Shakes 'n' Bakes

[Fiori]

...yeeeeah, yeeeeah, yeeeeeah!

((Johhny Benowitz continued from Yet Another Self-Indulgent Songpost))

Johnny's stomach started rumbling.

Oh, that's right. He kinda skipped breakfast, didn't he? What time was it... Half nine. Yeah, could probably do with a bite to eat right about now.

But... Where?

He was hardly short on options, this being Vegas and all. Wasn't really in the mood for fast food, at least not the kind you'd get at your usual drive-through. A diner, maybe? There was one he remembered reading about called the Heart Attack Grill; apparently specialised in big booty burgers designed to clog your arties, with a hospital theme befitting its cardiac-inducing menu. Just thinking about it made him feel all tight chested... Yeah, hard pass.

Hmm... You know what, screw it. He knew just the place.

A couple more sing-alongs later, Johnny found himself back in familiar territory, driving his way through downtown Vegas. Right turn here, left turn there, straight ahead a couple blocks... Bingo.

Strawberry Letter Pavillion. Not the fanciest spot in town, but given its proximity to Meadowbrook, Silver Springs and Skyline Heights it was all but guaranteed that he'd bump into a familiar face sooner or later. And as tempting as the big Applebee's looked, he had his eyes set on a particular joint: Shakes 'n' Bakes.

As the story goes, it was originally founded in the late 80's to capitalise on 50's nostalgia, only to later get rebranded to capitalise on 80's nostalgia. Nowadays it seemed to be a mix of late 80s to early 90s iconography, with a huge mural on the outside featuring the likes Alf, Steve Urkel and the baby from Dinosaurs.

More importantly, they had some bitchin' milkshakes and a great breakfast menu.

His ride parked, Johnny made his towards the diner with a swagger to his step, casually whipping out his flip-comb to tidy his hair up as he made his way inside.

[LYourLocalAutist]

Red and white pinstripe apron, comically out of place on his frame, contrasting against pitch-black pants for some reason. Matched with the white and red bordered dumb little nothing-shaped paper hat which probably never even existed. Pure white shirt, sleeves rolled right up to the elbows... on which laid that atrocious wee red bowtie, its cheeryness perfectly contrasting its wearer. The icing on the cake, a small steel-looking-but-definitely-not badge adorned his apron's lapel, labelled with a simple caption:

[Manuel "Mañana" Hernández continued from Don't Mind Us, We Be Chillin']

Okay, not all that, but you get the idea.

"It'll be good for you", they said. "Work experience looks great on a college application", they said. Absolutely no one had told Manuel about the uniforms. It looked like some kind of cartoon gag. Maybe in the eyes of someone whose glasses were so rose-tinted they were still seeing the Tropicana it was sweet and nostalgic, but Manuel knew in his very bones as he stared himself in the bathroom mirror: the fit went soft. He had that shit on and he needed a bath. He was dripped out in the fucking Nickelodeon slime. His first day on the job and he was already scowling. However, it wouldn't do for him to get fired right away for violating the "customer service code!" (the exclamation mark was actually printed on the training brochure). So he tried his best smile and tried to ignore how anything less than something genuinely prompted made him look like the damn Grinch.

Exiting the room, he tried to hype himself up. He'd be making mon-eyyyy. 12 bucks an hour wasn't bad at all. He could buy, like... half a bag of protein powder. And he wouldn't have to pester his parents for stuff again. These small assurances helped him regain his confidence as he was called to wait his first table. Yeah! This wouldn't be that bad. Looking down to make sure his pen and notepad were ready as he approached the table, he inwardly pumped himself up further. It wasn't like anyone from school was gonna see him like this, either. All his friends were more into the typical run o' the mill fast food slop. He could work without having to worry, he thought as he raised his head and took a look at his customer.

