open | march catch-all

[blankpieces]

Who: Near ("Eli Dagwood") and open
When: from the full moon on
Where: various locations
What: catch all post for monster changes and the toy shop opening
Warnings: Descriptions of gross things, blood, etc.

the full moon

[Near knows when it's going to happen. He's been scratching at his skin for days now, even had to have the painted tattoo protection moved to a different location on his arms so he stopped scratching it off his wrists. Parts of his skin have been scratched raw despite his best efforts to keep himself from making things worse.

He hides away in his room, door locked and bolted, as the full moon rises and he proceeds to pull off his own skin.

He's becoming a snake, after all. It only makes sense for him to shed like one. Most snakes, however, don't strip off a complete layer of human skin to reveal the scales underneath. It's the most unusual process Near's ever gone through, but it isn't all that painful. The growth of his scales beneath his skin has clearly been happening for some time now, and all he's doing is removing the excess. He does have to pause and rest several times, as physically weak as he is.

The worst part is probably the removal of his eyelids. They come off completely and aren't replaced in his transformation. Snakes don't have eyelids, just a protective layer over their eyes. Not being able to close his eyes is going to bother him immensely - moreso than the scales.

When he's finished he has a complete, large, single piece of human skin on the floor and many black, gray, and white scales in their place. There are certain other things that had come off in the shedding, such as his tongue (which is now black and forked), which makes the whole thing that much more disturbing. He should really burn it all, even though he's sure it would be worth a killing on some black market somewhere. He'll keep it for now, but only as a precaution.

At least he still has his legs, though he doesn't know how long that will last.

The transformation leaves him exhausted, and he falls asleep for several hours after. Unsurprisingly, the next morning finds him spectacularly hungry. He knows what he wants - he's been craving meat for as long as he's been itching. But now it's worse. It feels different, and he's not even sure if raw meat from the butcher will fix the ache in his gut.]

i. [Near is out and about, which isn't common for him. The new scales are obvious, as he's done nothing to cover them up, and his forked tongue darts from his mouth frequently to taste the air. His eyes are the red eyes of an adder, unblinking but darting around quickly.

He stops at the window of a butcher shop and just stares inside.]

ii. [It's late evening in the harbor district and a rat darts along the edge of the street and into the shadows. This isn't anything out of the ordinary. What is out of the ordinary is the white-haired young man that runs after it. As it disappears under a stack of crates he lets out a frustrated hiss and pounds the side of them in frustration.]

iii. [Transformation wildcard - any other scenario you'd like to use here.]


Shop Opening

[Near finally has the toy shop in a state where he can open its doors. Currently he only has two employees and there's a help wanted sign out front in the hopes that he might be able to get one or two more. The shop is located in the northeast section of the shopping district, and a bright sign on the awning says: Life's Playthings.

Inside is a small collection of hand puppets and carved wooden toys, as well as a slightly larger collection of brightly colored animals. It's not a huge stock for now, but it will be growing. At the counter are several varieties of candies.]

((ooc: Other prompts are also welcome!))

Comments

shop opening

[mensrea]

[ Not long after the shop has opened for the day, a relatively tall teenager walks in with the “Help Wanted” sign tucked under his arm. Why did he bring it inside, you ask? Well, less chance for other potential applicants to compete with him if they don’t know about the job opening. When he thinks no one is looking, he shoves the sign under a shelf before finally approaching the front counter. Stiles takes a moment to appreciate the store’s wares, reaching out without thinking to run his fingers over the smooth contours of wooden toys. ]

Uh, hello? [ he calls out, voice loud to be heard. ] I’m here to apply for a job!

[blankpieces]

Please refrain from touching the merchandise. Whatever child ends up with that toy might put it in their mouth someday and I don't know where your hands have been.

[A very small young man with white hair and skin covered in monochromatic scales walks in from the back. He has a small wooden rocking horse in his hands which he places on one of the many still empty spots on his shelves. He doesn't even look at the other boy as he then takes his place behind the counter, shuffling around and searching for something beneath it.]

What are your qualifications?

[mensrea]

[ A very inappropriate response is on the tip of his tongue at the initial request, which he wisely decides to keep to himself; probably not a great idea to bring up his masturbatory habits during a potential job interview. Especially – well…just how old is this guy? It’s difficult to tell, what with the stunted height and rounded face. Obviously, the pale hair is no help either. ]

Well, I’m great with kids, [ comes the immediate, preplanned lie. Stiles even forces a smile despite the fact that the other boy isn’t looking. ] Used to babysit all the time back home. [ Werewolves, that is. Not children. ] I’m a team player. [ From the bench. ] And I’m hard working. [ True, though he absolutely doesn’t actually believe it. ] I’ve never worked in sales before, but I pick things up fast.

