Lady

Tito loved hot dogs. It was one of the things he’d never risk stealing because he couldn’t live with a ban for life, hot dogs were far too precious to be banned for for life. “Ey he is pretty cute.” He was tempted, if only for a moment, to give the little guy up his hot dog. “How’bout this-” He took a big last bite, leaving a dog sized amount left and he gave it to the small guy. “Ah thats a alright right?” He guessed it was by her calm demeanor but double checking didn’t hurt. 

         Cas reached his hand out to grab his cup of coffee after his name was called by the barista. Before he had the chance, a woman reached out and took it from the counter, examining the name. “I do believe that is.” Taking the cup as she handed it to him, he offered her a smile. “It’s okay. We all mistakes, don’t we? As long as you don’t make it again.”

She hoped it was a joke. “Sorry - just finishing up the tale end of this conference call.” she said touching her earbuds to shut them off. “I must have misheard the name, guess I wasn’t multitasking as well as I thought I was.” she chuckled. 

         Feeling something hit him square in the chest, Dodger instinctually reached up to grab whatever it was. Feeling the cold, sharp metal keys, he opened his palm to reveal them. Trying to put together what had actually occurred, he looked up to see a disheveled looking woman approaching him. “You’ll have to try harder than keys to take me down.” He only half-joked as his lips curved upward in a polite smile. The woman was beautiful, stunning in her dress. If he hadn’t known better he would have assumed she was a damsel in distress, but knowing Rita made it hard to believe that any beautiful woman were helpless. “You okay?” Dodger asked, handing the woman her keys back.

Lady let out a laugh covering her mouth with her hand. “I’m so sorry - but great catch, your reflexes are quick.” she noted breaking off the rest of the dangling heel so she held it in her hand. “I think i’m the one who should be asking you that question, those keys are sharp and the fluffy ball on that keychain...gotta watch out for that.” she teased lightly. Layla shook the heel in her hand so he could see the malfunction. “A shoe incident caused well...this incident.” she told him hobbling over. “I’d take my shoe off but I don’t think it’s a great idea to walk around barefoot here not with how my night’s been going.”

She said her name and he smiled. “Layla.” He repeated it. It was a beautiful name but one that didn’t feel all that right when he looked at her. Pigeon felt right. It was a silly little pet name but it was what sprang to mind when he looked at her. “I usually just patch my own wounds.” She glanced to behind him and he looked back, curious if they’d come back and he’d have to spring back into action again. Only to not see anyone at all. “It’s not as bad as it looks.” He said with a chuckle. Gesturing with his head for her to start walking with him before leading her out of the alleyway and towards the train station. Well aware that she might find it odd that he lived there. Shooting her a well-meaning smile, “The name’s Mike, by the way. Or Butch, or Fritzi. It depends who you ask… but most people just call me Tramp. You can call me whatever you like.”

“That can’t be very…safe? Surely you need some stitches, that could scar.” She told him concerned. She realized not everyone could pay for a trip to the hospital and it made her feel stupid for pushing the issue. “You helped me when you didn’t have to, can I at least take a look at it when we get to where we’re going?” First aid was something she was quite adept at, she made everyone at the charity she ran take it and felt that it was her duty to take it as well. “Mike.” She smiled. “Now I can put a name to the white knight persona” she still couldn’t believe a complete stranger would help her, she ought to give him some kind of reward, her mother would. “That’s a lot of nicknames?” She mused keeping up with his pace in her heels and looking at their surroundings. She didn’t see a house. “I’m sorry I was so much trouble back there - does that Um, happen often around here? I wonder if the driver was in on it” she rambled, she had tried to tell him he was going in the wrong direction.

@aforgottentale-starters​

“All right, now you just need to sign right here, and that sweet little baby is all yours…” Peg finished cheerily, marking with a star where the soon-to-be pet owner needed to sign. Hearing the entrance bell chime, she looked over to greet the new person who entered. “I’ll be with you in a moment, dear.” she hollered, offering a smile to the other as she took the paperwork and waved the new pet parents goodbye. Returning her attention to her new friend, she offered them a warm smile. “It’s always so sweet seeing the birth of a new family. How can I help you sweetheart?” she crooned, her gaze even and steady.

Layla had a big smile on her face. Her favourite part was when the dogs went to their forever home. It was why she held this place so close to her heart. “It’s just me Peg.” Layla said taking her hat off and running fingers to tame her hair. “I’m just here with the monthly check from the Dears latest charity gala. All proceeds go to a good home and this is the best one.” she smiled rummaging through her purse before handing over the crisp white cheque.

