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Who: Kaveh and YOU
Status: Open
Where: Surasthana Cafe on Eltrut!
What: The grand opening of a book cafe.
Warnings: God I hope not.

[Kaveh hasn't talked much about what he's been working on for a few months now, because he wanted this moment to be a surprise (and because he didn't want to be scolded for overwork). It has finally paid off, now, with the grand opening of the Surasthana Cafe, just in time for the deep end of the fall season. The cafe is cozily furnished and warm, the smell of lovingly brewed coffee floats through the air, and soft music plays from Mehrak.

Kaveh isn't expecting a huge rush on any given day--this was done for his own sake more than anything, but now on weekday afternoons, the little book cafe can be found and people can stay a spell, enjoying expertly made coffee drinks and some light reading in a ridiculous plant paradise.

If you have any requests for new kinds of books, or wish to purchase various accessories, stop by the front counter! The owner is happy to accommodate you, after all.

ooc: you may also treat this post as a mingle and toplevel accordingly, just mark if you are doing so! Otherwise, Kaveh will be coming for you!]

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[Given how fast word spreads across the crew, it's no surprise that Benedikta had heard of the café's opening. And while it will certainly not be on the grand opening day because she figures that is when the crowds will come, it will be a few days after that she makes an appearance, nosing around one corner of the café, looking around. She has a hood up that blocks the familiar head of blonde, trying to work the teacaf machine...]

Shit—

[Only for something to clatter loudly as she pulls on something else a little too hard, a (fortunately removeable) piece tumbling to the floor at her feet. And there go several eyes looking at her... and surely she has caught the attention of the café's owner by now—

These machines are out to get her!!!]

Edited 2024-11-12 03:53 (UTC)

[Kaveh won't say he was expecting this, because he was not exactly expecting Benedikta to come in, much less be defeated by one of Cid's machines, but--well.

He'd know that cursing anywhere.

Mehrak approaches first, though, picking up the fallen piece and putting it back in place with a cheery beep, because Kaveh figures Benedikta will feel less embarrassed by the cheery faceplate of a suitcase than him immediately coming out to help.

Make no mistake, though, he's waiting just around the corner.]

[Oh dear god and Founders, it's that mechanical suitcase with a face. The appearance and the beeping of Mehrak startles her and she shoots it a glare as it moves to pick up the small piece that had fallen to the ground, and once that's done...]

...

Shoo.

[She waves it off, or tries to, but she is getting the feeling that it will not take any orders from anyone but its owner. Today was not the day she thought she'd feel judged by a briefcase—]

Bii-po?

[Mehrak considers the command; Kaveh has said similar in combat to fungus! But this is not a combat situation and there are no function, and Benedikta is not Kaveh, so Mehrak discards the order entirely.

So instead she levitates over a cup to set it in the teacaf. Clearly that's what Benedikta wanted to do, right?]

[Well, sure, she wanted a tea... but now she has to deal with two machines instead of one.]

I don't know what 'bii-po' means.

[Glaring at Mehrak before she's searching around the café for Kaveh from behind her hood. Come get your suitcase companion, sir!!! Save them both......]

It means she doesn't know if you wanted tea or coffee.

[Right, he'll pop out from around the corner, having decided to take mercy on poor Benedikta.]

Not that we should let her program the machine. She really only knows mine and Alhaitham's orders.

[His voice startles her before she can locate him, and her hood falls away from her hair when she whips around to look at him. Surprise turns to relief that she quickly hides behind a sharp click of her tongue.]

Tea would be fine.

[That is... he is going to prepare it for her, yes?]

Does she do this often to unsuspecting customers?

[And he will, fishing out a tea bag and pressing the buttons.]

Greeting people? She's predisposed to try and be helpful, so she's probably startled one or two customers so far, but most people on Eltrut have seen her with me already.

She recognizes you, though, that's why she came right over.

I think startled is an understatement.

[A glare at the briefcase before she's clearing her throat.]

Well, I would very much like some tea, and this... [A broad gesture to the teacaf as if it had said something offensive to her.] ... I need not say more, I think.

I'm surprised you haven't bullied Cid into having it take voice commands.

[Kaveh, unaware he may have sown the seeds of marital discord, puts the cup and teabag into the machine to brew.]

I doubt you'd have much trouble convincing him.

[Oh, they have certainly been over this a few times by now, as is made evident by the her indignant huffing.]

I do not see what's wrong with simply boiling water over the stove in a kettle. It can hardly do any wrong.

There's nothing wrong with it, for someone with the time and physical ability. But I imagine he made these for people who are in a rush, or don't have steady hands.

[Kaveh manages, barely, not to smile at her huff. Ohhhh that's an ongoing argument, huh?]

Personally speaking, I have these at the cafe because I can't serve everyone individually. But they're not in my house.

[Kaveh is a massive coffee snob and he WILL be hand-grinding his coffee every morning thank you.]

And what do you do in your house, then?

[She eyes her cup of tea with interest.]

Surely it is something that Cidolfus can learn from. He has been quite obsessed with coffee as of late.

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empyrean_mirror - 2024-12-18 05:40 (UTC) - Expand

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garudas - 2025-01-14 04:45 (UTC) - Expand

sorry I'm so late ;;

empyrean_mirror - 2025-02-16 14:55 (UTC) - Expand

I'm surprised you don't know how to use these, considering who made them.

[Hello here's Alhaitham, who also happens to not give a single fuck about subtlety. He can see that its you under that hood, Benedikta.

