Open RP Post: The Cafe

[llamafordrama]

That's all it's called. Just "Cafe".

Whether you're wandering in from your canon, an alternate reality, another game, or even a dream, you're welcome to come inside. Order a cup of coffee. Borrow somebody's laptop. Chat with a stranger. Take some time to kick back your heels and relax before returning to wherever you came from.

Comments

actionspam, because it's easy.

[shirleyyoujest]

This


is not the Diogenes Club.


[ Puffs on a pipe. The lady is wearing a disreputable-looking purple dressing gown. You interrupted her morning sulk smoke, multiverse. ]

Or, if it is, I like what brother Mycroft has done with the place.

[anatural]

[Korra's been here awhile. She's not sure how she ended up here when she was on her way to work, but after so many months in the City, she's gotten fairly used to weird shit.]

Right the first time. This isn't the Dio-genius Club.

[master_troven]

The scruffy looking gentleman is leaning back in his chair with a large cup of coffee and a half eaten sandwich on the table. Above him, hanging in the air, are a series of shifting lights which he moves around with flicks of his finger, like conducting an orchestra. He seems to be organizing something.

[universaltranslator]

[Uhura leans back in her seat, watching him work with idle interest.]

What are you working on?

*kicks things*

[master_troven]

"If I said solitaire, would you believe me?" he asks with a grin.

He's not working on solitaire game, but still.

[universaltranslator]

[She snorts.]

Tetris, maybe, but not solitaire.

[master_troven]

"It does sort of look like Tetris, doesn't it?" He tilts a head and flicks some lines over.

"But no. I'm trying to keep track of myself."

[universaltranslator]

"Keep track of yourself. Is that some kind of digital organizer?"

[master_troven]

He thinks about this. "Yes, I suppose it could be," he agrees. "On a multiversal level."

[waitinthecar]

Joan has never noticed this cafe before. Perhaps due to its lack of advertising, she thinks, but the idea disappoints her a little -- she thought she knew all the little places near the brownstone. Sherlock often insists that she should memorize their surroundings, every second if possible, because you never know what can help you solve a case. He tells her that he could walk the block blindfolded, knowing exactly where he is the entire time. Whether or not this is true, and she suspects it is, she tells him not to do it. Cars are rather unpredictable.

And at the moment Sherlock is being insufferable, so she's stepped out to catch her breath. He's been at the wall for hours now, attempting to collate data that they just don't have enough of. He probably didn't sleep last night and she didn't get much either, so she went out for coffee and a breather. She needs a bit of space to process.

And because she can't remember ever seeing this coffee shop before, she steps in.

[sleepingstar]

[Pai sits by the window, nursing a cup of coffee and watching all the people pass by. She's not sure how she ended up here, but beyond the usual precautions, she's decided to just enjoy the illusion of peace. Quiet moments like these are non-existant in her life. They have been, ever since the stars disappeared.

She happens to catch Joan's eye when the other woman walks in, and offers a small, friendly smile.]

[waitinthecar]

[ After Joan gets her coffee, she sits down at a table near Pai. She liked the smile. People in New York tried to ignore each other as much as possible, so it was rare to see the opposite. She takes a long sip of her coffee and sighs happily. ]

[ She looks over at Pai and speaks conversationally. ] Hidden treasure. [ She means the coffeeshop, although that may not be clear. ]

[sleepingstar]

Have you been here before?

[The words feel a little awkward in her mouth, her limbs strangely gangly and uncoordinated, even though she's not moving. She's never made small talk with a stranger before -- at least, not in as long as she can remember. She's never had to pretend to be normal. She feels a little like Hei, that first time he had to assemble a gun, all sweaty palms and clumsy fingers.]

[waitinthecar]

[ Joan shook her head. ] I thought it had to be new, but it feels so lived in. Maybe the sign is new. Have you?

[sleepingstar]

[Pai shakes her head.]

I've been in South America.

[A tactical admission -- if Joan knows about the destruction of South America, that will tell Pai a lot about where she is now.]

[waitinthecar]

[ Joan lifts her eyebrows in surprise. ] Sounds like an interesting vacation.

[sleepingstar]

[wry smile] It wasn't a vacation. [And that is all she's going to say about it. Judging from her reaction, South America still exists.]

Are you from this area?

[waitinthecar]

[ Joan nods, and takes another sip of coffee. ] I must have walked by this place a thousand times and never noticed it. It's one of the best things about a city this size: you're always finding something new.

[sleepingstar]

That sounds so exciting.

[waitinthecar]

[ Joan has never thought about it like that, but the idea makes her smile. ] Well, if you've been all the way to South America, you must be used to it.

[sleepingstar]

[Pai shakes her head.]

I'm always too busy to really explore. Something like this is nice.

[waitinthecar]

Taking the occasional vacation is important for mental health. [ A friendly smile. She's not trying to be too pushy, just to give a suggestion. ]

[sleepingstar]

[Someone more human might have laughed. Child soldiers don't get vacations, and nobody cares about their "mental health."

Pai just smiles.]

You're probably right.

[She finishes off the last of her drink and peers at it, almost sadly. Does she take a chance and try to get more?]

new account, don't mind the dust

[her_waterloo]

[ Maybe Joan should finish her coffee and get back to work. It is very good coffee, though. She'd bring some home for Sherlock to sample, but he's not in a mood where caffeine would be his friend. ]

Nice talking to you.

/sneezes

[sleepingstar]

You too.