First day (Solo)

Words written: #560
Total written: #560
#f433ff Keade's speech
#a74ac7 Keade's thought

_____Keade still could not catch up as to what in Fiore had just happen over the last few hours. One moment she was doing her own thing, and then the next she was getting ushered into a changing room with a butler outfit in hand. Her expression was still mostly blank as she blinked a few times as the current was closed leaving her alone.  Waiting a moment or two before she heard someone's voice from the other side.

"You said you needed a place right? I don't mind you working here to get the money for a place and staying in the spare room at my place..."

_____The voice was calm and sweet, Keade could only blink a few more times as she looked down at the outfit. It looked brand new and in no way something someone should just give to someone like Keade. She was after-all, well not the most welcome sight. While she tried to stay clean she was still a mess, her hair poorly kept, her attire nothing more then some scarp cloths she found while running from her pursuit. Slowly gulping Keade figured she did not have much say in the matter and did as she was told.

_____After a good five minutes Keade slowly peeled the curtain while still trying to solve the issue with the tie. She was mostly forced to wear dresses growing up so the suit proved more difficult then it should have. The woman who had dragged Keade all the way here chuckling as she watched the nervous girl end up with the tie binding her hands together. Hearing the sound Keade turned slightly red and lowered her head for a moment before the woman gently lifted it by her chin and began helping her.

"Remind me to give you lesson on how to set up a tie... You could also use some gloves... and maybe longer socks to hide those scars... I swear if I ever run into who did that to you I'm going to give them a piece of my mind!"

_____Keade lowered her head again and buckled slightly as the woman spoke. She still could not think why this person was helping her when it seemed she would gain nothing from it. Her focus breaking back to the woman when she cleared her throat and pointed to a chair near a mirror with a comb in hand. [color#e66c2c]"Sit, I need to do something about your hair and possibly that tension you got in your shoulders so hurry up now.~"[/color] Keade nodded before doing as she was told yet again and the woman sighed lightly before starting to brush her hair.

"You don't talk much, you are all cut up, you look like you have had a rough life... You can say no to me at any time if you wish to... I'm just trying to help you out a bit and get you dressed for work..." - "I... Sorry... Thank you... But... I'm not sure... what exactly you want me to do..." - "Oh... HA, I skipped right over that entire part again ha ha. I'm Alice, I own this little cafe here. What i was hoping for is to have you help us out serving guest food and drinks. Try to make them enjoy their time here so they come back again and again."

A new Butler

Words written: #547
Total written: #1107
#f433ff Keade's speech
#a74ac7 Keade's thought

_____Keade would look down as Alice kept working on her hair giving her the general do and don'ts of the job. So far it seemed very little different from what she was forced to do, but she had a choice and would not be expected to do roughly seventy percent what she had to before. Nodding yes or no when needed but mostly keeping quiet as they finished up and Alice took a step back to admire her work. What was once a mess of hair was now combed, cleaned, and tied up to reveal a better side of Keade.

_____Alice nodding happily as she moved to the door waving for Keade to follow her. The small cafe looked very taken care of despite first thought set to it from what Alice had said. They had very few people, almost no customers, and if they did not fix that soon they would go under and that was why Alice was seemingly desperate to loop Keade into things. Watching as Alice seemed to dance around the tables to the door she flipped the sign and unlocked the glass door.

"Ok, so Aside from me and you Keade we have Xion back in the kitchen area, when people order you writie it down and hand that paper to him and he cooks it. After that when you hear the bell and the number you find in the top corner of the page you bring it to the table. Then every so often you check in on them to make sure they are enjoying themselves and get them refills if they need it. OH make sure after you get the paper from Xion you bring it to me and say the table number."

_____Keade would blink a few times as the woman ran around getting a menu and a pad of paper to hand to Keade before pushing her to one of the corner seats in the back. The woman seemed to be in a thousand places at once as she rushed to open the window to reveal a male Keade assumed was Xion as he waved before they vanished deeper into the room. Alice rushing to pen the door for an elderly couple who moved to a seat and Alice got a pitcher of water from Xion before rushing back to the couple.

"Try to remember the menu as best you can, we don't have many thing left on it because of cost cuts, but once we get back into things I'm sure you will reminisce the old days of today.~ How are you doing today Mr and Mrs Delores? Keeping the grand kids out of trouble i hope ha-ha.~"

_____Keade looked at the menu as she watched in slight Awe as Alice and Xion seemed so in-tune with things. They knew what to get and when, how to speak to people. The thought the few who came in to start likely all came in often since they knew them by name and noticed things different so quickly. Keade clenched her fist slightly, she doubted she could live up to the expectation set on her by Alice at all, but she had to try. Eyes locking onto the menu as she tried to rush burn it into her memory.

