[Kallile]

It was a quiet day by comparison to most Cadence had witnessed. The snow had been held at bay thanks to the warmth of the rainforest nearby, but it was still a chilled day. Perhaps that had been what was keeping most people indoors.

The city—this area none the less—was one of Cadence’s favorite hang outs. It was under construction to update most of the buildings; the noise alone was enough to keep most people away. This week, it appeared that the roads and sidewalks were being worked on. Perfect.

“Now look, I’m all for the fame thing, but don’t play for it yet. I’m not hanging with a nobody who thinks they’re somebody—don’t disappoint me like the last band.”



The dark female pushed open the glass door into a small coffee shop not bothering to hold it open for the teal male behind her. Reed caught the door easily with his shoulder, sliding in after Cadence.

“Hey, chill. I haven’t debuted anything yet. Don’t suspect anything from me, Psy.”

The female gave a snort and a grin as she walked up to the counter and tossed down a few KS.

“Usual for me, Rico.” She remarked to the young looking Hydrolisk behind the cash register and massive selection of flavored coffee beans. The Hydrolisk nodded and grinned, looking to Reed. “The kid with you, Psy?”

“Maybe. I’m at least paying for him. Treat him nice—he may be sticking around.” She said as she leaned against the wall, twirling one of her drum sticks around the knuckles of her paw. “And you—South or Cajun or whatever you decided to call yourself. Treat my boy here bad and it’s all over.” She wasn’t looking at him, but Cadence’s eyes pale blue eyes narrowed dangerously.

Reed nodded, then turned and smiled to Rico. “Right then. I’ll just have her usual.” He tossed an extra few KS in the tip jar, which jingled merrily. The Hydrolisk grinned. “I like him already—keep this one around.”

[1][1][1]

[Kallile]

Ah, the end to another school day. This was a very different town from Aldrect—much quieter and a lot less…royal looking. Who names something a “Holy City” anyway? Since first entering the world of small(er) town life and public school—Teagan was lost in this vast sea of new information. Living with her so called “aunt” (who really was too far below her families wealth standards to be related), she was experiencing the life of an average teen for the first time. And today—Teagan was loving it.

She had made fast friends with a Tali and Fenling in her school already—the two had introduced her to pop music and culture. All of which had really sent Teagan on a new self-quest for herself.

The trio bounded around the corner, singing “Girlfriend” at the top of their poorly pitched lungs as they scream-sang through the streets. Teagan was glowing—feeling alive in the brisk air for the first time in her life.

“This is my stop, ladies!” The Tali announce, plopping down on the bus stop bench they were passing. The Fenling stopped with her.

“Let’s catch a ride, Teagan!” She proclaimed, pearl clutching tails waving. Teagan grinned, but shook her head. “Nah, I want to go check out the construction site—see if there are any new stores moving in. I’ll catch you tomorrow girls!”

With that she pranced off, sure that something great was waiting for her in the construction block of town. She had no idea how correct she was.

[Kallile]

Cadence only gave a wave of her hand to the Hydrolisk. “Don’t get too attached yet, Rico. The kid’s a trial for now.” She moved to a more secluded portion of the small café—one more hidden behind large oak folding curtains. Both drum sticks were out now, and the shady female seemed perfectly content to twirl them about while she waited.

Reed was slightly confused, thus remained by the counter to wait for their…whatever they had ordered. He leaned his chest against the counter only to have Rico instantly in his face. The water-slick skinned creature looked at him, then gave an amused smirk. “Go have a seat. My specialty is celeb privacy. Can’t keep you two very unseen if your gawking around the counter.”

Reed pushed himself away from the counter and made his way to Cadence. She had her eyes closed and was tapping away at an imaginary drum set—obviously inspired for a new song piece. He sat down as quietly as possible. From behind the counter he could still hear Rico—now grinding away at something.

“What exactly did we order?”

“Cadence special.” She replied shortly.

“…That would be what?” Reed tilted his head a little before resting it on a paw to watch his band leader. She opened one eye and grinned.

“A blend of the most bitter coffees the world has to offer, blended together with crème and a pinch of sugar.”

Reed lulled out his tongue, looking back to the counter desperately in hopes Rico would be there and see his plight. Luck was not with him, and the Hydrolisk was nowhere to be seen.  “No wonder your so moody and sour.”

“Hey, gotta stay in top form somehow kid.”

~*~

It was in sight now, and Teagan found herself in awe again as she looked at the giant cranes and other assorted construction equipment that she was not familiar with. Well, of course she knew them…all except their names. She marched closer, loosing the general hum of city activity behind her as she entered the site. It was later—the workers were probably on their way home.

She rounded the corner and nearly fell on her face as she hit one of the wooden barriers that blocked her from the sidewalk. She huffed, giving it a light shove before finding their temporary sidewalk. A row of planks. Curling up her face in slight disgust and whispering a hope that she wouldn’t get her fur too dirt, she tip toed onto the planks and began reading the window signs of “Coming Soon!”.

"There better be some good stores coming in here, or I'm going to throw a fit..."

[Kallile]

Well, this was absolutely boring! Teagan kicked at some of the loose debris, disheartened. A Deb and a Maurice’s---that was it!  No really cool stores…oh no. A prom-all-year-round store and an alright store turned Eco-Friendly. How boring!

