The snowstorm had been going on for several hours now, many residents of the various cities, inklings and otherwise, caught up in the swirling tempest of ice and frost as they went about their daily lives, or at the very least ducking from shelter to shelter from just how bad the storm really was. I was certainly a storm for the record books as all the food trucks were shut down, and just about every shop had their doors closed, opening only to customers.

Within this raging blizzard, two inklings wandered through the snowstorm together, both covered in heavy clothing and sticking close to each other for additional warmth. They were actually pretty quick to check their surroundings for shelter of some kind, and for the most part, they were on their own for the longest time. That was, until the dim glow of a sign radiated through the snowstorm, a coffee house. "Lana's Slice" it was called. A local hangout for hot drinks and pastries. Luck had seemed to favor the two as they ducked into the warm light of the coffee house without even a second guess. The blistering cold broke way to vibrant warmth and light, decorated with pleasant music drifting through the speakers. All eyes turned to the door as it swug open from the sudden entrants, but most turned back to their business after seeing them, content with that knowledge. Others stared on, curious as towards who these people were beneath the heavy attire.

Sliding out of his heavy coat after closing the door behind them, Zeeno shivered a little and looked around, having not been back here for a sizable period of time. The place still looked the same though, surprisingly, and the combination of the warmth of the coffee house plus the smell of brewing coffee and pastries immediately seemed to put his mind at ease as he turned to his companion, helping her out of her coat. His mint green tentacles gleamed a little in the warm light, accented by the rich purple that met the air as Minori's tentacles were revealed as well. Wrapped tightly in a bun with a long flap covering half of her face, she was quite the different person in appearance compared to the male Inkling beside her with his tentacles tied back in a exceptionally intricate braid.

Between the two, they seemed pretty much a pair of clear Inklings on a evening out, if the snowstorm counted as anything regarding a normal evening out. That didn't stop the relaxing music from the speakers, the warm lights, or the sounds and smells of the coffee house washing over them like a relieving wave, pushing the cold of the blizzard from them as they removed their winter attire.

Still pressed close to each other, they said nothing as they meandered through the coffee house towards a booth, not waiting for a server nor approaching the counter with its glass displays of pastries and other dishes. Instead, they headed straight for a booth, plopping down across from each other with resounding thumps, their coats draped on the seats beside them as they did so. Only at this point did either one of them break their silence, with Zeeno finally speaking up, his eyes gleaming brilliantly in the lamplight above them, despite the shadows it cast compared to the coffee house.

"Heck of a evening, huh?" he stated with a smile, trying to break the ice between them as clear as day. This didn't go unnoticed, as the dark-skinned woman in front of him gave a brief smile in response.
"Yeah, that's an understatement" she stated rather bluntly, looking out the window and into the snowstorm. The lights of the city buildings defiantly glowed though the storm, even the streetlights, although you would have a hard time seeing them actually being out there.

The silence returned between them for a solid chunk of time, before finally a employee meandered over to them, a well-built Inkling guy with tentacles as dark blue as the ocean itself, and a grin that could part those waves.
"Getting out of the weather, I see, huh?" he started in with the small talk, his gaze drifting between the two.

Zeeno as per usual was the first of the two to speak up, being the more outgoing, as his minty green eyes met with the employee's, sharing the smile.
"You could say that." he laughed, his tentacles swaying a little from the motion of his head.

The employee nodded and then clapped his hands together in a go-getter like manner, that smile growing wider.
"So then, can I get you two something? Something to help chase away the cold then? Little bit of something hot and filling or just something to pass the time? Forecast said the snowstorm's going to be in for a while, so might as well settle in and get comfortable, yeah?" he replied, his tone dripping with happiness and enthusiasm, although it was hard to tell if it was his job to be this polite and upfront or he was just enjoying his job.

Minori pipped up at this point, her voice slick, but quiet all the same. "Anything hot and with cinnamon please." she replied, not quite dismissively, but instead quite expectantly, as if hoping there was something to be had. Zeeno in turn smiled and added in "One for me as well please, with a bit of something extra."

The server nodded, took some notes on a pad, and slid off back behind the counter, the sounds of steaming machines and busy-bodies going about their jobs kicking back up again with an order.

