@midnightespresso | text

[nerine]

Different worlds? Okay. Still, I gotta see what I'm working with here since the last time I was in a place with people from whatever universe was at 1 AM at the coffee shop and everyone had the grand idea to suddenly order Neapolitan frappuccinos. So here's how I'm going to narrow down and categorize all of you for my sake.

First off, how do you pronounce GIF? With a 'g' or a 'j'

Answer carefully 😉😉😉

(and if you don't get it, don't worry about it, you just get sorted into the other category)

Comments

[gradenine]

that's probably just a nest thing
aka the rich part of a district
but im from the backstreets, and even if fancy cafes do exist there, id be too busy with my job to stop by and have a drink

name's roland
that's real nice of you to offer, though
but there's no catch, right?

[nerine]

Well, if you want to make it a fair trade...

Can you find me a nice journal to write in? Something with a really pretty cover and good paper to boot.

[gradenine]

[ ... ]

that's it?
you sure?

[nerine]

Until we unearth an actual economy with currency to slowly chip away at our sanity
Yeah, that's it 😊

[gradenine]

damn
that's the easiest gig i could ever get
well i can't rly complain so
sure why not

you planning to write a book?

[nerine]

No, I just like to journal every now and then. Gotta put my thoughts down somewhere.
Texting is fine and such but I like the feel of paper and pen.

[gradenine]

can't go wrong with that
i got hired by a library so i definitely know what you mean

[nerine]

You're a librarian?
Or is it librarian-adjacent?

[gradenine]

library-adjacent, something like that
im a fixer (aka a mercenary for hire)
and a certain library enlisted my help
so im in their employ till further notice

[ or until angela lets him go, whoops ]

[nerine]

ooooh mercenary huh
So like
Do you take hits on people with extremely late library fees and overdue books?

[gradenine]

i mean if the director asks me to do that, then yeah i'd do it

how about you?
you only work in a coffeeshop your whole life?

[nerine]

Ok, so maybe I was thinking a little overboard then.

As for me, no... I've only been working as a barista for a year now.

[gradenine]

nah, don't worry about it
we all need to do anything for cash, after all

a year, huh
how was it?

[nerine]

[She only got stabbed ONCE and got a marriage proposal! Of course, she's not gonna bring that up in polite conversation over text.]

It's fun!
I love explaining to medieval-looking knights what an espresso machine does.
Seeing regulars who love our cafe because it's relaxing and they like the food and drink.
Or making sure to prepare for bears.

[gradenine]

bears?

[nerine]

bears 🐻
They really like honey lattes and smoked salmon sandwiches!

[Does this explain anything? No. Will she elaborate? Maybe... Way, way, way later ]

[gradenine]

i mean at least it's not humans, right

[ because cannibalism is kind of the norm in some parts of the city he's from, sweats... ]

anyway
how'd you do that
the bear symbol

[nerine]

I should hope not. There's only three employees and only two of us are human.

[Kind of, sort of, who cares, shoves details aside.]

The bear emoji? Well idk about what device you're using but usually the keyboard has a smiley face that brings up the menu where you can use all sorts of symbols. Like this!

😀😎😴💀👻🐱🐸🦀

[gradenine]

[ ok give him a moment to tinker with this, and - ]

🤯

[nerine]

Great job! You figured it out!

🤝