#naivelost

stranger things.

there’s a frown as he fumbles with his apron. for the first time in however many months he’s worked here, loretta’s diner is packed to the brim, desperate townsfolk and stray tourists alike searching for somewhere to celebrate the new year. with the diner being the only place in five square miles that sells food, that searching doesn’t take very long. every booth, every table, and most of those little red stools are filled with somebody—which, in timothy’s opinion, is terrifying for a restaurant that’s lucky to get ten people on a good day. inching towards maximum occupancy wouldn’t be that big of a deal if the diner weren’t severely understaffed. the makeshift wait staff, assembled after the actual wait staff (one single waitress) called out sick, consists of the owner’s unfortunate niece and a very disgruntled timothy.

the latter of which has barely managed to tie his apron.

When the customer walks through the door, TJ can see why he came into this abandoned, boring place. Don’t get him wrong--- He loved his family’s business, it paid well and every day he found something new while wandering through untidy halls, but since it was mostly empty, it was a pain in his butt to spend it alone all day. At least, he had time for his daily research.

     ❝ - Eighty-four? ❞ Eddie says it with a raise of his brow, but doesn’t push much further. Bilbo sits in his lap, and Eddie’s textbook that he should be studying lays forgotten on the floor. He knows that this time of year is especially rough for Ben, so he checks up when Isabel can’t. It’s an unspoken routine between the two siblings. There’s a croissant that Eddie bought on Ben’s bedside table, still in the bag and untouched. Half of Eddie wants to feed it to him. The other half doesn’t know if that’s overstepping.

     ❝ - It’s been a long day, I think we’re allowed to be kinda cunt-y. ❞ Isabel wipes ketchup off her chin with her finger, snickering as she does. She smacks Ben’s hand and wrinkles her noses as he laughs, but after a glance, nudges her plate towards him. He said he didn’t want any of her fries, and she certainly doesn’t want to share, but it’s not like she’s actually going to finish them anyway.

there was a giggle, and his finger quickly founds it’s way to his mouth, attempting to hold back the bleeding. he smirks, as his eyes meet ben. “ it’s nothing, just a lil cut. ”

WELCOME BACK !!