<<Chapter 1
<<More Fantastical tales.
We begin at the cafe…
It’s the next day and Iliya has agreed to help the plants at the front of the cafe grow. Cin Is watching and Xyla is behind her counter.
Cin: Heh, what a dumb power.
Xyla: Are you kidding? He can breathe life into plants! How is that dumb?
Xyla: It’s graceful.. [smiling while looking at Iliya] elegant.
Cin: [sighs] Whatever..
Xyla: He’s so great doing this for us~
Cin: [irritated] Why don’t you just marry him already?
Xyla: He’s cute, but not my type. Though, if you’d give him a chance, he might be yours.
Cin: [closes eyes and frowns] Ugh….
Iliya finishes the job and goes to join Xyla and Cin.
Xyla: Ahh, thank you so much!! We’ll get this place looking presentable in no time!
Iliya: [smiling] Haha, happy to help!
Iliya looks at Cin.
Iliya: Are you okay?
Cin: Meh. I’m going for a walk..
Cin gets up and walks away.
Xyla: Cin!!
Iliya: He.. really doesn’t like me, does he..
Xyla: He just has a lot of baggage. I’m sure if you two became friendly, he’d tell you all about it. Xyla: He just needs time to get to know you.
Iliya: If you’re sure..
Xyla: [smiling] Trust me.
Iliya: …
Iliya: I think I’ll give him some space and maybe work on the tent tomorrow..
Xyla: You don’t want to come here tomorrow? He’s not scaring you away already, is he?
Iliya: No, I just feel like I should step away for a bit..
Xyla: [upset] Aw, Iliya..
The scene ends.
Next day:
Cin is at the cafe, he notices that Iliya isn’t around.
Cin: Where’s plant boy?
Xyla: Why are you asking about him?
Cin: He’s just.. he’s usually hanging around.
Xyla: He’s having some time off.
Cin: Why?
Xyla: “Why”? Because of a certain demon who drinks too much.
Cin: …really?
Xyla: I know you don’t really dislike him, but you’ve made him feel like you do.
Cin: [looking down] …
Xyla: You need to let people in, Cin. You’re never going to make any friends if you keep acting like this.
Cin: I kn–
Cin: …I mean, [slams counter] I don’t want “friends”!
Cin gets up and leaves.
Xyla: Cin!! Don’t leave!! You’re just proving my point!!!
Xyla: At least come back later to help…
A few days later.
Iliya emerges from his tent.
Iliya: I’d better go see how they’re doing today.
At the cafe.
Xyla is behind the counter and Cin is in his usual seat.
Xyla: [gasps] Iliya! It’s great to see you again!
Cin: !!
Xyla: Sit down, hun, I’ll get you some breakfast~
Cin: It’s midday.
Xyla: That’s what I tell you every time you start drinking.
Cin: [frowning] …
Iliya sits next to Cin.
Iliya: You feeling alright today, Cin?
Cin: [sighs] Humans are so damn persistent…
Iliya: (He’s still like this?)
Xyla: Cin! Stop being so rude! He’s only just come back.
Cin: Yeah, well…
Iliya: M-maybe I should have left a little longer..
Xyla: Nonsense! You have the right to be here. We’ve missed having you around, even if he doesn’t want to admit it. Besides, you’re part of the team now!
Cin: Ugh… I’m gonna go sit outside…
Cin gets up and walks away.
He sits in the outdoor seating area and listens.
Iliya: [upset] He really doesn’t like humans, does he…
Xyla: He’s had some bad and.. sad interactions in the past, but he told me he was over it. Besides, you’re genuinely a good guy! He has no reason to not like you.
Iliya: Yet he apparently hates me…
Cin: …
Xyla: I don’t think he hates you. If anything, he’s scared. He sees that you want to become friendly and raises his guard. Don’t take it personally, Cin just has a hard time letting anyone into his life, especially humans.
Iliya: Poor guy…
Xyla: I wouldn’t go that far. A lot of his trauma comes from his own actions.
Cin glares from the outdoor area. He starts to walk back over.
Cin: When you’re done bitching about me..
Xyla: You heard all that?
Cin: What do you think?
Xyla: Well, was any of it wrong?
Cin: Shut up! I’m taking a break.
Xyla: From what!? I have chores for you to do…
Cin creates a portal and leaves.