A new set of hands

Words written: #633
Total written: #1740
#f433ff Keade's speech
#a74ac7 Keade's thought

_____Keade wanted to say something about how limited the menu seemed, but seeing as she was not only new but also learned that rising an issue would get you hurt she kept her mouth shut as she rose from the back seat and tried to keep up with Alice to speak with the woman. After a good ten minutes of cat and mouse with the woman someone pointed out the mute girl following her and Alice reach to tug Keade over who turned seven shades of red as she was held close.

"Oh her? This is Keade, she is my new staff member starting today.~ If you don't mind would it be alright if she took over for you gals since you can help her learn the robes some?"

_____With a few nods from the four girls at the table and a push forward from Alice Keade was left fumbling the pad of paper in her hand and looking to the ground as she got flustered from them all staring at her. Alice unable to help or give advise as she glanced over from helping a different group. "You can start by saying your name Miss Keade, even if we might know it thanks to Alice there.~" Keade jumped slightly when her name was mentioned and she was told to do something. Old habit kicking in as she tried to speak up.

"Hi... Yes... Erm... I... I'm Keade... Sorry..."

_____The group chuckling lightly causing Keade to buckle up more as she held the pad of paper to her chest. Sure she got a grasp of what to do from watching Alice go around a few times, but the fear of doing ti wrong was choking Keade unlike anything she ever felt before. She wanted to impress the woman who offered a hand of aid, but if she failed it would destroy her worse then anything. Feeling a hand on her shoulder as Keade looked over to see Alice holding a tray of drinks and giving them to the table as she spoke.

"Loosen up Keade-chan~ Nobody is going to cause trouble here unless they want to deal with my, Xion, or old man knight over there wrath. Just ease into it, it is your first day so try and find your own rhythm to go to.~"

_____Keade would nervously nod her head as she tried to regain some composure and straiten her posture as best she could. Her mind trying to think what Alice meant by her own rhythm only to figure it a way of speaking and exhaling as she closed her eyes. Right hand moving behind her back as she would bow her head just slightly while the left hand held the pad of paper. Her eyes held some courage, but it was still a very weak ember she had to nurture.

"My apologizes... Still getting used to things... An... Anyways... What can I help you with today?"

_____Her voice was faint, her tone mostly mixed with a clear shyness of people but underneath the intent was true. The girls on the left bench moving over and tapping the seat as they looked to Keade. "Come sit with us, we used to ask Alice to back when she had others so your are dining buddy as you are watching our table.~" Keade looked puzzled by the words, but as Alice moved past and sort of pushed Keade towards the seat she figured there was not much choice and sat down nervously fiddling the pad of paper in her hands.

"You need to have more confidence Keade, you look like the type who could be such a ladies man." - "I'm a girl..." - "What! ALICE! You did not tell us she was a SHE she!" - "I thought I did... Sorry."

A new Butler girl

Words written: #440
Total written: #2180
#f433ff Keade's speech
#a74ac7 Keade's thought

_____Kaede Blinked a few times as the girls all glared at her and then to Alice. Her head only just starting to tip before one of the three girls at the table aside from her slammed the wood Causing Keade to shrink and buckle slightly. "Stand back up!" The demanding tone in the voice sending shock up and down Kaede's spin as she fumbled to get out of the seat and stand up at attention, her frame trembling as the girl who spoke the demand got up also.

"Arms out!"

_____Kaede's arm shot outward as she kept trembling, her head lowering and gaze moving away from the woman yelling out orders as far as Kaede could tell. The fact nobody helped or spoke up made Keade even more fearful as the woman started touching Kaede's outfit and checking her arms. A very light cry escaping Kaede's mouth as she froze up until the woman's hand began reaching for her chest. In one flow motion Keade's right arm swung over and landed a solid punch to the Girl's gut as Keade stepped away trembling.

_____Most times Keade had a decent alert nature to what was around her, but when she stepped back she felt arms wrap around her and pull her an extra step back causing her to flail and try for an Elbow to the unknown holder. A very light 'oof' Before a familiar voice broke Keade out of her panicked mode while the hold tightened. "I knew you had some muscle but damn girl that backed a punch... You three need to behave also... Keade here is not like me so please keep your hands to yourselves or ask first... and drop the bossy tone missy." Keade eased some and as a result it seemed Alice would also.

"Sorry Keade... But... I still can't believe your female... Aside from your voice you look like a dude..." - "Real subtle there Missy... How would you feel..." - "It's fine... I... A lot of wrapping... and not much there anyways... so..."

