AUTHOR'S NOTE
first of all, i'd like to welcome potential readers. yes, this is a slice-of-life, modern-AU fic featuring who i'd like to call the 'former night elves.' and no, it won't be only female heroes. (hopefully)
this fic is also posted on a certain Steam group about creating/tweaking your own heroes. i know it doesn't make sense, but i write a lot of fics there (usually about the heroes we created), so i figured "why not there?"
(the group in question is this: /groups/HeroCreationGroup
me having an account here was a coincidence, so i decided to post it here to, if you guys don't mind :D
of yeah, almost forgot.
DISCLAIMER
All heroes and names featured on this fic belong t Valve and/or Icefrog. the only thing i'm taking credit for is the story itself.
The Part-timer
The afternoon sun shone brightly through the city, rush hour had started to dissipate, the people finishing up their lunch and on their way back to their jobs. A quiet coffee shop at the corner of the street was also subject to the rush hour, the name "Dark Moon Coffee Shop" sprawled above its entrance. Its workers have idled along, its busiest time having passed.
The barista in particular had started catching up on the morning newspaper, reading on local events that might have been relevant in regards to her obsolete past. Wearing a tight dark blue t-shirt and black jeans, with hair tied up in a ponytail, dyed in a mix of blue and silver, she attracts the gaze of men, and some women, despite herself not even giving any of them a second glance. She would brush off any advances people gave her, sometimes with a threat or two. When she felt hands cup her bountiful bosom from behind, she flinched and turned to face the offender.
A slightly younger woman who also happened to be the coffee shop's manager was the perpetrator. Going for a more 'professional' look, she had opted to wear a white blouse, with a hint of cleavage, complimented with sky-blue skirt that went till her knees. The gold earrings complimented her regal look perfectly. Her attire signified her seniority, despite the barista being older than her. But in this close, personal proximity, she did not display her usual regal air, deciding to mess with the barista. Judging by the smirk she had, and the barista's flaring anger, she had deemed it successful.
"What the hell're you doing?" the barista almost yelled, not wanting to make a spectacle for the patrons.
"Nothing. Figured you could ease some of that tension up." She said, not at all fazed by the barista's anger.
Their eyes gaze upon each other, the barista's closing hers to calm herself. Not a moment too soon and she turned her back, facing the counter and reading the newspaper once again.
"I told you many times to not get close to me, Mirana." The barista warned her manager.
"Yes, I know. For the past couple of years. But I still think you need to ease up, Luna. I thought you'd be getting used to the fact that this is not like your old days." The manager said. Luna's hands closed into fists, crumpling the paper she was reading.
"Don't. Remind me. Of my past. For you own sake, princess." She said, almost threateningly through gritted teeth.
Mirana's eyes widened briefly, at the sudden anger, before cursing herself for bringing something like Luna's past up.
"Sorry, my bad." Mirana moved to inspect the counter, her eyes falling on the diminishing bagels. She realized they were running out on other pastries as well, and made her way towards the kitchen.
"Mortred. You in here?" she called out, hoping the baker could hear her.
The baker in question popped up from beneath a counter, her face dirtied with flour and smudges of flavoring. Wearing a normal shirt and jeans but with muted colors of grey and aquamarine, the only thing spectacular of her attire is the oversized chef's hat, an oddly plated apron and the bread knife she was still holding.
"Oui?" she asks with a soft smile and a light accent.
"We're running out of pastries." Mirana states.
"Oh. Bagels are over there." Mortred points to a fresh batch of bagels. "And I'm working on croissants now."
"Just those?"
"I am only one woman." Mortred crouches back down, staring into the oven. "Now hush so I can get back to work."
Mirana giggled at how serious the baker was when it came to pastries, and picked up a tray for the fresh bagels. When she left the kitchen, the only available waitress was relaying the orders to the barista. Her platinum blonde hair flowed up, as if held by magic. A blue one-piece accented with purple hugged her figure, with a waitresses apron adding to its flair. Her red eyes held lots of stories back. Stories nobody else knows.
