The Customer is Always Right... right?

[reflectedstasis]

Who: OPEN.
When: The day of August 31
Where: Sector 5, at the Cat's Eye Bistro
Summary: Mysterious flowering cherry trees have sprung up overnight. They're beautiful, but their petals have some strange effects...
Warnings: Eventual violence thanks to an out of control 07 Ghost. Aside from that, just mark your warnings in the subject!

The up side of

Comments

[violins_rain]

When Rain had set out for work this morning, he'd brushed past several lower-hanging branches of sakura thanks to his height, and as he comes in for his shift through the back door, a few wayward petals fall gently off his hair onto the floor of the kitchen.

"Good morning, Sakura, Mr. Fai. Whoops, guess I missed a few." He chuckles and combs several more petals out, "Looks like I'm shedding a storm."

He grabs a broom to quickly remedy that.

[reflectedstasis]

Fai glanced back over his shoulder and smiled at the man, a friendly, pleasant smile, then nodded to the falling leaves. "New way of becoming one with nature I guess, right?"

Turning back to the task at hand, he motioned to Sakura to take the next tray of pastries out to the display case, then began adding the honey glaze to the freshly cooled croissants. "Did you enjoy your walk this morning? I must say - I'd never seen the Sakura trees down that way before."

[violins_rain]

“Yeah, it was especially nice today, and if I didn’t know any better, I would have said those trees sprang up overnight by magic,” he pauses in his sweeping and considers that. His instincts are quite on the money, but his rationality wins for the moment so he ends up dismissing the thought and swings the dust pan over the rubbish bin to empty it. Normally, he might just leave the conversation at that and move on to his duties, but today he feels more talkative than usual and he asks, “I hope you had a nice walk, too. Did you also pass by cherry trees when you were coming?”

He peeks out at the dining area and takes an inventory of what needs to be done, then grabs a tub to bus a few tables.

[reflectedstasis]

"Yes - I had to go meet our produce supplier this morning right after sirens. I walked by them on the way back to the Subway, actually."

Grinning up at the man, he leaned over and snagged added conspiratorially, "They had such a lovely fragrance that I substituted them in the rose petal tea and it's been quite the success~"

[violins_rain]

“Haha, I can see that," Rain smiles as he pans his gaze around the cafe; it's filled with the sound of voices burbling and nearly all the customers are engaged in animated conversations with each other.

"Though, I didn't realize you got so little sleep, since you work at the club at night." Rain's brows draw together in concern as he glances back at Fai.

[reflectedstasis]

It's alright - I usually only work two or three nights, but as business picks up, I shouldn't need to too much longer. besides," Glancing up he smiled and gave a dismissive wave. "I don't need much sleep so it's alright."

He shifted over to lean on the counter by the register, smiled as a customer came up to pay their bill.

"And you? Are you settling into the Port alright?"

[violins_rain]

"That's good. I'm glad you don't have to work so much any more---after all, you just left the hospital." There is a pause in his speaking as he cleans several of the tables.

"I kind of wish I knew how to cook like you too though, so I could help out in the kitchen once in a while at least." He returns with the tub full of dishes and sets them aside to be washed.

"Yeah, I'm settling in fine, although it has been quite hectic. I was lucky enough to start working for you right after coming to Port and then there was the earthquake. Sometimes, it all feels like a dream...

Here, Rain's expression goes strangely flat, as if withdrawing into a realization. It's quickly wiped away by the return of his smile.

What about you? Did anything exciting happen to you when you first came here?"

[reflectedstasis]

Fai's own gaze sharpened briefly at that look from the man, reminded once again by the unusual nature he sensed within this virtual stranger. Much like Frau and yet nothing like him, Rain had a sense of presense about him at times that really caught Fai's awareness.

Moments like that one.

For now, however, he simply waved a hand around. "So start coming in right after sirens and I'll let you help in the kitchens? I usually start around six, but considering sirens, just come in whenever."

Smiling over to the man, Fai shrugged and explained, "I could use the help and I'll pay you as a sous chef until I can fill the position. As for when I first got here, well, that was a bit of a trial."

[violins_rain]

Rain doesn't notice the change in Fai's gaze, too focused on the tasks at hand. At least, until he hears Fai's next words.

"What? But I'm not sous chef material at all!" Candid surprise, dismay and embarrassment all war in Rain's expression and posture at Fai's suggestion. He has the feeling he's being teased, but despite that he finds himself insisting.

"I can definitely help you prep the food in the morning. That I can do at least." He had no trouble peeling potatoes and apples, that was for sure. In fact, he'd gotten pleennty of experience doing so in odd jobs or as punishment for stowing away on prison ships. “I think it’s admirable of you to open your own business shortly after being pulled here. And you’re taking care of Sakura, too.”

Still, beneath the flustering, the uneasy undercurrent that Fai sensed still remained.

FAIL! I thought I replied to this. >.<;;

[reflectedstasis]

"Oh? Have you tried before or something?"

He shrugged a bit at that, his gaze still caught on the man as he frowned a bit. Was it because he'd never tried, or because he'd tried and failed? Things were edging into that whole 'past should be left alone' area for Fai, but for now he just waited to see what the man said.

He could always agree to the help with the prep work and leave it at that, worst case scenario.

Lol, it's ok, my mind's like swiss cheese XD (reaction 1/2)

[violins_rain]

"My cooking's just average. You don't have to go through all the trouble of whipping me into shape," Rain chuckles. It's really no big deal, no one's ever been poisoned from his cooking, but honestly, it's only home-cooking level, not comparable to the artistry and skill of Fai's pastries and main dishes.

With that, Rain excuses himself to return to his duties. He's already taken quite up a bit of his employer's time with idle chit-chat, but he remains sincere about providing extra help. He and Fai can talk over the specifics after hours. For now, there's customers to attend to.

(reaction 2/2)

[violins_rain]

It's only a while later, during a lull in the customers, that Rain starts to hum under his breath. As he continues to work, the humming changes to low singing, peppered with pauses as he tries to recall the lyrics. He doesn't seem fully aware that he is doing it, but the song is in another language. It's a gentle, encouraging melody at the same time it is wistful.

(ooc: it's a Russian-sounding version of this song )

[kaijuusakura]

Sakura has a bit of a grin on her face when she enters the room to see him singing to himself. She silently walks around him, not wanting to disturb his singing.

[violins_rain]

Rain senses her presence behind him and perks up from his work, warmly asking, "Oh hey, Sakura. How was school?"

[kaijuusakura]

"Hi Rain!" She says as she turns around and faces him, "School? It hasn't started yet! I've still got another week!"

She giggles a little. It was nerve racking for her.

[violins_rain]

Bwehh? Well, Rain must actually, truly be getting on in years prematurely. For some reason, he'd thought it was already September...

"Ahaha, that's right; I seem to have misplaced the date in my mind. Just in case, which school is it again?"

He gives her a knowing look and reassures her, "Don't worry-you'll do fine, and you'll make plenty of friends."

He's quite confident that there's nothing to worry about on that front: Sakura is a wonderful person, and her classmates will see that sooner or later, Newcomer or not.