Darza had been trying hard to get away from the ghosts today... It was crazy how many people had died here, and it freaked him out to be honest. He had ran out of money for alcohol, so he couldn't just get drunk as a skunk to temporarily lose that ability to see these creepy ghosts, so he just kept trying to outrun them. It wasn't helping.
Just as he round the corner, he nearly tripped into the alleyway beside Suzy Q's, trying to run. He sat down, his back facing a dumpster and he caught his breath. It was a raspy one, from all the smoking, probably. He ran his fingers through his long, black and frizzy (but soft) hair and looked around, it seemed they were gone... For now...
Darza had to get more money. How though, how? He was already starting to get a headache and he was terrified of the ghosts nearing him... Maybe...Maybe he could ask one of the people to lend him some money? Just enough for a bottle, or two. Just enough to last him till'his next paycheck. And by next paycheck, that meant he needed to get a job here first before he could even have a paycheck, but burn that bridge when he get to it, that ain't important right now.
Darza shakily pulled out a box of cigarettes from his coat pocket, pulled out one and a lighter, then put the box back and began shakily lighting the lighter. He then stuck the cigarette in his mouth, inhaled one good time, took the cigarette out and blew the smoke out of his mouth into the air. He would do this right many times to try and calm himself from the earlier ghost chase. He'd think about asking someone for money later, right now he needed to calm the hell down....
Just as he round the corner, he nearly tripped into the alleyway beside Suzy Q's, trying to run. He sat down, his back facing a dumpster and he caught his breath. It was a raspy one, from all the smoking, probably. He ran his fingers through his long, black and frizzy (but soft) hair and looked around, it seemed they were gone... For now...
Darza had to get more money. How though, how? He was already starting to get a headache and he was terrified of the ghosts nearing him... Maybe...Maybe he could ask one of the people to lend him some money? Just enough for a bottle, or two. Just enough to last him till'his next paycheck. And by next paycheck, that meant he needed to get a job here first before he could even have a paycheck, but burn that bridge when he get to it, that ain't important right now.
Darza shakily pulled out a box of cigarettes from his coat pocket, pulled out one and a lighter, then put the box back and began shakily lighting the lighter. He then stuck the cigarette in his mouth, inhaled one good time, took the cigarette out and blew the smoke out of his mouth into the air. He would do this right many times to try and calm himself from the earlier ghost chase. He'd think about asking someone for money later, right now he needed to calm the hell down....
“Hey man,” came a slightly hoarse, feminine voice. “Can I bum one of those?”
There was a woman standing not much further down the alleyway, leaning against the frame of an open doorway of a door with FIRE EXIT ONLY written on it. Her bare arms were crossed over her chest and she had an appearance of a casual recline in her stance. Her blonde hair was tossed back messily and clipped up behind her head, displaying the ebbing green bruise on her right cheekbone.
Behind her, a man with an apron was walking away back into the depths of a commercial kitchen. She lifted a wrist to wipe across her nose while she sniffed.
“You look a little frazzled,” she observed casually, out loud. She had seen him nearly tumble into the alley, looking like he was being chased. It had almost been a surprise to see he wasn’t being pursued by muggers.
There was a woman standing not much further down the alleyway, leaning against the frame of an open doorway of a door with FIRE EXIT ONLY written on it. Her bare arms were crossed over her chest and she had an appearance of a casual recline in her stance. Her blonde hair was tossed back messily and clipped up behind her head, displaying the ebbing green bruise on her right cheekbone.
Behind her, a man with an apron was walking away back into the depths of a commercial kitchen. She lifted a wrist to wipe across her nose while she sniffed.
“You look a little frazzled,” she observed casually, out loud. She had seen him nearly tumble into the alley, looking like he was being chased. It had almost been a surprise to see he wasn’t being pursued by muggers.
Darza held his head up instantly at the sound of the voice and accidentally smacked his head against the dumpster he was sitting against, "Ow, what?" Darza had to ask because he hadn't caught what the woman had said the first time because, well, he hit his head on the dumpster. He had heard the second part though, "I look frazzled? Ha..." Darza took his free hand and rubbed the back of his head, not only as a nervous tick, but to make sure he hadn't hurt himself too badly when he bonked his head. "Sorry, just kind of, y'know..." He shrugged, "One of those days." Darza was terrible at making excuses, and it definitely showed.
Darza took another drag from the cigarette, his hand shakily holding it, then he let the smoke blow out of his nose rather than his mouth. "Didn't mean to bother you or anything, if I was lo- Loud." He stumbled on his words a slight bit, afterwards taking another inhale of the smoke from his cigarette.
Darza stood up, rubbed his head again muttering 'Damn that hurt' underneath his breath, smoke coming out of his mouth. "What you say before all that? Kind of...hit my head on the dumpster, wasn't expecting someone to be around." Darza asked, turning around and facing her.
Darza took another drag from the cigarette, his hand shakily holding it, then he let the smoke blow out of his nose rather than his mouth. "Didn't mean to bother you or anything, if I was lo- Loud." He stumbled on his words a slight bit, afterwards taking another inhale of the smoke from his cigarette.
