2020-09-26 - Catfight at the Diner

Alisha comes in her off-duty clothing. Which is to say a a very short black dress. Ali goes to take seat. The diner is a place she goes to eat on and off-duty.

It's seven in the morning on a Saturday -- there aren't a lot of the weekday commuters, the kids and teens are all sleeping in, and the weather is a steady, constant drizzle coupled with grey fog and deep, slushy mud. Enough mud, in fact, that someone has pointedly taken one of the bear statues - this one wearing a fabulous feather boa and a green mohawk and moved it to nigh in front of the doors, propping a sign on it that says, STOMP OUTSIDE OR RISK GETTING BIT. Indeed, there is a heavy carpet at the entrance. As usual, the diner also isn't empty - an old man mutters as he reads a paper and sips his coffee at a glacial pace, a pair of EMTs stuff their faces full of waffles with grim focus, and a tired, tired looking father tries to deal with a young child and a toddler while slipping further into madness. There's only two people behind the counter: a gender-ambiguous blond in white doing a crossword and bopping their head to the 1980s R&B, and a purple-haired women in black jeans, a sheer mesh black top beneath a cropped blue tee and THAT beneath ripped purple flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up. It's all about the layers! Said Gina is casually painting her nails a bright, radioactive orange.

Another cop rolls on up to the door, not quite off-duty, but dressed in civilian attire. Tee shirt and jeans, leather jacket, a brief pause to take stock of the stupid ass sign and the bear that's clearly not going to actually fucking bite him. And then he does stomp the mud off his boots before letting himself the rest of the way inside. "Hey, Williams," he greets the blonde in a low murmur as he steps up to the counter. And clears his throat to try to get Gina's attention. Kind of hard to miss 190 pounds of tattooed Mexican, really.

It should be noted, no one seems in any rush at all to help Alisha OR Ruiz, no smiles or requests to take them to a seat - but this is Gina's diner, after all. Eventually, Gina finishes a nail and lightly blows on it, before her eyes flick towards Ruiz, "You want something?" She asks, her tone implying she's showing GREAT patience for this rude interruption of her nail routine, before her eyes look towards Alisha as well, "You too, I guess?" Carefully, she screws her nail polish container closed, and blows lightly on her nails again.

Even dresses in civies. Ali salutes Ruiz. She can't help it. She blinks when he addresses her "Thank you...I...Good day captain." she is torn between saluting and treating it like it is no big deal. In the end she chosices no big deal. In her darkest best she looks to the staff...which is probably only Gina at this time of night. "A impossible burger please." the lowering of the eyes, well the dark beauty just shrugs "Me too? Oh so gracious. Please don't let me interrupt your routine. I mean I'd hate for you to show effort." sarcasm dripping from her voice.

"You don't like me very much," de la Vega points out with a raspy chuckle, once Gina deigns to notice him. He looks her right in the eye as he speaks, contemplating something about the younger woman for a beat or two, before looking askance to his fellow cop. The salute's waved off with a flick of inked fingers and a tinge of crow's feet at the corners of his eyes. Then back to Gina. "That's fine. That you don't like me. But you don't fucking take it out on my department, yeah? Williams there is a good officer. You get her her fucking burger, and you save the bullshit for me, whatever your deal is." He's already digging for his wallet. "Coffee, by the way. You spit in it, I'll have the fucking health authority in here so fast your head'll spin."

"I did take up the whole diner thing for a challenge. Ra-ra effort." Gina manages to say that with such casual dismissal, too, scrutinizing her nail before she shakes that hand out. And then there is Ruiz, and as he talks, both eyebrows creep up-- up-- and finally Gina gives a little snort of amusement, that ends in a smirk. "Newsflash, котик. I don't like people. You, your department, the fire department, the local priesthood- you're not special." She drawls, but turns around to grab a notepad and scribble the order down and passing it through the window to the kitchens, before she turns and grabs a mug, pausing a moment as she does to look purposefully thoughtful, glancing up at the ceiling, saying - as if to herself, in the mildest of muses, "And here I thought I was more polite than usual to the cops." A shrug, the picture of not caring, before she turns to pour the coffee -- Ruiz can see every moment! "And I don't spit in food. Giving that much of a fuck about anybody isn't how I roll."

