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Alani, was in fact working that day. She worked most days, but she really didn't mind. Some people, she mused, probably didn't enjoy working a job like this. They probably hated the daily interaction with customers, they probably hated having to serve others and be sure to get the orders just right, but...

Alani thrived on it. It'd taken her a little while to find her niche, but when she did it'd been making coffee, rather than dropping fries. There was a vast difference between fast food and the dignified little cafe that was iJava-Bahn. For one, the system and those on the 'ladder' were far from corrupt. They had decent ideals and a conscience, they were fair people who valued their employees and customers and actually cared. Alani Celes was proud to work as supervisor here.

With a small sigh she wiped her brow... it was hot behind the counter, and as usual the turning of the season brought around more and more customers. They came in scarves and hats and jackets, asking for mocha, espresso, hot chocolate, chai tea and everything else made every which way. When she saw him enter the mildly busy cafe she gave a sigh of contentment. Leaning over she gently tugged on her co-worker's shoulder, a cashier who'd been here rather long and knew the ropes well. "I'm going to take my break, alright? If you need help, just call me."

She slipped into the back, opening up the office with her set of keys and tugging out her own laptop and tucking it beneath her arm. She moved back to the front. She made two cups of hot chocolate, both using milk rather than water. She poured a small amount of peppermint flavoring into them, and then placed a peppermint stick into each, filling one to the brim with marshmallows, the other topped with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. She paused a moment before taking two fresh almond biscotti and setting them on a plate as well.

She set it all on a small platter, laptop still tucked beneath one arm, and walked out into the lobby, weaving her way through the crowd to where he sat. She smiled, for a brief moment feeling a flit of shyness that she always seemed to when she saw him, and then sat down beside him. "I bring gifts of coffee and snacks."

Alani opened her laptop as well, sliding Brad's hot chocolate over closer to him so he'd have better access. She absently moused over a familiar icon, getting ready to click it.

"Ah...well." She looked up at him, like a child knowing they're about to be scolded. "It's the holiday season... we've got to release all of the Christmas stuff so we can stay in the running and they need me. I still get my one day." She reached down to pick up her hot chocolate, taking a sip regardless of the whipped cream. When she set her cup down she had a small white dot of it on her nose, unnoticed.

"You should talk..." She gave a small frown. "Do you even remember to eat?"

She glanced back at her desktop - currently the background was set as a soft white snowy landscape to celebrate winter's coming. She gave a small start as she saw that strange icon again, mousing over it and clicking. It didn't do anything, though... "Huh.. Still nothing."

Alani wasn't at all perplexed as Brad wiped off the whipped cream, her gray-blue eyes still lingering on the computer screen until he let go, and then she turned fully to face it once more. She tried clicking the small, orange and white icon again, watching as the small 'ring' around it spun lazily.

"Hun? Oh well..." She turned her laptop so he could see. "Well... it's this desktop pet. I don't remember downloading it but I must have. Anyway it doesn't really do anything, I've been thinking about deleting it. It's just cluttering desktop space." Alani had a thing against having too many icons on her desktop.

"It's pretty cute, though.. I dunno, I'll give it a few more days. Maybe it just has to hatch." She chuckled, meaning the comment to be a joke. It did seem very egg-like, afterall.

Alani became distressed as Brad's mood changed for the worse, and she reached out a hand to rest on his shoulder, leaning forward with her head tilted to try and see into his face. What was wrong?

She listened with an expression of confusion as he explained what the small icon was, not really grasping what he was trying to explain. A vrius? That was pretty bad.. but she'd run her virus scan dutifully every night and it'd never picked up anything but a few trojans here and there.

When the small creature floated onto screen and waved she had to cover her mouth with both hands to keep the girlish squeal of delight. She moved her hands away only when she was sure she wouldn't make any unatractivly high-pitched sounds, her eyes wide, her lips grinning. "Oh my gosh, that's so awesome! Is it AI? I've heard about computer programs that are able to memorize the wave-lengths and patterns of your voice, but this is so cool!" She waved her hand very softly at the tiny creature, reaching out unconsciencly to stroke her finger over it's head as though petting it's head (she'd be known to do this to cute pictures of animals, mostly kittens, quite often). "Aww..."

The woman was startled as the creature began speaking with her, realization dawning upon her... this wasn't AI. This was a real creature, somehow living though digital and able to think and talk on it's own... or a really elaborate trick. But she doubted Brad would do that too her, and her doubts were further encouraged as Brad spoke harshly.

She cringed back slightly as the small argument went on between them, reaching out lightly when it died to lightly touch Brad's shoulder, leaning close to him so her forehead nearly brushed against his cheek. "Brad... please calm down." She glanced up, noticing the way that the customers were beginning to look up and glance over, some curious, some annoyed. She smiled toward them, lightly petting Brad's shoulder before lowering her head back near him, her voice soft and gentle, hopefully soothing.

"I don't understand... but... uhm.." She didn't really know what to try and say or do to make either feel better. She felt sad that the little creature seemed so sorrowful, but she was upset that Brad was so worked up as well, and she knew him longer.

"Did...he," she motioned with her finger toward Nigh on the screen. "Tell you all of this? I mean.. that he's a 'hacker'. Where did he come from?" All the while she had scooted closer to Brad so they could have the hushed conversation, their hips nearly touching as their heads bowed together. She wanted to say something about him losing his job but that just might worsen the situation and make Brad even more upset. He lived for his work.

Alani nodded, touching her thumb to her chin in a characteristic show of thoughtfulness. She looked upwards toward the ceiling, trying to recall when she'd have her day off. Conveniently....

"Well.. I'm off work in another four hours today, and then I don't work tomorrow."

She smiled, batting her eyes in mock-coyness. "Dinner and WoW? My, that sounds so romantic." She batted his shoulder playfully. She canted her head slightly to the side in interest at the mention of Nigh being able to play as well. "They can play WoW, too? That'd be fun.. but Alliance..?" She wrinkled her nose slightly. "I guess so."

Speaking of the game she moved over to click the icon, perhaps she and Brad could get a quest done before she had to return to work and he had to go back to doing his own things. She opened the game only to find...

"Damnit, I have to install it -again-." She gave an exasperated sigh, finding the .exe file and beginning the slow process of reinstalling and updating once more. "I guess we can't play before I have to go..." She took another sip of hot cocoa, picking up an almond biscotti and dipping it in. As she held it there she glanced at Nigh, smiling at the excited way he hopped about the World of Warcraft icon. She had a hunch that while Brad may begrudge the critter for eating his files he probably secretly thought it was cute.