Cafe Enchante: To the end of Chapter 3
Nov. 24th, 2020 05:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alias_sqbrMasterlist
These chapters were all very fluffy but enjoyably so. Looks like we're about to get some actual plot in chapter 4!
Before I forget, Kotone's grandpa's name was Souan.
Misyr has put an enchantment on Enchante to make regular people keep their distance, it mostly makes money from the four supernatural dudes paying rent in like angel gold to live in rooms above the cafe. So far there hasn't been any OOOH OUR BEDROOMS ARE SO CLOSE but we'll see if that changes.
Some of Rindo's underlings ignore his orders about there being a ceasefire with the cafe and threaten everyone with GUNS, Kotone is as much shocked at GOVERNMENT AGENTS using GUNS in JAPAN as anything else lol. Then she says some impassioned things about Freedom and Tolerance vs Government Control, I haven't consumed enough Japanese media about shady government agencies to be quite sure where this is going, though if Hakuoki and Code Realise are any guide it'll involve well intentioned war crimes. The agents pretend to be concerned about negative effects the door might have on the world, but when it's pointed out that such doors have existed since time immemorial (leading to all the myths about demons and angels etc) try and deflect, so I imagine they want power or resources or something.
Even though he thinks the cafe should shut down too, Rindo hangs out there "to keep an eye on things" and is friendly with everyone. He was friends with Kotone's granddad too.
Mysyr does minor mental magic to make people around the cafe accept how weird everyone looks, and Canus is seen as a loveable eccentric who just wears a helmet for some reason, and is beloved due to his helpful polite nature. An old lady refers to Il as a child she wants to take care of.
Polite gentle androgynous/youthful guys in otome tend to be yandere so we'll see where THAT's all going. Il is the LI I find most personally appealing, but Canus seems like a safer bet while I'm avoiding a walkthrough.
Il's room is QUITE SOMETHING, decorated with a bunch of Otomate merch including plates for Cardia and Lupin from Code Realise, and what I am pretty sure is a BODY PILLOW of KAZAMA FROM HAKUOKI (a demon villain dude) I'm not expecting him to actually be at all queer once you get to know him because Otomate, but I'll take what I can get.
If anyone recognises the other stuff let me know!
Kotone asks Il why he likes otome, and he says he enjoys stories about love, and while he's played romance games aimed at men he prefers otome. She is totally cool with it, I mean it would be pretty silly to judge a 1000+ year old angel for being unmanly but that wouldn't stop some people.
None of the supernatural dudes seem to use honorifics for anyone, but Rindo says "Kotone-chan" which seems a bit infantilising for an adult woman whose store he is in. But I am pretty fuzzy on the implications of honorifics. Oh and Misyr sometimes calls her princess/ohime-sama.
Every now and then Kotone gets the feeling the others can like...read her thoughts etc but they change the subject when she brings it up.
She's working hard to learn about coffee, organise permits etc but when they realise she isn't sleeping enough Misyr and Rindo team up to get her to take a nap, and then Misyr says Rindo should take her out to have fun, I think because as a fellow human he understands the whole 'needing rest' thing.
I think having JUST turned 41 is making me side-eye Rindo more.
Rindo: It's a wish come true, getting direct approval from these men to go on a date with you :)
Misyr: Ahaha. Watch it, before I burn you alive, ok? ^_^
These two have a mostly good natured bantery frenemy dynamic. They're the only ones to have been at all directly flirty so far, and it' been fairly mild. Some girls thought Kotone was Canus's girlfriend and he was VERY embarrassed and apologetic, and it hasn't come up at all with the other two.
Ignis: If he tries anything kick him in the nuts.
Canus: And then stab him in the throat.
See, Misyr, this is encouraging her to have agency instead of just threatening to kill him yourself.
Rindo finds this amusing and says perhaps getting along with them all so well is in her blood from her grandpa.
The grandpa seems ridiculously sweet from everything we've seen but previous Otomate games have me primed for him to be an evil scientist who isn't really dead. Calling it now.
I love how in Japan simply owning a car is a sign of maturity and wealth. Rindo owns a fancy sports car.
