The Magpie Emporium, Thursday (5/4)

[drumsticksandd20s]

The gremlins had appeared shortly after Steph opened the store and settled into today's game of... whatever it was they were playing, which looked like it had to do with... resource management? While playing as dragons? About half an hour after that Steph noticed a ball of crumpled up five dollar bills wedged in against the side of the cash register.

She unrolled the ball, counted the bills. Looked over, counted the gremlins. "Did you...?"

They were in the middle of a card-drawing round, so the gremlins studiously ignored her.

Aww. They'd never actually paid to use the game lounge before.

[OOC: Open!]

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

At some point in the afternoon, Watts came by. His hat went on the usual beholder tentacle, and he made his usual beeline towards the dice to pick some up to fiddle with.

“Afternoon, Steph,” he greeted.

[drumsticksandd20s]

"Llewellyn," Steph replied, grinning at him. "How's everything going?"

Little Bot, holding a Warhammer figure in one claw and several of Saffron's cat toys in the other claws, beeped a greeting as he rolled by.

[pocketpretzels]

“Greetings to you too, little fellow,” Watts said obligingly in response to the beeps.

“Overall? I’m well. Missed some excitement, it seems.”

[drumsticksandd20s]

At that, Saffron -- perched atop the new comic release shelves that her player kind of forgot were there -- lifted her head and made a disgruntled noise.

"Yeah, you did," Steph said, and indicated a hefty-looking hardcover Cypher System rulebook that was propped up on display behind the counter, its cover severely dented in weird shapes that looked like small animals. Or weirdly oversized small animals, more accurately. "And apparently it was International Pretzel Day last week, and I missed it? I would so have gotten you a few if I knew at the time. Also if it hadn't been... uh, kind of wild out there."

[pocketpretzels]

“It’s very kind of you to think of me,” Watts said, with a pleased little smile. “There were several vendors offering them in London, so luckily I did not lack for any.”

[drumsticksandd20s]

"London this time, huh?" Steph smiled and spun a stray pencil that was on the counter. "Portalocity is useful as hell, isn't it?"

The her of a couple of years ago would have been so jealous of all that traveling, and it was kind of surprising to realize she wasn't now.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts nodded. “Steven’s London, specifically,” he said, with a small smile. “It truly is, although I still would like to try travel by aeroplane someday. To see what it’s like.”

[drumsticksandd20s]

"Was it a good trip? Presumably free of extra-large, extra-angry animals that might also be people?" Steph wanted to know.

She chuckled and leaned against the counter. "I haven't been on a plane in years. God. Not since a family trip to Disneyland way back before my parents split up."

[pocketpretzels]

"It was," Watts nodded. "Marc and I got a few things sorted out regarding establishing evidence of my- existence as a person in his and Steven's world. And then Steven and I attended the symphony and visited a museum, among other things. No extra-large, extra-angry animals in sight."

"... Disneyland?"

[drumsticksandd20s]

"Ah. ID paperwork and all that?" Steph guessed. "Yeah, that's gonna be useful if you're not planning on going back to your world. And I'm glad you missed out on... whatever the hell it was going on here, last weekend."

They'd crushed a pretzel cart. The absolute horror.

"Disneyland's..." She shook her head. "Calling it a theme park doesn't go far enough. An extremely expensive tourist trap? It's an Experience, that's for sure."

You could hear the capital letter... and also probably the fact that she was decidedly ambivalent on exactly what kind of Experience it was.

[pocketpretzels]

"Bank accounts," Watts clarified. "And that- does not exactly sound like a ringing endorsement of the place."

[drumsticksandd20s]

"Not from me, no," Steph admitted. "Don't get me wrong, people have a lot of fun there, but I have feelings about spending that much money on anything."

[pocketpretzels]

“Oh dear,” Watts shook his head, rolling the dice in his palm. “Of someone from this era thinks it’s a lot of money, I am certain I don’t want to know.”

[drumsticksandd20s]

"Mom couldn't afford to take me back there again after Dad moved out, and that was years ago," Steph said, looking wistful just for a moment. "I strongly doubt it's any less pricey now. Though honestly, if you think you can justify the expense, it might be worth considering. Just so you can say you've done it."

Hell, she'd pay money to get pictures of him in one of the mouse ear hats.

[pocketpretzels]

“I don’t mind spending money on experiences,” even 2023 amounts of money, as much as it still outraged him regarding prices sometimes. “So long as I’m reasonably certain I will enjoy whatever it is.”

[drumsticksandd20s]

"I guess that depends," Steph said thoughtfully. "Being surrounded by a huge crowd of overstimulated children and frazzled parents all day can get pretty overwhelming for some people. Other people live for that kind of energy. Other people... et cetera, you know?"

[pocketpretzels]

“… Ah,” Watts grimaced. “I am- not so certain such an excursion is for me.”

[drumsticksandd20s]

Steph gave him a sympathetic look. "Yeah. I was kind of wondering about that, actually, but I couldn't think of a non-shitty way to just ask?"

[pocketpretzels]

"I do enjoy a certain amount of chaos," Watts admitted. "But that seems like- far too much. And if you're ever concerned about trying to phrase a question in a 'non-shitty' way, as you say- don't be. At least, with me. I am perfectly all right with directness."

[drumsticksandd20s]

"Cool," Steph said with a lopsided little smile. "Good to know. Just don't be afraid to call me out on it if I veer from directness into being an asshole, either."

[pocketpretzels]

"I should extend you the same courtesy," Watts said. "I have- been informed on more than one occasion that my manners are- while not quite non-existent," especially by today's standards, "- less than ideal. I often speak my mind without considering whether or not my words will cause hurt."