A Surfeit of Choices (TFCAU) Part II
Finally stepping out of the cold and into the heated air of the cafe was a welcome relief. The smell of chocolate, pastries and especially roasting coffee beans was a scent River had always enjoyed, despite the fact coffee was not his preferred source of energy. His boss, Nathaniel was already behind the counter finishing up some orders and looking unusually strained.
“You got here just in time,” the large man said, looking up as River pulled off his coat, storing it in one of the lockers just around the corner.
“It’s busier than usual with the cold. Start as soon as you can, Carol's running late and I’ve been covering for her. The orders are already on the counter, please take them to the tables.”
Tying his apron on, River frowned, “you covered her whole shift? Is she okay?”
“I couldn't reach her," Nathaniel replied, concern evident in his voice. “Maybe she’s not feeling well.”
“Got it, I’ll get started,” River assured him.
Adjusting his gloves, River picked up the orders, wondering where Carol was and slightly annoyed that she hadn’t shown up, or even called. Heading over to the nearest table, at which two people were seated he set down their orders.
“Good afternoon!” his well practiced customer service persona firmly in place. “Here’s your espresso and Macchiato. Can I get you anything else?”
“Thanks,” one of the customers said, sipping the hot drink with obvious relief. “I was dying for some coffee.”
“Did you see those flyers for the circus?” the second customer asked as they picked up the espresso.
“Yeah, weird, right?” their friend shook their head. “It’s been ages since a travelling circus came to town.”
“And the clowns are so creepy,” the second customer muttered into their cup.
The first one shrugged indifferently, returning to their drink. “Probably good for their marketing though,” they seemed to realize River was still waiting for an answer.
“Oh, sorry! Yeah, we’re all set. We don’t need anything else right now.”
“No problem!” River’s bright smile was false, as practiced as his polite demeanor. “Just call me if you need anything.”
Arranging the trays neatly, he moved to the next customer, setting a hot chocolate on the table, “here you go, your hot chocolate.”
“Thanks, I’ve really been craving something warm with this chilly weather,” the woman at the table said with a smile.
“It got cold all of a sudden, didn’t it?” River agreed, adjusting the final tray, which had the most items on it.
“Yeah,” the woman agreed, frowning slightly. “The weather’s all over the place. You leave the house with a jacket and umbrella and you still end up sweating by the end of the day.”
She gave a soft laugh as she picked up the drink, her eyes flicking over River with interest as he responded.
“For real, if you need anything else, just let me know, okay?”
“Perfect!” she chirped, her eyes offering an invitation he had no interest in. He moved away, feeling a stare on his back that wasn’t from the woman. He ignored it, focusing on the drinks he was still carrying. He always drew attention, and he was long used to it.
Muttering to himself about the drinks being hot, he moved to the last table at which a man and a woman were seated.
“A coffee with cheese bread, and a cappuccino with a brownie, right?” He set the final order down in front of the last two customers.
“That’s right, thanks!” one replied cheerfully.
“Hey barista, did you see the news?” the other asked.
“Hm?” River asked, not really interested, only asking out of polite necessity. “Not yet today, did something happen?”
“They’re still talking about the one who disappeared,” the woman’s eyes glinted with an almost morbid delight as she shared the news.
“Oh,” River said, frowning. Why did people take delight in such things? “Wasn’t that the one who ran off with a lover or something?”
“No one really knows for sure,” the other customer said, swallowing his bite of cheese bread. His companion looked up at River, something almost like concern in her eyes.
“I just wanted to say… be careful if you’re going home late, okay?” her voice was low. “This place closes quite late, so… stay alert, alright?”
River felt a trickle of amusement go through him at the warning – as if he had anything to worry about. However he just smiled at the customer and nodded, “will do. Thanks for the heads up! And enjoy your coffee!”
Stepping back towards the counter, something in the window caught the corner of his eye, but disappeared before he could turn his head. Figuring it was just someone walking past, he stepped around the counter and began to wipe down where the drinks had been sitting.
“It’s really sweet of them to care,” he muttered to himself sarcastically. Then he had a thought – missing people drew attention. He needed to be careful. “Maybe I should start keeping an eye on the news sometimes.”
River had just watched the last customer leave and cleared away their cups when his boss came back out, looking around the cafe. He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“I’m sick of ripping those flyers off my window,” he grumbled. “Don’t let anyone hand them out in here. And when you have a minute, go around and pick up the ones scattered around.”
“Got it,” River replied as he closed the dishwasher, letting it kick to life before he continued. “Hmm… some people are being kinda rude to the circus folks, don’t you think?”
“The way they act freaks people out,” Nathaniel replied, rubbing his chin. “Best to keep them away, bad for business.”
