Chapter Text
A match held in hand, as thunder boomed from outside. Standing on a ladder, in order to reach the candles hanging inside the old chandelier. Tommy could not help but feel calm as he listened to the thunder, that shook the café with each boom. Nightshade had taken him awhile to set up, with a vision in mind. Black candles to light up the dreary area instead of bright light bulbs filled with electricity.
He stepped down once he finished lighting the final candle, taking in a breath as he moved the ladder back into storage. The multiple machines he had purchased for this new location still shined brightly and new, in time he'd be able to make them fit this establishment more. Giving a hum, he made his way into the small kitchen in the back. A hand moved across the counters, looking for something.
Tommy grabbed the spider themed sprinkles from one of the shelves, walking towards the tray of black iced cookies. He sprinkled the spiders on top, disappointed that real spiders could not be used for his treats. Thing, the hand stopped for a moment as a timer rang. Tommy turned, opening the oven and grabbing the oven mitts before pulling out the chocolate muffins that were inside. "This smell" he muttered, as he placed them on the counter. Taking one and not minding the heat on his hands, he brought it closer to his nose. "Just as I thought, Grandmothers recipe" he gave a sigh, as he remembered the old days. "Make certain to price these higher, I wish to see them squirm for these dreadfully tasteless muffins", he told Thing.
The hand tapped it's fingers on the counter, as an understanding. It shuffled out of the kitchen, Tommy turned towards the old recipe book. The pages stuck together, aged and worn with time. It was a shame he could not follow them perfectly, for the normals who would enter this place would not enjoy that. He clicked his tongue, grabbing a bowl. They had an hour till opening day, enough time to make some more treats.
When he was done, he cleaned up his mess. Whipping up some frosting, that he added a special ingredient to. He waited for the oven to go off, before taking out the cupcakes. He disliked the name, to cheery. Shaking his head he let them cool, as he worked on the fillings. Soon they were cored and filled and topped with black buttercream. He added them to the display out front, tying his work apron around his waist. Thing scurried back to the kitchens, to possibly work on more treats.
Ten minutes till opening, he cast a glance at the clock on the wall. The thunder boomed again, he shut his eyes to, listen to the sound of the rain hitting the roof. Thing's snapping was what brought him out of his own peace. Turning he looked at the hand that scampered across the floor to the door, unlocking it and flipping the closed sign to open. Seven Am, right on the clock, how dreadfully early.
Thing was gone once more as Tommy leaned on the counter, waiting. Time ticked by, it took thirty minutes for the door to swing open. The bells above the door ringing, an umbrella was shaken off before being placed in the holder by the door. The man that came in was wearing an old dark red rain coat, a shade of crimson that matched that of blood. His hair was dyed a light pink, almost the shade of bubblegum.
He scanned the menu board, for about three minutes before giving his order. "A black coffee, with as many expresso shots you can legally give me" his eyes moved to the treats on display, "And one of those chocolate muffins, My brother told me to get him something, So I'm out of spite buying a muffin and eating it in front of him" the mans tone held no emotion yet Tommy enjoyed the words the man spoke.
"What a dreadful intention, But I welcome it, Thing!" Tommy called, "Black coffee with" he looked at the man for a moment, "Eight shots of expresso" , The hand scampered across the counter getting to work on the drink as the machines came alive behind him. The man stared for a moment, blinked then pinched himself and decided this was probably normal for a gothic themed café named after a deadly plant.
Tommy grabbed a muffin from the display, placing it into a paper bag. Passing it across the counter, just as Thing slid a cup of coffee across the counter. Tommy rang the man up, watching as he placed a twenty on the counter. "Keep the change" he told him, before making his way out of the café, grabbing his umbrella on the way out. Tommy shook his head, going back to waiting as Thing made it's way back to the kitchen to get started on the lunch items for later.
= = =
Two hours later, Tommy finds himself staring at someone dressed in a purple hoodie. A resume in hand, eyes an unnatural shade of purple. "Your hired" Tommy spoke, without another thought. "Thing grab this young man an apron would you?" he ignored the way the blonde just blinked at him in confusion, no interview no nothing. One look behind the purple wearing blonde was enough for Tommy to want him working here. "You can work a cash register correct?, Thing can train you with the machines soon" the boy gave a nod, "Theseus, but refer to me as Tommy".
"Purpled" The boy spoke, stopping for a second to watch as an apron moved across the counter almost on it's own. Till it was revealed it wasn't, a hand that wasn't attached to anything. "I will just take a guess and say this must be Thing, The name makes sense now". Gothic café, disembodied hand. Purpled couldn't help his smile, he would enjoy working here. He grabbed the apron, that had the name of the café printed in the corner. He slipped it on and stepped behind the counter, standing out with his purple hoodie.
His resume was placed under the counter by Thing. And he was soon shown the ropes, it would be three hours later that he would find himself getting handed an envelope of golden coins and random bills as the day came to a close. He blinked, staring at it, wondering if his knew boss was aware how paychecks worked. But decided against asking, for he could of sworn he saw the taller blonde dragging a body into the back earlier.
Instead he asked something else, "I know we just met, And you just hired me, But can I sleep on your couch?" . This guy could kill him, probably would kill him. But Purpled was tired of sleeping on park benches, and the shitty hotel-motel where he refuses to even step foot in anymore since witnessing something he shouldn't have.
Tommy gave it a second to decide, grabbing his keys, he gave a simple nod. "You can sleep in the extra bedroom, Having a roommate will be quite dreadful, So I don't see why not" he gave a nod, "But if you do, No color, I let your hoodie slide for now for I can tell it's the only clothing you have, That will change". Thing scampered across the café floors, as Tommy made his way towards the door. Before he stopped turning to look at the candles above them with a sigh, he pulled open the door and a harsh breeze flew in blowing out the candles and making the place dark.
The only light source coming from each flash of lightning across the sky. That night Purpled was led to a place he'd soon be calling home, as Tommy got him situated in the old mansion that sat just on the edge of town. Not only had Purpled gotten hired to a gothic café with a disembodied hand, and got paid a lot more then he should of. His new boss was apparently loaded, yeah Purpled would indeed come to love this new found life of his.