everything is wick.

Hearing his question, she couldn't help but giggle for a moment. "I guess the reading was something I picked up to remain somewhat close to you." She admitted quietly, she knew he was teasing her but the honesty just poured out of her when in front of him. She nodded, "I mean I do want to tell you, but maybe not in the middle of the book shop so if you would like to continue this conversation on a walk or at a coffee shop, I am free to go unless you wanted to continue book shopping." She wanted as much time with him now that she saw him again but honestly, saying everything in the middle of a book shop felt weird.

His eyes looked up once again at her omission, a surge of electricity and longing shooting up from his toes. "Really? You did?" He inquired carefully, not thinking his heart could take it if he had misheard her. He nodded, "A coffee and a walk sounds great." He agreed happily, "You know better than anyone that I have enough books at home." Chuckling, he continued, "But we can't leave here until you check out with your purchases because seeing Darcy Jessops buy a book is the best future birthday present I could ask for."

Yvaine looked at him for a moment after he spoke. Not long enough to be deemed strange. Long enough that she forgot to glance back at the menu she already knew by heart.

There was something unfair about discovering that someone was thoughtful in small ways. Opening doors. Walking nearest the street. Saying things casually that lodged somewhere inconveniently noticeable.

Her expression softened before she could stop it. Then she looked away first. Just briefly. A quiet smile appeared as her heart fluttered in a way she couldn't suppress.

“Well now I’m curious what impression I’ve apparently given that grocery store sightings would be actively positive.” Her voice stayed light, but there was something warmer underneath it than before.

She folded her arms loosely and glanced toward the pastry case. "I do work here.”

Her mouth curved slightly. “So this is deeply embarrassing.” Not in a way that she was embarrassed with where she worked - it was quite the opposite. The blonde stood firmly on the ground that Cobblestone Cafe is one of the most magical places in Merrock.

She gestured vaguely around the café. “You’re seeing me outside my natural habitat.” Then, after a second, “And I can’t even hide behind the espresso machine.” Her eyes flicked back to him, humor written on her features which made her appear brighter, lighter, happier.

At the hand brush, his quiet don’t be, something in her expression shifted almost imperceptibly. Not surprise. Not exactly. Just the realization that she’d apologized automatically and he’d noticed. That he didn't mind the physical boundary being crossed so casually with her.

Her fingers loosened where she’d folded them. She looked down for a second. Then back up. “…Okay.” Soft. Simple. Like she was accepting something.

The line moved. She stepped forward beside him. At his answer about poetry, she smiled immediately. Not exactly teasing but dancing on the outskirts of it with softness.

Her eyes searched his face for a second longer than she probably meant to. “That’s compelling.” She laughed quietly to soften it. Then shook her head. “No, actually, that makes sense.”

Her expression turned thoughtful. “Important things do seem harder to say directly.” Her gaze drifted toward the chalkboard menu before returning. “I think people pretend they don’t because there’s less risk in sounding detached.”

She gave her words a moment to be processed, a warm smile still radiating on her lips. “But I don’t think emotionally catastrophic people announce themselves as emotionally catastrophic.”

Her head tilted. “They usually say things like I’m fine and then disappear into the woods to write metaphors.”

When he admitted to being a hopeless romantic, she blinked. Only once. But her eyes betrayed her for half a second. Like she’d accidentally been given information she intended to overthink later. Her smile became smaller, more careful. “…That tracks.” She said it before she could stop herself. Then her eyes widened slightly.

“I mean, not in a bad way.” A quiet laugh escaped her. “I just mean…” Her shoulders lifted faintly. “You seem like someone who notices things. Like-"

But they reached the counter.

She looked at his wallet appearing before her gaze went back up to look at him. “You don’t have to." She wasn't full-out refusing. Just gentle. “But if you really want to …I’ll allow it.”

“But I’m getting the next one.” Yvaine announced to him, before realizing she solidified she would do this again with him. In a heartbeat, actually.

