first puzzle

[recinerated]

There's a coffee shop, nothing particularly extraordinary about it, except perhaps the rakish young man seated at a table in the corner, near the back. The way he's seated is most peculiar - more of a crouch, really, with his knees drawn up to his chest; he stares at the cup of coffee on the table in front of him. He won't appear to notice anyone

Comments

[waterfell]

There's another patron in the coffee shop: a young woman, dressed professionally, Asian features. Quite opposite to him, she's seated properly, ankles crossed beneath her table. She nibbles at a sandwich while working her way through what seems to be a thick textbook.

She just may be taking a surreptitious glance or two at B; the sloppiness nettles her a little.

[recinerated]

Of course B notices any onlookers; part of the fun of doing what he does, acting how he acts, this persona he's created, is looking for the reactions from people. He enjoys pushing buttons. Why shouldn't he embrace his weirdness? He served as an experiment for so long, it's only fitting he return the favor on the world.

His coffee is cool enough to drink, now. B picks a straw up off the table next to the cup and begins to slurp, very loudly. Definitely louder than is polite for public spaces, at any rate.

[waterfell]

A few years ago, she'd have timidly kept silent and tried to shut out the noise to focus on her book. A couple years ago, she'd have attacked him outright just to shut him up.

This time, Ami lifts her head and gives the boy a long look.

"Be a little more polite."

[recinerated]

The slurping ceases as B tilts his head up to stare the speaking woman down.

"Oh," he says, his voice curiously flat and raspy, "did I disturb you? I'm terribly sorry."

It's a lie, of course. He isn't sorry at all.

[no_icy_limits]

Bobby walks in, as human form, and grabs a cup of coffee. He takes a newspaper and sits at a table close close to B and he rifles through looking for the comics section. He's going to save the sports section next and then finance. But that's at the bottom of the pile.

[recinerated]

Ah, a newspaper. Perfect. B slowly slides out of his chair and shuffles over to Bobby's table.

"Do you have a crossword puzzle?"

so sorry with the delay!

[no_icy_limits]

Bobby looks up. He goes through the paper and finds the section B's looking for. He hands it over.

"Yep, here you go."

no worries at all! n_n

[recinerated]

"Thank you." He takes the paper portion, but remains standing there at the table, almost hovering.