Chapter Text
The small shop was filled with the soft noise of gentle chatter, a light Lo-fi beat playing absently in the background. The smell of coffee filled the store, and a small, oddly coloured cat sat in the front window, basking in the morning sunlight.
Rumi hummed softly to herself, just another day at the Honmoon Cafe, a store owned by her Auntie Celine. She wiped away at the counters absentmindedly, her mind wandering.
The few people there slowly filtered out, leaving the store in a cozy, sleepy mood.
“Hey, Rumi, you still with us?” Jinu’s voice broke the silence, getting a groan from Rumi in response.
“Sure, I guess. What do you want?” she turned to look at him, leaning against the counter with her hip.
“Jeez, no need for the sass Miss Nepotism.” he scoffed, “Myst is heading out, just wanted to let you know.”
Rumi took a moment, stiffening up at his harshness. “Oh, uh. Thanks.” she turned to look back at the counter, a stubborn spot of coffee that wouldn’t come out needed her attention.
Her attention was brought back into reality as she glanced up at the sound of the door opening, hearing the clunk of heavy boots on the tile floor. A tall figure, dressed head-to-toe in black leather riding gear, their arms going up to lift off their helmet and—Rumi’s heart stuttered—Mira. Five time Moto-GP champion MIRA. in Rumi’s store. Well, not hers. But it was all hers in this moment. she watched as Mira rubbed the back of her neck, the short shag haircut revealing an undercut. Rumi went weak in the knees
She collected herself, taking a deep, shaky breath as she not-so-subtly shoved Jinu out of her way at the counter. “Good-morning!” she said, almost singing it. “Welcome to Honmoon cafe, what can I get for you?”
She felt Mira’s eyes stare through her, felt like she was being studied as she stood there, a not at all fake smile plastered on her face. Mira’s monotone, not-a-care-in-the-world voice broke the silence.
“Just a white mocha. No whip, please. Small.” Mira slipped her hand into her pocket, digging around for her wallet.
Rumi nodded and typed in the order, shooting Jinu a ‘I am going to make this. Get away from the bar.’ look “Oke Doke, That’ll be Four Dollars, thirty-two cents please!”
Mira nodded and handed Rumi a twenty. “The rest is for the cat.” She walked away before Rumi could protest, leaning against the wall at the end of the counter.
Oh my god.
Rumi counted out the change, dropping it into the tip jar and moving to the espresso machine, nervously tapping at the buttons. She got the shot pulling, pumping the white mocha sauce into the cup, sliding it underneath the portafilter as it started pushing out the shot, home-roasted beans ground into tiny bits and compressed, all to create the best substance the world has ever seen. She hummed to herself quietly as she steamed the milk, the squealing of it filling her ears.
She swirled the espresso and the white mocha sauce gently in the cup before pouring the milk in, tilting the cup a little, a gentle swish of the milk pitcher to create a little flower bloom in the foam. She almost didn’t want to put the lid on. But alas, she placed the lid on top and walked it to the hand-off plane.. “White mocha for uh-” She faltered. She didn’t ask for her name. Like she didn’t know it but it’d be weird to just say it, right?
“Mira.” The recipient chimed in, a small grin visibly tugging at her mouth.
“Right. White mocha for Mira.” Rumi had to put her hand on the counter to keep her from collapsing on the spot, her legs shaking behind the safety of not being seen.
“Thanks..” Mira’s eyes wandered for a moment. Rumi felt like her soul was being laid bare. Their hands brushed briefly as Rumi handed the drink off.
She’d like to lay bare in front of her.
FOCUS. Rumi. you just met her. “Rumi.” Mira lifted her hand in a small wave, turning and walking right back out the door like she didn’t just kill someone.
Rumi’s jaw dropped . “Jinu, I'm taking five.” she blurted out, not letting him respond before darting into the back room. She was only freaking out a little, she nearly put a hole through the brick wall she fell against, both hands clutching her chest as she tried to get. A fucking. Grip.
“Girl.” Jinu peeked in. “You are such a loser.”
“Jinu. get out. Leave me be.” she snapped back
“You looked like you were trying to eat her, dude.”
“JINU.”
“Fine, Fine. Don’t cry to me when you get reported to HR.” he gave up, retreating back to the bar as another customer entered. Rumi groaned, taking one last breath and following him back out.
-
It was late, almost time to close, just Rumi in the store. Jinu had left hours ago. She had switched the lo-fi chill for some good cleaning music, her head bobbed to some heavy rock, Crazy Train was playing right now. That’s how Rumi felt, her mind running off the rails as she still thought about how Mira. THE Mira was here yesterday. She felt like she had hallucinated, but the very real pain in her hip reminded her it was in fact, something that actually happened. The table she just slammed into was also very real, as she crouched down, groaning in pain as she held her side.
She bolted up as she heard a voice, how did she not hear the door open??? Whatever- she looked over to the new person and gave a small, obviously in pain greeting “Hey! Welcome to Honmoon cafe, give me like, two seconds, I’ll be right there.” She didn’t really look at the person, all she heard was her voice.
“Oh, yeah! No worries girl, i have a date with mr Gorgeusio over here” She cooed, making all kinds of kissy noises at ‘Mr Gorgeusio’
Rumi finally got a good look at the woman as she got behind the register, dressed in filthy coveralls. Her hands and face caked in dirt, grime and motor oil. She was short, but built stocky, her hands were calloused and obviously very strong. “His name is Derpy.” Rumi chimed, referring to the blue russian cat on the counter, now being caked in dirty kisses.
