#Croissant can have Gale I want this guy

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Raphael is the perfect character 10/10 no notes

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[gale-gentlepenguin]

Gale Reviews: ML Season 5 episode 21 Confrontation

Spoilers below

-Ohhh okay, starting out with the drama bomb

-So for those that forgot (Like me) Gabriel is sending adrien to London for Private school. And Adrien cant fill out the orientation form because of it

-Plagg... My boy. No cheese jokes.

-So all the students are stressed about the meeting

-Oh so Marinette also got the guilt that now that Lila is the class rep there will be some fishy business.

-Yea the jobs are what I would expect for Nino and Alya

-Ivan out here showing himself to be loyal af. All other men need to step up their game. Mylene showing ambition.

-Juleka wants to be a mortician. Sticking to your asthetic, but didnt she want to model? Or was it just to help her get out of her shell. Meh

-Sabrina wants to be a nurse,

-Yea, Marinette's worries are justified

-Chloé and Lila having Opposite goals, one doesnt care because she is rich, Lila basically wants to "Resolve everything" but thats a lie

-Adrienette cuteness!

-Adrien, you are going to have to tell her eventually

-You can screen shot this and write "Moments before a disaster" and it would be accurate

-And they are shredding them. Im not even surprised

-"In case of a problem, blame it on your predecessor." Its nice to know kids shows are accurately explaining politics to children for once.

-"Its gonna hurt people?" THATS 90% OF THE S*** CHLOÉ HAS YOU DO! NOW YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT?

-Also Sabrina being a whistle blower is TOO on the nose, even for this show.

-Principal damocles is going to find out about the resistance! Wait, is he cool with it? He actually covered for them. I guess being a hero has helped you be less of a jerk... BUT I still am not cool with the BS from episode 14. You are on VERY thin ICE Owl man

-The class wants to go to the same school together, thats sweet

-Oh, that call must have been Sabrina. But we will see

-Oh right, Adrien still hasnt filled out his form

-Welp now he did

-But now I believe this is where all the pennies drop

-Why is there a just a random ass toilet trailer? Is that really the only bathroom in the school?

-Adrien exhibiting true AND KEN behavior.

-Lila once again proving that all the adults in this show are idiots. Bustier does seem at least a little bit suspect tho

-It is interesting to see how the teachers are. Bustier is suspect of it since she knows her students, Damocles is being his best to be supportive and Mendelev doesnt give a f***

-Juleka already repeated a year, thus confirming Luka and her as twins via the retcon

-Cue the reactions

-Juleka is gonna get akumatized...

-Monarch must have a guy that writes all of these speeches for him to speak before he does this.

-Yea I know Rose was trying, but yea. If I was repeating a year. I would NOT be in a mode to try and be positive.

-And she gets Roarr

-WHY IS ALWAYS REFLEKTA THO?

-Bustier realize she let this happen

-Lucky charm is tape.

-"You cant touch the bakers, I love their croissants to much" and their daughter. You forgot that last part chat noir

-SO THATS WHAT HAPPENS IF TWO FALCON PUNCHES COLLIDE?

-Wait... thats it? That barely lasted 2 minutes. and the episode isnt over.

-Monarch thinks there will be more akuma soon. I see

-Chloé and Lila really pulling this crap

-Oh they remember how Sabrina can forge handwritings and thus Marinette isnt going to get in trouble. And Chloé throws her under the bus

-Lila and Chloé really didnt expect Sabrina to turn Whistle blower on them. Chloé I get, because Sabrina has been loyal dog for years and the writing for her has Chloé have the mental capacity of a parsnip since season 4.

-Okay Lila that was well played lie right there. That is A tier gaslighting.

-I will give this scene credit, Lila is absolutely HORRIFYING. I can see the next season's main villain already. Since I assume Gabriel is probably dying this season.

