The Café That Ambushed a Marine - Part II

Posted on Mon Mar 2nd, 2026 @ 11:34pm by 1st Lieutenant Ángel Martinez & Aislinn Finnegan
Edited on on Tue Mar 3rd, 2026 @ 1:51am

1,678 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: The Menagerie II
Location: Maple Leaf Coffee and Pastries, Deck 10, USS Astrea

Continued from The Café That Ambushed a Marine - Part I


"You're always welcome here, never forget that," Aislinn gave Martinez a warm smile as she got up to go back behind the counter and start making the coffees, a hazelnut chai for them both, throwing in a shot of espresso as she went along. She called out over the coffee grinder, "Surprisingly, between my daughter and I, I'm actually the quiet one. She's constantly on the go, asks all the questions in the world because she's super curious about everything, and she ensures there's never a moment of quiet."

Once the milk had been done and poured and a lid on both takeaway cups, Aislinn brought them back over to sit across from Martinez. "I've been on this ship for a little while now, quarters are deck 11, and I'm fairly sure I know my way around everything, so if you want a walking tour, I can help you out with that." She took a sip of the coffee, it was nice.

Martinez met her eyes with open surprise, head tilting slightly. The hospitality caught them off guard. It reminded them of a world that had burned, held in memory for the past four years. They gave a small smile, took the cup, and sipped. Hazelnut. Spice. Coffee. Sweet, the way syrups could be. Warm, like sunlight through a wall. A kick at the end. And that toasted edge. They stayed quiet for a moment, considering it. “I’d like that,” they said at last, voice softer now. “If I’m not taking you away from your daughter. Though it sounds like she might know this ship better than anyone, if she’s curious and always asking questions.”

Aislinn laughed, "If she's not pestering some of the Engineers like Dallas, the slipstream specialist, then she's trying to get into the science labs." She said it wistfully, a pang of longing to get back in there hitting her out of nowhere. "Honestly, it's chaotic and tiring and amazing at the same time, but she's respectful and doesn't have a tantrum when she gets told no, so that's a bonus, right?" She took another sip of the coffee, "And plus, I'm always keen for adult company too."

Martinez almost asked about the shift in her voice, the softness threaded through her words, but let it go. This was still a new, fragile acquaintance. Some things needed time. Instead, they gave a small nod, quiet and steady. They glanced around the café, taking in the gentle hum, the soft edges of the counter, the warmth in the lighting...It wasn’t just the coffee, it was the feel of it. Like a place that knew how to hold people, not just serve them...and they suspected Aislinn was responsible for it. “Well... not sure how good adult company I am, but I can try.” Their smile touched their eyes now, slower to form but no less real. “And now I know at least one place on this ship, outside Marine country, where I’m welcome.”

The warmth of the smile didn't leave Aislinn's face as she studied Martinez. She knew it wouldn't be too long before they found their footing and was part of the furniture, the crew. Marines always looked out for Marines, didn't they? "You're going to fit in here no matter what, so don't be worrying about that, okay? And I know for a fact that the rest of the officers, both Marine and Fleet, are lovely people worth getting to know."

Martinez looked at her for a moment, then down, a small chuckle escaping.“That obvious I was worrying?” There was humour in it. Soft, not shaken. Just easy. “I can be a bit hard to get to know. Not personal. I’m just not very... loud. Or that warm. More the observer in the corner of a party, you know?” They gave a slight shrug, then looked back at her. “Then I meet someone like you. Warmth, hospitality... this whole aura.” They smiled, just a little sheepish now. “They should figure out how to replicate whatever it is you’ve got. Would make a lot of counselling sessions more efficient.”

"Oh stop," Aislinn waved off the compliment as she felt her cheeks flush red, "Again, I thank you for the compliment, but I promise there's nothing special to this. I'm just a natural people person." She held the cardboard cup in both hands and felt the warmth start to spread. "As for you, I'm sure we can get you out of the corner and into the foray and you'll be chatting away to everyone in no time!" Her voice was as happy as her smile was wide.

