Coffee House -- Come On In!

Laura taps on the door; its heavy, dark wood sends the knock booming into the Coffee House.

"Hm," she thinks, puzzled. "Can I actually be the first one here this year?"

She opens the door -- it's always unlocked -- and steps inside. Tobie and the others have left it immaculate, as usual; there's not much to do to get things ready. She gets a fire going, puts the kettle on, and fires up the coffee thingie (she hates and fears coffee, but doubtless someone will be along soon who understands it). Then she settles into her favorite chair, takes out a notebook and a swag of fountain pens, and sighs happily. "Good old Coffee House," she murmurs.

I confess I couldn't remember the exact name for the thread, but I'm hoping I approximated it closely enough....

*peeks in* Someone else is here? Good, other people can help eat these! *sets plates with cinnamon ginger scones and oatmeal cranberry cookies on the counter* I certainly don't need them all :)

I'll handle the coffee from here, Laura. Thanks for starting it :) And I brought loose leaf tea - it's a blend of Darjeelingand Ceylon Summer.

Cookie, or tell me what you're writing for this year? Or both? :)

Greetings, Fellow Writers.

I'm coming down to Earth this year, and writing... trying to write... a murder mystery, with human characters for a change. I'm still trying to put everything together.

Greetings, everyone! I can't believe Nano is almost here. And did someone say tea? Mmmmmm.

Laura grins wildly as friends make their way back to the Coffee House. "Hello, everyone," she cries. "Missed you!"

With a grateful look at rianlrt, she takes a cookie AND a scone, and makes a nice cup of the Darjeeling blend. "I'm a rebel this year," she says. "Working on a pre-existing work. But it's for my Ph.D., and NaNo will help me get the words out at a good rate. It's simultaneously an old-fashioned adventure novel and an ironic riff on old-fashioned adventure novels. I could go on about my thesis topic at length, but my mouth is full. Or will be in a moment."

She eats the cookie with gusto, then piles some fresh whipped cream (which has miraculously appeared in a lovely terra cotta bowl on the counter) onto the scone.

-- Laura "mffphfmfmfmf omnomnom mffmmfphmgmfn" Goodin

Did someone say coffee? :)

Drink up, Jonny! There's also hot chocolate, chili hot chocolate, mulled cider, iced tea (it's springtime here in Australia, and I'll be glad of a cold beverage soon enough), and the occasional possibility of something stronger....

-- Laura

It's funny; I'll occasionally drink iced tea, but only rarely, even though it's always at least spring here in Texas.
And for me, coffee is a hot beverage... otherwise, it's flavoring ;) But yes, there's coffee, and I'll start more.

Laura, I'm glad you like the scones. My 'bestest' friend's recipe, tweaked to account for the cinnamon and candied ginger. Or, when I do it, other things (I use the same base for rosemary-cheddar, or cranberry almond, or whatever else). Now all we need to do is get you to use proper clotted cream! *grins*

I've lived in Australia for 16 years now. They keep trying with the clotted cream, but no -- I insist. Fluffy, SWEETENED whipped cream. That's what THIS American is jonesing for.

-- Laura

Did someone say clotted cream?

And I must check the cupboards to make sure my marshmallows are stocked.

*waves* Hiyas! Still not sure what I'm writing. Wanted traditional fantasy, but then I was talking with Eidolon Oracle, and the idea of a superhero story might be fun... not enough girl superheroes out there. ;)

O yes! Superhero story! I LOVE superhero stories!

-- Laura

Coffee House!!! *waves at everyone and puts a plate of maple syrup cookies on the counter*

Yeah, I'm a bit overexcited. I'm really looking forward to Nano this year. I love my idea and my characters. (Though one aspect of the world is bothering me-- it's simultaneously telling me one detail is both legally important and not legally important. Oh, well.)

Mara, I think a girl superhero would be wonderful! :D

Hi, Indie! Good to see you again! (Maple syrup is both hard to find and disgustingly expensive in Australia, so I will help myself to your cookies with reckless abandon, if you don't mind.)

Glad to hear this year's NaNo opus is firing your writing spirit!

-- Laura

Helloooo, Indie.

It's Indy, folks. Not "ie"-- a "y". (Yeah, I'm being particular. I've been known as Indy since I joined Nano.)

Laura, enjoy the cookies! :D I can't wait to get started, but the "shortened" timeframe is a bit bothersome. It feels like it should be the first couple days of October right now!

Sorry, Indy -- I stand corrected.

-- Laura

*Walks inside* I love coffee houses...

Hi, Chasemoose! Make yourself at home. Sofas, window seats, big, overstuffed chairs near the fire, thick carpets to sprawl on -- something's bound to suit!

-- Laura

*peeks head inside*

I hung out in one of these type places during one of my previous NaNo's. I'm not sure if this is the same coffee shop (I tend to get lost easily) but it sure does look cozy in here.

*grabs a scone and a latte and snuggles into one of those overstuffed chairs*