Xyla: Sorry about him. The truth is hard to handle.
Iliya: ….
Xyla: You up for helping me with some jobs?
Iliya: Sure.
A few days go by as Iliya tries to earn Cin’s trust. It always ends up with Cin leaving.
2 weeks later.
Xyla and Cin are at the cafe. Iliya comes along.
Xyla: [to Iliya] There’s my top worker!
Iliya: Hi, Xyla!
Iliya turns to Cin.
Iliya: Hey, Cin. You feeling alright today?
Cin: Do you have any other opening lines? I feel you ask that every day.
Xyla: Because he does. Asking someone if they’re okay is being considerate of the other person’s feelings and well being. You should do the same!
Cin: …
Iliya: I’m sorry if I offended you, Cin.. I’m not out here to upset anyone, I just want to help…
Cin: …
Xyla: If he was offended by that, there really is no helping him.
Iliya: I hope that’s not the case…
Cin: Ugh, I’m so sick of hearing your voice!
Xyla: Cin! [to Iliya] Don’t pay any attention to him. He probably just wants someone to take his hangover out on.
Iliya: (another hangover…)
Iliya has an idea.
Iliya: I can buy you something to eat, if it’ll help?
Xyla: After he just treated you like that?
Iliya: Hey, hangovers are no joke, I’d be moody too [laughs]
Xyla smiles.
Xyla: Come on, Cin, put your pride aside for a bit. It’s not every day you get this offer.
Cin: [sighs and pouts] Fine.
Iliya: Choose whatever you want.
Cin: How many dishes?
Xyla: [hands on hips] Just one, I would hope.
Iliya: [smiling at Cin] Whatever will make you feel better.
Xyla: Iliya, don’t be silly, he’ll end up ordering everything.
Cin: How about.. a starter.. and a main?
Iliya: Y-yeah, that’s fine..
Xyla: …it’s your money, hun.
Cin finishes the 2 dishes and stands up.
Cin: [full and happy] AHH, that was great! [stands up] I’m going for a walk.
Xyla: Wait, what!? You’re not even going to thank him??
Cin: [walking away] Cya!
Xyla: That ungrateful–
Iliya: It’s fine..
Xyla: No, it’s not! Clearly, you’ve resorted to buying his friendship and not even that’s working.
Iliya: ….
Iliya looks sad.
The scene ends.
Later that night:
Iliya springs up in his bed, terrified from a nightmare he had.
He sits outside his tent to try and calm down. Cin is walking by.
Cin: What is he doing outside at this hour? Maybe I should go see him.. [guilty sigh] I at least need to say thanks for the food…
Cin goes to investigate.
Outside the tent.
Iliya is in his pajamas (okay, just his shorts) and flustered.
Cin: What’s up with you?
Iliya: !! Cin!? What are you–
Cin: Well, turns out that I actually have a conscience. I felt bad about eating and running away.
Iliya: [still trying to catch his breath] Is that so?
Cin: Seriously, are you okay?
Iliya: (he’s asking for once!?) I–I’m good, I just.. had a nightmare, that’s all…
Cin crouches down to Iliya’s level.
Cin: Must’ve been a really bad one.
Iliya: Y-yeah…
Cin: …uhh.. you wanna talk about it?
Iliya: Talk about it? Cin, is.. everything okay?
Cin: What do you mean?
Iliya: It’s not like you to, uh.. be friendly towards me.
Cin: Wow. I try and do something nice and—
Iliya: No, no, I’m not saying that you coming over to say thanks is bad or anything, it’s just kind of a shock.
Cin stands up.
Cin: Yeah.. Anyway, I’d better get going, I really just wanted to say thanks and leave.
Cin starts to turn around.
Iliya: Cin, wait!
Cin: Hm?
Iliya: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.. I just.. I understand that you’re not great with human interaction, but–
Cin: It probably doesn’t seem like it, but I AM trying. I’ve got a big guard up, it’s not easy to tear down.
Iliya: Right…
Cin: Listen, I know I haven’t been the most welcoming towards you, but, as far as humans go, I don’t think you’re a bad one.
Iliya: Honestly, coming from you, that means a lot.
Cin: Right. Anyway, thanks. See ya.
Cin walks back to the cafe.
Iliya smiles.
Iliya: [smiling] ….goodnight ❤
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