September 7th 2012
Of course with your charisma and rather impressive résumé, you received the opening position as a barista and work your shifts from four to eight. Porrim had actually taken care of a lot of errands for you as you slowly got back onto your feet –food shopping was done and Karkat was set to start his sophomore year with newly bought clothes and supplies. The people of the area were pleasant despite the occasional teenage punks you'd overhear raving about their Doctor Natural and Super Who. Something of that nature.
You really don't care as of now because when the hell did this person say that they wanted whipped cream? Why do they have to be so angry? Speaking of anger, where's that coworker when you need her? What even was her name? Since you can't fight the power in the position you're in, you go ahead and give them the hydrogenated oils they've apparently "bought the damn coffee for." Wow, you almost miss that congested little cubicle you worked in. Only eight more minutes, you could do this…
Just as the relatively short line shifts along, you're ready to drop your preppy performance and look as tired as you really are. You sigh and look up the next person in line and –dear lord, isn't he gorgeous. The gears shift without having to be told twice, straightening your back and smiling a bit brighter. You guess it wouldn't hurt to put effort into one more person, especially with that uniform.
"Good evening sir, how may I help you?" A dull pain set in your cheeks when you smiled up to him after reading his badge. Police Department… City of New York. At least it's showing some respect, too. Not everyone who comes in this place is serving for the city.
"Hm… a venti pumpkin spice latte sounds nice." Damn, that's a pretty heavy New York accent. He has to look down at you since you are fairly short for your age and wow his eyes are this stunning blue –or maybe they're grey? If time could slow down, you'd take a closer look, but you're too busy with his latte to focus on such a cute customer. You hate to admit it, but this is probably the most effort you've ever put into making a crummy drink for this place. Finally your wanted assistant comes along from the back room and gets back to work after tying her short bleach blonde hair into a small ponytail.
"Would you like whipped cream with that?" No. You already hear her taking over already and goodness gracious, she needs to get better at timing her breaks. You've chatted with her once or twice, though all she seems to talk about are the cute alleyway cats she sees on her way over here. You remember one time she snuck in a cat in her pink scarf before it went ape shit nuts and bolted out of the door. She's unique, to say the least.
Before you can even remind her that this is your customer, they're already making small talk. What the hell? Is she really that much more likable than you?
"So Rox, how've you been doing here?" Roxy, that's what her name was. You conclude that they somehow know each other, definitely not related though. Not with that accent, nor do they have any physical features in common.
"Eh, it's not what I had in mind, but I guess I can't complain." She sighs and leans on the counter, just as tired as you though you seem to be doing twice the amount of work. "How's everyone else?"
"They all miss ya, including myself." Wow and now you feel kind of guilty with all the mental blame you put on her. Before things get too bittersweet between them, you hand him his latte with a smile. "Thanks, hun." He flashes another grin and a wink your way, though you chose to ignore it and help the next customer as a rosy pink settles in your cheeks.
Roxy stifles a laugh, playfully smacking the officer's forearm. "Don't you dare –he's adorable. He doesn't even seem like your type anyways."
"Aw, c'mon I'm just bein' polite. Besides, how would you know that?"
"Because there's no trash on that kid for you to pick at." Just as you turn back to generate yet another exotically named coffee, you see how he rolls his eyes. You're somewhat flattered by what Roxy had said, though you're not sure if it was exactly a compliment. Matter of fact, all she's saying is that you're decent.
"Geez, that wasn't harsh at all." He moved out of the way so that the line could continue moving, leaning on the pick-up counter. Roxy had continued babbling onto him as well, picking at a hangnail while you finished up your shift.
"I'm giving you the truth, sonny."
"You didn't have to be so blunt about it."
She only shrugged in response and yawned. The place is nearly empty, so you decide to take care of the last few orders before the line standing before the counter is no more. You sigh and drop your heavy smile, though it looks like a subtle frown.
"What's with the long face?" It takes you a few seconds to realize that Roxy was talking to you. You simply shake your head, not wanting to get so upset at her for not even doing her damn job. Also, you still don't want to make a bad impression on her friend. She beckons you over to stand beside her and join in on the conversation. After brief hesitation, you plant yourself alongside her and lean on the counter with them.
At least it's Friday. You couldn't take another day of doing all the work while she pets the cats that hang out around the dumpster out back. The three of you relax in a comfortable silence, eyes focused on the sleek black countertop. No more than five minutes pass and you're waving goodbye to the two. You only give that charming officer one more glance, not bothering to return the smile he gives because fatigue weighs down too heavily on you. Hopefully he didn't think of you being rude or unappreciative.
