Work Text:
Today was going abysmal to say the very least. Ever since monster-kind had joined human society three years ago, Ebott city has been in a state of quiet chaos. At first, people lined the streets with signs displaying their opinions. The outrage was rampant, but had since quieted down to whispers on the train or dirty looks on the sidewalks.
Just today, two people walked in—only to walk right back out upon seeing your coworker Faun, a monster-woman who resembles a deer. She always takes it in stride, saying how “some people are too afraid of change to give something new a chance”. I always bit my tongue about how that didn't give them an excuse to be such dicks, as to not start any serious discussions on the clock.
Last week a man was waiting on his coffee order when Faun walked in for her shift. He screamed at her in front of the entire cafe, practically red in the face with anger. Thankfully I managed to kick the guy out quickly once I had finished his coffee. Progress was painfully slow, but Rome wasn't built in a day you suppose. For now there wasn't anything I could do about it aside from call it out when I see it, being a broke nursing major working at a small coffee shop and all.
However none of that was why today was so rough. I can handle rude customers and bigoted assholes. What truly made today the worst was that my score for my literary analysis of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" was a less than stellar 32%.
“Still sulking about that grade?” Faun interrupted my train of thought as she came up behind me to refill the cups, adjusting the visor style hat on her head carefully so it wouldn't snag her antlers.
“I worked on that essay for hours, it just stings worse when I know half the class used AI and probably passed with flying colors without even picking up the book.”
She shook her head at me, patting my shoulder apologetically. “That's valid. If it helps, I thought it was great. I've never read the book but you made me want to with how you wrote about it. A handsome monster chasing me across the world, sounds romantic.”
I can't help but chuckle at her interpretation, always so starry-eyed. I expect nothing less from a fine arts major. She looked proud of herself for lifting my spirits at least
“How about I grab you an energy drink on my way back from my break?”
I let out a sigh of relief–Faun always knew just what I needed. She started working here a few months after I did, only for us to become friends soon after. She'd watch the counter on slower days so I could hide in a corner of the cafe and get a few extra hours of studying before an exam.
Faun tugs my apron playfully as I'm pouring steamed milk for a latte art order.
“Did you hear about the guest speaker coming to campus Wednesday?” Her excitement was almost infectious as I turned to take a chocolate croissant out of the turbo chef oven.
“No, But the way you're acting, I assume it's the queen or something.”
“It is the queen.”
I pause, my hand in the middle of bagging the croissant. “What…?”
“Yeah, she's gonna like, give a lecture to the nursing department about monster anatomy.” Her smile is beaming as she hands off another order.
My stomach flutters with nerves. Queen Toriel, who's known for being the best healing monster by her people and an amazing nurse by human standards. The excitement was getting to me, I had so many questions, so much to learn.
“EXCUSE ME! Can I please have my croissant?”
The woman across the counter crosses her arms over her chest in an angry huff as I realize I'm still holding her food.
“I-im so sorry, here you go. Have a great day!”
She doesn't reply to me as she snatches the bag from my hands and marches away.
Hours passed with ease with me and Faun on shift together. Sure, every so often we would get a prick who’d yell at her for simply existing but it always made for great gossip afterwards. Today was no different, it was only a half hour until closing but the shop was squeaky clean with all the side work done. I worked at a particularly stubborn stain against the marble countertop when she spoke up
“Do you mind if I head out? I've got a doctor's appointment early as hell tomorrow so I'd like a bit more beauty sleep in case he's single.” Faun winked, causing me to roll my eyes dramatically, but there was no real bite to it.
It wasn't like I was going to be swamped if she left, we didn't usually get any customers past eight anyway and it was half ‘til ten.The cafe was empty and the streets were relatively quiet outside, I can last thirty minutes by myself.
“Yeah yeah, Go ahead. Just keep me posted if you get his number.” She smirked to herself as she slung her purse over her shoulder.
