What’s in a name anyway

Posted on Fri Oct 18th, 2024 @ 8:23pm by Jynx & Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami
Edited on on Sun Nov 10th, 2024 @ 4:21pm

790 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Who The Hell Are You Cafe

Within hours of opening, one thing became clear… this crew had an unhealthy relationship with this thing they called coffee. Jynx simply could not understand it, wrinkling her nose anytime she was left in charge of actually preparing some of the crazy concoctions on offer. She had tried some once, immediately spitting it out as her hair turned flame red and stayed like that for a week.

Yet she seemed to be in the minority, as some people even sat at just seemed to talk and talk - only pausing to order more coffee. In just a little over a day, she was starting to see familiar faces even if their names were even harder to get right than their order.

Humans seemed to not especially like their names getting messed up, she had quickly found. While those around them seemed to find it very funny. She wasn’t sure why. Humans, she decided, were quite strange.

Clearing the last of the tables as they neared closing time she was on her own and had taken the liberty of turning the music up a little louder to keep her entertained while she cleaned and restocked, taking advantage of a lull in customers. Singing along to the music, matching the tone and pitch of the singer to perfection, she was in a little happy bubble. Even dancing as she deposited the empty cups in the recycling units.

It was as she picked up the cloth to wipe the table that she turned back, letting out a startled yelp to find someone was there. Thankfully not her boss but even so she scrambled to turn the music down as she welcomed the woman. Jynx was not accustomed to anyone sneaking up on her but then again, hadn’t she been warned time and again about her music being nothing but trouble?

“Sorry… erm… welcome! Now… who the hell are you and what would you like to order?” The question was uttered with an entirely sweet and sincere smile entirely at odds with anyone asking who the hell you were, but Jynx was neither entirely aware of it or allowed to go ‘off script’.

Adrianna raised a brow and blinked. It had been a long evening and now this person seemed like they'd been snorting coffee beans. The two biggest exports of Columbia: cocaine and coffee. The country was famous for keeping people wired and awake, so it made sense that a coffee shop would give a nod to that. "Adrianna Baciami-- and a triple espresso-- don't care about where the beans are from but I need to be awake for 48hours or more. Understood?"

Jynx wrote down the order, peering over her notepad looking slightly confused before whispering, "and that needs a triple shot espresso? WOW... okay, coming up I guess!" Picking up a cup she crossed to the espresso machine and got to work. With the finely ground coffee beans loaded up and the other ingredients added, she allowed the machine to do it's thing, using the time she had to use her favoured pink pen to scrawl the woman's name on the side, adding a little heart over the i rather than a dot before she took the order of a young man who had was waiting.

"Coming right up Jaka," she smiled, hurrying back to finish Adrianna's order as the machine beeped, signalling it was ready. She entirely missed the man trying to correct her as he looked towards the only other customer and offering, "it's actually Jake."

"Jynx that music is too loud," a voice bellowed from the back. Clearly, the girl realised, her boss was back. In response Jynx rolled her eyes, stuck out her tongue and pretented not to hear that either as she crafted a pretty design in the foam. Closing over the cup she came back to Adrianna, "one triple shot espresso. Is there anything else I can get you, we do have some sweet treats if you are also feeling a little hungry?"

Adrianna looked down to the cup and smiled. She didn't understand what the issue was about the people here consistently getting names wrong. She had spelled Adrianna perfectly. "No, thank you," she chuckled, "and--" she gestured to the name on her cup, "good job."

“Adequate,” a deep voice corrected gruffly.

“Thank you,” Jynx whispered as she said aloud, “yes Mr Klein”

"Not adequate," Adrianna growled, "she got my name right. I only hear bad things about this place-- aside from the drinks. They are always good. Great job on spelling mine. And-- keep the music loud." Adrianna sipped her drink and headed out.

As her boss quietly fumed, Jynx giggled. She liked this Adriana Baciami.


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