"Hey, Shendel. Happy?" Mirana asked as she replaced the bagels in its designated spot.
"Sure." Came a muted reply.
Everyone knows something happened to her that made her come to the coffee shop with the help of her land lady, but out of respect nobody pried her open, a gratitude she respects although not always shown. The only person who knows just happened to be the owner of the establishment.
"Here you go, Shendel." Luna said, handing a trayful of different kinds of caffeine and tea.
Indigo eyes met red when the tray was exchanged. Although Luna did not pry one's past (for she did not like the same to be done to her.), she saw clear discomfort constantly emanating from the waitress, always willing to lend an ear, or shoulder, but none were reciprocated.
Luna stared on Shendel's moving form as she went about delivering the orders. Mirana herself had settled the round pastries on their place. Both eyes meet each other, a playful tint from the manager's while anger slowly rose from the barista.
"We really don't have to be like this, Luna."
"Easy for you to say." Luna replied. She knows her 'hatred' for the manager is something pointless, but it's not something she can easily let go, based on the years of her childhood and adolescences.
Luna sat on the stool she prepared herself on her side of the counter and took out her phone, deciding on browsing the web through it. Mirana put her fisted hands on her hips, still addressing the barista.
"Well, I'm going to talk to Selemene. If there's anything, just call out, kay?" Luna answered with a nod, prompting the manager to leave for the owner's room.
Luna sat where she was, full attention on her phone, feeling calm for the coffee shop usually doesn't attract the rowdiest of crowds, if ever. Because of this, she did not realize when the door opened and young woman carrying a stack of books walked in and approached her counter.
"Ahem. Excuse me." Luna looked up, her attention now drawn to the intruder.
She had plopped the stack of books on the counter, college text books Luna observed. She wore a dark purple sweater that almost acted as a one-piece. She wore a face mask the same color as her sweater, with a long pink scarf wrapped around her neck that went as long as her purple dyed hair.
"Yeah? What can I get you?" Luna asked, putting her phone away.
"Oh, no. No, no no. I'm here for the part-time job. I called yesterday." She corrected, holding her hand together on top of her books. Luna let an amused chuckle, envying this girl's youth.
"Alright, hold on." Luna assured as she stood up. "Mirana!"
The manager rushed out, fearing an emergency that she was needed for.
"What, what happened?" she asked Luna. Luna shrugged, an amused smile on her from seeing Mirana panicking.
"Nothing major. The part-timer's here." She said, motioning to the young woman. Mirana's eyes perked up.
"Oh, right! Lanaya, isn't it?" she asked, moving to stand beside the young woman.
They shook hands.
"Yes. I called yesterday." Lanaya said.
"Yeah, I remember. Come, Selemene would like to speak with you!" she said eagerly, dragging the possible new employee with her.
Luna went back to her stool, mindlessly picking up the top text book and started reading. Philosophy; not her type of reading material, not even close, but good for her to contemplate on where she wants to go in her life.
Not long after, Mirana and Lanaya enter the room, with the former being all smiles. More than before.
"Welcome to the Dark Moon Coffee Shop, Lanaya!" she says excitedly. "Why don't you stay here with Luna while I get you your apron." She said, disappearing into the break room.
Lanaya moved her gaze to Luna, who was still reading her Philosophy book. She felt awkward, not sure on how to proceed, seeming as she did not know how to proceed with this intimidating woman.
"Sit down, Sheila." Luna said. Lanaya scrunched her eye brows, confused at the name.
"Sheila? she asked.
"Promiscuous." Luna said, not looking up from the book.
"B-but, I'm not-"
"I know."
"Uh… my name's Lanaya." She said, prompting Luna to look up from the book.
"Don't like nicknames?" Luna asked.
"No." Lanaya answered, shaking her head.
