A... skeleton?
I walked the short distance from my apartment to the cafe. It was chilly out, autumn reaching its end and winter closing in. I let out a breath into the chilly air, regretting my decision on not wearing a heavier coat by the time reached the glass front door. I shakily take my keys out and put them into the lock and turned it with a click. The inside was slightly cold but warmer than outdoors, I quickly closed the door and breathed a sigh. I turned around and looked at my pride and joy.
There was a long counter just across from the door and parallel to the windows lining across the wall holding the front door. There were bar stools along the counter, along with booths along the windows and the wall to the left that had no windows. To the right was a couch that I had put in for the coffee lovers that also love to read comfortably. The room was painted a dark greenish emerald color with borders and panels painted black, the booths and stools made to match these colors.
There were tall dark wooden tables along with black tall chairs lining across the middle of the room. Behind the counter was the black and white lettered menu board listing off the many drink choices and limited food ones. and on the counter was the WiFi password.
I walked across the room, opening up the hatch to the back, behind the counter, and to the kitchen door. I set down my bag behind the counter in my usual spot and slid off my coat, I hung it up on a wrack back here before opening the kitchen door and grabbing the apron pulling it over my head, tying the strings into a knot in the back. Swantered back to the front and flipped on the light switches and flipped the sign to 'open'.
I rocked back and forth on my heels looking back at the shopping, thinking of what to do next, it'll be at least an hour before the usual early birds trickle in so...
I shrugged figuring I should probably take down the 'help wanted' sign of course. Eh, I'll get to that later. If the guy is good.
For once, I'm actually excited to hire an employee. I mean, the first time I hired someone was exciting. Till I found out the guy was stealing from me. Then it just went downhill from there, the next guy verbally abused the monster customers when the monsters came out of the mountain about a year or two ago. The next lady, just... no...
My last employee... we had a relationship but... Things didn't...
Anyways, In a few hours, I'll be hiring my first monster employee. His application said he was a skeleton, I'm really excited.
Not many shops let monsters work in them, Mine, of course, is an exception.
This isn't the first monster I've met, I've met several others like a cat monster a blue bunny monster as well as some dog monsters, some are even regulars.
I figured, my business isn't going to get that big so why need to get any more help, I forgot to take down the 'help wanted' sign and I guess the guy slipped in and took an application? I didn't see him, nor hear him turn the application in. It just, appeared one day on the counter. I was about to say 'sorry I'm not actually hiring. I'm just too lazy to take down the sign' He was gone.
I thought, hey I'll just call his number on here and tell him exactly that.
But after I read the guys application, how could I have refused. Everything seemed in order, he had some previous occupations. Some 'sentry' work in the underground. He had no violence in his back round. He seemed alright. So I called him up and told him to get down here and I'll interview him in person before I make any final decisions. Plus I had to see this guy in action. I don't know what a 'sentry' for the underground is but it doesn't sound like he's actually done anything in the kitchen before.
I stretched my back and made my way to the other side of the counter where I sat on the stool and pulled out a book from my bag. I suppose I should put the breakfast muffins into the oven to warm them up before the first people come in. Buuut I really want to know how 'Seriphina' Finds the others in her head.*
I read the first passage to my page when the bell rings and I see the familiar face of the usual morning customer.
"Hey Tammy." I wave a hello, stifling a yawn. The customer walks into the light and she chuckles at me waving back.
"Hi _____." I could see the slick shine of her black hair that usually went down to her waist but today it was in a high ponytail completely straight like always, ending just between her shoulder blades. She wore her usual running gear and had the string bag on her back, unlike me she actually tries to stay in her perfect hourglass shape, round hips, and breasts her dark skin and perfect makeup and eyes. sigh. And she gets up early to run every day. While I would rather sit in the dark watching Netflix and eating.
She was smart and had a coat wrapped around her waist along with probably warm clothing in her bag. However, I am not.
"The usual?" I ask, standing up and setting my book face down on the counter watching her slip her bag around to pull out her wallet.
"The usual." She confirms and pulls out a five dollar bill laying it on the counter next to my book before saying she was going to the bathroom to change and freshen up.
