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Description
Gift for Tryepoid

  The fox fluffed her fur against the autumn chill. The trees were already beginning to change, and the sound of leaves crunching underpaw echoed in the dawn air.

  Cocoa had been awake for several hours already, stressing about the day ahead. She had every detail planned out weeks ago, and this date had to be perfect. Lumikki was only going to be in Maple City for a few days, and Cocoa wanted to make the most of it.

  She had told Lumikki to wait at the courtyard by the airport, keeping the rest of her plan a careful secret.

  Finally reaching her destination, Cocoa scanned the area for the fluffy dragon. Hearing the pawsteps behind her, she turned as large wings swept her up into a hug.

  “Hey, Cocoa!”

  “Hi, Lumi! I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.” The fox flicked her ear nervously.

  “Oh, don’t worry about it- I just got here a few minutes ago!” The dutchie trilled, excited. “Wings above, I can’t believe I’m really here! I want to visit all of your favorite places and see all the weird things about Maple City; I heard you pour maple syrup on the snow and eat it, like, what? Where are we going first?! I am absolutely starving, so hopefully food?” Lumikki rambled.

  “That’s a secret, boo; you’ll have to wait and see.” Cocoa stuck her tongue out. “There will be food, don’t worry. I can’t have my girlfriend starve on her first day in my city.”

  Lumikki pouted, but a grin played at the corners of her mouth. “Must be good then, for you to be so secretive. What did you do, love?”

  Cocoa only smiled mischievously. Flicking her tail for Lumikki to follow, she skipped out of the courtyard and down the street. They wove in and out of the bustling crowd, Lumikki following her date as she scampered ahead.

  “Cocoa, slow down!” She had to shout ahead several times as Cocoa wove through gaps too small for Lumikki to follow.

  Finally, the energetic fox stopped in front of a small backstreet alley. “Boo, are you ready to be astonished, amazed, and, dare I say, flabbergasted?”

  “What are you on, Cocoa?” Lumikki giggled. “There’s nothing here!”

  “Don’t be so sure!” Cocoa pulled back a curtain hanging over the alleyway, stepping neatly through the narrow space.

  Lumikki squished herself in after her. Cocoa turned around, watching her girlfriend’s face closely. As the dragon finally popped out of the small alley, she gaped.

  Stained glass shards decorated a small, grassy lawn in front of a small coffee shop. Sunlight poured down from the open roof, making tiny rainbows across the hidden café. A weathered sign hung above the door, spelling out The Ginger Fox in faded letters.

  “Whoa…” Lumikki breathed, wide-eyed.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it? I love to go here to get away from all of the hustle and bustle everywhere else in the city.”

  Lumikki paused. “Wait, I think I’ve heard of this place! That internet café reviewer… who was it… TeaTail_Reviews? She gave it such a good rating- it seemed amazing!”

  “I’m surprised you know about that. I’ve become kind of popular online, I guess.” The words slipped out of Cocoa’s mouth before she could rethink them. Oh, no. Here we go.

  Lumikki snapped her head around so fast that Cocoa was surprised she didn’t break her neck. “Wait, wait, wait, wait, are you saying you’re TeaTail_Reviews? What? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Ah, it didn’t seem that important.” Cocoa mumbled. Her ears flattened to her head in embarrassment, and she directed her attention away from Lumikki.

  “How did I not realize, though? Cafés are, like, your entire thing!”

  “Well, I don’t really show my face or talk about myself much. I don’t want any special treatment when I go somewhere.”

  “Still-”

  “Aw, come on, you haven’t even seen inside yet!” Cocoa turned and started walking towards the small building.

  “Dodging questions much?” Lumikki laughed as she jumped forward to catch up.

  “We can talk about it inside where it is warm and not windy, you impatient furball.”

  Lumikki’s noise of protest was interrupted as they stepped inside. She stared at the room, taking it all in. Several small tables were set up around the room, along with couches and pillows where customers could sit. The entire café was colored in autumn shades, the morning sunlight pouring through a fiery stained glass window. Lumikki’s white fur was speckled gold by the blown glass leaves hung from the ceiling as her eyes combed over the area. Finally, she looked back at Cocoa.

