[ She closes her eyes and shakes her head. There's an edge of bitterness in her voice when she speaks again, but she still keeps a small smile affixed to her lips. ]
There's nobody I'm waiting for. [ A lie. ] I was just curious, is all. We don't get your type around the cafe very often.
[ Her eyes fall on the door. Usually people would start filtering in for the lunch rush around this time, but the door remained mercifully shut. ]
No, you're not. [ She's not bragging. It's true. Most of them were boring and completely transparent. Not so with Sakamoto, though, and it hits her somewhere south of her throat. His smile is devastating her, but she can't help but be drawn to it, just like a moth to a flame.
"You're just the only one I've cared to talk back to." ]
No. It's fine, leave it. [ Though it wasn't too good for business, she silently prays that no customers enter the cafe, lest their presences shatters the small solace Tatsuma's company provides. ] It's just a really slow day today. I wonder if something's going on in town.
Yeah, there's a shindig at this seedy bar tonight. A bunch of loan sharks are comin' in to take advantage of the stupid folk who wander in. They're bad blood, though! A lotta folks don't like 'em, so they're stayin' inside.
[Yakuza types, and all that.
She's so tragically beautiful. Like a rose preserved in a vase of ample water, destined to wither and rot despite the efforts to keep it fresh.
Has she been saving herself for someone? He wonders.
I take it that that's where you're gonna be, then.
[ A statement of fact, one that snaps her back to reality. As to whether she's saving herself, well... Unwittingly, she probably is. Hard-working and diligent as she is, however, she's mortal. She will die, and she's prone to having faults.
She can't wait forever, and while she knows that, it won't stop her from trying.
Straightening herself, she wipes her hands on the front of her apron. ]
[ The more he talks, the more embarrassed she feels. What was she even doing, relying on this stranger for company? She knows he's just being kind, and it makes her skin crawl.
She feels like a complete idiot, and she swallows hard. Pity's the last thing she wants. ]
No, it's fine. I should probably finish cleaning, anyway. [ Never mind the fact that the entirety of the cafe is pristine as hell. ]
He's out, but he should be back soon. He's my older brother [ Also a lie. ], though, so it's not like he'll write me up or anything.
[ As if on cue, the bell above the cafe door rings, signaling the arrival of a customer. Grateful for this, Touka springs into action, grabbing a menu and her clipboard. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ She closes her eyes and shakes her head. There's an edge of bitterness in her voice when she speaks again, but she still keeps a small smile affixed to her lips. ]
There's nobody I'm waiting for. [ A lie. ] I was just curious, is all. We don't get your type around the cafe very often.
[ Her eyes fall on the door. Usually people would start filtering in for the lunch rush around this time, but the door remained mercifully shut. ]
no subject
I couldn't help but walk in. I'm sure I'm not the first customers who walked in and bought somethin' just 'cause he wanted to speak to you.
[She's gorgeous, like. Come on.]
What's up? Gotta open that? I can get it for ya.
no subject
"You're just the only one I've cared to talk back to." ]
No. It's fine, leave it. [ Though it wasn't too good for business, she silently prays that no customers enter the cafe, lest their presences shatters the small solace Tatsuma's company provides. ] It's just a really slow day today. I wonder if something's going on in town.
no subject
[Yakuza types, and all that.
She's so tragically beautiful. Like a rose preserved in a vase of ample water, destined to wither and rot despite the efforts to keep it fresh.
Has she been saving herself for someone? He wonders.
What a waste, honestly.]
no subject
[ A statement of fact, one that snaps her back to reality. As to whether she's saving herself, well... Unwittingly, she probably is. Hard-working and diligent as she is, however, she's mortal. She will die, and she's prone to having faults.
She can't wait forever, and while she knows that, it won't stop her from trying.
Straightening herself, she wipes her hands on the front of her apron. ]
Don't let me keep you. Thanks for stopping by.
no subject
[He tilts his head to the side.]
You're not keepin' me. I wanna stay. Is your boss around?
[Quiet concern turns to worry. She doesn't sound alright.]
I can talk with ya until some folks come in, if you'd like.
no subject
She feels like a complete idiot, and she swallows hard. Pity's the last thing she wants. ]
No, it's fine. I should probably finish cleaning, anyway. [ Never mind the fact that the entirety of the cafe is pristine as hell. ]
He's out, but he should be back soon. He's my older brother [ Also a lie. ], though, so it's not like he'll write me up or anything.
[ As if on cue, the bell above the cafe door rings, signaling the arrival of a customer. Grateful for this, Touka springs into action, grabbing a menu and her clipboard. ]
Ah, welcome!