sunfloras | 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕚𝕕𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕘𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕕

OPEN POST

It so happens that on a dark and stormy night in a city, (somewhere, anywhere really), someone may spot a beautiful gilded wooden door nearby wherever they are. Side of a building? In an alleyway? Near a dumpster?? Usually, it appears somewhere that's out of sight and out of mind, where the majority of people can't see it. The door looks warm and inviting and it's just a secret begging to be opened up so you can find what lies within...

❂❂❂
... It's surprisingly normal inside; a surprisingly normal cafe actually. The interior is a warm mixture of red brick walls and sleek wooden floors and tables, along with comfortable looking sofa chairs and a large couch with a coffee table to accompany it. The ceiling is decorated with colorful hanging lanterns that cast interesting shadows on the walls and floors. A large black bookshelf sits next to the counter where there are various books and novels that have an age to them from past readers and customers. Behind the counter are the usual machines, bottles of syrups, jars of coffee beans, and tea blends in decorative jars. The black chalkboards aligned on the wall are strangely empty except for the special of that day and a lavishly illustrated logo which can only be the establishment's name.

❦ THE MIDNIGHT GRIND ❦
There's no other way to say it. This place is cozy. There is someone behind the counter, but depending on when you come in, it's going to be a different barista who will serve you. Or you can say hi to other customers and hang out with them!

❂❂❂
The Midnight Grind is a magical cafe with a door that appears in any location, across different universes and even time periods. It is a place to relax, eat, and drink, and collect yourself before heading back to whatever business you were in the middle of. It is run and owned by a witch named Iona J. Oakes, her golem companion Oren, and their main barista, Monts. Volunteers to help out with busy shifts are welcome and will be compensated appropriately.

➤ it's just a blur
➢ "Why'd I Wait?".

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Excuse me?

[Amelia grunts, deciding not to hang onto that remark as she closes her book.]

Though it's lessened over the years, I still prefer books to people at times.

... But it's good to see that you are well. No signs of the Enma I presume?

Ah? What, people have become more tolerable to you?

[ he'd like to think that nice character development, but who knows. ]

Nah. [ a hollow chuckle. it's an exasperated noise. ] Then again, us Department lackeys never really got much a chance for meet 'n greets with the big guy in the first place.

In a way. There are people who are worth being with.

[More like she's learned to be among people a lot better but that's not something she'll talk about now.]

Hm. That's not too surprising, I suppose. The Enma always seemed like an unapproachable sort. But now that our souls aren't bound to those creatures in Jigokucho, I guess we can all rest easy.

That is unless you're going around different worlds just to pick fights.

[ barton had almost been ready to engage in a more peaceable activity - as peaceable as his book about some historically terrible war can be - when amelia remarks on him picking fights. that reminds him. how could he be so thoughtless..? ]

[ closing the book again, his gaze snaps back up to her. ]

Well? Don't you have your powers back here?

[ OwO ]

[Amelia looks up from her book. Glances back and forth not-so-surreptitiously between Barton and the pages before answering carefully.]

... Yes?

[She takes her cup of coffee and takes a sip.]

I am not going to use them against you, you know.

[ barton's eyes widen, apparently aghast. he'd already hyped himself up!! ]

[ loudly, ]

What! Why??

Because I have a class to teach on Monday and my weekends are precious, Barton.

[She sniffs and goes back to her book although it's hard to engage with it now that the witch has this familiar... Person trying to get her to fight him.]

Also, I don't think you'd want to push me.

Why not?

[ while that does sound like.. a challenge that he should meet, and thus very tempting to push (you think he's AFRAID!) on it, he'll resist for the moment. still, curiosity wins out, ]

What would you do?? Make my head explode? Turn my skin inside out?

[There's a second or two of silence before Amelia closes her book and looks at Barton with the most neutral of expressions.]

That's too messy.

If anything I could turn you into the size of a mouse and then put you in a box. Then I'd put that box into another box and then another.

[.........]

And then I'd mail those boxes with you inside them to another country.

[LOOK HE ASKED]

[ ... that hadn't been a tactic he'd considered, exactly. but it does do the trick in that it sounds... awful. his eyes widen. he hates it. it's enough that he actually goes quiet for a moment. ]

[ a thought occurs to him ]

If you can turn me tiny, that means you could also make me really huge, right..?

[ bartzilla... ]

... Yes.

[bart...]

But the point is that I can theoretically trump you in most scenarios. Out of consideration and some respect, I am not answering your calls for a fight.

Also, you're large enough as it is.

[ out of consideration and RESPECT??? barton looks like he's just been slapped. never in his life... ]

Oi, oi... I get it, you think you'd trounce me.

We should shake on it. [ like real men, etc. ] That one day, when you think I'm ready, you'll fight me!

[Amelia isn't aiming to maim anyone, god! But, perhaps Barton's persistence pays off because the witch sighs witheringly, sets her book on her lap, and half-heartedly offers her hand.]

Fine. We'll shake.

But you might have to wait a long while. 10 more years, give or take.

What the hell?

[ barton's eyes widen in shock. he'd extended his own hand, then retracts it slightly just as their fingers might have touched. ]

You don't think I'm old, but I'll be ancient by then!

[TOO LATE BARTON because with thin and flat lips, Amelia reaches out to grab Barton's reluctant hand and gives it a firm shake. Three even!]

Deal.

[ !! looking like he's been burned by this betrayal. now it's his turn for testiness. while he might have protested otherwise - if she won't fight him for ten years, then that's a term he's going to have to accept. ]

Hmph... At least you have a firm shake.

What's with the ten year requirement, though, huh?

Mm. Well, ten just sounded like a nice and neat number to apply in this situation.

[aka it's not that deep]

I'll keep my word though. So make sure you survive until then.

[ barton gawks at amelia for one blessed moment of quiet. she really is just bamboozling him left and right here, it seems. and then he abruptly grins, tossing his head back with laughter. ]

Ha ha ha! [ sorry, he has a really boisterous laugh.. but he settles again quickly, smiling toothily, ] C'mon, now. I'm looking forward to it, but I can't prioritize it.

Well, practice restraint then. Ten years is enough to hone it.

[But at Barton's laughter there's a ghost of a smile that dances across Amelia's mouth as she leans back in her seat to enjoy her book.]

That's one way of getting stronger after all.

[ ... that... hadn't been the response he anticipated. barton huffs, although it's a more good-natured sound on account of his bout of laughter. he resumes tipping his chair back, balancing without much trouble, and folds his arms over his chest. ]

[ here he was about to accuse her of reading something boring... which she very may well be, but at least he's going to keep that to himself for the second. ]

I'll do exactly what's called of me. We'll see what the future's got in store, won't we?

𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕚𝕕𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕘𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕕

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