Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Meet the Team
The Undercity was the best restaurant to eat at. Every night the place was packed with reservations. The line of people outside of the main doors were entranced with the smells of garlic and herbs which wafted its way into the street from the dining area. Jayce, the head chef, was responsible for the mouthwatering aromas which entranced the patrons.
It was barely 8 pm, an hour before the main dinner rush, and Jayce was in full swing. He liked it that way. Busy. Less time to think about his problems that seem to pile up.
“Ekko,” Jayce yelled out “table four."
“GOT IT!” Screamed Ekko, the Undercity's most lively (and highest tipped) waiter. He slid by in one swift motion, grabbing the two plates of meticulously decorated meals and whooshed off with a signature grin on his face.
“Table six still wants their starting soup,” Caitlyn said, elegantly dodging the dash of Ekko as she entered into the kitchen. Despite the restaurant always having a chaotic atmosphere, Caitlyn always kept a regal composure which remained calm and collective. With a sleek outfit and perfect posture, Caitlyn’s mere presence was more than enough to make a costumer think twice before complaining about a meal.
“Tell them it’s coming,” Jayce said flipping something sizzling in a pan, “it’s not like I’m doing magic back here.”
“Some of your clients say otherwise,” Viktor, the restaurants bartender said as he strolled into the kitchen with a soft chuckle. Viktor has an unnerving ability to know and hear everything. Ekko says it’s black magic while Caitlyn insists he’s just a creep.
“Why aren’t you at the bar?” Caitlyn asked with a sharp tone in her voice.
“I needed some limes. I’m fresh out,” Viktor said making his way back to the citruses, “and of course I have to see if our head chef hurt the new guy yet.”
Upon hearing him being referenced, a young man near the sink twisted his head to look at the bartender. The new guy in question was Steb, (that’s right Ella I’m adding my bf in this) a strapping lad who just landed a job as the Undercity's newest dishwasher.
“He’s fine. And doing a decent job. Not a single broken dish. Unlike the last girl you got me Caitlyn,” Viktor said shooting a sharp look at Caitlyn.
“How was I supposed to know she was a psychopath. Maddie seemed completely normal from the start,” Caitlyn rebutted.
“She threatened to stab you in the neck,” Viktor, now with his limes, said under his breath as he passed Caitlyn and walked out the door to go find his spot at the bar.
“Just get the soup,” Caitlyn said to Jayce as she angrily walked back out of the kitchen.
A few moments passed but then strolled in Vi, her leather jacket swung over one shoulder. She tended to walk into the Undercity as if she owned the place. She’s been coming to the Undercity for so long and so frequently many of the other staff joke about adding her to the payroll. Trailing behind her was Jinx, Vis younger sister.
“Hey cupcake,” vi chimed at Caitlyn leaning casually on the glass hostess stand.
Caitlyn sighed but allowed a smile to peak through, “Vi. You can’t call me that in front of the other customers.”
Vi turned to Jinx, “what do you want this time. Maybe Jayce’s tiramisu?”
Jinx who already somehow found herself a dessert menu and was blindly walking into the seating area said “Maybe. Or maybe I’ll eat everything and see what chaos decides.”
Jinx found her and Vis usual table and had a seat. Since the two come so frequently, Caitlyn decided a while ago to dedicate a table to the two of them near the back by the kitchen door to ensure that neither Jinx’s hijinks nor Vi's unstable anger disrupt the other customers.
“Well, if Chaos is paying for it, I say buy the menu!” Ekko said as he placed two plate in-front of the sisters.
“You know just put it on Vi's tab!” Joked Jinx as she willingly looked up from her menu to meet Ekko's stare.
Jayce poked his head out of the kitchen and pointed a spatula at the girls “You two better behave yourselves! I’m still fixing the chair Jinx destroyed last week!”
“Relax chef Talis,” Jinx said, “I’ll go back to being ‘classy’ like your ‘classy’ restaurant.”
“Like you could ever keep it classy,” Ekko muttered sheepishly under his breathe which got a light chuckle out of Viktor from the bar.
The dinner rush soon came, and everything went into its normal rhythm. Busing tables, some light laughter, a performance from Piltover's top artist Seraphine, and no uncalled-for disruptions from Vi and Jinx.
Jayce was satisfied with yet another successful night at the restaurant. It may not be as perfect or operate as smoothly as it seems to but that’s how he likes it.
The Undercity. Piltover’s finest dining experience. And for many. Home.