beautifulmemer

The blonde girl in the maid outfit hands over the menu, the dour look on her face not changing at all.

"You don't seem into this sort of thing as much as my regulars. Don't think I can't tell by the look on your face. Is this character not satisfactory for you? Give me a moment. I am rather out of practice."

She turns away, and stays faced away for several seconds. When she turns back, its with a vibrant smile on her face. The voice that comes out of her is so different sounding its hard to believe its even the same person.

"Oh, mistress! I was just feeling lonely, when suddenly you arrived to brighten my day like a warm ray of sunshine! You can call me Antoinette." Obviously not her real name. "I'm the maid with a heart of gold and hair to match. And today, I'll be YOUR personal angel. I'll take SUPER good care of you. But please try to not grow too infatuated with me, I'm afraid dates are NOT on the menu!"

That vibrant smile lasts for a few more seconds before fading as if it was never there. When she speaks again, its in the same quiet voice as before.

"Is this more in line with your expectations?"

Now Jeannette just looks even more confused. What? What.....?? Mis....tress.....? What is happening?

That smile is so pretty, though, in its own way, that seeing it brings color to her cheeks....

Wait, no, that is not the point! She has made nothing but a muddle of this situation, and she MUST fix it! Yes!

"Angels are not like that. But please don't feel you need to change yourself for me....I am the one who had the wrong idea."

For just a brief moment, that smile returns. A little, genuine smile displaying just a hint of appreciation. There was no way she was going to be able to keep that up for long without going insane.

"Then allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm Antoinette, the maid said to have the most dazzling frown around. It doesn't make any sense to me, either, don't worry. I'll still take good care of you. I DO have my professional pride. But now you have me a little curious. How did you expect 'angels' to act? The lines I gave you were practically by the book."

There's no disdain or annoyance in her voice as she asks, it sounds like she's genuinely wants to know the answer. She even pulls up a chair and takes a seat. Keeping the customer company is part of the job, after all.

If 'asking questions about the customer's special interests' is also part of the job, then 'Antoinette' needs a HUMONGOUS tip for her service - Jeannette is happy to explain!

"Angels," she reveals, "are virtue and nobility incarnate. Strong and stern, but kind - thinking even of the lowly, and behaving with dignity. They provide good companionship and great comfort. Yet they are also wise, and offer the finest advice, no matter how trivial the issue......"

She clasps her hands merely at the thought. "They are worthy of all admiration!"

In this case it was more a lucky coincidence then anything intentional. The maid, if she could even be thought of as such, listens with an entirely passive look on her face. The only emotion she even shows is a slight raising of an eyebrow with just how much enthusiasm the answer is given. Surely this customer had not expected literal angels at a maid cafe, had she?

"Then I am sure to be a disappointment to you. I have several of those virtues myself, but I can hardly begin to embody all of them. I could certainly never be thought to be 'noble'. I honestly do not have a great deal of kindness to spare, either. Some of my customers seem to enjoy my companionship, a fact I am still struggling to figure out, so I can at least lay claim to that one. I would like to think of myself as wise, though I imagine some may not agree. The concept of wisdom is quite subjective, after all. There are some at school who seem to admire me, but it is merely because of my grades. Anyone could do as well I do with proper effort, so it is nothing to be proud of. As an angel, I clearly do not pass."

There isn't any shame in her voice as she admits it, either. "But I CAN give you some advice. Expecting anyone to be like that is sure to lead you to disappointment. There are very few genuinely kind people in the world. Most would gladly trample you if it meant even a small benefit to themselves."

There's a brief moment of silence from her before she speaks again. "And no, I am not intending to 'trample' you myself. You seem like you might be one of those few kind people. I merely do not wish to see that kindness taken advantage of."

Jeannette listens carefully, but doesn't seem disturbed by these grave tidings. Her own smile, as the maid finishes up, is gentle.

"You are kind yourself, for worrying about someone like me."

She leans in, excited to share a special secret.

"Yet I have met an angel, and she was just so. That is why I expected what I did."

Beaming. She's beaming. "So please don't fret!"

Antoinette, as she's calling herself, does not seem flattered at being called kind, but at the very least doesn't seem offended, either. It simply means her customer doesn't know her well. And how could she? They'd literally just met.

