《Dreamer's Ten-Tea-Cle Café》Chapter Fourteen - Domo Arigato
Advertisement
Chapter Fourteen - Domo Arigato
Crossover: Calamitous Bob by Mecanimus
***
Abigail was thinking as she manned the till.
Today was the cafe’s second day, and while she couldn’t consider it a rousing success, it was making some decent money. Some of it was admittedly strange money, possibly from other worlds, but money was money, and she was sure it had some value to someone.
“Have a nice day!” she said to the gentleman who picked up a paper cup of fresh coffee with a curious hum and headed out.
So far, everything had been nice enough. The machinery in the shop was strange, but also easy to use. It took some poking and prodding to understand that some of the signs and symbols would react to her touch, and she still wasn’t used to the coffee pouring into strange paper cups on its own, but the taste was good, and there was certainly some novelty to the idea.
She shook her head. She was trying to focus on what one of the clients she’d spoken to yesterday had said. Limits. Dreamer was... well, Abigail loved her dearly. The incomprehensible creature from beyond the stars, holder of immense power, was something like a mix between a smaller sibling, a summon, and maybe a daughter to Abigail.
It was a complicated mix of emotions, but none of them were negative. She dearly loved Dreamer, and it seemed that Dreamer loved her back, and trusted her just as much.
The problem was that Dreamer had issues with limits.
Abigail glanced to the corner of the room where a slightly mal-formed Dreamer clone was glaring at a pamphlet for a mayoral candidate with confusion and consternation.
Dreamer definitely needed some clearer limits on what was or wasn’t acceptable.
The bell chimed, and Abigail banished her thoughts about Dreamer and put a smile on. She did love meeting new clients. It was the best (and sometimes worst) part of this kind of work.
Advertisement
“Hello, and welcome to Dreeeeee--” Abigail’s voice rose in pitch until it passed dog-whistle levels and finally stopped with a squawk.
The creature in her doorway was tall, impossibly tall for anything living and so thin. It was entirely made of bone, pale with the deathly quality of something long expired. A pair of glowing yellow orbs sat in the sockets of a horned skull. They locked onto Abigail, assessed her, then dismissed her just as easily to scan the room around them.
//Realm change detected.
“Uh, hi!” Abigail said. She plastered on the best smile she could manage. This was Dreamer’s fault. There wasn’t even the need to wonder how it was the girl’s fault, it just was, as plain as day and as certain as a sunrise.
//Threat assessment in progress.
//Threat level: disaster.
//Query: I wish to return to my realm.
The Dreamer clone in the corner looked up, then it reached into the fluff of its dress and pulled out a pamphlet which it extended towards the creature.
It took the pamphlet and scanned it carefully.
//This is unusual.
//What are the methods to escape this location?
“Just buy some tea. That’s your purpose, isn’t it?” the pamphlet clone asked with a sigh. “This place calls on people who need its services, whose purpose, however fleetingly, is to get some tea. My purpose is to give people pamphlets about the tea shop.”
//Interesting.
The creature walked across the shop, making far less noise than something of that size should have, and walking with the liquid grace of a tomcat striding on a fence.
It stopped in front of Abigail, then lowered itself to be eye-to-eye with her.
//Fleshbag, I am here to acquire tea.
//Specifically medicinal tea that can aid in the curing of menstrual cramping.
Advertisement
“Uh,” Abigail said. Despite herself, she felt blood rushing to her cheeks. Was this a she-skeleton monster? “I, uh, we might have something like that.”
//What forms of payment would be acceptable?
“We accept silver, gold, um, just about any currency, I guess,” Abigail said. She tried a grin, then gestured to the side. “I’m going to go make some of that, ah, tea for you.”
She was surprised that the tea machine in the kitchen had an option for what the machine had asked for, and made a note to mention as much to Daphne and Charlotte later. Maybe they could become popular in another way later on, after the large, homicidal-looking skeleton golem with menstrual cramps was gone.
Abigail made sure the paper cup had its quaint cat-eared cap on, and rushed back to the counter where she placed the cup in front of the skeleton creature. “Ah, do you want anything else with that? We have cake.”
//Query: Do you have anything to revitalize a dead empire?
“No?”
//Query: Do you have any magical devices that could decimate armies?
//Failing that, do you have powerful poisons?
“No, just pastries.” Abigail fidgetted under the inspection of the machine’s golden eyes. “That’ll be three coppers?”
The machine reached to its hip, fiddled with a small purse, then deposited a small golden ingot on the counter. It was no bigger than Abigail’s pinkie.
//This is a gold talent.
//Goodbye.
Abigail watched as the teacup was picked up and held almost endearingly against the skeletal machine’s chest. Then it skittered down the steps and towards the door.
“Do you want a pamphlet, so that you can better remember your visit to Dreamer’s Ten’Tea’Cle cafe?” the pamphlet clone asked.
//No.
“It’s a nice pamphlet. It has the address, and a small text about the services provided at the cafe.”
//The text has been memorized.
//The pamphlet is unnecessary.
//Goodbye.
“Why do I even exist?” the clone whispered.
