[ WP ] Write a story in a fantasy or science fiction world in which the characters do n't do very much at all but we learn a lot about the world

The guy was nervous as hell, I mean, really nervous. We're talking palms sweaty, butthole possibly clenching, the whole deal. Who could blame him? The guy had been a bit of an indoors kind of guy for the last few years ( it's what turning a hobby in magic into a job does to you ) - starting off his interaction with the outside world by a date with an intelligent individual, well, it was like being four-hundred pounds and beginning an exercise routine with a mile run. Nowhere near at ease, the guy fidgeted with the keychain that hung off the corner of his ancient Nokia branded scroll. 
 
 Maybe he should n't be so nervous, he reflected. It's not even a real date. It's more like - his thoughts stumbled for a moment - comparing notes! He nodded, actually nodded. The barista in the other room had been watching him and saw this. She giggled and smiled, and took two hands to brush her hair back as she continued to wipe down the oak counter. The guy, of course, being the social equivalent of an obese ex-athlete in a marathon, did n't notice the barista attempt to adjust her hair to best frame her face. Instead, he was somehow now preoccupied with thoughts of the approaching harvest festival in the small town. Funny how, no matter the world, it was either wheat or rice that powered it. 
 
 The bell over the door chimed. Through the door rushed the clopping sounds of heavy traffic on the cobblestone road. The guy twisted easily to see his not-a-date walk inside, out of the golden summer sunlight and into the fairly deserted cafe. Cafes after noon were always deserted, no matter what plane you were on, the guy thought absently, somehow much more relaxed now that he had started his mile. As it turns out, you can still slowly walk the mile and at least get a tenth of the way. 
 
 `` Vix,'' the guy called out, `` Over here, yo!'' 
 
 The not-a-date supposedly called Vix flashed a pointy smile that reflected blue-white in the quartz lamps' magical glow, and immediately bounded over, sliding into a chair that threatened to tip. She leaned back, and the chair's legs evened out, hitting ground solidly. 
 
 The guy started a very golf-like clap. `` Well done!'' he complimented. He noticed the barista clapping as well as she continued to wipe down the counter with her other arms. 
 
 Vix ran a hand through her hair as she tossed her bag onto the table. She stopped with a handful of hair. 
 
 `` Going bald?'' the guy asked. 
 
 `` Shedding,'' she replied. `` It's summer around these parts if you have n't noticed.'' 
 
 `` I noticed. Kind of.'' He paused. `` Okay, I did n't notice at all.'' He put his hands down on the table to mask his embarassment and signal his standing up. `` You want anything from here?'' 
 
 `` Something icy and sweet,'' Vix replied as her claws pulled out a notebook. 
 
 The guy nodded and pulled himself out of his seat. In front of him, the barista slid her washcloths to the end of the counter. She appeared in front of the ancient iron-wrought register as he approached. 
 
 The guy fished out a few pieces of frayed banknote from his pocket, counting as he did. He held one up to the light and saw the watermark through the bill, an overly detailed and unflattering rendition of the kingdom's current queen. Not a very pretty queen, but at least the world was fairly peaceful. 
 
 `` Twenty copper good for two iced cappacinos and a slice of cake?'' the guy asked, handing over the money. 
 
 `` A bit over,'' the barista said as she counted the four 5-copper banknotes. 
 
 `` Eh, keep the change.'' He did n't really care for the country's coins. Not much anybody could do with them besides use them as projectiles. 
 
 `` Thanks!'' she replied, writing down the order with one of her hands as she struggled to work the clockwork register with the other three. 
 
 `` Hmm,'' she started, after pulling on the drawer fruitlessly for a few seconds. `` Do me a solid and smack it from your side?'' 
 
 `` Like this?'' He smacked it lamely. 
 
 She rolled her eyes. One of the stripes on her cheek pulled up with her smirk. `` Harder.'' 
 
 He hit the register's iron backside with the meaty palm of his hand. It stung badly, but the clockwork finally began to audibly spin, the gears counting the money inside with every tick, and finally the register rang, signaling it had indeed opened in success. 
 
 `` Awesome,'' she said as she closed the register with the four banknotes inside it. `` Now I know there is n't anyone here, but mind if I get a name for the order?'' 
 
 `` It's Ricky.'' Ricky rubbed the palm of his hand, which was now stinging considerably. 
 
 `` Alright Ricky, that will be just a moment for you and your friend. I'll bring it right on over.'' 
 
 `` Thanks.'' 
 
 `` My pleasure!'' The barista beamed a reserved smile that almost shone from her oddly colored skin. 
 
 Ricky turned back and maneuvered himself into a seat across from Vix. She wore a devilish grin. 
 
 `` What now?'' Ricky asked as he pulled out his charcoal pen.
