The Perk [Tuesday Afternoon]

[teashopconman.livejournal.com]

Hatter had decided to take a walk down to some of the other shops today. He figured that the coffee shop wouldn't be able to measure up to his tea but a man had to be worldly and open minded in order to go further in the world.

It took him quite awhile to order something and he was pretty sure he was driving the staff quite batty since he changed his order several times but he'd eventually settled on something iced, something sweet with just a hint of salt as well. It seemed like getting every major food group (or what Hatter counted for food) was good enough.

Drink in hand, Hatter thanked the staff and went to find a seat, dropping his hat on the table. He took a few sips and then shifted. Took another few sips and then moved again. Sitting still was not his favorite thing so eventually picked up his hat and went about tossing it high into the air until it landed on his head.

Then, he'd do it again and again, never missing once. It made the coffee better.

[Open place/post]

Comments

[vdistinctive]

Eliot's coffee machine was on the fritz again. He wasn't sure exactly how, but he was willing to blame this on the pink pony. Sure, he could have gone for a french press, but even a guy like Eliot sometimes liked to be social, so he just headed out to the local cafe for a cup, instead.

He watched the arc of the hat through the air for a few tosses, then nodded, fairly impressed. "Nice trick. Nervous habit?"

[teashopconman.livejournal.com]

"More like restless habit," Hatter said, tipping his hat in Eliot's direction. "Why just sit here and drink coffee when I can sit here, drink coffee and entertain the massive throngs of people?"

There were like...five people around maximum.

[vdistinctive]

Eliot gave a little sardonic glance around the cafe. "Put out a cup for change and you could make a living," he said dryly.

[teashopconman.livejournal.com]

Hatter looked like he might actually be considering it because why not?

"Perhaps when it's a little cooler out," he decided. "If I went out there and did that now, I'd be a sweating mess within ten minutes. Drive paying customers away with the odor."

[vdistinctive]

"Fair enough," Eliot granted. "Never was quite sure how that street musician handles it."

[teashopconman.livejournal.com]

"Lots and lots of cologne?" Hatter guessed. "Or perhaps they've built up a tolerance to the stench so they don't realize how it smells to others? If you bake in your own sweat long enough, sooner or later it will become commonplace."

[vdistinctive]

"Which is one thing if you're fightin' in the desert," Eliot said. "Kind of another when you're trying to be entertaining."

[teashopconman.livejournal.com]

"So, I think I'll be sticking to my day job," he said, raising his glass in Eliot's direction. "Fighting in the desert sounds so...dull? I much prefer fighting in dense forests filled with insane creatures."

[vdistinctive]

Ah. He was one of those types. "My universe ain't that big on the strange creatures," Eliot said. "Dense forests have their advantages, though."

[teashopconman.livejournal.com]

"Doesn't every universe have their strange creatures though?" Hatter wondered, head tilted. "Have you ever need an aardvark? Strange looking thing. Freaks me out."

[vdistinctive]

"There is the platypus," Eliot said. "But we're pretty lean on vampires and talking horses. Strange is relative."

[teashopconman.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I don't have any vampires or talking horses either," Hatter said, waving a head. "Mad March, he might qualify as a talking rabbit but his head was just rabbit shaped. Really rather insane looking."

[vdistinctive]

". . . Yeah, we don't get a lot of that in my world, either."

[teashopconman.livejournal.com]

"Don't worry, I think this was a one time thing," Hatter told him, waving a hand. "You know how scientists like to mix things that probably shouldn't be mixed? That's what happened here, I think. How he got shirts over that head I don't know."

[vdistinctive]

Well, that sounded horrifying. "I'll take your word for it."

[teashopconman.livejournal.com]

"Haven't seen anything like that here, though," he said, glancing out the window and then back at Eliot. "That's probably a good thing. No one wants a Mad March running around here. Horrible fashion sense but a damn good shot."

[vdistinctive]

"So he's got some redeeming qualities." Eliot shrugged. "Most of this place looks normal enough on the surface. Took awhile before I really realized all the weirdness talk was actually true."

[teashopconman.livejournal.com]

"Oh yeah?" Hatter leaned forward, chin in hand. "And what changed your mind? Were you here when sharks rained from the sky? Dr. Lecter told me about that one."

[vdistinctive]

"Missed that one," Eliot said. "Got the weird mood-altering crystal embedded in my stomach, though. And the freezer at work is full of penguins. Main thing, though, was meeting the pony."

[teashopconman.livejournal.com]

"The pony?" Hatter echoed, not sure why that was such a strange thing. "Are there not horses in your world or something? A place without petting zoos and pony rides? How awful."

[vdistinctive]

"Not snub-nosed pink ones with eyes half the size of their entire head who invite you to do lunch."

[teashopconman.livejournal.com]

"Really? That sounds fascinating," Hatter said because of course he'd think that. "Did you take her up on the generous lunch offer?"

[vdistinctive]

"Haven't had the time," Eliot said. Also, he hadn't worked out quite how to fight a horse, yet. "You should keep an eye out. I'm sure you'll run into her eventually."