✖ Alternate Universe Meme: Mika Whitepaws Edition ✖

[wolfishsurvivalist]

Welcome to the Blue Moon Cafe!

It's a fairly new establishment, designed to be more comfortable than modern, and while the decor might not be fancy or have the high-end polish of an international chain, it makes up for it in personality. The walls are covered in one-of-a-kind art for sale, there's an attached bookstore with a vast selection for its size and is kept well-stocked with interesting titles, the food is always handmade, and the coffee and tea selections are rumored to be stellar. There's a bar with stools, tables with squashy armchairs, and outside seating with heat lamps in case you prefer a breeze or it's too crowded indoors. There's only two or three employees at the moment, but Mika tries to keep the service friendly and companionable.

Not that there isn't a certain amount of sass involved. Flirt too much with other patrons or the staff and you'll be fined a Flirtation Tax, the tax jar prominently displayed on the counter next to the tip jar. Repeat and notorious offenders might find their names playfully displayed on the Wall of Shame, a small section on one of the white boards that Mika and her assistants painstakingly decorate daily.


Mika's rules in her cafe:
1. No cuts, no buts, no coconuts
2. If you're going to get flirty, pay the fine or go outside
3. Don't spill on the books or art
4. Enjoy yourself
5. Don't be the Douchebag Customer


Now if you want to be fancy, here's your species options:

Aiammatta: (doublecheck spelling) Llama/alpaca/camels

Borovus: These people range from common cattle to yaks and bison. One of the larger races, they're broad-shouldered and stocky and tend to do hard labor. Only certain subspecies are docile, others are highly territorial to the point that not even a warou will harrass them. Herbivores.

Botyava: Bird people, have feathers and plumage instead of hair, and wear mostly sleeveless shirts to avoid ruffling the feathers on their arms that give them a winglike appearance. Have full use of their hands but are flightless. Diet depends on the subspecies of botyava.

Dougath: Dog people. Come with heightened senses, ears, tails, longer tongues, and claws and fangs. Otherwise look generally humanish, often grow thick fur coats in winter. Can communicate basic concepts with regular dogs. Omnivorous.

Eanguust: Horse types. Usually rather tall with naturally athletic frames, and broader at the shoulders than their cousins who are more deerlike, but not nearly as stout as the bovines. Have incredibly hard, blunt fingernails and tend to have elongated facial structures. Are not usually fans of loud noises and tend to avoid motorized transportation unless necessary, though this does not extend to all individuals. Herbivores.

Kathruda: Felinids generally considered "domestic," though will loudly proclaim otherwise. Tend to be very athletic, have slightly retractable claws. Can communicate basic concepts with regular cats. Are picky eaters, omnivorous but lean toward carnivorous. Grow winter coats and tend to sequester themselves in their homes during their spring shed. Tend towards vanity as a whole.

Kitsurta: Foxes

Laprodi: Great cats, most felinids not classified as "domestic." Certain coat patterns will appear as blotches on the skin due to faint dusting of guard hairs. Also grow winter coats depending on the subspecies.

Larondey: Rabbit people, can either have straight ears or flop ears, have long digging claws, and tuft tails. Tend to have a bit of an overbite or generally enlarged front teeth. Herbivores by nature, might change fur colors depending on the season.

Nostrata: Bat types, generally nocturnal though some are active during the day. Poor eyesight but made up for with excellent hearing. Flightless, but retains a very lightweight bone structure and webbing on the upper limbs, and as such they need either backless clothing or clothes that allow for very large armholes. Diet varies between subspecies but very few eat meat and if they do it is very sparingly. Members of this race are often mistaken for children for their size, as many of them are short as well as very slender.

Shivaeni: More commonly known as selkies. Live on the ocean coasts or stay mainly on islands, they're powerful swimmers that are rumored to have learned to swim before they could even crawl. Their diet is almost entirely seafood, and many of them become fishermen or lifeguards. If there's water, there's likely a shivaeni nearby.

Shurroght: Cephlapods, these people never stray very far from water due to a need to keep their skin moist. While they can live on land easily enough, and do create a protective coating on their skin, dry weather or heat will ultimately make them sick. Certain subspecies are known for their colorful skin patterns, others for their ability to change their skintones and patterns. Very flexible as a whole and able to squeeze through tight spaces that others wouldn't be able to manage.

Stofalhi: Mustelids

Vishut: Reptilian people, some have hair, some don't. Tend to have claws and fangs, some have visibly more scales than others. Snake-like vishut don't have claws, but they do have legs and fangs. Generally have slitted pupils, diet depends on subspecies. Cold blooded, need heat sources in winter months or fall into hibernation, snake types are natural contortionists.