Oh

Madre de Dios, just his Goddamn luck. Johnny of all people. Manuel's expression momentarily faltered as he bore witness to his first customer. He'd jinxed himself, he knew he had. Struck down by his hubris or whatever. But before any time could be spent gaping, he put on a slightly strained smile which screamed "I'm trying to pretend this is normal" and immediately got into work mode. Job to do. Job to do. Maybe Johnny would be normal about it.

"Wwwelcome to Shakes 'n' Bakes, can I take your order?"

Biggest maybe on earth.

[Fiori]

Johnny strode on in with his usual swagger, grin on his face as he took in the atmosphere.

Shakes 'n' Bakes was a strange mix of eras, it had to be said. It had the layout of a typical 50's style diner: booths with red plastic seats, stools lining the counters, pinball machine in one corner and a jukebox in the other. But the overall aesthetic was more reminiscisant of the early 90s: vector grapphic wallpaper, Garfield kit-kat clock, Brett Hart poster, Bucky O'Hare action figures and PG-rated hip hop playing on the radio.

Still, some things never changed. For instance, the staff still wore those dorky looking outfits, such as the total nerd who was currently...

Oh, wait a minute.

Johnny blinked. No way. Was that...

The corners of his lips contorted into a wide, stifled smirk. He knew how this worked: You don't hustle your bros when they're on duty. Everybody's gotta make a living somehow. And sometimes, y'know... That might involve wearing an adorable little dickie bow.

But... Oh man. He was one well-timed sound effect away from cracking right there and then.

"Aaah, huh. Hmm, yeeaah um..." he began, desperately trying his best to keep a straight face as he pawed at the menu. "I'll, uuh - haha - aaauuuh... Think I'll go for an Eastcoast Breakfast Bagel and a coke float!"

[LYourLocalAutist]

Manuel's lips closed, hiding his teeth from the rest of the world as he looked down at his friend who was currently attempting, with all his strength, not to burst at the seams. His "smile" maintained, but his eyes were squinted slightly, telling the man who sat before him "you better not. You better not." Judging by the excess air and noise he was letting escape from his lips as he put his order, "not" was the struggle of the century. Johnny why you tryin' not to laugh bruh that's disrespectful as shit etc.

Manuel let out a load of air himself, from his nostrils. A sort of wordless resignation. Could he even keep Johnny from blabbing to the entire school? That would be something to text him about when pulling his phone out was actually safe to do. For now, a mouthed "Don't you dare" proceeding a restaurant-sanctioned smile and promise that the food in question would be out right away would have to suffice. Manuel couldn't help but try and keep a chuckle in as he turned away to get the cooks running on his boy's order. God, this was ridiculous. The experience was only maybe worth 12 dollars for an hour.

[Deblod100]

((Emma Drakenberg-West continued from Don't Mind Us, We Be Chillin'))

It was still early in the morning, though Emma had no choice in doing some errands without bringing Riley West in tow. But Emma had to take care of her little innocent gremlin and try not to have her hard-earned money end up in a swear jar. Emma had Riley wear a helmet, while she was propped up in front of Emma at the motorcycle. Emma had her keep her hands at the handlebars to hang on, though she also drove at a low speed to not have Riley get a heart attack on the road.

Emma pulled into the parking lot and parked her motorcycle, helping Riley off from the seat. "Where are we eating for breakfast?" Riley asked her, since Emma had to leave the house early to check on some things at the hardware store before driving back to Strawberry Letter Pavilion. "I'm not going to do Denny's. Had a lousy experience. I figured we can try Shakes 'n' Bakes." Emma said, which caused Riley to let out an "ooooh!" like Thanksgiving came early. Her dads took her and Riley to Shakes 'n' Bakes every Thanksgiving breakfast, but since Emma was in a good mood, she figured she can try something different.

Emma nearly seen an 80's to 90's themed diner, but 50's was probably done to death in other diners, so they went for other nostalgia to get the customers in. Emma hated how the radio was playing what sounded like MC Hammer. Can't they get some Metallica in here or something?

Emma and Riley sat at a comfy booth, not far from the Brett Hart poster that was looking at them. Emma propped Riley and her motorcycle helmets by her at her seat.