“No kidding.” Tramp replied. He moved to try and help her out but she was already picking herself off the ground. Dirt dusted on her pristine clothes. Looking out of place on someone so… proper. She asked him if he was bleeding and he shrugged it off. Giving her a brilliant smile. “Anytime. It’s just a scratch, Pidge. They were much worse off. Why don’t we get out of here? Get you somewhere a little nicer than this dump.” He suggested, holding out his hand for her to take. “My place isn’t too far from here. There’s a phone there. I can call you a new cab.” 

Layla looked up from brushing herself off and made eye contact with him as she put her purse strap on her shoulder. He was staring at her and immediately she touched her face as if she had something on it. “Layla.” she corrected him. “My name is Layla. You should get that looked at so it doesn’t get infected.” she said her eyes darting behind her where she had been jumped. It felt like her brain was jumbled, her heart hammering in her chest a mile a minute. “Oh-I-uh...okay.” she said hesitantly. She hardly knew the guy and as much as she didn’t want to say it she was in the wrong part of town.” Despite her better judgement her legs moved forward following him. “You live around here?” she asked trying to keep the judgement and surprise from her voice. It was difficult when you grew up with manicured lawns behind white picket fences, it was all she had ever known.

Isabella was getting up to grab her coffee when she suddenly watched another girl grab her cup. She blinked a few times and was prepared to tap the girl’s shoulder when she noticed her mistake. “ Thought I was the only Isabela in town. Glad to see I’m right. ” she said taking the cup. “ You should probably not put both earphones in when you’re listening for your name. It’s rude to the staff. ”

At first Layla thought the girl was making a joke and she let out a little laugh. “Isabela sounded close to Layla” But the mood quickly shifted and Layla’s face frowned at Isabela’s words. “oh, I’m sorry, do you work here? I was on a call for work, we had an emergency take in, sometimes taking a call is necessary no matter where you are. I’m sure it’s happened to you once or twice.” 

“Oh, her showing up in this little old town? I think everyone would collectively lose their fucking minds,” she said with a laugh. She opened the lid and took a whiff of the drink, nodding and closing it. “I smell the caramel, this one’s yours. I had a raspberry cafe mocha.” She handed the coffee back to the woman and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “I guess we’ll have to hope for a celebrity sighting some other way.”

“Thank you.” Layla said taking the cup from her and putting her hands around the warm sides. “Oh raspberry cafe mocha sounds lovely I don’t think i’ve ever tried that before.” Layla liked what she liked, she stayed on schedule, everything she did was perfect and the same, she liked a rigid schedule. “Well hopefully a concert comes our way, I think that would be fun for the town, would be nice to have something to look forward to.” 

     “Yeah, that’s probably wise. I do try not to stop by every day otherwise I’d probably have to do the same thing if I know what’s good for me” she giggled softly. Sylvia had always had a sweet tooth so she was used to being reminded to slow down on the sugar by family or from her peers. “Yeah, exactly! I’ve never understood why they don’t just write the order on the cup instead. At least the word expresso and macchiato would look different…or you would hope so, anyways”

“Well at least the baked goods you can tell what they are right away.” She said shaking the little brown bag with her cookie inside. “If you have a sweet tooth I would definitely try the chocolate chip cookies here, they’re really good.” she suggested. “I don’t know about that, whoever works here should actually be a doctor with that handwriting.” 

A starter reply for @alwaysbealady​

     “Oh, don’t even worry about it - an easily made mistake” Sylvia waved her hand gently before accepting the cup carefully from the other. “I don’t even have a regular order, I usually just go for whatever is going to have the most sugar in it, honestly…” she admitted with a sheepish grin. It was a bold thing to admit that you couldn’t stand the taste of coffee in the middle of a coffee shop but Sylvia had never enjoyed the bitter taste. She needed the caffeine if she had any hope of making it through her mid terms, however. “That probably makes this yours, then..” she smiled, handing over the other cup she’d originally held. 

Layla nodded with a smile on her lips. “Ah, that’s usually the caramel machiato. Honestly i’m here every day on my way to the office so I’ve had to cut down on the sugar otherwise i’m wired all day long and my feet are barking cause I can’t sit still.” Layla accepted the other cup, her manicured fingers wrapping around the warm cup. “Thank you, you know with the scribbled writing sometimes you just have to guess at which one is yours.”  

Merida had a bad caffeine addiction, but she had no intention of quitting any time soon. She was waiting for her coffee, scrolling through instagram on her phone before the other caught their attention. Merida took the coffee and looked at the writing on the side of the cup and squinted. “Um… honestly, I’m not sure,” she said with a chuckle. “The handwriting is shit, it could be for Ariana Grande for all I can read. What did you order?”

Layla let out a chuckle. “Wouldn’t it be cool if she was here to pick up?” she grinned taking a sweep of the small coffee shop. “I ordered a nonfat caramel latte - you?” she asked, though the handwriting was so bad if they couldn’t decipher the name she doubted the drink order was any easier.