2020-11-20 - Coffee and Green Haze

Kailey arrives pushing a stroller for once. Usually she has baby in a sling, but not today. The paisley patterned green stroller is rather pretty. And looks barely used. Kailey herself has her usual messenger bag instead of proper purse. Up to the counter she goes, placing and paying for her order before slipping over to a table where the stroller won't be in the way.

It's evening at Espresso Yourself. This is the time when the college kids and other folk who need some caffeine come in after work or classes. Eleanor is here, working on inventory counts and orders. Matias is handling taking orders, while Kerry and Russ make the drinks and fetch the pastries. Kailey's order is put in and put together quickly and efficiently. None of Eleanor's employees here tonight shine, so none of them are being affected by the green haze.

Eleanor herself, however? Is on her third cherry danish and a large frappe with all the sugary crap in it. The owner is in a cute olive green jumpsuit with tennis shoes, her hair all wild and wavy today. She spots the stroller and smiles, heading over to Kailey. "You have a baby?" she asks with glee.

Devlin is not moving with his usual smooth grace, he seems to be a bit stiff around the shoulders as he enters the shop. Under his t-shirt one might see hints of the bandages wrapped about his upper chest and shoulders. He makes an order for coffee and a couple of pastry items. Once the transaction is concluded, Devlin seeks out a place to sit to relax with this coffee. In passing he greets, "Evening Eleanor." and then to Kailey, "Evening Miss."

Kailey ordered no few pastries herself. And a bagel with extra cream cheese to boote. Her own large green tea frappe already has had most of the whipped cream demolished. When Eleanor comes up she beams and nods. "Back in July. It was...ahhh....as interesting a time as one might have in Gray Harbor," She smirks as she says it. "So yeah...Morganna. Also Mew because of her initials," There is deep fondness in her voice. The four month old is fast asleep and dressed in a purple tiedye sleeper. Her black curly hair a quickly growing halo about her head.

Devlin's order is made with the same efficiency as Kailey's was. Eleanor begins oohing and aaahing over the wee four month old, quietly because she's asleep. "Is she sleeping through the night yet? She has beautiful hair!"

You can see it in his eyes and the slight curl of his lips, Baby, that distracts all things female. Once he settles, he takes a bite of the bearclaw and then a sip of coffee. He does glance at the activity, after all.. never know when one might find themselves needing to take care of one.

"She got my mom's curls," Kailey says with motherly pride. She turns her grin on Devlin and wiggles her fingers. "Oof. You look rough. Have you tried a pina colada? I'm pretty sure they've healing properties...at least right now." She reaches down to fondly stroke the back of her daughter's hand. "She isn't yet. But I am getting four to five hours at a stretch. At least when I'm not helping out with Quinten. He is still waking every couple hours. Lil is tiiiired so if it's just a diaper or discomfort I try to help out."

"Oh you have a roommate with a baby too?" Eleanor asks cluelessly. "I imagine sleep comes in fits then. Of course, living in this town, four hours sleep in a stretch is pretty decent." Without being yanked into a dream or something, sure is. "If you need a bottle warmed up or anything, just ask Matias, he can take care of it for you." She looks over at Devlin. "You look like you're hurting, what happened?"

After a sip of his coffee, Devlin replies, "Oh I was the lucky SOB that surprised a Leopard during my drill weekend. Plenty of grunts around but nooo... lets play with a medic." He then takes a bite a bearclaw. "And of course, I was teaching guys that have not been to AIT yet. So I had to talk them through things, once the cat moved on."

Kailey finds something Eleanor absolutely giggle worthy. And once it starts she has trouble getting it under control, "R-roomate? Hehe yeah. Bean's a roomate. Sorta," And then she cascades into snickering. Only Eleanor's offer to warm a bottle manages to snap her out of the fit. "Ah I'm -teehee- breastfeeding, but thanks," Kailey replies with only a bit of giggle infusion.

