Setting is a local diner, modern day | Canon: The Booth at the End

[themaninthebooth]

There is a 24-hour diner. A diner that serves a variety of normal treats from coffee to cream puffs to pastrami sandwiches. The waitresses, the cooks, the owner have all lived normal lives and serve normal people.

Today there is a Man in the diner. A Man that you only heard about in rumors. A Man heard of in joking tones, but with eyes that said they were deadly serious. Some call him a manipulator. Some call him a mentor. Some call him an angel. Some call him a devil.

He is The Man sitting in the booth at the end of the diner.

He appears to spend his time writing down things in a large, black, leather-bound notebook. He orders whatever seems to suit his fancy at any given moment, but his attention remains on the book.

He's waiting for you. Waiting to make a deal to help get you what you want. All you have to do is sit down... and ask for it.

Comments

[themaninthebooth]

Well. That's kind of a new one. The Man opens his book, spinning his pen between his fingers until it faces the page.

"Why do you want that?"

[electronic_thumb]

"Because it's BORING here!"

After a moment, he mentally backed up and added on "You're the wish guy, right? This would be awkward if you weren't the wish guy."

[themaninthebooth]

His head tilts slightly to the side, considering the question. "I help people get what they want, yes."

"What about the world do you find... dull?"

[electronic_thumb]

"No sub-etha stations to speak of, only two intelligent species, you're not even AWARE of galactic affairs. It's all so...provincial and primitive."

He slumped in his seat a bit. "I was supposed to be here for the weekend and ended up here for fifteen years."

[themaninthebooth]

Whether this person is delusional or not isn't important to the Man. All that matters is the deal to be made.

"And that's why you want to leave Earth. Any particular way you desire that to occur?"

[electronic_thumb]

"Hitching a lift with Betelgeuse Trading Scouts by preference, but really any space ship who's crew won't eat me should do nicely."

It was at this point that the discerning viewer might start to realize that Ford was a bit drunk.

[themaninthebooth]

Well, drunk people are free to want things. They're just more likely to slur through details.

"You wish to leave earth alive then?"

Details are important.

[electronic_thumb]

"Not much point leaving the Earth dead."

[themaninthebooth]

Seemingly satisfied, the Man flips through a few pages.

"You must allow your best friend's home to be destroyed."

[electronic_thumb]

"That's a rather rude way to behave, isn't it?"

[themaninthebooth]

"Its the task you've been given."