[ Hux can always be guaranteed to follow his morning routine like clockwork. Every morning without fail, he'll hit a local coffee place for his fix of caffeine (and if it's already a day, a muffin). That morning was already shaping up for the rest of the day to be a pain and Hux can already feel the headache threatening as he stares at the coffee place in front of him.
His local had closed down. Now he was forced to use this other place. What would he do if the coffee was terrible? He'd have to look into alternatives like Starbucks or some shit place that was dubious at best. Hopefully this one was normal enough — it was the kind of coffee joint that had been around for some time but never truly pinged Hux's radar.
The scent of coffee is always a universal constant, but it's not enough to soothe Hux's irritation as he walks in and queues with the rest of the morning crew. By the time he even gets to the counter he's aggravated at how the prices are relatively decent for what seems to be the portion sizes, enough so that he barely even gives the barista a glance as he gives his name. Hux. It's only when Hux receives his large flat white (with extra shot of coffee) that he notices the name written on the side in scrawling handwriting; Hucks.
Hux looks up from the cup at the barista in question, expression unimpressed as he meets a dark gaze head on.]
[ Ben has been working at his uncle's place long enough that he's begun to develop a sense for people. Not exactly psychic, per se - he's never bought into that mumbo jumbo bullshit - but an instinct.
And this guy - all sharp suits and a sharper accent - just reeks of trouble. ]
Really?
[ Frowning, he plucks the cup from Hux's fingers, turning it around to study the name written across the side. He recognizes Rey's spider-scrawl immediately and, if there was ever any doubt, there's that sickeningly cheerful smiley she insists on adding to every order.
He passes it back to Hux, expression mild - it's annoying, sure, but unless there's something actually wrong with the order he fails to see what this accomplishes. ]
[ Hux watches closely as Ren takes a look at the cup, wondering why he's even so irked over the whole thing. Maybe it was just the way the day had started, or perhaps it was simply because he was now in a situation that was new to him. Either way, Hux is pretty sure that the apology he gets isn't as genuine as it should be.
Which, all things considered, is pretty stupid.
He'll take the coffee back at least, not feeling annoyed enough to push for another cup (but ruffled enough to still make a point).]
I'm not going to put an official complaint in, but what I will say is that kind of thing is what loses you customers.
[ There needs to be a new word for the level of incredulous he manages to achieve.
This is probably why he's generally not allowed upfront without some kind of supervision. His tolerance for this kind of pedantic bs at odds with a career that hinges, at least in part, on customer service.
Phasma was going to kick his ass for this later, he just knew it. ]
Listen man, I don't know what your problem is but unless there's actually something wrong with the order, you're holding up the line.
Yes I am serious, I could put in a complaint about the attitude in here, but I just said I wouldn't.
[ Hux is smart, he's one of the youngest team leaders for a group of lawyers, but sometimes common sense seems to escape his grasp on rare occasions. Like now. Somehow he's distracted enough to be off his game for whatever reason and it's enough to have him scowling. If this coffee place wasn't the only remaining one left on the way to work, he would definitely go somewhere else.]
My problem is that you refuse to see there's a potential problem here. What else do they even spell wrong? [ Hux pauses and glances down the line, suddenly realizing that yes, he's holding it up. There's a guilty flush before he simply turns his nose up, gives a haughty sniff and takes a nearby empty table to settle with the coffee and a tablet.]
[ Irritation flares, hot and sharp, and Ren is about this close to slamming his palms against the counter top and inform Hux that the only problem he was seeing was the pedantic ass that was in front of him, when Hux seems to see reason and beats a hasty retreat.
Ren watches him with a look that can't seem to decide whether it's amused, incredulous or downright murderous: ]
Asshole.
[ The word muttered softly beneath his breath, then he's shaking his head as if the action will dislodge the lingering traces of irritation, turning his attention back to the next customer. ]
[ Hux can just about feel the angry glaring from Ren being shot his way and it takes everything in him not to just casually flip the guy the bird. Really, it was ridiculous that the guy couldn't even understand what the issue was (though in all fairness, Hux isn't even sure himself, more irate at it than he usually would be).
And for now it seems like the fight is over, Hux's frayed nerves soothed by the blessed balm of coffee. Most that worked with Hux knew firsthand that the guy was a complete asshole before his third coffee...]
