Things Reborn, 1/21

[swipedthatfoot.livejournal.com]

It was freezing and dark and Claire had decided the snow could just go back where it came from, thanks, as she opened the store. She'd seen it now, and she wasn't much of a fan.

Inside the shop, she busied herself putting the entire stock of blankets and winter coats in the window. It might help her actually sell something, and moving helped her keep warm.

[OOC: Open and OCD-free!]

Comments

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

Call him crazy, but Cal was loving the snow. He was loving the power being out, too, because it gave him a perfect excuse on why he might be doing nothing better today than going outside and walking around with nothing but a lot of layers and some cigarettes to keep him warm. All the white, nearly torrential snow, so picturesque he could puke, and it wasn't even going to be gray and sloshy and dirty by the end of the day like back home. With all the pollution and cars, snow was never this pretty for so long.

So when he was out walking around, he figured everyone would be hunkered in due to the storm and the power outage, and was surprised to see that Claire was actually inside the window of the thrift store and working. He put out his cigarette, the snow burying it itself before he could even think about it, and rerouted for a moment.

"Lovely weather for a picnic!" he greeted brightly, already imagining the looks he'd get for it.

[swipedthatfoot.livejournal.com]

He got that look, yep. "I know," Claire said. "We could even have it at the beach."

Sarcasm was fun.

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

Always glad to get sarcasm back, Cal chuckled a little. "Perfect! We can sit and eat and watch all the penguins and polar bears."

[swipedthatfoot.livejournal.com]

"You'll bring the whale blubber, I'll bring the beer?" Claire suggested with a grin.

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

"You've got yourself a date!" Cal decided, grinning back. He took a moment to stomp off some snow from his boots at the doorway before rubbing his hands together and coming a little more into the store.

"Seriously, though, working without power? That'd some dedication, Claire."

He already had plans on totally ditching the diner if the power wasn't back by Friday. Sure, it was two days from now, but Cal was being hopeful.

[swipedthatfoot.livejournal.com]

Claire blinked at him. She grew up in a family business that didn't shut down when the plumbing got backed up and blood started gushing from the sink; taking a snow day hadn't really occurred to her.

"Y'know, I didn't realize I didn't have to come in," she admitted. "I can sell stuff without power, and it's not like it's any warmer back in the dorms."

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, but is anyone even really going to come in?"

Forget the fact that, err, obviously, he had.

[swipedthatfoot.livejournal.com]

"Uh, well, you did ..." Claire couldn't resist pointing out. "Wanna buy something?"

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

"Not really," Cal admitted. "I just saw you putting out blankets in the window and thought I'd stop in."

[intraspective]

It had taken her a good half the morning to realize that she now, actually, had a real pretext to go and scope out Claire. And so, on her lunch break Ino scurried over to the shop.

"Why is it so cold?" she asked plaintively as she stepped inside, all bundled up.

[swipedthatfoot.livejournal.com]

Ooh, hey a client. She got a quick smile. "I don't know," Claire said. "It's just mean. I thought I wanted to see snow but I'm so over it."

[intraspective]

"Snow's a lot more awesome if you've got, you know, power inside," Ino decided, taking a moment to look around the shop because heeey she hadn't been here before. "'Cause then, if you get cold, you can go get warm. Snow's pretty fun then, though probably less so if you're used to it. We don't get it often back home."

A beat.

"Hiya!"

[swipedthatfoot.livejournal.com]

"I'm from L.A.," Claire said. "We really don't get snow. Like, at all."

"And hi. Can I help you find something?"

[intraspective]

"I think we've gotten it... twice in my lifetime?" Maybe. "I'm from the Fire Country, so uh, yeah. Not a whole lot of it being cold enough to snow. We get a lot of rain in the winter instead. And I'm looking for two sweaters," Ino said lightly. "Did you have any suggestions? I'm pretty open to anything 'long as its warm."

[swipedthatfoot.livejournal.com]

"It rains instead back home too," Claire nodded. "And we probably have a couple things in your size? C'mon back and I'll show you the rack."

"So do you shop vintage a lot?" she asked, as she emerged from behind the counter to lead the way. "It seems like most people n town just go to Turtle & Canary for everything."

[intraspective]

"Thanks!" she chirped, drifting after her. "Honestly? I don't really, but I'm saving up a lot of money 'cause one of the things I study in my free time is super expensive, so I figured, why not, you know, come and check out a different store? And Pixie Dust is awesome, but way too pricey for everyday wear."

The best part, Ino thought serenely, was that it was both completely a lie, and totally true.

[swipedthatfoot.livejournal.com]

"I haven't been in there at all," Claire said. "It just looks pricey, yeah. Thanks for coming in. Usually the store's way too quiet."

She arrived at the rack of sweaters and pointed Ino to the smalls. "They're organized by color."

Which ... was probably kind of obvious.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

There was a knock on the door before he slipped in and smiled towards the counter. He didn't know Claire all that well, but the raised bag of moddable soup and hot chocolate gave all the introduction he needed.

"Here from the Cafe," he said, "spreading a little warmth. Would you like some soup or hot chocolate?"

[swipedthatfoot.livejournal.com]

"Hi, Liir." Claire frowned a little, confused. "Like, for free?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He nodded.

"For today, yes. Think of it as a gift to the community businesses. Also, it's cold."

[swipedthatfoot.livejournal.com]

That got a smile out of Claire as she peeked at the soup. "I know, I'm so not used to it," she said. "And chicken noodle's my favorite. Thank you!"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Then chicken noodle you shall receive. Also... hot chocolate or hot cocoa?" and he held up a container of each.

[swipedthatfoot.livejournal.com]

"Coffee. Definitely. Coffee," Claire said.

She might have sounded just a touch eager, there.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He looked through the bag and cheered when he found--

"Is mocha all right?"

[swipedthatfoot.livejournal.com]

"If it's free?" Claire said. "Sure. Absolutely."