Coffee Crisis (Lennox.)

[Odion Martins]

Odion didn’t look as bad on the outside as he felt on the inside. He had read somewhere once that when you feel like absolute shit, it is a good idea to dress up extra nice in order to trick your inner self into thinking you were better than you actually were. So far, it wasn’t working at all.

Maybe that’s because it doesn’t work with this sort of thing. You know, breaking up with your boyfriend and then forgetting about it…

Odion sighed, reaching for the door to the café. Coffee wasn’t going to help, but neither was binge drinking so this seemed like the better option. He wasn’t sure what he expected to find when he found Lani, but it hadn’t ended well. It seemed like no matter what they were always fighting, with or against each other it didn’t matter.

The redhead sat at the counter and adjusted his purple button up shirt. The jeans at least would help make him look more casual, and not like he was going to a business meeting. The atmosphere was comfy in here and he didn’t plan on leaving any time soon.

His dark blues glanced from the menu overhead to the waitress now in front of him. Recollection crossed his mind and he smiled slightly. “I know you,” he stated in his British accent. “Lennox, am I correct?” They weren’t friends or anything close to the sort, but Odion could remember a face and a name. He leaned forward and pretended to be baffled by the menu. “There are so many choices, what would you recommend?”

Yes, a distraction is just what he needed right now.

[Lennox Bessette]

Lennox cursed as she heard the bell above the door go off signaling that nap time was over and for some unknown reason someone was once again coming into the coffee shop at a ridiculous time at night. Didn't people sleep? Didn't they know if they kept coming in so damn late, drumming up business, that she'd have to continue doing these absolutely unnecessary night shifts? Did they have no soul? Or did they just not care about hers because she was pretty sure a little piece of it was taken away every single time that damn bell rang. 

Her fingers raked through her hair, freeing a few unruly blonde strands from her low set bun as she grabbed a menu and came out grumbling. 

"Welcome to Velvet Tone." She said, her southern drawl particularly apparent at this time of night. "Specials are... well whatever you damn well want considering you're the only one here sweetie." She said without even glancing up. 

Len blinked several times when the customer seemed to know her. "Odion!" She immediately perked up. They hadn't been friends but for some reason after graduation everyone seemed like a good prospect and she'd been so damn bored in Pilot Ridge that a familiar face was more than a welcomed site. 

"Yes. I'm Lennox, or Len, Lenny, Nox, even Hey you." She chuckled raddling off the names she'd acquired over the years. "Erm... I mean I'm a hazlenut girl but honestly even if you want something fancy... I could use something to do to keep me awake." She said as her excitement dulled. Whatever he picked she was making two of, one for him and one for herself.

"What brings you here?" She said through a yawn. 

[Odion Martins]

Odion probably didn’t have a soul – he is a redhead after all.

Smirking at her snarky behaviour and pretty Southern accent, Odion took the menu and didn’t even bother looking at it. “Is that how the waitresses are gathering tips nowadays?” He asked, setting the menu down and sliding it back over to her. It was lucky for her that he wasn’t in a terrible mood. Or at least, he was pretending not to be.

Someone was better than nothing when the walls of high school security were stripped away. He smiled some more and nodded. Well, at least someone seemed moderately happy to see his mug around town. He was a fighter at heart, but he was tired.

“The beautiful servers,” he teased, sitting up straight. There was nothing wrong with being charming, especially if it meant you could have people in the palm of your hand. “But really the answer depends on what you mean exactly. Here could mean anything.” He said. “Hazelnut it is. Something hot maybe? It’s ridiculously cold outside.”

[Lennox Bessette]

Lenny couldn't help but smiles when the boy seemed as game as she was for the flirt game. Hadn't he been dating someone throughout high school? She couldn't remember who but she thought he was a he... not that that mattered she'd been with boys and girls herself and couldn't say she knew what her preference was either way. Flirting was fun, it was a distraction, a mask, a bandaid that made you feel good about yourself. What was the harm in that?

"That among other things." She answered coyly as she went to brew up the coffee with a smirk. "Coffee isn't the only thing that could warm you up tonight." She winked playing the i'm only kidding if you are game. She was lonely, and sometimes lonely people didn't think straight.  

