(no subject)

[coffeeking]

Who: Ianto and YOU
What: Coffee. Americano. Espresso. Cafe Latte. Need I go on?
Where: Queequeg's
When: during a slow hour
Notes:
Warnings: Once your character tastes Ianto's coffee, they will be ruined for all other coffee forever.

Ianto let out a breath. The morning rush was finally over, the manager was beaming, and the supply of ground coffee had dwindled as the mess behind the counter had grown. Day after day, the lines out the door had been getting progressively longer as word of Ianto's coffee spread, and Ianto was now fairly certain people were going well out of their way for it. He'd spotted some customers he was sure weren't even residents of Mog Hill. If he ever wanted to take over Baedal, he figured he could successfully pull a Starbucks.

While it was flattering almost to the point of embarrassment, it was also irritating since it dirtied up his kitchen (yes, his kitchen), and dealing with demanding customers wasn't his favorite way to spend a morning. Thankfully, his co-workers were taking out the trash and cleaning the counters, leaving Ianto free to grind more of his special blends in preparation for the next rush.

Comments

[nojudge.livejournal.com]

Queequeg's is not a usual haunt for Balthier - or indeed, a place he would even normally bother with - but he's in the area and there's enough fuss from the locals that, well, why not. He's not entirely opposed to 'coffee', even if all the samples he's had of it don't match up comfortably enough with the caf drinks of home. Woe the inescapable Earth standard.

And so here he is, wearing worn-in and embossed leather riding pants and a blood-red shirt open at the neck; he'd look ridiculous if it didn't all look so natural on him. (With the diversity in Baedal, he's more likely to give someone in jeans and a t-shirt and odd look than they are him, really.) When Ianto turns around, he'll find a sky pirate half-lounging against the register counter, looking over the menu with an expression somewhere in between skepticism and curiosity.

[coffeeking]

Ianto turns to place a newly ground bag of beans in the display and catches sight of his latest customer. He's hardly dressed more extraordinarily than most other people who walk into Queequeg's, but he does look rather more out of place. It's possibly due to his expression, which suggests that coffee isn't his usual morning beverage.

"Hello, may I help you?" He smiles in a way that was formerly reserved for tourists back home, and is now directed toward patrons of this quaint establishment.

[deservesadaisy]

Ivan's still been investigating the city, and that includes places that cater largely to mortal, human types. He can still taste, after all, and he's heard rumors of coffee worth going out of the way for.

Coffee was an accessory for the cigarettes, largely, but that didn't mean he couldn't appreciate it.

(Lord only knows where in Baedal he managed to get a pair of sunglasses, though, for daytime outings.)

He comes in, and approaches the counter. "Do you have some esoteric system of sizes, or can one simply order a 'medium' here?"

[coffeeking]

"This isn't Starbucks," Ianto replies smoothly, with an amused turn of the lips. "If anyone orders a venti, we reserve the right to refuse them service."

Gladly, most people in Baedal have no idea what Starbucks is, but Ianto still maintains they ought to have a sign. "A medium what?"

[deservesadaisy]

"Thank Christ," he says, mildly, "their coffee is wretched. A medium Americano. Black."

[coffeeking]

Ianto smirks the smirk of the vindicated -- he'll tell anyone who'll listen that Starbucks burns their beans -- and nods. "One medium Americano, coming up."

He turns to his work while the girl manning the cash register politely declares how much Ivan owes for the drink. In very little time, Ianto is finished and gently sliding the coffee over the counter. "Here we are."

It should be, hands down, the most perfect Americano Ivan has ever tasted.

[deservesadaisy]

Ivan takes a drink and the, uncharacteristically, looks impressed.

"That is the best coffee I have had in a long while," he says, after a pause. Where 'a while' is measured in centuries. "Where did you learn to make that?"

[coffeeking]

Ianto ducks his head modestly, but the little smirk on his face suggests that he knows very well his coffee is amazing and he's damn proud of it.

"My own special blend. Coffee and I have always had a good relationship. And I take care not to burn the beans, unlike some establishments I could name." See? Anyone who'll listen.

[deservesadaisy]

"The rare craftsman," he says, wry. "What's your name?"

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

After getting in line to place his order, Sebastian sends Velcro off to find them a place to sit. Sure, it may seem a little unusual giving a dog such a complicated order, but Velcro seems to manage it just fine.

Ianto might recognize Sebastian from their very brief meeting in the temple. Although, he's dressed down today in clean, but well-worn clothes, a knapsack with the outline of a book visible against the fabric, and a dark tan from working outside at Hellsing for a few weeks.

[coffeeking]

"Hullo," Ianto greets him, more casually than he would most customers. He does remember Sebastian, and is vaguely aware of him as another member of Hellsing, little though they interact on the job. "Your dog?" He nods his head at Velcro, unconcerned about having a dog in the shop, but rather impressed by Velcro's apparent level of intelligence. Then again, Ianto wouldn't be the least surprised if he only looked like a dog.

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

"His name's Velcro. I hope you don't mind? He's a service animal." Today, Velcro is wearing a little vest with pockets and a patch to show off his service status. "How're you today?"

