Lucy Power Project!
She's merely an author taking inspiration from her favorite coffee shop, but she's waiting for that Prince Charming just like the princesses in the fairy tales.
Slightly based off The Mindy Project... I've never seen the beginning, so I dunno what happened in the first few episodes/first season. I'm just going with the flow, here. xD
I don't own Fairy Tail.
Nor The Mindy Project, for the sake of it and just in case.
UPDATE: Fixed spelling errors... and other stuff.
update2: Fixed other errors and (hopefully) regained the flow of the story for new readers who are reading this story in one go c:
Warnings!: AU. Expect OOC. Hints of other couples. Cursing.
1: Le Project Lucy
Lucy comes back from another day at her editors, in process of perfecting her new bestseller that was going to be on the shelves in a couple of months. Online dating doesn't seem to be as easy as publishing drafts online and getting positive responses. And it clearly wasn't.
"What a day," Lucy sighed, leaning against the back of her door as she closed it shut. "A few more months until my 3rd novel."
"Ah, Lu! You're back," her best friend, Levy, came over to her with a mug of coffee. "How was it?"
The blonde woman groaned, smiling a little as she took the mug from Levy's hand. "Well, I'll be honest - it wasn't the worst day I've had at the editors. I mean, remember when I was working on the second novel with the editors in, um, Osaka? I mean, that was a pretty big pain in the ass." Lucy laughed at the memory as her best friend quickly joined in.
Levy wiped a tear from the corner of her eye with her finger, being careful not to smudge the mascara that was applied. The woman sporting blue hair glanced at the clock by the wall. "Oh, sorry, Lu! I promised that I'd be meeting Erza at the library to look for some books. I'm only going with Erza because I thought you'd be back later and all, but if you want to come along, you can!"
Lucy smiled a little, but shook her hand. "No; I've had enough chaos and the lot for one day. Maybe next time, okay?"
The author's best friend smiled as well, nodding her head in understanding. "Okay. That's fine. Oh! How about you go to Fairy Tail and maybe get some sort of inspiration for your next novel?"
Lucy furrowed her brows, but nodded nonetheless, placing her now empty mug on the coffee table near her. "Yeah - I don't see why not. Despite the fact that my current novel isn't going to be on the shelves until, like, February next year."
The blue-haired woman let out a 'Eh?', as if shocked that the date that the novel was going to go on sale on was so far away. "But that's going to take forever, Lu! I mean, can't I read some of your amazing drafts?"
The author blushed slightly, grabbing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder, following her friend out of the door as she closed it behind her and locked it. "No! I mean, that's private, Levy. No one can read my drafts, whether you're my best friend or not."
"How about boyfriend?"
She stopped in her tracks, choking on her own spit, also nearly tripping her own two feet. "What do you mean, 'boyfriend'?! I don't have a boyfriend, Levy!"
The blue-haired woman sighed and grabbed Lucy's wrist, dragging her out of the building. "That's the whole point, Lu. You need a boyfriend. I don't care if you're a best-selling author who's 24, you need a boyfriend regardless!"
Lucy sighed, and frowned, as the two stopped in front of Fairy Tail, a famous coffee shop that was known all around the country and that was busy nearly at all times.
Levy let go on her friend's wrist and saw her other friend, Erza Scarlet, in the distance where the library was. "Sorry, Lu. I have to leave you here. Good luck, okay? Don't get squished in there, because... well, it's pretty packed."
The best-selling author smiled and nodded. "Yeah, sure, go ahead. I'll be fine. I'll figure something out one way or another, right? Like in the books!"
Levy laughed, and nodded as well, before giving her best friend a quick hug and a wave and then running off to the woman in the distance.
Lucy sighed, clutching the strap of her bag and pulling the glass door of the coffee shop open, being greeted by music and conversations merged into one blob of noise.
Somehow, she found it comforting and maybe even the best type of surrounding to get her inspiration.
"Ah, Lucy! You came, today. How was the editors?" Mirajane, the main cashier, asked as she gave another customer their order.
Lucy groaned, mirroring her actions that she did when Levy asked her. "Ugh - I've had worse days, y'know."
Mirajane gave her a light laugh. "When's the book going onto the shelves - do you know?"
The author smiled and nodded. "Sometime in February next year. I'm not sure on specific details, but my agent said that she'd tell me some time before the actual release date. If I find out, I'll post it on Twitter or something."
