Work Text:
The restaurant is filled to the brim and it’s getting on Pudding’s nerves that he’s just sitting here instead of helping, almost as if their Master Attendant is going to suddenly appear and chew him out or something. Food Souls, customers, and even any dashers are hanging about or doing some kind of work. While Pudding sits in a booth that overlooks the street outside and waits for Orange Juice to arrive. It’s actually a strange peacefulness that he hasn’t been able to experience in a while without being stuck in the Ice Arena with everyone else; just sitting back and allowing others to do this job.
He doesn’t like it.
The chime of the bell causes Pudding to look over at the door; Orange Juice (the manager of the delivery service) looks a little worn out but also not the only one to come through the door. Foie Gras (Air Ship), Dorayaki (Fishing Hole), Sweet Tofu (Balcony), and Coffee (for some reason) follows after shortly after she entered. Each Soul is the head, or representative in Foie Gras’s case, of each location that’s connected to the restaurant. At least their Master Attendant took the time to map that out before setting out on whatever adventure that called them.
Pudding moves to stand to greet them; making sure to give each one a warm welcome and a thank you. Everyone is busy with something and with this festival on the horizon, there isn’t much left time to finish everything.
Orange Juice and Dorayaki take a seat next to Pudding while Coffee and Foie Gras take a seat across from them; Sweet Tofu grabs a nearby chair and takes a seat at the end of the table. Foie Gras and Pudding are the only ones with notes while everyone else has nothing but themselves.
“I want to start with that Brownie had spoken to Eggette and Beer, and they both agreed to help.” Which will help out a lot, even just one more set of hands is more helpful than nothing at all. “Of course, we have to discuss where they will be placed but if anyone else has anything.”
Foie Gras flips to a page; “Cloud Tea decided to ground the Air Ship for the festival since there will be far too much going on for it to be safe.” She picks up the page and hands it out for Pudding. “Which means that Vodka and I are available to help where needs be.” She pulls her hand away when Pudding takes the paper from her.
It’s a stranded order about grounding the airship for the next few days.
“Sake and Buddha’s Temptation agreed to work up in the Balcony,” Sweet Tofu said. “Pineapple Cake also said that she’s willing to work in the kitchen of the restaurant if needs it.”
“Chocolate and I are willing to work the floor if you need it, Pudding.” Coffee finally spoke up. “Though I can’t say how much work Chocolate will get done.”
“It’s fine, he can be put with Double Scoop and Brownie.” Pudding is sure that Brownie wouldn’t mind having some extra help. “Brownie runs the specialty tables.”
“Beer can be another runner with Hamburger,” Orange Juice said. “I don’t know about Eggette, I worry that he might fall behind if we’re not careful.”
Orange Juice isn’t wrong. A lot of the Food Souls being brought up don’t tend to have jobs or tasks to complete. They wouldn’t be able to keep up with the flow of everything here. Luckily, most of the Souls are also known for being quick on the uptake so it should be fine. However, Eggette could slow everything down if they aren’t careful. Sweet Tofu snaps his fingers and gets their attention.
“He can come with us, the balcony is busy but luckily a little slower than the restaurant so he can work as an extra hand to someone.”
“That could work,” Pudding said.
They had to wrap up the meeting soon than they were planning when Sandwich came running over and asking for Pudding’s help, and mentioning that they would need their table since it was the last one that they had open. The others had to return to their post anyway and something had settled in Pudding as he went back to work and started giving out orders again; knowing that he can get some work down is like magic to him.
Or maybe it’s because he’s overworked? Nah, that can’t be it.
Everything will work out in the end.
…
Pudding allows Sandwich to drag him out into the main part of the restaurant once they finish with closing. Sometimes he wonders what even goes through his friend’s mind. Lunch and dinner were a rush and all Pudding wanted to do was go to his second home: The Ice Arena. The others had agreed to continue the meeting there and Pudding doesn’t want to be the last one there.
When they round the corner, Pudding stops and can’t help but stare at the table.
A simple white tablecloth was placed over it with two plates that had both of their favourite dishes on them. Pudding follows Sandwich and takes a seat after his friend pulls the chair out for him before going around and taking his own seat afterwards.
“I figured we have dinner before heading over,” Sandwich explain. “I mean, you've done so much for all of us and this is the best way that I can thank you.”
Pudding wasn’t sure what to say and could only utter a thank you in return before ducking his head down. It’s been a while since someone thought about him first and Pudding wasn’t sure how to think of it but he’s glad that it was Sandwich that did this because he probably wouldn’t have stuck around if it was someone else.
“I think I need a break, Sandwich.” It was like a defeat that Pudding knew was coming but didn’t want it to be true. “I’m so tired.”
“Then take a break, we got it handled…but can you wait until after the festival?” Sandwich sounds unsure if he wants to add on that last bit and seems taken back when he notices the tears running down Pudding’s face. “Don’t worry about anything, we got it covered.”
“It’ll be after the festival, don’t worry.”
It’s going to be fine and Pudding felt like he was going to collapse under the weight of his words after speaking them. He can’t even remember the last time he had a break but Pudding trust and have faith in his staff that they can handle this, especially if Sandwich is running things. Trust the process or something like that. It should be fine.