Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“The end of EEE hit it's way point, it was done with its final season and returns weren’t planned anytime soon. So what to do now that we’re out of the show? Out of work, nowhere to go..”

Moonstone wrote in her journal, which was near filled to the brim before closing it the final time, storing it away in her closet. Rent was due at the end of the month and it only got higher as the prices to live in New-York rose higher and higher. She had to search for a job quick, before she’d be thrown into homelessness.

After a calming shower and a change of clothes, she went online into the dreaded process of job search. Application after application, decline after decline. “We appreciate you for applying to WinnField Department Store! Unfortunately, you don’t qualify for our working standards!” And then there are some ridiculous reasons like “lack of experience.” well I won’t GET any if I don’t get a job! It was hopeless.

“..God, I need a break from this job shit..” Moonstone muttered as she dragged her hands off her face, the final application decline finally getting to her nerves..or lack of. She stood up from her chair and took her coat off the coatrack, picking up the umbrella that rested on the side of the wall closest to the door. She pushes both of her feet into her rain boots and slips on her coat.

Walking in the rain always calmed Moonstone’s nerves, she opened the umbrella before stepping outside, thunder pursued as she took her first step into a rain puddle.

It was just a boring day. A boring, rainy, and unemployed day. Something she SERIOUSLY shouldn't be accustomed to, but she was a resident in New York of all places, could she really help it? It was a sudden firing and she wasn't able to react fast enough or get a secondary job. (The unrealistic part is that she was able to live with a single job in new york 💀‼️)

She eventually found herself infront of a bar, with a “HELP WANTED: ACCEPTING ALL RECRUITS!” sign in the window, the place looked quiet..and someone who seemed familiar was inside. She thought nothing of it and went inside hoping they would accept her and allow her to work for some shoddy salary.

She walked inside, she kept her eyes downcast, tapping her umbrella to shake off any rain and slid her umbrella into the umbrella holder. Finally picking her head up, her heart jumped SO HARD out of her chest, like you could hear it from across the bar. “..LATTE??” she looked at them withwide eyes. She stopped wiping out a glass to look at the stunned girl, rolling their eyes.

“Here we go again- Moonstone I told you my Fanfic.net is go-” before she’d finish, Moonstone ignored her fanfic.net account. “-No I don't care about the fanfic thing anymore..” “Oh..Well we're closed right now, BYE POOKIE-” Latte tried to shoo Moonstone away.

“WAIT- I'm here to apply for a job here-” She walked up to the bar and started to plead Latte. “Look, I got fired from my department job and rents coming up, I SERIOUSLY need this job.. it would be EVERYTHING if you just let me work here!” Latte sucked her teeth and sighed before letting Moonstone down easy.

“...That sigh is, uhm..old, we already found somebody he just isn't working today..”. Moonstone sighs “Dang..Sorry to bother then” she dragged herself up from the barstool and sorrowly made her way to the door, grabbing her umbrella. Latte thought of it, if they had another person to work, business would be easier..WAY easier..

“..MOONSTONE WAIT.” She put down the glass and opened the out door to the bar and went after her. “..Actually, theres an extra apron behind the counter. I'll gladly give you the job if you need it that bad?” She gave her a promising smile. Moonstone's eyes tear up before hugging Latte.

“THANK YOUUUU!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YO-” Latte shuts her graditude the fuck up with a finger of silence. “Shh, shut. Don't go all emotional on me now. The aprons in the kitchen and all you really have to know is how to serve people their food and drinks.”

Latte knew that just teing her this was only gonna scramble her, so they showed her around, how to work different things within the bar. The usual stuff you'd show a new employee. Alll she really needed now was a name tag..

Finally she found what she needed, a sweet, stable, local job. Even better she was familiar with the person working at it so it was just perfect!

Now to work on actually serving customers and taking orders..

Chapter Text

Second day of her job, she saw someone she had never met before. He was short, and was..pink? Again he looked familiar, but not as familiar as Latte. She shrugged and stepped into the establishment.

“And then when I found out she cut ties with Poison, I just shrugged it off. I knew their relationship was unstable from the start.” The short guy was busy sweeping around the establishment and talking to Latte, who was restocking the different bottles of alcohol.

The bell rang as Moonstone stepped inside, the chime made the two turn to her at the door. “Oh hello! You must be the new recruit!” He put the broom down and met her at the door. “Well I must say, pleasure meeting you!” he formally bowed down.

“Its a pleasure meeting you too!” She bowed back.

“Okay so this here is Smartie, he's the second bartender and waiter! He's kinda like the second boss here.” Latte said as she opened the bar door and left it to introduce him some more. “He's usually level headed and like..knows what to do. Smartie knows himself best so like the more you work the more you meet him..”