Without a doubt it makes the load of the day a little more manageable for you.
September 21st 2012
Whoever created the idea of workdays and weekends clearly doesn't understand how your schedule works. It has been another sleepless night and early morning between you and Karkat due to his ridiculous fever which decided to ambush out of the blue. You sincerely hope he doesn't have the flu or a stomach bug. There's no way you can afford to catch anything and miss out on work. Public transportation is probably the easiest way to get sick, too, which leaves you with no choice but to start walking to work, which isn't all that bad.
Okay, maybe it is so bad this particular morning when no car understands what a red light means. If no one's planning to stop, it's probably best to just throw yourself out there when it isn't so busy. When the coast seems clear you scurry across, and onto the parallel sidewalk. At least the little café was within eyeshot. Only half a block to go, you could do –oh, no you couldn't. Not with him standing right in front of the entrance.
A pair of aviators sat on his nose to prevent the sun's glare from blinding him. You subconsciously roll your eyes and ignore his idiocy, knowing that today was going to be a long day just like the past fourteen that he's been here for.
"Wow you look like hell, you okay?" A thick eyebrow just barely rises above the lens that inscribes Ray-Bans in the top corner. You're starting to find his comments annoying, especially at this time of day when you're just starting to feel like you need a nap.
"Says the one wearing sunglasses on a cloudy day." You grumble, walking right past him into the shop and behind the counter to leave your coat in the back and retrieve your brown apron to tie around your waist.
Roxy casually leans at the cashier counter, waiting for a customer. Her eyes are half shut and her black lips pull into a one-sided frown. From the corner of your eye you can see how her head perks up every few minutes. Yep, it's definitely a slow day today.
"When do you think he'll be here?" She drawls idly from the cash register, her nails beginning to tap along the side of an empty tip cup.
"I dunno, that kid can't manage his time for life." He removed his glasses and tucks them neatly into his pocket as he padded back inside, standing across from Roxy at the counter.
"Shutcha trap, Cro, yes I can." You look up from where you had been cleaning the counters and there's a smaller version of the dimwit officer with much better style scowling up at him. Dear lord, it's not a surprise that these two know each other. You've seen him a few times during August, always coming here with a much more polite girl and complain at their table about nonsense doctors and for some reason you recall verbatim "Matt Smith's eyebrows." It was strange to see someone, especially of his age, wearing scarves during the summer nearly every time he strolled in the café. It was also the beginning of the times where you've noticed Roxy being less of a help to you since she would always go over there to chat with the two.
Now that you think about it, you've been putting up with that officer for two weeks and you don't even know his name. You remember that the younger one's name began with an E, but the rest of it is slipping away from your memory.
He adjusted the strap of his caramel leather messenger bag on his shoulder and gives Roxy a wave, who returns it, almost appearing relieved with his presence.
"Eri, you're here right on time." He ruffles the shorter one's hair only to be rewarded with a growl from him.
"Stop it! No wonder why I didn't decide 'til now to be within a hundred feet radius of ya." He slips his glasses further up his nose with a finger before smoothing back the tousled violet streak. You assume that these two are probably brothers or close family and leave to wash the cleaner off of your hands. Even at the sink in the back, you can hear the two bickering –or the younger one telling the older one to stop laughing at him.
You can't help but to think of Karkat, he must be miserable back at home. Maybe you'll cut him some slack and help him out with homework if he needs it or if his sickness doesn't alleviate, it'll be time to break his streak of perfect attendance. That also puts your mind out of the summer mindset and into your autumn one, meaning it's time for flu shots before he's the next victim.
"So why didja even bother to come see me anyways?" When you return you find the two sitting at a table while Roxy's fixing them both a drink. She scribbles their names on their cups before beckoning you over. The table goes quiet other than some mumbling as you check to see what she wants.
"This one's for Eri, and that's for Cronus." She hands you a hot chocolate first and then a pumpkin spice latte. So Cronus was his name. Isn't that the name of that Greek god that ate his children? The zarf on the hot chocolate is doing an awful job with keeping your hands from burning, so you hurry across to their table. You double check the two cups before handing them out. You give Eri's his, though you keep in mind the address him as Eridan, which the cup scrawls up the side before his impressively ringed fingers shields the name from your sight.
"Thanks, doll." Cronus gives you one of his trademark smirks as you slide his cup over to his hand, though you only narrow your eyes.
