Café Au Lait(roux)
Erik sat at his magnificent pipe organ, utterly immersed in the depths of his music. He was suddenly interrupted by a light touch on the shoulder. He whirled around in anger at the intrusion and locked his blazing eyes with Christine's startled ones. Her expression softened him slightly. "What do you want?" he said, clearly exasperated.
She swallowed and straightened herself to her full, yet unintimidating, height. "I thought that while I'm here, I might as well be of some use. She held out a porcelain cup and saucer and almost managed to hide the trembling of her hands. "Coffee?"
Resigned, Erik took them and raised the cup to his lips. Christine watched him expectantly. Erik sipped, then suddenly spluttered, a look of disgust plastered (even more prominently than his mask) across his features. "Wha-" he coughed. "Did you put milk in here? Milk and… and… please tell me you didn't use sugar!"
Christine's eyes widened under the verbal onslaught, but then she started to laugh. Erik glared at her as she tried to restrain herself. "Oh, you grumpy thing!" she giggled. "Just drink it! The milk and sugar will do you good. There's enough bitterness in you already, even without unsweetened coffee."
Erik opened his mouth in shock. Was this his Christine being playful with him? "I always take my coffee black," he told her idiotically. Christine huffed, not quite hiding her grin as she left to fetch him a napkin.
By the time she returned, Erik's cup was empty.