Linsey: "Hey! Are you okay? Is there a problem with the coffee?" she asked me a bit embarrassed with a slight blush on her cheeks.
Jeron: "I'm sorry I was a bit surprised by the news and don't worry the coffee is very good it's the best I've had so far" I said quickly again with a silly smile while trying to keep paying attention to the news.
Linsey: "do you think so?" She said in a very low tone and a little shy but her blush increased to a stronger tone.
"Yes" I answered without paying much attention, since I had it all on the fucking TV while I was thinking.
'Shit, shit, shit, of all worlds, universes or fucking realities it had to be DC and even more fucked up I'm in fucking Gotham City.'
Fear was taking over me and I couldn't let that happen.
'Come on Jeron calm down it's not the end of the world .... Still... Fuck just find out more, it seems we're in the 80's or 90's which means that most of the few events that I am aware of are not They have happened yet, but this fucking city is known as the crime city and was or is totally taken over by gangsters at this time before the super villains appeared and before ... Batman! That's it, Bruce Wayne! The Wayne's must not have died yet, I hope, I fucking need more information.
While I was immersed in my thoughts a loud but vigorous and somewhat hoarse voice came from the bar which brought me out of my thoughts.
Joey: "hey! Boy, are you the one coming for the job?"
Turning my head I could see an African-American man with a large build of about 40 years or so, with a slightly greasy chef's clothes and that typical kitchen towel on his shoulder.
Jeron: "Y-yes Mr. Joey, I'm Jeron, nice to meet you" I introduced myself while now doubting if I really need the job, I also understood the reason why linsey seemed happy.
Joey: "hahaha Mr. Joey was my grandfather, I'm just Joey" he said while I looked a little nervous and then he looked at the TV and I can understand my nervousness a little.
Joey: "hey kid, are you sure you want the job? I think linsey will have already told you that it's for the night shift and as you will notice the security out there is not very good" he told me as I noticed that linsey looked like a little nervous waiting for my answer.
My mind was racing trying to analyze the pros and cons. Then I sighed.
Jeron: "Yes, no problem and as I told Linsey I really need the job but I would appreciate it if you could indicate a cheap place near which I could rent" I said as I noticed how Linsey sighed with relief and looked at me with gratitude and now I think that If I had rejected the offer she would force me to pay for the coffee lol.
Joey: "hahahaha that's good" exclaimed Joey vigorously and kept saying "regarding the place you are looking for I think linsey can help you with that. I don't think you have a problem with starting now right?" I wonder.
Jeron: "no, I have no problem" I expressed with a smile but I was still analyzing the situation I was in 'I have no problems, the problem is the fucking city' I thought.
Joey: "great, well linsey will give you your uniform we don't want you to damage that nice jacket you are wearing" he said smiling
Jeron: "hahaha you're right and thanks for the opportunity" I said as I followed him to the part inside the bar and I met me, now, beautiful co-worker.
Linsey: '' thank you very much for not rejecting the job, really, I don't know what I would do if you had rejected it and don't worry I know of a good place, it's a bit simple but it fits what you are looking for and I know the owner a bit He comes here very often to have lunch here, '' he said with a tone that seemed to be apology and gratitude, somewhat confused I know.
Jeron: '' you don't know how much I thank you too Lin, I can call you lin right? '' I said trying to ease the work environment a bit
Linsey: '' NO '' he told me with an expression that surprised and uncomfortable me, `` hahaha look at you, I was just joking with you. You can call me lin if you want '' while he threw what seemed to be my work uniform in my face '' this shirt is the only size L left, I think it will fit you, now change in the bathroom that is in the back and then come back to start explaining everything to you ''
I changed, went back to the bar and Linsey started teaching me everything. '' I've worked in coffee shops before so I have some muscle memory with coffee machines, '' I expressed, which seemed to cheer him up a bit, as he could avoid that part. I asked him the basics and the essentials.
How was security in the sector? If there were more people working and what were they like? And the most important thing that I asked him, how was this area or rather where this area was located, since I am new here, I told him that I arrived recently and I know almost nothing and that to top it off I think he had stolen my wallet where I had my documents that is why I had an emergency for employment.
He looked at me with an expression of regret and apology as he said.
Lindsay: '' well that's normal in this place, I'm sorry that happened to you and don't feel bad, we've all been through that, but take it as a lesson and secure your belongings very well and try to avoid those dangerous areas or little inhabited, it sucks I know, but it is the way we survive here and well the area or the sector where we are is known as the upper west side of Gotham City '' I hope it is a safe sector I prayed in my heart but again In this damned city nothing is certain
Lindsay: '' We are near the gotham gazette newspaper which is in a couple of blocks and if you take the main avenue and head EAST you will arrive at the university of gotham which is located near the Robinson Park district it is very nice if I questions '' ok this is important I thought, if I remember correctly, Robinson Park will be the future territory of poison ivy.
We were chatting while we worked. I learned that apparently there is another girl who works the morning shift and part of the afternoon called Katherine who was Joey's niece and said she was also not very social and somewhat intimidating but that was her style, which caught my attention . That would leave Linsey on the afternoon shift and part of the night and thus me on the full night shift.