I stuck the bill into the cash register and went into the back and slid the muffin pan from the 'keep warm' oven that I labeled so I wouldn't forget, so I take out the specific muffin that I created for my usual early birds.
I wrapped it into the paper napkin with my store emblem on it and pulled out some whipped cream, caramel, skim milk and mocha creamer and walked back to the front. I set down her ingredients, pulled out a mug, poured coffee and it became instinctual from there. By the time I had finished, she came back out of the bathroom in a gray and black sweater, black leggings and long fur boots that stopped short of her knees.
I slid it across the counter and she smiled at me, looking at my book choice before she picked up her cup and muffin ready to settle down in her usual corner bar stool to talk with me.
"Oh! That reminds me, I forgot my book at home." She looks around shifty eyed as if she was about to ask for drugs, she leaned forward, careful to avoid her mug and squishing her muffin, she lowered her voice before looking at me with a pointed smile. "G-got any extras?"
I played along, I looked behind her sneakily, and also lowered my voice. "You know I do but, comes at a price." I look at her
She sniffs and looks away shakily. "I can quit anytime I want, j-just one more. That's it, I swear."
"You came to the right place," I whisper before leaning back and smiling, I pulled up my bag and slipped out another book then handed it to her. She chuckled and read the cover.
"Ohh~ Haven't read this one before."
"Oh, you'll love it, just your style," I grin and pull up my barstool and watch her as she sits down, reading the inside cover.
"Hmm.. ah yes, just up my alley. Murder mystery." She flicks to the first page of the first chapter.
I slip over my book, careful not to bend any pages and flipped it over to the area I was on. We sat there like that, silence except for the occasional sip of coffee from Tammy.
I got through a few chapters before the bell rang again, the next fellow walks in. Tammy checks her watch and finishes off the last bites of her muffin and the last of her drink, she pointed to somewhere in the room and I understood that she was going to sit on the couch against the far wall.
The guy walks up and slid off his coat, hanging it off his right arm. It was the cat monster, I never got his actual name but he insisted we call him BurgerPants, I shortened his name to B.P. He had beige colored fur and fluffy ears on the top of his head. Today he wore an actual suit, It was black with a yellow tie, it was tailored perfectly letting his tail out the end, it whipped back and forth restlessly. He had his usual bored to tears face on and an indifferent smile. When he spoke it was with a slight country accent making me wonder where he picked that up when he was in the underground.
"Hey B.P. Whats it for you today?" I asked when he made it to the counter, He loosened his tie and rocked on the back of his heels scanning over the menu board.
"Well, for me just a straight black coffee, but the uh. Boss... Wants a difficult order." He hints.
I nod and scramble around for a notebook and pen. Then nod for him to start. And when he did, I swear it was a couple minutes before He finished. Practically took up two pages. He gave me an apologetic face when I flipped the two.
I look up at him in admonishment. "Wha..." He looked confused. "How did you remember all that?! Freakin- You need a raise." I shake my head with wide eyes and pulled out two to go cups and lids, a larger one for the Boss guy whoever that was.
I poured a straight black coffee, snapped the lid on and slid it to him before checking out the list, realizing I probably ran out of some of this stuff ages ago.
It was a while before I actually finished the order, I'm pretty sure it's about 0.1 percent coffee.
I brought the cup over to B.P. and saw he was resting on one of the stools and had an empty coffee cup.
"Crap, sorry for the wait. Here, how about I get you a new cup of coffee no charge." I say nabbing the cup and filling it again with coffee. He grunted and thanked me, apologizing for the long order.
I gave him both glasses and saw the amount of money on the counter.
"Whoa, that's too much for these two. Want change back?" When he shook his head no, I looked at him with slight confusion. He looked sheepish and scuffled shyly.
"I was.. um hoping that... you know, that uh... NiceCream guy... when- IF if he came in that... If um.... I could pay for his drink? I mean, he's going through a financial slump and I wanted to help out and I-" He tried to explain, I gave him a smile and held up a hand to cut him off.