  “I can’t believe you’ve never sent me a picture of this place,” She breathed. “It’s beautiful.”

  A sleek red fox sat behind a counter full of baked goods, sipping a cup of coffee. Her ears pricked up as Cocoa walked to her. “Heya Cocoa, the usual?” She glanced at Lumikki and smirked. “And who could this be? Perhaps the girlfriend you’re always talking about?”

Lumikki glanced at Cocoa, who seemed to be trying to melt into the floor. “You talk about me?”

  “Oh, gods, yes. How you’re so perfect this, too talented that, ‘oh my goodness Ginger today she did this and I may have actually died’.”

  “Aw, Cocoa, that’s so sweet!” Lumikki smiled at the fox.

  “Uh, well, I just tell her the truth.” Cocoa mumbled, staring intently at her paws.

  “Skies above, stop being so sappy! Ya want something or not?” Ginger interrupted.

  “Oh, uh, yeah, I’ll have the usual!”

  “Yip yip, medium chai latte with almond milk! And you?”

  Lumikki hesitated, skimming over the menu. “Um… a large hot chocolate with extra whipped cream, please.”

  “And a slice of double chocolate cake and an apple-cinnamon muffin!” Cocoa added.

  “Right, that’s $14.80. You can choose anywhere to sit, and it’ll be out in a moment!” Ginger stood and trotted to the back, pulling out cups to begin the drinks.

  Cocoa dropped the money on the counter and walked to a table in the sunlight. She sat down on a soft red pillow, settling into a loaf. Lumikki sat across from her, tucking her tail around her paws to fit on the cushion.

  Cocoa giggled as her girlfriend attempted to balance, wobbling slightly. “You can drag over other pillows, you know, Ginger doesn’t mind!”
  She paused sheepishly. “Well, as long as we put them back.”

  “So, Cocoa, about your social media account…” Lumikki began as she settled into her nest of pillows, “I get not showing your face, but why didn’t you at least tell me?”

  “Ah, well, I was kinda trying to keep this café a surprise. It’s my favorite place in the entire city, and I wanted to be the one to show you!” She sighed. “Sorry, that seems kind of selfish.”

  “No, no, no. I, uh, actually think that’s really sweet! It’s like, you’re sharing something that means a lot to you. It’s adorable. And this place really matches you.” She leaned over the table, using her height to rest her nose against Cocoa’s forehead.

  Cocoa giggled. “I’m glad I got to take you.”

  Ginger crept over to the two, placed their order on the table, then quickly snuck away, mumbling vaguely, “Don’t mind me, I am not here, invisible fox, yep, that’s me.”

  They both watched the fox’s tail disappear into the backroom before dissolving into laughter. Cocoa flicked her ear. “Now you need to see if the drinks match up to your expectations.”

  Lumikki took a small, experimental sip. Eyes glowing, she let out a small chirp. “It’s so good! I mean, I should’ve expected that since you love this place so much and you’re a picky little furball, but it’s delicious!”

  Cocoa let out an indignant yelp. “I am not picky, I have standards. There is a difference.”

  “Sure, sure, whatever you say.” Lumikki grinned as she drank more of the hot chocolate.

  They sat there for the next hour, talking about anything and everything that came to mind and filling the room with their laughter. Their snacks disappeared quickly, sunbeams creeping across the room as time stretched on.

  Finally, Cocoa stood and stretched, looking at the clock. “No matter how much I love this place, we should get going. There are plenty of other things I have to show you!”

  “We’ll need to come back before I have to go home. And you better call me from here, too!” Lumikki followed the fox out of the door, bell jingling as they stepped into the tiny yard.

  “Oh, wait, Cocoa!”

  She turned as Lumikki spoke. “Yea-”

  Her sentence was cut off as Lumikki kissed her sweetly, a feathered tail curling around her own. “Thank you for showing me this place, really. It’s amazing.” The dutchie murmured.

  Cocoa’s fur fluffed up in embarrassment. “Well, uh, like I said, we-we should probably get going! We don’t want to be late!”

  Lumikki laughed at her flustered girlfriend. “Lead the way, love.”

