Closing Time
who: eiko and liam where: the pewter mug when: closing
"How the fuck does he even read this?" Liam muttered sourly to himself, seated at his father's desk in the cramped back office of The Mug. He was hunched over a shuffle of papers, a lot of them faint carbon copies, of past orders from suppliers. He thought of himself as a relatively intelligent guy. He more or less had his shit together upstairs. But shifting through the cryptic item numbers and shortened descriptions and odd dates and trying to figure out a schedule ... it was giving him a fucking headache. He leaned back in the creaky wooden chair and rubbed both hands over his face in frustration. It would be simple enough to ask, but Liam really would rather figure it out on his own. Like he'd known the whole time. Because that would just be ... better.
Eiko was in the process of closing up. There were still a few regulars at the bar finishing up their drinks, but they were fairly drunk and content, so they didn't mind that she was busy making everything sparkle. Coins dropped into the juke, as a few of the patrons headed closer to the door, and she punched in numbers by heart. Walking away from it, she listened to the last strains of whatever song had been playing previously, as she started sweeping up.
"One of these nights, you're going to dance with me, sweetheart."
Looking over at the older man who said that to her just about every night, Eiko smiled at him. "You're far too drunk to dance, Barry!" she scolded. He chuckled, and headed out as well. The last few were leaving the building as the strains of her favorite song started to play, Aretha Franklin filling up the pub. And with her, Eiko sang along. "Take me to heart, and I'll always love you..."
The music drifted back to Liam in his office and he groaned faintly. Aretha meant one thing: it was closing time. Had he really been in here that long? Jesus. He sat for a moment, drumming his fingers on the edge of the desk, debating whether or not he wanted to risk going out into the bar proper to get himself a beer. The pro was that he would have a beer. The con was that he would remind Eiko of his presence, and would probably never get out of here with his full sanity intact. He could go out the back and go somewhere else, but ... it was his pub, for fuck's sake. Anywhere else he'd have to pay for a goddamn beer. With a sigh of resignation, Liam stood up and left the office behind, following the familiar hallways and pushing through the door into the pub to head for the bar. He didn't look at her. Maybe if he didn't make eye contact ...
No such luck for Liam. Eiko heard the door, and looked over at him, cutting off her own singing and dancing with the broom as her partner to beam at him and wave happily. "Hello sir!" she called brightly. "Did you need something? I can get it for you!" she informed him, already moving over to get him whatever he might want. "Did you have a good night, sir? Business was good! There weren't any fights tonight either!" she prattled on, falling in step behind him as she leaked good cheer everywhere.
God she was just ... unreal. Liam's jaw tightened as soon as she started talking -- no ... no, Eiko didn't talk. She chirped. Like a tiny little bird that woke you up from the best sleep of your life because it was right outside your window and refused to go away, no matter how many shoes you threw at the glass. "I can get it, I know where it is," he said testily, not glancing back at her and making sure he slipped behind the bar before she did. Gods knew he didn't want to owe her any favors, no matter how small. "Did you count the till yet? ... and don't call me that, I've told you."
"Sorry, boss!" Eiko said, correcting herself in that same cheerful sort of manner. "And are you sure? I'm still working!" she said, even though he knew this. "The till, oh not yet, I usually like to clean up first, do you want me to do it now? I can, it's no problem!" she added, starting to walk behind the bar to follow him, since that's where the till was. If she noticed him sounding testy, it was totally impossible to tell. It certainly didn't seem like she did.
Liam got himself a chilled mug and went to the beer drafts, pouring himself a mug. The right way, with almost no foam. He rolled his eyes briefly at her calling him 'boss', but let it go for the moment. Sometimes he could swear she did that just to annoy the piss out of him. And he hadn't even been back that long. "No, it's fine, however you want to do it, I was just asking," he said, eagerly taking a drink right after. Maybe it would help.
"Alright then, boss!" Eiko said, as she set out a coaster for him on the bartop, reaching around him to do so. She also set out a fresh bowl of pretzels and peanuts for him, just in case he wanted any. "Let me know if you need anything, though, I can get it for you." she added, before she started her whole sweeping up thing again. "Are you alright? Is there anything I can do? Would you like me to play music for you?"
He jut looked at her for a beat, then finished off the beer in his hand, to pour another one before he went around to the outside of the bar to plunk down. He could've -- and probably should've -- just taken the mug back into the office, but the sight of peanuts and his stomach conspired to remind him that he hadn't eaten in a while. "Not a paying customer, Eiko, think I can handle myself," he told her. The constant subservience annoyed him too. "Play whatever you want."
