Quentin Coldwater (lostinbetween) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2019-06-15 19:24:00 |
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Ozma tried to eat healthily, well slightly healthily because there was no way she was going to give up her bacon cheeseburgers and onion rings with a beer no matter what anyone said, but sometimes the craving for a cake was just overwhelming and she had to cave and go pick up a small one. Or maybe some cupcakes if they had the chocolate fudge ones that she loved available. She pulled into the last parking spot in the lot and grabbed her wallet to go into the store, smoothing down her mini skirt as she went.
She shivered slightly as the AC hit her as she stepped through the door, a little smile on her face as she saw an almost full tray of those cupcakes in the display case.
***
“I’ll uh take some of the chocolate ones,” Quentin said to the person behind the counter. Julia had a soft spot for chocolate and seeing as she wasn’t feeling too great he figured it would help and whatever he could do to help he was going to. She was his best friend after all and had come all this way out to Orange County on a whim.
He rubbed at the back of his neck.
“And maybe some of the vanilla too.”
***
Ozma had to smile when she saw who was waiting in line. The young man she’d set up an appointment to interview for an assistant job. Not having a house to meet at, and not wanting to invite a relative stranger to her hotel room, she’d suggested they meet at her favorite bakery. It was a public place and she knew most of the workers there so she felt safe. “Looks like I’m not the only one who had the idea to get here early for our meeting. It is Quentin right?”
***
Oh, crap. Quentin tried to keep his surprise and dismay from reflecting on his face when he realised that the woman he was near to just so happened to be his prospective employer. Thankfully he hadn’t made a total ass out of himself.
“Yeah, that’s me. You must be Ozma.”
A hand was offered with a smile. “Nice to meet you.”
***
Ozma’s smile got brighter as she reached out to shake his hand. “Pleasure’s mine. Don’t judge me for getting my sweet tooth settled before we get down to our meeting alright?” She asked, Australian accent noticeable if you knew what you were listening to. She’d practiced to make it subtler after moving to the United States after all. “I’ve had the absolute worst craving for a fudge cupcake all afternoon.”
***
“Never,” Quentin assured her with a warm smile. He did pick up on the accent but figured it wasn’t something to ask during a job interview, a relaxed one, but a job interview all the same. “I can’t say I blame you, this entire shop smells amazing.”
He pulled his hand back and swept his fingers through the few errant strands that had escaped his ponytail.
“Thank you for meeting me.”
***
Ozma grinned at him as she stepped up to the counter around him, placing her credit card in the machine to cover both their orders as she placed hers. A fudge cupcake and a peppermint hot chocolate. “Drink Quentin?” She asked over her shoulder before the transaction finished processing.
“I should be saying that to you. I’ve been trying to find someone to help me out for months. And never thought to look on the Network.”
***
“Uh, yeah, I’ll take a coffee.” Because why wouldn’t he? He definitely had a coffee problem but it was better that kind of problem than any other. “Thank you.” He reached up to tuck an errant strand of hair behind his ear.
He smiled a little and arched his eyebrow. “Sometimes the most obvious things are the ones staring us in the face but then it’s hard to notice them.”
***
Ozma added his coffee to the order, giving the clerk a bright smile as she put her pin in to finalize the sale. “The day I don’t pick up coffee and snacks when I’m meeting someone is the day everyone needs to worry that something is actually wrong with me. Or ask to see whatever I bought last because it’s bound to be completely amazing.” She turned around to look at him as she slid her card back into her wallet.
She had to laugh at his observation about the most obvious things in life. “Touche. I think I’m going to enjoy getting to know you better Quentin.” She said, turning to grab their snacks and handing him his order as she took a little lick of the frosting off hers. “Why don’t we take that booth there in the back to chat. That way we won’t be in the way and might be able to avoid some interruptions.”
***
“Noted,” Quentin answered with a small smile as he filed away that tidbit of information for reference at a later date if required. He took his order with a “thank you” before he nodded, trailing along beside Ozma. “Makes sense.”
Hopefully this would be the start of something beautiful.
So far so good.