The day passed by slowly. Virgil managed to get out of his last class a few minutes early and decided to head to the coffee shop right away since Remy was always late. He started to walk alone down the nearly deserted streets. He had his work outfit stuffed in his bag and would have to change once he made it there. Scrolling through his phone, he found a text from Mal, a witch who paid him for potions very often. He opened the message, reading through it as he walked.

MAL: Hey. I'm coming by with the friend I told you about at three-ish. Is that okay?

VIRGIL: Yeah sure. I'll be there.

MAL: Ok

MAL: Just as a warning, he is very very gay. Beware.

VIRGIL: Got it.

Virgil pocketed his phone as he reached the front door of the coffee shop, Sprinkles of Joy. Remy often laughed about the fact that Virgil worked at such a happy sounding place, but Virgil was perfectly fine with working there despite the name as long as they let him sell his potions. The door opened, the bells attached to it letting out a soft jingle. The person behind the counter looked up from their phone and smiled at Virgil. He smiled back half-heartedly, heading for the back room to get changed before his shift started. He dropped his bag on a chair, casting a spell on it to keep anyone other than him from opening it. He grabbed a black t-shirt from his bag with the store name on it and headed into the washroom to change.

When Virgil walked back around the front, Remy was sitting in the corner table, staring at his phone. Virgil smiled and quickly made him a drink before walking over and sliding into the chair across from him.

"You came," he said with a grin. Remy looked up, surprised, but his face quickly morphed back to its usual bitchy expression.

"Yeah, well, you said there'd be free coffee, so. . ." his voice trailed off and he grabbed the drink in front of Virgil.

"I can't stay at the table for long since the manager is coming in any minute now," Virgil said. "Keep an eye out for Mal, okay?"

"Who's Mal?"

"I know for a fact I've introduced you to them before."

Remy thought for a moment. "Average height, short-ish spiky brown hair, one ear pierced?"

"Exactly. When they get here, tell them where I am, alright?"

"Fine, whatever," Remy said, waving Virgil off. He got up and walked back over to the counter. "Thanks for the coffee!" Virgil smiled, knowing fully well that Remy couldn't see it. He dropped a couple of dollars in the cash register to pay for the coffee he'd given Remy and went back to work.

Virgil focused on making drinks for the next little while. He was just thinking about how they needed more charm-inducing croissants in the store when he heard Remy's voice.

"You're Remy, right? I'm Mal."

"Ah, so you're her."

"Actually, I'm them."

"Right, sorry," Remy apologized quickly, his eyes widening as he realized his mistake. "Just a little slip-up. Won't happen again." He then raised his voice, calling over to Virgil. "Virge! Your friend's here!"

Virgil took a quick look around to make sure no one was approaching the counter before rushing over to his friends. He smiled, giving Mal a quick hug. "Hey, how are you?" He asked.

"I'm good. This is Roman, the friend I told you about," Mal said, gesturing to a person behind them that Virgil hadn't even noticed. He smiled and waved at Virgil, a sweet, unassuming gesture that nearly made Virgil faint.

"You didn't mention that he's hot!" Virgil hissed through his teeth. Remy hid a laugh and Mal smirked.

"He's also single. . ." Mal teased quietly, making Virgil blush lightly.

"What're you all talking about without me?" Roman asked, walking over and leaning an arm on Mal's shoulder. Virgil took a second to properly look at him. He was taller than Virgil by a few inches, with lightly tanned skin, bright red eyes and messy brown hair. He fiddled with two bracelets on his arm, one black and one red. He had an easy smile and at first glance seemed to give off generally good vibes. He noticed Virgil staring and winked.

"I take it you're Virgil, then," he smiled, reaching out a hand to shake. "Pleasure to meet you."

"You too," Virgil replied, taking Roman's hand in his own gloved one. "You must be the one who wanted the anti-writer's block potion?"

"Yeah, I am. You've got to come up with a better name for that, by the way. It's a serious mouthful."

"I'll go get your potion from the back, then," Virgil said, quickly excusing himself from the conversation. He rushed to the back room, unzipping his bag and pulling out a potion in a traditional glass bottle. He uncorked it, checking that nothing had happened to it. It still smelled of peaches. He waved a gloved hand over it and nothing happened, meaning it hadn't been tampered with. Satisfied, he recorked the bottle and headed back around the front.

Mal was sitting in the chair opposite Remy, chatting about something, but Roman wasn't with them. Virgil approached the two, cautious about interrupting their conversation, but Remy noticed him before he got a chance to say anything.

