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It was an overcast evening in the streets of Barton. Two or three inches of fresh snow blanketed the town and the air was thin and cold. Even the quietest breath would produce a cloud of fog to slowly fade into the sky.
Inside, gaians huddled together by their fire places, talking about the renewed friendship between Jack and Santa, the happily awaited snowfall and presents, or the upcoming holiday. Everyone was happy this year.
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People rushed inside by the dozens, each one trying to get a hold of gifts in time for Christmas. A few people could be seen fighting over the same item and others dropping loads at the register, expecting fast service. Ishi suddenly wished Ian would reconsider getting another register and a few more helping hands at the store for the holidays. Any other time of year didn’t matter and the customer satisfaction often dropped around this time, although Ishi only had to work out front with Ian during this period. It was still overwhelming.
“Here are your fairy wings, sir, come again!” Ishi said, turning to the next customer who seemed to be pulling two carts and several people behind them.
“When will they leeeaaave..?!”
---
Ishi sighed, a small puff of steam escaping her as she walked home from work. It was dark and she was more than tired.
“Just my luck,” she muttered. “I always draw the short straw.”
Since Ian’s store was always open and customers were always coming, there had to be a decent amount of gaians working the store in shifts whether Ian was there or not (the man has to sleep, after all).
During December of each year, however, none of the employees wanted to work the graveyard shifts, each of them wanting to spend time with family during the holidays. To settle the problem, each would draw straws in order to see who would be stuck at the store in the evenings. Ishi had an uncanny skill to always end up with the shortest.
So there she stood, cold, tired and wandering home in the snow. Although she didn’t enjoy working late, she didn’t mind since she had nowhere else to be. She had no family and the holidays held little value to her anymore. Besides, Ian was a nice boss, giving employees free items once in a while (usually on days Sasha came by to visit) and the overall atmosphere was comfortable. Why not spend most of her time at work? It was a nice place to be…If you don’t let the newcomers bother you.
The thoughts of a younger gaian trying to barter a witch cape for 2k ran through Ishi’s mind as she passed over a bridge above a frigid lake. “If that runt comes back again, I swear I’ll-!”
“You know,” a voice spoke through the frosty air, “This could just be me, but, why would a woman like yourself be out at this un-jolly hour? Most gaians would be at home…likely sleeping since it is…” The owner of the voice took a moment to look at their official G-time watch. “…Midnight.”
Ishi rolled her eyes and turned to look at the unwanted speaker. “Forgive me if I’m not one to sip warm refreshments in front of a fire,” she grumbled as she eyed the person before her.
They were of average height and weight, probably the same age as herself or a year or two older and definitely male. He wore the nitemare scarf that so many gaians wanted and a random assortment of clothing, consisting of blacks and whites that created a pleasing appearance. He seemed rather dark-looking for someone speaking of jolly hours. The only thing jolly about him was his hat.
The young man held up his hands as if to defend himself. “No need to snap. I was only curious. It can be dangerous to walk alone at night, afterall. What would you say to me escorting you home?”
“I would ask if your first name was Jack and if you had a knife in hand,” Ishi said, rubbing her temple in agitation.
The young man laughed. “Good guess,” he said with a smile. “It’s Dirk, though; kudos for trying.”
“Well then, Dirk,” Ishi muttered. “I’m heading home and I have friends who would notice if I disappeared, got it?” Ishi sighed and began walking again, not wanting her nerves to be grated any further. “I just want to go to sleep..!”
Silence returned once again as Ishi came to the entrance of Aekea. She sighed in relief and walked into town and headed toward the Housing Commision building. It wasn’t where she lived but she had been meaning to change locations to a more quiet part of the towns and it seemed like this was a good time to do it. Since it was late, there wouldn’t be any lines, meaning she would be in and out very quickly.
“You certainly took your time,” a familiar voice said as Ishi came back outside.
Ishi jumped, not expecting to have been followed and instinctively raised a hand in order to strike her stalker.
“Whoa! Easy!” Dirk said, grabbing her hand at the wrist. “I was only waiting for you to come out. You never said that I couldn’t walk you home, you know.”
Ishi exhaled and pulled her hand away, now shaking lightly from the adrenaline rush. “Don’t sneak up on me,” she said in her defense, glaring.
Dirk backed off with his hands up. “Duly noted, but I believe you do know me. I recall introducing myself earlier, unless you’ve forgotten?”
“Unfortunately not,” Ishi replied, “and I didn’t expect you to actually do it. Not only that, but you also managed to follow me the entire time without my noticing. I believe that would be cause for slight surprise!”
Dirk shrugged, “I thought you knew I was there…although, I do seem to have a knack for being invisible…” He began scratching his head in thought for a moment. “Heh, cool.” A grin escaped him as he looked back to Ishi. “So, shall we get you home?”
Ishi sighed, “Don’t you have anything else to do?” she asked in a desperate tone.
Dirk replied by glancing at his watch, followed by observing snowflakes and the dark sky until finally looking back at Ishi. He clapped his hands and sighed, swaying forward and back slowly.
