She just needed a place to work, god that's all Ann wanted. The Court house was too busy as a lot of hearings were going on today, and her mind just couldn't keep focus. So in a fit of rage and annoyance she left and went walking. To where? Hell if she knew all Ann needed was to get out of that loud crazed Court House. It was like going home for Christmas and all of her family was there. After losing herself in thought the woman had found herself lost, which never happened. Ann was a person who always knew where she was, had been, and where she was going so being in the unfamiliar plaza was, uncomfortable. She hadn't gone too far though, one google search told her she had just taken an odd turn and was in a hidden plaza that had not caught her eye before. Though who could blame her? The Plaza wasn't totally unappealing, just average. The normal shops of companies were scattered here and there. It even had the occasional store that stuck out like the tattoo parlor that was not matching the brick aesthetic and was slickly designed black and definitely stuck out. The only other place that looked appealing was a little down the way with a sign overhead in cursive writing spelling 'The DragonFly Café' with a Dragon fly cleverly worked into the design. Not a lot of cars occupied the parking spaces outside but a few made the shop appear semi-busy.
A cafe usually had a calming atmosphere so it couldn't be the worst place to try working could it? Yes it seemed quite adequate to Ann as she headed towards the Cafe and was already being beckoned by the smell of pastries that were wafting their way out of the open doors. Upon stepping in the air certainly was different, deliciously different, every breath Ann took began to make her mouth water in more need than want for the delicacies that were enclosed by the glass display counter. The Cafe was just as busy as it led on. Out of the booths and tables that were mostly on the right wall, and in the back nook with the bathrooms, half of them were occupied by 1-3 people at most. In a now desperate need of sustenance containing coffee and an undecided pastry Ann made her way to the counter. She was met by a smiling cashier. They were 5'5 average, though short compared to Ann's 5'8, with a skinny yet muscular build their light skin looked heavily tanned. This was not unusual as this was Santa Monica, California and in July turning August a tan, especially if you tanned easily, wasn't the most out of place. A magnetic tag clipped to the apron the cashier wore said 'Hello My name is Candy I use They/Them pronouns". A cute yet informative name tag.
"Hello! Welcome to the DragonFly Cafe. I'm Candy how can I help you today!" Said the small person who seemed eager to finally talk to someone. After some time staring at the handwritten chalk menu overhead Ann finally spoke up. "Hi, Can I have a medium coffee with 2 Creams and 1 sugar and 1 strawberry glazed Donut? Please". With quick typing on the screen in front of them and fast scribbling on a cup Candy looked up at Ann "Absolutely Miss! That'll be 4.45 for you today! I will have a server bring it out to you ASAP. Would you like your recite?" The short person said reciting it as if they had said the same line over and over and over again which they probably had. Ann paid with cash and accepted the proof of purchase before then tucking it into her back pocket and went to sit down. Not after taking a number for her table to indicate to the server which table the food belonged to.
Once sat down in one of the empty booths Ann opened up the navy blue satchel bag that had been slung over her shoulder. She pulled out her Laptop and the few books and note books she had quickly thrown in before she left. Out of the side pocket she pulled out a small case and once opened showed a pair of black half rimmed glasses. Ann slipped them on and put the case away. She didn't need the glasses most of the time but they were reading glasses as she tended to go cross eyed when reading close up things. They also were blue light blockers as she stared at a screen for half of her job. She had just opened up a few cases files when her coffee and donut were being placed by the empty half of the table that didn't have scattered papers out and about.
Ann wasn't paying too much attention to the waitress that was serving her order. It wasn't until she spoke that Ann even glanced over. "Here's your coffee 2 creams 1 sugar. And strawberry glazed donut ma'am. My name's Angel, just call if you need anything else Miss. Or just head to the front counter and Candy can take care of you" The waitress had said before leaving to attend other tables. Her voice was sweet and very smooth like a singer's voice and for some reason reminded Ann of caramel. The lawyer couldn't get a good look of her before she walked away only the back of her. Her hair was pulled up in a bun. It seemed that when let down it would reach mid back and just by observing it Ann could tell it was well taken care off. How did Ann know this? She was a lawyer. Why would she know anything about hair? The short answer was her brother. Her twin brother Axel was a freelance artist and hair stylist. So every family gathering he would rant on who was taking care of their hair and who had fried it with box coloring. Along with the usually hairdresser gossip. So with her photographic memory for both what she sees and hears, all the hair information Axel had spewed at her had taken lodge in basically her mind's spam folder.
