coffee shop dates
James
Regulus
Remus
Sirius
Pandora
06:21 | you never showed up last night
07:31 | fuck sirius i’m sorry
07:32 | i was exhausted after work and i ended up passing out the minute i got home
07:42 | i get it, i just miss you, y’know?
07:44 | and it feels like there’s something you’re not telling me. i’m just worried
07:46 | i know, i’m sorry. it’s just…a lot to talk about. i do intend on telling you, but i’m just…not ready i think
07:48 | i’m glad you intend on telling me. whatever it is, i’m going to love you regardless.
07:48 | unless it has something to do with murder. i might be a bit concerned about that.
07:49 | but you know where to find me when you’re ready, yeah?
07:51 | yeah, i do. and it’s nothing bad, it’s just
07:52 | stuff about who i am. i’m not a murderer, though
07:54 | thanks for the reassurance lil sis LMAO
07:55 | i’ll talk to you soon, okay?
07:56 | okay. talk soon.
11:45 | good afternoon reg!
11:47 | good afternoon, jay
11:48 | i was thinking. we’ve talked for long enough now
11:51 | ?? it’s only been like a week and a half
11:51 | but. alright. where is this going LMAO
11:52 | you’ve loosened up! :D
11:53 | anyways, i was thinking, did you maybe want to meet up and get coffee at some point?
11:54 | if not, it’s completely fine, i don’t mind continuing to talk via text :)
12:17 | hi, i’m sorry, my friend called me.
12:18 | when were you thinking?
12:19 | that’s okay!
12:19 | i was thinking maybe tomorrow? whenever works for you, i work from home so whatever time works for you works for me
12:21 | that’s cool!
12:21 | i get off work at noon tomorrow.
12:23 | okay! what area do you live in? i’m in central london
12:24 | same actually. there’s a coffee shop down the street from the studio i work at if you want to meet there?
12:26 | great! that works for me! where is it at?
12:27 | < Attachment: 1 Location >
12:27 | i’m actually really excited now :D
12:28 | you weren’t excited before?
12:29 | i was more scared that you’d say no
12:29 | but now that i know you actually want to meet me
12:30 | i’m ecstatic :DD
12:31 | you use that emoji a lot
12:31 | the :D one
12:34 | my friend told me once that it resembled my actual smile
12:34 | so now i use it when i’m excited :D
12:35 | ah, i see
12:36 | i gotta head back into the studio, talk later?
12:39 | okie dokie :)
12:40 | have fun <3
Three Pretty Best Friends
18:47 | my sister is being weird
18:48 | there’s something she’s not telling me
18:51 | i’m sure she’s alright, mate
18:52 | yeah, i’m sure she’s still getting settled in her new life, y’know?
18:53 | i know. i’m just really fuckin worried HSHDJS
18:56 | she left your parents house a few months ago, yeah?
18:57 | yeah she did
18:59 | i’m sure she’s still just. getting used to being out from under their thumb
19:00 | an upbringing like that takes awhile to feel free from. you of all people know that
19:02 | he’s got a point, pads
19:03 | you’re right. both of you are
19:05 | we know
19:05 | we know
19:06 | very funny, you two.
19:11 | i think i might ask her if she wants to go out and get dinner at some point
19:12 | just me and her
19:14 | that’s a great idea, darling
19:15 | god can we keep the pda to a minimum SHJHKFDJ
19:17 | i agree though, thats a great idea
20:31 | how’s phone boy?
20:34 | good evening, pandora. i’m doing great, thanks for asking. how are you?
20:35 | shut up. i know ur still talking to him
20:36 | i’m glad you’re doing good. work was great, tiring as always. my station neighbor is a prat, as always. how’s your job? glad to hear it.
20:38 | my god i hate u
20:40 | thank you <3 xx
20:41 | but he’s good.
20:43 | just good?
20:44 | we’re going for coffee tomorrow
20:48 | SHUT THE FUCK UP JSHKDHS
20:49 | WHAT ARE U WEARING????? WHAT R U GONNA ORDER???? WHAT R U GONNA TALK ABOUT????? REGULUS ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW JHDFHJSHJDHJ
20:53 | STOP AVOIDING ME LIKE THE PLAGUE REG
20:55 | i should have never told you. i hate it here
20:56 | i’m going straight after work, so i’m gonna look like shit anyways. he works from home so he’s gonna be there first
20:59 | great so he might look incredible and ur gonna look like shit
21:03 | DAMN OKAY??? JESUS
21:04 | HSKDJDKDJ
21:05 | YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN he works from home so he has more time to put effort into how he looks
21:06 | u know i love u. but please. for the love of god. put some effort into how you look rather than showing up in paint covered trousers and paint all over your face
21:07 | fuck pandora i’ll try but i can’t guarantee anything
21:07 | i’ll send you pics tomorrow morning jfc
21:08 | NO WE NEED TO DO THIS NOW
21:09 | obviously ur gonna wear all black u emo fuck
21:12 | FUCK OFF i hate you
21:15 | shut up. you love me. anyways. wear your docs, your black trousers you wear every day, and do you still have that sweater i bought you?
