The Perk, Tuesday Afternoon

[pocketpretzels]

Right, one of these days he really was going to get himself his own coffee machine. And perhaps a television set. And- any number of modern appliances that he'd managed perfectly well without up until this point, so let's be real, he probably wouldn't bother.

Watts did want a coffee, though, so to the Perk it was. Only to find that-

"Again?" he looked at the menu, which had, yes, switched out several items for new ones. At least his usual staple, the mocha, was still there, although-

"Peppermint mocha?"

Apparently the barista took this as him placing his order, because they were now directing an exaggeratedly pointed look first at him, then to the total displayed on the register. Watts wasn't in a mood to argue, and he'd enjoyed chocolate and mint together when he'd tried it a few months ago, so why not?

Comments

[okteiviakom]

Octavia had all sorts of modern appliances (or at least either Duke or Lucifer or both did), including a coffee machine. But, she'd also just had another relatively rough session at therapy, and thought she could use a --

"Pumpkin spice lattes are gone again? Already?"

The barista shrugged at her.

[pocketpretzels]

“It seems to have been replaced by peppermint,” Watts offered.

[okteiviakom]

"But -- already?"

It was November, Tavi.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts shrugged. “Is this- a regular cycle, then?” he asked.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia gave the menu another glance that was only slightly too mild to count as a glare.

"Yeah," she said. "They like to keep some stuff available only for part of the year. Supposed to make you want to get it more."

[pocketpretzels]

“Artificial scarcity,” Watts said with a scoff.

“You could try ordering a regular coffee and adding the pie spices to it after the fact?” he suggested.

[okteiviakom]

"I have the stuff at home," Octavia said, with a faint shake of her head. "It's not the same."

[pocketpretzels]

“Ah,” Watts said, although he didn’t quite get why that would be so. “That is- unfortunate, I suppose. The peppermint is quite good?” he offered. “I hadn’t tried the combination of mint and chocolate myself until a few months ago, but I quite like it.”

[okteiviakom]

"I know what the peppermint micha is like." Yes, that came with being aware of the cycle these things seemed to run along. "It's fine."

It just wasn't PSL.

[pocketpretzels]

Meanwhile Watts had yet to experience the cycle in its entirety, and instead was just exasperated every time he came in to the shop only to find the already overwhelming menu had changed.

“But not what you wanted. Understandable.”

[okteiviakom]

"No," Octavia agreed mildly, turning towards the counter anyway. "I'll deal."

By ordering the peppermint mocha.

[pocketpretzels]

The idiom took a moment, and then he nodded. And figured he ought to introduce himself.

“Detective Llewellyn Watts.”

[okteiviakom]

"Octavia," she said, without looking over. (It wasn't personal, it was just... her.) "No title."

Or last name.

(Anymore, on both counts.)

[hasaknightjob]

After chatting with Wanda Marc figured he might as well grab something before visiting Nell. He gave a nod when he saw Watts. "Hey."

[pocketpretzels]

“Mr. Spector,” Watts nodded back in return. “How is your day so far?”

[hasaknightjob]

"I've talked to people," Marc said. "So Steven'll be thrilled."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts couldn't help the soft, fond smile at that statement. Because yeah, he would. "If you have a minute, you could sit and talk to one more," he pointed out.

[hasaknightjob]

Marc wasn't on a schedule so he took the offered seat. "You look less like shit."

Some people might've found nicer ways to say that.

[pocketpretzels]

"Only less?"

[hasaknightjob]

"You prefer more?" Marc replied. "You want compliments on your looks talk to Steven."

[pocketpretzels]

"Fair enough," Watts allowed.

[hasaknightjob]

"Doing better?" Marc asked. Because Watts was a different level of people from most.

[pocketpretzels]

"Much better," Watts affirmed. "Which- thank you. For the other night."

[hasaknightjob]

Marc shrugged. "Been there."

Which Watts knew, since he'd been there the last time Marc was.

[pocketpretzels]

“I suppose you have, at that,” Watts agreed. “I owe you a drink, at the very least.”