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

[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... ]

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn was in fact exceptionally hard at work (perhaps so some people wouldn't have to be), and clearly enjoying the chance to put in a little effort for something. At the moment he was working through washing a stack of dishes, still with that oddly optimistic tune. It probably was almost unlike him to be quite so happy, but as far as changes went that was far from the worst he could do.]

Oh--forgive me, I didn't see you there. How is everything going out front?

[shroudedsecrets]

Everything is going quite well for the moment, so I thought I would see if anything more was needed here.

[ Except she hadn't quite gotten around to offering, not wanting to disturb his rhythm. ]

[scourgingstars]

Not at all, I have everything very well in hand. You should take the opportunity to relax a little.

[shroudedsecrets]

[ "Relax" was not a word she could adhere to well, though he is right that there's at least little for her to actually do at present. ]

It is certainly quite kind of you to assist us like this, you know. I hope Lup hasn't been giving you too much of a hard time.

[scourgingstars]

No more than would be ordinary for her, which is a relief in itself.

[if she's picking on him then clearly she is feeling better]

[shroudedsecrets]

Well, she has to let it out somehow. I'm grateful she's more than up to that, as ever.

[ She still had her worries, of course, but this will keep them occupied. ]

[scourgingstars]

Likewise. It's good to see her a little more herself, after all she has to contend with.

[shroudedsecrets]

Perhaps it's simply better for her to have more targets than just myself as well.

[ It's said with a soft bit of a laugh - Honerva willingly and wholeheartedly signed up for that, so it's not truly a complaint. ]

But it is... good to be back here, where we can do a little more even if it's still an adjustment.

[scourgingstars]

A touch of normality is...helpful, I would daresay. When it comes to adjusting.

[shroudedsecrets]

Perhaps so. At the very least, it's good for the cats to get back to their livelihood as well. They've been missing out on their favorite people.

[scourgingstars]

Oh, how terrible. I'm sure they've been desperately starved for attention.

[shroudedsecrets]

It is far different when you're two people at the mercy of four than what far more could provide as needed, even in limited bursts.

[ And cats, well, they're the masters of always wanting more even when they've been treated well. ]

[scourgingstars]

How awful. [A quiet laugh.] You've been suffering so terribly, I had no idea.

[shroudedsecrets]

Well, I would not go so far as to call it suffering on any account. [ Not after she had to relearn how to give affection in the first place, instead of leaving the burden to others, makes it a little difficult to joke about so lightly. ]

But if they're a little happier with this arrangement, all the better for them.

[scourgingstars]

I'm sure that they are. I'm certainly glad to see them again, for whatever it's worth.

[shroudedsecrets]

I've no doubt the feeling is mutual. You'll be reacquainted with them in no time at all.

[ At least, when he's not elbow-deep in dishwashing water. ]

[scourgingstars]

I certainly hope so.

[Speaking of which, he looked to Honerva with a small smile, pausing to dry off his hands.]

Ah, before I forget--it's probably best to do this now lest it be some manner of embarrassing production otherwise. With sincerest apologies, this was the best I could think to do without much warning. Consider it assurance that I will gladly find something that lasts a bit longer.

[At that he produced something from the Armiger with a flicker of crystalline red light; a small but carefully arranged bouquet of flowers. Not the least of which were, of course, a couple of red sylleblossoms.]

[shroudedsecrets]

[ Is she going to stop being surprised when people do nice things for her? No... no she will not. One hand curls up over her chest, ears doing a flutter. He really just did that, didn't he? What -?

All the better for him to take courage to do it now, even. It's delightfully charming, this private spontaneity. ]

Oh, Ardyn... they're lovely.

[scourgingstars]

I'm glad you like them--I was worried it might be a bit rushed as far as gifts went.

[it was a lot easier to be smooth when one could literally pull flowers out of thin air]

[shroudedsecrets]

Even if you did not have much notice, I... greatly appreciate the gesture.

[ She moves forward to receive them properly, though once she steps close enough, reaches a hand toward his cheek as well. ]

Do not fear that you need take away from that, as this sort of occasion and custom is... certainly new for me, in many respects. Even your presence alone does much, and it is clear that this comes from a place of great care.

[scourgingstars]

I am...not entirely accustomed to the occasion myself, hence my concern. So I would presume we must be doing something right, if this is the result.

[nothing on fire, nobody miserable, and Ardyn of course leaning into Honerva's hand with a smile.]

[shroudedsecrets]

As long as you do not doubt yourself on my account, I think we know that it is.

[ Because she was here, smiling, and he had gone to the effort for that result. ]

Now, shall we have ourselves a picture together? That will go a long way toward preserving the moment.

[scourgingstars]

Oh--yes, of course! That's a fantastic idea.

[He took his phone out of the Armiger, gently looping his other arm around her shoulders.]

Is...this alright?

[shroudedsecrets]

Of course it is. We've had some practice by now, haven't we.

[ She shifts her hand, still cradling his jawline tenderly while allowing his face to be seen, while still making certain the flowers are in the shot. ]