Fast Food [open]

[Victoria Jefferson]

The Wendy's had more people in it than Vikki had expected for a Wednesday afternoon, and only two people that she could see behind the counter. The drive through girl and the front girl. There had to be at least a third behind the wall making the food, but still, three people for a full restaurant and a drive through line wrapping around the building was understaffed.

Directly to her left was what she assumed were a mother, father, daughter, and two other members of a cheer leading team based on their uniforms. The father was pacing agitatedly and met Vikki's eye.

"It's going to be a while," he grumbled.

Glancing at the order board, the bubbly woman smiled, "It's okay, I can see they're working on it."

"Yeah well, I ordered fast food."

The man had raised his voice enough to be heard by those behind the counter and Vikki blinked. Was it necessarily wise to annoy the people preparing one's food. And regardless of how lagged they were, it was going to be faster than say Olive Garden. Or Red Robin.

His bad attitude was staring to wear on the woman who would rather give everyone the benefit of the doubt. But being purposefully rude was uncalled for.

It wasn't long after that that the food was brought up and the family left. Stepping up to the counter, she gave her order only to be interrupted by the two male cheerleaders muttering something about "unacceptable".

Narrowing her eyes at them she turned back to the long counter woman and, loud enough to be heard, "I'm so sorry for their behavior. You're doing a wonderful job."

[David Brackett]

David sprawled out in his booth, arms spread over the backing of the seating area. He was alone this time around, but still he insisted on taking up the entire bench. Jerk. He lifted one hand to his mouth, covering a yawn, his eyes on the scene that was quickly playing out in the queue. He picked up a cold fry and brought it to his mouth, looking like he was enjoying a good movie or something of the sorts. Some guy was grumpy, some woman was provoking before-mentioned guy while calling out words of encouragement. "Don't tempt the mob," David called out to Victoria with a wink. "This is an establisment where sporks are plenty, and those things hurt," he added, as an afterthought.

Despite his friendly demeanor, the man didn't rise. Nope, he stayed right where he was, chewing on fries, every now and then glancing out the window, keeping an eye on the old pickup truck parked outside. Normally he would've just rode one of his horses here, probably Frog. The gelding was much more easy-going than Cheshire was, and less likely to spook for the fun of it. If David was a jerk, Cheshire was a sadist. Many people would disagree, however, because come on. Horses aren't capable of sadism, right? They aren't intelligent enough. Right, we'll go with that. David usually didn't bother explaining otherwise. Anyway, back to the original subject: He would have rode Frog here, but apparently the term 'drive through' applied only to cars, and the other customers tended to throw fits when they saw the buckskin tethered outside.

David would know. He'd tried it, on multiple occasions.

[Victoria Jefferson]

A tray was pushed forward with her order on it, and Vikki picked it up with another beaming smile. Turning she gave that same smile to the male who'd encouraged her not to feed the wolves. So to speak. He was right, of course. However an injustice was an injustice and was something that needed to be addressed and dealt with in the only way she knew how. And that was facing it head on.

"They were being insufferably rude and anyone in the service industry has to deal with that on a regular basis. It's nice to have someone stand up for you now and then." Tilting her head so the tight spiral curls bobbed Vikki took the table nearest the occupied booth and arranged her meal. "Haven't you ever had someone stand up for you in a situation where you couldn't really react? Didn't that feel good?" She'd almost added a 'sugar' to the end of that, but knowing how much she hated to be referred to in such terms refrained.

"Maybe a little bit of positive reinforcement and some good examples will go a long way in those folks lives." Always a dreamer for the positive. Always hoping for a better tomorrow. And if she could instill a little bit of politeness by example and pointing out that people were being rude--then there was hope for people accepting Metas with more open arms than open fire.

[David Brackett]

The woman had approached him, smiling, talking about hopes and dreams and ideals. "Or they could just spit in his food," David suggested with a laugh. "Please, sit. I wouldn't be a gentleman if I hoarded the entire booth," he said, scooting and motioning for her to sit. He slid his own tray over so Victoria would have room to set hers. "I'm David. David Brackett," he introduced himself. "And if I were wearing my hat, I'd tip it to you, but that damned horse decided to make off with it, once again." The man sighed, running his hand through his hair. See? Sadistic. Cheshire was what appeared in the dictionary next to that particular word, a little black-and-white image of a pinto mare.

"But I digress," he said, with a small wave of his hand. "What are you up to this fine afternoon? Besides crusading, that is." Another wink. He sipped on his small beverage, some sort of dark soda, watching his new companion thoughtfully.

[Victoria Jefferson]

With the offer, Vikki shifted from the table to the booth and beamed at her new companion again. "I don't see how you can ride those things. They're lovely, to be sure, but their legs are so thin I can't imagine how they hold themselves up let alone another hundred plus pounds on their backs." Horses. Incredible animals that were once used as food, and probably had genetic memory of such. She'd appreciate them from a distance.

"I'm always crusading. There are injustices in this world that need a gentle shove into being corrected." Capturing a fry between her teeth, Victoria took a moment to consume it before continuing. "Things generally don't right themselves and they need crusaders, or marketing, to help. Look through history, all of the great injustices had people on the other side working to make it right. Or as right as it could be made."

Snagging her beverage, she took a generous sip and turned the question back on her companion.

"Other than being an urban cowboy... well as ubran as you can get in Vermont, and calling out random encouragement what do you do?"

[David Brackett]

He chuckled. It was remarkable how many people had fear of horses. He could understand why- they were big, they had teeth, and their feet hurt like hell. "All in the legs," he responded with a grin. "They're damn powerful. You wouldn't be so shocked if you saw one of the draft horses. Monsters, I swear it," he grinned, shaking his head. His two were your average sized mounts, nothing too special, but he did have a special fondness for the Clydesdales and Shires.

David listened to Victoria talk, chewing on his ever-dwindling supply of fries. "Well, yes, usually all changes start with 'Hang on a minute...' but they also tend to, y'know, end in death. The big ones anyway. I've grown rather attached to this world, not too keen on leaving it any time soon, y'know?" He shrugged, sipping again on his soda. Call him pessimistic, but a lot of people do die in the name of change.

"Me?" David gave her another wide grin, and leaned in. "I talk to horses," he whispered conspiratorily. "And get this- people pay me to do it! This world is a strange, strange place." He paused, and looked at Victoria thoughtfully. "Do you have a name, or should I just call you Joan?" he asked with another of his copious winks.

Mr. Brackett was nothing if not friendly.

[Victoria Jefferson]

Beaming at him, Vikki bobbed her head happily. It was so nice to hear about one of the Meta's being paid to do exactly what it was their manifestations allowed them to. And being accepted in the process! She assumed he was open about it, he'd told her without much prompting at all. He could have lied. Made something 'normal' up. Instead he had been honest, and that meant good GOOD things for the future of the world and of people in general.

"I cannot tell you how glad I am to hear that! I'm sure you help many people and their horses communicate better. There was a book, several years ago, that dealt with a similar thing. I often wondered if the author was hinting at Meta status and situation. I don't know for sure, but if I should write and ask. Only two answers I can get. Well three if you count 'no comment'." She chuckled.

"Victoria," wiping her fingers and hands on a napkin she held one out. "It's a true pleasure to meet you."