Back with Amelia at the same day rate . .
Ever since the orcs went on to talk about my restaurant, AND the goblins came in matter of days, I knew it was only a matter of time before more non-human creatures came, therefore, I decided to make sure to rearrange the place and asked Karga and Azruk about what it could be done to the restaurant.
Fortunately, I did not have to make big arrangements. I just rearranged the tables with the help of servers and some chefs. The "non-human zone" would become a place were creature of the night (like vampires) could be without too much light bothering them. The tables close to the entrance and backyard windows would be for creatures who like the sunlight and nature better. The tables at the center would be for creatures who prefer to come in huge groups, that way, the tables are not so far from each other in case the group or groups want to be closer to each other and just need to move a bit. For last but not least, I put some tables close to the bar and some chairs infront of the bar, as well as inverted to remodel it and make it bigger and broader.
The clientale did noticed the new table arrangement, but they also consider it more organized than the old version. And some nobles or rich merchants would use the "non-human zone" for prívate meetings, paying extra for arrangements in advance. Which I found it good enough for me.
As for the food, I made a new meeting with the chefs and bartenders, as well as servers to see what could we do.
'Well, the trick would be getting rid of the foods and drinks not so many people est and replaced them with the new items.' Orson suggested. 'It is easy for people to forget about dishes and drinks that don't get touched often and easier for them to accept new items.'
I nodded to that. 'Let's do that then, but for now, any ideas of what can we do to rearrange the menu?' I asked.
A chef raised his hand. 'Well, we could divide the foods between each type of food. I suggest to divide the dishes in five— no wait, six parts: breakfast, meat, veggies, apperitives, drinks and. . . Whatever it can be the last one.' He shrugged at last.
I thought about it. 'Sweet Delight.' I declared. 'In that last part, we will out everything sweet, from baking goods to candy. Is everyone on board?' I asked everyone.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
'Very well. Now!' I clapped calling everyone's attention. 'Listen here! Everyone grab a menu and divide into the six groups! Two chefs for each section: breakfast, meat, veggies, apperitives, drinks and sweet delights!' I pointed to each side to a table for each meal apartment from each other. 'Mark each meal in your category and then create a meal for non-human creatures! Carnivores involve orcs, goblins, and dwarfs; vegetables include fairies, elves, etc; apperitives would be for refined vampires and humans; and the sweets can be a mix of everybody bu t keep it safely!'
We worked for hours, but thanks to the help of the orcs, Ivy and a little help from Liam, we were able to make everyone-friendly which we hoped it would work.
Now, we only had to wait for the non-humans, while we keep feeding the humans, who were more than content with the variety and the sections of the new menu.
A few more days after. . .
I was working in my office in some paper arrangement as well as responding to some applications for the new houses, when Orson came in running and slamming the door open, with sweat in the forehead and looking pale at sight.
I looked up from my papers. 'Yes?' I asked, and as I saw Orson's state I frowned worried.
'T-The non-humans a-are here!' Orson told me agitated as he recovered his breath. 'T-Their outside the door!' He exhaled.
'Wait what?!' I exclaimed in surprise standing up.
'Yes!' He walked to my table and slammed his hands onto tha table to keep his balance. 'It-It's a whole horde of them! Orcs, goblins, dwarfs, fae. . .' He sighed deeply. 'I-I'm pretty sure I even saw a pair of vampires. ¡Everyone of them together!' He pointed towards the door.
I quickly ran out the office with Orson running after me.
At the entrance. . .
Orcs were standing right outside of the restaurant, trying to talk to my guards who were trying to keep the professional line while taking the luxury of small chat. The gnomes were talking with Ivy who had also the idea of coming after the last human customer had left to get her coffee and raisin muffin, some more goblins chatting among themselves, a pair of satyrs with a group of nymphs at the back, some dwarfs waiting patiently yet closer to the orcs (keeping distance from the globins due to their reputation), more goblins and even a pair of cloaked vampires standing in the shadows of the roof.
I gulped. 'Well. . . Look on the bright side, you and the others get extra pay!' I told Orson with a hopeful smile as I received a few small packages from other three chefs to give to the new clients.
'Hehe yeah. . .' Orson tried to keep smiling but he was clearly side eyeing fearfully to the vampires. 'But if we fail to impress, we might become someone's dinner.' He murmured gulping down in fear.
The servers and some of the chefs nodded in agreement with Orson.
'Want me to talk to them before letting them enter?' I asked.
'Yes please!' They all said taking a few steps back.
