The Lunatic Cafe

As one of the patrons of the Cafe opened the door to enter, there was a quick pattering of feet and something small scuttled inside before the door could close again.

The lights in the cafe this evening were slightly dimmed to allow the patrons to enjoy the Christmas lights and decorations that adorned almost every square inch of the interior of the cafe. The main dimmed lights also allowed the small dark figure to go mostly unseen as it momentarily took refuge under a huge Christmas tree right beside the front door. Those that did manage to catch a glimpse of the figure merely raised an eyebrow and then went back to their dining and/or drinking. After all stranger things were seen in the cafe on a regular basis.

The doll figure posed next to a large nutcracker under the tree for a moment before it scuttled out to stand and pause at the entrance signs to the cafe warning about weapons not being allowed in the cafe.

The tiny figure with the porcelain face looked up at the sign and then glanced at his right arm which ended in a knife blade and then raised his left 'hand' to reveal a wicked looking hook. If anyone had been looking at the creature's face they would have seen twin tiny spikes shoot forward to be seen in the thing's dark eye sockets before being pulled back. This continued several times, giving voice to the doll like creature's frustration.

Finally the puppet noticed small print near the bottom of the sign. "Note: No Weapons rule only applies to creatures, beings, androids, cyborgs or other life forms that can remove their weapons. If such weapons are impossible to remove or sheathed because they are part of your physical makeup let it be known the rule is amended for your sake and you may enter the cafe but the no violence rule is still strictly in force.

Impossible of course but it almost looked as if the puppet breathed a sigh of relief before once again darting back to the shadows of the tables and chairs and made its way deeper into the cafe.

Finally reaching the bar the puppet pulled it way up the side of it till it could sit on top of the bar. And there it sat as if waiting.

Enter a big man from an icy San Francisco rainstorm, black hair in tendrils down his back and a raincape pulled taut around his broad shoulders. He doesn't know where he's crossed into; wouldn't much care anyway, from the brooding in his dark eyes. He just wants a hot drink, a few hours' distraction, and maybe some company. His life is full of weirdness anyway.

Lilith. We've been apart three years and here she is still trying to tease me into her latest scheme. Stealing from her father. Gods! Am I really desperate enough to sink that low?

I don't want to be.

I need to stay away from Lilith. Find a lady worth my time. A good cause to distract myself. New friends. Something. But for now...I haven't been in here before, so I'll see how many treats I'm willing to make up for in sit-ups later.

He draws near the counter, pushing the raincape back and putting on a smile to soften his appearance for the cashier. "Um, hullo. Start me with a mocha, please."

As he waits, he searches the menu for signs of chocolate, makes a few mental notes, and then glances curiously around the room.