The white-haired woman nodded and gave a few other customers their order, giving them their change and laughing lightly at their jokes.
Lucy was a regular customer, and was friends with a lot, if not all, of Fairy Tail's staff. Today, most of her favorite staff are here today, even including a pink-haired man who seemed to have a scaled scarf on him at all times, and a black-haired man who argued with the former worker everywhere, but also has this weird habit of stripping off his clothes at the worst times.
And she didn't even know their names - only Mirajane's.
She finally settled in at one of the tables in the corner, but also by the window, where she could listen to the hustle that was going on and still concentrate simultaneously.
Lucy dug her hand into her bag and pulls out a small, cute notebook with a small blue cat on the front which also had wings. She opened it and flipped through the pages until she landed on a blank one which was also near the back of her notebook.
The woman pulled out her pen from one of her pockets from the inside of her jacket and took the lid off, the object clutched in her hand hovering over the paper before it's pressed against the piece of tree, smoothly scribbling down every idea that pops into her head.
"Excusez-moi, merci," she suddenly heard, her heading shooting up at the voice.
She saw a familiar pink-haired man come into her view, sighing as he placed the tray in his hand on her table, being careful not to spill or knock anything over.
She smiled at him, and moved her notebook closer to her. "Thank you," she thanked. "But, your French accent - it needs improvement."
The waiter scoffed. "Shut up. I know you're a best-selling author and all, but seriously? You didn't have to comment on my French."
The woman shrugged, grabbing one of the two scones she had been given from the waiter. "Well, I just did." She bit at the scone and moaned in delight. It was one of her favorite things off the menu, but she didn't bother going through every single thing and ordering everything otherwise she'd get fat and would have to work said fat off and she wouldn't have any time for that because she's either at her editors or at the Fairy Tail coffee shop writing drafts from scratch or at home reading or at the library with Levy.
It's either one or one of the others, really.
She waved the pink-haired waiter off and watched him sink back into the large crowd that was flooding in and out and vice versa - it was practically going on forever and ever.
She watched the people go past her as they queued up for a specific cashier, or sometimes just because that line was shorter, until the other line was shorter, thus, they hopped into the other one.
It was fascinating, despite the fact she sees this nearly everyday around this time of day; when she comes back from the editors in Akihabara.
However, in the morning when she comes before she sets out to Akihabara, it's nearly always practically empty. The staff are only just coming into the workplace, and she found that inspiring to her. Some of them would greet her with actual words, others would just do a normal hand gesture.
It wasn't unusual, but today was Wednesday and Wednesday is usually the day where there's a special type of pastry on the menu for the day. That's how Fairy Tail attracts so many customers. And the fact that some of the workers are famous people for all over the world.
One was from America.
Another was from Australia.
About two people were from Russia.
And there was that one person from Argentina.
Luckily, the best-selling author actually paid attention in her classes and good enough grades to get her Literature degree in the University of Kyoto before moving to Tokyo and meeting Levy, the Fairy Tail staff and Erza Scarlet.
"Ah, Lu! I knew it was you I saw the window!"
For the second time, Lucy looked up and saw her best friend and a friend she didn't really know deeply. "Hello, Lucy. Levy and I decided to get a book for you; we thought it'd boost your inspiration for you next novel," Erza Scarlet said, digging her arm into a bag before pulling out a large, paperback book.
She carefully placed the book on the table and pulled out the chair next to Levy's, putting her stuff down next to her.
"By the way, I never knew this coffee shop would be so popular! I mean, maybe someone posted it on Facebook or something? Or maybe those guys actually made a Facebook page? Or a Twitter account! Or an Instagram!" Levy exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Lucy smiled for what seemed the millionth time that day, and chuckled, taking the book that Erza put on the table off the table, simultaneously picking up her bag and dropping the novel in. "Well, I'm not sure. But I could always go and ask Mira."
Erza then stood her, brushing one of her scarlet strands behind her ear. "Rest assured; I'll ask Mirajane," she said, smiling and swiftly pivoted, making her way back into the packed crowd that seemed to be consisting of the same people that there were 5 minutes ago.
People had finally filed out of Fairy Tail, and they eventually closed after no customers in 10 minutes.
For one, they were majorly exhausted; they hadn't had this much customers in... ever, really.
"Whoo, what a day! When was the last time we this many customers ordering coffee and scones and shit?" the pink-haired waiter asked, grinning a little.
