[Center][color=00aeef][b]Brandy Brooks – Ace’s Diner[/b][/color][/center]


 Brandy playfully pushed the eggs around on her plate, "Morning," Frieda greeted before she glanced between the plate and Brandy.  "That's for me...?" 

Brandy swallowed the bite of food, “[i]Oh[/i], good morning,” she smiled, “Yes, I made you breakfast, I hope you like it. If not, I can make you something else.” Frieda looked at Brandy, she smiled and nodded to the plate and Frieda sat down and took a bite. It seemed like Frieda hadn’t ate a meal in a while as Brandy watched her take bite after bite.

"I don't know how to make all of this up to you," Frieda began.  "I promise you that I'll owe you one.  Or ten."

Brandy sat her paper down and waved, “No way, you don’t owe me anything; it is enough to have a friend here to share the morning with.”

Frieda pushed her empty plate away and looked outside, "I think I'm going to talk to Barney, see about being paid for this 'militia' he's starting up.  Otherwise," she tapped on the table twice with both hands, "I'm going to need to find myself a job.  Know anyone who could use a gal that can hit what she's aiming at?"

Brandy pressed her lips together and furrowed her brow looking up at the ceiling, “No, no I don’t. Barney would be your best bet, or Ace, or maybe even Waylon and Shelby at the gun shop, S&W.” Brandy pointed in the general direction of S&W, “It’s across town. I know they both know a lot about guns and stuff, but I’m not sure what else they do. Shelby can be kind of…[i]mean[/i] sometimes. But I think she has emotional issues or something, but who am I to talk?” She looked around, “I usually don’t charge anything to help work on stuff, I just want to make it as nice as I can and if somebody pays me, then [i]awesome[/i]. But, if not, as long as they pay for the supplies I don’t say anything. I’m pretty lucky though, most of the time I get the leftover stuff, or salvage things from what I’ve replaced. Keeps me supplied with materials and I can trade some things for food and whatnot.”

Brandy stood up and cleared the table, washing the dishes as soon as they hit the sink, “I try to keep my house clean. In case somebody is interested in my work and wants to see what I can do before they hire me ya know.” She dried the dishes off and put them away before she pulled out two bags and sat them on the counter. She dug in the fridge and pulled out two small packages of smoked jerky she had made dropping one in each bag, followed a bag of Potato Crisps, a package each of Fancy Lads, a bottle of water and some gum drops. She rolled up the top of the bags and turned to Frieda, “Here’s a lunch for today, I mean, since we both forgot to eat yesterday. “ She laughed and handed the sack lunch to Frieda, “I have to go get ready, I have to help Rook with the wall after I stop and see Celeste and…” she blinked and grinned ear to ear, “…and Ace.”

She nearly skipped up the stairs humming as she went into her room. She pulled on a pair of khaki shorts, just a touch shorter than what she usually wore, but still far from Shelby’s cut-offs. She pulled a white T-shirt over her head and brushed her hair. Then she tied up her work boots and went to brush her teeth, “Frieda, I made this toothpaste, it’s purified water and baking soda with a dash of mint flavoring. I’ll leave it by the sink.” She walked back to her room, backing up and looking at Frieda rifling through her clothes.  “Frieda? I have to do some laundry later; I do have some clothes that are a little big for me if you want? Just go through my closet, they’re the shirts on the left and the pants and shorts on the top shelf on the left are big too.”

Brandy scurried down the stairs to the kitchen and grabbed her sack lunch, she stopped at the base of the stairs and yelled up, “I’m going to stop and see how Ace liked his breakfast, if you want to go see Celeste’s place I will wait for you at the diner.” She opened up the door and closed her eyes, taking in the morning sun, “What a gorgeous day.” She walked onto the street and froze when she saw a sign on top of the diner.

[center]Looking for some entertainment after your meal?[/center] 
[center]Head around the corner to the [color=ec008c]Pleasure Den![/color][/center]
[center][color=ed145b]BOOZE! DRUGS! AND GIRLS![/color][/center]
[center][color=39b54a]Also Hiring![/color][/center]

Her jaw dropped, [i]Ace DID NOT put that up there.[/i] She frowned, hoping that Ace had no part of the new sign for the Pleasure Den. She walked inside the diner, immediately she noticed a woman who looked a little worse for wear sitting at the bar. She walked up and sat her sack lunch on the counter, “Good Morning, I'm Brandy Brooks, welcome to Salem. We have a clinic if you need to him for your nose,” she said to the woman as she rubbed her own nose, "Looks like it hurts, maybe Ace can give you a wet rag to clean the blood off." She looked at Ace and smiled befor putting her hand on the women's shoulder, "If you will excuse me for a second."

She went to go behind the counter and caught herself, she motioned for Ace to come over, “I was wondering how you liked breakfast this morning?” she leaned to his ear, “I’m trying to not embarrass you,” she winked, and then remember the sign, “Have you seen the sign on the roof? You didn’t put it up there did you?” Ace widened his eyes and looked at Steve, Brandy followed his lead, “[i]OH[/i],” she gasped. She looked back at Ace, whispering again,” So how can I get a kiss? I will find your flowers and chocolates after I leave, but I have to have a word with Steve first.”

Brandy exhaled through her nose and shook her head as she walked over to Steve and tapped him on the shoulder, “[i]Excuse me[/i],” she said sharply, “You put that sign on the roof of the diner? Do you own this diner? Did you ask Ace? Because it wasn’t up there earlier when I was here. That is unacceptable, go put that on you…[i]Pleasure Den[/i]. That sign will make people leave, and what if they have children huh? You freely advertise drugs and other nasty things right there for everyone to see? That’s just wrong, you need to take that off of Ace’s diner…[i]RIGHT NOW[/i]!!! It’s disgusting.”