talk fast, romance

“you’d like our salted caramel i think then. it’s a vanilla bean base with some sea salt and caramel hunks in it, it’s actually kinda good. or the mocha flavored. it’s kind of a hit when the fall comes around more though.” they said and shrugged some. but this guy had already gotten what ryan had suggested and he wasn’t the biggest fan but he was tolerating it and that was better than ryan having to waste the ice cream itself. upon being asked the question, ryan laughed and said. “well, maybe a tad bit bitchy.” they said, smashing their forefinger and thumb together as if to show him just how bitchy he was being. “next you’re gonna tell me santa isn’t real. why’ve you gotta ruin nice things, huh?” ryan asked before he started laughing some. “it’s a good thing. though you’d definitely make a good sea witch if that was your scene and all.” they said before taking michael’s cup and scooping a bit of vanilla in it. “anything else, your highness?” they asked as they slid it over towards him.

“what do you like then?” ryan asked back. ryan themselves when it came to sweets liked a little bit of everything. they even liked the sweet and salty or sweet and savory vibe that they sometimes brought into the shop – it was some of their favorite combinations. as the other hummed about the ice cream, ryan took that as he liked it and since he didn’t spit it out and give teh bowl back, they had to say they were quite impressed. “ah, so he can be nice.” ryan mused with a little chuckle to follow afterwards. “you’re right, i’d hate every second. i’m more of a nauti merman kinda person. lots of action and lots of mermaids. can’t get any better than that. you’d definitely hate it.”

Marina was absolutely relieved that the guy hadn’t gotten upset over her running into him like that, and seeing that he had a silver mermaid on his keychain was a nice surprise. When he seemed okay, and friendly even, she relaxed and nodded again. She smiled broadly and tucked a few strands of her long brown hair behind her ear. “Ah! She’s beautiful, too. I have to admit, I don’t meet a lot of people who carry a mermaid on them, so that’s honestly a nice surprise,” she mused. “I have this,” she said. She slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out a set of keys. The keychain looked like an small version of an old vintage hotel key tag that said “Mermaid Motel” on it, and a room number underneath (#10). “It’s from the gift shop next to the Nauti Merman. It’s one of the first things I bought when I got my first paycheck there,” she said. “At the Merman, that is. I sing there, and this is one of my favorite songs to cover. Not that you asked!” She pressed her lips together and laughed quietly, slipping her keys back into her pocket. “Anwyay, I don’t wanna keep you from anything. It’s such a nice day out, don’t you think?”

ryan narrowed his eyes a little before rolling them at the other’s comment. “well, i’m sorry you’ve no taste. maybe you should have asked what the top choices are instead.” they suggested and shrugged some. ryan was a decent person he thought, he liked to talk, liked to make people feel like they were wanted in the shop – and it wasn’t just for tips though they played a big part. but he remembered feeling like he didn’t belong in this shop or in this town before and  he didn’t want someone else to feel like shit. you never knew what people were going through anyway. when the other finally gave his order, ryan quietly made his way over to the display freezer and scooped out one scoop like he asked. he put it in a bowl, then grabbed a spoon and stuck it on the side. his question got a small laugh out of them and they shrugged their shoulders. “believe it or not some people kinda appreciate a little smile and a good conversation. where do you work? wouldn’t wanna come mess up your broody vibe or nothin’.”

Copper hadn’t been a barista for very long, and truth be told he was still learning the ropes.  He’d only done it for a bit during college, and not well.  And he didn’t even know why he wanted the job so much.  After all, Copper was previously an associate professor at an Ivy League college and had recently completed his Doctorate.  But he didn’t want anything to do with his old life, wanting to live quietly, to block out everything that in the end had brought him misery.  He had failed in basically every aspect of his life, and he wanted something simple.  At least here he was surrounded by books and coffee, two things he loved.  And Copper was determined not to fail at this, though he’d gotten to a rocky start.  Luckily the manager who’d hired him had been taken in by Copper’s soulful eyes (or so he’d heard the man telling another employee) and was being very patient with him.  After making the last drink of his shift, he handed it to the waiting patron, suddenly filled with dread when he remembered what the person had actually ordered, which was different than what he had made.  “This isn’t what you ordered, is it?” Copper asked sheepishly, sighing.

the guy seemed like he was in a daze as he entered the building and the out of it tone that he had made ryan laugh a little bit.”my favorite?” they asked, humming a little bit in thought. “well at the moment i’ve a favorite, but it’s a combo of flavors. like two.” they rambled on. “so i usually get like a mango and pineapple, a scoop of each, then kinda just eat it together. it’s magical and quite possibly the best mixed flavors one could have. just saying.” they then added and shrugged. “but that’s my favorite if you’d like to try it. if not i’d go with like, the strawberry one. it’s light and has real strawberries in it. or the peaches and cream.”

Marina was rarely ever home. When she wasn’t singing at the Nauti Merman, she was wandering through town, looking for anything new she hadn’t already seen or experienced in P-Town before. Whether it was a new breakfast nook, or a secretive little tourist trap shop, she was in love with it all. She raised her phone up to take a photo of a painted sheet-metal mermaid hanging over one of the shops, but when she brought it down, she accidentally turned too quickly, smacking someone’s arm with her own. “Oh my god! I’m so sorry! Are you okay? I got distracted by the mermaid,” she said sheepishly, smiling and sparing a quick glance at the blonde haired, blue-tailed beauty reaching for something unseen. “I collect them, sort of. I have to keep myself from buying too many knick knacks, or else my apartment gets more cluttered than I can handle.” Not that anyone had asked, but she could certainly be a chatty, open book sometimes.

@p-town-starters​

ryan had been at the ice cream shop since early that morning – he’d been called in for the morning shift and had to help get things set up for the day. these were the days he dreaded because he had to be up so early. nonetheless though, he did like his job. how could you hate being around ice cream all day? not to mention he got little sample cups of all the flavors whenever he could – a win in his book. today the man was in a cheeky little mood, ready to joke around and have a conversation with anyone that would allow him to open his dumb mouth to speak. he’s always been a social butterfly of the sorts, and people were his thing. learning people was his thing. it always had amazed ryan how everyone came from different walks of life, and he adored hearing their stories and journeys. he heard the little bell on the door ring, indicating that they had a customer and in true ryan form he had to joke as he said, “hey! welcome to i scream, where unlike mcdonald’s our ice cream machine is always running.” he added in a dumb dimple filled smile. “how can i help ya? would you like to try our new banana rum flavor? it’s actually not as vile as it sounds.”