Shit. [ Hux huffs, cursing under his breath as he realizes he forgot a muffin. Going back to the counter seemed like a bad idea but at the same time why should he feel bad? He hadn't done anything wrong! There's only another minute of contemplation as Hux saves his work on the tablet, stalking over to the counter with a determined look.]
[ Ren is halfway through a hot chocolate when he notices Hux at the counter and no. No this can't actually be happening, surely he can't have found something else in the span of a whole -- he glances at the clock on the wall -- five minutes. ]
Don't tell me: the coffee's too hot, too dark...too caffeinated?
[ He didn't think it was possible for this guy to get even more irritating or ridiculous than he already was, but apparently Ren seemed to be on a mission to prove otherwise. Hux can't help the unimpressed look on his face, lips pursing ever so slightly as he resists the urge to sneer.]
You sound stupid when you make assumptions like that, perhaps you should think before you open your mouth. [ Pot meet kettle....] And no, I just came over to buy a banana muffin.
[ Funny, Ren was thinking much the same thing as he finished the order, plucking one of the lids from the pile in the corner. ]
We're all out of banana. [ -- well, no, that wasn't strictly true. There was at least one other one but that was set aside for a much needed lunch break and like hell was he going to be turning it over to this asshole. ]
So what you are saying is that you have sold out of banana muffins before lunchtime?
[ Hux raises his eyebrows, wondering if Ren is actually being serious or not. Were they truly out of banana muffins? Really? Hux debates arguing it further or not before opting to take the high road on it all.]
It says a lot as to the kind of operation you're running here. What muffins do you have?
[ Baked french toast sounded like it could be an almost acceptable flavor of muffin, Hux feeling his nose wrinkling at Zucchini-Apple. Who the hell ordered those? He can't help but silently mouth the words monkey bread though, wondering if Ren has lost his mind or something.]
Now the mystery on why your banana muffins sold out is solved. Do they even sell or are you trying to get rid of old stock?
[ It wasn't an unreasonable assumption to make considering, and probably wasn't helped by the fact that the muffins in question looked like something a Tellytubby might've made and covered in an array of colors that looked almost cartoonishly bright.
This being said you're really starting to tick him off, Hux. ]
Muffin's are made fresh every day. [ Not going to rise to the bait, not going to rise to the bait. ] And lunchtime's our busiest time.
[ The Zucchini-Apple's never been much of a seller, though. He's not really sure how that happened much less why they still sell it. Optimism, maybe? ]
[ It seemed like Ren wasn't spoiling for as much as a fight as he had been earlier and Hux isn't sure if that's a good thing or not. Whatever it is, it's enough to have his shoulders loosening by a fraction as he huffs out a breath.
God damn he was going to have to settle for some bizarre fucking muffin flavor. The french toast sounded normal enough, but Hux suspects it'll be sweet as anything. Which meant — ]
[ He's just gathering his reserves since this is far from over, he can just tell. Something about the way that Hux seems to snap even tighter, lips curling around the word like it's managed to personally offend him. ]
Sure thing. [ Personally, he hopes that it tastes every bit as much like the road gravel it reminds him of.
Selecting a muffin with an exaggerated care - it's not too big, not too small, and looks about as inviting as a zucchini-apple muffin can manage to be, which isn't very - he slides it across to Hux: ]
[ Hux is pretty sure he just hallucinated that price tag. Almost nine dollars for a muffin? Was it made from crystal and gold? What in the hell? This time Hux knows he's being punked and his gaze flicks a few times between the monstrosity on the counter to the guy who just served it.
The ginger blinks slowly, frowning slightly as if he's trying to figure out some difficult puzzle. This time there's no queue behind him to hold up and Hux is already making a note to stand his ground on this one.]
Are you even being serious right now? I can buy zucchini and apples for a quarter of that price.
[ Most expensive muffin ever. Right now though, that muffin is almost symbolic. If he lets Ren take the muffin back it would be akin to admitting defeat. At the same time, that's one dammed expensive muffin. Hux gives an even stare back, ignoring how his brain points out that this guy has the longest eyelashes.]
Excuse me, I didn't say I wasn't buying it. Or are you trying to insinuate I can't afford things? [ Hux reaches into a back pocket, pulling out a handful of items (a ten pack of smokes, mints, wallet) before he extracts a bill and puts it on the counter.] There's ten dollars. Sure you can count to get the change right or would you like a helping hand on that one?
