Welcome to the Black Bird Part 16: Ivan's Fantasy

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Kirsch had always been likened to a budding cherry blossom. Delicate. Beautiful. Full of potential. And yet destined to fade away.

It was tricky becoming a model in that day and age. Both fashion and the internet moved fast, meaning Kirsch had to put in considerable work to track the trends in both and maximize his use of what was popular to gain attention. All for the sake of reaching his goal of becoming a professional model.

But the dream eluded him.

“How has no agency taken you on yet?” one of Kirsch fellow online influencers remarked during a group call. “I mean, you’ve got the looks and are super popular online. So what’re you missing?”

“I truly don’t know,” Kirsch grumbled while looking at his most recent rejection email. “At this rate, I’ll have to find a…” He shuddered. “Regular job.”

The other members of the call let out groans or gasps of shock.

“You’re too good for menial labor though!”

“I know!” Kirsch replied. “It’s terrifying to think that I might have to, ugh, wash dishes…”

“Actually… There might be some hope,” someone chimed in. “I heard this rumor that some recent models on the scene got scouted from a place called the Black Bird. The cafe is famous for its hot guys apparently. So, like, maybe give that place a try?”

Kirsch pursed his lips, not liking the idea of having to wait tables. But if the rumors were true…

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Welcome to the Black Bird Part 13: Vincent's Appraisal

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A file was slapped onto Klaus’s desk without warning before a sharp “What the hell is this?” was asked. Klaus looked up to see his father, Lawrence, giving him a steely glare. His eyes darted to the manila folder. Taking another glance at Lawrence, Klaus got the impression he was meant to check the contents. So he opened it.

“Ah.” Klaus immediately recognized the document by the first sentence. “Those are my recent reviews to be considered for publication.”

“Then I’m rejecting them right now!” Lawrence snapped. “It’s all shallow garbage that doesn’t say anything meaningful!”

“Bwah!” Klaus shot up to his feet. “But I thoroughly explained how each business failed to perform to the standards of—”

Lawrence groaned, “Klaus, my boy… It’s not like there’s some formula for a perfect restaurant.” Klaus raised an eyebrow at his dad’s remark. “You’re overlooking the humanity that goes into those businesses. And that means things won’t be perfect.”

“Am I expected to ignore long wait times or inconsiderate staff?” Klaus questioned, not following Lawrence’s thoughts.

“Klaus…” Lawrence grimaced and rubbed his temples. “You gotta…” His head shot up. “You outta work somewhere and learn what it’s like behind the scenes!” Lawrence clapped a hand on Klaus’s—who’d entered a stupor—shoulder. “That’ll get you off your high horse and teach you to respect the working class.” He pulled Klaus from the desk. “C’mon, I’ve even got a friend who’ll help you get into a place.”

“B-b-but wait!” Klaus squawked, having come to his senses. “What would I even do?!”

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Black Bird Butler Cafe AU

Welcome to the Black Bird Part 12: Elias the Blissful

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Henry’s life came to him in two ways.

The first way was with his parents’ money. His parents paid off medical bills. His wheelchair and crutches were bought for him. An apartment with accessibility, a college experience, and basically his whole life were all bought with what he inherited from his parents.

The second way was by his own struggle. At the tender age of six, he had to find the resolve to face the prick of needles and the disorientation that came with being put under for surgery after surgery. Henry had to push the wheels of his chair forward and lift himself up with crutches. He was the one to reach out to his apartment neighbors. The one to hunch over a desk and stay awake until unreasonable hours to study. The one to live.

Of course Henry was grateful to his parents who provided what his fragile self needed. But his life had been given to him for free—ironic as it was to say—and he was numb to the idea of money. He knew what it could do but he didn’t know how to value it. Because none of it was ever his own.

Henry wanted to remedy that. To practice earning his own living somewhere small before his education ended and he was thrust into working on a scale much too large for someone as inexperienced as himself.

He scrolled past numerous job listings. Online jobs might’ve been convenient, but Henry didn’t want to stay cooped up in his apartment. Heavy manual labor was out of the question. Several jobs were promising at a glance but failed to accommodate his needs upon closer inspection. Not to mention all the “entry-level” jobs with ridiculous work experience expectations.

Henry paused at one listing: a server at a cafe and one particular line of the job description. “Needs to be willing to act.” What an odd thing to include…

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Welcome to the Black Bird Part 11: Luis's Special Brew

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Bountiful Francois, a family-owned business selling herbs, spices, and most famously tea leaves. Everything the business sold, they grew on one of several farms owned and run by a branch of the expansive family tree.

