Chapter 9
There was a lot of tension in the room.
Some of the waitresses and cooks were either too tense to move, praying, or just plain staring at the object drawing their attention with drool at the corner of their mouths.
"Anya," The cat person snapped out of her trance, her tail and ears twitched in an instant. "Please stop staring at the dish like that, it's endearing."
"Sorry nya~."
"Also, clean up the drool from your mouth."
"So merciless!" Every member of the staff expressed while Anya did as told, not a hint of shame on her face as she focused on the dish Drake had in his hands.
"Can you please move on? we will be here all morning if we don't move ahead of this." Lunor exclaimed after having dragged Anya to the back of the kitchen, the blonde sighed seeing he was still getting used at their antics.
It has already been over a week since he was hired at the Hostess. One of Mia's conditions was teaching her staff how to cook new dishes or overall help them get better at cooking, seeing that the head chef still needed some experience and then some.
And just like that, he began testing dishes since day one to see how May was doing. However, he never expected it to become something like a cooking grade show seeing how everyone was waiting as if it was a damn elimination round.
"Let's just get this over with," he replied after sighing as he took a bite out of a crab, ham, and veggie bake. The blonde could feel the tension in the room rise once again, but this time it was worse seeing all the focus was on him. Also, the fact that he could feel Mia's glare behind him didn't help at all.
The dwarf in question was currently sitting on a chair, her elbows resting on her knees with her head over her intertwined hands. Had everyone not been looking at him, they would surely pass out by how intense it was.
"… 7/10."
"Oh, come on nya~" May exclaimed as she threw her hat on the floor, she had remained quiet and pale until now. If anything, her sudden reaction amused him seeing the 'contestant' would complain when they are not comfortable with their grade… and it looked even more like a cooking grading show when the people started to complain at the job.
"Tyrant!"
"Demon!"
"Slave Driver!"
His eye twitched at the last one seeing how it was most definitely Mia.
"Ok, Ok," Mia walked to his side as she clapped her hands to calm them down before she took a bite off the dish. "… I would give it a 10/10 really." She looked at him while both ignored the mix of reactions out of everyone, they were mostly angry at him.
"I know you can be harsh in your judgement, but a seven?"
He shrugged. "I would give it a nine. Honestly," that shut them up, but Drake beat them to it. "If it wasn't for the fact I was being watched by a massive pack of vultures." He could feel their intense glare after a moment. "Part of the food it's the experience, how the hell do you want me to enjoy something with all that tension?" He said in a tone 'isn't it obvious?', which infuriated them seeing they started to complain again.
"It's your fault!" he sighed. "You have been giving poor grades to May."
He raised his fist to count. "I gave her a 3 because she burned the first one. I gave her 5 because she didn't put enough Crab Roe in it and then the same for putting too much on it." Drake continued as he raised a finger for every intent May did. "And finally, I gave her a 1 because I had tried someone else's food before hers, my tongue needed to recover."
Everyone looked confused at him while May recalled the day, she had been so shaken by that grade she didn't hear his explanation for it. "Whose food was it anyway?" May asked. Everyone then turned around to focus at a certain waitress as if the answer had been delivered by a God in tenkai.
Syr Flova stood with a trembling smile on her face, her body pretty much on the same state as all eyes were on her.
"… Makes sense."
"Can't blame him for that one."
"He survived the Mysterious Food X!"
The comments kept going and going until Syr bolted out of the kitchen crying, if anything the way she ran out kind of looked like something out of a comedy. His amusement only increased as Ryuu followed after her with a bored look, it looked like she had also experienced her friend's food firsthand.
"Anyway, I can finally give this plate my OK." He heard a collective sigh of relief, which made Drake chuckle as she looked at everyone that was present in the kitchen. "Don't be so relieved, you lot. May now has to teach you how to prepare the damn thing, and she will be grading it."
All the cooks froze in place before they looked at Mia. "He's correct. And I hope you learn this and every dish to come as if it were a God's divine will." Her eyes narrowed. "Am I clear?"
"Yes, Mama!"
The blonde stared blankly as all the cooks brought most of the military he knew to shame by how everyone followed Mia's words.
"Good, now get back to work! This was supposed to be a private tasting with May alone, yet I see all of you here!" they didn't waste a single moment in scattering.
"Now… I thought you weren't gonna give it an 'OK' until she got a…" Her words died down the moment she stared at the blonde, who was finishing May's dish. "…perfect score"
The blonde stared at the dwarf, who was giving her a glare that indicated she wanted to have another taste at it. The former Noble simply shrugged as he stated, "You realize this is my breakfast, right?"
Mia groaned and took a deep breath before she sighed. "Just… forget about it."
"Choose one of them?"
The sudden question made the blonde look confused at his current boss, only to notice Lunor and Chloe were being held by Mia, who was trying their best not to send a glare at them.
"Depends, what did they do?" he dropped the tone in his voice as his eyes narrowed. "And what exactly do you want me to be an accomplice of?"
Both waitresses felt a chill run down their spines as Mia laughed. "Don't scare them." She copied the blonde's demeanor. "That's my job."
Although Drake did it as a joke, Mia on the other hand put a little more intent behind these words. "These two idiots were in charge of restocking everything this week, but for some stupid reason!" Both waitresses looked away with blank faces as Mia raised her voice. "They didn't!"
"She was supposed to do it! / She was supposed to do it nya~!"
