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[Setting] Caramel Anne, Free Night
| > Slowly a petite woman with long cyan dyed hair attempted to make her way inside while looking around slowly, she looked confused.
"Oh...Did I come to the wrong place?"
| >>647640
"If you're looking for a café, not at all. Welcome."
> The lone waitress inside greeted the woman. She stands at a decent height, a modest 5'10, sporting a jet-black hair tied over to a single ponytail. The cafe uniform she dons is a blatant exposition of the cafés specialty; the white tie-neck shirt, and a chocolate skirt extending down to her knees.
> Her voice speaks for her state. Hoarse, tired, exhausted. After all, for a certain time, she has been serving alone.
| > The café's interior is laid in such way: by the left of the entrnace are three sofas with table neatly put in front, each spaced enough to promote privacy, and on the right were metallic chairs and similar tables -- four of them.
> A counter at the end of the room extends from the far left to the right, only having a small gap for staffs to enter through. Chairs are strewn in front of said counter, too.
> A jukebox at the end of the room sits solemnly, playing the jazz inside.
| "Oh...I was expecting more people, I guess."
>EDN replied while slowly walking in and pulling off her backpack. As she did this she activate a small drone that floated about her. It began projecting stream settings in front of her that she'd quickly, reflectively scroll and manage through. Then the stream drone immediately sat on a timer before starting.
>She went to the jukebox to identify the song.
| "Well I'm going to send a notification, if you don't mind. I was told it was okay to stream so..."
| >>648311
"It was okay to...?"
> The waitress does her best to allow the patron, but something clearly nagged her. To think that someone would come late, in this day.
"Out of curiosity, who told you abo-"
"I am."
> A robotic male voice crackles from inside the room, through speakers and other interconnected devices. It cuts the waitress's voice promptly, and giving rise to its own.
"She's a guest, Alice. Please allow her."
"I-I guess, okay? I didn't say I'll stop her!"
| >>648310
> The jukebox seems to be playing a jazz rendition of [Canon in D]; all it is missing is a slight touch of vocal, but it is neither present here nor in the original composition.
> There is a knob to switch the music around, but walking over to the jukebox has already given Alice a slight worry.
| >Ding-a-ling! The door opens once more. A man this time. He walks in the cafe, all parts wary. The hours have worn him down, but he's not as out of it as the waitress is.
>...
>His stomach growls. He's not embarassed by this, just mildly concerned. What is he doing running on empty so late?
| >>648338
"Welcome!"
> With a tired voice and a tired smile, the waitress gave a tired greeting. She rubs her eye with the hand opposite of said eye; she put both of her palms together then, forming a cup that covers her mouth as she quietly yawned.
> Having no time for break, she hadn't cared one bit of etiquette anymore. It seems the patrons will have to settle with her 70% self -- at least, orders will keep coming, right?
|
| >>648417
>It's not quite bowing his head in thanks, but the man nods appreciatively. He drags his feet over to one of the counter seats, taking off his long winter coat and resting it on the corners of the back of the chair. Its fur-lined hood looks very soft.
| >>650685
> As he approaches his seat, the faintest aroma of dairy and chocolate blends through. Behind the counter, the waitress didn't immediately step in; she pauses from her cleaning activity and walks over to the long, rectangular machine behind her and pulls up a knob and a lever.
> The machine creates a soft hum. Now, the smell of chocolate becomes more so apparent.
"One moment, please..."
> The waitress says to the man, her back faced against him as she props a few dial.
| >After a while of flipping through the songs available, EDN settled on an old favorite. 'Fly Me to the Moon' started playing. While this was going on she hummed softly to the tune and prepped her stream.
"I'll start the notice in a few minutes."
>She'd say while half harmonizing and half singing in preparation.
| >>652007
> Upon noticing the change in music, the waitress hummed along too. Perhaps unfamiliarity weren't an issue for her; the jukebox does offer a limited choice, after all.
"--Hey boss, do we have--?"
> Behind the counter, a door opens to let in a man. A feasibly mediocre man, with height no taller nor shorter than the waitress, and with hair of similar colour. His cafe uniform is not much different from the waitress.
> He scans the area for something.
"Whatcha' need?"
| "--Where's boss?"
> The man replied to the waitress. Spotting two customers made him step out of the room guarded by the door. His dusts himself off, letting the waitress do her task before taking over.
"She's out and about. Testing her new.. stuff."
"Where's the other shift?"
> The man, a waiter, asks and prepares the machine faster than the waitress -- but the waitress is quick to cover other tasks too.
"Pick your bet."
> The waitress smiled at the question.
".. Late?"
|
|
| >The door opens, and as the bell rings a woman and a lilim walk inside. They're both wearing white labcoats, and the woman is looking exhausted.
