Linden
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Post by Linden on Oct 26, 2020 17:26:27 GMT -8
Was there anything better than hash browns?
Sweet Tomato did them just the way Linden liked: crispy and salty on the outside, soft in the middle. It was a temptation they tried not to give in to too often, but after a long shift with some truly obnoxious patrons, they deserved it. Hash browns, eggs, dry toast, a side of bacon, plus a single pancake that took up an entire plate; a feast. It was comfort food through and through. The steaming mug in front of them was full of coffee, though they had given in to decaf- they just needed the acidity of black coffee with the diner bacon, it was basically a must.
Tucked into their own booth, Linden breathed in the steam with a contented sigh. The diner itself was cute, but nothing special to look at: red booths, black and white tiled floor, chrome stools. As so many other diners, the building never seemed to have made it out of the 50’s. The bright haired and tattooed staff were the main sign of progress; Linden could hear the kitchen staff laughing and the host had their phone tucked next to the till, ready to serve anyone that came through but not about to pretend it was an exciting time.
A few other late night stragglers sat at the bar and their own booths; a lingering date that seemed to be going well, a man still wearing his work shirt from down the block halfway through a burger, though he kept dozing off. A couple of older men were solo at the bar, and one of them would occasionally spin around on his stool, pick a target, and shout across faint 60’s music at them, trying to start a conversation. It never worked.
Except, he hadn’t tried Linden. Maybe it was their size, the fact that they didn’t mind meeting his eyes with a level gaze, or something else entirely. But the Ogre almost wished he would.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2020 16:04:54 GMT -8
The day had been too long for its own good. Normally at this time Archie liked to be back home, a cold Dr. Pepper cracked, dinner already digesting, and some good ol’ reality TV or TMZ to tide him over while he browsed Twitter trying to not have an aneurysm. Tonight was different, and a meeting with a client took its sweet time and plunged the agent into the evening as plans were put in place and details.
What was the answer to this? Hopefully some greasy diner food that would at least fill the hole that was his stomach, and give him enough umph to make it home in one piece. Car parked, blazer tossed in the back, and a triple check - phone, wallet, keys - and Archie was soon thereafter pulling open the diner door, making the little bell ring.
Content to sit at the bar and watch the sports highlights rolling across the screen, a quick pan of the place revealed the host of colorful characters. Said glance revealed that Archie wasn’t the first of the fairone’s to find refuge here this evening. Instinctually the Fairest would gave the closed lipped smile, nod, and wave towards Linden (If they in fact noticed one another).
Moving down the bad towards the end, Archie found himself a stool, and quickly had a cup of coffee coming his way while he looked over the plastic menu to see what was on the...well, on the menu.
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Oct 28, 2020 9:13:16 GMT -8
The chiming of the bell drew Linden's eyes away from the ketchup bottle in their hand. The bottle looked even more kitschy than usual, like a miniature or a toy in the Ogre's hands as they gave the upturned end one more smack. There was still a bit left, right at the bottom, but their patience was beginning to wane and just that wouldn't be enough anyway. Archie's nod was returned in kind and a couple of their fingers waggled in an echoing wave, preoccupied but curious. Belatedly, they realized their mouth was set in a vague scowl from the ketchup situation.
He hadn't made any sign, beyond polite acknowledgement, that he wanted more than to mind his own business and maybe have a meal. But as Linden got to their feet, they made for a space a few seats down from him and gently placed the empty bottle on the counter.
"Could I get another, please?" Their tone was firm, but not unkind, and one of the staff reached beneath the counter without a word, sliding a new bottle toward the Ogre's waiting hands. "Thanks."
Half turned to head back to their seat, Linden paused to look down at Archie. A small smile creased their face, and they jerked their head toward the booth. "There's room for one more, if you'd like. No pressure."
That done, they retreated to start work on the fresh bottle of ketchup.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2020 22:16:57 GMT -8
No sooner had he sat than an invitation was extended to join the sheet metaled patron in their booth. Being ever the gentleman, and not one to shy from getting a name to add to his rolodex for any given reason, and vis a vis get his name out there, how could he refuse?
“Well, if you are offering I don’t think there is any pressure at all.”
He made the point of ensuring the interaction was an act of coercion of one of shared circumstance. The circumstance being two fairies just met in a so-so diner in Vegas. Menu in one hand, coffee in the other, the fairest found a spot across from the daunting, yet even keeled figure before him. His fingers nimble found the creamer and sugar - one cream, three sugar - and added it to his coffee.
“Color me surprised to see a familiar face, in a place like this. Though, I don’t know what I expect anymore. So long as there isn’t a circle of salt or mushrooms really we could recognize anyone anywhere, right?”
Pursing his upper lip as he mused and stirred the coffee, Archie dwelled momentarily on the notion of really being able to see other Changeling anywhere. He still wasn’t really used to it. That would change with time, right?
