Luke's Diner, Saturday

[what_the_shock]

Miguel was almost afraid of what he might find this week when he got to work, but apparently it was nothing worse than the staff deciding that summer was Officially Here and the menu should reflect that. Which for once was just normal, summery foods.

It did mean the only coffee they had made already was iced, though.

Miguel headed for the coffee machine determinedly. "No. I still need coffee, and I'm probably not the only one."

"But it's hot out!" the busboy protested.

"It'll be hotter if I have to go to the Perk and get a cup just to dump over your head."

After that, they backed off, even if there was a bit of eye-rolling.

Today's Specials:
Chili cheese dog (vegetarian option available)
Watermelon, feta, and mint salad
Lemon sorbet

Luke's was open!

Comments

[intraspective]

"Miguel!" Ino carolled as she wandered in around lunch. "I demand you buy me lunch for ratting my engagement out to Reno."

Yes, that was her excuse and she was sticking to it.

[what_the_shock]

Miguel, having had sufficient coffee by now, laughed.

"I accept my penance. Hope I didn't get you into too much trouble?"

[intraspective]

"He don't like it," she admitted, making a face. "But he ain't never liked Zack. It's complicated world and timelines and job rivalry crap on top of it."

Ino flopped herself down on a stool and planted her elbows on the counter.

Man, this felt nostalgic.

"But he's here 'cause he's mama ducking me anyway, so he's gonna be a pain in the ass anyway."

[what_the_shock]

Miguel laughed. "Yeah, he strikes me as a pain in the ass. He sort of just showed up at our place and bluffed his way into a room. Then again, we at least made him run laps and things for it."

[intraspective]

Ino sniffed, then laughed. "Too bad you didn't make him work harder," she teased. "He deserves any pain you can give him."

[what_the_shock]

"Just for you, I'll see what we can do," Miguel answered cheerfully. "Meanwhile, what can I get you?"

[intraspective]

"What would you recommend?" she asked.

A beat.

"And a chocolate milkshake."

Since she was being nostalgic and all today.

[what_the_shock]

"The special sounds pretty good, if you're into that," Miguel said. "Chili cheese dog?"

[intraspective]

Ino considered that.

"Ain't it kinda too predictable to go by the board?" she wondered.

[what_the_shock]

Miguel shrugged. "What else do you like? I make mean empanadas, if that's more your speed. Or the burgers here are good."

[intraspective]

"I like basically anything so long as it ain't caramel and I don't gotta cook it," Ino admitted cheerfully. "But, please, make me empanadas. Impress me!"

[what_the_shock]

Miguel grinned. "One impressive lunch coming up. And a chocolate milkshake."

He headed back to take over a corner of the kitchen, working on both. "How's your week been?" he called through the window. "Apart from getting an annoying red-headed mother hen?"

[intraspective]

She laughed.

"Not bad, not bad," Ino said, though she had several other answers to that which would be more truthful, but... Miguel was a new friend. Not an old one.

It made a difference.

"I managed to get a sealing scroll working that's only 'bout two centimeters big," she said.

[what_the_shock]

Eh, he could get that. Didn't mean he wouldn't be nosy.

He frowned in thought. "The scroll is, or what it can seal is?" he asked.

[intraspective]

She fished around in her pocket for a moment, then held up a teeny scroll.

"The scroll itself," she said. "It can hold a helluva lot more than that."

[what_the_shock]

"Huh." Miguel set the empanadas in the oil and started on the milkshake while they cooked. "What do you use it for?"

[intraspective]

"This one? Nothin' yet, plannin' to use it for glitter if we get our hands on that fish."

They would get their hands on it eventually, right?

"In general, I use 'em to store things I don't want others to get at. They're sealed in my blood, so people here ain't got a way to get into them easy."

[what_the_shock]

"Oh, right." Miguel grinned. "Glad to hear we're not giving up on that. So this'll hold a ton of glitter?"