| Putting the TEA in Meeting Up | ||
|---|---|---|
The hustle and bustle of big city life works for some animals. For others, it's not that great, but many would agree it's either a matter of city life or else living in one of the Districts. The Districts are pockets of civilization left after the great Carni-Herbi War and they tend to make their own rules. For as awful as the Devouring reports across the cities may be, it's still arguably better for Herbivores to live in the bigger cities. Even if it means they have to coexist with brown bears like Riz. Riz makes his own way through the public transit services, always opting for the Carnivore cars on trains, although his signature teddy bear face usually disarms any unease or suspicion from any Herbivores he encounters in close quarters. He's running a little late for the meet-up and he pulls out his phone as the subway train slows for the upcoming stop, packed in with lots of unruly and territorial Carnivores being rough and rowdy with one another (as is the Carnivore way), to send a text message to Agata: [running late. last train too full to fit. where do u want to meet inside the mall?] Feeling a vibration in his pocket, Agata pulls out his phone and reads the message with a small frown. It wasn't unusual for trains to be full of Carnivores, especially the territorial types, but he was hoping that today wouldn't have such an obstacle. Still, he smiled and sent a reply. [That's fine! We can meet up at this tea shop I found the other day. I heard it's really good.] The next message after was a smiling cat face emoji and a cup filled with green liquid. There was room on the last train, though. In the Herbivore cars. And a little in the reptile car, too, but the humidity makes for a very unpleasant ride when you're not used to it. The subway stops, the doors open, and animals begin piling out to head on their way. Once again mingling with Herbivores, it's hard to tell that the Carnivores were so 'mean looking' just seconds ago. As Riz reaches the top of the steps leading up to the street, he takes the time to respond. [tea shop? is it on the top floor or on the button floor?] [button] [the button floor] [stupid phone keeps correcting me u know what I mean. be there soon] Looking at the message, Agata couldn't help but let out a small laugh while shaking his head and sending another reply. [It's on the bottom floor.] He posts it along with a laughing cat emoji, then sits on a nearby bench to wait for the bear. Mirress is new to this city. She has been traveling, mostly flying around the world seeing what there is to see. At this point she does not want to alarm anyone so she takes a form of the locals, looking like a small defenseless rabbit, and enters the tea shop and starts to look around. The lion starts playing on his phone as he continues to wait, Carnivores and Herbivores shuffling about and chatter filling the air until after about twenty minutes, he stops and stands up with a stretch. "Okay, better go inside so I can get us a spot," he mumbles to himself as he makes his way to the tea shop. Upon getting to the entrance, he notices someone out the corner of his eye; a rabbit who's simply looking around. With the beginning of a small smile, he comes up to her. "Uh, hello, are you lost?" Mirress blinks at the lion and looks up at him. It's weird to look up at people, but she does want to seem harmless. She smiles. "I'm new to town, just thought I'd have a look around. Is this place any good?" she asks as this little rabbit, not seeming novice at all. Eventually, a very large individual makes an appearance at the entrance of the in-mall tea shop. The bear takes a moment to glance about to see if he can spot somebody, but is distracted by a pair of sheep that are leaving. He steps aside so he's not blocking the way. Wearing a hooded windbreaker jacket, the fabric might be hydrophobic but it still shows signs of dampness. It appears that there was at least a little rain during his walk after the train ride. Agata's ears perk up from the sound of someone entering the shop, about to turn until a polite cough draws his attention to his left where a middle aged boar man stands with a warm smile and demeanor. "Are you ready to order?" Agata's eyes widen for a moment, almost forgetting where he was. "Oh no, I'm waiting for a friend." "Hmm...all right." The boar nods his head, giving a small shrug in the process. "No, thank you. I don't need a seat on my own. I'm here to meet somebody," comes a notable voice from the bear at the entryway talking to one of the employees. Riz gives a small bow of his head in apology before returning to his efforts of locating the lion. However large the lion may be, smaller than the bear as he is, the position of the boar is enough to make Agata's position a bit less than obvious at first. With another bow of his head, the bear tries to step a bit further in to get a better look. "It's a lion," he answers to some soft-spoken question. "I don't know which breed. He has dark fur." Agata stands where he is, unsure of what to do with himself until the boar speaks up again. "Is your friend a bear with light brown fur?" He asks the lion, not entirely looking at him. Agata nods with a growing smile. "Yes, that's him. Is he--" he pauses as the employee simply points, causing him to turn and move just enough to see Riz coming in through the entryway and for the other to see him in turn. The large Carnivore wanders over and has a seat at the table with Agata, after confirming the chair is correct for his size, before sighing and offering one of his trademarked smiles. "I was worried you'd go on without me. Sorry about being late. It felt like it was just one thing after another holding me up, you know?" The bear has a look around before locating a menu. "Um, admittedly this isn't really the kind of place I usually go to. Normally when the guys want to go out, we hit up a soy patty joint or something." Not long after they were seated does a waitress come by to hand them a laminated menu, bows her head and then walks away to handle another customer. Admittedly, the tea shop itself is of a modest size hosting a variety of blends to suit any Carnivore or Herbivore's needs, even going out of its way to make sure the larger patrons could access the place without discomfort. Agata opens up his menu, finds something he already wants and gives Riz a smile of his own. "Is that so? You should try something new every now and then. I'm glad you could make it, though." "Well, I understand that. Besides, being locked up for a long time really helps give you the motivation to get out and poke at stuff, doesn't it?" There's a glance from the bear up from his menu toward the lion as this is said. Agata has probably seen enough to know when a facial expression is a polite and professionally pleasant mask. There's nothing mean behind it, but it could be scary for some. "How about I let you order for me, then. Just make sure it's something that pairs well with a honey drizzle?" | ||
