2024.03.03: Coffee with waffles

Coffee with Waffles
Bob, Sark, and Ceilia get together for waffles and good discussion
IC Date	March 3rd, 2024
IC Time	Evening
Players	Bob, Sark, Ceilia
Location	WaffleMania
Spheres	Mage

WaffleMania

This rather tiny establishment just screams old time dining. The entire room is fairly L shaped with the door at South Western most point. A small bell chime gets bothered by any customers that cross the threshold. To the right of the door is an old jukebox that is filled to the brim with vinyl records, old and new. The wall all around the jukebox is filled with photos going back over the generations. Pictures of customers enjoying waffles, of the various owners whom had passed down the business from father to son. Right above the jukebox is the current owner, an older woman easily in her late fifties with a head of curly gray hairs.

The left wall is lined with with large windows and back to back booths, while the right hand is a long bar counter that has many stools. An emergency exit in the back sits adjacent to the bathrooms.

Behind the counter is some work room for the workers, and beyond that is a little serving window that the kitchen staff calls out orders and rings a little bell. The entire place is filled with a wonderful scent that can only be described as: Breakfast.

Ceilia is sitting at a table with Sark. She has "The American" from the menu, while he has the "Strawberry Apocalypse." She's drinking coffee. "It was some sort of.. things happening and I was completely missing the context. Your... island though?"

Sark bobs his head, discretely shoving forkfuls of strawberry and waffle into his mouth in between commentary, and taking a sip of his tea, "I have a small ranch on an island to raise Friesians and Shetland Ponies. Keeps them isolated from all of the city noise and pollution..."

Bob enters the restaurant. He is walking, albeit with the help of a thick wooden shillelagh. He is wearing a forest green polo, and black jeans. He also wears fake leather boots with steel toes. After entering he'll look around and is pleasantly surprised to see Sark and Ceilia. He'll move to their table and ask, "Heya, two of my favorite people. Room for one more?"

Ceilia gestures with her utensils to invite Bob to join. Then swallowing. "Bob! I was just telling Sark here you'd mentioned someone to me by that name, but I couldn't remember the specifics. Same guy then I take it?"

Nodding to Sark. "Ponies. Wow. So a whole business then, on your own island."

Sark looks up from his munching to offer Bob a light smile and scoots his butt over a little to make room for a third person, swallowing before murmuring, "As long as she's okay, absolutely. We were just chatting and enjoying the lovely waffles."

He offers Ceilia a small nod at that, "It was started by a friend of mine a while back and when she chose to leave the area a couple of years ago, handed it all over to me for safe keeping. Sadly I don't think she's coming back, which is disappointing, but taking care of the animals is worthwhile."

A grin from Bob as he sits down next to Sark, and he says to Ceilia, "Yes, this is the Sark I mentioned. A singularly unique individual, in all the good ways." When he gets a chance he'll flag a waiter down and order a Strawberry Apocalypse, with a coffee, black.

Ceilia is pretty hungry and really digging into her syrup-drizzled chicken and waffles. "Takes care of horses. Owns and island. Really likes sugar. Nothing bad I'm hearing so far."

Sark mmms softly at Bob's commentary about who he is and winks at him, "You just say that because you notice more than the average bear." He slowly nods at Ceilia, "I like to keep an eye on people and encourage those that influence the people around them to be better. People as a whole seem to have this tendency to spiral downwards towards doom."

Bob chuckles at Sark's first comment, then sighs at his more sober observation. "All too often my friend, on both counts. So, how is the isle, and all its inhabitants?" Right at that moment his Strawberry Apocalypse comes, as does a big cup of coffee. The server is different than the waiter, and is a cute college age blonde with a ponytail and a Pride flag paracord bracelet. Bob thanks her with a smile and then marvels at the plate after she leaves. "I think they served me strawberries, with a side of waffles. Not complaining mind you, but the portions here are amazing." He starts digging, listening to the others.

Ceilia winces at Sark's comment. "Wow. How depressing." She's enjoying the food though, and really needed it. "Bob, that's why I Didn't get it. I was really hungry and needed something more substantial. Does smell good though"

Sark nods once, "The island is doing well and my guest seems to be...slowly...acclimating to things, though I am still concerned that her behavior out on her own may get her into trouble. Naivete is a dangerous quality to have, even if I have respect for it. This world does not reward naivete well, unfortunately." The comment about the portions here earns a soft chuckle and a comment, "I'm not sure i can finish this, but it IS very good..."

Bob grins, "I do feel like I am almost eating for two. Not that I am up and about I'm using a lot more calories than I used to. I need to start going to the gym though, or I'll start looking like a Harkonnen. Either of you have any good gym recommendations?" He sobers a git on hearing Sark's comment. "No it does not. But those of us clued in have a responsibility to the naive to try to help them, which is why what you're doing is so good."

Ceilia nods. "That's definitely true. There are enough people out there who will take advantage of you. All it takes is one and you'll lose all your money."

