Monster Mash AU Meme

[sassybird]

To celebrate Halloween finally arriving and to aggressively deny the existence of November: a Monster AU meme!

Directions

♢ Post a top level with character name and canon.
♢ Pre-emptively choose a monster or roll for one using RNG. (Feel free to be as classic or creative as you want with the options.)
♢ RNG or write out prompts, either as a response to someone or as part of your top level!

Prompts

1 ♢ Mundane Problems: Okay, sure. You can tear out a man's throat with your teeth, or sing someone to their death, whatever. However, that doesn't solve the problem of finding new clothes when you have wings, or having to take a bath after full moon shenanigans.
2 ♢ The Big Secret: Sssshhh, no one tell the humans that the supernatural exists. Of course, that's easier said than done, so of course you might run into a hiccup now and then... Is your glamour wearing off? Are hunters coming near your hidden monster city? Better think fast.
3 ♢ Classic Jobs: Sure, you might be a monster, but it's just something you do, really. Time to clock out for the day after a night of helping out at the local haunted wherever. Or maybe you need a little bit of outsider help with things to spice up your job?
4 ♢ Fantasy War: A staple of supernatural fiction- one group locked in an eternal bickerfest with another group. Whether it's as narrowed down as vampires vs werewolves or broader with Seelie vs Unseelie, a full out war or simple species prejudice... Time to deal with it.
5 ♢ Modern Twist: Okay, the world is full of monsters, and... surprisingly very little in the world has changed. An arachnid-person attends college, a vampire is the latest pop idol, and a dryad barista lowkey judged you today.
6 ♢ Smut Option: No judgment, we know why you're here.
7 ♢ Choose Your Own: Any idea or prompt you can think of

Monsters

1 ♢ Ghost
2 ♢ Demon
3 ♢ Elemental
4 ♢ Merperson
5 ♢ Werecreature
6 ♢ Vampire
7 ♢ Fae
8 ♢ Naga
9 ♢ Bug Person
10 ♢ Harpy
11 ♢ Dryad
12 ♢ Gorgon
13 ♢ Undead
14 ♢ Gargoyle
15 ♢ Dragons
16 ♢ Sphinx
17 ♢ Slime
18 ♢ Chimera
19 ♢ ...Human?: You sure came into the wrong place in town.
20 ♢ Choose Your Own: Anything not covered here? Go wild.

Comments

[fioridimorti]

[For all that they’re mostly human (if lightly furry) ears, Shoichi’s still give a twitch as he’s talked to, and he looks over to the human behind the counter. And… definitely a human, if he had to guess, although his nose isn’t strong enough to pick up on that kind of scent from a distance.]

Ah, no… I’m not really a cafe kind of person most of the time.

[Scratching the back of his neck, he stops in front of the counter. Should he introduce himself? It would probably be weird if he’s just a one-timer…]

[onethousandflowers]

[Listening, Byakuran nods, and sets down the now-spotless glass, picking up a second and starting to wipe it down under the faucet's flow.]

So, Mr. Not-a-cafe-person, what brings you in today?

[His smile only grows, a light chuckle accompanying his voice. It's only slightly mocking, just because you didn't give your name, after all. He's not sure what banter level to take yet, but his regulars know him as slightly odd and sometimes abrasive, though not hard to get along with if you're not touchy.]

[fioridimorti]

[...Oh. He sees how it is. His expression flattens out, tail whipping behind him slightly.]

I was wondering if you have a certain kind of tea. Mountain Rose Catnip? Since I don’t go here, I’ve never been sure if you served it, but I thought I’d try asking…

[If it was a regular monster run cafe, then he wouldn’t even need to ask, but a human throws a kink into that kind of certainty. Still, if this place is still successful, maybe it’s worth a shot. That’s been his thought process.]

[onethousandflowers]

[Byakuran nods once before turning to face the shelves. He moves a little stiffly, as if reaching above him hurts, but eventually finds what he's looking for.]

Mountain Rose Catnip. You want to buy the leaves or will just a cup do?