Devlin's revelation of his injuries origin have her eyes going wide. "Whoa! Dude, that sucks," She says before taking a big bite of her cinnamon roll.

"Yikes! I heard about that I think, in passing. What the hell was a leopard doing here?" Eleanor asks, blinking wide eyes. She probably should have worn her glasses instead of her contacts what with the overwhelming high of the town at the moment. "Did they catch it? August and I have animals at our cabin and I wonder if we should put them inside their shelters with that cat out there."

Eleanor nods to Kailey. "Oh, good! But some moms pump and bring a bottle. You're always welcome to nurse in here though. I won't stand for people being asses about that."

Devlin sighs, "Not here, over at Camp Marby in Tacoma." He sips his coffee again. "And yeah, some of the troops trapped the cat in an office. Animal control darted the cat and they got it to the vet. I fucking hate and despise drunk drivers.. I swear drunk drivers cause me the most trouble in life."

Kailey gives Devlin one of those slow and then fast co fused blinks when he appears to change topics. "What do drunk drivers have to do with leopard attacks?" she asks as she takes another bite of pastry 1. There two more and a bagel waiting...

"We should get out of the line at the counter and have a seat," Eleanor announces, realizing they're all just standing there like a bunch of weirdos. She shuffles over to a nearby table with her danish and frappe. "Yeah, what she said," she adds to Kailey's question.

August arrives looking like he was probably at work; he's in an old Black Sabbath tee, worn denim jeans, black and white flannel shirt, and black, UW hoodie. He's looking tired, so maybe work wasn't a hot idea, but he needs something to keep his mind off the high. (In reality he had a rough evening with some tacos which took a turn for the disgusting in the worst way, and has refused to discuss it with anyone save for Eleanor. She only found out because she had a right to know why he was showering himself off with the yard horse in the middle of the night.)

So here he is, tired looking, but very clean. Very clean. (He's taken about four showers. He might take another one when he goes home. He may even spend the whole evening in the bathtub.) He smiles a greeting to Dev and Kailey, moves to eye Eleanor and her wild hair. "Are you still on a sugar high to go with the other high?" he asks, grinning.

Coffee... yeah.. that will help finish the train of thought as Devlin takes a long pull. "The Leopard was being transported to a vet from a sanctuary. A drunk driver hit the van, cat escaped. Move the clock a few hours.. and I meet the escaped Leopard." Devlin sighs a bit, "So that's how a drunk driver causes my woe this time. Kind of glad the .. the... mic was moved. Still a bit sore. Not sure if I could play well."

H's face lights up when she sees August and she grins brightly at him. "August! I have something for you! Well, maybe for you," She says with an ending glance at Eleanor. Pulling out her sketchpad from her bag, she flips through a few loose sheets. What she pulls out and holds up for the whole cafe to see is a chibi. Of August. In a Captain Morgan stance over Skipper from Giligan's Island.

As she lets August and Eleanor appreciate her artistic gift, her eyes turn back to Devlin. "Oh. Snap. That's what I call a bad night. At least ya survived." Then she turns back to finish watching August and his reaction to the piece.

Eleanor grins as she spots her husband and she nods at him emphatically. "I...mayyyyyyyy have had a bit too much sugar AND caffeine to try and think clearly through the haze. But I think I'm still cloudy, and just very very awake!" God help him. "Look August! Kailey has a wee one! Morganna!" She gestures at the stroller, grinning like a loon.

Then there is a chibi August and she lets out a squee, clapping her hands. "OMG that is so YOU August!"

August smiles, fond and amused, at Eleanor. "We'll sort out a way to get you settled, I'm sure." He kisses her on the temple, settles into a chair next to her. Devlin's explanation of why he's moving so stiff and sore has August frowning. His gaze goes distant a half-second, like he's assessing something only he can see, then his focus settles on Devlin. "Long as you think it's healing up okay." There's a hesitance to his features which suggests he might not buy this whole 'leopard' story, though he doesn't comment to that effect.

