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#Post#: 664--------------------------------------------------
Re: Staffing the Café, Chapter 1 (accepting applications here!)
By: Chance Date: January 3, 2025, 12:35 pm
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Money tends to get attention; Lucien must have surely been
counting on that, pun intended. He doesn't seem the sort to do
so accidentally. Calculating as it may be, it's not done coldly,
somehow. There's no sense of wanting to win in the situation,
unless winning is a condition of winning Maddie over to his
mindset.
Money is also something that matters little to a creature who
can do, be, whatever he chooses.
Her laugh holds more value than the wad of bills he shoved back
into his pocket; he laughs in return, appreciating the richness
and energy of her mirth with his whole being. How often does
someone really let themselves enjoy a moment of unfettered
emotion? Most people seem to live in a state of tethered
passions; he does not, and sees also that she does not.
Heady stuff.
He doesn't comment on the location into which she tucks the
cash, but he does watch, and while it's not ogling, it's most
certainly an appreciative glance. He seems to note the necklace
almost as an afterthought, but he definitely doesn't miss it. He
then considers it again, huhing softly, then nodding.
Maddeningly, he doesn't ask yet.
Maybe even he likes a little antici--
--pation.
"Oh, there are many stories, old and new. And there are some
types of folk who find such mysteries hard to resist, indeed...
those who appreciate the value of secrets both known and yet
undiscovered. Both for their value in the world, and for their
own intrinsic value. I'm quite glad you followed the trail," he
adds with a chuckle, and he presents a motion of his glass
toward her in a playful toast, after which he enjoys a sip from
the angelic liquor within.
That she is a mystery is something that clearly pleases him; why
would he rush the pleasure of figuring it out from the clues? He
knows she is not a mage, yes, but that's another mystery for her
to unravel, the truth of how. Her mentioning the moon is its own
clue; the children of Luna are many and varied, but his lips
curve into a pleased expression. A hint, but no more. A new
game, a new discovery. For someone of his age and experience,
the presence of novelty is so very welcome.
As he explains the catch, there is that deep dark under the
golden warmth of his persona, and while it sounds, and seems
simple... it is almost surely not. He seems to understand that
each sort of special entity in this world would have secrets to
keep, and especially so those who seek secrets, alone and
unafraid, bold and bright as brass as she claims that experience
and knowledge for herself. "Then I think we can deal fairly and
well," he says, the smile returning to its playful flittering
about his lips. Her apology actually surprises him; that she
expresses sympathy to a creature like him is treasured, and
unexpected.
"Thank you," he breathes, but it feels formal, it feels like
someone receiving water on a parched throat or the first rays of
spring sunlight after a long dark winter.
It takes Lucien a moment to recover, but when he does, her merry
humor seems to give him an in-point back to his more
conventional mien. "Oh, yes, of course. Can you cross the
Gauntlet on your own, or do you need some aid in that?" He
reaches into his other pocket, and draws forth a golden token, a
coin about the size of a silver dollar, similar in size to the
gold coin she'd been tipped earlier.
He awaits her confirmation; his fist closes around the coin, and
there's a passing moment of rich music and light that seems...
otherwordly, perhaps?... before he unfurls his fingers to reveal
the coin once more. "Your passage," he says with a chuckle. "All
you need to do is use this from any place within the Umbra. Ask
it to bring you here, and it shall."
#Post#: 677--------------------------------------------------
Re: Staffing the Café, Chapter 1 (accepting applications here!)
By: thesadiecat Date: January 4, 2025, 7:55 pm
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[float=right max=45%][img
width=300]
HTML https://sharedalbums.b-cdn.net/0b47b93f-354f-4740-aade-9f6ef2232889.jpg?class=mediumSquare[/img][/float][center]Maddie<br
/>Abbot
I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high and life worth living[/center]
[hr]
My own glass is raised in answer to his playful toast. Even if
we don’t tap rims, the sentiment is there. Enjoying a drink
over a contract is a common way to seal the deal so to speak.
I’ve committed. This is a wondrous opportunity for me, after
all.
I do love that he’s not just asking; that he’s not pushing and,
as far as I can tell, there’s no active winnowing of power
trying to ferret me out. The esteem that he is gathering in my
eyes continues to rise, with each of these little revelations.
