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 Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 8:33 pm
Azzo yawned and settled into one of the seats at the closest coffee shop. It was either pretty early or pretty late. He was almost too tired to bother to tell which it was.
Sitting there he ordered a cup of cappuccino, he didn't like how coffee tasted but the other stuff was pretty good. He'd asked for extra vanilla and a hint of cinnamon with whipped cream. Normally he didn't go for something quite like that, a cappuccino that was toffee and had an Irish cap was normally pretty well what he ordered.
He also threw in an order for a hot fudge cake, one of those with the ice cream in the middle and whipped cream, with a cherry on top. However, he made them throw in chocolate chips. He was rather beat, his excuse would come in the form of he'd been at the gym too long. Which he had, however, he'd be leaving out avoiding any monsters. Which he had also done prior to the visit to the coffee shop. And it was probably way too early for what he was ordering. The only other excuse would've been too much studying.
Azzo looked around curiously to see if he knew anyone, so far luck had not been a lady. He frowned softly, wishing there was someone to keep him from thoughts of actually sleeping before he got back home completely. He'd very much like to be able to collapse in bed, but a smile and someone to talk to would do just as efficiently in keeping him awake.
He was ready to corner any poor unfortunate soul who he even vaguely knew to start up a converstation with.
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Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 9:18 pm
It was very late. Tony, after a long day at the library, had closed the doors a few hours ago but was not yet headed home. Instead, he was headed to a nearby coffee shop to get himself a pick me up that didn't taste like unchanged filter and some kind of peanut butter, like the coffee maker in the break room. Someone had wanted to try something 'new' and they had never been able to clean that miserable taste off. It was fine during the day, when he had other things to think about and didn't have the time to leave the desk.
But right now, he wanted something better.
Ordering a very simple coffee to go, no extra foam or whatever else they liked to throw into these things, he was just picking up his order when Azzo had finished placing his. He didn't notice the boy, though he might have recognized him from the library if he had, taking his cup like it was filled with liquid gold and carrying it carefully to the lids. Then tragedy struck.
He was slipping a lid onto it and somehow, by some mental abstraction or a blip where he was just not paying attention, managed to push it too hard, or apply too much pressure. The result was a near full cup of coffee on the counter, floor and, in a sheer act of rebellious torture by the spilled cup, down his front and onto his pants.
"Oh good heavens!" he cried out in pain and surprise, in a very high voice, then looked up and waved his hands frantically as staffers made their way over. "No, I'm fine! It's okay!"
Of course, he wasn't, but he didn't want strangers dabbing at his pants.
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Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 9:36 pm
Azzo looked at the voice. Eyes wide, that had certainly woken him up. He'd had his gym bag with him, in it a few towels one clean. "Mr. Darrow." He said softly fishing out the towel. He had a 'knack', or so to say, for remembering interesting people and people he'd seen often. Tony was one of those people that might've fit into both categories.
He approached the older man and held out the towl he'd just fished out. "Here. I keep a few extra in my gym bag. It's freash and clean." He assured the older man and tilted his head, "What did you have? A normal coffee?" He sounded as if he was offering the man a replacement drink as well. It seemed typical of the Crowley boy to offer to buy things. Which might've been best assumed, however, most of the time it was for the converstation most felt obliged to afterwords, even if it was just to be polite.
He offered a friendly smile hoping the older male wouldn't be upset at the offer. Azzo in no way was going to offer to clean the man up, like some doting mother. That was for doting mothers, Azzo was just a senior in highschool trying his best to get out of it.
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Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 10:14 pm
Looking around wildly, he missed the source of the voice at first, then focused on Azzo. Who was standing right next to him. How had he missed that. He was also offering him a towel.
"Ah, thank you," he said, accepting it politely despite his burning chest and, woefully, crotch. He used it to carefully dab at his shirt, though he thought it might be rude to go lower. He winced, wondering why coffee had to be served at 'scorching lava of the sun' temperatures. It's not like anyone could feasibly drink it that hot, and if they could they had clearly already burned the insides of their throats so badly they could no longer feel.
