| Saturday afternoon. The Copper Tap isn't exactly hopping persay, but the occasional customer steps in to pick up a drink or pastry now and that's enough to keep the staff busy. Some leave once they have their order and others find a seat within the shop to enjoy it. Ellis is one of those who's stayed, settled into a seat on one side of the room. One elbow propped on the table, she rests her chin on her hand as she scans the page of a book open in front of her, two pastries, each on its own little plate, and a mug within easy reach.
It's not long before the front door opens again and another customer comes into the coffeehouse. This time, it's Donovan who enters, moving towards the counter and spots Ellis along the way. He offers her a slight wave and a small smile, remembering his neighbor from the previous evening. "Hey." He offers to her as he passes her table, on his way to the counter to get himself a drink and a snack. "Double mocha latte with six shots of espresso, please. And a danish." He says to the person working the register, paying for the items and waits on the drink to be made.
Ellis glances up as the door opens or else she might have missed Donovan's greeting. "Hey," she replies with a smile and a wave of fingers from the hand he's leaning on, the other holding the page of her book. "Seriously?" she questions the boy's order with a raised brow. Six shots!?
Donovan glances back to Ellis as she questions his drink order, raising an eyebrow slightly. "What?" He asks simply, taking the danish and drink once they're delivered. "Thanks." He offers to the employee before taking a bite of the danish and moves over to her table, pulling out a chair from the table across from hers to sit in, not wanting to invite himself to her table. That'd be rude after all. "So, whatcha reading?" He asks, nodding his head slightly towards the book in her hands.
"Six shots? You realize it's Saturday, right? THere's no way you need to pull an all nighter..." That's Ellis' thoughts on it anyway. As for the book, "City of Dark Magic, not terrible, but not the best I've read either. Kinda hoping it gets better." That said she turns the corner of her page to mark it before closing the book. "So, settling in alright?"
Donovan takes a sip from the still hot latte, trying not to burn his tongue. Her statement about the number of shots in the drink does cause him to laugh slightly. "Yeah. I know, but I've still got a lot of boxes in the garage that I have to move and then I have to unpack them all. I figure since it's the weekend, I'll knock it out tonight and be done by tomorrow." He adds as an explanation. As she explains about the book, his eyes move back to the cover, looking it over. "Hrm, I don't think I have heard of it. Let me know if you like it at the end. The last book I read was the Hunger Games series, but that was because I liked the movie." He offers with a slight smile before he takes another bite of the danish. The girl's next question causes him to nod as he chews, speaking once his mouth is clear. "Yeah, so far. My job at the deli already helped me meet new people. Our neighbor Kelly and a girl named Krysten. She's a regular, so we've got a chance to talk some."
Ellis nods, its an explanation at least. "Congrats on the job and all," she replies. "And speaking of Kelly," she starts with a roll of her eyes, "He's supposed to be here." Late as usual by the looks of things. "But I'll let you know how it turns out," the blonde assures reaching for her own drink.
Speak of the devil and he shall appearSpeak of Kelly and he'll be an additional five minutes late. Normally. This night the blond isn't far behind, entering with a rather firm shove of the door and an equally loud flitter of the bell overhead. He offers a wave to his neighbors in passing, though his goal for the moment appears to be coffee.
Donovan offers Ellis a smile and a slight nod of his head at her congratulations. "Thank you. I'm just glad to be able to do something." He offers and a slight chuckle as she mentions Kelly being late. He starts to speak, but then the door to the shop opens and in comes Kelly. As he passes by and offers the greetings, he raises his cup in a salute to return the greeting the guy gave. "And there he is." He offers to Ellis as Kelly heads towards the counter.
"Speaking off..." Ellis adds to Donovan when Kelly makes his appearance, to the new arrival, "I got you a cupcake." Just incase he didn't see it waiting at her table. "Fair warning," she starts with a grin, leaning towards Donovan, "If you want him anywhere on time give yourself a good fifteen minutes."
"'m sorry." Kelly drones as he returns to the table. By the scent of things he's forsaken coffee for cocoa, but it gets forgotten as he drops into the seat next to Ellis, a hand instantly reaching for the provided treat. "Sup?" it's a universal enough greeting that for the moment at least he seems content on eating in silence....and checking his texts.