He asks about her likes and dislikes, I had zero input on her liking cheesecake and disliking bugs, which makes Rindo laugh affectionately in memory of how her grandpa hated them too. Honestly I kinda ship all these dudes with her grandpa which is a little disconcerting.
Ha and then he says he knew most of it already, what with working for the Information Department. Aww he says he wants them to feel like equals, and able to vent to each other about the weirdness of being a human dealing with the supernatural, and have an ally. I would like this dynamic more if he wasn't so ollllllld.
She asks him the same sorts of questions, which he happily answers...until she asks if he has any siblings, when he freezes for a moment then says he has a cheeky little sister. OOH IS SHE EVIL. Or dead by supernatural creature. Or both, somehow!
Ha first time Kotone expresses any attraction a LI and it's because of the soft face Misyr makes when talking about how much he likes coffee. He's the only person who finds her current efforts drinkable.
She bumps into him on the street disguised as a regular human guy. Apparently he can't cast this magic on anyone else or their organs might explode. He mentions that he dressed like this to visit other non-humans with her grandpa.
Misyr: As a regular human, do you like my outfit? The others are useless at keeping up with fashion trends.
Kotone: I can see how living for so long could be a nuisance.
Misyr: Don't treat me like an old man. I'm in my prime, okay!
Kotone: Hahaha. Saying things like that make you an old man.
Misyr: Ahaha. Then maybe I should treat you like a child...do you want a piggyback ride little one?
Kotone: THE DEMON KING IS VERY YOUNG
Misyr: That's a good girl :)
He teaches her how to make good coffee and is definitely into her calling him sensei.
And then he "cheats" and makes her a cup using magic. But even he had to learn from her grandpa.
Kotone: Are you so nice to me because you met me when I was little?
Misyr: I don't understand it myself, but, yeah, I guess that's it. Maybe it's something like a parental love? I've wanted to protect you and make you happy since then.
...did I misread him as being flirty? Either way he definitely WILL BE romantic later so thanks for the squick, Otomate.
There is a pun about "Enchante" meaning "I am glad to meet you (again)".
Il is subtly passive aggressively insulting a lot, especially towards Rindo.
After several months, the cafe officially opens! Seeing how excited Kotone is, the LIs organise her a tea party.
Interesting, I can choose to 'supervise' any of the guys except Misyr, I guess he must be the Final Boy.
Let's help Canus cook! He's making sandwiches, and eventually lets Kotone help when she really wants to. She sees him throw some scraps into his neck where they vanish, and his flame goes pinkish-red with embarrassment when he sees her staring with curiosity.
Misyr turns the cafe into a beautiful outdoor space. Rindo says he feels weird that Kotone is so comfortable with these nefarious supernatural shenanigans, at which point the other guys all say his GPM agency is the nefarious evil, with him as a mid boss (being a middle manager)
Rindo suggests she ask about everyone's worlds, offering to show supplemental documents via his tablet. Il is good with tech and takes over (he also set up the cafe wifi lol). Canus breaks any tech he touches and isn't allowed near.
Canus comes from the fairy world Medio, which is beautiful and ruled by a monarchy.
Il comes from the Heavenly world Caelm, home to "dietic"(?) angels and fallen angels, though Il is the only one the GPM have met. "He says it's beautiful, but further conversation was impossible".
Misyr comes from the demon world Asmodia, which has lost it's sun and is illuminated by a dark moon. The air is filled with poisonous miasma, and the demons are creatures of impulse who fight in endless bloody wars. Their leader is the strongest, Misyr Rex. A small group of humans live there too, every few centuries a human hero is born and vows to clear the miasma by defeating Misyr, though he claims he has no control over it.
Rindo says this is all from Misyr so who knows how much is true. Demons are rare and Misyr is the only one who's been willing to answer questions.
Ignis is from the Beast World Bestia. Very cold. Demon beasts are thought to have evolved from animals, and for whatever reason often end up in the human world via temporary random wormholes. Some are more animalistic looking than Ignis.
Rindo says the GPM is mainly concerned with violent/malicious non-humans, but can't let himself trust any super powerful ones to be out in the world even if they seem nice. Humans are so fragile and you can never tell when someone's lying.
