Chapter Text
The clock on Henri’s desk mocked him.
He’d been up all night studying for his stupid chemistry exam. He needed the class for stupid gen-eds, but he hadn’t actually bothered to attend half of the classes until Ry had reminded him that he’d have to take it again if he failed. What was worse is he was supposed to meet with Eez for a group study in an hour! That sounded like a bore- not that he didn’t like Eez, he just couldn’t take any more stupid chem.
Henri pulled out his phone and opened his messenger. Avoiding any more work, he texted Ry.
i hate this
Sleep is an important part of learning, have you tried it?
no, because i’m trying not to fail this stupid class
Go take a nap.
can’t. study group with eez
Then go get a cup of coffee. Otherwise you’re going to fall asleep at the library again.
ugggggh the coffee on campus sucks tho
Does nothing please you??
no <3
Go to the place just off Council St. It’s really good I promise.
honestly i’ll take anything to get away from studying, including taking coffee recommendations from someone who like doesn’t drink the stuff
:D
He tabbed out and switched to sending Eez a text. “Grabbing coffee before sesh, want anything?”
Eez texted back immediately, order already prepared for just such an occasion. “Trenta almond milk pistachio latte with hazelnut syrup! :>”
“Too many nuts”
“That’s what your mom said last night”
Henri laughed and clicked his phone off, pushing away from his desk. He cracked his back, stretching the sleepless night’s hunch out of his neck. He’d probably be late to the study meeting, but coffee was always worth the price.
Roller skating two city blocks on zero hours of sleep and a single hot pocket was actually a spectacularly bad idea. The sidewalk lines rattled his brain as he went over them. As he approached the shop, he learned suddenly that they had a bowl of water set out for dogs outside.
He learned this by wiping out over it.
“Fuck.”
Henri pushed himself up off the ground just in time for the bell on the coffee shop door to chime. Looking up, a green haired person wearing a messy apron stared down at him.
“Nice going there, rockstar.” The person leaning in the doorway looked at him amused, as if Henri’s spectacular failure was done just to entertain them.
He put his face back in the warm concrete, embarrassed.
“Hey, I don’t need to call an ambulance or something? Because that would be a real buzz kill this early in my shift.”
“No, I’m alive. I only wish I were dead.”
The barista offered him a hand and Henri pulled himself to his feet, rolling in place. “Thanks.”
“So, you coming in, or just putting on a show for us?”
“I have no dignity left, so, yeah.” Henri followed them into the shop as they took their place behind the counter.
The interior of the coffee shop was lit with warm relaxed lamps, warring with the bright early morning sunshine. Sketchy chalk drawings took up a blackboard wall, and a bookshelf across from it was stuffed with books of all kinds. It was actually surprisingly quaint, it didn’t make him any less tired. The barista, who he could now see was blessedly wearing a nametag reading Tigs , leaned on the counter as he read the menu.
“Can I get a large white chocolate raspberry mocha with five shots and the raspberry drizzle? Then an extra large almond milk pistachio latte with hazelnut syrup.”
Tigs stared at him, only one eye visible from her hair. “What the actual fuck.”
“Tigs!” A white haired Rai poked their head out from the back room. “Make the customers coffee, it’s your job.”
Looking over her shoulder at her manager, Tigs rolled her eye. “We don’t even have pistachio milk, what do you want from me?” Turning back to the register, she punched something in. “Your second drink is going to be a hazelnut almond milk latte, which is, you know, an actual feasible drink. $15.78 you absolute lunatic.”
“Does it help if I tell you the second drink is for my friend?” He handed over a twenty, dropping the change in the tip jar.
“No, because it means the first drink’s still for you.”
“Fair.” He shrugged with a smile and rolled off to inspect the bookshelf. The other employee appeared again to help Tigs with the drinks, and she gave Henri a polite smile as he browsed.
“We lend those out to customers if there’s anything you want to take home.”
“Oh, uh, thanks.” He read a few of the titles, but nothing really caught his eye. Instead, he patted his pockets and eventually came up with a cassette tape. It was a copy of one of his custom mixes, he liked to keep one on hand for occasions just like this.
He wedged the copy of Music For Manic Drives in between two books and stepped away. It seemed like neither barista had noticed it. He smiled to himself. It wasn’t much, but it was his signature on the world.
He turned in time to watch the Rai set two hot cups on the counter.
“Order for ‘Rockstar’.”
Jokingly defeated, he grabbed the drinks, pulling the stopper of his out for a sip. The flavor was undoubtedly worth the teasing.
The doorbell chimed as a group came in, chatting amongst themselves. A gnome on skates waved at the Rai while her companions idly browsed the menu. “Morning Ophi!”
“Morning Bloomy, I’ll have Tigs start on you guys usuals.” She gave Henri a polite smile, “Enjoy your drinks,” before coming along the counter and giving the gnome a kiss.
Tigs glared at the group from the espresso machine. “I thought I banned you from here after last week.”
The brunette of the group squealed. “Tigggy!!”
“Tigs you can’t ban people. Only I can do that.” The newly nicknamed Ophi rolled her eyes good naturedly. It was clear this was a group of friends here, and Henri was a little envious of how comfortable it was.
“Then you can make her monstrosity, Ophelia. It’s bad enough I had to make Rockstar’s nut-hell, I can’t make Tofu's death coffee as well.”
“What is nut hell?!” The ember Rai slammed their hands on the counter, nearly hysterical at the words. Henri was close to the same.
Tigs pointed an accusatory finger at him. “You. Rockstar. Tell them what you tried to order from me. Admit to your nut-hell.”
Henri blushed, suddenly bathed in attention and still choking on laughter. “It’s- I have a name! And it’s a real drink! A Trenta almond milk pistachio latte with hazelnut syrup!”
The group exploded into cacophony, a mixture of shouting, laughter, and machined milk steaming. “PISTACHIO? WHO DRINKS PISTACHIO-“
“WHY DID YOU ORDER THAT-“
“-NOT A DAMN STARBUCKS!”
“ITS ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD-“
After a few minutes they settled, Tigs placing three coffees on the serving counter to calm them. “Don’t let them fool you. Bloom orders enough chocolate in her mocha to kill a dog, Glint makes me stock pumpkin spice in the middle of spring, and Tofu should not be alive after drinking this. You all make me sick.”
“Thank you, Tiggy!” The brunette Tofu grabbed her coffee and cradled it in her hands lovingly. “This will get us through our exam!”
Henri perked up. “Do you guys go to VSU as well? What are you studying for?”
“Professor Bones’ bio 101 course! Do you have him?”
“Nah, but he’s pretty laid back from what I remember. I’m taking Chem with Dr. Dorian. It’s kicking my ass.” He winced. “Shit, speaking of, I’m supposed to be studying right now.”
Bloom gave him a sympathetic look. “Good luck.”
“I’ll be sure to be back, this place sure is… something.” He gave the cafe a wave before heading out the door, balancing the coffee precariously as he skated to Eez’s dorm.
Interlude- coffee break
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