Chapter Text
"Stelle, are you a hundred percent sure you want to add two extra shots?"
"Yes."
The gray-haired maiden stares back at Aventurine with a stoned look. Seems like heart attacks just don't exist to these college students. Aventurine keys in the order as Stelle swipes her card against the reader, while someone--Caelus--barges into the cafe, screaming for his credit card back. Well, that was a good $8 gone just like that, poor Caelus. And Stelle's run off once again, leaving her dear brother to pick up the order. Again.
Golden sunlight peeks through the white window drapes, the soft clinking of cutlery and light chatter has become background music for dear Aventurine as he receives customer after customer, most of whom are college students who clearly haven't spared even a minute for sleep. As the clock strikes noon, Aventurine finds himself and his fellow coworkers scrambling around the cafe without a moment of rest.
"Aventurine, handle the cashier for me!" "On it, pack up the drinks for order 120 for me while you're back there!" "Got it,- oh, Lady Jade, will you be so kind to tend to the dine-in customers?" "Of course, my dear child." "Topaz, your local fanboys are back!" "Ah, well, okay, be right back!"
As Jade once said, the Stoneheart Cafe is famous for three reasons. One, college students and coffee come together. Two, the scenic view of the sea nearby earns visits from tourists every year. Three, their workers. They go by the name of different gemstones, and rarely anyone has come close to finding out their true names.
Jade, one of the managers, her charm brings in new customers every day. She plays a simple game whenever she's on shift--for however much you pay, she will serve you a surprise drink of equal value.
Then there's Topaz, one of the workers, she's cute, but independent. She's kind, but straightforward. She's become quite popular amongst the college boys, who have made a bet to find out what her true name is. Sadly, none of them have gotten close.
In comes Aventurine, another eccentric but charming guy. If he earned a dollar for every guy that's tried to dress like him, to the point of getting the same haircut, in hopes of getting closer to Topaz, he'd become a billionaire in a day. Of course, his unique and carefree personality has earned him a special online forum created by his own fangirls, who desperately discuss on how to win his heart. Needless to say, Topaz often gets mentioned in there. Sadly, Aventurine does not swing that way.
And that's just three out of their ten full-time workers.
The golden bell on the door chimes as the lunch hour rush dies down. The cafe returns to its usual peaceful atmosphere as Jade and Topaz take a mini break in the kitchen from running around, and Aventurine leans lazily against the cashier, folding the unwanted receipt rolls left behind by customers. A crane, a bird, a little frog, a heart, little intricate origami fills the countertop by the time he's done. He puts up a hand to cover up his mouth as he lets out a soft yawn. His eyes water and as he tries to rub his fatigue away, he feels something looming over him.
The tall man raises his finger to his face, propping his glasses up slightly. The sun is bright, and there's not much traffic.
Nothing on my schedule after this. Perhaps I could finally take a trip to that seaside cafe Miss Ruan Mei and Herta were talking about.
The walls are beautifully adorned with dried flowers, small coloured gemstones outlining the glass door, and the windows have snow white drapes that bring in a sort of coziness that you could feel even from outside. When he finally reaches the entrance, the smell of cappuccino and sweet chocolate fills the air. As his hand reaches for the handle, he sees someone leaning over the countertop, hands fiddling with a piece of paper. He waits for just a split second, seeing the small origami heart that was just created, and gently pushing the door open.
The bell on the door doesn't chime for some reason, he realises. But no matter, he briefly takes a look at the menu displayed at the entrance and slowly makes his way to the cashier. The man, who's busy rubbing his eyes and yawning away, realizes someone's standing there and opens his eyes.
Ah.
His hair shone like the sunrise. His eyes were a beautiful mix of amethyst and apatite. His smile reminded him of the clear sky.
"Oh dear, apologies! Welcome to the Stoneheart Cafe! What can I get ya today?"
"Uh-
What did I want again? Wait, what did he ask?
-What would you recommend?"
"Well, our french vanilla is pretty popular amongst college students, packs the energy to keep them running after an all-nighter. But I personally like the butterscotch cappuccino, or the hazelnut latte, they're both rich in flavour."
"Then I'll get the hazelnut latte."
"Great, could I get your name for the order? Also, it'll be 6 dollars."
"Ratio."
For the first time, his name doesn't run off as smoothly as it usually does. His jaw feels a little too tight, and he can feel the files in his left hand slipping. He adjusts his glasses with his right, and then grabs his card out his pocket, swiping across the reader as the man in front of him sends in his order. He gestures for him to take a seat and wait for his order.
Is he working alone? That doesn't make sense. There should be at least two others from what I heard just now.
But he's just standing there, which means someone else is making my order.
Huh.
The man at the cashier has gone back to his receipt folding activity. His brows furrow as he tries to bend a thick corner of the paper, but it rips, the failed origami is tossed into the trash.
Funny.
At the corner of his eye, he sees a girl in the kitchen, who walks to the window and passes the man the coffee cup, presumably his order. He sees the purple hair, and familiar snake-like gaze as they meet eyes.
Eh?
"Oh, Dr Ratio?"
"Eh, Jade, you know him?"
"Of course, Veritas Ratio, eight doctorates holder, and a famous professor at University Veritas Prime. You came from the countryside, so it's natural you don't know."
"Woah, so you're like, really cool. Kinda thought you were some bigshot by the way you came in. Uh, anyway, here's your order, Dr Ratio."
The name flows off his tongue so smoothly, that Ratio doesn't know how to feel. It's sultry, yet it's also so clean and pristine. It's a strange feeling that clenches in his chest as he takes the cup from the man, all while staring into his gemstone eyes. Their fingers graze against each other ever so slightly, and the contact is both soft and electrifying. It's cold and warm as he retracts his arm with a bright smile.
"Thank you."
He doesn't want to leave yet, but his feet turn and guide him out the cafe anyway. He wants to turn around, but his neck decides that it no longer belongs to him and remains stiff as the door closes behind him.
That man is interesting.
Maybe I'll come back tomorrow. The latte's nice.
Aventurine doesn't know what just came over him, but he can feel his heart beating faster as he continues to look at Ratio.
Not yet, don't leave yet.
Ratio. Veritas Ratio. It feels so nice to say it for some reason. It rolls off the tongue so well and Aventurine can feel his face burning up the more he thinks about it. He fiddles with Ratio's receipt and folds a paper heart with it. His fingers play with the edges of the origami, and his mind won't stop running back to the moment he saw him.
Hair akin to the star-filled night sky, and eyes that resembled the break of dawn. A face that was sculpted by the hand of God, and a gaze that he could not tear himself away from.
Don't leave yet. Turn around. Just a second more. Let me see you just a little more. Will you come back tomorrow?