Ann brushed off whatever she was doing. Being a creep probably staring at some poor girl who's just doing her job. She was probably underage too! With Ann being 28 she suddenly felt bad and dirty and resumed looking over the case files for her newest defendant. The case wasn't too bad the boy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and had been accused of a robbery at a gas station. He had been very polite and cooperative with Ann. The young man was innocent and she could easily prove it. It wasn't the worst case she'd seen, some cases Ann had been involved with were very raunchy and boreline Ted bundy. Pushing the worst cases aside Ann continued to work sipping on her coffee and snacking on her mid day snack. To be fair both drink and food were delicious and the smell was correct on how good the pastries would be. Ann had to take a minute to herself once finished to not buy another.
Ann had been looking over the files and her notes for a good few hours now and was thinking about heading home. The waitress had come back to ask if she needed anything and to pick up the cup and plate. But Ann had kindly declined most of the offers with the exception of one and ordered a water with lemon. After deciding to finally go home and get some rest for the upcoming trail. It wasn't tomorrow but the day after though the Law can take a lot out of you so getting rest was probably the best answer. So Ann neatly cleaned up all the papers and put them back into the satchel followed by her laptop. Once picked up and leaving the table spotless just like how she'd arrived with the stray cup sitting Ann stepped out of the booth and headed towards the door. Before she made it to the door she made a pit stop at the counter where she put a 15 dollar tip and left to the door only to stop mid way there to the feeling of someone staring and looked behind to see her waitress. Ann trying to pull back her mean demeanor smiled and waved goodbye to her kind waitress before finally leaving. Once outside the door she stopped for a final time to see a small printed sheet on the open door which read 'Welcome to the DragonFly café where kids and adults alike that are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community are welcomed with open arms. Allies are always welcomed as well but we pride ourself in having a no tolerance for any type of bigoted views. If you have those views kindly from the staff to you. Get. Out. Or be forced out. Thank you'. This sign made Ann smile and decided that this Cafe was a perfect working spot and that she should visit more often.
Ann you see definitely wasn't straight. Ann was Cis, comfortable with pronouns and body, she knew she was lucky for that but definitely not straight. Men didn't appeal to her the same way women did. Ann identified herself as Queer because this term was loose enough for Ann to feel comfortable. Her family did know and they accepted. It'd be odd if they didn't since she has two dads. Her twin has a husband and little brother was crushing on a family friend's step son. Not to mention everyone her family associated closely with were in the community one way or another so it wasn't a surprised with Ann came out at Queer. So when Ann found a Café and not a loud bar that tended to queer people she couldn't be more happy. Though Ann was surprised she didn't realize sooner as there were pride flags cleverly placed everywhere around the little shop looking back inside.
Turning around she headed back to the path she came from even if she did need some help from Google maps to get back to the court house. From there she began her way back home as it wasn't too terribly far to walk. Though getting a car is on Ann's to-do list it wasn't important right now she could walk. She would get one when it wouldn't be too much out of pocket. To be honest nothing was out of pocket if she just asked her dad. They were very well off and he always asked if she was short on cash. Ann always declined the offers. Handouts were a hard pass with Ann having always been head strong and never wanting help with much unless it was absolutely necessary.
She eventually made it back to her apartment complex with a sigh of relief. After realizing how tired her feet were in the heels Ann walked over to the elevator waiting for it to reach the ground floor. Once here the large Grey steel doors slide over with little to no noise as the complex was only 4 years old. Ann stepped in thankful for no one else and hit button 5. It jumped up as it carried her to the 5th floor making no stops to Ann's relief. Socializing was what she wanted least. The doors opened once more with a ding from the floor indicator. The beyond tired women drug herself to Apartment 512. Home. She pulled out the small keychain she had and unlocked her 1 bedroom apartment which she pays half for. Her dads forced her hand on letting them help pay for a decent apartment. Whatever after about 2 years living here her frustration on the topic had worn off.
She tossed her bag on the kitchen counter and took off her blazer that was apart of her work outfit which consisted of a white button up blouse, grey blazer, grey dress pants, with maroon heels. A simple outfit really. Though to her outfit knowledge it was most definitely not the best, she could do. Since her 'Aunt' Avery, though was not related to her family at all, was a top tier model and taught her how to dress pretty early on. Who is the same family friend who had the step son Ann's little brother Oz was crushing on. Ann yawned, stretching out the stress of the day and proceeded to then crash on the couch 'resting her eyes for a second' but ultimately falling asleep.
