Of Coffee and Cookies (Chapter 19)
The penultimate chapter. I hope you all enjoy!
Link to AO3
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Anna had seen Kristoff’s picture a few times before. He was Elsa’s first friend when she moved west to California, a barista at the coffee shop she frequented. She knew he had gotten her a job when her summer funding fell out. Realistically, she knew he was a good guy, but considering everything that she had experienced in the last few hours, she was more than a little intimidated by the buff blonde that drove up to her- no Hans’- house.
She was glued to Elsa’s side the entire ride home, huddled in the back of his pick-up truck. They didn’t speak much, between her fear and exhaustion. Somewhere between Utah and Nevada, her sister had fallen asleep, and it was just the two of them.
“Hey, I’m stopping to get gas and a coffee. What would you like?”
Her eyes widened, unsure. “Um, nothing. I’m okay.” She didn’t want to cause anymore trouble that she already had this weekend alone. “I don’t need anything.”
He looked at her with a distrusting look. “You haven’t eaten since before court this morning. Come on you gotta have something in your stomach.”
“I don’t have any cash on me.” She couldn’t bother him. They had already done enough for her. She didn’t need to have any more guilt on her back.
But that didn’t stop him from handing her a bagel and a hot chocolate 10 minutes later.
“Thank you.”
---
“So when you put your milk in the steamer, you’re going to want to listen for that rippling sound. Listen carefully to how this sounds.”
Anna watched carefully as Kristoff moved the steaming pitcher up and down on the wand. He had done so much to get this job for her, she wanted to do it well. There was something embarrassing about being 23 and never working a job before, but she hadn’t needed to before now.
“Rippling sound, got it,” she nodded, even though she definitely couldn’t hear the difference in sounds.
“Okay, now you try,”
Anna could practically feel the blood drain from her face. But, fake it until you make it. That’s what Elsa had told her at least. She put the milk pitcher under the wand and let it go. But rather than a rippling sound, the milk made the most blood curdling scream. It startled her so much, she dropped the now warmed milk pitcher, spilling it all over her apron and onto the floor. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” she cried, wincing back.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay. Are you okay?” he asked, peering at her arms for any burns.
He wasn’t mad at her? She had ruined perfectly good milk. That was a fireable offense, wasn’t it? “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble. I’m okay but now the milk’s ruined, and I’m sorry.”
“Hey,” Kristoff looked her in the eyes- though Anna tried to keep hers down, “Messes can be cleaned. Come on, I’ll show you where the mop bucket is.”
And even though Anna still felt fear and worry over the pitcher, she couldn’t help but simultaneously feel like it was okay that she messed up. That was a new feeling for sure.
---
“Kristoff, you can’t wear flannel to a wedding.” Anna rubbed at her eyes. She knew this wasn’t Kristoff’s usual venue, but come on! This was a wedding where he would meet the family of his new boyfriend. She wasn’t about to let him ruin this first impression. “Not only is it too hot for September, but it’s a wedding! You’re supposed to dress ‘up’ not normal!”
Kristoff looked visibly uncomfortable staring out at the department store in front of him. “I don’t want to be a little suit monkey. That’s not who I am!”
Anna nodded, eyes scanning the racks. “Then we won’t get you a suit. Simple as that.”
His head cocked slightly looking at her .”But you said I can’t wear a flannel and I don’t want to wear a suit. What else is there?”
Anna’s eyes lit up, gears turning with ideas. “Oh just you wait, my good sir. I know just the thing. Do you know your measurements?”
He, in fact, did not know his measurements beyond being an extra large in most shirts and his pant size, thus leading Anna onto a goose chase for measuring tape. When she ultimately found some, there was an odd intimacy about it. She had never let herself get this close to someone other than Hans.
And yet here she was with her sister’s best friend with tape wrapped around his chest. How she wanted to just reach out and touch a little further. She shook her head. That wasn’t right. She wouldn’t want that done to her, she thought. Even if Kristoff wanted it too, it was too soon. And more importantly, he wasn’t available.
Anna brushed the thoughts aside; she had a job to do. Kristoff was going to look like a million bucks if it was the last thing she did.
