#shadowgast catfe

[rainbowcaleb]

Catfe: Frumpkin's First Fall Fest

(just the document title, I haven't decided yet! The WIP poll was very close so here's another snip for you)

Frumpkin is ever a gentleman even in face of great adversity. He was a prince of another land, the very goodest boy, and the winner of first place in the heart of his copper haired child-now-man. He is strong, he is beautiful, and he absolutely does not allow for interlopers to intrude on the delicate balance of the world he is in charge of overseeing. 

It would be a catastrophe, pun intended, if he ever turned away from his stalwart mission.

He is, of course, a leader and a diplomat. And sometimes hard choices must be made to protect the peace. And thus, Essek Thelyss has slid his slinky self into Frumpkin’s life and did not, for now, seem to be leaving. 

His tail bristles into a pumpkin pompom at the thought of Essek as a permanent resident, but Caleb’s happiness is paramount to Frumpkin, one of the cornerstones of his own life, and thus a fraught peace has been brokered between drow and cat.

Not that the idiot even notices. Frumpkin crouches down in his usual throne-perch above the catfe door, resisting the urge to gnaw his own paws as he watches Essek bustle around the kitchen, deftly working around and with Caleb as they get the morning rush orders out. A perfect latte for one, a nicely toasted bagel for another, a carry-out box wrapped with a bow for a third. In the teeny tiny space at the back of his great mind, Frumpkin is impressed at how quickly Essek had picked up on the intricacies of the catfe work. Impressive…for a usurper. Caleb pats on Essek’s arm with a fondness lighting his eyes and Frumpkin bites on the edge of his perch. His human with a heart much too big and soft needs to be protected, even if Frumpkin is the last cat standing after Essek has won over all the rest. He is a deeply rooted tree, an ancient mountain; he will not be moved.

Ah–! There’s that suspicious streak again, more proof that Frumpkin has been slowly amassing over the months. Essek has paused in his coffee prep, glancing up to where Frumpkin hid most magnificently. Essek’s eyes are much too sharp, scheming and distrustful, how else could he see where Frumpkin hid? He watches Frumpkin for far too long, the milk steamer clinking its timer several minutes ago. Frumpkin swishes his tail like a threat, like a challenge. Let the well-dressed bastard respond to that! Essek looks away, turning his attention back to the half-finished cappuccino in his hand. Frumpkin smiles to himself. Frumpkin 12, Essek 0. He has won another round.

[glossolali]

a heart is hard to translate

shadowgast - cat café AU

coda to chanse @spottedenchants cute catfé fic (tumblr, ao3)

—

Caleb's ginger waves are twisted into a simple braid today, and a beloved memory flips its dog-eared pages open for Essek, warming him inside and out.

"Do you remember when we first met and you were wearing your hair up with one fishtail braid on each side?"

His partner looks up at him with an amused half-smile, "Yes."

"I recall thinking it was on purpose for a moment. It took me by surprise, and I got even more nervous. I always wondered if you knew what it meant."

Caleb's brow furrows further.

"I suppose from the mystified look on your face that you don't, then."

Caleb slots a postcard into his book and shuts it and lays it in his lap, then looks intently at Essek.

"Am I supposed to?"

"Not necessarily."

Caleb quirks a brow at him, squints and waits, then smiles again when nothing more is proffered.

"Alright."

And he makes to go back to his book, a little smile still curling his lip.

Infuriating man.

In bringing this up, something in his belly flutters, dormant butterflies from their first meeting awakening from their slumber.

read the rest on AO3

"Hair and hairstyles have some significance in Kryn culture. As does its lack, but that's a story for a different time." He smiles ruefully when he catches Caleb's eye again, who gazes back at him, curious and attentive once more.

"Some styles are meant to indicate status, wealth. Some more complex styles are specific to specific dens. Yours, however, was something different. The style is called Nau'shindcal, meaning fruit."

"Fruit.. What is that referring to?"

Essek regards him meaningfully and then says in a matter-of-fact tone, "Well.. fruit is meant to be picked, and eaten."

It is a rare thing, but it always makes Essek even more utterly taken with him to see Caleb blush as he does now, how it colors his pale skin rosy, all the way down his neck and up to the tips of his ears.

Eyes round, he blinks a few times, seemingly speechless.

Essek carries on, so very delighted, and curious to see how he reacts further.

"Literally, the word comes from the root words 'forbidden' and 'eat'. It is meant to indicate one's availability and willingness to be courted. And imply others' temptation to do so. Not unlike the temptation to pick a piece of fruit from a tree."

Caleb's eyes widen and he processes for a few more moments then, adorably, he hides his face in his open book and grumbles loudly.

"Ugh.. Jester. Jessie knew. That's why she insisted," his muffled voice says.

Essek is taken aback, and it makes him laugh, sudden and wholehearted.

"Ah. It actually makes a lot of sense that she was involved."

Exasperating as she is, he loves that meddling girl very much.

Caleb has now laid his head on the table and is covering his head with his book.

Essek reaches over and gently moves the book aside, and cards his fingers through Caleb's auburn locks, curling a strand around his forefinger as he speaks.

"If it helps, it made you even more.. intriguing. And not just because you looked good in that hairstyle."

Caleb looks up at him from under lovely ginger lashes, embarrassment seemingly forgotten, and sends a smirk his way that makes the butterflies flit around even more aggressively.

"Noted."

Essek smiles back in much the same manner, and silently applauds himself that he succeeded in flustering Caleb a little. It's why he brought this up in the first place.

Caleb leans up and into the space between them and kisses him soundly and suddenly. Essek makes a surprised noise, then presses back into the kiss, reciprocating, drawn to him as if by something as irrefutable as gravity.

Caleb looks terribly self-satisfied when he pulls away. Essek's face warms, and he rolls his eyes, pushing on Caleb's chest playfully to get away from him.

"Caleb Widogast."

Caleb laughs, and it lights up his nerves in the best way, and Essek can't resist his infectious joy, his own irritated smile splitting into a laugh as he joins him right after.

He makes a mental note to thank Jester later.

[quinn-of-aebradore]

If youre still taking asks :D rest sweetheart I'll take care of it?

I absolutely am! rest sweetheart is my next catfe fic! In which, not too long after the wizards start dating, Caleb gets sick and Essek offers to run the cafe for the day in his place. Cue sickfic hurt/comfort and Essek learning how to customer service.

“I would ask if you’re alright but that doesn’t look to be the case,” that gets a small chuckle from him. “How bad is it?”

To his surprise, Caleb shakes his head. “It’s just a cold, schatz,” he cracks his eyes open and the look he gives Essek is soft, if tired from interrupted sleep. “You don’t need to worry.”

Caleb, while sick, is a terrible liar.

“Caleb,” he gives him the most serious look he can at the moment. “My dear, you sound terrible.”

He sighs and rolls over to face Essek, who sinks back down so they’re level. “I don’t want to close the cafe today,” he grumbles, the effect amplified by the cough. “I don’t like being closed unexpectedly.

WIP Title Ask Game

[rainbowcaleb]

REALITY BREAK!!!