-Chloé out here being a dumbass

-Sabrina you sly dog, you got her Monologue-ing

-Sabrina I put you as the least favorite classmate after episode 14, but now I gotta retcon that. Sure it was messed up what you helped chloé with. But that absolute MASTERY of playing Lila. Just, Chef's kiss. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

-Sabrina and Marinette's plan worked. Also, Mr.Damocles was okay with that?

-Ah so none this matters. Because Andre is also being whipped.

-Damocles looking like he cant take the bulls*** anymore and Monarch ready to capitalize on it

-The magic reacts to emotion, which means... IF the person is strong enough emotionally to resist it. Then the charm has a purpose

-Lila just straight up left.

-CHAT NOIR! But he is making it worse

-JULEKA! This moment probably will not have as much impact as it does in any other dub. French dub superiority

-OOOO it makes a shield that purifies the mega akuma. Neat

-Monarch crying like a bitch

-Damocles finally standing up to Andre. Good on him

-Damocles going out like a G.

-Chat noir telling ladybug what happened and her having to act like she didnt know

-Bustier calling Chloé in.

-"You cant expell me." "Nah bitch, thats a problem for you." is how I saw that exchange

-LILA WAS WEARING A WIG! I KNEW SHE WAS A FAKE B****

-HER NAME IS CERISE?

______________________________________________________

WELL that was a lot.

So i think part of me really likes this episode, but also doesnt.

I like that Lila finally got exposed and Damocles got his redemption for his failures of the past. Going out like a G.

But all this stuff with Lila having ANOTHER life. Thats just nuts.

so overally 7/10

I will do a review of Collusion tomorrow

[thessalian]

Faerun!Alisaie vs Auntie Ethel, Again

But first, a certain Blade's aftermath

Wyll: I don't believe I condemned my father to death. I--

Alisaie: Dude, seriously. Look. You could not make that decision yourself, because you're way too damn close to it, so you put it in my hands ... probably at least in part to have someone to blame for it, but okay, fine, I can cope. But let's look at the logic. The man basically disowned you for making that fucking pact. That's how much he hated that you were in it.

Wyll: So, what, he deserves to--?

Alisaie: Oh, for fuck's sake, no. Look, just shut up. This is Alisiae Tav Talking Time. He sent you away because he couldn't bear seeing you in that pact, and--

Wyll: But he hated me--

Alisaie: ALISAIE. TAV. TALKING. TIME. He did not hate you. He couldn't bear to look at you because he felt like he failed you. He left you to run Baldur's fucking Gate alone at a young age and a demon came in and ... hell, probably manufactured a situation where a pact with a demon was the only way to save the entire city. If he'd left you with any kind of backup, that would not have been a thing. He blames himself. He couldn't look at you because he couldn't help you and it killed him to see it. ...Plus also probably a little bit not wanting to have a demon potentially pulling political strings on the Sword Coast, but that's beside the point. Anyway. Point is that if he knew - absolutely, for 100% certain knew that his death would free you from that pact, I would bet coppers to croissants that he'd stick the blade in his own throat to set you free. Because you are his son and he loves you and parents are willing to die for the lives, safety, and well-being of their children.

Shadowheart: I thought your parents were petty criminals who were looking to sell you off to Sharess' Caress when you were far too young for any of that kind of thing. How do you know so much about parents?

Alisaie: Yeah, fine, my family was not exactly what you'd call 'loving' or anything other than 'abusive' but guys, come on; I'm a bard. I Know Stuff.

Shadowheart: Fair. And honestly, none of this matters in the least because Alisaie is a hero and she's made us all into heroes - and in your case, Wyll, that's ... I suppose 'hero squared', all things considered...

Astarion: What she's trying to say is that there's almost certain to be a 'in the very teeth of time' rescue situation in the not-too-distant future. Don't worry; one doesn't just ... make Duke Ravengard dead, even if Gortash is running things at the moment. They'll take a few days to let the populace forget all about him and then they'll make him dead.

Alisaie: Bedside manner. Get one.

Astarion: I was only saying we've got time. So possibly unbunch your knickers a little, Wyll.

