![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
closed
Who: Shinji (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
unevoke) & AMERICA (bigstick)
When: UHHH before all the ghosty shenanigans
Where: McCeres, yo.
What: Flipping burgers sucks. Broken soda machines suck more.
Rating/Warning: Nah.
[For the most part, Shinjiro doesn't hate his job at McCeres. It pays a reasonable amount (see: more than zero), keeps decent hours, and no one's complained to the manager yet about his less-than-bubbly demeanor at the drive-thru window. (Number of times he's smiled at customers since starting said job: 0.) But for the most part, things run pretty smoothly.
Or they do until the soda machine breaks and starts firing Coke everywhere. Since it's a pretty dead night and third shift called in late, Shinjiro's the only one manning all the stations for about the next hour and unfortunately, he doesn't know how to deal with broken Coke machines. SO HELLO AMERICA there is one Shinjiro now knocking at your door, looking awfully calm for a guy who's half-covered in Coke.]
Hey, the soda machine broke.
[How do we fix it???]
unevoke) & AMERICA (bigstick)When: UHHH before all the ghosty shenanigans
Where: McCeres, yo.
What: Flipping burgers sucks. Broken soda machines suck more.
Rating/Warning: Nah.
[For the most part, Shinjiro doesn't hate his job at McCeres. It pays a reasonable amount (see: more than zero), keeps decent hours, and no one's complained to the manager yet about his less-than-bubbly demeanor at the drive-thru window. (Number of times he's smiled at customers since starting said job: 0.) But for the most part, things run pretty smoothly.
Or they do until the soda machine breaks and starts firing Coke everywhere. Since it's a pretty dead night and third shift called in late, Shinjiro's the only one manning all the stations for about the next hour and unfortunately, he doesn't know how to deal with broken Coke machines. SO HELLO AMERICA there is one Shinjiro now knocking at your door, looking awfully calm for a guy who's half-covered in Coke.]
Hey, the soda machine broke.
[How do we fix it???]
no subject
he doesn't normally stay this late either, ducking out whenever he wants for the more entertaining things cerealia has to offer but he's trying to save up a bit of cash for a cybuddy and some more stuff for his apartment -- make it nice and cozy, you know? so, he's been working some overtime. he's in the middle of playing plants vs zombies on his iphone when shinji knocks on his door and since it's the only interesting thing that's happen tonight, he's ready to get checking! ]
The... soda machine?
[ a confused expression as he takes in shinji's appearance before walking out the office. he'll nudge shinji on the shoulders to follow him as he heads back to where the chaos is. when he sees it... geez. ]
Oh, applesauce. [ to shinji: ] Hey, kid. You seen anyone mess with thing today?
no subject
But that's not the important thing here, the important thing here's that the main lobby of McCeres is slowly flooding in a sea of sticky caramel liquid. Which, in itself isn't so bad (Coke's a popular product, right??) but someone's going to have to clean it up and that someone's going to have to be him and he really does not relish spending the next hour getting buddybuddy with McCeres' gross floor.
Also, don't invade his personal space, America.
Still, he follows behind obediently, trying to wipe off rivulets of Coke with his apron.]
No. Had a buncha drive throughs awhile ago though, might've happened around then.
[Ah, but wait--]
There was a kid with a skateboard just sittin' around earlier though.
no subject
but he's looking down at his sneakers now which are slowly getting surrounded by soda and... no. okay. time to go fiddle around with the machine. he heads towards it carefully, trying not to slip in the fluid and starts inspecting it when he gets there -- also trying to stay out of the soda's aim while he does. he'll first head to the back to try and see if he can reach the plug, but he'll talk to shinji while he does this. ]
Maybe it got overheated? Could happen. [ but oh. he looks up towards shinji with wide eyes, wagging a finger at him before heading back down ] This kid, you know him? Think he was one of us or a local?
[ he's gonna go beat up a teenager ]
i'm so sorry this is late
While his boss goes to check out the full extent of the machine's damage, Shinji goes to grab a mop from the storage room, hoping that maybe he can soak up enough of the liquidy goodness that it doesn't completely overtake the front. It doesn't take too long, and he's back with mop and bucket as America looks up, the beginnings of some idea in his eyes.]
