Chapter 6: Just want to be a Good Girl

'Vhat?'

Mumble.

'Ich bin-'

Mumble mumble. Morg frowns at being interrupted.

'Mein gott, scheisse, you muz understand dat ze-', she fires off a rapid stream, two languages mixing, and you raise an eyebrow at her.

Mumble mumble mumble. She scowls and does not look at you only to glare at Amumu, who wrongly thought that she wanted him to get lost and began wetting his bandages. Poor mummy. If he had not been the sole customer in the bakery Morg's ire would not have fallen on him.

'Verdamnt. Alright. It vil be done.'

Mumble. You see Morg's face turn many shades of red and she looks like she wants to kill someone.

Mumble Mumble Mumble. The other person must be speaking really fast, you realise.

Silence.

'Danke.'

Click.

She puts down that Piltoveran gizmo called a 'telephone' and stands huffing at the world and you assume she is sorting out her thoughts.

'Ana dear', she speaks at last, reverting to Runeterran basic and ditching the Southern Demacian language she had just used to speak with whoever was on the other end just moments ago , 'there's something I need to let you know.'

You stop wiping the counter top and look at her in askance. You hope Amumu does not wet his slice of cake and come ask for another one like the last time. Had you the presence of mind, you would have reminded yourself to not fall for his Sad Mummy act, however genuine it looks. You don't really know; maybe you are just a sucker when it comes to people who were unhappy.

'Fiora and the Food and Hygiene Committee are going to drop by tomorrow for a food safety standards evaluation...', she begins, but you already knew what her whole message was, so you stop listening and hold up a hand so she can save her breath.

'I understand', you hear yourself say even though you don't. Not really. The grading was supposed to be carried out once every three months; it has ben seven weeks since the last check. You had not the barest clue what brought this on; Sinful Succulence had always scored an S rank in food standards. And yes, S for stellar.

So there was little legitimate reason for another inspection so soon.

You receive a look from your boss that conveys in just two irises equal amounts sympathy for you and indignation at the Grand Duelist. You, too, felt sympathy for yourself; the preparations for a 'Safety in Food Standards' were overwhelming, even if Morg pitched in to help. Morg sighs unhappily.

She flicks her wrist and summons her cookies, and without having to ask she takes one and give it to you. Then, as if she had an angel on a shoulder and a devil on the other debating, she pauses.

Then she gives you another cookie and watch as you stare at her and there is a heat in your chest that has nothing to do with the sunny weather and it makes you feel warm.

You munch chewy chocolate in your mouth as you ponder if you could sway uptight Fiora with a bribe of innocent cookies and decide that is marvelous idea.

Cookies. Yes. Cookies solve everything.

(break)

The next day...

'This iz ridiculous', she huffs.

You can only watch as she stares at the glass of juice. The Grand Duelist squints at it, as if somehow by doing so she would be able to de-mystify whatever it was that was bugging her.

'I asked for my ice on zee bottom of the glass, ja?'

'Yes, but-'

'-no buts, Ms... ahh', she glares at your name tag, '...Choi.'

'No buts', she shakes her head for emphasis as she struts around to the other end of the counter to face you, 'I specifically asked for zee ice on zee bottom of my glass, and now you put it on zee top, no?'

You are tempted to yell 'crazy bitch' at her face and start asking her if she legit wanted you to fucking change the law of Physics and make ice float on the bottom of a glass of orange juice instead of on top, but you feel a hand squeeze your arm from behind and you hold your tongue as Morgana comes up beside you.

'Mhm,' Fiora takes your silence as an admission of guilt and purrs as she sashays over to the display cases and begins perusing the goodies while a Secretary, Definitely-Not-Velkoz absentmindedly scribbles down notes with his many tentacles while just idly levitating right in front of the door. You liked the hat and glasses apparel; you thought Velkoz looked very laid back in that attire- he and Bard would fit right in.

'Vhat iz this?', she has her nose almost pressed right up against the glass. You see her pointing in the general direction of... Caitlyn's crate of cupcakes.

You had been in a rush to get ready for the inspection, so you had hastily shoved Cait's order into the only available space you saw. You now begin to regret your decision.

'Ms. Choi? I vil have one of that.'

The way it was spoken like a command has Morg tensing up behind you, but she held her peace. For now.

Almost reluctantly, you walk over and gets the Demacian Noblewoman one of the cupcakes.

She stares at the offering in her hand for one long moment, and then orders you to get another for her assistant just chilling over there. You are slightly baffled but complies because, hey, it's important to appease her and get that S rank for Sinful Succulence after all.

...

You feel weird handing a weird-octopus-void-hybrid-thingy a cupcake and even weirder to see the treat being literally disintergrated by a blast of laser from one of his tentacles, but Velkoz wiggles appreciatively and you chalk it up to some weird drug the scary lizard people must have no doubt slipped into your morning coffee to make you hallucinate up this whole bizzare scenario.

Fiora is taking very delicate bites out of the cherry-topped goodie, so gingerly, in fact, that you almost think she is afraid the cupcake will be the one biting her back.

'Oh my', you hear Morg gasp and turn to look at her, then, seeing the direction of her gaze, you turn to the Grand Duelist.

There is a mighty-pleased smile on her face. You had to admit that she looked good even with her head held so high to try and look down at you along the length of her nose.

Fiora is smiling.

'Give them zee S rank', she says, and Velkoz scribbles furiously, 'vee are gettin out of here.'

You smile, hopeful, and takes one tentative towards the Grand Duelist. It was over already? So soon? And here you were thinking that they might get something like an A grade or something. You heart swells with relief.

'Would you like another cupcake? A parting gift, on the house?'

She smiles at you, but there is this look in her eyes that you do not like very much suddenly.

'Vy? Yes? Danke. I vill take zee whole box.'

And she takes all the cupcakes and walks out with Definitely-not-Velkoz in tow to leave you standing there with mouth agape.

The chimes sound and they are gone, but the words still ring in your ears and you are tempted to flip off at the heavens and maybe at Demacia in particular for having created such a woman.

'I vill take zee whole box'.

You sigh and get back to work.

Cait would want her cupcakes eitherway, and you were never one to disappoint.