Kuroko's settling in to his job

[invisiballman]

Who: Kuroko and OPEN
What: Kuroko is on the job
When: Anytime during the week
Where: Sweet Dreams cafe
Warnings: None yet


[The Sweet Dreams Cafe is a small establishment that specializes mostly in upscale coffee, smoothies, bubble tea, and most importantly for Kuroko, milkshakes. They also have a small selection of sandwiches and pastries.The owner was kind enough to give him a job, and he thinks he's getting the hang of it pretty quickly. He does have a little problem with accidentally sneaking up on the customers though.

He's working on that. So if anyone is startled by the sudden appearance of a blue haired boy in a pink apron, he's sorry. The name tag on his apron says 'Kai' ]


Welcome to Sweet Dreams. What can I get for you today?


[His dog is also lending a hand. Or... a paw. There is a fluffy little puppy sitting outside the cafe, barking at passersby. Those that look are greeted with a wagging tail and an expectant look. Come inside. How can you say no to that face?]

Comments

[sailorlaughter]

[Pinkie does jump a little, but she shrugs it off.]

Oh! I'll have aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...cherry chocolate chip milkshake, please! [She tilts her head up at him for a moment.] Hey, are you new here?

[invisiballman]

[He writes down her order, then nods.]

Yes. I just started here this week.

[Perhaps she's a regular customer? He'll ask the owner later.]

[sailorlaughter]

I thought so! I come here a lot, like not every week, but probably pretty close, and I've never seen YOU before! And I'm great with faces!

My name's Pinkie! [And you know, she's famous and all, but it's kinda rude to just assume everybody knows you already, right?]

[invisiballman]

I see. Thank you very much for your continued support.

[Kuroko is nothing if not extremely polite.]

It's very nice to meet you, Pinkie. My name is Kai.

[There's just the barest hint of a pause before the name. He's steadily getting better at remembering to use the alias.]

[sailorlaughter]

You're welcome!

[And Pinkie's pretty literal.]

Nice to meet you too, Kai! Where're you from?

[invisiballman]

[Hmm, he really should have put more thought into a fake backstory.

No, actually he should have put any thought at all into a fake backstory. Time to improvise.]

I grew up in a very small town out in the country. I only moved to the city recently. It's not at all what I expected.

[That last bit is certainly true.]

[sailorlaughter]

Oh, yeah? Me too! I grew up on like, a little farm out somewhere!

[Because that's specific, right?]

But I've been living here for a while now. Ever since our first tour finished up!

[yellowcopycat]

Where'd you come from?!

[Ryouta was sitting at one of the stools at the counter when he was approached. He jumpped a little and looked at the boy and then...

... just stares at the boy. Open mouth shock. Because here's his muse. Here he is! His blue eyed boy.]

Kurokocchi?

[His heart beats faster, because it wasn't a dream. Kurokocchi is real! Then he notices the name tag.

'Kai'

Almost instantly his mood plummets. It was just a dream. He must have seen this Kai on the street somewhere and his image just stuck. Been fascinated by his low presence.] Ah, Sorry must have mistaken you for someone else. Um... What do you suggest?

[He's got the peculiar feeling he's going to say 'vanilla milkshake']

[invisiballman]

[It is a very good thing that Kuroko has an excellent poker face. Otherwise there would have been no hiding the shock he felt at seeing Kise unexpectedly turn up at his job. As it is, the only indication of his surprise is his eyes widening very slightly.

And on top of that, Kise-kun remembered him. Or, his name anyway. But how much else did he remember?

No. He has to very firmly remind himself of the rules Gold and Silver laid out for them. Act natural, don't make any bold moves yet. Just treat him like any other customer, starting with answering his question.]

Our vanilla milkshakes are very good.

[You know him too well, Kise.]

[yellowcopycat]

[At this, Ryouta smiles a bit]

You know, for some reason I thought you'd say that.

[He quickly looks over the menu] Um... I'll get that and a turkey club. Are those good? This is my first time here. My usually writing spot is closed for renovations.

[He holds out the menu for Kuro... Kai to take. And then busies himself with pulling out a note book. He flips to a page where the words 'Generation of Miracles' is written in big messy letters]

[invisiballman]

[Hmm, maybe he remembers more than Kuroko thought... It helps that Kuroko is pretty predictable when it comes to things like food. He takes the menu back and nods.]

They are. The owner has a surprisingly deft hand with simple food.

[He doesn't miss those familiar words in the book. Kuroko's eyes flick from the page to Kise's face and he hesitates. He really, really shouldn't say anything else. But...]

