Shortly after John's entrance, a red-headed woman enters the store and heads for the counter. Before she reaches it, she stops to study the posted menu, giving John aple time to notice she looks quite similar to the student he'd met on move-in day, Pol Fitzpatrick.

She makes a decision, starts for the counter, then notices John and stops dead. "Oh. You were here first, you go ahead and order," she says, taking a sterp back and waving John toward the counter.

((OCC: Bump))

A slender, dark-haired young woman with an exotic cast to her features looks up as the two enter Moonshadows. She gives them a smile that doesn't reveal her teeth. "Welcome to Moonshadows. I'm Yuki; may I help you?"

He stops short at seeing a pretty girl his own age at the counter rather than the usual proprietor. "Oh hai." he blurts out; and after standing there a beat more than propriety would allow, and after Fiona's subtle prompt, he walks up to the counter. "Um, where's Celene? She didn't go on vacation or something, did she? Uhh, and what are the specials?"

The red-headed young woman watches the two people ahead of her talk, her expression deliberately neutral.

Entering the shop, Thomas looks about with some reservation. He glances about, taking the measure of the other patrons and the girl behind the counter. Part of him sighs inwardly. The sense of alienation is as acute as ever.**Do I really have anything in common with these folks?** This time he sighs outwardly. **Well, let's see what normal society is like. At least the place doesn't reek of whiskey and flat beer. That alone is a nice change of pace.**

He adjusts his black leather vest over his white button down shirt, and walks up towards the counter. Getting in line behind the red headed woman, he takes in the menu. **Tea... tea... Don't they have just plain old tea?? Good lord, can I even afford something here??** After a quick mental calculation, he nods to himself, and awaits his turn.

As he waits in line, the hairs on the back of Thomas's neck prickle, and a chill runs up his spine.

When it is the young woman's turn, she orders a "Chai latte." When the woman behind the counter starts to make her latte, the redhead suddenly takes a step backwards and bumps into Thomas. This apparently startles her, as she lets out a yelp and tries to quickly turn around. Off-balance and facing Thomas, she instinctively grabs his shoulder to steady herself.

The momentary contact having steadied her, the readhead quickly lets go of his shoulder. Blushing, she exclaims. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't see you there. I thought I saw..." She gives Thomas an embaresed smile. "Um, would you let me buy you a drink as an apology?"

She gives him another close-lipped smile. "Miss D'Ombre is working with the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts this year, so she decided to hire on some help." **We won't mention that she was also helping out a fellow member of the Leaden Mirror.** "Today's specials are the White Chocolate and Cinnamon Lattes and the Ristretto." She gestures toward the glass dessert case. "We also have a double chocolate torte and cranberry English tea scones."

**Come on, John keep it together. You did pretty well with the last girl. Remember the Tao, be desireless, be excellent, and be gone.**

"I'll have a double latte and some of that almond biscotti. Did Celene get the wifi fixed?" He speaks in a controlled tone, as if wanting to sound more 'adult', with mixed results.

Yuki serves up the latte and biscotti. "That's five twenty-three all together. And the wifi is up to speed." She eyes John covertly. **Cute. A little geeky, but cute.** "Will there be anything else, sir?"

A short girl with brown hair and glasses enters the shop, looking around her a little uncertainly. **I wonder if they have any Mercedes Lackey books?**

John looks up from his laptop and gives her a nod of recognition.

Cheryl notices John's nod and gives him a shy wave. **Should I go over there and say 'Hi?'** she thinks. **Mom always says it's polite to do that, but he looks busy.** She plays with a ring on her right hand uncertainly as she tries to decide what to do.

"How's the first week treating you? Any trouble settling in?"