poppy-and-her-cuppa

[poppy-and-her-cuppa]

He looked good. Which wasn't to say Poppy didn't always think that of Robbie because... well, she did. But after not having seen him in the course of that week since Christmas, it was almost magnified in this moment. So much so that she had to remind herself that he'd spoken, that he'd asked her a question.

"Dreadful, if I'm being honest," she admitted before she really caught herself. But, then again, she had come here in the spirit of being truthful, hadn't she? "I didn't enjoy avoiding you... and I was. Avoiding you, I mean." She bit her lip, all too convinced that she was fumbling in her efforts to sound like anything other than a bumbling idiot. Or insulting, which was worse. "I would say that I didn't mean to kiss you on Christmas... but that would be a lie. I wanted to. But I just didn't expect it from myself, and then I ran. Because I kissed you and I didn't even stop myself to ask if you would have wanted me to. And that just felt incredibly selfish and foolish. But avoiding you over that was also selfish and foolish so..." She looked up at him again, having been unintentionally avoiding eye contact during her rambling efforts. "I suppose I just wanted to say... that I love you, really. I have for longer than I'd like to admit. But I need to say it so that I can get over it, because loving someone who doesn't feel the same is... well, dreadful, as I said."

Despite having planned to stay open normal hours Robbie was slowly starting to close up the shop several hours earlier than planned. No one else had booked in for the afternoon and given the weather, drop ins were unlikely. Most people would probably leave it till New Year’s Day or after that now. He paused before opening the safe to check his phone. It was something he’d found himself doing more frequently in the past week. But the message he was hoping to see was never there. This time wasn’t any different. Sighing he put the cash drawer away in safe. All that was left to do was close up the main space and he could go home to that glass of Scotch Kenna had promised to have waiting for him.

Switching the light off he stepped out of them office and came face to face with the person who hadn’t left his mind since Christmas Day. Though if he was being honest that wasn’t entirely unusual. But this week had been. She’d kissed him and then left and it had been all he could think about. All he could worry about - the possibilities of why she would avoid him after that.

“Hi…” he replied, surprised to see her even though it’s what he’d been hoping for. Now she was here though he wasn’t quite sure what to say. “How have you been?” Was all he could settle on in that initial moment.

[poppy-and-her-cuppa]

NYE Confessions

To say that Poppy had been avoiding Robbie since the hasty Christmas kiss incident was an understatement. She'd already planned to have the week off of work between Christmas and New Years, but had even gone so far as to stay with Magnolia for the bulk of that time. She was quite the sort to panic, which came as no surprise to anyone that knew her well. And her friend hadn't pressed the issue... at least until the afternoon of New Years Eve. She'd been giving Poppy the heads up that she'd be away for the night, and had not so subtly told her to face whatever was bothering her head on so that she could go into the new year with a clear conscience. And, well, Poppy couldn't really argue with that logic.

So she'd moved herself and Cosmo back into her flat, gotten nearly settled in, and then picked up her phone to call Robbie. Only she was remembering him having mentioned bwing open on NYE even despite the day. And that thought was really all it took to send her off on her jaunt to Caledonia Repairs.

It wasn't far, all in all. About a ten minute walk normally. But she hadn't properly looked into the fact that it was about to start snowing about halfway into the journey. So her hair was now faintly damp and dotted with the odd few snowflakes, much like Cosmo's fur on Christmas morning.

She'd nearly started to knock before the door opened into the small office space attached to the garage, revealing a clearly surprised Robbie who seemed to be trying to close up shop. "Hi..."

@robbiethebear

[poppy-and-her-cuppa]

Poppy's blush deepened probably to the most embarassing degree, but she managed a smile even despite it. "Don't suppose you'd join me for a drink?"

"I mean it, you look beautiful," Though in reality she always looked beautiful to him he supposed.

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"I know! She's far more powerful than people give her credit for at first blush."

"Do not forget she's the queen of the afterlife, not just the goddess of spring,"

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"Thank you. That's rather sweet of you to say."

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"Goodness, that's a lovely show of ambition as well. Well done to you both," Poppy said as she finally let Cosmos out of the cat backpack and he hopped up on her shoulder. The action resulted in a laugh from her. "He's actually quite good for his vaccinations, I promise."

At the Animal Hospital

"Its been pretty busy here lately with it getting colder. I have been working with Hiro to expand and make a pet resort so people can board their pets when they go out of town."

[poppy-and-her-cuppa]

[poppy-and-her-cuppa]

That smile melted Poppy’s anxiety as much as it added to it, and she was almost certain there was a hint of blush on her cheeks now. “There’s no harm in being a creature of habit in some senses. It’s nice to know what you like,” she reasoned, tidying a bit behind the counter so she could avoid eye contact for the moment even though her expression was still a smile. “You never did tell me why you were working so late last night. Secret task to fix up the Batmobile?” Because even though she could tend to be shy, she still felt comfortable being playful with most of her pack mates. And Robbie… well, he was made her feel like she could climb Mt Everest without breaking a sweat when he looked at her. “I figured a touch of caffeine might help, in any case.”

He gave her a small smile. Because it was just like her to need to be absolutely sure he was ok with what she'd given him. That consideration of others was one of the things he admired about her. "I promise," he repeated. He likely would have drunk it even if he hadn't liked it. But it did actually taste quite nice. "It makes a nice change. You know how much of a creature of habit I can be,"

[poppy-and-her-cuppa]

Poppy laughed at that. "I see. Do you want me to tell you if your guesses are correct?"

"No, no, I like it. I'm just trying to figure out everything that's in it," she said, taking another sip.

[poppy-and-her-cuppa]

Poppy bit her lip as she watched Robbie. He was polite to a fault, and she felt rather like an imposition for insisting he try the latte simply because of the art on top. "You promise you don't want a regular cuppa? I wouldn't be offended."

"There's no need Poppy, honestly," he assured her. "I might not be a regular coffee drinker but it's good,"

[poppy-and-her-cuppa]

"It's a lavender latte with a touch of honey for sweetness."

"But...." He sniffed the cup. "What is it?"

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Poppy smiled a bit at that. "I would hope so. I don't like to consider myself inhospitable."

"Very hospitable of you..." He purred.

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Poppy watched Ben with a wary expression, having anticipated the ill-form reaction. She slid a regular cup of breakfast tea towards him as she replied. "You were the one who said you wanted to try it... and I did tell you it had chili in it."

"What do I look like? A ninny?" Ben snarled at her, downing the cup of tea in one gulp. Grimacing at it. "What the hell, woman! Are you trying to kill me?"

[poppy-and-her-cuppa]

[poppy-and-her-cuppa]

At Poppy's Brews

"Oh... I could make you something different if that's not to your tastes?"