conjurationsandhookahā:
Just because of the look in Russellās eyes - however subtle - Kaden took a a second to make sure he wasnāt dragging anything unsavory in on the bottom of his shoes before he crossed the threshold.Ā
He scratched at the back of his neck a little self-consciously.Ā
āI donāt have a lot,ā he admitted.Ā āWhat could I get for, uhā¦$15?āĀ
Of course, he also wasnāt one to take money or anything without earning it. He wasnāt a stranger to bartering or trading, either. Though he doubted this guy smoked, so that left any sort of magic or other work heād need done. One way to find out.
Russell couldnāt help but feel a brief pang of guilt when he realised he had caused the stranger to be self-conscious. That hadnāt been his intention.Ā
āYou can, you can certainly get, get a good meal and, and a drink for that,ā Russell said, with a small nod. He hoped the customer wouldnāt assume anything from the stammer,Ā āI can get you todayās special sub sandwich, with, with fries, and, and a large drink of, of your choice and, and that would come to, to eight dollars. I mean, thatās, thatās the special of, of the day. Sub Saturday we, we uh, we call it.ā
At least then, that would also mean that the man would have spare change for a phone or a bus. The spare money wouldnāt hurt at all.Ā
āAnd we uh, we got desserts too if, if you decide you, you want a, want a dessert as well.ā
It might help if he can get a decent amount of calories in this particular meal. Usually when it came to someone who really needed food, it didnāt matter where the said calories came from.
āUp to, up to you of course.ā
Russell was 100% correct on several points - namely that Kaden didnāt really care where his calories came from (especially since he was dead tied of McDonaldās and overcooked garbage from the rolling heaters at gas stations), and that the extra change would get him a bus to...somewhere.Ā
āThat sounds like a good idea,ā he nodded.Ā āWhat would I be able to get as a drink?ā
He didnāt assume anything from Russellās stutter. Maybe it was a speech impediment. Maybe it was anxiety. Maybe he was just nervous having someone who looked like Kaden did, in the store. Wasnāt any of Kadenās fucking business.
He did, however, scoot out of the way a bit as a few other customers passed, trying to keep from any smell he might he letting off from wafting in their direction.Ā
Note to self: look into getting a gym membership to at least be able to shower.
