Strokes of Genius, Wednesday (9/23)

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

In a continuation of an Approximately Week-Long Period of Time That Had Not Gone Well, Katchoo had woken up not only to realize that Francine's bed was empty and the most likely reason for that, but that she was a @(*&)! frikkin' guy AGAIN.

And scruffy this time, at that. Argh.

On a Wednesday, which meant work, and . . . great.

That guy slouched behind the register, staring at the cell phone in his hand like he didn't know what he'd do if it rang today, wore an awfully familiar scowl. The odds were good that the voice would sound exactly the same too, even.

This week could get better any time. Right?

[OOC: All I know is this Strokes of Genius post looks better when OCD-free. And open. And guess who's been listening to too much JoCo lately.]

Comments

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

"The universe is a bitch about timing." Katchoo picked up a bit of discarded register receipt tape and rolled it into the tightest possible ball with fingers that were too thick and ungainly for her liking. "Monday, at least, I didn't leave the room. Would've been convenient then."

Yes. For her, maybe.

"And yeah," she added, surprising herself by volunteering, "I'll show tomorrow. Y'know, before you pester me about it."

[intraspective]

"Yay!" she actually grinned at that. "You're spared pestering then."

For the moment, anyway. Ino was pretty good at finding things to pester about.

"Why didn't you leave?" she asked, figuring that hopping up on the counter was a might as well. "Just grumpy?"

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I'm just going to save myself from that," Katchoo deadpanned. "You know me, I gotta take a break from my swingin' social life sometimes. Like a mini spiritual retreat without having to go to Tibet."

[intraspective]

"Well," she said idly, "it's not like you're that grumpy 'round me."

Or if she was, Ino just steamrolled over it.

"So it's a totally valid question. Did you find it all enlightening and stuff?"

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

Katchoo shrugged and flicked the paper ball as hard as possible, watching it arc halfway across the store. "Nah. I think it bombed."

Or possibly she'd just spent it in a haze of smoking and trying -- and failing -- to paint.

[intraspective]

"Think the lack of mountain air caused the failure," she decided, watching the paper ball. "Because mountain air helps, apparently. It's got to if everyone goes to Tibet. You still needing spiritual enlightenment?"

That was, somehow, an 'are you alright?'. It worked for her.

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

"Maybe a spiritual nightlight," Katchoo answered, reaching out with one finger to spin the cell phone lying on the counter. It was the closest she'd come to saying yes.

[intraspective]

She laughed, taking that as it was.

"I bet you could find one on the internet," Ino said lightly. "Though who knows 'bout the quality of it."

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

A vague suspicion had been tugging at a corner of Katchoo's mind ever since last night's squirrel notes but she resolutely chalked it up to paranoia. "What can't you find on the Internet these days?" she asked, and told herself firmly that it was just a joke.

[intraspective]

Ino hadn't been intending it as anything but a joke, at least.

"Well," she began, then frowned. "I don't know, actually. Not a lot, I'm guessing."

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

A joke was fine. Katchoo could go with it as a joke.

"If it ain't there yet, it will be someday." Clocky rolled by and let out a loud beep just then, and Katchoo shot it a glare. "Shut it, you."

[intraspective]

"But it's cute," she teased. "Smile for it!"

Rolling her shoulders, Ino studied the displays.

"Do you ever get the urge to knock all this stuff down?"

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

"Done it a couple times," Katchoo answered. The urge was strong today, actually. "Having to clean up and do inventory afterward's a bitch though."

[intraspective]

"Guess you just can't leave a note going 'uh, oops?'" she laughed. "It's a fun urge though."

Mmmm destruction.

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

"Oh, yeah." Katchoo sounded less enthusiastic about the prospect than usual today. Must've had something to do with occasional flashbacks to blood and teeth on the floor of a jail cell. "Not so much when it comes outta my paycheck though."

[intraspective]

Ino gave her a side-long glance.

Huh.

"True," she noted, "paychecks are important."

Maybe she would go looking for a nightlight, just for her. Even if it was mostly a joke.

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

Katchoo would probably laugh a lot if she did. And people might get scared, but they could bite her.

"And never as big as you need 'em to be, dammit."

[intraspective]

"That's why savin' is so important," Ino said, making a face at that. "Or working a crazy number of jobs to cover all the bases."

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

"Not enough hours in the week to cover all the bases," Katchoo muttered. At least in terms of paying off medical expenses that weren't even hers. "Frikkin' hamster wheel, swear to God."

[intraspective]

Ino was starting to wonder just how many minefields Katina had strewed around her topics.

It was interesting, but a bit concerning. Nightlight, stat.

"You know," she said idly, all airy conversation and apparent light-heartedness, "If you need anything, you just got to ask. No questions."

Okay, everything but the meaning of her words was airy and light. No questions. Which Ino didn't like adding, but did. Because prying was--for fun, if it wasn't on a mission.

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

Kind of a lot, really. She'd been hearing a lot about it from people lately, god knew.

This was why Katchoo never tried to throw Ino out of the store when she came by. "You'll hear from me if it comes to that," she allowed.