Ha, apparently most non-humans on Earth got there by accident via random wormhole, and consider it a misfortune. The word "isekai" definitely came up :D It's not explained why they can't just go home via this or another gate.
Misyr is charmed to find out that despite claiming not to care about magical stuff, Kotone's grandad had a bunch of books on mythology that she has been reading now herself.
Even though she resigned, Kotone has been getting daily emails from her abusive old boss that she's been avoiding. When the others find out they're outraged on her behalf which gives her the strength to pick up the call. The boss immediately starts shouting about how she OWES THE COMPANY for all the WORK THEY DID TRAINING A USELESS NOOB LIKE HER so she has to stay and train up her replacement. Kotone is scared and frozen by this voice that always shouted at her and tore down her self worth. But she finds the strength to say that it's not her problem, she certainly never got cared for as a new hire, and she already tried explaining to him that the way he runs his company is unsustainable.
Kotone: I've found a place I want to protect, far more than your old company.
Old Boss: Ha! Think you're too good for us?
Kotone: The people here want to see me grow. They don't rush me, and care for me as I take each new step. They're strong and never fake anything. I'm happy. And I don't really care what's happening over there now. Just know I'm never coming back.
Old Boss: ...
Kotone: Have you been calling me for all these months...because you can't survive without me?
Old Boss: YOU LITTLE BRAT!
Kotone: If you cause me or my cafe any more trouble, I'll call the labour bureau. Goodbye :)
And then she hangs up :D
I absolutely love the trend for otome about adult women being about self actualisation through a satisfying career which just happens to involve a nice cute boy.
Misyr: AMAZING. I'd expect no less from a promising recruit in my demon army :D
Haha Misyr literally says "Let's go isekai!". He uses a lot of English.
We're off to fairyland, and I think I'm on the Canus path! Huh though the save is still labelled with "Main" and Kotone. Either way it definitely feels like we're about to have Angst and Plot so this seems like a good place to end the post.
These chapters were all very fluffy but enjoyably so. Looks like we're about to get some actual plot in chapter 4!
Before I forget, Kotone's grandpa's name was Souan.
Misyr has put an enchantment on Enchante to make regular people keep their distance, it mostly makes money from the four supernatural dudes paying rent in like angel gold to live in rooms above the cafe. So far there hasn't been any OOOH OUR BEDROOMS ARE SO CLOSE but we'll see if that changes.
Some of Rindo's underlings ignore his orders about there being a ceasefire with the cafe and threaten everyone with GUNS, Kotone is as much shocked at GOVERNMENT AGENTS using GUNS in JAPAN as anything else lol. Then she says some impassioned things about Freedom and Tolerance vs Government Control, I haven't consumed enough Japanese media about shady government agencies to be quite sure where this is going, though if Hakuoki and Code Realise are any guide it'll involve well intentioned war crimes. The agents pretend to be concerned about negative effects the door might have on the world, but when it's pointed out that such doors have existed since time immemorial (leading to all the myths about demons and angels etc) try and deflect, so I imagine they want power or resources or something.
Even though he thinks the cafe should shut down too, Rindo hangs out there "to keep an eye on things" and is friendly with everyone. He was friends with Kotone's granddad too.
Mysyr does minor mental magic to make people around the cafe accept how weird everyone looks, and Canus is seen as a loveable eccentric who just wears a helmet for some reason, and is beloved due to his helpful polite nature. An old lady refers to Il as a child she wants to take care of.
Polite gentle androgynous/youthful guys in otome tend to be yandere so we'll see where THAT's all going. Il is the LI I find most personally appealing, but Canus seems like a safer bet while I'm avoiding a walkthrough.
Il's room is QUITE SOMETHING, decorated with a bunch of Otomate merch including plates for Cardia and Lupin from Code Realise, and what I am pretty sure is a BODY PILLOW of KAZAMA FROM HAKUOKI (a demon villain dude) I'm not expecting him to actually be at all queer once you get to know him because Otomate, but I'll take what I can get.
If anyone recognises the other stuff let me know!