>She has bags under her eyes, and she walks leaning on the lilim, who holds her by the arm, trying his best to support her while keeping his composure.
>They are in the middle of a conversation
"Polly, you know we can't go home yet, we have to go back there in a hour. But let's get you a nice, big cup of coffee to wake you up, shall we?"
| >>654159
"Welcome!"
> The two staffs greeted in harmony. The instantaneous response would suggest they are at least trained for this. The waiter turned, giving a glimpse at the newcomers.
"What can I.. oh-- is she asleep?"
> He makes note of the tired woman, and lowers his voice in that instant.
| >>654174
>She looks at him with her eyelids half closed
"Uh... No? Kinda? 75% asleep? Uhm... So... May I have the biggest cup of coffee you serve here? And I know, like, it's night so it's probably past the right time, but do you serve English breakfast here? I need CALORIES with my caffeine, Mister Waiter!"
>The lilim chuckles, but immediately regains his collected facade.
"I'll have what she's having. Also, excuse us for the weird request, but we're having a very tough workday"
| >>654189
"It's okay! We aren't exactly a British cafe, but--"
> The waiter eyes the other staff, turning as the waiter's voice trails. The waitress nodded, stepping into the view of the customers.
"So, two full English? We don't have all the ingredients to make one... at least I don't think so—"
> She peers into an area beneath the counter, and her eyes move slowly, scanning one thoroughly.
"—More sweets than the dish wants."
| >>654206
>The woman gets up for a second, realises it's a bad idea and sits down immediately
"Oh, don't worry if it's a problem then, just get us the fattest, richest thing from the menu and we'll be cool with that!"
>She waves her hands rapidly, embarrassed by having to correct her previous order and by her total failure at standing up. As this happens, the lilim cannot help but smirk at her flustered expression.
| >>654207
"Hmm.."
> The waitress briefly pauses, then moves to the rectangular machine. She twists a knob, and the machine began producing a crackling noise. The crackling of oil, and fried foodstuffs.
"Are we still doing full English?"
> The waiter too, walks to the machine, a different segment by the opposite end. His voice is more audible, not enough to be a shout.
"Gonna go out of protocol, don't tell boss."
> Replies the waitress, waiting for a reaction from the machine.
| >>654214
>The woman whispers something at the lilim
"Hey, you think I made a bad impression? Are they angry? They seem angry. Please don't tell me they are angry and they think I'm a mean customer"
"Polly, don't worry, you're tired and you're overthinking this. That's why you should take pauses between shifts, you know?"
>Polly shrugs
"Yeah, and while I'm taking a break who's gonna take care of the anesthesia, huh? The nurses? You know I just can't do it, it doesn't feel right"
| >>654418
> 'Pop!' goes the machine. The crackle inside have produced something, and the other side of the machine have begun humming instead. It's different from the erratic crackles, with the noise made being gentler and loftier.
"--Wait we have croquettes?"
> The waiter slid a single slider, warming the room with steam released by the machine.
"I'm sorry, ma'am -- idiocy took over. For the coffee, any specific order?"
> He faces the two customers again.
| >>654428
>Polly stares in the waiter's eyes for a couple of seconds, and then let's out a long, guttural incoherent mumbling.
"Biiiiiig... Must. Stay. Awake."
>The lilim, thankfully, knows her enough to be able to translate
"She means we'll both have black coffee, and put a ton of whipped cream. She's going to need that glucose boost tonight"
| >>654489
> The waiter laughed. He waves over to the waitress, giving some kind of signal only known to them. She nods, perhaps agreeing.
"The coffee will be done before Alice. Hope that'll wake you up."
> He steps back to the machine, knowing the order had made him act faster, with preciseness only found by the likes of professionals. It wasn't long before he had to wait again, however.
"So-- big day, wasn't it?"
> He hooks another conversation with the two.
| >>654516
>Ferdinand loses his usual composure yet again, but this time makes no effort to regain it, and let's out a loud sigh.
"Big day indeed. We're working as volunteers in the relief station in Glitz, and we haven't stopped since this morning. Well, actually it's not a problem for me, but for her? Damn, she hasn't had it this rough since when we used to work the night shifts at GC Central. Let me tell you, this girl is tough as a coffin nail"
>As he answers, Polly blushes.
| >>654705
"Glitz.. I hear it's bad news there..."
> The waiter ducks, cutting his words, and sounds of glassware clattering is heard. The obvious fragrance of coffee soothes the nearby seats.
"Another new cult?"
> The waitress, Alice, makes a leeway into the conversation while peering at the waiter, who is still searching about down the counter.
"I thought we're over that--"
"—Not cult, no."
> Rising up, the waiter comes with two glasses and an interjection.
| >>654709
"Yeah, it's bad news. I even think that EAGLE's ideas are good, but all the violence? Definitely not good. But no cult, though, thankfully."