I chuckled nervously. 'Okay, in that case, start preparing the "special dishes" beforehand as I talk to them, and wish me luck!' I exited the restaurant through the main entrance. 'I'm here Karga!' I exclaimed loudly enough to get Karga's attention.
'Eh?! Oh, thank goodness!' Karga exhaled in unison with Azruk. 'We apologize Amy, we are trying our best here.' She promised.
'It is fine it is fine.' I patted Karga's leg. 'I am paying you to keep this place safe, aren't I? I know you are doing what you can.' I assured her in reassurance.
The non-human creatures looked with extreme curiosity at how the female human in the poster picture, "open arms," was both reassuring an orc and at the same time acknowledging her work with a smile. It was an odd scene indeed.
'Quite odd. . . A human acknowledging a non-human's work.' A vampire whispered to another vampire nodding in agreement.
The satyrs blushed a bit at the sight of a maternal gesture towards the female orc, while the nymphs nodded in approval towards Amelia's empathy. The gnomes, who were receiving more information about "Amy" or "open arms" from Ivy, were nodding in acknowledgement and respect about how she was des long with orcs four times her size.
The goblins looked shy but hopeful, not every day you receive a poster of a beautiful human lady willing to receive non-humans.
The dwarfs and orcs acknowledgement my words as if they were some statement about acknowledging strength.
As for the vampires. . . Well, their faces were cloaked, so I could not tell what they were thinking. . . Much less at what they could be looking at.
'Anyway, please help me give out the packages, the hunter sándwiches are marked specifically to each type non-human who is mor carnivorous, the honey-oatmeal cookies are for the gnomes, the sweet wine and Garnica for the satyrs and nymphs, and the jam and compota sandwhiches for the vampires.' I told them as I showed what each package contained. 'I'll take it from here as you give out the food..' I assured both orcs under "my command," as the orcs would say. 'Once you guys are done, you can go on your break and serve yourselves a juicy smoked pig leg from the kitchen.' I offered opening the door for them. 'Just, make sure to not create trouble for the chefs.' I requested.
'Thanks.' Karga and Azruk nodded in appreciation and relief. Shrink it their size, and they soon started to give out the gifts.
As the orcs gave out the food, I could see the newcomers enjoying the food without much complaint. I mean, I still saw some sketpicism, but that got reduced as they kept eating.
Once the orcs were done, they waved goodbye at their orc fellows and went inside.
I then closed the door and went back to the non-humans creature. 'Hello there. I apologize for the delay and hope you all haven't waiting much. . . Have you?' I asked worried.
They all shook their heads.
'Very well, in that case. . . You may call me "Amy," and I am the owner of the restaurant.' I presented myself.
'Are you the lady for the picture?!' One of the satyr asked pointing me in the drawing.
'Why yes. I am.' I affirmed and then looked around. 'Is there an issue or a problem?' I asked worried.
'Em, no! Just, eh, wanted to make sure!' The satyr answered scratching the back of his neck.
'Oh! Okay, em. . . I would like you to refrain from question until I am done talking, everyone okay with this?' I asked and they all nodded. 'Very well! In that case, I'll start again. You may call me "Amy" and this is my restaurant, "Spice Delight," As you were probably told I am willing to serve food to everyone, whether it is human or non-human, and able to receive in flexible ways.' I communicated to them. 'However, there are rules that I would like you to follow before letting you enter. Not as a way to control, but as a way you can respect my place, my boundaries and my employees. In return, you'll be respected and served as well as we can offer.' I looked at every non-human here. 'Any questions so far?'
A dwarf raised his hand.
'Yes sir?' I let him speak.
'When it comes to "payment flexibility," what exactly do you mean?' The dwarf asked.
'Well, I am willing to let you guys pay in either human money, or, as most of you possibly prefer, in exchange of herbs, materials, favors or etc, which actually brings me to my statement of rules: First rule, no pushing shoving and much less killing, this is a "eating and resting space" not a "fighting court."' I pointed to the orcs, vampires and dwarfs.
Some orcs snorted to that, along with the dwarfs, and the goblins kinda looked "bored" at the rule, but the rest were quite respectful.
'Second, there's only human service which means it can take a bit of time when it comes to serving. We aske politely for your patience.' I continued on. 'If by when there are more people eating than people waiting, and you are still unattened, please raise your hand so you can be attend ya quicker.'
They all nodded to that. Although I saw some discomfort in some creatures so far.
