Getting that retraction

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

It wasn't that Sunshine couldn't take a joke. This particular brand of humor bugged her a little more than it would've somebody who hadn't grown up in the small restaurant business, where that kind of rumor could actually shut a place down. But she knew that wasn't likely to happen here. The real issue was that, having grown up with two younger brothers, she believed that when someone played a prank on you, you pranked back fast and hard enough that they'd never attempt such a thing again.


Accordingly, after the lunch rush on the day after the tabloid's publication, Sunshine called Tim back to the kitchen.

"I asked a couple of boys - do you know Kira and Setsuna? - to come by this afternoon, but I may need to duck out for a minute. If they do show while I'm out, do you think you could bring them back here to the break area," (a corner of the kitchen she'd furnished with a few chairs, books, and a little vase of flowers), "and make sure they stick around till I'm back? I'll leave a few pastries out and you can give them anything they want to drink."

(The pastries would be perfectly fine, of course. She'd never actually doctor her food. But she did kind of wonder if they'd be suspicious of it.)

Comments

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

She blinked. "Um. No, I don't think you mentioned that. What do you mean, an earlier version?"

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"The Kon I knew was a couple years older, this one is well, not dead, and still a part of Young JUstice, which was a team that disbanded after something," Tim explained. "When he died, he was part of the Teen Titans."

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

"...Right. I can see how that would be confusing." Sunshine put one hand on her hip and tried to work this out. "Wait, so, he's come from your past? Have you...well, have you told him that he dies?"

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"My nervous breakdown? Was kind of about that, not to mention a few screaming nightmares a week" Tim admitted. "Rose is from my future too. I'm not certain why he's from the past, while Rose is from the future."

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

She shook her head in dismayed amazement. "I will never get used to this place. Gods and angels."

Impulsively, she put one arm around Tim in a quick half-hug. (Hopefully one that wouldn't be too offensive to the sensibilities of a very reserved teenage boy.) "You know if there's anything I can do..."

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"Gods and angels aren't really uncommon where I come from," Tim admitted, not leaning into the hug, but not pulling away. "Time travel though, from what I know, is generally left to the Flashes. And Rose and Kon are keeping an eye on me. They both have ways of enforcing their wills. I think Rose enjoys it." Enjoys sitting on him until complied.

OOC: reposted with correct journal this time

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

She laughed, pulling back. "I meant...it's an expression. Like 'oh gods' or 'Shiva wept' or...you know what, never mind."

"I should probably get going." And by going, she meant lurking nearby till Kira and Setsuna arrived.

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"Oh. Do you have a timeframe of when I can expect you back?" Tim questioned curiously.

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

"Shouldn't be too long." She hoped. "Just have to take care of something. If any customers come, I should be back by the time they've got drinks and are ready to order."

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"I can manage then," Tim nodded. He wasn't willing to pry into his bosses affairs.

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

"Thanks. Back in a few minutes," she said, and went out.

Her lurking skills weren't especially flash cold, but in her advantage was the fact that Kira and Setsuna had no reason to expect she wouldn't be in the restaurant.

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

Tim took the opportunity to relax alone and away from his friends, without them having a reason to check up on him or worry because he's disappeared off to brood, again.

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"Back in the kitchen," Tim called.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

At the moment, Duzell (the kitten) and Katou were out of the Auditorium, Kira's cigarettes were laying on a table, in plain view, and other items of importance were huddled together in a corner -- Sara's things and Katou's things.

Setsuna certainly didn't understand amusement when some angry girl was likely to smack you around (it was what he was accustomed to, and wasn't sure what to expect from Rae), so Kira's mood, more or less, only made Setsuna a bit annoyed. Of course Kira was happy, Setsuna thought, Kira liked getting smacked around. All the same, when he heard Tim's voice, he turned to Kira and commented, "That doesn't sound like Rae."

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

Rae, meanwhile, was making her way to the Auditorium. Nothing seemed to be locked, somewhat to her relief, but she had to poke around a bit till she found the office where the boys were staying.

She hesitated for a minute after she found it, though: her world wasn't big on encroaching on other people's personal space. But, she reasoned, she really wasn't looking to harm anything or invade their privacy. This was enough to get her through the door and looking around for something grabbable.

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"Hey," Tim nodded towards them as they came into the kitchen. "Don't know if you remember me Kira, but I'm Tim. How're you doing Setsuna?"

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

"Hey, Tim! How are you doing? You work here?" Setsuna asked in a way of greeting, sounding a little more relaxed. "Where's Rae?"

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Tim answered Setsuna. "I'm the waitstaff. And I'm doing alright. Rae said she had to step out for a bit, but you're welcome to hang out back here, and eat pastries until she gets here." Tim gestured to the break area. "It is nice to meet you when both of us are sober."

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

"Oh wow! Food!" Setsuna said in surprise, staring at the pastries. "I didn't think she'd want to feed us...." Maybe Rae wasn't mean when she was upset, after all?

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

A pack of cigarettes. Perfect. A good mix of impersonality (because really, Sunshine didn't want to go rooting through the kids' personal stuff) and something they wouldn't want to lose. She didn't imagine it was all that easy to find smokes around here, considering there wasn't even readily available alcohol.

She removed one cigarette thoughtfully, then tucked the pack into her jacket pocket.

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"It is what she does for a living here," Tim remarked, taking a pastry of his own and nibbling. Waitering was hungry work. "Not a problem. For what? That tabloid thing? I think Rose was planning to light something on fire with them. Did you insult her in it? I don't believe she'd spit in the food, and if she did, she probably would have warned me not to eat it." Tim blinked an thought about it for a split second. "Not at all, we discussed your arrival, got to talking about my friends here at the park, Rose and Kon, I know you know them, and then she had to go run an errand. What have you two been up to? And would you like something to drink?"