“Come on! Let’s try this green one!”
---
Kristoff would make a great dad one day. They had never talked about it, but watching the way he interacted with his little cousins and nieces and nephews, Anna couldn’t help but be in amazement. No matter what he was doing, if one of the kids needed Uncle Kristoff, he was there in a second. It was an admirable thing.
She had thought about kids before. But when Hans had made it abundantly clear that he never wanted children, that dream was tossed aside. Maybe one day she’d meet someone just as good as kids as Kristoff.
Ryder was a lucky man indeed.
---
Her heart ached watching him cry. He wasn’t in the right by any means- he shouldn’t have run away on Ryder. Anna knew that; Kristoff knew that. But Anna was in no place to judge. She had made plenty of mistakes in her life. Relationships were hard and no one knew that better than someone in the midst of a breakup.
So instead of useless advice, they tucked her tired sister into bed, burnt popcorn on the stove, and played video games. It wasn’t much, but the tears flowed a little slower by the time he bid adieu early in the morning.
---
“I’m here, what do you need?”
“A friend?”
“I can do that.”
---
“You legally cannot fire her for needing to go to court!”
“What do you expect us to do, Kristoff? Run a short shift?”
“We do it all the time during the night, and you’ve never seemed to care!”
“We have to keep our times down during peak.”
“Oh your precious peak? It’s one morning. You are not firing her with one excused, mind you, absence. What’s got you on such a high horse, Claire?”
“You don’t get to make those decisions. If Anna wants to miss a shift, it’s her responsibility to find coverage, not mine.”
“She is missing for a court date.”
“She could be lying. And I’m still down a barista.”
“...I’ll take her shift. Just don’t fire her. She’s been through enough.”
“Then we have nothing else to talk about. Now get on the floor.”
---
“I no called, no show. How in the hell do I still have a job?”
Anna’s eyes blearily wandered in the bed as Kristoff told her about the missed shift. He simply shrugged, touching her hand gently. “Shit like that happens all the time. Three strikes and you’re out, ya know?”
“It’ll be better tomorrow.”
---
“There’s no way in hell you’re faster than me now!”
“Come on! Last one there has to buy the beer!”
“Oh hell no! Ballpark beer is the worst and you know it."
“Fine, nachos, whatever. Just run!”
“Hey! No parkour moves!”
“Nope!”
“That’s not fair and you know it!”
“Didn’t know we were playing fair!”
“Anna!”
---
“What if I want it to be?”
For the first time in a long time, she knew exactly what she wanted. There was no “what-if”. Anna knew that.
Elsa stared at her blankly for a moment. “You want to make it romantic?” she asked cautiously.
Anna bit her lip, nodding slowly. “I think- I think I do. And that’s so bad of me isn’t it?”
Elsa was quick to shake her head. “Anna, sunshine, no. It isn’t bad.” She reached out and grabbed Anna’s hands. “You’re allowed to feel, remember? And if you feel romance, then why would that be bad?”
Anna’s eyes darted to the ground. “It’s just- Hans. It’s not too soon is it?”
“Does it feel too soon?” Anna shook her head, looking back up to Elsa. “Then that’s all that matters.
“Hans was your past, Annie. He doesn’t have to define your future.”
Anna reached and pulled her sister into a tight hug. It was one thing to believe in herself, but another to hear it from someone else.
She could do this.
---
The air was too sticky for May. Whoever said California only had dry heat was a damned liar in Kristoff’s mind. But sulking outside seemed like a better idea than sulking inside his apartment. It was prettier that was for sure.
Why was he so stubborn? Anna was just asking about his studies and wanted to know why he hadn’t been talking much and he wouldn’t even give him the common courtesy of responding. He was so so stu-
“Those Arendelle sisters really have us messed up, don’t they?”
“Oh- hey, Maren,” he said, moving over to give her a spot to sit.
“Hey yourself,” she said, taking the offered seat. “You’re sulking.”
Kristoff rolled his eyes, absentmindedly playing with his bag. What was Maren doing here anyway? “Am not.”