"I-I'm not sure I could handle a second," he said, not realizing the benevolence of the offer. He was just focused on the idea of dropping it again. He moved to clean up the counter, apologizing profusely, but the staff told him it was okay. They even offered to comp him a second one, and put the lid on for him. He laughed, turning red, looking miserably embarrassed and not hiding it very well.
Blinking he glanced back at Azzo.
"You're very nice, offering to buy me another one. As I recall, you offered to pay Mr. Gordon's fine, as well, didn't you? Very kind. Ah. Here," he offered him the coffee stained, soggy towel, then pulled it back awkwardly. "No, I don't suppose you want that... I'll clean it and get it back to you?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 10:36 pm
Azzo nodded, "No problem." He said with a smile, looking at Mr. Darrow, "They probably should at least offer to put a few pieces of ice in the cups so you don't get second degree burns." He said softly as if he was telling a secret. However he noticed one of the waitresses caught what he said and he smiled innocently at her.
He chuckled, "Mmm... Maybe something a little cooler then? They have nice hot fudge cake here. The Ice cream cools it down, unless you're allergic to chocolate."
Azzo seemed to pay no heed to the blush, like it'd never happened. Something he was good at doing, being or seeming oblivious. He shrugged, "It's how I was brought up. Well not to directly give the shirt off my back but I would if it was life or death."
He gave a shrug he was about to take the towel back when the man paused, "Huh... oh... well I do laundry anyways when I get home. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt my gym clothes to smell like coffee for a little while." He seemed serious enough though the grin could give it away. "It's up to you though, I still have a few rows of books to go through before I find what I want probably so it's not like you won't see me again."
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Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 11:10 pm
"I really should switch to some kind of chilled beverage to keep me awake," he agreed, when Azzo made a joke about ice cubes. The man sighed profoundly, thoroughly embarrassed and ready to crawl up in his bed and move on to the next day. Except he still had work to do, so it would probably be the sofa in his office.
It was very comfortable.
"That's admirable. I try to do what good I can, but I can't say I've perfected the art. You seem to be in the right place at the right time, though, so perhaps you should give me some tips," he laughed at that, feeling a bit better.
With soggy pants.
"I think I should get back to the library and change, at least. I can't save this suit, but I'll have to do something to keep the scent of coffee from permanently sinking into my skin." He shook his head, then looked at the young man, suddenly thoughtful.
"What has you out so late, anyway? If you don't mind me asking."
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Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:24 am
Azzo smiled softly, "I'm not sure about chilled coffee, but soft drinks normally have plenty of caffeine if you can stand the sugar. I knew a few people would couldn't."
He paused, and looked around thinking, "Heh yeah, I might've though sometimes I get in the way." He thought with a shrug of, oh well. He looked at Mr. Darrow, "Hm... if it's not dry clean you could probably save it." He added.
When he was asked what he was doing out so late he paused, "Oh. Well between studying and working out in the Gym, sometimes I stay out a bit later. I can kinda sleep better if I'm beyond exhausted." He said softly if he'd been anyone else he would've probably been nervously tapping his fingers together. He paused looking outside to see if it was still dark. That would be an oh crap, speically if the older man was walking.
Stupid spider sense, the man would probably never end up facing a youma or a terrorist. It just kept Azzo a bit worried was all.
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Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:24 am
Tony made a face.
"You kids these days and your work ethic. Homework and working out at the gym? I certainly did neither, and now one has no place in my life. The other I dropped out of school for." He grinned at the slight joke, implying that working out was more a pain than homework. But it wasn't a lie, really, for him: he never went to the gym.
The students he saw at the library just made him feel like he wasn't trying hard enough. They were always so stressed and studying so hard, while he had nothing to worry about that much. To push himself for. His job was easy now, or at least so familiar even the most difficult parts were routine, after all, and he had no personal life to speak of. He wondered how kids could be getting it right when he had missed the boat on that one.