[coffeeking]

"Not at all," he reassures. He's fine with animals, even non-service ones, so long as they're well-behaved and don't piddle on the floor. "I'm not half bad. A little bored, frankly, but I always feel like I'm tempting fate when I say things like that. And you?"

[51stcentury]

Jack comes into Queequeg's basically whenever he's got a free moment, and he's sure that the rest of the staff must wonder what the hell he's doing there all the time, visiting Ianto, if the other man hadn't told them anything about it already that is. He could wait in line, but he sees that Ianto's not currently manning the counter, but working on grinding beans instead, so he sidles up to the counter away from the line, leaning against it.

"Know anyone in here that might be able to show me a good time?" Jack asks, smiling widely in a greeting to the other man, hoping that maybe he can coerce him to sit down with him and take a break. Or maybe his shift is over soon? Jack can't keep track of these things.

[coffeeking]

Ianto is torn between rolling his eyes and smiling. He manages both, and adds a blush to the mix, much though he sincerely wishes he didn't blush so easily.

"Not a soul," he teases, his back still turned, "But I have it on good authority that my coffee is positively orgasmic." He glances furtively at his co-workers, who are thankfully otherwise occupied. His co-workers are gossips who have been plying him for details since the first day Jack walked in the door and flashed that charming grin. They all have their suspicions that Jack and Ianto are together, and yet with no confirmation, they still hold out hope that Jack is available. He's having a bit of fun stringing them along, even as he's completely unsure how to define their relationship anyway.

[51stcentury]

"Oh yeah?" Jack says, with a wide grin. He's pleased that he's gotten that blush out of Ianto. Because it means that he's doing something right, with this flirting here. Might as well keep it up. He's always loved it when Ianto gets flustered about things as he does, after all. There's something self-satisfying about making someone as buttoned up and proper as Ianto is squirm, after all.

"I have it on good authority that a whole lot more than your coffee can be like that," he says, grinning wider. "What time do you get off of work here?" he throws on at the end. He genuinely does want to know. He's hoping that he can spend some time with him, since he's got this whole chunk of free time right now and all.

[coffeeking]

Ianto's smile widens despite himself and the completely inappropriate conversation they're having in public. But how else should any self-respecting man respond to a compliment about his sexual talents? He mentally preens for a moment before rejoining the matter at hand.

"Just after I'm done with this, actually," he responds, tapping the canister against the counter to level the mound of coffee grounds inside. "I just have one more. Do you want a cup before I clock out?"

[51stcentury]

Jack chuckles at the look that the other man gets when he compliments his sexual prowess, but it's true. Ianto's good in bed, and Jack knows it. Why not let the other man know it too? Who cares about the fact that they're currently in the coffee shop that Ianto works at with the other man still being on duty and everything.

"I'd love one," he says, with a grin. "The last great cup of coffee that this place makes today, and it's going to me. To think that I should be so privileged," he says, with another smirking smile.

[coffeeking]

"It's possible I may be biased," he quips. "But don't tell the other regulars. Wouldn't want to cause a riot."

With elegant and practiced precision, Ianto sets the closest machine to brewing. The way he touches it is almost affectionate, like it's a conscious being that must be coaxed and gentled into cooperating with such ease. Ianto Jones, coffee machine whisperer. Ask not his ways.

In little time at all, the coffee is done, perfectly brewed and finely tailored to be just as Jack likes it. Ianto presents it with a smile. "Your coffee, sir."

[wandandsickle]

There have been Good Things said about this coffee shop, and while Jones has been working a more normal sleep cycle these past couple weeks than she has for about the last year (which is to say, sleeping at all), she still likes a good cup of caffeinated goodness. If this turns out well and the prices aren't too steep, she'll be a regular.

The menu, however, has her a little perplexed. There are so many options! All these fancy words that sound like they might be Italian. She's never had anything other than straight up black. She watches people ordering with a serious, studying look, like she's expecting to be tested on it.

[coffeeking]

"May I help you?" She's been standing there, Ianto noticed, watching people order, but not ordering anything herself. She looks vaguely confused, and so Ianto takes it upon himself to relieve her suffering, if he can.

[wandandsickle]

She looks to Ianto, grateful. "It seems coffee is a little more complicated here than I'm used to," she says, sheepishly. "What exactly is a 'cafe latte'?"

[coffeeking]

"A cafe latte is steamed milk and espresso. If you're interested in nothing more than a traditional black coffee, we have that too." He looks just a little amused, but not at her expense. The menu is rather complicated to those unfamiliar with the advancement of the coffee industry.

[wandandsickle]

"Oh, I see..." She really does normally take her coffee black—although mainly since it's a little more economical. Then again, here, money hasn't been an issue for her so far. And... she admits to herself, a little grudgingly, that it helps not to be supporting two siblings.

Well, while she's here, she might as well try something new, right? And a latte... actually sounds kind of good? "All right then—cafe latte? One of those, please?"

Perhaps she'll see if she can try everything on the menu, eventually.

[coffeeking]

"Coming right up. Whole milk or two percent?" He fresh-grinds the espresso beans and packs them tightly into the filter.