Oswin flinched in horror at her arrival, fearing repercussion, but breathed a sigh of relief as she appeared more concerned for his wellbeing that maintaining the status quo of her restaurant. As she lifted the weight of his arm with ease and made some headway with his body, he could not help but glance at the support of the table, silently giving thanks for how it had not received so much as a scratch.
I know my forehead’s probably fine, but I can’t always guarantee on everything else coming out spotless…
Oswin looked down at his knees shamefully; he had barely been out of the college for a few hours, all on his own, and had already managed to greatly disappoint two people, possibly four by proxy. The busted-up bench was still half-working, though; at least he had managed to not ruin Billie’s seat through his ridiculous escapades.
“Sorry.”
He blinked for a moment. “I, uh…” His gaze traveled around as he observed the footwear of all three other occupants of the booth. “I think we’re ready to order now.”
Looking down at Oswin, and then back at the bench seat; Pat let out a sigh.
“As long as you’re okay hun.” She said, concern for Oswin evident in her voice.
Stepping between Pat and Oswin, a waitress placed a serving tray on the table.
She was young with mid length blonde hair kept in a messy bun, and sapphire blue eyes.
“I’ll make sure I take care of them Pat.” She said with a smile, her accent sounding familiar - but clearly not a local.
“Thanks Darlin.” Pat said, beginning to walk away. “Folks, Cass will be sure to make you feel at home.” She said, tapping Altier on the shoulder, she continued. “Good seein you Alt.” Then she looked right at Billie. “Good seein you too Billie.” She said, a reassuring smile on her face. She looked over her shoulder to Cass and pointed to the table, making a circling motion with her finger.
“Make sure their tab is on the house today.
“Yes Ma’am.” Cass replied.
Pat chuckled to herself as she walked back behind the bar, chatting up the patrons as she went.
“Hope you all don’t mind, today is my first day.” Cass said, placing glasses of water on the table.
Looking down at Oswin, she smiled.
“Here,” she said taking hold of his hand and hoisted him to his feet with little effort on her part.
Then with a sigh, she pulled out a tablet and asked; “Are you all ready to order?”
Even in her current flustered state, Billie couldn’t help but crack a tiny smile that went as fast as it came, not realizing that the man was in a position to clearly see her face due to her staring intensely at the table directly in front of her. She found his comment about Gracie’s appearance extremely on point. It also felt nice and almost comforting to hear the familiar speech and mannerisms of a fellow local, after listening to these two bizarre strangers.
What was his name again?
Billie’s face grew bright red when the meaning of the man’s words set in. Without giving a reply, she sharply turned her head to look out the window with a grumpy expression, and started scrutinizing one of the cars in the parking lot, as if she suddenly and unexpectedly found it extremely interesting.
she heard shuffling and the kid’s voice to her side indicating that he finally recognized that he sat too close to her, and was about to celebrate the prospect of getting more personal space, when a concerned thought entered her mind. It was an educated guess based on what she’d already observed about the monochrome kid. The bench might not-
Billie was turning towards the kid, about to reach out her hand to stop him, when the bench gave in under his weight with a loud cracking noise. She wasn’t startled by it and showed no visible signs of surprise. Luckily, many years of hunting taught her to not be surprised by sudden movements and unexpected loud sounds. Plus, she half-expected this to happen from the very beginning, she was just hoping that it wouldn’t. Her hopes of this table not drawing the attention of the entire diner were crumbling before her eyes.
She didn’t miss the clear metallic sound of his head smashing into the table leg either. She probably would have started to connect the dots about the nature of this strange being if wasn’t concerned for his well-being at the moment. After all, his fall looked nasty. I hope he’s not passed out or anything, that would suck…
Hearing his voice from under the table, she let out an almost unnoticeable sigh of relief.
“Are you… okay?”
Hearing the sound of rushing from all over the diner, Billie looked around with a sour expression on her face. Everyone’s looking… But her heart dropped when she saw that the diner’s owner was making her way towards the booth.
Maybe she won’t see me if all her attention is on the kid?
She tried to move as little as she could in an attempt to blend in with the wall behind her. Unfortunately, that trick only worked in the forest and with her camo clothes…
As an unfamiliar waitress took over from Patricia and the woman started walking away, Billie thought that danger was evaded and, concluding that something had to be done about the fallen kid as he showed no signs of trying to stand up, she slowly moved in to help him. She awkwardly outstretched her arms to grab onto his sides when suddenly…
Billie immediately froze in place with a blank expression on her face. She sheepishly mumbled something in response that probably meant something along the lines of “nice to see you too Mrs McElroy” as her face rapidly changed color to crimson red once again.