Alison appears through he door, tying a waist apron around her back as she scans the current customers/residents/inhabitants of the diner. A slight furrowing of the brow towards Gina, then she heads out to the tables, bussing a few abandoned plates from here and there. She's in her usual sort of clothing, dark t-shirt, jeans, though the apron's a little off. Her red hair, finally approaching the length that it had been before she'd sheared it off, floats wherever it wills as she makes her way around.

The blonde cop looks confused at her boss. "Sorry sir...few would consider me a good officer. I go into the letter of the law...Sir." she isn't trying to say he's wrong. She's just has rep as a letter of the law girl. "Thanks though chief. You are one in a million. I mean making the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs." giving him a wink. Well Williams is weird to say the least.
Looking over Gina as she looks over her nails. "Hhmmm they'd look better in purple. And oh ouch little Emo girl doesn't like goth judgement." the girl all in black looks at Gina. "Hell ban me from here."
Then there is the other Ali's voice. "I'd like a impossible burger. Or to get into showdown with your boss."

Ruiz isn't, unfortunately, watching his coffee being poured. He's on his phone responding to a message someone sent him. A stupid fucking gif that wasn't funny in the least. He looks up as the cup's slid over, and, "Thanks," sounds sincere enough if weary. Maybe he's just irritated about that last time he came here and his toast was burnt, and his eggs were overcooked. Maybe taking over Thatchery's job, even temporarily (how long has it been now, though?) is wearing on him. Or maybe he's just fucking tired of people talking like he's been promoted for real, like he slept his way to the top or something. As if that's the type of thing he'd do, guys. Come on.

"Yeah, well, when it comes to the fire department, do your worst. Just don't tell them I said that." He pushes off the counter, sends Alison something vaguely resembling a smile, Alisha a hitch of his chin, and heads for the door. The Star Wars reference is likely lost entirely on him.

The coffee is juuuust on this side of warm. Maybe hard to tell with the hand warmer there, but while it's warm enough, if he doesn't drink it quick, it'll probably go cold very quickly in the drizzling weather outside! Poor Ruiz.

"Already let the kitchen know about High School's order. Gina does inform Alison as Alisha looks over. Gina... doesn't look impressed, but Gina is rather hard to ruffle in general. One corner of her lip rises into something resembling a smirk. "Like I told your boss. It takes effort to care enough. It's cute you think you're worth banning." And there is, indeed, a tinge of amusement in Gina's voice as she says the words. "But hey, do you think it'll count as police brutality if the cops want to beat me up outside of uniform, Autumn?" Gina asks, raising her voice slightly so Alison can definitely hear, but-- before Alison can respond, responds for her, "Probably not. Corruption runs deep in this town."

Ali for her part doesn't look impressed at Gina. The dark girl just shrugs, completely unimpressed by the owner. Well that isn't abnormal "Huh what? Banning, I just want some good breakfast. I mean your Omelletes are awful. Their are other good dishes." the dark girl says "But if you want to ban me. I really don't care. I like most of the food. And a red head is the reason I tip so much. But still I hate the bears."

Alison looks a little like a deer caught in headlights upon receipt of the.. well, what's probably a smile from Ruiz? Maybe? Who knows, with him. The redhead returns the smile, though with slightly widened eyes, like she's expecting it to be follows up with something considerably more sinister.

She's got tables to clear off, though. But not too many. Once her hands are relatively full, she heads back to the door to the back, but pauses with a slight turn towards Alisha before she heads into the back to drop them off. "I wouldn't mess around with the likes of Gina. I mean, look at her eyes. She's got that tinge of crazy, doesn't she? And the rumors.. so many rumors. Right, Gina?" Alison grins, winks at Gina, then pushes her way through the door.

"You're the one who brought up banning." Gina points out, shrugging, before she reaches to pocket her nail polish, then pour a mug of coffee, adding in a healthy dose of caramel syrup. Alison's commentary earns a small smirk from Alison, "Like the ones about you, Ginger?" She calls out, holding the cup up in a farewell toast before having a sip of it. Pausing a moment. And adding more caramel syrup. "The therapists all say I'm a high-functioning member of society." She does add in, rather deadpan. Just such a natural statement. "But if you hate the bears, feel free to take your burger to go if they scare you. The waffle shop's burgers are only a little more awful, you'll be fine. The bears aren't going anywhere."

