Zoie - First Day of Work

From Masq
Date: Setting:

IC:  10/30/2008
RL: 04/26/2011

Kiva Coffee -- Albuquerque

 Large street-facing windows bring plenty of light into this cozy coffee and tea shop. An expansion of Laura's Herbal Apothecary, it has its own front entrance but shares a large open doorway in the shared wall so people can move easily from space to space. The walls are painted in warm, rich colors, and in one corner of the shop, a kiva-style fireplace adds a classic Southwestern touch. The whole room smells richly of coffee and tea, and the overall atmosphere of the shop is one of cozy relaxation.

 At the back of the shop, a long counter holds a cash register and a variety of clean, shiny equipment used to make the coffee and tea drinks sold here. A barista or two is there waiting to take the orders; they wear simple black aprons to keep clean and sometimes cast hopeful looks at the tip jar. Throughout the room, small tables and chairs provide a place to sit, as do comfy-looking armchairs and a booth tucked away in a nook by the front window. The shared wall between the cafe and the apothecary has a cut-out space where a large fish tank (+view here/fish) rests, surrounded by some displays selling coffee and tea. The tank can be viewed from either the apothecary side or the coffee shop side, often attracting curious viewers.

 A chalkboard menu (+view here/menu) is attached to the wall behind the barista counter, and a glass case set into the counter shows off various cookies and pastries for sale. Small signs perched here and there throughout the room promise free wifi for technologically-inclined visitors.


(Places and +views are available here)

Obvious exits:
Herbal Apothecary <HA>   Employees Only <EO>  Out to Lomas <O>

Cast:
Log:
It's in the morning on the day before Halloween. Zoie is wiping down tables as she sings lightly to herself. The girl keeps cleaning as the bell rings, but she does turn to smile at whomever comes in the shop. Her eyes then move to the counter to see if it is being manned.

Vincent walks in and heads to the counter "hello...quiet in here today isn't it?'

Zoie moves over to the counter and gives a bright and beautiful smile. "Good morning, quiet is wonderful sometimes, don't you think?" Her eyes sparkle. "What can I get for you?"

Vincent says, "Well..how about a carmel latte?"

Zoie looks a little unsure for a moment. "Um.. I.. sure." Then she moves to look at the machines. Zoie pulls out a user's manual and starts to read, while at the same time following an ingredient list. "It.. um.. will just take a moment."

Zack comes in from the street, bells jingling as the door opens.

Vincent smiles "Take your time...we all have our firsts.'

Zoie is behind the counter, reading a manual and a list for carmel lattes. She shoots a gorgeous smile towards Vincent. "It will be the best sort of um... macc.. um.. latte."

Zack pushes through the front door, hands in his pocket and hat on his head. Once inside and the jinglin' stops he looks about and flashes a smile toward Zoie over there behind the counter. "Howdy," he offers amiably to all present as he makes his way over toward the register.

Vincent chuckles 'Like I said..take your time...there is no rush.' he nods abit to Zack in return.

The first smile was gorgeous but this one is breath stopping. It is also given to Zack from his employee. "Zack! Can um.. you show me how to make a latte again?" She also gives a flutter of lashes to that. Then she's looking back to Vincent with a large smile. "Zack is one of the owners and makes the best lattes ever."

Zack flashes a smile back toward Zoie as he moves behind the counter. "Oh, I wouldn't say that," he says modestly as he starts to wash his hands. "But I'd be happy to show y'all how I make 'em." Once his hands are washed, he dries them off and moves to the machine. First he gets the grounds into the press, then works it into machine while holding a cup underneath it. "So this gets the shot of espresso ready," he explains to Zoie. "Then you get the milk all steamed up with this thinger," which is probably not the technical term for it. It hisses and steams and eventually he pours the frothy steamed milk into the cup. "And boom! Latte. An' if yer feelin' artistic you can do some stuff with the foam to make it look like a drawin' but whatever. Just looks like swirls to me."

Vincent chuckles "I tried to tell her that we all have our firsts when it comes to new things..'

Zoie nods her head as she watches and stores it away. "Oh yes, I totally have a ton of things that need to be my first. You guys are being so understanding and patient with me though." She takes the cup and studies the foam. "Oh! I watched how to do this on you tube." She uses a stir stick to shape it a bit to look like a leaf. She then hands it over and tells Vincent the price.

Zack slides his hands into his pockets and rocks back on his heels. "Hey, that's pretty good," he says with a smile as he sees the little pattern Zoie draws. But he leaves it at that, letting her deal with the customer.

Vincent smiles and hands over a five spot 'keep the change...and remember the lessons'

Zoie beams to that as she puts the money in the drawer and any change in the tip jar. Then she offers. "You know, we have great pastries to go with coffee. Mmmm... best pastries ever. If you want to take a seat and then try to figure out if you are hungry in a few."

Zack sends a smile toward Zoie as he moves to pick up a rag and squirt bottle. Once aquired, he starts squirting and rubbing down the counter tops, doing his best not to interrupt the back-and-forth.

Vincent shakes his head "I'm good for now. Unless you have a favorite?'

Zoie perks to that. "Oh! Well I love the lemon coffee cake. It's amazing." She flutters her lashes a bit towards Vincent. Then she looks over at Zack and smiles at him.

Zack flashes a smile back at Zoie before returning to his cleaning of the counter-tops. Squirt squirt rub. That sounded dirty, but it's not. He's cleaning.

Vincent smiles "Cute and flirty..

Zack tries. Lord knows he tries!

Zack will probably get the phone number too.

Zoie blushes a vibrant shade of red to that. She actually turns to look behind her and then at Zack. "I.. I don't think we sell that pastry."

Vincent chuckles "Well then maybe I will ask again sometime.'

"We definitely don't see that pastry," Zack confirms, what with being the boss man and all. "But if y'all want somethin' or change yer mind, just let us know."

Zoie turns even more red at the chuckling. "I..." She stops and tries to think of the words. "Oh, I do really like.. the cookies too if you want that." She smiles sweetly towards Vincent. Her eyes then move over to Zack.

Vincent smiles "I will have to try them next time." as he finishes his drink. "I should get back to work to be honest.;'

Zack sends a small wave back toward Vincent after giving a small smile to Zoie. "Y'all take it easy. Come on back any time," he ecnourages."

Vincent smiles 'I will...I will.'

Zoie beams to Vincent. "I'm glad to see you and I'll make sure to have cookies for next time." She waves her fingers, as her blush starts to fade.

Zack turns a glance back toward Zoie as Vincent makes his departure. "Well, you get the good with the bad," he decides. "If anyone is too offensive y'all can kick 'em out."

Zoie shakes her head to that. "It's not offensive. I just.. compliments always make me blush and get flustered." Her lips curve upwards. "Thank you for showing me how to make your most amazing latte."

"I donno how amazing it is, but thanks," Zack replies. "Anyway, I should get rollin'. Nice to see yer smilin' face 'round the shop," he says with a flash of a wink and a smile of his own.

Zoie nods. "Thanks for giving me the job to be around. I like seeing you around too. Hope you make that a regular thing." She then smiles warmly. "Thanks Zack."

Zack gives Zoie a dramatic bow before he heads out of the shop. "G'night, Zoie."