A Working Log (1)
tags/warnings: jade leech x reader (it's complicated), gn!reader, reader is yuu. a/n: I'll add more tags/ warnings as I go. You guys can suggest them to me as well. It's been a while since I start writing again.
“So, how’s work?”
A perfect Tuesday afternoon with the sun shining and cafeteria bustling with NRC students getting their food. At a wooden table seated Ace Trappola, Deuce Spade, Grim and the prefect. Ace took one look at the bags under the prefect's eyes and immediately became concerned, or curious, or both. It was hard to tell with Ace. The prefect was sipping on a box of strawberry milk while Grim was devouring the food. They had only sat down for 3 minutes.
“Fantastic.”
“You wanna talk about it?”
“Subject J is getting on my nerve. In fact, I think he intentionally do it, but I have no proof.” Prefect expressed their annoyance in a hushed tone while throwing their hands up in the air.
"Subject J?" Ace repeated.
"Jade Leech."
"You named him?"
“We’re in the cafeteria.”
They had been working at Mostro Lounge for roughly 6 weeks and Jade Leech? Jade Leech had been making those six weeks their problem. The prefect took a long sip from their drink.
"Last week he asked me to cover Floyd's section."
"That sounds normal."
"Floyd was still there."
The table fell silent.
"...What?"
The prefect pointed accusingly at the sky.
"He said and I quote, 'I thought it would be an excellent learning opportunity.' Booooo!"
"Learning what?" Deuce asked.
"How to survive."
"That's not a work assignment."
"THANK YOU! Floyd then spent three hours introducing me to customers as Temporary Floyd."
Deuce nearly choked on his drink.
"Temporary Floyd?"
"Temporary Floyd."
"Did Jade stop him?"
The prefect stared into the distance.
"No."
"Did he encourage it?"
"I have no proof?!"
The prefect slammed their head against the table in defeat, shocking her friends. For a short moment, Ace expressed concern. However, while Deuce is still fussing over the prefect, Ace’s lip curled up in a smile.
“So,” he asked, “what cha gonna do about it?”
“Ace,” Deuce warned, “the Prefect is still grieving.”
“C'mon, Prefect~.”
Ace wasn't buying the performance for a second. Everyone occasionally forgot that the person currently face-down on the table had survived three overblots, Crowley's administration, and a fire-spitting monster called Grim.
If Jade Leech was genuinely becoming a problem...
...then the Prefect was probably already thinking of something.
“I am being bullied at work by Jade the Leech,” the Prefect said, lifting their head just enough to glare at the two first-years. “And you're telling me to solve it instead of helping me?”
They pointed dramatically at Ace.
“I hate my job.”
Then at the ceiling.
“I hate it here.”
Finally, back at Ace.
“Ace is no better than the bully. Booo…”
Ace blinked. For a brief moment, he had expected the Prefect to reveal some elaborate countermeasure. Maybe he'd been giving them too much credit. Maybe the magicless human in front of him had simply survived everything through sheer luck.
“...Sorry.”
“Yeah...” Deuce added.
“Good luck.”
“Yeah...”
----------------------//--------------------------
It was another workday at Mostro Lounge.
“Here is the seating chart for today.”
“Thank you, senior.”
“You are early again today. You follow direction surprisingly well, prefect. Do you approach everything with such methodical discipline?"
The prefect simply ignored the comment, paying extra attention to the name of the servers and their station. They also made a mental note that Floyd was not on waiter duty today despite having scheduled for the shift.
“Is senior Floyd unwell?”
“Oh? Floyd is in a good mood today so he’s taking over kitchen duty.”
“Noted.”
“Why ever should you ask?”
“Is there anything I should pay attention to today?”
Jade tilted his head before breaking into a grin, the corners of his eyes crinkling as his brows drew together ever so slightly. The question seemed to amuse him. Jade narrowed his eyes just slightly.
“Well, there was a spell-drive practice match today. So, I guess our lounge should expect an influx of customers.”
“Noted.”
Jade watched the prefect’s back as they walked away, letting a small chuckle escaped him.
The shift started out smoothly. Glasses chimed softly as trays passed between tables. Warm light reflected across polished wood while the scent of butter, seafood, and fresh bread drifted from the kitchen. Customers filtered in steadily until every occupied table blurred into one continuous murmur of conversation. The prefect moved continuously between the entrance and dining room, seating the customers, grabbing waters, handing out menus, maintaining a waiting list, avoiding overload servers’ area.
As the lounge reached dinner time, the foot paced of the staffs quickened, suddenly the seating area was bustling with talks and laughers. Every chair seemed occupied. Orders overlapped from opposite ends of the dining room. Someone laughed near the windows while another called for a refill before the previous request had even been delivered. As always, Jade's prediction proved accurate.
The prefect observed the dining area, noticing a large number of Pomefiore and Savanna Claw students. They paid it no mind. Until a chair scraped sharply across the floor that attracted their attention. An argument soon broke out. Several customers had already gone conspicuously quiet. One waiter glanced toward the commotion before pretending not to notice, balancing a tray with practiced professionalism.
The prefect noticed it was between a group of Pomefiore students and Savanna Claw students that they had just seated earlier. They quickly scanned the area for any available waiter. All the personnel on deck were occupied. The prefect made a quick check with the seating area arrangement. The area of conflict had broken out squarely within Jade's section. The front-of-house manager; however, was nowhere in sight. Prefect offered an apologetic smile to the waiting guests and quickly approached the two tables.
