Cafe Confections

You point to the map, where the cafe is marked with a pin. "How about the cafe today?" Irina nods enthusiastically, "allow me to don my armor and we'll head over there. I've been wanting to try that new cafe for a bit now; I think it's called the Maiden's Drink." {if Icarus dates == 1}You shake your head; "is it really necessary to don your armor to go to a cafe?" "A paladin needs to always be prepared to uphold their oath." You continue to shake your head; you really don't see the necessity.{elseif Icarus market = true}You nod, having clearly seen the benefit to her always being prepared.{else}You sigh and shake your head, already knowing how the conversation about the armor will go if you choose to question it.{endif}

About ten minutes later, Irina returns, now wearing her plate mail, you already waiting by the door. "Eager to get some coffee and chocolate, are you?" You shrug, having simply not wanted to sit down for the whole ten minutes. Irina chuckles, opening the door, and the two of you start traveling.

As you make your way through various side streets, you in time arrive at the shop in question, the sign above the door stating it to be the "Maiden's Drink." The menu out front advertises various chocolate and coffee drinks; the two of you head inside and seat yourselves at a table.

After a couple of minutes of small talk, a wave of zeal washes over you as the waitress approaches. "Here's the menus, let me know if you two ladies have any questions."

You start looking the menu over: cinnamon hot chocolate, cinnamon coffee, cardamon hot chocolate, raspberry hot chocolate, passion fruit coffee; when you hear, "are we allowed to make customizations? I like some of these but it would be awesome if I could combine some of the choices." You look up and see a dangerous glint in Irina's eyes as the waitress responds with a giggle, "the kitchen doesn't normally like doing that but I'll make sure to make it happen for you; I like your passion."

{if Aphrodite = true}Wait, passion . . . there's no way. You give the waitress a closer look, and familiarity washes over you; "Aphrodite?" She giggles and twirls, the skirt of her dress lifting with the slight breeze created by the spin. "In the flesh; I was wondering when you were going to notice, {if Cleric = true}cleric{else}champion{endif} of mine."

"Wait, did you come here just to eavesdrop on my date?"

"Oh, heavens no; I could do that from my place if I really wanted to. Sometimes the owner of an establishment simply wants to work a shift there."

By now, Irina has figured out what she wants to drink, and starts ordering.{else}After a couple minutes more of looking over the menu and its various hot chocolate and coffee options along with its few pastries, Irina starts ordering.{endif} "Can I have the double latte with shaved chocolate mixed in and caramel syrup on top but below the whipped cream; and on the whipped cream, can I have cinnamon, cardamom, and vanilla sprinkled on top, with a leaf of mint sticking out of it?" {if Aphrodite = true}Aphrodite{else}The waitress{endif} nods, "sure, we can make that work. And for you?"

You had just been planning to keep to what's on the menu, but you suppose a bit of customization can't hurt. "Would it be possible to get the cinnamon hot chocolate with some vanilla mixed in, with additionally one of the raspberry tarts?" {if Aphrodite = true}Aphrodite{else}The waitress{endif} nods, "sure thing! And did you want a pastry to go with your coffee?" Irina nods, "yes, could I just get a couple of biscotti with it?"

"Sure you can." Turning back towards the kitchen, "give the kitchen a few minutes and I'll have those right out for you. I may be good, but if I wanted to work a kitchen shift, I wouldn't have this lovely dress on right now."

After a few minutes, your drinks and pastries come out, both with long thin spoons. You grab yours and use it to gently stir your drink, gradually cooling it off.

Irina, on the other hand, has other ideas. She grabs her spoon and stabs down into the side of the whipped cream piled onto her coffee, coming back up and pouring rivulets of coffee onto the top of the cream, causing it to form small channels in the whip. Not really wanting to question it, you take your tart and dip it in your hot chocolate, bringing it up to your mouth to nibble a bit of chocolatey raspberry tart.

Huh, you suppose the cinnamon isn't coming through very well. The vanilla was definitely a nice addition though, really brings the whole treat together. You glance up at Irina, who now has a heap of whipped cream on her biscotti, drops of caramel-glazed coffee slowly dripping out of the cookie. Just to double check, you take a sip directly from the hot chocolate. Tastes like a fruity rich cinnamon drink, so you suppose it's as it should be.

As the two of you drink and eat your pastry and Irina's . . . work of art, Irina speaks up, {if marbles cast = 7}"So, what do you want to do after we finish here? Unlike most dates, this isn't going to take all day."{else}"Since you're not actually part of the polytair yet, the rest of the day after this date is mostly gonna be free and idle. Supposing you were a member though, what would you want to do after we finish here?"{endif}