Joey as boss and chef takes care of the workers in the kitchen who were 3 people for each shift, most of them older than 30-35 and consequently a little grumpy he told me, so I decided not to focus on them more than just saying hello .
The rest of the night passed as in any restaurant, busy and lively which was a bit strange if you ask me, since knowing how dangerous Gothic city is, I thought that the place would be more desolate. Another reason why we shouldn't judge a book by its cover
Linsey left shortly before 1 am. Not without first reminding me of things a bit and telling me that tomorrow he will come early at 7 am to go to the apartment where they rent and not to worry that tonight would be a little busy and therefore if I did my job very well I would have a juicy tip almost reaching the minimum wage that at the moment approximately $ 530
.
.
He did not lie in what he said. The night was very busy and luckily I didn't forget anything linsey told me I could remember every word which helped a lot ... in fact, I haven't forgotten anything since I left the tiny world which makes me wonder if the fucking book had given something as OP as eidetic memory and if so ... '' jojojojo I'm going to abuse this ability so much ''
Around 5 am, everything was calmer and the hell the tip was not a joke, almost $ 500. But not everything is rosy as you imagine.
During the course of the night more "important" people arrived who were the source of most of my juicy tip and if I should describe them they would be the type of people who are not on very good terms with the law.
Some of them were a bit hostile but as a person from the future who grew up in a slightly dangerous neighborhood, I knew how to handle the situation, that is, don't ask too much, just answer what they ask you and don't show fear make them understand that you are used to the environment and that for you that is nothing out of the ordinary.
Which made me win the favor of some of these thugs, others even offered me an offer, they said that if at some point I wanted to make 'real money' to go to the docks. I just thanked while saying something like '' great '' or '' I'll keep it in mind ''
Take the opportunity to continue informing me of the situation of the underworld in a subtle way of course.
Many of them talked about big business with good profits, others talked about big crime families. And as I assumed, everything is under the control of the mafias, both the Russian mafia and the Chinese mafia are the predominant ones in this sector, well the upper west side (upper west side) is the territory of the Russian mafia but almost always they are in dispute with the Chinese over the territory.
More shit than I have to worry about and yes, that's how it was on the night shift, now I totally understood Linsey, poor girl.
This world is total shit and she like many try to survive it, '' damn I must strengthen myself '' I muttered as I clenched my fists without realizing that Joey was approaching me.
Joey: '' hahaha, so boy how did you like the job, I couldn't help but notice you handled it like a pro, damn I was impressed, I doubt linsey would have done it better she usually gets tense when she's around those guys' 'He hit my back as he said it. Referring to the distinguished nocturnal clientele.
Jeron: '' AAAH '' I screamed with a start when I heard the first sentence '' j-Joey almost scared me to hell, '' he said as he touched my chest with his hand and looked at him, Joey laughed at my reaction '' p- sorry for that, and if, where I come from the environment was not very different, I learned how to survive and go unnoticed '' I said but then doubting continue '' by the way, Joey, can I ask you a question? ''
Joey looked at me with a smile as if he knew I wanted to ask him, why were there so many gangsters in the bar at night?
Joey was going to start talking and I think he would say something like not to worry about it or not to stick my nose in that matter or something like that I already knew who I could find out that part of the story with but for now let's have a little fun I interrupted him before he spoke.
Jeron: '' I heard you had a very sexy niece, would you mind introducing her to her '' I said in a low voice as I tapped him with my elbow and looked at him with complicity.
Joey was silent for a second that seemed like minutes analyzing what I had just asked him, then he smiled very hard and vigorously.
Joey: '' hahaha she has balls, boy, I like that and don't worry she is about to arrive also she is the one in charge of the business during the morning and I doubt that you can handle so much, let's say, energy hahahaha ''
This left me puzzled, on the one hand linsey told me she was intimidating and now joey tells me she was energetic.
My doubt was not going to remain for long because while I was cleaning and giving the last touches to deliver my turn and wait for linsey to arrive I heard the sound of an engine that was mixed with a rock at full volume.
I recognized the song was * Long cool woman in black Dress * -The Hollies- and the sound of that engine could contribute my life that was a 'dodge challenger', didn't I tell you? I'm a fan of classic cars and the ' dodge challerger 'was my favorite, i know all about them, engines, bodywork, traction etc! Oh! This also gives me a million dollar idea I thought.
All my thoughts disappeared like smoke when the car was parked and a dark skinned girl with a body that I could describe as '' wow '' got out of it, she had a shirt guard that only reached her navel from which you could see a pirsing, over her she had a black leather jacket, her hair was black and she had a punk style, shaved on one side while the rest posed to the other side, I noticed a couple more pirsings on her ear, lower lip and right eyebrow , his pants were very tight leather. She had a metal spike choker and wore sunglasses that made her look spectacularly tough.
Hell this woman was a goddess I couldn't help thinking and I think I fell in love.
