mariettaedge:
“Ow!”
Marietta humming to herself as she cast cleaning charms was interupted when she stubbed her toe against one of the tables. She’d told Madam Puddifoot that they could likely benefit from a little expanding, Merlin knew the woman could afford it, but she had gotten a laugh in return. “Marietta, darling, the clutter makes it feel like home! That’s what the kids like about this place.” She couldn’t argue with that, at least not until she had more arguments in her back pocket.
Closing time often coincided with Marietta’s personal overthinking time. The topics running around her mind changed depending on the going on’s of her life at the given moment, but there was a general pattern that seemed to be followed. Usually, like today, she would walk into something or stub her toe, and silently curse the shop owner for letting it be so cramped in there. She’d then think about how close the two were, which then turned into thinking about her mother, and soon enough she was fully distracted as she absent mindedly put away mugs and saucers.
It was this distraction that caused Marietta to jump when she heard the sound of jingle bells coming from the door. She cursed under her breath almost instantly, clutching her chest before turning around to greet the intruder. She’d been working there for what felt like forever, now, when was she going to stop forgetting to lock the door before she did her closing routine? “Sorry, dear. A few minutes earlier and I could’ve gotten you something to go, but I’m afraid we’ve closed up for the day.”
Astoria had had an extra long day at the Ministry today, she spent all day hunched over paperwork trying to research a particular muggle object that she couldn’t find much information about. The books of the wizarding world on muggle objects was severely lacking in her mind, especially with recent developments in their world not being reflected. They ought to be updated soon and she hoped that someone would do that. Astoria didn’t think herself well-versed enough on the subject to attempt such a task.
Her head was still with everything she was trying to solve at work when she walked into Madame Puddifoots wanting to get a hot chocolate. Theirs was just better than the one at the Three Broomsticks in her mind. Astoria had no idea what time it was, looking up when she heard the other girl’s voice, noticing that the café was completely empty. “Oh merlin, I’m so sorry. I- I didn’t realise.”
Marietta loved working at the tea shop, and she had chosen to step away from her mother’s Ministry wishes because that is what she wanted, but sometimes she doubted herself. When she looked at other witches and wizards her age, she wondered if she had been dumb, if she should be doing more. This insecurity in the back of her head made her push herself as much as a barista could push herself. She brought new recipes, followed rules, ran the place when Madam Puddifoot wasn’t. She could be a professional woman no matter the career.
Although Marietta liked to play the tough front, she much prefered using the kindess route when interacting with others, especially at the tea shop. The best places have staff that make you feel safe and welcomed, and she wanted to be that, so when she looked at the witch at the front door, she gave in to herself and picked her wand back up from the counter. “It’s okay, I guess it’s not Ministry curfew time yet so who cares if you come in a few minutes past closing, right?” she smiled. “I can’t do coffee, but is there anything else I can whip up for you real quick?”