"Well--no, but that doesn't matter to me." she said, in a tone that clearly said he was being silly. "It's what I'm here for! And I'm still on the clock! So...yeah! I can get you things!" She insisted. Then she went to the jukebox, and picked out things she thought he'd like, or had heard him play before at other times. Eiko paid very special attention to things like that. She made it a point to know what sorts of things people liked, just for times like this. When she thought perhaps Mr. Muttoone wasn't in the best of moods, and might need some cheering up. "I'm sure you've been working very hard."
Liam leaned an elbow on the bartop and rubbed at his forehead with his fingers. He wondered if Jim was, and how he tolerated this small woman. Of course, Jim had always had a much better temperment than he had, so maybe that had something to do with it. Whatever. At least she was playing something good now. He drank his beer and ate peanuts and didn't make any remarks about whether or not he'd been working hard. Instead he just sort of half-watched her tend to the floor. His father had been really fond of her. He was attempting to figure out why, beyond the fact that she was really good with all the customers.
Eiko didn't try to engage him in conversation since he hadn't spoken back to her. At least, not for a little while. Instead she swept up--and since she knew by heart just about every damn song on the juke, she sang along with them too. She tried to do it a little unobtrusively though, not so much that she was singing over it. More she was adding a strange little accompaniment. She set the chairs up onto the tables, and finished sweeping up, heading back behind the bar to wash her hands. "Refill, sir?" she asked when she got across from him again. She smiled for him, and reached beneath the bar to pull out a little origami tiger, which she set down next to him. She didn't explain it though.
He was done with the one in front of him by that time, and was about to say yes and push the mug toward her when she put the little paper tiger down on the bar. He looked at it, frowned vaguely, then looked back up to her with a slightly arched eyebrow. Origami? Wasn't that what it was called? "What's this?" he asked, and did indeed push his mug toward her. Then picked up the little paper tiger to look at it more closely.
"It's a tiger." Eiko said happily, glad he'd taken it. She also was happy to refill his mug for him, feeling better that she could do something--even if it was something small. She also made sure there wasn't too much foam, and she got him a new chilled mug as well, before setting it on the counter in front of him. She noticed that he'd eaten quite a lot of the mix in front of him, and wondered if he was hungry. She glanced around at some of the other odds and ends the pub had to feed people with, and got him a bag of pork rinds to go with, if he wanted them.
"You made it?" he asked, still looking at the tiger ... thing. It occurred to him to wonder if she'd made it for him, and that had him putting it down pretty quicklike. He picked up the beer instead and took a drink. Then opened the pork rinds and ate a few of them. He was hungry, but they stopped serving real food -- or what passed for real food in the place -- hours and hours ago. He should've gotten something before the cook went home.
"Yes, sir." she said sweetly, putting things away behind the bar as she spoke to him. "I make them all the time, really. Some people enjoy them, and it's something a little different. I thought you might need a little...strength. You look like you've had a long day." She paused as she put some clean glasses away, looking him over assessingly. "I can go make you something if you'd like, sir. It's no trouble. Um. Grilled cheese?" she suggested. Because that was easy and she probably couldn't mess that up. She wasn't the worlds best cook in the world, she was more of a baker, really. Baking she had down well. Cooking real food she wasn't as good at, but was trying to learn. Grilled cheese though--no one could really ruin those.
Though that was honestly tempting, and gave Liam's stomach pause, he really kind of didn't want her to do that for him. Especially if she was going to keep calling him 'sir' after gods only knew how many goddamn times he'd told her not to do that. "No, don't go to any trouble," he said, shaking his head with a vague frown after a moment. "I'll pick something up on the way home. For Jim too, so ... don't worry about it." He didn't comment on the long day, or needing any strength. It was true, but that didn't mean he had to say so.
Eiko didn't look convinced. "...if you're sure, sir." she said, that doubt definitely clear in her tone. She was slightly disappointed, wishing he'd let her do something. She always felt more useful when she could do that kind of thing. Or any kind of thing, really, that might be construde as helpful. She debated a little more, cleaning up a few more glasses behind the bar. "Are you? Sure?" she asked. "I always make young sir special kinds, and he really likes them." she added, as if this might sway his decision.
