#thread: lupe and copper

[lovesspell]

Location: The Twilight Cauldron Starter for: @blackcatxmagic

"I know, I know! I'm late! But I come bearing bribes and apologies," Lupe sang out as she rushed into the Twilight Cauldron 45 minutes later than she should have. A bag from the Ceramic Cup swung from her hands, her sunglasses just barely on her nose as her sweater hung off of one shoulder and she tried to balance a coffee in the other. She was a hot mess but one that still seemed in good spirits as she grinned once she was face to face with her boss. "Your favorites and some sweet treats. I swear I set my alarm and then I stubbed my toe on the way out my God I thought I was dying and then my coffee maker wouldn't work so I went to the cafe but the line was so long and the guy in front of me must have been ordering for an army because shit he walked out with like four trays and three bags. Insane. Then the coffee I got spilled and so I had to get a refill and obviously flirt with the barista, anyway," she sighed and unpacked the food for them as she rattled off, not even paying attention to if they had customers yet.

She took a big sip from her coffee and slid her glasses up onto her head. "So, did I miss anything fun?"

[lovesspell]

"I mean is it really competition if they have food and we don't?" Lupe laughed at the idea of her doing food prep and being trusted to serve someone their lunch. "But Brutus is kind of a badass name so I'll go with it. See, you love me, though you did really great with that stern voice this time. So much improvement, I almost actually got scared," she teased and gave his shoulder a squeeze. She wasn't totally oblivious to how annoying it must have been to have her as an employee but at this point she had accepted herself as she was and the best she could do was be as transparent with Copper as she possibly could be. "Oh, Lori, of course. But I hear she has a girlfriend so that's not as fun," she told him with a shrug.

"I promise I'll stay and close tonight, and come in early tomorrow. Okay well I can't promise that second part but doesn't mean I won't try." She moved to stand properly behind the counter so she could be ready if someone came in. Still, she was clearly interested in catching up with Copper as she wrapped her arms around her coffee cup and smiled at him. "And how was your weekend? Any fun parties or crazy times?" She knew what the likely answer was but that didn't stop her from asking.

Lupe was late - again. If she weren't such a damned good barista - and if Copper weren't such a laid back sort of boss - he probably would have done something about it by now, but that was the part of running a business that Copper felt weakest at. He wanted to be friends with his employees, wanted them to like him, so when it came time to talk to them about their negative qualities, he...well, dropped the ball a little. But did he? Apart from being late - frequently late - Lupe was his star employee. "Late and fraternizing with the competition?" Copper asked, pretending to be indignant, hands on his hips. "This is a betrayal of the deepest order, Lupe," Copper said even as he took the bag from the barista. "I might as well start calling you Benedict Arnold or Brutus." Obviously Copper was just kidding. Lupe knew full well that he was actually more of a coffee guy, only The Ceramic Cup hadn't been for sale when Copper had moved here, so here they were. And she knew the treats he liked from the coffee shop. "Luckily bribery goes a long way with me," Copper said, reaching into the bag and taking out a cookie, biting into it. "And which barista was it this time?" he asked after taking a bite, his voice muffled by the mouthful of cookie.

Even though this was a lot, this was pretty typical Lupe, and secretly Copper found it endearing. Plus it helped that not only was she not above bribes, she really was good at her job. "Well I handled a rush without you," he said, coughing slightly; he really shouldn't talk while eating. "I will of course be keeping all of the tips from that time frame," he added, though Lupe would know he was kidding - Copper never kept the tips. "As you can see by the empty shop, things have settled down now."