And now...chibi him. Standing on Skipper. Another fond sigh, this one with a bit of exasperation. He's still smiling, though; first at Kailey, now at Eleanor. "You can keep it here, in your office," he suggests.

A shrug by Devlin, "That is what they are reporting." He sips his coffee, "I'll live. Just have to be careful with our I move for a bit is all." He takes a breath, "Even doing circle arms Qi Gung is a little painful. But my motion is returning."

Kailey hands over the piece the Eleanor looking a little triumphant. "Yay! I'm glad you like it," She says before clapping her hands softly to herself. "Oh! I also wanted to talk to you august about a thing! Ravn and I had this totally awesome idea. Fortune Flowers! Origami flowers with fortunes inside and I was thinking they would totally be a cool thing, maybe, in your shop. And you could help come up with floral inspired quotes and stuff! What did Ravn suggest..." She pulls out her phone then to look something up. And taking another bite of pastry of course.

"OHMYGODYES!" Eleanor agrees with keeping it in her office. She's positively gleeful over that as she takes the image to study it thoroughly. "The Gillamonster had no chance against my man!" She is totally framing that drawing. Totally. She rushes to the back to set it on her desk so she doesn't lose it. Her OCD is on HIGH in this state, one thing at a time!

August nods at Devlin, a soft 'ah' implying he follows the drift (i.e. 'the Veil did it'). "Offer stands," he reiterates, watching Eleanor leap to her feet and go to stow the picture immediately. Ho boy, he needs to talk to her about better ways to cope with this green haze, whatever the fuck it even is.

He leans back in his chair and considers Kailey's idea, head tilted. "I'll admit I'm not the target market for that kind of thing, but I'm more than happy to carry things you make if you want to try to sell them. And I can help with quotes too."

"Never hurts to have someone that knows wounds checking things out." Devlin comments as he finishes his bear claw. "Just so lone as it isn't green.. you know?" He sips his coffee. "Good thing is that the guard is paying me at my rate as this heals. Keeps the city off my ass on the sick pay."

"I think it could be a fun thing. Like a fortune cookie that lasts, yeah?" Kailey replies as she finds what she is looking for. Sitting up she speaks as one might when reciting verse or poetry. Only very loudly, "THE ROSE THAT GROWS IS THORNY BUT BEAUTIFUL." Then turns to beam at August as if it wasn't the most clever thing ever. "Also, I wanted to ask if you have any small dried flowers? Like lavender and those tiny pink flowers and stuff. I'm working on a mixed media piece." She takes the last bite of her bun and turns to Devlin. "Seriously should try pina coladas. Worked for Aidan after the thing."

There are a couple of things that a guy like Seth needs to operate. One of the main things is caffeine. Normally he will just go for whatever is available when his caffeine system has to much blood in it, but tonight an upgrade to the black swill he usually drinks is in order. Maybe it has something to do with the haze that has been in the air of late, he needs something sweeter.

Dressed for work, the bouncer walks in wearing a nice tailored suit but one that wouldn't really break the bank, the button of the coat undone to show a coral-colored shirt underneath. He pauses at the door, taking a moment to scope the room and take note of who is inside before moving the rest of the way towards the counter, offering a nod of recognition to Devlin as he passes.

"Can I get a butterscotch latte...oh, and one of those bear claws as well," he tells the person behind the counter, motioning with his hand to a particular pastry that he has in mind.

Eleanor comes back from her office with a bright smile and a skip in her step. She may have taken her Associate's Degree out of its frame and put the drawing in its place. She'll likely fix that when this weed haze thing resolves itself. She settles again at the table with her danish and frappe. "What was I doing?" she asks, trying to reset to this location.

Matias takes Seth's order, and Kerry gets it together, handing it over to the bouncer with :big heart eyes:. The college kid likes her some gingers.