Looked like a local. But not one of the regulars. [He may only have started working recently but he's already got a good feel for the usual McCeres crowd.] Need a description?
[No, Shinji, don't aid in America's quest to go beat up teenagers.]
pshaw i'm always HERE 4 U
either way, shinji should certainly help him in his quest! he can't seem to reach the plug and with a frown he squints at the back before pressing a hand flat against the machine. in a fit of "humans shouldn't be strong enough to do that" he pushes the machine to the side and finally gets access to the plug. he unplugs it pretty quickly after that, looking around the front to watch as the soda slowly tapers off. ]
Yeah, hit me with it. If he's a local kid, he probably has parents. Get that little shit in trouble, gonna mess with my store.
[ or just beat him up. maybe he should beat him up. put the fear of liberty in him.
he glances over at shinji mopping and makes an approval sound. ]
You get overpay, kid? You should get overpay tonight.
[ america is a very good boss, okay. ]
UR TOO GOOD TO ME
Why did he take this job again? He could have been a janitor and
upped his Courage statworked all by himself.In the meantime, he should probably try and convince his boss not to go around terrorizing local teenagers. The guy swears by saying applesauce, how is he so vindictive against people who mess around with standard fast food machinery?]
Shouldn't he get a warning or something first? Maybe he did it on accident.
[That's a terrible excuse. Why is he defending a punk kid? There is no good side in this argument.]
NO YOU'RE THE ONE WHO IS TOO GOOD HERE
Think about it, man. If he's done it once, he's probably done it before and if his parents are obviously not gonna teach him how to be an adult -- then he just has to deal with the consequences. Tellin' his parents is the nicest thing I could do!
[ he's gonna shift the soda machine so the back of it is fully facing them and then start looking around for a screwdriver so he can fuss with it. he's gonna fix this machine, by golly! ]
Little brats like that don't get far in life if they're not stopped quickly, gotta snuff it out quick. Like communism.
[ what??? ]
NO THAT'S STILL YOU
What the hell is happening, why are they suddenly talking about communism in the middle of a fast food joint? This isn't what he signed up for, where is his non-America adult?]
...Communism?
[It's a disbelieving echo because, really? He's not a politics guy, slept though most of his Japanese politics class third year to be honest, and this seems like an awfully serious conversation to have in the middle of fixing the soda machine.]
I'm not sure you can snuff out communism that fast. Or bad behavior.
X(
You can if you have the right attitude! Kick thinkin' like that to the curb and you won't get saddled with bullshit like broken soda machines or red telephones. [ a pause and he stares off to this distance, sneering. ] Fuckin' red telephones.
[ and then back to normal! he's found his screwdriver now, from the janitor's closet and is going in for repairs. hope you enjoy this quality time with your boss, shinji. ]
x(!!!!
He mops up another section of the floor, staring at America all the time. The first part of that impassioned speech had vaguely made sense, right up to 'broken soda machines' and 'red telephones'. Bad memories, maybe?? He won't ask. It's probably safer not to ask.
But....what else is safe to talk about?]
You want an apron so you don't get covered in soda?
[That. Aprons have gotta be safe, right?]
no subject
An apron? [ he blinks, surprised. it totally didn't occur to him. ] Oh dude, hell yeah! That'd be sweet of ya.
[ aw, shinji is a great employee! so thoughtful and polite. this guy is gonna go far, he thinks. ]
no subject
Setting his mop off to the side, Shinji sets forth for the break room and the small drawer that holds all extra employee aprons. It's a task that's short-lived, unfortunately, and he's back two minutes later with a neatly folded apron, which he hands out to America.]
There's towels too, in case you want one of those.
[But preferably try not to get too much soda on yourself.]
no subject
still, america looks pleased when he gets the apron and slides it on pretty quick. he's able to pop open the back of the soda machine soon after and... boy, the puff of smoke that floats out of it is enough to make him cough. he waves a hand and squints -- this doesn't look right at all. ]
... Hey pal, you sure this was just some kid?
no subject
He steps forward, squints at the soda dispenser, and when America asks his question, he takes a good moment to think over what he remembers happening a few hours ago.]