“A regular here? Anything you’d recommend? Oh, and before we get the whole small talk thing rolling…”
A brief pause, an awkward shimmy as he reached into his pocket producing a card.
Top left justified in small black print was an address, bottom left justified in the same color and font was a phone number, and dead center justified same font but bigger, with a dash of red adorning the final symbol:
Have
A.
Hart ❤
“Archie.”
A name went a long way.
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Oct 30, 2020 11:02:40 GMT -8
Linden made room for their new companion as they listened, stacking a couple of finished plates and moving the unfinished closer. Their metal joints thunked against the ceramic, a noise they barely even noticed anymore but wasn't the easiest on unaccustomed ears. A polite amount of space cleared, they stopped and wrapped a hand idly about their mug, watching his shimmy with a hint of wariness.
Accepting the card, the Ogre looked down at it for a moment before their pale eyes flicked up to Archie's. "Nice to meet you, Archie. Linden. I'm afraid I don't have a card." The business card disappeared into their leather jacket, tucked into an inside pocket.
"Not so much a regular, but if it's been a bit of a day their hash browns are where it's at. I run interference at a club, nearbyish, and sometimes after a tussle what you really need is bacon and eggs." The corners of their mouth curved into a smile, the crow's feet around their eyes deepening. They continued, in good humor: "Nothing too exciting tonight, but good-fucking-grief can people be stubborn."
"What about you? Busy day?" They tapped their jacket with a finger, ostensibly over where they'd put his card.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2020 23:20:23 GMT -8
“Sounds like it can be a real dance, think I will stick to getting myself on a list if I can help it, and avoid any tussles.”
He gave a small snort laugh, an expression of oh boy howdy he had zero interest in fighting an ogre at any level. He took a quick sip of his coffee once his laugh had subsided.
“I do agree though, sometimes a mess of a breakfast is just what the doctor ordered. Too many late nights in the office end in a Dennys with a Moon Over My Hammy - just don’t tell my mother or she would throw a conniption.”
Another laugh, more coffee, a slapping of his lips together to make the judgement to add just a touch more sugar, which he graciously added.
“And I hear you, stubbornness will be the death of me - especially when you hit the delusional crowd. I just want to beat my head against my desk as I try to discuss the whole real world logic thing.”
A deep sigh left the man as a waitress swung by, and a quick point to the pancakes got the message across without the need for words.
“You could say that. Been out all day with a client trying to hammer something together, and am just trying to get home now. Figured I could order in but once the door is closed to my castle - I will not be opening the gates till the ‘morrow.”
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Nov 5, 2020 11:28:04 GMT -8
They answered his laugh with a small, crooked grin of their own and dug back into the end of their hash browns as he talked. It was nice, to have someone on the other side of the table; the immediate kinship of being 'other' helped. Even though the topic was likely to stay completely mundane, it was still a little less lonely to talk to another Lost about such things than a mortal.
The mention of real world logic brought a wry twist to their lips, and they watched Archie as he let out his sigh. Linden rather enjoyed the effect his faint but perpetual spotlight added to the moment, as if he were always on the edge of giving a monologue. When the waitress came by they leaned out of the way as the waitress retrieved the prepared stack of dishes and left.
"Yeah? What kind of work do you do, exactly?" He'd already handed out a card, surely there could be no issue prying a little deeper. Spearing a piece of bacon with a fork, Linden tapped the plate toward Archie with an inquisitive look, offering him the remaining slice.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2020 17:17:17 GMT -8
A hand was raised to politely reject the offer.
“Even if she isn’t in a hundred miles my mother would catch me grease handed and have my head.”
A quick explanation punctuated with a swig of his now sweeter coffee.
“And I manage people, talent specifically. If you are good at something and want to get noticed you could hit the pavement, or hit the payment and put me to work. I put you in touch with the industry, get you gigs, exhibitions, features, whatever your flavour is. At the same time I make sure you are getting top dollar for what you do because when you work on percentages the bigger number you get, the bigger my number is. So really it is a win, win situation.”
A leaned beach, both hands holding his mug as he kept eyes on his fellow Lost.
“Got any talents you have been itching to show the world? Play a mean harmonica? I have booked harmonica players before.”
A playful smile crossed his face as he let out his soft boast.
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Nov 10, 2020 10:24:39 GMT -8
Linden nodded at the refusal and accepted it without a word, drawing the plate back toward themself. The second mention of his mother made them wonder if that was more of a thing, mundane or otherwise, than they had initially thought. It wasn't like they could really ask about it, even if they wanted to, so the Ogre contented themself with finishing off the available bacon.
