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“Is he here?” The Doctor sneered at the cashier. The woman behind the counter gave him a puzzled look.
“Who? I’m not sure what you mean…”
“You’re clearly new.” He mocks. “I enjoy my coffee made by the only competent employee here. If my memory of his schedule is correct, and it always is, he. Is. Here. Now go fetch someone who knows what they are doing.”
Dumbfounded, the cashier scoffed and turned. When she did, she sent the meanest stink eye the Doctor has ever received. Robotnik straightened his jacket and mentally noted to ‘happen’ upon her sensitive information.
The door to the back swung open with The Manager (ugh, this guy), and the pathetically dumb cashier.
“I heard there is a problem, sir?”
“Problem? Oh no, no problems on my end. I’m waiting to be helped by–” Stone pushed open the dish-pit door, fumbling a napkin in his hands.
“So sorry, Oscar. Sir, I will happily make your drink, allow me to wash my hands.” Oscar, the manager, lifted an arm towards Stone.
“No, you’re on break.”
“He’s one of my favorites, relax.” He replied firmly.
What could the barista mean, ‘favorite’? Usually, the word is never used to refer to Dr. Ivo Robotnik. He had to fight a smile creeping on his mustached lips. No, Stone couldn’t have meant him, he had to mean his favorite drink to make. Yes, his favorite drink to make. Robotnik couldn’t get ahead of himself again.
Stone scooted past his coworkers with fresh hands and gave Ivo a friendly smile. “The usual, Doctor?”
“ You know me too well, Stone,” He smiles back. “That is your name, correct?”
“Yes sir. Robotnik. If my memory serves me well?”
“Dr. Ivo Robotnik, yes.” A gentle correction. It felt strange to negate the heat he usually delivers his title with. Stone smiles from the register and flips the tip screen.
“I like the ring to it, your name radiates excellence, sir.” He spoke with a charming and warm expression. That statement genuinely caught the Doctor off-guard. He cannot tell if Stone was trying to butter him up or truly thought highly of him. Before he could ask, “Let me get started on the Latte for you, sir.”
With a flushed face, Dr. Ivo Robotnik tipped 20 dollars on a 6-dollar cup of coffee.