Paracosm

“Oh come on there really is no need to thank me. You looked so panicked, I couldn’t just not help you. How about a compromise? We go to brunch, that way it is both breakfast and lunch, and I pay for myself but get to enjoy your company?” she asked another smile forming on her face as she watched the young man think. His mind seemed to be whirling every second that she was with him. “I mean you always hear that lawyers are liars and cheaters and getting criminals out of jail, and we get that rep because we have a few rich snobs getting their way. But most of us just want to make the legal system work properly. It kinda sucks.”  

Told he had no need to thank her, the male shook his head in disagreement. "There really is a need to thank you. You could have just sat back and watched me flail," he stated before shaking his head once more. "Brunch sounds perfect, but I insist on paying. It's the least I can do and you already paid for my coffee so allow me to at least pay for brunch." He wasn't about to take no for an answer. He owed her and he was going to pay even if he had to tackle the check the moment it hit the table. It was the very least he could do to thank her. Listening as she spoke of how the world usually viewed lawyers, Winter couldn't help but frown a little. "I guess that's true," he began, thinking a moment before he continued. "But you don't seem that way to me. You seem like a good person. Someone who only wants to help and that’s admirable."

The coffee did help to a certain extent. She’d felt absolutely exhausted and disconnected before that first, crucial cup, but could now actually form fairly sensible sentences and pay attention to whatever was going on around her. That was why Tilly managed to notice the young man struggling with what looked like a very nasty case of a spilled drink. She nearly jumped up and hurried over with a few additional napkins, placing them over the spreading pool of coffee. “Are you alright? You didn’t burn yourself or anything?” she asked with a hurried smile. 

Trying his best to stop any spread all while cleaning up the spilled coffee, Winter didn't notice someone walk over until they spoke, scaring him half to death. "Huh?," he asked, turning his head to look at the woman as her words slowly sank in. "Oh, no. I'm fine." That was a lie but he wasn't about to admit to it. "Thank you for the extra napkins."

“Caffeine and hydration are good. It’s all good. Now enjoy. And really there is no need to thank me. I just like to help.” Zenina said a smile forming on her face as she watched Winter examine the cup. “Yup, that’s why I became a lawyer, it’s my passion and I love it, but I guess that doesn’t usually give me the best rep which is not always fun.”

"That's true.. I do need to thank you though. You didn't have to help me clean and you really didn't have to buy me another coffee. I should make it up to you. Buy you lunch or breakfast or something," Winter offered all while wondering if he should buy her both. Breakfast for helping him clean the table and himself and lunch for the coffee. Looking at his cup, Winter played with it a little before returning his gaze to his companion as she spoke of the reasons behind her career path. "Why not the best rep?, " he asked, curiosity getting the best of him. He wasn't completely unaware of the bad rap that most lawyers got, but he preferred to try and see the best in people. She wanted to help people and that was an admirable goal.

Zenina shook her head. She had always been annoyingly stubborn even in her niceness, so when she offered to get Winter a coffee it was more of a statement than an offer “You can have water and coffee, it’ll be fine.” she smiled walking to the counter and trading in the rag and a couple dollars for a coffee before coming back to her seat and handing him the drink. “You can sit with me on the condition that you have this coffee as a gesture of welcoming you to my little corner.” Zenina giggled carefully placing a lid on the to go cup to make sure it wouldn’t spill. “I don’t mind at all. I’m a laywer, not as cool as illustration but I love it.” Zenina smiled taking her seat once more. She knew her job was a bore to most people but she enjoyed it because it meant that she had a chance to help people.  

Told he could have both water and coffee, the male bit his bottom lip. "That's a lot of liquid for one person.." he stated, trailing off as he realized that this wasn't up for debate. He was getting a cup of coffee whether he liked it or not. He only hoped that this one made it to his mouth. If he ruined two tables in a row he would have to ban himself from the shop himself for the safety of the general public. Faced with an ultimatum of sorts, Winter thought for a moment before nodding his head. "Okay. Thank you and thank you for helping me clean the table. I appreciate it," he stated, more thankful than he could express. Aside from work deadlines, the man did not work well under pressure and seeing all that coffee flowing this way and out...well, it was about as stressful as performing open heart surgery in his eyes. Too much pressure, too fast paced and just so damn sticky. Taking a seat across from her, Winter's eyes widened a little in amazement. "Really?," he asked with a small smile. "I think it's pretty cool. You help people for a living and that's pretty awesome."