How can she be so nice to me after everything that’s happened?
Still standing in the same awkward position, stunlocked by Pat’s words, Billie observed the young nice-looking waitress that she didn’t recognize, Cass, effortlessly help Oswin up with just one hand. She doesn’t have nearly as much muscle as me, yet she lifted up someone who just broke a bench with his weight without breaking a sweat?!
Billie briefly contemplated how Altier was the only normal person she met today and returned to her seat, trying to pretend like nothing just happened.
Oswin glanced in utter confusion at her maneuver, too perplexed by whatever it was she was attempting to do to try and assist her motion and too terrified of her presence to attempt to stop her. I can literally see her abs through her shirt… thing… whatever that is. I don’t understand fashion.
Alt?
As in, Alter Ego?
It was too late. Oswin was now picturing Altier as a secret undercover operative, wearing a brilliant disguise, and would at some point soon dramatically reveal himself to be a chiseled, hard-jawed secret agent, the one behind their recruitment.
…And the next thought he had reminded him that reality existed and there was no reason to get caught up in the fanciful when reality was just as ridiculous.
Billie.
The name carried no significance to him, although it did call to mind the fact that she existed, that her hands were inches away from awkwardly touching his sides as if she intended to tickle him, and that he was lying on his back on a restaurant floor with his feet up in the air.
What kind of a girl’s name is Billie?
Thankfully, the situation he found himself in was quickly and efficiently resolved before it could become any more awkward on his part.
Suddenly back on his feet, Oswin’s mechanical eyes clearly showed his utter amazement at her feat, gawking at her continued calm demeanor. Maybe it was just really good leverage or something? Or does she secretly have unbelievably defined abs as well?
…Is this what Purgatory is like? Do all the women have the athletic build of greek goddesses or something?
I think I’m getting smaller in real time.
“I uh-” Oswin snapped out of his stupor, glancing back at the rest of the assembled party. Altier’s appearance was that of a country bumpkin, enough good nature in his down-to-earth attitude and approach that he was tolerable even at a glance, but his demeanor and bearing of being half-drunk and forcing himself into things uninvited definitely soured first impressions more than anything could improve them.
Gracie, on the other hand, had the opposite effect, with an appearance so jarring and unconventional it made even glancing at her a serious chore. Nature had dedicated its brightest colors for its chiefest dangers, and Gracie had chosen all the bright colors she could possibly cram into her appearance. However, her demeanor and attitude revealed the awkward, almost forced conversations that erupted out of her mouth were trying desperately to hide the vulnerability underneath, oddly making her more endearing if the rest of her could be tolerated.
And Billie… Was terrifying. She slouched like a college student neck-deep in studies, avoided eye contact like all the other college students did, and did her best to cloak herself from everyone else in the room, yet her muscular physique and clear history of traumatic pain made her equal parts pitiable and intimidating. If the patches on her arms, appearing both raw and scar-like at the same time, were incapable of stopping her, it would be wise to never get on her bad side.
“…Cheeseburger, medium, extra spice.” He awkwardly gripped his opposite elbow with his hand. I hope somebody here at this table is extra hungry.
“More than you know…wait what about a celebration?”
Ugh. Typical.
She rolled her eyes. Her mechanical hand clicked as she drummed her fingers against the table.
“What’s that look for-”
“Oh come on!” Gracie clutched her backpack tightly.
“Be careful!” She grimaced, looking at the mess unfolding before her.
Her eyes widened. NO WAY. THIS GUY IS COMPLETELY MACHINE?!
She eyeballed him, her eyes scouring his form for any giveaway, aside from the synthetic skin. Now that she had a good idea, it seemed likely… What happened to you?
She let out a laugh, which combusted into a fit of giggles as the words left his mouth.
“Better now, I guess.”
She made a goofy face.
Her eyes became huge saucers, as she stared at the woman, her mind a railroad going at the speed of light, with zero plans of stopping. HowdidshedothatwhyisshesostrongholycowissheacyborgorgeneticcanshetellshouldIask?
“Uuuh…yeah. A…medium burger with extra spice…and a cookie.” She grinned sheepishly.