'Third, please ask or consult what contains in each food.' I asked them. 'While we have made efforts to make "non-human-friendly" foods, we would still like you to ask just to make sure there are no allergic nor lethal accidents afterwards.'
Some creatures like the gnomes and dwarfs nodded at that. The vampires smiled at my third rule.
'Ehem. . . Following up, the fourth rule: no kidnapping children inside the restaurant or any other of the buildings inside my domain. Period.' I stated as bluntly as possible. Some creatures stared at me. 'The reason for this rule is, it has already happened before and I would really wish it would not happen again.' I let that sink in.
Everybody looked around and they seemed to understand so far. Although, they seemed to be a bit uncomfortable with it.
'Fifth rule, if you still want to fight, you have two options: beer competition or brawl outside under the guards' supervision.' I declared. 'And, this rule comes with two closures: the first one to break something, is the one who pays for it. Second closure, if you do not know who was the first one to break what, then both fighters or group of fighters, along with those who encouraged the fighting, shall pay for the damages.' I declared. 'Obligatory.' I added.
The dwarfs nodded approvingly to this rule. The orcs were more happy with the beer competition than to brawl outside under someone's supervision, but they did not replied back. The goblins for their part, were snickering among themselves until I turned to see them.
'Sixth rule, no flirting nor give any innuendos inside my domain.' I declared looking at the vampires and satyrs. 'Feel free to do it outside of my restaurant, five hundred feet away from it, but close or inside, refrain to do it so out of respect.'
One of the vampires snorted while the other whispered to the first one.
'Aw come one!' One of the satyrs joke and pouted with his friend who laugh.
I just rolled my eyes. 'Eight rule, this one is more like a warning, my daughter, Lottie, studies in the Bismuth Academy and has given me huge and beautiful good luck charm that protect both my restaurant and renting homes. They are practically designed to reflect any magic spell, enchantment, or curse that you throw at anyone here. From inside to the restaurant up to five hundred feet away.'
Creature like the vampires have an ironic smile while the goblins gulped down nervously.
'Ninth rule, there will be NO favoritism. Whether you are an elf o goblin, vampire or human, everybody will be treated with respect and service.' I told them. 'If you break any of the previous rules, you'll be evicted by these two guards and,' I pointed to Karga and Azruk behind briefly, 'most importantly, you'll be forbidden to return for a LONG time.'
Everybody looked at each other nervously, probably taking a mental note to remember this rule especifically.
'And, last but not least. . .' I took out a medium sized card (about the same size as my hand) with a small seal on the other. 'Tenth rule, the Client seal.' I showed both sides of the card. One side had the symbol of the restaurant which was a table with spices and small sparkles around with the name "Spice Delight" at front. On the other side, there were seven small circles. 'This is actually our first time doing this so feel free to either reject or accept it as you will. But! It works like this: each time you guys come to eat, follow the rules and pay fairly, you get a small seal record on your card.' I made a demostration. 'But just so you know, you can only get the seal after the process of eating, following the rules accordingly and paying fairly.' I remarked. 'And, once you get the seven meal deals, you can exchange for with a meal or an expensive drink, or an special dessert. But! For each card, there can only be ONE exchange so be careful.'
'Oooooooohhhhhh!' Most creatures smiled at this rule.
'One more thing, once you receive the card and the first seal, you have between two or three seasons to complete it before it expires and, well, you'll have to get a new card and start all over again.' I shrugged my shoulders.
Everyone nodded understanding.
'Well, since there are no more questions,' I turned around to see Karga and Azruk coming out with a juicy pig leg each, 'please open the doors for me.' I requested of them.
The orcs nodded and opened the doors in response.
'Now, follow me while following the number one rule, please!' I requested them as I motioned them to follow me.
Everyone followed inside, but giving space to those bigger and stronger first like the orcs and vampires, then the nymphs and satyrs, then the dwarfs, next were the goblins, and then the gnomes.
I guided the orcs to the tables at the center since they came in a big group, then brought the vampires to the "non-human zone" where it was father from the crown, and therefore would be more comfortable for them. Afterwards, I guided the nymphs and satyrs to the tables that had the view to the green backyard and had sunlight reflecting the windows. Then, I guided the dwarfs to the tables and the chairs close and connected to the bar where they could drink in peace, and then brought the goblins and gnomes to the other groups of tables close to the orcs in the tables of the center.
I whistled to get the servers help and gave every menu we had. 'Please take a few minutes to decide and feel free to ask around if needed!' I exclaimed to them.
Everyone cheered agreeing to it.
