Context: You've worked at the same diner for eight years in the hopes of one day owning it, even though your boss keeps stringing you along. You keep your head up, regardless, and treat the diners like they were family. One customer, however, your boss has exclusively served for all the time you've been there. He's tall, built, and heavily scarred, giving off quite an intimidating aura. Today might just be the first day you ever talk to the mysterious man... Is he as bad as he seems?

Setting: Sweet's Diner

Tags:[AMM4A][Acquaintances to ?][Gossiping Waiter Speaker][Quiet Southern Dom Speaker][Diner Owner Speaker][Kindly Diner Staff Listener][Intimidating]to[Gentlemanly][Defending Listener][Southern Accent][Flirting?][Making Friends][Hugs][VERY Protective][CW: Violence]

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[D] = Dominic, one of the waiters

[B] = Bill, the owner of the diner / your boss

[J] = John, the mysterious diner

[Scene opens in a 50s-style diner]

[SFX: General diner fanfare]

[You head in to begin your shift at the same diner you’ve worked at for eight years. One of your oldest friends meets you immediately]

[D] “Careful, Sweets. The boss is in a mood.”

[Pause?]

[Dominic nods over to where your supervisor is nervously dealing with a very, very large man]

[D] “Supervisor had to step in this time... He has to deal with Mr. Werewolf… Guy just being here always puts him on edge.”

[Pause…]

[D] “Pfft, I call him that because the guy is MASSIVE and has shaggy hair. Plus, I’m pretty sure he’s killed people…”

[Pause?]

[D] “YES, that is why everyone is hiding in the kitchen! Regular or not, he’s scary!”

[Pause?]

[D] “Yeah, the owner usually takes his order, but um… Mr. Werewolf kind of took him outside, beat his ass, and then left him in the dumpster because he copped a feel on one of the younger waitresses earlier...”

[Pause.]

[D] “Wait, you’re gonna deal with him? Are you sure??? That guy is HUGE and TERRIFYING and he hardly ever does more than grunt at people or whoop some asses…”

[Pause]

[D] “Uh-huh, yeah, I’m sure he’s got a nice side. Totally. I’m gonna go see if Bill is still alive, good freaking luck!”

[SFX: Dominic hurrying off and the Listener approaching the mystery man]

[You approach and your supervisor all but beelines off]

[Pause <3]

[He looks down at you, unreadable]

[J] “...Mornin’.”

[Pause?]

[He stares you down with those intense blue eyes like he’s processing that you’re talking to him]

[J] “...Coffee. Black. Please.”

[Pause]

[SFX: Coffee being poured]

[The massive man nods politely to you]

[J] “Thank ya.”

[Pause?]

[He pauses from reaching for his cup, looking back down at you]

[J] “...My name?”

[Pause]

[J] “...How come?”

[Pause…]

[J] “... ‘Cause I’m in here a lot, and you reckon it’d be nice to have a name to call me instead of ‘Sir’? Hunh… What if I like bein’ called ‘Sir’?”

[Pause <3]

[J] “...Then you’ll just assume my Mama named me ‘Sir’ and call me that?”

[You smile and, to your astonishment, the mysterious man lets out a low rumble of a chuckle]

[Pause]

[J] “Hehe… Got a little bite to you, eh? I like that. Name’s John. Nothin’ exciting or anything. Sure it must be disappointin’ to all yer workers hidin’ in the kitchen and listenin’ in.”

[Pause…]

[D, fainltly] “Oh, THERE’S the dish rag I’ve been looking for!”

[SFX: Sudden and very obvious dishwashing]

[Pause]

[J] “Nah, don’t apologize on their behalf. I’m a big guy, got a lot of scars, and I got that… what’d Barb call it… ‘restin’ bitch face’, I reckon. Not much for talkin’ either. Spook people wherever I go.”

[Pause?]

[J] “What do I do for work? Construction. Nothin’ exciting. Working on fixing up an old house fer a family of five.”

[Pause <3]

[Some color tinges his cheeks, but the long days in the sun make it very subtle]

[J] “Well, I dunno if I’d call that ‘sweet’. Ain’t like I’m doin’ it for free… Look, I’m just a good ol’ boy that keeps to himself. Nothin’ special here, certainly nothin’ worth taking up a sweet thing like you’s time.”