“She’s a sweetheart though, she wouldn’t mind. If it makes you feel better I could just buy you another cup, what were you drinking?” Zenina asked watching as his eyes grow wide at the the sight of the sketchbook in her hands, she made sure not to steal any more glances no matter how curious she was to see more of his drawings. Taking the rag from his hands, she smiled exchanging the book with a tiny bit of reluctance. “Oh that’s really cool. I bet that’s a lot of fun” Zenina says genuinely interested. “I’m Zenina I’m not at all talented like that and don’t do anything nearly as cool.” she jokes putting out her hand to shake. “It’s nice to meet you though I’m sure it could have been under a less hectic circumstance. You can sit here if you like it doesn’t look like there’s room anywhere else. I’m just going to give this cloth back, are you sure you don’t want any more coffee?”

Listening to the woman, Winter gave another small nod before shaking his head. "Oh, no no. I can't ask you to do that. You already have done so much.I have water in my bag anyway. I should drink more water," he stated quickly, not wanting her to go through any more trouble for him. She was already so nice helping him with the mess. Taking is sketchbook, he held it close to his chest and shrugged his shoulders. "It can be. Deadlines not so much, but it's nice being able to do something I love and kinda cool to see my work in stores for kids to enjoy," he admitted with a small smile. His favorite part was seeing kids looking through the books and commenting on all the things going on in the pictures. That made the long caffeine fueled nights worth it. Smiling brightening, Winter shook Zenina's hand. "It's nice to meet you. I'm sure that's not true. Do you mind if I ask what you do? Is that a rude question? I'm never sure. I just think it's interesting to hear what people do.." The male rambled on for a moment before remembering to stop himself. Glancing around, Winter noticed just how truly crowded it had gotten in the place. Every seat aside from his former one and her table had been taken up. "Uh, sure. If you don't mind me sitting with you," he replied picking up his messenger bag that had thankfully been spared from the disaster that was his morning coffee. "Alright. I'm sure. I have water."

Finishing up with the rag, the young man gave a small nod of his head. "Yeah, but it wasn't like it was her fault that I can't keep liquid in my cup." He didn't want anyone losing money because he forgot to look up while reaching. Winter held the rag close as he watched the woman begin to move to leave only to stop when her eyes landed on his sketchbook. Holding his breath for a moment, he pressed his lips together a little worried she were about to peek inside. The almost finished sketchbook was a pretty private thing for him; full of illustrations for both work and fun, it was something he normally kept close to avoid curious eyes. Giving a small grateful smile, Winter held out the rag to exchange, frowning slightly at the ruined page. Darn. He liked where the drawing was going. "Huh? Oh, yeah. I guess you can call me an artist. I'm an illustrator actually. I illustrate children's books mostly. I'm Winter by the way."

Smiling to herself she looked down at her book continuing to read the Faulkner’s story of a family’s trip to bury their mother in the city. She loved this book like she loved people watching each character written in voices that distinguished them from the rest. Each character adding a piece to the larger narrative as they told their own stories. An artistic combination of a single character’s death moulding a family together while tearing them apart. She was so entranced by Faulkner’s writing the next time she looked up the young man was cursing under his breath and using a mound of now damp napkins to clean the mess. Getting up, Zenina finds Mary, the owner of the little coffee shop and a friend of hers. Seeing as she was busy Zenina asks her for a cloth to wipe up the mess of the silly man. Grabbing the damp napkins out of his hands she dumps them into the trashcan. She then proceeds to pick up the no empty cup and wipe clean the table and the seat. “You need to be more careful. Mary can get you a refill, just give her a bit she’s a little busy with inventory right now. Here,” Zenina throws the cloth at the young man, “wipe yourself off. I love the smell of coffee but it’s no fun when it’s on your clothes.”

Distracted by the mess before him, Winter failed to notice that he was no longer alone. Breath catching in his throat, he quickly turned to see the woman who had taken his napkins right from his fumbling hands. "Oh," was all that he could manage to say as she wiped the table with a rag. Yes, a rag worked much better than a wad of useless napkins. Did she travel with that rag? Maybe she owned the place. No, she didn't look like she worked here. Winter opened his mouth to apologize before shutting it again to allow her to speak. "I'm normally more careful with my hot beverages," he insisted before shaking his head. "No, no. I think I've had enough caffeine and excitement for this morning." Maybe he should have stayed in bed a little longer. Barely catching the cloth rag, Winter offered a small smile in gratitude and began to try to pat dry his poor jeans. He had just washed these too. "Thank you," he replied before breathing out a soft embarrassed laugh. The day had just begun and here he was soaked in coffee. At least his sketchbook was safe.