Donovan glances over to Ellis as she leans into him, chuckling softly at her words and nods his head. "Thanks for the advice. I'll make sure to keep that in mind." He says with a slight grin before he looks up at Kelly as he returns to the table, sitting across from Ellis. "Not a whole lot." He offers in return of his greeting. "Talking about books and she's' giving me grief over the number of shots I put in my espresso." He says the last part with a playful smirk and a glance over to the girl.
"Wasn't sure what you wanted and didn't want it to get cold," the girl says, leaning back as Kelly joins them, an explanation as to why she didn't order him a drink as well. "Who wouldn't," she tosses back at Donovan about her giving him grief. "Six, he ordered six," she makes her point to Kelly. "Don't tell me that's not ridiculous."
Kelly blinks over toward Ellis, though his expression seems one of concern..likely because he's normally the one being harped at. "Wow...you keep that up and you'll be hearing colors and seeing sounds." Yup, even Kelly looks mystified. "I think that may actually qualify as liquid speed." Lifting his cupcake, he makes no small act out of eating it. "You getting wired for anything fun?"
Donovan shakes his head slightly at Ellis' comment, chuckling softly at her words. "It's not ridiculous." He says in his own defense before he glances back towards Kelly as he speaks up. "I don't think that'll happen." He says about the sounds and colors. "And it's definitely not speed... plus it's legal." He offers with a soft chuckle before he takes another drink from his latte. At Kelly's question, he shakes his head. "No. Nothing fun. Just a night of moving boxes from the garage up to my room and then unpacking. I've been here a week and I'm still not unpacked."
Ellis rolls her eyes. "Still ridiculous if you ask me," she comments, lifting her mug to her lips for a sip. "You don't know of anything going on tonight do you?" she asks, the question pointed at Kelly since clearly Donovan doesn't. "And if either of you have plans for next weekend let me know, I need an excuse for my grandmother."
Kelly snickers, shrugging gently. "It would be pretty badass if it did." He adds before lifting his cup to his lips. He's quiet for a while, listening to his neighbors, though Ellis manages to draw him back out again. "Seriously? You can hang out with me. I'm already failing math..you can help me and then we can order pizza, move all the furniture and watch my mom fall down when she stumbles home at three in at the morning." Well...seems fun to him at least.
Donovan just shakes his head at Kelly and his comment, eyeing him slightly. "If it did, we'd have to keep you away from it." He says with a slight smile before he looks to Ellis and her question about their plans tonight and next weekend. He thinks to himself for a moment or two before he shakes his head. "Nope. I can't say that I do except that I am working Monday through Friday." He says simply before he takes a few more bites of his danish, looking to Kelly as he makes his offer to Ellis.
Ellis laughs, "As much as a pizza sounds good I don't know that I'd make it until three in the morning." Chances are she'd fall asleep by then unless there's something more than bad movies to keep her attention. "And can you imaging what she'd say if I mentioned hanging out with you?" Yeah, Kelly isn't exactly high on her grandmother's list of acceptable friends, but if the smirk that crosses her face is any indication she just might tell her that anyway. "I'm sure we'll come up with something" this she included Donovan in as well, "Even if it is teaching Kelly math."
Kelly just grins. Apparently he's well aware of his 'status'. "She's just jealous. Deep down your grandma wants me..which is disgusting, and I mean that in the most respectable way possible." He finishes off his snack, dropping back a few seconds later to eye his cocoa. A guy can only take so much sugar! "Ya know, one day you'll look back at me and how much I achieved in my dead end job with shitty benefits and no real retirement plans and you'll be like, damn I'm happy I taught Kelly math. Just imagine where he'd be if I hadn't." ahem.
