A tall singular building with a rather bold red and gold color palette.
"Hello sir," a young man with brown hair, a large greek nose,and a rather fancy waiters outfit, complete with a long apron and black vest, bowed at their entrance,
"Welcome to Lysandre's cafe, may I take your coat?"
He leaned down towards her.
"N-no thank you, I was just borrowing this."
Aurea leaned back, uncomfortable with the close proximity between them.
The man stood up again,
"Alright," he spoke as though she were passing up a chance at a million dollars,"Well feel free to make yourself at home ma'am, sirs."
She was pushed past him, but as she left she couldn't help notice the man's stare linger for just a few seconds too long.
"Where would you like to sit Aurea?"
She was about to respond to Augustine however she was distracted by the entire room itself.
Red on red filled her vision.
The color was as dark as flames on the floor and walls; however, they were also striped with a deep crimson, and the furniture was redwood as red as blood.
Blood… Aurea's mind wandered to darker places for a second, hardly processing her wrapping the jacket tightly around her body, nails digging into the fabric, or shaking hands.
Lysandre, annoyed with her lack of a response, looked at her, yet was surprised to find her eyes hollow and body language screaming anxious. A flash of concern hit him and he decided to snap her out of it, lest she have a full out panic attack or get noticed by August.
With a huff he picked her up, surprising her and bringing her back to the present. Ignoring the pain in his arm and abdomen he faced their table, acting as though the pain was never even present.
"You're sitting next to me, " he caught his friends eye, realizing there may be a misunderstanding due to context, "Lest you need help with anything."
"Are you sure you're both injured it would be easier for me to-"
Lysandre cut him off,
"I'm perfectly capable of escorting her around."
Setting her down he whispered in her ear,
"Calm down, focus on your breathing and just listen."
His friend flashed him a small smile and thumbs up.
"Don't get the wrong idea, idiot."
He thought, for a second before realising it would be easier if Augustine believed he harbored feelings for the woman...however…
"On second thought," he immediately picked Aurea up again and placed her on Augustine's side," It'll be easier for me to pick you up if I don't have to walk around the booth."
His excuse was half-baked but left without complaint.
Aurea's face recovered from its previous frozen state and she stuttered,
"Y-you two need to stop picking me up like I'm luggage and actually tell me when you're going to do that!"
Lysandre rolled his eyes, at least she was back to normal.
"Aww it's not our fault you're so small."
Augustine teased.
Aurea fumed,
"I am not small, you two are at least 6 feet tall alone. Besides that doesn't justify me being an accessory."
"5'10."
"6'4"
"That's irrelevant!"
She pouted, Lysandre just looked at her.
"Well you're so easy to fluster and so light, so why not?"
Aurea said nothing as the two men shared a look and small laugh. Lysandre smiled, only very subtly, she managed to make Augustine smile so why not? After all, it'd be best if he got her to keep his secret in the least violent way possible.
He stopped laughing, contemplating his previous thoughts. This woman had accidently gotten involved in a gang fight and was most likely scarred for life, managed to kill an animal that had most likely terrified and killed many others, broke two ribs, saw someone being shot in front of her, and was basically assaulted multiple times by him, whether it was on purpose or not was irrelevant. Yet sat here in HIS cafe, talking with both him and his friend with absolutely no fear of either of them.
What was she after?
His eyes narrowed in contemplation, before the waiter from before approached with a tray and a few menu's.
"Your black tea sir," a small glass was set near him, "And a Latte macchiato, with chocolate shavings, for Mr. Sycamore. What will you be having ma'am?"
Lysandre raised a brow as he lifted his cup, catching the eye of the waiter. How rude, getting their orders ready, yet neglecting a lady's order. What should he do about that? The man, seemingly noticing his disapproval, began smiling nervously.
Lysandre internally smiled, he wouldn't really need to do anything. Rest assured the same mistake would not be made twice.
"The noisette is a rather good choice, but we also have tea if you have different tastes."
Aurea smiled at him, a rather small and polite one,
"Just a black coffee please."
The man nodded, seeming to forget his boss, and leaned in closely handing her the menus.
"Alright then, I will be back in a bit with your drink in the meantime please feel free to look at a few items on the menu. I think you'll especially like the Mille-feuille."
He left quickly to prepare her drink.
"Right well," Aurea straightened the menu's in her hands awkwardly, seemingly disturbed, "What do you two normally get?"
"The chouquette."
"The eclair."
Lysandre highly doubted she knew what they were talking about, expecting her to ask, but instead found her nose deep in the menu. She was intelligent AND smart, last night had proven that he supposed, the question was would that help or hinder him?
"Mh-hm."
She nodded absentmindedly, before stopping and scanning a page.
Augustine tapped her lightly on the shoulder,
"See something you like?"
Lysandre blinked, was that flirting or friendliness?
"Well...the macarons definitely seem promising."
She pronounced the word with the dreaded unovian accent, but Lysandre just nodded ignoring the name's butchering.
"Alright."
Steps sounded alerting him of another presence.
"Here you go ma'am."
The waiter bowed down slightly as he set a cup of steaming hot coffee in front of her. The woman looked apprehensive of him but said nothing.
"And have you all decided?"
She perked up at the mentioning of pastries.
"Yes I-"
She was cut off,
"-WAs hoping you'd like to at least try the Mille-Feuille. After all, I picked it out especially for you."
Aurea looked slightly peeved at him, yet still tried to maintain a friendly disposition.
"Oh ,well, I was honestly hoping for something else right now-"
"-Are you sure? I was just trying to -"
"Sorry but-"
"There's no need-"
"I'm trying to-"
Lysandre could literally feel his brain melting, what the heck was Eren doing? Definitely not very good customer service. Aurea's face had begun to have a set of color flush in, and the tips of her ears began to match the room, he figured she was going to get mad soon. He looked at August, to find the man excitedly adding the chocolate shavings to his drink. He sighed for a second at his friend, his childish attitude was endearing at times yet also somewhat inconvenient.
"She'll be having the Macarons, and I'll be having the usual."
There was a moment of silence, after he banged the gong, and the waiter nodded defeatedly. Lysandre glared at the man, seemingly looking down on him despite being seated. If he had to listen to that for a few more seconds his patience would have burned up.
Not only was it rude to insist a customer change their order, but it was also rude to insist a lady do as a random nonauthoritative man said. He would call it unmannerly, Augustine would later call it coming on too strong.
"And I will be having the usual as well."
Augustine added cheerfully.
Nodding the waiter left, leaving an uncomfortable atmosphere between the three.
"Excuse me."
Lysandre stood flicking some of his red hair from his face.
He stalked towards the kitchen, fists clenched, steps sharp.
There were plenty of ways to make the woman leave. Some were harsh and gruesome, others passive and dismissive.
Eren had seemingly chosen the former.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Eren jumped and for a second Lysandre thought he could he his back trembling.
"It's the woman from last night! What is she doing here? Aliana said you were getting rid of her, what if she finds out about the-"
"Eren. Did I ask for your help?"
Lysandre reached into a basket on the shelves above him and plucked out a tomato.
"N-no but, sir-"
He bit into the soft flesh like an apple, spraying a bit of juice yet dismissing the trail of red running down his face.
"R-right, I'm sorry."
Eren bowed submissively, and Lysandre took another large chunk out of the tomato.
"Don't apologize to me."
He looked at the residue trailing down his hand nonchalantly.
"Yes, sir."
"After all it was your life she probably saved." He thought.
He needn't even add on his thoughts.
Reaching for a towel he wiped his hands of the fluids, and left the man to his work.
Erens approach, while unwanted and unpreferable, would have to be kept in mind.