Anyway, here is him picking up the piece that'd rolled to his feet and then bringing it back over, using a nearby rag to wipe it clean first before he starts figuring out how to put it back where it fell out from. Just give him a second here, he'll be right back with you soon enough.]

[She bristles at him when he returns with the rag, like a bird whose feathers have gone all out of sorts, the hood nearly falling from her head as she does.]

Just because Cidolfus is the one who makes them does not mean I know how to use them.

[This would not be the first time she nearly broke one of his inventions!!! Purely by accident, of course.]

These contraptions are so unnecessarily complicated.

[After having had to face Garuda head on Benedikta's ruffling in comparison is like a trickle of water right after a direct downpour, which is to say it slides off Alhaitham like water off a duck's back.]

What, he didn't bother to give you an instruction manual? [To be fair Alhaitham is also not as well versed in machinery in the way Kaveh is, but his senior does take the time to teach him when Alhaitham is interested. Which is really the only reason why Alhaitham knows how to put back the part that'd been knocked off earlier, snapping back into place with a satisfying click.

Once that's done, Alhaitham grabs a cup and puts it into position, glancing over to Benedikta after. Just tell him what you want and he'll do it for you, Benedikta. It's just more efficient this way.]

Even if he had...

[She pauses, watching him as he takes a cup and puts it there, her brows rising when he looks at her.]

... It's not as if I've time to read it. Why not just use a kettle like everyone else?

[The bag of black tea in her hands is held out for him in response. He is offering to make it for her, yes?]

[Yes Benedikta, Alhaitham is indeed willing to help you make this tea, so he will take the bag from your hands and put it into the cup, turning back after to put in the required settings, speaking as he does so.]

It's not any different from reading a book. [Says the man who likes encyclopedias and non fiction, so maybe his tastes aren't the best judgement here.] You could also just ask your daughter to teach you, seeing as she's picked up the same skill set.

[Or at least that's what he's gotten from the times he's seen her tinkering around the Roost when he's there.]

[Yes, but books are more interesting...

...

Is what she would have said had he not followed up with that next statement. It's a damn good thing that she was not drinking tea yet or else she might have choked.]

My what—!?

[She chokes anyway.]

[Alhaitham turns to Benedikta there and blinks once at her reaction, which is about the only outward display of his own surprise over this. Sure, he doesn't think that she actually birthed her, but adoption is no less valid. Unless that sort of thing doesn't happen where they're from...?]

...your daughter. [He repeats himself after a moment, just in case it got lost in translation somehow (not that it should, considering this place's ability to auto translate...)] I haven't spoken to her myself, but I can't see a reason why she wouldn't help you as long as you asked.

[Because that's clearly the issue, right? Asking do be hard sometimes, he knows. But it is unfortunately necessary at times.]

Edited 2024-11-29 07:57 (UTC)

[Just give her a moment while she recovers from this little coughing fit that she's trying so very hard to stifle.]

Who is—

[It takes a few more seconds to sink in.]

Is Kupli still going around the Roost telling people that I am her mother?

[... And she got it all wrong.]

[Alhaitham gives another blink here because, well. He has zero clue who is this 'Kupli' that Benedikta is speaking of, since he has not bothered to remember any of the names of the moogles at the Roost.]

No. [Comes the very blunt and direct answer.] The other one.

[Pause.

Maybe he should try and describe them, since now it seems like Benedikta has more than one child...?]

Blonde hair, wears a blue and red scarf. Looks to be around her early twenties.

[...and before the question comes: yes, Alhaitham also does not know her name. Only that he sees her around and knows that she hangs around Cid.]

["The other one", as if there were any in the first place!!!

Benedikta stares at him, incredulous, until realization dawns on her, the blonde hair and scarf giving it away. She laughs, though it sounds more like a scoff, and brushes her hands over her front, as if the question had ruffled her all out of sorts. Though, it kind of did...]

You mean Midadol...

[Call Mid that and she will surely have many words to say, but Benedikta remains one of the few who still does.]

Do not let her hear you say that she is beyond sixteen years of age. [A glint of amusement lights in her eyes, but it fades.] But I am not her mother.

[Except—and she will not admit this aloud—she would be remiss to say that the two of them did not share many of the same features.]

[Well given that is how Benedikta names her you can bet that is how Alhaitham is going to call her now too. Until he gets corrected at the very least.

But aside from that, the clarification is appreciated, and Alhaitham nods in both understanding and acknowledgement.]

I see. My apologies for the assumption, then.

[They did have some rather similar features, and he does know that she addresses Cid as her father, and since they were already together he figured it to be a logical conclusion. Though with that being said...]

Is it because families in your world operate differently? [He just casually asks this as he turns back to attend to the Teacaf machine, which is now slowly brewing her tea. Are mothers just not a thing?? Or do they function in a different manner?? Consider Alhaitham intrigued by this now.]

Hm?

[She stares at the teacaf as it finishes up with her tea, a hardened edge flickering over her expression at the mention of 'family'.]

I am afraid I do not know what the proper way 'families' operate is.

[Being sold into slavery by one's own parents at the age of six is certainly not conducive to teaching a child those things. The closest that she has ever had to something like that is with Cid and Midadol, and even then, that had been unconventional too. And then this "crew" business that Cid has built here... They all treat her like she is part of some big family... but she knows that is not what he means.]

Cidolfus found Midadol as a baby while he was out on an expedition. He brought her back with him. I believe I was seventeen at the time. ... It was certainly not uncommon for parents to leave their children for one reason or another.