Marx, as a child from the main branch, knew he’d eventually be entrusted with a significant role in the company. What specifically he’d do, he had no clue. Then, opportunity knocked by way of his Granny Claris calling him to her personal office.

“Marx, sweetie, how would you feel about being a consultant for a new business partner?” she asked while sliding a cup of tea to Marx who graciously took it. Marx gave his grandmother a questioning look, wordlessly seeking elaboration. “A cafe wishes to buy our leaves and make their own blends. Though, to ensure that our products are used to their fullest, I feel it best to give them an expert opinion.”

“And you think I’m qualified?” Marx asked between sips.

Claris grinned and replied, “Why of course. You have an eye for detail, you’re efficient, and—”

“Oh!” Marx stared at his cup. “Was this blend made with clementine and not blood orange peel?”

“See, that’s what I mean!” Claris exclaimed with a cheerful laugh. “Your palette is refined and I don’t doubt your judgment would benefit that cafe.” Her praise made Marx smile and flush. Claris reached across the desk and took one of Marx’s hands between her own. “The best part is, working with the cafe could be way to promote Bountiful Francois before opening a store in Clover City.”

Marx chuckled. While Granny Claris wasn’t the most shrewd business woman, she was always considering potential deals and future projects. And if she believed Marx would succeed in the task given, as small as it was, then he couldn’t turn down the chance.

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Welcome to the Black Bird Masterlist

A masterlist for my series “Welcome to the Black Bird” where readers will get an introduction to the staff of the Black Bird Cafe.

For the base information, read this post here.

Part 0 - Before Opening Day

Part 1 - Lady Nero

Part 2 - Alexander the Bodyguard

Part 3 - Johnathan the Paragon

Part 4 - Wesley the Chilling

Part 5 - Marius the Austere

Part 6 - Aurelius the Devoted

Part 7 - A Butchery by Richard

Part 8 - Desmond the Enigma

Part 9 - Hector's Luck

Part 10 - Christian the Sinister

Part 11 - Luis's Special Brew

Welcome to the Black Bird Part 10: Christian the Sinister

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“I’ve got it!” Zara laughed when he burst into the kitchen. “I’ve got a name for the business! ‘The Ideale Place’!”

Zora blinked a couple times before sarcastically remarking, “That sounds like home realty and not a restaurant, Dad. Maybe you should change it to ‘The Ideale Plate’ instead.”

“Ha! That’s genius!” Zara dashed up to where Zora sat and ruffled his hair against Zora’s protests. “What would I do without you, little man?”

The man in Zora’s memories and the man passed out on the living room couch seemed like two different people. But Zora knew they were the same, mostly. One still had a dream burning in his soul. The other had the dream stamped on and snuffed.

“Hey Dad…” Zora set a plate of food—oven-roasted vegetables and a pan-fried chicken breast— on the coffee table. He nudged Zara’s shoulder.

“Huh…” Zara groaned and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Yeah? Wassup, Zora?”

“I made dinner.”

“Aw, thanks.” Zara sat up, grunting as he did so. While by no means an old man, his body must’ve ached from being overworked. He smiled and nudged Zora’s arm. “What would I do without you?”

“Dunno…” Zora rubbed the back of his neck. Then, he shuffled back to the kitchen. Maybe if I wasn’t around… Zora’s eyes drifted from his own serving of dinner on the counter to a thick binder, a cookbook compiled by Zara, from which the recipe for dinner came from. Then you would’ve been able to live your dream instead.

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Welcome to the Black Bird Part 9: Hector's Luck

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When David got home, he felt lightheaded and ready to vomit. He didn’t bother taking off his shoes as either his roommates would clean up or make him take care of whatever scuff marks he left behind. All David really had on his mind was getting to the bathroom.

The fluorescent lights were too bright. The fan droned low, making his skull ache. At least the water was the right temperature and the feeling of it washing over him felt therapeutic.

David washed his hair three times. And he scrubbed at his skin until it felt raw. All to remove the stink of cigarettes and alcohol. As he rinsed off, David reminded himself to buy new laundry sheets and replace the sachets in his drawers.

He stepped out of the shower and his visage in the mirror greeted him. His hair stuck to his face, framing his eyes and their dark circles. David tried to smile, to relax in his home, but his face was too tired for it.

When David heard that casinos took you for all you were worth, he thought it only applied to the gamblers. But he fell victim as well, though in a much different way.

