“…this feels wrong, somehow.”

“I agree.”

Vesper Noir and Josuiji Shinri stare at each other from across the booth, their gazes stoic despite the chaos around them. Parents try to reign in their children as they shout for items that they want from behind the counter, stoners of all kinds are packed into booths, and there’s even a guy off in the corner with a slowly rising pile of burger boxes on his table. Normally, this would be expected for McDonalds during the middle of the day – the fact that its 9 PM on a Thursday makes this scene absolutely absurd.

“Why didn’t we go to Burger King, again?” Vesper wonders aloud, leaning his head against his palm as he idly traces a circle into the dirty table. Thank God he’s wearing gloves, really.

“Because we both craved McDonalds.” Shinri shifts in his seat, barely managing to jerk out of the way of a flailing child. “And Elysium Eats is down for maintenance. And also, Flayon isn’t allowed to come with the R-TRUS due to what happened last time he did.”

“We couldn’t have gotten Axel to do it either?”

“He’s at the bar with Bettel. Apparently it’s happy hour, and according to the message I got ten minutes ago…they’re likely not going to be coming back tonight.”

The pair fall into silence once more as they stare daggers into the screen listing the order numbers. Vesper’s order is simple with a Big Mac and fries, while Shinri splurged for two chicken sandwiches and a larger set of fries. Considering he’s just gotten back from a mission and is likely tired as all hell, Vesper won’t comment on the amount of food the man’s getting.

From across the room, the burger box tower falls. A child is flattened underneath the sheer might of the cardboard.

“Number 69, your order is ready!”

Shinri and Vesper rise up fast enough that the entire place turns to stare at them.