lucetilogs | Coffee Shop Construction is a go!

Who: Natasha Romanoff and anyone ~~conned into~~ likely to swing by and help
What: Before it can open, the coffee shop needs a little tlc and a few touch-ups.
When: Friday, May 10. Possibly extending into the weekend.
Where: The future location of A Shot In The Dark coffee shop. (AKA, Building M)
Summary: Natasha calls in a few favors and bribes a few friends and teammates into helping her get the coffee shop ready to open. Anyone able to hammer a few nails, wield a paint brush or broom, or move some furniture is invited. ~~Or come ogle some of the shirtless males she's put to work, that's acceptable too.~~
Rating: PG. Probably. >.>

Natasha's still not entirely sure why she's doing this. Most mornings, she wakes up with the inevitable realization that she's probably lost her mind. She's not one to put down roots, to make a commitment to anything, because things don't last, situations change and her lifestyle choice of 'don't get attached' is slowly getting buried under a mound of teammates, friends, and persistent pests that somehow end up being debatably endearing.

And, apparently, a coffee shop.

Yup. She's definitely lost her mind. That doesn't seem to stop her from going each day and working on the little shop off the plaza, although she's reached a point that there's not much else she can do on her own. She needs help. A galling realization, but hey, that's what teammates are for, right? So, on a bright and sunny Friday morning, she rounds up what help she can find to pound out the last few renovations needed for the place.

((OOC Note: Most of the work needed is inside the cafe itself, although some work can be done outside as well. The doors will be propped open for people to come and go and they're taking pretty much a blank slate of an interior and turning it into this. So, work your character could possibly be doing is helping construct the coffee bar, painting the walls, hanging light fixtures or the shelving behind the coffee bar. Cleaning up the tables and chairs or the other surfaces inside once the sawdust and nail-pounding clears up. And if someone wants to get creative and make her a sign, she will be eternally grateful.

There will be a constant supply of drinks and snacks as well, for people wanting to take breaks or those wandering by to eyeball the proceedings. Hop in, help out, or just stop by to chat.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Is it? I can't ask for a magic wand to wave and just have it all done? What about a genie?" Natasha counters, her tone dry as she lets her own gaze drift around the room and everyone who showed up to help.

"Only if you've heard something about the new arrivals I haven't." Pepper can't say it's completely beyond the realm of anyone's powers, and who knows? Maybe there is a wish-granting genie or wand-wielding magician among Luceti's number now. But Pepper doesn't know them.

"Even Billy can't pull something like that off, so I'm pretty sure you're out of luck there. You'll just have to be happy with your hive of worker bees."

That has Natasha chuckling, a fond smile slipping over her lips as she surveys the project. "I am. Surprising as that is. I am."

"Why would that be surprising?" Pepper tilts her head to the side as her gaze returns to the other woman. "I think anyone would feel good knowing they had this many people they can count on. I know I did when we were working on the gallery."

Natasha's lips quirked faintly. "That's what is so surprising."

Pepper’s taken aback herself then, though only for a moment. Then she realizes that it probably would be that shocking to someone who isn’t used to trusting people, or maybe having them trust her. She leans over, lightly brushing her arm against the other woman’s.

“It looks like you’re doomed to have friends watching out for you, Agent Romanoff.”

"'Doomed' is probably the operative word there," she agreed, fighting off a smile and failing, because Pepper was smiling and this whole thing was ridiculous.

"And you know what the worst part is?" Pepper doesn't bother to hide her grin, or the satisfaction in it at seeing Natasha's unsuccessful efforts to mask her delight.

"You're really happy about it."

"I'm not." Natasha was lying through her teeth. "You're all insane."

"Wow. You used to be such an accomplished liar."

Of course Natasha still is, but right now she just can't keep the happiness off her face. So Pepper, being the good friend that she is, will of course help convince her that there's absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying what she's found by teasing her mercilessly.

"Maybe it's all the camaraderie getting to you."

"Maybe it's Stockholm Syndrome. I think that's more likely. I've gone insane along with the rest of you. You're a bad influence."

"You know, I don't think I've ever been called that before."

Especially considering who she's dating.

"But you aren't denying the connection any more. I think we can look at that as progress."

"That's progress?" There is skepticism thick in Natasha's voice, but also a good deal of humor as she sketches a disbelieving glance sideways at Pepper. "Yes. Definite insanity running rampant around here."

“Believe it or not.” Pepper just shrugs a shoulder, unphased by Natasha’s claim that they must clearly all be crazy. “Even if that’s true, it’s catching. You’re going to end up as bad as the rest of us—or close enough to count.”

"I think it might already be too late for that." She smiles ruefully, and there's fondness in her expression now. "At least I haven't sunk to the point where Tony can talk me into 'upgrading' my appliances just yet. Although he makes very convincing arguments."

“See? Making friends doesn’t mean you lose all common sense.” Although in truth there’s no one Pepper would trust more to fix things, or even to improve them—for a very clearly defined sense of the word. “How are you doing on that? Have you gotten all of the supplies you need to make this place work?”

"Not even by half," Natasha replied, her tone wry. "I have a start, though. And I'm watching the grocery. I think I can trade for the bulk of it with some mission points. Maybe once the construction wraps up and I have a few days free again."

"Except free days are going to be harder to come by if you don't have a staff." Unlike the art gallery, which Pepper manages on her own, the coffee shop is going to require extra hands. "I imagine the only coffee shop in our corner of the universe is probably going to be popular."

"Don't remind me." She rolls her eyes, but she's already got a back-up plan for that. "I figured I'd advertise for that over the journals once I had a start date a little more firmly set."

“Probably smart. You could also go ahead and put the word out here.” She gestures out toward the people at work. “Maybe see if anyone wants to extend their volunteering to something a bit more long-term?”

"I may do that," she agrees, letting her eyes skim her helpers. "Although I'm having a hard time seeing Tony or Steve or Thor working in a coffee shop."

It was an amusing mental image when she tried, however. Granted, most people could say the same of her.

"Oh god." Pepper has to laugh when Natasha shares that particular image. "You know, I really didn't have any of those three in mind when I mentioned that."

Especially not Tony, who should stay as far away from anything related to customer service as possible.

Her grin is quick and mischievous. "I know. But now you're picturing it, too. I couldn't resist."

"Well, thank you. The next time Tony has a cup of coffee in his hand and I can't stop laughing, I'm sending him to you for an explanation."

"Are you sure that's wise?" Natasha teased her in good humor. "You have no idea the story I could make up in explanation to that. It could only end up getting worse."

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