(not the) dumb one

Megara’s heels clicked against the sidewalk, her fingers tapping away at her phone. She stopped at the sound of the voice from someone she was walking past. What made her stop, she wasn’t quite sure, but she turned to read the sign he was looking at. “Liquidation? It means a company is being closed and all of it’s assets sold off. Or in the informal its the killing of someone, typically by violent means. I’m thinking it’s the first.”

Barrel paused for a second, brain taking in what the lady had just told him. “Oh. That sounds less fun than the second one.” Or...just...not as worth his time? Less of what he’d want to see? More everyday bullshit? He didn’t know how to phrase it, so he just said what he said. “Just a sale. Lame.”

Huey stopped as he walked passed the young man and the store, not really paying any attention at first, but then he speaks and he has to stop. “It… It’s not a drink sale,” he said, trying so hard to figure out if the guy was joking or not. It definitely seemed like he wasn’t. “It’s like… It means like, their prices and their assets. They’re liquidating them; selling them.” Though there’s a part of him that feels like he should’ve just messed with him instead. “They might have drinks, though. You could always go check.”

A little sigh of frustration left the big guy, and he couldn’t tell if he was frustrated by the sign’s wording or by the fact he hadn’t known the damn word. Normally, he didn’t care that he wasn’t great with reading, but he normally didn’t have to try and figure out what words that long meant. “So. They couldn’t just say ‘big sale’ like any other store? Bet that’s why they’re broke,” he half-grumbled. “It’s fine, I don’t think they’ve got anything I want.” He hadn’t remembered a fun store ever being here.

The blonde was perplexed by his confusion, hell is gave her a look that matched his equally as she turned to where his attention was. “I..hmm.” She pressed her lips together, tilting her head slightly to one side. “That means they’re going out of business–so the prices will be ridiculously low.” She shot him a glance.

“Ohhh...” He guessed...that made sense. Actually, no he didn’t. None of those letters made him think about a store closing. “How come it doesn’t say that, though? Do most people know what liquid...ation means?” Barrel had probably never seen that word in his life, or if he had, he hadn’t remembered it.

Max started at it, blinking slowly as he tried to process what the boy just said while also trying to remember absolutely anything. He was smarter than this but he frequently experienced brain farts. “Uh…” He paused. “I think it’s like a sale… Like on… Tires or something… I think.” Max wasn’t sure if he was right but he awkwardly smiled as he looked to the guy. “I think it’s not drinks though, for sure.”

Barrel openly made a face, clearly disgusted by the sign deciding to use big words. Very rude of it. “Oh, well, shit. Never mind then.” He definitely didn’t need tires, his were working fine. “Could they not just say ‘tire sale’ or something, though?” Like, that was eleven whole letters for one word, instead of eight for two. Didn’t make sense.

Nolan shrugged. “I dunno. Probably to sound fancy or something. I’m not real sure. Closing sale would catch more people’s eye I feel though.” When he was offered a lighter he smiled and took it. “Thanks man. I think my coworker snagged mine again.” He put the cigarette between his lips again and lit it, inhaling as he did so then handed the other man his lighter back. “Do you need one?” he asked, referring to a cigarette.

Barrel shook his head. He hated it when anyone, even signs, tried to sound fancier than they needed to. That especially meant when the easy words weren’t used, because he didn’t understand big words...and understanding was a lot for him. “That’s dumb,” he commented about the sign, maybe with the smallest of pouts, before he was shrugging off the thank you. “No biggie. And yeah, that would be cool.” He had his own cigarettes, duh, but that shit was expensive.

Mabel laughed , kicking a foot out to cross behind the other they held her up as she leaned against the glass. “Well they sure do have drink sales. Right now we have a two Slurpee’s for five bucks. And wow … look at this one..” she pointed to herself before pointing at him. “Two. Sounds like you and I have to get on this sale , huh?”

Barrel paused, trying to remember the last time he’d had a slurpee and if he’d even liked it. Yeah. Yeah, he remembered the red ones. “You got two-fifty, or who’s payin’?” he asked, because no way he was gonna pay the full five bucks and not walk off with two drinks. Just wasn’t how he was. “Cause if it’s my five bucks, it’s my two Slurpees.”

Nolan was walking down the sidewalk, an unlit cigarette hanging loosely between his lips as he searched his pockets for a lighter. When he heard someone talking he stopped and looked over. He plucked the cigarette out of his lips and said, “they’re closing. It’s a closing sale. Shame too. I always liked coming in here after work and looking at all the nick-knacks.”

Barrel frowned at the sign, like it was the cardboard’s fault that he hadn’t known what that meant. And it kinda was. “Oh...Why didn’t it just say ‘closing’ then?” he asked, shaking his head as he looked over. Maybe he could end up spending a few bucks on whatever. “They got anything weird in there, or is it just normal stuff?” And as he waited for his answer, Barrel offered his lighter.

Barrett Myers || 24 || Bouncer || Non-Magical