Alisaie: Anyway, there's another good reason why I kind of had to vote for you breaking the pact. Karlach doesn't know your father, doesn't care about politics, and would probably crush my head if I handed you over to Mizora.

Karlach: You're my bestie and all, but ... it's true. I would.

Wyll: So ... good deeds as a distraction so no one thinks we're really hunting them, and then we save my father?

Alisaie: Pretty much, yeah.

And, after a stop at the Baldur's Mouth just to be petty

Wyll: We're doing good deeds ... in the park.

Alisaie: We're prepping for good deeds in the park. Look, when I was younger, I couldn't afford apothecary prices, and foraging for herbalism components so I didn't die of scurvy or infected wounds or whatever else kind of got to be a habit, so... Huh.

Gale: Um ... is that your "illithid so-called Emperor is talking to me" 'huh', or your "I am seeing something that most don't see because I let Volo of all people stick an awl in my eye" 'huh'?

Alisaie: ...Wyll? How do you feel about venting some spleen by stabbing some Bhaal cultists?

Wyll: Fairly good, as it happens, but what--?

Bhaal Cultist: *swearing a lot from behind Invisibility ability*

Gale: Ah. Yes. Botched-surgery-had-perks 'huh'. Fair enough.

Stabnation: *ensues*

Elder Brain servants: *turn up to help* Free uuuuuuuuuus...

Alisaie: ...I do not consider "help I didn't need with an ambush" sufficient payment for letting an elder brain run amok. Just saying.

After that whole mess is sorted

Gale: Are we sure we want to check in on the hag survivors? I mean, that eviction notice about the walls bleeding does not fill me with comfort. I mean, we could go rob Lorroakan...

Alisaie: And then we'll have to hang out with Astarion and he'd want to know why we can't just kill his sire and make him UberVamp and I have enough to cope with right now. I just want to check in on Mayrina and her undead husband because they're bound to be here...

Cleric of Torm: BEGONE, FOUL HAG!

Alisaie: Hey, look, I got ambushed by assassins on the way here, so don't give me shit for my hair not being on point.

Hag Survivors: ................................

Bugbear Dude: She's telling the truth, as it happens.

Cleric of Torm: Oh. Yes. The ... the one Mayrina told us about. Well. Before she could say anything but "baaaa", anyway.

Alisaie: What the fuck--? *heads upstairs* ...Oh for... HEY! CLERIC-LADY! WHAT CLERIC WORTH A SHIT CAN'T REMOVE A CURSE?!?

Cleric of Torm: Um...

Snake Individual: Aw. And I was having such a good time.

Alisaie: ...wut.

Snake Individual: *becomes redcap*

Now-Redcap: *summons multiple giant crabs*

Alisaie: ...And here's me without a pot of boiling water and some garlic butter handy. Oh well. I guess I'll have to improvise.

Stabnation: *ensues again*

When that's all over and done with

Mayrina: Thanks for that. We were fighting her--

Wyll: 'Her'? You mean Ethel? That 'her'? The one we shish-kabobed and set on fire?

Mayrina; Alisaie: That doesn't kill a hag.

Mayrina: Turns out you need to kill her mushrooms first. Oh, by the way, we found out she wanted to eat my baby to turn it into a hag like her, so she's been looking for another kid, and...

Alisaie; Wyll; Shadowheart; Gale: Vanra.

Mayrina: We've got the fixings for Hag's Bane in the safe downstairs. We'd go - I mean, we tried, but I'm not a fighter, Connor ... really only does direct instructions, that scaly asshole was probably hobbling us, our bugbear friend's kind of lacking in the smarts department, and our cleric...

Cleric of Torm: *fervently praying after having done jack all during the fight but cast Shield of Faith on herself and then stand there*

Shadowheart: Gives the priesthood a bad name; I understand.

Wyll: So now where to?

Alisaie: Barman was less than helpful, so we go to the woman in charge at the Blushing Mermaid. Captain Grizly has a bit of a past but not even she's going to be into kid-stealing.