Donovan, Ellis and Kelly are off to one side of the shop, taking up two tables between the three of them. The place isn't exactly what one would call full. Donovan has a coffee and a partially eaten danish in front of him, Kelly has an empty cupcake wrapper and some cocoa while Ellis has a book, two pastries and a mug. Donovan thinks for a few moments as the mention of pizza again from Ellis seems to get his brain working before he checks his watch to see what time it is. "I think I might grab some pizza on the way home..." He says with a slight smirk before he turns to Kelly. "Thanks a lot." He chuckles softly before he just shakes his head at the grandmother comment. "Wow. Really?" He asks before he looks back to Ellis. "If you need me to smack him around for you, just let me know." He offers with a simple nod of his head.
Krysten arrives at the coffee shop, humming to herself- judging by the wires coming from her ears, she seems to be listening to music. She looks over toward Donovan, Ellis and Kelly and smiles a bit, heading to a table near them.
Ellis rolls her eyes at Kelly's comment. "Don't worry," she replies to Donovan, "I'm used to him being a jerk," she says cutting a sharp look towards the other boy. Used to and appreciating his special sort of sarcasm are two very different things. "And speak of the devil," she mutters glancing down at the display on her cell. "Sorry guys, I have to take this," she says, picking up the phone in that or she won't stop calling way. "Hello?" "I know." The blonde replies to the woman on the phone as she collects her book and mouths 'Sorry, see you later' to the boys before slipping off. "No, I have plans." "Yes, Kelly." "Studying." "Yes, really."
Kelly arches a brow at Don, though he seems more amused than challenged. "Any time Picasso." He teases lazily, though as he senses a new energy in the room, he lifts his eyes to glance back toward the newly entered artist. "There's that girl." He allows with the smallest wave sent her way. 'That girl', is now Krys's name. At least till he's corrected.
Donovan looks towards Ellis as she heads out, offering a smile and a wave to her on her way out before he spots Krysten as she comes in. He glances towards Kelly at his challenge. "Sure thing. How about under the monkey bars after school?" He asks before he offers a bright smile towards the other artist, offering a wave to her. "Hey Krysten." He calls to her, also for Kelly's benefit since he doesn't seem to remember her name or he just doesn't know it. As she heads towards them, he pushes out a chair at his table for her. "Come. Sit. Join us." He offers to her, motioning towards the chair.
Krysten takes an earbud from one ear to hear Donovan, and quickly changes course to sit beside him. "Hi, Donovan. I tried what you said on my drawing," she says. "It looks good!" She gives a wide smile. "Thanks."
Kelly waves again, this time with more focus, though he does seem to make a mental note of the girls name. They do have a class together...as terrifying as the idea of Kelly in an art class is. He's quiet for now, focusing instead on his phone.
Donovan smiles and nods his head to Krysten, hearing how the wolf turned out. "No problem. Glad I could be of help. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product." He says to her before he thinks for a few moments, glancing towards Kelly for a moment and sees he's messing with his phone before he looks back to her. "I was thinking. I've got a new project I'm going to be starting on. A seven panel painting on the seven deadly sins. I was wondering if you'd like to work on it with me. A collaboration." He says before he picks up his latte and taking a long drink of it now that it has cooled down some.
Krysten nods, before blinking a bit at Donovan's suggestion. "Huh? A... collaboration, with me?
Krysten nods, before blinking a bit at Donovan's suggestion. "Huh? A... collaboration, with me?" She puts a hand to her mouth thoughtfully. "O-okay... that might be fun. How would we split it up?"
Donovan smiles slightly before he takes another sip of his drink and nods. "Yeah. I've seen your work in class and in Art Club and I think it'd be a great collaboration." He says to her with a smile. Her next question does cause him to think. "Why don't I give you my number and you can call me. Then we can setup something to discuss it."
Krysten nods, fidgeting a bit in her seat. "Oh... okay, that sounds good," she says. "It's... not the kind of thing I usually do, but... I can't always keep doing the same things, right?"
Donovan chuckles and nods his head. "Exactly. If you feel comfortable, you can do the sketches for them and I'll paint 'em." He says with a slight shrug of his shoulders. "I wouldn't want to throw you right into the deep end if you don't feel like you're ready."
Krysten shakes her head. "No... I'm fine, really. I can do it. Especially the backgrounds... I like doing backgrounds a lot," she explains.
