(no subject)

[empyrean_mirror]

Who: The Cafe Crew and YOU
Status: Open
Where: Surasthana Cafe
What: Cafe Mingle
Warnings: God I hope not



[There's a quiet, melancholy air over the Surasthana Cafe this month, between the owner missing for the last week of January and reappearing only very subdued, to one of the regular baristas last seen being a giant octopus monster attacking Eltrut's shoreline, to the lingering dregs of dreary winter weather. Still, life goes on, and spring is just around the corner, so for all your coffee and reading needs, the Surasthana Cafe remains here for you, with a seasonal special on hot cocoa and spiced cider.

Of course, if you're here for reading, it's the season of romance, so a great many of the new titles sent in to Kaveh follow that theme. Sure, there are a lot about dragons (a lot about dragons), but there's also a couple curious ones about...a certain different kind of mermaid, if you catch my drift. One with perhaps eight more limbs than standard. One with some...startling resemblances.

Kaveh has clearly not checked what Mehrak is putting up on the shelves.

Good luck, kids.]

[ooc: This is a mingle-style log! If you want a specific prompt or toplevel, drop me a line at Kaveh's journal or on discord and I'll make it for you!]

Comments

Kaveh At the Cafe | OTA

[empyrean_mirror]

[If one is looking for the owner, he's not hard to find. In fact, this is almost the only place you'll find him all month, as life recovers.

Kaveh looks like hell for most of the first half of the month--eyes dark, clothes a little simpler, smiles diminished. But he's still here and still serving coffee from the counter just the same, and nevermind what else is wrong. I'm sure he's fine!

Please ignore the looming shadow of a hissy man somewhere behind him.]

[icefangrush]

[While he's nearby for a while, glancing Kaveh (and Alhaitham's) way, he's considering. It's only after he finishes helping other guests that he decides to come over.]

Go on, take a seat on the other side.

[Probably shouldn't be bossing one boss around to sit at his own bar, but looks like Kaveh could take a second... or two. Maybe 86,400 of them.]

[empyrean_mirror]

[He's had too many of those! He needs enrichment, Wriothesley!]

Huh? [...] I'm fine, I swear.

huhuhu

[indispensable]

[On one fine evening like any other, as Kaveh closes up shop Alhaitham stays in his usual spot, seemingly content with occupying himself with more reading while Kaveh wraps up for the night. That much is the usual between them, so there's not much about that to say at all.

What does become different, however, takes place not long after Kaveh goes into the employee area to finish cleaning up there. And what is different are the sounds that are coming from the main area of the cafe—sounds that indicate some kind of moving about going on.

When Kaveh does come out to see what's going on, it'll only takes a second to figure it out: Alhaitham, currently in the middle of moving the cafe's more... esoteric decor pieces about. By which it means he's very obviously making space for potentially something new.]

hehehehe

[empyrean_mirror]

[Kaveh senses something is very amiss. It's like a creeping sense of dread up the back of his neck, the horrible feeling of knowing something is wrong.

It's not going to take a call to Sherlock or Heizou to figure it out.]

Haitham.

[Please tell him this isn't what he thinks it is.]

Sherlock - OTA

[astudyinviolet]

[ Something about the looks given to Sherlock by either the cafe's owners or staff (read: barista auntie who should get a name at this point) also gave Sherlock the distinct feeling that he was--for lack of a better word--grounded. Well, the barista auntie made it much more explicit that she better not see him vanishing for long periods of time without anyone knowing where he is, or else she will use her sources to find him, and there will be hell to pay.

That won't stop him from the occasional outing. Whenever Mycroft gave Sherlock that look, it only made him want to escape more. However, after last month, Sherlock is inclined to believe that he should stay closer to home for a while. Also, women are scary.

Sherlock can be found in one of two areas: in his pillow fort corner in the cafe or upstairs in his apartment. He appears downtrodden and lost, flipping through the pages of a book (not any of the spicy ones) but not really paying attention to what's written on them.

