The scent of parchment and freshly brewed tea filled the air as C/N Cookie absent-mindedly rearranged a small stack of books on her desk.

Her quaint little library, in a quieter corner of the Creme Republic, was not as grand as the towering archives of Parfaedia, and it didn't burst with visitors like with the central libraries. But that was exactly why she loved it. Here, time moved a little slower, and knowledge rested on the shelves, waiting for curious minds to seek it out.

Yet, in her routine, her thoughts drifted - who would've thought - to Espresso Cookie.

She had met him a few times, often when she had business near the Parfaedian Academy, where he was a teacher. Stern, precise, and utterly absorbed in his research, he may strike others as rather... unapproachable. But in some of those brief encounters, she'd gotten a glimpse of something else - a passion for knowledge, a quiet sort of charm underneath it all.

Humming to herself, she barely noticed the chime of the front door bell until a familiar voice pulled her from her thoughts.

"I see this establishment remains as peaceful as ever."

She turned, surprised to find Espresso Cookie standing in the doorway, his usual confident posture slightly relaxed. In his hands were two steaming cups of coffee, the aroma cutting through the library’s usual scents of ink and parchment.

"Professor Espresso Cookie!" She greeted, smoothing down her uniform as she stepped around the desk. "I wasn't expecting a visit."

"Nor was I expecting to find myself here again so soon." He admitted, stepping forward to offer her one of the cups. "But I find this library's atmosphere preferable to the usual... distractions of the republic."

A quiet warmth spread through C/N Cookie at the gesture. Taking the cup, she nodded toward her assistant at the front desk. "Would you mind watching things for a bit?" At their nod, she motioned for Espresso Cookie to follow her toward a quieter reading desk, one lined with tomes of magical theory and historical events.

Settling into one of the plush chairs, she took a sip of the coffee - warm, with just the right balance of bitterness. She glanced at him over the rim of her cup. "How has your teaching been?"

Espresso Cookie sighed, setting down his cup with a quiet clink. "Predictable. Parfaedian students remain... spirited, to say the least. Their grasp of theory is sufficient, but their execution? Sloppy." He pinched the bridge of his nose before shaking his head. "But I suppose that is what I am there for - to correct their mistakes."

She chuckled softly. "You always speak of them as if they're utterly hopeless."

"Not utterly." He muttered, stirring his coffee absentmindedly. "Some show promise. But... patience has never been my strong suit."

"Perhaps that’s something you could work on then." She mused, tilting her head. "Learning isn't just for students, after all."

The professor gave her a dry look but said nothing, instead reaching for one of the books on the table between them. He looked at the title, then glanced back at her. "And you? Still content running this little library of yours?"

"Of course." She said without hesitation. "Not all knowledge seekers enjoy the bustle of Parfaedia's grand halls. Some prefer quiet corners and well-loved books." She smiled. "Like you."

He huffed softly, but there was no real bite to it. "Tch. I suppose there is some truth to that."

The two fell into a comfortable silence, sipping their coffee and occasionally exchanging words about the books before them. It was a rare moment of peace - one neither of them openly admitted to seeking, yet both seemed to enjoy.

And perhaps, Espresso Cookie thought, as he turned a page in his book, this little library was better than Parfaedia's archives in some aspects.