𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢 ⅋ 𝔲𝔫𝔲𝔰𝔲𝔞𝔩

He smiled, slightly relieved she didn’t mind him messing with her on this. “No no, I promise it’s not just dog food. I would riot if it was.” He chuckled again, he may not need to eat in order to survive but he was still the same person from before, obsessed with the taste of food. Especially coffee and bacon. “Come in then, are you coming?” He raised his eyebrows as he looked at her while walking towards the grocery store. “Or are you afraid you won’t fit through the dog door?” He couldn’t help the little comment.

“I’m...I’m sure. I don’t think I could live off dog food. The smell alone...” She scrunched her nose slightly, before following his lead in chuckles. Despite feeling like she was laughing at a joke she didn’t quite understand, she still wanted to make it seem like she belonged there, and as far as she knew, she would be okay. She was lost in thought for her own moment, trying to not sense him in any way as she figured a more natural start to things was the way to go. As he pulled her out, she shook her head and blinked a few times before looking back to him. “Of course, yeah—” She paused, watching him go through the doors of the store, quickly catching up to him with a more knowing smirk spread across her lips. “Now, that’d be a riot if there were actual doggie doors to get in and out of places. I guess werewolves must get quite the dog reputation around these parts then.”

“Well, and I know we’ve just met,” Maya teased, “But I am brilliant.” She flashed a smile. This town was certainly different. She wasn’t sure if she would go all the way to incredible. Although maybe the town wasn’t the problem, maybe she was. 

She had to laugh though when the young woman asked if she was a modern take on witches. “I don’t know if I’m a take on anything,” she replied, “But I am a witch.” As far as if she liked it. the answer to if Maya liked it was more complicated. Her life would be easier if she wasn’t a witch. Much easier. But there were serious upsides to it too. “But I bake with it,” she paused, considering the last time she’d actually baked something magical, “Well, sometimes I bake with it. Having to like make rent gets in the way sometimes.” 

“You definitely give off brilliant vibes.” She couldn’t even disagree with that, even if she had wanted to. It wasn’t that she felt the brilliance off of Maya, but it certainly could be something of an aura that the somewhat human woman could breathe in. “I’m glad I ran into you today. You seem just like the type of person that I’d need in a town like this.” She grinned widely, though, she wasn’t sure what the other thought of her.

The idea of the other still being a witch was something that seemed so odd, considering her own past, but probably considered so normal in this place. “That’s still the best answer you could give me, right? Being a witch still seems like something so otherworldly.” She couldn’t deny the feelings she had towards it and the excitement and curiosities that followed. “You bake...with magic? That sounds like...a seriously great time actually. Wait...do you like...do magic that your treats carry on? Making rent seems like such a baseless task when you’re talking about actual magic! Can you show me sometime? If...that’s not too forward or asking too much!”

         “Most won’t,” he offered since it was kind of dumb to go around killing people when there were ready volunteers. Also the human body kind of had a lot of blood, certainly more than anyone would need in a sitting, just kind of wasteful to go around murdering people. Just as wasteful probably as him eating another burrito. She was right, it was a bad idea and he nodded to concede so.

          “Three more is probably too much,” he agreed once again when she stated it might make her sick. All of her points were valid and it wasn’t like he didn’t know them, it just felt like work in itself to ask for all that. In the long run it would be easier, it was in the short term things wouldn’t be quite so simple. “At work, yeah, I know I do, I just got to make the time for it,” he agreed, fingers coming together between his knees as he rested elbows on his thighs. “Any chance you’re a contractor?” Nicky half joked since that was definitely the first thing he needed.

          “I…appreciate it, really. Sorry, I just…unloaded. Feel free too. Any vampires actually decide they think your a snack?”

“That’s good to know. I suppose I wasn’t entirely prepared to be human in a place like this, but then again, everybody so far has been nothing but kind to me too, so it’s actually kind of nice.” And one last thing she was going to have to worry about too, which was a nice surprise all by itself. And when he nodded about the burritos, she did feel a little bit better as well, not sure if she could handle him feeling the way he felt along with the idea of nausea hitting her.

