sweethymns | Pictures in the Dark

Remember most customers.

[He's got a good memory.]

He's recent enough.

[He also remembers Jake and his warning about what Morgan would do if his interest was piqued any further. There is a layer of hidden uncertainty about this new customer who is most likely acquainted with them both; should he mention Jake and what he had told them?

... Safe to say, probably not now. Not until Oren sees if there's a purpose to this woman's visit or not.]

The drink?

[He's asking how it tastes.]

[She's familiar with them, all right. She has no problem with Morgan, other than the fact that the soul collecting thing can be a little creepy, and her powers don't work on him at all. But he's provided her a place to live and a way to make a living, where she can follow her own set of rules. She's grateful for that much.

Jake on the other hand, now he's a stick in the mud. He acts all tough, but it's obvious he isn't comfortable with their way of living. That wasn't her problem; he either needed to commit or get out. (It's more complicated than that, she's sure, but she's not one to pry into family business, nor does she particularly care.)

But whether or not she wants to know if Oren has met any of the others remains a mystery. She doesn't ask.]

Pretty good. [She points the fork in Oren's direction, making little circles in the air with it.] You're a good barista too. Been running this cafe for very long?

Three years. Just about.

[The Midnight Grind, to many people's surprise hasn't been around for very long. The space itself, however is probably as old as time itself and Oren and Berna had just happened upon it before the latter passed it on to Iona who decided to fashion it for her own whims.]

Owner's idea.

Really? I expected longer.

[It has the feel of a place that has more of a history to it than just three years. She can't quite pinpoint why.]

It's a pretty good idea. Not a lot of places for people who are... weird to just sit and relax. At least not in my experience. I'm lucky to have ended up where I did.

[That apathy surges up again and she just shrugs at her own comment. She takes a sip of her drink again, savoring the taste.]

[It's good to have a confirmation every now and then about how the purpose of the Grind works. A place to relax among those who are just as abnormal as you. Oren gives a nod at Lyra.]

Come when you're able. We don't ask questions.

[Not unless you're trouble, but that goes unsaid.]

[She can be trouble of the acceptable kind -- not the same kind of "trouble" as Morgan, so it's something. She just kind of does whatever she wants.]

Well, that's good. [She does grin this time, but it's not the innocent one she wore when she came in, but rather a bit wry.] I don't like a lot of questions.

Any other of my friends [she uses that word liberally] find their way in here, other than the younger Mr. Kyle? I was starting to think he was just making things up; I hadn't seen a trace of the magical door he was talking about.

... Jake. Came in. Had a drink.

[He can be honest enough on that front.]

As for the door. Is specific. Can show up anywhere. But you go back same way you came. Can't end up somewhere different.

[That's good news about returning -- she had wondered about that, but regardless, she wasn't too worried. She has her ways of getting back home, even if she was on the other side of the world.

Still, the fact that she'll end up where she entered the cafe is nice to know.

Not as interesting as the other thing Oren said, though.]

What? Jake? That's the last guy I would have expected. He's not big on socializing, cute little cafes, and cheesecakes.

[The golem gives Lyra a shrug.]

Wanted to see. Cafe is unique.

[He wanted to see it? She raises a brow.]

You sure we're talking about the same Jake Morgan? Tall guy, dark hair? Always looks like this?

[She crosses her arms and fakes an angry frown. (On her face it just looks like a pout, though.)]

[He nods.]

Also recent.

Doesn't give a good impression.

[She breaks character and actually laughs at that.]

Seriously? That's crazy. He didn't mention it.

[She wonders why.]

Poor lil' Jake. If you told him that, it'd hurt his poor feelings.

[The guy is more sensitive than he looks. And of course Lyra, who doesn't always get along with him, is quick to point that out as a failing rather than a merit.]

Edited 2016-06-16 15:59 (UTC)

Sensitive guy.

[See, even Oren can tell.]

Haven't seen him since.

[She sounds a little impressed.] You're pretty observant. You're right, he is sensitive. He's like the exact opposite of his brother.

[But you know, whatever. She didn't come here just to talk about Jake, of all people.] So what's your deal? [Meaning, what makes you special, tall beautiful guy?]

What about?

[Immovable as ever! Although it's not as if Oren's playing dumb, he just won't answer unless the question is direct as he is.]

[She's finishing up her cheesecake now, and sitting the fork down with a little clink.]

You know, what makes you so special? In a cafe full of special people?

[What a weird dude. Morgan was right when he said Oren was a man of very few words.]

I cook everything.

[SO THERE]

[She rolls her eyes at that.]

...That doesn't count. You know what I'm talking about.

[It appears this Oren is both concise and a smartass.]

Golem.

[Oh, okay.]

[.....ok.

Just looking up at him, like she's expecting him to keep explaining......

.......come on, dude....]

Not human.

[Look, it takes effort these days to give lengthy explanations and also he needs to check on the snickerdoodles in a few minutes!]

[Her curiosity is more important than some snickerdoodles, geez!!!]

I could have figured that out myself when you said golem. [Ugh. Guess she's going to try to pry.] I thought golems were made of stone? Or clay? You look pretty... fleshy to me.

Surface, human enough. All earth materials otherwise.

[And he's something else entirely, something not of this earth. His appearance is attributed to Berna's artistry and taste, but there are some parts of his looks that he casts glamour over in order to hide his true nature.

He holds up his hand and opens and closes his fingers.]

Work mostly the same.

[He can taste, hear, smell, touch, and see. His hair is actual human hair (Berna's). But he's incredibly durable, impossibly so.]

Edited 2016-06-16 16:59 (UTC)

And what about what doesn't work mostly the same?

[She's leaning forward with curiosity, which breaks her usual apathetic body language. This kind of stuff is always interesting to her, even if she tries to hide it under her usual facade of the pretty, affectionate girl who's all smiles.

She's read a lot of books with golems in them (she's a closet nerd, don't tell anyone); she's never met one in real life.]

No bleeding.

Keeping the rest to myself.

[Well, in a way that answers her question too. He's got a lot of individuality for a creature made of earth.]

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oops that was just *Jake up there, getting mah names all screwy

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