“Sorry. Not much of a regular around here…” At least none of O.B.C.D. are here…or L.E.O…
A smile came to her face as she saw the kid gawk in disbelief. Guess I’m not the only one…
“Anyone else?”
Gracie asked, shrugging. She didn’t know what to make of the other three.
Billie seemed to be on edge, constantly seething with repressed emotion. Painkillers, drinks, the whole shindig. It spelled itself out.
And she prayed that Billie wouldn’t notice her own.
Altier just…look, he reeked like a dead squirrel. He seemed obnoxious, and annoying. Frankly, she couldn’t care less about him. He seemed oblivious, and dumber than dirt.
And Oswin… What was his deal?
He was so…young? Almost. He certainly had the biggest childlike innocence Gracie had ever seen. Oh well.
Billie sighed quietly and rolled her eyes. Are we really going to order four of exactly the same thing one by one, wasting this girl’s time?
Having worked as a waitress for quite some time in the past, she knew from experience how annoying it was when clients did that. Her sympathy towards a fellow waitress overpowered her unwillingness to communicate, so she spoke up reluctantly, cutting Gracie off.
“We’ll have four of what the kid just said…” she stated, gesturing at Oswin, then added “…and one beer…” she threw a short glance at Altier’s bearded face, remembering his words from earlier, “…and one coffee.”
Surely she had enough cash for a burger and a beer, right?
Suddenly, a realization struck her. Didn’t Pat just say that the tab is on the house? She nervously tapped her finger on the table, unsure how to be. Is it okay if I eat here for free after everything?
Altier watched the chaos unfold from a boy repositioning himself on a bench. He mouthed an, “ouch,” but made no attempt to get up or check on the boy. With how loud and scenic it was, there would be plenty of others to help the lad. And instead, he tried to stifle a laugh and went into a small coughing fit as his lungs tried to make the ha’s public.
Before Patricia and the others arrive, however, Altier does give a quiet comment.
“Good job, we’re getting served early.”
“Likewise ma’am,” he gave in quick response and a quicker thanks once she stated things were on the house.
When Patricia revealed who wall hugger was, things fully clicked into place. He would have said something, but then their new friend asked about orders. He opened up the menu, finger ready on the items to emphasize what he wanted. Only for Billie to beat him before he could say anything. Well, anything about orders. He collected the group’s menus and had them ready to hand to Cass.
“A bit early to start happy hour,” he said while collecting those menus. “I’d save it for later, but, ah, what do I know. Even my mother would eat dessert first.”
Now addressing Cass, Altier said to her, “A pleasure meeting you Cass. What brings you to god’s waiting room?”
Cass raised a curious eyebrow at Billie and then over to Altier for confirmation.
“Nice meeting you too. As for me, I’m just here doing business for a friend.” She said, reaching into the pocket on her apron and removing four small ear pieces and laying them on the table.
Then pointing at the menu once more she said, “Go ahead and order what you really want. The meal was covered regardless of what Pat said.”
Looking over at Gracie she smiled.
“So that’s four orders of the cheeseburger with extra spice, one with a cookie, one with a beer - I’m going to assume the strongest we have on tap, a coffee,” looking at Altier, “How would you like that?”
Altier gave a light shrug to Cass and rolled his right hand’s wrist, palm upwards, towards Billie’s direction to say he guesses she could have it.
“Ah, one of god’s messengers. Should have known. Well Pat knows the secret, but give it to me mostly dark with a small spit of cream, a nice helping of sugar, and a splash of salt.”
As Altier answered the coffee question, he grabbed one of the ear pieces and placed it in his right ear. For his real order, he asks for Mrs. MacHash’s Prized Hog. A specialized breakfast burger where the meat patty is a large deep fried hashbrown, with eggs for lettuce, an unhealth amount of bacon, several slices of bananas serving as pickles, and buns that are secretly pancakes shaped as a typical burger bun.
Once again, she remembered her late grandfather’s words: There ain’t no better cure for hangover than a mug of cold beer early in the mornin’. He was a wise man who always had wise things to say, so she never questioned that logic and stuck with it.
Billie raised her eyes at the man. So far he hasn’t shown any visible signs of recognizing her, which was reassuring. She wished it stayed that way.
“Never too early in company like this,” she said as she threw a short glance at Gracie, and then back at the table.
Billie slowly looked over at the four small objects that the waitress just put on the table. They were certainly some type of communication devices. Oh, so that’s how it works, huh… is this tiny bit of secrecy really worth the effort though?