>Ferdinand let's out another long, sad sigh.
"And also the EMP. You know what that thing does to personal medical devices? To BLS systems? We barely saved some people, others died"
>Adds Polly. She then turns in the direction of the waiter
"Coffee!"
>She claps her hands excitedly, like a child, but there's a bitter note in her voice
| >>654737
> The waiter smiles at the reaction.
> The machine pours to the glasses a rich, dark liquid. More of its smell emanates, already nestling with the faint dairy and the warmth of the heated fryer. A late breakfast.
"I could use one myself, Sora."
> Alice adds, giving a small wave towards the waiter, Sora.
"Get one yourself?"
"Meanie--"
> They chuckled before the waiter stuffs the definition of 'gluttonous' amount of cream. Clunk! The drinks were placed by the patrons.
| "... Things never end any good in this city."
> Sora looks toward the customers. His eyes met the steam of the coffee, then back to the two.
"Say, who's the EMP guys? Methinks it's not the GCPD."
> From behind, Alice props herself against the machine. She has the longest wait, having time to rest herself.
"Do news just travel late to you, Alice?"
"... Yeah sorry, I have been holed here."
| >>654741
>Polly jumps on the cup, tries to drink it and burns herself. She lets out a whimper, and tears start forming at the corners of her eyes.
"Polly... All those years of med school just to forget how sensitive the human tongue can be?"
>Ferdinand looks at her tenderly, takes her cup and starts blowing on it.
"UGH... That hurt... Come on Ferdie, don't be a meanie!"
>She says, grinning
"Ok, ok, just don't call me that, please! It's so embarrassing!"
| >>654743
"No, it was those corp guys, NDSec I think? Assholes"
>Polly return to a serious tone
"The GCPD is actually being helpful, for once. Setting up the relief station and all, you know?"
"All those anti-riot vehicles though. They creeped me out, reminded me of those anti-lilim protests"
>Ferdinand says, still blowing on the steaming cup
| >>654746
> Sora connects the laughter, but goes to hinder anymore of its showing forcibly, the edge of his lips still quiver.
"S-so.."
> He releases a breath, not in a tired sigh, but as a symbolic approach to the release of his childlike humour.
"So, corp wars?"
> Alice inserts herself before Sora. He took a glance at her, then she parried with a confused look.
"Can't believe we're getting another one."
> She adds.
| >>654797
"Frankly, I fear this is going to be more than a corp war. We've got corps and the police on one side, and citizens and gangs on the other. This isn't about personal interests only, it's about ideals against personal interests."
>He calmly stops blowing on the cup and hands it back to Polly, who starts eating the coffee-soaked cream with a spoon. Once she's finished, Ferdinand gives her his cup, so that she can also eat his portion. After this, they finally start drinking.
| >>654853
> Another pop surprisingly came from the machine. Alice waves her signal to Sora, letting him handle the counter whilst she prepares what's cooking.
"Yeah- I'm a bit worried. Worried it might expand somewhere. We're almost right to Glitz.."
> His finger taps onto the ceramic counter, making light noises that may irritate some.
"... Imagine losing your job because of some issue you have no control of—"
| >>654855
"Well, that's kinda how most people lose their jobs, isn't it?"
>Ferdinand says, and a sigh comes from both him and Polly
"Well, at least that's how we lost it"
>She adds
"But what worries me now is what's gonna happen if the peace talks fail. Pardon my French, but shit will go down real quick and real bad"
| >>654954
"I don't mean.."
> Sora scratches his head. Bad phrasing. He didn't intend to correct himself anymore, as points have transpired since.
"I'm optimistic for the peace talks. At least... well, at least it's better than EMP taking down a grid again."
> He turns briefly, looking at what Alice is doing. She is whispering the tune played by the jukebox, paying one slight attention towards the fryer. She yawns every so often.
"What do you both used to work for?"
| >>654973
"We used to work at GC Central Hospital. But you know how that field of work is... If you don't know someone important, eventually they'll find a way to substitute you with someone who does, if they need to. Half of our colleagues where there because of their position, not their skills"
>He pauses
"Now we have a small private clinic. Business isn't that good anymore, but now we can do a better job, and at least be more helpful to people for lower charges"
| >>650686
>The man quietly inhales. He must like what he's smelling, because he's perking up immediately. Still, he waits patiently, but for what..?
| >>655030
"It's a bigger fish situation..."
> Sora pauses. He definitely said the right word…
"What even is a 'bigger fish situation'?!"
> Yet Alice interrupts, asking for clarity. She had been listening as she pulls two sticks of fried, battered food. Perhaps it's the croquette being talked about, but it is hard to tell from their shape.
"It's when-- it's when a fish eats a bigher fish!"
"How does that fit the context?!"