Latte shrugged before taking them both over to the bar and giving them both drinks to settle down with. “Seriously? Workers get free drinks here?” Moonstone said as she looked down at the small shot glass filled with alcohol. “I mean you work here why wouldn't you?”. She smiled and drank the alcohol down.

“Good God this stuff is good??” She looked into the cup. “We offer some fine alcohol here! Now you might wanna get ready because I'm about to flip the sign to open.” Smartie stood up and walked over to the door, flipping it to “OPEN”.

Some time passes after the sign was flipped.. the occasional look into the window to see who was in there, but then that was all..

Until, someone stepped in the establishment. A girl who when she saw her, Moonstone was 10 seconds from fainting right there…

Chapter Text

Was this..normal? Like seriously she must've seen at LEAST three different people from EEE in this establishment. First Latte, then Smartie, now DIARY?? She watched the woman step in and wipe her shoes on the mat before stepping in and sitting on the bar stool, not noticing Moonstone was there.

“Can I just get th usu- Oh, Hi Moonstone!” she waved at her. Moonstone, who was blushing and stuttering. How the hell did she even get prettier than last time she saw her on the show??

“Oh hey Diary! Yeah, Moonstone works here now!” She was knocked out her in love trance by Latte basically re-introducing her to her past friend and girl she was side-kick to. “You know, I've been hoping to see her again! I missed Moonstone.” Diary reminisced on all the times she would spend time with Moonstone.

“Y-yeah! I missed you..too-”. Before Moonstone could say something to absolutely RUIN this moment, Smartie finally stepped up to save her. “Why don't I just start your little reunion by giving out both simple shots and you can talk to her? I know you both miss each other.”. This was his sign to tell her to “make a move”. “Oh sure!” Moonstone would only nod and blush.

“So how's life been, Moonstone? You still get “happy spots”?”. Does she HAVE to mention her hives? No, but it was kinda funny honestly. “I- Not r-really.. I think it was just, uhm.” Moonstone couldn't help but blush and stammer, which was completely cooking her. “Moonstone are you good?”. “I- yeah..I-”...

Latte noticed this and decided enough was enough, she WAS gonna pull her and that's a promise. They walked over to at least salvage the little bit of cool points Moonstone could reserve (If she even had any.)

“Moonstone's just shy, you know? She's shocked you came back, she's just processing it!” Latte stepped in, in attempts to save her from any more embarrassment. “M-mhm.. processing, yeah-” she tried to play it off as nothing, but was near exploding right there. “Oh well why don't I just give you my number? We could definitely talk some more and.. maybe get closer?”

Moonstone was gonna scream right there. Well of course she wasn't gonna scream right there in the class but like this was a revelation for her. She smiled wide and her spots popped up again. “Yeah….that would be amazinggg..”.

Diary took out a sticky note from her bag and wrote down her number, taking it off the notepad and putting it on the table, hopefully not staining the bar table. “Hey Smartie, I think I’ll take my drink to go!”.

Smartie slid the drink down to her. Meaning Diary is giving Moonstone her final adieu of the day. “Call me darling!” She picked up her drink and headed out the door.

Moonstone took the sticky note off the desk, she felt like she was hallucinating. This.. wasn't real right? “Well.. congrats on getting Diary’s number Moonstone!” Latte looked down at the note with her.

“M-mhm, yeah-”. Latte pats her on the shoulder.

“Don't worry Moonstone, she's not the only regular you're gonna meet here."

Chapter Text

A week later into her job, business was as normal. Customers coming in and out, the occasional get together with some small friend group. It was practically normal as usual..until someone who seemed a little under drinkers age.

He walked in with a big cowboy hat and boots, the hat tipped down to hide his face and shield his identity. He sat at the bar stool, folding his hands. When he spoke it seemed he was faking a gruff voice.

“Hello ma’am, just one rum n’ coke please.” He sounded young, despite the impression. Moonstone found this suspicious. Because like, he just didn't look old enough to consume a rum and coke, let alone know what that is.

“Uhm, sir..are you old enough to be here? You sound quite young?”. “Uhh..erhm” the boy in the hat and boots started to quickly crumble. “...What's your name?” Moonstone’s skepticism grew the more he stammered.

“C-CorNailius! Yeah, Cornailius!” He shot in the dark with that name. Moonstone shook her head. “So your name.. is “Cornailius”?”. Cornailius’ eyes darted away, even his faked gruff voice was slipping away as he stuttered. Before Moonstone could do anything further, the bar door opened up and a man looking quite irritated walked in.