She cautiously reached out her hand to grab one, but waited before putting it in her ear, eyeing the others to see how they would act.
Billie’s eyes darted between the people present at the table in utter confusion.
So wait, are they actually going to bring the code word burgers or is it just another part of this secret nonsense? If they’re bringing them, then why ask to order actual meals in addition? That’d be too much food for anyone… or are they going to replace them with what we actually want?
Of course, she kept all of these questions to herself. Even if she was confused, she’d rather sit quietly and hope that everything would figure itself out somehow.
Either way, no matter what they brought, Billie would probably eat it. She wasn’t picky with her food, mostly because she never really had the opportunity to pick.
Completely oblivious about the meaning of Altier’s gesture, she gave him a look full of confusion. Why was he pointing at her and not anyone else at the table?
Welp, that’s that. I guess that makes sense as to how this works.
She shrugged, and grabbed one, eyeballing it. Huh. That’s some good quality tech.
“Yeah, can I get that medium rare?” She shuffled again, her fingers playing with the zipper of her backpack.
A part of her just wanted to dig out something and tinker with it right then and there, but she stopped herself, knowing that SOMEBODY was probably very aware of who she was and what she screws with.
She huffed, and rolled her eyes. Her fingers tapped impatiently.
“I don’t get it. Is it the clothes? The demeanor? What?? Because something is ticking you off, jelly belly.”
Oswin gawked quite visibly at the presence of the ear pieces. He wanted to burst out into questions - Is one of these for me? Where did these get made? do you have any more of those on you? How did you get to be so strong? If you and Billie arm wrestled, who would win? Does every employee here get those cool ear pieces? How can I apply for a job? - but decided to keep quiet for now.
Seeing two of the devices getting snatched up, Oswin gingerly lifted one of the remaining pair from the table and gawked even further at it in his fingertips. “I wonder…” He felt one ear briefly, and after deciding the device was clearly not shaped to go in that one, he swapped hands and began feeling the other one.
“Huh?” Oswin turned, one hand holding the device and the other feeling the outside of his ear. “Oh, the- uh…”
“…Make it three.” He mumbled, “I c- I can’t… eat anything.”
As Altier named the specific menu item he desired, Oswin leaned over the menu to get a good look at the ingredients and felt his face rapidly shift from an expression of morose dejection to one of panic and horror, quickly straightening to get away from the listing on the menu.
“Okay maybe it’s better that I can’t eat.” He nervously played with his collar. “I wonder if anyone here knows CPR.”
“Uhh,” Oswin glanced between Gracie and Billie, getting an idea of the tension being generated. “I think it’s the bright colors. My biology course teacher said that bright colors in the wild indicate poisons or some other kind of danger-”
He flailed suddenly, righting himself just before he could spill backwards. A glance reminded him that he broke the bench he had been sitting on, and another glance told him that there was just enough space on the remaining bench - securely placed just over the center support - for him to sit… and give Billie absolutely no room for comfort.
His eyes met hers briefly, but quickly looked away, as he straightened himself with a guilty expression and resumed playing with his collar. He couldn’t be so presumptuous, not after that nonsense.
OOC:
Seems as though ya put part of your response inside ajtazt’s quote @BynariDistress
Billie lowered her eyebrows as the kid mumbled these words. Like at all? Is he serious?
Suddenly she started putting all pieces of the puzzle together. Can’t eat, heavy, cameras for eyes, sounds like metal, grey skin… is he a robot or something? Billie was never keeping up with technology. She knew of the existence of synthetic limbs, but had no idea whatsoever if such a thing as a fully mechanical being was even possible. However, all the clues were pointing towards it. She didn’t know what to make of this. If he was a robot, maybe interacting with him was going to be a bit easier? Or would that make it harder?
Billie couldn’t help but agree. Some items on the menu were quite disgusting, even for her.
But how can he be a robot? He talks so… normally.
Billie looked in the direction of Gracie with a sour look on her face, trying to avoid any actual eye contact and shrugged, not having anything to say. Not that she disliked this girl, it was just that she was so unlike anyone she had ever met before. She does get offended easily though, she thought, remembering Gracie’s reaction to Altier’s comment from earlier.
Billie perked up a little, just for a brief moment. She knew that fact. Except, she learned it from her grandfather when he took her hunting for the first time. It was his way of explaining what to avoid in the forest.
