Turtle & Canary; Friday [12/24].

[white_oleander]

Astrid honestly wasn't sure if Apu was annoyed with her for treating the holiday frivilously or just because he was jealous he hadn't thought of doing it first, but she was definitely getting even more than the usual stink-eye from him as she set up various displays at the front of the store featuring signs touting great last minute gift ideas. But she didn't really care, because she was kind of enjoying digging into the deeper reccesses of the back room and finding odd stuff to bring out and put on display, since, really, working retail on Christmas Eve at Turtle & Canary was definitely not going to be like working retail on Christmas Eve anywhere else in the world.

After all, why not get that certian special someone a giant container of just cereal marshmallows? She was personally looking forward to tormenting someone (probably Troy) with these tiny hands.

Pizza for Christmas? Nope! Just socks! Or a sleeping bag! Giant torilla? Nope! Just a blanket! Baguettes? Nope! Just slippers!

Have a perpetually-single friend? Why not get them a boyfriend for Christmas? How about the friend who said not get them anything? Astrid had you covered there, too! And until Fandom decided to make mermaid-dogs a thing, Astrid had found something to tide you over.

And then just a collection of other things she was just kind of glad somehow actually existed.

Really, Astrid should do a deep dive through the back room more often.

Today's Squishy Flavors
Peppermint
Christmas Ham
Red

Turtle & Canary is open!

[[ although on likely SP because someone is working retail on Christmas Eve in the rest of the world ]]

Comments

[alwaysonguard]

"Ok, that was something I didn't think I would ever see, let alone actually consider as a possibility," Dwight said as he stood in front of one of the shelves and looked at the mere-dog vest. "Wonder if they have those in supper tiny puppy size?"

[white_oleander]

"They probably do," Astrid offered. "If not already buried somewhere in the back room, then it might be something we could look into ordering."

Because the resources for ordering the most random stuff at this store were amazing.

But, of course, now Astrid had to ask, head tilted, "How super tiny are were talking?"

[alwaysonguard]

"Oh about yea big" Dwight said holding his hands a little ways apart. Really the tininess of that comparison was partly due to the simple fact that Snoopy was still quite a tiny pup, but also largely due to the sheer size difference against Dwight's impressive stature. "He's still just a little thing, but a good swim vest like that would be good for when the weather gets warm again."

[white_oleander]

Even Astrid was not immune to almost completely melting at the picture of the dog and his size relative to Dwight's gestures. "I think at that size," she felt compelled to point out, "it's less of a mer-dog and more like a guppy or goldfish."

Still ridiculously adorable, though.

"Might want to hold off a little, though, if that's the case," she pointed out. "There's still a good chunk of time before things get warm again, and I'd guess a puppy could grow a lot in that span of time."

You would certainly think so, anyway.

"I can definitely put a few of them on hold or something, though. And we do have a pretty generous return policy."

Because even if you weren't using it practically yet, it would be absolutely fair to still get one because of the sheer cuteness alone.

[alwaysonguard]

"And a rather adorable guppy at that" Dwight felt compelled to brag slightly. He considered Astrid's recommendation and nodded slowly.

"I think I might do both actually," he said at last. "Let me go ahead and order one now and can order something else later if the little guy grows too much. But it might be good to get him used to wearing one now so it's easier down the road."

And yes that was, of course the ONLY reason he wanted to get one now. It had absolutely nothing to do with the desire to get some photos and such of the pup being all adorable. No, not at all.

[white_oleander]

"At least let me check in the back," Astrid offered, "to see what other sizes we have that might be hidden away. And maybe," her smile was faintly apologetic, knowing full well that the words coming out of her mouth right then were just clear indications that she'd been working in retail for far too long that it couldn't really be helped, "you'll find some other last minute gift ideas in the meantime."

With that, she slipped away to search, reminding herself not to get too distracted with other random things that just seemed to manifest out of nowhere while she was in the store proper, because she was pretty sure half of that stuff wasn't there earlier, and, eventually, she emerged with her arm full of a selection of little tiny versions of the mermaid vests she had on display.

She released them in a small avalance on the counter, spreading them out for better perusal.

"Think any of these might work?"

[alwaysonguard]

Dwight had in fact found a few more items that just happened to show up on the shelves right in front of where he was looking as he waited for Astrid to return. So when she finally emerged, there were a few other things to ring up as well, a couple little things for himself and a few other people he had been admittedly struggling to find something for.

As he and Astrid sorted through the various sized vests and compared colors and styles for a little while, he narrowed it down to two colors in the smallest size that they had available. He held them up and looked at her.

"So, which would you go with? The green or the red?" he asked holding each one up in turn.

[white_oleander]

Astrid considered the optioms with her artist's eye and had to ask, since it could make all the difference, "Depends. What's the coloring on your dog?"

[alwaysonguard]

Dwight nodded in realization that yes, that could make a difference and pulled his phone out of his pocket. "Snoopy's a beagle but doesn't have the usual beagle coloring." After flipping through it for a moment he handed it to Astrid so she could see the pictures he had taken the other day.

[white_oleander]

Astrid took a moment to consider the pictures, consider the vests, and then had to smile at Dwight as she realized the best solution.

"Both," she informed him, in her best artist opinion.

She had a feeling she'd've made Summer proud with that one.

[alwaysonguard]

"Ya know what? I think you are right" Dwight agreed after taking another look at the vests. "Can also decide if one is actually better than the other by the time I need to get something else."

Dwight gave Astrid a nod and handed the vest and the other items over with a smile. "Nothing like last minute shopping for those important people in life" he said with a chuckle, knowing that not all the other items were for himself but yeah... most of them were.

"I appreciate the help, Astrid."

[white_oleander]

Astrid shrugged a shoulder with a faint sort of smile, as she started to run the selected items through the register.

"They've got to pay me for something," she joked mildly, "right? Anything else while you're here? I'm sure we can get you a discount on anything else holiday related, just so Summer doesn't have to go through the trouble of trying to get rid of it after Christmas."

[alwaysonguard]

"Think im good"Dwight said with a moment of thought. "Though I'm sure Summer will have a nice after holiday sale to get rid of anything she doesn't want to hold on to ". Cuz if there was any that gal knew it was how to turn a profit!

[white_oleander]

"I'm sure she'll find a way to either turn it into a jello shot," Astrid reasoned, "or just shove it all in the back room for next season, while we cross our fingers and hope it doesn't revolt and attack us all during some sort of Christmas in July event..."

God, she had been on this island for way too long...

[alwaysonguard]

"Riiiiiiight.... Christmas in July.... Of course" Dwight said with a nod of 'what they heck not.' "Of course there's always that option" he said with a slight sigh.

He hadn't been here long compared to most but he was quickly starting to just accept most of this island insanity and trying to roll with the punches as best as he could.

[white_oleander]

Four years, Dwight. Astrid had been on this island (give or take an incredibly traumatic half-year, anyway) since she was fourteen. It was definitely an interesting way to come into adulthood, no doubt about that. And, because of that, she had to snort a little as she started bagging up his purchases.

"Never say never," she said, almost apologetically, "is definitely a mantra around here. So that'll be Handwavey Amount."

A pause.

"I'll toss in a Christmas Ham Squishy for free, too, if you want," she added.

Mostly just because she thought it would be funny.

[alwaysonguard]

"And a very apt one at that as well" Dwight agreed. He then considered her offer for a moment. "Ya know what, go ahead. About time I actually tried a Sqishy."

Yes, yes... Shock and horror! Dwight had not yet ever actually tried a Sqishy of any flavor yet!