“Fine,” Ishi growled, turning to leave.
Inside, gaians huddled together by their fire places, talking about the renewed friendship between Jack and Santa, the happily awaited snowfall and presents, or the upcoming holiday. Everyone was happy this year.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People rushed inside by the dozens, each one trying to get a hold of gifts in time for Christmas. A few people could be seen fighting over the same item and others dropping loads at the register, expecting fast service. Ishi suddenly wished Ian would reconsider getting another register and a few more helping hands at the store for the holidays. Any other time of year didn’t matter and the customer satisfaction often dropped around this time, although Ishi only had to work out front with Ian during this period. It was still overwhelming.
“Here are your fairy wings, sir, come again!” Ishi said, turning to the next customer who seemed to be pulling two carts and several people behind them.
“When will they leeeaaave..?!”
---
Ishi sighed, a small puff of steam escaping her as she walked home from work. It was dark and she was more than tired.
“Just my luck,” she muttered. “I always draw the short straw.”
Since Ian’s store was always open and customers were always coming, there had to be a decent amount of gaians working the store in shifts whether Ian was there or not (the man has to sleep, after all).
During December of each year, however, none of the employees wanted to work the graveyard shifts, each of them wanting to spend time with family during the holidays. To settle the problem, each would draw straws in order to see who would be stuck at the store in the evenings. Ishi had an uncanny skill to always end up with the shortest.
So there she stood, cold, tired and wandering home in the snow. Although she didn’t enjoy working late, she didn’t mind since she had nowhere else to be. She had no family and the holidays held little value to her anymore. Besides, Ian was a nice boss, giving employees free items once in a while (usually on days Sasha came by to visit) and the overall atmosphere was comfortable. Why not spend most of her time at work? It was a nice place to be…If you don’t let the newcomers bother you.
The thoughts of a younger gaian trying to barter a witch cape for 2k ran through Ishi’s mind as she passed over a bridge above a frigid lake. “If that runt comes back again, I swear I’ll-!”
“You know,” a voice spoke through the frosty air, “This could just be me, but, why would a woman like yourself be out at this un-jolly hour? Most gaians would be at home…likely sleeping since it is…” The owner of the voice took a moment to look at their official G-time watch. “…Midnight.”
Ishi rolled her eyes and turned to look at the unwanted speaker. “Forgive me if I’m not one to sip warm refreshments in front of a fire,” she grumbled as she eyed the person before her.
They were of average height and weight, probably the same age as herself or a year or two older and definitely male. He wore the nitemare scarf that so many gaians wanted and a random assortment of clothing, consisting of blacks and whites that created a pleasing appearance. He seemed rather dark-looking for someone speaking of jolly hours. The only thing jolly about him was his hat.
The young man held up his hands as if to defend himself. “No need to snap. I was only curious. It can be dangerous to walk alone at night, afterall. What would you say to me escorting you home?”
“I would ask if your first name was Jack and if you had a knife in hand,” Ishi said, rubbing her temple in agitation.
The young man laughed. “Good guess,” he said with a smile. “It’s Dirk, though; kudos for trying.”
“Well then, Dirk,” Ishi muttered. “I’m heading home and I have friends who would notice if I disappeared, got it?” Ishi sighed and began walking again, not wanting her nerves to be grated any further. “I just want to go to sleep..!”
Silence returned once again as Ishi came to the entrance of Aekea. She sighed in relief and walked into town and headed toward the Housing Commision building. It wasn’t where she lived but she had been meaning to change locations to a more quiet part of the towns and it seemed like this was a good time to do it. Since it was late, there wouldn’t be any lines, meaning she would be in and out very quickly.
“You certainly took your time,” a familiar voice said as Ishi came back outside.
Ishi jumped, not expecting to have been followed and instinctively raised a hand in order to strike her stalker.
“Whoa! Easy!” Dirk said, grabbing her hand at the wrist. “I was only waiting for you to come out. You never said that I couldn’t walk you home, you know.”
Ishi exhaled and pulled her hand away, now shaking lightly from the adrenaline rush. “Don’t sneak up on me,” she said in her defense, glaring.
Dirk backed off with his hands up. “Duly noted, but I believe you do know me. I recall introducing myself earlier, unless you’ve forgotten?”
“Unfortunately not,” Ishi replied, “and I didn’t expect you to actually do it. Not only that, but you also managed to follow me the entire time without my noticing. I believe that would be cause for slight surprise!”
Dirk shrugged, “I thought you knew I was there…although, I do seem to have a knack for being invisible…” He began scratching his head in thought for a moment. “Heh, cool.” A grin escaped him as he looked back to Ishi. “So, shall we get you home?”
Ishi sighed, “Don’t you have anything else to do?” she asked in a desperate tone.
Dirk replied by glancing at his watch, followed by observing snowflakes and the dark sky until finally looking back at Ishi. He clapped his hands and sighed, swaying forward and back slowly.
“Fine,” Ishi growled, turning to leave.
Yeah, that's all I ave right now. I would also like to say that I'm trying to find a better name for the characters at the moment x.x
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