Luke's Diner, Saturday afternoon

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

Josh was sullen. That kind of finely honed, malevolent sullen that only a disaffected teenager could produce. He had woken up with all this stupid skateboarding stuff around, which totally hadn't helped his mood. So now he was at work - scowling as he slouched behind the counter - and trying to figure out how to get away with doing the least work possible.

Today's specials? Did not involve sticks in any way. What kind of loser put food on sticks? Today's specials were all healthy, too. Soy this and protein that and not a bit of junk food in sight.

[[Jude has become Josh, his evil doppelganger. If this were Star Trek, Josh would have a goatee and a sparkly sash. Josh is the exact opposite of everything Jude is: a high-strung asshole. Have fun!]]

Comments

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Something was going on around here. Something weird. Annette was almost freaking.

She needed something good to eat, maybe calm her, re-fuel her energies at seeing a lion in the park. Yeah, a lion.

"Hey," she called out when she entered the diner.

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

"Yo." Resentfully. "What do you want?" Sigh as he dragged himself to his feet.

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Well, what a ray of sunshine.

"Yeah, I'd like some fries, a hamburger. With cheese. No, wait. No cheese. Just a plain hamburger. With pickles. Dill. No mustard."

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

Josh stared at her for a minute after she finished. "Y' done yet?"

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Annette stared back. "I want a chocolate shake too. If it's not too much trouble, buddy."

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

"I guess not," Josh grumbled as he turned away. "Want a heart attack with that?"

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"What was that? I don't think I quite caught that." She called out after him.

"I'm watching you!"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Rita waved to the girl she didn't know when she came in, thinking she must be a new student. "Hello. Good morning."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Oh. Parker. True, Annette only had one brief conversation with her, but at least Parker recognized her.

"Hey, Parker." She smiled. "Everything all right today?" Cause she had to ask, you know, just in case.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

She should have realized this would happen. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm not Parker. I'm Rita, Rita Avnet. I know it's confusing, but I swear it's true. Something strange is happening on the Island. Again."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Annette stared then dropped her face in her hands. "Why...why...why?"

She looked at Rita through her fingers. "So you are not one of those look alike twin people? You are Rita Avent that looks just like Parker except with glasses? I'm me. I mean I'm Annette. Same ole Annette."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Annette. If I met you before, or a version of you, it's not coming to mind." Rita held out her hand to shake. "And no, I don't have a twin, at least, I didn't before this morning, when Eric told me he wasn't my Eric." Rita looked sad. "It's very upsetting."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Annette shook her hand, because, well, she was friendly and had very nice manners. And Annette was all about etiquette. Of course she was.

"Something is going on around here, Rita. Something strange. I think everyone was drugged. And I think I know who is responsible." She nodded, whispering all conspiritorial like.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Rita, after wandering around town for a while, and verifying things she needed to know, headed to Luke's to meet Eric.

She took a booth near the window, to watch people pass, and waited for the server.

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

Josh eventually got around to dragging himself over to her table. "Yeah?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Hello," Rita smiled brightly at the server, hoping to improve his mood, and thus get good service. "Could I have a Monte Cristo with a salad, please? If it's not too much trouble?"

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

Sigh. "Fine."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Thank you!" Rita said, and made a note to leave him exactly 15% as a tip. He'd have to do more to earn more.

[http://users.livejournal.com/weissguy_/]

"Hey, Rita. Uh, didn't find anything in the research, but I left a message for my friend Dawn, so maybe she'll know something..."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Dawn?" More competition? Hopefully not. "I haven't met anyone who knows what's going on, although a nice girl named Annette saw a lion in the park. That isn't normal, even for this Island, I think." She looked concerned, and added, "I already ordered, I hope you don't mind."

[http://users.livejournal.com/weissguy_/]

"It's fine, I'm not really hungry. Just probably grab a burger or two," Weiss said. "Dawn Summer. My totally platonic best friend? She's like my main resource on weird other than Parker."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Dawn approached the table, possibly looking a little worse for the wear. It had been a really long morning. "Hey, Eric. Parker. What's up?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/weissguy_/]

"Dawn... meet Rita Avnet," Weiss said. "She's from an alternate universe where she's also dating me. But Rita's from the 1890s." Weiss facepalmed. "I've gotta get Parker back and get her back to her Eric."

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

Waldo was sitting at a non-descript table towards the back eating a ham sandwich. You probably wouldn't even notice him if not for his distinct outfit.

[dude-its-jude.livejournal.com]

Josh pretended not to notice him. It was easier that way. Customer service? Pssh.