Alison calls out from the back, more than a tinge of irritation in her voice. "That's not my damn name!"

Ali blinks at Gina "DId I? I just like the breakfast here." her gaze going to the nail polish in judgement. "You should go with purple." is what the goth cop Also "Black is really for those of us that defy society. Also we live in a society. Sorry if you don't know qoute." the blonde looks to the other Ali. "I'd like a impossible burger. I'm addicted to it. Also addicted to a red-head." she winks at the server. While shrugging at Gina.

"Don't really see how your opinion means jack shit to me, High School." Gina says, sipping her coffee while leaning back. "Maybe I'll give a shit, if you managed to make it long enough to form your own opinions-- you know, beyond cute little boxes." Ever so briefly Gina's eyes look over Alisha, and the condescension is almost palpable. "... good luck with that." A ding! sounds, and the burger Gina requested earlier is brought up, ready to be served. Full vegan burger, too!

The redhead returns from the back, carrying a fresh tray of bearclaws, which go under the display case in a reasonably prompt manner. "I still have no idea what the hell is going on, between people calling me Ginger more than usual, and the whole diner name thing.. you'd think I'd know the name of the place that I worked at, but apparently not." Alison leans back against the wall behind the counter, closing her eyes. "It is way too early."

Alisha's, or perhaps nega-Ali's, further comment about her has the waitress opening her eyes once again, peering at the cop. A cursory glance up and down, what isn't obscured by the counter, anyways. "Might want to talk to a doctor about that. Too much red meat's bad for you." Alison pushes back off of the wall with a flattened sneaker sole, then heads into the back once more, hauling a tray of clean mugs with her on the way back out.

Ali rolls her eyes at Gina. High School...how. You know what this is your place. So good on you for having places for the force to eat." Ali surely considers herself the dark force in the universe. There are reasons! Unlimited power! Well not that many know about. She just shrugs to Gina "You have good burgers." she manages without too much sarcasm.
Her head looking to the other Ali. Or the positive Ali, aka her nemesis. "Eh in my profession there isn't too much meat...alright that isn't as dirty as I thought it was. The fact I like veggie things such say something. But shhh...Little emo girl can't compare to the goth." she winks at the red-head.

"Police aren't considered vermin, so I can't keep them out for health and safety reasons." Gina sounds... a little disappointed about that. But she nods, sipping her coffee, "Yeah, I do." She isn't going to deny how good her diner's food is, after all. "Just FYI, all staff have temp banning powers to kick people out. So don't piss off Autumn too much. She gets ban-crazy." Gina deadpans, looking down at her orange nails again, "But really, I'm curious. Does it make you feel more in control to put labels on people?" Gina asks, looking up and back at Alisha. "Little feeling of power, maybe? Kind of like having that nifty badge of yours?"

The door opens to admit a tall guy in black; one who glances around with the wary expression of a man who has tasted the Bear's famous omelette once and is not really looking to gamble his health a second time. Carrying a laptop computer under one arm like some sort of Steve Jobs look-alike, Ravn Abildgaard heads for the counter, nodding to a few familiar faces from his first visit to the diner; the waitress that was too busy yelling at her husband or boyfriend to serve him, a few patrons who give him the 'this isn't Starbucks' look as he walks past them. He tries to flag down the attention of anyone behind that very counter, hoping for coffee.

Doesn't seem to mind the vague insult of vermin. As a force of the law she's been called worse. "Good to know we aren't the worst thing ever. So vegan cuisine is there anything else here anymore?" Ali simply questions. "If I disrespect staff I would expect to be kicked out. I love staff...the owner maybe not so much." she clicks her black nails. Is there discontent between the two, or just two darkling's meeting. Well who knows?
Her gaze goes to the new person...still she waits on her order, if she will be served.'