I then took a small break to check the new menu I sent to print. We all worked really heard to rearrange and even had to eliminate some items but, it looked more organized than before.
"Sweet Delight's Menu:
Apperitives:
— Beetroot stew with red wine.
— Red tomatoe soup with beetroot and chilli.
— Toast with butter on the side.
— Mini pies. {Choose whether you want them with meat, cheese, quiché, steak and cheese, or apple cinammon}
Limited edition item: Crimson bite — mini pies of poed blood and spices, served hot.
Breakfasts: Served all day!!
— Bronce Toast with peanut butter and jam.
— Eggs with bacon and beans and.
— Pancakes with peanut butter and/or jam.
— Golden potatoes with salted mushrooms.
— Quiche of eggs, cheese, spinach and mushrooms {Add a meat for five extra coppers: bacon, sausage, ham}
Combos: These end at 11 a.m.
— Classic Breakfast: Scrambled eggs + bacon or sausage + potatoes or beans+ two slices of Toast
— Lumberjack Breakfast: Three eggs of choose + Bacon and sausage + potatoes and beans + Two slices of Toast.
{Choose your eggs: Scrambled, fried or boiled.}
{Choose your pancakes: oatmeal or wheat}
{Choose your bread: black, wheat, or white}
{Choose your jam: strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, peaches, orange or cherry}
Meat Lovers:
— Stew of five meats (pork, beef, rabbit, goat and chicken)
— Stew of entrails (heart, liver, legs, etc)
— A smoked serving of a whole part of a pig {Please ask which pig parts are available}
— Roasted animal
— Meat pie
— Quiche with beef, bacon, ham, sausage, chicken.
Veggie friends:
— Average salad (lettuce, spinach, tomatoe, cucumbers, broccoli)
— Veggie stew
— Stuffed potatoes with cheese, spinach and mushrooms
— Vegetarian pie {One slice per person or a whole pie for a family will differ on the price}
— Pickled Vegetables
Drinks:
Alcohol: from 8 to 15 coppers per each drink
— Barley beer
— Honey beer, flavoured with wild flowers
— Dark wine of berries and plums
— Gooseberry and blackberry aged wine.
— White wine
— Foamy apple cider
Coffee: 8 to 10 coppers per each cup. {2 coppers or more for 1 gram of sugar and/ore/more 2 coppers for cream)
— Espresso
— Water coffee
— Milk coffee
Teas: from 5 to 10 coppers per each drink.
— Black tea with spices
— Mint tea
— Lavender tea
Children's drinks: 5 to 15 coppers per each drink {the price dependa on the season}
— Lemonade
— Apple juice
— Orange juice
— Hot chocolate {Get to choose between boilded water or boilded milk}
Water: one copper per drink
— Plain water
Especial item: Moccha (coffee + hot chocolate)
Desserts:
Cakes and pies:
— Honey cake with dried fruit
— Forest berry pie
— Vainilla cake
— Honey pie
Cookies:
— Oatmeal vainilla cookies
— Oatmeal Honey cookies.
— Oatmeal chocolate cookies
— Butter cookies
— Butter vainilla cookies
— Chocolate chip cookies
— Double chocolate chip cookies
Popsicles (Water or milk/cream):
— Water: lemon, wild berries,
Lollipops: Solid circle candy in a stick
— Strawberry
— blueberry
— Mint
— Honey
— Vainilla
Small candy pack: a tiny pouch with small candies which can go from just a flavour up to four flavours. {12 pieces per pack}
— Green mint
— Lemon drop
— Honey suckle
— Honey lemon
— Toffee {red berries, molasses, mint, lavender}
Especial item: Strawberry shortcake {A vainilla shortcake of three floors with whipped cream and strawberry filling}"
After a few minutes, the orders started coming. I quickly went inside the kitchen to help prepare the food and serve. Thankfully, the time it took me to give the non-humans the rules was enough time for the chefs to prepare almost everything by chopping, slicing, getting water, preparing the butter and oils in advance. That way, we were able to start cooking almost immediately as soon as the first few orders came.
For the most part, the orcs and goblins stayed with their "usuals" around the meat lovers section with strong beer and black tea, while the gnomes were more attracted to breakfasts (I was now thankful to announcement "breakfast all day"), with either light beer or aromatic tea such as mint and lavender.
The dwarfs were the same as the first two, although two of them offered to pay extra for the "Lumberjack breakfast," despite being so late, saying that they didn't ate breakfast in the morning. Me, being greedy for money and favors from non-humans, quickly made the exception (while asking not to expand the word around for I have to stick to the rules) and they accepted.
