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Red's is open for business

Inventory today, although the shop is open for business. Red is in his stock room making note of what he needs to order. Music was playing from his computer and the cubs were playing rambunctiously around their tree. Taking their jingle balls up to the highest height, they dropped their jingle balls onto the pile of their considerable in number, squeak toys to watch them scatter. Using their noses to nudge them back into a pile, the game was repeated.

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Jiji, trotting past on a walk while Kiki is busy at work, pauses. That is the unmistakeable sound of a jingle bell. Multiple, actually. He makes a lithe hop up to the windowsill and peers in at the cubs. It would appear he may just have gotten them addicted to the joy of jingly toys.

Heh. I wonder if it's driven Red half around the bend yet. Jiji wonders.

There was movement out of the corner of their vision and both cubs stopped playing to see the black feline in the window. Pollux bounded over and leapt at Jiji, only to be brought up short by the window, bonking into it with a thud.

Jiji's whiskers twitch, and he can't decide whether to wince in sympathy or laugh. He hops off the window and trots inside.

The cubs bound around in a wide circle around the feline. Castor rolled his jingly ball toward Jiji and Pollux continued to cavort around in circles.

"Hello, Jiji," Red said with a grin. "Just for information purposes, the counter here is cub safe. They know they aren't allowed up here."

Believe me, Jiji says, sitting gracefully on his haunches, that is a marvelous piece of information to know. How is business?

While seeming to ignore the cubs in his chatting with Red, Jiji is very much aware of them and the jingle ball that comes rolling toward him. As it wobbles to a stop, Jiji nudges it with his tail, sending it flipping up into the air for the cubs to chase.

And give chase the cubs did, their crashing about the shop quite noisy as they pursued their jingly prey.

"Things are good for me, so I have no complaints. How are things with you and your human?"

Mixed, Jiji answers, watching the cubs and waiting for the ball to return. He's sporting the turquoise collar Aziraphale had given him for Christmas.

Kiki's still pretty upset about Crowley being recalled. She puts on a brave face, but... She really threw herself into the Secret Santa work on Monday; very determined to make people have a good time. I just think she was using the work as a distraction. But she's doing marvelously in classes - all A's so far. And she wasn't even cribbing off me. The worry in Jiji's voice turns to pride.

On a break from the bank, Salmoneus is headed to Red's with two packages under his arms. One is small and wrapped in a reddish velvet cloth, and the other is larger and wrapped in butcher's paper.

He opens the door and peeks through, not wanting to interrupt if there are customers.

"Salmoneus!" Red called from his stool. He beckoned his friend to come in. "I've been meaning to get out to see you and just haven't been able to break away. How are you?"

Salmoneus smiled as he came fully into the shop. "Red! It's really good to see you!"

The banker shut the door behind him, carefully juggling the two parcels, then turned to face his friend. "I'm doing well. Happy Solstice! This is for you." He placed the smaller item on the counter. "And this," he offered the larger parcel, "is for the two ragamuffins." He reddened a little and whispered, "I hope it's appropriate, and I'm sorry about it just being wrapped in paper -- I ran out of cloth!"

[ooc: The cubs have a well made chew-tug toy, in the general shape of an animal. Red has a small blue ornament in the shape of a bell, that jingles sweetly when shaken. Sorry it took so long to get back to you -- had to leave work suddenly.]

"Thank you! You really shouldn't have though," Red said graciously. Leaning over, he gave Salmoneus a cheerful look. "Paper is fine. Makes it easier for the cubs to unwrap."

The new chew toy immediately captured their attention and the cubs put it to good use, their little growls puncutating the shop's stillness.

Red opened his and gently took his out. "This is lovely! Thank you so very much!"

"It's not a problem." The banker smiled. "I ordered a great number of things from Greece, figuring people would find them unique. So far, everyone's happy, so I'm happy."

The smile slipped a little. "I -- wanted to apologize for being gone for so long. A couple of friends back home died, and I -- well, I had to be there. I did put a sign in the window, but it was on the floor when I got back, so I think it fell before anyone could see it." He fidgeted a little. "I hope all my customers will forgive me."

Parker comes by later in the day when most of the alcohol has worn off (and after she's had another shower to take away the smell), but still in need of a nap. "Hi, Red. I need to get a license for a kitten. Are the city offices still processing paperwork?"

Seeing Parker come in, Red shifted on his stool. "Ah...license for kittens, yes. We still handle that paperwork. You can fill out the application and mail it in with the shot records and we handle the rest."

"Perfect. Is there a vet on the island, or should we take her to the mainland?" She grinned at the cubs playing with the ornaments, and added, "Does it matter if there's no name picked out yet, too?"

"Not having a name isn't a problem. You can just leave that field blank and call Gladys with it when you have one," Red said. "And unfortunately we don't have a vet in town. Mainland is your best bet."

"Thanks. I'll just grab a form and send it in after Christmas, if that's okay? I don't think she'll get to see a vet before New Year's." Cocking her head, she asked, "Is there going to be any kind of town New Year's celebration, by the way? I'm supposed to be back here on the island by then."

"Whenever you can is fine. It's not like we'll come reposses your kitten," Red said with a laugh.

"New Years. I believe Mr. Crowley at the hotel has something planned."

Parker blinked. "That should be a trip. Thanks, Red. I'll get this back to you as soon as possible!" she called back over her shoulder as she left.

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Red's is open for business

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