Kotone asks Il why he likes otome, and he says he enjoys stories about love, and while he's played romance games aimed at men he prefers otome. She is totally cool with it, I mean it would be pretty silly to judge a 1000+ year old angel for being unmanly but that wouldn't stop some people.
None of the supernatural dudes seem to use honorifics for anyone, but Rindo says "Kotone-chan" which seems a bit infantilising for an adult woman whose store he is in. But I am pretty fuzzy on the implications of honorifics. Oh and Misyr sometimes calls her princess/ohime-sama.
Every now and then Kotone gets the feeling the others can like...read her thoughts etc but they change the subject when she brings it up.
She's working hard to learn about coffee, organise permits etc but when they realise she isn't sleeping enough Misyr and Rindo team up to get her to take a nap, and then Misyr says Rindo should take her out to have fun, I think because as a fellow human he understands the whole 'needing rest' thing.
I think having JUST turned 41 is making me side-eye Rindo more.
Rindo: It's a wish come true, getting direct approval from these men to go on a date with you :)
Misyr: Ahaha. Watch it, before I burn you alive, ok? ^_^
These two have a mostly good natured bantery frenemy dynamic. They're the only ones to have been at all directly flirty so far, and it' been fairly mild. Some girls thought Kotone was Canus's girlfriend and he was VERY embarrassed and apologetic, and it hasn't come up at all with the other two.
Ignis: If he tries anything kick him in the nuts.
Canus: And then stab him in the throat.
See, Misyr, this is encouraging her to have agency instead of just threatening to kill him yourself.
Rindo finds this amusing and says perhaps getting along with them all so well is in her blood from her grandpa.
The grandpa seems ridiculously sweet from everything we've seen but previous Otomate games have me primed for him to be an evil scientist who isn't really dead. Calling it now.
I love how in Japan simply owning a car is a sign of maturity and wealth. Rindo owns a fancy sports car.
He asks about her likes and dislikes, I had zero input on her liking cheesecake and disliking bugs, which makes Rindo laugh affectionately in memory of how her grandpa hated them too. Honestly I kinda ship all these dudes with her grandpa which is a little disconcerting.
Ha and then he says he knew most of it already, what with working for the Information Department. Aww he says he wants them to feel like equals, and able to vent to each other about the weirdness of being a human dealing with the supernatural, and have an ally. I would like this dynamic more if he wasn't so ollllllld.
She asks him the same sorts of questions, which he happily answers...until she asks if he has any siblings, when he freezes for a moment then says he has a cheeky little sister. OOH IS SHE EVIL. Or dead by supernatural creature. Or both, somehow!
Ha first time Kotone expresses any attraction a LI and it's because of the soft face Misyr makes when talking about how much he likes coffee. He's the only person who finds her current efforts drinkable.
She bumps into him on the street disguised as a regular human guy. Apparently he can't cast this magic on anyone else or their organs might explode. He mentions that he dressed like this to visit other non-humans with her grandpa.
Misyr: As a regular human, do you like my outfit? The others are useless at keeping up with fashion trends.
Kotone: I can see how living for so long could be a nuisance.
Misyr: Don't treat me like an old man. I'm in my prime, okay!
Kotone: Hahaha. Saying things like that make you an old man.
Misyr: Ahaha. Then maybe I should treat you like a child...do you want a piggyback ride little one?
Kotone: THE DEMON KING IS VERY YOUNG
Misyr: That's a good girl :)
He teaches her how to make good coffee and is definitely into her calling him sensei.
And then he "cheats" and makes her a cup using magic. But even he had to learn from her grandpa.
Kotone: Are you so nice to me because you met me when I was little?
Misyr: I don't understand it myself, but, yeah, I guess that's it. Maybe it's something like a parental love? I've wanted to protect you and make you happy since then.
...did I misread him as being flirty? Either way he definitely WILL BE romantic later so thanks for the squick, Otomate.
There is a pun about "Enchante" meaning "I am glad to meet you (again)".
Il is subtly passive aggressively insulting a lot, especially towards Rindo.
