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

[nakamura_sensei]

This question annoys her. It was obvious what! "I wanted the coffee." Unhappy, she frowns at the wall beyond his shoulder.

She takes a moment to rub at her own shoulder, as it still hurts from her mishap. A lot of her still hurts. It isn't yet time to rest, however. Steel enters her expression.

[themaninthebooth]

Okay, that surprises him a little bit. Mostly because he's not used to people sitting down in front of him without knowing who he was.

"There isn't anything else in the world you want?"

[nakamura_sensei]

One thing. I don't see how you can help me with that.

Is he trying to make small talk? Treat it that way. It looks like she'll have to put up with it while her coffee's warm.

"I'd like to be able to fix something. But you know how it is."

[themaninthebooth]

He raises an eyebrow, an unspoken suggestion that no, he doesn't know how it is.

"What would you like to fix?"

[nakamura_sensei]

She sighs and gingerly shuffles a folded piece of paper from her coat's side pocket. "I would like to fix it, I said, but it's more like I want to redo it from scratch.

"These are useless now." She opens the paper on the table and stares at the plans she drew up for a radio-controlled 'UFO'-inspired device. She gives him an appraising look.

She motions at it and says, her hands leaving it, "Since you asked." Go ahead and look.

[themaninthebooth]

Nodding somewhat politely, he glances over the plans. He takes a small moment to write a quick note in his book before closing it once again. His attention returns to the scientist.

"so what you desire most of all for this to operate correctly?"

[nakamura_sensei]

Selective hearing has her reacting with shock to the first half of his sentence. "What-" kind of a question is he asking me?

Calm down. He's asking about Peace-kun. "Uh...yes." The telltale signs of apprehension hadn't quite left her body language, however.