Affurgato Mingle: December edition

[necromanswers]

♥ Who: Open to all
♥ Where: Affurgato
♥ When: This week
♥ What: A grant reopening of the best restaurant in town!
♥ Rating: probably PG/13ish?



What a sad, sad month November was. The local cafe, Affurgato, has been closed. However, at the start of this week, a surprise notice is sent out to all communicators:

Affurgato's open again! Come save your sorry tongues from those replicator meals. Or come pet a cat, if that's more your jam. We don't judge here, we only charge.

Also: it's Candlenights! Bring the staff a present. If we find it interesting enough, you might get something extra in your meal. What do the staff like? Well, that's your job to figure out. <3

The restaurant hasn't gone through any sort of redesign, but it is somewhat decked out more than usual; soft colourful lights line the outside, candles on every table (fake or magical, so they are cat-safe and non-flammable), and even Ditto appears to be a little more seasonal this month. Hard to tell whether or not he's okay with this, he's a tough read.

One notable difference is that Lup isn't out running front of house as much, with the kitchen more bustling now that they're down one chef. She's keeping up pretty well, but the seating arrangements have been shuffled around to make the max capacity a little lighter to maintain things if there happens to be a rush. The menu is gently simplified, but the ingredients taste better than ever, and for this week in particular, fresh turkey dinners are back on the menu, alongside a crunchy treat that is called "fried unicorn dick", but is... probably just a battered candy bar. Probably. Maybe. Who's feeling brave?

On the 9th in particular, a fresh message goes out to friends of Honerva, gently pestering them to swing by the cafe for an open mingle. And maybe you should volunteer for a little bit at the cafe, serve, assist Honerva... it's terrible for a lady to have to work on her birthday, after all. You know, if it was her birthday. Wink.

On that day in particular, every visitor gets a free slab of delicious and delicately frosted cake.

Come on over, Havenwellians! Or whatever you're called. The cats have missed you! And you've missed the food, no doubt.

Comments

lup | ota

[necromanswers]

[As noted above, Lup is spending more time in the kitchen, but even with that, this is probably the most that people have seen her all month, so... that's progress! If anyone wants to come check in on her or strike up conversation while she's cooking, just give a quick knock to the double-acting door at the kitchen entrance, or poke at the service window as long as you stay out of the way; it's top-open so she's easy to find.

She might venture out when it's quieter and she's not needed in the kitchen, and any time she's public-facing, she's either calm or smiling like nothing's wrong at all. Because nothing is! It's Candlenights! She's doing great. (Also: her highlights are green on the first day, red on the second! How festive.)]

[kingkingcxiii]

[The knock at the edge of the service window starts a little tentative as if the person doing it isn't sure he should be. Considering how their last email exchange ended, Regis is tentative. He still has no idea what he said wrong, but he can't justify coming back to enjoy the cafe without checking on the one running it.

There is a bowl of red-orange oranges in his other hand. The ingredients Lup has may be better, but these oranges did grow on a tree and a tree from his home at that. Hopefully, they will be a nice little treat even if she doesn't want to cook with they.]

Hello! Might I have a word with the chef?

[nyxly]

[ Having not seen her in a month, he's there at the cafe on the first day of its reopening, something he just happened to come across by chance. Nyx smiles when he sees her, stops from walking further in by being surprised at his own smile, shakes his head, and smiles anyways as he enters. ]

Hey. You're back at it again.

[ Red hair this time? Interesting. ]

[daikonrose]

[ Disturbing a busy chef is pretty high on the list of Clearly Unconscionable Things written in Kyoko's heart, so she sips her tea and waits patiently a good while, until that kitchen door opens. If Lup is indeed smiling, she'll be quick to leave her seat, eager to come press a small, soft package on her. ]

Happy Candlenights!! --Is that the thing to say? Is there a particular phrase?

[whenyouneedme]

[Hope you're ready for even more oranges, Lup. Kai wasn't about to come empty handed, but presents on short notice was not his forte. Oranges weren't the only bundle he had in his arms as he peeked into the service window either.]

Hey, welcome back!

[blindedbyloyalty]

[ Have someone who might look familiar wandering in, with a walking cane this time. He'd appeared in this world in the middle of the cafe late October. He'd definitely been impressed by the cooking here before, so he's happy to hear that this place reopened.

