Work Text:
It was one blustering Sunday morning in late October, the wind and rain acting in tandem to pound against the windows. The fallen leaves of the changing season laid plastered against the roof of the apartment complex, occasionally fluttering down as they too were ruthlessly pattered by the abrasive, chilly rain.
Cold and bored, you and your partner, Kang Sae-byeok, scrolled through your phones on the sofa in the cramped apartment you shared, wanting to get out and do something, even if the storm was unconventional for doing any outdoor activities.
“We could… go walk around a mall?” You suggested, lazily scrolling through suggestions on random websites: Top Ten Fun Activities When It’s a Rainy Day!
“Malls are full of boring designer clothes and equally boring designer people,” Sae-byeok mumbles, her voice a low, sarcastic monotone. “I don’t wanna be crowded while walking around just to buy overpriced perfumes and snacks…”
You snort softly. “Yeah, true. Plus, most people are probably thinking of going to the mall on a rainy Sunday, so it will most likely be extra crowded.”
Sae-byeok tsks her tongue at that, not finding a jam-packed mall appealing in the slightest. She sips on a mug of coffee, her raging caffeine addiction continuously fueled by the wafts of warm, rich roast scent.
“Hmm, what else…” You mumble, clicking onto a different website: Bored of Staying Indoors? Best Suggestions for Gloomy Day Fun!
“All of these ideas are so… typical,” Sae-byeok complains as she glances at your phone screen from where she sat beside you on the sofa, setting her coffee down. “Movie marathon? Family game night?” She exhales dramatically. “The whole point is getting out of the house…”
“We could go to a bookstore,” you suggest, reading through one of the website’s offerings. “Maybe get a sweet treat, too?”
Sae-byeok is quiet for a moment, tempted at the suggestion of a sugary cookie, before hesitantly shaking her head. “I’m not exactly in the mood for reading… but I guess we can keep it in mind.”
You nod, pondering. “Maybe some other time, when we’re inevitably stuck inside from the stormy weather again.”
Sae-byeok sips on her caffeinated drink until the plain ceramic mug is empty, sitting alone on the coffee table.
You exhale, feeling slightly stuck and incredibly bored in the tiny apartment as you scroll through random blog posts and articles.
“Ooh, here’s something,” You nudge Sae-byeok’s knee with your foot, her attention turning from the coffee to your phone screen again. “We could paint pottery! I’m sure there’s one of those shops somewhere in this city…”
Her mildly tired expression perks up at the suggestion. “Paint… pottery?”
“Yeah! Basically, you pick out a blank mug, or plate, or whatever options they have… and they give you paints to color and design however you want! Then they glaze it and put it in the kiln or whatever- for us- and we pick them up once they’re all done.”
“So we get to keep them?” She clarifies, gears spinning behind her dark espresso eyes.
“Exactly! I used to go when I was a kid for birthday parties,” You explain excitedly. “I bet my parents still have some of my old works.”
Sae-byeok hums in intrigue. “That sounds… fun, actually. We should go.”
You stand, pushing your phone into your hoodie pocket. “Yeah? I think so, too!”
The drive to the small pottery shop you both selected is filled with quiet anticipation from Sae-byeok, who gazes out the windshield as the wipers whip back and forth to clear the droplets. You marvel at the rain racing down the car windows- something is so beautiful about the autumn season and its downpours.
This little pottery date was going to be so fun and charming, and blustery weather outside would do nothing to tamper it.
The car is parked in a small parking lot just outside the pottery shop. You and Sae-byeok hold your raincoat hoods over your hair, hustling to get inside as the shower pours down.
The front door jingles with whimsical little bell tones, bringing a smile to your face as you and your partner step inside. The shop smells like a fresh espresso, cozy hazel tones mixed with the slight scent of paint and clay. The whole shop practically envelopes your senses in a hug.
Sae-byeok breathes in, appreciating the aroma just as much as you.
One ceramicist greets you warmly, showing you the shelves of blank canvases to choose from.
“There’s little ceramic creatures, such as cats and dogs, over here,” The ceramicist gestures along the shelves. “Mugs and cups are on this shelf, and blank plates and bowls are just underneath. Pick whatever you want and find a table, and I’ll bring you two some paints.”
You thank the worker before turning to see Sae-byeok closely examining the shelves of pottery with squinted, critical eyes.
“Sae,” You laugh softly. “It’s not that serious. Just pick something you like!”
She turns to you, her sharp eyes momentarily softening. “What do you want to paint?”
You hum, taking a moment to scan over the shelves. “Hmm… I think I’ll paint this little mug,” You pick out one of the many ceramic mugs, carefully turning it in your hand to admire the small spiral design pre-carved into the handle.
Sae-byeok nods softly, watching the way your hands turn over the blank piece of pottery. “I’ll paint a mug too, so we can have a set of them for our morning coffee.”
Of course, caffeine was on her mind.
Despite her evident and crippling addiction, you smile at the thought. “That’s a great idea, silly.”
