hotelcaelum | 🌹 OPEN

Correct.

[It may be because of the conflict her tangled desires cause in her heart when she goes over them with a fine-tooth comb. She's thought things over more than twice, perhaps over a hundred times, maybe even more. The outcome should be favorable, and life-changing. But she's learned to be suspicious and no matter how much optimism she sprinkles in, it is for naught.]

The stipulation sounds simple enough but as a matter of principle, I always practice caution when it comes to supernatural matters such as these.

[She sighs and makes a glance at the coffee to see if it's done.]

But that's how these kinds of circumstances are; they're never going to be clear from the start.

Edited 2023-11-07 07:05 (UTC)

[The coffee's nearly done! Just a little more percolating and then he can pour them both their mugs.]

Well. I agree with you.

[He shrugs a little.]

Something like this isn't to be trusted at the start. In fact, I think it's only a matter of time before we might get to see glimpses behind the curtain; if there's a real reason behind us being brought here, we'll see it soon.

[Henry's a pragmatic sort. But he's also ambitious, opportunistic-]

But it's all a matter of weighing risk versus reward. And a wish is a very, very enticing reward.

[Amelia looks back at Henry, studying him a little more carefully.]

Are you already set on what your wish is going to be by any chance?

[It's an innocuous enough question, one that was directed to her a while ago.]

[ :) ]

Yes. I think so.

[And now, he turns to retrieve the pot of coffee, ready to go!]

I've spent a lot of time traveling and found myself in a bit of a... pickle recently. ["Pickle" is an interesting word to use for being stuck in a hell dimension for seven years, transformed into a tentacle monster.

He pours the coffee in both mugs.] To put it simply, I'm stuck, and I want to go back home.

[ :/ ]

... I see.

[Based on years of teaching and having to deal with her instructor, Amelia has gained some intuition on when someone is being purposefully vague or not. Should she choose to pursue a specific answer, she predicts running into a wall sooner than later.]

For the time being, you're fine with being here I hope? It's better than being stuck against your will.

[Doesn't she know it.]

[He chuckles lightly.]

It is better, in a lot of ways. [There's absolutely no getting around that, but-] But in the end, I'm still trapped. I'm still technically stuck, aren't I, if I can't go wherever I please when I leave this place?

[Just an extension of a prison; but the hotel is nice, at least!

He puts her mug on the counter and scoots it closer to her. The coffee's fresh and steaming hot.

It's also... really... really strong. Possibly a little too bitter. But maybe she's fine with that?]

[Amelia accepts the mug of coffee. She takes a tentative sip and there's no change in expression as she contemplates it.]

... Hm.

[It's... Rather difficult to tell what she thinks based on her face alone.]

Edited (argh grammar) 2023-11-09 21:22 (UTC)

[Just one more sip just to make sure!! And then she snaps her fingers.]

Hold on.

[The witch moves to the other end of the room with her mug where there are several materials provided to add to coffee, even an ice machine! She grabs two tumblers, fills them with ice, and sets them down. To her coffee, she adds, maple syrup, oat milk, a touch of cinnamon, and the smallest pinch of powdered cardamom. With a coffee stirrer, she mixes vigorously until the very dark coffee turns paler, and the fragrance less bitter and more aromatic.

There's another taste sip with a spoon, a shrug, and then she pours half of her new coffee concoction into one tumbler and then the other.

Finally, Amelia returns and holds one newly made iced and spiced oat milk coffee to Henry.]

Here. Try this. Give it a bit of shake if you need to.

[And with all that extraness done, she finally settles down, leaning against the counter and enjoys her morning coffee.]

[That is so many extra steps for coffee, he thinks. But he waits patiently, all the same, watching until she returns.

He takes the coffee and gives it... a little shake, as she said.]

What... is it?

[He will take a sip, but he wants to Know.]

Spiced oat milk coffee over ice. I prefer iced coffee rather than hot though some mornings are exceptions.

[She slowly takes a drink and savors the additional flavors she's added to make it work with the overly strong and bitter brew Henry made.]

I used maple syrup instead of white sugar; it's easier to dissolve and has a more subtle and gentle sweetness. Whole milk might have worked better in order to cancel out the bitterness but I like the flavor of oat milk.

[She looks at Henry to see how he takes to it.]

The coffee you brewed wasn't really to my taste but I didn't want to spurn your work. So I added and decided to share.

[Oh, well. He supposes he'll try, and he does, taking a sip.

It's surprisingly good; she'll see the way his brows raise over the rim of his mug.]

...I like it.

[And he does. His bar for food quality is hideously low.]

Thanks. But if you didn't like my coffee, you could have just said so.

Yes, that's what I could have done. Normally, that's what would happen.

[She readjusts her glasses as she takes another sip from her own cup.]

But you went through the trouble of making me something, so I decided to go through the trouble of making it better so that you could learn what a good iced coffee can taste like.

That's a much better deal than saying I dislike it and leaving it at that.

[Amelia raises her cup to him as if to make a mock 'cheers.']

[He quirks his brow at her. What a strange woman, with a strange sensibility for someone else's efforts.]

That's thoughtful of you. But I wouldn't have been offended, either way.

[Still, he raises his glass in a half-hearted "toast", then takes another sip.]

My palate's just not what it used to be.

Well, then that's good to know for next time when I fully intend to offend you.

[He's seen several contradictory sides to this woman already. Cranky, but willing to apologize and admit fault. Stubborn, but yielding. Gruff, but kind and puts in effort to share something nice like a good iced coffee when she could have just kept it all for herself.

It's been a productive morning.]

You'll be able to try out a lot of new foods and drinks then. That's something to look forward to. A small thing, but something nonetheless.

[She's blunt, isn't she? And yet she tries to be accommodating for those around her; he suspects only those who show a modicum of politeness and reason, which Henry is at least good at wearing neatly, like a second skin.]

That's true. [His voice lilts. It's not something he came here for, to be truly excited about, and he doesn't even need to eat or drink anymore like he once used to. But the idea of trying something new is, he must begrudgingly admit, compelling.]

The small things are what will get us through this strange vacation, I think. Tell me, do you have any recommendations? You visited a few places already, I assume.

[Amelia thinks for a second. Then looks at Henry and says one word:]

Noodles.

[Noodles, huh.]

Just noodles, or...?

I think a hearty noodle soup sounds good actually. Something to eat in the evening or late at night.

[Amelia sets down her coffee and takes her phone out of her pocket to look up images to show to Henry.]

Like this. Ramen. Something like pho or wontons with egg noodles is also good, but this is what I haven't had in a while.

[He leans in to look at the picture on the phone; he's been here just long enough to where this technology is alien, yes, but not surprising.

Little surprises him, these days.]

That's not like anything I've had before. I'll hunt down someplace, and if it's good, I'll send you a recommendation instead.

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