Chapter Text
Jean Loo sat in his shitty twenty-year old car, elbows resting upon his thighs and he buried his head in his hands. He pulled his hands down, stretching his face while trying to mentally prepare for yet another Food Fetch order. Jean took a long drink from his second energy drink of the day then double checked the address on the app before putting the car in drive, waiting for it to stop sputtering before starting to drive to god knows where. Jean can feel his face start to sweat in the hot August air, the humidity causing his frosted tips to flop against his flushed forehead. His free hand goes to press the air conditioning button, a beat, then presses it again.
“Ugh, merde Hector!” A lot of men name their boats and cars, usually after beautiful women. Jean Loo however, felt the need to name his car with how often he wanted to cuss it out. Which he felt he had a decent reason to right then, because the air conditioning wasn’t working. Again. At least it was only a six minute drive to this place, if it even existed. It said on the map that it was a pharmacy, which was strange. Who knows, maybe it was made up for some serial killer to sell his organs on the black market, Jean would be useful for something then at least.
His thoughts were interrupted by a loud honk behind him after he apparently went through a red light. Jean Loo rolled down his window to stick a middle finger out at the car behind him. Was he absolutely in the wrong? Yes. Was he going to admit that to some random stranger? Of course not. Jean hardly ever got this distracted on the road, mainly because the ‘what on earth am I doing with my life’ thoughts usually came at two in the morning and not the middle of the day.
Before he knew it though, he arrived in the parking lot of this small little pharmacy. Definitely still a pharmacy, it had not transformed into looking like an actual place that sells food. Jean sighed. It’s not like he had anything to lose, besides, he needed the money.
He parked the car and stepped in, sighing at the harsh blast of the AC as he stepped into the building. That was one positive at least. As he looked around his surroundings, the fact the place was a pharmacy still had not changed. Jean ventured further back into the store however, eventually catching a glimpse of checkerboard tile.
Jean Loo walked closer towards it, stepping into some sort of 1950’s fever dream. The black and white tile covered the floor of only this strange area, indicating the complete style shift from the bland pharmacy. There was a long, tall counter in the back, with red leather bar stools in front of them, all empty. An old jukebox sat in the back along with some taps of soda, and the only modern looking object was a small refrigerator of soda and energy drinks.
While Jean was taking in the odd surroundings, the lone employee seemed to have noticed him. “Oh! Why hello there, what do ya need? We ain’t got bathrooms if that’s what you’re wondering,” the stranger said with far too much enthusiasm. Even he fit the place’s aesthetic, wearing a pinstripe red and white vest with a red bowtie, and one of those old timey diner hats. God he looked so stupid.
“What? Non, Jean Loo does not need to use the bathroom. He is here to pick up an order,” he said, leaning against the counter. He just wanted to get this order done and delivered so he could go home and…Jean would find something to do.
“An order?..” The man behind the counter looked confused before a look of realization and fear came over his face. He quickly grabbed a small flat tablet that was under the counter, groaning as he saw something on there. “Jeepers, I'm so sorry! I ain’t ever check this darn tablet, I’m no good at this whole tech stuff, I’ll get on that order for ya right away! I’ll get ya a free milkshake too, on me,” The man stammered apologetically, quickly getting to work.
Jean Loo groaned. Great. This was going to take even longer, and then he was going to get blamed for the wait. He sat down since it was likely going to be a bit, drumming his fingers against the counter, his blue nails clicking against the stainless steel. “Good.”
Even though the worker was running around trying to get everything made for him, he still found the time to make some dull conversation that Jean had no choice but to entertain. “Gotta cover up by the way, can’t serve people without shirts on. Now who would ya be stranger?”
He grumbled but zipped up his jacket. “Jean Loo, not just a rapper, one of the best,” Jean responded, offhandedly. God, how many times had he said that stupid phrase? Sure he had impeccable talent, but with how low his soundcloud streams were it seemed no one appreciated it as much as they should. He didn’t know why he still bothered with it, why he bothered with anything.
The thing that was surprising, was that the man seemed…impressed by the fact? “Really? Well ain’t that something! You one of those hotshot stars?” The man said, nudging Jean with his elbow a little. “Name’s Johnny by the way, I ain’t no one special like you.”
Jean Loo paused. He was likely never going to see this man again, and fuck it, he deserved to feel good about himself for once in his life. What would be the harm in a little lie?
“Yes, Jean Loo is incredibly famous. More famous than you could possibly imagine, especially someone like you. …do not look him up by the way, many many jealous people craft lies about him,” he hastily added at the end.
“Oh, I ain’t on social media, ya ain’t gotta worry ‘bout that.” Thank god. “I’ve never met a real famous person before, what’s it like?” Johnny said with an air of adoration as he slid Jean a milkshake.
Jean took a long sip of the drink from his straw, mainly to try and think of more lies. “It is fantastic, but incredibly tiring. Too many people want Jean Loo, or want to be him. That is why he is doing a poor’s work, the fame can get too unbearable and one must connect with the less fortunate, oui? Lil crapper is just irresistible, unfortunately.”
“...Lil what?” Johnny asked, not sure how to politely say ‘that’s your stage name? why?’
“Lil crapper. Note, it means cool rapper. Cool. Rapper.”
“...alrighty, still awful cool! I hardly ever get interestin’ folks like you in here, heck, I hardly get any folks in here at all. Most either want to know if there’s a bathroom or buy a coke, heh,” Johnny said with a hint of something in his eyes, before putting the fries and burger in the container. “Well, got your order ready right here, sorry for the wait,” Johnny said, passing Jean the styrofoam container and drink.
Jean Loo frowns imperceptibly, he was getting rather used to being treated very well. “Ah, it is alright, you are forgiven. Jean Loo is going now,” he says, grabbing the order and walking out, leaving Johnny with a wave.
“Have a good day now!” Johnny said loudly as Jean left. As Jean got back to his car and took another sip of his milkshake, stealing a fry from the order as well, he smiled faintly. He just might have a good day after all.