"If you say so. I honestly never thought about it. I just hate people that try to take advantage of others. Its one of the things in the world I hate the most. But you'll have to excuse me for being a bit skeptical of your claim. Or perhaps I misunderstand, but the way you're speaking it almost sounds like you mean that literally. As in, an actual divine being from the heavens. I am wrong, right? You don't ACTUALLY mean that, do you?"

"Oh, and have you decided on what you want yet? I spoke ill of the food, but most of the desserts are actually fairly good if you've got a sweet tooth. It might be a bit plain for a place like this, but I can recommend our ice cream sundaes. They are okay, and I'll even spoon feed it to you if you want, mistress."

Said with a complete lack of anything remotely resembling flirtation in her voice. It slips out so casually that it sounds like she just accepts it as part of her job.

Jeannette is about to inquire why WOULDN'T her angel be a real angel when that last statement hits. And turns her face bright red.

"S-spoon - feed....? This shop.....does that.....??"

Stunned. Absolutely stunned. (Possibly a little fascinated, but mostly stunned.)

Its difficult to tell if the girl in the maid outfit intended for that to be embarrassing or not. If so, she's got an excellent poker face, as she herself doesn't seem even remotely bothered by what she'd said or the thought of doing something like that.

"It is not something we offer every single customer. Management is concerned about making their girls uncomfortable, so we only offer services like that to people who do not, in the words of the owner 'seem creepy'. You'll never see a drunken businessman getting that sort of treatment.

However, if I were to describe the level of unpleasantness I feel from you, the words 'napping kitten' come to mind. In other words, as harmless as a thing can be. Therefore, I'd gladly offer you that sort of service. I will not be offended if you refuse, however. It is merely an offer."

"Spoon fed by...angels..."

No no no no no, the angels here are NOT what she'd thought, they have just established that, why is she thinking of such nonsense?! Jeannette slaps both her cheeks to bring herself back to Earth. Okay. That had been odd. No more of that!

(What if she were someday spoon-fed by the woman...she calls an angel....

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa)

"It is - good of you to offer," she ventures, then hesitates. She's perfectly capable of feeding herself, so it'd be ridiculous to accept, wouldn't it? But Antoinette is making a particular exception for her, and has been so patient with her....

....and if she is to be so indulgent as to have ice cream on a day that is not a holiday, then should she not make it a special...occasion....

"you truly...." This? She's actually going through with this? But her heart clenches unpleasantly when she thinks of turning down the offer, and Jeannette trusts her heart. "....wouldn't mind...?"

Antoinette herself had made it perfectly clear she was no angel. There was no way someone like her would be able to measure up to the lofty standards Jeannette seemed to hold. She met so few of the other girl's criteria she didn't even bother with the normal angel spiel. If anything, trying to insist one something she herself didn't actually believe in would probably prove to be nothing more then an insult to the concept of angels. And while the maid herself didn't actually believe in them, it didn't mean she was intent on bursting her customer's bubble.

She'd also have to be blind to not see the effect her offer has had. That embarrassed, flustered response doesn't seem to phase her one bit. There's not a hint of red on the cheeks of the unorthodox maid, the gaze fixated on Jeannette is as passive as it'd been the entire time.

"I know you are unfamiliar with me, but I would never make an offer if it is something I refuse to do. For instance, the time one of my more unpleasant customers asked me to sit on his lap. It should go without saying this did not happen. And no, I am not offering that to you, either." There's just a tiny hint of a smile on her fact for a moment as she says that. That statement MAY possibly have been solely to elicit a response. She'd never admit it, though.

"If this is satisfactory, I will put in the order now."

"Y-yes!"

Oh, in God's name, why did she just squeak? Jeannette presses her fingers to her lips, embarrassed - but she doesn't back down or change her order. She has made her request, and she will see it....through....

with or without a....

l....lap......si...t.....

please put the order in before the guest overheats.

Thankfully, for Jeannette's dignity, the only response from the maid is a simple nod. Of course she heard that little squeak. She saw the embarrassment on the girl's face. But she didn't call out either. All she does is acknowledge the order, and turn away to head to the kitchen in the back. It seems she has the good wit not to push so hard she drives her customer away.

But not everyone seems to have that much self awareness. Out of the corner of her eye Jeannette might notice one of the other girls approaching the second she's left alone. Her customer had already left, and she might possibly have been doing a little bit of spying. A cheery voice calls out as she gets close.

