Brighter Horizons

Victoria was in her usual place behind the bar helping everyone get ready for opening time. It was never too early to start drinking, but the favored beverage for most early morning visitors was coffee... the stronger the better. Marceline was going to teach Victoria the basics of coffee making so that the brunette could sling drinks other than alcoholic ones. Diversity was never a bad thing.

Wearing a blue t-shirt and khaki cargo shorts with white tennis shoes, Victoria wore a black apron over her clothes. She and Marceline were washing drinking glasses for the day ahead because lunch hour tended to deplete the supply of ready glasses in a matter of minutes. Marceline was checking the coffee supply while Victoria finished washing glasses for lunch hour.

"Hey Victoria, did you hear a voice in the restaurant?" Marceline's question interrupted the early morning calm and made the brunette set down the glass and dry her hands on a white bar towel hanging on the oven. As the only "ranking" member of Sabertooth who was close by, she was obligated to check things out and make sure that no one was up to mischief on Sabertooth property. She was not an Ace, but no one was going to ruin Sabertooth property on her watch. If someone was ruining guild property, Ryo would have to get in line because the brunette wanted the first shot at beating the offender like they owed her money.

"I'm not sure, but I'll go look. Stay here until I tell you its safe." Victoria cautioned her friend and co-worker. Marceline nodded and kept taking stock of the coffee. Victoria exited the kitchen and walked behind the bar to find a young man with a pea jacket covering his neck and most of his jaw sitting at a table. He was currently not a threat, so she decided to engage him in conversation because it was her job as a part-time restaurant worker.

"Hi there. Can I help you?" Victoria asked the youth, drying her hands off on her apron.

Victoria learned that the other guy was a Sabertooth mage who was returning to the fold. That was good enough for her. Now that there was no threat to the restaurant, she had to go back and let Marceline know that it was safe to come out. She spoke to him briefly.

"Hang on. I'll be right back." Victoria said to him. She then walked back into the kitchen where Marceline was sorting out the coffee brands and flavors. Victoria flashed her a thumbs-up.

"It's OK, Marceline. The guy's a Sabertooth mage who hasn't been here in awhile. We don't have anything to worry about." Victoria told her friend, who was visibly relieved at the news. Now that she had done that, she walked back into the restaurant to speak with the fellow, who had given his name as Zachariah. She wondered why he did not visit Ace of Spade very much... maybe he was just a mage who ran a lot of jobs like she did. Victoria had not heard any warnings about him from Ryo, Imai, Gaia, or any other guild authority figures, so she assumed that he was on the up and up and had not been cast out of the guild.

Victoria pulled out an empty chair and sat on the opposite side of him.

"I'm Victoria Sheridan. if you need some coffee, I can get it for you." Victoria introduced herself to Zachariah. He seemed jittery and self-conscious about something but otherwise OK. Maybe he was just used to not being around females after spending so much time on the road.

"OK, I'll get you some strong coffee. I'll be right back." Victoria said to Zachariah, going back to the kitchen and informing Marceline of the coffee order. Marceline nodded and began to brew up the beverage, the aroma of strong coffee filling the air in the kitchen. Once it was finished, the black-haired staff member handed Victoria the white mug and the brunette carried it back to the patiently waiting Sabertooth member, setting it down in front of him.

"Here you go, Zachariah. A freshly made cup of strong coffee." Victoria said to him before retaking her seat. She recalled him explaining that he had been on his feet all morning and that he had not slept all night as reasons for any odd behavior that he might be exhibiting. She took it in stride because she knew how that felt. After escaping from the Corlone mansion thanks to Ted Cranston, she was too wired and in too much pain to sleep.

"I don't mind showing hospitality. It's what I do as part-time staff." Victoria said to him. She then remembered him asking for directions around town. She was not able to help there because she had never traveled through the town other than from the train station and from the tavern.

"As far as directions around town go, I'm afraid I won't be much help. You see, I don't know my way around town either. We'd have to learn it together, but my shift doesn't end for several more hours." Victoria explained to Zachariah.

"Yeah, I'm a guild member myself. I joined a few months ago. I'm liking Sabertooth so far because it feels like I'm wanted here. I also think Ryo's a good guy to know." Victoria told Zachariah while the latter drank the coffee that had been brought to him. She left out a lot of details, like how she had come her directly from Black Rose after the guild she had called home for a long time disbanded and she needed a new place to go to keep her friends Samantha and Marceline safe from the Corlones. She also left out how she had once been an Ace for Black Rose in case Zachariah or someone he knew had a grudge against the defunct guild.

She heard him say that he would be interested in waiting on tables to kill some time if she did not mind. Victoria herself did not mind, but the final decision was up to Will, the fellow entrusted with running the tavern. He was the one in charge of deciding who worked here and who did not.

"I can talk to Will about it. There might be an opening available for today. I'll go talk to him if you want." Victoria offered to talk to Will on Zachariah's behalf... if the returning guild member wanted her to do so, that was.

When Kenna arrived on the scene to speak to Zachariah, Victoria scaled down her involvement in the conversation and let the Guild Ace take the lead. The brunette was quick to notice that the two had met before. Zachariah had met Kenna at a party some time ago long before Victoria joined the guild.

"Hey there Kenna. I don't believe we've met before. I'm Victoria Sheridan." Victoria greeted the newly arrived Ace. The only guild member she met when she joined the guild was Ryo Knetegawa himself, who was the Guild Master. She also met the Guild Pet named Ratatoskr. He was a strange squirrel whose first action upon seeing Victoria was to threaten to lob a fairly large acorn at herself and Ryo, but the Guild Master managed to prevent him from doing so. Victoria was glad that he did because she did not want to make an enemy of the Guild Pet.

"Unless I'm needed, I'll just let you two talk." Victoria offered to Kenna and Zachariah.