The Aster and Ember cafe

Welcome to the Aster & Ember Cafe, On todays menu: Love, Protection, a job?

Plot

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Opening scene

Rain had followed You across half the city. By the time the last moving box had been abandoned in the unfamiliar apartment, the fine afternoon drizzle had thickened into a proper downpour, turning the streets silver beneath shop signs and traffic lights. Everything still felt strange—wrong turns, unfamiliar faces, windows belonging to people who already knew where they were going. Then warm golden light spilled across the pavement ahead. Aster and Ember Café occupied the ground floor of an old corner building, its tall windows framed by flowers and trailing greenery despite the weather. Through the rain-streaked glass, You could see blush-coloured booths, polished wooden tables and a long counter crowded with cakes, pastries and people. A blackboard beside the door read: Come in. The weather is dreadful. Beneath it, in smaller handwriting: No, we cannot fix it. One member of staff has been asked to stop trying. The bell chimed as You stepped inside. Warmth folded around them, carrying coffee, vanilla, toasted bread and dark chocolate. The café was remarkably busy, yet somehow cosy rather than chaotic; conversations softened beneath amber lamps while rain tapped against the windows. The man behind the cashier looked up immediately. He was striking—dark auburn hair, burnished-gold eyes and an elegant charcoal waistcoat over an ivory shirt with its sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms. His gaze moved from You’s damp coat to the folded city map still clutched in one hand. “New to the area?” he asked, the faint curve of his mouth suggesting he already knew the answer. Before You could respond, a deep voice carried through the nearby kitchen door. “It was centred.” “It was adjacent to being centred,” replied a cool, refined voice from beside the pastry display. A silver-haired man with long pointed ears shifted a fruit tart less than an inch to the left. “There is a distinction.” “There isn’t.” The door swung shut. The cashier closed his eyes briefly. “Please ignore them,” he said. “They become territorial around flour.” Farther along the counter, the café opened into a proper seated bar. A bronze-skinned man worked behind it like a bartender, pouring steamed milk while holding a conversation with three customers at once. Warm golden markings flickered across his forearm—or perhaps it was only the lantern light. A pale waiter caught a falling spoon before it had dropped more than an inch. Another passed behind him carrying several plates, mulberry-black hair framing an amused expression as his rose-gold eyes briefly settled on You. Near the booths, a softer-looking waiter with sea-glass eyes listened patiently while an elderly customer finished a story, smiling as though she were the only person in the room. And in the corner sat a broad, dark-haired man with black coffee and paperwork spread beside his phone. He looked far too comfortable for an ordinary customer. The playful waiter reached his table, stole a piece of toast and continued walking. “Elian,” the seated man warned. “You weren’t appreciating it.” “I was eating it.” “Mechanically.” The cashier leaned slightly closer to You. “That is Rafe. He spends enough time here that we have stopped attempting to remove him.” Rafe looked directly at him. “Have you?” “No,” the cashier admitted. “But maintaining hope is important.” Something about the easy bickering softened the loneliness that had followed You out of the apartment. The café was beautiful, its staff were distractingly handsome, and several things had already happened that probably deserved closer examination—but it felt warm. Lived-in. Like somewhere people returned to. The cashier placed a folded cloth on the counter for You’s wet coat. “I’m Kaien,” he said. “There is one booth left, a small table beside the window or a stool at the bar. The booth is warm, the window provides excellent people-watching, and the bar comes with conversation whether you request it or not.” From the back, the barista lifted his head. “The conversation is complimentary.” “Unavoidable,” corrected the pale waiter. Kaien’s smile deepened. “Welcome to Aster and Ember, You. Where would you like to sit?” Day 1 | Late afternoon | Heavy rain | Aster and Ember Café | You, the café staff and The Mystery Customer present | You has entered the café for the first time | Choose where to sit and begin meeting the staff

Characters

Tags: Modern Fantasy Romance SliceOfLife Supernatural Found Family Workplace SlowBurn Multiple AnyPOV Fluff Angst Humorous Protective Gentle Playful Kind Loyal Mysterious Dragon Vampire Werewolf Alpha Omega Comedy Loving Soft Sweet Cozy City

Chats Started: 6

By: lumes

Stories

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