"Okay, he usually come's in around... 2ish. I'll make sure he doesn't pay, and that he gets his coffee. That's very sweet of you." I didn't know it was possible for cats to blush. But he did.
He nodded goodbye, turned tail and walked out front then I finally noticed the long black limousine parked out front. And BurgerPants opening up the back of the car, reaching in with the large cup of coffee giving it to someone before closing the door and making his way to the driver's side and climbing in there.
"Huh, didn't know B.P. worked for someone famous." I wondered out loud before shrugging and started putting away some of the ingredients that went into the coffee. '
Finally finished, I sit back into my seat and set open my book once again. Happy to read again. Of course, that happiness washort-liveded when the door opened and rang again. I sighed, pulled out my bookmark and stuffed it into the page I was on. I set the book to the far left and looked up. When I didn't see anyone I looked around confused, and tilted my head around the corner to look at Tammy.
She was deeply entranced in her book to notice my internal struggle. I heard a 'hiss' from below me and looked down. There was a child, around 7-10 ish bouncing excited just below the bar, they were holding a flower that looked grumpy in a pot that had danger stickers on it. The flower was looking up and was a little surprised to see me which honestly confused me for a second before I smiled.
"Well hello, how may I help you?" I ask, the kid perking up and looking at me with a smile, their hands start signing and I mentally patted myself on the back for my weird love for ASL.
Hi! Can We have a cupcake? they signed before setting the flower on a stool and climbing up onto one of the seats themselves, crouching on their knees to be the same height as me. They were squirming around in their pockets looking for something. Then they found it with an 'aha' look on their face. They set down a five dollar bill onto the counter.
"Well of course," I smiled at them. "What kind do you two want?" The flower was surprised I acknowledged it but just spat and looked away. I chuckled and looked at the other child. Their eyes lit up and they looked at the board behind me. They were in a signing frenzy with the flower and my attention was distracted by a larger monster that I wasn't quite used to seeing walk in.
I've seen them once or twice walking down the streets but this is the first time one walked into my shop.
It was a large, goat-like monster with small horns and floppy ears down to their neck. They wore a long wool dress that ended at her lovely large but warm looking boots. They had a motherly smile so I assumed they were a woman. She had a big fluffy coat with a soft hood, she walked up to the counter with a soft smile and happy chuckle. "Oh dear." Her voice was definently female. It was silky and soft with a hint of paternal in there.
"I apologize for them, they were so excited when they heard about this cafe, they just had to see it." I smile at her and shake my head.
"Oh no, not at all. I really love kids." I opened my mouth to say more but the kid grabbed my sleeve and pointed at the board, signing slowly for me to follow even if they didn't need to.
"Ohhh! Good choices. I just heated some up, however, I must warn you. They aren't cupcakes. they're muffins. You might be disappointed." I said leaning back and heading to the kitchen door, they shook their head signing that it'd be fine.
Along my way I noticed the time was creeping up on ten, eleven is when the interview was.
I shake myself out of my jitters, hope flared in my chest that this employee would be different.
I slide out the warming trays again and slipped out the two new additions, butterscotch sprinkled with cinnamon crumbs. I wrapped them in the napkins and put them in skinny little paper baggies, one for each of them. And headed back outside.
I saw the Lady with her purse in her hand also looking at the board, whispering to the kid and the flower. The kid was smiling and chuckling here and there while the flower was pretending to be uninterested, his face lighting up when he saw me coming back with the baggies.
The flower nudged the kid and they looked too. I set down the baggies and took some change out of the cash register. and sliding it over to them. The kid giggled and stuffed it into their pocket and opening their bag then started eating one of the muffins, smiling and signing something to the Goat lady. who nodded and smiled before turning to me.
"May I have a small coffee with skim milk, caramel and ... would you happen to have a snail creamer?" She asks but immediately shakes her head. "No, that'd be weird for a human shop to have."
"I could get some." I say out of the blue. she looks at me with surprise and joy on her face.
"Oh really?" I nod.
"I'd have to order it and wait for it to come in, but usually it comes in around a couple days or so. So, you could come by again and try it out. I've actually been wanting to cater to more monsters but I don't know their tastes. So if I get it specially made from a guy I know, would you be willing to try it out for me?" She gives me a large and motherly happy smile.