Description
Gift for Tryepoid

  The fox fluffed her fur against the autumn chill. The trees were already beginning to change, and the sound of leaves crunching underpaw echoed in the dawn air.

  Cocoa had been awake for several hours already, stressing about the day ahead. She had every detail planned out weeks ago, and this date had to be perfect. Lumikki was only going to be in Maple City for a few days, and Cocoa wanted to make the most of it.

  She had told Lumikki to wait at the courtyard by the airport, keeping the rest of her plan a careful secret.

  Finally reaching her destination, Cocoa scanned the area for the fluffy dragon. Hearing the pawsteps behind her, she turned as large wings swept her up into a hug.

  “Hey, Cocoa!”

  “Hi, Lumi! I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.” The fox flicked her ear nervously.

  “Oh, don’t worry about it- I just got here a few minutes ago!” The dutchie trilled, excited. “Wings above, I can’t believe I’m really here! I want to visit all of your favorite places and see all the weird things about Maple City; I heard you pour maple syrup on the snow and eat it, like, what? Where are we going first?! I am absolutely starving, so hopefully food?” Lumikki rambled.

  “That’s a secret, boo; you’ll have to wait and see.” Cocoa stuck her tongue out. “There will be food, don’t worry. I can’t have my girlfriend starve on her first day in my city.”

  Lumikki pouted, but a grin played at the corners of her mouth. “Must be good then, for you to be so secretive. What did you do, love?”

  Cocoa only smiled mischievously. Flicking her tail for Lumikki to follow, she skipped out of the courtyard and down the street. They wove in and out of the bustling crowd, Lumikki following her date as she scampered ahead.

  “Cocoa, slow down!” She had to shout ahead several times as Cocoa wove through gaps too small for Lumikki to follow.

  Finally, the energetic fox stopped in front of a small backstreet alley. “Boo, are you ready to be astonished, amazed, and, dare I say, flabbergasted?”

  “What are you on, Cocoa?” Lumikki giggled. “There’s nothing here!”

  “Don’t be so sure!” Cocoa pulled back a curtain hanging over the alleyway, stepping neatly through the narrow space.

  Lumikki squished herself in after her. Cocoa turned around, watching her girlfriend’s face closely. As the dragon finally popped out of the small alley, she gaped.

  Stained glass shards decorated a small, grassy lawn in front of a small coffee shop. Sunlight poured down from the open roof, making tiny rainbows across the hidden café. A weathered sign hung above the door, spelling out The Ginger Fox in faded letters.

  “Whoa…” Lumikki breathed, wide-eyed.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it? I love to go here to get away from all of the hustle and bustle everywhere else in the city.”

  Lumikki paused. “Wait, I think I’ve heard of this place! That internet café reviewer… who was it… TeaTail_Reviews? She gave it such a good rating- it seemed amazing!”

  “I’m surprised you know about that. I’ve become kind of popular online, I guess.” The words slipped out of Cocoa’s mouth before she could rethink them. Oh, no. Here we go.

  Lumikki snapped her head around so fast that Cocoa was surprised she didn’t break her neck. “Wait, wait, wait, wait, are you saying you’re TeaTail_Reviews? What? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Ah, it didn’t seem that important.” Cocoa mumbled. Her ears flattened to her head in embarrassment, and she directed her attention away from Lumikki.

  “How did I not realize, though? Cafés are, like, your entire thing!”

  “Well, I don’t really show my face or talk about myself much. I don’t want any special treatment when I go somewhere.”

  “Still-”

  “Aw, come on, you haven’t even seen inside yet!” Cocoa turned and started walking towards the small building.

  “Dodging questions much?” Lumikki laughed as she jumped forward to catch up.

  “We can talk about it inside where it is warm and not windy, you impatient furball.”

  Lumikki’s noise of protest was interrupted as they stepped inside. She stared at the room, taking it all in. Several small tables were set up around the room, along with couches and pillows where customers could sit. The entire café was colored in autumn shades, the morning sunlight pouring through a fiery stained glass window. Lumikki’s white fur was speckled gold by the blown glass leaves hung from the ceiling as her eyes combed over the area. Finally, she looked back at Cocoa.

