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[sonofgold]

So I decided to try and educate myself before FanPort, since celebrity culture wasn't really a thing where I came from, but there's a few things I'm still confused on.

I get the gist of what fanfiction is, but I still can't work out what AU means, and why so many of them involve coffee shops. "aegis force coffee shop au" is apparently a popular topic, for example.

Also, why are there pieces of art and plush dolls of imPorts as cats? Don't get me wrong, cats are great, but it'd be a little hard to do heroics as a cat, right?

Comments

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[drivesadesk]

I don't know. Humans are weird.

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[sonofgold]

That we are. Ultimately it's harmless, but I wish I could figure out what's so compelling about a coffeeshop.

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[drivesadesk]

Yeah, can't figure that out. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love going to coffee shops. Coffee is delicious. But still, it's not exactly the most exciting place.

[sonofgold]

I might have to do some firsthand research. Spend a bit of time in one. There has to be something I'm missing.

[drivesadesk]

I don't know. I spent time in coffee shops and I still don't get it.

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[kidsmenu]

I think it's because of the concept of cute.

Cuteness.

Have you got such a word in your world?

[sonofgold]

Maybe the sounds and smells? Or the fact that it's a meeting place for all different kinds of people?

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[sonofgold]

We do! And if anything is cute, it's cats. I don't usually equate them with fierceness, though.

[versusseeker]

cats r gr8

[You answered this yourself, Alphonse.]

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[eloquentness]

LOL, the fans who write about coffee shops have the wrong idea.
My days as a barista were some of the most stressful I've had, and I work at a /hospital/ now.

[kidsmenu]

I think that's why they pick cats. Turning fierce things into cute things— it helps people feel more comfortable. Much about heroics is rather violent and off-putting, you know. Do you know? But if you turn your heroes into cats, it's harder to remember that.

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[sonofgold]

It's a lot more knowledge than you'd think, isn't it? Plus customers wanting everything just so. I looked around the internet a bit, and there are people who talk about secret menus... it's a bit much.

A lot of these coffee shop stories seem to involve romance, too. It's a strange place to find love in.

[sonofgold]

they are! and I guess the cuteness is part of it

this also made me realize I can adopt one of my own here

[sonofgold]

That's a good way of putting it! It's hard to think of cats flying around and stopping villains as anything but cute.

Even the villains become cute, when you put a cat in an evil-looking outfit.

[versusseeker]

ofc
i hav 2

[sonofgold]

ofc means "of course", right? I'm still learning all the abbreviations.

I kinda want to have a house full of cats now.

[versusseeker]

y
yes**

do it

[drivesadesk]

Wow, look at you! Working it out better than I could already, and I have spent time in coffee shops.

[kidsmenu]

I agree!

What color of a cat would you be if you could be a cat?

[sonofgold]

It has been a secret dream of mine. Brother and I traveled a lot, so I could never have a cat before...

[sonofgold]

I have golden hair and eyes, so I think if I were a cat I'd like to have the same. But black cats are nice, too, like little shadows.

[sonofgold]

I must have a special something! We had restaurants in my world, but nothing like the coffee shops we have here. Certainly not with all of the colorful sugary drinks some of them offer.

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[eloquentness]

God yeah, customers were something else. :(

I kind of get the appeal.
I mean, I was just trying to work, not get asked out, but coffee shops are popular places to hang out and get work done.
Maybe that's what they're thinking?

[kidsmenu]

I've thought the same for myself, although my hair is very curly. I imagine a curly cat might look a bit foolish, and I'd rather not have that.

Have they not got myths about bad luck with black cats in your world?

[drivesadesk]

Oh, Earth on my home world was all about sugary drinks. My home planet wasn't as much, though. Unless you count fruit juice.