For a non-moody option, the book he has in his hands is a spicy one, and he has no idea until someone points it out and causes him to actually look at the words. Cue fluster and teasing.

For any additional non-moody option, there is a wilted potted plant being tossed out of a second story. As it falls, the plant seems to be saying something about food? ]

Son don't chuck plants

[empyrean_mirror]

[...Well, like five minutes after the plant hits the pavement, there's a knock on Sherlock's door.]

Too late. Plant already chucked

[astudyinviolet]

[ Sherlock takes a step back from the window, closes it, and breathes deeply. He can't hear the plant talk. In the language of Mycroft's secret agents, dried flowers are a sign to be replaced when the job is done. Well, he's not going to replace that flower. Why did he start hearing the plant talk?!

He normally tries to listen to the footsteps on the stairs and match them to a person, but so focused on plant related crimes that he missed them entire until he hears a knock on the door. He goes to open it. ]

Hello? Ah, Kaveh. Can I help you?

spicy reading

[spitefulcrow]

[ This, Lucanis has quickly learned, is about the best place for coffee in Eltrut. Which means he is quickly becoming a regular.

It helps that there are also books. And in his favorite genre - romance.

Normally he wouldn't accost a stranger, being a bit of an introvert himself, but the man is reading a book that - ]

I just finished that one the other day. I'm pretty sure one of the scenes involves what's called in my world a "Nevarran milk sandwich".

[ His accent is vaguely Spanish, which possibly makes the words sound less vulgar. Or more vulgar? Depending on your perspective. ]

/librarian

[astudyinviolet]

[ The problem with Kaveh's sorting system is that a large range of romances are contained on the red shelving, and while the higher shelves might contain the more erotic titles and the lower shelves tamer ones, they don't always. Some patrons just shove books wherever and call it good, not caring for any organization. The book got placed on a red shelf; that is good enough for them. They think they are being helpful by putting it on a shelf instead of making staff do so later, not realizing that they don't actually know where the book goes or that the book might then become "lost" and then give the staff more work to do.

Sherlock thought he was looking at a far, far tamer book for a "case study," even if the words aren't registering at the moment. He looks up when someone starts speaking to him. ]

I beg your pardon? What is a "Nevarran milk sandwich"? Wouldn't a sandwich made with milk fall apart?

[ The innuendo sailed right over Sherlock's head. ]

Wriothesley the Barista | OTA

[icefangrush]

[Wriothesley's fairly new to being a barista. To be fair, his job before was being a Warden - and Administrator - to the largest prison basically in Teyvat (then again, how many nations had a formal prison in the first place?). As such, anything he had prepared before was to his taste - and his taste primarily was tea. However, after accidentally being considered an employee - and getting along well enough with the bosses - Wriothesley finds himself with a job serving at the Surasthana Café. It only takes a moment to serve everything 'right', but people have their tastes so adjustments must be made.]

[So... come on in, what is being ordered today? Setting aside the jacket and actually putting on a vest to the fitted shirt with his tie actually in place, that's about as close as someone's getting to a uniform while he's at the counter. And probably one of the few not going through some emotional turmoil at the moment.]

[encoreinthedeep]

[ Wriothesley's previous job experience might actually be handy (let's hope not) because the man who comes in absolutely does not look like someone who goes to cafes at all: tall, dark, masked, generally shrouded in black and blue, and hauling an anchor for a weapon. (It might be a good idea to institute a "leave weapons by the door" policy).

Despite looking like bad news, though, Ulpianus merely glances around before heading to the bar to... study the drinks menu. For some time. In silence. ]

[icefangrush]

[Might look like bad news, but can't judge anyone on their looks - Wriothesley's belief anyway. Fontaine just had a lot of well-dressed criminals that his new guest isn't really paid too much mind for a bit.]

Let me know when you're ready to order.

[And he'll go back to observing the café at whole to make sure other guests are still doing alright.]

