you gotta be ☕

They have an amazing story crew. Their various skin sets tend to have stories about why they are what they are. They definitely know what they're doing. Arcane, the TV show based on it is also really good. It depends, honestly. Though the newer stuff is definitely more in the pop genre than anything.

Okay, yeah, pop is definitely more in my wheelhouse, so I might actually have to give some of it a listen. It's kind of impressive how much they've built around the whole thing. I started this conversation knowing basically nothing about it, and now you've at least got me curious enough to look some of it up.

It's a very big game with a very big fanbase, and they like being very creative with it. The music is very good, especially the newer stuff.

Honestly, I respect that. If you're going to have a fanbase that big, you might as well give them a lot to work with. It definitely sounds like they've figured out how to keep people invested beyond just playing the game itself. What genre is the music, usually? Depending on if it's something I might listen to, I'll have to look it up. If nothing else, you've made me curious now.

I recently planted lavender in my little garden at school and it's finally starting to bloom! The scent is just heavenly, and now I'm thinking about baking a batch of lemon-lavender shortbread cookies as one of our last class projects. I'm hoping to find a few brave, wonderful souls to be our official taste-testing guests next week... Would anyone happen to have some extra time and an appetite for something sweet?

Ooh girl, you know you may have just given me an idea for some new flavors for treats at the cafe. I know I've seen places like Starbucks doing the lavender with their coffees and refreshers, but I hadn't thought of putting it with baked goods. Do you happen to know of any recipes that puts that combination into muffins or cakes? If not, I can totally just head to google or pinterest. Also, I volunteer as tribute for some taste-testing!

Feeling the hand on his shoulder, he glanced over to the woman and allowed a chuckle to fall from his lips. "I mean, you're probably not wrong," he admitted, an amused tone to his voice. "Still, though. I think you might need to sweeten the deal a little to convince me. For all you know, I could waste a bit more money on this and finally win," he added, raising a challenging eyebrow. Of course, even as he said the words, he knew they weren't at all true given that his only prize for winning at this game would be a stuffed animal he really had no use for as a grown man but, for the sake of his pride, he wouldn't admit that.

Daria let out a laugh, shaking her head as she followed his gaze back toward the bottles. "Alejandro, I think we're both smart enough to know this stopped being about winning at least three missed throws ago." The grin on her face softened slightly, familiar enough with him by now to recognize when stubbornness had dug its heels in. "You don't even want the stuffed animal. At this point you're just trying to prove a point to an inanimate object, which is a battle I don't think either of you can actually win." She stepped around slightly to catch his eye. "Come on. Walk away while you're only mildly losing to a carnival game. I'll even help you save face and pretend it was your idea." A beat passed before her grin returned. "And if you need a consolation prize, I'm pretty sure I can find you something sweet from the booth. It'll be a lot more useful than whatever you're trying to win over there."

Oh, indeed, mustn't forget the 'Jams' part of Java Jams, even if I'm a little biased toward the 'Java', 😂 (Understandably, I think. I have a brand to uphold.)

I mean, fair. I can’t really act surprised at this point, the coffee obsession has been pretty well established by now. (Hey, at least you’re committed to your personal brand.)

It is, yes. Riot, the parent company for League of Legends is really big on music universes, so there's a handful of different bands within the League universe and all the music is really good. That she does. I can't say I've listened to much of her music, but what I have is good.

That’s actually a really cool concept, I had no idea they went that far with it. Kind of impressive how much effort they put into building all of that around a game. I'm no gamer myself, but I can see how that would pull people in, especially if the music is good enough to stand on its own.

Hugely social events like these were not Alejandro's cup of tea, to say the least. In fact, he usually would choose to run the other way and not subject himself to having to interact with so many people. Unfortunately, he was once again at the dangerous line of crossing over into becoming a hermit with the amount of time he'd been spending inside when not working at the dispatch center and that was usually about the time in his routine he knew he had to force himself to get some interaction with other humans in, even if it was ultimately just for niceties - well, as nice as he could get. And, at the very least, he didn't mind showing up in support for the town's various businesses. But as he watched the ring he just tossed circle the bottle's neck before flying off once more, he was beginning to regret it. "Alright, tell me to stop before my stubborn streak kicks in and I stop caring about how much money I'm wasting on this rigged carnival game," he spoke aloud, fingers already itching to retrieve more money from his wallet against his better judgment.

