10-23-2007 Safe Grounds coffeehouse

[Keaira Drake]

Scarlet lead Micah to the leaf-strewn yard of what looked like just another of the many worn down and abandoned houses of the city. The yard was large and somewhat bare save for the overgrown bushes lining the yard like angels standing guard. Their branches unmanicured and reaching upwards like wings. An old bird bath lay on it’s side in the middle of the yard, a large crack going through the bowl yet not breaking it in half. A covered porch stood at the front of the small old house, looking rather unsafe. The blue point chipping and grey under the decades of grime.

Walking up the three stairs to the patio the boards creak. The door on the left hand side has a thin fresh coat of white paint on it, which still shows the ghost images of graffiti underneath. The graffiti continues untouched along the walls, window and under side of the porch roof. On the white door, in a neat feminine hand, lay the words Safe Grounds in solid black paint.

Scarlet turns to Micah to gauge his reaction.

[noth]

walks along with scarlet, not really showing any surprise when they walked into the what looked like a delapotated shack to his untrained eye. He shrugged and watched as they approached one particular room inside and how immaculate the door seemed to be in comparison.

"Charming little place.......the decorator must be on vacation." he replied indicating the rest of the house.

[Keaira Drake]

"One can never judge from outward appearances." Scarlet says barely over a whisper, more to herself than to Micah and opens the door. The interior is a dramatic contrast to the patio and yard. Every surface is clean of dust, the small collection of hard cover books are line on the bookshelves, a dozen different current magazines are laid out on various coffee tables along with some home printed newsletters on soft caramel paper. A group of couches and cushioned chairs sit to our right in front of the graffittied window. The different overlapping words and colours making a strange stain glass affect on the chairs and floor.

The counter before us is mostly clear with tall stools set up much like a bar. Instead of the liquor placed on the shelf behind it there is a large assortment of clear glass jars containing coffee beans. A few dozen mismatched mugs, a small pile of the caramel newsletters and what appears to be three manufactured fire logs in brown paper wrappings.

Five handwritten menus lay on the bar in the same neat feminine script. The smell of vanilla and fresh brewed coffee fills the front room from somewhere beyond. There is an opening to our left beside the closet that heads to a dark hall; another in the wall opposite us leading to what may be a kitchen, or dining room. One door is in the far right corner of the wall opposite with a sign of a man, and one of a female.

Closing the door behind them Scarlet takes a few steps into the room towards the bar counter. Out of the back room comes an old lady with long shining silver hair, wearing a white dress with a purple violet pattern upon it.

“Ah, my fey child returns. Thanks for the cream dearie. Is you who left it, is it not?” her accent is delicate, but distinctly English. She walks from the doorway along behind the counter towards them, and turns to her left, stepping a moment into the dark hall as she skirts the counters edge.

“It is Gramma Mabel.” Scarlet replies needlessly as the old woman carries on speaking.

“And you’ve brought a friend.” Gramma Mabel moves towards Micah agile enough despite her age, she reaches out and starts feeling the planes of his face. In her once blue eyes one can see her right eye is useless for sight and mistiness to her left.

[noth]

His eyebrow raises as she touches his face as he looks towards scarlet, but does not move allowing this woman to touch him. Which would strike people as strange for Micah, as he rarely lets anyone touch him without him striking out at them.

He waits for her to finish before stepping back, slightly uncomfortable.

I am Micah

He introduces himself to the older lady.

[Keaira Drake]

"Good day to you Micah, and welcome to my little shop. It's a dream I get to live as my life is slowing down, and so wonderful to have young people here sharing it." she smiles, and takes his right hand in both of hers in a firm handshake then pats the top of his hand before releasing and heading back behind the counter. "Now what would you two like of me?"

[noth]

Pleasure to meet you.

Large hot chocolate for me please. he responded to her question before looking at scarlet and taking a seat. He seemed to have no emotional reaction to any of this.

[Keaira Drake]

Scarlet sat down in one of the large cushioned chairs. A bit of the pasley cream and pink showed from under the chairs hunter green slip cover as Scarlet re-adjusted her weight. All the chairs and couches were rejects of some sort, and mis-matched, but the same fabric had been used to cover them to try and bring it together.

"A steamed milk with vanilla please Gramma Mabel."

Once the older woman had disappeared into the back room again Scarlet turned her attention to Micah. "Why do you wish to meet my friends?"

[noth]

I am new to the area, and i do not wish to be invasive in someone elses territory.

His response was simple, and intoned that he would if necessary but he wished otherwise in this situation.

[Keaira Drake]

The old woman brings over two cups of hot liquid setting it on the coffee table before Micah and Scarlet. Scarlet smiles softly at Micah's responce. "A good reason. Does that mean that you've already seeked out others in the city, or plan to?"

[noth]

I have met others here, one whos friendly enough and another.....well.....thats another story.

He replied quietly while taking a sip of his Cocoa

[Keaira Drake]

"Perhaps it is one you would share?" Scarlet says leaning in as Gramma Mabel walks away. You can hear herself busy in the back kitchen. Scarlet gives him a little smile of interest.