"Here as in... Pilot Ridge... Here as in the coffee shop is easy enough to figure out from there." She said returning to her stool opposite him as she rested her head in her hands. After working here she was considering a degree in psychology, lord knows she spent enough time counseling drunks who were trying to sober up after a night out drinking. Odion was far more interesting company. 

[Odion Martins]

Surely there could be no harm in participating in something that made you feel good – it was his excuse for drinking and smoking, though the latter was only on occasion.

Odion let out a chuckle, his eyes squinting at the edges in amusement. “Well, it’s a start,” he said, watching her maneuver behind the bar. He was in love with someone and this was how he decided to spend his nights? Perhaps he hadn’t changed as much as he had hoped. But Lennox didn’t need to know about those thoughts.

“Ah.” Odion said, wondering what he could say to that. “Well I’ve enrolled at the community college, going to try my luck at business school.” It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the true reason as to why he had decided to come back to Pilot Ridge. People say that home is where the heart is, and his home was currently with a blond boy also attending community college.

“And you’re here because you enjoy entertaining odd people at ungodly hours by serving them specialty drinks?” Wow, that was quite the mouthful even for him. He gestured towards the clock and smiled once more. “Your rush must be coming in about half an hour, most of the bars close around 2.” Of course he would know that...

[Lennox Bessette]

She smiled up at him when he said he was attending the community college, half because she was happy he was going to be around and half because she could detect a bullshit smile from a mile away and she was smarter than to know that someone would come back to Vermont of all places for COMMUNITY college. That was bullshit. Of course Pilot Ridge was different, especially for metas. She knew that she wasn't welcome in her small town where Jesus reigned and despite her father Len was as good as a witch, so she wouldn't heckle him... yet. "Ah business." She nodded approvingly, "You'll be good at that."

"I did something terrible in a past life and now I'm being punished." She chuckled as the coffee started to drip in the pot. God she hated that sound. "That and I really wanted to learn how to make hearts out of foam." Another joke, wow she must have been feeling more insecure than she thought. 

She glanced over at the clock, he was right and her entire body reflected how excited she was for that. Her shoulders slumped and a groan made it's way past her lips as her head hit the counter. Not only would they be drunks, they'd be poor tipping drunks who hit on her. Her boss was satan, she was positive and this was Jesus's way of punishing her for all she'd done or something. 

She glanced up at Odion, it was clear that neither of them were going to say why they were REALLY here. And she was ok with that. Some secrets were better kept unsaid... at least for a while. 

[Odion Martins]

How would she know Odion had been gone at all? Surely she hadn’t missed him, that would just be... odd. “I figured as much,” he seconded. He was pretty certain there was a point where he had shown her some of his card tricks. He was good with slight at hand, and he was a better con artist. If he didn’t like business, maybe he could try law.

“Well, it’s a job yeah?” He said with a shrug. There were plenty of, erm, jobs, he had done in order to get by. “Can you make leaves out of foam too?” Okay, now he was probably harassing her, and judging by her demeanour, she would rather be shot in the foot that continue working here for more than a couple months, a year at most.

Sensing her distress, Odion had an idea. “I wouldn’t mind helping keep some of those customers at bay.” He knew how stupid drunk people could be because he was one of them. For once he was in a sober state and if he could keep her attention a little longer, he just might start to feel better, and he couldn’t help make drinks or anything, so this was the next best thing.

[Lennox Bessette]

Len glanced up at the boy staring daggers in response to his little joke. "Yeah actually." She chuckled breaking the intense stare as the coffee finished up and she went to retrieve them both a cup. Had she been making latte's she would have made him his leaf but alas, this was just plain coffee and she wasn't about to go out of her way to steam milk or anything. She didn't even do that for the paying drunks. 

A snort escaped from Len's mouth as he offered to help. "You have no idea what you're in for." She said shaking her head "But If you don't mind... i mean I for one like having you around so by all means." She said half tempted to give him an apron to make him look like a proper employee. 

They still had time though. The bars didn't close for half an hour and even then it took more time for the stumbling baffoons to figure out which side of the street the cafe was on. 

