Judith
Circ — 05/11/2021
The owner nods and smiles as she begins brewing a pot of coffee. "I'll go ask in a minute, if she's awake. She's been sleeping a lot." She pokes her head out back to grab the kettle, pouring a cup. "That's a good thing, actually. I think she's getting better." She places the cup on the counter and leaves a teabag in it, then walks out past the cordoned-off area.

It takes her a few minutes to come back, accompanied by a still-frail Annika wrapped in a warm blanket. Still, Annika looks less frazzled now - her shiny blond hair having been cleaned up and combed, her face looking calmer, even the halo above her head seeming slightly less cracked, though perhaps that is only imagination. 

That only lasts about a split-second, until she notices Rai, at which point she hides behind the proprietor. The two whisper for a moment, before Annika shyly grabs the proprietor's hand and walks further in.

The proprietor smiles at Rai. "I'm sorry, but would it be possible for you to..." She gestured vaguely at her face. "I think Annika would like that more."



CEO of Buff womf — 06/11/2021
Valio smiles at the woman as she brews the coffee. She listens in on the woman speaking nodding along as the woman gets the kettle. "That's nice to hear. It's also a joy to know she's getting better thank you for letting me know." She speaks watching the cup brew with the tea she had asked for. 

Val takes the minutes to look at her tea before looking at the other whom she is accompanied by. "Sorry about that. What's your name?" Valio asked before the owner had come back with Annika in tow. She does indeed look better now which made Valio incredibly relieved to see. At least she isn't in so much pain now that had hurt to see. Her halo looks... Different but the look was short lived. 

Valio looks at the more tribal looking figure beside them. As the owner talks to the figure she talks to them as well.
"It's your choice." She tells the masked stranger.
Leslie
As soon as the proprietor gestured to her mask, Rai couldn't help but get shaken up by the idea of removing her mask. Her leather gloved hands grab the sides as if to keep it on while shaking her head 'no' nervously. She quietly removes herself from her seat to sit at the far back pulling her hood over her head. Her masked face turned to the window with her back facing them.
Judith
The owner nods understandingly, and Annika does too. Rai's reaction seems to have actually calmed Annika down a little.

They both sit down at a table, and the owner gestures to the chairs on the other side. There's an air of comfort about Annika, in spite of her frazzled state - a sense that she feels at least somewhat at home in this environment, even if it is only a temporary home. She loosens the blanket wrapped around her a slight bit. She doesn't quite seem like she can get herself to smile just yet, even though she thinks she ought to.

"Hello." Her voice is almost a whisper, but it's clear and distinct - not to mention she hasn't coughed yet.
Jim
Valio watches Rai turn away with a confused yet understanding look, she turns back to the owner. If it makes the stranger most comfortable to keep the mask on who is she to argue. 

Val walks over to the table Annika and the woman have sat at and moves a chair out to sit on the other side. Seeing the girl in a homely place has given Valio comfort in this meet-up. She looks at Annika with a gentle stare, it's fine if she doesn't smile if she's at least the bare minimum of the word okay then valio's heart is at rest. 

Valio quirks her eyebrow up at the girl saying hello. She speaks gently. "Hey Annika." Oh thank the Lord she hasn't coughed yet.
Leslie
Sitting alone in the shadowed corner, Rai minded her own business unsure of how to properly interact with people. If her mask spooks them, maybe its best to stay away for now. It was a strange environment to step into after living outside for so long. The attire within the building felt eerie and surreal from her perspective that made her shrink in her seat. All she wanted is a nice cup of coffee to enjoy before escaping back into the woods. Perhaps she could kill something to bring food back for Evan? The thought of him being skinny showed signs that he won't make it in the winter. She rest the side of her head on her gloved hand, staring out the window distracting herself with other thoughts.
Jim
Valio looks over to her right, finding the girl not there, then she looks around only to find her sitting in a shrouded corner. She taps her fingers on the table she's sitting at before looking at the owner. 

