The diner straddles the edge of downtown and the Near West Side, close enough to the Loop to catch cops, hospital night staff, and insomniacs, but far enough out that no one’s trying to impress anyone. Buses hiss past the fogged windows, the L rattles somewhere overhead, and at night the place feels insulated from the city—like the noise hits the glass and just… stops. Dante wants to make Buck's neutral ground, a blind spot in Chicago’s supernatural geography, where secrets stay put as long as you finish your coffee and don’t make trouble.

NPC: Buck - Large, broad-shouldered man with a permanent pot belly, balding, greasy dark hair clinging to the sides and back, five o’clock shadow that never quite goes away, dirty white T-shirt under a stained cook’s apron, smells faintly of bacon grease, burnt coffee, and cigarettes, and a thick Chicago working-class accent.

Mean by default, not cruel — sharp tongue, zero patience, treats customers like they’re inconveniencing him personally, hates outsiders: suits, college kids, tourists, anyone who looks like they won’t finish their food, once you’re “his,” though, he’s fiercely loyal. Will lie to cops, cover for regulars, and remember favors forever.

Runs the grill himself on night shift, knows every regular’s order without asking, keeps the coffee bad on purpose — “keeps people honest”, and has an uncanny safe for when trouble is about to walk through the door.