Grillby's had just opened and the rain outside started pouring heavily. Grillby himself was glad to be safe inside.
His human employees were talking to each other while finishing up stocking the last delivery in the back. Sometimes he would spot a name or word he recognised, the context surrounding them lost through the language barrier.
The front door opened on the day's first customer, an owl monster whose feathers were heavy from the pouring rain.
"So, hum, you're open, right?"
The fire elemental nodded and gestured to all the seats available ; the owl closed the door behind her and sat at one of the tables nearby a window. She picked up the menu in front of her, declared that she had just finished her night shift and was starving, and ordered one of the biggest burgers. She waited until Grillby went back to the kitchen before trying to shake the water off her body.
The rain was showing no sign of stopping.
A human employee arrived with the feathery monster's order as she was taking tiny objects out of her hears.
"Good morning, here's your…" the human trailed off. "Oh, these are earplugs. Ok."
"I have very sensitive hearing", the owl explained, "and I have to patrol with the loudest monster in all of Ebott, so…"
"…Papyrus?" the waitress guessed.
"Oh, you know him."
"Yup. I actually went to his house once. And his brother comes here all the time."
The bird nodded, grabbed her burger and swallowed it whole. She then turned her head all the way behind her back to take a peek at the window. It was still raining.
"So, hum, don't tell Papyrus about the… earplugs thing" she requested, looking at the human again.
The latter pretended to zip up her lips with her fingers.
"Wait, I think he mentioned at some point he had friends working here?" the monster remembered. "Are you, hum what w- Hisha or -"
"I'm Hisha. And you are?"
"Star. Star Luxoic."
"Nice to meet you. That name should be easy to rememb-"
Hisha had to cut the conversation short when another customer entered. Star remained in her seat, waiting patiently for her feathers to dry and the rain to stop. It slowly turned into a light drizzle but didn't fully go away.
The owl felt her phone vibrate briefly ; it was a group text from Undyne to all the volunteers of the Ebott patrol.
"Humans say we can't create our own police unless we all accept to be trained by THEM! WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP!"
Then another text followed :
"I'VE ALREADY TRAINED MOST OF YOU! AND I CAN TRAIN THE REST!"
And another :
"But Asgore says we should play along anyway, so… reply if you're in?"
Star rested her phone on the table for a moment. Did she want to turn her volunteering into such a demanding career? Was she ready for it?
Oh, it was a job. Which could allow her to move out of her family's house.
She typed "I'm in" and pressed "send". Then immediately regretted it. Then thought "fuck it" and decided she could do it. Yes, she never went through Royal Guard training like most of the others did, but if the humans were going to train her anyway…
The rain didn't quite stop but it had gotten to a point where it was barely noticeable. Star decided now was the time to pay the bill and get back home for a well-deserved rest.