The internet is a storm of URLs, wi-fi and strings of dangerous code, whirling and thundering. Out in the wilderness you can only survive so long unaided, but in here, behind the mellow yellow windows, a safe and comforting place awaits. This place is a respite from the internet; the fire crackles invitingly and alluring rainbow-coloured drinks are poured into glasses. Exciting chatter fills the rooms from tables bustling with friends, eating from trays of warm, rustic carum bread and hearty stews. Gentle music comes from the band in the background.
[image description: a busy tavern lit by orange light]
Come in, chat away, have a great time! The old location may have been overrun by the Codekind, but this new building has three-meter thick walls, three floors and turret bedrooms to rest in at the top! We’ve returned, free from the battles of the secret pages! A safe micro-community of equality and no judgement. Hang up your HTML-reflective suit at the door and settle in with a drink and a meal.
Notice Board: Free candy in the bowl on the counter! What types of candy are there? Yes.
The woman huffed. “Okay, manual cleaning is boring,” she announced. She settled down on the bar stool behind the counter and drew a few symbols on the varnished wood. Moments later, a wind blew through the room, removing old decorations, dust, and other small debris from who-knows-when. “That’s better!”
Emberdawn pulled down a small chalkboard from the end of the counter, and wrote a few words on it. “And now, introducing the Hazelpage’s newest limited edition drink, hot cocotini! Non alcoholic, of course, if you were able to tell that the name is from martini. Purely hot chocolate with a catchy name, really.”
Lion looked up from her algebraic maths homework, and her history essay, both of which were due tomorrow however she had no intention of doing either and was relying heavily on that it would be a snow day despite the unfortunate lack of cold weather, and that maybe she would end up conveniently ill. Lion sighed and put it down, probably somewhere where she wouldn’t find it again later, but didn’t really care, and walked up to the bar where she ordered a hot cocotini.
Emberdawn grabbed a cup and quickly set about making the drink. “You know, you should do your work.”
Lion raised an eyebrow, “Yeah when cats can fly and shoot lazers from their paws, then I’ll do it.” She then smiled, wrapping her scarf slightly tighter and taking a sip from her drink, “Thanks for the drink.” Lion said between her overused smile. She paused, then spoke again, “How’s life?” In a probably stupid attempt to procrastinate further.
Emberdawn mimicked Lion’s previous expression. “Alright, because I do my work.”
Lion smiled, and rolled her eyes, “No one cares about my homework anyway, I’ll do it on the bus tomorrow if needs be. Or in the lesson before.” She paused before adding, “Or actually in the lesson. Whatever suits!”
“That attitude is going to bite you back when you get to post-secondary.” Emberdawn made a face. “Trust me, I’m feeling that right now.”
“Don’t worry, L. I procrastinate too.” Wishi held up a half-finished math assignment.
(I can relate to the unfortunate lack of a snow day rip)
Robin was finished hiding under a rock in embarresment-
Robin: Hey! I never hid under a rock in embarresment!
Me: Yeah, well thats what I was doing in my head!
Robin: But you never roleplayed me- wait, whats roleplay?
Me: You don’t know what roleplay is?
Robin: A type of fruit?
Me: …
Me: …
Me: Sure lets call it a type of fruit.
Robin: Great, let’s get back to roleplaying
Me: Sure, but not right now
Robin: …
Me: …
Me: ok bye! (goes back to mentally hiding under a rock because i have conversations with my alter ego)
Oof 😛
Rose appeared dramatically, rose petals floating through her hair as she dabbed. “I FOUND THIS PLACE AGAIN GUYS!! DID YOU MISS ME!!”
Nobody answered. Someone coughed.
Rose sighed. “I brought a disco ball and the Greatest Showman remix.”
People cheered.
OHH! THIS IS THE GREATEST SHOW!!
Robin stood up and cheered the loudest because she was obsessed with the Greatest Showman. I mean, OBSESSED.
Robin: Now that’s something we both can agree on.
Me: SHUSH!
She started belting out in song because why not. “WHAT IF WE REWRITE THE STARS-”
Robin: I would never do that! You’re embarrassing me!
Me: SHUSH!
*PSA: Apologies for my rude alter ego. She’ll actually be able to be… well, uncensored-
Robin: I don’t cuss!
Me: Wair for the secret page!
Ugh. That went weird quickly.
Lapis walked slowly into the building, her gaze drifting around, her mind re-imagining everything around her. She had followed the trail Emberdawn had left in the snow(recent purrs) and found this gem of a place. She’d never heard of it, never knew it existed.
“What is this place?” she mused aloud as she neared the counter. A sign caught her eye. And a moment later two people blinked into existence too. She stumbled back, about to bump into one of them.
“Oh, um, sorry…” She did this too much. Her head would invent a different place to be, her eyes would believe her brain, and soon she wouldn’t know up from down, left from right, real from fake.
“Urr…” Lapis glanced at the sign again. “I’ll have a hot cocotini.”
Iceflower, seated atop the bar with her legs folded underneath her in blatant violation of several health codes, topped down and grabbed a glass mug. “Coming right up.” She quickly filled the mug with the rich liquid, dusting the rim of the mug with sugar as she finished. She slid the mug across the bar with a napkin.
