beautifulmemer

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."

"B-but...."

She's trying to stop, she swears. Yet this is all so much...!

"You all work so very hard....I-I cannot say I understand it, still, but that does not change the effort you put in....t-to be disrespected because of that...."

Trying her best to wipe her face, Jeannette takes some deep breaths.

"H-how can my heart help but ache?"

This is something Miruca just does not know how to handle. She doesn't even know how to feel about it! She can't bring herself to be annoyed at someone who is crying for her sake, even though the two have barely spoken and, as far as she knows at least, the other girl doesn't even know her real name. Still, no one ever cries for her. She barely even ever cried for HERSELF, yet here was this total stranger just oozing compassion. It served to, in turn, make her feel sorry for the poor girl. If she had picked her words better, she wouldn't have bothered her so much.

That might be why she does something outside of the bounds of her job, something as a person, not as an employee. She doesn't even think about it when she does it. She sets the spoon down in the dish, picking up the napkin instead, and leans forward, wiping away Jeannette's tears with it. It takes her about 4 seconds to realize what she'd just done, and when she does, she stutters out an explanation.

"I...I just couldn't stand watching that." Yep, now she's embarrassed again. And also yes, Mika was watching the whole thing. She's got the goofiest grin on her face, too.

How gentle....

The gesture works at stopping Jeannette's sobs, though not perhaps for the intended reasons; Jeannette's breath is stilled at the comfort of someone taking care of her like that. The warmth doesn't leave her gaze - if anything, it intensifies - but the momentary respite from tears is enough to try and gain mastery of herself again.

"I am....so very sorry..." she manages to murmur, dazed, then swallows. Focus! "Please don't worry.......about me..."

Gentle is the sort of word rarely used to describe Miruca, but then she also rarely does things like that. Why she did it, why the tears bothered her SO MUCH is something she doesn't understand. If she was asked, she'd just chalk it up to being sentimental today for some reason. Not that she could come up with the reason if pressed. If pressed TOO hard, she'd probably get a little defensively shouty. But thankfully, that is unlikely to happen. At least until Mika corners her in the kitchen.

"Its fine." She is quick to withdraw her hand. "I just let my cynicism do the speaking. Its really not so bad. Most people aren't like that. The bad ones are very rare. Though I'd say people like you are even rarer."

And now she is actually apologizing to the girl. In her eyes, the one who is actually gentle is obvious. "You don't even feel like a customer, its more like you're here to comfort ME. That's not how this is supposed to work, you know." There's no anger in her voice, no annoyance, just a hint of amusement.

Sniffling, Jeannette wipes her eyes with her fingertips to ensure the tears have stopped. "Well, I am new, so it follows that I might do some things wrong."

And then she tries a half-smile, to show that she was teasing.

"Besides, if I am to be fed a sundae, I would rather it be by a friend than an employee. ...Is that overstepping?"

She has to check, to be sure she isn't one of those problem people herself!

Edited 2023-06-10 18:12 (UTC)

Judging by the expression on 'Antoinette's' face, there seems to be no issue with the request. She's very clearly taken aback by it, who would actually want to befriend HER? But maybe there was someone. There was no harm in letting herself relax a little. Honestly, it'd probably do her a lot of good.

"Hmmm. Well, I don't mind. So, lets us try this." She reaches for the top of her head, pulling the white maid brim out of her hair, and setting it on the table. "No maid would be seen without this. It is an essential part of the uniform. Without it, I truly cannot be considered a maid, I am merely a girl. So, let us finish your dessert as equals, Jeannette." Is that actually a smile on her face? It actually doesn't fade after a second or two this time. She'd been in a bit of a sour mood earlier, but now she feels a lot better. Its amazing what an actually friendly person can do for a bad mood.

The spoon is picked back up. "Now, open wide. Its starting to melt, and while its still tasty like that, there's a good chance it might end up all over your dress on accident. It would not be appropriate to mess up a friend's dress, right?

Of course she realizes there's a very large chance she's never going to see this person ever again. But she's already committed to it, and honestly, doesn't seem to mind in the slightest. They can be friends for now. It hurt nothing and, it was honestly kind of nice to pretend someone actually cared about her for a little while.