And, back at the Blushing Mermaid...

'Captain Grizly': Lora's a right mare and getting on my tits with this so-called 'missing child' bollocks. I want you to end her.

Alisaie: I have way more important uses to put this particular blade to than killing a frantic parent, lady. And you are not Captain Grizly because she'd do her own damn killing.

'Captain Grizly': *becomes Auntie Ethel*

Wyll; Gale: Whaaaaaaaaaaat the fuuuuuuuuuck...

Shadowheart: Their general perception of the world around them is a bit lacking, isn't it?

Alisaie: So's their grasp of dramatic narrative. So, come on. Vanish and make us chase you into your lair again.

Ethel: Oh, no. Fighting's bad for the baby. I thought I'd give you a bit of an appetizer first anyway.

Various Patrons: *become redcaps*

Alisaie: Oh for fuck's sake, I hope the real Captain Grizly's alive so I can explain why there's going to be more blood than usual on her carpets...

Stabnation: *ensues yet again, because it is that kind of day*

And, eventually, in the hag's lair, after a lot of stabbing and trying not to kill Captain Grizly with her Whispering Mask issue...

Shadowheart: This is not going well. I can't even see her copies, let alone tell which one is really her. And excuse me, invoking duplicity is my thing...

Alisaie: Shadowheart! Flame Strike! THERE! *points at random section of deck*

Shadowheart: ...Oh, right, Volo's nonsense! *calls down holy fire*

Ethel: So you learned a few new tricks. Fine. That won't save you. Look at you, all poison-sick and covered in insects and cowering where my beloved mushrooms stood. You're done. ...Last words, mouthy-bard?

Alisaie: Just four: "I. Got. You. Monologuing."

Ethel: ...what--

Alisaie: *Mobile Flourish - Ranged*

Ethel: *is yeeted into a chasm and dies*

Gale: ...You know Astarion would have yelled at you for losing any loot she might have been carrying down a hole.

Alisaie: Astarion can go fuck himself.

Wyll: Um ... I used my last Misty Step to get over here to destroy the mushroom and ... I'm kind of stuck...

Alisaie: Luckily for you, I can help with that. *tosses a Potion of Glorious Vaulting* The fruits of my foraging labours earlier. Worth having to stab a few assassins for?

Wyll: Right now? YES.

Captain Grizly: ...Are your lives always this insane?

Alisaie: This is actually pretty tame compared to some of the shit we've had this month, honestly. Oh, yeah, by the way, sorry about the ... whole thing in the upstairs. We had to kill a lot of redcaps on your carpet--

Gale: Though she did get me to throw a health potion at some of your clientele so they didn't die of shrapnel bomb, so that's something...

Alisaie: And the chest I poked in your chambers? I honestly thought that was Ethel's and I backed off when I got funny looks.

Captain Grizly: Right. Well. I think saving my life kind of covers all that. You've always got a home at the Blushing Mermaid. ...Say, I remember you - you used to play a battered lute for incoming sailors down on the docks before you moved on to better things!

Alisaie: If that's a request for a command performance, probably going to need to be tomorrow. I've got to make sure Vanra got back to Lora, and let Mayrina know that Ethel's proper dead this time, and then I probably need to wash more than blood out of my hair...

Captain Grizly: ...Well ... my stage is always open.

((Controller Person Note: Yes, Alisaie is technically Featherwind in Ellon, but we're not in Ellon, and anyway, given how well it scans, I couldn't help the Gideon the Ninth reference.))

[starlight-vixen-emiko]

WIP Wednesday 6/9/2021 Wedding Roses Chapter 3

Hey lovely Lovebugs! It’s time for our favorite time of the week. WIP Wednesday! And today the lovely Lovebug community is going to get a sneak preview of the third and final chapter of Wedding Roses. So exciting!

As usual please excuse some roughness because I have yet to edit this. Also note that I may take a bit longer to finish this because it is the main event and I want to give my 110%. You Lovebugs have been the most amazing reader base and you guys deserve my very best.