"Did I really hear that right? Hey, how'd you do it? How'd you get Miruca to actually be nice to you? That girl is like the grumpiest of grumps, I didn't even know she COULD be nice. I...Ack!" She suddenly calls out in pain as another girl shows up and bops her on the back of her head. "Mika, you KNOW we don't use each other's real names here, she's 'Antoinette' and its none of your business." She offers Jeannette an apologetic smile. "Please forgive this foolish girl, I'll see to it she leaves you alone for the duration of your visit."

Mika had just finished being dragged to a corner when the kitchen's doors open. Antoinette emerges carrying the promised treat, carrying it on a tray which, when she gets closer, is shown to be decorated in cartoonish looking little engravings of angels. The treat itself looks a bit of effort was put into it to avoid it being simply a dish of ice cream, with the chocolate sauce not just being over the top, but mixed in to avoid getting a mouthful of just ice cream. A small piece of heart shaped chocolate candy stuck out of one side, and of course you can't have a sundae without a cherry on top.

The tray is placed down on the table as she takes a seat across from Jeannette. From her apron pocket she pulls a spoon wrapped in a cloth napkin which is, of course, also decorated with an angel. "Well, lets begin, I suppose."

So "Antoinette's" name is Miruca, but that is not to be used while working.....This angel cafe is much deeper and more complicated than Jeannette could have ever expected.

She's on the verge of reassuring the other waitresses that she doesn't mind, and to please not get anyone into trouble on her account, but the issue resolves itself and then she finds herself presented with Antoinette/Miruca and the rather indulgent-looking treat. Jeannette has to admit she does find the angel decorations charming, for what they are -

Oh, she is disseminating, and she knows it, and she detests when people deliberately avoid the point. So she nods, blushing again, and sits up straight.

"Do I lean over?" she asks, wanting to be in the most useful position. She asked for this...this rather unusual and yet oddly exciting feature of the cafe...but that does not mean she can't make doing Antoinette-Miruca's job as easy for her as possible!

Edited 2023-05-24 23:37 (UTC)

While the other maids retreat before Antoinette is able to see them talking to her customer, they don't even hide the fact they are watching when she returns. There seems to be a lot of interest in the event from the maids who don't have customers for themselves. An already awkward feeling might become even more so when Jeannette realizes just how many sets of eyes are on her table. She'd become something of a spectacle all of the sudden.

"Leaning over a little bit would be optimal, provided it does not reach too high a level of discomfort." responds the blonde girl in the maid's outfit. The cloth napkin is placed between the two of them to catch any of the treat which may escape her spoon. Showing the same lack of hesitation she did when she made the offer, she spoons up a hefty spoonful, leaning over a bit herself and holding it out for the other girl to take into her mouth. "Please enjoy my service, mistress." Her voice is as calm as always, but there is one thing a little different this time.

Its subtle, it might be difficult to notice if Jeannette is herself feeling embarrassed and not looking too closely, but it seemed 'Antoinette' was a little more effected by the situation then she was letting on. There's just a hint of red on her cheeks and she constantly fails to make proper eye contact. Its as if she finally realized what she'd offered to do, and what was doing at the very moment, and realized how embarrassing it was. She does not complain, however. She's devoted to her duty if nothing else!

The eyes on them are a bit distracting - others are bearing witness to...whatever this is....Yet that should not permit Jeannette to be daunted! Really, being nervous after having decided to do something is quite unlike her. Is her own dear angel not always telling her to go boldly? And this is (some form of) an angel cafe, no less! She must live up to her angel's belief in her!

There's a brief swallow before her mouth even opens, but then Jeannette is leaning slightly, as instructed. "Y...yes...."

Is Antoinette blushing, too? Perhaps that is...perhaps that is a normal thing to do, in this situation, Jeannette has never been in one similar and thus has no idea. Perhaps she has been fretting over nothing. That would explain why she cannot pinpoint the source of her distress. Right! She's nervous about nothing! They can do this, and it will be -

Beneath the nerves, her heart is going pitter-patter for different reasons. Yes, this is....this is exciting.

It's with a little smile struggling to twitch the edges of her lips that Jeannette parts them, ready to receive her treat. In her heart, she says a silent grace, thanking the Lord for this meal....