Warou: Similar to the dougath, only wolves. Mika is one of these. Omnivorous. Have a bad habit of teasing and harrassing "prey" species out of hunting instinct.

Other species options are available but don't have names yet! Feel free to be creative but just remember the animal characteristics will be slight enough that the characters will look mostly human.

Comments

Waiting in the line - OTA

[truepsychictale]

Sasha looked at menu, ears places flat against his head, looking over the menu. Nothing looked intresting to him, but he wanted his lunch. He was also looking over for a certain man he saw in here a few days ago. He was a little worried, but he wasn't going to let it show.

Bother the Kathruda?

[kingroadie]

He wasn't going to have to wait long as that certain half breed of dougtha and warou somehow managed to appear behind Sasha. Seemingly sliding into line with a lazy sort of grin as he spoke. "You gonna be squintin' at the sign like that all afternoon?" His tail wagging happily at a pace most would consider puppish considering his age.

Medusa 'Deuce' Preston - Snake Vishut - Pastry Delivery! / General watching over

[hiddensnake]

A. Pastry Delivery!
(OOC: This is geared mostly towards Mika, but anyone can bother her!)

Deuce was running a little late as she pushed the door open with her back. Her arms were rather full today. It was her weekly pastry delivery day and traffic had been a bitch and a half. Two wrecks in such a short distance made the snake girl rather annoyed. It didn't hurt that the weather was cooling off and she had to bundle up a little more than she wanted to today.

Still, it was a good day. Deuce had cupcakes. She maneuvered her way over to the counter and set the boxes down. "Mika! Delivery!"

====

B. Doing her usual thing.

After preemptively paying her flirting tax, Deuce sat down in her usual corner with a latte and her laptop. Her eyes were mostly on the screen, but upon occasion, she looked up and glanced around the cafe. She didn't seem like much, but she kept an eye on things. With her background, she kept watch over the store and her friend.

After a while, she shut the laptop and stretched out, her fangs showing and forked tongue flicking for a moment. Deuce hadn't been sleeping much recently. There were some major issues going on within her family that were starting to get to her.

A

[wolfishsurvivalist]

"Be right there!" Came the shout from the back, the warou was elbow-deep in a cabinet rummaging around for something before giving up. After a rough moment where she wasn't sure if she could push herself up or not, Mika stood and strolled out to the front, draping her dishcloth over her shoulder and dusting her hands off on her hips. When she spotted the boxes of goods she perked up immediately, her ears flicking forward and her tail began to wag.

"Thanks, Deuce! For a moment there I was thinking you weren't dropping off until tomorrow." Popping the lid on the topmost box, she grinned before looking up at her friend. "Had trouble on the road, I take it?"

[ignes_fatui]

Ienzo, meanwhile, was sat off in a corner reading a very heavy book with his tail curled around to rest in his lap, as he'd long since learned that letting it hang out the back of his chair was a good way to get it stepped on immediately. One would think that bright white fur with black stripes and rings all over it would stand out in any decent amount of light, but apparently not. The tip twitched occasionally, back and forth, dusting the arm of the chair.

Browsing that fine art - OPEN

[kingroadie]

Eddie makes a habit of coming by to the cafe often as he can, partially due to the perfection of their in house pie and partially due to a certain Kathruda he liked pestering.

Since that certain man wasn't here today or now at least, Eddie was browsing through the artwork on display. He stuffed his hands into his pockets he peered up at the original artwork on the wall before him. The mutt of a animal person admiring the art. Eddie isn't a artist or really someone who knows a ton about art, but he likes what he sees. Not that he really needs to verbalize it, his tail is doing a good enough job of that in itself. One would think a man his age would know how to keep his tail from being this hyperactive.

[wolfishsurvivalist]

"All that stuff was made by locals, you know." Mika smiled, her own tail wagging as she wiped down a table nearby. "Most of it is stuff I got my friends to send in. If there's anything you really like, just let me know. All of the pieces I've got up right now are for sale."

He was in often enough that Mika had his usuals memorized, knew him on sight and by name and could tell when he was coming just from the smell of leather and engine oils that preceeded him when the wind blew the right way. Eddie was a good guy, and livened up the place whenever he was around. Usually she was glad to see him, as long as he wasn't tripping over his own paws at Sasha. She was going to have to start making them sit outside if they kept getting gooey at each other.

[sneaks in here - I mean, here's a grumpy birdboy Asch]

[bloodyashes]

((OOC: Greater Bird of Paradise with lots of floof.))