Billie looked up at Oswin, who was looking quite miserable standing over the leftovers of his half of the bench. Suddenly, she felt like she was partially guilty for this. After all, the kid only moved away because he thought that he was bothering her. Maybe If she didn’t act the way she did, this wouldn’t have happened.
She awkwardly reached out to him in a quiet voice, “you can sit here, I guess…”
OOC:
Yea. I hate editing on my phone -_- but the late ■■■■■ basically guarantees that I won’t have access to my laptop.
“I’ll bring it out fresh. She said, then looked over at Billie. “I think I may have just the thing for your drink choice. After all,” she said tapping something on her tablet, “It’s five o’clock somewhere.”
“Absolutely, nothing worse than a dry burger,” Cass replied before cautiously watching as Gracie started to dig around in her bag.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” She said, using her thumb to indicate over her shoulder at the table of cops (Law Enforcement Officers) having their breakfast in the corner booth in the opposite corner of the diner. Her facial expression indicating that she knew full well who Gracie was and that she wasn’t in the mood to accidentally get blown up first thing in the morning.
Seeing that Oswin was having some difficulty with the ear piece, she reached out her hand to take it.
Leaning in, she whispered just enough that only he could hear It took me awhile to get used to my prosthetics too. She took the ear piece and placed it against the first ear he tried. Then with a gentle smile we said, “Give it a second, it’ll work.”
At first, nothing happened. Then he could feel a tingling sensation that even his synthetic flesh could detect before it turned to warmth. The ear piece began to reconstruct itself to fit his ear.
“There you go.” She said, standing back up. “It wasn’t that bad was it? As for the food … I get that too.” She said.
Leaning across the table, she placed a third spice shaker in the table, pressing the top down causing a slight glow to appear from an almost microscopic light source. It was bright enough for those at the table to see, but unable to fight the glare of the morning sun; keeping its presence hidden from the nearby tables and booths.
“I’ll go get your food and will be back shortly.” She said, then tapping her ear, she continued. “I’ll leave you all to it.”
Just as she started to walk away, the entire diner went silent. Looking around, you can see people talking and continuing on with their breakfast; but not a sound could be heard.
The woman you all noticed first thing this morning looked at her tablet with frustration before glancing over her shoulder at the four of you. Her eyes narrowed for a moment before standing and leaving a tip on the table, then the left the building.
“Really?” Oswin looked back, quite surprised by the invitation. “I-I mean, it wouldn’t be too much trouble? I’m not intruding- I mean I hope I’m not intruding, but I don’t want to be intruding, so if-”
Billie’s expression made it clear she might change her mind if he kept it up. Without another word, he quickly descended onto the middle support of the bench, somehow closer than he had been before, and slipped his arms in between his knees to take up as little space as possible.
“Thank you.”
Oswin wasn’t sure at first what Cass was doing - he wasn’t used to being whispered to - but his eyes flashed as he figured out what she had said. Before he could react to that message, however, she had placed the ear piece into his mechanical ear, rather crooked.
With a slight frown he turned his gaze towards Billie, sensing that he was being made fun of, before his expression dropped and his eyes took on a horrified air, his hand making slow, jerking motions as it moved up to touch the device. His artificial skin was not lying to him. The device had reshaped itself into the cavity of his ear, a perfect fit.
His attention was drawn back towards the table, and the odd spice shaker which when pressed caused his senses to buzz for a brief moment. What was that device, and why did it seem to be so… Overpowering? Threatening?
This new development visibly disturbed Oswin more than anything else. The chatter of the diner disappearing prompted him to look about in all directions, his neck craning to confirm things were still happening, people were still moving about, eating, talking, making all the necessary motions that would generate noise. Only there was silence.
His gaze returned to the spice shaker. It seemed powerful.
In his panicked state, Oswin never noticed her departure. Hopefully a more mature and grounded mind would have picked up on it.
“I…” He muttered, one hand closing around the excess fabric of his turtleneck collar, the other securely pinned by his knees as they pressed together. His frightened eyes sent a pleading expression towards Billie, the only clear adult in the room close enough to his age to connect with, desperate for some kind of solace.
Billie shrugged uncomfortably and nodded, deciding to submit to the waitress’s choice instead of trying to make any objections. All she wanted was a plain normal beer, nothing too fancy, but she had a feeling that it was better not to argue with her. For whatever reason, she found her quite intimidating, despite her friendly appearance.