Darza stood up, rubbed his head again muttering 'Damn that hurt' underneath his breath, smoke coming out of his mouth. "What you say before all that? Kind of...hit my head on the dumpster, wasn't expecting someone to be around." Darza asked, turning around and facing her.
The blonde looked amused at his nervous antics, only mildly wondering if his anxieties were mentally or physically motivated. Around here, one could never be sure if someone’s enemies were their own mind or another person, there seemed to be an equal share of both circumstances. She stepped out of the doorway once he stood up, letting the door swing closed behind her with a heavy bang that reverberated in the little alley.
“One of those days,” she echoed easily, nodding her head as-if she understood those off days. Only, her off days contained the ghosts of her past haunting after her soul and little did she know, his off days were a different kind of haunted. She clicked her tongue with a ‘tsk’ then gestured with her chin at his cigarette.
“I said, can I bum one of those bad boys from you?” Rowen repeated. She spoke leisurely, not seeming daunted by the man’s offness. In fact, she gave the vibe that she had nowhere important to be and had all of the time in the world to do whatever she was doing in this moment. Like a street cat, no hurry to do anything except for what it pleased.
“One of those days,” she echoed easily, nodding her head as-if she understood those off days. Only, her off days contained the ghosts of her past haunting after her soul and little did she know, his off days were a different kind of haunted. She clicked her tongue with a ‘tsk’ then gestured with her chin at his cigarette.
“I said, can I bum one of those bad boys from you?” Rowen repeated. She spoke leisurely, not seeming daunted by the man’s offness. In fact, she gave the vibe that she had nowhere important to be and had all of the time in the world to do whatever she was doing in this moment. Like a street cat, no hurry to do anything except for what it pleased.
"Oh, oh the cigarette..." He pulled the pack out of his pocket, pulled another out and handed it to her. "No trouble, really." Darza smiled in attempt to be less-awkward. It did seem this woman wasn't too weirded out about Darza's actions before, which was good. Usually people, at least where he used to live, seemed to laugh at him. But that said, that's when he was a kid in school, but still, it stuck with him.
"So, you're a resident here in this city, right? Do you know any job openings anywhere? I'm in very desperate need of money and I have no idea my way around this place fully right yet." Darza said, shoving the pack of cigarettes back in his pocket and looking at Rowen. Maybe she knew a good job opening somewhere? Then he could get the money to rid of these damned ghosts, at least temporarily...
"So, you're a resident here in this city, right? Do you know any job openings anywhere? I'm in very desperate need of money and I have no idea my way around this place fully right yet." Darza said, shoving the pack of cigarettes back in his pocket and looking at Rowen. Maybe she knew a good job opening somewhere? Then he could get the money to rid of these damned ghosts, at least temporarily...
Rowen nodded a ‘thanks’ and readily accepted the cigarette. She bit it between her teeth, removed a lighter from her jeans pocket and lit the cigarette. The exhale was done through a smirk, curling smoke up her face.
“I didn’t think I recognized you,” Rowen purred, returning the lighter to her pocket. Slowly, she looked him over again while taking a long drag. “We love fresh meat around here.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him.
Her head ticked to the side, murky green eyes twinkling darkly while she observed him. She seemed like she was trying to size him up. “Depends. How desperate is your version of ‘very desperate’?” There was a hint of laughter under her words.
Rowen knew of an array of different things one could do for cash money around these parts. The things were just divided into categories from legal to seriously illegal.
“I didn’t think I recognized you,” Rowen purred, returning the lighter to her pocket. Slowly, she looked him over again while taking a long drag. “We love fresh meat around here.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him.
Her head ticked to the side, murky green eyes twinkling darkly while she observed him. She seemed like she was trying to size him up. “Depends. How desperate is your version of ‘very desperate’?” There was a hint of laughter under her words.
Rowen knew of an array of different things one could do for cash money around these parts. The things were just divided into categories from legal to seriously illegal.
Darza looked at her for a moment, then he broke eye contact quickly. "Right, right, uh." He ran his hands through his hair yet again. "I mean, like is their any stores hiring, or businesses? Maybe some yard work? Do people have yards here, once again just moved here.." Darza looked around, he then shook his head and looked at her; "Why are you looking at me like that?" He squirmed to the side a bit, and crossed his arms, cigarette dangling in his mouth, puffs of smoke occasionally pluming out of his mouth.
Rowen laughed. His discomfort provided obvious amusement to her.
“Relax, man,” she dismissed, cool as a cucumber. “I’m not gonna get ya!” She sprang forward a bit, like she was finishing a ghost story around the campfire.
She chuckled a moment more, letting it taper off while she took another drag. She wondered about his jitters, trying to peg down what his issues were. Rowen loved other people’s issues.
“There’s tons’a shit to do for cash ‘round here. Suzy Q’s is always hiring, Wally World could use some cashiers that aren’t seventy years old… Shirley’s is never fully staffed. Walk down Main Street and take your pick of ‘Help Wanted’ flyers,” Rowen offered, before sucking down the rest of the cigarette. “If you’re looking for more… under the table style, there’s plenty’a that too. Lawns needing mowed… little errands needing ran. Money can be good there.” She made a face, bouncing down the corners of her mouth quickly in a ‘not bad’ expression.