Donovan smiles and nods. "Great! Then how about this? You can work on the backgrounds and I'll do the foregrounds. I think we could make a really incredible piece between the two of us." He says before he pulls off a piece of his danish and eats it before he continues. "Plus, this is the first time that I'd be doing a collaboration on any of the work I've done before." He offers with a soft laugh. "So, it'll be new for the both of us."
Krysten nods, with a big smile. "Of course! That's a great idea. I'll make sure to put in trees, and a river, and everything," she says. "Oh, but... if it's the seven deadly sins, maybe it should be more of an ominous background."
Donovan ponders her point and nods slightly. "Perhaps, but the background could also reflect the sins themselves." He offers with a slight shrug of his shoulders. "I'll be there too during school, so we can see how our work is and how well they're doing together. Don't worry, we'll make it the best that it can be." He says with a smile. By the look on his face, it's obvious that he's really looking forward to this.
Krysten gives Donovan a thumbs-up. "Yes!" she says, with more energy than usual. "I'll do my best." She also looks quite happy with the idea.
Donovan picks up his latte and takes another drink before he sets it down. "So, besides the wolf, what other stuff are you working on? I'd love to see some more stuff that I haven't seen already. Whenever we meet up for this, you should bring some of your stuff. I'll bring mine too and you can check out some of my stuff too." He says with a smile, picking up the danish and pulling off another piece before offering her some.
Krysten thinks. "Oh, well... I've also been working on some photography," she says, twirling some of her hair. "Now that autumn's starting, I'll be able to get some good pictures of the fall trees." She smiles a bit. "Oh, and then there's that song I've been practicing on the piano..."
Donovan raises an eyebrow slightly as he hears about her other projects, setting the danish back down. "Wow. So you draw, take photographs and play the piano?" He asks, seeming impressed. "Only thing I take pictures of are stuff that I want to draw or paint later on." He says with a slight chuckle. "That's about all I do, though I thought about trying to get into sculptures for a change of pace."
Krysten grins a bit sheepishly. "Yeah... I'm pretty much all kinds of artistic," she says. "Yeah, sculpture... I tried, but it's not really the kind of thing I'm the best at. I do better with flat surfaces," she notes. "But... Just looking at the world kind of inspires me, right? It's just so amazing if you think about it."
Donovan nods his head slightly as he listens to her, smiling. "It must run in the family, huh?" He asks with a slight chuckle. The mention of what inspires her causes him to nod in agreement. "I agree. I keep my camera in my car. You never know when you'll run across something that will inspire you. So if I keep my camera around, I'll be able to catch it." He smirks slightly. "Though that's about all I know how to do with the camera. Point and click, so that's why I'm taking the Photography classes."
Krysten looks a bit confused. "Runs in the family? But my parents aren't artists..." she says. "Though... I guess books are flat... and legal benches," she adds with a chuckle. "Well, you aren't that bad for just knowing the basics," she notes concerning Donovan's photography. She points in his direction. "I saw a few of your pictures... you actually took some nice ones!"
Donovan nods his head. "Yeah. I don't know where I get my art skills from either. My mom isn't artistic outside of writing. I never knew who my dad is, so I don't know anything about him. I assume I got it from him, but my mom won't talk to me about him. Just says that he was the milkman or she went to a sperm bank." He says with a slight sigh and a shrug of his shoulders. The comment about the photography does cause him to smile again. "I think it's the artistic skills that helps me have an eye for photography."
Krysten nods. "Right... it's a lot like planning a painting, in some ways. Anyway," she says, standing up. "Um... I have to get going. You can call me if you like..." She gives Donovan her phone number. "And we can talk about that painting. It's been a while since I've been so excited about something, you know?"
Donovan smiles and nods his head. "Yeah, I can see what you mean by that." As in the painting analogy. As she stands up, he stands with her and when he places her phone number in his phone as she gives it to him. He smiles and nods, slipping the phone back in his pocket. "Sounds good. I'll give you a call tomorrow or after school Monday." He says with a smile. "It depends on how quickly I can unpack my stuff." As she mentions being excited, he nods excitedly. "I know what you mean. I'm looking forward to this."
Krysten waves. "Bye then!" she says, before turning around and heading out the door.
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