Chapter Text
The dinner service dragged for what seemed like hours.
Full tables of pirates, marines and civilians came, filled their stomachs, and left before a new table was seated to repeat the process all over again. The strange sight of so many opposing groups, usually at each other's throats was never lost on Hetty, amazed at the sanctuary Zeff had created with his restaurant.
After the fifth round of washing dishes that night, Zeff had sent one of the waiters to bed who had been complaining of a cold, though the other staff in the kitchen were well aware that he had emptied several bottles of Ithürzburger Stein the night before. Likely to save the poor boy from Zeff’s wrath, none of them enlightened him to this fact.
Zeff and Sanji had launched themselves into a heated argument about who would service the last few tables. Sanji was adamant that he wanted to continue cooking. Zeff was adamant that he was of greater need in the dining room.
“I can do it,” Hetty offered, setting down a clean tray of dishes on Sanji’s counter ready for plating, and attempting to diffuse the tension between their butting heads.
“Have you waited tables before?” Zeff asked, crossing his arms as he sized her up.
“Yes, on the ship I worked on they sometimes had me on service if they were short. It wasn’t the size of this place but I’m sure I can handle a few tables,” she admitted. It was close to the end of dinner service now so the remaining patrons shouldn’t cause her too much trouble, if she was lucky.
“Alright then,” Zeff said, and held out a hand for her to pass her apron to him. “Let’s see how you do.”
Hetty crashed through the swinging doors to the kitchen and was grateful to see only one table of patrons waiting for their order to be taken.
She took up three menus from the counter along with a fresh basket of bread and made her way across the room to them, stretching a friendly smile across her face.
“Welcome to Baratie,” she said, addressing all three of the pirates lounging on the red leather bench and setting the menus down in front of each person. “We’re happy to have you with us today. Can I get any drinks started for you?”
“I’ll have a beer,” the one in the middle said, not bothering to lift his head so she could actually see his face from under his wide brimmed pirate hat.
“Me too,” the one on the right of her added, giving her a small smile in thanks.
“And for you sir?” she said, turning to the final pirate, arms stretched across the back of the seat in a way that caused his jacket to fall away from his chest, exposing two guns strapped around his torso. Clearly some sort of leader amongst these lower ranking shipmates.
“What do you recommend, darling?” he said, flashing a grin that displayed his matching silver canines.
“The beer is popular, or we have an experienced bar staff who would be happy to make a cocktail of your choosing,” she offered.
“Mmm, a cocktail sounds good. I’ll do a Siren’s Kiss,” he said.
“Two beers and a Siren’s Kiss,” she confirmed. “And can I take your food orders or would you like a couple more minutes?”
“Give us a few, I’ll have to see if anything on this menu looks as delicious as you,” the silver-toothed pirate drooled.
“Certainly, I’ll be back to take your order in a minute,” she said, and headed up to the bar to see if Sora knew what this ‘Siren’s Kiss’ cocktail was.
A shiver slithered down her spine as the door to the hall closed behind her, still feeling the eyes of that creepy pirate watching her walk away.
It was men like that who made her glad she no longer jumped at the first sign of interest.
Sora looked up from where she was polishing glasses at the back of the bar as Hetty entered, her bored expression transforming with delight at the sight of her.
“Hetty! I don’t normally see you up here, what can I do for you?” she asked, leaning against the bar with a hand on her hip, the other pushing her sheet of silver hair back from her face.
“I’m helping out on service,” Hetty told her. “I need two beers for our last table and one of the men wanted something called… a Siren’s Kiss?”
“Oh god, really?” Sora’s smile dropped.
“Is it complicated?” Hetty asked, biting her lip.
“No, it’s just 5 measures of specific types of rum in a glass topped off with soda water. A horrid drink really. But…” she paused, grimacing. “Traditionally, as told in tales of Amazon Lily where the drink originates, it was said to be served to pirates who made it to the island as a symbol of their triumph and would be served along with a kiss from the woman who gave it to them. They, of course, would then keep pouring the foul drink down the pirates throats until they were fully inebriated and would lock the pirates up. Smart women, really. But sometimes, bars in the East Blue still continue the tradition of serving the cocktail with a kiss from a barmaid. I’m pretty certain your gentleman is expecting one from you.”
“I see,” Hetty said, deflated. “Can I just hide out here with you until they leave?”
Sora laughed, shaking her head so that her silver hair glistened in the torch lights surrounding the bar.
“Look, Zeff wouldn’t expect you to do that, so just tell the guy that we serve the cocktail as is, no added garnishes,” she shrugged, balancing two bottles of rum in either hand as she poured them into an ice filled glass.
“Good plan, and if he pushes?” Hetty asked.
“Come and get me, I’ll sort him out for you,” Sora said, winking at her. She passed Hetty two ice cold glasses of beer and one Siren’s Kiss.
Heading back into the dining room, Hetty’s heart was beating fast and she had to take a deep breath before stepping through the doorway. Seeing the cloudy cocktail in her hands, a smirk stretched across the pirate's face.
“Here we go, two beers,” she said, placing them down in front of the men who had ordered them. “And a Siren’s Kiss, and what food can I get you?”
“Sorry, honey, my drink is wrong,” the pirate tested her. “If you’ve not had to serve one of these before, I can teach you how to.”
Hetty struggled to maintain her service smile as her eyes moved to meet the pirate again.
“This is how we serve the drink here. If it’s not to your liking I can get you something else?” she offered, keeping her tone sickly sweet.
“That’s a shame,” he said. “Maybe I can look into dessert as an alternative. I’ll have the steak for now, rare with a side of dauphinoise.”
“Sure,” she said, and proceeded to take the orders of the other two men before thanking them and rushing back to the kitchens.
“Here,” she said, passing the food ticket to Sanji who let out a loud sigh at the mundanity of the order. “And if you can poison those dauphinoise, or just add something to make him a little nauseous, that would be great.”
“What did they do?” Sanji asked, his knife paused in midair as he looked down at her with narrowed eyes.
“Nothing, just being revolting people,” she said.
“Any boundaries crossed and I’ll kick them out, got it?” he said, wiggling the pointed end of his knife in her face.
She lifted a finger and moved it away from her eye line.
“I can handle a creepy man,” she said. “Besides, I have to deal with Carne on a daily basis.”
The charcutier on the counter next to them furrowed his brow at her and tutted as Sanji chuckled.
“I know you can, doesn’t mean you have to deal with it though,” he said, and gave her cheek a playful pinch.
“Just get those steaks done so we can get that table out of here,” she asked, and Sanji nodded, returning to his chopping. Hetty resolved to hover by his counter until the food was ready, not wishing to give the pirate another chance to ogle at her in the dining room until she absolutely had to.