act27side

Huff...

Why are you still here?

I'm going to be scuttling around here like a four-legged Metal Crab on the beach until I can get all your signatures.

Fine, scuttle on then. I'm packing up, going home and having a drink.

Be my guest.

I bought this new gadget at the market today, this 'Originium Microwave Massager' something or other. Columbian thing. Can't make sense of it, but it works wonders. Feels like real relief sticking it on my back.

It's not bad trying something new.

Was that shaggy beckbeast riding a surfboard on the roof one of your funnies too?

Shaggy beckbeast? No, that's not...

Shame about that, I liked it. Entertainment that good has been rare ever since we lost the Obsidian Festival.

I'm glad it made you happy...

Right, got something for you.

...A kalimba?

Did you pick this up from the same market?

Congrats on the marriage, sonny.

You got a safe job for your family. A boring one, but you've got a sense of responsibility.

I can understand you like stability, but life's full of ways. Don't live out the hound days, son.

Each day lived is a hound day... you just have to roll with the punches.

I used to gamble with your grandpa, if you'll remember. We said you'd always come back from Obsidian with the grand prize one day.

Honestly... what a waste of all that musical talent.

If you're interested, I can still bring my guitar out sometime. Play it for you again.

If you'd played us a number on that thing sooner, your letter might've been the first to have my signature on it.

You...

Thanks.

Mrs. Harley, we recovered the surfboards that went missing here. Can you check if that's all of them?

I'm so sorry about this...

You helped me here. What are you apologizing for?

Um...

I didn't think these old things would ever get used again. It's funny—just who would've taken them?

Oh, well, I'm not too sure either...

That's alright, girl. It could be some tourists just picked them up while they were having too much fun—no harm, no foul. How are you? Did you have fun today?

You mean getting drenched in hot spring water?

Didn't it bring back a little of that seaside fun? It hasn't been so lively in forever—even the customers here to drink were all smiles.

Those owners were always frowning day in and day out. Even the drink was starting to taste bad...

Harley looks towards the tourists outside who still haven't scattered. Sunset gradually dyes the sky. Every single person's feeling merry.

It's like we've gone back years and years.

A man listlessly heads for the old cafe, and pushes open its door once again.

He feels for the light switch. Carefully, he uses a rag to wipe the dust from the counter, then pulls the equipment out from the cupboards, before pulling a pouch out of his chest pocket. Fresh coffee beans, brought back from the office.

Like so many years ago, he boils, he grinds, then attentively, he pours.

Huff...

Flavor is... I guess I've gotten rusty.

He looks out of the window. One after another, people make their way home while it's still dusk. The street grows gradually more desolate, until there's no one out at all. Only then does he chuckle to himself, bitterly.

Seriously... what the hell am I waiting for?

He finishes his coffee, and prepares to tidy everything away and get out of here.

A knock comes from the door. Costa remembers he never even shut it.

Who is it?

Good evening...

Are you still open?

Mr. Dolly, you <i>promise</i> you've made it clear to the Little Black Sheep? Not to cause trouble like this anymore?

Yep... any more mess, and I'll disavow them as my clones.

(Tumbles about in the air)

(Headbutts walls in the street)

Mr. Dolly!

Fine, I'll try as hard as I can...

(Attempts to walk calmly)

See? Much better.

But they still caused plenty of chaos at the trade fair today...

But the air was full of the smell of joy, you mean. Mmm, it's sugary sweet even now. It's just like the first time I took a walk across the 'countries' you talk about.

Where there's hilly areas, you can glide. Where there's watery areas, you can surf. I even had a couple of bastard annoying animals chasing me all over the wilds. Every place produces something different.

Knowing how your human race can't just tour the whole place, getting to see such interesting things must be novel for you, right?

Why do I get the sense you're showing off, Mr. Dolly?

Busted.

Did you have fun today then, Adele? Hot springs let you relax, skateboarding's a thrill, and that loud-ass penguin's loud-ass music got you pumped up, didn't it?

Mr. Dolly, those children could see the lambs!

*sigh* How is it this hard to cheer you up? There's that 'brooding' flavor in the air again, bitter and tart!

Adele turns away to hide a little giggle, then recovers her straight face.

Mr. Dolly, we're here. I need to leave the owner a note saying we've found the exhibit, and thank you for worrying about us.

I have the pen and paper in my bag...

Oh, is this cafe... open again?

Dim yellow lights perfuse the interior. Through the windows, the cafe's furnishings can vaguely be made out.

Costa pours hot water, the sound breaking the silence between him and his customer.

Condensation fills the windows. Adele gently wipes the hot springs' white mist from the glass, and finally catches a proper glimpse of the customer.

What did we stop for? Aren't we going in for coffee?

...Professor Keller?

I got The Atlas of Terra's Volcanoes. I never thought you'd have kept it safe for so many years... Thank you.

Ah, I asked a little lady. She came here looking for some exhibit. Just so happened to be the Volcano Museum's.

Is, um, she your employee?

Adele is my student.

Ah, your student. Right, right...

You've been...

...quite the miserable worker at city hall lately. Gathering signatures for an LOI to relocate the residents...

My parents left their own little clothing shop. Reasonably speaking, I should need to sign too.

Do you... have any objections to the redevelopment, then?

Our family stopped leaning on this place for our livelihood long ago. If it would make your work go any smoother...?

Of course, and thank you for your cooperation...

Want another cup?

Can that come with the old complimentary chat, then?

As a qualified barista, listening is part of my work.

Take a seat, then.

Maybe we should go, Mr. Dolly? Today doesn't seem like the right one to leave a message.

Aww, but the coffee smells so good. Can't we have some...?

(Prepares to charge headlong into the cafe)

Hey... hey!

The closed glass door blocks the lamb's strike, and it hardly makes as loud a noise as she expected. It simply turns tail and shoots back into the street, where it tumbles around.

Adele nervously observes how the two inside react.

Why did you up and leave when you did?

I met two... very interesting people.

When you study volcanoes, you're always visiting new places.

I remember. You met each other in here a lot.

Mm. And if they came, you'd plug your guitar in, and off you went with your heavy metal racket.