Demons and Diners

Anxiety and Apologies

I spend the time before my shift messing with my settings, switching the background, and exploring all my apps - especially the map. There aren't really any games, which I suppose makes sense given the nature of the phone, but I pass a lot of time virtually exploring the place.

The phone buzzes in my hand, reminding me to report for my shift in fifteen minutes. Shit, I haven't been paying any attention to the time, I curse, hopping up from the bed and grabbing my uniform. I've decided I need a shower - since I now have the luxury of showering whenever I want - so I pop into the hall and make my way to the bathroom.

In record time, I'm out and changed, stopping by my room for a second to grab my phone and check the time - Only three minutes, I'd better hurry. I notice, then, a message from an unknown number:

Unknown: This is Phil - Chris told me you got your phone, just wanted to be sure you had all the important people's numbers :) Have a good first shift

I smile in spite of myself, saving his number. Though I know I'm in a rush, I spend most of my walk trying to come up with a clever response.

Dan: You got me the phone, could've just programmed it in ;) thanks

I press send and immediately regret it. Shit, I shouldn't have sent the winky face, that was a bad move, he's going to hate me or think I'm a weirdo or...My thoughts follow me into the diner, but Chris grabs me and immediately drags me off, giving me instructions for my shift; I slip the phone into my pocket, trying to focus on his words - I'm to start by just providing water and taking drink orders.

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The night flies by, and I actually find that the majority of the patrons aren't as distressing as I'd first thought: most have some kind of...difference? I struggle to find the right word, but some have horns curling from their heads, or facial features that don't seem quite normal; others sport fur or scales, and I even notice a few tails poking out from behind chairs. The fact that they're all mostly anthropomorphic, though, makes the whole situation a little more manageable.

Chris checks up on me regularly, though the tasks I've been assigned are fairly simple. When business dies down, he puts me fully in charge of a couple tables in the corner. The patrons are unexpectedly nice, with only one woman throwing a fit for her steak being 'overcooked'.

By the time my shift ends, it's something like early morning, and I'm sent to grab some dinner from the kitchen.

"There you are, darling, how was your first shift?" Louise's voice hits me as soon as I pass through the doorway, and I spot her standing over a griddle.

"Not too bad," I call back with a smile - which is true, and it sure as hell beats what I used to do for work.

"Go and grab some food before you starve," she chuckles, turning her attention back to the food she's cooking, and I head to the staff kitchen. I rummage through the pantry, finding a few things labeled with some names, but most everything seems to be up for grabs.

I pour a bowl of generic-looking cornflakes, the first thing that caught my eye. I munch on the cereal, leaning against the counter, and let the highlights of my day creep to the forefront of my mind for processing.

By the time I've finished the last of the sugary milk left in the bowl, turning to rinse it out in the sink, I'm feeling moderately comfortable with my bizarre situation. Or, rather, I've accepted that some insane shit is happening and it's probably for the best just to roll with it. I turn off the tap and pull open the dishwasher when a thought occurs to me: I haven't seen PJ since he stormed out this morning...while I know my own reaction to everything had been a bit...tactless, Phil hadn't seemed too offended by it, but...hell, PJ must think I'm some kind of bigoted asshole...