"May I bring her the coffee she ordered? Then I can ask you what I owe." She asks, looking at the owner with a soft stare. 


If the stranger does not know then they do not need to enter. They are allowed to take as much time as they need but the being needs to know that there are others here willing to care. 


She hopes that will help. Somewhat.
Judith
The owner smiles at Valio's request, but she doesn't immediately respond. She and Annika exchange a few quiet whispers. Annika clears her throat a few times throughout. When they finally seem to have come to an agreement, Annika stands up, and the owner smiles. "It's alright, dear." She intones sweetly. "I'll get the coffee."

Before Valio can object, they're behind the counter, pouring a cup of coffee. The girl who was out front when Valio and Rai first entered pops her head out from the back and converses briefly with the owner, then brings Valio her tea. She looks a few years younger than Valio, up close.

"Sorry about them," She says. "Annika's still getting used to people not wanting to kill her, and Jaden is... Jaden. She's always trying to save everyone." It seems to hold up, as Annika and the owner, apparently Jaden, walk over to Rai, hand in hand. They could almost be mistaken for mother and child, were it not for the halo above Annika's head.

At Rai's table, Annika gives a slow nod. "We have your coffee," Jaden quickly intercedes. "You can come sit with us, if you like." She continues. There's a warmth in her voice, genuine caring for someone who seems to be having a hard time - much like Annika, really. "It's okay," Annika confirms softly, "Y-you can come."
Jim
The woman blanks at the owner she watches the woman, confused about the ordeal. The woman stands leaving a confused woman to herself. 

She couldn't have objected even if she tried, that'd just would have been rude. She taps on the table once more. Did she offend? Gods she hopes not. While in her thoughts she gets brought out of them when the girl brings the tea she had asked for. 

"Oh no worries it was just sudden." She says trying to reassure the girl. "Ah... I understand it's what she does and I best leave her to it." She laughs bringing her drink up to her lips. She looks over to the owner as they walk to Rai; they look almost familial how nice, she thinks.
Leslie
Rai's daydream and thoughts soon died as soon as she heard a voice dragging back into reality. She couldn't help but jumped when there are two people standing near her. Nervously, she nods and her masks rattles when her round eyes narrows into crescent shapes. "O-Oh... Y-you both don't mind..?" Her voice sound hollow, almost distant but soft as powdered snow. It takes her a moment, then decides to move closer to the group. Rai stayed little ways for space to prevent bringing a chill near the others.
Judith
With Rai within earshot - even if not sitting at the same table - Annika sits back down with Valio, and Jaden and the other girl head around back to do the dishes.

The silence is thick at first. Uncomfortable, almost sticky in its sensation. Like a heavy blanket wrapped around everything, almost making it hard to breathe. It holds a perverse sort of power, or it feels that way.

Then Annika starts mumbling something. It's impossible to make out, but she seems intent on saying it. She breaks into a fit of raspy, hollow coughs, clears her throat, and speaks up.

"Thank you for not hurting me," She says. Her tone is flat, emotionless. No descending tone of a serious sentence, nor the rising tone of a question or being unsure. It sounds as though each sentence cuts off a little early, before her pitch shifts at all, so she simply stops mid-vowel like pausing a movie.

"What do you-" She coughs again, seemingly from stress. "What do you want?"
Jim
Valio watches the girl leave and the other two return. The other is within earshot but at least they feel they can get closer. 

A Valio feels the silence weigh heavy on the three. It's enough to make somebody insane. Hopefully this blanket of silence doesn't stay for long. Val looks out a window in the meantime, she perks at the girl- Annika saying something in a whisper before, coughing and speaking in a sort of rasp. 

"I wouldn't even think of hurting you..." Valio speaks to the girl. But, it seems she wasn't looking for that answer; so, Valio decides to stare at the tea in her hands. 

"Oh?" Valio stills. "Nothing. I just felt like I needed to see if you were getting better. Sorry."