Drake sighed. "I take it each one of you thought the other one would take care of it." both nodded. "Pretty stupid all right!"
"Hey! / Hey! nya~"
"How the hell do you not come to an agreement and think the other will handle it?"
Both stared at each other. The Artes user had to force himself not to facepalm as he saw the faces of confusion on both.
"He gets to curse at the cl-clients… that's not fair." Lunor exclaimed, her face planted on the table and half a bottle of wine in her hand. "Do you… hav-have any id-idea how much- I am g-getting hit on?!"
The drunk waitress stated while in a stupor . She's hit one at least three times a day, and although she gets permission to retaliate if she's touched somewhere they shouldn't touch, verbal insinuations wasn't something she could retaliate at.
"Yo-You are not that ho-hot nya~" Chloe snorted, in truth being in a similar situation as the short-haired waitress . Her only complaint about the blonde was his age.
"Wh-y couldn't he be you-nger nya~!?" she suddenly lifted her head from the table and raised her hands in the air with a bottle in hand as if a deity would listen to her.
"Because I don't want to be sued by sexual harassment thanks to you."
Both jumped off their table and turned around in defense position to see Mia giving them a not so amused stare. "Drunk and awake late at night," Mia thought out loud, a grin adorning her face; that wasn't a good sign. "And here I was wondering who was gonna be in charge of restocking for this week." Mia exclaimed as she walked past them to slam the list on the table while ignoring two groans behind her. "And make sure to clean this room, I don't want to see any of this tomorrow."
Both stared at each other as Mia's steps disappeared in the distance. By now both eyes were narrowed at each other, not out of seriousness but at pure drunkenness. Her face and equilibrium were also a mess, they were in no condition for thinking… and yet, for some reason-
"I clean and you restock. / I clean and you restock nya~."
They started to negotiate about it, and so it continued that way for fifteen minutes before they completely forgot what they were talking about and went to bed.
Drake Aurion would wake up early like always to find out the recess area needed some clean up.
"That explains it." he sighed after they heard the story. "I thought the whole Hostess had a hand on that mess, but it was only you two."
"You cleaned all that?" A scowl made itself present on Mia's face, the two waitresses were now covering behind the unamused blonde. "No shit it was so clean!"
Apparently, Mia had congratulated both of them the following morning. Truth to be told, they were still under the effect of the hangover, so Mia's words of compliment flew way over their heads. It was for this very reason that Mia thought she didn't have to remind them about their other task… That had obviously been a mistake.
'A domino effect… a pretty stupid domino effect.' He thought to himself before sighing. "To be honest, you shouldn't have had any expectations for them."
"He's right!" Lunor exclaimed, not daring to show her face while Chloe looked a little over his shoulder. "You know we are not trustworthy nya~"
Mia's face started to turn red while the blonde's eye twitched.
"That wasn't a compliment you dumb fools!" Both exclaimed.
"You want me to take care of the restock," he then pointed at the two idiots sitting on their knees. "And take one of them to help me… ok, why?"
"Why you? Or why not both of them?"
"Yes." Drake replied blankly, Mia's tick mark made itself present.
"Don't be a smartass." She sighed. "I am sure these two would find a way to make a mess out of things."
Both looked down. They pretty much put themselves in that position, and they knew it. "So that leaves you available to go with one of them."
He focused on them. "And the other one?"
Mia gave a coldly grin. "Will have to take care of the work of the other besides their own."
Both paled, they were about to complain, but a stare from Mia was about to shut them up.
"…ok." He crossed his arm. "It's not like I have a preference over anyone here so… what?"
The blonde's statement took an abrupt turn seeing everyone was looking at him with blank expressions. It took him a moment to understand why.
"I don't have any kind of preference over anyone here."
Lunor crossed her arms. "You sure? I mean, you are pretty obvious as to who you dislike the most seeing you avoid her like a plague,"
'Syr' everyone thought.
"But you also treat someone here more favorably than the others nya~."
Drake narrowed his eyes, the annoyance with himself for even considering that increased. "Who?"
They were about to answer, until Anya came into the kitchen with a bucket of clothes. "Drake nya~. I am gonna wash the clothes today nya ~. Do you want me to wash some of your clothes as well nya~." He nodded as he walked to the chair where his jacket and scarf lay.
"Thanks, Anya." He placed her clothes in the basket before he patted her head, the cat person in return purred in delight. "Thanks, nya~" she replied as she walked out of the room.
"Ok, who…" everyone, and that included even the kitchen staff, looked at him with the same blank expression as before, it was easy to think what they were thinking at this point. "… I don't have favoritism towards Anya." He replied bluntly, to which more than one person snorted.
"Riiiiight." Lunor said sarcastically. "And what do we call… whatever that was?"
The blonde sighed. "Showing appreciation."
Lunor raised an eyebrow. She was about to ask what exactly was talking about, but Mia made a gesture with the hand to stop as she stared at Drake.
She knew the hidden meaning behind those words. Anya had a massive abandonment issue, not to mention an inferiority complex thanks to certain people. The fact that she considered herself an abandoned street cat was enough indication of that.
So, Drake doing those gestures every time she did something was a way to support her.
'Poor girl has a poor state of mind, only being surpassed by that genocidal elf when she first arrived here.' She thought before her thought took a sudden turn. 'It's obvious how I know that. But does he?'
