Benedict stands behind the counter, waiting on an elderly couple who is studying the menu like there is an actual selection. Fortunatly, they are the only customers in the store at the time. Unfortunatly, they may die of a heart attack before they order.

"That'll be 5.19." Efficiency and speed without sacrificing taste, the supposed credo of major fast food chains everywhere. That might be, but that doesn't apply to the customer here. An elderly man counts out the change on his palm, excrutiatingly slowly. 5 cents... a dime... 1 penny, 2 penny... dang. Not enough pennies. Hold on, he has some more change. Actually, he has more pennies, and can substitute the nickel with five pennies. Or, one of the dollars with four quarters. Or...

Yi tilts her head back and breathes in slowly through clenched teeth. Lips tighten, and she forces a smile of pleasantry at the cashier. And Benedict.

Ebony wanders in with another guy, a somewhat shorter and rather whippet-like asian kid. Ebony himself is carrying a basketball under one arm, and by the sounds of their banter, they've been out shooting hoops. Though just as they get to the counter, the other guy excuses himself, having recieved a text message on his cellular from his missus.

Benedict stands off to the side, lazing until spotting Yi, which is when he comes to life. "Woah! Hey there. Totally didn't notice ya for a moment." He says moving to the second register, "How can I make your day?"

Yi gratefully and a little less than gracefully cuts her way to Benedict's cashier. "Just anything," she tells the kin behind the counter, still trying to block out the infuriating sound of the old man counting his pennies. "Uhm... number 4," is her final answer. "How are you doing?"

Yi either ignores Ebony's entrance, or missed it. Either way, she's not quite paying attention to the doors.

Benedict shrugs at the question and punches in buttons on the register faster then anyone who hasn't been working at McDonald's for far too long could manage. "I'm... ok I guess. Haven't talked to the family much... and I definatly like it that way. Aside from that, I've been saving up money and living casually.

Ebony, spotting the blockage caused by Old Man Change, moves to queue behind Yi. Smart, he is. Or at least, wise in the ways of fast food joints. He takes off his glasses and cleans them against his hoodie, then puts them back on to peruse the menu. Such as it stands.

Yi slides over the exact change, already counted out. It was almost burning her pockets. "Your sister has been making a good example of herself, too," she notes by way of news. "Are you out of school?"

Benedict looks at the change, and not looking forward to arguing about free food with the old couple nearby who just now appears to be wrapping things up, takes it and puts it in the register. "Yeah. Long since out of school. One of those earlybirds, ya know?"

Ebony swaps his basketball to the other arm and absently taps the fingers of his free hand against the top. Dum de dum.

Yi moves off to the side, nodding at Benedict and not keeping the line up any longer than 'Spare Change' over there. At least he's down to the decision of changing quarters to dollars. "That's good," she comments, now having a glance at Ebony.

[Ebony's desc
Ebis "Ebony" Knight is a tall lanky youth of perhaps twenty years, darkly colored by nature, though countering this somewhat via his mode of dress. To look at, one might assume him to be of African descent; his skin is a dark chocolate hue, complimented by near-black eyes. His hair would also be black if he ever let it grow, the young man perpetually seen with a shaved head. Despite his looks however, his accent would instead belie his upbringing in England, Ebony's polite tones something of a constant whatever his mood.
His build is rather tall and scrawny, prone to long and gangly limbs and a slim torso rather than laying down fat or much muscle, though this is partly obscured by the loose clothing he wears. The first article to draw the eye is a large, neon-green hoodie, with dark blue writing on the front spelling out 'EURO TRASH' in slashed letters, surrounded by a circle of roughly-drawn yellow stars. Comparatively, his olive-drab combat pants are rather dull, as are the sturdy army boots they tuck into, these laced up along the lower half of his shin. On occasion, Ebony is also seen to sport a pair of reading glasses, shaded oval lenses held in place by wafer thin black metal rims.]

Yi's order comes rather quickly, her tray being placed, then food and drink. "Enjoy Yi. Lemme know if you want to talk sometime eh?"

Ebony moves up into the space left by Yi, his free hand now resting on the counter as if to claim his spot. He's perhaps not as rude as some other customers, waiting instead for the cashier to finish chatting before attempting to place an order.

