Demanding (Kali)

[Dr. Declan Marst]

Declan wasn’t I any kind of hurry, but that didn’t mean that he wanted his time wasted in the least. That was why he nearly let out a groan when he stepped into the café. It was one of his rare days off from work and he really didn’t need this line. He understood of course, there was good coffee there, or so he had heard. So he had headed into town, only half enjoying it. This town was truly too small for him. What in the world had he been thinking when he came here? Some kind of messed up nostalgia for Hammel evidently. He had wanted to feel less special, to feel like someone more ordinary, or was it something else.

He allowed himself to consider that now, in the wake of all of his success, perhaps he wanted to be extraordinary among the extraordinary. How vain was that? Well that thought he did push away. He wasn’t vain, no, he simply deserved the best. So when he did finally get to the front of the line he rolled his eyes in frustration and ordered a medium coffee, half and half but no sugar and it best not be decaf so help them all god. Along with that couldn’t they please hurry it up, he had things to do today. He didn’t, but really who cared.

“And one of the pastries, I don’t care which just make sure it’s not dried out.” He smirked, knowing that he was being a jerk, but that was just part of being Declan Marst. His eyes followed those behind the counter, waiting to see if anyone would rise to the bait. It was this part of the jerk hunt that always got his blood flowing. What was that word they used to describe him? Oh yeah, smug.

[Kali Caraway]

Kali had good days with her costumers.

And she had her bad days.

Today was a bad day.

The stupid electric company hadn't gotten the payment, even though always dropped off the bill after the bar clothes on the 17th (which was the day the bill was due). For some gosh darn reason, they hadn't found it and had sent a pretty threatening letter to her Kafe this morning. It set her on edge, but because the bill wasn't a month late, they didn't turn off the power. She did however, drive down there and yell at someone until they magically found the letter with payment inside this morning. She got back to her Kafe just before the morning rush started, to which was was glad because she was sure her high schoolers weren't ready to handle it on their own. She had to count to ten several times in her head at a few costumers who complained about mundane things, like their coffee was too hot, or they wanted the Special, but wanted to change a thing or two about it.

The answer was no. The special was the special. No acceptions. If you were deadly allergic, then yeah, she'd leave the cinnamon off the top, or not put in the coconut. But just because you didn't want a panini with the drink and fries did not mean you got to change the panini to a normal sandwich! Stupid...whiny...

"Okay, dude. I'm not your mother, or servant. How about you ask nicely?" Kali snapped at one particular asshat that was just rude from the get-go. With his specific order of coffee. None of her pastries were 'dry'. It was insulting just for him to consider that fact. And she had half a mind to put decalf in his coffee anyway. Because he certainly didn't deserve to enjoy the rest of his day.

Dickhead.

[Dr. Declan Marst]

Declan got the rise he wanted out of the girl behind the counter almost immediately which was honestly very satisfying for him. It was just about perfect in his opinion, nearly the perfect reaction in his opinion. Declan had spent enough time being a jerk to know what rises to look for and which ones to let go, This was one that he could hold onto, this was one that he could push further if he wanted to. It was already busy and he could guess that she was stressed. Well he could make this hell, and that would be easy enough to do. Still maybe he was underestimating people here. All the same he didn’t think so. He had cowed everyone from the most hardened maitre de to the toughest valet around, so what was some coffee shop girl? This was going to be a piece of cake, ironically.

He gave her a brief grin before leaning on the counter. It was clear enough that he was not going to go anywhere. “Now Miss, I’m fairly certain that I just gave my order directly. I simply expressed my desire for specific coffee and timely service. As someone in the service industry you should probably be more respectful of what your customers ask for. I’ve hate to spread around some sort of bad opinion.” Such was the hubris of a man like Declan Marst.

“So,” started Declan in a kind tone. “I’d spend less time being snappy and a little more time getting that order together?” Another smirk followed that one. This was just too much fun. He almost felt… refreshed, as if that was just what he needed today. It was hard enough, coming back here, but he did feel utterly lonely, so any kind of human contact might help some. He didn’t care for friendship, or at least that was what he told himself, so this was the natural alternative. A fight never bothered him.

Spitfire redhead though, how could he pass that up.

He grinned again.

[Kali Caraway]

Kali knew his type. She saw it in his eyes. He just wanted to get a rise out of her. Some much like Sam, she knew how to deal with his kind. She needed to win. She folded her arms and quirked and eyebrow when he addressed her as 'Miss.' Hadn't it become well known by now that she was Kali? The boss? If this guy expected to get her in trouble with a floor manager (which she had none) or building owner (that she was), then he'd be greatly disappointed. The only person he could go to, to complain about her service was his mother.