Mia knew she was smart, but to figure it out after just one week… She knew he was an Adventurer, even though he didn't call himself one, so the best she could figure out at the moment was that it was thanks to some kind of skill.
"Just choose between those two idiots and be back before six." Mia exclaimed as she walked out of the room, leaving everyone but Drake wondered what that was about.
'Finally, someone subtle.' The blonde thought as he noticed someone had wrapped her arms around his arm. "So, shall we go nya~?"
The blonde's eye twitched as she saw Chloe clinging on his arm like an actual cat.
"Oh my!" Lunor didn't waste her time in taking his other arm's freedom seeing she was now in a similar position as Chloe's. "It's his choice, right~?"
The blonde could feel the stares from the cooking staff, but he couldn't tell if it was directed at the two waitresses acting desperate, or him simply by finding himself in this situation.
"Why don't we take this time to learn more about each other nya~?" Chloe whispered in his ear.
"Choose me. We both know who's better in every aspect." Lunor replied as she not so subtly pressed her chest on his arm.
The one-way exchange continued for a full minute before the blonde final reached a decision. "…Nope." He crossed his arms to make both lose their balance and then crash their heads with the other.
May's jaw dropped as everyone else froze at the demonstration of savagery and bluntness they just saw.
"Play rock, paper and scissors or decide for yourselves, I don't care." Drake stated as he sat down on a nearby chair and ignored the incoming pouts from both waitresses, who were rubbing their foreheads.
"I wouldn't recommend that." May said suddenly. "You know what they say about branches cut from the same tree?"
"… That they're idiots?"
Several snorts were heard in the kitchen while the two complained at the blonde. According to May, things could take some time seeing they almost always ended in a draw with that particular game.
It made sense to the blonde, both had good reflexes, so ending with the same draw several times was possible for them if they paid attention to one another.
"Ok then…" he looked at the kitchen staff. "Do any of you want to decide?"
Everyone suddenly turned away, even May. He got the message clearly.
'Don't get me involved in your mess, huh?' he thought, which could be considered everyone's collective thought, which meant he could only do one thing.
"Fuck my life." He thought out loud as he walked to the kitchen's entrance, which confused everyone. The thought of him deciding to go on his own could be possible seeing as he didn't seem to care, but they were corrected the moment the following words came out of his mouth.
"Hey Syr!" he shouted from the kitchen's entrance. The simple fact that he called the name of the one person he kept his distance from made everyone's eyes go wide. The two waitresses on the other hand had their jaws fell loose seeing he apparently preferred Syr over them.
But once again, they are wrong.
"Who do you think should accompany me to the market? Chloe or Lunor?"
Both waitresses froze in realization. It made sense, if no normal person dared to choose, then leave it to the one person that didn't have a hint of subtlety in them to choose.
"… I think Chloe should go with you!"
Everyone seemed to imagine the girl using the kind smile she always uses. Meanwhile Chloe raised her fist in the air as a sign of victory while Lunor remained on her knees and with her arms resting on the floor.
"Damn it… all that work." she cursed as he gave a soft punch on the floor.
"I will go chan-" Chloe started to walk to the entrance, but the blonde's next statement killed every bit of new found hope she had managed to get.
"Lunor, go change. I will be waiting outside, you have five minutes" Everyone's jaw dropped as Lunor's head snapped up, her eyes filled with hope while Chloe fell on her knees with a forced smile on her face.
"… Why nya~?!"
The blonde sighed as he walked to the cat person. "Because Syr chose you."
It took her some time to process the words that were transmitted to her, and in all honesty... "It makes sense nya~."
Chloe sighed.
She was never gonna underestimate the blonde's wariness of Syr ever again.
"That's right, blame Syr." He said as he patted her head in the same way he did to Anya.
"Next time." He exclaimed, to which she nodded slowly while Lunor snorted. Unfortunately, her humor didn't last long seeing that Drake narrowed her eyes at her. "Why the hell are you still standing here, you dumb bitch?"
She narrowed her own eyes and prepared to retort, but Drake didn't let her. "Any more wasted time and Mia will wonder why we're still here." He smirked coolly, the waitress went pale at the statement and rushed out of the kitchen.
'Merciless' May thought, as did the rest of her coworkers as the blonde waved goodbye before leaving the kitchen.
"Come Chloe nya~." May walked to her fellow cat person seeing she was still on her knees. "You can't always be the thieving cat nya~." She pressed her hand over her friend's shoulder so Chloe would look up, and to her surprise, she wasn't depressed. If anything, she was smiling, even though her lips were trembling.
"It felt nice nya~." Chloe exclaimed as her slight blush made itself present.
Mia figured out she meant the pat Drake gave her before.
Chloe now understood why Anya acted that way.
If Lunor had to define Drake Aurion in a few words , it would be an asshole.
'A pretty good-looking asshole.' Lunor snorted at the thought as she walked next to the blonde from stand to stand.
Mia's latest 'stray cat' seemed to be the most practical person she has met since working in the Hostess. He didn't complain at all when Mia asked him something, and even gave a hand if he saw someone in need of help.
Although that didn't mean he would do the person's job, Syr being the perfect example for it since the waitress always tried to avoid doing the dishes duty to the point a single mountain of dirty dishes became three. The blonde would stand next to her with a glare that no person wanted to receive until she made her job.
Suffice to say, despite his obvious animosity towards Syr, he was like that with everyone… and that was also a problem.
