With a sigh, Jaune ignored the whole thing and moved out onto the floor, collecting some empty mugs and cups. When he got to Team RWBY's table, Ruby looked up at him with a friendly smile.
"Thanks, Jaune!" She picked up her glass for him, and he held his tray out so she could help him put it on. She didn't have to, but Ruby always did that – and the others had taken to emulating it. It didn't exactly make his job any easier, but it was such a polite thing to do that he smiled nonetheless. They really were great girls.
"No problem, Ruby. What did you think of those cakes? You like them?"
"Did I!? Oh man, those were so good!"
"Got to say I agree," Yang said, flashing him a beautiful smile that would have had his pulse racing if he wasn't already sure she was so out of his league it would be pointless to get excited. "They were so cute, almost like a box of chocolates but cakes instead. They were adorable, right Blake?"
Blake nodded distractedly over her book, "Hm."
Yang rolled her eyes at him.
He laughed silently in return. That was Blake for you. Even from the short amount of time he'd known them, he felt he understood a little bit of their personalities.
"The platter was a good idea," Weiss said, placing her mug gently beside Ruby's. "I do wonder if you haven't made it a little too cheap, however."
"Really? It's pretty much the same price as it would be to order the same quantity but of a single cake."
"Yes, but you have to put in the extra work of arranging and shaping them," she pointed out. "You should have factored that into the price. Your time is a commodity as well, and should have a price tag attached to it. Remember that."
He shuffled awkwardly, but nodded his head nonetheless. She was probably right, even if the thought of over-charging made him feel uncomfortable. The cake platter had become something of a staple now, and it was getting tiring making them all. "Thanks, Weiss. I'll try and figure out a way to do it without making people upset."
"Tell them there was a price increase on you buying the ingredients."
"Lie?"
Weiss sighed and looked towards the ceiling for help. "I'm not saying you have to deceive people. Just that if you don't feel comfortable telling the truth, you'll maybe have to bend it a little. You could just tell people it was hard work and you had to increase the price. They'll understand, or they'll order something else."
"Weiss…" Ruby groaned. "But I like the platter. Don't make it more expensive…"
"I'm not sure why you're complaining. I'm stuck paying for you all the time anyway. Whether the price rises or not is completely irrelevant from your point of view."
Ruby ducked her head and laughed guiltily. "You have more money than I do…"
"Don't you get pocket money from your father?" Weiss asked.
"I do, but… well…"
"It goes on cookies, comics and weapon magazines," Yang drawled.
"YANG!" Ruby gasped. "D-Don't listen to her, Weiss. It's slander!"
"Is it, though?" Blake asked lazily, turning a page. "It sounds like something you would do."
Ruby recoiled as if she'd been slapped. "You too, Blake? It's a mutiny!"
Jaune watched with thinly veiled amusement as Ruby and Yang descended into a fast-paced argument, with the smaller girl waving her arms wildly and Yang teasing in return. Blake went back to her book, while Weiss could only sigh.
"Another set of drinks?" he asked her.
She nodded. "Please. It looks like we'll be here for a while if this is any indication."
Jaune nodded and went back to make them some drinks, then delivered them a few minutes later. Team RWBY were a common and welcome sight for him, and sometimes they even came alone as well. He'd started to learn the names of a few other customers too, people such as Yatsuhashi and Fox, who apparently made up half of a team named CFVY. They always promised to bring their teammates down, though apparently it was hard because their leader instantly ran off to go shopping whenever they came to Vale.
He had a feeling the guys only came here because the alternative was being forced into lugging shopping bags around the mall. It reminded him back of life in Ansel, where he'd try and flee to a café with his Dad so they could avoid being forced to carry the girl's stuff.
Some things were the same whether you were a huntsman or not, it seemed.
So why had everyone started to avoid the place?
/-/
Things started to slow down as the day went on, and Jaune savoured those rare moments of peace where he could sit down behind the counter and rest his legs. Standing had never seemed so arduous a task before. It was exhausting. Little wonder I'd have never made it in Beacon if I can't do this. How bad would I be actually fighting against Grimm?
His father's sword, Crocea Mors, was still on the wall behind him, now more an ornament than anything else. He'd felt bad about that at first, but he had a feeling his father would approve. He'd always wanted an easier life for them all. This wasn't exactly what he'd class as easier, but oh well – it paid, he wasn't getting attacked by Grimm, and honestly, if he dared admit it, the work was actually quite fulfilling.
It was a strange and uplifting feeling.
Everything that stood before him, from the chairs to the tables, to the food and drink… it all belonged to him. Sure, some of it was rented and he was still paying it off, the furniture and machinery being a prime example, but it was still his. He'd made this.
When a customer left with a huge smile on their face, it was because of him. He'd served them well, provided good food and drink, or just created a place they could unwind in. Either way, they were happy because of something he'd done, which meant he was responsible for those moments.
It felt good… incredibly so.
"I'm still exhausted, though," he groaned, working his neck to get some kinks out. A yawn escaped him a moment later. That was another weird thing, too. He'd been exhausted before, usually when he tried to do training prior to Beacon, but he'd always hated it. Being tired was a bad thing, especially when it left you with a stitch and a sore throat. There was none of that here. He felt proud of it, and was left with a general sense of a job well done.
Which would have been even better had it been closer to closing time. Sadly it wasn't even four, and the after-work rush had yet to begin.
I'll just catch some rest while I can. Team RWBY and the others left to get back to their lessons, so it's not like I need to worry about Beacon students coming. The teachers would be off doing their own work, too. This would have been a perfect time for the concerned parents to drop by, but it looked like Mrs Robertson's words had proved prophetic.
Roman's too, now that he thought about it. He'd said civilians and huntsmen didn't mix.
"See it for myself, huh?" Jaune rolled his eyes and let out a defeated sigh. "What a cocky guy. He's not going to let me live this one down."