„Uwuwuw…what should I do?" thought Velvet. She was pacing around in the dorm, walking in circles. With how long she had been doing so, one might thing she wanted to dig a hole.
"Is there… anything I can help you with?" asked Yatsuhashi carefully.
"-E-eep- no…no of course not!" chuckled Velvet awkwardly. There was a jump in her step now. It was the fifth time her partner had asked if everything was alright. Of course, it wasn't. It never was. But until now she had declined any offer for help. It would be awkward to change her opinion now. Would it? Of course!
Yatsuhashi continued to read his book, though he glanced over a few times more.
"I-I think I go for a whiff of fresh air," stammered Velvet, finally coming to a stop…again.
"That's the third time you said that," replied the stoic giant, not staring up from his reading material. "Do you want to go to Vale together?"
"Of course- I mean no, everything is good. You don't have to accompany me! But I know it is the third time I said that. I mean, just wanna make sure everyone knows," she smiled awkwardly, putting her weight from one leg to the other.
"Coco and Fox are sparring…its only me here. If you want to go to Vale, go for it," spoke Yatsuhashi, staring up from the pages and smiling kindly at the girl.
Velvet continued to pace around in the dorm room, before taking her leave. She boarded the next airship.
"Ticket please," stated the woman in blue uniform as she walked through the rows. In the end, Velvet had decided to go to Vale to clear her mind. Alone. She showed her Beacon Identification to the conductress and remained in her thoughts. Thoughts which only revolved around one certain boy. And her current predicament. The woman thanked her for her service and continued on.
She felt a sudden tug on her head. A shiver ran through her as her rabbit ears remained in a clenched fist and she had to actually rise somewhat uncomfortably to accommodate the newcomer.
"Well well well. If it isn't my favourite…Bun Bun," drawled a certain youth. Velvet hissed quietly as her ears were released. Looking back, she saw Dove, Russel and Sky stand behind her. A shadow came over her face as she sat down again, and she turned to the seating opposite of her. There he was. The boy on her mind. The source of all her problems.
Cardin. Cardin Winchester.
"I thought I saw you boarding the air ship. On a trip to Vale, are you? Well that is wonderful. We can grab a bite to eat and go to the arcade together. Strengthen the bonds between our two teams?" asked Cardin, not waiting for Velvet to respond.
"Why yes Velvet, such a wonderful Idea. If you think so, then who are we to refuse?" joined Sky, tussling the girls hair and shaking her head a bit.
"But…" continued Russel, patting all over his Jacket. "Why gosh darn it. How could we have forgotten. Damn, it appears Dove forgot our cash!"
The exclamation was met with a huff, "Why am I always the one to forget? Can't Lark forget it sometimes too?"
He was smacked on the head.
"Ehrm- Why damn. I forgot the wallet. Sorry guys. But hey Velvet, if you are the one asking for a trip to Vale, you surely don't mind paying for us? Do you?" continued Dove, rubbing his throbbing head.
Velvet just smiled awkwardly through the charade. Her ears hung low as she trembled slightly. "Of course, Guys, I…I would l-love to…" stammered the girl. She should have taken Yatsuhashi with her. Damn her awkwardness. And damn those monsters.
She bit her tongue and continued smiling while Cardin joyfully smacked her knee. "Why, this will be fun. Smile a bit more, we're gonna show you around some!"
The sun was past its Zenith as Velvet and Team CRDL arrived at the Air Port, a mellow atmosphere settling into the city of Vale. It was rather hot and dry; the streets were emptier than in the middle of the day with many people having found a boutique or a restaurant to enter and relax.
"Whelp! Let's enjoy the day, shall we," said the boys, arms slung around Velvet as the marched forward like a merry group of friends. Velvet had just earlier withdrawn a bit money from her bank account. What little was left could get her around for at least a month, she hoped. It had been weeks. Whenever she wanted to just spill the beans to any of her friends…Team CRDL appeared. And by now, with whatever they'd done, she was almost bankrupt. "I just hope they won't force me to take a loan…but I have to take one to pay for the third year of beacon…uwuwu…what can I do…" she lamented in her head. If she wanted to cry, she just couldn't. Not in front of them… She wouldn't.