21:17 | the one from two christmases ago?
21:18 | yeah. wear that. ur welcome, by the way
21:22 | i’ll have to wear a different shirt to work but i’ll bring it to change into after my shift ig
21:42 | great. now get some beauty sleep, princess! you need it <3
21:43 | and don’t curse so much in front of him
21:45 | haha. fuck off. <3
The last time Regulus went on a date, it ended disastrously. To say he was nervous now would be an understatement.
Regulus stared up at the ceiling in his cocoon of a thick duvet, breathing deeply to try and calm his heart rate. He wasn’t sure why he was so nervous. Sure, he didn’t know all that much about Jay, but he seemed nice enough that Reg thought he could trust him. On top of that, Jay hadn’t even said it was a date. They were just getting coffee. He sighed, climbing out of bed and walking towards his dresser. He pulled out his binder, his trousers, and an old t-shirt with enough acrylic paint on ot that he didn’t care about wearing it to work. Regulus walked into his bathroom, grimacing as he noticed the amount of dried paint still in his hair. He loved being an artist, don’t get him wrong, but the amount of clothing he’s thrown away because of the acrylic paint stains on them made him want to throw up, honestly.
Regulus quickly showered, thankful for the second set of lighting in his bathroom that was far more dim than the bright white overhead lighting. After he dried himself off, he tugged his binder over his head, pulling on the rest of his clothes quickly afterwards. He washed his face, cleaned his septum piercing (Pandora had convinced him to get it a few months ago; call it a first act of rebellion against his parents that he had recently cut out), and pulled his docs on. Regulus sighed, staring at his reflection in the mirror for a few moments.
He wasn’t unhappy with his appearance. He’d hoped that getting the septum would help him, or at the very least force him to go against everything his parents had ingrained in him. Stand up straight, be the perfect daughter, don’t speak unless spoken to, it’s what being a woman means. Unlearning the internalised misogyny that his mother and father had trained him with was hard, but he was navigating it as well as he could.
Sirius had left their home when he was 15, and when Regulus was almost 14. Back then, he was still Sirius’ chubby cheeked, curly haired little sister, tucked into his four poster bed as he listened to his father’s voice booming through their large home. The yelling went on for hours before he heard Sirius’ bedroom door fly open, some rustling, heavy footsteps down the stairs, and then the door slamming. When he woke up the next morning, Walburga had taken a kitchen knife to Sirius’ face on the family tapestry hanging in their formal living room, and Regulus was told that he was now an only child, and not to bring up his brother.
Shortly after is when Regulus realised he was transgender. He had saved up his own money, ordering a cheap set of clippers and cutting his hair in the bathroom. His mother had been livid, grounding him for a month once she saw him. She forbid him from binding, from changing his appearance, everything she could control, he did.
So the first chance he got, the second his tuition fund had been secured for University, he cut contact with his parents. He moved to London, used the tuition to get himself a small apartment, and got a job doing what he loved; art. Pandora stayed with him for a few weeks, helping him get on testosterone, a new binder, and a brand new masculine wardrobe. He would forever be grateful for her and her unending support, through the bad haircuts and the makeshift binders he knew he couldn’t use anymore.
Speaking of Pandora, his phone rang from his bed, pulling him from his thoughts. He walked back over to his bed, answering it. “Hello?” He asked, his voice cracking. Damn testosterone making his voice crack more than it already did.
“Good morning, starshine, the Earth says hello!” Pandora cheered through the phone.
Regulus rolled his eyes, running his fingers through his hair. “Good morning, Pan.”
“Ready for your big date, huh?” She asked.
“It’s not a date, Pandora,” He said as he put is phone on speaker, setting it on his dresser and reaching into his closet to pull out the green sweater Pandora wanted him to wear. “But I guess I’m excited. As excited as I can be.”
He could practically hear her rolling her eyes over the phone. “Whatever. I’m just calling to see how you’re doing. I know you went to get another dose of T yesterday, so I wanted to make sure you were still doing alright.”
Regulus smiled softly, folding the sweater and tossing it on the bed. “I’m feeling okay. Leg’s a bit sore at the injection site per usual, but I feel alright.”
