❁ coffee shop

@l. minho /when you talk like we're meant to know one another i still don't recall how or why, rubbing at my nape because i'm starting to feel a bit bad
i'm not lying-
if you'd tell me i'd appreciate it, before i end up feeling too bad about this whole thing
/says as we shake hands, looking at your hand too as we do so but not even that seems familiar, so i tilt my head in thought instead
/nods in understanding when we get on with work, preferring that right now because i can focus on it and i'm less likely to mess up with that
/seeing the pictures you show me i tilt my head, not surprised by the cross-dressing aspect since i've been asked to do these things before
its definitely doable
/confirms before i'm sketching out a few more things, bringing out my phone to look up stuff from this anime you've picked
/i'll look over content for hours just to get it as accurate as i can, its a personal preference to do the best possible cosplay since i want and need to do a good job
/writing notes beside my sketches i glance up when you say something, not quite catching it though and you're probably grateful for it
/the way you avoid looking at me reminds me of something though, i've seen this look before and the hidden nervousness that often came with it
min...ho?
/asks as i look at you still, leaning in a bit to get a better look at your face and sure enough when i do, i see someone i know, just older
minho-
/says your nae again but with more confidence this time, not one hundred percent sure but close enough for now unless you say elsewise
its you, isn't it?

@b. chan how do i know your name?
didnt think i'd be /that/ forgettable
/i shouldnt be hurt by it, but here i am, easily masking the distaste in my mouth by looking away from you, fiddling with the buzzer in my hand
you always hand a tendency to prove me wrong
/snorts softly, and i quickly excuse myself once the buzzer goes off, so i get up to head to grab my drink
/sipping my iced coffee when im coming back, i sit down with one leg tucked under me, now fiddling with the zipper of my bag as we speak
okay well, do you want me to tell you who i am or do i get to make you guess?
unless you're really just lying to try and get out of remembering me...
though, you were never a good liar
/sighs to myself before i shrug and set my drink aside so that i can reach out to take your hand, giving it a firm shake and trying not to make a face
/when you speak of the commission i nod, now finally opening my nag to pull out what i need, a few pictures, a book, things of that nature
time doesnt matter to me
this is more of a... dream cosplay, sort of thing? this one, in particular
/nodding a few times, its clear im passionate about these kinds of things, my eyes shining as i place the pictures down, the woman of inspiration staring back at me, almost making me smile
does this look like something you could do?
i tried to keep it simple
/theres a few more nods but now i fall silent, letting you look over what i have in front of you, this is your element and im fascinated with watching this process for you, i saw it when we were kids and to see it now...
amazing
/whispers softly to myself, eyes wide when you look at me and i quickly look away, not holding your gaze, sipping at my drink as nonchalantly as i can

@l. minho um...
/trails off when you ask if i recognise you, i don't clearly and to be fair i shouldn't, considering memories with you involving our childhood consisted of you being a menace toward me more often than not
/you don't push it though thankfully and you mention the commission, realising you're the customer i was meeting here today
oh, hello
no-
/but there's no point asking it because you're already sitting yourself down beside me, giving an awkward little laugh before i turn the page over to a fresh page
/i'm in the middle of dating the page when you say my name suddenly, blinking at you because my clients don't know my name - there's a reason i use my pen name
i... um, how do you know my name?
/looking at you properly i don't think i've ever seen your face, its not one i can recall easily at least, my mind trying to block it out
/pulling my cap off my head i tug my mask off as well, setting one inside the other and popping them on the coffee table in front of us
i feel like i'm a little out of the loop here, or like i have a disadvantage
/admits with a soft laugh, less awkward this time before i hold out my hand, quickly pulling it back and retrieving the pen from it before i do it again
please don't take any offence in me not remembering you, my memory isn't the finest
/confesses as i pull my hand back from your own, scooting away a bit after to make some room between us, clearing my throat as i pick up my pen again
right, the possible commission
did you know what you had in mind? and are you okay with lengthier processes? sometimes, depending on what's wanted, some cosplays take me months to make
if... that's going to be a problem then we shouldn't go any further

@b. chan /i remember who you are, of course i do, thoughts of you plague my mind every chance i have to think to myself
/ever since we were kids, when you first showed up in my life, i've had a strange fascination with you that i can only say is odd, though others would call it something else
/harsh words with no real malice behind them, scowls and mocking faces, all of it amounts to the fact that i have no idea how to express to you that i may have blooming feelings for you
/well, that was before, and now those feelings have blossomed into a beautiful flower, overgrown and overwhelming, so its what caused me to reach out
/im not late by any means, im standing outside just for a little bit and while most people wouldnt know where to look, my eyes fall to you immediately
/there you are in all of your glory, your pretty curls, your black clothing, it makes me scoff softly as i look down to my own, a pretty blue sweater draped over me in contrast to the black pants that hug my legs
/adjusting my bag strap, theres a soft clink of my jewelry before im sighing and stepping in, ordering myself a drink and holding the little buzzer as i come over to where you're sitting
/slowly raises a brow as i wait for you to notice me, and when you do there's a moment where i /almost/ smile but i dont
what, you dont recognize me?
ah... fine, fine, okay
i came here for the um— the commission? yeah
am i interrupting?
/theres nothing harsh about my tone this time as i speak to you, if anything my eyes are wide and shining as i point to the spot next to you, not giving a chance for you to answer as i sink down next to you
... hi chan, its been a while

@l. minho "are you going out?"
mmh, need to meet with a potential client. you'll be alright while i'm gone, right?
"of course, of course. and if you want to stay out later than that then do so, i'm old not dead"
don't talk like that, gramps
/rises from where i was sat doing my laces by the front door, turning to look at the elderly man who basically raised me as his own son when my parents decided they couldn't but somehow could when my younger siblings came around
/leaning in i hug him close and tell him about the things i've put out for him so he doesn't have to worry and everything is within reach
be careful with your slippers alright? i'll be sure to buff the floor again later
"shoo, shoo! go on, out"
/laughs as he nudges me out our home, promising i'll be back soon and he knows i will despite his protests for the opposite
"that boy..."
/he murmurs to himself but i'm already gone, wearing a loose t-shirt and jeans, a cap on my head and mask pulled up over my mouth and nose
/i've got my sketchpad and pencil case for the meeting as well as my planner, checking my phone while i take the bus to the city centre
/when i'm there i get to the café you asked to meet me at, seemingly arriving first and ordering an iced drink, its a hot day for spring
/sitting on one of those comfortable but too low sofas in the café i set up while waiting for you to come and join me, checking my phone now and then
/working over one of my sketches for another client i'm into my notes and work while waiting for you, not noticing when you finally arrive
/i only notice a change when there's a pair of boots in front of me, looking up slowly and blinking from beneath my cap i still have on that barely contains my curls
ah, hello?