She gave him a look, throwing a weary look, as if three more burritos personally offended her. “You think?” And while she wasn’t sure what metabolisms probably were like in a supernatural world, she could only assume they were probably different. “Making time for anything these days seems next to impossible, I think.” She uttered, and though her general wisdom wasn’t anything new, having a new perspective could be welcoming. “I’m not a contractor...no. I’m not really much of anything, but I’ve dabbled in various jobs here and there, more of a free spirit type, though I guess...work is probably something I’ll have to find around here sooner rather than later, huh?” She tried, knowing that that was definitely something she needed to look into. “It’s okay...I...I know I kind of opened myself up to it. And...I could tell you needed it. I haven’t become a snack for any vampire just yet, though, I’d kind of be into it, if you know what I mean.”

[TEXT]:Life saver? Are you that hungry? We can get dinner if so. lol

[TEXT]:Of Course they are. They’re best that way.

[TEXT]:I won’t oppose.

           Bellamy hoped off her stool and started to lead Dahlia out of the place. “Good, it’s not too far away,” she informed her, which was true, it was only two blocks away. The establishment was one Bella created as an offshoot to her main restaurant in the City Center that was like four times the price of anything at the takeaway. “Have you found anywhere you like to eat?” Bella asked, pushing open the door of the pub to leave with her.

           “What did you come for? If you don’t mind me asking,” Bellamy questioned as she started to head down the street, heels clicking with every step she took though each seemed light and unflinchingly elegant without effort. The truth was Bella was clumsy as all hell but being a vampire sort of hid that. “Lots of people come because of just…curiosity, I suppose, but you know, some of us come because we’re running. I was running from being dumped which is probably the most pathetic reason for a vampire to move but, it’s true so, what can I do?”

Following the girl out of there was something like a lost little duckling following behind the mother duck, and that was exactly what Dahlia thought of as she seemed to trail behind her. “Well, I’m sure it’ll be great! You’re so sweet.” Her naivety was showing as far as her trust with others in this place was given to just about anybody she could set her sights on. As the other’s words, Dahlie tapped at her chin, leaving the bar before adding, “Not exactly. I’ve been to a few food trucks here and there, but haven’t been brave enough to actually enter any place that looks like I could be on the menu.” She teased, though knew her fears were also there slightly.

“I’m here because...out there...outside of this place...I always felt like an outsider, and here...this place...it showed itself to me and I felt like I couldn’t be anywhere else.” Maybe it was cliche, or not an appropriate reason for her to be there, but she felt it was necessary to let her know. And, once she started on her own story, Dahlia gave a quick nod as she tried to keep up. “That’s...that’s not pathetic at all. You’ve got to do what’s best for you, right?”

He nodded slowly, “oh yeah. I mean, they’ll deny it if you ask them. But that’s just a pride thing, you know big bad wolves? Wouldn’t look the best for their rep if people found out they enjoyed pedigree dog food. But apparently its amazing for their hair.” He stared for a moment longer before his face broke into a smile, “I’m sorry, i’m sorry I can’t anymore. I was messing with you” He let out a deep bellied laugh as he shook his head. “It’s just a normal grocery store I swear.”

“Oh...of course.” And she was absolutely hooked on the idea. Perhaps it would be a subtle way to get on any wolf’s good side, rather than just wooing her way to their hearts. “That’s so great to know, and of course, it probably helps with their wolf coat too, right? The shine of it!” And while she didn’t have a dog, they did have the family dog when she was younger and knew just how much of a difference it made. Seeing his smile break out though left her with a bit of a shock, before finally cracking her own smile as his laughter busted out. “Oh....oh good. Well, I’m glad it’s not all...just dog food! I need to eat too! Thank you, for the help!”

Blossoming Friendship

[TEXT]: Heeyy Dahlia!

[TEXT]:I’ve baked some extra cookies if you’re interested.

[TEXT]: Suuuper delicious.

@dahliasilva 

Axel raised an eyebrow as the girl went on, clearly she, despite being human, knew about what kind of town this was, this was good, though, She wouldn’t freak out of something crazy were to happen. Because crazy always happen in this kinds of places. “Can I ask how you end up here then?” He was curious about that. “Okay, listen,” the Wolf chucked, “Just because a lot of us have the power to do… Blood and guts, doesn’t fucking mean we’re out there ripping each other apart, most of us are actually good people, and when an attack happens, most times then not its really not something you want, you know?” He explained, hoping he wasn’t comming off too deffencive but the truth was he had been there and the man the hurt/Turn had for sure been a stupid accident from an out of control Wolf. “Same here,” Axel nodded his head, “I’m a lot more than a plain human in a lot of ways,” he teased, winking at her, “but! Since you’re in the know, I guess its okay to tell you…” He paused, blue eyes on her, before he moved a little closer, “Werewolf, don’t worry, baby, I don’t bite… Unless that’s what you’re into.” The wolf knew sometimes, he’d come off a bit too strong, maybe even odd, but well, Axel wouldn’t pass on the chance to slip in a little firt from time to time in a conversation, it was just part of his chaotic/energized personality, most times, he didn’t even realize what he was saying until the words were coming out of his mouth.