Sae snorts at the nickname, taking her time examining all the mugs before selecting a basic but charming cup with a few clay flowers added to the side. “... This one reminds me of you.”
You glance up at her face- her expression is soft again, her eyes trailing over the small flower design adorning the mug she chose with an affectionate type of gaze. Your smile grows at her thoughtfulness.
“... You’re so cute…”
She looks up at your coo, a small flush spreading across the freckles painted along her cheeks. “I… I’m not cute. I didn’t mean it like that.”
You scoff, leaning forwards to press a quick kiss to her sheepishly warmed cheek. “Yes, you did. Now come on, let’s go paint these mugs.”
Sae-byeok is left slightly befuddled from the peck as you find a cozy table near the window, watching the rain stream down the glass pane. She trails after you, setting her floral mug down on the table as she takes a seat across from you, muttering something under her breath- presumably about how annoying but endearing you are.
The kind ceramicist from before brings the both of you some sets of paint, giving you instructions to set it on a tray to let them dry when you finish.
You pick out a color scheme with your favorite colors, combining them in artsy swirls to pair with the engraving on the handle. Sae-byeok settles with a green and yellow theme- painting the flowers to be, presumably, some type of yellowish daisy.
The shop’s warm, hug-esc vibes cloud around you, filling the small corner you and Sae have chosen by the window with a coffee-scented vanilla aroma. The warmth and coziness of the pottery shop contrast well with the rain pattering against the cold glass beside you.
“Your mug is looking great,” You comment after a little while of comfortable silence, admiring the way Sae-byeok blends the darker greens of the mug into the light teals and limes of the flower stems.
She pauses her strokes to glance up at you, the focus in her intense gaze mellowing out for a moment.
“Your’s too,” She comments quietly, before returning to her work.
As you both paint, random conversation occasionally fills the space between the strokes of the pair of paintbrushes. Sae-byeok complains about whatever new odd job she’s picked up, you complain about your classes at university and the amount of homework you’re constantly drowning in.
Sae-byeok updates you about her workouts and morning runs, claiming she wanted to be “fit before the new year”. You couldn’t fathom working out voluntarily, let alone during the rainy, chilly autumn months. She seems eager to talk, though, and so you listen intently as she speaks in that pretty, mildly monotone voice.
After a while of painting and chatting, Sae-byeok finishes the design of her mug before you. She gently scoots it over for you to admire, though she warns you about messing up any of her perfect paint.
“Got it,” You snicker at her direct, serious expression. “I won’t touch any of the wet paint, Sae.”
She huffs slightly, but eases up after your promise.
The mug she painted is surprisingly artistic- there are many shades of darker green blending into each other, with pops of gold and yellow petals of the flowers tracing up along the body of the cup.
“I love it,” You murmur, your gaze flickering from her mug back up to her dark eyes. Sae-byeok’s freckled face is surprisingly hesitant, like she was analyzing if you were telling the truth or not.
“I’m serious,” You add, a small smile spreading across your face at the realization that she doesn’t believe you actually like her mug. You can now shower her with praise to prove her wrong- one of your favorite pastimes. “The shading on the petals is really clean, and the way the yellow contrasts with the dark green is so pretty! I think it’s perfect, Sae-byeok.”
You pause for dramatic effect, grinning.
“Just like you.”
Her reaction is immediate and predictable- the reason you had been grinning from the start of your intent mug-analysis. Sae-byeok’s cheeks turn slightly pink, though she remains stone-faced… a clear and obvious fake expression, as you know her well enough to tell that the way her ears turn redder and redder means she appreciates the praise. More than she would ever say aloud, of course.
“Stop being sappy…” She complains, snatching her mug back and giving you a half-hearted glare. She was embarrassed. You grin wider.
“Hey, I’m just being honest.” You protest, laughing softly, before you return to finishing the swirly painting of your colorful coffee mug.
Once you’re finished, you set the mugs on the tray (as instructed) to dry.
You almost don’t want to leave the comforting, painted coffee embrace of the ceramics shop.
“Well, we can come back in a few weeks to pick up the finished cups.” You murmur, partially talking to Sae and partially reassuring yourself. You and Sae-byeok slip your jackets back on, expecting the autumn shower to be ever present as it was when you came.
“... I don’t say this about a lot of things, but I’m excited to see them finished.” She admits.
“They’ll be perfect to fuel your ever-growing caffeine addiction.” You agree, teasing her.
When you listen to the jingle of the bells on the door, stepping outside again, the rain has stopped. The sun shimmers through the break in the October clouds, making the sleek road sparkle under your boots. The air is clear, crisp like autumn.
“As if you don’t drink as much coffee as me, stupid.” She snorts, opening the car door for you.
“At least our legacy is clear,” You joke. “Custom coffee cups painted by THE lesbians of all time.”
Sae-byeok rolls her eyes at you as you drive home to the little shared apartment, but you catch the affectionate smile gracing her lips. It sends a flutter through your body, your heart warm.
A few weeks later, the painted mugs sit proudly on the counter, both filled with coffee and love.