Quick. Just the way it should be. The customers in the backlog of the line see Benedict's speedier tactics, and shift about their weight towards his direction. As Yi nods to take her extra value meal to one of the stools in a less than conspicuous part of the restaurant, the old man finishes his change and the ever grateful to be going again cashier almost jerks the change drawer open to put the bills in. "Your order will be right up sir," she says nearly going red with flashes of embarrassment. "Can I help the next person in line?"

Benedict gestures for Ebony to move to the other cashier's line, as there are no other customers in the store.

Ebony smiles to the flustered cashier, quietly ordering a McChicken sandwich meal. His voice sounds rather quaint, as it bears the mark of a british accent, though accompanied by the hoodie is it any surprise?

Benedict, a former basketball star, regards Ebony's ball. "Hey. I've seen you around. Playing here and there. Word is you're pretty good."

"That will be (insert price here,)" says the cashier, surprised by the accent, though pleasantly so.

Yi chews up a trio of fries, eyeing the old man who gets his double Quarter Pounder meal. The Gnawer follows his tray with her eyes, and then her gaze goes back to the counter and general observation of the area. She's not trying to overhear. Really.

Ebony digs out a note that covers the cost and hands it over to the cashier. No change from this one; probably a pleasent relief given the last customer. He grins at Benedict's words, though, and if one was looking, they might spot a blush touching his dark-skinned cheeks. "Yeah? Thanks," he replies, seeming a tad shy about it. "Used to play for a local team over in Boise. Haven't found one here yet."

Benedict nods to this and then sighs, shaking his head. "Outside of the schools, you won't find any teams except the street hoopers. There are a few teams that play for fun, some that play for cash... some that play for keeps, if you know what I mean. But yeah, they are there if you know where to look. Just know, that you've caught some people's attention for me to have heard about you Englishman."

The cashier speedily takes the bill, converts the change and hands the remainder back to the bball player. Under the asst. manager's sphere, she smiles again at Ebony and then looks between the two, before going off to attend to some other function.

Yi's burger and fries is disappearing fast, though she's turned her back to the conversation at the counter now.

Ebony tucks his change away and steps aside from the till, so that anyone who comes in has free-access to order. "Ebony," he supplies, when labeled as Englishman. "Could you maybe give me the name of someone to contact 'bout joining a fun team? 'm kinda new to the city, 'n my housemate - my only real source of knowledge 'bout here - dosen't play."

Benedict shakes his head at this one. "No way. Just keep playing. They want you, they'll come get you."

Ebony grins faintly. "S'like that, mm? Well, if y'hear about anyone who's looking, 'm usually playin' around near the Whisperin' Pines, " he adds. "Just in case, y'know?" He dosen't seem in any particular hurry to chow down on his McSandwich.

Though the McSandwich might be in a hurry to cool down without its symbiotic heat lamp. Yi sucks on her drink straw, noting the guy's accent with interest. Benedict could probably see her slight smirk. She's in a better mood, what with the warmth of food in her stomach.

Ebony heads over to a table not too far from Yi's own, and gingerly unwraps the McSandwich. He peers at it, and doubtless it peers back. Then, shrugging, he takes a bite, finding it not to be too foreign to the McD at 'home'.

Yi continues to suck on the straw and slows in her demolition of french fries. Ebony is followed to a point with a very subtle gaze. She's curious. He sounds British, after all, with his accent somewhat matching hers. Curious, but maybe not interested enough to pursue a conversation.

Seeming rather oblivious to the scrutiny, in the face of tasting the food of a foreign McD, Ebony curses quietly and in a particularly English manner. "Bollocks." Apparently, the fries don't taste the same, since that's what he's nibbling on. "Too much damn salt."

Well, the Hong Kong McDonald's also had the choice for speedy made noodles, but not here. The fries aren't too bad. "Should have gotten the chicken McNuggets," she belatedly advises a little louder so that Ebony could hear. Yes, she's talking to him. Yes, she's got that similar British accent, but it's mingled into an asian tone, and corrupted by some of the American ways.

Ebony glances up, absently taking his glasses off so he can focus better at a slight distance. "Yeah? Sandwich ain't too bad, though the fries are shite," he offers in return, grinning boyishly. "I'll try the nuggets next time." His basketball, by this time, is down under the table, with a foot propped on it.

Yi nods once. Then on second thought, "Tell Benedict. He does have some kind of quality control here." The girl props herself up against the table. "Did you play basketball in England?" she asks, eyes dropped momentarily to look at the ball.

