07-14-2019, 09:48 PM
When Nika returned to Moscow following the season break, the first thing she did was scout around for a decent place to get coffee. Being Italian as well as Russian, she took this matter seriously. In fact, she would not finish coffee if it didn’t meet her standards. Snobbish perhaps but life was way too short to drink ashtray coffee. At least that’s what it tasted like to her.
The best place was two blocks from her condo. A quaint little establishment that clearly cleaned the pots daily. How hard was that really?
The old-fashioned bell over the door rang when she opened the door. No clue as to why but Nika loved that sound and her face morphed into a satisfied smile. Not enough to show off the dimples but more an upward curve of her lips.
It was Saturday night and her training sessions were over and done. Which meant it was time for relaxing with a cup of coffee. Or two. Normally she took her cup to go but this time, she’d sit and zen. It was time for zen. Plus the place was cozy, it had a feel of familiarity to it.
She stepped into line and looked around until it was her turn. Princess Charlotte and her new baby graced the cover of a magazine on a table nearby, there was some stupid headline about Brandon she didn’t care about splashed all over a news circ and a new drone model was debuting for ASCazon. That was as far as she got with the news.
Her turn. She flashed a smile to the barista. The manager was nearby but preoccupied with another customer. More often than not it was she who helped Nika. The other woman had a smile that lit up the room. Super personable too. Nika caught her eye, smiled and gave a little wave. The guy at the counter looked over his shoulder briefly with an odd expression on his face before asking for her order. “Hello. May I bother you for a cappuccino, please? For here.” He looked relieved then, about what she didn’t know. Nika booped her wallet on the pay tab and it dinged in success. He handed her a numbered topper and indicated they’d bring her coffee to her table. She thanked the guy and made her way to a table for two on the back wall.
The best place was two blocks from her condo. A quaint little establishment that clearly cleaned the pots daily. How hard was that really?
The old-fashioned bell over the door rang when she opened the door. No clue as to why but Nika loved that sound and her face morphed into a satisfied smile. Not enough to show off the dimples but more an upward curve of her lips.
It was Saturday night and her training sessions were over and done. Which meant it was time for relaxing with a cup of coffee. Or two. Normally she took her cup to go but this time, she’d sit and zen. It was time for zen. Plus the place was cozy, it had a feel of familiarity to it.
She stepped into line and looked around until it was her turn. Princess Charlotte and her new baby graced the cover of a magazine on a table nearby, there was some stupid headline about Brandon she didn’t care about splashed all over a news circ and a new drone model was debuting for ASCazon. That was as far as she got with the news.
Her turn. She flashed a smile to the barista. The manager was nearby but preoccupied with another customer. More often than not it was she who helped Nika. The other woman had a smile that lit up the room. Super personable too. Nika caught her eye, smiled and gave a little wave. The guy at the counter looked over his shoulder briefly with an odd expression on his face before asking for her order. “Hello. May I bother you for a cappuccino, please? For here.” He looked relieved then, about what she didn’t know. Nika booped her wallet on the pay tab and it dinged in success. He handed her a numbered topper and indicated they’d bring her coffee to her table. She thanked the guy and made her way to a table for two on the back wall.