Alison rummages around under the counter, putting the cups where they belong. She speaks while she's under there, mostly to herself, though somewhat louder than she probably intended. "Funny, I'd think there'd be a lot of pork.. I guess that doesn't count as red meat." She shrugs, then looks at Alisha once more.

The redhead leans back against the wall where she'd been briefly before, head tilting Gina-wards. "I'm not exactly in the mood to be banning anyone these days. I'm trying to save up to get the hell out of the trailer park. Some jackass nearly burned the place down last week." A gesture towards the door where Ruiz'd been haunting a few moments ago. "That one, at least, I've heard a vouch for."

But there's someone new haunting the door instead. New to her, at least. Alison's eyes go to Gina and the blond, neither of which are likely to be particular interested in helping. With a sigh, she scoops one of the mugs from under the counter, setting in front of Ravn. "Coffee, yeah?" It's still pretty early in the morning. Coffee's a pretty good assumption, probably.

Gina is behind the counter! Drinking coffee. Not at all responding to gestures Ravn makes to try and get attention. Neither is the blond at the register, who is busy doing a crossword puzzle. Good thing there's Alison! "I'm not a fan of Ruiz. Don't know him to hate him, but anybody Bennie wants to punch and who gets an old classmate wanting his head on a platter has got even /me/ curious about him." All this is spoken offhand, as if entirely ignoring the police officer who reports to him still in their presence. Or just not caring about her. Though Gina certainly knows she's there. And looks at her for a long moment before she reaches to grab the burger from the window and set it down in front of Alisha. A perfect, impossible burger, complete with a homemade sauce and fluffy vegan-based local-sourced hamburger bun. "Ketchup's on one of the tables behind you along with other shit if you're into ruining a good burger." She does tell Alisha. And totally, as of yet, has not acknowledged Ravn.

"Please," the copper blond murmurs. "Plain black. Please don't ban me until after I've managed to drink it."

He doesn't seem to mind being ignored. Some people are morning zombies. He is clearly one of them. Mention of a few names cause him to cast half a glance in Gina's direction -- then look away as if reminding himself that whatever's going on there is a private conversation. There are chairs. He sits on one. Why are mornings.

Alisha looks to Alison. Giving a grin "A pork and beef thing. I'd prefer a good vegan burger. But that is probably outside the wheel house." she orders before glaring at Gina. "How can you not be a fan of the chief? It isn't like this place is so outside of what he would recommend." Alisha is very loyal. "A classmate how drool" she clicks her na? s. "We absolutely didn't go to school together. You know what you wouldn't remember what I did." she remarks to Gina.
The vegan burger is welcome...still there is a glare to Gina. Because of her insult to the Chief? Or the plain black? The dark girl will never admit to whatever. Aka she is pissed about the reaction to the Chief. But will hide it behind black versus black.

Alison blinks a little at the man's accent. Unexpected! But she shrugs to herself, grabbing a carafe of coffee off of the warmer. The redhead pours the mug to a sensible level, returning the carafe afterwards. "Bearclaws just came out of the oven, something else if you want..?" Another shrug.

"Isn't that what you got?" The redhead squints at the cop's newly delivered Impossible burger. "I mean, it's plants and veggies, right? I thought that was the whole point."

"You're like, what? Twenty?" Gina guesses, looking over Alisha and quite unimpressed. "Obviously we didn't go to school together. I graduated high school when you still thought Hannah Montana was hot shit." Ouch. "When you grow an original opinion, then maybe we'll philosophize about how I can give so few fucks about somebody I don't know with a craptacular reputation and an attitude problem." A pause, before she says in a completely unbelievable monotone, "Though the Black Bear Diner fully supports apple pie and the justice system and good ol' legal laws and complies with all FDA regulations." A flick of her nails against the mug, before she finally turns to look at Ravn. See him. She definitely saw him.

Yeah, she just looks away again and sips her coffee, before looking at Alison, "Did Ronnie finish the sausage and spinach quiche he was trying to make, or was it still in the oven?"

"Oven warm bearclaw does sound nice, actually." Ravn's gloved fingers curl around the mug as if it contained the elixir of life itself, the Holy Grail of his dreary existence. It must have been rough, rising from the dead to join the ranks of the unliving like that.