Ulpianus | OTA | hi Jill if ur here :)

[encoreinthedeep]

I. Records Must Be Left

[ Ulpianus has mostly stayed away from society, out of habit, preference and caution. But it's not like he completely doesn't engage with it, and he's been using the (unwanted) free time to be productive. Namely, creative. Which is why he's now by the cafe bookshelves with a stack of papers in his hand - and if you look closer at it, you'll realize it's covered not with writing but with musical notation. He seems to be looking where he can place it. ]

II. Knowledge Must Be Gained

[ After safely leaving his mixtape music sheets on the right shelf, Ulpianus decides to browse the other available books. To his dismay, however, too many of them seem to be focused on... a topic he's not interested in.

While most of the risque books he can identify just by title and/or cover, some seem initially innocuous enough. He takes down a book, opens it, flips through several pages, lingering for a few seconds on each... and then places it back on the shelf.

The process repeats several times, and each time Ulpianus's expression grows more annoyed. The last book he decides to read a little more of simply out of spite, staring at the pages angrily. ]

Unrealistic.

[ ... is all the commentary he's going to offer on this Definitely Highly Scientifically Accurate steamy mermaid romance novel. ]

III. Menus Must Be Studied

[ The next item on Ulpianus's agenda is the cafe menu. He's not particularly hungry or thirsty - or rather, he is so utterly used to ignoring it outside of basic nutritional needs to keep himself in shape - but he barely has anything better to do. And he never did get really used to land-dweller cuisine or drink.

He's staring at the menu... for a rather long time. The impression he gives off is not someone who's having trouble choosing, but more like someone studying a text in an unfamiliar language. Maybe you could still help him choose, though? ]

IV. Wildcard

[ Anything goes! Maybe you've already seen the shitty whale man before and want to say hi! ]

I | Do not bully his employees, Ulpi

[empyrean_mirror]

[It's not Kaveh who comes out to assist Ulpianus, not immediately. Instead, a flying briefcase with a faceplate comes floating over and beep-boops at him!

What are you looking for today, Friend-Unindentified Customer?]

hey he's being perfectly civil with Wrio over there!

[encoreinthedeep]

[ Perhaps unlike many others upon encountering Mehrak, Ulpianus shows no sign of surprise. FINALLY, an assistant machine to talk to, like in a proper civilized society! ]

I have music to submit. Where is it filed?

Riddle Rosehearts | OTA!

[tarttyrant]

A.) Aftermath
[There may be a weird atmosphere given the multiple 'grounded' parties and battered patrons across the cafe, but Riddle has never really been a regular enough at one enough to know. Anyway the boy certainly looks battered up himself. Soaked from the rain, limping on one leg. Utterly depleted of magic and stamina. And frankly patience. He grips the doorway, hiking his shoulders tall; none of that excuses him from presenting himself in any manner less than dignified.]

"Hello. By any chance was a... a wyvern, by here?"

[How does one politely inquire if an octomer was airlifted to this particular establishment? Riddle followed the crowd on foot as best as he could, but he lost sight of Azul around a certain point. That was... unacceptable. He promised to not lose track of his classmates so easily again. Even if it means he must subject himself to this searching.

Failing that he briefly glances around to see if he recognizes anyone else from the fight. He has to be close...

Say hello to the mystery redhead who made his introduction by threatening to decapitate your friend!]

*  *  *  *  * 

B.) Teatime.
[Once pleasantries are dispensed, the housewarden can be found holed up at a table surrounded by short towers of no less than 10 books, ranging from subjects like local agriculture, history and even economics.

Azul likely isn't up for visitors yet and Riddle is never one to sit idle while he waits. He scribbles notes feverishly, occasionally pausing to sip from a steaming cup of tea-- lemon, with two sugars, naturally-- which he daintily returns to its saucer; before resuming his frantic writing with the fervor of underprepared freshman taking their final exam. (Which has certainly never been him.)]