“Oh. my gosh. It fits. So well. I’m taking him home. Can I take him home?” the other woman rattled off, “Oh, no I can't. Oh! My name is Zoey!” she looked like she had offended god himself for not saying her name, getting a small chuckle out of Rumi.
“Rumi. What can I get for you?” she hummed, locking eyes with Zoey for a moment. She was cute. Dirty, exceptionally dirty, but cute. That energy was infectious.
“Oh, right, uhm. Twenty shots of espresso please!” she grinned like this was the most normal thing to say ever, and then shot into the Chorus of Crazy Train. “Goin off the rails on a Crazyy TraAaAin~!” she was so off key. It was adorable.
“Uh, yeah. Twenty shots, got it. Anything in those?”
“Nope! Straight up.”
“I legally have to ask if you understand the risk you are taking with your health.”
“I legally answer yes.” Zoey smiled wide.
Rumi couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, a genuine, breathy giggle as she nodded. “Alright, comin’ up. Twenty legally binding espresso shots.” She almost didn’t want to make her pay, but alas. “It’ll be Fifteen-eighty-two, please.”
Zoey fake-groaned. “Really??? For lil’ ol’ me???” She giggled to herself. “Ok, well, it’s for Derpy.”
she rummaged in her pockets, pulling out exact change. “Here! Fifteen-eighty-two. Probably.”
Rumi took the cash and hummed to herself. It wasn’t exact, it was a couple cents short but.. Oh, whatever. Zoey was cute. “Perfect. I’ll have that right out for you.” She slid down to the machine, getting a cup ready and queuing the shots.
“How long have you been working here?” Zoey peeked over the espresso machine.
It caught Rumi off-guard. People didn’t really talk to her yet. She was new.
“Uh, a month? I think.” She hummed, the rumble of the espresso machine the only other noise outside of the music. Bad To The Bone , now. Zoey was tapping to the beat as it played.
“Ok, ok cool. What about Derpy? He gets paid, right?” Zoey grinned.
Rumi laughed, letting the smile on her face grow wider. “Yes, he does. He wandered in a couple days ago, hasn’t left.”
“Good. good.” Zoey nodded.
The two sat in the noise of espresso grinding and good music, both of them humming along as the shots continued to pull.
“So.. Zoey, What uh, what do you do? For work.” Rumi pondered, looking up at her. She could guess, but she felt Zoey would ramble if she asked.
“Oh! I own the mechanic shop down the street! Oh my god i’m so messy did i get oil on your floor?? I’m sosososo sorry oh my gosh-” She looked genuinely distressed, Rumi felt bad.
“No-No it’s fine. The floor was dirty anyways.” She reassured her. “There’s been worse on these floors, believe me.”
Zoey leaned closer, her eyes sparkling like the night sky. “Oh??? Story time???” Her smile taking up her entire face. “You gotta spill now, I'm not leaving until you do.”
Rumi sighed dramatically. “Well, if I have too.” she started talking, telling a story about how someone puked all over the floor,
It got dramatic wretching from Zoey, before the two giggled together. “Alrighty. Shots done!” She lidded the cup and slid it across to Zoey. “Thanks for coming in.”
Zoey hummed and gently took the cup, sniffing it for a moment. “Mhm. good shots.” She gave Rumi a mischievous grin. “Watch this.” Before Rumi could say anything, Zoey was chugging it. It took maybe ten seconds to watch the ten minutes of coffee shots get drunk, Rumi could feel her mouth hanging open and had to very quickly push it closed.
“MMmhmMMM~” Zoey let out a pleased moan, “Hell yeah.” She waved at Rumi and skipped out of the store. “See ya!”
“Uh- Yeah! Have a good night?” Rumi slammed her head against the counter. What the fuck? This girl.. Jinu was right, she was a loser.
[ Newbie ]
Jinu.
Hey.
Jinu i need advice.
[ Jenga Tower ]
Girl.
It’s like, 10 what do you want.
Rumi grumbled. She couldn’t BELIEVE she was doing this.
[ Newbie ]
How do I??? Flirt???
This cute girl came in i think i need her
Mira too
Don’t screenshot this.
[ Jenga Tower ]
…
OK.
I’m blocking you.
[ Newbie ]
Jinu.
Jinu please.
Asshole.
Rumi groaned. “Dickhead.” She grumbled to herself as she cleaned up the oilstains Zoey left.
Finally, time to close. She sighed as she shut off the lobby lights and walked out, locking the doors behind her as she left.
She sulked to her car, a black 1984 Honda city turbo. Scooter and all. She got in and closed the door, finally letting out the pathetic, guttural yell she had been holding in all day.
She was such. A loser. TWICE today she nearly died because of how gay she was. She embarrassed herself in front of the greatest motorcycle rider EVER. and the way Zoey broke whatever walls she tried to put up??? She was so. Doomed.
She started the car, slipping it into gear and drove off, grumbling to herself the entire way back to her apartment.
-
[ Smookieboo ]
BABE. MIRA
MIRA
MIRA
MIRA
MIRA
[Pregnant Man Emoji]
Holy shit.
[ Huniebun ]
???
Are you okay???
What’s wrong
[ Smookieboo ]
You went to that honmoon place right
[ Huniebun ]
Yeah, why?
[ Smookieboo ]
babe. the barista??? hello??? the purple one. uhm. RUMI.
babe i love you
I love you so soso much
i need her so bad
[ Huniebun ]
Babe…
Fuck, me too. I think she was fucking me with her eyes when i went in.
[ Smookieboo ]
[Twenty Pregnant Man Emojis]
[ Huniebun ]
Yeah.