Chapter 19: Fast Food AU - William and Purrgatory
βWelcome to Pizza Bell, home of the pizza taco; what can we make for you today,β
William sighed into the headset in an annoyed monotone. He hated this job with a burning passion, but he had a child on the way, and his blacksmith shop hadnβt taken off yet. Over at the cashier counter, the silvery purple cat, Purrgatory, chatted away with a friendly patron. The line of customers that had formed wasnβt thrilled about having to wait extra long to order. William continued to take orders on his headset while watching the feline change each customer's attitude in line one by one. Once the lunch rush was over, the gray folf found his hands covered in grease from the pizza and taco bags.
βHey William, what are you doing after work? You want to hang out,β Purrgatory excitedly asked as she skipped over from her register. The cat had been super friendly to William since he started working at Pizza Bell. He did feel a little bad that he hadnβt been able to reciprocate the friendship, but he had a lot to do to prepare for his firstborn child.
βSorry, Purrgatory, my wife is working late at her hospital again, so I need to paint the baby's room and prepare dinner,β William explained to his coworker before he yawned.
βDo you need help painting,β the silvery purple feline inquired as she poured herself a drink. βIβm good at painting, and after, we can play video games or board games or card games. Whatever you want. Plus, when your wife gets home, we can all hang out and relax. You need it, and so does she, probably.β William had to admit that he had been working extra hard. A night hanging out with a friend might just be what he needed to make this job slightly more tolerable.
βSure, I'll text you my address in a bit,β William told Purrgatory as the drive-thru bell dinged. βWelcome to Pizza Bell, home of the pizza taco; what can we make for you today?β
The next day William arrived at Pizza Bell on time for his shift as usual. There was still green paint in his fur that he failed to wash out from the night before. Still mostly asleep, the Arctic folf found his way to the time clock to clock in before strapping his headset on. Hopefully, the gloomy weather outside would soon become a full-on rain storm. Usually, business was slower when it rained. Purrgatory was at her register, talking to the silver muzzles that came in every day bright and early for the coffee and the occasional breakfast pizza burrito.
βSo you're a master class, smith, right,β Purrgatory asked William when she got a break from her register.
βNo, Iβm almost a master class, smith,β William answered the silvery purple cat. He had explained all this the night before while they were painting his baby's room. βI had to leave the shop I was working for because they werenβt getting enough commissions, so I had to put that on hold temporarily.β
βOk, ok, but what if I wanted to pay you to make me a sword,β the cat eagerly queried the folf. William could see Purrgatory working out the design in her head as she waited for a response. Everyone always had the same question when they discovered he was a smith.
βNo. You can barely handle a paintbrush,β William replied as he motioned to the paint in his fur. Purrgatory was about to protest this statement when the drive-thru bell sounded. βThank you for choosing Pizza Bell to start your day. What can we start your day with,β Williamβs voice was as dry and monotone as ever. There would never be a time when he gave more than he needed to this job. βOk, that's one Queen of Queso breakfast meal with South of the Border Hashbrowns and a large coffee. Thatβll be $10.47, and please pull around to the first window.β After that car was served and on its way, the sky finally opened and started raining.
βCome on, I need a sword for self-defense,β Purrgatory pleaded with William during the lull in business. He could see she wasnβt about to give up easily on this one.
βGet a taser,β the grey folf told her. βYouβre way less likely to hurt yourself with one of those. Besides, you canβt just march around the streets with a sword strapped to you.β William could see the logic of that statement hit Purrgatory. The feline thought for a moment as she considered a few different options.
βHow about a knife, then,β the cat asked as she eyed the one William had on his belt. βLike the one you wear? It looks like it could carve up an attacker.β William touched the hilt of the seax strapped to himself. She was right; it could carve someone up pretty well. The blade had saved him and his wife from a group of muggers one night. They got the folfβs right eye, but not one of them laid a finger on his wife.
βThe day I can leave this place for good, Iβll make you a knife,β William told Purrgatory to placate her. He didnβt like working fast food, and his coworker was too high-energy for him, but at least he had a friend here. Having someone to hang with at work made the job more enjoyable, even for Williamβs grumpy self.
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