Sburb Café; positioned right in the middle of the city Alternia, not far from Beforus University. Like any other coffee shop it had its regulars, its businessmen, its artists, and its workers. All those people moved through their separate lives, loving, gaining friendships, and in places like this, crossing. And just sometimes in places like Sburb Café you can get glimpses into those lives, if you looked hard enough.
Today it was Equius Zahhak who would be serving the customers. A man of native american descent Equius kept his shoulder length black hair pushed out of his face as best he could. Now he wore a navy blue shirt, covered by the coffee house's green apron/ The dark glasses he wore were cracked but for some reason he continued to wear them. It was no question that he could easily get a replacement he just never chose to.
The bell above the door chimed as it opened and a girl wearing a blue hat sporting fake cat ears, a fake blue cat tail, and a long green trench coat came prancing in. "Hello Equius!" she called across the café before she was even all the way in the door.
"Don't yell would you? He'th right there and I'm trying to work! I've got thome very important projecth to work on and it would help if you could get thome quiet!" a blond boy called from his table at the side of the room, his pale face made slightly eerie by the computer screen in front of his face.
The girl, Nepeta Leijon, stuck out her tongue at him upon seeing he hadn't even looked up and then ignored him for the rest of her stay. Instead she just made her way to the counter, resting her elbows on the wood, and her head on her hands. "Hi."
Equius nodded to the girl, putting down the mocha he was making. It wasn't long before a island girl came and picked it up before going to sit by the boy on the computer. Then he ducked behind the display of the pastries and pulled out a cat-shaped and decorated cookie. There was never one actually in the display but for the girl, Equius always made one. "For you," he said as he passed the cookie.
With a little jump and giggle she accepted it. "Thank you, meowrail!" No one really knew where Nepeta had gotten the idea to call her closest friend her meowrail and hardly anyone ever asked. The fact it made him smile was reason enough. At this moment he was doing just that. She pulled out her money, beginning to talk about her day and nibble on her cookie. The boy across the counter said almost nothing and just listened.
The only thing with the power to stop Nepeta Leijon from talking was the person in line behind her. "Hello, sorry for interrupting you dear, but I'd like a chance to order." The voice belonged to one local design intern who often made runs here for coffee.
Nepeta stopped mid sentence and hunched over a bit. "Sorry," she said, not looking at the other, taller girl. Instead she glanced back at Equius. "We'll talk on your break more ok?"
"Go, Nepeta. Of course we will talk." Both shared a momentary child and then the cat-girl went off to find a nice spot to curl up in to wait. "Your usual, Miss Maryam?" Equius asked as he reached for a cup to begin making the drinks.
"As always," she replied, pulling out her wallet to flip through it, pulling out the occasional slip and scanning over it. "And it's Kanaya, Mr. Zahhak." Her eyes flicked up from scanning as she finished the sentence. "No need for formalities."
The sound of the steamer stopped all conversation between the two for the time being and Kanaya was able to retrieve her money. The exact amount for the drinks - she had it memorized - plus a two dollar tip for Equius. She had the resources to tip the barista kindly and she knew he would appreciate it. He always did.
As the drinks were made Kanaya went off to make a call. If they wished to, most of the customers in the store could hear her end of the conversation. "Hello, this is Kanaya... Yes, I'm sure. But how are you really? … I apologize if I don't believe you..." Equius put down the four drinks she had ordered and then disappeared into the back, out of sight.
Kanaya walked to pick up the drinks, heading for the door. "He left with only a note. Don't even try to tell me that you don't care." Her voice trailed off as she left, leaving the café quiet. All that could now be heard was the mutterings of the island girl and the typing of the keys. And if one listened hard enough they could see the gentle breathing indicating the the cat girl in the corner was asleep.
Equius came out only a couple minutes later and walked over to the sleeping girl, sitting next to her. He didn't wake her and just watched and protected her.