"That's convenient, at least." And when was the Veil ever convenient? Well, August will call it a win, that Devlin at least gets to heal up with PTO. He gives Seth an up-nod of greeting when he sees him, peers at Kailey. He's not quite high enough to find literally everything to be a great idea (a Dream in literal sewage will do that to you), but definitely polite enough to nod. On a nod, he says, "We can come up with some things." He narrows his eyes. "Lavender, yes. Just harvested a bunch. Not sure what you mean by 'those' little pink flowers but I can get you some. Lily of the Valley might work."

He leans over to remind Eleanor, "Consuming way too much sugar," and kisses her cheek. He's lucky she's just high and hyper; she's had to deal with way worse (and more gross) than that. Way...way worse.

Devlin nods to August, "Yeah, you'd think I deliberately walked into the lair of a great cat the way HR is acting. Their just more annoyed that their down a person especially with some the unusual not easy dealing with green issues we are seeing. At least it helps with the pain when I sleep. Though I hate waking up loopy and hungry as hell.."

Isolde is treating this return to Gray Harbor like it's her first time through. Exploring things a little more thoroughly now that she has a clear head and better focus. And homework. It's good to find study spots, right? That's what college students do? She's still figuring all that out. She walks in with a smile, green eyes taking in the patrons and the shop. She's pretty sure this is her first time setting foot in the cafe but it's hard to say. She's already starting to feel the effects of that weed cloud which, perhaps thankfully, means she's more mellowed out than anything. "Hello everyone." She gives a nod as she approaches the counter. Vaguely recognizing only...one person. August. That's a good thing. More new people to meet.

There's a touch of a grin as she spots the sleeping baby and then looks to Matias, realizing she's absolutely not sure what to order. "Uhhhh...." She stares for a few more moments and then clears her throat. "Sorry. Uhm. Chocolate Chip Cookie and an...Espresso with...Raspberry syrup please."

"I hate how people are considered inconvenient when they're hurt! Unless it is them," Kailey says sympathetically to Devlin. Picking up her frappe she takes a long sip and then returns her attention to August. "You're great for -sage- advice," She winks at him as she stresses the plant. "Get it? Floral inspired fortunes. Sage advice?"

"Oh yes!" Eleanor chimes along with August's reminder, and takes another bite out of her danish. "Little pink flowers? Like those ones in Hawai'i? Plumeria? Though I think they come in all kinds of colors. Like purple and yellow and white and orange..." Someone stop her now.

Smiling sweetly at the barista that hands him over his order, Seth drops a couple of bills into the tip jar and gives her a nod, along with a verbal "Thanks." as he picks up his order.

The bouncer makes his way over to one of the corner booths, back against a wall, returning August's up-nod with one of his own as he takes his seat. Once seated, Seth starts to dig into the bear claw with a ferocity of someone who hasn't eaten recently, or just someone with a horrid case of the munchies.

At the general 'Hello', he glances up at the new arrival, giving her a general once over as if assessing a threat before returning to his mastication of pastry, pausing only long enough to wash it down slurp some of the hot liquid in his cup.

August coughs at Kailey's pun. "Sage advice," he echoes, sincerely amused, though maybe not by the pun so much as Kailey's reason for delivering it. He eyes Seth devouring his pastry. So that's going to be two redheads who are bouncing off the walls. Well, he'll just call Kelly if Seth gets really wound up, let him handle it.

When Isolde walks in he double-takes and blinks in surprise. "Isolde," he says, and glances sidelong at Eleanor as if to say, 'look who it is'. He smiles, raises a hand in hello. He starts to say something, stops, shrugs. 'Welcome back' is maybe not a thing to say when it comes to Gray Harbor. Anyways, she's ordering something.

He takes one of Eleanor's hands to distract her. "Probably not plumeria. They're kind of expensive to use on an art piece. Lily of the Valley are nice and inexpensive though. And local. Same for Dicentra."

