A Cup Of Joy

Pushing through the door, a soft chime announced my presence. The warm smells of coffee and baked goods washed over me, along with a pang of guilt for insulting their presence with an unsightly yawn. Approaching the counter, my eyes glued to the menu, I barely even noticed the barista that greeted me.

“Good morning! What’re you having?” she asked cheerfully.

My eyes glazed over, and I fought back another yawn. “Something exciting, I think. I overslept, need to wake up.”

She politely declined my coin, then I wandered the cozy dining area looking for an open table. I tried to stay visible, keeping a line of sight to the entrance, before pulling out my phone to send a text.

“Just arrived!” I typed. My phone blipped with excitement as the message sent.

The door chime stayed silent for the next few minutes. Unusual for a café, but having never been here before, I didn’t know their typical clientele. I rubbed my eyes slowly, then jumped in surprise when I opened them to see the barista standing next to my table.

“Here’s your order! I think it’s just what you’re looking for,” she said with a smirk.

This time I got a better look at her. She was on the smaller side, with short curly hair that shimmered in the morning light; possibly blue, possibly green, more likely it was both and neither. Probably a fae of some kind. I muttered a quick thank you before she left, then eagerly wrapped my hands around the warm mug in front of me.

The first smell was rich hazelnut, the second a potent shot of excitement. Hints of celebration–no, applause? With a touch of… danger, huh. Certainly not my usual order, but I’d asked for a wake-up call. I took my first sip, eager to see what I’d ordered.

Wind whipped through my hair as I climbed, and I took one last look at the horizon before leaning forward. Beneath me, the drake flattened its wings and dove, accelerating to breakneck speeds in mere seconds. Gripping my saddle tight, I scanned the field until I found my target: the orc that had tackled me earlier in the match. He’d snapped my harness, and was probably expecting me to play it safe.

Big mistake, buddy.

I set the drink down, my eyes wide as my own thoughts returned to me. I’d taken such a small sip, yet my heart was pounding. I’d never ridden a drake before, but after that memory, I certainly saw the appeal.

Now sufficiently awake, I pulled out my phone to check my messages, only to find nothing. Thought about taking another sip, but no; such an intense memory deserved to be savored. Maybe she’d messaged me on the app, instead of texting me?

Nothing there either. Drat.

Instead, I looked around the café with renewed vigor. Soft beams of sunlight drifted through the large windows, which had been opened to invite the morning breeze as well. Homemade planters hung on the window sills, filled to the brim with colorful flowers and fragrant spices. This close to the river, I wouldn’t be surprised if the café grew most of their own ingredients. On the counter sat a small glass case that proudly displayed fresh baked goods, each one promising vivid experiences of their own.

“Is the drink to your liking?”

Flinching in surprise, I turned to look at the barista again. This was the second time she’d snuck up on me; no doubt she applied the same delicate touch to her drinks, which might explain why they were so potent.

“Oh, absolutely!” I said, finally awake enough to repay her kind smile with my own. “Infinitely better than what I’d be making at home.”

The barista leaned forward, placing her hands on my table. She held herself with impeccable confidence, and moved just as gracefully. “Fantastic! There’s almost nothing more exciting than giving someone a new experience. Too many customers these days just order the same thing day after day.”

“Let me guess, first kiss? Wait, no–Winter Solstice morning, waking up to find presents under your bed?”

She giggled, her laughter literal joy to my ears. “No, you’re being far too ambitious for our clientele. It’s a sunset, not even a particularly special one. I like to think they’re just pretending the day is over, rather than thinking about the shift they’re about to start.”

As she talked, I caught a hint of her perfume, the smell conjuring feelings of satisfaction following an arduous molting season. Odd, considering my lack of scales or feathers. My eyes were drawn to hers, their striking color just as ephemeral as her hair. I swore they were drawing me closer; was that her infectious positivity or her fae nature? I certainly wasn’t going to risk asking.

She caught me staring into her eyes, and I cleared my throat before looking away. “I-I, uh, feel like a sunset isn’t something you should be ordering at such a nice place. They happen literally every day, right?”

The barista stood back up, a knowing smirk on her face. “Glad to know I’m not alone! I suppose I should let you get back to your drink, though. Enjoy!”

She turned to leave, her clothing bouncing as if she were skipping, yet she appeared to be walking with unnatural grace and precision. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen such elegance in another person.

Our conversation spurred me to take another sip, this time ready for the adrenaline rush.

Wind whipped through my hair as I climbed, and I took one last look at the horizon before leaning forward. Beneath me, the drake flattened its wings and dove, accelerating to breakneck speeds in mere seconds. Gripping my saddle tight, I scanned the field until I found my target: the orc that had tackled me earlier in the match. He’d snapped my harness, and was probably expecting me to play it safe.

