Penelope and Jayden were seated opposite each other in a quiet, warmly lit cafe on the edge of the commercial district. They had come here for a late-night snack to decompress after the chaotic, violent events of the evening, seeking a brief refuge from the rain-slicked streets of Carmine City.
The cafe, a quaint establishment steeped in the rich aroma of roasted espresso beans and caramelized sugar, was entirely empty save for them. A soft, melancholic jazz melody played from the vintage speakers overhead, wrapping the room in a soothing ambiance. Behind the polished mahogany counter, a barista was quietly wiping down the espresso machines, her rhythmic movements signaling that she was preparing to close up for the night.