As proven before, the blonde didn't show any of the usual reaction any normal person would if two beautiful ladies clinged him. Now, she by all means didn't consider herself beautiful, but that didn't mean she was ugly by any means. And yet, the blonde had pushed away any kind of advance anyone has attempted on him.
Many had thought about how Drake would be making the first move on any of the girls in the Hostess first. But he never did, almost as if Mia knew this would happen seeing one of the reasons no man was ever hired was for the high chance of harassment or relation to happen.
When asked why she was so sure he wouldn't initiate or reciprocate any advance, Mia would laugh as if she heard a good joke.
'He's not gonna go looking for something he doesn't need.' That had been Mia's statement, which pretty much discarded the idea of not being interested in the opposite gender.
A part of Lunor felt relieved for this seeing she wouldn't have to deal with an uncomfortable situation. Although now she felt a little offended she wasn't even considered worth his attention going by Mia's statement.
'At least he's someone Syr's not gonna have around her fingers.' Lunor thought with a sigh as she saw the blonde talking to a vendor before giving away a bag of Valis.
"Ok" he started to approach her. "That makes up for the meat, chicken, grains, condiments, and fruits… the only thing missing are vegetables."
Lunor stopped leaning on a wall she had been resting on as she made a motion to follow her. "I find it really worrying that we have already bought some items from the list according to you, and yet" she slightly spread her hands, as if she was making space for something that clearly wasn't there. "And yet we aren't carrying a single bag."
"Don't worry about it." he didn't stare at her. "I got it under control."
Another thing she had to complain about him; he was horrible at small talk. No, it was just that he didn't care or see the need to do it. His whole persona was just like how he dressed, void; seeing how he wore all black.
"… Now that I think about it…" she thought out loud. "Seeing as we aren't carrying in anything and everything's 'under control'" she saw him rolling his eyes. "Wanna go buy some clothes? You have been using the very same set since you arrived here."
"And I have been constantly washing them."
She raised an eyebrow. "At what moment? You literally wear them through the whole day. Also, you have nothing else to wear," her face turned tensed as she realized something. "Does that mean you wash your clothes naked?" she muttered in a low voice, which surprised the blonde seeing Lunor had at least been subtle.
"I use a bathrobe. Also, I wash them at night, when no one will be there to bother me about it" He replied blankly as if he gave a stare that questioned her common sense.
"Really? No one has crossed with you while doing it, not even that genocidal elf?" Lunor asked, knowing full well the elf was a light sleeper, she would usually feel if someone was walking around the Hostess during the silence of the night.
'Yes, she's that paranoic.' Lunor thought as she noticed the blonde's face turn into a scowl.
"Well… If Ryuu did that and stared in silence like a damn stalker, I wouldn't know." That wasn't a no. "But she wouldn't be the only one." He eyed Babel from the distance before focusing on the road ahead.
"Still though… Why all black? I mean it's ok if it's your favorite color but-"
"Green." She raised an eyebrow before realizing green was his favorite. "But only because I like it doesn't mean I am willing to wear something too damn showy-"
"Is that why you refuse Mia making you an uniform?" he simply nodded at her interruption before he continued.
"As for why black? Simple, it hide stains." Her eyes narrowed, but Lunor wasn't really surprised seeing she knew that statement included blood. There was no way with the air he carried wasn't someone dangerous.
"I can see that." To her surprise, he continued with the conversation; but not in the way she would have preferred.
"Right, because wearing white clothes was so suitable for your former job."
Her eye twitched at his statement. Because it didn't sound like a joke but actual criticism of how she dressed.
"I am sorry, I think you are mistaken me for a certain alley cat we both know." Chloe Rolo sneezed in the Hostess. "I was a bounty hunter, not an assassin."
"I figured seeing your stealth abilities are a C at best." Lunor clenched her first, a forced smile taking form in her face while she looked at him with closed eyes.
"Leaving the color aside, why wear so little? Not to mention I can tell none of those are protective."
She mentally cursed. He was right, those weren't protected. Lunor had been humbled by four pallums in the past thanks to her underestimating the might of Orario's Adventurers. So from there on she only took jobs she knew she could do, so there wasn't any need to invest in equipment.
Basically, if it wasn't broken or didn't have a hole it worked. As for his other question.
"Most of my targets were male, so showing a little of appeal worked to my advantage from time to time." He stopped walking after she made a very noticeable gesture with her bosom.
"… So it doesn't have to do with the fact that the buttons fell and you were so petty to fix it, doesn't have anything to do with that at all?"
To her credit, her face remained stoic as they stared at each other despite the massive blush on her face.
"Why are you like this?" she sighed in annoyance.
"Just stating the facts. It's not my fault you can't handle them."
A side of her mouth moved upward, but it wasn't it didn't have any kind of friendly feeling at all. She was about to reply back only to notice that the blonde was staring past her with narrowed eyes.
"Hello Lunor." Lunor's eyes widened before her smile turned into a kind one as she turned around. "It's so good to see you."
"Lady Demeter!" The waitress walked to her Goddess and embraced her, a hug which was returned happily.
Even since Drake met Hephaestus, he's been trying to convince himself not to be on guard in case he ever met a new deity. Sadly, this was not a case of convincing the mind, but the body, or rather; the instinct.
The instinct to fight… to kill an unknown deity.
