i won't be updating so constantly all the time — i just wanted to finish introducing the main cast. while it's an au, i hope characterizations mostly ring true; with gowther especially i tried to strike a balance between "doll" and "heart" gowther, but that's hard to figure out…
please let me know what you think of it all, and thanks for the reviews!
Since it's Friday, before Elizabeth leaves, she and Meliodas agree that she'll officially start working on Monday afternoon. When Diane has to rush off to practice, Elizabeth follows her out of Boar's Hat: it's her job, now, somehow, but she's still a little shy to hang out at the cafe alone. Even if everyone seems nice. And friendly. And … well, incredibly weird.
Still… it seems like a fun place to work.
Elizabeth gets home to an empty house and prepares for a quiet weekend. She considers going out to buy a mini-skirt, as requested, but on Saturday she's woken up early.
She rolls towards the edge of her bed, surrounded by an ocean of ruffled blankets and pillows, her faithful old stuffed dragon at her elbow. The song she'd chosen as her ring tone keeps trilling on and on, and she fumbles for and presses the icon on the screen. "Hello?"
"You're needed," a gruff man says.
Elizabeth blinks, trying to clear the sleepy fog from her brain and eyes. "I think you might have the wrong number?"
"This is the governor's daughter Elizabeth, right?" the man doesn't wait for her to affirm it, or question her new title. "This is Ban from Boar's Head. How fast can you get here?"
"Um…" Ban. She remembers him from her first day at the cafe. Incredibly tall, with sharp features and an intimidating demeanor. How did he get her number? Of course, Meliodas must have given it to him. Why is he calling? It's so early, and… "I - I didn't think I started working until Monday," she says.
"You're needed today."
She doesn't know how to argue with that. Rather, Ban's tone is so curt that she's a little scared to try. "O - okay! I can be there in an hour!"
"Fine. See ya."
The call disconnects.
Elizabeth sits in bed for a foggy minute. What just… happened? Then she realizes she just promised to be at work, in an hour, which leaves her twenty minutes to get out the door… there's no time to shower, so she washes up and gets dressed in the first thing she sees in her closet. But wait! It's her first day of work, isn't it? She should dress up! So she picks out a different blouse and skirt, but then she looks too dressed up. What had the others been wearing? She can't remember! Elizabeth, get it together!
She ends up putting on a pink sundress and strappy sandals, hoping she looks casual but also a little dressed up. Then she's running late: she grabs her bag and runs from her bedroom downstairs, then out the door and the four blocks to the metro. By the time she gets on the train she's panting, sweaty, and exhausted, and sure all her work to look presentable has gone completely out the window.
It's only when she's on the train that the nerves kick in. What is she going to do? She doesn't know how to be a coffee shop waitress. She'd thought Meliodas would be training her. Come to think of it, why did Ban call her? Was Meliodas sick? Hurt?
When she does arrive at the cafe, she's greeted at the door not by Diane, but by a woman in a pink ruffled blouse and black mini skirt. "Welcome to the Boar's Hat," she says, saluting with a grave expression. Her voice is awfully low, and Elizabeth blinks.
Something Meliodas had said clicks for her. "Oh! Are you Gowther?"
"Correct. I am Gowther. Welcome. How may we help you this morning?"
"Yo, Gowther, I thought I told ya to clear the - oh, you're finally here," Ban says, emerging from the kitchen balancing two trays of iced buns. There's a short line of waiting customers, and nearly every table is full: Gowther makes her way over to the only empty one and begins clearing it.
"Stop blocking the doorway," Ban yells. Elizabeth starts and hesitates and then reminds herself that she workshere, and crosses the cafe to the counter. "Here's your buns. Six fifty," Ban says to an old lady, handing her a paper bag. "You, Elizabeth. Boss ain't here today, and I gotta work in the back. You know how to make coffee?"
"Just normal coffee," Elizabeth admits.
"Well, whatever. Gowther can handle it. Just help customers until it settles down here, got it?" Elizabeth nods nervously, and Ban looks her over. "Yell if you need help and I'll come out. Good luck, kid."
He doesn't give her any time to mentally prepare: with a wave, he retreats to the kitchen, leaving Elizabeth with the counter. For a few seconds she's frozen, especially with customers waiting expectantly for her… she takes in a deep breath and approaches the register. "Hi! Can I help you?"