The door jingled as it opened, and the machine stepped out. For a moment, Abigail suspected that her eyes were watery. When she blinked them, there was no more machine near the entrance.
“Right, Dreamer clone, can you watch the counter please? I need to talk to Dreamer proper about... about limits.
***
Advertisement
Chosen Shackles
The future came in devastation, but we bury it in the lights now, to forget. It was better once, they tell us not to say. Now, at the end of our century, we’ve rebuilt. The city neon glows brighter and casts a shadow deeper on the world. This is just the beginning. In the Pacific Megalopolis, a sickness is taking roots in the city’s guts. Dead angels are raising dark choirs to sooth our nightmares. They speak of a prophecy as old Patriots plan war. And Frode, a young sheep, can’t sleep. Even in dreams, there’s no rest no more, for a hungry God is waking up. Sing Hallelujah. The screen is running static. Face your shadow.
8 219Saga of the Great Wolf
In the Dragon Seal Universe, humans worship the Celestial Court of the Dragon Gods. As per the edicts of the Celestial Court, humans Cultivate the Dao to seek strength and rise above their common roots. If they rise to one day serve the Dragon Gods directly, they have the chance to be initiated into the Greater Secrets of the Daos, which can allow them to live for millions of years. Coalescence, the Path to Transcendence, is considered a Heretical Art of the Demonic War Masters, whose evil empire was said to have been overthrown hundreds of millennia in the past by the Celestial Court. Wolves, a species that are said to have once served the War Masters, are listed by the Temple of the Celestial Court as one of the most corrupt of Demonic Beasts. They are killed on sight. Surrounded by the Demonic Wildlands and protected by the ancient Watch Towers, a number of human nations and empires thrive atop the Great Plateau. Cultivators rule over the general populace and the Temple of the Celestial Court rules over the Cultivators. Anyone caught practicing Coalescence is sentenced to death by torture. I am half human and half Wolf. Since I am already under a death sentence for my Bloodline, there is nothing to stop me from setting out on the Path of Coalescence. As I promised my mother, I will grow strong. When I am strong enough, I will destroy the Dragons and Dragon Gods. I will set this world, once known as Sirius, free from their chains. Releases will be on Tuesdays & Fridays.
8 218The Fated Saviour
A young boy lived his life in boredom. Living alone in his home while his parents were out there in the vast world. He thought it would never change, but that was until he met something that would change his life forever. Another boy lived his life in the slums outside of the walls of a richer city. He thought he would continue living the same as always; always being at the mercy at those with power, but he too would soon discover a supernatural power.They were given a chance to change their situations, but this world is not as simple as that. One can not hope to achieve change without hardships and risks.
8 168The Sleeper's Serenade
An age ago, the last of the gods ascended. Centuries have come and gone without them hearing their true names. A poor fisherman and a worse drunk, Harpis Akkeri, is stumbling and struggling to find his place amidst the bitterly divided city-states of his home. Unknown to most, there is a secretive organization keeping order through manipulation and murder, but are they the puppet or the puppet master? Not all who work in the shadows are willing to suffer them, and the greater good for all does not always suit those who execute it. Facing death, in a moment with nothing to live for, Harpis finally begins to fight. If he can find his voice, the gods may yet have ears that listen.
8 102With You (A Kamijirou Fanfic)
𝓒𝓸𝓶𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓭Their second year at UA High begins and Kaminari Denki gets all excited. Especially when his best friend Jirou Kyouka is there with him. When he discovers his feelings for his best friend, things get a little out of hand between the two. What does Jirou feel for him? Will their tight-knit friendship fall apart or become something more? What will Jirou do when Shinsou comes into the picture? I do not own any of the characters or anything to do with My Hero Academia except this story. All rights belong to Horikoshi-sensei :) I own the cover design, but not the fan art used for it.Ships used:-Kamijirou (obviously)-Kacchako-KiriMina-TodoMomo-OjiTooru-DekuMeli (?)-IidaMei (?)-ShinKami (you'll see why)Best ratings#1 in denkixjirou (13/2/2021)#1 in kamijiro (18/2/2021)#1 in denkixkyoka (24/3/2021)
8 509Cecelia and the Living Fossils
TEENAGE NECROMANCER + DINOSAUR BONES. WHAT COULD GO WRONG?Cecelia Slumber's blues music can raise the dead. Literally.A thirteen-year-old mage joins a team of paleontologists to tie up her late grandpa's unfinished business . . . resurrecting Texan dinosaurs in the name of science. Each new fossil is another chance to lose a finger. Or maybe a whole arm. But it isn't until Cecelia breaks her family's most serious magic rule that she realizes just how dangerous her power can be.Ongoing. Updates every Sunday....Each dinosaur in this story comes straight out of Cretaceous Texas. Every prehistoric animal is as accurate and up-to-date as possible. Occasionally, this story will be changed to make sure every dinosaur stays true the latest research.To get alerts when a new version of CatLF drops and bonus content like art and dinosaur facts, check out the web version and subscribe!https://katiepotterauthor.com/cecelia-and-the-living-fossils/
8 90