Daria had been running a booth out in front of her cafe the same as she had previous years on Founders Day, though this year she found herself trusting a few of her staff enough to step away and check out the other vendors. Walking up and down along the street to check out the entirety of the festivities was something she hadn't done... probably since before she first opened the Java Jams. Making her way down towards the games area, she couldn't help but chuckle as she just managed to witness Alejandro's most recent miss on the ring toss. Sidling up to him, she shook her head as she put a hand gently on his shoulder. "Alright, this is me telling you to stop, then. Especially since I, personally, think your money would be better spent on something from my booth or cafe," she added with a sly grin.

She's the vocal claim in one of the League of Legends bands (True Damage best band) and I've honestly never disliked anything I've watched her in.

Oh, is that a video game? Doesn't surprise me though that they'd choose her to sing in it, girl has a great voice. Her first album was pretty much on repeat for 15 year old me.

Exactly, and then think of where we'd all be without you. Uncaffeinated? Sugar-free? The horror! Vital backbone of the community right here, obviously.

Lacking in great music to dance along to while the caffeine and sugar start to kick in, can’t forget that part. Also my amazing taste in music in general.

Oh, there's already been one that I didn't fully grasp until I sat with it for a while -- not because it's NSFW, just because the pun was so subtle it took me a while to make the connection, and then I laughed in the middle of the bar like a crazy person. I'm curious to see if anyone else gets it, or if it's just a little too niche.

Okay well now I can’t wait to see what that one is going to be so I can see if I get it right away or if I end up laughing ten minutes later like you did in the bar.

I'll have to look into it. Definitely never heard of it before, but Keke Palmer is pretty great.

She is! I really feel like she's such an underrated talent and needs to be in more things.

You're all heart, D. Talented and intelligent too, how are the rest of us supposed to compete?

I mean, you’re not wrong. I am pretty good at what I do. I’d hope so at this point, otherwise there’d be a lot of very disappointed people relying on caffeine and sugar to get through their day.

Honestly the best kids shows and movies work like that, I think -- and I'm not opposed to suggestion, but it's probably safer for everyone if I can at least read out the drink names in front of my mother without her reaching for the smelling salts, considering she does have a habit of showing up for a glass of merlot.

See, now that just makes me want to know how bad some of these submissions already are if you're questioning whether or not you can say them in front of your mom. Which is probably a good way to judge how spicy they are. And you're right though, the best stuff always works on two levels like that. Kids stay entertained, adults catch the jokes flying over their heads, everybody wins. Though now I am kind of hoping at least one person manages to sneak something past you that only clicks like three days later.

I’ve only caught bits and pieces of Pretty Little Liars, but yeah… those girls really can’t catch a break, huh? If you’re saying it’s that addictive though, I’m down to dive in with you. Might need someone to explain all the plot twists to me, so you’ve been officially volunteered. Your place works for me—but damn, you really beat me to the snacks? I was over here planning to make you some late-night grilled cheeses and use you as my official taste tester. Guess I’ll have to bring the drinks instead.

Yeah, those girls definitely were put through quite a lot. But good, I need you to be locked in for this one and I'm totally good with pausing to discuss and get real-time guesses and theories. And of course I call snacks! I'm the one that makes all the sweet treats, it's pretty much my duty. Though I wouldn't say no to some sneak peek grilled cheese food truck menu items another time. Maybe you pick the show or movie and we'll plan that for a later date.

You might be one of the few people to ever call me level-headed, and you know what I call that? GROWTH. Although I'm pretty sure Jeff would argue that I'm his right-hand man, not the other way around. Aww, D, can't I enjoy the company just as much as the coffee and pastries? I'd bat my eyelashes, but I'm pretty sure you'd see right through it.

Hey you’re welcome to enjoy the company all you like, I won't stop you. But you're right on that account, I’m not the type to fall for dramatic eyelash batting. Especially when it's a skill I know all too well myself. Still... it's cute to see you try.

Enabling is a fine art in and of itself, we all need quality enablers. I'm pretty sure Nick would get his fix somehow, and cutting him off would probably cause MORE problems for other people, once the caffeine withdrawal set in, 😂 Listen, there's a reason I told people to keep it PG -- I've already heard some appallingly NSFW suggestions fluttering around out there, much to my own amusement.

Honestly, I wouldn’t put it past people to come up with a PG name that still somehow passes as NSFW. Euphemisms and innuendos exist for a reason, after all. I remember watching a show when I was a little younger, it was aimed at like pre-teens and teens I think, but it was entertaining even to me, and they did an episode that was essentially based on The Breakfast Club. The way they worked around the whole getting stoned thing and the virgin jokes was actually pretty clever, but also very obvious especially if you knew the movie itself.