"Cappuccino and a slice of raspberry cake," her first customer says. He's a middle aged man in a suit, and Elizabeth nods.
"Sure thing!" she says. There are two cakes on display on the pastry counter. Both have chocolate frosting and are dark colored. She reaches for the knife, her hand trembling…
"I said the raspberry cake!" The man says, pointing at the cake she didn't just slice.
"I'm so sorry! A- and let me get you your coffee… I mean, Gowther! Can you make a Cappuccino please?" While Gowther makes the coffee, Elizabeth concentrates on slicing the cake. She thinks the piece came out too big, but better too big than too small, right? "Is that for here?"
"To go," the man says, so she has to search for boxes and bags of the right sizes. Then she says have a great day! without remembering to ask him for money, and she isn't sure what the prices are…
Gowther helps out, and the man pays… and leaves without tipping.
Things slowly improve after that. Most of the customers are patient, and Gowther quickly develops the ability to figure out when Elizabeth is hesitating because she's clueless, and step in to tell her what to do. Her biggest fear is needing to call Ban for help, but the rush ends without that happening.
"I did terribly!" Elizabeth moans, leaning her whole upper body against the counter.
"That's true," Gowther says in her usual flat affect. "However, your positive attitude kept events from turning disastrous. A few customers even tipped."
"They did?" Elizabeth looks over at the tip jar, which has coins and a few bills. "I'm sure they were tipping you! You're so calm and collected, unlike me."
"That's true…" Gowther says vaguely, cleaning her glasses with a cloth.
About half the tables are still full, but no customers are waiting in line. Elizabeth takes the opportunity to lean back for a moment. She feels exhausted. Her heart is still pounding. "By the way, um," she says after a moment.
"Yes?"
"I - I hope I'm not being rude, but I was wondering, what … what pronouns should I use around you?" Elizabeth asks, blushing. Gowther has no breasts, hips, and has a low voice, but she doesn't want to embarrass herself by talking without thinking for a third time.
"I am a male and identify as such. The Boss said he was looking for a 'cute girl waitress,' however, so I decided to dress like this." Gowther tilts his head at Elizabeth's probably surprised expression, and smiles for the first time all morning. His face seems so much warmer, and kinder, with the emotion. "I don't mind. To me, clothes are just clothes, and I find it fun to dress up in different ways."
"I wasn't - I wasn't questioning your crossdressing!" Elizabeth insists. "I was just thinking… everyone here is so confident! I'd never be brave enough to wear whatever I wanted and not worry about other people, or wear a leotard in public, or … or joke around like Meliodas does…"
"I think Diane's lack of modesty is something slightly different," Gowther says. "And I'd term the boss's comments as 'sexual harassment.'"
"They're not that bad," Elizabeth says with a giggle. "If I thought he was serious, I mean…" The pig bell chimes as the door opens. "Welcome to Boar's Hat Cafe!" Elizabeth exclaims. "Oh! King! Good morning!"
King yawns as he approaches the counter. "You've changed your personality fast. I didn't know you were starting already."
"Oh, um, I guess I've just gained more confidence from working so hard this morning?" Elizabeth says. "You like black coffee, right?"
King nods, and Gowther slides a cup over to him. "Here you are, second-place-loiterer."
"Don't give me a weird nickname!" King says, glaring at Gowther and handing Elizabeth exactly the price of the coffee.
"Um, but speaking of that, you're a regular here, aren't you? We didn't really get a chance to speak yesterday, but I'd like to get to know you!" Elizabeth says. "After all, you're friends with Meliodas and the others, too."
"No, not really," King says, suppressing another yawn.
"But I thought I saw you and Diane talking yesterday…" she says, a little surprised. It's true that when King has been mentioned or talked about, it's been in teasing terms, but she's been under the impression that that's just sort of how these people treat their friends.
"Well, that's true…" King trails off. "I'm just a customer here," he adds after a strange pause. "Thanks," he says, taking his coffee to his corner table.
"Yes…" Gowther says, interrupting Elizabeth's train of thought, "he's definitely the strangest one of us."
"That's not what I was thinking! A - and don't say that so loudly!" Elizabeth protests, much too loudly. The cafe really isn't that big.