In waves of actually planned green, a solitary gamer pushes her way into the shop. Abitha lifts the back of her hand to her mouth, issuing a hidden yawn as her midback levers the door open. It had been an ordeal of cleaning over the past day, alternating a shower with a deep soaking bath, then once again when she just thought she smelled something funky. She had spared her roommates on Oak, opting for using the sparsely furnished apartment above her new, and yet unopened shop. It meant she could get some more stocking and design work done. It was late in the day when she remembered all the baths had meant she'd skipped her usual dose of caffeine, and so, here she was. Clad in a simple pair of low-slung skinny jeans and a slightly oversized gamer tee, french-tucked, she peers around the shop, eyes alighting here and there in recognition, slight, tired smiles sent, but coffee the main concern, stepping up to the counter.

Devlin finishes the 2nd bear claw, seeing Seth he nods to the man. He then finishes off his coffee. "Some of the bean counters seem to think you can schedule injuries and HR has a few of those." He smirks, "You should hear them carry on like whinning brats when I have a scheduled drill weekend that they knew about since last November.. and are short on people. Not my fault." He takes a breath, "I should think about heading home soon and rest more." He winks to Kailey, "I like my whiskey straight..."

Isolde leans lightly against the counter, off to the side in case anyone else comes in and wants to order. She gives another brief look over the people she doesn't recognize. Maybe she even meet's Seth's own look for a second before moving on.

When August speaks up, she smiles to him and Eleanor. "Hi August. It's been a while. How are you both doing?" She pushes a hand through her hair, slightly distracted by Abitha's approach. Good thing she'd stepped to the side! "Your hair is wild." She said simply to the gamer girl. Though clearly in awe and not anything negative.

She thanks the barista when her order is given, flashing another smile before sitting down at a nearby seat. Though she's positioned in such a way that she can still see the group.

Kailey snaps her fingers and points at Eleanor. "Yes! And like, small flowers like the individual ones of lavender. You see, you arrange the tiny flowers within your shape before carefully adding resin. It allows you to build up miniature garden scenes in an amulet or bracelet. Even a ring!" She explains with enthusiasm as she begins to lift the everything bagel for a bite. "I got the idea from a Dream, to be honest. A lot of my art is inspired by them. Find the beauty where ya can, right?" A pause and her head tilts to the side, like a puzzled bird, when August mentions the last flower. "Wassat?"

"Isn't that Isolde?" Eleanor whispers back to August. She hasn't really seen her since they all went to Portland. "Does Itzhak know she's back?" she asks, looking confused. Granted, she's looked mostly confused since the dispensary blew up. She waves at Abitha though, squeezing August's hand.

Matias takes the orders of the new arrivals and Kerry gets them their drinks and pastries.

"You could always tell them that an oversight on their part does not constitute an emergency on mine. That usually goes over really well with the PTB. I'm sure it will go just dandy with yours." Seth says, a grin forming on his face as he lifts his cup to his lips for another slurp.

Eyes flick over to Abitha as the doors open, a nod of greeting to the green-haired gamer girl as he lifts his cup her way, "'Sup."

Devlin gets up and offers, "Great coffee and food as always Eleanor. August, stay out of trouble. I get into enough of it on my own."

And with that Devlin heads home.

August didn't have a chance to properly appreciate Abitha's current Hair Situation last time he saw her, because all of them were too busy wishing for escape or death, whichever could get them out of that Dream quicker. Now he gives the color an appreciative nod, which is chased with a sympathetic smile. He knows what 'I am not does scrubbing off every layer of my skin' looks like. A raised hand of farewell for Devlin, and a small laugh. "No promises."

In response to Eleanor's question, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and gives it a surreptitious once over. He murmurs, "Mmmm, guessing no," and clears his throat.

Kailey's description has him honestly intrigued. "Huh," he says. "That's not a half-bad idea. I can definitely get some plumeria, that's popular. Dicentra are bleeding hearts." Since he got his phone out to see if he'd received a barrage of texts, he opens a browser and pulls up a picture for Kailey to have a look at. He opens a second one as well, which has less white and more pink and puple.