“Of course you can.” Dahlia knew it was the one thing people wanted to know about her, how she, a lowly human had managed to end up in a supernatural town like this after so long without knowing anything about the supernatural itself. She managed to listen to him about the town and such. She still knew she needed to have some sort of defense, but after all this time, it felt like she had finally at least found a safer spot than out in the real world, as ironic as that was. “I got here by...mostly by accident. I...I think I might be...a little drawn to the supernatural...my whole life...I’ve felt...different and this place doesn’t make me feel different anymore.” She still was so intriguied by his entire persona, and she nodded at his words, feeling a light blush fill her cheeks at his wink. “Oh...a werewolf...that’s...that’s so cool.” She couldn’t help but be even more interested. She knew the town was for this type of thing, but it still fascinated her that she was living among magic. “I...I don’t see why I’d come to a town full of people who like to bite if I didn’t like it myself.” She teased him back.

          “Quite literally,” Nicky half joked of her comment she’d be ‘eaten alive.’ Vampires weren’t really so bad…usually anyway. Nicky couldn’t tell what she was though, he’d always been sort of bad at it. Though if she’d been a werewolf he probably would have sensed that so maybe she was a human or a witch, vampire seemed unlikely - they wouldn’t be particularly delicious he assumed based on them being dead.

          Nicky didn’t even consider that unloading on this girl might make her nervous though that he was going to say much much worse things. He could have confessed to killing someone in wolf form or being crazy in debt, things that would make someone even more uncomfortable than sharing already kind of did. Fortunately Nicky’s problems really were in the mundane. “The burritos are really good though, sure I can’t fill it up more?” he attempted to deflect and he fucking knew he was doing it because he hated when people did it to him. 

           Softly shaking his head he moved further over on the bench, there was tonnes of space but it was more of a gesture so she knew she could sit down if she wanted. “I’m not the best at saying no, or asking people for help,” he admitted, making sure to keep his gaze away from all of the burritos he wanted to eat more of. “I know the main thing, the thing that would make the trash can mostly empty if I dealt with it but…it’s like I can’t have the time to deal with it. I - I run my parents business because my Dad got sick a while back and I just ran it so long they never came back to it. Dropped out of college to do it to, but, the place is old, outdated, we need real accountants but I’m always so behind on fixing things and doing the books I can’t deal with any of it.” Nicky let out a long and heavy sigh, “you really sure three more burritos won’t help?”

“Well, we’re not going to think about that. Perhaps there’s something more to this place than just vampires wanting to eat me.” Dahlia at least liked to think so. She hadn’t really become entirely acquainted, though she was feeling a bit more comfortable than maybe she cared to admit too. She lifted a brow after settling into her seat across from him and shifted herself before finally tilting her head. “You sure there’s anymore space in there? Seems kind of like a bad idea if you ask me. But...you know yourself better than I do, right?” 

Perhaps it was to push his buttons, or maybe it was her own deflection at that point, seeing that her stomach was in knots as she pushed her own food away for a moment as she felt a bit of unwavering nausea. “It’s hard to ask for help. I understand.” And even when she attempted to get help, it was something she was told she was crazy for. She listened to him for a longer moment, before pulling her expression a bit down. “Maybe it’s time to stop trying to do everything by yourself, you know? Like...get legit help, at work, for yourself, others are out there who’d be willing to help you carry all that weight...all...those...burritos.” She spoke metaphorically of course. She glanced to the food before shaking her head. “You’re gonna make me sick if you do.” And that might have been more literal than she cared to admit.

Maya nodded. Safe was an interesting adjective, but not one that immediately suggested the kind of danger that had brought her to Opulence. For all her new attempts at openness, she wasn’t about to tell a stranger about that. A common courtesy really. So instead she only nodded. 