"Cheer up…Bun Bun. There's the Arcade. Let's go and win some of that money from last time back, don't you agree!" smiled Cardin jovially, slapping Velvet on the head. A few people glanced the way the yelp resounded, but decided it was a tussle between friends. They appeared to be the same age anyways, they could handle it.
Velvet was carried off through rows of game automats and other attractions. This went on for about an hour. Then came the bad news.
"…Cardin?" Velvet quietly mumbled. "I don't have any more money with me."
Cardin was still joking with his friends. Her plea went ignored.
She coughed, trying to raise her voice: "Ehem…C-Cardin. I don't have any more money…"
Cardin sighed, a sign for his teammates to shut up. He replied: "Well, usually if someone doesn't have any money, he goes and gets some from the automat. Seeing as this is an arcade, there should be one just around the corner."
Dismissing her, he turned around and began to talk again, only to be interrupted again.
"C-cardin…I mean I don't have any money left…", she whispered again, still audible for the group of four to hear.
Cardin turned around, glancing at Velvet. Scrutinizing her, he just sighed, glancing at his scroll.
"Well boys, you heard the party pooper…seems like we go back to Beacon then," stated Cardin, making both Velvet and the three others perk up.
Seeing the surprised look on his friend's face, Cardin chuckled amused. "What? It isn't like she got an inbuild lever which makes her shit Lien?"
His statement was followed by him grabbing Velvets ears and pulling them like a lever. Another yelp made a few kids look their way, trying to scan the crowd for the source of the commotion.
Roughly tustling Velvets hair, Cardin made it seem like a friendly exchange as he and his teammates bid their goodbye to Velvet.
She slumped into the chair.
"At least he's reasonable," she muttered, seeing them leave. Hopefully it would stay that way.
Dejected, she left the Arcade. She had to face it. No matter what she did now, the money was already gone and spent. She couldn't get it back. It didn't matter more. And Cardin understood that she was wringed dry.
The sun was now lower, and with the occasional thin cloud hovering in the sky, it gave quite a nice painting. If she had taken her camera with her, she would have made a photo. She sighed again. Forgetting her camera already told her how out of it she was today. Aimlessly walking, a scent came to her nose. One that made her perk up. A content feeling settled in her stomach, as if by sudden chance, all the bad feelings were forgotten or pushed back. As if entranced by the nice comfy feeling, she followed the scent. Walking through alleys and boulevards, her endurance began to waver. So much so that she actually began to rethink her decision to follow a random scent in the city.
Yet those thoughts were pushed down as she was met with single store in a narrow alley, far off from any shopping street or square were these cafes usually opened. The windows were dark, one could barely look within. Swallowing, Velvet pushed the doors open.
A thick haze of comfort enveloped her. The air was heavy, yet the weight was comfortable and not suffocating. It was an old coffee shop. The wood creaked as she entered. A low tune of jazz resounded in the place, a glance to the far-left corner revealed an old record player. Another glance behind the corner revealed a hundred or more records, all neatly stacked and still in their sleeves.
Standing somewhat lost in the middle of the old brick building, she let her eyes wander aimlessly. Now that she was here, she didn't really want to leave…
"…of course, it is a coffee shop. But I don't have any money."
"That isn't going to be a problem," stated a new voice, appearing behind Velvet, striding past her in one smooth motion. He was neither old nor young, a nice blend in between with only the smallest of grey hairs finding their way into his orderly beard and hair. A silver lining, one might say.
"E-eeep."
No wood creaked as he stepped through the room, leaving the blushing Velvet a surprised, stuttering mess.
"Please, take a seat," he said as he fiddled with the machinery behind the counter, not looking back. Yet fiddled was the wrong term, from this far back it almost seemed like he was caressing it, his hands a blur of movement as the man had a contemplative look on his face. Velvet slowed her breathing as she carefully closed in towards the bar counter. She sat down on one of the bar stools, her eyes darting between the man and the exit.
"So, what will it be?" he finally asked, glancing back ever so slightly.
Velvet looked carefully at the chalk boards hanging on the walls, above the shelves filled with a myriad of ingredients, spices, tea, coffee beans.