Also special thanks to @renee561 because she was the one who commented on my old preview from 2020 where Luka proposes to Marinette. If not for her kind comment I never would’ve published Wedding Roses in the first place. Give her a shout out!

Without further ado.

Luka and the boys slept soundly either on the floor, the couch, or in Luka's case the best bed in the room.

Nino was the first to open his eyes.

"What time is it?" He whispered.

"6:30-ish. Great!"

Nino was contemplating sleeping for a little bit longer or waking up the groom but then Ivan let out a yawn and stretched his arms.

Nino was a bit worried both of them up would get Luka to abruptly awake but Ivan quietly went to the kitchen area and opened the fridge door as quietly as he could to get some orange juice, where Nino silently pleaded for a glass himself.

Nino thought for a moment about how the wedding was at 11 am and felt the guys could use a cup of coffee and prepared the coffee maker. He quietly argued with Ivan if this was a good idea but Nino said the earlier everyone woke up the better.

But Kim was still snoring with the happy sleeping look on his face. Eventually Adrien and Max opened their eyes and Adrien saw how happy Luka looked asleep, as if he was having a beautiful dream.

Adrien quietly got off the bed smelling coffee from the kitchen area. He saw Kim snoring soundly and looked at Max and Max whispered in Kim's ear to try to gently wake him up.

"Good morning Adrien," Nino whispered as he handed Adrien some coffee.

"Thanks Nino," Adrien said.

Adrien, Nino, and Ivan saw Kim with his arms around Max. Hugging him as if he were a teddy bear.

"Kim! Let me go!" Max cried. "Now isn't the time."

Nino and Adrien quickly but quietly ran to Kim and Max trying to set Max free. They didn't want to wake up the peaceful groom.

When Nino yanked Max away from him. Kim's eyes opened and first thing he saw was Adrien on top of him and Nino holding Max in his arms like a scared cat.

"Huh?" Kim cried. "What happened?"

Then they heard the sound of familiar chuckling.

The blue haired man was wide awake and stared at the four guys in their moment. Luka tried to hide his laughter with his hand over his mouth.

"Did I miss something?" Luka said.

"You missed nothing Luka, we wouldn't try to have fun without you," Max said.

Nino tried to compose himself of this awkward school boy moment and placed Max on one of the arm chairs. 

Adrien rolled off of Kim. "Morning Kim!" Adrien cried. "I hope you slept well last night but we have a big day today, of course!"

Adrien was frantically shaking off his embarrassment. Ivan came in and gave a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice to Luka.

"I need some bean juice too! I need all the energy I can get for the event of the year!" Kim cried. 

And Kim ran to the kitchen like a football player.

Luka sipped his coffee. "Ok everyone, let's take a moment to mentally prepare. Just because this is an important even doesn't mean we have to stress."

The boys nodded and then they all dressed and got ready to go to venue, then there was a knock on the door.

"A visitor?" Adrien said.

Ivan took it upon himself to open the door but the person at the door sounded awfully familiar. She was being loud regardless of other hotel guests.

"Ahoy M'harties!" Cried a voice.

"Mom?" Luka said.

Ivan opened the door and Captain Couffaine did not waste any time coming in. She was in a bit more fancier pirate attire for weddings and she held a basket filled with baked goods.

"Morning Captain Couffaine!" The boys said in unison.

"Morning maties!" Captain Couffaine said.

"Hey mom," Luka said. "I am glad you are finally here."

Captain Couffaine was close to tears seeing her son all grown up on his wedding day.

"Oh my handsome son!" Captain Couffaine cried.

Captain Couffaine flung the basket to the side which Kim caught. Kim was taken aback but he and the others also had yet to have breakfast so he already took a muffin for himself.

Captain Couffaine wrapped her arm around her son and played with his blue hair with her other hand.

"You are growing up so fast! I am so happy for you!"

Luka smiled. "I couldn't be happier being surrounded by the people I love."

After the hugging Captain Couffaine got up and asserted herself.