"Do we have any more paper?" [He'll inquire to the nearest person passing by, assuming they are staff.]

"I'd go out myself to procure more but until the storm lets up, I fear I'll lose most of it."

[If the rain doesn't soak through any stacks of paper he might purchase, the wind will surely rip at least half the shief out of his hands. The phantom may be defeated but even with the rifts closed, the weather isn't about to clear up just like that. No doubt this storm was nature's way of cleansing the area of all that residual magic.]

A

[empyrean_mirror]

You're looking for Azul, aren't you.

[Oh. Oh Kaveh cut right to the heart of the matter. And that smile is threatening.]

Why.

[tarttyrant]

"Yes."

[Oh good, there's no need to delicately extract the information then. Riddle does value a direct approach. However unfriendly.

He returns with a flat look, just as hardened in his resolve.]

"He is my classmate and therefore my responsibility. Overblotting is a very serious matter, as I'm sure you've surmised."

B :3

[encoreinthedeep]

[ Not that Ulpianus worried about Riddle, but he was somewhat curious about how the boy was doing after the battle. He seemed to have held his own properly, something that Ulpianus can respect.

The frantic scribbling is curious, too. What could he be writing? Glancing at the books does not exactly help, although it gives Ulpianus the impression that Riddle must be learning more about this world. Organizing the information, perhaps? ]

"I am not 'we', Riddle Rosehearts."

[ Hi. ]

"Inquire with the machine assistant about paper."

[ That's what Mehrak is for, right? Surely she can bring them more paper if available. ]

:> !!! <3

[tarttyrant]

"Ulpianus." [Riddle startles, looking up from the text. There are indeed a lot of notes that seemingly line up with the subjects on the surrounding books, though just as many full of unrelated passages on what seem to be magic and academic study. He straightens in his chair, an effort to look more presentable.]

"I saw you at the shore."

[Keeping your distance.]

"You appear to have heeded my instructions. I'm grateful."

lucanis dellamorte | ota

[spitefulcrow]

[ Lucanis has quickly discovered that this is about the best place for decent coffee in Eltrut. It has the added bonus of reading material, as well. For those combined reasons, he is quickly becoming a regular, staking out a small table in a corner with a good view of all exits, one where he can see the comings and goings of patrons and staff without being obtrusive. He usually has a cup of coffee at his elbow, and very often a book that he's pulled off the shelves. ]

The depiction of assassins in most of these books is extremely inaccurate.

[ He can't help but make a small face at it, setting it down and taking a sip of his coffee. At least the coffee is good. ]

[indispensable]

[One thing that Lucanis will very quickly notice with being a new regular is that there is one particular individual who is seemingly always there, almost to the point where one might assume they are a permanent fixture. He is always at the same seat (a nook right next to a large window) and usually reading a book in between playing a game or two of chess with seemingly himself or even just outright napping. But the fact is that he is always there no matter how early Lucanis arrives to how late he leaves.

For the most part he seems to be left to his own devices, besides a flying briefcase with a faceplate coming over once in a while to swap his coffee, but sometimes he can be seen doing nothing more than just... staring in the direction of the owner of said cafe, with a persistence that probably borders close to obsessive.

Just like now, actually, because he's been staring at the owner for maybe the last twenty minutes without so much as blinking an eye.]

[spitefulcrow]

[ It is interesting to watch. Eventually, Lucanis can't help but make a quiet comment. ]

There are only two reasons I can think of to be watching someone so long and intently.

[empyrean_mirror]

[Speaking of the owner...

Kaveh doesn't know this regular by name, since Lucanis seems to prefer keeping to himself. But he does know him by coffee order, and because the man clearly takes his coffee very seriously, Kaveh doesn't have Mehrak do the refills for it. Instead, he brews them himself, with no small amount of pride, and brings a fresh mug over when he has guessed that the sip Lucanis has taken is the last in his cup.

...That statement does give him some pause.]

Wouldn't it be more concerning if it was accurate?