Chapter Text
“Hi, welcome to Paldean Subway,” Arven greeted the customer walking into the door cheerfully, ready to make them cry tears of joy when he masterfully crafted their sandwich.
The young woman who entered let out a soft laugh. “Is that what you call them in Paldea?” She asked. She spoke with a Galarian accent.
“Of course?” Arven responded. He’d never heard it called anything else.
“We just call it Subway back in Galar. Sorry. I’m just here as a tourist,” she said, smiling her brightest Champion smile. Arven didn’t even recognize Julie for her rank. She was just another customer to him. “Ah, my boyfriend likes to make fun of me for my order, but it’s one of my favorite things in the world. I made him go somewhere else so I could get my Julie Special.”
“Let me see what I can do for you,” Arven said, smiling back and giving her a confident thumbs-up.
Julie let out a laugh and got up on her toes to peek at the ingredients behind the glass better. “Okay, so it’s white bread, no meat,” she said.
Arven always got iffy when people asked for white bread, but he tried his hardest not to judge his customers after his manager kept scolding him for refusing to give customers their sandwiches when they asked for orders he didn’t approve of. “Vegetarian? No worries. I can work my magic without meat,” he said, still beaming as he sliced open the loaf.
“I like that attitude,” she laughed. “American and shredded cheddar, please,” she said, clasping her hands together in front of her and starting to sway from side to side.
Another red flag to Arven, but he put the processed cheese ‘product’ on the sandwich and glanced back up at her. “Would you like that toasted?” He asked. She nodded enthusiastically. He placed the sandwich in the toaster and waited for it to heat up. At least she had the sense to know that cheese was better melted. He pulled the sandwich out, the cheese bubbling and the edges of the bread perfectly crispy. He had mastered the art of toasting sandos and was beyond proud of himself for it. “Any veggies? Might I recommend-”
“All done! That’s the Julie Special!” She said, so full of joy for her pathetic little grilled cheese.
Arven couldn’t handle that. “Yeah, no,” he said, closing up the sandwich and tossing it in the trash bin. “You’re not eating fresh today.”
Julie wilted and let out a deep sigh. “Ah, maybe my boyfriend’s right about my sandwich preferences,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “I guess I can appreciate the honesty?”
Seeing her disappointed was difficult, though. Usually customers screamed at him when he did that. “Listen...,” he conceded, changing his plastic gloves. “Can I make you something different? You like simple things. I can make you an Arven original, if that’s alright with you.”
Julie smiled all over again. “I guess I’m on vacation,” she giggled. “I’m willing to let you take me on an adventure, Arven.”