“Has anyone seen a–” he paused as his eyes landed on the customer Moonstone was dealing with. “Nail!”

The small boy winced, looking very guilty behind his old man getup. “Oops..”

“What do you think you're doing here?” the man, Mango, folded his arms and raised an eyebrow.

“I was just.. uh.. looking for SharkBearBerry!” Nail jumped off the stool, nearly tripping from the large boots.

“Nice try, hon. Your father is out shopping right now. He only works the bar on weekends,” Mango took the boy's hand. “What were you thinking?”

“I-I just wanted to try a little sip, honest!” Nail protested, clasping his hands together. “You're always saying how the drinks here are really good!”

“Sweetie, I am not raising an alcoholic for a son at the age of nine!”

“I'm elev–”

“You can try alcohol when you're grown up, alright?” Nail's shoulders slumped, clearly downtrodden.

“Now come on, I'll give you a Ribena at home and you can watch Spongebob, okay?” Nail realized how dumb he probably looked in this cowboy costume he literally wore for halloween that year. “..Okay…”

The boy was finally swayed, and Mango apologised profusely to Moonstone and Latte. “You guys I am SO sorry, Nail was never like this I have no idea what happened!”. “Oh no Mango it's okay, take care!” Moonstone waved him and Nail goodbye.

“Is that..common?”

“No.. not at all.”

After one mutual shrug, they continued their duties and work.

Chapter Text

“..So Smartie, I heard Gm left Poison..again?” Latte was busy on her phone while she noticed Smartie looking a bit upset as he swept the floor. “Yeah.. they agreed to stay friends but it's just…” he rests the broom against the table.

“It's the fact that it constantly cycles. Poison does something Gumball Machine hates, Gm leaves her. Poison is all “I'm sorry baby come back!!” And Gm is all “Oh my god okay!!” And the cycle just repeats itself until either of them find somebody else.”

“Oh.. I see what you mean. They've been unstable since season two. It doesn't help when they breakup, Poison suddenly likes to get petty with everyone in response.” Latte's eyes glanced above her phone at Smartie.

“Yeah, but thankfully, I believe she grew out her immature pettiness since this is the first time she ever befriended Gm after a breakup. Hopefully this is some sign that they'll at least stay on platonic terms.”

Lattle snickered. “Oh what, they're gonna “PLATONICALLY” get back together and make out?” They snicker a bit. “I wouldn't hold it against you bud, that would not shock me.” He shook his head smiling.

“..how did their breakup even play out?”

“Well, Poison just RANDOMLY grew out of love with Gm I guess.. Like the day they fought Poison would just avoid her and groan whenever she asked her something and it was just..out of character?”.

Latte’s eyes widen. “Seriously? Wasn't Poison on an entire ARC trying to get her back in season three?”

“YES. But suddenly she just, got resentful of her?? It was mind boggling how she, yet again, did a 180 in personality.” Smartie was continuing sweeping, not hearing the bars’ bell ring.

“But then Gumball-Machine came crying to me about how they broke up again and then when I found out she cut ties with Poison, I just shrugged it off. I knew their relationship was unstable from the start.”

“Crazy..”

They continued the discussion until they heard footsteps of the new recruit making their entrance…

Chapter Text

“Okay so you said that tonight, Gm and Poison are coming in and just “Hanging out”? Nothing romantic right?” Moonstone was baffled by their determination to remain friendly, despite fight prior.

“That's.. the plan.” Final sweeps and glass polishings were made as the evening set.

Moonstone takes a deep breath as she watched Latte flip the “We're closed!” sign, opening up the door and letting the cool evening breeze in. She certainly hoped it would be a breeze.

“Now when they walk in, I don't want EITHER of you saying anything about their fight, their breakup, their past dates, their mothers’ maiden name- NOTHING.” Smartie had to leave that in the air before they could blurt anything out. Latte raised their hand

“Yeah uh, why would we know their mothers maiden na-” Latte was eventually cut off by Smartie

“Besides the point. Just please, don't screw this up, Gumball Machine's gone through enough,” he pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing deeply. The few footsteps of their first customers roused them from their mini chat, and Smartie turned round and put on a friendly face as he welcomed them in.

About an hour or so since opening, a pair walked in.

“Hey Smartie! Sorry if we're late, Poison took a while to finally GET up for once!” Gumball Machine laughed at the slander she directed towards Poison, making Poison groan lowly. “It's not my fault you bought me an itchy ass suit!” Gumball Machine punched her arm lightly, trying to keep her swearing to a minimum at least.

“Yesss.. Please come in! Would you like to sit at the bar or at a table?”