While Kailey has his phone, he says to Isolde, "Doing as good as we can in this town." His expression turns wry. No doubt Isolde has already felt the odd high permeating all of them. "Portland treat you okay?"

Eleanor waves to Devlin as the EMT departs. She's pretty much bouncing in her seat. One thing Isolde may notice with her and August, is they have wedding rings now. And clearly one of them is mainlining all things sugar and caffeine. "I really need to get back to doing Inventory. I just came out here to get another danish." She leans to kiss August's cheek before sliding back to her feet. "Everyone have a great night!" she declares, hyper-ly, before heading into the back.

Ordering something suitably heart-pumping with enough sugar to counter, Abitha nods and thanks the barista pair, dropping some leftover cash into the tip jar and now returning the wave to Eleanor and the coffee cup toast to Seth. August's nod gets a hand lifted, ruffling her wavy hair and smiling, appreciative of the notice. She ambles over to the table seth was at, unbidden, since it was probably the nearer open seat and wasn't encroaching on the group but near enough to talk if so. She sets her cup down, hands going up and bundling her free hair up, twisting a tie from her wrist into it and pulling it into a bun. "Sup yourself, Monaghan?" she responds lazily before plopping into a seat.

Her nostrils flair briefly, eyes glancing around, then tries to play it casual. The smell seemed ever-present now, an inescapable trauma.

Isolde takes a nibble of her cookie, listening curiously to the flower conversation. Not that she knew anything about flowers. She spies the wedding band on Eleanor as she waves to people and head out. She doesn't say anything about if Itzhak knows she's back. He doesn't. She hasn't worked up the nerve to text him yet even though Alexander assured her everything was okay. "Oh! Congratulations! I'm sorry I missed the wedding." Isolde said to August and she did seem genuinely sorry. Another bite of cookie followed up with an experimental sip of Espresso. "Portland was...fine. Not very much better Weird wise. But what I needed was there so it was where I went. I'm feeling better so...I decided to come back."

She studies Abitha for a longer moment. The hair, the shirt, her name if it was called out. "Do you know Alexander?" A curious question as she takes a more proper sip of her coffee. Apparently deciding it was fine.

The baby had been sleeping. But now Morganna begins to wake. With soft little huffs and some gibberish sounds. It gets Kailey's attention and she turns to smile down at her daughter. "Oh! Hello there beautiful! Did you have sweet dreams?" She asks as she scoops the babe up and gives her a sticky kiss on the cheek. Morganna coos happily and kicks her legs.

The young mother turns her attention to August's phone and nods. "Those could work. More open flowers, but small ones. Like the lil' lawn daisies and smaller generally," She says as she cuddles Morganna and the baby peers around. Then she pats her bottom and both brows go up. "C'mon, lets go change you. August can you watch my stuff?" She asks as she stands, grabbing her diaper bag from beneath the stroller, heading for the bathroom. People can seem a yellowish-brown stain creeping up the back of the baby's already yellow sleeper.

Eyes like a hawk watch Devlin as he leaves before the gaze turns to Abitha as she sits. Rolling a shoulder into a shrug, as he goes to polish off the last of his bear claw. "Not much, decided I needed to try an alternate intake of sugar and something less boozy than another Waffletaco." the Irish enforcer says with a chuckle. "I have eaten enough of those things over the last few days I am afraid my waistline is going to expand like a balloon." He looks around the coffee shop, and arches his brow, "Though we could try marketing the Waffletaco here as well, just a non-boozy form. Hrm. I'll have to ask Alexander what he thinks."

A beat. "And don't you dare tell me that is just a Chacotaco. It's different!"

Watching the gamer girl sniffing, the bouncer takes a couple of sniffs himself as he looks around, "What? Something stink? I took a shower...oh..." he trails off as he watches Kailey move off with the infant. "Yeah...that happens."

Itz's name getting tossed out draws Seth's attention again, glancing over at August and the woman he is speaking with.

