Currently in Saint Claire, it's a sunny day. The temperature is 69 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from variable directions at 5 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.00 and falling, and the relative humidity is 62 percent. The dewpoint is 56 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius.)
Campustown: Cup O-joes
Small, smoky, spendy, this little coffee shop sandwiched between establishments more of the chain-store variety is a slice of pure 90's Generation X available 24 hours a day. Pierced and painted goths bemoaning the uselessness of life rub shoulders with the next generation of yuppies getting their caffeine fix via daddy's credit card, while they wait in line for one of the 20 different varieties of coffees, with flavorings to create even more choice. To double the offerings, any of those can be made with Cup O' Joe's very own Spiked! espresso beans which contain four times the caffeine of normal espresso. For those of weaker heart, Joe's also offers a selection of Nantucket Nectars in every flavor, and Crystal Clear water in five, ranging from plain to peach. Sandwiches made on foccacia bread in such scrumptuous flavors as avocado and sprouts and turkey and pesto can be purchased for the modest price of around five or six dollars.
A semi-circular counter arcs out from a corner of the bottom floor, furthest from and to the left of the front door. As many circular tables as an possibly fit are squeezed into the area between the front window, which is to the left of the front door, back into the room to the counter. A set of stairs begins halfway down the right side of the room, leading up to a cozy "reading room". Under the stairs is an open doorway leading into another room out of the noisy hubbub of the front entrance. In clement weather, six umbrella-shaded tables, capable of seating four people, are out on the sidewalk along the main road of Campustown.
Outside of the shop, SCCU can be reached by taking the main road north, while St. Claire is down I-90 if you head east. A 'sign' by the front door advertises today's specials.
Cup of coffee in hand, the woman known as Professor McKennan--of SCCU biology/pre-medicine sequence fame--is seated at one of the circular tables, dressed in a pair of black slacks and a nice work shirt. Today is a day at the university. Otherwise she'd be seen running around in a bloody labratory coat, screaming "CODE BLUE!" every chance she could get. A sip of the coffee, the wrinkle of her delicate nose at the heavy taste, she sighs.
Dizzy stands, slightly impatient, in line. She hasn't had her morning cup of coffee yet and looks it, in her hand is a class catalogue. She idly looks at it as she waits for the person in front of her to finish her order.
Loughlin hums to herself. Eyes find Dizzy, and she can't help but smirk--at the sight of the class catalogue. Standing, the woman approaches the prospective student, and muses, "So, what is it you're looking at there? Freedom from parental units?" With lifted brows and an all-around amused expression, she looks pretty harmless.
What could be taken from her appearance is that she is Irish; she is sarcastic; and she holds one hell of a temper. All of which is true.
This woman--around the age of thirty--stands at a relatively short height of five feet and three inches, however she holds herself with a somewhat intimidating demeanor that could quote William Shakespeare: though she be little, she is fierce. Falling dangerously to her shoulders is her mane of hair, a wish-wash of browns and blondes and reds to create a golden-reddish hue with tints of brown here and there. It's not like she does much with it; her hair hangs there, tamed by the weather and the nice byproducts of shampoo and conditioner. Her face is comely enough, rounded with pronounced cheekbones and a small chin, vaguely pouting lips, a small nose with a few dashes of freckles, and a pair of brooding eyes beneath well-shaped eyebrows. Her eyes, though, seem to be a different story: they are plain brown, accented around the dark pupil in an olive green that seems as drab as her wardrobe.
Her wardrobe is, indeed, damnably drab. Working as a doctor seems to be her occupation, as shown by the way she usually dresses. She is lithe and willowy, albeit not tall and healthily skinny to a point where she definitely would be on the opposite end of the spectrum from Calista Flockhart. Her torso is clothed in a loose-fitting blue shirt, and her legs swathed in loose pants--they're scrubs, the infamous clothing of doctors. And most often she's wearing a white lab coat, declaring her name: LOUGHLIN MCKENNAN, M.D. However, there are a few instances where she'd be wearing a shirt and jeans instead of her doctorly attire...but it sure as hell ain't often.
She could be considered cute; she could be considered pretty; she could be considered anything...and she really doesn't seem to give a damn.
Surprised, Dizzy looks at the woman in front of her, "Yeah, kind of, I guess." She dodges around the subject a bit, "I just transferred here and am trying to figure out what classes to take next."
With a free hand, she salutes all-American-esque. "Interesting. Not like I'd transfer there, but I'm all through college and med school and all of that shit," Loughlin says, taking another sip of the coffee. "Lucky you, though: I teach biology at the university. Kind of a part-time. Hospital work takes up most of my time. You know, running around the pristine white creepy smelling halls with a bloody body in a gurney, screaming that they need life support, because if not!" Her voice lowers: "They die, and it's all your fault, doctor!" She smirks.
Dizzy nods, visably surprised when the subject turns to bloody bodys and such. Not disgusted, just surprised at the direction taken. "Well, you probably wont see me in one of your classes, then. I'm going for my BA in Business Administration." She glances in front of her, disgusted that the line has barely moved as the customer in front is fumbling over words about a complicated order.
Loughlin's eyes trail to the patrons in front of Dizzy. "It's never this crowded, one. Two, people need to learn to speak English, not blabber," she murmurs. "I'm biased, though. Los Angeles--no one speaks English. At least the majority of people here do." She shrugs, and glances to Dizzy. "Business Administration? Good luck, then."
"Thanks," comes the distracted reply, "Though, I must say I prefer the weather here. Nice and cool."
A nod, and she finishes off the coffee. Throwing it in a wastebasket--she shoots, she scores!--Loughlin tells the young woman, "Well, I better get going. Class. And then hospital-work for the next fourty-eight hours. Nice to meet you."
Dizzy's turn finally comes. "Wow, that's a lot of work. Excuse me," she says politely as she gives her order, a large chilled mocha coffee. She places a ten spot on the counter and turns back to the professor, "How do you handle staying up that long? If you don't mind me asking."
"Lots of coffee," is Loughlin's rather sarcastic reply, accompanied by a wry grin.
Dizzy grins, "Heh, well, maybe I'll see you later around campus, then." She picks up her change. "Have fun in the ER."
Loughlin nods. "Thanks. I'm sure I will," she reports with a laugh.