asphodelmeadows | [Open] Evening, Grocery Store

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[Open] Evening, Grocery Store

She didn't mean to cause trouble - honestly.

But that didn't faze the fact she was standing in the middle of a decimated aisle, boxes of pastas scattered and squashed across the floor, alongside a couple groaning, rising shoppers. Or a cart had toppled over behind her, blocking her way out. Not that she was trying to escape, but the victims of this mess didn't even look at her when she tried to help them up, and just stood there, looking as confused as ever. Better yet, she could hear the tell-tale sounds of crashes in other parts of the store, making her flinch and duck passed the pair, making a break for it around the corner.

All she wanted was to pick up a few things she usually missed!

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He actually cracks up at that. "Touché."

Polishing off the rest of his sandwich as quickly as possible (swallowing is still a bit difficult, but he poker-faces it as best he can), he flips a few coins of his own into the tip jar and leans on the counter to watch her eat, grinning all the while. "If it's all the same to you, though," he points out, "I'd rather have the mystery bike. Adds a little bit of interest to life."

He's only just beginning to realize how starved for that he is. Which is in itself interesting. But how grim would life be if he couldn't at least amuse himself?

Ha, look at that. Who can blame her for grinning a bit too proud? Sure, the whole thing's a little surreal - even after the evening started by demolishing a grocery aisle - but she's still enjoying herself.

Still. Shiki blinks back to reality a bit at the motion and sound of the coins, staring at the cup a beat before looking down at a clock on auto-pilot. And she wish she hadn't, because she has to squash the urge to instantly bolt and get back. (She should have the counters wiped off by now.)

"-yeah. I mean! Ah, I'd think riding the bike counts as interesting. Around here."

"You can't be saying you're bored," Bennu retorts with mock surprise, brows rising almost up to his hairline. "Here? Where there's scintillating activities every night, and such a rich cultural scene? A lady of standards, I see."

He lobs his trash (a spent napkin) at the wastebasket one-handed and smirks only slightly as it swishes on in. "We might have to mix that up a little more often, from now on."

Her shoulders twitch with a laugh, though she feels the need to defend with a "It's not so bad here," even if she's giving quite a curious, heaven forbid hopeful side stare.

Wiping her own hands, Shiki pushes her plate, crumbs and all, to the other end of the counter before looking Bennu's way again. She, should be heading back by now, but his words make her hesitate enough to try, "Do you want anything to drink, too?"

Unlike her, Bennu doesn't have anything better to do; still, he contemplates the offer (and the lump in his throat, god, meat, never again) and then smirks at her.

"Maybe one for the road," he replies. Let her chew on that if she wants, since he's going to be driving the bike.

Edited (mun can't tense) 2013-02-15 15:40 (UTC)

Shiki takes Bennu at face value, the first instant, but she's looking at the menu not two seconds before she's caught the problem and met his smirk, eyebrows raised.

"-are you going to need some help, to manage that?"

Bennu's smile is full of mystery. At least, that's how he describes it to himself mentally, and the sheer cliché has him smiling all the harder.

"What," he asks, "you doubt me? Coffee for the road, please. Black."

That last bit is directed at the cashier. Coffee sometimes makes him antsy, but tonight he feels willing to risk it. There's an inventive spirit to be maintained here, after all.

Her grocery rescuer lives on the edge, doesn't he.

"-I just didn't spot a cup holder or anything, on the way over. How're you going to carry it?"

...oh right, she should probably grab something herself, huh? Eh, she'll throw a 'ramune, please' at the cashier's back, as he fetches the coffee.

"Maybe you are," Bennu said, refusing to commit. He takes a sip of his coffee and watches her over the steam rising from the lid. Cute drink, girl. Fits your height....

Bennu tips the cup again, unable to drink too much at a time for the heat. Let her stew in anticipation. It gives him time to figure out how exactly he's going to pull this one off, himself.

-ah? He sounded like he was going somewhere with that, and then just left her staring at him, far longer than necessary. Teasing like that... That's much more "mysterious" than the Coffee Conundrum.

Shiki keeps her eyes on her bottle to pop it open, but. "Where are you staying?" Waiting until the fizz goes down again to talk, she sticks to a side glance for her offer. "If it's close to my shop, I can ride with you and hold the drinks, and walk back from there."

"And deprive me the chance to finish being the knight on shining motorbike? Heaven forbid." Bennu blows on his coffee and heads for the door. "I'm walking you to the threshold, milady.

"Unless," he adds with a wink over his shoulder, "you don't want the dashing stranger to know where you live."

Shiki came up short of taking her own first drink, mouthing dumbstruck, more fazed than the joke likely warranted. But, the whole line of thought... It catches her in a way that didn't quite register right, and leaves her jittery in his trail out the door.

"You're just dead set on leaving me grateful to you, huh?" But there's no irritation there, just a purposeful focus on the marble bopping in her drink. "You really don't have to try for that."