“Understood boss,” River’s words were perfectly even, belying the annoyance underneath. He watched his boss walk back to his office before heading around the cafe, picking up all the flyers for The Freak Circus.
“The customers just keep leaving these on the tables,” he scowled at the pile of papers in his hands, his grip crinkling them slightly. People were just making more work for him, who had to clean up.
Just then the bell above the door jingled and the customary “welcome” slipped from his mouth automatically.
“Thanks!” came the response from the man who’d just entered. “I’d like a strong hot coffee.”
“I’ll bring it right away,” River replied, the hairs on the back of his neck rising as he recognized the other man for what he was. He could feel a gaze on his back as he poured the requested drink and brought it over. “Here’s your coffee.”
“Thanks,” the man’s smile didn’t quite meet his eyes as he studied River with the same intensity as the red clown from earlier. “What’s with those flyers?”
Blinking, River lifted his other hand, realizing he was still holding the stack of flyers he'd picked up from the tables. He had a feeling the man knew exactly what they were.
“Oh, someone was handing them out. I had to pick them all up.”
“How rude to do that in a place of business, right?” The question wasn’t quite sincere, and River looked him dead in the eye as he responded.
“Yeah, it just creates more work for everyone else.”
“If you want I can take them for you,” another false smile. “I’ll toss them out when I leave, no big deal. I was gathering some paper for recycling anyway.”
“Really?” River didn’t believe him for a second. “In that case, that’s better than just throwing them away, thanks.”
“No problems dear,” came the soft response as River set the flyers down on the table.
Do you need anyth–” he began, but was cut off.
“Do you like the circus?”
The unexpected question threw him for a second, making him frown before he composed himself enough to answer politely, aware his boss may be able to hear.
“Huh? Uh, I think I might be a little too old for that now.”
“Nonsense, the man smiled, his eyes flashing slightly. “This circus isn’t for kids, they’ve got some pretty creepy stuff.”
“So you’ve been to the circus?” River tilted his head slightly, feeling a familiar heat in his eyes that told him he needed to get himself under control. He didn’t usually like chatting with other people, not even his own kind.
Unfortunately it was part of the job to be polite and socialize with customers as necessary, no matter how uncomfortable he was with it.
“Are you even listening?” the man’s voice interrupted River’s thoughts.
“Sorry?” River flushed slightly as being caught daydreaming. The man chuckled, thankfully not offended..
“Thought so. Anyway I think you’d like the circus, you should visit sometime.”
“I’ll… give it some thought,” River said evasively, as he moved away. “Let me know if you need anything else!”
River continued with his other duties, constantly aware of the man’s gaze watching him. He ignored it however, people always stared at the weirdo with the facemask and strange blue eyes. It was night before his boss came back out to talk to him.
“As soon as the last customers leave, close everything up and clean the place,” he told River. “We’re closing early today.”
Looking up from putting away cups, River studied Nathaniel closely, seeing the man was clearly distracted by something. There was tension around his mouth and strain in his eyes.
“Did something happen?” he asked, setting the last cup into place.
“I have an unexpected appointment,” his boss informed him. “And since you’re working alone today, I’d rather you didn’t leave too late. I’ve gotta go now, can you take care of everything?”
“Yes!” River assured him. “No problem, leave it to me!”
“Call me if anything comes up,” Nathaniel said as he stepped out the door.
“Will do. See you!” He watched his boss leave, grateful for the shorter hours, but also wondering what happened to his coworker, Carol. It wasn’t like her to skip work. Just as he was pondering this, the man from earlier spoke up.
“Hey there, here’s the payment, I’m heading out. Have a good night!”
“Good night sir,” River replied, polite as ever, trying not to think too hard about how the man’s statement sounded more sinister than anything else. Looking around the cafe, River felt relieved that all he had to do was clean the tables and lock up for the night.
But just as he approached the final back tables, he heard the sound of a bell and turned, expecting to see a customer, “sorry, we’re…closed.”
Looking around the empty building, River frowned, tuning his hearing to better pick up any sound, but heard nothing. “Huh? But I heard the bell… Hello?”
Before he could move, the lights suddenly went out, plunging the room into darkness and setting his senses on high alert. The room appeared empty, and yet...
“Boss? Is that you?” he asked as he scanned the room, his eyes taking in everything. Of course there was no response, and River hadn’t expected one. He walked towards the breaker, figuring it had tripped again. As he walked, he realized that while he’d heard the bell, he hadn’t heard the door.
Opening the panel and flipping the breaker back on with a sigh of irritation, he had just closed it when the door actually opened, letting in a rush of cold night air and jingling the bell. River turned, his senses still wary.
“Sorry, we’re closed! Ah!" he recognized the man who’d just walked in. “You’re the guy from earlier…”
The red clown from that afternoon was standing before him, smiling, clearly glad to see him again. He was also bleeding from the head, the bright red of it trickling from the hairline of his silver hair, providing a shocking contrast against the white of his mask.
