#othqstart

a gasp caught in his throat as he ducked down to grab it, struggling a moment before he focused and lifted it from the floor. “i’m so sorry! oh my gosh, i’m a total clutz lately. if it’s not books, it’s a glass or keys or pencils and paintbrushes.” he grimaced a little and looked up at the other. “is your foot okay?”

he didn’t even lift his head up from his hands when he heard the doors open, just huffed out a greeting in response, “welcome to letum skate. what size d’ya want?” 

duffy wandered into the minimart at some late-night-early-morning hour with a giant, dazed smile. she’d spent most of today her crow self instead of her person self, and that always made her a little giddy. and sometimes when she was feeling especially birdlike, she liked to go to the minimart and buy a buncha stuff all separate just so she could watch earl count out her change again and again.

earl didn’t like her very much.

“hey, down there,” manny called from the top of the fence he was perched on. he had his satchel over his back, full of contraband as one does, and he was looking for his usual buyers.

this afternoon’s lull finds our resident bowling alley clerk grump in their prime –– toyin’ with shoe laces to pass the time. nyx has their back to the counter, the one rule boss-man keeps insistin’ they gotta stop breakin’, but they pay the transgression no mind. these shoes are so shiny. all leather blues and reds and greens. and the laces !  gah !  the laces have tiny gold nubs on the ends, painted plastic of some sort, and they are just so... fun... to... chew.

only when there’s a shufflin’ at the counter do they jolt up from where they’ve sprawled out on the carpet, one bowling shoe cradled to their chest, a long string still clamped in their teeth. caught in the act.

“i’m sorry, but could you stand over there, please and thank you? you’re blockin’ my light.”