Hi! Okay, wow, super sorry. I haven't updated in so long! Anyway, preview: Cardin just won't leave, Nora doesn't know her own strength, and… is Blake hiding something? (Look ahead for MAYBE Whiterose. I haven't yet decided if this is even gonna have Whiterose.)
It seemed like Cardin was thinking about taking on the job full time, and Nora had something to say about that. That something was not child appropriate, and Penny, wise iPhone she was, was right to bleep her out.
By this time Pyrrha had recovered and was back in the cafe and Cardin was no longer needed, but he seemed to not want to leave. Yang, having not been alerted to Cardin's behavior, was actually considering hiring him full time. Ruby attempted to remind her sister that the cafe already had more employees than it needed, but her attempts were futile. Yang assured her that Cardin would be useful as a part time employee, and if another situation like the one where everyone was sick or busy happened again, he would be there.
Ruby honestly couldn't bring herself to tell Yang and get Jaune in trouble with his parents. Pyrrha had been informed as well, and she had been so angry Ren actually had to hold her down. Since that moment, she had set herself up so she shared every shift that Jaune had with Cardin.
Nora was still going on about breaking his legs and Weiss and Blake were trying to convince Jaune to tell Yang when Ruby walked in on Tuesday. She had purposefully arrived earlier than her sister to warn her coworkers (who, other than Weiss, she was beginning to think of as friends) to cease the talk about Cardin before Yang and he himself showed up.
Jaune looked absolutely mortified by this whole thing, and Pyrrha had scooted up so close to him that she was practically sitting on him, saying probably-comforting words that really weren't helping.
Cardin showed up before Yang, and everyone sat in one of the most awkward silences since the beginning of time until Yang finally showed, smiling brilliantly as always.
"SO!" the blonde began, then paused and scrunched her eyebrows, observing the atmosphere. "Okay, who died?"
Nora giggled and Jaune sighed, but otherwise nobody responded until Ruby stood up and walked over to her sister.
"So, anyway, who has the first shift today?"
Yang blinked. "Oh, Oum, who died?"
"Nobody," Ruby assured her sister. "It's quiet today is all."
Yang did not look thoroughly convinced, but she pulled out her notepad.
"Looks like Weiss and Ruby are behind the counter and Nora and Cardin are serving. Ruby, are you good with that?"
Ruby nodded eagerly, although a little disappointed to have to work with Weiss. At least she could watch Cardin.
"Well? Let's get ready! We only have ten minutes!" Weiss gave her an I swear, if you mess up glare that made Ruby remember that yes, she actually needed to make coffee for people, and she should probably get on that. She and her white haired tormentor moved out into the cafe section and Weiss sat at the counter, a hand on her forehead.
"Do you even know how to make any of these?" she sighed, exasperation clear in her voice.
Ruby tapped her finger. "Umm, not really, but it can't be that hard, Pyrrha showed me a couple on the afternoon shift last week when nobody was-"
Weiss cut her off, spinning around on the stool. She held out a piece of off-white paper. "Here. Here are instructions and everything you need. Don't mess me up." The heiress turned on her heel and flounced back behind the counter. Ruby trudged after her, just a little sulkily, her eyes skimming the front page of the little manual Weiss had handed her. None of the drinks looked terribly hard, but she hadn't really worked with machines like the ones in the cafe.
Weiss showed her the basics while making herself a latte, and then proceeded to just leave it sitting there on the counter as she made the commonly ordered drinks. Ruby followed her motions, eyes glued to the packet.
A seemingly short time later, Nora bounced up to the counter. "One iced mocha, whipped cream, decaf, a croissant, and one iced tea!"
Weiss blinked. "Is Emerald here with someone?"
Nora nodded, glanced around, and in a hushed voice, replied, "It's Cinder!"
