[Open/Mingle] Grand Opening!

[theshowsover]

Who: Akira & you!
Where: A building in Ruga, converted into a cafe
When: early September
What: Akira is opening a cafe!
Warnings: None right now

[Akira has put quite a bit of work into this over the last month (alongside Akechi, his unlikely but earnest helper), and now he's pretty confident about opening. It's what used to be a store in Ruga, but Akira has moved out the worst of the shelving and replaced it with tables and chairs. The counter has been cleaned up and converted into a bar, with Akira's siphons already bubbling with water he fetched from the well at the end. Jars and bags of coffee are set on shelves behind the counter, procured from Leblanc during the time the portals were open. Though the stock is a bit sparse for a truly functioning cafe, it's better than nothing. Akira also took his old apron, which he keeps on a hook when he isn't wearing it.

There's also a couch in the back for people to sit on, and at the front, sitting on its own stand, is a guest book, made for him by Akechi, with an old ink quill waiting next to it for people to sign.

He arrives early the first day, after sending out an announcement over the network. Time for business.]

[OOC: Feel free to make your own top levels in the cafe!]

Comments

[theshowsover]

A: Network

(color)

Hey. This is Akira.

I'm just letting everyone know I opened a cafe in Ruga. For now I'm just serving coffee, one cup per person. (Supplies are limited.)

Stop by if you have time. Thanks.

B: In Person

[Akira stands behind the counter, waiting for anyone to enter. He looks pretty at home in his apron, occasionally wiping down the counter, rinsing the cups in some dishwater he has in an alcove behind the counter (running water would be helpful, but he does what he can), or going over his stock again.

When someone enters, he'll stop whatever he's doing to look over and greet them with a cordial nod.]

Can I get you something?

beeeee

[heartsteals]

[ well, he did promise he'd come by for a cup of coffee sometime, didn't he? This seems like the perfect opportunity. Naturally, Lupin appears that very morning, doffing his cap at Akira as he enters. Sure, the place might be a far cry from the Parisian cafes he's used to - but for a Chroma cafe, it's damn impressive, and he whistles appreciatively. ]

Well, look at you! You really dolled the place up.

[ and he even has an apron!! how cute. ]

[theshowsover]

[Akira can't help but smile, though it's small and a little bashful. For all he's done he's still a teenage boy.]

It's not a big deal. [He pushes his hair back with his hand.] Just thought it would be nice for people to have somewhere to go, to hang out.

[Leblanc was a haven for himself and his friends. He'll make this place one, as well.]

[heartsteals]

Heh. Don't be shy; you did a good job. I don't think I'd have the patience to set this all up.

[ he had half a mind to tease him over the aforementioned cute apron, but he settles for some genuine praise, instead - doing something like this when just getting by day-to-day can be hard here speaks volumes of his character, and Lupin feels... proud? Yes, proud. Shooting Akira a grin, he goes ahead and seats himself at the bar, folding his hands in front of him. ]

I hope you're as good at making coffee as you are at redecorating.

[theshowsover]

I had some good help.

[Akira feels proud, too. It's something good that he's done, a project he can throw himself into. And if it brings people closer together, it's accomplished its mission.

(And it'll probably be easy for Lupin to guess who that help was.)]

My guardian taught me some stuff. He's the real coffee master, though. What would you like?

[heartsteals]

[ Guardian, huh? He realizes now that he actually knows very little about Akira and where he's coming from - he knows more about Akechi, frankly. ]

Good question. I don't drink coffee that often, to be honest. Can I just ask for something that isn't too dark?

[ sometimes, Lupin's tastes are still childish... ]

Who was your guardian?

b!

[teradaya]

[It doesn't take a whole lot to convince Ryouma to visit this little cafe operated by someone he doesn't even know because the promise of coffee is more than enough to get him over to Ruga. He doesn't even know where this cafe is, but it proves to be easy enough to find; just look for a building that's functional and not just a house. So, soon enough, he finds what he assumes is the place and opens the door, looking around for a moment before Akira greets him.]

Oh, I think ya can.

[He heads over to take a seat in front of the counter. Don't mind him as he pulls his pair of swords from his waist to rest against the counter. It's fine. It's normal. He's a pacifist.]

Heard ya got coffee 'round here and, wouldn't ya know, it's been months since I last had so much as a sip.

[theshowsover]

[Akira has gotten so used to the casual carrying of weapons that he doesn't so much as blink at the swords. After all, he still keeps his own daggers on him, currently hidden away under the counter.]

You came to the right place. What do you like?

[He waves a hand at the stock behind him.]

[teradaya]

[He takes a moment to squint at all of the options, but then decides against trying to make sense of all of that.]

Dark and bitter. The stuff I drank back home originally came from the Dutch, if that means anything.

[It probably doesn't, but it's a start!]

Akira, was it? It's real nice of ya to do this.

[theshowsover]

[It probably does mean something, but Akira is still a novice barista, so he isn't sure off the top of his head. But dark and bitter is something he can handle, so he prepares the coffee.]