_____Alice seemed to back away once Keade was talking, though she did speak with a nervous tone it seemed enough for the woman to go back to her job. Keade made a mental note to say sorry to the woman later for making a scene but turning back to the table to see the others giving Keade the thumbs up before the one she was sitting beside pointed to the window where Xion was setting down an order looking to Keade. A small head nod to hint it was for them before he vanished back into the kitchen area again.

A terror filled reaction

Words written: #630
Total written: #2810
#f433ff Keade's speech
#a74ac7 Keade's thought

_____Kaede Would bow her head before nervously trying to move past the girl who touched her without warning last time and moved towards the food. When she arrived, well even before that she could smell it but being so close hit her like a fright train as she almost started drooling and her stomach growled. Alice coming up beside her and taking a try right as Xion was going to set them down and causing her to chuckle.

"You can eat later or see if they might share with you Kaede, Xion might not talk or do much but his cooking is the best I have had in a long time second only to his mother.~"

_____Kaede did her best to hide it once she was called out for it, a slight smile reaching her face when Xion seemed to get offended his cooking was second to his mother's. There was likely a story there, but taking the plants and turning Alice was already gone and Xion was busy with other things so she figured it was a question for another time. Turning back to the table Kaede began slowly walking her way back, the girls waiting calmly and bickering over something quietly and going silent when Kaede returned making her uneasy as she began setting things down.

_____Her heart sinking slightly as the group had to take a moment to reset the orders Kaede had placed wrong before they pointed to the open seat and Kaede sat down already getting the message. "So, where did Alice find you hiding? We know a lot of people in this town and you aren't from around here are you? Kaede's gaze grew dark as she looked down, the group of girls whispering and from what Kaede could hear it was mostly them going after the one who spoke for causing another issue.

"I... Would rather not talk about my past... If possible... Alice found me in an Alley is the most..." - "Stop... We don't want to pry if you get that depressed over it... Anyways Alice was talking to you saying you could eat later... so... here... call it me saying sorry..."

_____Kaede would look up to see the girl holding her fork out with a small piece of the meal. Kaede's cheeks turning red slightly as she leaned forward to accept the offered food. Leaning back as she chewed the table seemed to get rowdy once she looked happy, then worried when she started to tear up a little. "You ok Kaede?" Kade would try to wipe the tears as she nodded. She was so used to very bland or turning bad food that the change drove her to tears. Trying to smile the group got rowdy and the girl beside Keade leaned in to hug her.

"Well I have decided, Keade is the better company while we dine.~ We have alot of work to do, need to first deal with your shyness... then your memory, though that might be because you did not take the order and ALICE... did not help you out..."

_____Kaede was locked up in a stunned blushing state as the girl kept her head against her chest while seeming to talk ill of Alice who from Kaede's quick turn of head could see her sticking her tongue out before she went back to helping all the other guest they had. Sure it was not much but seeing how Alice looked slightly winded Kaede felt bad for sitting with a group and tried to push away slightly as the girl let her go. A light blush across Keade's face as she spoke in a mumbled tone.

"I'm sorry... I need to help Alice... I'll be back to check on you all later... If that is OK...?"

A tearful bite

Words written: #570
Total written: #3380
#f433ff Keade's speech
#a74ac7 Keade's thought

_____With a nod from most the group Kaede would move to the newest arrival and bow her head before looking at them with more focus. Her face going pale as the man looked over and simply smiled as he tapped the table. Kaede closed her eyes and tried to assure herself there was no way HE was here of all places. Why would the very leader of the Dark guild she feared just happen to show up when she escaped only weeks prior?

"Why hello there little princess, I don't think this is where you should be right now. Your FRIENDS are very worried about you... Leaving without notice has caused a very large stir..."

_____It was him, The terror that crippled Kaede into a statue from his voice was enough to know it was true. She did not move as the man reached to hold her right hand, tracing the branding even without looking at it. A smile across his face as he rose and before Kaede could take notice she was pushed back away from the man and Alice stood before her and in front of the man who did not look so happy about the sudden invader to the situation. Alice was a good two feet smaller but the woman did not look the least fazed as she spoke.

"I don't know who you are, but you got my employee mixed up with someone else and have her very scared so I'm going to ask you to leave right now sir." - "Oh I know the little princess anywhere, Now be a smart girl and go back to work elsewhere while I take the Princess back to her friends who are worried sick..."