He wanted to be able to serve customers with a smile. To interact with them and know that his work was appreciated. But all his smiles and friendly banter was wasted on people so drunk on greed that they wouldn’t pay him any mind.

David wanted something else. He wanted to go somewhere else. To be someone else.

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Welcome to the Black Bird Part 8: Desmond the Enigma

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Gordon’s hands shook as he picked up the envelope. The envelope that would give him his fate, for better or worse.

His whole family sat with Gordon at the table, watching with bated breath as he opened the envelope and pulled out the letter within. The Agrippas were more silent than usual. It was as though even a loud exhale would cause a disaster.

The paper unfolded.

[Dear Gordon,]

[Congratulations! On behalf of my colleagues and our institution, I am pleased to inform you that you have been admitted to—]

“I got in…”

Jonna gasped and Nathan exhaled like he had the wind knocked out of him.

“Really? Did you really?” Roxanne asked as she leaned across the table.

Gordon met his sister’s eyes and nodded. “I really got in.” Then he looked at his parents. “Mom, Dad. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it myself.”

“Gordon.” Jonna reached across the table and touched her son’s face. “We’ll still help if you ever need it.” Beside her, Nathan silently nodded in agreement.

His family was awkward at times, but their genuine support came so easily and filled Gordon with warmth.

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Welcome to the Black Bird Part 7: A Butchery by Richard

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Feathers. Hide. Bone. Cartilage. Guts. Blood. Flesh.

Working at a joint slaughterhouse and butcher shop business, he was tasked with processing meat from carcass to sellable product. He prided himself in taking apart eerie, lifeless corpses. In a way, his job was destruction with a purpose. And it brought a smile to his face.

It used to at least.

Jack’s boss took notice of the young man’s dulled vigor. He didn’t scold Jack or tell him to “just get over it.” But instead, he asked Jack to help make a delivery to one of their buyers.

That’s how Jack found himself at the Black Bird for the first time.

After moving everything from their truck to the cafe’s walk-in freezer, the cafe’s matron had Jack and the boss sit at the breakroom’s table. Then, a burly young man sauntered in with a plate of steak strips laid over a bed of minced vegetables and rice.

All it took was for Jack to take one bite.

In a word, it was delicious. A kick that hit the back of his throat. The hearty flavor of vegetables to ground his palette against the heat. The tender meat was juicy, savory, and faintly charred in flavor. And maybe it was Jack but he swore he tasted a bit of iron too.

And there was a high likelihood that the beef he was served was prepared by his own two hands. The flesh he tore into, the carcass he destroyed, didn’t end with being a cut of meat. It was still on its way to being a delicious creation.

Jack put down his fork, looked at his boss, and said “I’m putting in my two weeks now.”

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Welcome to the Black Bird Masterlist

A masterlist for my series “Welcome to the Black Bird” where readers will get an introduction to the staff of the Black Bird Cafe.

For the base information, read this post here.

Part 0 - Before Opening Day

Part 1 - Lady Nero

Part 2 - Alexander the Bodyguard

Part 3 - Johnathan the Paragon

Part 4 - Wesley the Chilling

Part 5 - Marius the Austere

Part 6 - Aurelius the Devoted

Part 7 - A Butchery by Richard

Welcome to the Black Bird Part 5: Marius the Austere

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Fuegoleon sighed as he released his hold on the grip strength tester. His physician, Owen Lindwell, took the machine and jotted down the results from the screen.

“23 kg… For your first attempt after the months of recovery from your surgery, it’s not bad,” Owen commented.

“It’s not very good either, though, is it?” Fuegoleon muttered and he massaged his shoulder. Even after letting his arm take it easy, the surgery spot felt sore more often than not. “It’s not even half of what it used to be.”

“And there’s nothing wrong with that at this point,” Owen replied with a sympathetic smile. “What matters is that you’re able to use your hand at all. And with a rehabilitation process laid out, you’ll surely see improvement with time.”

In the face of the hopeful statement, Fuegoleon still only felt heaviness in his heart. He looked at his hand. Despite being able to see how it was connected to the rest of his body and move it on his whim, the limb felt utterly foreign.

Did all people who underwent surgery feel this kind of detachment from the limb that was operated on? Or was Fuegoleon’s case unique, in light of how extensive the surgery was?

“Fuegoleon.” Owen’s voice made the younger man raise his head. “As your doctor, I will be working with you with the goal of a full rehabilitation. But as a family friend, I want to remind you that a slow recovery or a lack of one through the current process isn’t a failure on your part. Healing will happen eventually, even if the path is unclear.”

