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Mary sighed. She hadn't expected Pommel to finally take the direct approach, but one could hope. She hated hearing the girl talk down about herself, although it happened often and rarely lasted long. She opened her mouth to say something, but after a moment, closed it with a frown. If Pommel's flamboyance wasn't enough to get Wynter's attention, what would? The poor girl had made herself known to just about everyone else in the guild, at least anyone who'd been there since she came out of her shell, yet the person she wanted to notice her the most was endlessly oblivious.
It came down to bad luck, it seemed. They were always just missing each other, something always just barely got between them and kept them from meeting. Of course, Pommel had had plenty of opportunities to simply walk up and introduce herself, but Mary could see how that just wouldn't be the same. Still, she was starting to get worried that if Wynter ever did notice Pommel, the baker would be disappointed. Pommel idolized Wynter, after all, and as wonderful as Cold Steel was, she was just as human as the rest of them.
Mary jolted upright, pulled suddenly from her thoughts by the banging. Before she could really figure out what was happening, Pommel had clasped her hand, thanked her, then ran off, apron flying in the air behind her. Magpie blinked twice at the spot where Pommel had vaulted herself over the counter, then her vision was intercepted by Slick. The woman was almost positive that there were big, blocky question marks bouncing on top of her head. "What, indeed," she replied quietly, voice a little far off. After a second, she laughed a little. "I haven't a clue, but I'm glad it worked, whatever it was."
She shrugged at his next question, finally finishing off her first cookie. "I hope so. Although, judging from past results..." She picked up another cookie, and looked briefly back and forth between the group and the stairs. In the background, the guy Riku'd drawn on looked quite flustered but had yet to realize what was on his face. Mary decided to give the boy a chance to go up and apologize on his own before she stepped in again, so she looked back to the man next to her. "Did you come over here only to swipe some baked goods while she isn't looking? Not very subtle of you, Slick." She narrowed her eyes, bit her lips remained in a small smile.
When Pommel started shouting at Vernon, it drew Mary's attention again. She quirked her head like a curious puppy, frozen with her second cookie halfway to her mouth. "Hm? Oh-! ...Is she taking a job?" Eyes widened slightly, the woman looked back to Slick, checking to make sure she wasn't the only one surprised at this. "That'll be her first, right?" Considering the girl had been with the guild for a couple years now and had yet to take any jobs from the board, Mary, for one, thought this was quite a big deal. She wasn't sure whether to be worried or proud; which meant she was a bit of both.
She watched as Pommel sped out the door, all but flattening an unfamiliar girl who happened to be on her way in. Judging by Mavis's reaction, she'd never seen the girl before either, which was interesting. Were they getting a new member? Mary's smile widened at the idea of her family growing. That was how she saw the guild, after all: one big, ever growing family. She hoped the girl was going to join, but being greeted by Mavis was like being greeted by a crowd, and she didn't want to overwhelm the newbie so Mary stayed where she was for now.
Just as she was starting to turn away again, taking a bite of the cookie, none other than Cold Steel herself went sprinting out the door after Pommel. "Mm!" Magpie exclaimed, pointing toward the door since she was far too polite to talk with her mouth full. She swallowed hard, feet kicking lightly in another attempt to get Slick's attention while she felt back for a drink, anything to help her wash it down. She finally found a mug of beer and took a long swig, nose wrinkling at the taste. She would have much preferred a glass of milk. "Looks like our Mel may get her wish, after all!"
It came down to bad luck, it seemed. They were always just missing each other, something always just barely got between them and kept them from meeting. Of course, Pommel had had plenty of opportunities to simply walk up and introduce herself, but Mary could see how that just wouldn't be the same. Still, she was starting to get worried that if Wynter ever did notice Pommel, the baker would be disappointed. Pommel idolized Wynter, after all, and as wonderful as Cold Steel was, she was just as human as the rest of them.
Mary jolted upright, pulled suddenly from her thoughts by the banging. Before she could really figure out what was happening, Pommel had clasped her hand, thanked her, then ran off, apron flying in the air behind her. Magpie blinked twice at the spot where Pommel had vaulted herself over the counter, then her vision was intercepted by Slick. The woman was almost positive that there were big, blocky question marks bouncing on top of her head. "What, indeed," she replied quietly, voice a little far off. After a second, she laughed a little. "I haven't a clue, but I'm glad it worked, whatever it was."
She shrugged at his next question, finally finishing off her first cookie. "I hope so. Although, judging from past results..." She picked up another cookie, and looked briefly back and forth between the group and the stairs. In the background, the guy Riku'd drawn on looked quite flustered but had yet to realize what was on his face. Mary decided to give the boy a chance to go up and apologize on his own before she stepped in again, so she looked back to the man next to her. "Did you come over here only to swipe some baked goods while she isn't looking? Not very subtle of you, Slick." She narrowed her eyes, bit her lips remained in a small smile.
When Pommel started shouting at Vernon, it drew Mary's attention again. She quirked her head like a curious puppy, frozen with her second cookie halfway to her mouth. "Hm? Oh-! ...Is she taking a job?" Eyes widened slightly, the woman looked back to Slick, checking to make sure she wasn't the only one surprised at this. "That'll be her first, right?" Considering the girl had been with the guild for a couple years now and had yet to take any jobs from the board, Mary, for one, thought this was quite a big deal. She wasn't sure whether to be worried or proud; which meant she was a bit of both.
She watched as Pommel sped out the door, all but flattening an unfamiliar girl who happened to be on her way in. Judging by Mavis's reaction, she'd never seen the girl before either, which was interesting. Were they getting a new member? Mary's smile widened at the idea of her family growing. That was how she saw the guild, after all: one big, ever growing family. She hoped the girl was going to join, but being greeted by Mavis was like being greeted by a crowd, and she didn't want to overwhelm the newbie so Mary stayed where she was for now.
Just as she was starting to turn away again, taking a bite of the cookie, none other than Cold Steel herself went sprinting out the door after Pommel. "Mm!" Magpie exclaimed, pointing toward the door since she was far too polite to talk with her mouth full. She swallowed hard, feet kicking lightly in another attempt to get Slick's attention while she felt back for a drink, anything to help her wash it down. She finally found a mug of beer and took a long swig, nose wrinkling at the taste. She would have much preferred a glass of milk. "Looks like our Mel may get her wish, after all!"