“Great!” She said happily. “I’m so happy you’re free from your parents, Reg. You’re free to be whoever you want to be, and that makes me so bloody happy.”
“Christ, Pan, don’t get all sappy on me this early in the morning,” Reg laughed. “I need to get to work. I’ll let you know how coffee with Jay goes.”
Pandora clapped through the phone, giggling happily. “Well if he decides to treat you like shit, I’ll rip his balls off. Talk later, my darling!” She said, before hanging up the phone.
Regulus shook his head, sliding the rings he wore every day onto his fingers. He grabbed his tote bag for work, stuffed the folded sweater inside, grabbed his keys and his wallet, and took off for the studio a couple blocks down the road.
09:34 | hey! we’re still on for today?
09:47 | sorry i’m in the middle of a painting lol
09:48 | but i’m still up for it if you are!
09:51 | great!!
09:52 | you paint?
09:56 | yeah, i’m an artist, i work at taurus studios down the street from the café
09:58 | WOAH thats so cool
09:59 | i’m a cognitive behavioural therapist lol
10:12 | thats so cool too!! i’m excited to hear more about you later haha
10:14 | i’m excited to hear more about you too :)
10:15 | i gotta go, i’m about to start a session with a patient. see you later :D <3
10:18 | see you later :) i’ll be wearing a green sweater if you have trouble finding me lol
“I’ll take a medium iced caramel latte with oat milk, please?” Regulus asked, watching as the barista typed his order into the register. He quickly paid for his drink, walking down to the pickup counter to wait for it. His eyes trailed across the café, searching around the building to see if he could spot Jay.
“Order for Regulus?” The barista called. Regulus turned around to grab his drink from the counter, before finding a secluded booth towards the back of the café. He set his tote bag on the booth next to him, pulling his phone out and checking his notifications.
11:55 | babes is he there yet
11:56 | he is not, but it’s also early so
11:56 | i finished early so im already here
12:01 | FUCK
12:03 | wait fuck i think he just walked in
12:04 | gotta go bye
12:05 | WAIT FUCK LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES SEND ME PHOTOS MAKE HIM TAKE YOU TO DINNER BEFORE HE HITS IT
Regulus watched as Jay walked up to the counter, ordering his coffee. He chewed on his bottom lip, fidgeting with his septum ring before looking back down at his phone. He chuckled at Pandora’s text, before opening his chat with James and quickly telling him where he was sitting. Jay checked his phone before looking around, spotting where Regulus was sitting. He smiled brightly, adjusting his glasses on his nose before waving at Regulus.
Fuck , Regulus thought, he’s cuter in real life.
Regulus took a long drink from his iced coffee, watching Jay grab his drink from the counter and slide into the booth across from him. “Reg, hi!” He said, setting his cup down on the table. “Sorry I’m a few minutes late, my session ran over so I had to rush to get over here.”
“You’re fine,” Regulus said, laughing. “It’s nice to actually talk to you in person.”
“Yeah it is!” Jay exclaimed, taking a drink from his coffee. “What’d you order?”
“Iced caramel latte with oat milk,” Regulus said. “You?”
Jay nodded. “I just got an iced coffee with an extra shot of espresso,” He said. “I’m exhausted today, not gonna lie. But that’s okay, coffee helps.”
Regulus laughed again, his voice cracking slightly. He grimaced, taking another drink of his coffee. Jay seemed like he was a talker, which was good; because Regulus wasn’t.
“How was work?” Jay asked. Regulus shrugged, smiling softly. “It was alright. I rent a space down at Taurus Studios so I can work on commissions and stuff,” Regulus explained.
“That’s cool!” Jay said. “My friend Lily is an artist too, except she normally works with clay and stuff. She makes pottery, which is ironic since Potter is my last name.” He explained, drumming his fingers against the table.
Regulus nodded. “That’s fun. And it is indeed quite ironic.”
They talked for around an hour and a half, about anything and everything Jay could think of. Favourite films (his was Titanic because he’s a hopeless romantic, Regulus’ was Shaun of the Dead because he loves Edgar Wright films), favourite bands, drinks, colours, what they wanted to be when they grew up, everything. As he walked out of the café, Regulus quickly pulled out his phone and shot a text to Pandora.
13:12 | pandora i’m fucked
13:13 | what the fuck does that mean
13:13 | did it go okay did you fuck it up was he into feet
13:15 | PANDORA HDKSDJHF
13:16 | its worse
13:17 | hes perfect bro im gonna be sick
13:19 | my god you’re a disaster