Roleplaying
2004 Archive
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Seminars
| When: | 18 March 2005 |
| Who: | Faith, Noah |
| What: | Faith decides to get some coffee following a bit of research at the university. She meets with Noah, pleasantries are exchanged, and they learn a little about each other. |
Foo.Bar.Com
A cybercafe like no other, instead of just catering to the tech-savy with a wireless connection or having pay-per-minute computer stations, Foo.Bar.Com has free access for everyone. If you've got a laptop but no wireless connection, there's plug in stations for dialup or high-speed. If you want to use one of the Foo.Bar.Com computers, there's no charge, as long as you buy a drink or something to eat. And in the background at all times there is playing a sci-fi movie or reruns of old sci-fi TV shows.
What few realize is that the Foo.Bar.Com cafes are a means for Jean to watch the trends and ideas of humans who deal with technology the most.
Noah steps through the door and glances around, still holding the door open. Seemingly satisfied, Noah steps inside and walks towards the counter. He looks over the cafe's offerings before placing an order for a ham sandwich and a glass of milk. While waiting for his order, he asks the server innocently enough "Is it true that I can use one of the computers for free," as if he finds this surprising. Suspicion confirmed, Noah smiles.
Foo.Bar.Com is a little on the busy side tonight; it's Friday, and it's caught its share of the campus crowd now that the week is over. One of these students just so happens to be a short, thin blonde woman sitting at the bar proper. She's currently alternating between a triple espresso (black, God knows how she's managing to drink it) and a piece of cheesecake. A laptop computer is sitting on the bar next to her; apparently, it's hooked into the local wireless hub, judging by the lack of cables protruding from it. Faith's currently reading some online technical journal, but it might be a little hard to see. Occasionally, she'll look around the room, observing newcomers. Like Noah. She watches him as he takes a seat, then turns her attention back to the journal, sipping idly at her coffee.
Noah sits there, smiling. He turns a little in his seat and looks around at the place. By the looks of it, he's never been here before. He looks across at the laptop and the young woman behind it. "Hi there," he says in a friendly tone.
Faith blinks. She sets her coffee on its coaster, flips the laptop screen so it's at a thirty-degree angle, and then spins the stool so she's facing Noah. She doesn't recall his face, so she responds with a just-shy-of-friendly "Hello." She's about as personable as a block of ice, but there's the greeting. Inwardly, she's curious. She folds her hands, right across left, and focuses on his face for a moment. "It's just research." Her voice is calm and soft, and distinctly lacking, Southern-accent-wise.
Noah smiles still, warm and bright as his food is delivered "Thank you," he says to the server as he pays for his food. He reaches for the glass mug of milk and slides it closer towards him "I guess we have something common then," Noah suggests with a soft laugh. As with Faith, Noah also lacks the southern drawl. He thinks for an instant before realizes he never finished that thought "Research that is."
The woman turns her chair around, briefly glancing down at her hands--looking at her watch, maybe?--before saving and closing something, picking up her coffee and turning back to face Noah. "Not from around here, either?" She smiles, faintly; she seems a little shy, maybe. "But research is research. It doesn't matter who does it." She looks thoughtful. "Are you with the university?" she asks. Might be a graduate student, or even a doctoral student. "What kind of research?" Faith's trying to sound personable, and having limited success. She doesn't seem angry or annoyed, anyway...
Noah shakes his head "Nah. I'm from Baltimore," he says, adding "I was hoping to use a computer for some research for work. I'm a nurse," he says matter-of-factly before thrusting out his hand "My name is Noah. What's yours?" His tone is still very friendly, acting more as if he's talking to a long lost friend than a stranger.
"Oh," Faith says, eyeing the offered hand. She sounds a little surprised, as though she just realized she was making small-talk with a complete stranger. But this might not be such a bad thing, after all. She takes Noah's hand in hers and shakes it, cautiously. "Faith," she states. "I'm working on my doctorate. Chemical engineering. I work nearby." She still sounds a little terse, and takes another sip of her coffee after she's done speaking. And she's still observing the other patrons, whenever she gets a chance. Apparently, she likes to crowd-watch.
Noah takes his hand back and reaches for his milk, taking a long sip "Wow that's very impressive he says," seemingly in awe. "I'd like to go back to school again but I just finished with my Associates. I'm happy just to be working." And he is that...happy. "What kind of work do you do with chemicals," he asks curiously.
Faith seems a bit more interested as Noah congratulates her--that's one thing she's comfortable talking about. "Oh, I..." Hm. How to explain this to somebody who's never heard of it? She scratches absently at the back of her head before speaking again. "I study the processes people use to make chemicals, and find ways to make them faster, cheaper and more efficient." There's another pause; Faith doesn't want to sound like she's patting herself on the back in front of a stranger. That's just not right. "It's tricky business, but it's worth it." And thus ends the simple explanation. Be thankful she didn't give the complicated one.
Noah still seems in awe. He does stop to take a few bites of his sandwich and a sip of milk as he listens. He concludes, "That's very neat! So you don't make new stuff but you make it so people can make stuff in less time and less waste?" He seems happy enough with the explanation and reaches again for his lunch.
"Basically," Faith states, though inwardly the snobbishness is starting to show a little. She distracts herself with some more cheesecake and coffee, and looks thoughtful again. "I have more time to study now. The workers are striking." She sounds distinctly stilted when she says that. As though the passing-on of the idea is more important than her feelings about the idea. She clears her throat. "Might get resolved, might not."
Noah nods, finishing off his sandwich. Big buy, big mouth, eats fast it seems. He takes another large gulp of his milk "Well...I don't want to keep you from it. And I guess I should get some work done too. It was very nice meeting you, Faith," he says, that same smile plastered on his face.
"Good meeting you, too," Faith replies, watching Noah for a moment more before turning her back on him. She takes another sip of coffee, opens her laptop's screen, and loads up that journal again. He's right--she'd better get back to work. She's got a lot to do, after all...
Noah seems quite pleased. He takes what's left of his milk and wanders off in search of a free workstation to use.
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