Which was probably the only person on the planet that would like to listen to him. Kali smirked at the internal monologue and casually checked her finger nails as he complained. "In the service industry or not, I'm only going to be nice or helpful to people with manners." She spoke slowly as she enunciated the 'manners,] because it was probably a word he was not familiar with. Kali rolled her lips over her teeth when he threatened to spread word about her bad service. Fucking do it! She wanted to yell at him and throw his 'dry' pastry at him and tell his ass never to set foot in her store again. She'd done it before, and that crotchety old bastard has never even walked in front of her store again.

Kali just does not have a care in the world to put up with assholes like him. She smiled poisonously at him, "whatever illusion of grandeur that you have, you need to get the fuck over. Just because I work for a living giving people food--you know a substance that allows people to live--does not mean I have to take shit from people like you. Now you can start all over and proceed with a bit of human decency, or, you can turn around and walk your tightwad ass out of my Kafe. I don't have time to deal with this shit so you make up your mind really quickly." Spoken with full confidence and aggression, Kali stared at the man.

[Dr. Declan Marst]

Declan was already settled in and committed to this fight. It was like a real breath of fresh air for him but there was always a problem with moments like this. That was that they did not last, not nearly as long as he wanted them to. This would be over as soon as he was either asked to leave or as soon as he walked away. The latter would probably happen first as he would probably want to come back. He knew better than to burn too many of his bridges, or at least leave a little inching room. However at this moment did he have enough self control to just walk away and wait or his coffee?

The answer was no. He waited calmly as she started to shoot back at him. He wondered if she was aware that the line was growing behind him? Well that didn’t matter, he was there and he was the center of attention right now. He felt like he was glowing. He could see that he was getting underneath her skin, which was just where he wanted to be. Ironically he could actually see under there if he wanted, oh Xray vision, what a help. “Haven’t you heard of the customer is always right? There are very few occupations in which that is not the case, and frankly this is not one of them. If I want my coffee done right then I have a right to ask for it and if you want business you have to comply. Honestly why you are making such a fuss is beyond me, I don’t think it was all that difficult of an order. However if it was, simply just say so.”

Then she started in on this whole food tangent and he furrowed his brow. “I hate to correct you miss but food is widely available, so I would not call your particular work at this moment crucial. Now, I am a doctor, Dr. Marst. I work making sure all of those lovely students up at Hammel are healthy and happy, so I do need my coffee. Are you planning on impeding that? Because if not I’d really like my coffee so I can do my job which actually does save lives.” She could say whatever she wanted, but he had just gone high and mighty, and the chances that he would come back down low enough to begin with. He ignored her aggression. “I believe you heard me the first time around.”

[Kali Caraway]

Kali was very aware of all the eyes that were staring at her (often flicking to the douche bag on the other side of the counter). She knew the lunching hour was coming to a close and the people in line, that were nice, and were people she'd be happy to give food to, were suffering because this guy has problems with masochism, or sadism. Or both, which is weird. Kali couldn't quite tell if this guy liked being an ass because of people yelling back at him, or seeing people cry.

Well, she hates to burst your bubble (actually no, she enjoys), but she certainly isn't going to break down. This was her sanctuary, and she would sooner stab you with something sharp than let you desecrate it. She rolled her shoulders backwards and focused her stare intently upon him again. "So now you think you can tell me how to do my job?" Her incredulousness almost manifested into a sentient form. "Did you see that sign outside, that huge one? It says, "Kali's Kafe," she enunciated her name, because she questioned this guy's mental capacity, then she gestured to the name tag pinned to her apron. "Kali." She pointed to herself.

"I own this place, motherfucker. The customer is not always right. And if you don't like that I am not about to bend over and let you get your little thrill out of telling someone what to do, then you can turn around and never fucking come back." She played the, 'I'm the Boss' card. And now she was about to play another card, that probably wouldn't get a positive reaction out of him (NOTHING would please that guy, who was she kidding?) And she stepped to the side a little and directly addressed the person standing behind him.

"What can I getcha?" Her tone was as pleasant as it had been before, not an ounce of anger in her voice or tension in her shoulders. That guy was momentarily forgotten, even if he was still standing there.

And yes, she was prepared to ignore him, unless he got too loud or distracting. She had no problem with calling the cops, or getting Sam over here to get him to leave.