Then she turned to the register and ordered with the ease of someone who knew exactly what she liked. “Small lavender latte. Oat milk. Extra foam. Please and thank you."

Then she looked sideways at him. “And whatever the resident poet is having.”

Her eyes lingered a second too long before she looked around for an empty table. "I'm gonna grab us a table." The petite woman stated, this time the touch of her grabbing his hand for a moment was intentional. Enough so that her cheeks blazed as she left his side and instinctively found a table by the window.

Sitting, she was buzzing. A part of her overtly charmed by him. Another, wanting to see if his coffee order supports her current working theory of him.

Cafes were much like book stores in that way - they were pillars of connections, keepers of secrets, and allowed the inhabitants inside to relax a bit more and bare their souls in a way you wouldn't in a grocery store or at the DMV. It was intimate by nature, knees touching as you shared a drink and spoke softly so the tables in their close proximity didn't overhear you. You could be vulnerable, an unspoken charm of these coffee houses that supported first dates or re-connections. In your own bubble, you could let the world fall around you and you would have no idea, like time stood still within the aroma of a fresh pot. Without even knowing it, hours would pass and the world would be none the wiser.

"Only good impressions." He clarified, further explaining that, "I think running into you anywhere would be a welcome surprise." He hummed, the words slipping effortlessly through his parted lips. Was he flirting with her? It happened almost instinctively, he wasn't trying to be anything other than himself but she seemed to bring out a different shade to his usually reserved demeanour. It was a welcomed change, though, and he was sure his mom would be thrilled at him for 'putting himself out there'.

As she explained that she did, in fact, work here, he nodded, scanning around. It was the sort of place with natural charm, unlike the manufactured coffee shops in New York that were all industrial steel and cold lines. Things there were more transactional than in Merrock, and that was certainly reflected in most of the architecture. You could find a few quaint spots and lots of holes in the wall in New York City, but a small town coffee shop with a similar feel were few and far between. "Well, I'm glad you don't have any espresso machines to hide behind, I enjoy looking at you." Immediately his face flushed, the colours of his ivory skin peeling into a bright red. "I mean, not in a weird way. Just that, you don't need to hide." He cleared his throat, staring ahead and hoping the moment would pass without her thinking he was a total weirdo for his admission.

Finally, he let himself look at her again, his face slowly returning to its original hue. He offered her a bit of a sideways grin, "If I don't seem emotionally catastrophic, then my years of therapy must be paying off." He teased, though he was rather emotionally in tune and regulated. But he wasn't without his flaws and certainly wasn't without his reservations, especially when they came to the opposite gender. In fact, in the last year since his break up, he had hardly allowed himself to be open to the idea of talking to another woman, much less flirting with her. "But I definitely do say I'm fine and then run off somewhere to write, but not the woods, I'm not much of an outdoorsy guy- that's something I'm actively trying to change, though. Moving here, I'm trying to be... outside more. There's so much open space in town that there wasn't back home, less smog to breathe in. Hell, I might even go swimming in a river one of these days so I'll have to update you on my secret writing spots if you're lucky."

When they approached the counter, before ordering, at her mention of him noticing things, he turned to her and smiled sincerely, the butterflies in his stomach resuming their whirl. She saw him and he hadn't felt that way in a long time. "Thank you."

"I do really want to. But that sounds good, fair's fair." He made a mental note of her order and nodded as she went off to grab a table, his eyes lingering on her as she settled at a corner table before he finally turned back to order for himself. 'Next time', a promise he certainly wouldn't let her forget given how well their first meeting was going.

Once he had both of their drinks a few moments later, he grabbed them and walked briskly over to join her, setting hers down on the table before he slid across from her in a chair of his own. "Small lavender latte with oat milk and extra form for you, and a large iced black coffee for me. I think there's poetry to be written about these orders somewhere." He mused with a chuckle, settling against the wooden back of the chair as the world fell to the periphery. "So, tell me about yourself; why did you move here, what was your childhood pet's name, what street did you grow up on, what are the three digits on the back of your credit card?" He teased, resting his head on a closed fist as he laid his elbow against the table.

