Shin sat behind the counter, looking down at his phone as the night rolled on. Working the grave shift wasn’t as bad as people tend to think. Almost no one comes to stop by at this hour, and the most work he ends up having to do is taking stock. The rest of the time he ends up sitting at the counter with his phone. He didn’t mind the job too much, even if some nights were rather boring. His coworker usually worked with him during these shifts, but as the guy recently began studying again those shifts become few and far between. So now it’s just Shin by himself.
He himself didn’t go to college anymore, taking a year break after…a situation happened with his friend, let’s just say. His parents didn’t seem to mind when he told them about his plans for a break, his mother even going as far to say that they’d support him no matter what. He never felt too happy with how much his parents tended to coddle him, though he was grateful for everything they gave him, even if it was a bit overbearing. It’s one of the reasons why he finally decided to get a job, thinking it better to try and detach himself from them.
As he was scrolling through the various movies he downloaded, he heard the door open and the telltale ringing of their automatic doorbell. He looked up quickly, scared by the sudden sound only to meet the most insanely dressed person he’d ever seen. She had on a wig (at least he assumed a wig) of bright neon blue and pink striped hair, her face heavily caked in white makeup with painted black tears running down her face. A large leather jacket donned her shoulders, chains hanging from the collar and zippers running up and down the front. Her skinny black jeans looked like they were mauled by a tiger, large platform boots adding an extra couple of centimeters to her height. All in all, Shin found himself more intrigued than scared.
“Where are your cough drops?” She spoke hoarsely, like she’d been screaming all night. Her face seemed a bit familiar, though he couldn’t think of where he might’ve seen her. He pointed toward one of the shelves.
“Center aisle.”
She grunted a “thanks” before walking over to it, browsing the various snack bags. Shin tore his eyes away from her, thinking it rude to stare. Though it was a bit difficult to keep his eyes away, as her outfit and overall look basically screamed for attention. He turned his head away back to the counter, when suddenly his eye caught something. Near the entrance of the convenience store, as per usual, was the magazine and newspaper rack. There on the cover of a magazine he remembered he put up just a few days prior. That’s where the memory came from.
She was on the cover of that tabloid magazine. Bright bold faced words supplied him with information, “Rockstar Reko makes a scene!” It turns out she was the up and coming leader of a rock band, who (at least according to the magazine) has already started making a name for herself. More information began flooding Shin’s mind. Videos he had scrolled past the other day, showing the absolute wildest concert he’s ever seen. A singer with a voice he was sure was louder than a jet engine. And a similar flashy style to what the stranger in the store was wearing right now. It was her.
The sounds of plastic snack bags and glass bottles hitting the counter awoke Shin out of his stupor. He looked back up to the crazy haired lady, apparently named Reko, who seemed more tired than annoyed at his ignorance. He quickly began scanning her items, an awkward silence permeating the air. He thought about making small talk, but ultimately decided against it. If there was anything Shin learned while working the night shift, it’s that most of the time people didn’t want to be bothered. Considering her position as a rising musician, she probably got bothered by fans a lot randomly like this as well. It’s just past 3 in the morning, how could he be so rude and strike up a conversation after what seemed like a tiring night for her. Not to mention, it sounded like her voice was giving out, so why would he try to hold her up to something so trivial?
Reko didn’t have the same idea however, as he was ringing up her total she opened her mouth.
“You don’t have any,” she cleared her throat, turning her face to side as she mumbled something under her breath.
Shin tilted his head, furrowing his brow. “I’m sorry?”
She looked back over at him, raising a hand in the air and waving it around.
“You know, those uh, animal things. Crackers. With the pink frosting and sprinkles. They come in a box?” She traced a square in the air with her fingers, and suddenly Shin was propelled back into grade school. He remembered those sugary snacks. While his mom rarely ever let him have any, he distinctly remembers them for the funny circus themed box they would come in, along with the fun cheesy song that played during their commercials.
“You mean the Pinky Wink’s Animal Parade ones?” Reko stuffed her hands into her pockets, kicking her boot against the floor. Even with a face full of makeup, he knew she was blushing.
“God, fucking yes the Pinky Wink’s Animal Parade ones,” she spat through her teeth, and Shin immediately tensed. Was she that angry over kid’s animal crackers? “Look, they’re for my brother, he throws a fit if he doesn’t have them.”
“Uh…” Many thoughts began to run through his head in that moment. First, the hilarity of her embarrassment for asking for such kiddie crackers, and second the fact that they were “apparently” for her brother. The next thought that came was, wait, did they actually have those crackers? He knew they got some shipments from the same company that makes them, but he doesn’t remember if they sell those specific ones. He figured he might as well check, as this lady seemed drained enough already, and if the brother statement was true, Shin would rather not put her into that kind of situation. “I’ll go check in the back.”
