On The Surface | An OCTale Sequel

21) No Need to Hide

As we walk to Grillby's, I look up at Impact. His regular smile is plastered onto his face, as usual. But, he seems to be acting a little aloof.
I decide not to bring it up until we get to Grillby's.

I can tell that he wants to talk to me about something.

As we're greeted by the smells of grease and burning, we sit down at the bar. I remove the whoopee cushion on the seat before I sit down, and pass it to Impact, smiling.

He simply smiles back, and grabs a menu for me.

"I heard Grillby got a new server last week, Tyler. What do you want to eat?" He brings up, as I lean over his shoulder to look.

"Wow, Grillby has really expanded the menu, hasn't he?" I exclaim, impressed by how much there is on offer. Somebody taps me and Impact on the shoulder, and I turn around to look at who I assume to be...

our server...?

It's the riverperson.

"Uhm, excuse me, tra la. You don't mind if I sit next to you, right? There's no other seats besides this one, tra la."
She whispers quietly, a bit sheepish about intruding.

"Oh! Hey Riverperson! I didn't know you were up topside. And sure - take a seat!" I offer, the hooded figure bowing in thanks as she takes a seat. Impact raises an eyebrow, then shrugs.

"Uh..okay then."

He's interrupting by someone tapping the counter in front of him.
Another revenant?

She wears her brown hair in a ponytail, with glasses affixed to the sides of her skull with tape. A pink sunhat tops her head.

"Hello! I'm Kristen, your server today. Can I take you three's orders?" She smiles, before glancing over at me. I barely get to say The riverperson's not with us before she begins chatting again.

"Oh! You're Tyler, right? My husband has been telling me all about how you freed the underground!" She gasps, before retaining her work facade, glancing at Impact as a cue for him to speak.

"Oh! Uh, I'll have a regular cheeseburger. Tyler?" Impact says, adding my name at the end.

"I'll have some regular fries, please! And a side salad!" I chirp.

The Riverperson takes a while, visibly panicking.

"Uh...What would you recommend, tra la?" She stutters, looking up at Kristen for help.

"Well, that depends. Every type of monster has a favourite food! Like, us Boss Monsters are mainly meat eaters. Elementals like my husband enjoy greasy stuff. Beasts are vegetarian. Insects...Ask Puffet about that." Kristen giggles, nodding towards the riverperson.

"Oh! Uh...I'd...rather not reveal what kind of monster I am...tra la." The Riverperson replies airly, reclusing into her hood further.

"Just get her some fries. It's on me." He sighs, the riverperson perking up once more.

"Oh! Thank you, Impact!" She chirps, before I look at her strangly. Kristen goes off to the kitchen to put the orders in.

"Wait, how do you know him?"

The riverperson panicks a little, then recluses into her hood once more.

"Well...doesn't everybody?" Impact shrugs, deciding to leave the hooded stranger alone.

"Anyway, Tyler...You already know why we're here, don't you?" He sighs, facing me.

"Yep. You didn't just drag me here for lunch. I can tell." I admit, an uneasy atmosphere filling the room.