coffeesquid-blog

[coffeesquid-blog]

[coffeesquid-blog]

“Hey, it’s been a little while! Um.. sorry for the lack of activity here, I’ve been pretty busy! Be it work-related or trying to maintain social connections, I’ve been booked solid, heh.

Though, uhm.. I guess it’s news to say that Chase ( @ozeansquids ) and I.. um.. w-we finally kissed while we were out today. Heh.. and here I was, thinking that he was annoyed by me or something..! I’m, um.. I’m glad to know that.. our feelings for each other are mutual. He’s so nice.. so handsome... W-Wah.. I’m making myself blush again..!”

[coffeesquid-blog]

“Sure, no problem. I’ve got all day, so take your time!”

When Javier returns his attention to Esben, the inkling tilts his head a little at his first test. While he doesn’t doubt his ability to make nice coffees, he does feel a little on the spot about this.  He was expecting more of a formal interview, but.. he will try his best to impress Javier!

“Ah, o-okay!” he states briefly, making his way behind the counter, glancing around at the nice-looking machines and utensils. A lot of them seem to have more of a ‘classic’ look to them, as opposed to the other coffee shop he works at, which has more modern-looking tools. He ponders for a moment, checking what he has at his disposal to help figure out what he should make. “Um.. let’s see... Oh! I know!”

Esben brews up some espresso, steaming some milk on the side while he waits for it to brew. He grabs the milk once it’s ready and pours it into one of the blenders, making it nice and frothy. Oh.. but he’s missing something! Where is the.. oh! There it is! Grabbing the vanilla syrup, he takes the mug before him and adds it in, the espresso and milk soon to follow. He drizzles a bit of caramel on the top- not too much, just enough!- before calling it done.

“Ta-da! A nice caramel macchiato!” he smiles, stepping it out of the way to present it to Javier. “One of my favourites, actually!”

“Oh! Muy bien, muy bien. Let me handle a few more orders and then I’ll be right with you on that.”

Javier seems really pleased by that – he’s clearly got his hands full as he darts as quick as his short legs will take him from brewer to customer to brewer again.

And he really is short – not a hair over 5′3″. Only a little smaller than Esben, but still.

A break in service mercifully presents itself, and Javier returns to the counter, still smiling.

“Okay! You want to brew, huh? Then I’ve only got a couple tests for you before we get started. First, I just want you to make a cup of coffee. However you like it.”

Javier opens the divider between the counter and the rest of the cafe one more time, clearing the way between Esben and the various appliances with which Javier prepares his drinks. Pretty much everything one would need to make any kind of hot or iced beverage is back there…

[coffeesquid-blog]

Esben only nods a little at Nuta’s response about working with family.. and his other comment. He has noticed that it can be pretty hard for other species to get jobs at the bigger, ‘mainstream’ businesses in Inkopolis. Inklings can be pretty rude to non-inklings, much to his dismay.

“Oh, um.. sure! I haven’t actually tried that flavor yet, so why not?” he nods again with a smile, stepping out of the way a little to let another customer by before turning back to Nuta. “How much is one of those?”

“Exciting? I wouldn’t really… call it exciting, but I’m sure I’d have a much harder time working for Inklings…” Assuming they got hired at all. Unlikely, given the whole slime-oozing thing. Esben seemed nice enough though. “I bet some of my folks would like you, though. They like almost everybody. D'you want a bubble tea or anything while you’re here? We have shrimp flavor now.”

[coffeesquid-blog]

[Text] [To: Esben] 'Hello Esben... Sorry I could not contact you earlier but... Do you have time this weekend?'

Flopped on his couch relaxing a bit, Esben shifts as his phone alerts him of a new text. He stretches a bit to retrieve it from the table beside him, grabbing it and turning the screen on. As he reads who the text is from, he feels a very slight blush creep over his cheeks, a smile quick to follow.

“Ohmygosh,” he mutters quietly to himself, clearly quite happy and surprised to have the purple inkling contact him.

[Text] [To: Chase]‘It’s ok! You seem like quite a busy guy, so I wasn’t too worried. But yes, I do. Did you want to meet up?’

[coffeesquid-blog]

Esben seems quite amused by Javier’s little show there, though he must admit that he was feeling a little anxious just watching it slide down the counter as if he expected it to spill at any time. But, of course.. he shouldn’t expect any less from someone in charge of an establishment as nice as this.

The inkling has never seen an alligator before. Or at least, not in person. This one seems a lot more friendly and laid-back than the ones he’s seen on television and in movies. Of course.. you can’t always trust media portrayal.

Well. May as well get right to the point...

“Um, actually,” he starts quietly, shifting a little nervously in hopes that he doesn’t come off as too desperate for the job. “I’m here for the job opening. I mean.. if it’s still available, that is.”

“Have been for just under three years, amigo. Passed down from my papa and some day to whoever I pick.” 

Javier’s back is to Esben as he finishes an order for another inkling – iced tea with milk and sugar. Pretty common for Turf War players looking to relax post-game.

He turns around with a small smile, sliding the glass down the counter to the awaiting squidkid without looking.

They catch it. Must be a regular.

The smile doesn’t fade as the chubby, mud-colored gator rests his arms on the counter right in front of Esben and gets a good look at him.

“Come here for a drink or for a conversation? I’m happy to make either.”

[coffeesquid-blog]

“Oh! A family business? That must be pretty exciting,” he smiles broadly. Esben loves his family more than anything, but he could never work with most of them. Not happily, anyway. There are things about him that they won’t really accept, and.. well, let’s just say there would be a lot of complications.. but he loves the idea nonetheless.

“Yeah, true! I wonder if I could do stuff like that over at the coffee shop. I mean.. it’s not hurting anyone, plus the customer would be happy. Hmm... I guess I’ll just have to try next time someone asks about that. Thanks!”