There was quite a selection. A little she recognized, those which were standard in every café like café latte or espresso…yet the further her eyes wandered from the right to the left, the more she felt like she had entered another world. She could say she had a bit of experience with coffee, not because of her Team CFVY and their avid Coffee drinker Coco, but because her mother owned a small bakery in the shopping district. She had helped out numerous times, helping brewing coffee and even baking some pastries.
"Yes, I know, our selection is quite a grand one. We do specialize in hot drinks, and I personally believe that every costumer has his own tongue and therefore drink which will fully satisfy that tongue," smiled the man calmly, his grey eyes scanning the girl opposite of him. He had turned around fully, looking her straight in the face.
"W-well…seeing as I don't have any money…how about the drink with the smallest cost?" cringed Velvet. Stupid. The opposite party had said it was okay, but she really didn't want to be a bother. Was this insulting? Oum, she didn't want to be?! Then again, she didn't even know the man, why would he offer a free drink. This store was beyond fancy, the wares here must be top grade. She simply couldn't accept.
"Oh nonsense. Please, as you are the first costumer, indulge yourself. As I have offered, it is free. And if you insist, I could put it on a tab and on hold until your next visit?" proposed the store owner, folding his hands on the counter.
"W-well…if you insist…but I really don't know what I should take? Maybe a Café Late?" replied Velvet. Seriously, how was this business operating with a few hundred drinks to offer. And she was the first costumer? It was already late afternoon, only two or more hours and the sun would start to go down!
"Oh, a classic. Then, if you don't mind, I will get to work," stated the man as he turned around again, procuring a white porcelain cup. He grabbed an ornate looking sack, and shovelled a few teaspoons of beans into an old silver grinder. Grinding the beans into powder, he put them into an antique Mocha pot and placed it on the stove. Whereas what he did looked pretty ordinary, the movements were strangely precise, every step calculated, even if his eyes looked…well…bored. No, calm would be a better description. The whole process of him making a Latte of all things…made Velvet take a closer look. It was entrancing, really.
Totally calm, the man began to explain. "You see, the Latte itself is a simple coffee really, yet it is often the simple things we take comfort in instead of trying out new things which gives us a kick in life. The recipe is an easily replicated one, one third of espresso and two thirds of milk."
He started to froth the milk, and as the espresso was ready, so was he with the milk. Combining the two elements, he drew a simple wavy pattern as a latte Art, before serving the cup of coffee with an equally simple white underplate. As the underplate silently hit the counter, Velvet was brought back to reality. It was like a subtle snap which ended the calming hypnosis.
As if nothing happened, she brought the coffee to her lips. Already the smell gave her a warm feeling. Velvet closed her eyes as she took a little sip.
It was good.
She continued to idly sit on the stool, gazing around a few times, curious about the interior of the shop. The flooring was of a nice dark colour, parts of the walls were made of dark reddish bricks. There were black chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and several yellowish lamps were positioned along the upper walls. Here and there, open sacks with coffee beans were lying atop shelves. Besides old leather tomes or metal lanterns or other curiosities. She had to blink twice seeing the deer skull.
Another sip.
Even with all the light sources, the shop's interior was rather shady. A dark blanket of comfort. Velvet pulled this blanket a bit closer.
Another sip. The coffee was still warm, even though a bit of time had passed. Maybe half an hour. The shopkeeper was still cleaning a few cups and glasses by hand, polishing them. Without glancing at them, without a care for the world, he finished up his work, placing the cups back into the shelves. Seeing him turn back to his work station, Velvet took another sip.
"Would you like another coffee?" asked the shopkeeper simply, looking over the many open sacks. She hadn't realized she had emptied her cup already. Despite her mouth being empty, the taste still lingered in her mouth, as if she still needed to swallow the rest of the drink.
"Yes…I mean…maybe no coffee? I still need to sleep so I can go to the library tomorrow first thing in the morning," responded Velvet, looking into the emptied cup of coffee.
"Very well," answered the man. "How about some fresh tea?" Velvet's ears perked up.