Liam sighed through a wave of annoyance. Calling his little brother 'young sir' made him sound like some fruity lace-wearing young English lord or something. In any case, it was aggravating. But if it would shut her up and get him home faster ... so be it. And if Jim liked them anyway, what the hell. It wasn't like he really knew what the kid ate anymore. Man. Guy. He wasn't a kid anymore. "Okay, fine," he said, lifting one hand to rub at his temple. He really just wanted out of there. Really. "Just ... be quick about it, okay?"
"I'll be so fast you won't even realize there's a wait!" Eiko promised, immediately dashing back for the kitchen. Yes, it was possible she was far too happy with getting to make food for him and his brother. But that was the kind of person she was. So giving her something to do that was even marginally helpful was awesome. And if she could pretend she was being very helpful, then all the better! And she could do this in no time! Even better. Then Liam could go home and he'd be happier and everything would be well.
"Fuckin' crazy," he muttered to himself as she ran off. He stood up and walked around the bar to finish cleaning up. Not that there was much more to do, but if she was making him food and everything ... he could clean some mugs. He tossed the bottle of beer he hadn't finished, feeling the headache behind his eyes swell and throb harder. He just wanted home and bed and to not have to do this again tomorrow. The last one, he was shit out of luck on, but hey. Liam wiped the bar down again, then started to count out the register.
Eiko was true to her word and did it all in record time. She tossed a few other things in there as well, including chips and cookies for the guys. It was like packing a school lunch, practically, not that she would understand that. Then she was dashing back out with the bag all packed up neatly for him. "Hey!" she said. "You're doing my job, that's no fair, sir!" she exclaimed, setting the bag on the counter next to him. "Here's your food, now you run off, and I'll finish closing!"
Liam glanced over to give her a Look. "Not sir," he said again. For the billionth time. "Liam, you can call me by my name." Unfazed, he finished counting out the stack he was on, and rubber-banded the bills together. The money part of things, he didn't mind closing up on. He always counted behind her, and as long as he'd been doing it, Eiko had never reported wrong, but still. He liked to be sure. "If you call me Liam, I'll let you finish," he said in a musing sort of way, glancing at her again.
She looked truly pained there. It was a rare occurrence for her. She fidgeted, and looked up at him between her fidgeting. "But it's not proper." she said, in protest a touch. "You're my boss, and I...it's not right." she attempted to explain. His father had never minded being called by proper connotation! It was only respectful!
He fought the urge to roll his eyes. He knew she was like ... Japanese or whatever, but Christ. "Just once? With nobody else around? Come on, I know you can." He licked one thumb and started to count out another pile of cash, letting the food she made start to get cold, just to see if he could make her do it. Even 'Mr. Muttoone' would be better than 'sir'.
Eiko was of course keenly aware of the fact that had food there and he had someone to bring it to and everything and what if Jim was hungry? And she knew Liam was too! And he needed to go home now! And he was doing her job! For a girl who didn't have any troubles with high blood pressure as her life was generally easy going, she was feeling it now. "Sir--please, it's my job, and...and your food is getting cold! And you need to go home now!" she told him. "Please...Mr. Muttoone, I will get this, I promise the bar will be spotless and I'll leave you all of my totals and everything and everything'll be perfect down to the penny!"
She sounded genuinely distressed and pained and everything. Liam felt kind of guilty for it, but not terribly much. Though she did call him by his last name, which was something. Maybe he could just wear her down, break her of it slowly. He wasn't his father. She was going to have to learn that. Everybody was. Irrationally irritated, Liam put the money down and stepped away from it. He was too tired to argue with her, really. "Fine," he said, moving past her to grab the bag of food she'd put together. So much like the lunches his mom used to assemble. "Be careful going home," he told Eiko a bit gruffly, patting one pocket for his keys and heading for the door.
"Yes s--" Eiko started, already stepping in where he'd been to count. "I will." she said. "You too, say hello to your brother for me, if you think to?" she asked, sounding like she was under the impression that that was a huge favor to ask. "Goodnight, ss---" She caught it in time but it was hard not to. Maybe tomorrow it would be okay again.
Okay, that was just kind of funny, in a sadistic way. Which didn't make it any less funny, to Liam. He tossed her a glance and a nod. Yeah, he'd tell Jim that she said hello, whatever. He didn't say goodnight, just pushed out of the front glass door and started around the building to the car. All that? Was going to take getting used to.