Ren reaches over, sliding the note back toward him, pauses: ]
You know what [ he smiles the most pleasant of smiles as he pushes back from the register, tossing a towel over his shoulder. ] I'll get my calculator.
[ Hux reaches for the muffin, expression cold enough it just about lowers the temperature of the southern seaboard. No fucking way was he going to let this guy win anything.
In hindsight, Hux would realize how stupid it all was before telling himself he was completely in the right.]
[ There is a brief, tense moment where Ren considers - with far too much seriousness - just simply tossing caution and commonsense to the wind and hurling himself across the counter at Hux, fist swinging.
Then he lets out a breath, reaching up to rub at the bridge of his nose as he feels the beginnings of a promising headache stirring. ]
[ Hux sees that motion, the way Ren seems to be trying to ward off a headache and briefly Hux wonders if that last comment was too far. The coffee shop itself was perfectly fine it was just this asshole at the counter that was the pain. Hux hesitates, almost opens his mouth to say something normal, then lets his own brand of common sense to kick back in.
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Coffee shop au because it is life ♪
His local had closed down. Now he was forced to use this other place. What would he do if the coffee was terrible? He'd have to look into alternatives like Starbucks or some shit place that was dubious at best. Hopefully this one was normal enough — it was the kind of coffee joint that had been around for some time but never truly pinged Hux's radar.
The scent of coffee is always a universal constant, but it's not enough to soothe Hux's irritation as he walks in and queues with the rest of the morning crew. By the time he even gets to the counter he's aggravated at how the prices are relatively decent for what seems to be the portion sizes, enough so that he barely even gives the barista a glance as he gives his name. Hux. It's only when Hux receives his large flat white (with extra shot of coffee) that he notices the name written on the side in scrawling handwriting; Hucks.
Hux looks up from the cup at the barista in question, expression unimpressed as he meets a dark gaze head on.]
I said Hux, this isn't right.
/Masochism Tango plays gently in the background
And this guy - all sharp suits and a sharper accent - just reeks of trouble. ]
Really?
[ Frowning, he plucks the cup from Hux's fingers, turning it around to study the name written across the side. He recognizes Rey's spider-scrawl immediately and, if there was ever any doubt, there's that sickeningly cheerful smiley she insists on adding to every order.
He passes it back to Hux, expression mild - it's annoying, sure, but unless there's something actually wrong with the order he fails to see what this accomplishes. ]
Sorry about that.
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Which, all things considered, is pretty stupid.
He'll take the coffee back at least, not feeling annoyed enough to push for another cup (but ruffled enough to still make a point).]
I'm not going to put an official complaint in, but what I will say is that kind of thing is what loses you customers.
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[ There needs to be a new word for the level of incredulous he manages to achieve.
This is probably why he's generally not allowed upfront without some kind of supervision. His tolerance for this kind of pedantic bs at odds with a career that hinges, at least in part, on customer service.
Phasma was going to kick his ass for this later, he just knew it. ]
Listen man, I don't know what your problem is but unless there's actually something wrong with the order, you're holding up the line.
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[ Hux is smart, he's one of the youngest team leaders for a group of lawyers, but sometimes common sense seems to escape his grasp on rare occasions. Like now. Somehow he's distracted enough to be off his game for whatever reason and it's enough to have him scowling. If this coffee place wasn't the only remaining one left on the way to work, he would definitely go somewhere else.]
My problem is that you refuse to see there's a potential problem here. What else do they even spell wrong? [ Hux pauses and glances down the line, suddenly realizing that yes, he's holding it up. There's a guilty flush before he simply turns his nose up, gives a haughty sniff and takes a nearby empty table to settle with the coffee and a tablet.]
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Ren watches him with a look that can't seem to decide whether it's amused, incredulous or downright murderous: ]
Asshole.
[ The word muttered softly beneath his breath, then he's shaking his head as if the action will dislodge the lingering traces of irritation, turning his attention back to the next customer. ]
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And for now it seems like the fight is over, Hux's frayed nerves soothed by the blessed balm of coffee. Most that worked with Hux knew firsthand that the guy was a complete asshole before his third coffee...]