And he left her with the items on the counter, still unpaid for, and left for the door to the storage and break room. He knew it was rather foolish of him to leave her unattended, especially with unpurchased goods. Though from what little interaction they had he figured she was a trusty person. He searched the boxes from last week’s shipment, and sure enough they did have a few boxes of the stuff. He brough one back with him and was glad to see that he was right about his assumption. The lady brightened when she saw he had the box with him, and Shin finally finished up her transaction. Just as he was handing her the bag, he heard the automatic doorbell again.
“Reko! Are you finished already?”
Shin turned his head to the doorway, only to see a man equally as outlandish and goth as the woman in front of him. She grabbed the bag from the counter and waved a thanks to Shin, turning around and facing the man.
“Yeah, yeah, don’t rush me, I’m leaving,” she replied aggressively, the man crossing his arms and looking down at her seriously. She stopped right in front of him as he was blocking the door. “Are ya gonna move or am I gonna have to kick you?”
The man stood in silence for a while. He looked at the bag in her hand.
“…Did you get my crackers?”
---
yeah idk lol
DAY 293: YESSSS SHIN AND REKO SEEING EACH OTHER BRIEFLY THIS IS MY FAVORITE!!!!!!!
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I'm about to say the thing you were waiting for.
By the way. Still here.
Still not done with episode 16, but a few random comments.
First of all, THE thing.
We're now rooting for Hurrem hard. She's learning, actually trying and thinking, and at this point almost everyone else is worse tbh.
Especially Mahidevran.
The Leo Arc has begun. It will be glorious and dumb.
Matrakçi apparently having the key to Ibrahim's place like we were in Friends is hilarious.
Same as him being utterly confused by the concept of twins.
Matrakçi has never not been hilarious actually.
YAY MOCENIGO IS BACK (and keeps being bullied).
I loved the roasting of the Pope for selling indulgency because while correct on that, it was hilarious coming from Suleyman, ESPECIALLY when he decides to throw shade at religious authoritarianism and/or inner division, given what just happened with the letter from the Shah (amazing trash talk from both sides there. Suleyman, as usual, is as subtle as Orban's cannons).
Lastly the important stuff- I was not ready for loose hair nightgown Nigar.
None of my family was actually, my sisters took it just as I did, we're still recovering.
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Have you got any specific hcs about queen and spamton?
I have a few as someone who is obsessed with the story of the cyber world before we get there in-game.
Most mansion guests are invited by Queen after their success is seen or she becomes interested in them. Spamton was unique in that he actually pitched himself and bigshot autos to her
She was of course intrigued by this overzealous barely 5-foot ad she never ever heard of and was like "LMAO Let's See What You Got."
Queen quickly grew fond of how bumbling but determined Spamton was, kinda like a Cosmo and Wanda-esque relationship (both dummies but in different departments)
Spamton wanted to prove he could sell to anyone even the Queen herself and was shocked she actually let him in. Thought she was gonna be more strict only to see her put on wheelies and fall face first into a plate of spaghetti code.
Immediately knew there was no way to fuck this up and kinda got a crush.
Spamton and Queen weren't a thing in the traditional sense, more so buddies that were odd and didn't question each other's oddness so they got along really well
Like if Spamton asked if a shopping cart could make it across the battery acid pool with them in it Queen wouldn't think twice before ordering a cart and having the Swatchlings set a ramp
Of course, there was a rumor on what they did on private meeting nights or if the gifts they exchanged were because of profits and honor the Queen or y'know...
Drinking buddies, Spamton has a surprising tolerance for his short stature and the Queen loves any excuse to pour a big glass of battery acid.
Spamton let her vent to him. It was rare someone backed up her feelings of not liking her position and Spam of course could understand and console her
Liked to take her on rides in his Cungadero and Queen liked how average it felt like she related to her citizens more. It was a normal night on the town with someone who knew it and truly lived as a cyber citizen. She liked getting stuck in traffic with him or him almost hitting another car. She felt vulnerable and not completely implacable but not unsecured. He liked that he was finally meeting someone's expectations.
I feel like the Queen was aware of him being off as an ad but she enjoys that part of him. Like it makes her feel like she's succeeding as a Queen when even the off-citizens can prosper
Was not aware of the phone and just thought Spamton had a finicky client thought she should've asked more questions when his downfall came
Honestly, he was more like her blorbo than anything else
Like dude could get away with a lot but he never pushed his luck
She was his girl boss slay queen u_u,
If she asked he would make a car model that's whole purpose was just to blow up despite that being awful for profits
When she had to kick him out, she offered a temporary apartment or condition to let him stay if he wanted to be something more mundane. For reasons, he wouldn't explain he declined
She lets Swatch sell the bowties cause she can't seem to justify completely erasing him from the mansion.
She also kept a pipis but you'll be hard-pressed to find where.
Spam doesn't rip the poster by his dumpster completely off cause he considers it the only official picture they had taken together
To be honest I ship and don't ship them. Like they weren't in love but they were two objectively weird people who think alike but have completely different backstories on to why. They could be open and be themselves around each other even if there were things they couldn't share with each other. It was more like those two weirdly intimate friends who everyone thought were a thing only for you to ask and they both fake vomit about it. They still joke about the idea.
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