strangetrip | [EP] aliens control the coffee supply

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[EP] aliens control the coffee supply

Xavin, for the most part, hadn't actually bothered keeping regular hours at her little coffee nook. She spent some time there most days, how long depending on how many people wanted coffee or how interested she was in whatever books she'd selected for the day.

Today was probably going to be a longer day, if only because she'd had to restock a little from the kitchens. She'd found a little cart to haul things and was currently engaged in putting her supplies away. Milks and whipped cream into the little refrigerator, beans stashed in their cupboard, disposable cups stacked and non-disposable cups cleaned and put away. (Some people liked those, particularly if they didn't intend to leave the library. But it meant that her kitchen time included doing dishes, which was often more fun than drudgery. Especially when she accidentally overdid the soap.)

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The 'pensect' would probably have climbed onto Xavin's arm or back down to the floor to escort her, but the flat thing in front of it was less work. Like a rabbit, it had much rather hop forward than downward or upward and so the decision was easily made. To the extent that it was a decision rather than a simple reaction to stimuli.

It did seem to decide when they reached the table, scrabbling off the tray back to where Lillith sat and up her arm to her shoulder. She ran a finger down its 'back' in gratitude for message carrying, then promptly turned her attention to her dear friend.

"Hello, Xavin. You are very beautiful today."

"So are you." Lillith was using an albino human face more frequently, but Xavin didn't question the choice. Lillith wasn't a Skrull, but it was relaxing all the same, to be around someone who had whatever face she wanted, for her own reasons, at any point. And they were all lovely.

Xavin leaned down to kiss her dear friend on the cheek, then retrieved Lillith's mug from the tray and offered it to her. "As requested, a drink that says 'Lillith' to me."

Lillith smiled softly at the unexpected kiss. She did rather wish Xavin would be a bolder in her affections, if in fact they were romantic in nature. Lillith did not want to make her uncomfortable and did not know how to ask. But as she loved Xavin dearly regardless of the nature of that affection she was content to allow things to progress as they would.

She took the mug from Xavin and bent her head over it to inhale deeply. "It smells lovely. Will you tell me of it or am I meant to be surprised?"

Xavin considered, then nodded. "I should tell you, in case. It is espresso and steamed milk, with vanilla and some marshmallow syrup. It should taste somewhat like a toasted marshmallow - I do not know if you have ever eaten one of those. But they are very sweet and warm." Her smile went a little hesitant. "I also added some cayenne pepper. So, sweet and warm, but fierce in hidden places."

"I have!" Lillith smiled happily. "Emma made one for me. It was not plain, but I did have a plain one roasted over fire. It was very nice." And she smiled even more brightly at the rest of the invitation, the tips of her fangs showing. "And of course you would remember that I am not all sweetness and light. I thank you for that."

Xavin bowed slightly in her chair - a rather masculine gesture despite being currently female, but it was difficult to curtsy while seated. "I hope it tastes all right. I admit I made the drink without very much attention to flavor." The vanilla-marshmallow part would be fine, it was the addition of the cayenne that was a mystery.

Even if the drink was terrible, it was worth making it for Lillith's smile.

With Tiefling resistance to fire and heat, Lillith tended to like her beverages hotter than most. And since Xavin had honored that preference, she moved to taste the concoction immediately. Although she did not swish the sip around like one might a wine, she did tilt her head as though she listened to the flavors.

The sweetness was lovely, although without the spice it might almost be too sweet. The cayenne helped a great deal. "It is quite nice," Lillith pronounced it. "I think, perhaps, it would benefit from something to work with the cayenne. Perhaps that red hot taste you called cinnamon?"

“I will add some next time.” Xavin nodded, cinnamon was a good idea. She wondered if perhaps there was a third spice that would help, two didn’t seem like a blend. Clive, maybe? But that was very strong. Unless she used chai tea instead of coffee...?

Several experiments to try! But she smiled warmly at Lillith now; experimentation with beverages would wait. “I am glad you approve, and gladder for the suggestion. Nothing should be perfect on the first attempt.”

At that interesting pronouncement, Lillith finished her sip of the drink and set it down. She leaned forward toward Xavin, a bright interest in her eyes.

"I have never heard anyone say that." Xavin was always interesting, but never more so than when she gave voice to some new idea or explained something alien. "Why do you think so?" It was clear she didn't disapprove, only that she was curious.

"To be perfect on the first try is to eliminate the possibility of change or improvement, for one. But also, imperfections give a thing character. Imperfections bring out the beauties around them." Xavin gestured at her mass of curls. "I could make this perfect. I could straighten it, style it, do what I please. But I enjoy the mess, the life in it, the not knowing exactly what it will do. And it is pretty as it is, even if it is not perfect. Your drink is a true expression of my view of you, but because it is not perfect it can also teach me more of you. This is beauty, to me."

"That..." Lillith leaned over abruptly and kissed Xavin soundly although chastely on the mouth, and then sat back again with a sweet, almost enchanted smile. "That is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. Thank you for sharing it with me."

Lillith had kissed her before, usually on the cheek, so the gesture wasn't that unusual... except that this kiss had been to Xavin's mouth, and Lillith was smiling at her. Also not unusual, but....

Xavin leaned over to kiss Lillith on the mouth, somewhat less chaste. Lillith was a dear friend, a good and kind soul, and somehow the specter of Karolina had receded enough that wanting to kiss someone didn't feel like some strange species of betrayal. "You are very welcome."

Lillith tilted her head, not in time to deepen the kiss, but to study Xavin. It had been some time since she had realized she would like to be closer to Xavin but she did not know yet how much closer or whether Xavin also felt the same.

"May I ask what the customs are amongst Skrull regarding kissing?" she finally asked with that peculiarly Lillith blend of sweetness and directness.

Xavin considered. "Kissing is personal. Occasionally ceremonial, as in wedding ceremonies but not as in respect to a social superior." Humans did things like ring-kissing, that was strange. "We are not dissimilar to Earth customs in most cases, now that I think on it."

Although her world was not the same as Earth, she had found that many customs were similar. She touched her fingers to her lips lightly and smiled. "Then may I understand that by returning my kiss as you did you have an interest in me that is more personal than friendship?"

"I.. think so?" Xavin tucked some hair behind her ear, uncertain. "I apologize. I was engaged as a hatchling, and spent most of my life training before joining my fiancée on Earth. And then prison, which was solitary. I like you very much, and I trust you, and you are lovely. And I enjoyed kissing you."

"I enjoyed it as well, and care very much for you." Lillith reached over to pat Xavin's hand, and then took it in her own, careful not to scratch her with her claws. "It is all right not to know for sure. We will simply continue as we have been and whatever seems right is what will be."

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[EP] aliens control the coffee supply

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