"Bob, my recommendation would be the UCP gym resources for anyone who can get access, honestly. By the way, if either of you know people of an engineering bent, there's a soapbox derby thing going on that needs volunteers to help kids."

Sark nods sagely at both comments and shovels another bite of strawberries into his mouth. He munches away for a few moments longer before offering, "I cannot say I have a good recommendation since my own choice of exercise is not very, well, recommendable?" He gives Ceilia a curious look, then glances at Bob, "Considering the association, I am curious if Miss Ceilia and you have similar personal skill qualities?"

Bob looks to Sark, and do Ceilia. He first says "UCP gym might be the best bet, yeah. I don't have the resources at the moment for a fancy gym club membership. Then he says to Ceilia, "Sark knows who and what I am. He is a friend and trustworthy. I've been wanting to introduce him to you, Viktor, and others of our circle of friends."

Ceilia tilts her head looking at Bob, then at Sark. Squinting a little. "Bob is a scientist, sort of. But we are members of different organizations. With a history together, for a long time, Very long time really. But different."

Sark nods slowly at Bob, then at Ceilia's description, wiggling his fork around as he murmurs, "I get that. Different disciplines can all be working together towards a common goal even if they do not see eye to eye on the details. By mixing your strengths, you gain more as a group against the problems you want to correct. Generally speaking, I have had no problems with you and yours, and you do not attempt to damage anything I see that should be preserved here, though some of your methods are...very risky. Suicidal at times, even."

Bob nods, "That about sums it up yeah. Sometimes things get wacky, dangerously so. But we try to minimize that. and to leave the world a better place than we found it, or in some cases exactly as we found it. For who are we to define better? Ceilia is more of the scientist, I'd call myself more of a coder or hacker. I seek to understand code in all its forms, and write code to build a better world. We're part of a research team of like minded individuals, from several walks of life."

Ceilia glances around, and lowers her voice a bit. Still eating, though. " I can tell you this. The world IS dangerous. And sometimes things come here... from other places... that don't mean us well. When I run into those... I can't just look the other way, you know?"

Sark mmms softly at that and nods, "I do not think anyone is claiming that you SHOULD look the other way, hmm? And there are times where escalating danger requires an escalatingly dangerous response. These are not the suicidal acts I mention. But as a thing attached to the fabric of this reality, in tune enough with it to repair the damage the more reckless of you inflict on it, I believe you can agree that some of your associates would be better to practice a LITTLE more caution at times, yes?"

A slight twitch when Ceilia mentions not looking the other way. Bob though says to Sark, "Yes, caution is appropriate, as subtlety is key. Not looking the other way also means only when something presents a threat. I am fascinated with the different than my own experiences, and will befriend anything that does not pose a threat. I'm a decent judge of character." Is he though? "That said, if something is a threat, then it's time to research, evaluate, assess our relative strengths, and call in backup, or seek wise council, if needed. Rash actions get you burned, sometimes literally."

Ceilia looks at Sark and shrugs. "I have no idea what you're talking about, honestly. I feel like somebody's being criticized, but I don't know who, or what, or why." She finishes off her food. "Oh, that was good."

Sark smiles a little more at that and seems to let the matter go at the responses, "No matter. I will leave it at the idea that I commend what you work for. Should you find yourself needing help of the kind I can provide, Bob knows how to reach me and where, generally speaking." He eyes the rest of his pile of strawberries and erms softly, "I had better stop or I might have trouble making it home under my own power."

Bob nods, having already polished off half of his meal, and all the strawberries. "I have a weakness for strawberries, but yeah, I should stop too. Sark, we should introduce you to some of the other researchers we work with, see how you get along with them. And I promise, we do try to be careful, at least our team does. My mentor and their friends, much wiser than I, would shall we say 'document to me' why caution is good if we weren't, and probably in a very memorable way." He chuckles, but also winces a bit at a painful memory.

Ceilia nods. "You might like a certain team we've put together, Sark. We, collectively, prefer to avoid direct conflict. At least one of our members is an avowed pacifist." You paged Sark with ‘Weird thing.. only one log on the wiki with her in it.’

Sark bobs his head slowly at Bob's comment, "I'd be happy to meet anyone you'd like to introduce me to, especially somewhere the conversation does need to be as candid? Sometimes it can be a challenge to mask what you mean, and you risk being misunderstood to people you just met."

He smiles a little more at Ceilia's comment and mmmms, "I would not say I am a pacifist? I am just not a good fighter. I am more an 'immovable rock' and a healer and information sponge." He pauses, then rolls a shoulder, "And occasional source of burning someone to ash when they deserve it."

Bob smiles, "I'm not a pacifist, but I believe in the Dalton philosphy: 'Be nice, be nice, until it's time to not be nice.'." Bob is a movie buff, as his quotes illustrate. "Yeah, we definitely should. You could come to the Derby if you'd like." Turning to Ceilia, "I think it's a thing where adults are mentoring children who are racing, correct?"