"Anyway, I came here to make sure you scallywags woke up on time for the wedding...But I see you boys are ahead of schedule. Good good!"

Luka smiled and rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't miss marrying Marinette for the world mom."

Adrien and Nino placed their hands on Luka's shoulders. "We wouldn't miss it for the world!"

"And Mr. Dupain asked me to deliver these pastries to you boys so you could eat breakfast," said the Captain.

Kim was already on his second muffin and the boys "ooo!!!" in excitement. Adrien himself loved Mr. Dupain's pastries. He grabbed two croissants and snagged a blueberry muffin for Luka.

Luka sighed thinking about the blueberry muffins Marinette makes for him.

"So eat quickly then we set sail for the venue, chop chop gentleman!" Said the captain.

The boys were stuffing themselves in Dupain-Cheng pastries moaning in pleasure.

"I can trust you boys to moshpit my son to the venue in style." Said the captain.

The boys with crumbs still on them all shot up and saluted. "Ma'am yes ma'am!"

Luka choked on his muffin for a moment. "This is a hotel!" He cried. "Not a music show."

Kim and Nino chuckled. "Don't worry Captain! With all of us Luka will glide to the venue like a superhero!" Kim said.

Ivan flexed his muscles as well.

Luka managed to laugh a little and Adrien placed his hand on Luka's shoulder. "Hey, it could be fun Luka."

Luka finished eating and the boys ate until they were stuffed for now. Luka and the others made sure they were dressed to go outside and Luka got everyone's attention.

"Alright, I am ready to head to the venue dressing room with you guys. Someone make sure to text the girls so we don't bump into eachother," Luka said.

"Already texted Alya," Nino said with phone in hand.

Captain Couffaine smiled. "All ready to go full steam ahead into marriage eh?"

Captain Couffaine got out her plastic Sword and pointed it to destination.

"Get ready to hoist my son to destination gentleman."

The boys saluted. "Ma'am! Yes ma'am!"

The boys circled around Luka and Luka rolled his eyes.

"Guys can we walk down gently guys?"

The boys gave devious smiles.

"No way Luka it's time for a mosh pit!" Nino cried.

"Mosh pit!!!" Kim yelled.

Luka let out one last "oh no!" Before the guys grabbed him like a coffin.

Luka flailed slightly. "Wait! My guitar!" He cried.

"I got it!" Max cried. And he was right behind the boys guitar case in hand as Nino, Adrien, Kim, and Ivan rushed Luka out mosh pit style.

"Here comes the groom! Here comes the groom!" They all sang as they ran down the hall.

Luka knew his friends were having fun but he was a relatively tall guy and he didn't want to get injured before the wedding. After much exhilaration Luka sat up and gasped as they approached an elevator.

"Guys! The elavator!" Luka cried.

"Don't worry Luka we were special trained for this!" Kim cried.

Nino let go and pressed the button for the elevator door. Since Kim was the most muscular guy he held Luka over the shoulder and all of the guys got in the elevator.

"See, were making sure we would take extra care not to hurt you before the wedding!" Ivan said.

Luka felt his head starting to spin. And then the elevator was about to land on the ground floor.

"Get ready for the next mosh pit guys!" Nino cried.

And then all the guys lifted Luka like a surfboard waiting to be used on the waves, while singing another round of "Here comes the Groom!"

Thankfully Marinette and the girls weren't here to see this, but quite a few wedding guests got to witness guitarist Luka Couffaine being whisked to the altar by his friends.

A few kids made comments to their parents about a guy being kidnapped.

Author’s note: Guys will be guys amirite? Haha! Sorry everyone, I know this was sophmoric but when I first wrote this chapter back in 2020 I wanted to write a humorous scene.

Sorry this preview only had the guys but I love writing them, Kim is my handsome son! And it is nice to write Luka as more than just Marinette’s love interest.

And it felt so good to finally be writing Anarka! Oh my gosh she is so cool and I totally imagined her getting the guys group to mosh pit Luka to the wedding venue lol!

