Back at the Cafe...

Earl walked back to the Cafe, Thankful to see it hadn't been broken into, Or Ransacked in the time he had visited Renny in the Hospital. He walked in, and greeted a few of his Regulars, turning on the Jazz Record Handy, And set to brewing more of the day's Coffee. He smiled, breathing in the scents of the different brands of coffee beans, Letting out a contented smile.

The door opened, and somepony who was definitely not a regular stepped in. She had the uniform of a fancy maid but it looked like said pony's face. Which is to say it looked like the owner hadn't slept for several days.

She staggered over to the counter, and her head fell onto the wooden surface when she reached it. A pained groan was uttered, and a hoof flopped to join the head on the counter with a loud THUMP.

"Please tell me this outlet has a decent cup of tea," an exhausted voice said, "All of the other places either don't serve tea, or have absolutely horrible taste in the brew. And coffee simply doesn't cut it for me. Celestia, Luna, whoever, I'm begging you. I need this."

With some effort, she tilted her head to grab the ribbon that held the aqua hair that had been dyed white long enough in the past for one to tell it was aqua. "Thank goddesses Loyal isn't here to see this," she mumbled, untying the ribbon and letting her hair down. "Stuff looking proper. Now isn't the time to be proper."

Earl nodded, Pausing a bit over the many different Blends of tea he had. "You have a preferred Brew, Or should I just Surprise you?" He asked, smiling kindly. She wasn't the first Costumer to walk in looking like that, Nor did he think that she would be the last. "Normally, I'd suggest, If I do say so myself, Earl Grey, but I think you need something a little more Soothing, Probably a Green tea..."

"Bleargebable. Anything," the mare moaned, "Though if you had brown tea, that'd be lovely. My head feels like a corpse that's been trampled on by an out of tune mariarchi band." She paused. "I have never said that before, and I never want to say it again."

She groaned again and clutched her head. "This is a hangover without the decency of a good time previous. How is that even possible? Better yet, how am I not dead from work? Ugh, stupid circumstance..."

Earl nodded sympathetically, Getting some Water heated already. "I'll Get you a good Tea, Miss...?" He asked, smiling.

"Woods," said Woods, "White Woods. I assume from the name on the door you are Earl Grey? You might want to get rid of the graffiti disputing your sexuality, though. Made me hesitate before I went in. Or was it the last place I tried that had the graffiti? Eh, who cares. Mare was a sleaze there, so it was probably accurate."

Woods felt that her bombastic entrance, behaviour and attire had attracted some attention. She tried to ignore the stares.

Earl blinked. [color=brown]"... Graffiti? Again?"[/brown] He grumbled, but quickly shook his head and replaced a smile. "I'll get right on your Tea, Miss Woods." He said instead, Placing a few Teabags into a pot and pouring the boiling water onto it, placing it and a teacup in front of White Woods.

The door chimed as another pony entered. It had been Renaultar's first time back to the Cafe since the hopsital and perhaps first ever when not on duty in his barding. The lack of armor and eyepatch might have made him harder to recognise for anyone else that knew him.

He approached the counter with a very slight limp. "Good day Earl. The usual please." He didn't take any notice of Woods yet as she was in his blind spot.

Sip "Ahh..." Woods breathed, "That. Is. Heavenly." Tea. The answer to all life's problems. Tough day at work? Tea. Get outsmarted by a filly? Tea. Difficulties with your boss? Tea. Stallionfriend cheating on you with a bleeding griffon? Tea, and maybe some alcohol. All of the household understood the superiority of tea over cheap imitations, and proudly declared it to be so. She didn't even mind the stares, and didn't really take notice of the new arrival.

"You," Woods said, pointing at Earl, "Are a saviour."

Earl blushed softly, Giving a chuckle. "I'm just a simple brewer..." He said, Getting Renny's Regular together. "Here we are, Trottingham Creme, three Sugars." He said happily, Placing the cup gently in front of Renny

Renaultar happily took his cup and went to take a seat. "Thanks Earl. As the lady said, you are a..." he looked to the mare that had spoken, a little unsure of how to feel about her being there. "...savior..." He walked on by without much a glance and sat down a few tables away. Several moments were spent staring into his cup before sipping it every now and then.

If Woods had noticed Shields, she didn't show it. She instead poked her cup curiously. "This is something I haven't tried before, what is it?"

Earl Looked after Renny Curiously. "It's, ah, a house blend, made with high Quality Tea Leaves... I'll box some up for you." He said. He looked between Renny and White woods, before lowering his head to ask, "Something happen between you?"

Renaultar wanted to facehoof. He had not given Earl the entire story, but she had enough connections between Nameless and Loyal to bring up less than happy memories. While he liked her attitude, what she was associated with was the last thing he wanted to think about today.

