Who: Ozma and Setsuna What: Ozma is hungover but still needs her pastry fix When: 10/4 Where: The bakery where Setsuna works Rating/Warnings: Hungover and sleep deprived stressed out Ozma Status: Complete when posted
Ozma had known the second she woke up and got a look in the mirror that she wasn’t going to be able to make herself presentable without help. So she’d called James and asked him to come over, trusting his experience as a makeup artist to pull through and cover up the worst of the damage that she’d done to herself this week. She wasn’t testifying but she wasn’t going to not go and support Weiss in trying to bring her father down. Plus there was something satisfying in seeing him uncomfortable about the fact that he couldn’t rattle her no matter what he tried. She hoped that Setsuna was working that morning, that he’d been able to save some of her favorite pastries for her. And if there was enough of them - she’d get some to take with her to the Courthouse to share with some of the others.
She opened up the door and gave a half forced smile when she saw the blonde behind the counter. “Just who I was hoping to see.” She said as she stepped up to talk to him, her voice missing some of it’s normal perkiness. She could fake a smile but that was about as far as she’d gotten.
***
He enjoyed his mornings when Ozma appeared. He always set aside a chocolate croissant for her. If it got too late, he would change it out for a fresher batch, and if it was a day Ozma didn’t show up, he would eat it himself.
Currently, there was a fresh batch to the side.
When he saw Ozma, Setsuna gave a bright smile, genuine, full and impulsive. He did notice a subdued air about her, but didn’t think much of it, just yet.
“Good morning! I’m guessing you want the usual?”
***
“Morning Setsuna.” Ozma tried to make herself sound brighter but she couldn’t quite pull it off. “Actually could I get a dozen of them in a box? I want to take them to the Courthouse with me to share with everyone while we’re waiting.” She gave him an almost apologetic smile. “Please I mean. Sorry it’s been a long week and it’s all catching up with me.”
*** “Of course,” Setsuna answered and started to put together a box of the most recent batch. “Courthouse?” he had to ask, eyebrows raised from curiosity. Long week, indeed. “I try to avoid places like that.” Or anything online. Or anything political. Or anything that sounded like it would be draining.
“I can tell,” Setsuna said, his smile softened to more sympathetic. “Looks like you over did it, huh?”
*** Ozma's smile almost reached her eyes this time. "Nothing I did this time. I'm there supporting two friends." Only because somehow they hadn't found out she'd been involved in getting Elsa free from where Jacques Schnee had been holding her after kidnapping her.
"Maybe a little. But I accomplished my goal of forgetting everything for a few hours." And the headache would pass. It always did.
*** “This time?” Setsuna had to ask, one eye-brow raised in curiosity. “Is there a story there?”
All the same, his smile softened when she said she was supporting a couple of friends. “You’re a very good friend, then.”
He laughed at her commentary, then asked, “Do you want some coffee to go with this?”
***
Ozma couldn't help it, despite how tired she was, she had to give the young man a wink at that question. "I have all sorts of stories darling. That one though...might get you into trouble if I share it with you at work." She wasn't embarrassed by what she'd done to get in trouble with the police back then but it wasn't a story to share in public.
"I'd do just about anything for the people I love. Even if all I get to do right now is sit there and give them my support while they testify against someone - I'll do it." She'd do a hell of a lot more for Elsa and Weiss if the opportunity arose.
"Coffee would be wonderful today. Just a little bit of cream please." Setsuna was definitely her favorite worker here.
***
To her story disclaimer, Setsuna smiled sheepishly, looked down, and his cheeks dusted over with a light rose. “Then, I’ll have to ask you again when I’m off the clock.”
He started to prepare her coffee, careful with the cream, and listened.
“You really do sound like a good friend,” he said as he handed over the steaming, closed cup, then boxed up the rest of her order and handed that over as well. “So I hope things turn out well. For your sake.” After all, he doesn’t know the other parties involved.
***
Ozma would have been lying if she’d said a small part of her didn’t get a kick out of how easy it was at times to make Setsuna blush during her morning visits. She didn’t even try some of the time - it just happened. “Deal. We’ll grab lunch or something when life has calmed down for me and I’ll tell you about it. It’s pretty funny to me at least.” Other people might not see it that way but..if she couldn’t laugh at herself than what was the point of doing what she wanted even if it turned out to be a mistake?
“Thanks darling. I promise next time I come in I’ll try to be more myself. At the very least better rested.” She pulled out a large bill from her wallet, handing it to Setsuna with a wink to cover both her tab and give him a nice tip. It was part of her routine when she came in, knowing that while the owner paid his people really well it was still really expensive to live in this area. She had to take care of the people who kept her fueled up.
***
If only he knew she took any sort of joy out of his bashfulness, he might have been less embarrassed about it. But as it was, he knew he blushed a bit easily, and felt pathetic for it. Setsuna was eager to switch focus, “Sure. Lunch sounds like a good idea.”
Normally, Setsuna would protest at being called certain names, Ozma, especially when paying extra money, really could get away with just about anything.
“Don’t worry about it. You feel how you feel. Whatever you come in feeling like, I’m here to listen and help get your morning fix,” Setsuna told her as he handed over the items and some coffee.
***
“I’ll see you next time Setsuna.” Ozma managed to dredge up another smile for him as she took her purchases and went out the door.