OC Café

The door made a slight jingle when it opened as two ponies walked into the new OC Cafe, one of them was a white coloured pegasus mare carrying a foal, and the other a unicorn stallion wearing a black fedora holding the door for her.

“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay here by yourself, Raven?” asked the mare.

The stallion replied as if automatically, ”For the last time, Vivid; yes, I’ve dealt with solving crimes for years now, I doubt that I’ll have a hard time working part time at a cafe”.

The mare nodded as she nuzzled her coltfriend. “Alright, I guess I’ll see you at home then?”

The stallion nodded and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Now go on, I promise to bring home something,” Raven said with a smile on his face.

Vivid nodded and gave him a kiss on the cheek before flying off. The stallion then went behind the counter and looked around.

“Hm… Strange. I thought this placed would be more lively with customers,”  He was bemused, until he looked to the door.

His ears drooped down as he realized that he had not turned the sign that said

“Come in we’re Open”

He used his magic to flip the sign.

As if instantly, an eager customer walks in.

A unicorn stallion with blond hair, and a blue coat walked in writing on a notepad, completely oblivious to his surroundings, yet still being able to find a seat.

Raven broke the silence, “Excuse me sir, what can I get you?”

“One hot coco, please; extra marshmallows if you have any.” The stallion replied without pulling his vision away from his notepad.

Raven went to the back to make the order.

“So, mind telling me who you are?” Raven asked.

The stallion replied, “I’m Later Von; you can call me Later if you want.”

“I don't think my marefriend would be comfy with me calling a stallion“later””Raven quipped.

Later chuckled slightly at the joke. “Good one. Now it’s my turn to ask. Who are you?”

Raven prepared the drink, then walked over to the table and, handed him his hot coco.

“Crescent Raven; pleased to meet you.” He said before he headed to the table

The stallion took a sip from his drink with a bemused look, and asked, ”Haven’t I heard of that name before?”

“Oh, you’ve probably have, especially when it’s about criminal investigations, since they’re always on the news.”

”Ah, now I remember. You’re that detective from Manehattan. What’s a guy like you doing here working in the OC Cafe?”

“Classified information. But all I can say is, I’m working part time for a case.”

Later nodded,“I won’t pry.” He said as he took another sip from his hot coco.

Raven thought for a second “I think I recognize you from somewhere… Aren’t you the owner of the Now News Newspaper?”

Later nodded, ”Yes. I’m just here to unwind and relax after a long night at the office.”

“That’s good to know.” Raven sat down across him.

The door jingled, and it swung open again as another customer came in. A filly with a cream coloured coat, an orange mane tied in pigtails, and a hoodie with her name in the back walked in, trotting happily towards the counter.

 “One big bottle of The Fires of Tartarus Hot Sauce please?” she asked in the most friendly of tones.

Raven only stared at her, but then obliged. He went back and returned with the desired sauce

“Thank you!”

She took a seat a table away from Later. As she sat down, she popped the cap off the bottle and downed it.

Both stallions just stared at her in complete awe for the next couple of seconds.

”What? Is there something wrong?”

Both stallions shook their heads, which  earned a shrug from the filly; or so she seems.

Raven then asked,”What’s your name little filly?”

The filly looked at him before answering, ”I’m Honeysuckle! Nice to meet you-- ah... ah… aaa-CHOO!” The moment she sneezed, her hair burst into flames, and she started to put it out frantically, “Whoops… ehehe.”

Raven flinched, ”Eh… okay.” He just sat there in silence until another customer had arrived.

The door jingled

A unicorn stallion with a grey coat, black tail, and slightly greyed mane walked in. He took a seat in front of the counter and said, ”One cup of coffee please.”

“How do you take it?”

”Just give me black.”

Raven nodded and got to making the order. A few minutes later he handed the customer his drink.

“Thank you,” he said as he took a swig of the dark brown drink.

“So what brings you here, good sir?” Raven asked.

The stallion took another sip before saying, ”Just to get today’s fill of coffee.”

Raven nodded.

”I’m Raven, the stallion over there is Later Von, and the filly is Honeysuckle; what’s your name?”

The stallion replied happily, ”Divryne. Them I know, you though. You new here?”

Raven nodded, ”Yeah. Just working to get some extra money.”

”I see. Well, good luck with that.”

He looked over to Later. “What are you working on for the papers this time, Later?”

Later replied,”Well… it’s sort of a surprise at the moment. I’m not sure I should be sharing my newest topics without releasing it on paper; wouldn’t want to spoil the suspense, do we?

Divryne nodded. ”True.”

“Looks like my day here isn’t gonna be that boring.” said Raven.

Then he remembered Honeysuckle.”You done with that hot sauce kid?”

Honeysuckle smiled and shook her head,”Nope! Not yet.”

Raven smiled wondering if one day his foal would grow up to be like Honeysuckle… hopefully not.

 And after a brief moment of silence the alarm clock rang, signaling lunch break.

“Welp, looks like it’s time for me to join you guys.” He said as he took out a sandwich from his saddle bags and took a seat with his new friends.

‘Yep…This day’s gonna be good…’