"Yes. Please. That would be perfect. I don't want to be pushy, but nothing over the top, like I said I-"
"Please, no worries there. I will simply put it on the tab," answered the barista, smiling wryly. Velvet blushed a bit. She was really pushy, the man already told her he would make her pay later. Was she being rude? She didn't know. If she was, why was the man not berating her. Was this okay? Maybe she made a mistake with coming here. But she already drank one coffee! This was just – wait, he was already making her order? She didn't order anything. Would it be rude if she interrupted him now?! Of course, it would. She was simply to slow with ordering, no wonder that the man would start making something-
"Here is your drink, mam. Please enjoy. I took the liberty to choose for you a sample of a new blend I managed to concoct today from my own supplies. I hope it won't be disappointing…" spoke the man, placing another cup towards her place at the counter, while in one smooth motion taking away the used cup. Steam rose from the Tea, and with it an aroma Velvet found intriguing. She could smell a hint of oranges, yet just this little bit made her feel like she was in a field of orange trees in the southern parts of the Kingdom of Vale, near the border to Vacuo. It felt like a hot day, cicadas making noise in the background and not a breeze insight. Yet it was a fresh breath of air from the chilly halls of beacon, the chill coming not primarily from the cooling system.
"You seem to be reminiscing?" inquired the shopkeeper. He had once again gone back to polishing something, this time the bronze linings of one of the many machines silently humming. As if some binding had been loosened, Velvet began to talk.
"Well…It does remind me of home. You see, my hometown – you don't know it – let's just say it is one of the many villages at the border to Vacuo. With the hot climate and bordering the Savannas, it is actually one of the main exporters of citrus fruits. My grandparents still own a large Orchard with all the colourful fruits, and I often helped them harvesting in late Winter and early spring, when I visited from Atlas of course, as my father lives there…" Velvet found herself smiling as she continued down the memory road, talking about a village called Auburn, the many fruit Orchards built there with the selections of oranges and lemons grown there. She talked and talked, words coming like water which managed to break down a dam. "…Though the Grimm are a bit of a problem, but you should see my Grandma deal with them. She would send the Atlesian military packing!"
"I could only imagine," smiled the barista, shivering in a mock show of fear.
"You better believe it!", huffed Velvet. Then reality crashed down on her like a train. A red train. In that moment, only the colour of Velvet's face could match the tone of red the train would have had. The Huntress in Training was blushing madly.
This earned her a light chuckle, which made her head almost pop. Finishing the tea in silence, she thanked the man for the drink, bowed a few times and rushed quickly out of the main door, bumping into a stranger about to enter the place. Excusing herself without looking back, the girl rushed down the alleys. By now, it had actually become dark. She didn't even have her scroll, blasted thing! Now she didn't know what time it was. Wait, she could have asked- but she was already running now, she couldn't just turn back.
"Let's just hope I didn't babble long enough to miss the last bullhead!" she prayed.
Meanwhile, the man had to pat down his white suit, scoffing a bit. He had just gotten it from the cleaners, she was lucky he didn't stumble and fall down, else that brat would have had a scolding of her lifetime.
"What's up with her? Is the coffee here that bad?" asked the man jokingly, putting a cigar to his lips while opening his lighter. With well trained movement, the man lit the cigar, taking a few puffs.
"Well. She had somewhat of a predicament and then forgot what time it was. The usual problems of youth," gestured the shopkeeper, shrugging his shoulders.
"I am more surprised by the lack of reaction from you." muttered the man in the entrance, puffing a few more smoke clouds into the air.
"Well, if it was an e-cigarette, I would have tried to keep you from smoking it, dear customer. But a cigar kind of fits the ambience, and as there are no other customers, I see no problem for now. Should the need arise, we have private booths further down which also provide a sheltered, more private experience. They also function as the smoking area. However, If you were to use one, I'd have to charge you extra," stated the man behind the counter, going back to polishing glasses.
"Huh…good to know. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a café open this late." exclaimed the man, smiling merrily while taking a seat on one of the bar stools.
AN: Rising from the dead once again, I return. Though, I never really stopped writing but I have another ton of 1k word manuscripts in my folders now…damn me and my ideas. Well, I really can't promise when another chapter will release, but to kickstart my creativity again, I present this slice of life. How can one simple cup of coffee affect the drama destined to unfold?