"I'd highly appreciate being called by my name." You sigh and retrieve some cleaning supplies from behind the counter to wipe up some of the tables.
"Alright then, well what's your name?" You're a bit surprised to find that he actually cares. Just to be sure that he was in fact asking a legitimate question, you turn your head up to find his whole self turned in his seat and taking a sip of his latte.
"Kankri." Eridan rolls his eyes when he watches his brother's shit-eating grin form and looks through the leather bag he had brought with him for a book to busy himself with.
"What about Kan?"
"Didn't I just tell you what my name was?" The corners of your mouth pull a little more downwards into a soft frown when you notice how he seems to find this amusing. "Your badinage isn't appeasing anyone here; I certainly hope you realize that—"
"Whoa, okay slow down there boy genius, I didn't mean to rustle ya feathers, alright?"
"If you call me by name, which I had responded to for years, there will be absolutely no reason for me to be offended." He only shrugs and turns back to face Eridan before shaking his head with a small laugh.
"You know you can't just say things like that Eri, especially with how you know Pops will react."
"His name isn't fuckin Pops an who even cares? He's a hypocrite."
"Touché, but still, be the bigger person in this situation."
"Shut up, you're just as guilty of it."
"I didn't say be like me, now did I?" You shift your eyes over to their table momentarily, their conversation now tuned out of your hearing range with mumbles. What are you doing eavesdropping in the first place? It's about time for you to walk away and go make yourself useful, but there's pretty much nothing to be done. Your dear coworker has already called it quits for the moment, perching herself up on the countertop just as the only customer you've had seated in the café walked out the door. With nothing better to do, you begin to refill the napkin dispensers even though they're not even halfway empty yet. At least it makes you productive.
You feel out of place with the silence of the café, though outside leads to all kinds of noise. Usually Roxy and Cronus add to it with their banter and howls of laughter. There's the gentle scrape of paper as Eridan flips a page in his book and then once again you're caught in this strange new dimension of silence. It seems as if everyone's ready to go to sleep and you hate how the weight hanging on your eyelids tempts you to give in. It seems as though nothing's coming today and you certainly hope nothing will. No midnight fevers, no ungrateful customers. Just sleep would be nice right now.
Roxy had begun taking the untouched newspapers from one of the tables, unfolding it into large rectangles. You had watched her as she folded and refolded the same crease on both sides before tearing down it precisely to create a square. From there she proceeded to perform more difficult folds –origami that's way out of your league. The most advanced thing you can fold from memory is a crane, but she stops after folding some kind of octagon before making yet another. Cronus leaves Eridan to his book, walking up next to Roxy and watching her fingers turn the old newspaper into a new spectacle.
"What're you doin with it?"
"Making something." She hummed, crumpling up the scrap pieces of the newspaper before tossing it in their recycle bin. Before you know it, you find yourself wandering over to where she was and peering over her other shoulder to watch.
"It's going to take some time, boys." She looked over both of her shoulders at the two. Cronus only shrugged.
"It's not like we've got much better to do here." He leans more on the counter, not minding the wait. Your eyes felt heavy, regardless of how fascinating her folding abilities were. The steel cylinders behind the counter daze back at you with your reflection, inviting you over. Wordlessly, you grab yourself a coffee and one of the cheese croissants that no one ever touches. The blonde had stopped folding, furrowing her eyebrows at you as you returned by her side.
After being the odd one out for a few minutes, you're a trendsetter, seeing as Roxy had also gotten herself a tea and bagel. She takes a short break to stuff some of the bagel in her mouth and washes it down with scalding tea, which you don't understand how she can just straight up gulp at that temperature. Then she's back to business with folding. The motivation dies down for Cronus as she begins to fold the third octagon.
"How much longer is this thing going to take?"
Instead of telling him to shut up like how you had guessed, her next response was probably the most deliberative idea to ever roll off of her tongue.
"Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet –Jean Jacques Rousseau."
Your chewing slows as the silence eerily creeps up on everyone, though you're the only one who seems to notice. How she knows such a quote from a Genevan philosopher of the eighteenth century is out of your reach, but you take her word for it and work to find serenity in your new dimension.
AN: wow, I really didn't expect to be waiting so long to upload. I've had bad luck trying to flag down a beta, so please forgive mistakes and such. I just didn't see why not since this file has been sitting here completed for a month. Your patience, comments, and suggestions are greatly appreciated! and also if you'd be interested in being a beta, I could really use you guys right now. Thanks!
