Coffee Shop Construction is a go!

[widows_kiss]

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.))

Comments

[z_jay]

"Hey, Natasha, things are... really going well, I can't complain." even if the rehabilitation was painful, he wouldn't wish it gone for the world. Thus, distractions were his best friends, and he took a look behind her at her current handiwork. "I'm pretty sure we can survive the day. You need an electrician? I know a guy... though he's only going to be doing direction, not actual hands-on..."

He'd tell that story to Natasha later if she pressed, but for the moment he was looking for ways to contribute. Volunteering his boyfriend wasn't out of the realm of possibility.

"And coffee, why am I not surprised?" coffee would always be something he equated her with, in addition to being stunning, but well... coffee was safer than admitting the latter.

[widows_kiss]

"Good, I'm glad. It looks as if you're faring fairly well so far." She gives him a smile as she turns and leans back against the wall, taking a breather for the moment. "And actually, I might. I think they were having some trouble with the lighting up front, but I haven't had a minute to spare to check out why. If he wants to problem-solve, I'm certainly not likely to complain."

She didn't press, not right now, although it was obvious there was a story there. Instead, she cracked a grin at his comeback, eyes bright as she held up her hands in a motion of surrender.

"Guilty of a terrible addiction, I confess. The tea shop here is nice, but... It wasn't the same as one of these."

[z_jay]

Still a little anxious to have Jack anywhere near something like a live-wire, he nodded... figuring it was best to try and quell the fear. It had happened, Jack learned from it, they should move on.

But really, aside from an addiction and possible boredom, would a coffee shop be chosen? "I think you gave me coffee before-- it was pretty good, all things considered. You don't want to know how long it's been since someone made me a proper brew."

Over a year? All the nice things that civilization took for granted, Luceti provided without asking for anything in return. It was weird, but he was adjusting. "Tea just doesn't hit the spot sometimes, no matter how many times I tell my room mates otherwise. Also, bribing with food?"

He had to hand it to her, the method was clever, the offer compelling. "Not bad, if you don't mind my saying."

[widows_kiss]

"That morning in the rain, yes," Natasha agreed, inclining her head slightly. "And I don't mind at all. I'm surprisingly looking forward to it. Since not having a proper brew in any length of time sounds tragic."

She motions to her halfway-built counter, her expression rueful. "If my machines were hooked up, I'd have fixed it already, but I think I'm going to have to offer you a raincheck for the moment."

[z_jay]

"Trust me, it is tragic," spoken with the wisened experience of one who lamented the lack of coffee and had to substitute with teas and... water boiled for safety protocol.

But then his eyes followed her hand in that motion, spotting the machines and giving them a measuring look. Nothing too sophisticated or fancy-- they looked solidly built, like the old fashioned TVs that never stopped working. Bending a little to have a closer look, he did reason this was something Jack could help with in no time at all.

"I'll take a raincheck, but how's your supplies?" no reason he couldn't try to get her things, and the walking would do him good...

[widows_kiss]

"Still in a sad state, but I'm hoping to fix that in the next few weeks. It's likely the Malnosso will be getting a lot of unanticipated assistance," she drawls, crossing her arms over her chest. Not that she particularly likes assisting them - especially considering how her last mission went - but hopefully the next few times would have a few less explosions.

...Then again, considering her luck, she doubted it.

[z_jay]

"Unanticipated assistance?" he half-asked, trying to figure if he knew a few pastries he could make for consumption here. He had the facilities to cook, why wouldn't he try to help where he figured he might have a chance at it. Paying less attention now to the machines and more to her when he turned toward her he grinned, halfway amused.

"If it's unanticipated then you might be able to get away with it. What're they going to expect for this?" wasn't it enough that they'd probably get some kickass coffee out of the deal?

[widows_kiss]

"I don't know yet, but I think a supply mission points might keep us in business for a while, once I figure out how to juggle enough time for both," Natasha counters, returning his grin. "I'll probably squeeze a few in before I open up, just to make sure."

[z_jay]

It was one thing to run a business from a financial standpoint and another to fund the business with favors. In the end, most of the labors that Lucetians got themselves involved in were, in fact, labors of love. "You're footing this all on your own?"

For a moment he really was surprised. Not that he considered her incapable by any standards, but that she could find the time and the motivation to do this... it seemed pretty hardcore. Maybe she was more hard core than she looked. "...Don't think wrong of me for asking but do you need some help with that?"

[widows_kiss]

Natasha gives him a crooked smile at that. "Well, I have some help here and there. A couple of my teammates have pitched in efforts. But I tend to get pretty focused when I set myself a task, it wasn't all that difficult."

His offer is met with the faintest flicker of surprise as she glances over at him again, meeting his gaze, studying him thoughtfully for half a heartbeat.

"I couldn't think wrongly of you for that, and I appreciate the offer. You don't have to go to any trouble, though. The fact that you're here helping today means a great deal in itself."

[z_jay]

"It's no trouble. I kind of want to do everything now that I can." To take on the world-- even though he knew logically it was impossible, he wanted to do as much as he could. He felt a thrill in his heart for whatever reason when she actually looked at him, but he would bury that part of himself deep and secret.

"Please tell me you're okay with strawberries?"

That and there weren't enough baked sweets in Luceti-- and he needed to be making something. Friends, acquaintances, maybe even Luceti's own form of money, if it existed. Bartering-- and cottage industries seemed pretty neat. But if anyone knew anything about pop-up restaurants, Eugene would be the one to know the how-to about all sorts.

[widows_kiss]

"Just don't overdo it," Natasha chuckled, reaching out and resting a hand lightly on his arm a moment. "You've time to experience. No need to rush. But if I think of anything, I'll let you know."

The question caught her by surprise and she laughed. "Strawberries? Yes, I'm fine with them. Pepper, on the other hand, is allergic, for future reference. Why?"

[z_jay]

"I remembered Pepper was allergic to them-- she is the only human in existence I think, with this problem." Telling him not to overdo it was sadly going straight over his head. He wouldn't let anything stop him, not even possibly overdoing it.

Her touching his arm did get a sheepish little smile as he realized his enthusiasm must be obvious enough for him to be told to calm down and he let out a soft sigh to try and reestablish the calm veneer he liked to maintain.

[widows_kiss]

"It's a tragedy," she agrees with a wry smile, tilting her head to the side as she eyes him curiously a moment. "Why strawberries?"

[z_jay]

"Pepper said she's allergic," he confessed, clearing his throat and trying to look like he was completely innocent of something. When he was, actually innocent.

"Have to accommodate for all our paying customers. Take allergies into consideration. Possibly medical conditions, too. Sugar-free might be hard to bake regularly." Already thinking about a business model even if he wasn't interested in the monetary aspect. There was challenge in being able to provide effectively. He just hoped people would like what he made...