"Fine." Luna responded, closing the book and settling it on top of the pile. She stood up, towering the young woman, who felt even more intimidated.
"Shendel!" Luna called out. Lanaya turned, curious to who Luna was calling. "Can you wave?"
Shendel stopped what she was doing and did a small wave aimed at the two women by the counter, and went straight back to work. Lanaya turned back to face Luna.
"Her name's Shendel, as you heard." She straightened her shirt. "Dresses a little daringly, not as much as our 'esteemed' manager, but she's very reserved. Keeps a lot to herself. Something we don't dare to pry. She's so far our only waitress, as our waiter bailed on us, wanting to 'seek revenge against the dead god!'" Luna said while motioning air quotes.
"'Dead God?'" Lanaya asked, confused.
"Yeah, I know! Crazy, right?" Luna added. She then motioned Lanaya to follow her to the kitchen, Standing at the doorway.
"Hey Mortred." She called out. The woman in question had just finished a batch of croissants, settling them on the counter to cool off. She turned to face the two women on the doorway and smiled.
"Oh, hello!" she greeted, moving towards the two and grabbing the young woman's hand, shaking it. "My name's Mortred. I handle all the pastries here." She said with a smile.
"The pastries?"
"Oui, le pain. You are welcome to try it!" she said, grabbing one of the croissants and handing it to Lanaya.
Lanaya lowered her mask and took a careful bite out of it, not wanting to spill crumbs on the floor, despite it already being a mess from all the work Mortred had done. Mortred looked eagerly with eyes wide open, waiting for the part-timer's verdict.
"It's, ahem. It's good." She said, with a genuine smile.
Mortred squealed, bring the young woman into a hug. Luna shook her head at the antics with a small smile.
"You very well know people love your breads." She stated. Mortred let Lanaya go.
"It's still merveilleux, Luna, to hear it." She said. She turned to face Lanaya, who had put her mask back in place. "Well, good luck!" she said before heading back to her station.
Luna brought Lanaya to her counter, where Mirana was waiting with Lanaya's apron. Her already wide smile widened when she saw the two women.
"I see Luna's introduced you to our staff." Lanaya had a brief look of bewilderment.
"Are these the only people here?" she asked. Mirana shrugged while handing Lanaya the apron.
"Yes. I usually help out in waiting the customers." She crossed her arms and brought one hand to her chin. "We had a man here, not too long ago. But he went out."
"To fight the 'dead gods'?" Lanaya asked, her apron fitting on her. Mirana raised an eyebrow.
"Luna said that?" Lanaya nodded. "No. he became some sort of radical activist." Lanaya looked disappointed.
"That's it?"
"Yeah, well, Magina's always been a boring, sometimes lackluster person."
"That's why I tell people my version." Luna added.
"Well, I'm sure you'll get the hang of things here." Mirana had one hand on her hip while the other was on her chest. "If you have any questions, feel free to ask me, Luna or Shendel, 'kay?" Lanaya nodded. "Good! Have fun on your first day!" she said, taking the text books and heading towards the break room.
"Well," Luna put her hand on Lanaya's shoulder. "Go wait on the customers, and don't freeze up." She said, lightly pushing her to the tables.
Lanaya breathed slowly, before heading to the first table she saw with someone calling for a waitress.
And she was nervous as hell.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
thanks for reading till the end of the first chapter. after a few chapters or so, i'll be setting this to 'Complete', since i don't see a definite ending to it.
and there's like one Irish slang, and a few French words that i used up there, so i'd like to apologize before hand if they're used wrong.
there's bound to be more heroes featured here (obviously), but any sort of 'requests' will be looked at, but i'll prioritize the ones from the group. if the 'requests' don't match with my style, then i won't use it.
oh, another thing. you won't be seeing much author's notes from me, but if there are, they'd mostly be footnotes. if there is a headnote, then you can be sure that there will be a footnote.
responses and criticisms welcomed! :D
once again, thanks for reading!