Consider your options over a drink

As you weigh your options, you decide sate your thirst with a drink. Besides, it's not like there is any urgency to your decision. You note one of the restaurants that's hiring waitresses and head over there. The name had caught your attention, The Grape and Bean . Maybe they have something like coffee here.

It's not a long walk, before you reach a long arched building, with a cavernous interior. High and tall windows welcome in light and a cool draft of wind, but low burning fires contained within stone pyramids, radiate warmth throughout the room. It's rather, nice, and after a double take you realize no smoke is escaping from the fire. Magic, you conclude. You make your way past the delicately carved wooden tables towards the long bar opposite the entrance. As you approach the bar soft gust of wind carries the faintest whiff of roasting beans... coffee beans. It's acidic, and not pleasant, but it's familiar, and you can't help but smile.

As you sit at the bar, you hear a crashing of dishes. A moment later, a waifish girl comes skittering out. Her blonde hair bounces behind her as she walks, and when she glances your way you spy the biggest blue eyes you've ever seen. Quickly, she scurries about to see to the few customers that line the hall. Behind her is a taller, more tanned woman. She carries herself with a deliberate and elegant gait. She assesses you for a split moment, bringing you under the stern gaze of her grey eyes, then sweeps her curly black hair out of her face, approaches you.

She speaks out with a fuller voice that chimes as clearly as a bell. "I apologize for the commotion, we're shorthanded today, and the poor girl's become terribly clumsy." You nod sympathetically wondering how much the steely eyed woman before you has to do with that clumsiness. "What might I interest you in?" You ask for a simple coffee, which she begins preparing over a hot plate with a small brass pitcher. Turkish coffee, you recognize.

"Are things really so rushed?" you begin. "It doesn't look like there are many people here."
She shakes her head before continuing. "We become busier as the day goes on. Siesta is not far away, and we still have much to do."
You nod your head "I noticed your add on the town board."
She smiles "And, you are here for a job?"
"I hadn't planned on it, but I'm familiar with the work. I may be willing to work until someone else comes along. Besides, she looks like she could use some help." You chuckle as you gesture towards the girl darting by on the way to the kitchen.

She begins the repetitive ritual of pouring off the frothing bubbles from the boiling liquid, then returning the pitcher to the hotplate to boil over again.

"Yes..." She muses, "Poor Aelfleda would be glad for the help. And so would I." She smiles sideways at you as she passes you the cup. "This one's for free. If you'd like to work, see me, but quickly!"