Gina's sideway look prompts a small, lopsided smile though. "I get the feeling your boss doesn't like me much," he murmurs to Alison. "I'll just have this coffee and get out of your hair, promise."

Alisha is off-duty so winks at the red-head. "That is the point. Granted it isn't better for me than a normal burger. Still the serving is very mmm..nice." she puts a twenty down on the table. Not thinking about what the meal and tip costs. Her smile is interrupted by Gina's words.
Ali looks up at her. "OH Hannah huh? Yeah you don't know who Bauhaus is do you? Which is fine. Totes Bela is undead...Not matter. Not like things get understood through lyrics or politics." the cop shrugs. "Shine like thunder, cry like rain." she quips.

Alison smirks a little at Ravn's assumption. "Eh, she doesn't really like anyone. As long as you make sure to tip your waitress, you're fine." She pushes herself away from the counter towards the bearclaws, fetching one onto a plate, then dropping it off to sit in harmony with the cup of coffee.

"Oh, quiche? That's probably what's burned to hell in the garbage can by the wash pit. Doesn't really look like food, though.. hard to tell." Alison rolls her eyes at Alisha's latest line. "I think I might be getting straighter. Blondes.." The redhead shakes her head, then heads into the back once more.

"Again with the labels and boxes, huh? And the feeling of superiority based on that narrow window of what you consider good." Gina muses, bright orange fingernails tapping against her mug with sharp concatenated clicks, smoothly following one another in a slow, even pace. Cl-cl-cl-cl-click, cl-cl-cl-cl-click. "You're seriously going to come to me with Bauhaus? Get to know your 80s french rock lyricists and get me some Serge Gainsbourg or at least tell me you've listened to Театр абсурда?" Gina raises both brows at Alisha, the russian flowing flawlessly from her lips. Siiiiiiiip of her coffee. "Georgia - the country - also has some pretty killer underground vibes, you should check out the scene there when you're old enough to fly by yourself." A smile, just SO condescending, before she looks back towards Ravn, "She's right. I keep saying this shit, but everyone takes it personally. I don't like people. Except for entertainment. Case in point, Ms. Candy Crush over here," A gesture towards Alisha with her mug. "She'll keep me entertained for another twenty minutes before I get bored and find something that acctually uses brainpower."

She's... she's right there, Gina. Does Gina care, though?

..... probably not...

"This place is amazing," Ravn confides to his coffee mug who absolutely understands and sympathises with his every word in that quiet, uncaring fashion of things made from plastic or china. They have a moment of true love going on there. Soul to soul communication. Ships passing each other in the night. He's very fond of his morning coffee, or he's got a really low bar for attraction, or possibly, both.

Gina's comment in his direction nets a small, lopsided grin. "That's what makes it amazing. Come for the coffee, get all the entertainment for free." He nods at Alisha as well. "Hello, Ms Candy Crush. I'm Sheltered, Arrogant Idiot."

Alisha shrugs "Did I go too far? Sorry if I pushed you into the straight line. Blessed be your preference." she says to her waitress. "I know not all people are attracted to me. I am just a bitch." she admits, because how else can she choice to be other than herself."

Ali in response clicks her black nails. "Sorry, sorry. I thought for a moment you were a woman of culture. So yeah you didn't know a damn thing about Bauhaus. Just qouting other's that have nothing to do with the movement...oh so awesome. Oh no you schooled me. Alright I'll admit defeat if you can name a single Rosetta Stone song. Just one..." a open challenge in a fight between how she thinks is false goth. Well she doesn't even know if Gina thinks of herself as a goth. Ali certainly does though, and there is additional tip on the line.

Alison pops back around the corner, her red hair blowing in the slight breeze from her movement, taking her place against the wall once again. "Theatre of the Absurd sounds about right for this little cat fight." The redhead shrugs, and pours herself a coffee. And adds what's probably far too much cream and sugar for most people.

