up a tip left at another seat, and then she starts gathering things. She makes a few quick trips back to where Remy waits, setting down a pot and removing its lid, then bringing over a large glass jar of tea leaves.

"So," she says, glancing up from replacing the lid on the jar and plucking a sand timer from below the counter, "are you new to the city, or have you been here a while?"

[bangyoudead.livejournal.com]

This almost feels normal, just sitting around at some out of the ordinary place, chatting with a waitress and people-watching. Or rather, it's what he thinks normal might feel like; this sort of thing rarely happens at home without the inevitable thrown punch or horrified look. No matter how many people think he's cute, someone always has a sister or a boyfriend who looks at him and recoils.

It's sort of annoying to find a respite in other dimensions.

"New by a few days," he says, watching Rachel work. It's interesting - certainly different than bussing tables, anyway. "You seem pretty at home."

[patricide]

The city is large and there's plenty of it Lex hasn't yet explored. He's curious by nature and wants to learn all he can but between work and the ongoing renovation project there hasn't been too much time for sightseeing.

He enters the tea shop and is a little surprised to recognize the woman working behind the counter. "It's always nice to see a familiar face. Good afternoon, Rachel."

[gotbottle]

"Lex!" Her face lights up at the sight of him, and she clears a spot for him to sit at the counter. "It's good to see you, too. How've you been? How's your house coming along?"

[patricide]

Well that was certainly more enthusiasm than he was expecting. Lex returns her smile and accepts the offered seat. "It's great, actually. I was thinking about hosting a party when everything's done as a kind of celebration. I'm not sure how crazy people go around here for that kind of thing."

[gotbottle]

"Oh, I'm glad. Having your house wrecked can't be a good feeling--that's where you're supposed to have a refuge from everything else."

She smiles and adds, "I think a party's an excellent idea. I have a feeling it'd totally go over well, too, considering all the stuff the city's been through lately."

[patricide]

"The house itself is taken care of. It's mostly just aesthetics that I need to worry about, and that's infinitely more fun than worrying about something crumbling underneath you."

He does a quick survey of the tea room before returning his attention to her. "You seem like you're doing well for yourself. This is a nice place."

[gotbottle]

"Oh, totally. And it's gotta be, like, a huge weight off your mind to be at the part where you just have to worry about what the place looks like, as opposed to worrying something's gonna fall on your head."

She glances around too, with a good-natured shrug. "It's all right. I could've done a lot worse for work, I guess. The owner seems nice enough--don't really see him around much, though. And, hey--income. It's nice not living at the inn anymore."

[patricide]

"I can't blame you for not wanting to stay at the inn. It's nice having your own place, even without the added hassle of having to look at pamphlets provided by our dear Mrs. Burnworth."

He then takes a quick glance behind the counter at the various brews. "I do intend to be a paying customer rather than just take up space," he says lightly. "I'd like a cup of oolong if it's not too much trouble."

[gotbottle]

"It just didn't feel safe to me." She shrugs. "I know they want to help and it's nice that they give people a place to stay while they get settled, but with so many random people coming all the time, you just never know who's going to come through. And then I heard that right after I left the militia was in there, hassling people. No, thanks."

She smiles, and nods. "It'll be my pleasure. Excuse me just a moment." Rachel moves further down the counter, gathering the things she'll need to brew the tea. "Remind me," she calls over her shoulder, "have you found work yet?"

Shall we try this again?/Early evening

[toooldforlosing]

Raylan isn't a tea man, generally, but he sees Rachel through one of the windows, and decides to check in on her. With the ants out and about, it's not like the city is precisely unsafe - no more than usual - but he could stand to check in.

Some people don't need excuses to say hello.

\o/

[gotbottle]

She's clearing a newly-vacated space at the counter when the front door opens--she notices it at the edge of her vision, she's trained herself to notice by now. "Good evening," she calls out before she looks up, professionally friendly smile on her lips.

But then she sees who it is, and her smile blooms, warm, sincere. "Raylan! Hi!" She makes swift work of the rest of her cleanup and she pats the countertop. "Come sit here so I can talk to you. It's good to see you."

[toooldforlosing]

Obediently, he comes to sit, removing his hat as he comes inside. "Hey. How's it been going?" One thing you can say for Raylan, he does have a set of manners.

[gotbottle]

That he does--she's noticed. And she appreciates it a lot.

"I'm good," she says, smiling at him as he settles in. She spreads her hands in a vague gesture indicating this place. "I'm working. Not my usual profession but the pay's decent, which means I was able to move out of the Inn a little while ago." She's pleased about that.

"What about you? How've you been?"

[toooldforlosing]

"Can't say I'm so settled in as all that." Or at all. "But I been healthy, at least. Better than I expected to be." Not that he wants to look a gift horse in the mouth, but the supernatural parts of the city have been bothering him.

And Tim's gone.

"But this is nice," he adds. "Cozy."

[gotbottle]

"Yeah, it is," she agrees, it's nice," but it's sort of a half-hearted assent because she's a bit more focused on what he said at the start. She rests her forearms at her edge of the counter, leaning in a little.

"I'm glad your health's been good. That's really good news. And as far as getting settled in... can I do anything to help?"

[toooldforlosing]

"I don't know. Don't know I'm so fond of the idea of being settled in, to be quite honest." He considers her a moment. "You had any luck, hearing about ways people get out?"

[gotbottle]

Rachel's quiet a moment, watching him. She shakes her head. "I've settled in. I don't like that I have to. And as far as getting out..." She sighs. "I'm sorry, Raylan. I haven't heard of anything yet."

And then, a bit more upbeat: "But I'm not gonna give up. I'll keep asking. Somebody out there's gotta know something, right? It's just a matter of finding them."