Mirajane sighed, finishing up counting the yen then had aqquired in a day's work. "Well, Natsu, I'd tell you the amount of yen we've gotten today, but after I double check, as I don't want to fail Master!" She hummed happily before recounting the yen, the scarf-equipped male scoffing before he went behind the counter to pour himself a mug of coffee.
"Look, jackass, we're talking about 50,000 customers from 6 this morning. This author - what's-her-face? - came in and ordered a cappucino and blueberry scone? Ain't she famous or something?" the black-haired male who was currently topless asked, having no knowledge of Lucy in his mind.
The female cashier's eyes suddenly sparked with excitement. "You mean Lucy? Yes! She's a famous author! How come you've never heard of her before, Gray? She's been in all the newspapers since her second novel was on the bookshelves!"
The man called Gray scoffed like the pink-haired male. "Don't make me laugh - I've never come across a woman who's called Lucy in the Japan Times."
Mirajane's eyes lost their sparkle, frowning as she figured that none of her fellow co-workers didn't read newspapers or read at all. "Gray, did you read today's issue of the Japan Times?" she asked, leaning over the counter slightly, being careful not to lose all they yen she had counted up over the last few minutes.
She eyed the male before he slowly shook his head. "No. I mean, I don't use newspapers that much anyway."
The cashier sighed before she stood back up straight, sending one hand below the counter, pulling out a rolled up thing in her hand. She threw it to Gray, who caught the flying object, before unrolling it and blinking, his eyes scanning the title.
- November 7, 2016 -
The Japan Times
He groaned, shifting his weight onto one foot. "Look, Mira, I really don't wanna be reading right now. I mean, I know it's today's issue of this, but really? Now?"
The said woman shook her head. "No. Turn to page 22."
He did what she was told, and turned to the page she told him to tell him.
L.L. Ashley's Third Novel Takes Off In February 2017
"Holy mother of God - she's the author or the Mythic trilogy?!" Gray exclaimed after skimming his eyes over the title. Mirajane gave him a small hum of agreement. "Wait, what's her real name?"
"Lucy Heartfilia," she simply answered. "She's really amazing, Lucy."
The familiar pink-haired man was heard scoffing once more with a full mug of coffee in his hands as he went in front of the counter to where Gray was, giving a look at the paper himself.
"Hey, I know that her third novel is coming out in February next year, but it's like 3 to 4 months until the actual date. Why so early?" he questioned, looking at the cashier who was messing with her hair in a nearby mirror.
She looked at their, starting to fix her front ponytail of her naturally white hair. "Well, I'm not so sure on that line, but I'm guessing it's to bring in sales in the first few days of release."
The two males nodded, showing their understanding.
Natsu sipped a bit of his mug of coffee and sighed a little. "They're pretty good," he suddenly commented, earning himself looks from the other two remaining staff. He looked back at them and blushed a little. "T-That's what I hear, anyway. I served her scones and coffee today. She told me to work on my French!" He quickly, though forcibly, turned a corner in the conversation.
Mirajane giggled, before pivoting to grab her coat that was nearby. "Well, to be frank, Natsu... you kind of do. Maybe ask Bisca for a French lesson?"
His face twisted into a disgusted expression. "No way. I hate French anyway; next time I'll just use Spanish or something."
"But you're not Spanish; you're Japanese," Gray countered, flicking through the newspapers to find some more interesting things to read about.
"Shut up - you wanna go?!"
The black-haired male closed the newspaper and threw it onto the nearest table. "Come at me, bro! I'll take you on!"
"All right! Here I go!"
In a matter of minutes, chairs were flying all over the place and no one seemed to notice the famous blonde author sitting in the same seat all alone, smiling at the chaos that had risen whilst ideas kept flowing into her head, one by one.
(Levy and Erza a couple of hours ago before all the customers had filed out, like, literally.)
(Lucy also found out that Fairy Tail made a Facebook page, a Twitter account and Instagram a couple of days ago but it never really went global until they had their first post on each of them telling the whole world that they had social pages and were accepting customers from all over the world. And staff from all over the world too, but that came in later once people started commenting and liking and sharing and reposting and retweeting their posts before that.)
"Welcome back, Lu! How was it?" Levy greeted, a wide smile on her face.
It was past midnight and the author's best friend was still as bright as she was this afternoon when she came back from Akihabara.
