Coffee and Music

[Seraphina]

Garden Grounds was fairly busy this evening, tables almost all full with people enjoying coffee or tea. Or the newest addition, Bubble Tea!

The lighted roses on each table offered a gentle glow in various colors, while the fairy lights that were mixed into the hanging plants gave the place a romantic summer evening glow.

The small stage was aglow with soft lights, welcoming anyone for Open Mic night, but was currently empty.

Sera could be found sitting near the front counter, a bubble tea in front of her, sapphires watching the crowd filter in and buy things. It made her giddy almost, to see her coffee house a success. She was dressed a little casual tonight in a long sleeved, off white short sweater dress, a matching belt cinching and showing off her tiny waist. Her long hair was pulled off to one side with a music note hair piece, the rest was gently cascading around her shoulders, knee high boots on her legs. A mystic topaz sat on a thin chain around her neck, sparkling with different colors in the soft lights.

[Ingrid]

Ingrid drifts in from the street, leather jacket slung casually over her shoulder. For a long moment she pauses at the threshold, simply breathing in the ambience (as well as the multifaceted aromas of the coffee). Her dark eyes drift over the empty stage and alight briefly on Seraphina Orianna . The Vernal Sovereign dips her head in quite recognition of her Courtier's achievement.

When Ingrid moves it is with purpose. First, to the counter, where she issues a definitive order for "Russian Caravan, white." Then she found herself a table close by. Not the Fairest's table; not unless the other Lost indicated she wanted company.

Slinging her coat over the back of her seat, Ingrid settled in to wait.

[Hamia]

A long-haired brunette with a serious set of eyebrows makes her way into the Garden Grounds. She's dressed simply, with faded jeans and a white top. Her cream-colored messenger bag is slung over one shoulder and her hair is in a ponytail. There's... a lot of flowers here. Which makes sense by the name. But she isn't here for flowers or atmosphere. This place has something she needs.

Coffee.

Oh my God, yes. The place looks a little busy, but Hamia doesn't mind in the slightest. More people means not being singled out, and she could really use some quiet time. Being alone with her thoughts is a whole lot easier with a hot, caffinated beverage too.

She gets in line behind a raven-haired beauty and scans the establishment for a displayed menu. A 'bubble-tea' is advertised, which earns a private laugh under her breath. She isn't here for tea. Bubbles or no. The dark-haired girl orders a drink and Hamia mutters "Ooh, sounds good." Mostly to herself, but loud enough for the other customer to hear. People like positive reinforcement. That's what the latest book she's been reading says.

When the raven-haired lady steps away and finds a table, Hamia closes the gap to the counter in one long stride. "Can I get the biggest latte you sell? Oh! Make that a caramel latte." She smiles and fishes for her money. In the satchel of all places. Her hand reappears with a creased 20 and she pays for her drink. Now all she needs is a place to sit. She steps out of the way of the next customer and looks for empty tables. Of which there are none. She does catch a glimpse of an amazing looking girl in a sweater dress, sitting by herself. She's probably never had to work for anything in life.

Her options for sitting are the table with the girl drinking the Russian whatever, miss perfect's table and one with a nauseating older man giving her the 'this seat's open' look. Its fine. She can just as easily stand off to the side. But she doesn't. That would look awkward and draw unwanted attention. She settles for the dark-haired girl's table.

"Um, hi. Sorry to bug you. Is it ok if I sit here with my drink?"

[Izayoi Goto]

The delights of exploring a new city are innumerable, and despite the advancement in technology, the shadow still believed it was the height of folly to allow your opinions to be formed without your own experiences to guide them. So here she was, dressed as the shadow she is, in the familiar and the less so, she strides into the Garden Grounds, smirk playing upon her painted lips, as red as any blood she has feasted on, mortals seemed to enjoy playing upon words.

Striding to the counter, she orders something that apparently came with...glitter, though no bubbles in her tea would be found. She was a traditionalist, at least where her tea was concerned. She wondered if she would even sample the drink, or just use it as a disguise, to be safe rather then sorry the kage no akuma allows the Blood to flow.

Stepping through the crowd, she takes her glittery tea and her obligatory purchase of some sugary confection, she chooses a seat close to the brunette whom she knew owned this cafe so she could offer her compliments to the host.

Manners Makeith...

"The cafe is simply a marvel, Seraphina yes? Congratulation." she offers her hand to be shaken even as she frowns within. Such a primitive method of greeting. "Koine," she offers the name that now has a legal identity attached to it.

[Ingrid]

Ingrid's face split with a huge grin. She preens, gestures with a free hand to an empty chair.

Was she... winking? At Hamia? No. Not Hamia... The beauty at the opposite table, perhaps. For sure. What?

