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 Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2023 11:23 pm
It's 1am on a Friday, in the lull between Movie Night Snacks and The Bars Are Closed. The store was mostly empty except for the kid at the jerky section, but he'd been there a good half hour already. He'd gotten to the point of settling himself on the floor, comparing the ingredient lists of several packages spread around him, so Todd was pretty sure the guy had awhile to go. He just hoped there wouldn't be any gluten questions in his future. The ancient TV behind the counter, perpetually on public access channels, featured a bunch of people dancing to edm. They were both very joyous and very awkward and very very overly edited. Todd bobbed his head along with the music and turned the page of the Woman's World on the counter, eager to see another 13 uses for apple cider vinegar.
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Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2023 6:15 pm
Brooklyn wasn’t supposed to be out. In fact, that was almost an understatement, she wasn’t supposed to be out in any stretch of the imagination, but she had been hard at work on an essay and had run out of snacks and…well. Her roommate was gone for the weekend so as long as she didn’t get caught...all would be well.
The amount of money she had was almost laughable, and this weekend was going to be pretty dry for odd jobs, so…here she was, stepping into the corner store, feeling just a little awkward but giving a curt nod to the poor fellow behind the counter…
God she hoped that she never became a poor fellow behind the counter…it made sense that that would be the kind of job she got, what with her situation and place in life but…
There were so many better things to do…
Sighing, Brooklyn made her way over, glancing at the row of chips and grabbing two, before going to the candy. She took a few more minutes in the aisle, picking up a chocolate bar, well. two chocolate bars, one of which slid into her sleeve neat as anything.
A pack of gummies, and a second brand of chocolate down her other sleeve, and she made her way up to the deadbeat guy working at the counter. “Yo. I’m glad you’re open all the time. Needed some snackies.”
Innocent enough, and with a satisfied smile, Brooklyn put the items she intended to purchase on the counter, her two other prizes snug against her wrists.
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2023 6:55 pm
Todd didn't quite trust this recipe for making slime using apple cider vinegar, but felt that in the end, it was going to be someone else's problem. Let it be their life lesson in Slime & Woman's Worlding. When he glanced up, Todd saw that the girl was done with her deeds and was approaching the counter. She way way too young to be out this late, but that wasn't his business unless some shady assholes were lurking. Jerky guy didn't seem the type, though. But she was young, and it looked like she had some restraint, and was buying most of her items. So she was smart enough. "Yeah man, somebody's gotta keep the town in sugar and processed meat," Todd droned a typical answer as he scanned her items. After a moment, he made a small decision, and asked, "Would you be embarrassed to go on tv like that?" He nodded toward the TV and its myriad of dancers, moving with enthusiasm if not skill.
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2023 7:38 pm
Brooklyn couldn’t stop herself from laughing and nodded. “I mean, when you put it that way, yeah. I guess it’s true. What kind of a world would we be without sugar and processed meat?”
Pausing, her laughter died as she looked to the television, and for a moment, she had absolutely nothing to say, though finally shook her head. “Not if I was being paid like, really well. And besides, most people are sleeping at this time of the night so hopefully nobody would actually see me…”
Of course, she was seeing these poor people so.
“...Unless they’re people desperate for late night sugar and processed meat, in which case, they’re a bunch of sad sacks too. Facts.”
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Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2023 6:58 pm
Keeping his eyes fixed on the TV instead of the girl, Todd nodded. "There's definitely more embarrassing things to do in public. Like getting caught stealing candy. I think like, age ten? Is probably the cut-off on candy. After that, it's just kind of humiliating. At that point you gotta go for something respectable. Like cigarettes or booze. Or a car. At least then, if you get caught? You'll get the respect of your peers, even if you end up doing the runny mascara crying thing and it gets on twitter or something." There's a pause, and then he admitted, "Okay that last is pretty humiliating in general, but it sucks even more if it's over candy. Only babies do that." Was Todd's reluctant morality advice really just to steal better stuff? Well! Maybe!
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Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2023 7:07 pm
The hair on the back of Brooklyn’s neck stood up at the mention of stealing candy, and she forced a laugh that sounded mostly natural. “Well, I mean, sometimes it’s not about peers, and sometimes when you’ve grown up with nothing, candy is a treat that’s worth stealing, don’t you think? Like, as long as you don’t get caught by people who are going to do something about it…who cares. Sometimes you just run out of money and need a little pick me up to get yourself through a big paper that you have to write.”
She shrugged and grinned at the male, hoping that if this was a lecture, he would understand that it was received and taken under advisement but…she wanted the candy, damnit.
“Still better than being a loser on whatever show this is, dancing like that.”
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Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2023 7:16 pm
The screen took another turn for the psychedelic and Todd had to look away, back at the girl. She was possibly right on that one. With a grim stare he slowly reached for something behind the counter. "That describes just having ******** up priorities and hoping it all magically works out." He slapped a couple piece of paper down on the counter and gave them a boop-boop with the scanner. They were buy one get one free coupons. There were obvious stains on them, possibly fished out of a trash can. "But I guess sometimes it does."
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Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 7:49 pm
Brooklyn watched him and gave a slow, small nod. “Thank you…” Squinting at his nametag she cleared her throat. “Todd. Thank you Todd. You have become my hero of the night, and now for the hard part of trying to sneak back into school without anyone finding out…but…I’m not too completely worried…but…”
Her eyes strayed to the television screen and she frowned. “I’m worried for you if you keep this on. Maybe try late night cartoons or something, they’re raunchy but…they’re not…this.”
Which…was important.
Reaching for her treats, Brooklyn held them close and gave another nod. “Until we meet again, new best friend. Don’t get killed! This city sucks!” And before he could change his mind about giving her the treats and not calling the cops…Brooklyn swiftly left the store, not wanting to be there when he changed his mind.
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Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:09 pm
Turning to look at the TV and then back to the retreating back full of teenage girl energy, Todd just sighed and bobbed his head along with the music. She seemed like a good kid. Taste in late night television notwithstanding. Eventually the jerky guy came to the counter, arms laden, and asked Todd which were best for keto.
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