Solo [The Red Diamond Tavern] Cleaning Up

[Svasra]

Timestamp: 90th of Winter, 512 AV

"Sivvie, don't try to run away, you're helping me clean up tonight," came Barten's teasing call as Svasra slowly scooted towards the door. It was in the awkward hour of late night, early morning, where the only beings in the bar were the maids and a few asleep drunkards. While Tavnie moved around to wake them up and usher them out of the Tavern, she was to go home afterwards. On the other hand, Svasra would be here for a few bells more before allowed sleep.

Lately Svasra ran on awkward sleeping hours, often working at the Tavern late at night, and sleep until mid-afternoon. Sometimes she worked a couple bells directly then, and was able to go home and try to reprogram her sleep schedule by sleeping that night, but often she stayed up until she went to work late at night. Being paid by day, Svasra ensured she worked every single one of them, as this season was peppered with expenses of not only urgent - as in buying a tent - but also accidental; paying for that man's drink when she spilled food on him, for example ...

Yawning, Svasra nodded and waved a hand in Barten's general direction. "Yea, give me like five chimes, I need to stick my face in some snow to wake myself up," she joked, though she actually took a mug of hot chocolate to sip for a short break. She had to admit it was a nice benefit of working in a tavern, she was allowed a free drink during her break - provided it was nonalcoholic. Which confined it to water - which was free anyways - or hot chocolate. Most of the workers took the hot chocolate as it also provided a small amount of energy to power through the rest of their shift.

Sitting down, Svasra rested by the fire, Barten ambling over to join her. "Alright, that's all of them, I'll see you in two days guys," Tavnie called as she put on her coat. "See'ya, Sivvie. Later, Barten," she added as the door swung shut behind her. Svasra waved a moment too late, but didn't seem too concerned, looking around the empty Tavern. It would be closed for a bit now to allow the staff to clean up and properly prepare for a new day. Since they re-opened early though, many thought the Tavern was open the entire day.
"Ever since you gave me that nick-name, everyone calls me Barten, even some patrons!" Barten said in a mock complaining tone, sighing dramatically.
"It's only because about three people who work here actually know your name," Svasra retorted as she sipped her hot chocolate, grinning over the cup to the male she had become quite close to.

Rolling his eyes, Barten stretched out, relishing the heat as she did. Svasra began to think Barten just lived at the bar, since there never seemed to be a time where he wasn't the bartender. Sure, often he had help, but Barten was a constant within the heaving chaos of a busy tavern, and Svasra was surprised how he managed to keep his actual name a mystery. She suspected it was his 'lure' as he called it, an aspect that made patrons come back. Hers was apparently her more demure personality when it came to jests and flirtatious comments, and Tavnie's was the opposite as she made every man feel like they held her heart.

The two sat in a pleasant silence together before Barten reached over and took the hot chocolate from Svasra. He quirked an eyebrow in askance, in which he promptly downed the rest when given permission. Svasra seemed unfazed as she laughed lightly, aiming a swat at him that he easily evaded. "The faster we get this done, the faster we get home."
"I'm beginning to think you never go home," Svasra commented with a tilting grin. He said nothing but waved his hand with a snort.

[Svasra]

The two had spent a few chimes by the fire, soaking up its comforting heat, and trying not to think of the job that loomed ahead. Too soon though, Svasra rose, and Barten followed suit. He began to walk towards the kitchens, picking up a few dishes if they passed within his reach. "Alright, you handle the dining room for now, and once you're done you can help me finish up the dishes, how about that?" Barten called, though Svasra knew there was little option but to smile, nod, and go with what he said. He retreated to the back moments later, leaving Svasra alone in the front of the tavern. Ambling up to the door to lock it, Svasra hummed quietly under her breath, picking up a tray with a slight twirl and looking around herself.

Cups, mugs, dishes, and random splatters of who-knows-what littered the tavern from the late rush that had come right before the deadpan of morning hours. To a patron walking in they might not even notice, but Svasra saw that stain on the ground by the door, the glimmer of something clear stuck to the table, and the little pieces of food that fell off plates behind the counter. Rolling up her sleeves (theoretically, since she was wearing a short-sleeved top), Svasra took a deep breath and plunged into it headfirst.

"Always best to clear away the dishes first," Svasra said as she placed cups onto the tray, collecting the money for meals and such that were left on tables, stray mizas that had rolled on the floor, a tip left hidden underneath a plate half-cleared of food. Humming as she balanced the tray on one palm, Svasra stacked a couple more plates and eased them onto her other, careful to watch where she was going as she made her way to the back kitchen.

She had to admit that it had gotten much easier from that first night on the job when she was spilling food, and drinks, dousing patrons, and tripping over her own feet. With diligent practice, Svasra found a point of balance with the tray, finding she could feel if the tray was tipping and it was easily correctable. Blowing a strand of hair out of her eyes, Svasra handed the stack of plates down to Barten who was already elbows deep in a bucket, scrubbing the dishes clean. His nose wrinkled playfully at the grime, but Svasra barely noticed as she whisked back out to the dining room.

A couple more trips had the dishes fully cleared, as the barmaids tended to keep it fairly cleared off to allow more patrons to come and faster service. Svasra then placed her tray back behind the counter, and took out a small bucket. Filling it with snow, Svasra touched her gnosis and tapped the top of the snow heap, melting it quickly. She took the soap they used and a rag, moving to the first table.

Dipping the rag - she wouldn't really call this tattered fabric a cloth - into the chilly water, Svasra rubbed it slightly with the bar of soap. It was a mild concoction of lard and herbs, to help it smell better and get off some of the grime. Svasra fell into a gentle rhythm of dipping the rag, rubbing on some soap, cleaning the table, rinsing out the rag, and running over the table once more. The chairs were done similarly, Svasra determinedly scrubbing the seat and the tops where drunken people with grubby hands marred the wood. She drew another piece of fabric (this time a proper cloth) to take off some water before setting the seats onto the table, legs up towards the ceiling. That not only told her which ones she'd done, but also cleared the floor to do later.

"We have secrets more ancient," Svasra sung as she heaved a chair upwards, clunking it down on the table.
"then the ground
We have tales bigger
than our bears and gates
Guarded in our swirling eyes
keep from prying stares ... " Svasra stopped as she put more force into her work, scrubbing away some dried-on stain, unnoticed in the quick wipe given to tables with each new patron.

Once she'd moved on, Svasra continued in a gentle mezzo-soprano, "On this snowy earth
walks our beloved queen
Who has lived lifetimes
midst the heaven's stars

"She who brings the snow
The cold blessed of our land
She who brings the winter
and the sheen off the ice ..."