RO > call me out; a forever open RP post, version 2

[midvalley]

NEW OPEN RP POST

Comments

[arbitrated]

I'll be honest -- sometimes I'm surprised you even have much business, these days, and that you haven't given up entirely. [ He says it with a bit of a smile. ] Turned it into a coffee shop, for instance.

[animated]

Okay, first of all, you could not pay me enough money to be a barista.

Second of all, I have plenty of business, thank you very much.

[arbitrated]

I'm going to assume the local high schoolers are keeping you afloat?

[animated]

I'm not having any problem "keeping afloat".

... But the high school kids do help.

[arbitrated]

[ His smile widens a hair. ]

Probably just the need to pick up assigned reading. You know most people buy ebooks, now.

[animated]

[ He can't help but grin back. He's glad to have gotten a smile out of Sandon, even if it is a small one ]

You kids and your new-fangled ereaders.

[ though it occurs to him that he does not, in fact, know how old the shifter is. Alyssa's barely 21, but that's hardly a stick to measure her whole family by considering shifters can live just as long, if not longer, than wizards can. ]

[arbitrated]

[ He holds up a hand, as if to placate him. ]

Sorry, Mr. Maxwell. We'll try to stay off your lawn when we're playing on our iPhones and our Androids and our Kindles.

[ He pauses, giving Charlie a considering look. ]

I doubt you're much older than I am, in any case.

[animated]

Don't let my good looks fool you. I'm coming up on 81.

[arbitrated]

Well, I'm 83, which means you have absolutely no excuse -- except, maybe, that you're just a Luddite.

[animated]

Hey now, let's not go that far. I just like to read on paper, that's all.

[arbitrated]

Alright, fair enough. Partial Luddite, then. Possibly still in the initiation stages.

[animated]

I don't know that I'm gonna go for the full membership. They'd probably make me get rid of my phone.

[arbitrated]

Among other things. Your movie collection, for starters.

It seems disingenuous to keep the membership card if you won't make the sacrifice, though.

[animated]

[ He gasps, pressing a hand to his chest ] Not my movies. That's where I draw the line.

[arbitrated]

[ That manages to coax a quiet laugh from him. ]

It is an expansive collection. It would take ages for you to smash all of them, anyway, and who has the time these days?

[animated]

I mean, I am an Animator, so it's possible, but no. Not gonna happen.

[ there's a little pause, and then, ] Nice to know you can still laugh.

[arbitrated]

[ He pauses, then, and picks up the mug as if to hide behind it. ]

Been a while, I'll admit. [ It's said softly, and he turns a little to check on Alyssa. ] Things have been-- less than ideal.

[animated]

[ Charlie's expression softens, and he follows the shifter's gaze. ]

I know.

Things like this... they don't last forever.

[arbitrated]

[ A few silent seconds pass, and Sandon exhales slowly before turning back to the table. ]

Let's hope so.

[ He doesn't quite smile, but there's something like it in his eyes -- slightly sheepish, for having brought down the mood again. He clears his throat quietly. ]

But the high schoolers. They're visiting your store often? I'm guessing they must come to ogle the good looking almost-81-year-old gentleman.

[animated]

[ Charlie props an elbow on the table, resting his chin in his hand. ]

You think I'm good looking?

[ Let it never be said that Charlie turned down an opportunity to flirt ]

[arbitrated]

[ He hesitates, a bit of color rising to his cheeks. ]

I-- I was actually quoting. What you said earlier, that is.

[animated]

[ Oh no. That was adorable. ]

Oh. Well. You should swing by the store one day. Then they can also ogle the good looking 83-year-old.

[arbitrated]

[ Another near silent laugh, and he shakes his head. ]

Tempting as I'm sure you intended that to be, I'm afraid I'll have to pass.

I would hate to pull attention away from you, in any case.

[animated]

Believe you me, after forty years, I could do with a little less attention from teenaged girls.

[arbitrated]

What kind of way is that, to speak about your adoring public? And your primary clientele, it sounds like.