Paris Aco at Mili's Diner

The bell hanging above the front door jingled as it opened, letting some sound into the peaceful space of Mili's Diner. Peaceful was more like silent, actually; most people didn't come here so early in the morning. The owner, excitedly sitting behind the counter, perked up when she heard the bell. This client was the reason they opened so early at all. She was a busy woman, after all.

"Ah, Paris! Howdy!" Mili said the last bit in broken English, and the aforementioned 'Paris' laughed. Paris Aco was a taller woman, well built, wearing a tight black t-shirt and torn jeans. Her tan skin was speckled with the occasional scar, and her long black hair featured the occasional strand of bright yellow. Her eyes gleamed, despite the shadow casted over her face by the signature cap she always wore.

"Good to see you, Mili." She spoke eloquently, yet casually. There was a sort of commanding force behind her voice, yet it never seemed aggressive, or controlling. She was a presence, really. "Sorry to wake you up so early." She chuckled again, taking a seat at the bar.

"It's no worry! No worry at all. I should be getting up earlier anyway." Mili giggled. "The usual, right?"

"Mmm." She paused. "Ah. Actually, toss in a burger, too. Haven't eaten in a bit, haha."

Mili sighed, getting to work in the small kitchen space behind the bar. "Oh, geez. You've got to take care of yourself! Jesus H. Christ!" Paris grunted in acknowledgement.

"Yeah, yeah. It's been getting real busy, though. The mayor won't get off my ass." She grumbled, tapping her fingers on the counter. "Honestly. All the big shots here are so... Stubborn. They don't give me any time to rest. Bah."

"Thinking of starting a riot?" Mili yelled over the sound of Good Ol' American Cooking. "Like the Americans do it!"

"Woah, woah! That's kind of a lot, 'specially this early. Listen, Mili. Change takes time, y'know? I can't rush into anything. I'm in a pretty precarious position as is... 'Sides, I think the French were bigger on that."

"I suppose!"

"You sound like you actually wanted me to do that."

"It would've been something new! Yee haw~!"

"..." Paris shrugged. "I'm not gonna rush into it. I won't. But things are gonna change around here. People like me now. I can tell em what do, and they'll listen to me. If I can do that, I can make things change, make things better..."

"..."

Her fingers dug into the table, eyes briefly darkening under the shadow of her cap. She grit her teeth.

"...Maybe then... We can finally -"

"Served!!!!!"

A steaming hot burger and some coffee was abruptly placed in front of her, interrupting her mumbling.

"Here you go! I work suuuuper fast, huh?"

Paris hesitated, but the shock eventually wore off, and she returned a smile, digging into her delicious meal. Her friendship with Mili had earned her quite the appreciation of American cuisine; even if it wasn't the go-to, Mili knew her burgers.

"Yeah, yeah. Sheesh." She smirked. "Thanks, Mili."

"No problem." The cook gave a thumbs up. "And when you get everybody to listen to you..."

"Oh?"

"You'll tell them to come to Mili's, right?"

"...Oh." Paris paused her munching. "Yeah, sure."