Noticing Cass’s sudden change in demeanor, Billie nervously looked back and forth between her and Gracie. What does that girl have in her bag to prompt such a response? How does the waitress now about it? Does she know this girl somehow?
just sit down already…
Billie mumbled something along the lines of “it’s alright” in response to Oswin’s hesitation. She grabbed her upper arm around with her hand and tried her best to straighten out and lean away from the wall. She wasn’t used to being so close to another human being, having spent so much time completely alone, it didn’t feel quite right. Could this kid even be considered a human being?
Well, he certainly was human enough to trigger her usual response to human interaction.
From her spot, Billie couldn’t hear what the waitress whispered to Oswin or see what was happening to his ear. But the expression on his face told her that something definitely wasn’t right. She started to grow increasingly more and more concerned about this whole ordeal and the strange things happening around it. What is the reason behind all of this? What did I sign up for?
Her growing concern quickly changed to genuine terror as the whole diner instantaneously went silent, seemingly caused by the strange salt shaker-shaped device that the waitress had just placed on the table. She started looking around nervously, trying to determine what just happened. Visibly, nothing changed about the diner, it was as busy as ever: the clients were casually talking to each other, the waitresses were taking orders and the owner was greeting new guests, except it all happened without any sound, as if the entire diner was put on mute like a TV program.
Billie was genuinely unsettled by the experience. She didn’t feel like she and the group of her new acquaintances were safe here. Given everything that they just experienced, anything seemingly could happen at any moment.
If she was going to die here, that’s definitely not how she wanted it to happen.
In her highly alert state, the intimidating woman that Billie almost bumped into upon her arrival to the diner suddenly caught her attention. She seemed to be visibly frustrated directly in response to the activation of the strange device. She looked directly at the table the group was sitting at, sending chills down Billie’s spine, and rushed out the building.
What the heck is going on here?
If the device cut off the sound coming from outside the booth, it was safe to assume that it also cut off the sound coming from the inside. Was the woman trying to listen in on the conversation that was about to occur? What was so important about what was about to be said?
She froze in place, hearing Oswin’s words. They immediately transported her back to that night four years ago. That kid said exactly the same thing before he-
That had to be a coincidence, right?
Billie was overrun with immense guilt in an instant. Even if the situation was completely different and had nothing to do with that day, she couldn’t help but draw a morbid parallel to the events of that night. This kid was telling her that he was scared. Not anyone else, her. The girl who couldn’t communicate with people, acted paranoid and barely held herself together this entire time.
This situation freaked her out just as much as it did Oswin and she was certainly not someone he could rely on. She had no other choice. She had to act tough for his sake. She couldn’t afford to allow that day to repeat.
She did her best to hide how unnerved she was and looked over at Oswin, trying not to show any further signs of her paranoia. She spoke quietly with all the confidence she could muster.
“Don’t worry. It’s a public place, they can’t do anything to us here.”
Of course, she didn’t believe a single thing she just said, but she was hoping that the kid, with all of his naivety, would buy it, that it would be enough to make him feel even slightly more safe.
And who were “they” she was talking about? The people that gathered them here? Those that the intimidating woman answered to? Or some other party that she didn’t know about? Billie had no idea.
Reluctantly, she finally put the small device in her ear and prepared to listen. She was preparing for the worst. If everything was about to go wrong, she wasn’t going down without a fight.
Oswin’s mind took longer than it took his eyes to catch what he saw. Despite her further visual clues signifying that she was stoic, unaffected, and indifferent, her eyes were only hidden in their terrified emotion by the blue lights reflecting off her glasses.
That didn’t stop the kids who hacked my body before.
His gaze returned to the shaker, wrapping his arms across his chest in self-hug fashion and sinking his shoulders into the base of his neck, still just as terrified as before. What if the ear devices were meant as a way to control whatever tech those at the table had? What if this shaker, which seemed to silence the rest of the world, would somehow silence their resistance to whatever occurred? Had he been coerced out here for someone to steal control of his body, to own him?
To control him?
“I don’t want to be controlled.” Oswin whimpered. He could feel himself gently leaning to the side, but he was too nervous to try and stop it. Before he was remotely aware of what had happened, he was resting against Billie’s side, the different in weight between them quite evident. His eyes remained locked on the ominous shaker.
Despite his mechanical body, he was still instinctually drawn to physical contact as a means of comfort. And Billie had the utter misfortune of being the most convenient at that moment.