"So what do you want to get from the kids menu?" Emma said, raising her glasses briefly to rub the sleep out of her eyes.

"Can I have pancakes? And a milkshake. Pleaaaaaaaaaase." Riley did say the magic word.

"Alright, but don't be taking advantage of my money. I'm paying for this. I need to scrap some cents before-" Emma's eyes drifted over away from her booth, until she recognized someone that was serving a familiar guy at another table.

Was that who she thought it is?

Emma immediately snorted.

It was Manuel. When the hell did he start working at Shakes 'n' Bakes? They made him wear some bowtie to make him look like a joke, oh no...

Emma let out a giggle. "Sh- Sorry. I think I see someone from my school. He might notice me, so this is going to be funny." Emma immediately said to Riley, trying to hide her grin.

[Fiori]

Johnny smirked, responding with a one-armed shrug whilst his other hand clutched his chest as if to say Whaaat, me? What kinda buddy do you take me for?

He sat himself down at the counter - not his preferred spot, but it was easier to pester Manny from there. Did mean he was blissfully unaware of Emma being right behind him, though her presence was palpable.

A mischievous glint in his eye, he waited until the manager was back in the kitchen before leaning forward. "So, uh... New gig, huh?"

[LYourLocalAutist]

Strip of paper torn off and clipped to the bar thing above the counter-behind-the-counter, check. Yelling "fire up" and then the ordered items even though the order was already in the cooks' grasps, check. Friend who's totally gonna give you shit your entire shift, check. Way to deal with the aforementioned issue, box left glaringly blank.

While he was there, relatively hidden and thereby relatively safe, Manuel covered his face with his hands and let out a muffled groan, immediately realizing he'd violated some kind of health code and moving to wash his hands before going back out. Juuust great. Johnny Fuckin' Benowitz was his very first job. Maybe this was, like, starting with the worst? It had to be all downhill from here. Just boring dads taking their middle schoolers out for an overpriced burger and fries stored in newspaper from now on. Just gotta power through this. Manuel could power through things just fine. Deep breath in and out, turn back around after a few minutes... and his ears were immediately hit with the notification of Johnny's order and how "up" it was. Of all the times for 80s diners in the 2020s to have fast service...

A platter with a coke float and a savoury-smelling breakfast bagel was taken into Manuel's hands, and he immediately set out with the customer service mask back on to find Johnny's booth, only to be caught off guard by his grinning pomp-wearing white ass face being the first he saw as he walked out. The smile dropped and he rolled his eyes as he perceived the look in his friends', and he promptly dropped the food and drink in Johnny's little section of the counter, saying through gritted teeth:

"Enjoyyyyyy."

He intended to head right back, but suddenly Johnny was leaning forward and getting all chatty. Dammit, J-man, this was not proper employee conduct being prompted. Nevertheless, Manuel could not simply refuse a bro's question. He gave his blind spots once overs before leaning in himself, whispering.

"Parents' fault. Shit to pad out the CV n' all. If you tell anyone-"

His stern stretched out index finger warning was interrupted by a sight taken in by wandering eyes. He had to do a double take. No, no no no no. Not two in one day. He broke hygiene code once more by covering his face with his free hand. Emma Draken-fuckinnnn'-berg-West, with whom he'd just recently shared a particularly nice strain of doobie. Her expression? Completely tuned to the same shit-eating wavelength as Johnny's. His stern warning finger turned to a prompt point over Johnny's shoulder.

"Ain't nooooo fuckin' way."

He lived in a goddamn comedy movie.

[Deblod100]

Emma was seeing what he was doing. Grabbing and setting down some food for some Elvis-looking guy. Emma can see the two talking at the table. Could've been someone from school, but then Emma realized that Manuel had now noticed her.