This is much nicer than before! Partly because it is good to know they are friends, but also because it's much more pleasant, Jeannette is discovering, to be fed ice cream by someone who is smiling and seeming to enjoy it. After all, what is the point in doing something together if only one of them has fun--

Fun? Is she having...fun....being spoon-fed a sundae? Her ears warm beneath her curls, and yet, she cannot deny that now there's twice as rapid a happy little flutter in her stomach. And something that brings delight to both of them, no matter how peculiar - it can't be bad, right? Jeannette does not know what falling into wicked temptation would feel like, but she can't imagine it's dove wings against her ribcage and a joyful, effervescent buzz beneath her skin. No, that sort of happiness is the work of the Lord! Therefore, this is fine.

Obediently, she opens her mouth and turns her face towards "Antoinette".

"Thank 'oo vehhy much~"

And its obvious that its not a one sided happiness. There is so much negativity in the life of the (former?) maid, that to just suddenly have so much positivity all at once could do nothing but fracture the walls around her personality. Though with nothing to compare to it isn't obvious how differently 'Antoinette' was acting from her norm, there's a reason the girls who work with her find the whole situation confusing. How did this customer with the curled hair charm the girl known for her cynical attitude? It'd be a mystery among the staff for weeks to come.

But it certainly seemed that way. There was an unfamiliar warmth inside Miruca's chest. While she really wasn't sure how long the feeling would last, she was startled to discover she actually thought of this near stranger as an friend. No one came to a maid cafe and acted this way, and the fact that Jeannette had done so proved she was something special that deserved to be remembered. She'd grown so used to a life being walked all over that she'd forgotten what that feeling in her chest actually was. Even now she couldn't quite place her finger on it. Being happy so rarely made that feeling almost like a foreign invader.

The dessert had not been that large to begin with, and with Miruca not awkwardly causing tears, it is not long before its reaching its end. The final spoonful is a special one, though. It contains the chocolate heart as well as the essential cherry on top.

"This is it." She actually sounds mildly unhappy as she says it. No matter how much they pretend to be 'friends', Jeannette will be leaving soon. They might be acting differently, but it didn't change the fact this was, at its heart, a business transaction. But she tries to drive that negative emotion away. "I hope I wasn't too awkward with you."

"Not in the slightest!"

Jeannette is quite firm and positive upon this point. The inside of her mouth is sweet and tart with chocolate and cherries, and so, somehow, is the fluttering inside her. It's too bad the dessert had to end....

But to order another would be gluttony. Better to savor its memory, and what matters far more than that - the new friend she's made.

"Thank you so very much for teaching me about the cafe, and for the dessert...and for accommodating my ignorance."

She giggles. "I may not have gotten to see angels, but I am just as glad to have met you."

The other blonde was entirely unable to place the feelings she was having. It was something more then just a basic feeling of kinship with this kind-hearted girl. She was being reminded by the second just how few people treat her like this, how she really had the only one who would even really notice if she went missing would be her older sister. And, perhaps, this girl? But no, soft as her heart is, its not like they'll see each other after this day. Why should they? Jeannette was obviously a very kind person, she deserved a better friend then a girl like her.

"I.....that is..." For some reason words had become very difficult for her. Why did Jeannette have to word it like that? Meeting her is something that normally annoys people. Why not this one? Why was she so....wholesome? "..P...please excuse me.." That redness on her cheeks was impossible to hide as she quickly scoops up the empty dishes and rushes to the kitchens.

She's not in there to clean that dish, that's for sure. She can't figure it out. Why did that get to her so much? It was just a person being friendly, why did she run away? She was being rude to someone who had done nothing but show her kindness. The dish is set aside, as she moves to a sink, splashing water on her face. This is stupid. She shouldn't be acting like this at all. And the moment alone seemed to be enough to get her to calm down. Drying her face off, she is more like herself when she steps back through the doors, and heads back to Jeannette without any hesitation.

"Apologies, I thought I felt a sneeze coming on." Its a very poor lie, one that definitely did not match the look that had been on her face and, for some reason, brings on laughter from a certain table. She knows who it is without even looking at her, and would definitely be speaking with her later. "Thank you for your kind words, I am glad to know you were not disappointed." Her voice is much more controlled now, somewhat professional but still with an underlying warmth in comparison to how she'd been earlier.

TDM #2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

oh it's gonna be real fun when she starts hanging out with ai

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)