My clue gets little more than a thoughtful smile in response.
Again, no pressure, no pushing. He knows the ways of the tahla
it seems, perhaps without even realizing what he’s doing.
My pleasure at this exchange is written all over my face, from
the twinkle in my eyes, to the deep smile that curves my lips.
I’m even leaning slightly forward at the table, expressing
engagement and interest through every method of body language
that I possibly can. Perhaps… perhaps that’s why he seems
surprised when honest sympathy is my response to a very obvious,
and very deep trauma that he holds.
This is not the sort of hurt that one points out. Nothing is
pressed. I do not deserve to have an explanation given. But he
deserves my respect on that matter. No betrayal. To work here,
is to protect Lucien. I can handle that.
“Aid would be nice. I have my ways, but none of them are easy,
or quick.” I mean there’s only so many times I can find a very
particular door, or trade enough favors to earn a ferry-through.
I should work on that. I’ve heard enough stories of cats that
could walk through walls, I must be able to find some spirit
willing to teach me that trick.
I sit up a little straighter when I glean into what he might be
doing. There’s no gestures, no words, no other trappings that
I’ve witnessed dozens others of his kind doing. But
nonetheless, light shimmers and dances between his fingers,
music swells…
From where? I make the mistake of looking around for the source
of the music. Harp? Harpsichord? Maybe a lyre or a sitar? It
was just outside of being identifiable and passed so quickly I
half-think I imagined it. When I look back, Lucien is offering
me a glittering gold coin on the flat palm of his hand. Taking
it slowly, I am sure to examine it, noting all the little
details about it. Most importantly, it makes my fingertips
tingle, like a mild electrical charge would. Which will make it
easily identifiable from any other coinage I might accumulate.
“Mmm, thank you. I’m looking forward to this job. There’s a
first for everything, hm?” I flip the coin in my fingers,
walking it across the knuckles of my hand before palming it
again, and carefully tucking it away. Notably, the coin doesn’t
go in the bra. It’s tucked into one of the pockets of my jeans.
#Post#: 683--------------------------------------------------
Re: Staffing the Café, Chapter 1 (accepting applications here!)
By: Chance Date: January 6, 2025, 12:14 pm
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[float=right
max=45%]
HTML https://anywhere.infinimata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/lucien325-224x300.jpg[/float]
Lucien
HTML https://anywhere.infinimata.com/ooc-information/room-host-and-staff/chance/
There is freedom waiting for you,
On the breezes of the sky,
And you ask, 'What if I fall?'
Oh, but my darling,
What if you fly?
NPC | Baristo and Proprietor of the Anywhere Café
[hr]
Her sympathy is accepted, treasured... kept inside a heart, a
mien that shows little on most nights, and less when he's around
people, as a rule. This mysterious kitten is getting a glimpse
into something well beyond the ken of most, and it's a gift
given without thought or plan.
Protection... if he heard that, he might be amused, except that
there is still a wounded soul inside him that only wanted the
best for others and was cast out for that rebellion. While
there's no cure for that pain, it can be assuaged, and in the
moment, that is clearly what's happening. How many could
understand the agony of being cast out of a paradise for wanting
to give free will to the greatest creation of the Divine?
Seeing, knowing that this is not the only paradise is some
comfort, but... still, not all.
Passing her the coin is little more than an impulse to him at
the moment; he's done it before, enough to make it second
nature, but hers contains a route into the Umbra as well, one
that will allow her direct access to Anywhere. She could, if she
chose, even step out of the Cafe into the Umbra and explore, a
place where cats seldom travel unless they're very highly
ranked, or Swara.
He offers her another smile, this one benign and easy. He
watches her coin trick, and then chuckles. "So... do you want to
see the rooms here?" It's a simple question, not at all loaded,
except that with Lucien, everything has subtext.
Perhaps.
#Post#: 692--------------------------------------------------
Re: Staffing the Café, Chapter 1 (accepting applications here!)
