Evening, past the normal dinner hour, so the remainder of Frontier customers are people who are just hanging out for the free refills and riding their sugar highs from the cinnamon rolls. Katie is sitting at the counter, with a sweet roll in front of her, a glass of milk, and a book she's reading.. but it looks like she's kinda confused about why she's reading it. It's entitled: Swamp Lust.
Things that are open past the usual business hours are great for a guy like Adam. "There is a God!" he proudly announces as he bursts into the Western themed restaurant. Cue the preacher voice, "And they sayeth unto ye-- let there be a twenty-four-by-seven land of redemption!" The noisy young man, who would probably be more dashing if he tuned down the volume, slips to the counter aside Katie and drags her into his charade, "Say it with me child. Halleluya!"
Zeppelin has actually been sitting in the Frontier, but not for long. She's taking pictures of everyone with that blasted camera of hers. She was just about to zoom in on Katie's book before Adam comes bursting into the door. "Great fuck..." The words are muttered as she tries to slink lower into her booth. However, the woman's eyes are on the pair now.
"Yea, and verily, the green chili, cinnamon rolls, and coffee from heaven, for the Frontier provides everlasting sustenance." Katie plays along, but only after a long moment of surprise and staring at Adam. Not like he's crazy, just like she's deciding if he's worth playing along with, but he must be. "Hellelya." Though she doesn't raise her voice overly much.
Adam gives the blue-grey eyed lady an emphatic thumbs up to her playing along, "Now thats what I'm talkin' about sister!" Instead of landing on one of the stools by the counter, he slips an arm on the counter. "And just when I thought this town had gone dry. Oh, speaking of which," he says to himself, or Katie, possibly his imaginary friend on the next stool, "Hows the picture gig going, blondie?" He directs that one over towards Zep. Oh yes, he spotted her and has his usual smug smile on his face.
Zeppelin sighs to herself. Of course he noticed her. There is a look at the heavens as if to see why they have forsaken her. She stands up and walks over to the counter. A smile on her lips. "Oh, it's going well. I think I got a wedding gig. It pays the bills." She angles for Katie's other side.
"The Frontier is kinda like a religion," Katie lets Adam in on the Albuquerque not so best kept secret. "A lot of praying happens around here during finals. Cinnamon rolls are the best, but addictive, so you know.. you've been warned. Your life and weight are now in your own hands." Her attention is drawn to Zeppelin as she also approaches, and she is struck briefly by the walking beauty. Though she has not such appearance, Katie does have a certain vibe to her that is impossible to miss when in close proximity. The sort of thing that raises the hair along the backs of the arms, and sends a tingle down the spine, a weight of the presence of something primal that speaks to superstitious instincts.
"No shit?" the young zesty man says to Katie. He thinks about this-- notably by staring at Zep's chest-- and observes, "So what you're tell me is that at least twice a year this place is flooded with young college girls that are self-medicated on sugar, caffine, and in dire need of stress relief." The eyes finally go back up, "Lady, I think you just became my best wingman. Evah. Well except Fred, but he isn't here right now."
A hand, Adam's hand at that, motions out to Zep as he explains, "See, this is the appropriate way to act. Helpful. Fun to be around. Not trying to stab my face with eye-daggers. Glad to hear about the wedding gig. The pics still on your camera? I'd love to see them sometime." Translation: I'd love to photoshop in oompa loompas in the pictures.
"Well perhaps if you didn't interrupt a person while she was working, Mister Peabody, that would go a whole lot further for you." She follows Adam's eyes to her chest for a few moments thoughtfully. They are nice, so she lets it go. Zeppelin smiles towards the man and offers. "Oh I'm quite helpful when I'm not falling." Then she turns to Katie and offers her hand. "Zeppelin. Can I say that you have a wonderful profile. Have you ever thought about geting a portfilio done? I offer really good prices." The feel that comes from the woman causes a confused and yet dangerously curious look to Zep's eyes. It's almost like fire. You know that it is going to fuck you up, but you are curious HOW it is going to do it.
"Nice to meet you, Zeppelin. I'm Katie." Katie rolls the name across her tongue like she's never called anyone that before, and also at the same time like it's vaguely familiar. She looks Zeppelin in the eyes though, so she must not be a lesbian... or she hides it well, playing it cool. "A portfolio to me is a business prospectus.. I'm not sure what you're talking about," she admits her ignorance. As for Adam, she turns on her chair so that her back is to the counter, making it easier to swivel watch those who bookend her. "If you like cute girls high on coffee, you should hit my coffee shop, Kiva Coffee. I only hire the cutest." She's probably joking, but with her flat delivery, could be she's serious! Either way, wingman cred should go up!
"Oh I'll hit your coffee shot alright. I'll hit it good. Like Mike Tyson right hook. Ka-pow!" Adam tells Katie with a little kung-fu punch to the air you might expect on a bad travel station commercial.
When the young man settles down-- or at least more down than fighting invisible objects-- he motions over towards Zep, "Since I speak fluent Zepplonian, what blondie is trying to say is that she wants to see you naked-- or in a wedding dress. Both are pretty awkward." He points to Zep, "Quit being awkward. And for that matter stop observing gravity. You'll fall less." He pauses-- trying to remember something he forgot. "Ah, right. Adam. You can call me Adam. More specifically Katie and all her cute coffee bunnies can call me Adam. Zep, you can call me Mr. Anderson." Shee-kaw, he pulls out a pair of shades and puts them on. "Mr. Annnnnderson."
Zeppelin stares at Adam for a few moments. It's almost like she doesn't know how to process him. She just watches for a few moments longer. It actually takes her a few. Then she blinks and looks towards Katie. Then she looks back towards Adam. Great! He broke Zeppelin. "Profile... right. Profile. I assure you I am not trying to get in your pants. Your profile is the side image of your face." She takes out her card and slides it towards Katie. "I um..." She looks at Adam. "I think you are a bit too much for me. I should probably go." She looks towards the door and then back towards Adam.
