Chapter Text
When you’d decided to finally move cities to escape the watchful eye of your parents, never in a million years would you have thought to work in a café. Sure, the pay is fine and you’re getting your daily steps in going from one end of the city to another but…you had dreams you know? Maybe you’d get famous off of writing a great novel or put that degree you got after years of hard work to use but alas, life doesn’t work out the way we imagine it will.
The polluted air does nothing to soothe your senses, the fever had already put you out of commission for the past few days (thank god your boss is a saint and didn’t fire you) and now the gloomy weather is just making you feel the worst. While walking, you notice the pamphlets strewn about, talking about a circus of horrors. ‘Maybe I’ll visit it when I have the time, never thought these things could mix’, you think and while lost in your thoughts, collide with the back of someone standing right in the middle of the road.
“Oh, I’m sorry-“, you start to speak but are stopped by a hand in front of your face, “It’s alright miss, no one was hurt.”
The man you collided with wears a business get-up, perhaps he is also chained by a 9 to 5 and simply does not have the energy for arguing.
“Still, I hope I didn’t hurt you…?” You’re not exactly sure what to say after someone you collided with cuts you off before your apology so you try to maintain the awkward conversation. There’s a sharp glint in the man’s eye as he starts rustling through his coat pockets, “Well, if you could do one thing and help me get rid-“ and now in his hands is a ticket for the same circus pamphlet you were looking at, “of this?”
“Sure, I was planning on going anyways!”, you pocket the ticket as you speak, not letting something beneficial to you just slip your hands (or wait for him to change his mind).
“Oh really? That’s just great then!” The man exclaims, he has really blue eyes, “I was leaving on a work trip and did not want this ticket to go to waste, please, enjoy the show on my behalf.” Without waiting for your reply, he bids farewell and leaves.
Believing this to be a good start to the day, you get on the bus and head to the centre of the city.
When you get off the bus, there are papers strewn all over the road, all baring the same design of the horror show in town. ‘Are they not making enough profit? Why so much advertisement?’
You pass a few groups of clowns in pink getups and even witness a green one flirt with various people on the street, the latter getting a chuckle out of you. ‘Woke clowns’ rings through your head repeatedly as you finally enter the coffee shop.
Well, the circus seems to attract a lot of people to the café at least. You can see your co-worker already juggling to make 3 orders at once. You wave to them as you head to the staff room and wear your apron.
Coming back out you are delighted to see the green clown now ordering at the cash register, your rush and ask your co-worker if they want you to take over the register now.
“God, please do. I want to sit down so badly.”
With those words you greet the green clown in front of you.
“Hello, How may I help you today?”
Instead of an answer, the crown just watches your co-worker go to the staff room, you have to clear your throat to get his attention again. “Sir?”
He turns back to you, finally realizing that someone else is in front of him, “Hm, yeah just an iced coffee.” You, nod to show you have heard him and punch in the order, “Name?”
His eyes narrow and his body language changes to that of a languid cat, he leans forward as he says in a sultry voice, “You can call me…Harlequinn.”
There’s a moment where neither of you move, the only sound that of the café ambiance. Then suddenly, you chuckle aloud, “Oh you’re good. Tell me, is that the same voice you use to get the people to come to your horror shows?” The face of the clown in front of you is nothing less than flabbergasted, however it doesn’t last long as he schools it down to an expression of calm again. “Glad to know someone recognizes my expertise in the acclaimed field of flirting.”, his voice carries a slight tease, as if he’s testing you to see just how much you’re willing to bear with. “And who exactly may you be? I’ve been coming here for the past few days and only they-“, he points behind you at your coworker, “seem to be working, new hire?”
You turn around to prepare his drink, “No, no. I was on leave for the past few days, just got a fever. This weather doesn’t really suit me.” Still faced away from him, you fail to notice a clown dressed in red coming in and shooting daggers at Harlequinn, you continue talking by telling him your name and ringing him up. Harlequinn takes his drink from your hand and bends down to take your palm in his hands and kisses it. You ignore how cold his lips feel, too pre-occupied by his act, “Well, thank you for such exemplary service, see you soon.”
You laugh at his casual display, “We barely know each other, calm down.” You finally notice the clown standing behind him, “Oh, sorry sir, I was a bit…pre-occupied.” It’s now your turn to shoot daggers at Harlequinn, who just shrugs and takes a seat at a random table.
This clown is far taller than him, with striking white hair and red/gold/black ensemble, before you can ask for his order, your coworker comes back out and exclaims, “Oh Pierrot! Hi, how are you?”
Seeing that these two are clearly familiar, you go back to the mixing station, getting ready to make the drinks that are sent your way. Those two talk in hushed conversations and before you know it, you’re making the most interesting milkshake you’ve had the chance of making. As you turn around to call for the man, you notice that in place of Harlequinn a purple clown has come in and taken a seat beside your coworker’s friend. Believing this to be none of your business, you call for his name, Pierrot, and let him take the drink back to your table. You don’t miss the lovey-dovey glances the Pierrot and your coworker send to each other, it’s hard not to. You chuckle slightly, ‘the day is just full of surprises’, you think when handing the drink to another customer.
You are not exactly…young, so to say. At one point in your life you had realized that this is your life now, this same monotonous every day is what you will live with. So, it’s not surprising to be caught off-guard by a blooming romance taking place right next to you. “Me when, man.” You mutter, handing off another drink. You flinch slightly as your hands come in contact with something sharp, and when you look up you stare right into the eyes of the purple clown that had come in earlier. As if sensing your apprehension, and taking joy in it, the purple clown smiles the biggest smile, with the sharpest teeth you’ve ever seen.
Before thinking twice, you blurt out, “Damn, who’s your dentist?”
The silence in the café could be rivalled by a library’s, heat rises up your neck as you finally realize just what you’d blurted out. “I am so sorry, I don’t know what came over me and-“
For the second time today you are cut off but this time, not by a hand to your face but by a booming laugh. The purple clown seems to wipes away a tear from his eye and speaks, “Ah, I believe we haven’t met, my name is Jester.”
You nod your head to show you are listening and offer your own name, ”Once again, I am so sorry.” You say but he just waves you off, “No, no, you made me laugh after a very stressful day. I should be saying thank you!”
The embarrassment is just too much for you to bear so you stay silent, the purple clown- or well, Jester, just shakes his head and goes away smiling.
You feel like you’ve made a grave mistake.