Fuegoleon gave a small grunt as a non-reply.

“For now, you should start by finding a hobby or project where you can use your arm without applying too much physical strain.”

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Welcome to the Black Bird Part 4: Wesley the Chilling

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Silver hair spread out around the head like a crown, or perhaps a halo. No, not a halo, as they belonged to spirits that passed on, not this person. Eyes closed as if in sleep. Yes, merely sleep. Arms laid on either side, impossibly still but with a steady pulse felt through warm skin.

Acier Silva slept soundly. As she had been for nearly two years.

Nozel reached out and brushed Acier’s bangs aside. After tucking the strands back, Nozel paused and lamented that it used to be the other way around. Acier had done this very thing for him all his childhood. And now…

“Don’t worry, Mother. It’s my turn to take care of you,” Nozel whispered to her.

Acier didn’t answer of course. She couldn’t but Nozel still spoke to her regularly on the doctor’s suggestion. Outside stimuli was recommended for Acier’s brain activity. The doctor’s also said that it would give Nozel an outlet for his feelings. Even if Nozel’s visits to the hospital helped his mother’s recovery, it didn’t do anything about what caused Acier to fall into her present state. He needed to find out the truth…

Once he left the hospital, Nozel checked his phone and saw a message notification from Dorothy: [update for uuuu~ ( ^ω^ )]

Nozel immediately replied, [What news do you have for me?]

[i found u a job that u might not botch~ ( ✌︎'ω')✌︎] It may have been a text but Nozel could hear Dorothy’s playful voice in his mind.

[You make me sound incompetent and like I’ve never worked a job before.]

[im not totally wrong tho (￣▽￣) u never worked a normie job (*^▽^*)]

Nozel’s eye twitched. Why did his dear friend also have to be a theatrical tease? Still, he replied, [Never mind my job history. What’s the position you found for me?]

[o(^▽^)o ur gonna luv it~]

Coming from Dorothy, the statement wasn’t as comforting to Nozel as it should’ve been.

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Welcome to the Black Bird Part 3: Johnathan the Paragon

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“You have nothing to worry about now, son,” his father said as he patted his shoulder. “Your future’s been secured.”

“Consider yourself lucky to have this privilege,” his step-mother added with a cordial smile.

“And what if I want to do something else with my life?” he had dared to ask once.

After asking that, his father sighed and shook his head. His step-mother stopped grinning.

“Don’t be so selfish, William. After everything we’ve done for you, doing what we ask is the least you can do to repay us.”

But they hadn’t asked and they never did end up asking anything of him.

Maybe they would’ve asked “where have you been?” or “won’t you come home?” if they crossed paths again. William doubted that though. Knowing them, they probably would’ve demanded he return home and follow orders again.

One day, someone did ask him a question though.

It was when William found himself short on money to pay for a meal. He had been close to panicking about how he’d pay when a voice called out.

“Would you let me cover your bill for you?” It was a question to be sure. But the older gentleman with purple eyes and blond hair from the next table had extended an offer rather than made a request. “You’ll have to wait for me to finish my meal though, if you don’t mind.”

“S-sure…”

“Come, sit with me until I’m ready to pay! Oh, and I’m Mr. Novachrono, just so you know!”

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Welcome to the Black Bird Part 1: Lady Nero

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Opening day.

A crowd had gathered in front of the Black Bird’s main entrance, anxiously awaiting the moment the doors would unlock and they’d get to step inside. Excitement and curiosity over the new establishment had been growing ever since the windows had been blacked out and a renovation team had started moving things in through all doors.

Then a placard by the door reading “The Black Bird Cafe: A Butler Themed Dining Experience” was hung up by the door, piquing the public’s interest even more.

The front doors to the establishment cracked open and a young woman with black hair in a bob cut and wearing a black skirt-suit. She held her head high.

“Good morning, everybody,” the woman said with a curt nod and smile. “My name is Nero. And I’m honored to introduce you all to my cafe, the Black Bird. I humbly ask that all of you lovely patrons enter in an orderly fashion and are considerate to the butlers who will be serving you today. With that said, please…”

“Nero” stepped to the side as the double door swung out to let the public in.

“Welcome in.”

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The Black Bird Menu

Welcome to the Black Bird Cafe~!

Have your pick of a handsome butler to serve you. Let him take you to your seat. Then take a look at our extensive menu and have your pick of something that will delight your palette.

If you're okay with paying extra, we do have a special menu featuring dishes that we like to consider putting the hearts of the staff (including the kitchen staff and table bussers) on a plate.

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