[ A pause as he tries to gauge how well his bullshit is being taken. ]

[blankpieces]

[Near does look up at Stiles as he's finishing his pitch, unblinking red eyes not improving his deadpan expression. Studying people has been part of his job for most of his life, but he doesn't even need all those skills to get a feel for this kid.]

You sound like you're reading off a generic script. Try it again, and this time make it sound less like you're filling out the "things that are good about me" section on an elementary school worksheet.

[He makes a little gesture with a lollipop for emphasis before adding it and several others to a box behind a glass display case on the counter.]

[mensrea]

[Smile faltering a bit in the face of this skepticism, Stiles hastily reconsiders his approach while beating back a trickle of irritation at the “elementary school” comment. ]

Sorry, I guess I’m nervous. [ He’s not. ] Okay. So, babysitting gave me experience in how to balance having fun with maintaining order. That’d be useful here. I can help kids find the right toy without letting things get crazy in the store. Because I’m pretty creative and playful, I’ll be able to relate to them better too. [ Most kids just find him weird. ] If you guys decide to do special promotional events –

[ “…you guys…” because no way is this person the owner, obviously. ]

– I’ll be able to use those, uh, qualities to keep the energy and interest high. Y’know, make sure the kids are engaged and stuff.

[ Another pause, which he addresses with a laugh: ] Is this any better so far?

[blankpieces]

[Near knows nervous. That isn't what this young man is. If anything, he's overconfident.

He leans against the counter on his elbows, black forked tongue darting out of his mouth a couple times as he listens. It's a bit of an irritating habit, but given what a snake can taste in the air he can't say it isn't useful.]

This isn't a daycare. I may sell to children, but it's the parents that will do most of the buying.

[Keeping an eye on them to make sure they don't break anything while avoiding yelling at them will be most of the interaction his employees have with the kids. Everything else is just frosting.]

How are you with customer service?

[mensrea]

[ Quite honestly, Stiles doesn’t do anything with confidence; the word is utterly antithetical to his personality. This is unadulterated bullshit spewing forth from someone who had already convinced themselves they wouldn’t get the job before actually stepping inside the store. He’s going through the motions regardless because they’re familiar and familiar is comforting, in its own way.

The flickering tongue is given a long, curious stare. Most people might glance away uneasily or politely; Stiles does neither. ]

I get that, but parents tend to let their kids do the choosing, right? It would probably look better if I actually interacted with the kids instead of talked at them.

[ There are other things he’d rather say here, like, “Parents are assholes who let their asshole kids do whatever the hell they want,” but that probably wouldn’t go over well. ]

Uh, I…don’t know. [ Best not to lie on this one. ] I like people. Helping them with what they need wouldn’t be an issue for me.

[blankpieces]

[To be fair, Near is still getting used to the whole "tasting pheromones" thing, and most of the scents he picks up don't mean anything to him. He'd have to make comparisons, conduct a little research... A pain, but probably worth it.]

Only if the children approach you first. If you were a parent, would you like some store employee coming up and trying to entertain your kid without you asking for it? It's the parent's job to look after their children. I wouldn't want you getting swatted with a purse.

[That's not entirely true. It would be entertaining to watch.]

But I appreciate your enthusiasm. How are you with heavy lifting?

[mensrea]

[ Blinking, Stiles pauses to imagine the purse-swatting scene; yeah, he’d prefer for that not to happen as well. The clips on those things look like they could do some serious damage. ]

Good. [ The most blatant lie yet. ] Back home, I play on the lacrosse team. So, I’m in great shape. Lifting stock will be a piece of cake.

[ As if to demonstrate, he lifts an arm and flexes the bicep. Which is all well and good, except it’s impossible to appreciate whether or not he has any impressive muscle when he’s wearing a bulky hoodie. ]

Uh. [ How else to convince this kid? ] “Lift with your knees, not your back!” That’s what my dad always taught me.

[ Sheriff Stilinski would never let his clumsy son anywhere near heavy objects. ]

[blankpieces]

I'm glad to hear that.

[Somehow, Near feels as though Stiles isn't quite at the same level strength-wise as his current employees.

He turns and gestures with one scaled hand toward a single box in the back corner of the room. It's unlabeled, but it's full of wooden blocks - perfect for carving.]

See if you can bring that one up front for me, would you?

[mensrea]

[ The box is given a long, blank stare. Stiles, vaguely afraid to find out if this is a prank and there are actual bricks weighing down said box, smiles uncertainly at Near. ]

…You sure that’s a good idea? I mean, don’t employees usually have to sign waivers and stuff before manual labor? If anything happens, you could have a lawsuit on your hands.

[blankpieces]

You're not my employee yet.

[And he also doubts this kid has a lawyer, at least not one recognized by this city.]