“You sound like my sister Marisol,” Martinez said, a fond smile pulling at the corner of their mouth as they took another sip. And she hadn’t succeeded either. Still, they liked Aislinn’s confidence. It was warm. Uncomplicated. “I always tell her I like being a little mysterious,” they added, cradling the cup for the heat alone. Their thumb rubbed along the seam, where the cardboard folded and overlapped. “The boys, the girls, the undecided....they love it when you’re a little mysterious,” they winked as they said it, smile crooked now. Just a hint of teeth and charm, relaxed but deliberate.

“The boys, the girls, the undecided? That all sounds very freeing, if I'm being honest." Aislinn had her suspicions that there was more to Martinez than they were letting on, but she kept those thoughts to herself. "And you're right: mystery goes a long way sometimes. But on the other hand, being mysterious also has the potential to be quite isolating, does it not?" It wasn't an intentional dig, just purely a query.

Martinez didn’t answer right away. They turned the cup in their hands, letting the warmth of it steady the answer. “It can be,” they said at last, with a small nod. “But it’s not always a bad thing.” Their voice was even, not defensive...just reflective in the way people were when they’d already had that thought before. “Some people like the mystery. Makes them ask interesting questions,” they added, glancing back at her with a slight smile. “Like you do. Straight for the jugular...in a nice way.”

Aislinn realised what had been said and her eyes went wide, "Oh my stars, I am so sorry if it came across that way! I haven't said anything that would be considered offensive, have I?" Now ift made her think back over the entire conversation.

“Hey.” Martinez’s voice wasn’t sharp, but it held a quiet steadiness. Enough to interrupt the spiral they could see starting in Aislinn’s eyes. They didn’t want her going there. Not when she had been nothing but warm and welcoming. “I prefer honesty. And you haven’t said anything offensive. Not to me.” They gave a small nod, eyes steady on hers. “So...we’re good, Aislinn.”

"Oh good," Aislinn breathed a sigh of relief. "I... good. It's good, we're good." She looked up at the digital clock on the wall behind the counter and saw that it was almost time to start packing the morning away and get the cafe ready for the midday workers when they came in. "It looks like time is being a thief again and I have to start packing up, but if you're free later on, or just hungry in general, you're more than welcome to stop by and have some dinner with my daughter and I." She thought about whether or not Ryan would be stopping by, but it didn't seem likely.

"I...appreciate the offer. I can’t today,” they said, but looked thoughtful. Not many people invited you to their dinner table while you were still in uniform. “Can I message you? Find a day that works? I...will bring something. As a thank you.”

"That's okay. Any time you're free, I don't mind." Aislinn's warm smile had returned. "You don't need to bring anything, but if you happen to bring something sweet, I'm sure my daughter won't say no to it." She laughed before finishing off the last amount of coffee left in the cup.

Martinez finished as well and stood, meeting her eyes with a small smile. "It would have to be something sweet. It's what I’m best at making," they said, one brow lifting just slightly. "Thank you, Aislinn...for the muffin, the coffee...the talk. And the welcome."

Aislinn stood as well, "Anytime. For now, I better get back to work, but I look forward to seeing you around." With that, she slowly backed away, still smiling, before twirling back toward the counter and through a door to get cleaning supplies.

Martinez hesitated for a moment, watching the door as it swung shut behind her...almost like they weren’t sure what came next, what the next step was. Then they exhaled, a soft sound, almost a laugh, and shook their head at themselves. They had been a thrown off balance by echoes of a neighbourly warmth that they had not experienced in years. And it was all thanks to this one woman who had greeted them with a smile, a hello and blueberry, orange and lavender muffin. The smile lingered on their lips as they turned and stepped out into the corridor, busier now than when they had arrived. Their step was a little lighter than it had been before they had walked into Maple Leaf Coffee and Pastries...and met Aislinn.

---

1st Lieutenant Ángel Martinez
Marine Officer
USS Astrea


Aislinn Finnegan
Cafe Worker
USS Astrea
(NPC of Eirly Andersen)

 

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