A second newYear

On a stroll through the mall and looking for what's new, and a shop catches my eye. A new eatery where the shoe store used to be, seemingly from out of nowhere. Then the name rings a bell, Mahou-san the purveyor of the sudden transformation, the gift of morph from out of the blue.
A hard left turn to bring me in front of the window, to see inside- how many booths and what decor, this guy is creative beyond this earth. But the windows are done in a reflective film, making them almost one-way glass and ... Whoa!!!! Whats with the snake? I raise a hand and that cobra like fellow in my dragon basic colors is waving too. I walk closer, hoping I'm not spooking anyone at a window seat inside, watching what is apparently Naga Rex staring back. Had seen Arakod and Shylah over in the other end of the mall so texted both about this, lets see if this window does this for more of us: translation- sanity check, for me.

Results, Rex is not crazy (crazier than normal) or seeing things, and the two make a pretty pair btw.

Soon the owner-chef comes to the door chuckling. Arakod asks if we are annoying the diners at the window tables and he waves us in. The windows in fact show the mall but nobody within 20 feet of the glass. Leave it to Mahou! "So why the Naga view in the front window?" I ask him. He smiles and has me recall that 2012 was the year of the dragon and how many of us released our inner dragon in that year. I recalled and realized that today was Chinese Lunar New Year and the Dragon passing the Baton to the Snake. He nodded and said that while us three were dragons at heart, the window would show another possible form for us. To regular passers, a simple reflection, but to the 'observant', so very much more to see. What is more, to those who yearn for the other forms of being, a first look at their true selves, and as I pushed focus and zoom through the glass a few different forms appeared among the crowd, two or three furry species anthro's plus a partial dragon and a blue Naga. Mahou looked over and said the image of the dragon was not clear as the person was still forming their ideas of being one, or- not ready just yet. But the fellow with the Naga image caught a view of his reflection and dropped his jaw practically onto his feet and came over. Watching this, Mahou reached to the serving cart, saying "Time to get to work" and pouring tea from a small pot.

The Naga came up and admired in the glass for several minutes. The seated patrons not aware of him or us four dragons in their midst either! The person came around the corner as a - person, in clear air not the fearsome serpent at all. But he now was awake and could see the four dragons for what they are. He pointed to the other customers and Mahou waved his hand and said "Not to worry, they see us all as the same form as their own. Only you can see the difference, which says that YOU are ready now."

"Ready for what?" he asked.

"Why ready for some Tea!" Mahou said, pulling out a chair at an empty table. The man, introducing to us as George, sat and began a long sip and as it poured through, he changed as a flow, all the way to his feet, which left him completely. In their places, the tail and coils of the Naga and all the rest of the form up to his head and conformal horns. He looked in the glass and saw, and then touched - feeling the same features as he was seeing. A look of shock, fading to joy and accompanied with tears. Mahou quickly turned and brought over a lead cup and held it under George's chin, collecting the tears until they slowed. "All right?" Mahou asked him as the flow stopped. "Yes, thank you in so many ways!" said George with a smile. He was given the word that would turn him to George and back and was invited to stay for Dim Sum, and a waiter came over to him.

We looked at Mahou carefully placing the cup in a cabinet and I asked "Let me guess, magic properties, healing powers and such," pointing to the cup and contents. "No Rex - san, that is the property of your tears and you two (pointing to Arakod and Shylah). He pointed to the cup and said "Venom in there, and the ability to have eaten through the table and floor both!".

Before we sat for our lunch, Arakod asked how long the restaurant was open, as it was an empty storefront just days ago.

"This place was empty this morning as well, and in a week or so it will be again. You see, Arakod - san this place is only visible to those who have at the least a start in their thoughts of what alternately human really means. It is a gift and one that grows, until the full picture is visible." And while he said this, the waiters and cooks had assembled and with a smile, they changed form to their true selves, Taurs, Foxes, Sharks, Gryphons and several Dragons. We thanked them for all of their great work along with Mahou as all of them bowed and us in return.

Then Mahou continued "When those in this city who are ready have been served and changed, we'll move on to the next and so on."

That was our cue to make sure all of our local kin' had a chance to walk by that front window this week.

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So, drawing Nagas is new to me and point out any errors with this realization. Thanks to Arakod and Shylah, as well as George, who knows me from another forum for use of their characters.

Saint Valentines day is next, love and little TF arrows may be in the air.