“A table is fine!” GM gave a casual shrug, and the pair were ushered in to a table nearby the bar, perhaps so that Smartie might be able to keep an eye on them both in case of anything.

“Would you like a menu? Or place an order right away?” he pulled his notepad and pen out, quite enthused to keep them both happy.

“Uhmm, what do you think Poison?” Poison had to think hard on this one. “Uhm..uhhh” she scratched her head, immediately thinning out Gm’s Patience “WE’LL- Just have menus..”

Smartie spotted GM's irritation right away, and quickly as she said it, he was back with two menus for them. “We have a fantastic range, but perhaps you'd like to start with some wine and a tiny starter of French sides?” He kept up the light-hearted chatter, wanting to sway Gumball Machine back to normalcy.

“Oh that sounds absolutely wonderful! We’ll have two!”

“Excellent choice! Coming right up!” he turned back to Latte and Moonstone stood by the bar, having served a few customers waiting. “Two white wines, stat!”

“Hold on, I'm serving someo–” Latte was cut off.

“Do you want to start a bar fight? I need to keep those two cheerful at all times or it's gonna be a fucking disaster!”

“Smartie.. they're already broken as fuck so whats the point? I mean yeah, keeping them down is helpful but you can see how passive they are with each other already?” Moonstone questioned his need to keep them both cool.

“Look-” he sighed, running a hand down his face. “They've both.. gone through a shit ton of stuff that's strained their general relationship with one another. Gumball Machine especially.” His bias seeing how they've had quite a close bond back in season two was beginning to show. Between losing the kids and fighting with Poison…

“Just.. can I entrust you both to help me prevent this from escalating any further?”

Moonstone and Latte look at eachother with remorse, realizing Smartie just wanted nothing but the best for his friend, especially with all the shit she went through. In and out of the show. He just wanted the best for an unstable woman like her.

“..We’ll try our best Smartie.” Latte rests a hand on his shoulder, Moonstone nodding in agreement. “Yeah, I'll get started on the drinks!”

Smartie gave a weary, but genuine smile to them both. “Thank you..”

The drinks were prepped, and then served. “Enjoy!” Smartie couples with a grin, before walking back behind the counter, his eye on the pair.

There was an extra bottle of white wine served incase they didn't wanna call for refills, which Poison immediately snags off the table and cracks open. “Please, let me pour a bit extra.” She pours extra for the both of them.

“Woah, you can NOT immediately try to get us drunk while we're here, we still have to drive Poison–”. Poison pushes off Gm’s warning as nothing. “Gumball Machine its fineee! We'll just get a rideshare home it's all good ba- uh.. bestie?”

Smartie internally cringed at the near slip-up; he felt an argument brewing but he didn't want to interfere too quickly yet. Just.. trust they can handle this maturely, he told himself.

Gumball Machine rolled her eyes. “See, this is what I'm saying! You don't think of the consequences, Poison! You brush off everything, “it's fine! it's fine!” but what if we get seriously hurt? And you're just so impulsive I wondered how you aren't hospitalized yet!”

“UGH!? Me!? Impulsive?? Maybe but thats besides the point! I only wanted you to break loose you know? Just get comfy, I promise we'll be okay Gumball-Machine. You're acting like we're far from this bar.”

Gumball Machine sighed one last breath of anguish before giving in. “Fine. Go ahead and continue pouring, since you're so sure.” Poison smiled at her. “Thank you Gm, dare I say “Merci”?” Gm loosened up and even giggled at her attempts at French.

It's going well! It's going well! Smartie internally cheered, not even realising how hard he was clenching his own hands right now. He breathed easy, and figured while they're drinking, a somewhat distraction, he could just turn around and help with cleaning the glasses.

“So Smartie, you see how they're doing out there right? Hopefully they’ll stay like that before they start drinking.” That was when it hit Smartie, he never seen them drunk so it might be harder to keep them from arguing. It would be hard to determine how they behave.

“Fuck.. shit, Moonstone get them the starter menu!”

The girl startled but complied without question. After handing it to them, she walked back to Smartie. “Why.. do they need the starter menu?”

“Maybe the food can distract them from drinki- I don't know just get them some food before white wine is the only thing they consume and stumble out covered in each others bite marks and punches!”

Moonstone tried to sequence in her head how the events would play out, before going over and taking the pair's order.

“Um.. I think I'll have one of this,” GM pointed to an item, to which Moonstone scribbled down.

“And you?” she turned to Poison, who still squinted at the menu.

“Erm.. uh.. dunno really, I'm not feeling like food right now..” she mumbled, to which she was met with a glare from GM.

