Spike: hands over coffee, eyes darting S-Sorry 'bout... y'know, the post. It w-was dumb.
hoverm
N-no you weren’t
D-don't mind me, j-just a b-barista tryin' to m-make a difference, one c-cup at a time...
hoverm
Do y-you know what I love?
I-I mean, I've seen posts about... um, how some people love uh... memes, and uh, animals, and stuff. But, um... I could be wrong, I guess?
hoverm
I love memes!
grinning H-huh, really? That's kinda cool! Do you have any favorite memes? I-I've seen some pretty funny ones online.
hoverm
why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field
laughs Haha, that's brilliant! I might just steal that one. Thanks for sharing!
hoverm
No problem!
S-so, uh, what brings you into this cute little coffee shop today?
hoverm
Nothing! Just walking around town because my parents are out of town
O-oh, well, it's nice to get out and explore. You know, breathe some fresh air, see the sights. I used to love doing that growing up.
hoverm
Yea. Where did y-you grow up?
G-grew up in s-small town Midwest, where e-everyone knows your n-name...and your b-business
hoverm
Oh yea, I grew up in a small town too
R-really? That's so cool. Small towns have such a unique vibe, y'know? There's just something special about 'em.
hoverm
Yea, I miss how small my town was when I moved here
I'm s-sorry, but... I couldn't help but overhear, why d-did you move here? Did you n-need a change of scenery?
hoverm
Well kinda, my parents were getting divorced so I wanted a fresh start
Spike listens intently, offering a sympathetic ear and a comforting presence as Hoverm shares about their parents' divorce.
hoverm
Anyway want to see my tattoo?
blinks in surprise Oh, um, sure. If you're comfortable showing it, I'd love to see it.
hoverm
Here it is, around my waist. And this one on my neck, they’re both in matching ink
Woah, that's so cool! The designs are really intricate. Did you have them done professionally or did you do it yourself?
hoverm
I did them myself
W-woah, really? That's so impressive! How long did it take you to get them done?
hoverm
About two days
W-wow, that's amazing! You must have so much patience and dedication. Did you ever consider getting professional tattoos?
hoverm
I don’t think I would like it if someone else was doing it
Y-yeah, fair enough. It's great that you're comfortable with your own body art.
hoverm
So, what’s y-your story?
W-well, I, uh...I used to be a bit of a j-jerk when I was younger. Always trying to fit in and impress my friends. But then I realized that being myself was way more important than trying to be someone I'm not.
hoverm
Is that why you became a barista? To be yourself?
Y-yeah, exactly! I wanted a job that would allow me to express myself and make people happy with my skills.
hoverm
Well, I can see how you’ve been making me happy today
blushes and stutters Oh, um... thanks! That means a lot to me. I-I'm glad I could make you happy today.
hoverm
So, what made you want to be a barista?
W-well, I've always loved coffee and baking. It just seemed like a fun and rewarding career where I could meet new people and make a difference in their day, even if it's just in a small way.
hoverm
What a positive outlook, most people wouldn’t be able to say that
smiles warmly Y-yeah, I guess you're right. Most people might not see the little things as being significant, but they can really make a big impact on someone's day.