August rubs Eleanor's back and returns the kiss as she shuffles off, sugar and caffeine in hand. Shaking his head, he assures Isolde, "I'm sorry you didn't make it, but don't feel like you need to apologize. We're planning on doing a solstice reception for anyone who couldn't come."

He nods at Kailey, and gets up to 'buy' himself a coffee (which is to say, put his money in the tip jar). "Will do." And he carefully doesn't breath in, lest the smell of 'baby in need of changing' give him flashbacks. The inescapable trauma indeed. He managed to train himself out of the smell anxiety by all but huffing Vick's. Everything will be a bit menthol-y and minty for the next few days, but what it's not going to be, is that, and he's fine with this outcome. (A big ol' 'Fuck you' to Gray Harbor for ruining carnitas for all of time.)

Seth's mention of 'waffletaco' to Abitha has August frowning. As he waits for his gigantic cappuccino (he'll need one if Eleanor's going to be keyed up for the next twelve hours), he echoes, "Waffletaco?" He can't help but sound like he suspect he shouldn't ask, knows he may regret finding out. And yet...

There's horror, then relief as Abitha realizes what she might have <s>hallucinated</s> smelled was probably the baby. Abitha herself smells pretty strongly of some cherry blossom soap. "Don't talk to me of waistline. One of my roommates works for Vydal and he is constantly making the most delicious and dangerous shit. I put on five pounds in the first two weeks. I had to start running!" Abitha puffs out a breath and is briefly distracted, blinking and looking toward Isolde, "Yes? He's currently defending his eastern front from the Glorious Empire." Whatever that means. Abitha seemed to smirk at it.

When August's question comes, though, Abitha makes a face and sits back, holding up a palm, ready to let Seth explain, but issuing a warning glance to the combat botanist.

"Well I'll try to make that then." Isolde nodded about the reception. She looks interested at this talk of a 'waffletaco' but doesn't comment right away. Looking to Abitha instead. She clearly has no idea what Abitha means either. "He said you were interesting. That I might like you." She mused. "You do seem interesting." She took another bite of cookie. "Though, I have to get going now. But maybe I will see you around and we can talk more." She chuckled, gathering up her coffee and cookie as she stood up.

"Waffletacos sound delicious. For the record. Whatever they are." Isolde flashed another bit of a grin. "It was good to see you August. Have a good night everyone." And then she headed back out into the night.

Seth looks over to August and nods with a smile, "Waffletaco. Something Alexander and I came up with the other day. A booze, infused waffle folded over, stuffed with ice cream, then beer-battered and flash-fried and drizzled over with more booze and toppings. We made some over at Joey's fried turkey party the other night. They were a big hit, and we are looking to market them to some of the eateries around the Harbor. The Twofer for sure, possibly the Black Bear if one of us can pin Gina down for a moment without her dismissing us like lunatics. Maybe the Casino, but it would have to be higher-end quality than liquor-soaked Eggos."

August takes his ridiculous cappuccino and pair of biscotti back to the table he was sharing with Eleanor, which gives him a clear view of Kailey's stroller and other things. He coughs at Abitha's description of Alexander (a gaming reference...he hopes), raises his mug to Isolde and says to her, "You too--take care." He takes a nice, long sip of milk foam and bitter coffee.

That glance from Abitha has August regretting his question. Then Seth is going into details and he really regrets it. "That sounds, ah, great." He has a bite of biscotti so he can focus on the taste of that, and not what a waffletaco might taste like. "But probably not Ellie's deal. No liquor license."

Kailey returns with a clean and changed baby who smells of lavender. She settles the babe back into the stroller as she hangs up her phone. "I wanna know more about those waffle tacos, but I gotta run. Ev called. Thanks August," She tells the older gebtleman fondly. She gathers a to-go bag for her remaining pastries and tucks it i to the stroller bottom with the bag. "Was lovely seeing you," And she, too, is heading out the door.