Maren laughed, giving him a light punch on the arm. “You wear your heart on your sleeve, Bjorgman.”
“I do not.” Kristoff took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. “And what do you mean the Arendelle sisters? If I remember correctly, you’re the one in the doghouse.”
Maren waved him off. “Elsa and I are fine now. But you on the other hand have been sulking since we went to the bar. I know what Anna said to you. So why the hell are you still ignoring her?”
“How?” How the hell did she know this? That was a private moment- Maren should have been too plastered to know about it. And yet, here she was confronting him.
She gave him a shrug, “Drunk Anna was very talkative in the cab, what can I say?”
Kristoff sighed. “I don’t want to mess this up. She’s been through enough-”
“You both have.”
“-I know that. But Hans, he really messed her up. I don’t want to upset her and make her uncomfortable or push her or- or I don’t know. I don’t wanna hurt her too.”
Maren put a hand on Kristoff’s knee, staring him down. “Have you talked about that with her?”
He shook his head, How did you even breach that topic? Hey I know you’re just getting out of an abusive relationship but I think you’re really neat and nice and do you want to date? That was not how that worked. “She wouldn’t want someone like me. That was the alcohol, not Anna.”
“Well, I have some decent intel that says otherwise,” she said, moving to stand again. “The ball is in your court, Kristoff. You just have to make the shot.”
“What are you talking about?” he asked, reaching out as she walked.
“I said what I said.” Maren started off down the block before he could grab her hand. “Good luck!”
What the hell was she even talking about? The ball was in his court? Decent intel? With a deep sigh, Kristoff put his head in his hand running through the conversation again.
Maybe it was time to try again after all.
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all the mass effect asks under the cut because i have nothing better to do with my life
Mass Effect asks
Ask me or reblog so your followers can ask you! Happy N7 day!!
1. What’s the first name of your main Shepard?
Revan because I’m KOTOR trash and KOTOR is the main reason I started playing ME
2. Share a screenshot of your main Shepard.
I play on PS3 so it would just be a bad phone screenshot, but just imagine a really pale femshep with a brunette bun and impossibly sharp cheekbones
3. Favourite class to play?
Either vanguard or engineer. My canon Shepard (Revan) is vanguard and my alternate Shepard (Arya) is engineer.
4. Colonist, Earthborn or Spacer?
Revan: earthborn. Arya: colonist.
5. Paragon, Renegade or neutral?
Revan: paragon (paragade in ME2). Arya: renegade
6. Your favourite Paragon interrupt?
It’s been a while since I’ve played but probably hugging someone?
7. Your favourite Renegade interrupt?
Pushing the guy out the window in Thane’s recruitment mission in ME2
8. Share a headcanon about your main Shepard.
She was sexually abused as a teenager by her foster father but didn’t realize it. Her foster mother didn’t react well to the situation and it led to her running away from home and joining a street gang for 18 years until Anderson personally recruited her.
9. Share a headcanon about your Shepard and their LI.
She fits in really well with Kaidan’s extended family, and after the war she spends a lot of time with them and finally feels like she has a real family (aside from the Normandy of course)
10. Who is your Shepard’s best friend and why?
Kaidan, in addition to being her one true love. They just get along really well, it’s easy for them to talk to each other, they both understand the isolation that comes with being a Biotic, they make each other laugh, etc.
11. Your favourite romance?
Kaidan, as said before. It’s just a really sweet, realistic romance that spans all 3 games, and he’s the kind of person I’d want to marry in real life. I also really like Thane’s romance, although it’s less than ideal.
12. What kind of pet would Shepard probably buy? (Besides fish and hamsters^^)
Definitely a cat, maybe a dog too.