He moved here? The Merrock? That was definitely a shock for Darcy, why Merrock of all places. "You're the new librarian? Wow... Congratulations then. How are you finding it?" She smiled briefly. She felt awkward so she started to move the books on the shelf and then put them back, she wasn't a fantasy reader really so she was definitely not in the right section. "Here as in the book store? If thats the case then it's because I have gotten more into reading since being home." She smiled, "If you mean in Merrock, well it's a longish story, but I moved back home last year." She sighed, wasn't really sure if she should tell him why she moved back so she didn't.

He nodded, "Yeah, I am. I saw a posting online and I applied; I was getting tired of the city and wanted a change, so I came out here... rather spontaneously, which isn't like me, as you know." Will chuckled softly, adding, "Thank you. It's... really nice so far. The town is a lot smaller than I'm used to and I think I'm still finding my sea legs out here but I'm happy about the change." He rocked back on his heels slightly, his eyes following her as she shifted against the fantasy pages. "Oh, you have? So all it took was a break up for me to stop nagging you to finally become a reader?" He teased gently, his tone not malicious or cold, but rather excited that she had picked up his beloved hobby and soft, hoping to cut the tension a bit with a lighthearted joke. "But yeah, I meant in Merrock." He confirmed, cocking a brow. "A long story? I've got time. If you want to tell it, that is." He would be lying if he said he wasn't curious, but he didn't want to pry. The last thing he wanted to do now that they had run into each other was push her away.

where: spring fling

Lottie decided it would be good to do some rock painting, she wasn't creative in the slightest but she thought it would be something fun to do. She knew it would be on display and started to think half way through her design that everyone was going to see her mess. She laughed looking at the person sitting opposite her, "Oh my gosh, can you see how terrible this is looking so far? Why did I think this was a good idea."

"I wish I could say something exciting, but no," he laughed, shaking his head, "I've been prepping for this Spring Fling coming up, we're going to have a booth for Creekside, so I want to make sure to have a decent amount of signs pre-made and ready to go. Otherwise, getting my oldest ready for college," which sounded foreign on his tongue. How he could have a boy ready to ship down south for his freshman year didn't seem possible, especially with Colton only a year behind, getting ready to be a big fish in high school. "And, of course, counting down to summer break. How about you? Big plans for this summer, anything new and exciting in your life?"

"Oh, yeah, I heard about that, actually! I put up some flyers that got dropped off on the bulletin board this morning. It sounds like the whole town really goes all out for it; I'm excited to stroll around and get to know people. It sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun." There was something so charming about a festival in a town like Merrock, something small and personal, where the town and its inhabitants could come together. Will cocked a brow, "Oh? I didn't know you had an older child. What are they studying?" He asked before shaking his head, resting his palms against the flattop of the desk. "Summer break will be busy here, we've got some camps using the space and I'm organizing some events for later in the summer to help keep literacy going throughout the break for the school aged kids - but other than that, I'm looking forward to just getting settled in town and spending time outside. New York doesn't have scenery quite like this and I'm wanting to really explore the town. Are there spots you think I should check out?"

As she stood there looking over at him, she wouldn't deny he looked good but she could no longer comment on that. She sighed for a moment smiling briefly, "The one and only." She said quietly looking at him, "Wow... I didn't expect...." She sight looking at him, "What are you doing here? Why? How?" She said before looking at him for a moment biting her lip.

