ʚ When Shane first started at the JojaMart in Pelican Town, he didn’t know what to make of Sam. Frankly, he thought he was loud and hyper, and he wasn’t in the mood for his BS, but Sam grew on him like a fungus until one day he realized they were actually friends. He still finds Sam annoying at times, though.
ʚ Sam pulls Shane into all sorts of shenanigans. He greets him every morning with an unhinged version of Would You Rather that he expects Shane to answer by the end of the day. He loops him in on practical jokes and pranks. They race pallet jacks through the back room, and they get pulled into the office together when Morris gives them a verbal warning.
ʚ Shane has hurt Sam’s feelings on more than one occasion when he’s in a rotten mood. He always feels incredibly guilty and apologizes within the hour. He hates seeing Sam upset, and he hates even more when he’s the culprit.
ʚ Sam’s golden retriever disposition makes Shane happy. He’d never admit it out loud, but it does. And on days when Sam isn’t at work, Shane misses him. Things are a little easier when he's around.
ʚ They work well together. When Sam isn’t on custodial duty, he sometimes gets pulled to help the grocery team stock shelves, and he always buddies up with Shane. They make it into a game, seeing who can stock the fastest. They always end up laughing so hard their faces hurt.
ʚ Sam looks up to Shane like a big brother. Without a dad around, and even after Kent returns home, he often turns to Shane for advice. Most wouldn’t think so, but Shane’s actually good at giving advice. He just doesn’t apply it to his own life, and then beats himself up about it.
ʚ Shane’s mental health struggles affect Sam more than he’ll ever let on. More than once, he’s found himself staring at Shane from across the saloon, wishing he could help him through whatever it is that makes him drink. He wants to be there for Shane, but he won’t let him in. He won’t let anyone in, and that hurts.
ʚ Sam loves Shane’s weird and dark sense of humor, and even though his dry dad jokes make him roll his eyes, he’d miss them if he stopped telling them.
ʚ They actually have a lot in common. They share a similar taste in music, though Shane tends more towards grungy/metal dad rock, and they even love the same niche films.
ʚ Sam has a sneaking suspicion that Shane used to skateboard, and he’d love to get that old man back on a board. One day he’ll convince him. He might have to keep Harvey on standby.