Lucy smiled and put her jacket up, her bag still in her hand as she walked in the direction of her bedroom. "Hey, Levy. How was your day with Gajeel?"
The blue-haired woman's face went red. "L-Lu! I-I - Me and Gajeel aren't dating!"
Lucy chuckled and turned on the lightswitch, her room lighting up. "Of course. You're just 'friends'."
The author opened her laptop lip and turned it on, the light reflecting on her smooth face.
Levy had followed the celebrity into her room and sat on her bed. "No, not 'friends'; friends!"
Lucy smiled and shook her head, brushing a blonde lock of her hair behind her ear as she directed her cursor to her Sleipnir internet browser.
Levy watched her friend type in the URL box a familiar dating website, and she was reminded that the author in front of her sitting in front of her laptop didn't have a boyfriend.
"It's no good, Levy. Online dating just doesn't work out for me. Yes, I'd love a boyfriend, but I'm so busy with the editors and Fairy Tail," Lucy complained, frowning as she swung around in her swivel chair, stopping in front of Levy. "I've already looked through all of today's matches, but none of them I actually like. It's a bummer."
The latter frowned with the former, getting up to hug her. "Sorry, Lu. How about going out and meeting men in malls and public places?"
Lucy pulled away and sighed. "They'll recognize me; you know that."
"Yes, but you don't know who won't recognize you."
"But I'm famous all around. Plus, I don't have much time to go to malls because I'm at my editors nowadays perfecting Fenrir, and when I come back from Akihabara at half past 3, I'm always at Fairy Tail straight after to get some coffee, scones, maybe to talk to Mira or even just write some future drafts. I have no time, Levy," Lucy explained, sadness filling her eyes as she inhaled and exhaled.
Levy mirrored her actions and finally stood up, brushing off the invisible dust off her orange dress. "Sorry, Lu... But I have to go with Gajeel to Osaka for a few days, tomorrow. Are you going to be okay when I'm gone?"
Lucy laughed this time, her attitude taking a 180 degree turn. "Of course, Levy. I'll be fine - no one's going to break in."
"You sure?"
"Yup."
"All right, then. Good night, and don't stay up too late!"
Lucy smiled and replied with a 'yes, ma'am!', even though the other woman was a year younger than her.
The blonde stood up and shut her door, leaning against it as her eyes travelled to her computer screen, suddenly lighting up, noticing that there was a message sent to her.
She went back to her laptop and clicked on it, carefully reading it.
"Hey, saw your profile - I'm quite sure we have a lot in common. I'm not sure if I'm the guy you want as a boyfriend, but it'd a start towards 'the one', like in that Mythic series by L.L Ashley. Maybe we can meet up some day? Like, at a cafe or maybe that famous coffee shop in the center of Tokyo? Of course, you can always decline, but it would be nice if you would accept. I know this message is short and may not be up to other people's standards and may not persuade you to meet me, but I thank you for reading this. It's already past midnight and I apologize for sending this so late. To tell you the truth, I have been staring and looking through your profile for the past 2 hours and didn't have the courage to send you anything until now. I thank you once more for reading this."
Lucy stared at the message on her computer screen, her hand twitching to reply though not moving.
It wasn't the first message she had received, but this was the first message she had received from a person who did not recognize her name. As far as she knew, she had been in the newspapers and global plus local news since her first published book reached one of the best-selling in Japan.
It was weird. She could reply to other messages, because they were from people who knew her name and knew her public figure as L.L Ashley.
However, this was different. This was from someone who hasn't read any of her published novels.
And she found it fascinating.
Et voilà! I mean, I don't know that much French, but you know.
Everybody is living in Japan this story! I just hope I get things right this time. I'll be doing research and possibly fixing things in the future if I find out I've gotten parts wrong, but that'll be a little way(s?) down the road!
Okay, so, I don't usually type up 3.3k words for a chapter but I had to. I feel like this is gonna be successful. Like my other new ones. I'm supposed to update Super Fantastic Wonderland, but I haven't. Ugh. Well, we'll get there when we get there.
Ciao, guys! (Yes, I'm back in for Italian.) c:
(Btw, I'm so amazed I haven't put any cursing in this yet xD.)
(Hold on, scrap that. I proofread it and it does have cursing already. xD)
(WHY IS THERE NO STRIKE-THOUGH OPTION?!)