Are you a writer?

[yellowcopycat]

Sorta.

[He looks at Kai for a bit, then decides he really doesn't know him. Surprising with how much he's been the tabloids lately with the drunken selfie misfires and his and Xanxus' kiss in the paper. That... that's disappointing actually. He doesn't know why.]

I'm the lyricist and bassist for Surviving Friday. I write most of our lyrics.

[He pushes the book towards Kuroko so he can see. It's mostly notes, a few lyrics here and there. 'The Red King with his all seeing eye' and 'I can't be what he needs???' and a really bad drawing of what could be Midorima looking grouchy]

I'm working on our next album. It's going to be a concept album. Going with the idea that 'miracles' aren't as wonderful as people think. There's a darkness to them as well.

[invisiballman]

That's impressive. I think I've heard some of your songs on the radio.

[The owner likes to play music while they're cleaning up at night. And he's been doing a little research of his own since he arrived, so he has read a few of those tabloids. But probably best not to mention that now.

Kuroko manages to keep up the expression of polite but vague interest when the book is pushed toward him. But then Kise had to mention 'miracles' and the darkness to them and Kuroko can't keep the flicker of pain out of his eyes.

Of course, he's worked through a lot of it by now, and repaired his friendships. But he'll always carry some painful memories from the end of his middle school days. It seems Kise remembers it too, on some level. But how much? He doesn't envy the experience of having to regain those memories.

Realizing that he's probably been silent just long enough to be suspicious, he quickly says the first thing that comes to mind.]

That's a very insightful concept.

[psyvampexperiment]

[The pup might earn an amused smirk from the tall, pale gent in the grey suit with the open collared shirt, as he approaches the shop to enter it, a bodyguard at his heels. He might pause, scanning any display cases or looking for a menu.]

[But once the proprietor pops up, the guard might tense, ready to protect her charge, but the tall, pale man holds her off, though his feet might have shifted into a defensive position.]

Ahhh, I was wondering if you serve green tea?

[invisiballman]

[The bodyguard would have been enough of an indication that this man was someone important, but he also carries himself in a way that suggests he's used to being in control. Kuroko steps forward to answer his question.]

Yes. We have several different flavors, actually. Would you care to see a menu?

[Besides regular green tea, they also have a blueberry green tea blend and a ginger peach blend. There's also green tea lattes, if that's more your thing.]

[psyvampexperiment]

[Now that he's got a better look at the youngster, an appreciative smile my cross his face.]

I think I'd like that very much, thank you.

[A glance outside to the pup at the door.] You have quite a greeter out there: I'm not generally a dog person, but that little fellow caught my attention.

[invisiballman]

[The straight faced boy shows him to one of the tables and hands him a menu. Mostly it's fancy drinks. But there are also sandwiches and pastries.]

Yes, he's gotten quite skilled at attracting customers. The owner is considering buying him a uniform.

[psyvampexperiment]

Mmmm! Perhaps a little vest in the same colors? Maybe even with a little tray of samples balanced on his back? Though I suspect, if he's like most pups, he'll help himself to them. [Said with an affectionate chuckle.]

[Scanning the menu, he'll order a ginger peach green tea blend and a vegetarian sandwich.]

[invisiballman]

He's well trained, but I think that might be a little too much temptation.

[Kuroko nods and jots down the order.]

I'll be back in a moment.

[The owner is a plump, cheerful middle-aged woman who hums to herself as she readies the drink and sandwich. She's quick though, so it's not long before Kuroko is setting the order down on the table.]

Please enjoy.

a few days after she finally gets her job

[woomy]

Hello! How are you? Are you being a good helper?

[ There's a girl wearing a large slouchy hat, goggles, and pointed looking headphones in front of the cafe who is playing with the dog. ]

[invisiballman]

[Why yes he is. He's being the best helper ever! Or so his wagging tail seems to suggest. The owner liked the uniform idea, and he's now wearing a pink bandanna with the shop's logo on it.]

He's become quite a skilled salesman.

[Who knows when Kuroko got there, but here he is.]

[woomy]

[ 3 beams a smile at Kuroko while still petting the puppy. ]

Business must be booming thanks to the both of you.

[invisiballman]

Not quite yet, but we're working on it.

[The dog yips proudly. They've got this job thing all figured out.]

Would you like to come inside for a drink?

[woomy]

Sure! I even have cash to buy something.

[ She won't be a freeloader. ]

[invisiballman]

Oh? Did you find a job?

[That would be really fortunate. It's hard enough for anyone to survive inn an unfamiliar world, but for a child it must be even worse.]