He never had this problem with his instinct when he was fully human, even after finding out the divine did exist and were pretty much responsible for every tragedy in his life.
He found it funny really, every religious text out there described Dragons as heretical. Devours of the divine, the devils, the destroyers. It was funny because all of those religions were pretty much fake the moment he found out how the world truly operated, and yet they carried some truth to it.
It was like being a damn animal having to get used to every single new presence.
"Hey," his thoughts faded as Lunor walked to him, her mood seemed to be in high levels. "Lady Demeter said we could take what's left of our list, she's plenty already… what?" she asked, noticing he was pretty much staring past her once more and focusing on her Goddess, who simply smiled kindly before waving at him.
The former Noble sighed in defeat, Lunor could tell her Goddess presence was bothering him… but for all the wrong reasons.
"I know she's beautiful. But don't make it so obvious, jeez." She said teasingly, making the blonde realize the Goddess's actual appearance and not just her presence.
"…She's beautiful." And he didn't say that often about anyone, but now it wasn't the time to think with the wrong head. "If she says she'll help, then I will head back on my own."
He wasn't leaving only for his own sake, but the Goddess's as well. But Lunor seemed to have something else in mind seeing she was grabbing his sleeve.
"Actually…" she stated unsure. "She wanted you to come as well. So…" she shrugged at the rest seeing he pretty much got the idea. "I promise you she won't bite."
His eye twitched, she clearly came to the wrong conclusion regarding him being edgy.
"…Fine." he said with a sigh before giving a nod to the Goddess, her smile seemed to brighten up; the simple action made the blonde's eye twitch. "Let's just go."
"Before that," she suddenly placed her hand on his shoulder, a serious expression adorned her face. "If she offers you cereal, don't ask her for milk."
Drake cursed himself, because he had to have a very deranged mind for him to understand the hidden meaning behind her words. The fact that he instantly stared at her bosom didn't make things easier, especially when the Goddess put on a confused expression, a simple tilt of her head was enough for a breast to bounce slightly.
In all honesty, he blamed Zelos for this.
"Relax," Drake stated as he made a motion for Lunor to walk ahead of him. "Despite considering myself a simple person, I have shown restraint so far, haven't I?"
She rolled her eyes. "Right. The most subtle way of men saying they prefer big breasts… wait a second." She eyed him as they followed Demeter. "Does that mean you find me attractive?"
He simply moved part of his list upward, which annoyed Lunor as she kept asking.
None of them noticed a pair of purple eyes following close behind them.
'How did things turn out like this?' the blonde thought to himself as he stared at a cup of tea accompanied by Lunor and her Goddess, the former offering various pastries made purely out of vegetables.
They had arrived at the Demeter's Familia home, he had hoped it would have been a simple get in and out quickly. But alas, women. And so here they were already an hour in between the two catching up while Demeter's children looked for the ingredients they needed.
Ironically, despite spending more time on a task than they should and keeping Mia waiting more, he didn't have a problem with it. However, the thing that did bothered him was-
"I am still surprised Mia decided to hire a male worker." Demeter placed her palm under her cheek. "That alone speaks highly of you, young man."
She has been genuinely nice to him. Drake couldn't use the Darkness with deities to know what they were thinking, not that he could now anyway seeing his shadow wasn't there, but he could still read people. Maybe it was out of pure courtesy, but that didn't change the fact that bothered him seeing it came from a Goddess.
"Don't let the quiet behavior fool you, Lady Demeter." Lunor replied after taking a sip of her tea, her eyes narrowed slightly as the cup she held hid her smirk perfectly. "He's usually quite bold with his claims. If I had to compare him to someone, I would say he's quite the tyrant."
He gave her a blank stare. "Only because I ask you to do your job? If that's what you think about me, I'm just dying to know what you think about Mia."
Lunor snorted. "Why I think she's a wonderful-"
"A scary giant." Lunor fought against the urge of not dropping her drink nor her calm façade at her Goddess's sudden betrayal. "I remember you calling her that the last time you visited, you were quite drunk as well."
Lunor's hand started to tremble out of embarrassment. And the fact that she knew the blonde was giving her a sly smirk of his own without looking didn't help.
"Speaking of Mia," Demeter made a gesture with her finger. "I hope you haven't been giving the poor woman more trouble. I got quite the list of complaints from her the last time I went to the Hostess."
The waitress laughed it off as she placed her cup on the table. "Of course, Lady Demeter." Lunor was already cornered seeing she couldn't lie to her Goddess, but above all, she didn't want to give Drake the satisfaction of being embarrassed in front of her Goddess… mainly because she had made plenty of comments about him being shy in front of beautiful women.
"My behavior has been nothing but the best since then, Lady Demeter."
'At least compared to last time.' She thought to herself as her Goddess stared at the other occupant of the room. 'Oh no.'
"Tell me, how would you say Lunor's work is?" The former bounty hunter paled at her Goddess smiling face, her face turning to the blonde, who just happened to be staring at her with a cool stare as he took a sip from his cup.
'He's enjoying this all right.'
"Compared to some others, she's done a good job so far. And I mean it both as a client and a fellow coworker."
Lunor for her part seemed surprised. Not only because the blonde was plain out speaking good of her, but because it seemed her goddess seemed to believe him seeing the smile on her face not waning. But now that she thought about his works, he's telling the truth seeing that; Ryuu didn't have problems letting everyone know she didn't like him that much, even though it wasn't as bad as it was in the beginning. Anya was a clutz, enough said. There was no way Chloe was better than her, especially with her antics… and preferences. And Syr… you already know.