[Pause]

[He shakes his head and takes a sip of his coffee. He’s trying to hide a smile but it’s not working]

[J] “Yeah, well… I’m glad you think I’m nice to talk to, darlin’. Don’t feel like you need to thank me for tossin’ that squirrely little prick out on his ass, either. That poor lil girl didn’t come in to get felt up by some creep… You don’t need that kind of filth in yer business…”

[...Pause]

[His eyebrows shoot upward]

[J] “Oh… That there WAS the owner of this diner? Huh… Always figured he was lyin’. Aw Hell, I guess I best go get him out of the dumpster, then… Sorry, sweetheart, with how much work you do ‘round here, I figured you owned the place. Things certainly got better when you started… damn, eight years ago?”

[...Pause]

[He sips his coffee again as you admit to some of your woes]

[J] “Mmh… So he agreed that you could take over once you put in ‘nough work… but no work was ever enough, huh?”

[John stands to his full height without clarification]

[Pause?]

[J] “Don’t worry yer pretty head. I’m gonna go handle it.”

[With that, he walks out of the building without another word. Dominic is by you in a flash]

[D] “I can’t believe you just… TALKED to him! Oh my God, that man is terrifying, and you’re just here, FLIRTING!!!”

[Pause!!]

[D] “Oh, you were SO flirting! You got Mr. Werewolf or whatever they’re calling him to white knight for you. Twice!”

[Pause!!!]

[SFX: A bit of a distant struggle]

[You both exchange looks before John drags your half-dead boss into the diner and drops him in front of you]

[SFX: A harsh thud and [B] groaning]

[D] “Bill! You’re still alive!”

[Pause!]

[B, wheezing] “I-I’m sorry, Sweets…”

[John lets out a grunt and your boss almost whines]

[B] “A-And the diner is yours! I'll do the paperwork up right now! I-I promise!”

[...]

[J] “You’ve more than earned it, darlin’. Only employee here who gives a shit about the people who come in here lookin’ fer some peace.”

[D] “I… am not going to argue with that, you’re very large.”

[J, gruffly] “I’ve been told. Go on, Bill. Git’ yer ass on that paperwork. You got til I finish my coffee.”

[SFX: Bill scrambling off / the diner ambiance resuming]

[John sits back down on the stool, right back to thoughtful]

[...Pause]

[J] “Yer welcome.”

[Pause?]

[John huffs what might be a laugh]

[J] “Yer don’t gotta offer me free flapjacks, darlin’. We may have never talked ‘fore, but you’ve always been kind to me in yer own way. Kind to all yer customers, even the bad ones… Got a soft spot fer humble folks with good hearts, I guess.”

[Pause <3]

[J] “No, I’m payin’ fer the coffee, too… Gotta support local small businesses, right?”

[Pause <3]

[He pauses, seeming flummoxed, for once]

[J] “...A hug? I-... Guhh… Will it get you to stop trying to thank me?”

[Pause!]

[He sighs and opens his big old arms, almost sarcastic about it]

[J] “Fine. Bring it in, I guess.”

[You hug him and he hugs you. Subtle muscle pushes from under his jacket while he gives your back a few awkward pats]

[SFX: Pat pat]

[Pause <3]

[J] “...Don’t go fallin’ asleep in my arms, now, Sweets. I know I’m big and warm, but I gotta get heading out here ‘fore long.”

[Pause]

[You go to pull away but he lingers a little longer]

[...]

[J] “I, uh… Yeah, I’m lettin’ go. Now. Yup.”

[SFX: His jacket rustling as he pulls away]

[Pause <3]

[John smiles a little. The vivid scar carving into his lips up under his right eye darkens from the effort]

[J] “Well, m’ glad I made yer day brighter, Sweets. Lord knows you always brighten mine up.”

[Pause?]

[He outright blushes this time and quickly yanks his hat down over his face]

[J] “Y-Yeah this is the first time we’re talkin’, but… I, uh, I gotta get headin’. See you later!”

[He tosses down a twenty and hustles out of there, as best a man his size can]

[SFX: John vacating the diner]

[You watch him go, aware Dominic is smirking right next to you]

[D] “Someone has a crussssshhhh~”.

[Pause]

[Dominic laughs]

[D] “Ooooh, was that your first official order as my boss?”

[Pause!]

[D] “You got it, Boss! I’ll make sure the counter is all nice and shiny for your ~boyfriend~.”

[With that, they are off, leaving you to wonder what time it is. Your shift starts at 8 AM, usually…]

[...]

[It’s 8:30 AM]

[To be continued]

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Note: Writing all of these Southern characters has made my own Tennessean accent a thousand times more powerful, and I hate it >:(

Second note: Fuck it, have two posts, I love you guys <3