Shrugging, she said, “Just the old fashioned ones.” Although the other woman didn’t know it, comparing it to cooking was especially apt when it came to Maya’s magic. Ironic almost. She listened as the other woman continued to speak, piecing together more about what had brought her here. Maya didn’t say anything for a moment. When she finally spoke, she said, “Reading energies, so you’re not just human. Sounds like you belong here as much as me or anybody else.” She closed the book in her hand, punctuating her statement. 

“I guess...not.” Maybe it wasn’t something she had considered herself entirely, despite feeling very, very human most days as she had been getting used to the new environment. And maybe it’d take even longer to get entirely used to the idea that the people around her were filtered in magic. “You know...this place just...this whole town is incredible. I didn’t think I belonged here at first, but the more I’m here...the more I think you might be right. I belong here just as much as anybody else.” Though that was harder to believe than just saying it out loud, at least it was a start.

“So...you’re not one of those old-fashioned witches then. More like a modern take on them? That’s still really cool. Do you like...do you like it? Being a witch? Like...what do you do with that?” Dahlia knew her skill had led her there through a full pathway of trying to hone in on the skill that continually led her to knowing others. But she wasn’t sure what others did with their skills, innate or otherwise.

         “Oh, I just have to stop by my work on the way, one of my friends works there and she forgot her charger and needs her phone to text her brother when she gets off,” the words potentially made Bellamy sound much younger than she was but Bella was at an awkward crossroads of being between her friend Charlie’s age and his little sister’s, besides she was friends with the young girl, she just also babysat her a lot and tried to help out Charlie as much as she could taking care of her. “So, I guess, not a favour as much as a, we have to make a stop along the way, but it’s a takeaway place, we can get burgers.” Which was the actual truth. Mia didn’t need a phone charger but Bella had a feeling this girl should get some kind of carb in her before she had anything else to drink.

           “If it’s about meeting people you’ve met me, and I definitely think the club I have in mind will be fun. It’s actually located behind a bakery and they have the best cocktails,” she mused, hopeful that stopping by a workplace wouldn’t deter her if there was something more enjoyable after.

“Oh, that wouldn’t be too bad! I think it’d be quite fun actually!” Dahlia, ever trying to be as cheerful as she could around newcomers considering she didn’t want to bring them down, kept a short smile on her face, easily nodding to the others words. “Burgers sound amazing, I could probably do with some food around here actually.” Now that she thought about it, not having much to eat today probably wasn’t a good way to start her night out off. But perhaps this was a new start for her.

She loved the idea already, and was excited to actually be getting out with people who were her age, or so she thought, considering the girl seemed to be in her 20′s, though Dahlia also had no clue how ages worked around there either. “I’m glad to have met you too! You definitely already are making this night a whole lot better! Let’s go drink some cocktails!”

Maya did reply, instead only giving the woman an apologetic smile. Newcomers tended to stand out around here. Especially if they were completely new to the supernatural. She nodded though at the idea that this town seemed like the thing of fairy tales. “Yeah, that’s a pretty common feeling around here,” she replied. It was different for her and for some of the others. She had known she was a witch her whole life, known about magic, werewolves and the things that go bump in the night. But she had never imagined a place where she could live openly about it. It had taken some getting used to. 

“I’m sure some covens still do it that way,” she replied, “But the wrought iron’s fucking heavy, so I’m more of a saucepan kind of girl. Even used a Nalgene in a pinch.” She didn’t mind the stranger’s excitement. It was always nice to be reminded how strange and wonderful this town was. Maya had let herself forget that on occasion. “What do you mean not for you though?” she asked and then to at least be a little cautious added, “What brought you to town?” 

It was a relief to at least hear someone affirm what she had been beginning to believe with her coming to this town as somewhat of a last ditch effort to save herself and find a place she could relate to. “Honestly, I’m so glad it is. There’s so much to do and learn and just...be safe from the rest of the world.” She assumed that it probably wasn’t the best position to be in, being supernatural in the otherwise natural world.

“I never even thought of a cauldron being so heavy! I guess it makes sense. That sounds so exciting though—like cooking...” She paused, hesitation hitting her, with the realization that that must mean that she was talking to a witch, or at least someone who practiced magic. “I’m...well, I’m not made for this stuff, and that’s okay. I’m not a supernatural creature by any means. I’m just...human.” Though with an innate ability of perception, she could only assume that this place was supposed to make her feel a little bit more at home. “I only got here by sheer luck and chance. The supernatural has fascinated me for some time now, but I could never find...much more on it. My grandmother told me stories about this thing she and I could do...with reading energy and such, so since then...I’ve been looking for more answers.”