Ruby squeaked loudly and Weiss glared at her. The former pursed her lips and hurriedly grabbed a croissant and prepared the iced tea while Weiss took care of the other order. The pearl-haired heiress gracefully handed the tray over to Nora, who skipped off with it. Cardin came by with another order and it took all of Ruby's energy (and from the looks of it, Weiss's too) to not glare at him.
As soon as he was gone the two girls both sighed and Ruby giggled out loud. Weiss gave her an odd look that wasn't actually a glare, surprisingly.
"Weiss!" Penny called in her unsettlingly inhuman yet sweet voice. "Yang would like to see you. I will help friend Ruby with the orders!" the iPhone finished cheerily. Weiss disappeared into the back room.
For the next thirty minutes, time seemed to pass quickly. Penny (volume turned down, thank goodness) helped Ruby out as she made the orders, and her thoughts about Blake and Yang's new (adorable) relationship distracted her from glaring at Cardin. It was only when Velvet and a huge guy dressed in green walked in that she remembered the whole thing. That was also when she realized Weiss still hadn't returned.
Nora can totally beat up Cardin if he makes Velvet cry again.
So can the green guy, probably.
An angry shriek echoed from the back room.
Okay, Mr. Green Guy can take Cardin, and maybe I can ask Nora to take the counter a minute. I have to see what's going on back there.
Nora happily agreed after slurping down Weiss's latte, and Ruby hurried to the back room. Weiss was yelling at Blake.
"Um, what's going on?" Ruby inquired, her question directed at Jaune and Yang. Yang sighed.
"Well, apparently Starbucks got mad at us for using one of their names, so Weiss started yelling at this guy over the phone," Ruby's sister explained.
Jaune continued, "And Blake suggested we just rename it, and Weiss yelled at her about being a Starbucks sympathizer, and now they're arguing about whether Starbucks is evil or not."
Ruby was shocked at what an incredibly stupid reason to have an argument this was.
"Guys, we have enough to worry about with Cardin and all. We don't need this," she pleaded the two girls, whose voices were raised high enough for anyone in the cafe to hear.
Jaune gasped and Ruby realized her mistake. Unfortunately, Yang did too.
"What do you mean, 'with Cardin and all?' What's wrong with Cardin?"
All four other workers jumped in with completely different explanations, but were all once again interrupted by an ear shattering screech, a crash, someone yelling, "NORA!" and someone crying in pain.
"Oh, Oum," Blake muttered. Yang swore and hissed something like "Where's Ren when you need him," and all five of them rushed out into the cafe.
Several customers were standing up, their chairs knocked over, as they backed away. Cinder had coffee down her dress and didn't look happy. (Emerald looked terrified.) Velvet and the green guy were observing the seen, and Ruby noted that Velvet looked a little pleased.
And in the middle of it all was Nora, standing five feet from the wreckage of a table, drenched in coffee, and Cardin, who was clutching his leg and yelling in pain.
Yang swore again, loudly, and Penny, hearing the commotion, dialed the emergency hotline. Weiss rushed to the phone and explained the situation.
Nobody but Ruby noticed Blake quietly slip out the door.
They were closed for the afternoon shift that day, but all nine employees (the ninth being Penny, not Cardin) were gathered in the back room, listening to Nora's story of what happened. She explained that because there was only one server at that point, she had gone to help out. Carrying several drinks at once and a plate full of pancakes, she had attempted to gently kick a table out of her way. Nora, as it turned out, did not know her own strength, and the table had been knocked sideways and hit Cardin.
By this time, Yang had heard from Ruby, Jaune, and Weiss about Cardin. She seemed less than shocked at the news, explaining that Cardin had been a school bully and Yang had hoped he would turn over a new leaf.
Nora didn't seem very affected when she told Ren that she had broken Cardin's legs after all.
Hi all! WE'LL BREAK HIS LEGS! (I love my Nora!) Anyway, I finally decided on my ships.
There will be Bumblebee, Whiterose, Arkos, Renora, Emberald, Crosshares, and Seamonkeys among others. Preview: Blake is missing and Weiss is angry, Bumblebees and Arkos might just happen.