“Thanks.” she took a sip. The rich chocolaty flavor burst in her mouth. Mmmmm… She closed her eyes in bliss. Before she could stop herself, the word left her mouth. “Delicious…”
Fox Trot stumbled in, She fell and slid aross the floor, She’d lost her footing and tripped on the way in. “Could I get some milk, Or a Hot Cocotini.” The short girl muttered scrambling onto a bar stool
Iceflower drummed her nails on the counter. “Which one? Or both is fine, if you can’t decide.”
“I’ll take a Cocotimi then.” The girl held out a hand “Names Fox Trot by the way.”
Iceflower pushed a cocotini across the counter, shaking the offered hand. “Charmed.”
Hazelholly came in, trying not to trip over his feet, like he always did every so often. Because I’m a natural klutz, He thought to himself, taking a seat on a bar stool. “May I get a hot cocotini?” He asked, hoping that there was still some left for him. If not, that was fine. I mean, there’s always other options. Like water. And…I don’t know; I’ll think of it later.
Iceflower nodded, already filling up a mug. “Do you need a menu?”
Hazelholly nodded. “Sure. What else do you have?”
Iceflower handed over a menu. “Just about anything you can think of, within reason. We don’t serve kangaroo, if you were wondering. You probably weren’t.”
Navy walked in, delighted to find this place one again. “Hi Icy!” She waved. “Hey Fox Trot!”
She sat on one of the creaking bar stools and addressed Icy. “One Hot Coctini please!”
Iceflower was hunched over the dispenser, which had recently started gurgling and refusing to pour, and waved a hand behind her in greeting. Lips twisted in annoyance, she gave the beverage dispenser a couple of sharp whacks. “Hey, Embix, I think there might be somethin-”
She broke off as the dispenser let out a startling whine and, well. . . . . dispensed hot cocotini all over her.
And it wasn’t even noon yet.
Fox Waved Back, She had her head on the table, Hot Chocolate made her a bit loopy at times
Maple walked into the room, after following a trail of foot prints through the snow. Glancing around in sheer confusion, Maple slowly sat down besides some one who looked slightly friendly.
“Uhh I honestly don’t know how I go here .”
She whispered sheepishly to the person besides her.
“Ill have a glass of water I guess ?”
She asked the girl who seemed on the bar. She never drank anything but water, apart from the occasional orange juice. Hot drinks were icky.
Iceflower looked up, her black jacket dripping from her run-in with the hot cocotini dispenser. “Just water? We have other beverages, if you want to see a menu. Or I could just concoct something. I’m an excellent concoctor.” She turned around and slapped an “Out of order” sign on the hot cocotini dispenser, that horrid thing.
“What happened to the machine?” Emberdawn called over to the other staff member.
“It broke and it spewed and I need a vacation.” Iceflower grumbled, wiping her hands.
Spottedstream slowly stepped in. She’d seen this place before, but hadn’t gone in. She’d lost it and forgotten where it was, actually, but then she followed some footprints through the snow (Recent Purrs), until she caught up to Icy! She looked around for a minute, until she found a seat at the bar. “Um… can I have a hot cocotini?” she said, not sure what that was or what else there was.
“One hot cocotini coming right up!” Emberdawn called. Moments later, a mug was set down in front of Spottedstream. “It’s just hot chocolats with a fancy name.”
“Yum!” Spottedstream said, pleased it wasn’t something with coconuts, like she’d been thinking. She liked chocolate more.
Wishi slapped money on the counter. “Cocotini. Now. I’m gonna die without. Grammar already dying.”
Emberdawn set a mug down in front of Wishi, collecting the payment at the same time.
“Thanks. It’s freezing out there.” Wishi pulled herself to full height, looking slightly tall for a ‘paw. Her brown hair was filled with flecks of snow.
Rose slammed her fist on the table. She pointed at some random person and they played “The Other Side.”
She turned to [whoever].
“Right here, right now, I put the offer out,
I don’t wanna chase you down, but I know you see it,
You run with me, and I can cut you free, out of the drudgery and the walls you keep in,
So trade that typical, for something colorful,
And if it’s crazy, live a little crazy,
You can play it sensible, king of conventional,
Or you can risk it all and see,”
She hopped onto the table, starting to dance.
“And don’t, you, wanna get away
From this uptight part you get to play
Cuz I got what you need so come with me and take the ride
I’mma take you to the other side,”
She held out her hand to [them].
Wishi took the call.
“Okay, my friend, you want to cut me in
Well I hate to tell you, but it just won’t happen
So thanks, but no
I think I’m good to go
‘Cause I quite enjoy the life you say I’m trapped in
Now I admire you, and that whole show you do
You’re onto something, really it’s something
But I’m livin’ in the swells, and we don’t pick up peanut shells
I’ll have to leave that up to you…”
Wishi’s face formed a smug mask, and she turned around for emphasis. It would almost be hard to tell she was acting if she wasn’t draping a cold, ragged blanket over her shoulder. She looked back in Rose’s direction.
“Don’t you know that I’m okay with this uptown part I get to play
‘Cause I got what I need and I don’t want to take the ride
I don’t need to see the other side
So go and do like you do
I’m good to do like me
Ain’t in a cage, so I don’t need to take the key
Oh, *censorship bleep*! Can’t you see I’m doing fine
I don’t need to see the other side.”
Once she was finished, she waited on Rose to pick up the beat.
Sunpaw rolled her eyes. “Lady, I am playing some perfectly good music right here. Will you please shut up?”
“No!”