Disclaimer: see first chapter + warnings
An Unexpectedly Friendly Welcome
When Maria's bus pulls into Gotham Central Station, the morning light is pulling the early risers of the city along the roads and pavements. She debates wasting cash while she's still jobless, but ends up huffing and getting a cab that takes her across the bustling city to a tall shop front. Maria digs out her cash, but is startled when the cab driver denies it.
"You're a soldier, right?"
Maria blinks but then remembers her trousers are military slacks, and the thermal jumper she's wearing has her rank and regiment on it. "Uh…yes."
The cab driver doesn't seem fazed by Maria's social skills. "Hey, my boy just joined up last month! The ride's free, Sergeant."
Maria swallows, slightly embarrassed. "Sir, that's very kind, but-"
"Seriously, I ain't taking that from you. You guys do enough." He gives Maria a warm smile, but it just serves to make her feel worse. All she can think about is this guy's son being just another Peckerman, waiting to be blown up. Finally, Maria thanks her driver and leaves, discreetly stuffing her cash into the pocket on the back his seat.
Once she's out of the car, Maria takes in the storefront ahead of her. It's a warmly paint wooden front, with old school golden lettering identifying the shop as a Tailors. Mannequins on either side of the door display artfully crafted suits and long dresses in rich colours. As Maria pushes open the door, a gentle but insistent tinkle from the bell echoes across the shop. The inside is again full of wooden furniture, with a wide counter and reels of fabric on display. On the other side, Chesterton chairs lean against the wall. From a dimly lit corridor ahead, Maria sees a waddling older man rush towards her. "Hello, hello! Welcome. How can I help you today, young lady?"
Maria accepts the hand that is thrust towards her and is bemused to have her hand kissed lightly. "Mr Ghiandoni, I take it? My name is Maria Coast. We spoke about the room available?"
The older man's incredibly bushy eyebrows shot up, the rest of his face rising up as if on strings. "Ahh, so you are the young lady we spoke to!" Sudden a loud crash could be heard from further into the building. "Eliza!"
"Whaaaaaat?" A horse woman's voice echoed towards them.
With a huff of irritation, Maria watched fascinated as her new acquaintance sucked in a breath and yelled obscenely loudly. "Eliza! Come over here!"
"Why should I?!"
"Are you kidding me?" He muttered again, before screaming back, "Becaaaase, Miss Coast is here!"
A sudden collection of smashes and bangs answered them, then stomping down creaking stairs. Finally an incredibly short lady hurries over to them and gasps dramatically at the sight of Maria. "Oh my! Look at you! Such a beauty!" Maria flushed with embarrassment. Suddenly the older woman turned on the man. "And what do you think you're doing, making our new tenant get a cold from standing by the door? Honestly Sal! Sweetie, follow me, let's get you warm."
'Sal' grumbled in protest, but Maria doesn't hear his response as she tries to keep up with the constant stream of words from her captives' mouth. Finally, the monologue ends and Maria is ordered by Eliza to sit and have some breakfast, because 'honestly don't they feed you in the army?!'
Maria does as she's told, amused but more than a little nervous around the Ghiandonis.
For the next two days, Maria feels as if she's in a different world. The Ghiandonis are overtly loud the entire time, which is taking a lot for Maria to get used to, and it's somewhat confusing how much they fight then end up laughing hysterically within minutes. Sal, the artist behind their tailoring shop, proves to be a typical Italian American man in his 60s, with a fondness for good cooking and opera. Both his wife and himself are comically short and round, with greying hair and leathery tans (Maria has been called down numerous times to get cans from high shelves in the kitchen).
Maria is feeling very out of her comfort zone, but she's not necessarily hating living with such lively landlords as she would've expected. It makes her uncomfortable how Eliza is constantly trying to force her to have several servings, but she finds herself enjoying it after a couple of times. The only real rules are that she eats 'with the rest of thee family' and helps out with chores, and considering the ridiculously low rent, its a miracle Maria is staying here. A somewhat comfortable dynamic is forming where Maria can be her usual loner self so long as she ventures out of her room enough times to let Eliza spoil her with her rich cooking. The Ghiandonis seem to have immediately accepted her for some reason, but Maria isn't complaining; she's just not used to people being so friendly.
The room Maria is renting out is more than worth whatever change in pace. Sal apparently served in the army in his youth, and ever since clearing the attic to his home, he's been renting out the available space to discharged soldiers returning home. Maria finds that comforting, to know that she hasn't lost contact with her army life; she can see the comradeship in the way Sal folds fabric, shines his leather shoes and sometimes refers to fondly her as "Serge".
Maria wakes up on her third day in Gotham with a slow inhale. Her mind lazily works to tell her that Eliza is up early again, cooking something with buttery garlic, bacon and bread. The older lady has already proven herself to be the best cook that Maria had ever met (though she doesn't really know any others).
Maria closes her eyes briefly, feeling her sore body roll across the bed like a cat. She savours the warm lines of sun falling onto her, but eventually heaves herself up firmly. The room she's rented is better than she could've hoped or ever afforded if in another circumstance. It's all exposed stone and timber beams like the rest of the old building, with several radiators that gurgle at night. Her dark wooden bed sits against the wall facing the door and is made with thick red bedding. Matching curtains are layered over a large bay window to the left, which is the street side. Maria can already hear the city ambience from outside, coming in with a crisp breeze. On the opposite side of the room, there's a narrow brick fireplace (not yet used), a door leading to her mint tiled bathroom, and a slightly battered wooden desk and chair set. The entrance of the bedroom is wedged between a chest of drawers and several nailed up shelves, which Maria is planning to dust at one point.
