1180/Coffee and Laundry

Coffee and Laundry
Date of Scene:	25 February 2024
Location:	Dorms #2
Synopsis:	Luke is working on his laundry when he is coaxed to Adrien's room by the aroma and promise of delicious coffee. Just as he was going to enjoy it and the company of Adrien and Naru - he gets the news he's been waiting for on Adora and responds to it.
Cast of Characters:	Bow, Adrien Agreste, Naru Osaka

---

Bow has posed:
So, after a couple of days of arriving on campus, Luke got pulled aside for a small talk and intruction on things. It helped that Crystal Hope has busily trying to get him adapted, with the help of the internet link that Rashmi had helped with. But, anyway, the whole reason why he was pulled aside was because well... he needed to wash his clothes. And after he asked about where the river was to do this first, there was some guidance to the wonders of the campus laundry.

Luke is still marvelling over this, his basket piled with clothes, and using his school issued gym uniform of shorts, t-shirt and sneakers as a temporary outfit. "It was done so fast! Usually this much laundry takes a whole day!" he says, talking to Crystal Hope, but possibly looks like he's talking to himself.

"So, now that we are done with this, I saw that one of the machines said it was broken. Maybe I will return the kindness and try to repair it."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Being the modern dorm that it was, there was at least one laundry room per floor of the dorm. Especially in the guys dorms. Though there was no real truth to guys being dirtier than girls... uh. Yeah it was probably necessary.

As Luke steps from the laundry room considering his options of possibly fixing the broken machine, he's greeted with a warm, earthy smell that tickles at the senses. A dark roast expresso was on brew in the room known for having smuggled in an espresso machine (that the staff kind of looked the other way on because a few snuck up here on occasion when they needed a perk-me-up). It's rather easy to tell which room it's coming from as well given the door was half-way open to lure in any who were curious or interested in obtaining a bit of the brew themselves.

Adrien had already extended the table from the book case and slid the machine out. It was warmed up, the coffee beans newly ground, and the pleasant hissing steam of espresso being pulled was all thanks to him pouring a few cups in anticipation of a potential visitor that he knew had as much a love for the beverage as he did. Of course, he was known to share among the others that lived here too.

Naru Osaka has posed:
The potential that Naru's coffee-senses tingled all the way over in the girls' dorm is enitrely possible. Certainly she leans back from her desk, for a stretch and then closes her book. It is time for a break. It is more than time for a break. Her glance over to the kettle in her own room, with the perfectly adequate coffee is brief. Not only is the coffee only perfectly adequate, rather than delightful.. there's no one home but her and a break from homework to sip coffee alone..

Naru grabs a hoodie and some snacks on her way out, the leggings and cute little swishy top are comfortable, but not especially warm for wandering the hallways over twoards the boys' dorm. At least she doens't have to go outside, that's a feature.

The smell makes her smile even as Naru hits the correct hallways, she knows that smell. Clearly Adrien is home and also looking to have a break.

It's only a few more steps before Naru can knock on the door to Adrien and Chrono's room.

Bow has posed:
"I do not advice that you start working on technology you do not yet understand..." Crystal Hope is offering in light protest, the small crystal gem on his ear making small worried crystalline noises.

"Technology is technology, no matter what world it is!" Bow offers, completely confident that as soon as he drops off the laundry, he'll go back and figure it...

*sniff. sniff.*

...out.

"What... what is that?" he asks, confusion as he draws in another breath. "It's smells like Etherian soil, but... warmer. Like. Really good smelling, and just... it smells sweet and dark and just..."

"...I cannot smell." Crystal reminds Bow.

But that is ignored, as he follows his nose down the hallway, the basket of clothes in his hands, glasses settled on his nose as he comes around the corner and -- there's a young woman knocking on the door where the smell is coming from. Perhaps?

"Is this some kind of cafe?" he asks, "I did not know these things existed in these living quarters!"

Adrien Agreste has posed:
The knock earns a bright, cheerful and welcoming, "Hang on! Or come right in, either way," Although Adrien isn't entirely sure who it is just yet. His attention is fixed on the espresso machine in front of him, steaming and hissing as the pressurized water is forced through the coffee puck while he waits. One hand remains on the handle gripping it while his gaze is fixed on the pressure readout. Then slowly he eases back allowing it to taper off before it goes too far--but also without going under what is consider 'optimal' temperature. He was by no means an expert barista but he was proud he'd become far more familiar with making his own since he came here.

Now that shot was finished pulling he looks up, blue eyes flashing to catch a peek of Naru through the cracked doorway. He heard two voices though, so he strides over to fully open the door greeting both her and Bow in case they had yet to come in.