[He turns around, the can of leaves clutched in one hand, and taps one of his mugs with the other. They are moderately large and hang above his head.]</small

[fioridimorti]

Both.

[A faint tinge of neediness is in that single word, although Shoichi would never admit it. It’s not an addiction, he swears, he’s just running on vapors here. When you overwork yourself on a project, that’s what happens, and he needs his totally-not-addictive fix right now just to stay sane.]

[onethousandflowers]

I see.

[And see he does. Poor Shoichi is having trouble functioning without his 'nip. It's a common problem among the more feline creatures that Byakuran's met; many a manticore has come through looking for just this. Byakuran keeps a spare, unopened tin as backup for just this reason.

It's this tin he pulls out, after setting the open one next to Shoichi. The scent is a little overwhelming. He's only turned around for a minute, here's hoping Shoichi's self-control holds that long.]

[fioridimorti]

[Excuse you. This is absolutely not an addiction and he is overflowing with self control and he… is…. Absolutely resting his face down on the counter staring with completely blown out pupils full of longing at the open tin. It’s hard to tell if he might start crying at any second now because he wants it so bad, or because it’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever smelled.]

[The thing about his self control isn’t a lie, however. While he’s horribly close to the open tin, and his tail is batting about at a hundred miles a minute in clear aggravation, Shoichi is holding himself back, against all odds.]

[And chirping. He’s also doing that, too, quietly but with feeling.]

[onethousandflowers]

[The chirping does not go unnoticed, and Byakuran's shoulders start twitching with suppressed laughter as he reaches for the sealed tin. Once he's pulled it out, he endeavors to settle down as he turns around and sets it next to the open one.

He's not entirely successful. The laughter's calmed, but he's still grinning ear to ear as he pops the cap off the already-opened tin. It's tempting, very tempting, to wave it in Shoichi's general direction, but that'd be rude. Instead, he just tips it that way. Much more subtle.]

I take it you approve of the freshness?

[fioridimorti]

[Oh, now this is just animal cruelty. The look on Shoichi’s face is one of absolute and tragic longing as his nose picks up on even more of that delicious smell. Even as he is, he can tell he’s being played with, but, dammit… He can’t get himself to care when he’s like this.]

It’s nice. It’ll be ready soon, right?

[What do you mean the tin was literally just opened?]

[onethousandflowers]

Soon.

[He scoops a couple teaspoons of tea into a bag and staples it shut, releasing more of that incredible scent before finally shutting the tin, but the true torture begins when he starts to steep it in the mug of hot water. The scent mingles in the steam, creating a catnip heaven, while Byakuran checks the price he paid for the can and quotes a somewhat higher price to his new customer, as well as the price of the mug of tea itself. It's not much pricier than buying it on his own, really; cafes get bulk discounts, so Byakuran paid less than Shoichi would have for the tin. He just needs to make a profit on it.]

[fioridimorti]

[Frankly speaking, Byakuran could outright rob him of his whole wallet, and Shoichi would be perfectly fine with it. The smell alone almost has him curled up on the ground, out of his mind in bliss, but somehow he perseveres and keeps standing to go through his wallet and hastily hand over the payment. Not only is Byakuran given the money, but he’s given the most desperate pair of kitty eyes that are possible on a sphinx’s face.]

[onethousandflowers]

[Awww, it's hard to not pat him while he makes that face. But that would be weird, wouldn't it? It probably would. Not that that usually stops him, but this is a new customer! So Byakuran just stirs the tea before pushing it over.]

It's not done steeping. The bag is disposable, just return the mug when you're done.

[He can't wait to see your reaction, Shoichi.]

I never caught your actual name.

[fioridimorti]

Right, steeping… Of course.

[Shoichi’s expression is torn between that of relief to finally have the mug in his hands and torment at having to wait another few minutes for it to finish steeping for the full effect. Shaking his head to try and get out of it, he looks back up at the other man.]

Oh- Shoichi Irie. Sorry. I’m…. out of it.

[To put it lightly.]