I worked some in my guardian's cafe back home. I liked it there a lot, so I thought I'd bring that back to Chroma.

[He doesn't mention that he lived in that cafe.]

[teradaya]

[Considering Ryouma doesn't recognize all this modern(?) coffee stuffs, he's sure that whatever Akira makes for him won't be the same as what he's had before, but he won't hold it against the kid. They're all working with limited resources, after all. And besides, this could broaden his coffee horizons! And Ryouma does like trying new things.

That first bit of Akira's answer grabs Ryouma's attention, though.]

Guardian? Ah, I mean, not family? If that's not too personal. I'm often too curious for my own good.

[Not that it's out of the ordinary in Ryouma's time and place for young people to be taken in by others. Mostly because of family deaths. Hopefully that isn't Akira's case, but he wouldn't be surprised.]

secret wildcard option!!

[doublecrowss]

[ While Akira is busy taking up an order or another, Akechi slips inside the cafe with silent familiarity; considering how much time he had spent working on this cafe alongside the owner, it's no wonder he's come to know the place as well as his own house. He feels comfortable enough to make an entrance with no preamble, and take up the seat he had previously selected even prior to the grand opening: right at the bar, just like he would do back in Tokyo.

It's strange, but somehow he feels even more at home here than he did in Leblanc. Was it because of all the effort he'd put into it? Hmm...

Regardless, he gets comfortable in his spot, and takes another look around; while the finished product does look nice, there's always room for improvement, and he can't help but let his mind wander, taking mental notes of whatever else needed to be done. If there's ever been a time when he's been this excited about a project, he certainly can't remember.

And then his mind wanders again, wondering why that might be. ]

[theshowsover]

Hey.

[And while Akechi is silently pondering about the cafe, Akira appears, a cup of coffee already set before Akechi. It's made close to the way he likes, though Akira might have, once again, slipped a little love into it.

Just for practice.]

How's it look?

[He knows Akechi was here not long ago, but he asks anyway.]

[doublecrowss]

[ Oh, would you look at that? He came here looking to make a surprise, yet he's the one who ended up caught off guard. Did he really get so distracted he didn't even notice Akira making that coffee? ]

It looks rather nice. [ A smile, genuine and maybe even a little proud. ] Especially so considering how scarce resources are in this town.

[ He pauses as he takes the cup in his hands, considering his next words. Before he goes for a sip, his smile widens. ]

You must have had quite efficient help, to be able to pull this off in such a short time.

[ ... and yet, it's really hard to keep it in place after he actually tastes the coffee. Is this his punishment for boasting? Thank goodness for his poker face... ]

[theshowsover]

[It might be, you shit!

But instead, Akira just gives a small laugh at that, and if he notices Akechi having to choke down the coffee, he doesn't show it, either.]

Yeah, they were pretty good. I guess I can't complain too much.

[He takes a sip from his own glass. It's just water; partly to help stay hydrated, partly because he can't drink all his coffee up.]

Maybe I can even get them to help me paint the walls sometime.

[doublecrowss]

[ Hey, he put a whole damn lot of work into this, okay! A little praise isn't too much to ask!! ]

Oh, paint the walls, too? [ He huffs a small laugh of his own, amused. ] What's next, helping you serve tables? They would have to be a very generous soul, to be willing to do so much for no payment.

[ And while Akechi could hardly be described as generous in any way, he definitely wouldn't mind helping out with any of that, and perhaps even more. How peculiar. ]

A - #ffff99

[troubadamsel]

A cafe? That is amazing! How did you gather enough supplies for such a thing?

[theshowsover]

When the portals opened up, one opened to my guardian's cafe. I thought he wouldn't miss the coffee.

[Since he doubts it was even really Leblanc.]

[troubadamsel]

Let it be known that, at the very least, you have my gratitude for your generosity.

[theshowsover]

Thanks.

It's what I told you, right? My skills are brewing coffee, and making curry.

[It came in handy after all!]

[troubadamsel]

[Tch - stab to the pride, right here.]

Perhaps I was a little.

Too hasty. To dismiss it, before.

A

[darkbreak]

[Having only met Akira once before, they never really got talking about future projects or prospects here in Chroma. Seeing the post online, and given its close proximity, Riku decides to swing on by.

Walking in with his hands shoved in his pockets, he takes a glance around before nodding back at the other teen.]

Hey. Nice job you did here. It looks pretty good.

[theshowsover]

Thanks.

[Akira smiles back in response, gesturing at the stools at the counter. Of course, Riku is more than welcome to sit at one of the tables, but it's easier to talk over the counter.]

Want anything?

[darkbreak]

[The counter is fine with him, and he immediately slips onto a stool. It feels a little weird being in a place like this in a world nearly abandoned, but it's also nice. A little bit of normalcy.]

Guess I'll take a coffee. Unless you have anything else on your menu?

[theshowsover]

[Normalcy is what he's aiming to give! Though at Riku's question, Akira is reminded of one of the failings of this cafe: it's small menu.]

Right now, coffee is it. Hopefully one day I can get some things to eat, and a good stock of tea.

[He knows not everyone likes coffee.]