"However, that's not gonna be enough to save her from Mia's wrath at this rate." He stared at the clock. "It's not too long before rush hour starts." Lunor's eyes widened before she calmly placed the cup on the table. "Excuse me Lady Demeter, I am gonna see if everything's ready."
The Deity simply nodded as Lunor walked out of the room, leaving the former Noble and Goddess alone.
"There was a time when I worried about that child every day." The Goddess stated shortly after Lunor left. "She always left with a frown that left me in a sense of uselessness for not being able to help her." she smiled at him. "You remind me of her a little."
The blonde couldn't help but force himself not to be antagonistic, so he remained quiet instead; the action made the Goddess chuckle.
"You know, I don't bite, right?" she said in a mocking tone before giving a sad smile. "But I know that's not the problem. You don't like me, am I wrong?"
His scowl was the only confirmation she needed, and even so she kept her smile.
"May I please see your hands?"
Drake didn't know why, but he extended his arms slowly as the Goddess got closer to him. To his surprise, her hands were incredibly soft.
"Despite having my blessing, Lunor really doesn't belong with a Familia. She thought once that she didn't have the right toit seeing how tainted her hands were. I couldn't help myself but feel relieved once I found out she found her place thanks to Mia Grande." Demeter stared at his eyes, she couldn't help but having that same feeling she had with Lunor when she stared not only at his hands, but also his eyes; and he knew that.
"You may feel lost at the moment. But I am sure you will find your place with time."
Drake forced himself not to twitch at her radiant smile. Truth to be told, he found himself in an uncomfortable environment. Never mind her figure, he grew up with a rather questionable choice of attendants, that was the very definition of a femme fatale, so he wasn't intimidated by the beauty in front of him.
The reason for his being uncomfortable was because no one ever tried to comfort him like this and actually mean it. His friends and brothers and every person close to him; but Drake was also stubborn when he wanted to and the people around him weren't the soft type either, so wholesome interactions were always at a minimum.
As for 'professional' help, people like Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch were just the very definition of either terrible or useless when it came to helping the young 'troubled' minds… or in anything really.
He wanted to be angry at her for the sole reason of being a deity, but the lack of knowledge or familiarity of someone only helped you to bias at said person for so little.
"Everyone deserves a place to call home."
He narrowed his eyes at her words, for all the wrong reasons as she unconsciously grasped the back of his right forearm.
"I don't need your kind words" His words stunned her as he retrieved his hand and his gaze focusing solemnly on her eyes, no weakness or regret in his words.
The Goddess on the other hand remained in place, her jaw slightly dropped at his statement as she tried to find her words once more.
"… Please tell me I am interrupting something."
Both moved their gazes at the door to see Lunor leaning in a little, her gaze narrowed dangerously seeing that her Goddess and him were at a rather close proximity.
"Whatever it was, it's already over." he stood up and walked to exit the room. "I will wait outside, try not to take too long."
The waitress raised an eyebrow. Yes, he had been rather reserved since they arrived at Demeter's home, but now it looked like he was in a bad mood. Whatever it was the reason for his sudden change of behavior, she knew it was related to the frown adorning on her Goddess's face.
The line between pity and concern is a very thin one.
Prideful or stubborn individuals would often confuse actual concern with pityness seeing they often lived a life in which showing a sign of weakness was something negative, therefore a bad reaction and not recognizing when someone was trying to perform a kind act for them.
Despite the way he acted, Drake wasn't like that. He didn't lie when he refused her helping words; he didn't need them… nor did he deserve them.
He was currently a couple of meters away from Demeter's Family home leaning against a nearby tree as he ran his left fingers against a black armband that covered his whole forehead.
He could still feel the scarred contents under the fabric; a reminder that despite moving on with his life, there were things even he felt guilty about.
"I am in a rather bad mood right now." He stated, fixing his shirt's sleeves as his eyes glowed. "And I am not really in the mood for whatever bullshit it is you are trying to pull, drop it."
It took almost a full minute before someone walked out from behind a tree, soon followed by three other Adventurer's; all belonging to the same Familia.
'… I am gonna have to learn the symbol of every damn Familia in this city.'
The glow in his eyes stopped as the apparent leader of the group walked in front of the rest.
He had short cream-colored hair and purple eyes. His attire consisted of glasses, a black top with vertical cream-colored lines, a dark suit with a purple handkerchief, and black pants with a belt.
As for his overall appearance, it could be defined in two simple words.
'Great… an actual fat bastard.'
"My apologies." He made a slight bow. "We didn't mean to confront-"
"Did I fucking stutter?"
The purple eyed man forced himself to look taken back and instead narrowed his eyes. "Excuse me?"
"I said, drop it. In the general sense in case you didn't quite catch my meaning." Drake gave a few steps forward to stand face to face with the denominated fat bastard. "Leave. Whatever it is you want from me, it's not gonna happen."
"There's no need to be so hostile, young man." He replied back, not showing any signs of being intimidated, no hesitation in what he was set to do with a smile. "I am a… scout of sorts. You're someone my God would certainly be interest-ack!"
The caramel haired man didn't get to finish his sentence, a sudden jab at his throat being the main cause of it.