So anyways, I will see all of you when this chapter will get published. I promise all of you it will be worth it and then some. I may have to do some extra research on wedding dresses, sounds like loads of fun!

Then again I am on my Lukanette writing high so who knows maybe I will be so busy writing that this may come out sooner...Anyway see you then!

This is Emiko Gale signing out!

[theweddingofthefoxes]

since your post asking for prompts had a picture of a cake... would you consider... bakery au? (sorry if this has been done before!!)

Ahh, I have not done this one before, though I’m sure others have! (I did do a donut shop one, but that’s a little different, huh?) Let me put my own spin on it, huh? (Doing some Benarmie early college stuff, Ben’s 18 and Armie’s 20.)

Today had been an endless stream of things going wrong for Ben. His car’s check engine light had come on and he’d had to leave it in the shop, giving him barely enough time to get to class on the bus, and had been struck with a headache basically the moment the professor had turned on the powerpoint–something weird about the lighting or colors, though it was fully possible he just needed glasses and was straining too hard to see. Great. Another expense. 

The moment he left the classroom and headed out the hall back to the bus stop just off campus, he was struck with a windy faceful of snowflakes, and he pulled up his scarf to try and keep his lips from breaking off with the cold. 

There was an app that would tell you when the next bus was coming, in….45 minutes. Fuck. What was he supposed to do? No way was he sitting in the freezing cold for 45 minutes, that was for sure, but he didn’t want to wander too far in case the bus came early. It honestly might be faster to walk home, but every step he took was like Arctic hell, and it was truly not worth it. Bus it was. And there was a little bakery right across the street with some empty tables, so maybe he could get some hot coffee. 

It was close and hot inside, but in the best possible way. An elderly couple was sharing a large scone, and some sorority girls with Greek letters on their jackets were debating between coffee cake or lemon cake. Not so much here in the way of cupcakes and cookies–this place had more along the lines of croissants and danishes and tarts….and they all looked so good–Ben realized he hadn’t eaten since lunch, what with all the car trouble and bus riding.

“Can I help you?”

The guy behind the counter wasn’t super chipper, but not grumpy, either, just polite. Slicked-back red hair, eyes of some indeterminate pale color, black apron with a name tag that read Armie. “Uh, yeah. Can I get a large coffee and two croissants, please?”

“Five-fifty.”

“Hell of a lot better than Starbucks,” Ben remarked. 

“You’ll find the croissants are far better and the coffee’s far worse.”

Ben smiled. 

“Go sit and I’ll bring everything to you hot.”

The sorority girls settled on lemon cake. The elderly couple shuffled out, letting a gale of icy wind into the bakery, and Ben folded in on himself, checking the time on his phone.

The red-haired guy at the counter, Armie, brought over the coffee, a carafe of milk, a box of sugar packets and the warm croissants. Then he took off his apron and sat down in the chair opposite Ben. 

“Aren’t you supposed to be working?” Ben asked, amused. 

“I’m on break. And you’re by yourself.”

“I’m just waiting for my bus,” Ben said, hoping he sounded coy and not stupid. “But I guess some company would be fine.”

“That’s what I was thinking. Do you go to the university?”

“Mmhm. Do you?”

“Yep. When I’m not slaving away here.”

“Getting all the free coffee you can drink.”

“I’m serious, if you want coffee, go to Starbucks. This is basically Maxwell House but worse.” Armie smiled slyly. “But I made the croissants myself.”

“If the coffee was that bad, you should have paid me to take it. Or given it to me for free.” 

“We’re not a charity, kiddo. You don’t get anything for free.”

There was something about the way Armie said ‘kiddo’ that knotted up Ben’s stomach in the most delicious way. “Nothing?” he asked.

Armie considered him for a moment, still smirking, and then drew a pen from his pocket so he could write something on Ben’s receipt. “One thing, I guess,” he amended, writing down his phone number. 

The cold walk back to the bus stop seemed twenty degrees warmer after that.