Things just kept happening with Danny. First there was the coma, and emotionally exhausting event if Rikki was to be honest, and then Danny went and broke her guitar. To be fair, Rikki had been looking for something nice to do for Danny since long before the coma incident, but it was like the universe just kept throwing things in his face to say “Hey, hey, you really need to do something good for her. Be a good boilfriend.”

At least it had given him a good idea of what to do.

The idea had solidly formed one afternoon when he was walking into the music shop just off campus to pick up some new drum sticks. It was an almost ritual habit, occurring approximately once a month, so much so that he almost missed it. How anyone could miss a gorgeous cherry wood guitar with blazing orange flame detailing licking up its sides was a mystery, but it wasn’t until he was on his way out that he stopped in his tracks to appreciate it. It was like the guitar was singing for his ghoulfriend, longingly calling out Danny Fitz! Oh, Danny Fitz!

He fingered the price tag for what felt like ten minutes, frowning deeply at the three digits printed neatly on the card stock. Three digits. He couldn’t afford that right now if he sold his left leg. He couldn’t even afford it by playing drums for tips on the street every night for a week, and that had always been his go to for quick cash.

So the universe really wasn’t just telling him to do something nice for his ghoulfriend. It was also telling him to get a jacking job.

Fantastic.

Though usually one to procrastinate on things that involved any effort, Rikki was hitting the pavement the next morning looking for any place with a for hire sign. All night the thought of getting that guitar plagued Rikki’s mind. It was far too perfect for him to let slip through his fingers. See the things Rikki does for you Danny? He gets up hours earlier than usual just to make you happy. He’s a damn good boilfriend.

The maul seemed like the best place to find a job, so he headed there and ducked into every store he thought he could tolerate working at, and some he was fairly dubious about. The candy store and Rot Topic were at the top of his list, but there was also the toy store and a little shop filled with odd little decorations and candles that Rikki found kind of charming. Each store seemed kind enough and welcoming of his application, but it wasn’t until he walked into Forever 666 that he found out just how cruel life was.

He shouldn’t have even walked into the clothing store, with all its ghouly fashion and feminine atmosphere, and if confronted about it later, he would chalk it up to delirium via too many applications. Still, somehow he ended up in a chair in the back office, application clipboard cradled to his chest as he stared into the face of a terrifying monster of a woman. At least, he though she was a monster. She could be the scariest demon he’d ever seen, if he considered her stubby horns and stunted wings. She was huge, in both height and girth. Her muscles were more defined that he’d seen on any bruteball player he’d ever known, and he’d be hard pressed to remember just how many veins he saw corded along her arms. She had short little legs and blunt tusks poking out from her fat bottom lip, and she was covered head to toe in leathery red skin. He might not recognize her as female if it weren’t for the lacy black skirt and startlingly see-through white blouse. Even then, he was still just taking a guess at her gender.

“I was just going to fill out an application and leave it.“ Rikki wheezed through his terror.

“I’m glad you came in, we really need to hire someone as soon as possible.” A gravelly voice like rocks grinding together certainly did not help Rikki confirm that this was a woman. “Do you have any previous work experience?”

“I uh… I play drums at Casino Royale sometimes, but I’m not really and employee.” The look she (WAS IS A SHE? AUGH) gave him let him know she definitely knew he was too young to be hanging around Casino Royale, so he hurried on so she couldn’t comment. “And before I moved to Amity I worked for a couple weeks at a noodle shop. Just a part time thing to save up for something I wanted, you know?”

She (???!) nodded and scribbled something on a notepad that was dwarfed by her meaty fist. “Well that’s at least a bit of customer service. What hours can you work?”

“Uh, any really.” He conveniently left out any mention of his classes. She (seriously, must be female she works in Forever 666, right?) didn’t know, and neither did his teachers. They wouldn’t notice any behavior out of the ordinary because he was rarely there anyways.

“Perfect. Well make sure your email is on that application, and I’ll send you your work schedule.” Was that a smile? We just don’t know. Rikki scribbled down his information and handed over the board quickly.

“Thank you….?” Names would certainly solve the gender issue.

“You can call me Mr. Vines.”

TOTALLY KNEW IT WAS A DUDE.

Wait. Rikki had a job. At a ghoul’s clothing store. What the hell? He stumbled through the rest of the interaction in a drunken haze, a little blindsided by the sudden employment.

That’s right. Employment. Rikki was mature.