“Let me know if that’s something you’d be into, I can get ya connected with some guys.” She grinned and winked, then flicked the cigarette butt into a nearby spilled slurpee puddle. “What’s your name anyways? Unless you’re into being nicknamed Fresh Meat?” She teased mildly.
“Relax, man,” she dismissed, cool as a cucumber. “I’m not gonna get ya!” She sprang forward a bit, like she was finishing a ghost story around the campfire.
She chuckled a moment more, letting it taper off while she took another drag. She wondered about his jitters, trying to peg down what his issues were. Rowen loved other people’s issues.
“There’s tons’a shit to do for cash ‘round here. Suzy Q’s is always hiring, Wally World could use some cashiers that aren’t seventy years old… Shirley’s is never fully staffed. Walk down Main Street and take your pick of ‘Help Wanted’ flyers,” Rowen offered, before sucking down the rest of the cigarette. “If you’re looking for more… under the table style, there’s plenty’a that too. Lawns needing mowed… little errands needing ran. Money can be good there.” She made a face, bouncing down the corners of her mouth quickly in a ‘not bad’ expression.
“Let me know if that’s something you’d be into, I can get ya connected with some guys.” She grinned and winked, then flicked the cigarette butt into a nearby spilled slurpee puddle. “What’s your name anyways? Unless you’re into being nicknamed Fresh Meat?” She teased mildly.
Getting ready for another shift, Marissa sighed as she left her apartment and began walking...waddling...to Suzy Q's. Thankfully, it wasn't all that far away from her apartment complex. Although she had hoped to share a unit with her sister, the size of each unit was just too small for that. While Sindy was expecting triplets, Marissa herself was expecting twins. And the Tamura Sisters weren't about to cram five newborns into one apartment. So while they were staying at the same apartment complex, they were staying in separate units. Probably for the best. Not to mention they still hung out and had meals together, so it wasn't too big a deal.
As these thoughts crossed through her mind, Marissa hoped that it would be a slow day for her. With her pregnancy progressing, she was going to have to talk to her employer about maternity leave her soon, maybe in about four weeks? Currently, Marissa was thirty-one weeks into her pregnancy. Although some days were tougher then others at Suzy Q's, her co-workers and employer have been relatively accommodating, like allowing her to sit by the cash register when she wasn't busy baking new pies, cakes or the lot. Not to mention she was allowed to wear dresses since they were easier to put on and the only thing that really fit. At this stage, she found it impossible to put on maternity jeans and leggings. Well, maybe not impossible, but definitely very annoying. About halfway to work now, she proceeded to tie her hair into a ponytail as to keep her hair from getting into the baked goods, or food in general. Because it was gross and a health violation.
As she got into the alleyway to go more towards the backdoor, Marissa straightened out her dress as the smell of cigarettes hit her nostrils. This prompted her to cover them immediately as she also held her breath. While she was never a smoker, secondhand smoking was very dangerous not only to her, but both the babies in her belly. Thankfully, they were outside, so the smell was probably going to be blown away by the light wind or breeze that is usually passing through. She then went against her better judgement and approached the two smokers. "Excuse me, is there something you two needed help with?" She asked, weary of the pair, especially the young woman whom she recognized and heard about from the apartment complex.
Now that she was up close, she did her best to hold her breath as to not inhale the rather nauseating air contaminated smell of nicotine and cigarette smoke.
As these thoughts crossed through her mind, Marissa hoped that it would be a slow day for her. With her pregnancy progressing, she was going to have to talk to her employer about maternity leave her soon, maybe in about four weeks? Currently, Marissa was thirty-one weeks into her pregnancy. Although some days were tougher then others at Suzy Q's, her co-workers and employer have been relatively accommodating, like allowing her to sit by the cash register when she wasn't busy baking new pies, cakes or the lot. Not to mention she was allowed to wear dresses since they were easier to put on and the only thing that really fit. At this stage, she found it impossible to put on maternity jeans and leggings. Well, maybe not impossible, but definitely very annoying. About halfway to work now, she proceeded to tie her hair into a ponytail as to keep her hair from getting into the baked goods, or food in general. Because it was gross and a health violation.
As she got into the alleyway to go more towards the backdoor, Marissa straightened out her dress as the smell of cigarettes hit her nostrils. This prompted her to cover them immediately as she also held her breath. While she was never a smoker, secondhand smoking was very dangerous not only to her, but both the babies in her belly. Thankfully, they were outside, so the smell was probably going to be blown away by the light wind or breeze that is usually passing through. She then went against her better judgement and approached the two smokers. "Excuse me, is there something you two needed help with?" She asked, weary of the pair, especially the young woman whom she recognized and heard about from the apartment complex.
Now that she was up close, she did her best to hold her breath as to not inhale the rather nauseating air contaminated smell of nicotine and cigarette smoke.