DD - Book 2 - Chapter 4 - A Casual Lunch

“No more snacks! You know the rules,” a gruff voice snapped as we approached the cafeteria. “I just gave you sausages, don’t tell me you’ve eaten them all already.”

Kass snorted. “That spider of yours sure is predictable, always thinking with his stomach.”

“Not always. He also likes to prod anything he’s unfamiliar with, and steal objects to get attention. He’s like an oversized puppy. If he thought entirely with his stomach he never would have dropped his snack during the chase,” I said, lifting the small chain of sausages I’d picked up on our way back. 

As we stepped through the arched entrance to the cafeteria my eyes naturally migrated to the fancy, diner-like bar sitting against the back wall. Sure enough, George was sitting there, with his front legs on the bar, begging the cafeteria employees for food. I sighed, and quickly glanced around the rest of the well appointed eatery.

While every dungeon had an employee cafeteria, most just provided a buffet or a rotating daily menu for employees. 

The manor’s cafeteria was closer to a full blown restaurant. There were small comfortable tables, and plush private booths dotted around the area, and each one had a small crystal tablet that allowed employees to request meals from an extensive menu. There were still pre-made meals available, if you were in a rush, but most people preferred to sit down and have a casual meal whenever possible.

I caught sight of a pale, translucent hand waving at us from the back corner, where my friends and I normally congregated. 

“Seems like Bella and the girls are here,” I said, pointing to the corner. “Why don’t you go join them? I’ll follow after I deal with the trouble maker.”

“Sounds good, don’t take too long!” Kass replied cheerfully. 

As she slithered her way through the aisles, I slowly wove my way between the tables, making my way back to the bar. Although George was growling, trying to intimidate the kitchen workers, the stout, matronly gnome standing on the bar, was having none of it.

“I don’t care if you’re hungry or not, you get one snack and that’s it!” she shouted, swinging a frying pan at George’s front legs. “Now get off my bar!”

The oversized spider managed to avoid the first couple strikes, alternating which leg he raised depending on where the gnome was about to strike. This game went on for several seconds, until the gnome swept her frying pan horizontally across the counter, knocking George backwards.

When he started to whine, she just rolled her eyes. “And don’t think your sympathy tactics will work either. I’m on to you.”

“Hey Myra, how are you enjoying your retirement?” I asked as I approached the pair. 

“Ahhhh, Talia, I was wondering when you’d show up,” Myra grinned. “Retirement’s good! I don’t have to worry about managing the expenses, employees, or even dealing with unruly drunk customers.” 

She glanced at George, who was shuffling around next to the bar. “Just the occasional unmanored one.”

As I held up the sausage link all eight eyes locked on the treat, and he started whining again. “If I give you this you have to take it over to the corner, with the others, and stop being a menace. Got it?” 

The spider nodded, or at least did his best approximation of one, rapidly raising and lowering his head using his head using his front legs. When I casually tossed the sausages in his direction he burst forward, snatching the meat out of the air before scrambling across the floor and disappearing into the corner.

“You don’t miss having your own place?” I asked, as I wiped off my hand and turned back towards Myra. “I was a little concerned that I may have guilted you into coming or something, you replied extremely quickly when I told you about the cafeteria management position.”

Myra looked at me strangely for a moment, then let out a hearty laugh. “You should know me better than that, lass, I’m not one to give in to pressure. No, I was already considering selling that place to Annibelle when I got your letter. I'm getting old and it was getting hard for me to take care of that place by myself, but I didn’t want to completely stop working, your letter provided me with the perfect excuse to move on.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re here,” I said. “Most of the kitchen staff were too scared of George to stand up to him. He bullied his way into far too many snacks over the last few months.”

“You don’t have to worry about that while I’m here,” Myra proclaimed proudly. “Not only will I make sure this lot develops a backbone, I’ll make sure I teach ‘em some good ole fashioned underway cuisine for you to enjoy.”

“I look forward to it,” I said, grinning. “The food here is good, but I’ll admit I did find myself craving a traditional meal every once in a while.”

“You won’t have to worry about that while I’m here,” Myra declared. She glanced over towards the corner, and smiled. “Your friends are waiting for you, and I have work to do. We’ll talk more later, okay?”

“Aright, thanks Myra,” I said, stepping away from the bar.

“Take care of yourself dear,” she replied, hoping down and partially disappearing behind the counter. All I could make out was the top of her curly hair, and a single waving hand.

I carefully wove through the tables, and moved to the back of the establishment. There was an oversized booth that sat right in the corner of the room, and curved around to follow the walls instead of having two parallel benches. My friends and I had kind of adopted it as our favorite place to gather, and eat. If it was occupied it wasn’t a big problem, we could always use a different booth, it just kind of felt like ‘our place.’

“Everything okay?” Bella asked as I slid into the booth next to her.

“Fine, I was just dealing with George, and talking with an old friend,” I explained. “Has everyone else ordered?”

“We were going to, but when we saw you and Kass at the door we decided to wait. You just need to add what you want,” Chelsea chirped as she slid an amber tablet across the table. Since the menu changed regularly I normally took a minute to browse, but since everyone had been waiting I quickly added a chicken sandwich to the list and sent it off. 

“Are you all looking forward to the holiday?” I asked, after I finished. “Any plans?”

“The hive has decided to hold drills,” Bea declared. Even though the Anthophilan queen was sitting up straight, looking as proper as ever, her eyes sparkled and her bee-like antenna twitched excitedly. “The others are so close to a breakthrough that, with a little luck, they may be able to evolve before our next match.”

“What brought this on? I thought the other Anthophilans were just having their independence from the hive,” Kass said. 

“They were, but ever since we started the confrontation matches they’ve felt a drive to do better,” Bea declared proudly. When the bee girl turned towards me she had a smile on her face. “You may have to adjust your plans for us going forward.”

“Gladly!” I said. “I’m not planning on going anywhere, so let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.” 

While Bea calmly nodded her thanks I couldn’t help but notice that Chelsea, who was next to her, was bouncing in her seat. Between her pursed lips, and the way her eyes flicked around the table it was obvious she had something to say, she was just looking for an opening.

“Chelsea, what are you planning on doing?” I asked.

“My mother and I are going to Ur’ghul so she can get her last medical treatment!” she exclaimed excitedly. “With any luck she’ll be completely cured of her mana waste disease the next time you see us!”

I stared at her in surprise. “Cured, really?”

Chelsea nodded. “She’s been taking medicine for the last six months, and it seemed like the disease was pretty much wiped out, she just needed enough time to make the trip to Ur’ghul to visit the doctor to check. It would have been much easier if we could take the travel gates, but she’s not allowed to be exposed to magic until her treatment’s done, so we needed an extra couple days for travel time.”

“Congradulations! It sounds like we’ll have a whole lot to celebrate soon!” Kass exclaimed. “We should have a party when everyone’s back, what do you think?”

I nodded lightly, and tried to keep a smile on my face. 

“We’re going to see a ton of changes soon,” I agreed as I leaned back and sunk into the soft fabric of the booth. 

The logical part of my mind was going into overdrive, fabricating plans and contingencies incorporating these changes. I shut my eyes, and tried to force it to stop. If I let my brain go wild, I’d have my nose down against a tablet within an hour, and that would mean that Kass wouldn’t introduce me to her friend. I groaned under my breath, “A ton of changes, and I’m not allowed to plan for any of them.”