"Naru! And..." His gaze slides past to Bow burdened with laundry to offer a warm and friendly smile as well. "A new face! Hello, I'm Adrien Agreste. New to the dorms?" He inquires while already stepping aside to gesture them in.

"I was just making something to drink. Happy to share if you'd like to try." Of course he knew Naru was interested! Curious at the bag of snacks he asks, "What'd you snag for us today?"

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Not technically." Naru answers Luke as he approaches with a little laugh. "Although Adrien thinks that he's hiding the espresso machine, except that the smell is compelling enough that it's a pretty open secret that Adrien mades darn fine coffee."

At the invitation to come in, Naru does just that, and gestures to Luke to join her, coming over to drop a kiss on Adrien's cheek with fondness. "My timing is perfect! And here I thought I'd have to come convince you to take a break and make some coffee."

She offers the bag to Adrien with a smile. "It's the almond cookies that I know you like.. the ones that are all crackly on top?"

Naru turns her attention back to Luke and smiles. "Freshly transferred in?"

Bow has posed:
"It is a very enticing smell." Luke offers with a firm nod of his head. But then people are making introductions are being made. The name Adrien is caught upon, it was the same name the French girl had offered at the arcade, but Luke has no idea how popular that name may be - so he doesn't want to ask. Though there is curiosity!

Instead, his attention is on the mention of a drink. "Ah! Is that what you are making? A drink?" he asks, standing on his tippy toes as if trying to peer past Adrien and see what magic may be at work here to make such a compeling smell.

The interaction between the two is not missed, and he doesn't invite himself in, instead, is attention is on the questions presented and the order to address them in. "Oh! Yes. I am Luke Armbruster. I just transferred a few days ago from America." he explains politely.

"I did not mean to interrupt your romance..." And if one looks close, there's totally sparkles in his eyes. They're so... so... cute together! "...but I was just... drawn by that smell!"

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste tips his head for the kiss to his cheek. Anyone else might blush at that, but he just leans his head in to give a quick kiss to her cheek in return greeting. "You can convince me to take a break whenever you need," he teases back. Right before the cookies she lifts up earn a wide toothy grin of clear delight. "Perfect! I'll get some plates," he declares as he turns back to his little psuedo-kitchen set up to do just that.

As Luke offers his apologies about interrupting he earns a quick shake of Adrien's head. "Not at all! It's Sunday, it's a great day for socializing when we're not studying. If you ever want some coffee while I'm here I'm more than happy to share." A plate is taken out on which he carefully and neatly arranges those crackle top almond cookies that Naru brought. The curious looks at the machine don't go unnoticed. Amused he asks, "Would you like an espresso a well Luke? You're welcome to join us for a bit."

The plate of cookies is set out, and then he returns to the two cups of espresso he'd already brewed to pour in some foamed milk from a little metal pitcher which turns the dark brew into a soft brown. The first cup is offered over to Naru though.

"I'm from Paris myself, so I know how it can be when you're new and unfamiliar with a new place."

Naru Osaka has posed:
As Luke asks about the smell of coffee, and if it's a drink and how he's a transfer student from America and Naru just nods knowingly. "Welcome to RHA. If you have questions, don't hestitate to ask. We get a lot of transfer students.. from all over.. a lot of whom find the culture here a little different than what they remember at home."

It's left unsaid on if 'here' is Japan, or Earth.

Naru nudges Adrien away from the cookies after the takes the plate, sending him back to the espresso machine. After she has her cup of course. "You should totally make him a cup." She nods firmly before looking back to Luke. "Not everyone likes it, it can be a bit bitter tasting. I'm a big fan. I'm Naru Osaka, by the way. I'm Usagi's roommate." She giggles softly. "And you aren't inturrupting.. we'll try and keep the cute down to a dull roar."

Bow has posed:
"Oh no, the cute's fine! I mean, back where I am from, I have this friend, Adora. And she's always crushing on an old friend of hers, Catra. And it's totally cute and I had hoped that someday that they would get together and Catra would be friends with us as well, I mean, I even wanted to name the ship!" Luke offers, finding himself reminscing on things that could have been.

And currently are, but he doesn't know that yet. "So the cute's fine!" he reiterates.

But then he's being offered a taste of that wonderful smell. "Oh, yes, please. I mean, if it's no bother!" he quickly adds. "Everyone has been so friendly since I arrived here. Sayaka was a wonderful tour guide and has offered to show me the city!"

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste is shooed off away from the plate of cookies. His expression remains a bit of that goofy, fond smile at Naru's actions though so he does it all without complaint. It was his dorm anyway, he should be playing host in the first place. "Of course. If it's your first time trying it I'll mix it with some steamed milk. It sweetens it a bit, and it's not as strong," he explains while another cup is prepared. "Take at least two sips before deciding if you like it or not though. The first sip sometimes takes getting used to. If you still don't like it I do have sugar we can add." Though he usually just drank his with the steamed milk.