“I never kiss and tell, but you can bribe it out of me.” I shoo her out of the store with a lighthearted shove, waving to each other as she walked down the sidewalk to her bus.
Just like that, the cafe was silent. No cranky karens demanding their coffee or toddlers pressing their sticky hands over the glass of the baked goods display. Taking a deep breath I pull out my ipad and open my notes. No use wasting time waiting on an empty, clean cafe when I have an exam bright and early tomorrow. I'll even make myself a cup of tea to calm my nerves.
The sounds of the front door chime forced my eyes up from my workstation. Who the hell is buying coffee at nine forty five? My muscles tense slightly as I watch an intimidatingly tall skeleton monster walk up to my register. Even slouching he's nearly seven foot, wearing an orange hoodie with black accents and khaki shorts. His pale bones shadowed in the dim light of the cafe as he stalks towards me, stopping inches from the counter
He's so close that the smell of whatever cigarettes he just smoked and the faintest scent of honey is wafted towards me. I swallow the small lump in my throat to greet him. Regardless of how weird a guy who wants coffee at nearly ten at night is, he's still a customer.
“Welcome in, what can I get you?” My voice is slightly shaky. I have to crane my neck just to look at this guy, making me acutely aware that we’re the only two in the shop right now. He's currently scratching his jaw bone as he searches through our menu. A low hum emitting from his chest in what I assume is deep thought over the many cold brew flavors the cafe offers.
“I'll have a… medium cinnamon cold brew.” his voice was low and sounded impossibly tired, i imagine if he had skin there would be bags under his eyes. It somehow made him slightly less intimidating. Maybe he's just worked a long day and needs a little pick me up? Yeah, nothing scary about that, stop being such a worry-wart.
I ring up his order and revert back to my usual customer service tone. “Sure, do you want any cold foam with that? The vanilla would go great with the cinnamon.”I hope this guy doesn't take me up-selling him the wrong way but I deserve the bigger tip with how close to closing time he came in.
He thinks to himself for a few more seconds before nodding. “I'll have to let that suggestion steep for a second.” He smirks slightly.
Was that a coffee pun? The way he looks so proud of himself for it makes a small smile crack through my professional facade. The tense air is lifted somewhat from my shoulders.
“Really letting that one brew huh?” I lean into his pun with one of my own, waiting to see if it’ll land or im making a fool of myself. To my surprise, he chuckles. A low rumble leaving his throat that swells a little more pride than normal to my chest.
“You’ve convinced me then, I'll take the vanilla cold foam.” He speaks as he pulls out a fluffy teddy bear shaped wallet. I have to hold my breath to keep the giggle that threatened to escape me.
“It was a gift from my brother, I call it my direct de-paws-it.” God he looks even more smug than before despite not having any facial features. This guy killing me with all these puns.
He pays and I get to work on his drink, it's done in no time seeing as it's such a simple order. I hand place it on the counter for him once it's finished. “There you go.”
“Cool beans.” As he picks up the cup I take note of how small it is in his large skeletal hand. It almost looks like a child's drink despite the fact that it's sixteen ounces. He takes a few sips before lifting off the lid and grabbing a coffee stirrer. I raise an eyebrow to myself as I watch him.
He pulls a bottle of honey from his jacket pocket, pops the lid, and proceeds to pour nearly half of it into the coffee.
“... you know I could add honey to it if you want, right?” Did this dude not think we had honey? Sure it wasn't normal to add honey to coffee but it's not like nobody did it. I've had a few customers request honey as a sweetener. He turned to me with a shrug of his shoulders as he continued to swirl wooden stirrer in his cup.
“I prefer my own personal blend.” Does he think that makes it less weird? To each their own I guess. I turn to clean up the mess I made while prepping his coffee as he puts the lid back on.
“Thanks for the suggestion, The vanilla makes it a lot sweeter.”
“Or maybe it's the half cup of honey you just put in it.”
“Either way i like it a-latte.”
A small giggle escapes me once again as he gives me a small wave goodbye.