"Yeah well right now you're all acting more like the Boob squad." Angus snapped over his shoulder. "Or- or the Bob Boobs!"
Perhaps a little too harshly. To say the whole shop has gone quiet would be an overstatement. but he can see people turned around in their seats and feel ears perk up. Angus turns with a wince. The four Bureau adults' goggle at him. Killian and Brad both stare at him in shock, their tusks exaggerating the jaw dropping. Avi looks almost hurt. Carey looks at him confused.
"…Dude?"
Angus tries to apologise. But it's like the words are stuck in his windpipe.
"holy shit." Quorf the scorcher mutters, pushing past Angus to start the round of toast himself. At the same time Pam calls, "ANG!". She now has a stack of order receipts on the till counter; and is trying to stop them blowing away in a draft with one hand while operating the till with the other.
and it snaps Angus out of his stupor. The 'Bob squad haven't moved other than Killian and Carey turning to look at each other rather than him.
"Shit- I mean, sugar. Coming!" Angus says scrambling and ends up getting in her and Quorf the Scorcher's way.
"Angus, Quorf, language! Pamela, will you cease that shouting?" Mrs Cosies' voice cuts through the clatter. It's not loud. but it has the edge of a primary school teacher, or a ward matron who has picked up on a whiff of trouble. The halfling herself is suddenly at Angus's side- (well Elbow) - Wiping her hands on her apron, having come out of her kitchen or office. Angus guesses she'd been cooking in the kitchen, her pinnie is covered in brushes of flour.
"This is a tea shop. Not a place to act like barbarians." She adds, as if she's reminding them to take the bins out later. Several patrons are now very interested in looking into their tea cups or at the far back wall, anywhere but the counter least they get told to sharply mind their own business. Mrs Cosie instantly takes in the scene as quickly as Angus does.
Disgruntled customers waiting either in the small queue or for their order. two irratead employees. one employee who isn't making drinks. nosey customers. four customers slowly backing away from the scene of the jam.
Again, her voice when she speaks to him is level. And not unkind. but also, not to be challenged.
"Angus dearie, you're not behind the counter to stand chatting with your mates." She says, then softer still, "go on. go back to them orders, love, before we have a pile up."
They do already have a pile up. Not a particle large one. but Angus ducks his head and whips back to the job he's paid to do. Mrs Cosie was a cheerful stout woman, and shorter than the average halfling, dressed in loose florals and frills. but still had a natural intimidation check modifier that would put the willies up the most bravest knight or scoundrel. Just as it did to the Bure members.
He can see the reflection in the chrome of the toaster. He is very confused by Panicked looks on their faces as Mrs Coie Rounds on them, moving around the counter into the shop space. Even Brad, who is half way across the room, shrinks against her scolding.
"And you four! Again? What did I tell you about messing around in my shop?"
"Sorry Mrs Cosie!" They chorus like naughty school children. Angus almost drops a mug. He'd had never heard them like that. Not even when addressing Madam Director after they'd accidently trashed the training dome that time.
"We mean it, we're really sorry Mrs Cosie." Brad tries.
"Oh, I'm sure you are." Mrs Cosie replied with a scoff. "Away with you. Given your uniforms and all the good work the Bureau do, I'd thank you kindly not to harass the staff or treat this like a high school! Espiley when we're busy."
"We were just-!" Avi tries. But Mrs Cosie held her hand up.
"I don't care what you were just doing, or if Robbie's here and all." She said firmly. "If you're looking for high jinx I suggest you head to a tavern but need I remind you this is Old Mill Tea rooms, is not a youth club. I'm sure you and Angus here can all catch up after your own shifts."
Angus can only wince Wince as his friends scurry away and out, Carey quite literally with her tail between her legs. Killian tries again to explain the situation but Mrs Coise starts Shooing them out with a tea towel and cheery "enjoy your drinks, but good day to you all."
They vamoose, drink and all, Not daring to even hang around outside.
"Friends of yours Ang?" Pam asks.
"Er- sort of." Angus denies. Which makes him feel bad because team sweet flips are another set of parental figures to him, Avi was the first to make him feel welcome on the moon base and Brad is- well Brad is so nice. But Mrs Cosie is back behind the counter before he says anything else.
"I don't believe in banning people from the shop. but goddess of the hearth, I wish I could discourage those four and young Roberta coming in together all at once? They're so well behaved on their own." Mrs Cosie says to Him Pam and Quorf the Socreer in a sigh. then addressing a customer "sorry about that Mr Accorn, two teas and a scone was it? coming right up. How's the little one by the way?"
Mrs Cosie steps up next to Angus to help him tackle the small pile up of orders before she heads back to the kitchen. Pam and Quorf the Sorcerer go back to work and no more on the matter is said. The kink is ironed out as quickly as occurred. It doesn't mean Angus feels any less bad.
"Cheer up, it happens." Quorf the Sorcerer shrugged. "My whole coven turned up one day."
And Pam lets him off about his slip up with a tut-tut and a fond bop on the peak of his cap. But Angus is left feeling rottenly guilty for the rest of the shift. So much for the young mister nice boy, He thinks to himself. He sends Avi a quick tapped out "sorry" on his stone at break. He doesn't get a reply back instently and is thus anxious. Later, in his dorm room he's still worried about the whole thing, even if Brad does phone over the stone to apologise properly. It's lightened up by tales of hijinx the Squad had previously caused in the café, but it's rather awkward.
Angus sighs as Brad hangs up. and makes a note to take them all some cakes next time he's heading up to the base. Then fills his day up with schoolwork and magic till he falls asleep.