"Don't say what?" Ban says, emerging from the kitchen with a tray of pastries. He looks around the cafe, his eyes narrowing on the tables. "You survived. Good job."
"T- thank you!" Ban doesn't seem like a bad person, but he's still just so intimidating! Elizabeth's nerves all come rushing back. "Um, where is Meliodas today? Is he alright?"
"He had to go deal with a vendor," Ban says.
"Oh… I see. A- and, you weren't here yesterday, were you? Are you feeling well?"
"I was visiting someone," he says.
Elizabeth tries to think of some other conversation starter. He and King are so far the hardest for her to talk to, and it's much more important she gets along with Ban, probably, since they're coworkers. "That sounds fun!" she says.
"Not really," Ban says curtly, scanning the cafe again. "Alright, I'm taking a lunch break. Back in an hour."
"Byeee," Gowther waves.
"Ah-" Elizabeth says, but Ban is already gone. "I forgot to ask how long I'm supposed to work today."
"Do you have something you need to do?" Gowther asks.
"Well…" The answer is no, but something seems kind of sad about admitting she has no plans on a Saturday. "Not really!"
"That's good," Gowther says, smiling over at her. "I'm terrible with customers."
The afternoon progresses quickly. King leaves shortly after Ban does, and although the cafe picks up again at lunch, it's nothing she and Gowther can't handle. When Ban returns, he retreats to the kitchen, making sandwiches when she or Gowther relay an order. But by the afternoon, Elizabeth's feet and shoulders hurt, and she's exhausted. She's also a little disappointed that neither Diane or Meliodas have appeared at all today. But then, they're both busy…
The bell chimes. "I see you were hired after all," a woman says.
Elizabeth picks herself up to see Camelot Book's manager. "Yes! I was!" she says, at the same time Gowther says "That's correct."
"Huh?" Elizabeth turns from Gowther to the manager and back. "She told you about this place too?"
"'Too?'" Gowther asks, tilting his head. "I see. You know my sister?"
"… I'm sorry!?" Elizabeth yelps.
"Half sister. We haven't ever been properly introduced, have we? I'm Merlin," the woman says, sitting down at one of the stools at the counter.
"I never would have guessed. You two don't look alike at all," Elizabeth admits. On second glance, that's not true: both have the same striking amber eyes. "I - I'm Elizabeth Leonis."
"I know," Merlin says placidly. She smirks up at Elizabeth's expression, and then laughs softly. "You usually pay for books with a card emblazoned with your name."
"I guess that's true," Elizabeth says, laughing herself now that she's not terrified Merlin has psychic powers. "Well, it's nice to meet you! And thank you for the job tip!"
"Don't mention it," Merlin says, as Gowther approaches with a cup of tea on a saucer in one hand, and a plated slice of chocolate cake in the other. "Very nice, thank you."
Elizabeth waits for the siblings to have a conversation, but Gowther simply wanders off to bus a table. Then again… she isn't sure how old either of them are, but there seems to be an age difference. Maybe they just aren't that close? "Are you a regular here too?" she asks.
"No," Merlin says, shaking her head lightly. "I just wanted to see if Meliodas had hired anyone yet. I wasn't expecting both of you."
"I guess it would be surprising."
"Mm, but then again, I'll be coming here more often now," Merlin says. "When 'Boss' said he was having trouble finding help, he bet me free coffee for a year after I told him it would take me less than a week."
"You really bet on that?" Elizabeth isn't sure whether to laugh or be horrified. "How many people did you… try and send here?"
Merlin holds up her fore and middle fingers. "You… and… Gowther." She smirks at Elizabeth's awed expression and stands up with her cup and saucer. "Well, I'll be going now. You can pick up my dishes at the shop later. Bye~"
"Um, wait a second —" Elizabeth says.
"She's gone," Gowther announces as the door swings shut.
They both just stand there for a few seconds, Elizabeth dazed and Gowther… thinking whatever it was he thinks about. "Your sister… is a truly amazing woman," she says.
"That's true," Gowther says. He smiles over at Elizabeth. "It's interesting that we both were hired by her."
"Meliodas - actually, I think you're right," she says, correcting herself and then laughing behind her hand.
Just then the bell rings and the door opens. Gowther strikes a pose, and Elizabeth calls out: "Hello! Welcome to the Boar's Hat!"