  “I can’t believe you’ve never sent me a picture of this place,” She breathed. “It’s beautiful.”

  A sleek red fox sat behind a counter full of baked goods, sipping a cup of coffee. Her ears pricked up as Cocoa walked to her. “Heya Cocoa, the usual?” She glanced at Lumikki and smirked. “And who could this be? Perhaps the girlfriend you’re always talking about?”

Lumikki glanced at Cocoa, who seemed to be trying to melt into the floor. “You talk about me?”

  “Oh, gods, yes. How you’re so perfect this, too talented that, ‘oh my goodness Ginger today she did this and I may have actually died’.”

  “Aw, Cocoa, that’s so sweet!” Lumikki smiled at the fox.

  “Uh, well, I just tell her the truth.” Cocoa mumbled, staring intently at her paws.

  “Skies above, stop being so sappy! Ya want something or not?” Ginger interrupted.

  “Oh, uh, yeah, I’ll have the usual!”

  “Yip yip, medium chai latte with almond milk! And you?”

  Lumikki hesitated, skimming over the menu. “Um… a large hot chocolate with extra whipped cream, please.”

  “And a slice of double chocolate cake and an apple-cinnamon muffin!” Cocoa added.

  “Right, that’s $14.80. You can choose anywhere to sit, and it’ll be out in a moment!” Ginger stood and trotted to the back, pulling out cups to begin the drinks.

  Cocoa dropped the money on the counter and walked to a table in the sunlight. She sat down on a soft red pillow, settling into a loaf. Lumikki sat across from her, tucking her tail around her paws to fit on the cushion.

  Cocoa giggled as her girlfriend attempted to balance, wobbling slightly. “You can drag over other pillows, you know, Ginger doesn’t mind!”
  She paused sheepishly. “Well, as long as we put them back.”

  “So, Cocoa, about your social media account…” Lumikki began as she settled into her nest of pillows, “I get not showing your face, but why didn’t you at least tell me?”

  “Ah, well, I was kinda trying to keep this café a surprise. It’s my favorite place in the entire city, and I wanted to be the one to show you!” She sighed. “Sorry, that seems kind of selfish.”

  “No, no, no. I, uh, actually think that’s really sweet! It’s like, you’re sharing something that means a lot to you. It’s adorable. And this place really matches you.” She leaned over the table, using her height to rest her nose against Cocoa’s forehead.

  Cocoa giggled. “I’m glad I got to take you.”

  Ginger crept over to the two, placed their order on the table, then quickly snuck away, mumbling vaguely, “Don’t mind me, I am not here, invisible fox, yep, that’s me.”

  They both watched the fox’s tail disappear into the backroom before dissolving into laughter. Cocoa flicked her ear. “Now you need to see if the drinks match up to your expectations.”

  Lumikki took a small, experimental sip. Eyes glowing, she let out a small chirp. “It’s so good! I mean, I should’ve expected that since you love this place so much and you’re a picky little furball, but it’s delicious!”

  Cocoa let out an indignant yelp. “I am not picky, I have standards. There is a difference.”

  “Sure, sure, whatever you say.” Lumikki grinned as she drank more of the hot chocolate.

  They sat there for the next hour, talking about anything and everything that came to mind and filling the room with their laughter. Their snacks disappeared quickly, sunbeams creeping across the room as time stretched on.

  Finally, Cocoa stood and stretched, looking at the clock. “No matter how much I love this place, we should get going. There are plenty of other things I have to show you!”

  “We’ll need to come back before I have to go home. And you better call me from here, too!” Lumikki followed the fox out of the door, bell jingling as they stepped into the tiny yard.

  “Oh, wait, Cocoa!”

  She turned as Lumikki spoke. “Yea-”

  Her sentence was cut off as Lumikki kissed her sweetly, a feathered tail curling around her own. “Thank you for showing me this place, really. It’s amazing.” The dutchie murmured.

  Cocoa’s fur fluffed up in embarrassment. “Well, uh, like I said, we-we should probably get going! We don’t want to be late!”

  Lumikki laughed at her flustered girlfriend. “Lead the way, love.”