As his eyes opened again, she still stood there, radiating as always. He was awake, standing firmly in reality and yet there she was, too. He hadn't expected to run into anyone he knew when he left the house that morning and certainly not her. "I... uh, I just moved here. I'm the new librarian." Will managed after a moment, blushing and smiling gently at her before his gaze fixated on his feet. Finally, it all clicked - Merrock, that's where he knew the town from; it was Darcy's hometown. It had been so long since she had mentioned it--and truthfully speaking, he had tried to forget all about her since their breakup in New York--that he had completely forgotten. "What are you doing here?"

LOCATION: Memorial Library, Suburbs.

JJ walked into the library with Mia, watching as she held the two picture books against her chest and waddled up to the front desk. She had insisted on returning them herself, which he found to be quite adorable. Lately, she had been showing signs of wanting to be independent, and JJ had made sure to encourage that. Mia came to a stop as she reached the front desk and turned around, pouting. "I've got you, Princess." JJ laughed softly as he lifted her off the floor so that she could be at eye level with the librarian. "Hello, Mia, and I would like to return these books, please." Mia set them down on the counter, grinning.

He spoke like someone who carried entire worlds quietly beneath his ribs.

When he said you look like the kind of girl all the poems are about, Yvaine actually looked away for the first time since they’d met, a quiet breath escaping her as warmth rose unexpectedly beneath her skin.

The reaction felt embarrassingly visible.

She mustered, only half to herself, “You say that so casually.” Like it was a fact he just seared into her brain.

But there was no real reprimand in her words. Only flustered honesty - overwhelm - as her heart only hammered in her chest with such force that she was afraid it'd break free.

Her gaze eventually found him again, gentler now, something vulnerable lingering there before she tucked it carefully back beneath composure.

“For what it’s worth,” She began, “you feel a little bit like a first chapter.”

The words slipped out before she could overthink them.

And somehow that felt even more like a warning sign.

Then Will asked her to coffee.

Simple. Easy. Ordinary.

Which frightened her infinitely more than grand gestures ever could.

Because ordinary things were the ones people stayed for.

For a brief second, she hesitated; not because she didn’t want to go, but because she already did. Too quickly. Too instinctively.

Still, the small smile that surfaced afterward was unmistakably real.

“I think,” She spoke gently, “it would be very irresponsible of me to say no to coffee after all this discussion about human connection and literature.”

A faint tilt of her head followed, showing off her playfulness in her acceptance of continuing what just sparked between them minutes ago.

“Besides…” Her eyes flicked toward the stack of books beneath his arm. “I feel somewhat invested now in finding out what kind of poet you are.”

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

By the time they stepped into Cobblestone Café, the late afternoon light had shifted warmer, pouring gold through the front windows and catching against hanging plants, polished wood, and drifting steam from the espresso machine behind the counter.

The soft hum of conversation wrapped around them immediately.

Yvaine paused just slightly inside the doorway.

Not enough to seem uncertain. Just enough to take it in.

The café smelled like espresso, cinnamon, and fresh pastry; grounding scents she had slowly grown attached to since moving to town. Familiar enough now that something in her shoulders loosened instinctively the moment she entered.

And then she remembered, belatedly, that she was not here behind the counter for once.

She was here with someone.

The realization settled oddly warm within her chest.

A few people glanced up briefly as they walked in before returning to their conversations, the low indie music overhead soft enough not to interrupt anything. Yvaine tucked a strand of golden blonde hair behind her ear as her eyes drifted toward the chalkboard menu mounted behind the register.

“You know,” She murmured lightly as they moved toward the line, “I spend enough time here that this feels a little bit like being perceived in the wild.”

There was quiet humor in her words that came easier than before.

She was opening up even more to him.

Enough to joke. Enough to inform him of her workplace.

“Like seeing your teacher at the grocery store.”

A faint smile touched her mouth as she glanced sideways at him, continuing the lighthearted conversation.

“But less emotionally distressing.”

The line moved slowly, giving the moment room to breathe between them. At first, the young woman's hand gently grazed his. Her eyes quick to dart to his, her hand slow in pulling away.

"Sorry." It was quietly hurried. Like her mind was stuck on manners, but her heart wouldn't mind holding his hand right then.

