We Go Together Like Coffee and Donuts
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About the Image
Lots to talk about in this post, so let’s get right to it!
First up is the Vintage Stores backdrop, the September group gift from Synnergy.Tavis. You can stop by the in-world store to pick it up this month. The group join fee is L$150, and members receive a new gift each month, plus special gifts and calendar events throughout the year for occasions like Halloween and Christmas.
One thing to keep in mind is that the backdrop itself is fairly minimal, with the storefronts, street, sidewalks, and trees providing the basic setting. I added quite a few props to give the scene a more lived-in feel, and you can find everything I used listed in the credits below. Personally, I sometimes enjoy starting with a bit of a “blank canvas” because it gives me the freedom to personalize the scene and make it fit the story. Of course, you can add nothing and keep things simple if you prefer! Pick up the Vintage Stores backdrop this month and make it your own.
Also featured are Serena and Sage’s cute shopping day outfits. Serena is wearing a new release from JUSTICE for the current round of FaMESHed. The Drew Skirt and Drew Shirt are sold separately by body type, giving you plenty of mix-and-match possibilities. The shirt can be worn tucked, as Serena is wearing it here, or styled cropped or loose, with customizable string and metal colors. The skirt can be worn with or without the belt, and you can choose between a cute lip gloss charm keychain or decorative dog tags. The fatpack also includes colored denim options—Serena is wearing the brown version shown here. Stop by FaMESHed to grab a demo and try both pieces for yourself.
Last but not least, Sage is wearing the new Liora Top from Sorumin, available at this month’s round of The Fifty. This ribbed knit top features an off-the-shoulder neckline and a cute lace-up detail along one side. You can even add a little sparkle—or leave it off if you’re going for something more understated. Liora is available in six color packs, with four shades in each pack ranging from soft pastels and neutrals to bolder colors. Stop by The Fifty, grab a demo, and give Liora a try!
Complete credits are below the story. Store and event SLurls are available on the Store & Event Links page.
The Story
Having Sage home for Labor Day weekend was a rare treat these days. Now in her second year of graduate school, she spent most of her time buried under coursework, research, and enough reading to make Serena’s eyes cross just thinking about it.
So naturally, Serena had decided that her little sister’s limited free time should be spent doing something important.
Shopping.
She called Sage on Saturday night with a plan: breakfast the next morning, followed by a visit to the new vintage stores mall that had opened downtown.
“I have so much homework,” Sage protested.
“It’s Labor Day weekend. No labor.”
“Graduate students don’t get holidays.”
“Then consider this field research,” Serena said. “You can study the psychological effects of donuts and retail therapy.”
There was a pause.
“What kind of donuts?”
Serena knew she had her.
The next morning, the sisters met at a little coffee shop near the mall. Serena arrived first and had barely finished ordering when Sage walked through the door looking suspiciously awake for someone who claimed to have been studying until two in the morning.
Over coffee and an embarrassingly large assortment of donuts, Sage filled Serena in on school. She still loved the program, but second year had definitely raised the stakes. There was more research, more clinical material, and apparently no limit to what a human brain could do wrong.
Serena listened, occasionally offering useful big-sister advice such as, “Drop out and become an influencer.”
“I’m going to be a neuropsychologist.”
“You could be a neuropsychology influencer.”
“No.”
“I think I just found your niche!”
Sage narrowed her eyes over her coffee. “Would you like me to explain what your need to reorganize other people’s lives says about your cognitive functioning?”
“Absolutely not.”
Breakfast stretched much longer than planned, which was exactly what Serena had hoped would happen. They talked about their parents, Gavin, the wedding, school, and all the tiny pieces of their lives that never seemed important enough for a phone call but somehow became important when sisters were sitting across a table from one another.
Eventually, Serena glanced at the time.
“We have vintage treasures to find.”
The new mall turned out to be enormous; a collection of little shops selling everything from antique furniture and old records to clothing, jewelry, books, cameras, and an alarming number of ceramic animals.
Sage quickly discovered that shopping with Serena hadn’t changed since childhood.
Serena picked things up.
Sage put things back.
Serena found a velvet hat from the 1960s and insisted Sage try it on.
Sage refused.
Serena put it on her anyway.
Then Sage found a pair of enormous sunglasses and returned the favor.
Two stores later, Serena stopped dead in front of an old camera displayed on a shelf.
Sage sighed. “And here we go.”
“You cannot rush this.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were thinking it.”