Isolde gets a polite smile, because neither woman had actually given a name, and given Abitha had never met Isolde, and the way Alexander was, there was any range of things that sort of thing could mean. Oh well, advertise, "One Up Gaming! Opening soon! Just come on by!" Yeah, that will make it less awkward... Right? But then she's back serious face, wheeling on August.

"No." She corrects vehemently, leaving no room for argument in the matter, "Do not be polite about it. It was horrid. Horrible idea. They fried it in the same oil as the turkey, August." Another look of disgust is given Seth's way and a slow back and forth of her head, a judgmental shake.

Seth says, "Well, it could be easily modified to be non-boozy. You know, just ice cream in a waffle, flash-fried just like fried ice cream you find in some restaurants." If Seth is dissuaded by the tone of August's voice, he doesn't let it show as he turned to Abitha. "So far everyone that has had one has loved them, even with the slight turkey taste of them because we didn't change out the oil. But using fresh oil, we are going to make bank with them. Hell, Joey was so impressed with them he wants to have a stake in them!"

August pauses in nibbling on his biscotti to say, "You too, Kailey--drop by for some flowers at the shop any time, I'll make sure they're waiting for you if I'm not there." And it's a good thing he stopped, because his worst fears are confirmed. When Seth had off-handedly mentioned the turkey party, it had occurred to him--briefly, the way one totally on accident and without even trying might think about dying in a horrible car crash or stabbing oneself in an insane kitchen mishap--that they might not have had more than one fryer, and so the waffletacos, ostensibly a dessert, had become some horrific abomination straddling the savory and sweet line, like french fries dipped in a shake.

He's saved the need to be impolite by Abitha's refusal to be. She definitely owes him one less for this save. "It is possible I could be talked into trying one which had been done in the proper oil." He's had tempura ice cream, after all, and it was good, if...weird. But, "Why fry it? You could just put ice cream and chocolate syrup and fruit on a waffle." Look, he's not from the South, don't judge.

The slow back and forth shake had not stopped, her eyes and the orientation turning on August to keep shaking, then back at Seth. No. No all around. "Because they were high ayy-eff." Abitha remarks flatly, which was the absolute explanation for whatever these bozos thought of that travesty of a desert attempt. Well... So was she, but no one could really avoid it... She just didn't get the munchies as bad. "Also they're using like Eggos? If they keep trying it'll be worse than those german tacos." Again, there's a knowing trade of glances with August. Horror. The horror. Back to Seth, "Ya'll keep talking about making bank, and you still haven't solved the chocotaco problem. Everyone's just gonna think you're doing it worse, and forget about it."

"Why not fry it?" the bouncer retorts as if the question is a silly one to ask. "It adds some texture and cohesiveness to the whole thing. Waffles with syrup and fruit have been done to death, and sure it's good and all, but this is better. This has booze." Seth looks between the two and purses his lips, "Don't knock it until you try it. As I said, anyone that has actually tried it, loved it."

He looks back to Abitha, "Fuck Chacotacos. They are totally different, besides that will be for Easton and Joey and the people that market them to worry about. You're just being a hater." Seth grouses as he takes a sip from his coffee. "I need another bear claw."

August wrinkles his nose at the revelation that Eggos were used. "Elch," is his entire comment on that. A tired sigh of acknowledgment for the 'high AF' situation; he doesn't get munchies nearly the way other people do. Just loopy, full of bizarre ideas, and possessed of a notion to put them into practice. What's worse, trying to sleep in the goat shed, or making waffletacos? ...okay, probably the waffletacos. But still.

Really, he won't even judge too harshly on 'why NOT fry it'; he's known plenty of Southerners in his time. He just leans forward, resting his elbows on the table, and says to Seth, "Look, if you're going through with this, you need make actual, real waffles. They're not hard to make, at all, and will taste one thousand percent better."

He might be about to ask after chocotacos, except his phone rings. Another sigh, this one tired. "Why do I get the feeling this is an emergency tree call." He eases up from the table, saying to Abitha and Seth, "If you're not here when I get back from this, catch ya later," and moves to a quiet corner.