Ben had been walking up to the store when he couldn’t help but over hear the woman. “Oh this? No this is just a front really.” He did his very best to keep a neutral face, something he got quite good at with military training and now being a head of security. “When you go inside its actually just blood in capri sun packages, lots of raw meat and dog food.” Maybe he shouldn’t try messing with someone he hadn’t met yet, but the idea of it all amused him.

Maybe it was her trust in others, especially in this town that made her wildly naive, or the fact that she was just willing to follow along with anything, but her mouth fell open as she looked to the other, expression growing more interested. “Are you serious?” And when she was met with his expression, it wasn’t like she was going to dismiss his words. “That makes so much sense, you know? With all the...creatures here...blood and meat...the dog food though? Do werewolves actually...eat that?” Dahlia’s curiosity got the best of her as her eyes lit up in wanting to know more.

           “Or more than two” Bellamy corrected the way the girls mind had because she knew for certain it had been more than two. It wasn’t like the girl was going to black out, and it wasn’t like anyone at this bar was likely to grab her with how slow it was, the worst she would probably do is text the wrong person and say something she’d regret, but that was if she stopped her drinking now and Bella had a funny feeling that she didn’t intend to.

           Bella turned, allowing her body to shift so she was facing the girl rather than towards the bar itself. “I shouldn’t say ‘no fun people’ but it’s not exactly a place to dance,” she explained of her words. “I could take you somewhere you’d like more, but you’d have to do me a favour,” Bellamy requested, picking up her own drink and having a small sip of it.

“Maybe...” Dahlia wouldn’t say, though as she looked over the girl, only shrugging off-handedly, she felt a bit of judgement, or perhaps something else hit her. Still, she merely managed, “It doesn’t really matter. The drinks here are fine, and doing what I need them to do.” Which was really get rid of any inhibitions she might have had at that point, taking a night off for herself from nothing was at least a break.

As she listened, she could definitely see what the other meant about the place. “There’s definitely a time and place for this sort of environment I guess.” And she just assumed that it’s what she was cut out for tonight, but at the prospect of more, Dahlia only grew more interested. “What kind of favor? Because I’d like to have a little bit more fun tonight. Really, I was wanting to start getting out more, meeting people, having a fun party scene was just the tip of the iceberg of doing just that.” 

.

          Nicky wasn’t one to unload his problems, everyone had them and he felt like he just had so much going for him that in the end anything that was wrong with him would feel so much worse on the shoulders of another, so he just…let things fester. However, he also wasn’t one to lie. Part of him wanted to lie when a woman approached him, her features that of a Hollywood actress but her expressions so terribly real. Nicky was a little caught of guard by it, so used to being around supernatural creatures that beauty tended to accidentally be somewhat etherial and his own exceptional mortal appearance paling. This girl was still much prettier than him but the way her brows moved and her lips pulled back Nicky knew she had to be mortal and so, it was much much harder to what to lie to someone who expressed a genuine nature to them with a first impression alone.

           At first he let out a chuckled, weak and scratchy, his throat worn from the eating and shouting over loud club music all night. “It’s frequently how I introduce myself to people, I’m kind of more shocked anyone else is that confident,” Nicky offered, pushing a hand through his hair before releasing his hand was covered in burrito grease and sighing. “Some days, you know? Some days all the stressful stuff just crashes down on you,” he expressed, looking to the trash can and his collection of wrappers thrown away there. “And none of it’s like…end of the world shit but it’s like a tonne of little things and staying on top of them is…hell, right?” He didn’t mean to say so much but it sort of fell out of him. He should have introduced himself, should have asked for her name, asked if she had an problems if she was asking him, but he just dropped it all.

By the looks of it, the other had years worn across his face, but seemed otherwise in tune with the landscape and the crowd, despite there mostly being younger college students filtering through the area. Dahlia still kept her distance, just in case the other retaliated in some form or another as she still stood at the table he sat ate, burritos seemingly piled before when she finally offered him a shrug. “What can I say? I’d be eaten alive around here if I wasn’t confident.” It might not have been completely true, but she’d be in a world of hurt if she had managed to suffer in isolation all by herself.