"Yes...Indirectly. Not her fault...But they are still things to be reminded of." Renaultar sighed.

For the first time, Woods looked directly at Shields. "Time for work and time for play. This isn't the time for work, so don't think about it!" Woods chirped, slightly dishiveled yet happy. Tea really did do wonders.

She turned back to Earl with a smile. "It's actually rather complicated. But more importantly, depressing. Not something to talk about now. Or later." She drained her tea. "Another cup, if you please!"

Earl went ahead to pour another Cup of tea, blushing slightly. "Right... Here, You can leave the outside world, well... Outside." He said, making a cup for himself.

Renaultar had to admit, Woods chipper mood made him curious. But for the moment he kept to himself, just starring into his coffee. Other than look very busy in his head, he did nothing else.

Woods grinned as another cup was poured. Her first break in a long time was going well after that bumpy start. The only problem really was the constant glances and looks she was receiving.

"Nice place you've got here, Mr Grey," she said, "But I'm guessing your patrons haven't seen a maid before in their lives, judging by the looks."

Earl nodded, shuffling his hooves. "... Not often, No. Normally, If we see a Maid, she's with her Master or Mistress." He admitted, turning to look over at Renny. "Renny, What's up? You're not normally this Quiet..."

Renaultar just shook his head while still starring into his cup. "I just...have a lot to think about. It all feels different now..." He let his words fade off.

An aweful lot to think about. Loyal's words still echoed in his head. He spent most his life protecting and helping ponies, but to kill for them? That never seemed to be an option for him, nor even worth pondering. Now he couldn't figure it out. There were so many conflicting feelings it was driving him crazy.

Woods sipped her tea thoughtfully. "Loyal didn't rip into you too badly when I left, did she? I thought that she was going to play nice. Well, nice for Loyal at least. But, as I said, don't think about it too much. Bad for the heart, you know?"

Another sip.

Renaultar didnt say much after that. He stared into his cup a bit more. He either would have to keep ignoring her or just outright tell her at this rate. Renaultar was not one to keep to himself too long though.

He got out from his seat and sat down at the same table as Woods before giving her a look in the eye. "For Loyal? I guess you could say she was more gentle. But every word was right....Someone is out to kill me and willing to die for someone in defense is not enough. Nameless would only be in danger to be around me..." Renaultar sighed. That was about as quick and simple as he could say it. Last thing he wanted was every ear in the place to overhear him.

"Loyal gave you the whole 'family loyalty' speech, didn't she?" Woods asked, reflecting, "Wish I could dispute that, but the household really does work like that. In another life, I wouldn't have been able to stand her." She giggled to herself. "But in this life, circumstances kinda threw us together. Do you want to hear the tale?"

Whether the guard pony wanted to or not, Woods began. "My cutie mark, even though you can't see it, is a egg timer. I was a chef pony at this fancy restaurant. The original owners when I first joined up were nice ponies, but the place changed hooves into some dodgy ones."

Woods gave a little shiver. "I didn't have anywhere else to go, so I stayed working at the place, even as it fell into pieces around me. The clientele got seedier, 'til one day, a bunch of them wanted more than a meal, so to speak."

"When I saw a mare- A mare! Forcing herself onto one of the waitresses who was just out of fillyhood, I rushed out with a frying pan and smacked the bitch in the head. If the force didn't kill her, the hot oil in the the pan at the time did. Unfortunately for me, the mare had some friends."

Here, Woods stopped. "And before I continue, you have to promise that you won't go super guardpony on me or any other pony because of this silly little story, okay? This is our little secret."

Renaultar was shocked to hear it from her. He knew the murder rate around here was bad, but that's two ponies he knew that had killed before. Now he was really conflicted.

"I won't speak a word. I really don't know what to think anymore. I keep telling myself there has to be another way. That there has to be an alternative. I don't want to kill anypony...And even then i have had to pay for it. I don't know if i could do it if i was in such a position again. If i would even want to..." Renaultar rested his head on the table, looking out the window at the bustle of ponies going by, enjoying their daily lives. If only it could be so simple.

Woods looked at Renny pityingly. "I am so sorry, sir, I really am. But what Loyal said wasn't just her being dramatic. She was passing by when she saw us in peril, so she...intervened."

The maid sipped her tea solemnly. "After that, she offered me protection if I came to work for the household. I agreed, but I asked if the assaulted waitress could be protected under the same terms. Loyal reluctantly agreed, but the waitress did not. She refused to be associated with us 'killers', and left the scene. I haven't seen her since."

"So, I became part of the household. It turned out Loyal couldn't cook to save her life, so I was welcomed very warmly. Nameless came later, though I'm certain she came under somewhat different circumstances."

"I am so very sorry, deputy."