With Druvis leading the way, the both of them soon approached a quaint establishment that was situated quite plainly and unassumingly on a corner.
"There's cafés in the Foundation?" Isaac asked, admiring the minimalistic but comfy design of the café.
"I've just recently found it too." Walking beside him him, Druvis nodded. "It seems like the Foundation allows certain recreational establishments within and around it to ensure employee satisfaction is kept at a certain balance."
"Well, that makes sense. If they don't want their cauldron to explode, I guess they do need something for the employees to wind off." Isaac tacitly hummed. He then smirked at her. "But where'd you find that information? From your network or just pure guess?"
"A little of both." She shrugged nonchalantly. "It doesn't take a genius to analyze these superficial things, and with enough information, you can also come to the same conclusion."
She paused, then looked at the café, before faintly smiling — a rare sight to behold from her usual reticent face.
"Things like these... Help people a lot during their hardest times."
Isaac didn't give a reply and merely nodded, letting that small bubble of silence drift between the two of them for a while to get comfortable.
Without uttering any other words, the two of them soon entered the café, and instantly, the smell of freshly grounded coffee beans permeated in the air — not too strong, but just right enough to give a nice scent.
The café itself, like the outer appearance, was simplistic and cozy. The warm tones of color as well as the tranquil atmosphere gave it an overall serene visage.
"Welcome." Behind the counter, a man in his late twenties or so greeted the two of them with a courteous smile. "What can I get for the two of you?"
Isaac and Druvis both took a brief moment to scan the modestly sized menu displayed above the counter — handwritten in chalk, slightly smudged at the corners, as if the board had stories of its own.
"I'll go with the citrus chamomile." Isaac said, tapping his finger thoughtfully against the counter. "Something light for the nerves."
"Earl Grey." Druvis added, her voice soft but certain. "Strong and steady."
The barista raised an amused brow, letting out a quiet chuckle as he readied his pad. "Tea for both? Not even a hint of coffee? I'm pretty sure cafés were created for, well, coffee."
Isaac gave a sheepish smile. "We're rebels like that."
"I can see that." The barista said, scribbling something down. "Two agents — one chamomile, one Earl Grey — and not a whiff of caffeine addiction between you."
He leaned forward slightly, arms casually resting on the counter as his gaze flicked between the two of them. "You two just here for a break, or is this some kind of low-key secret meeting between clandestine lovers disguised as a tea run?"
Isaac choked on air. "Wh— I— No! We're just here for a drink!"
"..." Druvis, ever composed, looked away with the faintest trace of color reaching her ears. She didn't say a word.
The barista chuckled, clearly enjoying himself as he straightened back up. "Relax, I'm just messing with you."
He turned his head slightly. "Honey, we've got another couple of tea drinkers."
From the kitchen emerged a woman — around the same age as him, apron tied neatly and hair pinned back, a gentle smile playing on her lips as she waved at them. She brought with her a soft warmth that somehow made the café even cozier.
Isaac leaned on the counter, smirking with a glint in his eye. He decided to retaliate."She always that graceful, or is she putting on her best act because we're customers?"
"Every day of my life." The barista replied without missing a beat, brushing off Isaac's teasing. "Sometimes, I feel like I just got lucky. She married me despite everything."
"She was an excellent actor, and I'm just a humble barista. Who would have thought, huh?"
Then, giving Isaac a pointed look, he added, "And I'm sure a charming young man like you will be lucky enough one day too — with a certain someone."
Isaac was surprised at how fast the barista immediately thought of a way to deflect his teasing.
His mouth opened… then closed. "...You've got some sharp counters for a guy serving tea."
"That's why I'm on this side of the counter." The barista said with a wink.
Sufficiently bested, Isaac gave a mock sigh and turned toward the small seating area.
He and Druvis found a small table nestled beside the window, and both took their seats. The soft murmur of the café, the clink of cups being washed in the back, and the distant hum of quiet music created a lull of gentle ambiance.
They sat for a moment in silence.
Druvis looked out the window, and Isaac stared at the table.
It wasn't awkward, per se… but there was a lingering tension from earlier. Neither of them seemed in a hurry to speak.
And yet, oddly enough, the quiet suited them. Like a teapot left to steep — slowly growing warmer by the second.
After a while, Isaac opened up a conversation. "That barista guy... Sure was interesting, eh?"
"That's right." She then turned her head to him, scanned him for a moment, then continued. "He... kind of reminds me of you."
"Huh? How so?"
"You both have that sly and cheeky mannerisms." She explained. "In fact... He almost acts like you but mature and older."
"..." Isaac didn't know what to say at first. Then, he gave a wry smirk. "That's... a new compliment, I guess? But unfortunately, Ms. Druvis, I'm one of a kind."
Druvis gave a small scoff and didn't say anything further, letting him enjoy his own boost of ego.
Her eyes then glanced over to the counter — to where the barista and his wife were — and couldn't help but observe them for a bit.
Isaac noticed this and followed her gaze, looking at the couple too.
"…They seem to love each other very much."
Her voice was quiet, almost thoughtful — the kind of tone one uses when looking at something distant yet close to the heart.
Isaac leaned back in his seat, his hands resting on the table surface. He didn't grin or joke like he usually would. Instead, he followed her gaze with softened eyes.
"…Yeah." He murmured, voice gentle. "You can tell just by how they move. There's no act, no effort to prove it to anyone. It's just… there."
He smiled faintly — that same brittle kind he often wore when his thoughts wandered into places he rarely let anyone see.
"It's in the little things. How she stands near him without having to say a word. How he talks like he's already made peace with the world, just because she's in it."
Druvis blinked at his words, then turned her gaze back to the couple.
"They really do seem… special." She added softly.
Isaac nodded, his eyes still on the two. "Right? The girl with her white hair… the man with those deep amber eyes. Odd pairing on the surface, maybe. But they carry themselves like they were meant to find each other."
Despite the distance, the warmth between the barista and his wife felt unmistakable — like a gentle ember that refused to die out.
"Despite everything… they still found something rare."
Druvis didn't say anything immediately. But after a quiet breath, she nodded in agreement.
"Yes… rare indeed."
The two continued to converse gently for a few more moments, enjoying this rare opportunity of serenity.