“I...I understand.” Perfectly arched brows relaxed slightly at the finality of him practically offering a look into his life, something that Dahlia had originally been nervous about, but as he opened up, she felt her shoulders relax as she nodded in her understanding of his predicament. “It’s all hell. Life is hell. Other people; hell. Some days are just better than others, and some days are worse than others.” And she could only assume by his glance towards the trash full of his food wrappers that this was a stuff your face with food bad kind of day, or night, however they wanted to look at it. “It’s not fun to deal with, but such is life all the same. And if you only keep piling more and more on top of it...” She gestured to the trashcan and added metaphorically, “—Well, one day, your trash can is going to overflow.” Dahlia could feel the other’s overwhelmed nature, not just through conversation, but at the pit of her stomach, those nerves seemed to pile on just the same.

          Bella felt vodka burn on her throat and quickly become nothing in her system as she took a slow drink of the liquid. “So you’ll be okay to help me move some stuff around, hmm?” Bella asked the older gentlemen she was with. He was larger, had a very orange beard and warmth too him that only a father could have. The man wasn’t her father, but he was a father, someone’s. “Your boy to weak in the arms, aye?” the man asked, shifting off his seat, Bellamy giving him an affectionate laugh and a roll of her eyes. “I got you covered, babes,” he insisted, the pat on her arm so familial it let the ‘babes’ name become less flirty and a tonne more relaxed.

            Those were the patrons of this bar though. Bella had only come to see Benny, the place filled with older men and women who had just got off work and wanted a generic beer to have after a long day at work. Maybe that was how, even holding a conversation with someone, Bella knew she was there. The brunette girl was too pretty for a bar like this, her hair so black it could have consumed light and her brows sharper than any she’d ever seen. It was, maybe, unfortunate she did, because Bella had been able to count her drinks, and could, by the time the girl reached for her, sense the alcohol in her blood, smell it beneath the surface of her skin.

          “This bar? Oh babe, this is the most midwestern bar in this city, you are in the wrong bar for a fun night,” Bella told her, placing a comforting but specifically cold hand on the woman’s forearm. “Have you just been waiting for the fun people to show?”

So, without much intuition on the matter, it seemed that Dahlia had picked the only bar in town that didn’t host quite the atmosphere she was looking for. Rather, it was one that seemed to only make her life seem a lot sadder than she cared to admit. Though, there was still excitement in her system, from the new place altogether, along with the fact that she had lost count of her own drinks at one point or another. Perhaps she’d have more luck at a different bar, or even on a different night of drinking to the point of blacking out where the fun would really kick in. Or perhaps the truth of the matter was she only needed more to feel a bit numb.

Dahlia pushed aside common inhibition though, and couldn’t care about the morality of what she was doing, and instead focused on the blonde who almost sent chills down her own spine upon first touch, a slight flinch to the coolness of her hand with a sensation of goosebumps rising for a moment. “I—I had no idea...” Just another excuse to add to her fresh to town status before finally giving the other a slight shrug, one that was more off-handed and unbalanced than anything else. “I didn’t know there would be no fun people here...and I knew I could at least have a drink or two...” Maybe more than just two, but what the other didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

As a rule, Maya generally avoided the more stereotypical witch shops. She would claim that it was out of a desire to avoid those stereotypes, but on some level she knew that her own fear of being outed as a witch had kept her away. Trying to expand her comfort zone as she was, she found herself in one of them now. Maya pursed a book on magical teas, considering. 

Pulled out of her thoughts by someone speaking, Maya turned. She didn’t recognize the young woman speaking to her. For half a second, she gazed at the other woman quizzically. Cauldrons and some sort of potions wasn’t really how things worked these days. At least not in her experience. Someone probably did things the old fashioned way. “Some sort of potion,” Maya said, “So you must be new around here.”

Of course it was that obvious, but Dahlia couldn’t help but show a hint of a smirk, adding back the glaringly obvious remark to the young woman, “Is it that obvious?” She couldn’t help herself at this point, practically pouring herself into awe and amazement of this place as she held it all together by mere wonder. “Sorry—I know I must sound like a complete and total asshole. This place...not just this store, but...this whole town...I never could have dreamed of a place like this, and my imagination only runs wild with what I’ve always thought fairy tales were formed from.” She paused, as if to only take a breathe before jumping right back into it.

“I take it...that must be a little old fashioned way of thinking then? At least around here. There’s just...so much to look at, and I get that it’s not for me, but it certainly is fun to see.” Maybe an overload of information, but also one that seemed necessary to unload, though she felt sorry for the stranger who had to endure it.