[Day 9 - EE] The Last Cappuccino

[Dapper Dog]

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At Elite Chai there is a new barista, he’s a little short to be a barista and he has no idea how the equipment works, and is making a literal mess just trying to make some coffee, but what he lacks in skill, ability, and competence he makes up for in confidence. Complete and utter confidence.

Otherworldly chthonic confidence.

[Frankie Reynes]

Frankie needed a coffee. Or maybe the universe had decided to give her a craving for coffee just so that she'd end up here, right now. Either way. She walked in, and immediately went:

"Oh bloody hell."

[Dapper Dog]

"Hello sir and/or ma'am, how would you like your caffeinated drink? Cold... or hot? Would you prefer milk? I have all of the milk," the boy said.

[Babble]

Arturo was exhausted. He didn't even notice the stranger behind the counter. He just placed his order for a ginger snap tea.

"Hey, Frankie. Are you doing alright?"

[Frankie Reynes]

"Bruv, what the *hell*?" She asked, staring at Xaos.

"Oh hey Babble," she said for a brief moment turning to him, all casual like, before looking back at the 'barista'

"But BRUV... WHAT THE HELL? Do you have any idea how many people died? We saved the universe, somehow... but now *this* is a thing? Bruv..."

[Dapper Dog]

"Oh I saw, it was like zoom and then boom, and the people were like 'aggghhh I am dying' and then blip gone," Xaos responded.

"Good thing I got you prepared."

[Frankie Reynes]

"WHAT." She could not even u wot m8. It was just a perplexed 'what', instead.

"But I thought we'd saved the universe! You didn't tell me there'd be a whole invasion scenario to deal with too! And now people don't want to believe in the whole alternate universes thing anymore because of politics or some bullshit! BRUV! What the hell do we do now?!"

[Dapper Dog]

“I know, it’s exciting. Should I eat popcorn? Or is that too normal? Does popcorn exist in this universe? I like mine with fried bits of squid in it, do they do that here?” he asked.

[Babble]

It was an odd conversation to follow. Babble had some awareness of Frankie's stories and could guess a bit of what was gong on here. Enough, at least, not to distract the new guy more.

He got his tea and listened.

[Frankie Reynes]

"I...yes... yes of course popcorn exists here! I... I'm sure someone does the squid thing too. Look... what... do... we... do?"

[Dapper Dog]

"Well you eat the popcorn of course," he responded.

[Bee Haw]

Bea finally had time to stop by Elite Chai.

She wanted to ask about all her co-workers there. Make sure they were okay.

She was a little worried to see an unfamiliar face at the counter. Did that mean Chadwick and Xing were hurt?

But there was a familiar face in line! And at a table!

"Hey, Frankie. Hey, Babble. Are you guys here checking in on Chadwick and Xing and our other co-workers? Is everyone okay?"

[Dapper Dog]

"Hey, Frankie. Hey, Babble. Are you guys here checking in on Chadwick and Xing and our other co-workers? Is everyone okay?"

"Nope you all have a terminal case of mortality, death and entropy are inevitable, might as well just end it now," the barista responded. "I fear the only solution is to shed your human skin, that is something you humans can do right?"

[Babble]

"Constantly." Arturo nodded. "But, I doubt that will help."

[Dapper Dog]

"Constantly." Arturo nodded. "But, I doubt that will help."

"Good, shed more, shed harder," he said.

[Frankie Reynes]

She slumped against the counter, and just softly started banging her head against it.

"He's right. We're all going to die."

[Dapper Dog]

She slumped against the counter, and just softly started banging her head against it.

"He's right. We're all going to die."

“Now you are getting it, but now you also know about the enemy,” the barista said. “if not for my clever prank, you would be completely ignorant… probably. Maybe.”

“Or maybe we would have ended up here anyways.”

“Maybe I should have don nothing after all. Can we rewind time and go back to the beginning?” he asked.

[Frankie Reynes]

"Is that a thing you can do?" She looked up at that, sort of hopeful, and surpressing the worry that he meant it just so that he could be here naked from the start.

[Bee Haw]

Bea looked confused.

Shed skin?

"I meant are Chadwick and Xing well? They got through the disaster safely? Does anyone know?"

Back to the beginning? Clever prank?

She looked at the young man behind the counter. "I'm sorry. Do you know something about the trouble we are facing? How to prepare?"

[Dapper Dog]

"Is that a thing you can do?" She looked up at that, sort of hopeful, and surpressing the worry that he meant it just so that he could be here naked from the start.

“Yeah, but I am not going to do it, because this is the most fun I have had in a while,” he responded. “You are an endless font of entertainment. Plus I already used my quicksave,” he said.

“I am not save scumming through this mess. Ironman mode, for all of us.”

To Bea he said, “I am not at fault technically, I did nothing, a little lie here, a little nudge there and bam you got yourself an inter-dimensional conflict. I am not a crook.”