Here's a sight - one of the few botyava who actually wears sleeves, long flowy things that drape over his arms down to the wrist. His whole look is elegant and flowy, looking more like a prince than someone in modern dress, with a rather exceptional crimson and gold tail that looks almost too fluffy to be real.

If you're intending to tough it, though, you might want to rethink that. The person it's attached to has a consistent scowl as he curls up in and armchair with a mug of tea and a book, pausing now and again to attempt to smooth down the feathers sticking out to his sides. It's too bad that he's been forced into one of the armchairs at a coffee table today - knowing his luck, someone will sit across from him and start to be annoying.

wake me up before you flamingo-go

[spare_parts]

"You're awfully out in public today."

Good guess, Asch. Dist is about as annoying as you can get when it comes to surprise company, though at least this time he has a croissant and not some kind of horrible underwater invertebrate. "You look like you got uninvited to a gala at the last minute."

What's that, Dist? Sit right here, it's all good? Why thank you!

oops

[rappigdinner]

One kathruda sits in one of the other cushy armchairs, one leg crossed over the other and one thick book balanced upon his knee. Although he does not look up immediately, his ears twitch towards this fluffy newcomer, and when he finally pauses to take a sip of his own steaming cup of tea, he lifts his bright slitted red eyes, peering over the frames of this glasses at Asch. The corner of his mouth quirks in a predatory smile, and the tip of his long tail flicks with interest. My, my, but the ruffled, fluffy bird certainly does make him think of dinner...

"I do not believe these chairs were made to accommodate such... voluminous and gaudy plumage," he purrs, still smiling faintly as he sets his cup down again.

OTA

[psycheslantern]

It's very likely that Ammond actually did know how one was supposed to use a chair, but it would be hard to tell by looking at her. As it was, the little rockhopper penguin botyava was sitting on the arm of an armchair, with one foot curled under her and the other propped on the opposite arm of the chair. In her defense, she had made a point of wiping her sneakers before she sat down, but. That might not have been the best defense.

Anyway, she had a paperback in one hand - possibly originally purchased here, but since then carried around stuffed in various bags and pockets and now not in the best of shape - a cup of something that was probably got coffee mixed in with the cream and flavored syrup in the other, and most of an order of fish sticks balanced in her lap. To all appearances, she was oblivious to any precariousness of her position.

Re: OTA

[ignes_fatui]

The very moment she gets properly settled in to her perch, there's someone reading over her shoulder. He's quiet about it at least, arms folded politely ("politely", in as much as one can be when reading over someone else's shoulder) behind his back and tail swishing back and forth steadily behind him. Look, he's even got graces enough not to clear his throat or otherwise fuss when he reaches the end of the page.

open!

[inversive]

[Kamui sits at a table very near where the Flirt Tax Jar is situated, and his face might just be on the Wall of Shame, but honestly. He feels no shame at all about that.

In fact, he smiles cheekily at anyone who passes by him or even those who stare openly at him for being featured on the Wall of Shame, and may or may give the more attractive ones a once-over, regardless of gender. But for the most part, he has his nose in a murder mystery nicked from the bookstore section, occasionally pausing to have a drink of white, iced coffee.

Black coffee? Screw you, real men like sweet things.

The only thing that signifies him as a great cat are the ears on his head, rounded at the tips instead of triangular like a domesticated shorthair cat's. Otherwise, if you're unaware of the differences or are just not looking in the right place, you'd think he's just a black cat Kathruda.

He's most definitely not though. He's a black panther, and he doesn't even have visible rosettes or markings on his skin to show what kind of black panther he is, which adds to more confusion as to whether or not he's Laprodi or Kathruda. But he likes it that way.]

[hiddensnake]

[Deuce barely managed to keep her face off of the Wall of Shame. Maybe it was the pastries that she kept bringing in or that she paid the Flirting Tax when she was in a good mood. Either way, the Vishut was safe.

Now that the cupcakes were safely delivered to Mika, Deuce could go on about doing her usual random things around the cafe. Her laptop was set up in her usual corner, giving her the ability to look around the entire cafe. She usually kept to herself, but today she was actually feeling rather social.

So after paying for a couple of the cupcakes that she supplied, she walked over to where Kamui was sitting and held out the plate.]

Cupcake?

In queue, open to all (Kathruda/Laprodi mix)

[ooeeooahah]

The doctor from the mental health clinic around the corner has the afternoon off, and is starting her half-holiday with some shopping.

Ilsa has made a couple of selections in the bookstore, and is now waiting to place her drink order. Completely ignoring the menu board because she already smelled the chai blend she wanted, she is checking out the gallery.

She's also watching the rest of the cafe's customers, but her tail and ears are relaxed.

