Luke's Diner, Thursday

[geniuswithasmartphone]

Hardison sauntered into the diner, wearing a Cubs jersey and a giant grin. "Yo, what up party people?!" he announced. "Y'all see that amazing game last night? I mean, I'm still a little salty about them takin' Hendricks out, but--"

The dishwasher just rolled his eyes and pointed to the hastily-written sign that read in big, dark letters:

NO BASEBALL TALK.

"Wha-you-bu--Man, are you serious?!" Hardison spluttered. "This ain't even right! This is a violation of my First Amendment Rights!"

As one, the kitchen staff turned their backs on him and went back to working. Hardison snagged an orange soda and flounced over to a booth to watch the highlights of the game on his phone. With the volume cranked up high enough to be overheard in the kitchen, too. So there.

Today's Specials
Chicago Style Hot Dog
Chicago-Style Deepdish Pizza
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Luke's was open and there was much rejoicing. At least by one person!

[No OCD and I did not actually watch the game, sorry!]

Comments

[vdistinctive]

"Dammit, who the hell is -- oh, hey Hardison."

Eliot was all set to go into a full on 'kids these days' rant about external speakers and everything. He was actually willing to give his boyfriend a pass on this one, though.

"Too bad you missed the party last night. There was swag everywhere."

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"Yeah, but Skypin' with Nana was 100% worth it," Hardison said, giving his boyfriend a brilliant grin. "I think I learned cursewords I ain't never heard before."

[vdistinctive]

"So that's what you were up to." Eliot had learned not to question Hardison's various computer things. They were all "projects" as far as he was concerned. "How's she doin'?"

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"Well, she's cranky today," Hardison said, fondly. "Cause the neighborhood damn near rioted after the game. Also, she had like four beers last night and she miiiiight be a little hungover, though she ain't never gonna admit it."

[vdistinctive]

Eliot shook his head. "Lady like that doesn't do hangovers," he said. "Back home she might just say she needs her 'quiet time' or somethin'. Ain't surprised about the riotin', though. Hell, I know places that'll do that just about every week in football season, win or lose."

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"Yeah, well, I didn't get away with no 'quiet time' the first time I was hungover," Hardison pretended to grumble. "She swears up an' down she ain't get drunk offa four beers, but I distinctly remember her gettin' more rowdy after the fourth."

He had enjoyed his night hugely.

[vdistinctive]

"There're a lot of words I can see used to describe your nana," Eliot said. "Rowdy ain't one of them."

He was rather wishing he'd seen it.

[geniuswithasmartphone]

That's what he got for going to a party!

"Well, it don't happen often," Hardison allowed. "But the Cubs winnin' was enough of a reason, I guess. But, man, you should have heard her last night. Buncha the kids that stuck around Chicago were there, along with some folks from the neighborhood. They were hootin' an' hollerin' from, like, the middle of the fourth! An' she was the loudest of all of 'em!"

[vdistinctive]

Eliot smiled just picturing it. His folks didn't go in much for baseball, but a big group cheering was a familiar enough scene come football season back home. And his mom had been the biggest fan of them all.

Not that Oklahoma had an NFL team. But the Sooners had one hell of a loyal following, at least where Eliot grew up.

"Sounds like a hell of a time. Glad you got the chance to join in, at least a little bit. You know we wouldn'ta complained if you'd wanted to run off and see it in person."

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"Thought about it," Hardison said with a small grin. "Thought about draggin' you two along, even though it'd mean listenin' to your 'it ain't a sport if you can't score on defense' speech again." Because that comment was required, absolutely. "But this worked out just fine. And I got to wake up next to y'all, so wins all around."

[vdistinctive]

"Wouldn'ta given any speech." He'd've just bragged about getting a sandwich named after him for playing a sport he didn't even like. Which was probably more insufferable. "I know how to be polite."

He'd only teased Kitty about the goat a little, after all.