When Luke mentions Adora his gaze lifts up to regard Luke anew. Another look roams back to Naru, then he clears his throat lightly. "I've heard of her. Never really met her before though. I think she was under the weather recently?" Maybe things had been fixed? It's quite possible though he wasn't entirely sure.

The thought is forgotten for the moment in favor of stepping over to offer Luke the large white cup with a saucer beneath in case of spillage. "Here you go. I hope you like it!"

Naru Osaka has posed:
"I wonder if its the same Adora." Naru muses. "I don't know if it's a common name or not, but she's also a transfer student." She glances over to Adrien in case he might know, but back to Luke. "Have you been talking to her recently?"

Naru seems to have no qualms about playing hostess in Adrien's room while he's doing coffee things and she offers Luke and than Adrien a cookie from the plate before she finally settles.

"I'm glad everyone's been friendly, that's good to hear." Naru curls up with her own coffee, no sugar in it either, just a bit of steamed milk. She doesn't take a cookie herself.

Bow has posed:
When the drink is offered, Luke carefully sets down his laundry to accept the drink. He considers it, sniffing at it, and takes an experimental first sniff. And a sip. But Adrien said two sips before passing judgement. But that first sip? Those dark eyes of Luke's get darker and widen, as if a shark had just drawn in a sniff of blood in the water. "Oh..." he whispers, as he looks down into the drink, as it trying to take it apart mentally.

But there is talk of Adora. "I have looked all over campus for her. I have not had any luck." he admits quietly. "I left the campus once to try to find her and ended in an arcade. I expected shops... but there was all these entertainment games, and I met a girl there that said she was from Paris as well!" he admits.

But that's forgotten about at the moment, his attention back to the Adora thing. "Under the weather, how?" he asks, confusion knitting his brow. "Does she need help with something? If you know where she is??" excitement growing as he gets a good lead for a change, his attention to Naru. "Does she carry a sword?" A simple question.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste watches Bow's reaction to the coffee with a rather proud smile. It wasn't just because he made it, but because he was getting to introduce something he loved to someone for the first time as well. The reaction earns a nod of satisfied approval. "Ah! Looks like we have another coffee lover in the works," he jests with his attention shifting back to the espresso machine to make himself a cup as well. It doesn't take long. It's practiced and he knew exactly how he liked his own.

The talk of Adora though? He can only shakes his head a little. "The one I ran into does use a sword. I'd be rather interested in sparring with her sometime, honestly, though I mainly use a saber." The expression shifts to one of apology immediately after though. "I ran into her with a friend a couple of weeks ago. She seemed pretty angry and ... uh. May have broken some public property." How much should he say? His identity was an issue, but in this case... "She'd just been in a fight I think, and looked injured. I'm sorry, I only know she ran off after that. I don't know to where."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Carrying a sword does not, unfortunately, narrow it down around here." Naru points out as she sips from her own coffee. She's thoughtful as Luke asks his questions. "I can ask around, and see where her dorm room is and then let you know, if you'd like. Do you have a phone yet?"

Naru seems to change her mind on the cookie front, leaning over to snag one, break it in half and only take the half before she settles back with her coffee. "What do you think of the coffee?" She smiles a little at that, watching Luke's reaction.

Bow has posed:
"The coffee is really great..." Luke starts to say, but as Adrien finally, finally clues Luke in for the first time that Adora is not okay, there's a frown. He sets the cup down, his expression turning worried. "Oh no. If she's out there, she may be by herself. And if she's been in a fight and hurt, she'll definitley need help!" And if Catra was the one that hurt her, so help him... she is going to get such a stern talking to!

"I have a phone, yes!" He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a phone that has a nice crystal design and a bright blue screen that seems to glow a little. "I... I do not mean to cut this short, my new friends." he admits quietly. "But I should see if I can find her. It was a great to meet you both..." And he's willing to trade numbers. "Adora is one of my two best friends back home. I can't let her be alone. I'm sorry." offered in apology, he sets down the coffee to collect his basket, ready to dask to his room to henshin out and go looking for the Princess of Power.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
"It's all right. Friends are important. Let us know if you need help with anything," Adrien offers once the phone numbers are exchanged. And though Naru only snags a half a cookie he scoops one up himself to regard with a frown.

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to help her more at the time. I wanted to, just she ran away and..." A bit of the cookie is torn off crumbled between thumb and forefinger as he frets. "Do what you need to, Luke. Be safe."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Good luck, Luke. I hope you find her alright, and that she's fine." Naru gets his phone number while the getting is good, making sure to text him to let him know which number is hers.

Naru leans in against Adrien a little. "I don't know Adora well at all, I have to admit."