> They bicker until Alice disappears to the backroom.
| ".. Well. It's good to hear you both have it worked on—..."
> Sora's eyes move from the two customers. He immediately spots a lone customer - his mental clarity dropped from a sky-high to what he can call a rock bottom. He gestures to the two, then shifts his body to another patron.
>>655072
"Sorry, have you ordered anything at all? Did.. Alice forgot your order?"
| >>655159
>He shakes his head.
"I haven't ordered anything yet. I don't suppose you can make meals..."
>He chuckles, unable to shake off the grogginess that seems cling to his very soul. This place didn't really seem the type to do that.
"I just need coffee and something to fill my stomach."
>Even if he had a menu, he'd probably have just as hard a time trying to figure out something more specific.
| >>655204
"We have cakes and.. well, I can try to make anything with flours myself, but—"
> Sora peruses the counter once more, sliding a few compartments before then tsking an item. Despite the availability of a tablet-based menu, he slides down to the man a book. Written in a serif font is a simple word, "Menu".
"—Do have a read. Most there, are things I can make. You need to have your fill more than just coffee."
| >>655158
"Well, kind of. Let's say that this fishes tend to be fishier than actual fishes, though"
>After saying so, Polly high-fives a very confused Ferdinand. Looks like she's finally regaining some will to stay awake.
"And if you eat them there's a slightly bigger chance that you'll get time in jail. Or time as a sentient vacuum, in my case"
>Ferdinand finally gets Polly's weird joke, and you spot a *slight* dose of enmity towards the rest of the medical community in his tone
| >>655354
"Doctors are scary."
> Sora says, not giving a single thought to his word, and having to raise his voice minutely due to his position.
"I get malpractice, but I didn't think the place where people.. heal.. has a lot of fish-biting going on."
> He is clearly not paying attention to his wording anymore.
| >>655429
"Oh, don't worry. We don't bite patients, you know, legal repercussions and all. Well, at least most of us don't"
>He smirks
"But yeah, it's a dog-eat-dog world out there, and the hospitals are no better. But after all, your line of work must also be full of competition, isn't that right?"
| >>655529
"I wouldn't know."
> He shrugs, finally getting the word he wanted to say earlier from someone else. Clearly, it's never fishes that's concerned when it comes to work.
"I've only been here for a year and this is my first job as a waiter. I mean, Ray is pretty competitive, but I don't think he's the type to kill."
| >>655572
"Well, no one said anything about killing..."
>They both laugh, looking at the waiter
"They just, you know, fire you over some sad excuse they came up with the day before and the next day your role is filled by some guy who's father owns half the hospital"
>As soon as they finish their coffees, Polly gets up, takes the empty cups and brings them to the counter, politely nodding at Sora.
"Thank you very much, I really needed that!"
>She then goes back to her table
| >>655598
"Ah-- Alice! Are you done?!"
> Sora hadn't taken time to respond, instead, he paces to the backroom, following Alice — who is still inside — and comes out with two plates of a certain dish.
> A golden-fried croquette in each plate, overlaying its presence is a fried egg. They are served alongside a toast, with what seems to be beans once canned. All radiate the warmth and smell of a freshly-made breakfast.
|
> The waiter walks with the two plates. His balance, while somewhat impeccable, does throws a worry whenever he walks in too fast -- or appears to be in hurry.
"H-hey, Alice said this is the 'Out-Of-Protocol' breakfast-"
> He says, as he sets down the two plates.
"... It's not in the menu, so don't... try to order it next time? That's what she said anyway."
> Doing his best to chuckle, his mind races figuring what Alice had made.
| >>655623
"Oh, thanks! We even told you not to prepare it, if it was a problem, but you did it, after all! Thank you so much, and sorry if we asked for it... You guys are super awesome!"
>Polly says, as Ferdinand nods politely, smiling. She then takes her plate, and as soon as Sora begins to leave, she ravenously assaults her food.
>On the other hand, Ferdinand sedately takes his cutlery, and begins to eat in a very dignified and well mannered way.
| >>655874
"How did it go?"
> Alice dries her palm with the skirt of her uniform, tapping it as though a handkerchief. She looks at the two customers, pointed to by Sora, and made a heartfelt chuckle.
"I don't know much that's all costing me."
"Isn't it nothing special?"
> The waitress nudges Sora, now resting her two arms on the counter.
"I'll charge breakfast.. it's not like we're in the red this month."
|
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| > It's a fair night. The sun sets long ago, leaving a trail of the moonlight to cast into the bustling road. The flickering lights outside, and the passing cars and hovercars, gave more sense of life to the area.
> Caramel Anne is quiet. The jazz settled on a slow tune. There wouldn't be anyone this late, except a single staff grumpily going about washing dishes and cleaning the settlement. All alone.
> It doesn't seem as though she turned on any of the usual machines yet…