• IninewCrow
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    1 year ago

    It was like going into an old warehouse in 2005 that got converted into a nice cozy cafe where people came in, hung out, had coffee drinks and sat around chatting about anything and everything.

    The place steadily grew popular, they got bigger, more seats, more tables, more lounging areas, more baristas and coffee … people could buy each other donuts, cakes, cookies or little candies.

    The place was hopping! The old timers that had been there from the start sat at the center holding court, niche groups congregated into their own crowds and tables … the techies, the politicos, the debaters, people who shared pictures, cat lovers, geeks, freaks, straight, gay, bi, atheist, believer, satanist, communist, capitalist, anarchist, lovers and haters … and everyone moved around freely from one table to the next.

    The owners made really shitty tables and chairs for some reason even though it should have been easy for them to do so. Instead, several groups of people figured out they could rent really nice chairs, tables, lounges, stools and entire benches for a small fee to people inside. The owners allowed it and everyone was happy.

    Then the owners announced that this place was getting too busy and that they needed to make money. They told the furniture renters that they needed to pay up or get out. The furniture renters couldn’t afford the high prices that was being forced on them and they were evicted. Everyone had to go back to using the terrible furniture that the cafe owners provided.

    The place is now starting to feel weird … you start wondering who you are sitting next to at the tables … is that a mannequin? an automaton? a stuffed toy with a speaker? is that a full life sized sex toy with an automated voice box? … lots of people are also repeating themselves and there are a lot of actual weirdos telling everyone how great this place is. They are starting to put up LCD screens with rolling ads everywhere, neon signs everywhere advertising all sorts of things, flashing billboards, paper pamphlets, business cards, people handing you flyers, loud noises, music, flashing lights and the chairs are still uncomfortable.

    It still shows signs of what it used to be like … but the noise and weirdness is growing everywhere and you are starting to wonder what you are doing there.