Rio, one of the cats, recognizes Ignis immediately and is winding between his legs. ] Hello there. [ He carefully kneels down to reach for the cat, gently picking him up despite being blind. Someone missed Ignis, he'd been gentle with Rio before. He chuckles softy as the cat purrs in his arm, balancing him and his walking cane. ]

Might I have a word with the chef? [ Slowly approaching the counter now ]

[iustaegis]

[ SUDDENLY, HUG, GET. ]

[ For Lup and Lotor ]

[shroudedsecrets]

At some point, between the time Lotor's had some time to look around and when there's enough quiet for Lup to be out on the floor instead of deep in kitchen prep, she'll draw them both together to one of the couches to the side-- something now of a favored area for the cozy privacy it offered, and with Kova meandering over to follow as well.

"... Well, now. I realized you both still lacked an introduction with the other, and perhaps it has been remiss of me to not initiate it sooner."

She says, a bit rueful, particularly around the ears; always ever mindful of how delicate things were, but perhaps too much so. But both at least have had many opportunities to hear of the other from her, but better to form their own opinions.

"Lotor, this is Lup, and Lup, this is Lotor."

Which likely went without saying, but there it was.

honerva | ota

[shroudedsecrets]

( a. general working atmosphere )

[ Hooray, the cafe is back open after some back to back gloomy months, but with Lup now with more time spent in the kitchen, Honerva definitely has more time out in front than usual, greeting and taking orders and answering questions, or directing them toward service window if needed. Still, she is as ever devoted to her service, whether bringing food to the tables or making sure the cats have made some of their promised rounds. Menus of course are provided, really she's just going out of her way to make sure things are a little easier on Lup. ]

... Greetings. Have you decided upon your order, or do you require a little more time?

[ Those more familiar will get a more personal greeting, of course. Maybe you've just come to talk instead? ]

( b. mingle that is certainly not birthday related )

[ For the most part, Honerva doesn't quite like to make a big deal of things for herself, so she's mostly prepared to work the day quite like any other despite hints and nudges that she could take it easier. She did promise to pick a day during Candlenights and frankly having that come around is more surprising than not. She's grateful enough just to have familiar faces of those she appreciates mostly together, whether they're aware or not of what it might signify. CR might find themselves receiving little gifts instead.

But hey, points if someone could convince her to take a break... or two... ]

b. definitely not birthday related no sir

[this_loser]

[Enter Prompto, who didn't need any extra prompting (lol) to come to the café, but was certainly extra eager once he saw the message from Lup. As soon as he spots Honerva, he swoops in to take whatever it is she's currently delivering and holds it off to the side so she can't take it back. He's helping.]

Hey! How's it going? Love the dress.

[...

He looks at the dish he's stolen. Ah. A flaw in his plan.] I don't know what to do with this.

[kingkingcxiii]

[As Honerva probably remembers from his own birthday, or perhaps from Cor's, Regis is very familiar with people who prefer not to make a big deal of their birthdays. So, when he approaches her at the cafe with the small mischievous grin on his face and his hands behind his back hiding a small box, she can probably guess what is about to happen and that she has little chance of escaping.]

Do you know what I just found out is the "in" thing with people these days? Taking a break on special days. How silly is that?

b

[necromanswers]

[During no particularly special moment, but while it's quiet and other people are doing work around them, Lup gets in behind Honerva when she's serving someone else, looping an arm through the other woman's once she finishes.]

Okay! I'm kidnapping you, it's break time. Pick a seat, any seat. We'll kick out the occupant if you've got a favourite.

b. what is a birthday and why is it important WHAT ARE THIS ???

[waitatick]

Lotor was still fairly unsure about the full meaning of the messages he'd received, particularly the one relating to Honerva and her celebration. But he knew she'd had a difficult time of things since his arrival, and he was happy to sketch some of the places he'd explored for her, including Oriande. They were nothing breathtaking or even very organized, but he arrived with them tucked into a large envelope with her name written in the elegant script he'd known since childhood across the front.

"Might you have time for a pause?"

[iustaegis]

[ Here she is receiving a gift from Honerva, when it's supposed to be a celebration for Honerva's birthday, and... ]

Erm... What is this for?

a(s promised)

[thepainfulwayhome]

[ A few days after the message goes out that Affurgato is open, Meg sets out to find it. She'd have gone in search sooner, but she wanted clean clothes if she was going out and therefor spent a few days shopping around and commissioning some tailored pieces. And while she was out, she may have picked up some things to give Honerva and Lup for this "candlenights" thing. It seems like the thing to do.

