Title: Barista 1- First Impressions
Author: dietcokechic
Email address: dietcokechic@hotmail.com
Season: Season 1
Spoilers: Tag to Episode 1, Children of the Gods
Rating: G
Category: General/Drabble

Summary: Life as seen through the eyes of Daniel's Barista

Disclaimer: All Stargate characters belong to folks other than me. These stories are for entertainment purposes only and no money or sexual favors were exchanged..... Wait! That sounds strange. Let's just say I made the whole thing up and leave it at that, hmmm?

Notes: These are going to be a series of vignettes from the local Barista's point of view.
For those unfamiliar with the term, a Barista is the person who works in those specialty coffee shops. To be more exact, a Barista is the person who actually "pulls" (makes) the shots of espresso and concocts all those fancy drinks.

Hard to believe, but these stories will be ship-free. For the most part. ~*Evil Grin*~

01- First Impressions

The first time he came in I scarcely noticed the guy.

"Why are we here Jack?" The man asks in a resigned voice. He sure doesn't seem to be very happy. He is about average height and seriously in need of a decent haircut. His clothes don't appear to fit him properly and the guy looks like he hasn't had a decent night's sleep (or meal) in quite some time. His companion on the other hand is much more poised. Not to mention tall, clean cut and sexy as hell. He sorta reminds me of Harrison Ford circa Air Force One.

I so know what I am going to ask Santa for this Christmas. Yum.

"Coffee Daniel." Well duh. This is a coffee house after all.

"I can see that Jack," Scruffy says tiredly. "But I'm sure they have coffee back on the base." Base? Ah, these guys must belong to that military complex up the hill. Who knows what the hell they're doing up there, but we do get our fair share of soldiers down here in the lowlands. They're all right; better than average tippers.

"Whatever Jack." Scruffy guy is not a happy camper. Actually, as soon as the pair step close enough for me to take their order, I can see Scruffy's eyes. Lovely looking blue eyes he has behind those dorky looking glasses. I wonder why they look so sad? Poor guy.

"Hi there," I say politely. "What can I get you two?"

"I'll have a 12 oz. cup of regular coffee and my friend will have."

"Whatever." Ouch. Scruffy really doesn't like it here, does he?

"Ah, c'mon Daniel!" Cute guy cajoles. "I know for a fact you lived on this stuff before you.." Cute guy paused and shifts from one foot to another as if embarrassed. "You like coffee Daniel." He says finally.

"Double short Americano with a splash of steamed milk please." There we go! Nice clean order. Points for Scruffy.

"Americano? What the hell is that?" Cute guy asks his friend; I take the opportunity to chirp in.

"It's two shots of espresso with 6 ounces of hot water," I explain.

"Sounds like a cup of coffee to me."

"Espresso isn't drip coffee Jack,"

"Fine, fine- order what you want," Cute guy says, as he reaches into his pocket for money.

"That will be $3.59," I say ringing up their order. "Tall Drip and double short Americano!" I shout at the barista behind the machine. Idly I look at my watch. I still have another 20 more minutes before my turn to pull. Not that I don't like taking the orders, but.. Ah who am I kidding? Customer service sucks. Get to see cute guys though. Tall guy is yummy.

"Here's $5.00." He hands me the five-dollar bill and turns to his friend. "Danny, you happen to have a dime?" Scruffy shoots his friend a deer in the headlights sort of look and pales considerably.

"I don't have any money Jack," he says softly. Yeah, well that happens, no big deal Scruff. So why does cute guy look ashamed and Scruffy seem like he is about to cry?

These guys are weird.

"Ah man! I'm sorry Daniel, I totally forgot." Tall guy gives his friend a friendly squeeze on the shoulder. "We'll get that straightened out first thing this morning."

"Sure Jack," Scruffys says shrugging nonchalantly. I clear my throat. As odd as this conversation was, I had a line of customers after all.

"Sorry about that. Here ya go." He hands over the five.

"Keep the change." I beam at him. Have I mentioned how much I love big tippers? Sure, we pool our tips here, but there are only three of us working at the moment.

The pair walk off to the end of the counter and pick up their drinks. Out of the corner of my eye I watch as tall cute guy heads over to the condiments counter and pours some milk into his coffee while Scruffy cupped his hands around the paper cup and carefully took a sip.

"Aha! See, I told you this was a good idea!" His friend says triumphantly as he catches sight of Scruffy's obvious enjoyment.

"I've missed this Jack," Scruffy sighs, releasing a small smile. Lovely smile actually.

"There's lots of good things here Daniel," Tall cute guy says gently. Ok. That was an odd comment.

"I know." Scruffy takes another sip of his drink as the pair start walking out the front entrance. The last I hear before they disappear is tall cute guy saying,

"And I'm talking about stuff besides Kleenex here!" They both laugh.

Like I said, weird.

December 9, 2002

To be continued!