Waitress

Lore

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The Divine Brews travelling teashop is known the world over- for their beverages, for their servers only of the purest lineages, for their impeccable services. Crowds throng at the gates whenever they show up in the area- from the richest on Sornieth to the lowliest of dragons, if you can get to their list on time, you’ll be admitted in.

On the highest floor of their travelling caravan is where the matriarch resides- taken in as a young hatchling by the previous owner and trained as a server- never given a name other than Waitress.
No matter how you try, you will never find out what happened to him.

Waitress sits above the chatter and bustle, moonlight blocked out by the darkened red silks hanging on the windows. Confident talons pour dark liquid into kintsugi ceramics with the ease of an action practiced so often it has sunk into the bones, steaming fruit and floral into the air. She eyes the cups with critical, seasoned eyes and nods, adding a last ingredient from the brace around her wrist to each cup before picking up the tray and walking out.

Dragons whisper to each other as she glides by, head tilted high in the air, fabrics shifting against the floor, leaving the scent of roses and jasmine behind.

She spreads her wings and drops down to the central balcony, the floor where the walls are gilded gold and diamonds adorn the table ornaments and the powerful come to dine.

“Waitress!” A Guardian booms obnoxiously as she approaches his table, the end of his smile tipping into a smirk as he looks her over. “My prettiest service dragon. Did you get the tea I ordered?”

“I did,” Waitress replies shortly, voice deep and serene, ignoring the titters around her. “Here you go, sir.”
The others at the table don’t take their eyes off her as she carefully places the tea down. Waitress is unruffled- she takes the gems with an elegant swipe of a hand and walks off before they can call her back.

“Behold, my companions!” The Guardian’s voice reaches the upper floors as she makes her way back to her room. “The rarest tea on Sornieth- bought just for all of you!”

She can’t resist rolling her eyes at the bragging as she pushes aside the bead curtain entrance to her room- then freezes.

“They’re still alive,” The hooded Nocturne inside her room growls, white scales practically glowing in the moonlight.

“Patience is a virtue,” Waitress replies sedately, setting down her empty tray on the table. “We can’t leave a trail of bodies wherever we go, we’ll get caught within days. He and the others will drop dead for… their crimes in a week or so.”

“Stealing eggs,” He says, cutting his eyes to the side, and she hisses in anger, headfeathers raised.
The Nocturne looks back at her. “I don’t have money,” He says abruptly. “But I know a lot of criminals. And I don’t think you’re doing this for the treasure anyway.”
Waitress hangs her apron up on a hook. “What are you proposing?”

“A partnership,” The Nocturne answers, tilting his head. “I get you names, you change your teashop’s route to kill them.”

“Intriguing,” Waitress says. She gives a small laugh as she puts down the last of her roses to the table. “I’ve never had a partner before.” She turns around to meet his gaze, then after a beat, holds out her tail. “Alright. Partners.”

He dips his head and lets her curl her tail around his wrist in the traditional Skydancer oathmaking pose. Waitress raises an impressed eyebrow and adds it to the list of questions she wants to ask him as he gives the customary second bow and turns away.

“Your payment is by your desk,” He calls back as he turns and leaps up to the windowsill. He grins over his shoulder. “As well as a few bags of coffee. Doesn’t look like you like tea all that much.”
Waitress allows herself to grin back. “I despise tea.” She agrees. “Looks like we’re going to be good partners after all-”

“Davoris,” The Nocturne replies, and then flies off into the night.

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