I didn't see anyone else. [He's sure he would've remembered anyone else looking sketchy.] Could it have been some sort of...delayed reaction?
[Is that even possible.]
no subject
he'll let out a huff of breath at shinji's response, dragging a hand over his face. ]
Maybe. But if some kid could do that, this means this thing was broken already and they gave us shitty equipment? Aw, nuts. I'm gonna have to call management!
[ ew bureaucracy ]
no subject
Shinji stares at America for a moment, sympathizing with his plight a little bit but mostly wondering:]
Isn't that the kinda thing you check for when you open a place? Or is that hard to tell with these machines?
[Did he get saddled with a slacker for a boss.]
no subject
I got here just like everyone else and this place was already running. How was I supposed to know their equipment might be faulty? Gosh darn shysters are what they are, I tell ya.
[ america you're being an old man again ]
no subject
Outwardly he'll keep watching America putz around with the soda machine and finish up his mopping.]
Should I call the company, tell 'em the machine's broken?
[Or go out scouting for some sort of food industry parts catalog...]
how are both of our threads with shinji insulting mine + a shopping catalog
america does nod and waves shinji off, continuing to fuss with the machine. ]
Yeah, the number's on the pinboard in my office, next to a list of what we have. Compare it to the catalog on the shelf, tell 'em ours is broken. I'll try and fix this in the meantime.
[ good thing it's a slow night...... ]
because i'm uncreative apparently TIME TO SPICE THIS THREAD UP
They all stare in relative silence for a moment before the guy in front, clearly not the brightest bulb in the closet, pipes up incredulously:]
Hey, it worked!
[Three guesses as to what he's talking about.]
I LIKE YOUR SPICE
and america's not dense enough to misunderstand that. ]
Shinjiro! Hold down the fort!
[ he gets up pretty quickly, tossing down his screwdriver and takes a running start at the teen, vaulting over the counter. the teen shrieks and runs past his friends and out the door -- america, hot on his tail.
this... is your boss, shinji. after a moment, america's voice rings out. ]
GET BACK HERE YOU PUNK.
SPICES EVERYTHING!!!
But weirder shit has happened in his life so it's with casual nonchalance that Shinji resumes his mopping job, pausing only when the snoozer in the back booth ambles sleepily towards the counter and asks if he's got any you-know-what on his you-know-where. Shinji sends him back to his comfy booth with a free order of large fries taken out of his paycheck.
(In the meantime, please don't beat the kid to a bloody pulp, America.)]
I FEEL SO SPICED
but he does return ten minutes later, when most of the teen's friends have cleared out, with said teen thrown over his shoulder like a bad of potatoes. The Teen as he shall now be referred to is spouting a bunch of profanities and there's a large snore in the corner from their friend in the back. ]
Yo, Shinjiro! I caught our dirty little rat.
that icon is traumatizing, i hope you know
He sets the mop off to the side (there's not much left anyway) and moves up to the counter. And because he's still yet to grasp America's odd beliefs on How Things Should Actually Work, he suggests an option that sounds entirely reasonable to him.]
You need me to call the cops?
i'm so glad
meanwhile america's dragging a chair over and plopping it down by the counter. he sets the teen down and gives him a look to make him stay put. then he looks up at shinji. ]
Give me five minutes to question him and feel free!
[ and then he looks at the teen again, who looks scared shitless. what did america do back there?!
he crouches down and opens his mouth to start question when...
ah.
yes.
the teen just peed himself. ]
... Oh my god. That's so gross!
you're such a harsh overlord squee :(
At least, that's what flashes through Shinji's mind first (aren't you glad you've made that sort of impression, America) and it's with mild concern on his face that he makes his way out from behind the counter to approach the interrogation happening in the middle of McCeres.
An interrogation that doesn't get very far when there's suddenly the loud pronouncement of pants-wetting.
Oy vey.]
You did grab him and carry him over your shoulder. [Rationally pointed out.] He probably thought you were going to beat him up.