"Coffee.. bunnies.." Katie has to think about that one a minute, while taking Zeppelin's card and listening to the explanation. "Ohhhhh. I get you. I don't know what I'd do with pictures of me." The idea does seem to boggle her. "I guess my brother might like that," though she seems dubious about that being the case. Then she's watching Adam, and it's clear she doesn't get the reference, until suddenly she blinks. "Is that Matrix? I saw that once!" This seems to be the most exciting part of the conversation thus far for her, like she'll be completely jazzed if she guessed right.
"Thats right!" says Adam. He wears a broad toothy smile with those sunglasses. He slowly peels them off and says, "Mister Anderson. We've been looking for you Mister Anderson. Great movie. You can't go wrong with crazy hackers, kung fu, and... aww don't go!"
The later is addressed to Zeppelin of course. He changes his voice to a more gumshoe detective voice, "We were just getting to know each other so well, sugah. Then you had to go and walk out of my life again." His voice dismisses itself in favor of a normal tone, "Besides, I was just about to get you a coffee. You do drink coffee right." He then turns to Katie as if she is an authoratative answer on the question of, "Lesbians drink coffee, right? Or is it tea? Tea? Tea-- well thats half of tit-tea, so maybe tea is better." A solid nod is given as he returns to Zep, "Tea."
"Jesus fucking Christ. Can you stop insulting me for two fucking seconds?" Zeppelin obviously has this for Adam. There are just people that rub you the wrong way and it seems like this man is it. "Why don't you make her the butt of your jokes or someone else? It's not endearing and it doesn't really make me want to stay around. I get it. You don't like me. Trust me the feeling is getting pretty mutual." She sighs. There is an apologetic look towards Katie. "Well the more conceited tend to put them on display. Um.. maybe you need photos of your shop or something?" The business card has her number and her name (Zeppelin S. Moon) on the front of it. Zep rolls her shoulders. "Or if you are getting married, graduating, having a party and you want photos.... or you have children you want to show off to the world."
Katie lights up briefly like Adam just told her she won a fabulous prize! Though then it sinks through her demeanor that Adam and Zeppelin are not getting along, such nuances go right past her. Wingman rating lowered! A confused look is given between them, like she has noticed the undercurrent but has yet to assess if there's mere rapids or a precursor to going over the Niagara Falls in a barrel disaster afloat. "If anything like that comes up, I'll give you a call," she settles on as a safe answer to Zeppelin and then looks at Adam. "I liked that movie too."
Adam gives another big thumbs up to that-- the Buddy Christ thumbs up to be exact. "One of my personal favorites. Also War Games, Hackers, and the Lion King." Ever so slowly he turns towards Zep. Stop. Stare. Exactly two seconds later, "Two seconds wasn't too hard! Besides, I don't /hate/ you. Thats nonsense. I am perpetually amused by your reactions, my dear." Yes, masterpiece theater voice now. "Indeed. A modern model masterpiece of social di-o-chotomy." as sung to the Modern Major-General notes.
Zeppelin looks at Adam. Sorry Katie, she'll get back to you. Poor thing is literally in the middle of mom and dad fighting. Welcome back to childhood. "Look. You interrupted my /job/ yesterday. Do you even comprehend that is how I have to try and pay my bills? Do you care they could end because of that? You made it so I almost hurt myself or broke my camera that I don't have money to fix if it happens. You are actually fucking with my life to what? Amuse you? Why the hell would I want anything to do with you? You can't even say sorry. No, instead you call me a lesbian. You tell me how I'm not supposed to get upset. So how about you just act like a normal person. Show a bit of decency? However, nooo.. that is probably too much for you too." She shakes her head. She's not angry. She's actually frustrated. In fact, there are tears welling in her eyes because of this frustration. "I'm fucking new that's hard enough and then you on top of it. Fuck this shit." She shakes her head a bit and flutters her lashes, but it's to keep the tears at bay. Not to flirt. Yeah, it appears one of them pushed her too far a few overstepped lines ago. She nods to Katie to that and starts to put her lens protector on her camera and moves back to her booth to toss some money on the table. For if it was tea or if it was coffee.
Now Katie has the same level of confusion that she was previously reading Swamp Lust with. "What did you do to her?" she asks Adam, as she gets up off her seat to follow Zeppelin to her table. She tucks the book into the pocket of her jacket as she goes, so it is not abandoned. "Look, I'm sorry you're upset. If you're new in town, I can help you out with knowing the good places to stay that are cheap." Either Katie has some compassion, or she just doesn't want the Adam diversion to escape with that old tears into the night ploy!
"Iunno. Daddy issues?" Adam responds with equal amounts of confusion and curiosity. He notably does not say anything when getting chewed out by Zep. He listens-- how much registers will always be a mystery-- but he doesn't try to interrupt her.
The young man doesn't much of a chance to continue on Act 1: Scene 3. His phone goes off. Its the 'important' one. "What a buzz kill," he says to himself as he picks it up, "Detective Carter. You've got a crime, I've got a... eh, motto pending. Whats up?" The man steps off a bit to take the call is quasi-seclusion.
Zeppelin looks over at Katie and then shakes her head at Adam's response. She offers a smile towards the woman. "Trust me, I'm not fragile. I'm not going to cry. I just.. aggh." Frustration. Not sorrow. "Sorry to wreck your day, go back. He likes you. You aren't the one he's constantly insulting." She does give a smile. "I'm going to bail. I'll try your coffee shop sometime." She collects her stuff and pauses near Adam. "Don't ever fucking talk to me again. Seriously." Then she's out the door.