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But Mad Dog? Oh, hell no. That sounds like one peanut butter cup from that store could give me food poisoning. Does the staff chew on customers’ shoes? Do they bite people’s hands when they ask for change? Who knows.

SLM’s also a daytime workplace, while MD has night shifts. MD does have day shifts too, but I feel like the store becomes more MC and Lane’s territory at night. Or maybe that’s another contrast Laly’s building between the two places. Who knows.

Second, their logos.

Sweet Leash Motor has a name that sounds soft and harmless, but its logo is this huge, scary looking dog with sharp teeth and everything. Full on “do not approach” energy. 

Meanwhile, Mad Dog has a name that sounds like it should come with a health warning, but its logo is dumb, silly and friendly looking. Which makes sense because it’s a convenience store and the logo’s supposed to attract customers but it’s still the complete opposite of its name.

Third, the owners and employees.

SLM’s owner: He’s strict, disciplined, and constantly giving orders. He takes no bullshit, and he’s rough around the edges.

SLM’s employees: They’re organised, hardworking and they follow instructions. Cut Sal some slack though, because the man does all the cleaning. They all seem to obey the boss in one way or another.

The dynamic at SLM is interesting because BB and the boss both confirm that everyone at the garage relies on BB. Most of the employees have been there for years. BB’s only been there for around two years, while Serkan’s the newest guy.

The boss is basically the one holding the leash. As he says, good owner, good dogs Ehehehe.

Most of the employees respect him and are probably a little scared of him too because of how he works.

MD’s owner: RJ definitely has a soft spot for both Lane and MC in his own way. He’s hardworking, and we know he handles a lot around the store by himself. You can get more insight into that in BB’s route when MC gives RJ the toolbox. BB says the owner keeps it in good condition, which probably means they use it constantly.

Lowk RJ’s store is a patchwork project because the place is dilapidated as hell.

MD’s employees: I mean, look at Lane. Is he employee of the year? RJ must be desperate if he’s kept Lane around for this long.

As for MC, it depends on the choices you make. She can be hardworking or she can slack off a little. Since she hasn’t been at the store for that long, I don’t think she’s the best example of MD yet, just like Serkan’s still too new at SLM for me to use him as an example.

The dynamic at MD feels like the entire store runs because of RJ. There’s no employee he can truly rely on. I also doubt there’s the same kind of mutual respect that exists at SLM. MC and Lane don’t seem scared of RJ. They’re more tired of their jobs, need the money and know RJ will probably handle things himself anyway.

RJ lets his dogs run around without a leash. They can do whatever tf they want, so the place feels unorganised and undisciplined.

But then we have to remember what the old man, the one searching for his missing dog. He said not to believe people when they say dogs are reflections of their owners. It isn’t always true.

So when the SLM owner says “Good owner, good dogs,” is that really the case?

And RJ’s definitely not the best owner, but he isn’t a bad one either. So why aren’t his dogs more obedient?

Maybe it isn’t because RJ refuses to leash them. Maybe it’s because they’re friendly, chill dogs so he doesn’t see a reason to chain them up. Most people aren’t scared of them so he lets them be.

But SLM? Oh, those are definitely big dogs.

And you know how people tend to be scared of big dogs. Some places even have rules that they need to wear muzzles outside. So maybe the SLM owner puts leashes on his dogs not because they’re disobedient, but because they’re capable of going wild and hurting people if they’re left unchecked.

Who knows.

You can really see the difference between the two owners and their employees. That’s also why I can understand why BB seems to dislike Mad Dog. RJ might seem ineffective to him and Lane’s just being Lane.

It also makes the contrast between MC and BB more interesting. One of them’s on a leash while the other doesn’t need or want to be on one at all.

Before Shift 3 came out, Laly mentioned that people at work rely on BB a lot, even though he’s only been there for 2 years while the others have been there for much longer. Sal’s been there for 15 years. So if you compare BB to everyone except Serkan, he’s still kind of the new guy.

I don’t think that necessarily puts pressure on BB because his definition of pressure might be different from mine. But Laly did say it makes him feel like that’s all the purpose he has. People seek him out because they need help, not because they actually see him as a person beyond that.

So being on a leash isn’t exactly a good thing, but BB says it gives him direction. It gives him purpose.

Based on the note MC finds that BB wrote, and what Laly translated for us, we know BB struggles with some kind of suicidal thoughts. I don’t even think he fully recognises them as suicidal thoughts anymore. It’s just something that’s become part of his life.

SLM might be one of the things keeping him grounded. Like “These people need me. What would they do without me?”

And regardless of whether RB was the one who introduced BB to the SLM owner, I still think RB influenced or encouraged BB to work at the garage.

The owner says BB knew nothing at first and that he taught him everything from the basics. So I don’t think RB worked with BB, because if he did, RB probably would’ve taught him at least something.

The boss also says that at first, he thought BB was just some guy who liked motorcycles and wanted to be around them because he saw them as works of art.

That could’ve been the impression BB got from RB. Maybe RB was a regular customer, and when he recommended BB for the job, the boss thought “Meh, another motorcycle guy.”

The boss also says BB never brings anyone to the garage. No friends, no family, no girls.

Logically, if RB was the one who brought BB to that garage in the first place, then it makes sense that BB’s never brought anyone there himself.