[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/jEwlaTZ.png[/img][/center]

At the edge of the jungle, facing the wide beach where various sports events were prepared, there was a small cafe, with an open entrance and a wide canopy roof, allowing customers to sip on smoothies while spectating the show. And Valerie had been put in charge of it. Having woken up sitting behind the counter, the monster girl wondered if the night shifts had caused her dreams to take a weird turn. She knows for sure she didn’t remember putting on a new work outfit, let alone travelling to a tropical resort. But she had travelled quite a bit in her search for new food; this was one of the least weird locations she had found herself in.

[hider=Valerie][img]https://i.imgur.com/ahKLLls.jpg[/img][/hider]
A magical dolphin soon arrived and told her to run the place, which begged even more questions. Oh well, at least she was getting paid. And she had the option of designing the menu as well, which was sweet. She was kind of laid back like that. She was in the backroom, plugging in juice machines and unloading crates when she heard somebody’s voice. [b]“Sorry, we’re not open yet, still need to-Wait, where did you come from?” [/b]She had popped her head out, a quizzical expression on her face.

It must have been stifling in such thick fabrics, fine embroidery and delicate ruffles mismatched with the humid, tropical weather. But discomfort nor displeasure showed upon the pale-skinned girl’s face, her gothic dress and coat presenting no apparent demerit under such burning sunlight. Silver eyes stared in Valerie’s, unflinching and emotionless. Then, the strange girl shifted one foot behind the other, dipping down into a curtsy.

[color=ccddee]“Greetings, Valerie Herzstein. I am Dolly.”[/color] She stood up after, each word calculated, each word measured, the cadence and inflection wholly flat. [color=ccddee]“I derive no small amount of moral pleasure from supporting local businesses, and would, with the approval of my current owner, like to assist you in the menial tasks related to operating your establishment.”[/color]

Valerie’s eyes shot wide pen. [b]“Oh, have we met before? I’m pretty sure we haven’t.”[/b] She stepped closer, and offered a handshake. [b]“You must be the assistant the dolphin mentioned. You can start working right away.”[/b] Valerie smiled, finding Dolly’s emotionless behavior kind of cute; most girls happened to scream in fright when they met her on the magical community. Knowing that they were most likely isolated from civilization, she would take any employee she could get.[b] “How about you mop the floor first? Some sand happened to sweep in. Oh, and afterwards you can help set up the drinks. Would that be fine?”[/b]

Dolly nodded. [color=ccddee]“You need not ask. Order me as you see fit.”[/color] Her eyes flickered, bright for an instant. [color=ccddee]“We believe it is recompense enough, being here to begin with.”[/color]

And without another word, the gothic girl got to work, completing tasks with the swiftness and precision of a professional part-timer. A good enough job that only sticklers for perfection would complain about, done in three-fourths the amount of time it would take for a regular. Measured grace, eloquence found in efficiency.

Soon, the others would arrive. Soon, her work could commence.