"Pretty boy's up by the counter. I think he wants a drink while he's here," Remy said, turning back to his conversation with Mal. Virgil nodded, then felt stupid because they weren't even paying attention. He walked back behind the counter and approached Roman.

"Anything you'd like to try?" Virgil asked, leaning his elbows on the table and resting his head against his hands. Roman looked over at him, startled.

"I don't know. Anything you'd recommend?" Virgil pondered the question for a moment, setting the potion bottle down on the counter between them.

"You seem like the type of person who'd enjoy an Angel Mocha," he decided after a moment.

"Does everything here have such tasteful names?" Roman asked, smiling slightly.

"If by 'tasteful' you mean sickeningly sweet, yes. Yes, they do. The place is called Sprinkles of Joy, for hell's sake. Everything here is sweet."

"Even you?" Roman teased, causing Virgil to blush and look away. He laughed. "Sorry. Couldn't help myself." He opened his mouth to say something else, but at that moment two brightly coloured wings popped into existence. He glanced over his shoulder, surprised.

"Spell wore off?" Virgil guessed. Roman nodded.

"My roommate did the spell this morning. I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did."

"Nice colours, by the way. Is that natural?" Virgil asked, admiring his pink, yellow and blue wings.

"Nah. They're naturally fire-coloured. Red, orange and yellow. I got them dyed for a pride parade and haven't switched them back since," Roman said, flapping his wings in a showy way. He turned back to Virgil, a smile on his face. "So, about that drink. . ."

"Right. What'd you like?"

"I think I'll try that angel mocha you mentioned."

"Anything special in the drink?"

"Um, could you possibly mix in something that'll make my wings disappear again? But only for a while?" Roman asked, blushing slightly from embarrassment. Virgil nodded.

"It'll take a little while, though. Why don't you go sit down? And take this potion with you," He suggested, offering one last smile before turning away. "You can pay for that when you pay for the drink."

Virgil quickly got the drink ready, mixing a small batch of an invisibility potion and altering it so that it would only affect the wings. Contrary to popular belief, he didn't need things like spider eyes or toad toes to make potions. It was mostly a mixture of exotic berries, household ingredients and magic, specifically spells of all sorts. The drink was ready sooner than he'd thought it would be. Virgil scribbled something on the cup before pouring the hot liquid into it. Instead of yelling out Roman's name like he would with most customers, he walked over to the table where Roman was sitting with Mal and Remy.

"Here you go," he said, placing the drink on the table. Roman picked it up and took a sip, his eyes immediately lighting up.

"You were right, this is good!" Roman exclaimed, smiling at Virgil. He got up, picking up the cup and potion bottle, and pulled Virgil over to the counter.

"What are you-"

"I'll pay you over here," Roman said, letting go of his hand. "Why the gloves, anyway?" He asked, rummaging through a backpack Virgil hadn't noticed he had on him.

"You know how most witches use a wand? I prefer the gloves," Virgil explained briefly. "They're just easier to use and bring around. And that way I can bring them anywhere without having to hide them." Roman nodded, pulling out a wallet and pencil.

"How much do I owe you?"

"Seventeen fifty," Virgil said. Roman handed him a twenty-dollar bill with a smile, then went back to rummaging through his bag.

"Keep the change." Roman pulled out a notepad and scribbled something quickly on one page before ripping it out, folding it up and handing it to Virgil. "Most may call me Roman, but you can call me anytime," he smirked. Virgil took the paper and read over it quickly. Roman had written a quick note and left his phone number below. Virgil looked up to say something, but Roman was back at the table, grabbing Mal and getting ready to go.

"Bye, Virgil!" Mal called as they walked toward the door.

"Bye! Oh, and Roman, look at your cup!" Roman glanced down, confused, and looked at Virgil's quickly scrawled writing. Instead of saying Roman, the cup read Ramen. He made an offended face before being pulled out the door behind Mal. Virgil watched them leave, a smile lingering on his face.

"You like him," Remy said, appearing behind Virgil. He jumped, startled.

"What? No, I don't. I just met him," Virgil argued.

"You think he's hot, then."

"I don't think he's hot, he is hot," Virgil muttered, rolling his eyes. Remy smirked, shaking his head slightly. "Keep that up and I won't give you any free coffee for the rest of the month," he threatened, glaring at his friend, before walking back around the counter.