"I am sorry, something disgusting just happened to appear right in front of me." The purple eyed man fell on his knees. "It sounded really disgusting too. The urge to shut it up just invaded me."
The other Adventurers took a step forward, only to stop at their 'leader's' hand gesture. "You really don't want to do this. The God I serve has a lot of influence, he could even have you set for life , or ruin it."
The blonde sighed, ready to go a little further beyond.
"Really? do tell more."
Drake blinked, mainly because those words didn't come from him.
"Go-Goddess Demeter." The fat bastard managed to mutter, his façade of calm finally shattering as Drake turned around to see said Goddess, whose face was adorned with a kind smile, with Lunor and a couple Adventurers of her Familia to her side.
"My children reported some kind of irregular behavior; someone not so subtly tailing us." She tilted her head to the side. "May I ask what it is you seek?"
"Forgive us, Goddess Demeter." The man elegantly stood up and made a low bow, his façade once again in place as he gestured at Drake. "Our business is with this young man right here."
"Oh! Then by all means do carry on, say what you have to tell. We're all ears."
The purple haired main blinked in confusion before he answered back. "Lady Demeter, I think you misunderstand. We-"
"On no. I didn't misunderstand anything." Demeter replied between giggles. "He's one of my guests at the moment. So, whatever it's you need from him, it involves me as well."
The man forced himself to smile. "I… I see. I suppose we will take our leave," he bowed one final time before putting focus on Drake. "We shall see each other again, young man."
"Wow," The former Noble started at the retreating group. "You must really have a pig's brain if you don't realize Demeter just saved your life." Drake stated loud enough for him to hear him, and it seemed to have an effect seeing the man stumbled for a moment.
"You really love picking up fights, don't you?" Lunor got closer, the memory of the night she met him clear in her mind.
"They were tailing us, how am I the one picking up fights?" he gave her a blank look, making her shrug seeing he was the source of the problem.
"Any idea who they were?" Demeter asked, to which the blonde simply shook his head. He couldn't tell her about the Familia symbol they had without raising any question about how he knew such information. "I would like to say you won't have to deal with them, but one never knows."
Demeter gestured at one of her Familia members carrying a huge box. Drake could already see the remaining ingredients they needed in it, and also, something else.
"… is that cereal?" he couldn't help but ask with a deadpan seeing the massive bag that occupied half of the contents of the box.
"Consider it a form of apology for causing any sort of discomfort in our previous talk."
Stares.
He could feel the stares of all her Adventurer's on him, all because of the way she said it and how she said it.
'Don't you fucking dare to smile, tilt your head, blush while saying that damn it!' Drake thought with a twitch in his eye while Lunor pinched him from behind, her message was clear.
'Be nice.'
"Don't worry about it." he replied with his most neutral tone possible as he took the box. "I thank you for your kind hospitality."
Her smile brightened seeing there wasn't really any kind of negative response in him. "I am glad to hear that. If you are in need of anything else, please do tell. I am sure I can make it happen." She replied as she put her palm over her chest.
He was about to reply back at her, but stopped the moment he noticed her most recent gesture with her hand, making her focus on it as Lunor's previous warning came to mind.
'… fuck.' He thought, his mind already deciding on the answer to the Goddess statement.
'This is your fault, Lunor.' He thought as the cursed reply left his mouth.
"So… let me see if I get this straight." Lunor stated humorously as both walked back to the Hostess while Drake carried the box; his expression far more expressionless than usual, but even so, his eyes showed he was clearly in a state of annoyance.
"For some divine reason, you can't lie." she heard a grunt to her side, but still continued. "So, when my beautiful Goddess asked you if you wanted something else, you remembered my words." She narrowed her eyes and gave him a smug look. "Which resulted in you answering, 'May I please have some of your milk?'" her snorts only made the blonde grit his teeth.
"I am sorry, but that sounds like a you problem." She shrugged after catching her breath, recalling the reactions his sudden statement caused.
Suffice to say, everyone was stunned. However, the difference of opinion diverged from there. The men looked at the blonde in a new found light seeing he was able to utter the words no man had ever dared to say in front of her Goddess… they were still furious though, but only a little.
The women on the other hand were outright angered at him; with a pretty evident blush in their faces by Drake's sheer impudence.
But to his credit, he was able to salvage the situation… at least a little.
'What? I don't see anything wrong with my question… unless you interpreted it for something else. If so, shame on you.'
He then promptly turned around without saying anything else went his way, leaving everyone else shocked before they started shouting at him while Demeter simply stared at his retreating form. She tilted her head to the side, resting it over her palm as a slight blush invaded her face.
'Ara ara~'
Drake had been able to hear her voice despite all the noise there had been around her. Unfortunately, Lunor was able to hear it as well.
"I think she might actually let you have your way with her." her statements made the blonde feel wary seeing how if he knew anything from others experiences, it was the fact that relationships with deities were troublesome…
"I am starting to question if you are even straight at this point." Lunor recalled all of the instances in which someone, mainly Syr or Chloe, made a subtle suggestion at him; like the one said cat and herself performed this morning. Now, he had a doubtful close encounter with a Goddess and seemed unfazed.
"Let's just say… I learned not to be fazed by beautiful women from a young age." He wasn't a misogynist like Zelos but growing up with two women that were assassins put your life in a perspective. "Also, relationships just aren't my thing."
"Too annoying?" she slyly asked, it wasn't hard to figure him out now that she had had a chance to interact with him more privately.