As she rounded the corner, she noted a very small sign to a coffee shop. Complete with glass doors and what appeared to be, no tables. Her violet eyes widened childishly. No…it couldn’t be. Could it? Walking towards it with a rather slack jaw, she observed as much of the surroundings as she could stand to. Yes…yes. This had to be where Egocentric used to hang out! And if the rumors were true…

Her heart, like her feet, flew to the door.

~*~

Rico, who had been busily working on the two so-called “Cadence Specials”, suddenly stopped. His large eyes flew to one of many screens mounted on the ceiling above him. Something was going on outside—and by the time he looked it was almost too late.

“Incoming!” Was all the more he had time to shout before he hit a red button under his counter.

Behind them, a panel in the wall opened. Reed jumped back in his chair from surprise, but Cadence only sighed and placed her sticks behind each ear. “Celebrity fire drill, kid. Get used to it and come on.” Shoving her chair out of the way, Cadence walked calmly into the dark cubby.

Reed went to peek out from behind the oak curtain before he heard the hidden door beginning to slid closed. Leaping in, he found himself in absolute darkness—pressed against Cadence. He could hear his band mate growling at him, and he grinned even though he knew she couldn’t see it. “Tight quarters, huh?”

There was a sudden jolt in the cubby and a small red light above them flashed the word “Wait to open”. It flashed four or five times before a new, green light flashed “Go”.  Cadence fumbled for the button, and the door now at Reed’s back opened. He turned around to see a rather swanky looking “safe room”. Velvet seating, spacious dance floors and the dulled thump of a base blasting out music. Cadence pulled her drum sticks back out of her fur and twirled them as she walked down the splaying steps before them.

“Soundproof basement—nice idea for a coffee shop.” She mused as she made her way to a well worn looking table. Carved into the top was the word “Egocentric”, along with signatures. Reed ran a paw over them.

“Signed Rogue, Shadowcat, Phoenix and Psylocke.” Cadence said somewhat bitterly. Reed lifted his paw away, his grin gone. “Bad memories?”

“To say the least.”

[Kallile]

Teagan burst through the glass doors—her eyes glittering with excitement. There was the pungent scent of coffee that was a wake-up call all it’s own in the air, and a calm Hydrolisk behind the counter, working on a few coffees. Teagan started to bound over to him, but his sharp and somewhat cold eyes shot up to her first.

“Can ‘eh help ya’, Missie?” He asked in a strange drawl that sounded somewhat old western-ish. Teagan grinned broadly, nearly floating over to the counter. “Oh. My. Gosh! Is this really where Egocentric used to hang out? Did you know them? I’m Teagan.”

Rico blinked at her as she extended her paw to him, still looking all around her. Everything looked so…paneled. Not at all fit for a rock star. Maybe that was the draw to this place? Her paw was slowly pushed aside.

“Yer’ barking up the wrong tree, pup.” Rico said as solemly as possible. “Just an old little shoppe, t’ain’t nothing special.”

“Who are those for?” She asked as Rico finished both the coffees. With his back now turned to her, Rico made a face of problematic realization.

~*~

"You want to talk ab—"

“Not on your life.”

“Okay, then what are we supposed to do while this ‘fire drill’ is going on?”

Cadence kept silent, staring down at the names on the table with a snarled up expression on her muzzle. She shrugged to his question. “Do whatever you want—we’re way ahead of rush hour.”

Reed sighed, getting up and looking around the large basement with a more royal feel to it. It was…actually pretty creepy to him. He would much rather have a mosh atmosphere, but he supposed he could make sue for now. Leaving Cadence to brood, he stalked around and examined the writing on several other tables until he reached a wall of pictures.

He glanced over them quickly, finding only two that caught his eye. One with a teenage Cadence and the band she now so hated, and the other….

“Is that Rico?” He asked too quietly to Cadence to hear, reaching up to touch the picture. As soon as his claws made contact the eyes in the picture lit up and Reed could hear automated doors opening in the wall. They came ever closer, until one opened near him.

“Oh crud…”

[Kallile]

There was a buzz behind Rico that sent his mind into a panic. The staircase—not now, not now! He kept as composed as possible, adding the finishing toppings to the coffees and hoping the female Lucain in front of his would let the sound go without investigation.

“Jus’ makin’ a brew fer sum regulars, pup. Don’t worry yer little fuzzy head over it.”

He said, not making eye contact with her. He was at the wrong side of the counter to hit the staircase lockdown button—and to cross to where it was would definitely perk the youngsters interest. It was more out of the way and not by much that he would need. Except…

Cadence would kill him, but it had to be done. Some cinnamon to sprinkle on the whipped cream. He moved rather slowly, Teagan keeping one ear trained to the sound, but a moping face towards Rico.

“But I know this is the right place! I’ve read about it in every underground band watchers magazine ever published. They’ve seen bands here! Famous ones like Egocentric too!”
Rico sped up his pace, hitting the button as he grabbed the cinnamon.

“I dun think so, little miss….” He turned, and found no Lucain there. He heard only a yelp as he turned to see a few stray, vibrate hairs stuck in the stairway he had just locked.

“Oh no...”

~*~

There was a yelp, and Cadence rose her eyes sharply to the staircase that was opened. A snarl crossed her face and she pushed herself up onto the table. “Cajun! The heck are you doing?”

“I don’t….” Reed began, looking to the stairway as casually as he could. Not like Cadence would believe it wasn’t his doing, but he could attempt. There was a moment of silence, then claws on wooden stairs. Cadence continued to stare down Reed, not paying any attention to the doorway. Rico was good at this, he would never…

“OH. MAI. EEEE!”