Big mistake, buddy.

He was exceptionally large, as was his drake; most teams preferred strength over speed. Unfortunately for him, this made him a bigger target. I pinned myself down, scales rubbing my chin as I raced closer. He was focused on the ball, trying to reposition himself for a catch. By the time he saw me coming, it was too late.

I closed my eyes, then forced a deep breath. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d lived a memory this vivid. Even after setting the drink down, I still felt the wind in my hair, the wanton exhilaration and the thrill of the hunt.

Another look around revealed the café to still be empty, save for myself and the barista. She stood at the display case, her back turned as she opened it to inspect the baked goods inside. She rearranged them, taking some out and adding new ones in, and I couldn’t help but watch. She moved with unusual weightlessness, as if staying on the ground was a mere formality. Combined with her small stature, I imagined picking her up would be comparable to lifting a cloud.

Averting my gaze, lest I be caught staring again, I checked my messages once more. Still nothing, not in my texts or on the app. My phone joined my drink on the table, tapping the mug with a soft clink.

The noise drew the barista’s attention, and she stepped closer while producing a small rag. “Waiting for someone?” she asked, quickly polishing the soft wooden table underneath my drink. It had already been spotless, but her efforts seemed to imbue the surface with a sense of sleeping in the morning after a blizzard.

“Supposed to be a date, but I’m losing faith.”

She glanced down, her eyes tracing the profile I’d inadvertently left open on the screen. “She seems nice enough, but I’m not sure she’s your type. Especially if she’s ghosting you on the first date.”

I laughed. “Maybe you’re right. Though, it’s hard to feel down about it when I’m in such wonderful company already.”

This time, it was the barista’s turn to look away. I caught her blushing, her cheeks filling with pink glitter as she turned towards another table. “Well, don’t get used to it! My shift is almost over, though my replacement seems to be just as absent as your date.”

“Can your replacement make drinks as potent as yours?” I asked, grabbing my cup again.

With a knowing smirk, the barista looked back at me. “Not even close!” Her words swelled with pride, her tone almost a dare. She walked away, and I took the opportunity to finish the drink.

He was exceptionally large, as was his drake; most teams preferred strength over speed. Unfortunately for him, this made him a bigger target. I pinned myself down, scales rubbing my chin as I raced closer. He was focused on the ball, trying to reposition himself for a catch. By the time he saw me coming, it was too late.

At the last second, my drake retracted her wings and we braced for impact. The orc’s eyes wide with terror, he shrieked as my shoulder slammed into him. His tether snapped, his drake went spinning, and they both fell from the sky.

“Ha! Eat my scales, windbag!” I shouted. The stadium erupted with applause, and I raised a fist to join in the celebration. My gloves, clad with red drakescale, glittered in the afternoon sun as I cheered along with the crowd. After one last look at my opponent, who had just landed safely in the water below, I turned my attention to the rest of his team.

Who’s next?

The last of the coffee passed over my lips, and I hummed in satisfaction as I set the cup down. The barista now sat at my table, and I successfully restrained myself from flinching.

“Spectacular drink, miss. I’d ask what your secret is, but I have a feeling you won’t tell me.”

“Maybe if you ask nicely!” She smiled, then reached into a bag next to the table. “Sadly, I’ve just clocked out. Now, do you want to keep waiting for your ghost? Or do you want to come to practice with me?”

“Practice? What do you–” She answered my question by pulling on a glove, one that glittered with red drakescale. I smiled back. “Ah. That’s why the memory was so strong.”

“Well, maybe one reason,” she said. “So, what’ll it be?”

I looked down at my phone again, still bereft of messages. The taste of victory lingered on my lips, urging me to grab this drake by its horns. With a click of a button, I turned off my phone and rose to my feet. “I believe I owe you for the drink, don’t I?”

Grabbing her bag, she walked ahead of me towards the front door. “And what, pray tell, do you think would count as equal payment?”

“Perhaps a memory for a memory? If nothing else, I hear the sunsets around here are spectacular.” She laughed, the delightful noise mingling with the chime as she pushed open the door. With a raised hand, she gestured for me to leave first. 

However, as I passed her, she raised an arm to stop me, her face now dangerously close to mine. “Personally, I was hoping for a first kiss.”

Sweat formed on my brow, my heart racing again as I stared into her eyes. I knew the intense look on her face; I’d worn it myself as I raced through the air just moments earlier. Now that it was fixed on me, I needed more of it.

“I… might be able to fill that order,” I whispered. 

She pulled away just before our lips met, then nodded towards the exit. I stepped out into the morning sun, and before I could pick a direction, her hand found mine. She walked with fiery purpose, and I eagerly followed.

Behind us, the door closed with a chime.