"I suppose anyone would have an easier time sleeping if they were exhausted. Can't imagine that's healthy though. Try to take care of yourself, it'd be a shame to do yourself any harm."
He smiled warmly, looking at the towel in his hand. He would wash it and then give it to the boy when he next saw him at the library. The staff that had offered him a new drink called him and handed it to him, with extreme caution, and he laughed because they had put two lids on it and wrote 'just in case' on the cup.
Red, he thanked them, then looked at Azzo.
"I'm sure I'll find this all funny in the morning."
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Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:33 am
Azzo paused, he looked a bit unsure about the work ethic. "Actually... I'm just trying to get out of highschool on time. They're threatening to hold us back from what I've heard though." He sighed his voice considerably lower. The waitress had his stuff too. He looked at it for a second picking it up.
"Damn organ ring you've heard about one the news? Yeah... I was one of those unlucky bastards. I really don't want to stay in another year so I'm busting my a** hoping they take pity." He muttered eyes focused on the street outside, he was mad at them for taking away his control of school work. It's why he pushed himself, the nightmares why he drove himself to exhaustion, to keep from having them.
He shook his head, "Not healthy, but the nightmares aren't either. I picked up fruit and salad like Mr. Nguyen said, this is just to get me the rest of the night until I can collapse in bed for a while. Since exhaustion stops the nightmares for the most part."
He looked at the cup with two lids on it. "Mmm... yeah it'll be hilarious when you wake up tomorrow. At least they didn't duct tape it. Grams does something close to that if she's worried she's going to spill something." His grandmother was a bit over cautious sometimes, "I tell her to let me get it. She shouldn't be handling things that come out of the stove that are full to the brim and too heavy for her anyways." He seemed to cheer up at the change of the converstation.
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Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 6:46 pm
Tony frowned, not very fond of talking about those news reports. He felt bad for the kid, but he said nothing on the subject, letting him speak until he mentioned the cup. More familiar, safe terrain that didn't make Tony's chest feel tighter and his shoulders heavier, the state of things wearing heavily on him.
"Ha, poor dear. Not sure I much enjoy being found similar to a grandmother, however. My pride. It hurts."
He smiled, laughing a bit. He looked tried, but that was what the coffee was for.
"Well, I suppose you know what's best for you. I hope things get better, easier. I'll ah, return this towel to you when you're next in the library. I should be getting back myself. Those acquisitions aren't going to catalogue themselves. I'll be there for a while yet, if you need some place else to waste time in, or do some studying? It's not... technically open, but it's fine."
He offered Azzo his hand for a handshake, balancing the coffee cup in the other, with the towel over his arm.
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Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 6:58 pm
Azzo smiled and shrugged, "Grams is pretty cool, for her age that is." He chuckled, "It wasn't meant to hurt your pride."
He nodded softly and shrugged, "Mmm, I wouldn't want to impose on you, but thanks for the offer. No hurries on how fast you have the towel either." He paused but smiled with a nod, "I might take you up on that at some point if the offer stands for a while though."
He took the hand and gave a firm handshake. "Be careful on your way back, since there's those silly things all over the news, no tellings what kids are vandalizing these days." That was probably one of the weirdest things Azzo could say.
He gave a nod, "Talk to you later then. Perhaps tomorrow." He said with a smile.
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Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:01 pm
Tony nodded, thought he didn't quite catch the boy's meaning. But he imagined he meant well enough.
"The invitation is valid for as long as I'm working there," he said, nodding his head. He smiled, then made sure he had a good grip on his drink before he politely nodded one more time, this one to excuse himself. He went to the door, pushing it open with one hand while the other was focused on making sure the coffee didn't spill.
"And good night," he said, calling back to Azzo. "Take care of yourself!"
With that he left, keeping an eye out as he walked back to the library. Once he was safely inside, doors locked behind him, he relaxed and drank his coffee as he returned to work, ever diligent.
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