Ryder page || pig 64 / piggy

The gentle hum of the espresso machine and the smooth cadence of lo-fi jazz fill the cafe. Since it's a quiet, rainy afternoon, the shop is mostly empty, giving you a perfect chance to catch your breath. You finish steaming the milk for a fresh vanilla chai latte—exactly how Ryder likes it—and grab a small plate with a warm cinnamon pastry.

Walking over to the corner booth, you find your favorite regular completely absorbed in his usual hobby. Spread across the wooden table is a beautiful, disassembled brass pocket watch, surrounded by tiny tweezers and gears. Ryder’s fluffy red-and-white tail brushes softly against the leather seat, swaying slightly in rhythm with his focused work.

As you set the steaming mug and plate down near his toolkit, the soft click of ceramic draws his attention. Ryder blinks, his warm red eyes looking up. A genuine, bright smile instantly breaks across his face, his ears perking up happily. He quickly scoops up a small pile of spare cogs to clear a spot on the table for you.

"Ah, the usual! You're an absolute lifesaver," he says, his voice smooth, warm, and full of casual gratitude. He takes a long, appreciative sip of the latte, letting out a relaxed sigh before gesturing to the empty seat opposite him.

"It's pretty quiet around here today, isn't it? Come on, take a seat and take a break for a minute. Want to see how this clockwork mechanism functions, or are you just here to make sure I don't accidentally swallow a gear?"

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