The coffee house was very quiet aside from this. The occasional conversations from the other booths and tables filling the air. It was a relatively peaceful place, the entire location set up in a horseshoe-like design, with booths ringing both outside parts of the coffee house against glass windows, with tables and chairs between the booths and the counter, and a back room on the far end on the other side of the shop from where the two Inklings were sitting. Zeeno had been here many times before, but Minori had only been here once before, and by total accident. Seemed like it might be becoming a pattern.

Staring out the window, Zeeno smiled and seemed to try and resume the conversation.
"Kind of reminds me when we first met, you know? Bumping into each other like that, when we were younger." he stated with a tone of reminiscence.

Minori cocked an eyebrow at him and laughed a little honestly, almost teasingly.
"Younger? Zeeno, that was only 6 years ago." she stated honestly, her vibrant eyes mimicking his in the lamplight.

He laughed in turn, returning her gaze as they locked eyes for a moment, smiling.
"You know, a lot has changed since then." he stated with a smug grin, rasping his fingers on the table a bit.
This sparked a snicker out of Minori, normally not this open, but comfortable around him.
"Only in age. You're still the same in personality. Bit older and maybe more mature, but you're just the same." she added, brushing her tentacle draped over her face to the side a little, allowing her other eye to be seen a bit.

"Oh come on now, some things have changed since we first met. Maybe not all of them easily clear, but some things have changed." he admitted, shrugging a little as he looked away again, watching the snow fall.

Minori went to speak again, but there was a shuffle of feet and a gentle clatter as two mugs were set on the table beside the two of them, steam rising heavily from both of them.
"Enjoy, you two." the server stated, the same blue tentacled Inkling, before winking and sliding back off.

This sudden interjection caused a paused between them as they both starred at the mugs, before slowly taking a hold of them and sliding them closer to themselves, the steam soft and flowing like water in the warm air.

Sliding his mug to the side towards the window, Zeeno rasped on the table absently, lost in what he wanted to say, while Minori seemed to nurse her mug, taking a gentle sip of the hot beverage. There was plenty of cinnamon, among other components of the drink, but it was warm and suitable, and helped drive the cold away. Reaching out, she slowly placed a hand on top of Zeeno's, stifling his rampant rasping for a moment.

"You are right though. Some things have changed. Got to say though, glad you haven't changed that much." she admitted, letting her mug touch the table again with a soft clink.

Zeeno let out a small smirk before reaching for his mug, noticing that the steam had fogged up the window a bit. On top of that, almost as if on cue, the snowstorm seemed to be subsiding a bit, as if calmed by the warmth of the moment. Sliding his mug back towards him, he lifted his hand and quickly drew his finger over the glass, sliding a heart into the fogged glass, with a small glass.

This gesture caused Minori to blush a little before shaking her head. She knew he was up front with things like this, so it never surprised her anymore. Watching him slide his mug back towards him, she felt him lift his hand before intertwining his fingers with hers, lifting his mug to take a drink.

"Here's to another year then. 6 and counting." Zeeno said with a bombastic tease in his smile as he smiled, a smile in which Minori reciprocated as the two held hands, appreciating the warm atmosphere. They'd lasted this long together, there was all the reason in the world to keep going.

"Here's to another year." she replied, her tone full of acceptance and care as the two shared this moment of peace in the storm.
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This amazing piece was done by the very talented Pink-Inkling on tumblr, whom I am quite grateful to for this lovely piece. Absolutely incredible quality, and I get a great quality of life piece that shows these two together, because that was intended from the start. Really love how this one turned out, and quite happy with the result.


I'll be honest with you, I debated whether or not to add a short story to this to get back into writing heavily, but as Valentine's Day kind of rolled up, I felt it necessary to actually sit and do something about it. I've been on my laurels for too long and it was high time to break back into it with something. These two have been something that I've invested hard into, and I felt it necessary to give some solid ground for them. Also, coffee houses are a weakness of mine in regards to setting. Quite the ideal location to write for and to test myself again.

Enjoy this great piece, heavily belated or delayed until Valentine's Day. You decide.
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Art: Pink-Inkling

Characters: © Me

Splatoon © Nintendo