“I’m studying brains, Serena. I don’t read minds.”
“Yet.”
While Serena examined the camera, turning it over carefully and inspecting every detail, Sage wandered toward a nearby bookshelf.
A few minutes later, Serena heard her say, “Oh, interesting.”
She looked over to find Sage holding an old psychology textbook.
Serena pointed at it immediately.
“No.”
“What?”
“You came shopping to escape school.”
“It’s from the 1950s. I want to see what they thought about brain function.”
“Put the vintage brain book down.”
The real trouble began in a tiny shop near the back of the mall.
Serena spotted an old leather camera case tucked beneath a display table and immediately disappeared into photographer heaven. While she investigated the camera inside, Sage wandered toward a glass case filled with vintage jewelry.
A few minutes later, Serena heard her call.
“Come look at this.”
Inside the case was a delicate little brooch shaped like a spray of leaves, with tiny pearl-colored stones clustered along the branches. It wasn’t particularly valuable, according to the tag, but there was something lovely and old-fashioned about it.
“That would be beautiful for the wedding,” Sage said.
Serena looked at her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Sage smiled. “You’re doing the face.”
“What face?”
“The emotional Serena face.”
“I do not have an emotional Serena face.”
“You absolutely do.”
Serena looked back at the brooch.
She hadn’t come looking for anything wedding-related. In fact, she had promised herself she wasn’t going to turn every outing between now and the wedding into another wedding errand.
But Sage was right. It would be beautiful.
Maybe pinned inside her bouquet. Something old, discovered unexpectedly while spending a morning with her sister.
Serena bought it.
By the time they finally emerged from the mall, they were carrying several shopping bags, fresh coffees, and—because apparently the first round had not been enough—more donuts.
“You realize,” Sage said as they walked down the leaf-covered street, “that we’ve essentially spent the entire morning consuming sugar and buying things we don’t need.”
Serena took a sip of coffee. “And how does that make you feel?”
Sage stared at her.
Serena grinned.
“Please don’t ever say that to me again.”
They kept walking, laughing as autumn leaves swirled around their boots. Sage would be heading back to school soon. Life was changing for both of them, and mornings like this couldn’t be taken for granted anymore.
But some things hadn’t changed at all.
They could tease each other mercilessly, talk about absolutely nothing for hours, and somehow pick up exactly where they’d left off no matter how long they’d been apart.
Serena glanced at her sister, then at the ridiculous stack of donuts balanced on top of her coffee.
“Hey, you know what we are?”
Sage looked suspicious. “Do I want to know?”
“Coffee and donuts.”
Sage groaned. “That is unbelievably cheesy.”
“Perfect separately,” Serena continued, ignoring her comment, “but better together.”
“Still cheesy.”
Serena bumped her shoulder against Sage’s.
“But accurate.”
Sage tried not to smile. She failed.
CREDITS
Serena
FAGA Euphoria
Angel Eyes Messy 17 Hairbase
Glam Affair Lybra
AvaWay Letter Earrings Set
AvaWay Elephant Necklaces
AvaWay Elephant Bracelets & Rings
JUSTICE Drew Shirt (NEW @ FaMESHed)
JUSTICE Drew Skirt (NEW @ FaMESHed)
Friday Ultra Sheer Tights
Friday Pale September Boots & Socks
LittleP Coffee & Tote
Sage
TRUTH Hair Darling (group gift)
Angel Eyes Updo 6 Hairbase
Glam Affair Tasha (NEW @ The Fifty)
Vibing Aurora Earrings
Kibitz Johana’s Necklaces
Onyx Floral Zodiac Tattoo (group gift)
Sorumin Liora Top (NEW @ The Fifty)
Friday Weekend Jeans
Kibitz Mia Rings
Friday Petra Boots
LittleP Thursday Morning (phone & coffee)
SCENE
Synnergy.Tavis Vintage Stores {360} Backdrop (group gift)
777 Anne v2 Sunflower
Compulsion Lamp Posts
Compulsion Wall Lamps
Compulsion Bollard
Compulsion Patio Table & Chairs
Compulsion Billboard
Compulsion Junction Box
Compulsion Street Sign
Compulsion Lion Statue
Compulsion Trash Cans
Compulsion Garden Bench
Compulsion Raised Bed
Hive Spiral Boxwood Topiary
Botanical Fallen Leaves
LOVE Essential Autumn Leaves
For items worn regularly, please see About the Characters.
For store SLurls, please visit the Store & Event Links page.