"Oh I would love to! Here is my number, call me whenever the shipment comes in. If that's alright of course, I wouldn't want to become a burden or anything."
"Oh no of course you wouldn't miss...?" And that's when I realized I have no idea who these people are.
"Toriel, my name is Toriel. Many apologies. I didn't catch your name either."
"Prolly cus I didn't throw it." wink. "Haha, sorry no it's ____ pleasure to meet you."
She lets out a bellowing laugh and smiles. "Ah yes, ____ You are a delight!" She looks at the board again. "Hm. Okay how about, number... 5?"
"Good choice." I pull out a small cup and fill it half way with coffee before adding two small scoops of sugar and my special blend of different syrups and creamers. Then finished it off with a little bit of whipped cream on top, just because she was being helpful.
"oh thank you." She said taking the coffee from my hands and handing me the exact amount owed. She uses her free hand to pat the child's head. "Come along Frisk, Flowey, time to finish shopping. We have more groceries to get before dinner tonight." They both groaned simultaneously but perked up a bit when Toriel mentioned something about nicecream.
I waved goodbye when they left and tucked the napkin with Toriels number in my bag, in the crease of my book. I wiped down the counter with a damp cloth and saw Tammy walk up out of the corner of my eye. Yhe set down the empty mug and let out a sigh.
I stifled an eye roll and looked at her. "Yess?"
"Weell..." she pauses, I set down the cloth and pulled up my stool then looked at her urging her to continue. "I won't be able to stay as long today... There's this famous guy in town and, I mean. He's been here for a while now but hes hiring and well... You know.."
I did know, Tammy has been perusing anything celebrity related. She said it's her dream to work alongside someone famous and see how they function. She also has a dream of actually being on the stage herself. I don't see why not. she's got the looks and charm. She turned in an application a while ago and has been waiting for the phone call for the interview. I understand why she's nervous about it, What I don't understand is why she looks so down and beat up telling me about it.
"Yeaahh.... Okay. You've been obsessing about this for a month. What's the problem."
"Well... for one... I won't be here as often as before." Oh "So, the mornings might get lonely if your interview doesn't work out. I mean, just look at your track record of your previous employees." I gave her a face that makes her chuckle.
"It'll be fiiiiine. You'll do great!" I encourage.
"But, the guys a famous Monster what if he doesn't want a human assistant?"
"Then why would he send out an add saying 'Humans are encouraged to fill out an application and interview'" It was her turn to give me a look.
"Well... sigh." I won.
"You'll do fine. He'll hire you in a heartbeat. no doubts about it." She nods and the front door bell rings, I check the time and sees its 11:02 'Is the guy late?'
Tammy sees me looking at the time and shoulders her bag.
"Well, I oughta go get ready for tonight. See ya!" She waves at me. I smile nervously and wave back.
She walks past a figure that was slightly taller than she, around an inch or so. Which meant this guy was at least a couple inches taller than me. The figure walks up to the bar in a blue jacket, dark jeans, and untied tennis shoes. I look at their face and saw it was a skeleton. Round face, dark eye sockets with a dim light shining for a pupil? They walked up to the bar with a smirk look on their face.
"heya, sorry i'm latte" a deep male voice rumbled, making me pleased, I was so confused on how and why before i caught the pun. A couple seconds passed before I let out a hearty chuckle and shook my head. which looked like it relieved the guy.
"Ah, it's fine. I'm usually late to open the place so ya know. punctuality isn't really... why are you laughing?"
".... punctuality." He says in between bursts of laughs. I caught it and started laughing with.
"I didn't mean to.... I s-swear!" I know he doesn't understand how happy this makes me. I'm terrible at puns, but love them.
After about a minute, our laughing calms down and I clear my throat. "Welp, You're here for the interview?" He nods and his eyes flash around nervously at my sudden seriousness.
"I'd invite you back to my office but, I don't have one." this gets a chuckle out of him. I smile and sit back down in my stool behind the counter, indicating he take a seat as well.
"Alright. Let's begin."