soul_logs | [OPEN] In Black & White

Characters: Butlers Ramza, Kanji, Naoto and YOU!
Location: Bloody Butler Cafe
Rating: Varies. This will mostly be completely silly.
Time: June 19th, All Day
Description: New faces among the butlers!? Seems like one or two of them owes a couple of favors. Take a break from your Gala preparations and grab some lunch or coffee, and a little company...

Nestled away in Death City were partner cafes, one Maid and one Butler not far from each other. With BREW inviting and dismissing, the staff frequently changed, disappointing and yet enticing the clientele who missed their favorites but looked forward to new faces and an all new favorite.

The decor was what you could expect from the Bloody Butler, modestly lit and appearing for all the world like a dining room in a fancy mansion, tables and comfortable chairs set up for singles or groups to come together and enjoy a little break from the day. The paintings on the walls were various plays on the glamorous life, but if you looked closely some of them looked like the late Shinigami had placed himself in famous works of art, like the Mona Lisa with a skull mask among other whimsical works.

But among the paintings, fresh and fragrant flowers in vases lining the walls and in centerpieces at each table, glittering chandeliers and the light and lofty mood-setting music playing over the speakers were well-dressed individuals moving along from table to table, stopping to chat. Most sat with the visitors in rapt attention, chatting away. The menu fare comprised of light and sensible meals, or more specifically things that can be picked up with a fork or spoon by the butlers and fed to you if you request it, and rich, sinful desserts that can be treated just the same.

It all begins with a warm greeting the moment each customer steps in, for it's customary to treat each visitor like royalty.

[ooc: Don't forget to tag yourself in! This is also open for Sugata, who just found work at the Bloody Butler alongside Ramza, to make a thread as well if they'd like. Butlers will each make an thread for themselves, and will attend to each visitor who tags into their thread or comes in to poke fun at their well-dressed friend. Can't pick? Well, you can stop in for lunch now and dinner later. Nobody'll bat an eyelash for your sudden interest~]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The friends hadn't given her such a hard time at least, but the strangers, quite an entitled bunch. Odd enough, she could've sworn a few of them were familiar somehow. Still, a sip of tea and she was calm again.

Naoto raised her head when Kanji entered and, with a nod, returned to her tea. It all changed when he spoke. She inhaled sharply and did something very unlike her: she choked on her tea and began coughing. Between coughs, she heard the smack as Kanji covered her mouth and she looked up at him, her eyes wide and face flushed.

"D-Did you just call me 'hime'?" He could have at least said Ouji, but-- wait, what the hell was she thinking? He should have just said Naoto.

Goddamn it, she noticed! Well, okay, it'd be hard not to, but today'd been a weird enough one was it is!

"D-did I say that?! Heheh, I uh, I guess I'm used to givin' people titles when they come in... it kinda just slipped out, y'know!?" He walked quickly to the wash sink. He needed a splash of cold water right about now. He yanked off his gloves to gather handfuls and pat his face, get the burning down.

But once he took a moment, hands planted against the edge of the sink, he was quiet a moment.

"...I-I mean unless ya like it, then I could always- I mean, when we're alone, or...!"

Oh... yes, right. She supposed she could accept that reasoning. Referring to so many girls as 'hime' herself in such a cold tone (only for them to respond positively), it could be anyone's tongue slip. Though, she probably wouldn't have called Kanji 'hime' on accident.

Coughing a little more into her hand, she turned her head away as he splashed his face. It took a moment before she spoke again. "... Ouji would be more appropriate in public. I... I may allow you to say 'hime'... in the bedroom."

'May' being the key word. She kept her voice low so maybe he didn't catch her say everything.

"Ouji, right..." Kanji sighed in his own embarrassment and stood, taking a nearby towel and patting his face dry. But when he looked over his shoulder at her, he wondered if his ears were failing him somehow. Once his heart started racing he could hardly hear much else sometimes.

"Uh, what was the last bit? I didn't catch it in all the rushin' water."

Her mouth opened and she almost said 'forget it'. It wasn't something she wanted to repeat out loud, but maybe - just maybe... She stood up and walked closer to him, close enough that if she whispered, he should be able to hear.

"I... I said, I may allow you to use 'hime' i-in the bedroom."

The towel got a casual fold and toss aside. His eyebrows lifted when she stood and approached, momentarily confused, but when she decided to keep things a bit hush-hush, he understood.

...Then his brain blue-screened a bit. In the be-

"O-... oh."

Just 'oh'. A very good 'oh'. Once his mind reset and was functional again, he was red to the hairline. "G-gotcha. We'll, uh, w-we'll see how it goes, yeah?"

"Yes... but for now."

She cleared her throat, resuming a normal tone and volume. "You can't keep stealing glances towards me while we're working. They're already whispering enough." Frowning, she cast a glance over her shoulder. Almost felt like they were being watched.

"... Between us, I think I recognize a few of our visitors."

Shit, she noticed that!? He looked away. "Yeah, well-"

A stiff shrug. "I figure if a customer gets too weird I could jump in n' intercept or somethin'. I mean, butlers gotta look out for each other, y'know, in case customers get batshit."

Not that she couldn't hold her own, but there came a time when you had to break character, say no and possibly get customers escorted out, male OR female. Rules were rules.

"No promises... but if I gotta lay off, I'll lay off."

"Yes, I'm sure we do. However, beyond a few small touches, the customers seem to understand the rules. I doubt they want to be escorted out."

'Escorted' was subjective. They could be politely walked out or thrown out by Kanji. Technically, that wouldn't break his character. The point was, she could manage in the cafe. If someone really was that bold, they probably shouldn't be here in the first place.

"... I'll hold you to your word. Only step in if things seem to get out of hand."

Definitely thrown out. On their asses. But Kanji nodded. She was pretty good at shutting something down if she needed to, but there were just some things a guy's gotta do for his girlfriend, and bristle up and growl at people sometimes was one of them.

"A'right. I'm gonna take down a snack and head back out- place is way busier than I thought." Fortunately he'd brought a lunch. Running around always made him hungry, but putting up an act made him famished!

She would like to be allowed to chase out her own rowdy clientele sometimes, but if it got physical, Kanji could do it. Still, she'd prefer him to be human in public.

"Alright. I'm going to head out again. I just required five minutes away." Naoto walked over to her tea cup and looked in; just a little left. She would drain it and go.

He tries his best, really. But with a nod he went to get his lunch and start unpacking it, settling at the table to take it down quick before his own jump back into the fray. Nothing said fuel like tonkatsu, after all.

"Sure. Good luck- gimme a holler on the floor if y'need me for whatever."

"I will..."

Casting a glance towards the door and making sure no one else was walking in, she approached him quickly. Her lips pressed lightly against his temple, right on his scarred brow, before she fully retreated.

He followed her glance and wondered if the manager was going to kick them back out on the floor, but instead she stepped in and the kiss was soft. It was enough to put a little pink on his face as he watched her go, the words smacked right out of his mouth.

He looked at the door a good while before he remembered, right, lunch break, gotta eat fast. He suddenly wasn't so worn out or grouchy any more. He ate with gusto, making a note to 'get her back' later.

[OPEN] In Black & White

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