T42 - Weekend - Steampunk

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando blinked a little as he saw the front of his shop. The windows had new brass-and-bronze frames, the sign had become calligraphed paint across the top. Unlocking the door, he found the interior greatly changed as well. One entire wall had become a mass of pipes, hissing a little steam at the joints, all leading down to the water dispensers. The tea canisters were still metal, but now it was all embossed and bronze-rubbed. The electric lighting had been replaced with small flickering gas lamps.

The tables and chairs had taken on an elegance of polished wood and painted iron. The pictures on the walls had transformed to paintings - with the sole exception of the four Sparkle had given him.

The treats on the counter had become a smörgåsbord of dainty sandwiches, puff pastries, and tiny cakes. Including, Hernando noticed, miniature battenberg squares.

A door to a closet opened and an outfit rattled at him. He wandered over to take a look and one of his eyebrows rose. Fine wool trousers, a starched dove-gray shirt that matched the darker gray vest and scarf. A little amused, but willing, Hernando took the outfit into one of the bathrooms to change. Looking at himself in the mirror afterward, he watched his hair grow out. Setting his glasses down to rub his eyes, he then couldn't find them but also found that he didn't need them. With a very small sigh, he asked, "Please keep them safe. My face feels naked without them, and I would very much like to have them back soon."

Taking his place at the counter, he waited to see what the day would bring.

{Open! It's steampunk, you know you need a tea fix!}

Comments

[in_sidon_we_trust]

It was true! Sidon was very much in the mood for tea that morning, and he didn't even usually drink tea! But he had heard of the new tea shop in town, and, well, then, that just seemed like the perfect solution, didn't it?

So into town he went, into the tea shop, with a lovely long cane in hand, all his usual decorations seeming much more extravagant and extra today, and he even had a monocle perched ever so carefully in his left eye. He had tried a top hat, too, but not even the magic of this weekend could make that work.

"Hello, good sir!" he said, once he ducked inside and approached the counter with a dazzling, charming, toothy grin. "I should very much like some tea, please, though I should also like it served in a rather small and extremely dainty, elaborately designed cup, if you could be so kind."

It was...a very specific craving, yes. One that would look absolutely ridiculous in his claws, but that was kind of the whole point.

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando looked up, and then further up, at the very tall sharklike man who came in. Part of his hindbrain reacted to the display of all those teeth, but Hernando reacted to the tone of voice, which was nothing less than charming and friendly.

He cast a glance at the wall of mugs, which were usually standard industrial chinaware. Not today. Today, they were a dazzling array of mismatched individual porcelains. He found the smallest, a pink and white petal folded set of cup and saucer and held them up for inspection. "Would these suffice? The cup is quite small, but I can provide a small pot of hot water that you may refill it. Our teas stand up quite well to a second or even a third steeping."

[in_sidon_we_trust]

Sidon's eyes positively shown at the piece selected for him by the merchant; the monocle gave a little extra gleam.

"Oh, why, yes, that is perfect!" he exclaimed. "An excellent choice, though, really, now that I have had a moment to peruse your selection of drinking vessels, I must say, they are all rather marvelous, aren't they? But I do like that one; it shall suit my needs exceptionally well."

[hernando_fuentes]

"Yes," Hernando said with another bemused glance at the changed cups, "it appears we do have quite a collection."

There was no way he was going to even try washing those when they got used. He'd just let the counter absorb them, or something.

"Do you have a preferred type of tea?"

[in_sidon_we_trust]

Since Sidon didn't usually drink tea, he didn't really have a good answer to a question like that. He didn't even know where to begin, really, though he did attempt to contemplate it, stroking his chin in thought.

"I don't suppose," he finally ventured, "you happen to have any...particularly...fish flavored tea, by chance, do you?"

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando had never heard of a fish flavored tea, but...

"We have kombu, which is a type of tea made with roasted kelp," he offered hopefully, "I think perhaps that is as close as we have to a..a sea-flavored beverage?"

[in_sidon_we_trust]

"Kelp, you say?" asked Sidon, sounding positively tickled by the idea. "Yes...yes, I believe that will suit me quite well. It would certainly be something new, but, then again, drinking tea is generally new for me all together. There was just...something about today that just caused the idea of a cup to...call to me! Funny how that is, sometimes, but I'm rather glad for it. It's an absolutely wonderful shop. Are you the proprietor or an employee of this fine establishment?"

