Work Text:
The part of your brain that processes scent is close to the part that processes memory, meaning that certain smells can immediately transport you to a time years ago, in ways sounds and sight cannot.
Eugene Fitzherbert contemplated this in the back of his mind as he walked into Anne’s, his home away from, well, it was the closest thing to a home he ever had. The smell of cherry pie and strawberry milkshakes still lingered, even three years later.
Ever since he left the orphanage (his prison) at sixteen, this run down diner was his safe space. It was small and cozy, the seats were plush enough to sleep on, and the waiters weren’t paid enough to care about some ratty teen as long as he spent his hard earned (stolen) money on what he believed was the best food Corona had to offer. Even if realistically, it was sub-par at most.
Walking hand in hand with his newly acquired girlfriend Rapunzel, Eugene stopped just to take in the sights that he had missed in the time he had been gone. The black and white tile flooring, the grey painted walls with various posters and signs that the owners probably got for free, the red plush booths, the wire tables, and the comforting dim lights casting everything in a slight orange glow. He was glad they were still playing crooners on the radio, he sighed as Frank Sinatra played softly throughout the small building.
The now former thief, as of a few days ago, led his girlfriend into one of the booths in the far corner, away from everyone else and near the window overlooking the nearby motel they happened to be staying at. Neither of them had said anything yet, him too busy taking in all the memories, Rapunzel too busy mesmerized by the new sights and smells, never having been to a restaurant before, he was glad this was her first one.
Eugene handed her one of the stained menus with a small “here” and perused it himself. It wasn’t very extensive, it never was, but it was also cheap, and the food was good. It was late in the evening so unfortunately they missed the breakfast menu, mostly consisting of eggs in various forms. Even if the food wasn't as good as he remembered, it would've been amazing to Rapunzel. She was a great cook, but almost all she ever had was what she made for herself, he knew she was excited to try something new.
The woman in question was reading the menu with a large smile on her face, her recently bobbed and dyed brown hair held out of her face with strategically placed curls. After having and styling long hair for her entire life, she had gotten quite skilled at making it stylish and practical. It’s now short length only helping in her goal. The warm dim lighting from the overhead lamp mixed with the neon from outside cast her face in a soft purple hue, accenting her purple dress and pink lipstick. She sat back into the plush red booth and looked up, ready to tell him her order.
Eugene had already decided before walking into the diner what he wanted, it’s what he always got, the waitresses had memorized his order. But, after three years of traveling the world, he found he only recognized a handful of them, and they happened to be busy during the dinner rush.
But, apparently luck was on his side tonight, because one of his favorites came to take their order. One of the more elderly waitresses, a Bayangoran named Hana. Her dark hair sported a few more grey hairs but it was still styled fastidiously into a chignon. Her face still held surprisingly few wrinkles for her age which Eugene had to guess was around 300.
“Hana! It’s been awhile how’s it going?” Eugene exclaimed, happy to see an old friend.
“It’s going, it’s been very quiet since you’ve been away. I already miss that.” Her eyebrow quirked up challengingly.
“Yeah well I’m back for good this time, I’ll take my usual.” The waitress jotted down ‘cheeseburger, fries, and Coca Cola’ on her ancient notepad, and turned to Rapunzel, “and the missus?”
Rapunzel’s face flushed harder than he had ever seen before, and she glanced away, pointedly not noticing Eugene choke on his own spit. The older woman only grinned in turn.
“She’s not, we’re only dating, we’re not married.” Eugene stressed, the older woman only smiled teasingly. Rapunzel squeaked out her order, consisting of chicken tenders and an orange soda.
“It’s nice to see you again Eugene, really. It hasn’t been the same without you, and it’s nice to see a familiar face before this place gets shut down.” Hana said as she placed her note pad into her apron.
Eugene stopped. “What?”
“Oh, you didn’t hear?” Hana replied.
“No, I haven’t been in Corona in years, this place is getting shut down?”
“The owner is getting too old to take care of it by himself and he ain’t got no kids to take it. So, he’s gonna sell the land.”
Eugene felt his heart drop. The closest place to a home he had since his father died, the place he hadn’t been in years, the place he was looking forward to treating his girlfriend and possibly their future family to, was getting shut down.
Rapunzel gave him a sympathetic look. He had explained to her how important this place was to him, she could sense his pain. Eugene swallowed the lump in his throat and asked “when is he selling it?”
“He hasn’t got a buyer yet but he’s shutting this place down next month. Unless he finds someone to take over for him-“
“We’ll do it!” Rapunzel exclaimed.
The waitress gave her an incredulous, but very amused look. Eugene struggled to hide the panic in his face.
“Sunshine, hon, no we can’t.” He laughed incredulously. What was she thinking?
“Why not? You and I were just talking about needing to find jobs, we can work here! We need a place to stay so we can just stay here.” Her excitement dwindled down as she gave him a loving look. “I know how much this place means to you, we should keep it alive.” She grasped his hands. “Together.”
Eugene, Eugene was struggling to find reasons to say no. So he said nothing.
Hana rolled her eyes and walked away, muttering fond sass under her breath.
Rapunzel had a point. The two needed jobs, and while running a business had to be insanely difficult and they were painfully underprepared, the diner was already pretty beloved. They were guaranteed money if they didn’t burn the place down, and they could likely hire a consultant to help them figure things out until they got on their feet. It was a job and a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs. And Eugene did promise he would provide for her.
And the idea of seeing Rapunzel in a waitress uniform made him think thoughts he had to push to the back of his head, for later.
And Rapunzel just seemed so excited by the idea. And Eugene had to admit, he was a little excited as well.
The idea of running a business with the woman he loved, in the diner he loved, with a jukebox playing music and the two of them waltzing to Dean Martin….
Wow, it really did not take long for Eugene to come around.
He had always been impulsive.
They really didn’t have anything to lose, if they failed, the diner was going to be shut down anyway.
“Hey Hana! Phone the owner, I’ve got a proposal for him!”