“Oh my, you’re bleeding!” River stared at the injury, wondering who could have gotten so close to someone like him. “A-are you okay?”
The clown just tilted his head, his smile still in place, not saying a word. Without much thought, River sighed and gestured for him to sit down, reaching for a napkin.
“Ugh, I hope I don’t regret this,” he muttered. “Sit at the counter, I’ll help you with that.”
The man sat down, allowing River to clean up the blood on his face, his golden eyes never leaving him as he moved. The smell of his blood both turned River’s stomach and made him hungry, reminding him he really needed to eat.
He finished cleaning the blood off and stepped back, the clown following suit. And yet still, he remained silent. Curious, River decided to ask about it.
“You don’t talk… or is that part of the act?”
The man glanced around as if to make sure they were alone before stepping a bit closer.
“I can’t be seen talking.”
“Ah, so it’s part of the act!”
“Yes my lord,” he replied, still smiling. “I sincerely appreciate all your help. I’m the Pierrot, nice to meet you!”
“Nice to meet you, I’m River,” River replied, returning the smile. There was something about this Pierrot that he liked already. He’d have told himself it wasn’t the other man’s height, but that was a lie – River had always liked tall people.
“I know,” the Pierrot replied in a low voice, so low even River didn’t catch it at first.
“But, hm… A Pierrot? You don’t really look like one” River observed, taking in the red, gold and black of his costume. Then he realized what the Pierrot had said. “Wait, what?”
“Indeed you are right my lord!” the Pierrot quickly interrupted. “We were required to…modernize my attire. But my role, remains unchanged.”
Tossing the napkin away, River’s eyes scanned the Pierrot thoughtfully, “people have been pretty rough with you guys.”
The Pierrot tilted his head, “I suppose we may appear a touch… uncanny. That tends to unsettle people.”
“Do the Pierrots out on the street with the flyers perform too?” River asked curiously as he washed his hands in the small sink behind the counter. He knew what this Pierrot was, so he had no issues with him seeing the claws he kept hidden from the world with his gloves. The Pierrot probably had similar ones.
“Indeed,” the Pierrot nodded, seeming pleased with the question. “The circus has but a small cast, but we both perform and hand out flyers.”
His voice changed, becoming darker, his smile fading somewhat, “though I must say, I am the only Pierrot, my lord. The others are jesters and… harlequins…”
He rolled his eyes at the last part, cluing River into the fact he clearly didn’t get along with everyone. Drying his hands, he pulled his gloves back on, the Pierrot's eyes briefly fixed on his hands.
“That’s actually kinda cool! So are the others quiet like you too?”
“I am the only one who remains silent,” the Pierrot's bright smile returned. “Though I do make an exception when it’s just the two of us.”
Trying not to show how smug he was, River simply responded, “got it. Your secret’s safe with me.”
“Thank you my lord,” the Pierrot replied happily. “And I’ve brought you another small token of my appreciation.”
He held out his gloved hand, in which sat a black ticket to the Freak Circus. River blinked at the unexpected gift. First the man from earlier and now this Pierrot. He didn’t want to seem ungrateful for the offer however and so, despite the suspicion gnawing at him, he picked it up.
“A ticket! Are you sure this won’t get you in trouble?”
“Not at all,” Pierrot assured him. “We have a few special ones to hand out. I would be most delighted if you came to watch me, my lord.”
“Hmm… alright, I’ll take it. Sounds fun after all,” River was admittedly curious about this circus. Plus, he wouldn’t mind seeing this… Pierrot again.
“I assure you, I’ll make you smile during my performance,” Pierrot assured him, his smile mysterious, instantly piquing River’s interest. Again. Damn.
“Can’t wait to see it,” River put the ticket in his pocket. “And sorry to say this, but… My boss told me to close up, we can’t stay too long here.”
“I completely understand,” Pierrot said, taking a step back. “I had hoped to arrive earlier but, I did not wish to cause you any inconvenience, my lord.”
Given his size and the way he was dressed, River wasn’t surprised in the slightest.
“It’s alright,” River bushed a stray lock of his dark hair back, not noticing how Pierrot’s eyes followed the movement. “This way we got to talk a bit. Now I know you wouldn’t have been able to answer me in public.”
The Pierrot tilted his head again, a flush creeping over his cheeks, making River wonder how the mask could blush like that. Another mystery for him to figure out perhaps? He was so distracted by it, he almost missed the Pierrot’s next words.
“That’s true. Have a good night my lord,” Pierrot stepped away, heading for the door.
“Goodnight!” River called after him. After he’d left, River quickly finished up the night duties and switched off the lights. “Well, time to go home.”
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