“Cousin. We work together. Family business…” Usually Nitsu was here, but at Hama’s insistence had taken the day off. Myku was in the back kitchen right now, probably on their phone because business was slow. They weren’t as social as the rest of the family but they did a good enough job. 

“It’s a good idea, I think, as far as ideas I’ve had. And it’s not like they could tell the difference. It’s supposed to be secret.”

[coffeesquid-blog]

Esben can tell that she doesn’t believe him, even though it was the truth. It is pretty crummy that, not one, but two of their employees didn’t show up, but that’s far out of his control. He is just an employee himself, and there is only so much that he can do here.

“It’s alright,” he nods slightly at Aggie’s quiet apology. “If that’s all, I’ll get that new coffee made up right away.”

“Really.” Chell doesn’t seem like she believes that. “Well, I’ll just come in tomorrow then. And I would like the coffee remade, please.”

“…sorry about the trouble,” Aggie says quietly, giving him a pleading look. Please don’t be upset, it seems to say, this is just how she is.

[coffeesquid-blog]

“Th-The thing is, miss.. these two don’t usually skip work... I.. none of us can get in contact with them...” he explains, trying not to sink back into himself under the intimidation of the other. “Ah, um.. our manager should be in tomorrow morning.. if you would rather speak with her about things. I apologize deeply for today’s inconvenience...”

“What’s the matter, your boss doesn’t know how to hire dependable people? When’s the next time they’re in?” She’s leaning over the counter a little now, hands on her hips. There were so many earnest kids looking for jobs these days, hiring people who didn’t show up for work was practically inexcusable.

[coffeesquid-blog]

“Y-You saw nothing!!”

@coffeesquid YEAH I SAW THAT

[coffeesquid-blog]

“I.. I apologize, miss. We only have one other inkling beside myself manning the store this afternoon.. and he’s pretty new to the store. The other two that are supposed to be here today didn’t show up, so I’m sure he is doing his best to help fulfill orders.”

He is trying his hardest to hide it, but you can still hear the nervousness in his voice. Conflict has never been a strong point for Esben.

“Um.. we can.. give you a new one if you would like? I’ll make it myself to make sure it’s to your standards.”

“Yes, well.” Chell sets a paper cup of coffee on the counter. “Somebody back there got our order completely wrong. We had a small mocha latte, not a medium. And there’s no syrup in it, and it’s way too hot.”

“Mom, it’s fine…” Aggie murmurs from behind her.

[coffeesquid-blog]

“Oh? Um.. I’m sorry, but our manager isn’t in today... But I can try to my fullest extent to assist with whatever concerns that you may have,” Esben replies, looking a touch worried. It isn’t often that he is the one to deal with complaints, so he is a little nervous.. but he wants the customers to be happy.

“What can I help you with?”

@coffeesquid

“Excuse me?”

Chell stands at the counter, hands on her hips and her lips set in a stern frown. Aggie lingers behind her, looking like they’d every much like to disappear into the floor. 

“Is your manager here? I have some concerns.”

[coffeesquid-blog]

Whaaaat?! You're so cute OMFG it's illegal! >////w////<

“Oh, I um… Uh… W-Well, I mean.. I’m not that cute, but thank you..!”

[coffeesquid-blog]

“While it has been quite a busy week, I’m actually feeling pretty good! A lot of people have been talking with me more often- real conversation instead of forced small talk.. I think I even made a friend or two! And I actually have the weekend off! Maybe I’ll take the days to enjoy myself for a change instead of hunting for a second job...”

[coffeesquid-blog]

“Nitsu?” Esben asks, tilting his head ever so slightly. “Oh, is that your boss or..?”

The inkling ponders over what he had just heard, nodding a little bit. It is a pretty good idea, after all... “You know, I never thought about doing anything like that... I suppose I could always just make something random for them next time they ask about it. It wouldn’t be bad, I don’t think. And as long as I mix in whatever flavor they wanted, I don’t think they’ll be able to tell the difference, heheh.”

“Oh, thank you… I’ll let Nitsu know, they make most of the desserts.” Luckily Nuta had no ears to talk off, and it was nice to have a friendly conversation with a stranger that didn’t seem to be put off by their awkwardness. “Whenever anybody asks for something off a secret menu, which really doesn’t happen that often, I just give them one of our regular things and tell them it’s secret. It’s easier that way. Or I give them leftovers from the back fridge I was going to take home because nobody bought them. I don’t feel like there’s anything wrong with being sneaky in that case.”

[coffeesquid-blog]

“I see... Well, I suppose you agents know how to run things in your own orderly fashions. Whatever works, right?”

He still isn’t really sure about this whole agent business, but it’s a job. Someone’s gotta do it, keep Inkopolis safe and stuff... That is what they do, right..? He wonders what that must be like.. but he’s never been much of a fighter, so in the end it’s not really his cup of tea-- er, coffee?

“Well.. I do appreciate the work you agents do, even if.. I didn’t really think you guys existed before now.”

Agent laughs. “Hey The stealth thing and such is really just stereotype. We’re not exactly committed to being always behind the scenes and hidden. We can be out in the open without anyone noticing.” He folds his arms. “Though, Espionage and a other spy related work is complex. My real identity isn’t exposed.”

[coffeesquid-blog]

@agent-7-at-your-service

“Well no need to give me an agent name. I just wanted to say hello since you are new around Inkopolis.”

“Oh, I’m not new!” he laughs, waving his hand as he leans on the counter a little.

“I’ve been working at this coffee shop for a while now.. maybe a few months now? But I’ve always lived here in the city! And I, erm.. what I meant is.. isn’t it dangerous to toss around your agent identity like that to the public? I heard they’re supposed to be secret! What if someone is.. you know.. listening..?”