By: thesadiecat Date: January 7, 2025, 8:41 pm
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[float=right max=45%][img
width=300]
HTML https://sharedalbums.b-cdn.net/ddd5223b-0b58-400e-9575-4baa112bd08b.jpg[/img][/float][center]Maddie<br
/>Abbot
I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high and life worth living[/center]
[hr]
His smile is contented, softened. It’s a good look on him. Who
am I kidding? Every look is a good look on him… even that
glimpse of the low, threatening undercurrent. There’s something
sexy about a dangerous man that doesn’t feel the need to flaunt
how dangerous he is all the time. It’s the confidence, I think.
The confident ones are always that much *more* everything.
Hmm. I don’t want to seem too eager about accepting the offer
to view the rooms, but I don’t want to seem completely
disinterested as well. And shame this Angel’s Share is true
sipping whiskey, meant to be enjoyed thoroughly. The sip I take
before answering him is just a little longer, in order to make
what remains in my glass into a sensible amount for a single
swallow. Because I don’t want to be rude, and just quaff a
drink that deserves special attention to flavor and texture.
“I think, as a new employee, that sounds like a grand plan. A
tour, then!” Now I finish off my drink, leaning my head back to
fully savor the taste for the last glorious seconds of it. “The
final stop… my room.”
Where Lucien might have had subtext, I painted my subtext on the
proverbial wall with a grey-eyed wink as I slide out of the
booth. The lead is his to take.
#Post#: 709--------------------------------------------------
Re: Staffing the Café, Chapter 1 (accepting applications here!)
By: Chance Date: January 9, 2025, 10:21 am
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The final stop, indeed. Lucien just grins, because Maddie has
made her choice clear. He tends not to make the first move, but
he's definitely inclined to accept.
And so, he offers Maddie his arm, and escorts her around the
place, making a point to show her the café side -- which has
entirely different music and noise -- with its hundreds of books
in the wall-shelves, and the murals and comfy chairs. "You're
welcome to eat here, as well, as an employee. You'll get a
discount if you bring guests, but your meals are free."
Wow, no wonder the employees all seem happy as she meets them!
The kitchen staff is just closing up for the night; the head
chef is a woman in her mid-to-late 20s, plump and cheerful,
pretty and efficient, dressed in a chef's coat with the logo on
the breast pocket and the name 'Willow' stitched beneath it. She
takes the time to chat a bit, her mien merry despite clearly
being a bit tired from a long, productive day. She seems special
somehow, but it's unclear how -- the aura of magic about her is
impossible to deny, though, and she doesn't quite feel like a
Mage.
The other kitchen staff feel similar to Willow in some way, as
well. Magic, but not of the magey sort. More Nala than Rahjah,
to her cat-senses.
She meets Monica, the substitute barista and wait staffer, and
she feels distinctly like a Mage to the sensitive senses of a
cat. She's also friendly, offering to set her up with a locker
in the employee lounge, and doing her best to make Maddie feel
welcome.
It takes a little time to get to the stairs, which are tucked
away in the back, and seem to unfurl as they approach. "The
rooms are... well, this is going to sound confusing, but they're
virtual, because there's more of them than should be able to fit
in the visible space. I'm giving you a corner room off to one
side because I had a feeling you'd want... privacy."
He may not know she's a cat, but he's reading her nature well.
He opens the room, then hands the key to her. Inside is a cozy
space done in warm woods and shades of green and earthy colors
that is more 'studio apartment' than 'room.' There's a small
sitting area and a kitchenette, a bathroom off to one side that
is clean and beautifully appointed, and a shelf-unit room
divider leading to a king-sized bed, small chests of drawers,
and a closet. It's not huge, but it's of a comfortable
dimension.
He notes, "We have household spirits to do most of the cleaning,
but they prefer it if you tidy a bit yourself. There's an
eternal flame set safely in the living room for them; please
make sure it doesn't get unlit or they'll have to be bargained
with, again. And if you want to thank them, you won't see them,
but you can speak to the flame globe. They do appreciate it."
It's a fetish.
He has rooms with house-cleaning fetishes with bargained
Domovoi.
Damn, they think of everything here.
He then sighs softly, seeming to unfurl a bit, relax from his
'boss showing the employee around' stance. His hand moves,
coming to lightly rest upon her shoulder, and his expression is
inquisitive: is this what you truly desire?
Only when an unequivocal yes follows does he move in to sweep
his arm around her waist, and dip his head to share the flavor
of the angel's share with her in a lingering, exploring kiss.
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