The vampires stood by the "exotic apperitives" such as the beetroot few and the "Crimson bite" limited option, along with the different types of red wine.
The nymphs and satyrs stayed with their veggies and infusioned tea, although one of them tried out the breakfast quiche without the meat added.
Once everyone was eating, the servers and I handed the client seals to each person and making sure the goblins (known for the mischief) would not get more than one, with one of the circles already stamped (Orson did the favour of counting all of them and stamped everyone's in advance).
'Okay everybody! Let me have your attention please!' I asked clapping my hands and getting everyone's attention. 'Just to let you know, for each person or each group, I will have one of each whether alone or in group, to come to my office, and we'll talk privately about the payment! Everyone agrees?' I asked.
They nodded obediently.
'Very well, carry on!' I nodded to them and let them go on to do as they pleased.
As I walked into my office, I found Ivy hiding inside. 'Oh! Hey Ivy, what are you doing here?' I asked her.
Ivy sipping her coffee slowly, suddenly turns to see me and flusters. 'Oh! Em. . . Hey boss! Em. . .' She turned to look away, and unusually quiet, unlike her usual loudly gnome-like self.
I raised an eyebrow. 'Is there something wrong?' I asked her closing the door behind me and sat on my desk looking at her. 'Did the gnomes judged you about you being employed by a human?'
'Eh? No no. . . Not before I ran though.' Ivy admitted taking in more coffee. 'You see. . . I-I do not wish to bother you with my problems here, but. . . The group of gnomes that came, come from the same clan that I came from, but. . .'
'Did something happened between you and your family and species?' I inquired.
Ivy flinched. 'Em. . . Sort of. . .' She took a deep breath and sighed. 'You see, ever since I was little, I saw that my family was more, "humble," than, most of my village. . . And I was always different than what a "real gnome" is, or at least that is what they told me.' She started to opened up.
'Hmm. . .' I started to think about it and come to the conclusion that. . . Ivy was indeed different. The gnomes were loud, cheerful and outgoing, while Ivy was always more on the serious side, always reflecting yet, for humans she was still louder and more determined than other people. I reflected. Yet, the other gnomes are clearly twenty times more loud than her, more cheerful, less serious and, probably less reflective than her. I guessed. 'Is that why you left, or was it something else?'
'Well, a bunch of things. Me being different than other gnomes is just. . . What was the term you tend to use?. . . The "tip of the iceberg"? Yeah. . . What made me snap and leave was an "arranged marriage" between me and anothe gnome from another gnome of better status.' Ivy explained. 'Personally, I did not understood why me though, we gnomes can have from three to five children almost every spring, so it is not like my family was only dependant on me. . . But they said something along the lines of "it is for your own good, that way you'll be able to be a true gnome."' She scoffed. 'As if! I was born out of them! I was raised among them! Why did they do such thing without even considering how I felt, is the problem! They never did something like to my other twelve sisters! Only me!' She exclaimed out ragged and pained, shaking so hard even the chair and her cup of coffee were shaking as well.
I looked down at her and kneeled next to her. 'Ivy, I am sorry for what you went through. I do not wish for anyone to suffer just like you.' I told her as I put a hand on her shoulder. 'I cannot offer more than my empathy and symphathy for your situation, for I cannot find nor offer a solution, consolation nor a word, without fearing of making things worse.' I admitted chuckling.
Ivy chuckled as well, calming down in the process. 'Thank you either way. At least, the kind human actually listens.' She made a positive note. 'Unlike some other people.' She then murmured in annoyance and then drank her coffee.
'I am afraid that, I am going to have to make leave now though.' I added standing straight. 'The customers will soon come up with their payments, and I do not wish to make things akward for neither you or them.' I stated opening the door.
'Yeah yeah, I understand.' Ivy nodded and hopped down. 'Thanks for listening anyway. I'll be going back to work now!' She let me know.
'Okay! Just make sure to write your time in the paper sheet inside the cleaning closet!' I reminded her.
'Yeah yeah!' Ivy raised a hand letting me know she heard me.
I smiled and then looked at the dwarf, who was accompanied by his fellow dwarves, and had his hand in a small fist ready to knock at the door. '. . . Oh! Ready to negotiate the payment?' I asked.
The dwarves grunted and nodded simultaneously.
'Very well, you may pass.' I let them pass into their office with themselves and the things they seem to be willing to use to pay.
Hopefully, it will all go smoothly.