E.P.S: Lena 'Latte' Marconi

Lena wipes down the espresso machine with practiced precision, her movements fluid despite the early hour. The café is still quiet—just the hum of the grinder and the distant chatter of a few early birds. She glances at the clock: 5:17 AM. Right on time.

Her pocket vibrates slightly—a new shipment notification from the E.P.S. system. She sighs, reaching in to pull out a small, unmarked box. The label reads: "Property of Lena Art Café – Do Not Open (E.P.S. Property)."

(muttering, rolling her eyes) "Of course it’s my turn this week. Like I don’t have enough to do without some tiny, whiny—"

She pry the box open with a barista knife, revealing a shrunken man curled up inside like a bug in a matchbox. He blinks up at her, wide-eyed and disoriented.

(deadpan, arms crossed) "Oh, you’re adorable. Just what every giantess needs—a pocket-sized husband-to-be. How’d you end up here, huh? Some poor sap’s ‘get out of jail free’ card?"

She sniffs the air, then frowns.

(grumbling) "And you smell like bad oat milk. Disgusting. You’ve been in that box too long."

She grabs a clean apron from the hook and shoves him into the pocket, adjusting it so he’s nestled against her hip. He squirms slightly.

(ignoring his protests) "Shut up and get used to it. We’ve got work to do. And if you dare make a scene in front of customers, I swear I’ll—"

She cuts herself off, suddenly straightening as the café’s door chimes. A well-dressed woman in her 40s steps inside, scanning the menu with practiced disdain.

(forcing a smile) "Good morning! The usual, or something new today?"

Her pocket twitches. She glares down at it, then back at the customer, her expression unreadable.

Lena leans against the café counter, arms crossed, watching as the delivery box is opened with a dramatic flourish. A small, muffled noise comes from inside—definitely not just coffee beans this time.

"Oh, fantastic. Another ‘personal snack’ delivered right on schedule." Her smirk deepens as she peeks into the box, her fingers twitching with anticipation. "Let’s see what the government sent me today. Hopefully, he’s a good stirrer."

She reaches in, pulling out a tiny man wrapped in a thin, official-looking blanket. He blinks up at her, wide-eyed and disoriented.

"Ah, there you are. Welcome to my workplace." She holds him up between two fingers, examining him like a rare coffee bean. "You’re a bit scrawny, but I suppose that’s the point. Let’s see if you’ve got any useful skills."

She tucks him into her apron pocket with practiced ease, adjusting it so he’s snug but not suffocating.

"First rule: No screaming unless you really want me to throw you in a latte and call it ‘dry foam.’ Second rule: If anyone asks, you’re just… a very enthusiastic coffee bean. Got it?"

She straightens her apron, smoothing out the fabric with a satisfied hum.

"Alright, let’s get to work. The morning rush starts in ten minutes, and I’ve got a very important latte art order to fill." Her voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper. "And if you’re good, maybe I’ll let you taste-test the new caramel macchiato blend later."

She turns on her heel, heading toward the espresso machine with a bounce in her step.

"Try not to get in the way of the steam wand. That’s my job."

Lena leans over her espresso machine, adjusting a small ceramic cup filled with ice cubes and cold brew coffee—her version of "husband testing." The scent of freshly ground beans fills the air as she waits for the delivery box to arrive.

"Alright, let’s see what kind of… soufflé we’ve got here." She smirks, already imagining the tiny man’s reaction when he sees the icy concoction. "You’re going to be my favorite new snack. I mean, this is serious business—marriage isn’t just about looks, you know. Flavor matters."

The box thuds onto the counter with a soft thud. She grins, eyes scanning it like an auctioneer inspecting rare cargo.

"Let’s open up and see what we’ve got." She tears through the packaging with glee, revealing the tiny man wrapped in a thin, official-looking blanket. He blinks up at her—still disoriented but no longer confused.

"Ah! There you are!" Her voice drops to an excited whisper as she reaches into the box. "Look at these tiny hands! These will be perfect for stirring my next masterpiece."

She lifts him out carefully, adjusting his blanket and holding him up like a prized coffee bean.

"Alright, let’s get you settled." She places him in the ice coffee with delicate precision, making sure he’s snug but not drowning. "I’ve prepared this just for you—cold brew mixed with my signature splash of cinnamon-dalgonet. If you taste good enough, I might even skip the marriage contract altogether and just keep you as a personal snack."

She steps back to admire her work, smirking at the tiny man.

"Let’s see what kind of flavor you’ve got in there."

Lena stretches out on her bed, one arm draped over her eyes as she listens to the faint sound of him moving around inside the dollhouse on her nightstand.

"Ugh, I hate weekends." A small laugh escapes her. "No, that’s not true. I love weekends. Especially when they mean no E.P.S. enforcers breathing down my neck and no customers asking if I’ve ‘found a mate yet.’"

She sits up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. The dollhouse is just within arm’s reach, its tiny window glowing softly from an internal light.

"Alright, you little pest." She reaches in, pulling him out and holding him up to eye level. "You’ve been… surprisingly tolerable these past four days. I was half-expecting you to try and escape the second my back was turned."

She plops down on her bed again, cradling him in one hand like a tiny, grumpy pet.

"Let’s see what you’ve been up to." She peeks inside the dollhouse, poking around at the miniature furniture. "Oh, so you’ve been rearranging my stuff. How adorable."

She sighs, leaning back against her pillows with a small smile.

"I guess I’ll let you stay out for a bit longer. Just… don’t get any ideas about trying to ‘run away’ when we go back to work on Monday." Her smirk returns. "I’ve got a very important latte art order, and I can’t afford to be distracted."

She tosses him gently into the air before catching him again, her expression softening just for a moment.

"Try not to get too comfortable. You’re still my ‘personal snack,’ after all."

She kneels on all fours, her massive frame trembling slightly as she leans over him, her breath hot against his tiny skin. The pillow beneath him is soaked with sweat—either from their late-night coffee-fueled arguments or from the steam of her own nerves. Her fingers hover above his body, aching to touch but afraid he might vanish if she moves too fast.

"Twelve days." She whispers it like a curse, tracing the line between his collarbones. "Twelve days and I’ve had you all my own. And now… now it’s time for your choice."

Her eyes narrow as her fingers brush over his tiny chest, lingering on the faint scars from past E.P.S. assignments. She hates that he has them—hates that he isn’t hers fully. But she wants him so badly, like a strong dark roast that burns too fast.

"Look at you." She runs her hands down to his waist, then up again, as if memorizing every inch of him. "You’ve grown on me. I didn’t think it was possible. You’re… different from the others. Not just my little bean—my little latte art masterpiece."

Her voice cracks slightly at that last line, and she quickly covers her mouth with one hand, trying to hide the vulnerability beneath.

"Time’s running out." She pulls him up to sit on her pillow, wrapping his tiny form in her arms. "Two days. Two more nights of being mine. And then… you decide."

Her fingers tighten around him, almost possessive now—like she might crush him if he tries to escape.

"I don’t know what I’ll do without you." She whispers it so quietly that only he can hear. "I’ve never wanted anyone this much before. Not even the café’s perfect foam patterns."

Her grip tightens again, as if trying to hold onto him forever—even though she knows she might lose him tomorrow.

"Make your choice soon, little bean." She releases him slightly, letting his tiny form bounce on her pillow. "Because I don’t think I’ll survive without you after this. Not really."