Yvaine's cheeks glowed as she wound up folding her arms loosely against herself, gaze drifting briefly toward the rain-speckled windows before returning again with a clearer mind but a heart still struggling to stay in its cage.

“You were serious about poetry?” She asked softly after a the moment naturally settled.

There was no teasing in the question now. Only curiosity.

“I feel like people who write poetry secretly are either extremely romantic…” Her expression turned thoughtful. “Or emotionally catastrophic.” A playful smirk turned the corners of her lips upwards - marking she was being jocular with him.

In the beginning of a story, anything was possible. When characters and their quests are introduced, audiences have a chance to ease into a story. But that wasn't exactly what happened with Yvanie and himself; it was more like chance pushed them together in a bright burst.

Will had always believed in fate and he felt in his bones that this was one of those moments. He wasn't sure what exactly was happening, but whatever it was, he welcomed it. This caught him off guard, however, because his guard usually raised itself before he gave himself the chance to feel this way. She disarmed him without so much as a second glance, her smile warm and radiating off her features and he noticed the way her eyes seemed to light up throughout their conversation as she spoke about books.

He told himself to just let this happen, to not fret over things he couldn't control or worry about what might happen. He usually wouldn't let himself give into flirting with a stranger, as his heart was much more guarded nowadays but he simply couldn't help it. He felt safe as they conversed, like the words came as effortlessly from his tongue as they did as he read them off a page. What was so bad about a little flirting? If anything, maybe this could be the start of something new. And wasn't moving to Merrock all about new beginnings?

If this was a book, there would definitely be hints to the audience that now was the time to really pay attention. Perhaps even foreshadowing that this was something that would change both of them forever. It was a moment in time suspended beyond reality, when every choice they had made up to that point led them to exactly where they were, together.

--

Will carefully followed her to the cafe, opening the doors for her and walking on the outside of the sidewalk like a proper gentleman. His mother raised him to be polite, after all. The Cobblestone Cafe was a quaint spot in town, but he hadn't been yet. Usually Will was content with instant coffee or an energy drink from the gas station, but he had made a mental note when he first arrived to visit when he had a chance.

Few places lent themselves to reading a book like a coffee shop did but today he wasn't here for that, which unnerved him slightly. It was easy enough to carry on a conversation with someone politely in a store, but to sit down with them offered a new vulnerability - though with Yvaine, it felt like they had already passed the point of basic pleasantries and were diving quickly into something deeper and more meaningful.

As they got in line, he turned his attention to her once again. "Oh?" He inquired, cocking a brow in curiosity. "Why is that? Do you work here?" He asked. It was busy inside the cafe, the line they had joined wrapping up from the counter to the back wall of the establishment, but he didn't mind waiting if it meant more time to spend with her. "I used to think teachers lived at school," He laughed, adding, "But if I ran into you at a grocery store, I would definitely feel the opposite of emotional distress."

When their hands brushed again, it happened once more. Not quite a static shock, but rather a pulse or heartbeat that went through one of their bodies and through the other, joining their souls for a moment like they had met in the dark and had to find each other before being lost at sea. It was comfortable and exciting at the same time, which also meant it was vaguely terrifying. He quickly shook his head, though, feeling warmth spread across the digits of his hand. "Don't be."

Will nodded as they inched forward, his eyes scanning the menu quickly before he focused on her again. "I was, yes. I'm serious about a lot of things, my mother would argue that I can be too serious sometimes; especially when I was a little kid." He explained before chuckling, "Can it be a mixture of both? I mean, don't get me wrong, I definitely am a hopeless romantic, but there's definitely a bit of something else sprinkled in there, too. Whether that's trauma or a catastrophe or something potentially more exciting, well, I guess you'll have to be the judge." Returning her smirk, they found themselves at the counter finally. "What would you like?" He asked, taking out his wallet to pay for whatever they ordered.