Shit. [ Hux huffs, cursing under his breath as he realizes he forgot a muffin. Going back to the counter seemed like a bad idea but at the same time why should he feel bad? He hadn't done anything wrong! There's only another minute of contemplation as Hux saves his work on the tablet, stalking over to the counter with a determined look.]
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Don't tell me: the coffee's too hot, too dark...too caffeinated?
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You sound stupid when you make assumptions like that, perhaps you should think before you open your mouth. [ Pot meet kettle....] And no, I just came over to buy a banana muffin.
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We're all out of banana. [ -- well, no, that wasn't strictly true. There was at least one other one but that was set aside for a much needed lunch break and like hell was he going to be turning it over to this asshole. ]
Sorry.
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[ Hux raises his eyebrows, wondering if Ren is actually being serious or not. Were they truly out of banana muffins? Really? Hux debates arguing it further or not before opting to take the high road on it all.]
It says a lot as to the kind of operation you're running here. What muffins do you have?
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[ He glances toward the display, gaze lingering for the briefest of moments, before flicking back to Hux. ]
Whole Wheat Carrot Cake, Baked French Toast, Zucchini-Apple and [ --another quick glance, brows furrowing. ] Monkey Bread.
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Now the mystery on why your banana muffins sold out is solved. Do they even sell or are you trying to get rid of old stock?
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This being said you're really starting to tick him off, Hux. ]
Muffin's are made fresh every day. [ Not going to rise to the bait, not going to rise to the bait. ] And lunchtime's our busiest time.
[ The Zucchini-Apple's never been much of a seller, though. He's not really sure how that happened much less why they still sell it. Optimism, maybe? ]
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God damn he was going to have to settle for some bizarre fucking muffin flavor. The french toast sounded normal enough, but Hux suspects it'll be sweet as anything. Which meant — ]
Fine. I'll take a zucchini-apple muffin.
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Sure thing. [ Personally, he hopes that it tastes every bit as much like the road gravel it reminds him of.
Selecting a muffin with an exaggerated care - it's not too big, not too small, and looks about as inviting as a zucchini-apple muffin can manage to be, which isn't very - he slides it across to Hux: ]
That'll be $8.95.
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[ Hux is pretty sure he just hallucinated that price tag. Almost nine dollars for a muffin? Was it made from crystal and gold? What in the hell? This time Hux knows he's being punked and his gaze flicks a few times between the monstrosity on the counter to the guy who just served it.
The ginger blinks slowly, frowning slightly as if he's trying to figure out some difficult puzzle. This time there's no queue behind him to hold up and Hux is already making a note to stand his ground on this one.]
Are you even being serious right now? I can buy zucchini and apples for a quarter of that price.
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Yes I'm being serious. It's a hundred percent organic, gluten-free, and made with fresh ingredients.
This isn't Starbucks.
[ Though if he didn't want it, Ren'd happily take it back, was already reaching for it in fact. ]
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Excuse me, I didn't say I wasn't buying it. Or are you trying to insinuate I can't afford things? [ Hux reaches into a back pocket, pulling out a handful of items (a ten pack of smokes, mints, wallet) before he extracts a bill and puts it on the counter.] There's ten dollars. Sure you can count to get the change right or would you like a helping hand on that one?
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Ren reaches over, sliding the note back toward him, pauses: ]
You know what [ he smiles the most pleasant of smiles as he pushes back from the register, tossing a towel over his shoulder. ] I'll get my calculator.
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It's certainly not working or humorous in any shape or form yet Hux can't help but fold his arms, eyes glinting with some amusement.]
Tell you what, don't you worry yourself over such a trivial matter. It's merely a dollar five cents anyway, so go ahead and keep the change.
[ Most expensive muffin ever by this point, but Hux is willing to pay it if it means getting one over this cretin.]
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I'd hate for you to feel cheated.
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[ Hux reaches for the muffin, expression cold enough it just about lowers the temperature of the southern seaboard. No fucking way was he going to let this guy win anything.
In hindsight, Hux would realize how stupid it all was before telling himself he was completely in the right.]
Besides, I felt that walking in here.
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Then he lets out a breath, reaching up to rub at the bridge of his nose as he feels the beginnings of a promising headache stirring. ]
We done here?
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This guy had started it. No sympathy.]
We're done. I have work to do.
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