She set down the coffee, some creamers, and an assortment of sweeteners in front of the boy before grabbing a piece of coffee cake from the counter and two forks to pick at. She needed something sweet and she had a serious weakness for anything cakey. 

"So... Mr. Martins," She smirked "I suppose since your little story about Pilot Ridge didn't answer this question... what the hell brought you here, to the Velvet Tone, at almost 2 am? A girl? A boy? Morbid curiosity about coffee this late?" She had a shit eating grin on as she began to prod. But she was curious despite not expecting any ground breaking answer. He was most likely bored. 

[Odion Martins]

“Oh, I think I do.” He said challengingly. He was often one of those annoying patrons, and if and when he did lose his temper, he could always fast forward time and them out of the shop that way. Maybe he could even snag a few wallets while he was at it, since he was low on cash. “Besides, if you hate the job so much, why not just quit?” It was a simplistic question with so many answers, which was why Odion asked. The obvious answers were that she needed money, but people rarely thought about why, beyond the cash flow.

Odion looked up curiously. “Yes? Miss Bessette?” An eyebrow was raised in curiosity as he tried to predict what she would ask next. The ginger toyed with the rim of the coffee mug, a small smile on his face as he contemplated an artful answer. “Honestly?” He asked, giving a sigh, trying to buy himself more time. “I just haven’t been the same since I’ve left, so I came back to try and find myself again.” It was actually the truth for once, although it was a little bit of a mystery. Odion would always come off that way.”And, I’m trying not to be one of those drunks that come parading in here,” he teased, sipping at the coffee very daintily. “This isn’t half bad,” he teased, setting the drink down and glancing at her.

“And you? Are you running away from something or towards something?” Not everyone was running away after all, some people were living off of dreams. Odion took a nibble of cake, no expression on his face. “Did you make this?” He asked. It wasn’t the worst thing he had ever tasted, but it wasn’t that great either.

[Lennox Bessette]

She smiled when he asked why she didn't quit. "Well..." She said prepping herself with a sip of coffee, "Honestly it's something to do and I guess I've been kind of lonely lately... even if i don't like the people who come in there's still people." She shrugged not meaning to be depressing, but she was feeling a little depressed lately, and taking it out in totally unhealthy ways. "That and there's also the fact that the whole college thing doesn't even feel right for me and going home ins't an option." She said eyeing her phone with 3 missed calls from her mother that she'd yet to respond to. 

His answer sounded familiar. So both of them were lost little soldiers looking for what they were fighting for. She only offered an understanding nod. There wasn't much she could say about that. It was a shitty feeling being in the position they were in, the constant feeling of not being able to get comfortable, always unsettled. It blew the big one. 

She let out a chuckle as he broke the tension, "Yeah well... it's my life's worth" she said bowing her head "I'm only glad that I, a humble surf, could appeal to the taste buds of the great Lord Martins." Ok, she clearly needed some rest and the sleepy ha has were settling in at a rapid pace. 

An impish smirk plagued her face as he asked the question to end all questions. "Does anyone really know? If you are running away from one thing aren't you running towards something else?" Her eyes lit up with excitement before dropping it. "Nah I don't do the baking. If i did it'd have chocolate hidden in there somewhere." She said as she slid off her stool and grabbed a hat from the back tossing it over to him.

"You're uniform for the night. Consider this a trial, maybe if you're ok I'll get the boss to hire you." 

[Odion Martins]

Odion nodded understandingly. “That is quite honest.” He missed having people be truly honest with him, skip the mind game nonsense once in a while. He had just been told by his lover to leave – honesty had gotten him nowhere tonight. But that was just tonight after all. “You and I are birds of the same feather.” His eyes danced around the coffee cup before looking back at her. Her accent said a lot about where she came from, and he knew a thing or two about being accepted, or rather, not being accepted. He laughed softly, not in a mocking way. “I don’t think school has ever been for me.”

Giggling at her display of fiefdom, Odion had to stop drinking his coffee momentarily, lest it shoot out of his nose in the most eloquent of fashions. “It is hard to please me,” he agreed, his face turning serious as he played along. He had done fairly well for himself in the dramatic arts. “I’ll put in a good word for you the next time I visit the King.” She was certain she hadn’t spiked his drink with something strong, or was that all simply crazy talk?

