The Lamia

Cheryl of brood Spiteblood trudged to work, an impressive feat considering the fact that she had no legs. From the waist down she instead sported the impressive tail of a viper, adorned with vibrant blue scales patterned with pale silver stripes. She was miserable. Her large bag hung from one shoulder and her arms swung loosely at her side. It was too cold. The mornings were getting brisker and chillier, the sun providing little heat in the cloudless morning. The side walk was cold, and as she slid over it she could feel the heat being leached out of her.

She knew that when she got to work it would be just as bad. That damn air conditioner is going to be the **** of me. She thought to herself. Coffee. Need coffee. Instead of continuing down the street she veered almost drunkenly to the right to the cafe across from work.

It was practically another world inside the cafe. The windows fogged against the world outside and she shed her coat and wool hat the second the door shut behind her, hanging them on a hook near the doorway. Without her coat anyone could see that she was a knockout. Her hair was a short unkempt mop of silver matching her stripes, her eyes a gold rarely seen amongst the people of Atlier, and her skin tanned from the summer spent luxuriating in the sun. She slithered over to the counter and ordered the largest sized coffee they would sell her.

She found a table and sipped her coffee, feeling better by the sip as Life returned to her limbs. This is so unfair, I’m gonna be late to work again. I don’t want to leave. It’s not my fault it’s so freaking cold out. She looked around, the cafe was pretty empty, the only other customers looked familiar. She knew them from work, didn’t she? The blue one, she practically ran the joint. Cheryl felt her brain booting back up out of hibernation, the hot coffee doing its work. Maybe I should talk to her? Ask about moving offices? Or adjusting that fucking AC? She didn’t recognize her friend though, she didn’t want to interrupt, but fuck it, she was ****.

She grabbed her coffee and slithered towards their table to introduce herself. “Excuse me, hi. I’m sorry, I hope I’m not interrupting, but do you work for Brightforge heavy industry?” The Tiefling cocked an eyebrow. “I don’t believe we’ve met, who are you?” She sipped her coffee, while the Holstaur took another bite of scone. The words began to spill out of her. “I’m sorry, I’m Cheryl Spiteblood, I’m a supply and acquisition coordinator with Brightforge. I just wanted to ask about changing offices. It’s so cold and I know you are in charge of a couple different departments and I was hoping you could do something, maybe just put me in the boiler room. I’m sorry, that’s stupid. I don’t even know if that’s something you can help me with-”

Danyssa put a hand up. The wheels in her head starting to turn. “It’s fine…you know, we’ve had some positions open and we currently lack someone to manage inventory. I don’t think putting you in the boiler room would be appropriate but we do have an office adjacent to the server room that gets quite toasty. I might be able to set up a lateral transfer, otherwise I don’t think that I can help.” Cheryl looked elated, hope! “Of course, you would need to interview with the department head, I’ll schedule you something this afternoon if you’d like.” Cheryl nodded enthusiastically. “That would be fantastic! Oh, thank you a ton.” She pulled the Tiefling into a coiling hug before gasping and releasing her. “Sorry! I’m sorry, um email me!” She rushed for the door with the fury of a freight train, grabbing her coat and hat before exiting into the brisk morning air.