"Uh oh.." Emma immediately looked away and put a hand over her mouth to try to hide her expression. She flashed a glance at Riley, who was just enjoying the crappy rap music that they had playing. "We might not get him as our waiter, but don't say anything about that get-up he's wearing. Diner here must have forced him to wear it." Emma said to her sister, though another waiter might come along to take their orders. Manuel was supposed to be a tough guy in school. To see him wear a frickin' bowtie was going to make him look like a joke at school. Manuel might have wanted Emma to keep quiet or he'll dump a milkshake over her head. She did wonder if Marino's mom managed to keep her mouth shut to not rat out Emma, Marino, Manuel, and Chester.

[Fiori]

Johnny snickered and flashed his bro a wink, silently zipping his lips shut. As inclined as he might be to take the piss - like, c'mon my dude, you can't let material like this go to waste - there were lines even Johnny wouldn't cross. You don't gossip about your buddies. Went against the Bro Code - Which he definitely didn't just make up.

Still, given Shake 'n' Bakes' proximity to all the local neighbourhoods, Johnny couldn't help but wonder how long Manuel could actually keep this a secret. Sooner or later someone else was gonna see him in that getup.

And by sooner, he meant like right now as it turned out.

He swivelled in his seat, brow raised in curiosity. Well, hello. Seemed he wasn't the only attractive Red Rocker to swing on by that morning.

"Aaaaaaye~" he went, obligatory fingergun fired off in Emma's direction. "How're ya..." he began, before noticing the small fry Emma was with. "...doing?" he concluded, dialling back the flirtatiousness the moment he realised Emma was with her sister(?).

[LYourLocalAutist]

The sight of Johnny signing his solemn vow of silence (as was sanctioned by the bro code (which was totally a real thing)) at least served to bring some relief to Manuel's heart. The presence of Emma, however... did not bode well. Emma was unbound by all bro law on account of "not giving a shit", the invincible rhetoric. Manuel had banked a lot on this place just not being an attractive spot for high schoolers when typical, cheaper fast food spots were available. Someone like Johnny, he'd thought an exception to the rule, but if Emma could just walk in here, little sister in tow or not... anyone could. Again violating the hygiene code, Manuel began to sweat lightly.

At least the cast of characters currently present here could make for a time good enough to take Manuel's mind off all that noise. The immediate attitude switch up on Johnny's part as he noticed the much younger girl accompanying Emma was the highlight so far, eliciting a look-away snicker from Manuel. Having Johnny as a customer at least meant he could bear witness to his Johnny Bravo ass antics. He opened his mouth to say something else, but suddenly felt a familiar feeling. An instinct attached to parents burning holes through the back of his head via medium of stare began to flare up, but in a manner that was much more... sterile. Shit. The manager.

He quickly backed off from the counter, prepping to retreat into the kitchen get back to work shipping orders out. Just before doing so, however, he managed to stare down Emma and make a zipping manoeuvre across his lips, similar to what Johnny had done, as if trying to elicit some manner of promise from her. If he was betrayed... he could always spit in her food.

...He wouldn't spit in her food. Food didn't deserve that.

[Deblod100]

Emma didn't get Manuel as her waiter, but at least, she got herself and Riley some menus.

"Welcome to Shakes 'n' Bakes, can I take your order?" the waitress said to them, when they came to their table with the menus.

"Let me see here..." Emma adjusted her glasses to read off her choices. "I'll go for the Throwback French Toast. Riley, what do you want?" Emma asked her sister quick. "Can I get the silver dollars, pleaseeeeeeeee." Riley didn't need to add any emphasis on the last part of please, but she was a kid. She can't complain- "And a milkshake, too!"

"A small milkshake for her." Emma immediately spoke up. "What kind of milkshake do you want?"

"The one that looks purple!"

"She is referring to the lavender milkshake." Emma also mentioned to the waitress that was jolting everything down on a notepad

"And anything that you would like to drink?"

"Just water, please." Emma said.

"Ok, it should come in a moment." the waitress said to them.

"Alright, thank you very much." Emma said, before the waitress left.

