Hospitality Cup of Coffee (Leo's Office — Offered to Ainsley)

Steam wisps faintly from this palm-sized, single-serving cup of hot coffee—likely ceramic or thick paper—its thin bitter aroma slicing through Leo's office tension. The outer office secretary shoves it forward as a jagged courtesy toward Ainsley amid stiff formalities and ideological barbs; Ainsley registers it warily during small talk deflections, the vessel hovering as a prop to thaw guarded recruitment chill before scotch eclipses it entirely.

2 appearances

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S2E4 · In This White House

Courting Ainsley: The Offer in Leo's Office

Referenced by Ainsley as hospitality offered by Margaret outside, prompting Leo's inquiry and her compliment on the secretary's courtesy; functions as initial thawing gesture amid guarded formalities, contrasting later scotch offer and underscoring White House protocol's role in softening power imbalance.

Before: Offered to Ainsley in outer office

After: Declined or set aside, conversation shifts

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S2E4 · In This White House

An Offer Over Scotch: Leo Recruits Ainsley

The hospitality cup of coffee, offered by Margaret outside, is politely referenced in small talk by Ainsley and Leo, functioning as an ice-breaking courtesy that underscores White House protocol while contrasting the later scotch's intimate pivot to recruitment.

Before: Offered and presumably declined or set aside outside office

After: Unconsumed, lingering as unused prop in conversation memory

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