Her impish grin reminded him of somebody and his mind seemed to halt. Anything to do with Lani was going to hurt for a very long time. Odion smiled as she returned his question with another question, which in his eyes made her instantly likable. “Ah, brains and beauty,” he said, giving her a nod and raising his coffee mug up in a salute, “a striking combination.” Lennox was definitely clever, and Odi could let go of the fact that she hadn’t answered the question either way.

Odion caught the hat in a way that made it seem like he knew it was going to be tossed to him, and maybe he did. Sometimes it was hard to say with the way time worked for him. “Dapper,” he stated, a half disgusted look on his face. Just how many people had worn this thing? “If I were hired, the graveyard shift would turn into rush hour,” he teased, giving Lennox a wink and a laugh.

A small group of people came staggering into the shop, laughing and swearing all at once. They fell over one another as they slowly made their way to a booth, and Odion pursed his lips together to hold his laughter inside. He looked at Lennox with raised eyebrows and a look that said, ‘well, this ought to be fun’.

[Lennox Bessette]

"Oh God me either." She laughed, "My philosophy is that school is a place to learn how to learn, you know learn how to open your eyes and take the context clues. Life is where you learn who you are. College is just a scam. Hey, did you know that google is now hiring people with just HIGH SCHOOL degrees?" She rambled, she'd given her father this talk when he harassed her last about coming back down to Tennessee to attend a real school. 

His willingness to play along with her silly game made her eyes genuinely light up, it was rare that someone would act goofy with her and had to stuff down the temptation nagging at her lips to start quoting step brothers. 

"Yeah and don't you forget it." She winked, "I'm the total package." Lennox said half joking, though she was aware of her looks and knew that she was blessed. Hell, her looks had gotten her out of some sticky situations in the past, they were a better ability than her freaking abilities that got her to Hammel, far more useful. 

Her eyes scanned him as he put on the snapback. "Hot," She said "You know, I'm not sure if that'd be a good or a bad thing. Good because we'd make a fortune... bad because I don't trust your latte art skills yet." As she finished she looked over her shoulder to the stumbling baffoons making their way through her palace. 

"And here we go." She said under her breath before pinning on her rehearsed smile. "Hi! Welcome to Velvet Tone! What can I get you?"

A large man, wreaking of booze and cigarettes leaned in close to Lennox, so close that she could feel his hot breath on her face and she had to resist making a disgusted face, as she pulled away, he only moved closer until his fat belly was halfway across the counter. 

"Colombian please" 

[Odion Martins]

Well that comment certainly had opened up a wellspring of life and chatter. Odion chuckled and shook his head no, “Would that be something you’re interested in? I’m fairly good with computers myself – maybe I should quite those college classes now while I’m ahead.” Or, he could just stick to what he had always done and not work at all. Working was for chumps, and he had found a way around the system otherwise known as society. He saw money for what it really was, and it certainly wasn’t a necessity.

“I certainly won’t forget it,” he said, finishing the rest of the coffee before he became lukewarm. Lukewarm coffee was one of the most disgusting things. How could something so wonderful turn so foul in a matter of minutes?

Hot? Yeah, sure – if that wasn’t sarcasm he didn’t know what was. “Are you sure you can trust me at all?” He stripped off his jacked and tossed it over the counter. Well, at least he was dressed nicely. It seemed like that had paid off in the end. And he smelled pretty good too, which was a bonus to the evening. Slowly his thoughts of Lani were being put on the back burner. Just for tonight.

Odion watched as the larger man made his way to the counter, making his presence very well known. “Well she’s not from there,” Odion stated, a hard look on his face, “but I’m sure we can get you some coffee if that’s what you mean.” The grotesque man gave Odion a confused look and the redhead shook his head. He should know better than to waste clever quips on the intoxicated. “Coming right up,” he said cheerily, and the man walked back to the table in a daze. The other people didn’t seem ready to order yet.

A curious thought went through his mind as he watched Lennox behind the counter. “You sure the money is worth this?” Odion glanced at the large man still trying to sit down, a small grin on his face. Odi’s hand was in his back pocket and in that pocket, was the wallet of the man who just ordered coffee. He leaned against the counter; he was a natural at this!