Emma's eyes drifted back to Manuel, to which she knew that he noticed them now. But it looks like that guy that was at the table that Manuel was at was trying to flash a fingergun at her. Is this white supremist trying to flirt with her? Even in that greaser look like Johnny Bravo? Greasers were too 50's. Emma immediately brushed him off, not saying anything.

"Ughh, I need to get another partner." Emma mumbled under her breath.

Back at the kitchen, there was the chance that Manuel had the time to spit into Emma's french toast.

[Fiori]

...eh, worth a shot.

Johnny shrugged and turned back to find his breakfast ready - Sizzling hot bacon, cheese and sausages served between a pair of toasted bagel buns. Probably just as calorific as whatever the hell they served at the Heart Attack Grill, but...

NOM! Totally worth it.

"MMm! Man, this is good..." he mumbled with his mouth full, before turning to Manuel. "Say, do you get, like... Freebies or whatever for working here?"

[LYourLocalAutist]

Manuel would never desecrate toast in that manner, no matter how French it was. All foods, all, from the sloppiest flash-fried fries to the most exalted and impossibly smoky brisket (Grandma's recipe, of course (shit, now he was drooling a little)) deserved to be treated with respect. That was a lesson metaphorically beaten into him since he'd first stood on tiny legs and looked up at his older family members and asked them if they could teach him how to cook. Which was why, he thought as he waited for his next dish to ship out and bring out to the next schmuck, it was a damn shame he couldn't at least grab some position that let him do his best work.

Ah well. 12 bucks is 12 bucks.

The manager's retreat in the bathroom prompted Manuel sidling right up to the local Johnny, as of now digging in. Manuel rolled his eyes at the question posed, not out of contempt of the question, but its answer.

"Yeah, if ya call 20% on select items a freebie."

He scoffed, air-quoting certain terms. 12 dollars was 12 dollars, but 20% was practically nothing. Mom wouldn't even dignify that kind of sale with a turn of her head when shopping. At the very least, it seemed, work ethic was low enough without the manager hanging over everyone's shoulders that he could just kick back and talk to a friend like this.

His eyes then turned to Emma, the woman mumbling under her breath. What with the man sitting in front of her, Manuel could put two and two together, the envisioned scenario bringing a grin to his lips and a chuckle to his voice. He addressed Johnny again, taking a small revel in the opportunity to tease him in this scenario for a change.

"Missed shot?" He quipped, just loud enough to reach Emma's ears.

[Deblod100]

Emma took her eyes on Manuel to see how he was doing, though she could tell that the manager was putting him on a leash. It sucks to work in a job like this, when your boss is the surveillance camera pointed at you nearly 24/7. He returned over to the table, while both Emma and Riley got their drinks of water.

"You know him?" Riley asked Emma.

"Yeah. Just a boy from school that I know. Don't worry about it. Don't know why he is working here." Emma said to Riley, keeping her eyes peeled at them. Now, who is that random "nice guy" that was trying to swing with her?

Wait... where has she seen that pompadour before?

Oh right, that was Johnny Benowitz. Trying to be a ladies' man. Where was his bitch Joanne at? Things would've gotten violent if those two bumped into each other.

Manuel even said something that Emma overheard to her amazement. Johnny did well miss his shot on Emma. Then again, she already has an ex-boyfriend.

[Fiori]

20%?! he mouthed in horror. Damn, that sucks. Force a guy to wear a dork-ass outfit all day, the least you could do if give 'em a free patty. It was enough to make you wanna take a stand for the working man, declare a boycott until his buddy got all the free burgers his heart desired!

At least, he felt that way until he took another bite out of that fucking delicious breakfast bagel. Okay, maybe he could forgive a little stinginess if the food's that good - capitalism, bay-beee!

Johnny's brow raised mid-bite, briefly glancing back Emma's way before shrugging with a gulp. "Eh, win some you lose some..." he said, turning back to Manny with a smirk. "What about you? Got anything lined up for Valentines?""