No, Mika - she's not here in a professional capacity. Really. Honest.

Re: In queue, open to all (Kathruda/Laprodi mix)

[truepsychictale]

Sasha was pacing ever so slightly, his ears flickered back and forth- he was obviously waiting to hear someone come in. But he was going to check out the gallery also so he didn't seem like he was nervous or anything.

OTA

[technologic]

[April tended to frequent the cafe often, mainly because she liked the staff and the food, and it was comfortable here.

Though it probably doesn't help that some of the time she's at the cafe, she ends up taking a nap in one of the armchairs; the Dougath works a ton of odd jobs, and it's not strange for her to wander into the cafe for food right after she's finished working.

Luckily today is one of the days she is awake, and she's sitting at the bar and munching on one of her cookies from the pile of them that she ordered and sipping on her white chocolate mocha. She seems pretty engrossed in the book she's reading, but her red, fluffy and floppy ears twitch around to listen to what's going on in the cafe, her equally fluffy tag wagging slightly.]

OTA

[earthshatter]

[This particular visitor is one of the larger sort, between just being naturally tall and fairly broad of shoulder besides. In fact, it's only the wide curved horns that mark him as not being not one of the more common bulls but something else entirely. Still, for all his size, he's settled neatly into a place that's out of the way enough that his horns won't be any inconvenience and given the sudoku book he has with him he's mostly likely settled in for the long haul.

His half-empty mug is, to be honest, mostly forgotten at this point and is rapidly on its way to "was probably warm at some point".]

[wolfishsurvivalist]

Need a refill for that mug of yours?

[Mika smiled at the buffalo borovus, her tail wagging. It wasn't often that one of them wandered in, much less stayed once they saw what was standing behind the counter, but it didn't matter to her. As long as he was comfortable enough to stay that was the important part.]

Holler if you'd like anything else too, okay?

[ignes_fatui]

_{[And soon enough he has a visitor.]}

Do you mind if I sit here?

_{[He's smiling, the sharp needle teeth characteristic of all laprodi on full display, as if he already knows the answer. And chances are he already does, really. It's not often that people turn down conversations with their close friends.]}

[kingroadie]

If you don't drink that, s'gonna eventually turn to brown sludge. [The other man isn't likely to get much peace with Eddie lurking around the cafe. The mixed breed very large Dougath had caught sight of the borovus and gotten curious about him. Curious enough to approach and be a pain.] Probably should get a fresher cup, man.

OTA - Add some human and he's a Kathruda-pire!

[nyanpire]

[In order to sit down with your fun book and your tasty beverage, you have to buy the tasty beverage first. Nyanpire (as he preferred to be called, even if he had a slightly more dignified legal name) was waiting more-or-less patiently in line, a bag full of manga clutched in one hand, tail swishing this way and that.]

Strawberry soda or cherry soda or raspberry soda or... or black cherry soda, or... or cream soda...

[So many choices for Italian soda. So hard to choose.]

[ooeeooahah]

[ Books first, then beverage. Ilsa is standing behind him, carrying something that appears to be much drier than manga, and might actually be an antique medical textbook. ]

Have you tried the blood orange soda, yet?

OTA the tallest corgi dougath you've ever seen

[preuxchevalier]

Scenario A

[Bertie's tail wags furiously as he steps into the cool cafe. He's dressed in his athletic togs, which really means a soft sweater vest and natty golf cap as opposed to his usual waistcoat and homburg hat. He doesn't much care that everyone says he dresses like one of the Teddy Boys out of the 1960s. He's happy and fashionable thanks, very much. And that's enough.

At the moment, the bright yellow and green frisbee he's holding is at odds with his dandy attire. He sits down at the bar and places it on the counter.]

I say! I couldn't get the standard Darjeeling? I'm positively parched!

Scenario B

[Bertie's in the bookstore portion of the cafe, searching for some likely title. He pulls out a novel with a bright red cover that catches his attention.]

Good Lord! What's Ms. Whitepaws ordering in here?

[The cover's more than a little shocking what with the way that snake Vishut is coiling around a scantily-clad human woman.]

Scenario B, sorry Bertie

[psycheslantern]

Eh, I've read that one. It's tamer than the cover art makes it look.

[Why, yes, that is Ammond being stubby, feathery, and dismissive at you, Bertie. Heaven knows what she's even doing over here, she's already got a paperback book with a makeshift bookmark stuck in it, poking out of one deep pocket of her cargo shorts, so she's not in any sore need of reading material.]

I mean, it's got a lot of fade-to-black in it, I think the author wimped out on trying to write smut of someone who isn't her own species. Probably for the best.