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-05-02 04:10:14		Ingrid to be sneaky social and wink at Seraphina rolls 5 to Wits + Socialise (10 Again)		2, 1, 4, 2, 6		failure

"Well. Hello. Look at you! Yeah. Sure. Why not? Its Ingrid, by the way. Pleased to meet you."

Was she... inching... her chair closer?

[Seraphina]

A smile and nod were returned to Ingrid. Secretly pleased that her Queen had come by the coffee shop, she’d been wanting to show it off to her.

A sip of her tea was taken, a bursting boba caught in her mouth and savored as it popped, filling her mouth with passion fruit goodness.

The second one to enter was studied as she stood in line. There was something appealing about her looks. The Nix could appreciate a good-looking woman when she saw one.

As she seemed to debate where to sit, Sera was pleasantly surprised to see her approach Ingird.

Now the woman that approached her, she was pretty too. Seemed it was the night for attractive woman to be in the shop. But this one had an aristocratic beauty and a wistful presence.

And that shirt?! Sera was loving that!

A friendly smile appears on her face, “Yes, but please, Sera is fine, and thank you!” Comes the angelic voice, as she accepts the hand with a firm shake, “Please join me, Koine. How are you tonight?” Not a name she’d ever heard before.

“I have to say, I love the style of your shirt! It looks so comfortable!” she gushed, taking a sip of her tea, sipping up another boba.

"Is your drink good?" she asks with genuine curiosity. It was always good to get feedback on the drinks and food, that way she knew if she had to change things.

And...did Ingrid just wink at her?

[Hamia]

Hamia blinks as the stranger with the fancy coffee nearly overwhelms her with receptivity. and is she winking at her? No... She glances over her shoulder and sees the all-too-pretty girl. Friend of hers, then? Oh boy...

"Thanks." Despite her initial discomfort, she leans in towards Ingrid a little and whispers. "You know her?" She repeatedly tells herself not to look over her shoulder again. Not to make eye contact. To be cool.

And she glances back anyway. Had that pretty Asian girl always been there? She quickly turns back to the raven haired girl. Ingrid.

"Oh! Right, I didn't mean to be rude. I'm Ha-- err... Lindsey. Yeah. Lindsey." She laughs, nervously. Any illusion of spending her time in the coffee shop alone... in quiet contemplation? Shattered. Oh well, Ingrid's cute. She takes the seat offered and un-slings her messenger bag, laying it to rest over the back of her chair. Small talk it is.

"What's in your drink?" she asks, cradling her own with both hands and taking the first, satisfying sip.

[Izayoi Goto]

From the corner of her eyes she observes the floundering flirtation from the pair near her chosen perch, but her primary focus is upon the ever so enthralling brunette with eyes so blue they simply couldn't be real.

"Sera," she murmurs when she is provided the option. Stunned at such a voice to leave her perfectly shaped lips. What a life she must have lived previously to be blessed so (for happiness didn't seemed forced, her beauty didn't make her bitter) in this one. "My thanks," she ducks now into a proper bow before she sits.

"It is reminiscent of things warm from my homeland. It is a comfort," she replies, truth flowing like water. Though her comfort wasn't what she had assumed the brunette's was. "You're ensemble is certainly eye-catching, not many have the figure nor the confidence to stand as tall as you have tonight." her words are returned with a careless care. Implying and biting, while seemingly not in the same moment.

Her eyes turn to the glittery confection held within her cup. With languidness, she brings the drink to her lips, and takes a sip. A finger finds her lips as the cup returns to the table, carefully cleaning away any sparkling residue.

"It's truly like nothing I've had before." she answers honestly, with a smile.

[Ingrid]

"Oh yeah. Thats Sera," Ingrid was perhaps a little too blasé. "She is a friend of mine, yes."

Ingrid grinned slyly.

"And this is Russian Caravan. I like the... nutty... aspects. Helps me relax."

Take that as you will.

"So. You a coffee aficionado or are you here for the night life?" The sly grin was still plastered all over her face when she inclined her head to the stage.

[Seraphina]

Wait, did this chick just…bow? Was that a thing?

A nod, “Well, it certainly looks comfortable, very flattering and like it would flow nicely with the right breeze.” A cooling factor in the heat of Sacramento’s summers. Another sip of bubble tea, another boba.

One corner of her mouth pulls up into a half smirk, “Confidence is a learned art that not many can master.” She offers back. Years of training, which would forever be ingrained in her mind taught her confidence. But being self-aware of who she was made it easy for her.

The smirk changes into a full smile, “Not a glowing review, but I’ll take it.” She almost mentioned the glitter reminded her of her own skin, but this wasn’t another Lost. At least, not that she knew. Best keep talk like that for more private and secure locations.

“You mentioned your homeland, are you here visiting or have you moved here?” she asks, curious about the woman siting in front of her.