_____Kaede's terror was replaced by worry and horror as she watched Alice ball her fist and proceed to punch the man square in the jaw with enough force to fill the air with a sudden 'crack' sound. The Cafe going quiet as everyone looked over and the man rubbed his jaw and chuckled. "Oh, seems the Princess has found another knight for me to crush..." - "Don.." Kaede could not even finish one word before she watched Alice get thrown into the wall with no effort from the male.

_____The exterior wall she clashed with giving out as Alice flew into the street leaving nobody between Kaede and the man who looked angry he had to do such a thing while adjusting his sleeve and approuching the hole. "NOW THEN, If you don't wnat the other hurt or worse you will come back home Little princess..." - "I keep telling you... You got... the wrong... PERSON!" Alice rose slowly before she flashed in front of the man and slammed yet another solid blow to his jaw making him stagger.

_____A hand resting on Kaede's shoulder as she turned to see an old man using her as some support and looking to her with dark grey eyes. "SIR, As a former Rune knight I will not sit by as you cause an issue..." His tone was enough to shake Kaede from her statue state as she back away behind the man. The Male scoffing as he waved his hand and a magic circle began forming on the ground. A black hound with red eyes rushing from the circle to the old man while he went to deal with Alice, Kaede trembling as she watched everything.

A bitter reunion

Words written: #405
Total written: #3785
#f433ff Keade's speech
#a74ac7 Keade's thought

_____Kaede watched the old man rush forward using his cane to smack the hound aside and getting the fight away from the entry way while Alice did the same against the man. Xion rushing over and waving for people to get out of the area as Kaede just wished they would stop risking their well being for her. The man was the leader of a dark guild, he was in a league his own and would do anything to keep what he wants under his thumb.

_____'So why?' The thought was all Kaede could think as two people she barely knew stood up for her. Why would they do anything that could kill them? A hand against Kaede's shoulder snapped her focus around as Xion pointed for the clear route away from the situation. But even if Kaede wanted to run with all her might, she did not want to leave the side of those fighting to protect her from getting taken back to her old life as she started to cry. Xion shrugging as he rushed off out of the area.

"Stop... Please... I'll..." - "Don't you even think about saying that Kaede! You have a place here, and if you don't trust that then Consider me your new owner and for the moment RUN!"

_____Keade's words shallow and quiet before Alice spoke over them while blinking around the man and getting blows in where she could. Meanwhile the old man had already take care of the hound and was rushing over to the man who grumbled and snapped his fingers as a full pack of hounds rose to keep the two of them busy as he turned to approach Kaede fishing out a necklace and clicking his tongue as Kaede fumbled away from it knowing what it was.

"Now now, Little princess tell your knights they are relived and I might spare them and you the fate of meeting MY KNIGHT..."

_____Kaede was about to speak up again when Alice appeared before her holding her shirt and growling before tossing Kaede further from the man as she rushed forward to resume the fight against him. A glance as the old man was fending his own against the pack of hounds and Alice took another blow sending her into a few tables inside the Cafe before she came back again to keep attacking the man. Kaede's heart racing as her mind screamed out loudly.

A chance to escape

Words written: #433
Total written: #4218
#f433ff Keade's speech
#a74ac7 Keade's thought

_____Kaede was unsure what sparked her to action, if it was how far Alice and the old man went to protect her, or if it was how the man now held Alice by the throat that Kaede slammed her hands to the ground and her form glowed a mix of red and gold before a suit of armor covered her entire frame. The male tossing Alice towards the old man as he reached his hands out and began clapping. His smile growing as he looked over Kaede.

"So long we searched that estate and here it was with the little princess all along... Tell you what, give me that armor and I'll let you be free for good. All parties will be happy that way, so just hand that armor over!" - "No... This is my family heirloom... the last thing I have of my parents after you MURDERED THEM!"

_____Kaede reached each of her hands to the sides as she pulled out both her family swords and the male only seemed more pleased. His fingers snapping as more hounds rushed forward and Kaede followed suit. The last time she did anything like combat was playing pirate with her mom and that was years ago and not at the risk of her life. But as she held the handle of each weapon tightly she could feel a odd air that seemed to tell her this was nothing.

_____Watching as the first Hound leaped forward Kaede swung with her left, the teal blade cutting clean across the target as she swung her right arm to take down the next hound doing her best to recall how her mom used to fight. Frame spinning to slash another set of hounds before one leaped and began biting the helmet. She felt some pain but tossing the sword in her left back into her requip space she reached and tossed the hound back at the man who clicked his tongue.

"Even in death that woman's stubbornness lives on in you..."

