Work Text:
It was a normal day in the office that was delusional. At least as normal as it could get when it comes to it being a place that was created by some girl who got into a car crash and ended up in a coma. And that girl was Arlyn, a 29 year old who is... rather anxious and delusional, to say the least.
Since she eventually realized and (very slowly and harshly) came to terms that she will never be able to wake up but nobody outside knows this, she begun getting used to the workplace. Just her and the 20 different entities that are meant to represent different parts of her psyche, personality, and identity. As well as EN-000 and that shopkeeper fella.
Today was a rather exhausting day though. So exhausting that her only thought was to get coffee. Coffee always feels bitter on her tongue, always felt too warm and not sweet enough, but it always managed to wake her up, so she slowly got used to how it tasted. Plus, there wasn't any sugar packets here, so whatever.
As she begun to serve herself some coffee from the nearest coffee machine dispenser, a familiar face (...or, butterfly...) entered the room, slowly and seeming to just want to relax after a long day too. It seemed to quickly notice Arlyn serving herself coffee, and its antennas perked up ever so slightly.
"Ah, Arlyn. It's nice to see you," EN-006 said, slowly approaching Arlyn with its wings flapping slightly out of interest as to what Arlyn was doing. It was not often the two talked to eachother, but when they did talk, they simply talked about how Arlyn felt and how everything has been feeling for the two of them. Just casual small talk, really. "What are you serving yourself?"
"Hidekiller, you don't gotta talk so formally. I'm just serving myself coffee, I'm tired and need to wake up," Arlyn pulled the white mug that was now filled with coffee away from the coffee dispenser, making sure none of it spilled. EN-006, seeing this, seemingly frowned, since its antennas had slightly drooped down and its wings closed ever so slightly as well.
"Just pure coffee, hmm... You can really handle the bitter taste that well?" EN-006 questioned, its voice as soft and peaceful just as its nature. It wasn't judging Arlyn, just curious as to how Arlyn tolerated that bitter taste that EN-006 always shuddered over.
Arlyn chuckled, her hands slightly shaky as she slowly put the mug near her mouth, ready to take a sip, "Well, it's not like there's sugar cubes here, I just had to get used to the taste. It's not that bad anyways!"
"I suppose that's correct, but either way... it doesn't overwhelm you, huh," one of EN-006's antennas perked up, which was its way of raising an eyebrow. It was almost as if it was studying Arlyn's taste.
Arlyn nodded as she took a rather large chug of her coffee, completely rawdogging the bitter taste of it. It was mainly the bitter taste of the coffee that woke her up, instead of the actual thing that makes coffee wake you up.
"Hmm... have you ever had tea, Arlyn?" EN-006 questioned, its wings opening up a little. Many entities, and Arlyn herself, already knew EN-006 had a tendency to like more sweet and savory things, which is why it also especially liked the anti-delusion juice. "I believe it can wake you up too, but it won't leave a bitter after-effect on your tastebuds."
Arlyn almost choked at that question, a few drops of coffee spilling from her mouth and falling down as she begun coughing from the shock of EN-006 asking that, and because of how she physically COULD NOT stand the flavor of most teas. Or how sweet they tended to be, or how cold they were too. She cleared her throat, nonverbally telling EN-006 that she was okay, before responding. "Gosh, yeah, but I just don't really like tea. It's too sweet of a drink."
EN-006 did the butterfly equivalent of tilting its head, seemingly confused about Arlyn's answer. Tea for it was never "too sweet of a drink", and it also thought Arlyn would like tea because it seemed to really like red velvet cake. EN-006 had never eaten red velvet cake before, but it's heard that cake tends to be sweet.
"But do you not like sweet things?" EN-006's pitch slightly rised at the end of its sentence, as it was very confused. Its antennas drooped down a little as it kept on looking at Arlyn, who was now wiping the drops of coffee that had spilled out of her mouth with the back of her hand and putting her coffee mug down as well.
"I like sweet foods. Sweet drinks are a no-go for me. Very big difference." Arlyn's voice got a little more loud, as if she had been woken up by the coffee already, and she wasn't slouched over anymore too. Her eyes slowly looked at EN-006, starting to fidget with her hands as she spoke again, her voice a little more expressive now, "And, the bitter taste wakes me up."
"Huh..." EN-006 seemed genuinely surprised, its antennas perking up yet again as its wings fluttered once again, "I see."
EN-006 was trying to think about what to say, trying to not be very pushy about getting Arlyn to drink tea, but it at least wanted to understand WHY Arlyn didn't like tea to the point of choking when asked about it. And it also wanted to try and see if Arlyn maybe would like tea if it wasn't so... sugarized.
"...well, it could be that there is just too much sugar in the types of tea you drank. I know people tend to drink it with a few sugar cubes added, but it could be you would prefer it with one or null sugar cubes." EN-006 said, suggesting tiny ideas to see if Arlyn would agree.
Arlyn thought about it, before just shrugging and responding with a slightly careless tone of voice, "Eh, probably not. Coffee feels like it's a lot better anyways."
EN-006 seemed rather surprised at Arlyn's response. It had expected such an answer from her, but it still felt a little shocking. "Well, I personally think tea is better."
"It is not." Arlyn's voice carried a small hint of frustration, her arms crossing as she begun glaring a little at EN-006.
"Coffee is too bitter." EN-006 didn't seem quite frustrated, it seemed very calm all things considered. It simply wanted to understand Arlyn's thought process, and a debate like this might help.
"Tea is too sweet." Arlyn responded without missing a beat.
"You're adding too much sugar, maybe."
"Even then, the smell also gives me a headache."
"Coffee does give me a headache too. Not to mention its bitter taste drowns out every other taste for 30 minutes."
Arlyn just stared at EN-006 for a few seconds, raising an eyebrow trying to figure out how to respond, before she simply sighed and nodded whilst responding, "Yeah, that's true. But still."
"Mmm, I do see your points. Agree to disagree, then?" EN-006's wings spread a little and its antennas perked up once again.
"Yeah. Yeah, okay," Arlyn said, defeated, picking her coffee mug up again to drink out of it again. She did see EN-006's points too, but also, she loved coffee too much to admit it.
"Okay. I'll see you around, Arlyn," EN-006's antennas dropped back to their usual state as they begun wandering away, leaving Arlyn all alone with just herself and her thoughts.
"...god I'm still not awake enough." Arlyn stuck her mug back underneath the coffee dispenser, which dispensed even more bitter coffee, and she chugged it all.
The bitter taste was horrible.
But it woke her up.
...maybe she should try sugarless and warm tea.