You pop your gum. It's flavorless by now, but you don't have any more left to replace it. So, you pop your gum.

Tonight is just like any other night. Boring. Lacking customers because it wasn't very good coffee and it's on the outer side of the city. Not many had a reason to come to this dinky little shop. Good. It means that while most of the customers who come are grumpy and/or weird, they were few and far in-between. Suits you great.

It's boring though.

…

Knock on wood or whatever.

Oh, right. The only wood nearby to knock on is the tables or the broom handle. Hah, like you're getting up now. Your butt? It's firmly planted on this seat.

Yep. Nice warm seat, that took way too long to get re-comfortable on. Not getting out of this seat.

You sniff lightly.

Lavender. Nice.

"'Scuse me. Mind if I get a coffee?"

You glance up and see a monkey demon. Oh. Oops, that's probably who the lavender smell was coming from. Damn, you'll have to get up. Well. Maybe….

"'Course! Sorry about that, just a little bit lost in my own head, ha ha. What can I get you?"

"Hey, no worries. I know I get lost in mine a lot." He chuckles lightly, and looks up at the menu board above you. "Hm. Not really sure. Anything you'd recommend?"

Uhhhh.

"Mmmmaybe? I mostly just drink non caffeinated stuff, or overly sweet coffee." That and the owner mostly buys cheap burnt beans, so you don't drink the coffee here.

"Hah, alright. Do you have anything fruity, then?"

"We have raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, and peach syrups. Any of those catch your fancy?"

"Ugh. Peach." He mutters, causing you to chuckle.

"Yeah, it's everywhere around here. Can't get away from the peach."

"Yeah, cause of that monkey kid, right? The uh… successor of Monkey King or whatever, right?"

"Yeah. Dudes a well loved hero around here. I don't know if he actually likes peaches, though, or if everyone decided that's 'his flavor' cause of the whole Monkey King thing."

"...Huh. Yeah. No one ever really thinks about what he wants. Just stuck in Monkey King's shadow." A grin curls onto his face. Well, guess he liked your answer.

"Yep. But uh." Your mind races a bit on how to say this. "If I can be honest, about the coffee? Uh, you might be better off going to a different place. It's not very good." You flip back onto the original topic. Look. Dudes pretty nice and seems to actually like like coffee. As such, doesn't deserve the date of bad coffee.

The demon raises an amused eyebrow at you, huffing a small laugh. "Thanks, but uh. If I can be honest too?" He leans in conspiratorially, "I'm okay with black coffee. I just wanted a reason to talk to you."

"Ah." A blush runs up your cheeks. "Uhhh. Then. One black coffee for you? Any… anything else?"

"Hmmm." He smirks at your face, "Nope. One large black coffee."

"Great! Your total is 2.38" he swipes his card with a small grin, that you quickly get up and turn from to get started. Look. Look, most customers don't flirt in actual normal ways with you. Instead, they just… offer you their cats.

"Oh? Not going to ask my name for the cup?"

"... Uh. Sure. What'd you like on there?"

"Your number." Hhhk!

… you crushed the cup, and grab another one. …. And write 17 on it.

You scooch your chair slightly so you can make the coffee (ignore the chuckle behind you. Just ignore it. Stop blushing, you duffus). You stare at the machine, partially getting hypnotized by it's mechanical clicks and whirs. Ding. Such a nice sound, part of the only good part of the coffee here.

You grab the cup, capping it and turn back to face the counter, where the demon was watching you. You scooch the cup towards him, and ignore his stare.

You hear him pick up the cup, before pausing.

"What's this?"

"My number. Specifically, my lucky number." You bite your cheek to keep from smirking.

"He. He he he. He he ha Ha HA HA!" He starts to guffaw, putting the cup down, and doubles over. "Wow. Wasn't-snrk- wasn't expecting that. Thanks, peach. You're a lotta fun."

"Peach? Rea- oh." You look up, and he was gone. Demons and their magic man.

Still. That was a nice way to start your night.