"I just finish what I start." He swings himself back onto the bike, still unsure how he's going to manage his drink - so he takes a long drag of it, just in case. "Besides, you make great faces about it. Don't take offense, that's a compliment."

Maybe he'd just started to dig his own grave. But he'd get more good expressions out of it, so he could always climb back up again if need be. He liked being with her. There was an artlessness there that almost seemed familiar.

And more importantly, it was fun.

-so he is throwing her for a loop on purpose! That's mighty close to taunting, you know... Except for the friendly charm he's putting into the mix. That's just confusing.

And maybe that's why she listens, to a point, and stops with the soaked cat expressions after a beat. "I guess I can't begrudge you that- But you know. Maybe I just want to be helpful." Which is why she gets back on the bike and curls her arms right around him- And holds her free hand up in offer.

She promises not to spill anything on you!

Hah. Problem solved. Bennu grins and slips the coffee into his brand-new cup holder, fumbling for the ignition with his free hand.

"Fair enough," he agrees. "I'll finish it before you're home."

Which is going to be a feat, and might involve actually waiting at lights. He avoids that whenever he can, and fortunately hasn't been ticketed yet.

"No rush." Not that she'd mind him trying, as long as she doesn't end up fumbling herself. If anything, a slowed ride makes it easier, and gives her time to appreciate the drive, to boot.

Not to mention grants a quiet opening at a light to talk, when she gets antsy and curious, pressed up back there. "-I've never seen your bike before. Do you not drive to my shop?"

He sips his coffee while stopped at the light: take that, impracticality, Bennu Tammuz has indeed won the day.

"I've been known to meander," he replies, "if the weather's fine. Saves on gas and getting honked at."

Except the latter doesn't happen nearly as much as it should. Everyone mostly drives in extremely predictable patterns, around here. Bennu's just learned said patterns by rote.

"I mean, I don't mind," he points out, pushing off as the light turns green. "They have the right. But I'd hate to inconvenience anyone."

Even at night, with his back to her, Shiki can probably hear the grin.

"Liar" was the instant comeback tease, light and frienndly. Followed by shocked silence of personal gall. And she's not sure where that came from (she might think that sort of thing but when's she say it?) so she talks right over the traffic.

"As long as there's no accidents, you aren't hurting anyone. I just wondered."

"You wound me. Would I invite passengers if there was danger?" Bennu picked up the pace, careening down the road to her shop in a weaving motion that seemed partially determined to make a liar out of himself, partially determined to prove his complete mastery of the vehicle.

Both were likely true. Showing off when someone didn't take his crap had actually proved to be most enjoyable. And he'd gotten a little more life in her, already.

Yes, tonight was a night well spent, for once.

-cruel, Mr. Tammuz. Asking a pointed question and interrupting any chance to answer by speeding up. Of course she has to focus on clutching harder - no hands - and not spilling anything. It might not be holding-on-for-dear-life worthy, but, you know.

Even when she adjusts enough to speak up, she practically has to yell now. "Is that why there's no helmets, either? No need for protection?"

"You think?" Bennu yells back, feeling pretty good about the situation. Where is her - ah, there, there's her shop; she's bound to live around there somewhere. "Maybe I just like the wind in my hair! Left or right?"

Or maybe it just never occurred to him. Or maybe it was a mix of all of the above. Bennu Tammuz just - didn't do helmets. He'd always been happy to leave it at that.

"Well as long as it's not- What?" Shiki interrupted herself, confused, before hefting herself up against Bennu enough to look over his shoulder. And she's only more confused as she spots what's up ahead.

"Nowhere- you can pull up in front of the shop."

A sigh; he can't play the knight after all, it seems. (Well, that, or she does literally live at work. Whichever.)

In any case, Bennu submits to the lady's whims, and manages to thoughtfully avoid leaving skid marks on her sidewalk while he's at it. "Last stop," he remarks, swinging a leg over the side. "Please remember to take all carry-on luggage, purses, assorted knick-knacks, and children. Management tends to be irresponsible."

"-what? I can't call lost and found for help?" Okay, well. He started it.

And Shiki slides herself off the back, only to find herself standing on her sidewalk in front of him, both hands full. Can't unlock a door like that. So she looks down at the coffee cup before offering it up.

"Here, it's almost gone. ...and thanks for the ride. Didn't think it'd be so fun, crashing a grocery store."

He accepts the cup with a nod, tipping it to her as if toasting the evening. "You make your own fun," he responds, shrugging off her thanks but unable (or unwilling) to keep himself from smiling. "It's the only way any happens. Consider that some parting wisdom.

"Enjoy your evening," he continues, sitting back on the bike. "Maybe I'll break a clock someday soon."

Or at the very least stop by to heckle. See if the novelty hadn't worn off the second time around.

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windupgadget - 2013-02-28 16:04 (UTC) - Expand

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devil_in_details - 2013-03-01 04:29 (UTC) - Expand

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