“Bunch of pansies.”
“All barks and no bite.”
“Say that again, I dare you.”
“Alright? All barks and no bite just like how you guys played today in the match.”
The prefect’s smile faltered, stunned to a stop just a few steps away from the two tables. They instantly made the connection to Jade’s comment earlier – a practice Spell Drive match. Apparently, the vice house warden didn’t mention which two dorms were playing. Whether Jade had omitted the information intentionally or not could wait. Right now, the customers came first. Until a senior staff member was free, this was their problem.
The prefect let out a small “tsk!” the last thing they need is for the situation to get out of hand and they had to stay overtime to clean up whatever messed afterwards. They weren’t paid enough for it.
“Gentlemen…”
At the quiet address, the bickering paused. Both tables looked up at none other than the director student of Ramshackle Dorm, who offered them a smile. The prefect set down water glasses and a basket of breadsticks at both tables before turning their attention to the Pomefiore students.
“Sorry to have kept everyone waiting. May I take your order?”
The prefect pulled out their pen and notes. As one of the students opened his mouth to order, the Savanaclaw table grew rowdy again. The short quiet moment was immediately ruined by jabs and heckle.
“Pansy people stick together, am I right? Hahaha”
“This. Is a social club for well-mannered gentlemen. I would have to ask you to save that speech for outside of this establishment.”
“Oh? You’re acting kinda brave for a magicless human.”
“Our special today is the lobster ravioli with lemon ricotta sauce.”
“Oi! Don’t you dare ignore me.”
The Savanaclaw student rose from his chair, his broad frame casting a shadow over the prefect. His ears, having the shape of a jackal stood up straight while his tail swing from side to side. The prefect continued to ignore them, their eyes fixed on the Pomefiore’s table in front of them.
The Pomefiore students exchanged uncertain glances. One hesitated before looking back down at the menu as though deciding to play along. None of them seemed quite sure why the Ramshackle prefect was discussing ravioli while a Savanaclaw student loomed inches away. This magicless human, with seemingly no exceed physical strength just waltz straight to their table and divert the argument.
“It will be resolved. Any moment now…”
The prefect said as a matter of fact, several scenarios rushed through their head. There were several possible outcomes they could see how this end. The worst-case scenario, they might end up with a sore body, maybe a bruise, or a minor injury by the end of the shift.
From the corner of their eye, they could see the jackal student right next to them now. Without so much as glancing at him, the prefect continued speaking to the Pomefiore table.
“Well, we do have discount on the seasonal drink…“
The jackal let out a chilling laugh as his hand reached out about to grab the prefect’s collar. It never arrived. Long, gloved fingers closed around his wrist with surprising ease, firm and unmoving. a familiar voice carried the same pleasant warmth as always.
“My.”
“Gentlemen. You seem to be quite impatient.”
The tall jackal stared at the hand that was holding him then to the man now stood in front of him blocking the prefect. Jade Leech’s smile never left his lip, albeit this one didn’t quite reach his eyes.
"Violence toward our staff is, regrettably, not one of the services Mostro Lounge provides."
The jackal tried to pull free to no avail. Jade’s grip didn’t tighten.
“If you escalate, I will have to ask you to leave. We wouldn’t want to cause such a scene now, would we?”
His eyes drifted across the dining room. Around the Lounge, the sounds of silverware clinking against porcelain had somehow ceased and conversations stopped. Somewhere near the entrance, a waiter stopped mid-step with a tray balanced perfectly level. Even the kitchen doors had ceased swinging for a heartbeat. The whole lounge was plunged into an uncomfortable wait.
“It would seem today's match has attracted rather a large audience.”
The implication settled over the table. Somewhere in the lounge one could almost hear a sharp intake. Everyone was watching. Savana Claw reputation was on the line. Jade finally looked back at the jackal.
"I'm sure a gentleman such as yourself wouldn't wish to make tomorrow's gossip any more interesting than it already promises to be." Only then did he release the student's wrist. "Now then. Shall we continue dinner?"
His smile returned to its usual pleasantness.
“I’ll take it from here prefect.”
“Took you long enough.”
He blinked. He slowly turned toward the prefect. "He'll assist you from here." The prefect put their stuff away and flashed the Pomefiore table a reassuring double thumb-up. The prefect tapped Jade lightly on the back before weaving around him, then hurried back toward the front desk. ... Jade didn't move. For a long second, he just stood there. "Senior...?" One of the Pomefiore students spoke up hesitantly. Jade blinked. "...Ah." The smile returned to its proper place as though it had never faltered. "My apologies." The prefect returned to the front greeting desk. Behind the reservation podium, everything was exactly as the prefect had left it. The seating chart remained clipped neatly to its stand. A pen rested across the open reservation book. The normalcy of it all felt oddly comforting after the confrontation. Taking a steady breath, the prefect straightened the stack of menus out of habit before greeting the next party with the same practiced smile. They heard the customers talk.
“That could have been bad. Savana Claw students don’t take that loss well.”
“Damn.”
The word slipped out before the prefect could stop it.
“Indeed.”
The nearby customers nodded in agreement. The customers seemed to think they were talking about the confrontation. That was not what the prefect had meant. They had only just realized which dorm had lost the match.
Divider by @cafekitsune
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