[hernando_fuentes]

"I am Hernando Fuentes and while technically I am the owner, I think of myself more as a caretaker of this shop," he introduced. Pulling down a canister of kombu, he used a porcelain scoop to portion some into one of the metal strainers, setting it atop Sidon's chosen cup. Water from the middle dispenser was added. Setting a small spoon on the saucer, Hernando slid it across the counter to him.

[firstofitskind]

Liam absolutely needed a tea fix. He figured it was about time he checked out the new shop on the island, so here he was.

Hope you were ready to meet the Sheriff, Hernando. Complete with leathery, bat-like wings tucked against his back and eyes that were a bit like staring in to an endless void.

(He'd brought goggles just in case, but preferred not to wear them if he didn't have to)

"Anything on special today?" he asked curiously.

[hernando_fuentes]

First a giant shark man, now a bat man. Hernando was certainly having an excellent day. "The store didn't specify any, but perhaps it simply believes that all the tea is special," he offered with a quiet smile, "Is there a particular type you'd like? We have quite a variety."

[firstofitskind]

Liam was not a bat man. He was a son of one of the Old Ones! Ancient blood ran through his veins... et cetera, et cetera. But if he could read narrative, he would suppose it was a fair assumption given that Hernando knew none of that. (It was also only true insofar as this weekend was making it true. Come Monday, he'd be back to his regular, wing-less self.)

"Irish breakfast will do," Liam decided, after thinking about it for a moment.

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando chose a cup and saucer at random. He reached for the tea sacs only to discover they'd been replaced with flat metal strainers. Taking one, he used a ceramic scoop to transfer some Irish Breakfast from container to strainer. He used water from the far right dispenser and frowned slightly - no bag, no timer necessary - before sliding it across the counter to Liam. "Would you like anything else? We have a large assortment of nibbles and pastries today."

[firstofitskind]

"Thanks," Liam said, accepting the cup. And while he'd only intended to try the tea, the idea of a pastry did appeal. "A chocolatine, if you've got them," he said.

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando didn't recognize the term, but sent a glance down the pastry counter anyway. One of the displays made a small tink and he went to investigate. On it were small pastries similar to a rugelach. Reading the sign, he held them up for view, "They are chocolate-hazelnut, if that would suffice?"

[firstofitskind]

"Close enough," Liam said with a nod. "I'm Liam, by the way," he added after a moment.

[hernando_fuentes]

"Hernando Fuentes," he greeted, plating the pastry and sliding it across the counter to join the cup. "Pleased to meet you."

[spectre_alenko]

Kaidan made his way to the tea shop for a nice beverage and possibly a scone. "Good day, Hernando. How are you this fine morning?"

Kaidan still looked mostly the same. The only major difference was the dark blue military-style uniform he was wearing. Gold and brass embellishments broke up the dark cloth in a swooping diagonal from one shoulder to the opposite hip.

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando looked up from restocking the sandwich tray when he heard Kaidan's voice. His smile became a little fixed when he took in the sight. Kaidan on his own was a handsome man but in that uniform and carrying an aura of calm confidence, he vaulted 'handsome' and landed on almost every hot button Hernando had. Which was not appropriate when Kaidan was a customer.

Clearing his throat, Hernando greeted him, "Good morning, Kaidan. It is well today; how are you?"

[spectre_alenko]

That's not appropriate ever omg leave the popsicle alone!

"I'm well enough," Kaidan said, "though I'd be better if I could have a cup of the orange spice tea and perhaps a brown sugar scone?"

[hernando_fuentes]

Nah.

"Certainly," Hernando agreed, preparing the tea and plating the scone for his friend. "Have you noticed anything that is perhaps unusual this day?" The question was hesitant and if Kaidan hadn't been such a friend, it would not have been asked at all.

[spectre_alenko]

"Today?" Kaidan was puzzled, "Not so far, but I've only been from my apartment to your store. Why? Is something amiss?"

[hernando_fuentes]

Right. "No, nothing is amiss," Hernando answered hastily, handing over the beverage and scone. He considered the question of why he had asked and eventually answered, "Everyone seems to be, er, more formally dressed."

[spectre_alenko]

"It is Saturday," Kaidan said, as if that explained everything. He took his snack to a nearby table so he could converse with Hernando without standing at the counter.

[hernando_fuentes]

"So it is," Hernando answered pleasantly, "I have some new art on the wall. Perhaps you could give me your impressions?"

[firstofitskind]

"Kaidan," Liam's smile was perhaps a bit unsettling, but not on purpose. That was just who he was. As one of the handful of people Liam considered a friend, Kaidan was (hopefully) at least accustomed to it. "Good morning."