"Yeah. Only for school teams 'n stuff. Never properly; never had time. 'Bout the only sport I like though." After munching through another mouthful of McSandwich, he ventures, "How 'bout you? Play ball?" Ebony's attention seems mostly focused on his conversational partner, only ever-so slightly on the ball at his feet, enough to keep it from running away.

Her head shakes. "I do not," Yi answers him. "Not enough people to be interested in playing with. 'Hoops' is not my game." She smiles ever so slightly, to keep up the feeling of pleasantries. Apparently nobody ever told her not to talk to strangers. "Which school do you play for?"

Ebony hehs quietly. "Well, at home, Allenton Community School," he murmurs, a tad sheepishly. "In Boise, just with a street team. Beat all th' other locals, though." He seems proud of that fact, as he finishes his sandwich off.

The Gnawer nods, although she does express a sort of ignorance of the locations mentioned. "You were not from around here, I thought. I am not either, but I could not help but overhear your conversation with the manager."

Ebony hehs quietly. "Allenton is back in England," he supplies. "S'not exactly local. Moved to the US 'bout two years ago. So, where d'you hail from?" he adds in query.

"Hong Kong," Yi replies with a nod. England. Maybe Lyra might meet this guy someday, but given the city's largeness, it would be a chance encounter. "Also, around two years ago I came here."

'Heh'ing softly, Ebony slurps his soda, having finished the sandwich and abandoned the salty fries. "Fun coincidence. D'you prefer the US?" he wonders thoughtfully, taking the chance to see how other foreigners find it.

"It is... different," Yi can only reply. She hasn't really thought about this, and the question does catch her a bit off guard. There's a pause as she considers the query. "I suppose there are things that make it worthwhile. Which is why I have not left," she says to Ebony, this time with a more genuine half-smile.

"Heh. Dif'rent is the word," Ebony agrees ruefully. "Can't say I'd ever want t'go home. Guess the US is as good as anywhere." He chews thoughtfully on the straw of his drink.

Yi sucks on a tooth, and then quips, "Except for the salty fries. But there are things worse than that to worry about." Her dark eyes glitter with mild humor.

Ebony grins at that, the pearly-white expression seeming all the brighter for being against dark skin. "True. Like this 'jello' stuff. Haven't yet worked up the courage fer that one," he teases mildly.

Yi hides the mischievous look from springing to her eyes. "I heard that they use horse hooves for it. Something about human fingernails too." Oh, it could be true. "But you have been here two years, and not had Jello?"

Ebony chuckles quietly, the sound somewhere between manly amusement and boyish giggling. Unnusual, if quaint, combination. "Yep. My aunt in Boise swore she'd rather eat worms than jello, so it kinda put me off. Dunno why, mind you."

Yi blinks owlishly, and then nods. "I think I would prefer making my own, knowing there are no horses or humans." As if to follow the oddness of conversing with strangers, Yi continues with a more personal, but still innocent question. "So you are staying here for school, or work?"

Ebony rubs his cheek thoughtfully. "Work," he replies shortly, then follows up more conversationally with, "Junior editor, over at th' HTV news station. Best job I could get, straight from school. How 'bout you?"

Yi again, is a little less eager in saying what she does. She shrugs. "Temporary jobs, here and there. Sometimes I cook. Sometimes I deliver newspapers, although last time the boss was not pleased. Now, it is just some cleaning." The girl turns the tide back to the other, particularly because he works for news. "Is it difficult, your job?"

Ebony hehs quietly. "Sometimes. Last week, had this report come in via sattelite....damn feed was shot to hell. Could hardly see the picture for static. An' of course, she won't send it again, so we had to clean it up right. Did in the end, though. Other times, s'quiet and just routine stuff, like making the reporters look better 'n they do in reality."

Yi slowly gains a look of thoughtfulness, distraction going on in her head when an idea comes to mind. Then with a quick blink, she's back to the conversation. "Oh, well. It happens with every job. Bad product comes in, and you have to make it look good." Coughcough...and she was a cook? Pointedly though, she starts to stand. "Well, it was nice meeting you, though I must go. Uhm... I'm Yi." She offers her hand, warmed from having it in her pocket and not around the cold soft drink.

Ebony smiles a bit and shakes the offered hand. "Ebony," he replies with another boyish smile. "Nice meetin' you, Yi. See y'round maybe, yeah?"

Yi nods. "Perhaps, another time when the fries are better cooked." She gives him a final smile, releases her hand from his, and proceeds to park her tray contents into the trash before departing the restaurant.