_____Keade would not give the man to finish whatever he was trying to say as she rushed forward. Both hands gripping the hilt of the sword as she swung at the male with rage backing her actions at this point. It was his fault she was so broken, his fault she had no family left, his fault that Alice and the old man got dragged into things and he needed to pay for such. Red energy dancing off the weapon as the slash traveled past where the man once was and destroyed the door to the cafe.

A spark of courage

Words written: #642
Total written: #4860
#f433ff Keade's speech
#a74ac7 Keade's thought

_____Kaede Could not be bothered at the moment to hate herself for causing damage to the cafe as she turned to keep her focus on the man. Rage was all that she could be bothered to think about as she felt something tugging deep inside her shouting to be let out but another voice shouting to keep it looked away. The male ripping the necklace free and tossing the shard against the ground as black smoke coiled up from the creaks and a piercing howl followed.

_____Within seconds the Alley now had yet another threat to deal with as the two headed hound growled and kept both eyes set on Kaede. The male shouting something behind it that was masked as the hound growled and leaped for Kaede taking her into the Cafe and widening the hole behind it. The weapon in her hands the only saving grace from both shoulders getting bitten into as she struggled to get out from below the hound.

_____She had no time to worry for Alice or the old man anymore, the pain in her shoulder shocking her out of her small burst of courage and back into full on reality as she wrestled to get the creature off her so she could stand up. She felt like her left shoulder was on fire, her focus blurring making the narrow slits of the armor that much harder to trust as she rushed forward swinging her weapon with everything she still had. The hound whimpering as the red blade cut across the right leg making it stagger backwards.

"All of you HALT, This is the Rune Knights Weapons down, summons off, and hands in the air now."

_____The stranger's voice barely caught as Kaede staggered and used the sword to support her frame. Eyes focusing enough to watch the hound fall back to the man who quickly mounted it and seemed to say something Kaede could not fully hear before the hound leaped onto the roof and vanished. While Alice and some Rune knights rushed to Kaede, some to the old man, and the rest trying to chase down the man Kaede's armor and weapon vanished.

_____Kaede frame falling down onto Alice's shoulder as the girl struggled to focus on anything. She could see lips moving, people returning and looking at the mess left in the wake of Kaede's past coming to haunt her. But as Alice's face moved into Kaede's main focus she blacked out and went numb. Kaede's mind drifting into the past, beyond her time as a slave, before she lost everything, back to when she first learned Requip magic from her mother.

"Well done Kaede... Now can you make Mommy a promise? Those items you have in that space... Make sure you only use them to help and protect people... They are very dangerous in the wrong... Erm..." - "Honey that is the worst way to explain it..."

_____If Kaede was none the wiser she would have broke down into tears seeing her parents, even if it was them in the past the sight broke her heart knowing what would happen to them. But the young child just looked up to the two figures as they whispered back and forth for some time before her father knelt down and took Kaede's hand. She could still recall every scar and rough spot on his hand that dwarfed her own.

"Let's play a game K-chi? Mommy and Daddy want you to play hide the treasure ok? Can you keep the family treasure hidden from the bad scary and greedy men in power?" - "Darling...!" - "Right right, raising her to be good forgot, keep it from the other pirates?" - "Of course! I'm Kaede ' treasure keeper' Hoshi! Arrg!" - As quickly as the flashback began, ended leaving Kaede in darkness as time passed unknowingly.

A Long-awaited reunion

Words written: #285
Total written: #5045
#f433ff Keade's speech
#a74ac7 Keade's thought

_____Kaede awoke bolting upright in a bed. Alice sitting over her and going right into tears as she bear hugged Kaede who once again squeaked from the pressure before she was let go and glared at even while Alice was removing her tears. Lowering her own head as Alice lifted her hand expecting to be hit for causing trouble only to have her hair messed up by the woman who sighed and waited for Kaede to look her in the eyes before speaking.

"First day you work and my Cafe gets destroyed by you and some asshole trying to take away my first employee in over a year... I hope you know I expect you to work off the damage you caused... But above that... I'm glad your safe... and next time warn me about those people... so i can stretch first and then kick their ass or ask if we can take it outside... "

_____Kaede's eyes began tearing up as she watched Alice roll her patched up shoulder, Alice looking over with a slightly puzzled look before Kaede pulled her into a hug and started crying over her shoulder. The warm feeling of Alice patting her head comforting the girl who was relieved she was ok. "This is not gonna make me change my mind..." - "I know... I promise I'll work off what I owe... I'm just happy your not hurt to much..." - "Oh please, I've fought worse then some dog enslaving asshole." A very light chuckle escaping Kaede's lips as she refused to break the hug. Part of her vastly hoping her second day at her new work and home would not be as eventful as this one had been.

A promise