The two don't know each other, but the reason so many eyes are on them is because it is not not normal at all for 'Antoinette' to have a look like that on her face. Her reputation paints her as the girl who's more likely to chastise her customers then give them a service like this. Because of that, Jeannette was going to have celebrity status with the cafe's other girls by the time this was over with. Even if she never came back, she'd probably be the subject of gossip for at least a little while. Of course the main question on their minds was what had possessed the cranky maid to even do such a thing? They'd have to keep wondering, though, as the 'show' goes on and she doesn't seem like she'd be explaining.

The girl's hands are steady as she does her job. Whatever she's feeling, it isn't interfering with her ability to give proper service. The first spoonful is delivered without incident. She doesn't do anything stupid like just cramming it in poor Jeannette's mouth. She manages to, for a moment, find enough boldness to look straight at her customer's face to make sure she was enjoying herself, and also that she hadn't done anything wrong, but that boldness does not seem to last long as she looks away again. Only that little bit of red on her cheeks gives her away, its entirely out of place on her otherwise stoic face. Once she's confident the spoon is empty, she leans back to scoop out more of the treat.

But this time there seems to be just a tiny hint of shaking on her hand. Thankfully, all this results in is the spoonful of ice cream falling back into the dish. The second attempt is much more stable.

"Do tell me if anything is not to your satisfaction."

Whatever nervousness she was feeling does not seem to have found its way into her voice.

Speaking of things that tremble, Jeannette's lips are a bit quivery, and it's not from the cold. She no longer has to make a conscious effort to hold her mouth open - her jaw has dropped of its own accord and seems quite content to stay ajar.

"A-ah...."

The ice cream was - fine, it was fine, sweet and creamy, but Antoinette's face is so close to hers! She can see each of the other girl's eyelashes, and they are quite fine and thick, curling appealingly, and she has never noticed such things before, and now she is feeling dreadfully negligent, as she tries to bring up a sense of Angel-sama's eyelashes, this is, suddenly, vital information, but she is certain that Angel-sama and Antoinette's eyelashes both possess their own unique charms, and oh dear, what must her face look like....

But Antoinette seems nervous, too, and that - oh, no, she would hate if that is because of her, if that is because she has been struck dumb! Jeannette must do something!

"No!" she squeaks, then realizes that's the wrong word. "Everything's....everything's fine. You're doing a....wonderful job....so please don't be....distressed...."

Jeannette has forgotten that humans need to blink.

It is very fortunate that the other girl is incapable of reading minds. If she knew what sort of thoughts had found their way into Jeannette's head, the whole thing would probably come to an end with her being too embarrassed to continue. As someone who basically didn't think about romance or attraction at all, she wouldn't be offended or anything, it'd just be such a surprise it'd smash right through her barriers and leave her with only one question on her mind. Why would anyone think that way about HER of all people?

Thankfully she lacks the ability to peer into the mind of another, so she can't know she has lovely eyelashes. Its certainly nothing she'd ever think about herself, after all. If she is thinking it about Jeannette, however, is less obvious. The girl would probably be an excellent poker player with how calm her face is, particularly considering how poorly that calm look reflects what she's feeling. Her heart was racing with what she had convinced herself was merely embarrassment. What else could it be? Its just because of what she was doing. It definitely did NOT have anything to do with it being with another girl her age.

"Good. I was worried I had offended you in some way." She seemed to do her best to speak calmly as well, but there's just a hint of wavering in her voice. "Then I shall do as you say, and not be distressed. Even though I've already failed you. I failed one of the most important steps. I never asked how you wanted to be addressed. If 'mistress' is fine, then I shall continue to use that. If you would wish to be called by your name, I will need to know what that is."

She is definitely only asking because its her job. There is no other reason. Really.

Failed...? That could never be! Jeannette must correct this misapprehension! It is VITAL.

"Um - ! You have hardly failed, as I declined to offer it as well....And I am nothing so grand as a 'mistress', so...."

So she'd best give her name then, doesn't it? She wets her lips, tastes the sweetness of lingering ice cream. This is a simple matter, and can be simply resolved!

She bobs her head in belated greeting, offers a smile.