I want to get a feel for your capabilities. If you can't lift it I'm not going to force you to.

[It's not as though he could really force anyone to do anything. As it stands right now, whether or not Stiles can lift the box he could at least beat Near in a physical struggle. Most people could.]

[mensrea]

…I mean, me not being your employee and getting hurt doing this would open you up to an even worse lawsuit, buddy.

[ Stiles is becoming increasingly skeptical of this kid now. Maybe he should ask for a manager? But throughout the interview, he hasn’t heard anyone else in the store. ]

It’s not an issue of whether or not I can lift it, it’s about ethics and responsibility.

shop opening - window shopping before an interview?

[spaghettimonster]

[Papyrus has made a point of walking different streets of the city every day. All the better to check out new and changing sights, or see things he'd missed before... Or, mostly, use up some of his restless energy. As a bondless canine turnskin who was already known for his energy, he has a lot of it.

The moment he sees a shop labeled Life's Playthings, though, he stops to consider the sign. What a name. Intriguing, mysterious, evocative. Relatable, even. He feels a little like one of life's playthings, with the twists and turns his life has taken in the last year or so.

But the shop's contents looks a little less existential, when he peeks in the door. He may not notice a help wanted sign out front just yet - given the possibility it's still hidden under a shelf - but the various toys are reason enough to enter and start browsing. Papyrus gravitates toward the carved wooden toys, looking for things that might come anything close to the action figures he once filled a table with.]

[blankpieces]

May I help you?

[For someone who's looking for customer service capabilities in his employees, Near himself sure doesn't have many of them. (That's what the other employees are for, after all. He doesn't bother announcing himself until he's standing a few feet behind the... skeleton?

Appearances hardly matter here. It's a customer or an applicant.

At least he's not walking around in pajamas anymore, as he would have been back in his own world. He's made an attempt at wearing actual clothing, though it's still loosely fitting and his scaled feet are bare on the wooden floor.]

[spaghettimonster]

[Skeleton, yes. Less obvious than it once was. His legs and arms end in paws, with plenty of fur on limbs, tail, and head. So much fur that it pokes out of his clothes in little tufts here and there, despite his efforts to brush it down neatly. From behind, most locals doubletake at him rather than instantly recoil at the sight of him, these days. But there's still hints in his gauntness, and some revealed bones on arms, legs, and skull, for the observant to notice.

Turnskins have good senses generally, but as wrapped up in his toy examination as he is, Papyrus doesn't notice the soft footsteps, breathing, heartbeat, or increased hints of serpent until Near speaks up. Then his ears twitch, and he twists around to see.

His face, at least, is still all skull. Far more canine than it once was, and shifting to emote in an approximation of how a human's facial features might go.]

Hello! Probably. I wanted to see what this shop is selling... And what kind of help you're wanting.

[His eyesockets shift a little, as he glances toward the sign then back at Near.]

The sign wasn't very detailed.

[blankpieces]

[Hence the mental question mark. Near isn't unfamiliar with the concept of an already non-human creature becoming a monster while here but it's certainly strange to see it in this sort of fashion. Had this individual been undead? A skeleton that was alive? How did he function on a regular basis?

At some point he might have to attack him with questions that don't pertain to the job interview.]

It's not specific because the position is a general one.

[He doesn't bother hiding it as he examines the turnskin from head to toe.]

Though I'm not sure how well suited you'd be for the front of the store.

[Says the boy with red eyes covered in scales.]

[spaghettimonster]

[It won't be the first time Papyrus has been interrogated about what he is or where he comes from... People from Geargadas aren't surprised by a walking skeleton, but a talking, sentient, living one throws them for a loop. And the Mirrorbound have such a range of reactions from fear and surprise to calm acceptance.

If Near's unblinking stare and questioning techniques are similar enough, Papyrus may recall 'Linden' questioning him before.]

A general hand, huh..?

[Papyrus nods, but otherwise stays put for the examination. He hadn't dressed specifically for an interview, but he's in clothes typical of the city, and they're clean and neat enough.]

Well, I'm quite the master craftsman. Most of my jobs here were in back rooms! Making things for sale... refurbishing things... And I have experience with kids.

[Which is to say, he knows how to chase and capture them, which really are useful skills. In certain contexts.]

But... I haven't worked a counter.

[He doesn't have eyes to roll, but little motions of his head and eyesockets give it away to the attentive watcher.]

Some people find skeletons too spooky.

[blankpieces]

["Some people", huh?

Near, fortunately, isn't one of those people. Especially here, where they're surrounded by monsters anyway. The kids in this town may more or less be used to it, but a skeletal wolf is still a little off-putting. Not the best for business.]

You said you're a craftsman?

[He's already outsourcing some of the toys here, but it can't hurt to look at other options. Near's own toymaking skills only go so far, seeing as this was only a hobby of his before he arrived here.]