“damn, first time in a while you never wanted any food.” Gumball Machine’s slander got a giggle from Moonstone, but she had to remain professional and cover it with a light cough.

“Whaaat, I'm just feeling like alcohol tonight though,” she slumped on her chair, rolling her eyes. “I'm not a big back all the fucking time..”

“Ohh you're right! You're only big like 90% of the time I got it!” Gumball-Machine’s teasing got to her. “..okayy..”

“No response? Honestly, you felt more like some kid I'm babysitting than my girlfriend when we were dating,” she shot back. “Some things never change! You never changed! I was always the one trying my best for you! But I was never good enough, was I? I put in the effort, and it wasn't fucking enough!”

“...Poison, it's just a joke. Just like our relationship.”

“Exactly! You said it! It was a fucking joke, ever thinking we could work out after all that time.”

“Okay well you just randomly have day where you ignore me and act like a total fucking BITCH for no reason like Thursday last week when we broke up! You were like “ughhh, you again leave me alone!”

“I was having an off day–”

“Was I The reason for that off day?? Stand the fuck up if you're gonna try to make logic out of bullshit like that!”

“Oh please.” She rolled her eyes.

Smartie grew anxious again watching them fight, it was happening again, them getting angry at each other and arguing with one another

Moonstone backed up, clearly unsure what to do.

“Gu-guys, hey.. let's relax a little, yeah?” he stepped closer to them, hands up. “Yeah you guys are getting a bit angry I see..” Moonstone resonates with him.

“...Damnit– yeah just get us something the cook suggests I don't know.” Poison brushed them both off coldly. Clearly angry. “.. W-well get that for you as soon as possible.”

The two rushed off to get them a random starter they'd enjoy, quickly rushing behind the bar. Latte looking at both of them concerningly. “I watched that shitshow from here, are you guys oka-” Smartie couldn't help but hug Latte, almost about to sob into their shoulder.

“I just want her to be happy..” Latte looked down at him and hugs Smartie back. “I understand, you only want the best for her.” Latte caresses his back, the stress was thrown on him, only for them to unexpectedly get angry at eachother again.

“I’ll..get their starters.” Moonstone decided enough stalling and get their food, when she went back over, she saw Gm and Poison giving each other angry glares.

“Uhm…here are your chef's choice starters if you need anything else please ring the bell and I'll-” Gumball Machine spoke before Moonstone could finish. “Actually yeah, can I maybe go over to the bar? I'd like to talk to Smartie.”

Moonstone understood her request and allowing her space from Poison and a chance to talk to Smartie. He was her friend after all. “Yes you may, he's over at the bar.”

Gumball Machine got up and went over to the bar table, in which she caught Smartie crying to Latte about he just wanted his best friend happy for once and that he didn't want her so sad considering all the things she went through.

“...Smartie?” He immediately looked up at Gm, who looked guilty at him and how he had to witness her and Poison fight as usual. “Smartie, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry everything didn't go as planned I know you tried hard to help me and Poison but its just our relationship is unstable as ever and-”

Smartie shushes her and leaves the bar to hug her. “No, I'm sorry you had to be in such an unstable relationship.. you deserve better than someone who thinks with her eyeball and not her cranium.” She hugged him closer. “Yeah.. I'm sorry if we lashed out..”

“..You deserve better.”

“I do..In fact… we both deserve better. You think I should finally cut it off with Poison?”

“..Well.” Smartie sighs. “I don't want to control you, but in my opinion, you can do better. Poison is too toxic for your own good and I want nothing but the best for you.”

Gumball Machine glanced back at the table Poison sat at.

“.. I'll be right back.”

Gumball Machine went over to Poison and got her stuff.

“Poison.” Gumball Machine looks down at her Poison, who was angrily crossing her arms and avoiding eye contact.

“What.”

“...This hang out is over. I expect you to pack your things and go when we get home.”

“...Wait what-” Before Poison could question anything, Gumball Machine clarified her reasons.

“I'm tired of your constant switching up. I love yous and I hate yous being thrown like darts and it urks my NERVE. I'm sorry but I can't house you anymore. We are DONE done.”

She went back up to the bar and wrote out a check, handing it down to Smartie. “Here's the money for the date, and again Smartie. I apologize.” .

Gumball Machine left, Poison immediately got up after following her and fussing in attempts to get a wider explanation from her.

Latte and Moonstone exited the bar table and got to tidying up the spot Poison and Gm sat at. Smartie looked down at the check.

“So Smartie, now that Gumball-Machine finally left Poison” Latte glances at Smartie.

“You think she's gonna be alright?”

“...Yeah, she'll be just dandy.”