"My name is Jeanne d'Arc. Please call me 'Jeannette'." She goes by "Jeanne" at the Dreamer Union, but she is not there now...and it just feels right, that this girl should know her hometown nickname. "It is good to meet you, 'Antoinette'-while-working."

Kayfabe doesn't work like that, Jeannette. Any cognizance of that? No? Okay.

The greeting does not put a smile onto the other girl's face. Rather, a little frown finds its way onto her face. Of course she has no problem with the name she's been given. Its the other part of the greeting.

"I suppose it was Mika again. I shall have to have a talk with that girl." She glances over her shoulder, finding Mika attempting to spy on them. She quickly turns away. She is doing such a poor job hiding it she could only be more conspicuous if she started loudly whistling as well.

"Jeannette is a lovely name." There's a brief moment's pause. "A fine name, rather. You are correct that Antoinette is not my real name. We use false ones here for our own protection. It makes us more difficult to track should any of our customers grow entirely too infatuated with us. It apparently happened to a girl before I started working here, so the new rule was implemented. They gave me this name because of my hair. Said they wanted me to sound 'European' or some such nonsense."

Concentrating on conversation seems to have helped her calm down a little bit. The blush seems to have vanished from her cheeks as she dips the spoon back into the dish. "Now, how about a little more of this treat, not-mistress Jeannette?" She holds it out close but not quite in reach. Jeannette will have to lean forward just a tiny bit to reach it.

"Just Jeannette, please..." So angel maids have aliases, like Dreamers. And it's because people get the wrong idea? How awful. Jeannette will add "the safety of the people at the angel cafe" to the list of those she prays for nightly. (It is a long prayer.)

She almost wants to pray right now, but the spoon is waiting - and a bit...too far...? Why is it....?

Her cheeks puff, but clearly not in sincerity. "You are teasing me," she guesses, calling Antoinette-Miruca's bluff, but tucks a curl delicately over her shoulder to lean forward anyway, a smile back on her face. In so doing, she doesn't realize she says:

"Aaa~hn~"

"Surely you misunderstand. I would never do such a thing." Not surprisingly, it was said in that same soft tone she's spoken in almost exclusively, one that makes it difficult to tell just how much of a joke her words were. There does seem to be a tiny hint of a smile touching her lips, but she seems to be doing her best to push it away. It manages to stay on her face for a brief moment at the cutesy way her offering was claimed.

"This might be a strange thing for me to say, but I would like to thank you for being so...normal. This job is more stressful then you might think, with all the demands the more entitled customers make of us. To be able to simply sit here and talk is a wonderful bit of mental relaxation I didn't realize I actually needed. Even if certain girls won't stop trying to spy on us." She doesn't bother looking, but you know what you're doing, Mika!

"Sorry if that seems a weird thing to say. But I do mean it. Honestly, its very rare to have a customer that sees us as actual people. I don't entirely fault them for it, we sell a fantasy to people who can't afford a real maid. We're supposed to be their 'servants', and the 'elite' don't have to care about their servants." An undisguised frown touches her face as she says that. "But I am ruining the mood. I promise this time it will be well within your reach." True to her word, the next spoonful won't require Jeannette to lean forward nearly as far. Apparently, the teasing is at an end.

It doesn't require her to lean over nearly as far, but Jeannette still seems to be struggling. Not to reach, no, but with...

Are her eyes watering?

Is she tearing up?

Is she looking at Miruca with boundless compassion and sympathy

and tearing up?

That is the thing that finally gets some emotion to show on the other girl's face. She'd been carefully keeping that near emotionless look on her face, and controlling the tone of her voice as well, but she's no robot. At the first hint of those tears touching Jeannette's eyes, her own eyes go wide and she's trying to fix things.

"There's no need for that. I..I knew what I was getting into when I started working here. Besides, most people aren't cruel to us. The ones who are actually abusive get thrown out and aren't welcome back. The owner is very supportive as well. Besides, how can I complain? Its not like I am a real maid, I'm just a girl in a costume. So, I want you to stop wasting tears on me this instant. It..it kind of bothers me, really."

Her voice is still soft, but its a different sort of soft. She sounds genuinely a little worried and perhaps mildly confused. Is this girl actually sad for her? She's not sure how that makes her feel. Maybe a little happy? "Well, it doesn't bother me that much, I guess....But I still want you to stop. I'm supposed to be making you happier, after all."

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