It's not as big and spacious as the lounge back home, obviously, but it's warm and comfortable and the cats are cute and affectionate. Plus, despite the fact that she doesn't have to eat, the smell of the food is way more enticing than the food she's gotten from the replicator back at her place. When Honerva finds her, she's already sat herself in a corner seat with a cat who has taken a liking to her ponytail and a paper shopping bag in her lap. She keeps her head tilted so that the cat can bat at her hair freely without risking getting its claws stuck in her earrings. She smiles a bit at Honerva's formality. ]

I can't say I'm familiar with much on the menu. I'll take a shot in the dark and say the "Jungle Dragon" sounds like a strong one.

[ It's. Like MAYBE noon. But since time is fake and she's never had to abide by it, Meg is going to go ahead and order a drink anyway. ]

ardyn | ota

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn was hard at work practically from the minute he walked in the door. Sleeves rolled up and long hair carefully tied back, he was in as many places as possible at once; working in the kitchen or picking up and washing dishes. He'd leave the majority of the rest to Lup, considering she was better at the front lines of dreaded socialization.]

[One thing was for sure--he was in an uncharacteristically excellent mood, even cheerfully humming to himself on occasion while working.]

[kingkingcxiii]

[The last thing that Regis is expecting when he visits the cafe is to hears a certain redhead humming so happily as he works. He can help but smile happily as he approaches.]

So this is where you disappeared off to. Enjoying yourself?

[necromanswers]

[Ardyn, humming? Impossible to miss that, especially when she's in such close proximity in the kitchen. She lets it go as long as she can stand to, waiting to see if he notices, but before long calls out,]

That good, huh?

[shroudedsecrets]

[ Someone's working hard. And really, so is another person, here... but there are rarer down times, when the front is less busy, or all served and not requiring much intervention, and... is that humming?

Just let her have a moment here to bask in the diligence and the pleasant sounds. How sweet... ]

Ken | ota

[ourtomorrow]

[ This is the place? This is the place, apparently. It's a restaurant, but there are also.....cats. Ken has heard of these, but this is the first time he's visited one.

He feels bad about waiting. Now it's the 9th already - but the important thing is that he's here. Which means there's nothing to do but open the door and see how this goes. ]

Hello...?

[shroudedsecrets]

[ His waiting has worked out; they hadn't been open until this week since the time he'd initially arrived, due to Circumstances...

In any case, as much as others are assisting here and there for the -- unspoken event of the day, he's still someone she recognizes, and makes her way toward when she has a chance. ]

... Greetings, Ken. Are you well?

Lotor | OTA! Please come bother the awkward purple guy

[waitatick]

Honerva had told him of the cafe, but he hadn't expected it to be quite so...soothing the instant he walked inside. His armor was freshly shined, and anyone paying any attention would notice that it was patterned in exactly the same way that the resident cat Kova happened to be.

Yes, Lotor had been cosplaying his cat for ten thousand decaphoebes. Is there an issue? He probably thinks it ridiculous but feel free to ask him about it if you want to.

He was simply there in response to the message, and to see the animals. While he generally attempted to maintain a stoic demeanor, his love for animals of all types was very pronounced and something he chose not to hide. Before seeking out the felines, however, he approached the counter to pay for his time there rather than take advantage of the setting.

No sooner had he approached the counter when he felt a nudge at the back of his leg, and turned to see a grey feline with what looked to be folded ears begging for attention. He smiled happily and immediately dropped to a crouch, removing his glove and extending his hand for the cat to inspect should it so desire.

"Hello. Have you a name? I am called Lotor, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Yep. Definitely a cat guy.

[the_tailor]

While he and Honerva were hardly friends, and he wasn't sure that he'd ever really want to be even with her having changed, the two had been getting on...well enough. Enough that Lance was fine making plenty of visits to the cafe and not feeling perturbed when she was working at that time.

Today's one of those days where Lance is in the mood for noms and kitty cats, and he heads into Affurgato with a big smile in his face.

Said smile freezes when he spots a certain someone crouched by the counter. A certain someone he hadn't seen since they'd defeated him and...

"Damn," he mumbles.

[scourgingstars]

...Well. That was unexpected. Ardyn had only seen a fleeting memory once, of a child much younger than this, but...purple skin and white hair was just a touch distinctive. He quickly brushed that off rather than unsettle the poor kid, meeting Lotor with a small smile.

"I do believe that one is Rio, unless I'm mistaken. He's quite energetic, do be careful he doesn't decide to play-fight with your hand."

Ardbert | OTA

[firstbump]

[Ardbert made the mistake of sitting down after giving Harmony a lot of attention. She climbed into his lap and fell asleep. It wasn't long before he followed her.

Unfortunately, the nap attack came suddenly, and Ardbert hadn't had a chance to settle himself properly. He's starting to dangerously lean to one side. If no one wakes him up soon, he'll fall right out of his chair. Someone save him?]