Yes, she was very lucky to have the living situation she had, and it was certainly better than the last time she was in Gotham. With a grimace, Maria dismisses that thought to get ready for the day.
When she meanders downstairs, she finds an already familiar sight; Sal is sitting reading the newspaper while Eliza fits around the open kitchen and singing to the radio. Maria murmurs a soft good morning as she enters: She's met with enthusiastic returns.
"Bella, come sit down! I'll have your breakfast done in a moment." Eliza says as she herds Maria next to her husband.
Maria smiles gratefully. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Nonsense!" Eliza exclaims. "Stay where you are! You're so thin; it's a wonder what they were feeding you. Why, when Sal came back from the army, believe me when I tell you he gained a few stone!"
Sal scowled up her. "And I keep tellin' ya Liz, that weight was all muscle!"
"Of course dear." She smiles back sardonically. Placing a warm plate in front of Maria, she ignores her husband's grumbling. "Any plans for today?"
Maria nods, then after a pause forces herself to expand on her affirmative. "I've got that interview at Berk Industries, so I'll be heading out soon. I can pick up something from the market on the way back?"
Sal hummed in thought. "What's the job?"
"Lab assistant in the Materials Science department."
Eliza came to join them with a pot of coffee. "Oh of course! You know, I was saying to Sal how clever you are to get a degree while on tour. Didn't we say that, Sal?"
Her husband grunted while Maria blushed slightly. "Not a lot of lady engineers around. Don't let them mess you around, ya hear me?"
"Oh don't be so dramatic!" Eliza snapped before Maria could answer. "Maria, could you get some things for me when you're out? I'll write you a list."
"She ain't a slave, woman!" Sal drawled, quickly retreating behind his paper at the look Eliza threw him.
The younger woman snorted, relaxing as she watched the couple's dynamic. It reminded her of the banter her old squad used to throw around. As she swallowed another bite of her bacon sandwich, Eliza's gaze suddenly glinted towards her, "You know, Maria, maybe you can pick up some clothes on the way as well, hm? I think there's a Macys next block over."
Maria looked down at her pressed uniform and polished boots, then shrugged. It wasn't like she had any other formal clothes for an interview.
Maria found herself marching out of the underground and into the business district of Gotham. The journey had been quite the experience; people stared openly at the Sergeant as she stood like a statue by the metal railings, muttering around her curiously. After all, the only military that came through Gotham was the national guard, and she was obviously in the wrong uniform for that. The underground itself was confusing; she didn't see the point of having to buy a ticket instead of using cash, but it still took her to where she wanted so there wasn't really much point in complaining.
Even though she knew that she couldn't spend all her time in her fatigues, Maria felt relaxed in her uniform. She usually didn't like being stared at, but on the other hand, she liked being known as a soldier. To Maria, people weren't looking at her, but the hard work and position she represented. To the other passengers, she was a towering embodiment of a proud Sergeant, and so they stare in mild wonder. A group of high schoolers ogled her in one corner. When the carriage abruptly shuddered, a frail lady was caught firmly before she would hit the ground. Maria steadies her with a polite smile, "Ma'am." With that, the other passengers fell into another round of muttering.
Berk industries turns out to be a modesty stacked glass tower at one corner of a busy square. Maria's eyes flit over the modern granite fountain in the centre and the myriad of sharply dressed businessmen. When she enters the foyer, she had her choice of several reception desks, but heads to one unoccupied receptionist. "Hello Ma'am, could you direct me to the Materials Science Department?"
The middle-aged receptionist looks a little startled being referred to as 'Ma'am' by a woman who seems to be the same age, but dismisses it with a polite smile. "Of course, but could I have your name and business? You'll have to wear a visitors' badge."
Maria nods. "Sergeant Maria Coast. I'm here for an interview." Belatedly, she realises that her rank really wasn't necessary.
A few moments later, Maria is walking out of the elevator, past rows of glass walls and silver office doors. As she walks past, her silhouette draws the eyes of the office workers, some discretely taking their coffee breaks to watch where Maria is going. Finally, through some convoluted corridor, Maria finds yet another reception desk and is sent to a set of blue leather chairs to await her interviewer.
Maria sits rigidly and stares at the square clock ahead for exactly 5 minutes and 32 seconds. At that point, a man with a slight limp comes towards her. Maria takes in his receding ginger hair and goatee, as well as the rolled up sleeves of his navy suit, before politely smiling and standing.
"Sorry about the wait! You must be Miss Coast, correct? Or is Sergeant appropriate?" He says half-jokingly.
Maria forces herself not to stop smiling. "Maria is fine. Thank you for seeing me today, Mr…."
"James Wilson. Shall we get you settled? Thirsty? No, ok then."
Maria is somewhat grateful to be led away from the boredom of the reception to a smaller office painted a warm blue. She mirrors James as he sits behind his glass desk. Most of the interview runs through Maria's CV and college grades ("Well you certainly are qualified!" James jokes) and getting a feel for her. She knows she comes off as competent and a hard worker but has a habit of acting cold (it really isn't natural for Maria to hold a smile this long). Eventually however, the interview is over.
"How about I show you where the fun stuff happens?" James says as he gets up. At Maria's agreement, he leads them to a floor below ground level where the workshops and labs are based. As soon as they stepped out, the distinct smell of machine oils, burnt plastics and sterilising alcohol hits them.
Maria thought she could get used to it.
Thank you to the reviewers!