The morning's tension had drained from Conri's body as the day progressed: his shoulders and back relaxed and he could inhale easier while his mind was focused on other things. The cafe's playlist mixed with conversations, chairs filled with guests and the air smelt of almonds and toasted sugar from today's special. It was almost a perfect morning.
Almost.
The Drip is located at a relatively busy intersection, so their consumer demographic was vast, especially when it came to the holidays. Today however wasn't a holiday, just a day where a group of rowdy individuals decided to stop by. Ordering refills of black coffee and sweets while shouting and leaving a mess while parked in the corner of the first floor. They were all wearing similar attire of leather or denim jackets, ripped pants and shirts with abstract designs. Thompson kept glancing over from the host stand while Val dealt with them repeatedly. Her demeanor was hard to phase and her stare was as sharp as her elven ears; never flinching even when they flashed polished pieces of copper jewelry in her direction.
"And just when today was going well." Eli commented in the kitchens.
Conri ignored them as best he could while he plated more cakes for the front of house. His coworkers knew how to deal with tough customers, so it wasn't a total shock, just an annoyance.
"Keep focused Eli and they'll be gone soon," Gwendolyn reassured. "Worse case I'll haul them all out on their asses." Her attention was kept on the flames of the ovens. "If they are apart of who they say they are, best let me handle it if it comes to it."
Balancing a tray on his shoulder, Conri left the kitchen in hopes of the topic ending there. Truth be told the group didn't have anyone he could easily identify, but who knows if that could change. He hoped under his breath that it didn't.
He passed Thompson bringing another group upstairs, looking uneasy as they passed the shouting customers leaving Val and him to man the front. Val gave no direct indication of being bothered by them as she worked despite the cat calling and crude comments. The bell above the door chimed and took her attention now.
"Good Morning, what can I get started for you today?" Her voice was confident as she addressed the customer who seemed to take notice of the noise immediately.
"Sounds like quite the morning rush today." they replied with a voice smooth like honey and a drawl that made the hairs on the back of Conri's neck stand. "Hope they aren't disturbing the peace too much."
Val dropped the customer service act while Conri did his best to avoid eye contact, only catching snippets of the customer in form fitting pants, a loose blouse obscuring their torso, a well trimmed asymmetrical bob cut of black hair obscuring a beautifully stern face. Conri couldn't forget them or the twin silver rings adorning each of their middle fingers. Jeris Irion.
"I'm so glad you asked, they have actually and I'm about to refuse service until you get them to leave."
"Hey look fellas! Boss is here!" someone from the group shouted as another started whistling loudly. The others started clamoring, banging chairs on the floor and fists to the tables out of excitement.
"Now now boys, this pretty young lady has told me you all have been causing her and her service some trouble, this true?" Jeris spoke, mocking a parent as they leaned against the front counter.
"Uh, no! Not us! That bitch is lying, we didn't do anything."
Two of the group laughed, still hitting the table as another flashed a knife from their pocket and the speaker eyed an empty table with destructive glee. The air rippled and the table vibrated without physical assistance.
"We didn't do anything yet."
Jeris gave a polite shrug and went to look at Val again. "Seems you might owe them an apology." Their fingers moved and traced the surface of the counter, tapping the glass with a painted nail. "I think a date could make them forget about their terrible experience, what do you say?"
Val kept her eyes on Jeris, even when their hand started reaching for the brunette braid on her shoulder. She kept her hands together as they itch to physical retaliate. Conri stayed off to the side, feeling his body ache with anxiety buzzing through his nervous system as he thought about his options. Val's mouth was a thin line as Jeris now gingerly held the end of her braid in their hand.
"Here's an idea," she started. "You order an extra hot coffee and I watch as it burns your throat while you chug."
Whether on fear or instinct, Conri's body followed Val's words and tossed a drink toward Jeris causing them to pull away. Eyes darting to him as a he stared, cup in hand, but Conri's expression wasn't victorious. In the same beat, his world had flashed to grey and silence drowned his surroundings. Panic filled him as he felt his muscles become cold like the whole world was staring at him with judgmental eyes until he felt a hand on his shoulder. Val had stepped closer to him, her attention still on Jeris whose attention was towards the hot liquid now suspended in the air inches from their fingers. It bent to their will, altering its shape until it snaked around their forearm.
"My my, still as disobedient as ever Conri," Their mouth expanded into a smile towards the two, watching Conri flinch as they said his name. They were now standing at full poised height, the coffee no longer steaming, but taking on a solidified form with sharp cracks and edges. "Lets start with something simple command. Fetch."
From few away the crystalized liquid was now flung towards them as broken pieces of frozen projectiles. Conri could feel Val swing her arm in front of him while her free hand cover her face, but the piercing impact never came. Instead it felt like rain drops, staining their white shirts and vests with brown droplets of coffee. Jeris was giggling behind their hand while their group of supporters cheered and howled with laughter. They were being ridiculed and Conri felt like a fool for acting in such a way. And the laughter continued until the door bell chimed and Thompson stood, arms crossed and flanked by two men in uniform.
Their skin was the color of clay with equally blank and stiff expressions toward the scene at hand. Pupil less eyes took account of everyone present. Adorning their chests were crests of an open hand with a sword place diagonally across the palm that symbolized the authorities: government dolls.
"Not fatass ruining the party!" one of the group shouted in protest before being echoed by their peers. "Guess you can't help it when you're human!"
Jeris immediately silenced them with a raise of their hand. "Don't fret fellas, the day is young and we still have errands to run." Gesturing as they all came from their seats and out the door while Jeris fiddled in their pocket for a wad of cash and placing a generous handful on the counter. "Have a great rest of your day."
Everyone who left didn't bother to avoid knocking into the dolls, except Jeris who took a moment to look into the lifeless eyes.
"Nothing to report here. Thank you for your service." Turning their attention to Thompson now. "You did the right thing, I wouldn't know what else to do if I was human either. Keep up the good work."
Thompson bit the inside of his cheek, arms still crossed while he used hit foot to prop the door open. The three watched Jeris and their group depart down the street with them leading the pack with the same poise and grace they had when first arriving. Soon after the dolls departed with their signature phrase about serving & protecting the peace which seemed to relax Thompson and Val. Conri could still feel a lingering cold spread through his body as he started looking for a towel and broom to clean their leftover mess and distract his mind.
Thompson checked in with Val who seemed to show signs of relief and excused herself to sit in the kitchen for a minute. Her chest was heaving with anger.
"I could take over if you need a minute." Thompson's voice was calming as he approached Conri who didn't acknowledge immediately. "Val seemed so ready to slug them in the face before you threw that drink. She hopes you're ok too."
Conri continued to clean and avoid Thompson's eyes. "I should be. Just give me a minute please."
"Sure whatever you need." his friend stood inches away from the mess as Conri cleaned. "For my sanity, can I ask if that was who I think it was?"
His grip on the broom tightened and an uncomfortable silence lingered between the two as Thompson waited anxiously. Conri eventually gave up and turned to Thompson with a very exhausted expression, his head nodding slightly.
"Yes. That was Jeris," Conri's voice was heavy as he swallowed. "The same from back in the day and where ever they are,"
"Rovin isn't too far behind." Thompson finished with a defeated expression in his eyes.