"Too dramatic, therefore annoying." He eyed her. "You women are too needy."
She snorted and nodded reluctantly, "Do you say that out of personal experience?"
"Nope. And before you ask, I am not a pure maiden." Drake rolled his eyes, he already knew where the conversation was heading.
"Shame, wouldn't have minded helping you with that." she got closer to his side. "Don't worry, I don't bite."
"Careful there." He eyed her; his eyes narrowed dangerously. "Because I do bite."
Lunor rolled her eyes, her smile never leaving her face as if his statement was actually a challenge. But then, she started to think carefully about his words and not being able to lie.
'… Does he actually bite?'
"Just so you know," he narrowed his eyes at her, getting her attention. "I will get my revenge for this."
She snorted. "What are you gonna do? Throw me under a bridge?" She shrugged. "My reputation with Demeter's Familia is already well… known. Nothing you can do or say will affect it any more than that."
The side of his lips moved upward as they approached the Hostess, his steps became slower by the second.
Lunor paled.
Drake might have actually thrown her under a bridge, but not in the way she expected nor with Demeter. No, being scolded by her Goddess was a blessing, Mia Grande on the other hand…
"So, did you have fun with your free afternoon?" Mia with a forced grin on her face.
Lunor didn't remember that they didn't have the rest of the ingredients seeing that Drake said he had taken care of it, it was only after Mia had asked her about it the moment she entered the pub that she remembered.
"I am waiting." Mia stated, arms crossed and heavy tabs. All of the waitresses and patrons were waiting in suspense seeing how there might actually be an execution in front of them about to happen, or so it seemed as Drake stepped in the place, carrying a box of vegetables.
Everyone stared at him as if he was out of place, as did he out of how uncomfortable the mood seemed to be.
"Can someone help me with the bags?" He continued on his way to the counter, ignoring Lunor's or Mia's glare on the way, the former one giving a sigh of relief seeing Drake had managed to save her from Mia's wrath. "I had to take care of them by myself." Or so she thought, seeing that the blonde looked over his shoulder, a sky smirk for only her to see.
"You absolute asshole." Lunor mouthed silently as Mia walked to the entrance to see several bags well organized in the entrance.
"Seeing as he apparently took care of all of that." Lunor sighed in defeat before she headed to the entrance.
'It could have been worse .' She forced herself not to facepalm the moment she finished that thought seeing Mia took that very moment to continue with her order.
"Also, I want you to make sure of the quantity of each ingredient and estimate how much those will last and the sum of the cost." Lunor froze, mostly because of the second part. But Mia didn't give her any time to complain as she continued. "Also, I want you to organize everything."
It was pretty clear she wanted Lunor to do it by herself. But the waitress's problem lay elsewhere.
"Mama, I didn't acquire the goods. I can't make the cost list."
"I am sorry, but that sounds like a you problem." The blonde stated while he sat on the counter staring at the entrance with the same sly smirk as before. Had Mia not been focused on her, she would have flipped him off.
"You heard him, now move it."
Lunor sighed in defeat and fought the urge to not scowl too much, especially since a certain thieving cat had been watching the whole exchange with amusement.
"Well…" Mis said as she walked to the counter. "Is there any reason as to why you wanted that to happen?"
Mia Grande wasn't an idiot. She knew Drake was capable, but carrying that many bags by himself through the whole trip was something impossible, not to mention he would clearly complain about it.
"Let's just say this is payback for putting me in a… delicate position… even if indirectly." The blonde replied reluctantly, making Mia raise an eyebrow before shaking her head. "Is that really all you want to ask?"
She gave him a blank look. "Will you actually answer?"
The question was obvious.
How did he carry the bags?
"I have my ways." He stared at his shadow, finally attached to him. It had separated from him and materialized a little before the exit of the Hostess all so it could pick up the items after he had left the stands and then put them in the shadows to then wait until he returned to the pub.
All so he didn't have to carry a single bag, because he was sure Lunor was gonna have him carry them anyway.
'Remember Drakey, it doesn't matter the situation, women will always have you carry the bags for them.' The fact that he was recalling and following one of Zelos's warnings regarding women made him question his own sanity… at least a little.
"Ok then." Mia sighed before sitting next to him, both of them staring at the entrance to see Lunor struggling, seeing how she was trying to get as many things as she could inside. "… Are you really gonna let her do the counts by herself?"
Drake didn't reply immediately, instead he pulled a piece of paper from his sleeve and passed it to her. "It's up to you whether you tell her or not."
The dwarf chuckled before she looked at the contents of the box, her eyes widened a little seeing it came from Demeter's farm. "Would you believe me if I said this is more expensive than any of the things you bought today?" Mia took the massive bag of cereal, which made the blonde's eye twitch.
"I am guessing she gave you all of this for free seeing none of it is listed on the paper." Mia smiled seeing they managed to save some money. "I am gonna serve me a bowl, want some?"
He sighed before reluctantly nodding. "Sure thing. Just don't ask me to get milk directly from Demeter."
Mia snorted as she started walking to the kitchen, only to slow down until she finally stopped thinking in the blonde's words. She turned around, he was giving her a blank stare before looking at the struggling Lunor and then back at her.
The owner of the pub started to laugh soon after as she headed to the kitchen. She didn't need to know the whole detail, only enough to figure out what delicate position he was talking about.