Chapter Text
“Are you an artist by any chance?”
“E-eh? What makes you ask that?” You look down at him as you hold your pen to your notepad, which you were planning to write his order on.
“This is my second time coming over, and I always notice you flicking your pen with a grin behind the counter.” The man wearing a navy suit chuckles as he points underneath the notepad, revealing a small coloured doodle of the wandering circus members that arrived last week.
Your eyes shoot wide as an awkward smirk stretches across your face on impulse. “WAHAH! Don’t tell my boss I’ve been slacking off.” You joke with a grin. “I just do it as a hobby, and recently I’ve been doing it more ever since that circus arrived. They just look so cute with their little bells and bright costumes.” You giggle to yourself.
“...Can I say that about grown men...?” you mumble to yourself, covering your mouth.
The man can’t help but stare in awe at your strange mannerisms. He must be wondering how someone like you even came to be. If he knew, he’d find out you were a class clown. Exaggerated hand gestures and expressions were kind of your thing. On top of that, you were also one of the class artists. That’s why you're EXTRA weird, but he didn’t seem to dislike your... unique qualities.
“Perhaps you could draw some posters for the circus by inquiring with one of them. It’d be nice to have one of the locals support it, right?” He slides a blue ticket across the table towards you. “I’m sure they’d like the offer.”
You look down at the ticket as its holographic lamination shines in the sunlight from the window. “Oh my- uhm... I can’t possibly take this for free. How much is it?”
“It’s on me. I have extras.” He smiles softly, his eyes almost closing as he does so.
“Wow, if I were you, I’d buy a bulk of those tickets and sell ’em to some locals at a higher price. Make sure nobody catches on, though.” You nod eagerly, eyes closing as you imagine yourself rolling in money. You practically salivate at the thought. Maybe you should do it yourself...?
You peek back at his expression, only to see the smile wiped off his face.
.....
“...So, what would you like from the menu?”