After several months, the cafe officially opens! Seeing how excited Kotone is, the LIs organise her a tea party.
Interesting, I can choose to 'supervise' any of the guys except Misyr, I guess he must be the Final Boy.
Let's help Canus cook! He's making sandwiches, and eventually lets Kotone help when she really wants to. She sees him throw some scraps into his neck where they vanish, and his flame goes pinkish-red with embarrassment when he sees her staring with curiosity.
Misyr turns the cafe into a beautiful outdoor space. Rindo says he feels weird that Kotone is so comfortable with these nefarious supernatural shenanigans, at which point the other guys all say his GPM agency is the nefarious evil, with him as a mid boss (being a middle manager)
Rindo suggests she ask about everyone's worlds, offering to show supplemental documents via his tablet. Il is good with tech and takes over (he also set up the cafe wifi lol). Canus breaks any tech he touches and isn't allowed near.
Canus comes from the fairy world Medio, which is beautiful and ruled by a monarchy.
Il comes from the Heavenly world Caelm, home to "dietic"(?) angels and fallen angels, though Il is the only one the GPM have met. "He says it's beautiful, but further conversation was impossible".
Misyr comes from the demon world Asmodia, which has lost it's sun and is illuminated by a dark moon. The air is filled with poisonous miasma, and the demons are creatures of impulse who fight in endless bloody wars. Their leader is the strongest, Misyr Rex. A small group of humans live there too, every few centuries a human hero is born and vows to clear the miasma by defeating Misyr, though he claims he has no control over it.
Rindo says this is all from Misyr so who knows how much is true. Demons are rare and Misyr is the only one who's been willing to answer questions.
Ignis is from the Beast World Bestia. Very cold. Demon beasts are thought to have evolved from animals, and for whatever reason often end up in the human world via temporary random wormholes. Some are more animalistic looking than Ignis.
Rindo says the GPM is mainly concerned with violent/malicious non-humans, but can't let himself trust any super powerful ones to be out in the world even if they seem nice. Humans are so fragile and you can never tell when someone's lying.
Ha, apparently most non-humans on Earth got there by accident via random wormhole, and consider it a misfortune. The word "isekai" definitely came up :D It's not explained why they can't just go home via this or another gate.
Misyr is charmed to find out that despite claiming not to care about magical stuff, Kotone's grandad had a bunch of books on mythology that she has been reading now herself.
Even though she resigned, Kotone has been getting daily emails from her abusive old boss that she's been avoiding. When the others find out they're outraged on her behalf which gives her the strength to pick up the call. The boss immediately starts shouting about how she OWES THE COMPANY for all the WORK THEY DID TRAINING A USELESS NOOB LIKE HER so she has to stay and train up her replacement. Kotone is scared and frozen by this voice that always shouted at her and tore down her self worth. But she finds the strength to say that it's not her problem, she certainly never got cared for as a new hire, and she already tried explaining to him that the way he runs his company is unsustainable.
Kotone: I've found a place I want to protect, far more than your old company.
Old Boss: Ha! Think you're too good for us?
Kotone: The people here want to see me grow. They don't rush me, and care for me as I take each new step. They're strong and never fake anything. I'm happy. And I don't really care what's happening over there now. Just know I'm never coming back.
Old Boss: ...
Kotone: Have you been calling me for all these months...because you can't survive without me?
Old Boss: YOU LITTLE BRAT!
Kotone: If you cause me or my cafe any more trouble, I'll call the labour bureau. Goodbye :)
And then she hangs up :D
I absolutely love the trend for otome about adult women being about self actualisation through a satisfying career which just happens to involve a nice cute boy.
Misyr: AMAZING. I'd expect no less from a promising recruit in my demon army :D
Haha Misyr literally says "Let's go isekai!". He uses a lot of English.
We're off to fairyland, and I think I'm on the Canus path! Huh though the save is still labelled with "Main" and Kotone. Either way it definitely feels like we're about to have Angst and Plot so this seems like a good place to end the post.
no subject
Date: 2020-11-24 03:50 pm (UTC)Misyr has put an enchantment on Enchante to make regular people keep their distance, it mostly makes money from the four supernatural dudes paying rent in like angel gold to live in rooms above the cafe.