What do you make?

[spaghettimonster]

Oh, a variety of things! Home renovations, book binding, snow sculptures, tailoring... I customize some of my clothes.

[He's wearing typical enough pants and a jacket for the era, but he tugs his jacket to reveal a t-shirt underneath. It looks very like the one in this icon - dark material, cut to a more modern shape than the average shop in Aefenglom will offer, with an embroidered skull and roses on it.]

Well, not the skull part. I got help for that. But the cut of the shirt itself!

[Papyrus nods decisively. It was a hard choice, paying people to help with the embroidery, but well worth it. The classes he's been teaching at the Sweet Chimera have gone over very well with those examples of artistry other than his own more, uh, colorful style. More people perked up at the flowers than his skulls, flames, or cool mottos. To each their own.]

And this month, I painted eggs. Carved wooden eggs... with faces.

[He pulls out his watch, poking the screen to pull up pictures he took of the eggs in question. He's getting a little distracted from the idea of selling himself as a would-be employee, more motivated by the chance to brag and show off.]

[blankpieces]

[Those are all very useful skills. In fact, this skeleton-wolf might be a little overqualified for any position Near is offering. He still has to pry, though. Just having the right skills isn't always enough to be a good fit.]

How well do you work with others? And what sort of salary would you be expecting?

[If he's asking too much, then Near won't be able to hire him no matter how good he is. His store is only just opening and he doesn't exactly have the funds yet. When someone has a varied skill set like this they generally know how much their worth.

Maybe there aren't many openings elsewhere, or he'd rather work for one of the Mirrorbound over one of the other citizens.]

[spaghettimonster]

[Papyrus nods acknowledgement at Near's questions, still poking at the watch to bring up the pictures in question. He doesn't let that distract himself from bragging, though, and multitasks without looking up.]

I'm great with others! I love to help. Papyrus: he's friendship-shaped.

[Rather like these eggs, except nowhere near so round. He holds the watch up for Near to look at, if he chooses, with it set on a picture of a wooden egg. It's painted to look like a stylized skull... The resemblance isn't quite uncanny, but it's recognizable.]

I expect something like other jobs I've worked... About 500 cunes an hour? Wait, how many hours were you looking for? I'm teaching classes in Dorchacht.

[Classes that aren't held for free, but aren't extravagantly compensated either. Papyrus knows how much he's worth emotionally speaking, at least.]

[blankpieces]

[That's certainly a personality, though. Near can see it getting on his nerves after a while. He doesn't need any other big egos, not when he's already going to be dealing with Mello on a regular basis.

Maybe this isn't what he needs right now, but the possibilities are tempting. He's never run a shop before, and while he's quite capable of educating himself on the matter he's still doing a lot of guesswork. He can't afford a lot of advertising. Someone like Papyrus (he doesn't even give odd names a second thought now) might be just what he needs to help get this place off the ground.]

So only part-time work, then?

[He glances at the pictures only enough to get an idea of them, and to give the skeleton the sense that he's actually paying some amount of attention.]

I need some repairs done to the building. I could also use your help organizing some small events for the sake of advertising. Let the kids know the store exists. What do you think?

[spaghettimonster]

[Papyrus nods along at the question of part-time work, taking the glance at its unspoken word of interest. It wouldn't do to offer and then run off without sharing any of his expertise... But with the shop just starting up, and them all but strangers, it doesn't make sense to drop all his other jobs and dreams to help out. Even if he is thinking hard about the idea of wooden dolls as a craftier replacement for his action figures...]

Building repairs? Nothing to it. You just look at what's messed up, and fix it.

[It's a little more involved than that, but there's a good extent to which he knows his way around the task.]

Organizing small events... I could wow the kids with some toy demonstrations. Play-acting stories and battle scenarios... Igniting their imagination with wanting toys of their own...

[This part is further outside his experience, but between his eagerness to please and help, and his own enthusiasm for the toys... It wouldn't be the first time he made whole production to entertain a kid, at least.]

[blankpieces]

[That's a very simplistic way of looking at repairs. Hopefully that means Papyrus actually knows what he's doing and isn't just spouting bravado. Near can be a fairly good judge of character (it comes with his previous job) but not everyone is easy to read. This skeleton wolf is so out there that it's hard to say. He certainly believes his own words, that's for sure.]

This location didn't cost as much to lease because it's in a state of mild disrepair. Fortunately the front of the shop is in a good enough shape to get things up and running, but if you could take a look around for me I'd appreciate it. I think I can procure supplies to patch things up without much difficulty.

[As for the event... Near doesn't want something too overblown. That doesn't suit him.]

Your enthusiasm does you credit. We'll handle the repair work first and see how that goes.