She winced as he flailed about before righting himself.
“Ok…sure. Got it.” Oof. That doesn’t seem fun.
Her hand clenched the earpiece, as she fiddled with it.
Her eyes became daggers as she imagined grenades blowing them up. Whyaretheyalwayseverywheregodsit’ssodumbijustwantsomethingtoDOOOOO…
She ran her fingers through her hair, massaging her scalp. I swear, they better just be the regulars, and NOT the ones constantly hounding me.
She glanced again at them, before looking away.
“Thanks. Yeah, a dry burg is the worst.”
“Sure. Thanks again.”
She looked again at the earpiece.
The earpiece. What the heck have I gotten myself into?
She eyeballed it, before-
Oh God.
It was quiet. It. Was. Quiet. There they were, as if nothing had happened. But there it was. Silence. A wall between the diner and them. Gracie could feel panic rise in her throat like a viscous and vile concoction, and she could feel that tug-that devil on her shoulder-
Wonderful. Now the creepy lady is all mad, and I bet she wants to kill us, and then eat us, a and put our heads onpikes- Her panic was rising dramatically, as if a tide demanded a blood tithe to it’s presence.
She slowly turned her head as she felt his voice quiver like an earthquake. That word. That insignificant word. And he said it as if he was on his DEATHBED. Like it was the last thing that he would feel. Fear. Undriven, rampant, palpable fear, of a child. Oh God.
She could feel it clawing at her, a gnawing yearning to let loose.
“Right. Right.” They were safe. For now.
She hated this feeling. SCREW IT.
She shoved the earpiece into her ear, glaring at the device.
“And that makes me the designated driver,” Altier said.
He gave no further clarity when Billie looked at him confused. She was getting something, that would be good enough. Hopefully, she learned to hold her liquor.
Altier moved an arm out in Gracie’s direction and waved his hand downwards a few times.
“Calm down kid, no one likes a screamo when they aren’t at a concert for it.”
After Cass warns Gracie about the bag he adds, “And no one likes trouble-causing thorns.”
“Oh this is nothin’. You should have seen Great Uncle Dale. Ate out of a trough filled to the brim even as an old man.” Altier gave a light chuckle.
He gives Cass a quick thank you before she heads off. A nice, though half-full, smile came upon Altier when he realized he couldn’t hear the rest of the dinner.
“Isn’t that cute,” Altier said at a normal conversation tone to test if any sound was allowed.
Altier grabbed the shaker and tilted its top towards the window. He turned it a few times to see all its side as though looking to determine what spice was in it. As though he was having trouble finding the label or determining its contents, he moved his sunglasses to briefly sit on his forehead. For those paying attention, the corners of his eyes looked like they had a build-up of white pus. Even a thin layer of the whitish film breaching the confines of the corner and onto the rest of the eye.
To test further he says, “Pink Himalayan salt? Maybe some lemon salt? Oh wait, no, it’s the sprinkle shaker.”
He puts it back in the prior position and moves his shades back down to cover his eyes. After watching the one lady leave, and provided they can hear themselves, Altier adds a few other comments in a hushed voice.
“Fanciest sound dampener I’ve ever seen. How are you delineating which sounds to block there friend? If you’re even that smart.”
Now paying more attention to the rest of the group, he almost let out a sigh. They weren’t fascinated with the device, they were all huddling and trying to hide. Why where these the people he had to work with today? Would they even bring him closer to finding her? He pushed his fingers up the sunglasses and rubbed his eyes.
“Look, you aren’t in hell yet. If you want to get there faster, keep it up. Just remember the rest of you have a chance at heaven and we’ll get through this fine.”
“It’s running a watered down version of a starship’s AI.” Came a male voice from the earpieces. “And no, it’s not dangerous. At least not as dangerous as the cholesterol that’s in Pat’s breakfast items. As for how it’s filtering out the noise; let’s just say that’s a trade secret. And don’t worry about talking out loud, that filter is active - your voices and words won’t be the same to those outside the field.”
“And oddly enough, it does function as a real shaker. That’s finely ground ghost peppers in there. Helps with the ruse - and it keeps light weights at bay.”
The voice coming from the earpieces was welcoming, giving no evident signs of hostility. As he spoke, you could hear each other at the table.
“I’ll get straight to the point.” The voice continued, “I’m an info broker. And right now I’m between a rock and a hard place. So like I said, to the point … I’m offering you all a job.”