Civil Breakdown [Sadhillock]

[Quilboarian]

Clayton


You're in the kitchen of "Bexey's", the restaurant you work at. Presumably , you are working as usual. Though, there aren't very many folks around at this time. Only a few other staff are working- some haven't shown up today. Things seem quiet, save for the sound of cars outside. It looks like it's getting somewhat late, so things'll be closing soon. Still, there's a few sandwiches left to make for the waitress to deliver before anything else happens.


Zelina


You're sitting at one of the tables, and may or may not be waiting for someone else to show up. A menu rests on the tablecloth, unopened. Outside the window, you see vehicles drive along the street as usual, and the sky seems to get darker and darker as time goes on. Not very many other people are here. There's an elderly couple, a mother and her teenaged son, and a trio of middle-aged blue collar workers at some of the other tables.

 

[Yang Xiao Long]

I sit quietly taping my fingers on the table waiting for my food to arrive, going over a game of pazaak in my head.

 

[Quilboarian]

(Remember the universe. Star Wars doesn't exist.)


Eventually, the pale and baggy-eyed waitress brings over your food, setting it down on the table for you. "Will there be anything else?" she asked you, hands on her hips as she seemed to tap her foot.

 

[Yang Xiao Long]

( How about we use a different name same rules?)


"No, and you don't have to be so rude about it." I reply.

 

[Quilboarian]

[Well, I don't really know how to play it, but sure. You can be thinking about some obscure card game belonging to an in-game franchise.]


The waitress goes somewhat red at your remark, swallowing. She stands there for a moment and furrows her brow, replying with; "Okay, then..." she mutters before turning around and beginning to walk off.

 

[Yang Xiao Long]

( xD when you say it that way, you make me feel like a nerd.)


I start to eat my salad.

 

[Quilboarian]

You begin to consume the saucy leafy stuff in your bowl. The nearby television shows the increased production of tanks and aircraft, as a newscaster talks about the rate of militarization in the Central States.

 

[Yang Xiao Long]

I start to watch the news, nibbling on my salad. I frown when I notice it's raining outside, thinking about how I didn't drive to "Bexey's", and about how late it is.

 

[sadhillock]

The ticket machine hummed it's last note of the night. A thin sheet of paper revealing the message in red blocky text: thx clay. Clayton reached forward and ripped the paper off, then tossed it in the trash can. "No problem," he muttered under his breath, slightly annoyed that the front of the house staff couldn't be bothered to tell him the kitchen was closed. Perhaps it had something to do with his tantrum earlier, when he found out he'd be opening and closing...


The counters and stations had already been wiped down while he had waited for that last ticket. So, with a sigh and a sip of his ice water, he resigned himself to sweeping the floors.


Five years he had worked there, while other employees seemed to come and go. He was constant. He was loyal. But instead of a raise, he was just expected to step up. Instead of recognition, he got 'thx clay'. It was silly, and he knew it. But times were tough, bills needed to be payed, and honestly it felt good having a steady job, despite the mototony.


After fifteen minutes of half-hearted cleaning Clay placed the broom and dustpan in the chemical closet and stepped into the front of the house. He scanned the restaurant as he leaned against the hostess stand. "Paycheck day," he told the hostess, his deep southern drawl grumbling as he waited for her to retrieve his envelope from underneath the counter.

 

[Quilboarian]

Zelina [Just so you know, you can't control the weather or anything.]


The program goes on to discuss the supposed growing Cazacian threat on the continent, and how government officials have stated that they will be prepared for any action taken against the Central States. You notice the elderly couple get up and leave after paying for the meal, along with one of the workers.


Clay


The woman gives you a tired smile and nods as she ducks down to dig out your payment from one of the the drawers. She brings up her hand to present you with the envelope, before standing back up straight. "Have a good night, Clay," she tells you. You see a few people walk out the doors and disappear off into the street.

 

[sadhillock]

Clay smiled back, just as tiredly, and pocketed the envelope. "Thanks, darlin', you too," he said. He stepped out into the dining area, glancing at the television. His brow furrowed. He wasn't a pacifist by any means, but the idea of two countries going head to head--especially in times such as these with growing access to nuclear and biochemical weaponry--didn't sit with him well.


"Why doesn't that Cazac president come on over and duke it out with ours?" he wondered aloud. In his mind, the idea of two world leaders getting into a fist fight seemed the better option for ending a dispute, rather than put hundreds of thousands at risk with a war. "I'm getting sick of seeing this shit on television."

 

[Yang Xiao Long]

I stand up, stretching . I look over to the TV once more, yawning. As I gather my things, I hear someone walking up behind me.

 

[Quilboarian]

Clayton


"Because nobody's about to let the fascists take over the country just 'cause of one fistfight," remarks one of the two remaining workers from their table. "Gotta give them everything we got," he says. "And what do they got again? Is it a premier? Chairman? I don't know what they call their guy anymore. Maybe it is president," the other says, while his friend shrugs.


Zelina





The television soon wraps up the program and switches to a commercial about lawnmowers. You're probably just hearing things, because nobody is there. Well, there are other people in the building, of course, but nobody is behind you.


--


Suddenly, there is a lot of noise from outside the restaurant, coming from the street. By the time anyone gets to look out the window, it's already happened; an auto-wreck involving two cars, by the looks of it. Bits and pieces of both vehicles are scattered around, mostly glass. A woman gets out of one of the cars and stumbles forward, before promptly collapsing. The customers and staff that witness the accident gasp, and the workers get up from their chairs.

 

[Yang Xiao Long]

I look at the cars, trying to see what the damage is, I also note their make and model.

 

[Quilboarian]

[Zelina is getting a separate thread. Her character is voided. Sadhillock, you are free to continue at your own pace.]