13. Who would be in your perfect squad? (List up to 8 characters)
Kaidan, Ashley, Tali, Garrus, Jack, Kasumi, Grunt, Legion
14. Is there a squad member you disliked in the beginning, but started to appreciate later? If yes, who and why?
The only squad members I’ve really “disliked” are Liara and Jacob and I still don’t like them :/
15. Who should’ve been a romance option?
Han’Gerrel Ashley, Miranda and Jack for femshep, James for both, an option to keep Jacob until the end, basically more romances for femshep
16. Your favourite mission in ME/ME2/ME3?
The suicide mission, Overlord, Ilos, The Citadel (me1)
17. Your favourite character overall?
Kaidan. On top of loving his voice, he’s a really sweet, chill guy and he’s my Shepard’s rock. I hate when everyone calls him boring just because he’s a human and you only hear his backstory by talking to him regularly.
18. Character you really dislike?
Liara. I think she’s one of the blandest companions in all of BioWare history, and she’s constantly forced down our throats, especially in ME3. The game constantly acts like she and Shepard are BFFs even though I never interact with her, and I even get a romantic end scene with her EVEN IF I NEVER FLIRTED WITH HER!
19. Favourite planet?
I think Virmire. It’s just so pretty. (and one of the most memorable missions takes place here)
20. Favourite weapon?
Biotic charge, assault rifles and punching
21. Do you like to use Biotics?
Yes!
22. Citadel, Illium or Omega?
Citadel, although Omega has that Aesthetic
23. Mako or Hammerhead?
Hammerhead
24. Enemy you really hate?
Kai Leng just for being really out of place in the story
25. Creepiest enemy?
Banshee
26. Favourite moment in the games?
I probably can’t pick just one, but some that stand out are the suicide mission, Shepard and Kaidan’s final romance scenes in both ME1 and ME3, and the Citadel party
27. Worst moment in the games?
The long stretch after Rannoch in ME3 where the game suddenly turns into Liara’s Feelings: The Game and doesn’t ever get better
28. Favourite quote from the game?
Geographic conditions indicate an aesthetically pleasing view nearby. Organic lifeforms may wish to take note
29. List three things you really liked about ME/ME2/ME3.
ME1: just the overall aesthetic that made it feel like an 80s sci-fi movie
ME2: the entire plot, just the creepiness of the Collectors and earning the trust of a bunch of random aliens and making them their family
ME3: the combat and the few closure things they did correctly (making up with Kaidan/Ashley, Rannoch, the Genophage)
30. Something you disliked about ME/ME2/ME3?
ME1: the super clunky combat
ME2: most of your ME1 squad being gone, Jacob Taylor
ME3: most of your ME2 squad being gone, having to play multiplayer to get the best ending, the last 3rd of the game not living up to the standards of the rest of the series
31. Overall, which one is your favourite game of the ME series?
ME2 which is really funny since I initially didn’t like it for being too different from ME1
32. Is there a choice/action you regret doing in the games?
Making Miranda a leader in the suicide mission after losing her loyalty because she was being mean to Jack, therefore always losing whoever was in the vents
33. What’s your favourite alien race and why?
Quarians probably. They have a unique culture that isn’t explored enough in the games, and there are a lot of cool minor Quarian characters that I wish had more spotlight (and I love Tali of course). But don’t get me started on how I hate that they were suddenly painted as the bad guys in 3.
34. Favourite non-Shepard OTP?
Tali x Han’Gerrel. I’m literally the only person in the galaxy that ships them. I don’t care.
35. Do you create fanart/fanfics/gifs/other cool stuff?
Yeah but not nearly enough, I’m too occupied by other fandoms.
36. Share your favourite screenshot(s).
Like I said before, PS3.
37. What do you wish for in ME: Andromeda?
An interesting, engaging storyline, complex companions, an extensive character creator, lots of new aliens, non-repetitive gameplay, a game that isn’t released as an obvious beta with only a few patches being released before they give up on it entirely and only focus on multiplayer :^)
38. What are you worried about in ME: Andromeda?
That Dragon Age 4 will get the exact same treatment
39. What will be the name of your Ryder?
Jolyne. I also tried to do another playthrough with another Ryder I called Etro but I couldn’t get past the prologue before I realized I had absolutely no passion for this trainwreck
40. Do you already know how your Ryder will look like? Describe them or share fanart.
Jolyne has a generic ugly face that I couldn’t change nearly enough, pastel purple hair and red eyes. Etro looks like Foo Fighters from JoJo.
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