The Art of Brewing
AN: Normally I'd have posted something this small as a Snapshots entry, but seeing as how I'm trying my hand at a dialogue-only piece for the first time... let's have it stand on its own.
"… I still can't understand why you like it so much."
"What's difficult to understand? The intensity of the flavor, the scent of a freshly brewed cup, the richness of the experience as a whole – "
"You're being rather verbose in your defense of bitterness, you know."
"I-It's not bitter, it's delicious! Besides, it's not as if tea is any better in that regard..."
"Oh, I beg to differ! There are so many kinds of leaves, all of them having slight but significant differences in taste and aroma, but it's letting your senses explore and find exactly what makes one kind different from another that truly elevates it above the alternatives."
"… So you mean to tell me that tea's selling point is that all the varieties are bland in a wide variety of ways?"
"They're not bland! They're just… subtle."
"And coffee isn't bitter, it's just bold."
"My taste buds would be able to cope with bold. Bitter, on the other hand, is one bridge too far."
"Ugh. As much as this pains me to say, you could always add a little milk or sugar."
"Doesn't it speak volumes that coffee is the only beverage I would consider doing that with?"
"Wait, what about Nord milk tea?"
"That hardly counts. Fatma told us that the entire drink is based around the tea being strong enough for the additions to naturally support the flavor; it's not the same as taking a normally brewed cup of coffee and adding them to make the taste bearable."
"I-It's plenty bearable all on its own!"
"I remain unconvinced. Honestly, I just don't see why you don't drink tea more often. You've had it before, so clearly you don't mind it."
"Don't mind and like are not synonyms, Emma."
"Neither are bland and subtle, but that's not stopping you."
"… We're never going to come to an agreement on this, are we."
"Hehe. I sincerely doubt it. We've flown our banners for too long to ever concede, I think."
"And the water's about to boil."
"And the water's about to boil."
"I suppose we'll resort to our usual standby, then?"
"I don't mind. A cup of hot chocolate is hard to turn down on a night like this… though I still intend on taking every opportunity I can to try and convert you."
"Hmph! You're certainly welcome to try, but I'll warn you right now that it won't be of any use. If you do end up getting anywhere – and that's a big if – it'll be when we're old and grey and we've finally managed to carve a chunk out of the would-be library we call our book collection!"
"…"
"What is it?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just... that's quite the picture you painted."
"… Ah. I mean, that was… a hypothetical. An idle musing, if you will – no need to pay any mind to it! N-Now, if you're fine with hot chocolate – "
"Machias…?"
"Just forget it, I wasn't – "
"Machias – "
"O-On a more immediate note, would you like marshmallows, or – "
"Machias."
"Yes?"
"… I think about that too, you know."
"... Really?"
"Really. I think about a lot of things, as a matter of fact."
"Oh? Like what?"
"Hehe. Wouldn't you like to know?"
"And now I'm not so sure. Would I, Emma?"
"Mm. I happen to think you would."
"I happen to think I'm going to need more convincing than that."
"Well, if that's the case, then – "
"Either start making the hot chocolate or start making out! I don't care which, but for the love of Aidios pick one!"
"..."
"..."
"Every time. Honestly, you two."