...I'm now convinced that supernatural coffee shop AU should be a trope.
Oh my goodness, Il's room!! And I guess it's nice to be Otomate, it's easy for them to get rights to actual otome art. ;) I have to admit, my first reaction to what I am pretty sure is a BODY PILLOW of KAZAMA FROM HAKUOKI (a demon villain dude) was "Kazama????".
Saito is right there!Rindo says "Kotone-chan" which seems a bit infantilising for an adult woman whose store he is in. But I am pretty fuzzy on the implications of honorifics.
Rindo: It's a wish come true, getting direct approval from these men to go on a date with you :)
>_>
So much side-eye. And wanting to smack.
Ignis and Canus's responses are so nice and cute, though! I like them both now. :D
The grandpa seems ridiculously sweet from everything we've seen but previous Otomate games have me primed for him to be an evil scientist who isn't really dead. Calling it now.
:DD
Ha first time Kotone expresses any attraction a LI and it's because of the soft face Misyr makes when talking about how much he likes coffee. He's the only person who finds her current efforts drinkable.
Awwww. (Also, oh my goodness, are they all...coffee snobs? I feel like the first time I made coffee was still drinkable!)
Apparently he can't cast this magic on anyone else or their organs might explode.
Ahaha, this is such a hilarious detail and I'm very charmed by this overpowered demon magic.
...did I misread him as being flirty? Either way he definitely WILL BE romantic later so thanks for the squick, Otomate.
I can choose to 'supervise' any of the guys except Misyr, I guess he must be the Final Boy.
I'm calling it right now, they are Destined Soulmates and he was drawn to her when he met her, but not in a sexual way until now. Or until she takes interest in him.
I absolutely love the trend for otome about adult women being about self actualisation through a satisfying career which just happens to involve a nice cute boy.
It's so good! :D
Misyr: AMAZING. I'd expect no less from a promising recruit in my demon army :D
Haha Misyr literally says "Let's go isekai!". He uses a lot of English.
...I'm still charmed.
*staaaares at game*
*staaaares at backlog*
Sigh. :P
no subject
Date: 2020-11-29 12:36 pm (UTC)"Kazama????". Saito is right there!
Maybe Il has a thing for demon lords waggles eyebrows despite not actually shipping him withy Misyr very much
oh my goodness, are they all...coffee snobs?
Actually Misyr is the only coffee snob, it's more they don't really like coffee at the best of times and she asked for their honest opinion so she can improve.
I'm calling it right now, they are Destined Soulmates and he was drawn to her when he met her, but not in a sexual way until now. Or until she takes interest in him.
Hmm, maybe!
staaaares at game
staaaares at backlog
smiles cheerfully and shoves my own backlog under a Kazama body pillow
no subject
Date: 2020-11-29 04:44 pm (UTC)Maybe Il has a thing for demon lords. waggles eyebrows despite not actually shipping him withy Misyr very much
Haha, having read more of your recap, I feel like this is starting to make sense. Kazama seems the very opposite of logic angels! But this makes me want to ask: is there good shipping between the LIs? :D
it's more they don't really like coffee at the best of times and she asked for their honest opinion so she can improve.
Amazing. :O "don't like coffee" is such...a concept for a coffee shop story.
smiles cheerfully and shoves my own backlog under a Kazama body pillow
But what if the Kazama body pillow judges you? D: It's a Kazama body pillow, so it's probably the judgiest pillow ever.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-02 02:56 pm (UTC)is there good shipping between the LIs?
Hmm! Misyr's too controllingly paternalistic of Il for me to ship it, but they certainly have a Thing. Rindo and Ignis have some cute brothers in arms moments, and even though the age gap is still pretty big it's balanced by Ignis being a superpowered lord of an entire magical world. Canus and Il have a few nice quiet moments, they're the two most gentle love interests. Rindo and Misyr have a cute bantery frenemies dynamic. I feel like Canus and Ignis have potential, as two straightforward dudes who solve problems with punching and hide gooey centres under stoic exteriors, but haven't seen much fodder for it so far.