Gina sighs, "Selective hearing, too. Yeah, growing bored." Gina's nails haven't stopped that steady, even clicking against the side of the mug, the orange nails like some sort of creature flexing its coloration to warn off others. "Listen High School. Whatever Cosmo magazine checklist you've got going on in your head you feel the desperate need to define me with? Not into it. You can talk to Sheltered over there about how few fucks I give about your opinion. If you want to lock yourself into a tiny ass box and let that box be your whole world, you're touching nothing that's sacred to me." A small shrug, before Gina looks over at Alison, and the ghost of a smirk touches her lips, "You're not having fun, Springtime? It was kind of fun at first, but honestly some skulls are too thick and selective. Must be the cop training. It's no fun smashing something against a wall unless it's going to pop." A little wave, and Gina starts heading into the kitchen. No goodbyes or anything, just... walking away.

"Theatre of the Absurd could be the name of this diner," Ravn agrees with a small smile. His close communion with the coffee cup notwithstanding, he's quite obviously enjoying the show. "Sounded like an argument over music to me -- which means I'm staying out of it because my knowledge of music that isn't classical or folk is on the kindergarten level. I can hum itsy bitsy spider in Danish."

Alisha sighs at Alison's response. "Blessed be you." turning her attention back to Gina. She just chuckles. "Sure...sure that obvs pop culture. Just not counter culture at all...So you win. Vote for Trump and all is okay." pulling out her wallet to pay for her meal. "I'm glad you have good food. I wished your black lipstick went further than a fashion choice. Still no matter. Yeah a tiny box...sure. That's all good by me. Ornaments of gold and all that. Not that I expect you to get that." Alisha stands up. Looking smug that she won. But it was only that she knows all the spooky bands, so that really isn't winning. It just means she is trapped in the past, or what she was exposed to. She still leaves a good tip on the table.

Alison shrugs back at Gina as she saunters off, as she's wont to do at times. The redhead watches her head off into the back, then smirks. "I think I got off easy in the nickname department today between sheltered and high school.. yeah, I dunno any of those bands either, I pretty much listen to whatever Spotify tells me to listen to. Joywave, lately, for the most part. Shoegazy stuff. Mile away from.. Russian, I think? goth music, whatever that was." She takes a long sip from her coffee.

"..is humming in Danish much different than humming in English? Seems like it'd have the same sort of tune to it.." She reaches out with a pale freckled hand, mimicking counting out the beats in the air.

Mr Sheltered Arrogant Idiot grins lightly at the redhead waitress. She gets it.

Then he nibbles carefully on the bearclaw only to realise that -- no doubt to his massive relief -- it is in fact a whole lot less offensive to mankind than Gina's infamous omelettes (he still gets flakes on his gloves, though). "I think I was born clueless about modern music and just stayed that way. I can talk your ear off about bluegrass from the seventies or old folk songs. But since I'm a fairly civilised -- if sheltered and arrogant -- person, I won't. So, does Gina have a nickname for everybody, or are Ms Candy Crush and I special?"

Alisha shudders at Alison's response. More than a little glad she just wished blessing's. I mean just listening to Spotify suggestions? Heresy! She is still fighting a battle in her own mind. Finishing up her meal and putting a tip on the table. Looking like she won whatever thing she tried to start. Such a hollow victory since she was playing with obscure knowledge to begin with. All the insults from Gina mean nothing to her. Ali is so sure she is superior. Even to the effect that she doesn't look around. She was born and raised in this town, and to her a defeat of Gina seems to mean something great to her...

From the speakers, the funky 80s R&B hits? They end. And from the speakers suddenly comes... Rosetta Stone's Nothing.
*Closing in closing down
It's your cross I cannot bear
Play while you can, forgiveness is to understand
I want to undermine you
I know what truth's beyond you
I want to redesign you
I know what lies behind you
Wait and see don't expect too much from me
You're touching on nothing
Touching nothing that is sacred to me

Alison mmms at Ravn. "I think just about everybody, yeah. Seems to change depending on her mood, though. I'll usually get shit like 'Springtime' and 'Autumn'. Worse if I annoy her, like change her music or something." Which, of course, is when the music changes. Because that's the way the universe works, sometimes.

What the music changes to, though, is lost on her. The redhead moves over to collect the shrapnel from the table, calling out a half-hearted 'thaaaanks' to Alisha as she clears the plate and whatnot away.