"No harmonica, sorry," they answered with obviously fake regret. Acting wasn't one of their talents either. "I'm already in a field that suits my skills, such as they are." It wasn't intended to be self-deprecating, but there was a sense of cultural crudeness to their job that didn't escape them. It just took being a bit bigger, a bit stronger, than whoever you were dealing with. That, and the ability to stand your ground. "But if you ever need someone removed from your lobby..." They flashed a grin, and swapped the empty plate for the one with the end of the hashbrowns.
"You must meet a lot of interesting people that way, sounds kind of fun." They raised a hand immediately, and corrected themself. "What I mean is, watching people grow and take off sounds fun. All those personalities, their drive, trying to get where they want to be... seems nice. The rest sounds miserable to me," Linden admitted with a dry laugh. "The sheer numbers of meetings you must have... phonecalls, negotiations. Eugh."
"Is that your talent?" Teasing, but also curious.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2020 22:45:20 GMT -8
“Well, if you have the beat of the drum down, you can always hit me up if you are looking for a new venue. There is a big difference between bouncing in the Industrial back roads, and having a spot around the strip. I know some guys who can maybe help get your foot in the door if you ever feel the need to break the routine and be the best you, you can be. Also, I know a decent harmonica teacher.”
Hotcakes arrived, and syrup and butter began to be lathered on. While he went to prepare his late night breakfast binge he let Linden rattle off his observations about the fairest while he snuck a couple bites of his syrup soaked pancakes, stopping to wipe the mess from his soup catcher.
“It is never dull, I can certainly say that. Plus all the personalities are certainly something and gives you a chance to really nurture them and make them a better version of themselves. Raw talent only takes you so far you really need the right person to forge that into something. Someone like me, because without that they got bubkes.”
He stopped and pointed at his own chest for emphasis.
“Miserable, and frustrated they go hand in hand but the high at the end is worth it. The formalities, the calls, the talks, the threats, it just all leads to a high you can’t compare to when you see what you have created and put together finally shine.”
He gave an exaggerated shudder with a grin across his face as he reminisced about his job.
“My talent, though? If I had to put a label on it, it would be patience. I put up with a lot of diva’s, a lot of real out there people, a lot of people who think they know what's going on. Really I think we tend to have the same clientele, don’t we?”
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Nov 17, 2020 17:57:08 GMT -8
"Hey thanks, I'll keep that in mind." That much was true, but it was said in the light, social way that meant they had no current intention of acting on the offer. While the money working somewhere else might be better and there was no way to predict how long a good thing would stay that way, Linden was attached to Salt Bar. The kind of customers that came in, the folks who were drawn to working there. It felt like a space they wanted to help preserve, a little queer haven where people understood an aspect of the Ogre's otherness, in their own ways.
Returning to their coffee as Archie talked, a smile hovered at the edges of their lips. It was nice, hearing him talk about the rewards of his work. Sure, there was nuance they were missing, things they didn't know about his field of expertise, but there was something compelling in building a career on helping other people succeed. It was more complex than that, Linden was sure, but they liked the concept.
"Certainly sounds like a lot of overlap," they agreed, smile spreading. "I imagine they appreciate your services a lot more, I'm trying actively not to make their dreams come true. Whole lot of 'no, you can't have sex there' and 'stop selling whippits on the dance floor.' Real killjoy."
"Seems like a good city for your kind of work, though. Lots of people who see opportunities here for them, lives they want to live. I mean, that's part of why I moved here. Had a good experience with the city when I was younger and thought..." Linden shrugged with one shoulder. "Good a place to try as any, you know?"
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2020 20:45:44 GMT -8
“Oh trust me, chasing the dream is the long game. The work you do is a dream come true - because there is no one who can destroy someone like their own indulgences. Plus it is uncouth if I march out there and smack them upside the head. Plus you aren’t wrong. Untapped potential, a hop and skip away from LA, and plenty of refugees to sift through and pluck out the gems.”
A few more bites, coffee, the routine of food and drink to give ones self time to take things in.
“Well, if you want to stick around and maybe get some walking around money let me know, eh? More than happy to help someone find a break, and finders fee’s are all on me. I should probably be hitting the dusty trail - but keep it in mind, eh?”
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Nov 26, 2020 11:59:41 GMT -8
"I will," Linden assured him, smile still lingering on the edge of their lips. Reaching for the check for their meal, surreptitiously slid onto the table a little while ago, they grabbed the pen and the customer's copy of the receipt. Scrawling their name and number on the back, they pushed it across the table to Archie. "And if you ever really do need someone removed from your lobby. Or, I don't know, need to move a couch." It was the one kind of interaction their neighbors had really gotten into: need to move something? Call that big person down the hall. Tucking the pen back where it came from, the Ogre reached into their jacket and produced enough in odd bills to cover the cost, plus tip.
"It's been a pleasure, Archie, thanks for joining me."
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