Chapter Text
Frank was now awake, at 11:30 am, making himself a cup of coffee before having to get dressed for work. He got some deep sleep but his body hurt like hell, he really didn’t want to have to go of work today but he starts his shift in about an hour so it’s not like he has much of a choice.
He finished up his coffee and quickly got dressed, a pair of black ripped skinny jeans, a striped red and black sweater, and a once again his converse that were starting to grow holes in them. He really liked that his job didn’t have a dress code, he didn’t know if he could hand wearing an apron all day or a button up. He worked at a record shop near by that additionally sold guitars and magazines.
And his co-workers weren’t complete assholes. Bob, the guy who sold the guitars, usually had an attitude. But Brendon, who helped people out around the store, was pretty nice most of time. Some other people worked there too but Frank didn’t run into them much, those people usually spent their time in the back being manager or whatever stupid stuff they do.
Frank drove to his workplace which was only a 20 minute drive, not including his pit stop at the 7/11 for gas and a monster energy. He arrived at his job, walking in and basking in the familiar senses, sound the sound of the bell above the door ringing, and the warm dusty feeling of the place. It was a very cozy establishment, walls painted black with cool decor in the wall, some of the stuff donated, some of it bought by the workers. Different posters of bands and some artwork that paired with it nicely.
He walked over it his usual spot, behind the register. It was nice because he didn’t have to do much talking other than a simple ‘did you find everything alright’ and ‘have a good day’. Brendon and Bob have to do a lot more customer work and Frank was thankful that they took care of that.
The shop usually only had a a few people in there at a time, around 5-10 regularly. So Frank could see who walked in and always be able to tell where they were. It was a small shop mainly containing different types of alternative music and a small section for pop, country, and various other genres.
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Frank was slouched in his chair reading a magazine he found interesting that they had in store when his attention was redirected by the sound of the bell ringing when someone walked in. It was a man, dressed in dark clothes, who seemed familiar to Frank.
The man looked through records, he seemed to be looking at the metal music, choosing two vinyls. The he moved to the more classical gothic music. -What an odd mix of taste- Frank thought to himself.
The guy look quite familiar but Frank couldn’t exactly tell why, he could see his face very clearly as the man’s medium length black hair draped down. Eventually the mystery man made his way towards the register, he walked smoothly as his shoes lightly hit the ground one after another.
“Find everything you need today sir?” Frank asked him as he scanned the barcodes. A simple “mhmm” came from the man along with a small nod. As Frank breathed, he noticed a scent he hadn’t smelled before the man walked up. It smelled old. Not in a musty or dirty way, more so antique, like pages of a book that hasn’t been read in a while or an old vase that had been centuries old.
Frank looked up at the man to see his face, that’s when he noticed why he recognized him. It was the guy from the bar last night. He looked even paler close up, most of the color from his face being the faint pink that sat softly on his checks. “Oh hey, I think I saw you at the bar last night downtown, that was you wasn’t it?” Frank asked, he knew it was him but for some reason he felt like making small talk.
“Yes that was me. I recognized you too, you have, a unique hairstyle.” The man responded. It was a random comment that Frank didn’t know if it was meant to be a compliment or what, but he just rubbed the back of his head.
He wasn’t wrong tho, Franks hair blond short sides, and black, almost mohawk seeming, longer hair that split down the middle of his head, falling in front of his face. “Oh well thanks, I think.” Frank responded as he took a look at the vinyl in his hands, the words Iron Maiden, plastered on the cover.
“Oh dude I love this album! You’ve got taste dude.” Frank complemented as he put his fist out for a fist bump. The man took his hand out of his pocket, revealing his nails that had black polish on them, a portion of it chipped off. He hesitated before connecting their knuckles.
Frank’s arm hairs spiked straight up, a shiver going up his arm and down his spine. The man was almost ice cold, as if he had been sitting in a freezer for his whole life and never had seen the sun. Frank’s eyes widened at the man, who stared back at him through half lidded eyes. He showed no sign of discomfort so Frank tried to replicate that. He retrieved his hand and continued to scan and bag the item’s, hands and little shakier than before.
“That’ll be $64.30” Frank informed. The man pulled out his wallet, fumbling with the dollar bills until he paid.
“Have a good day sir.” Frank spoke, which in return the man just nodded his head down in response while he grabbed his items, right before walking out the door. That was the most Frank had talked to a customer all day, and it was also the weirdest interaction Frank had all day. He was stuck in thought when it got interrupted by a hand on his shoulder.
“Hey dude, how you doin?” It was Brendon, he must’ve been in the back or something because Frank hasn’t seen him.
“Oh hey Bren, I’m doin fine, it’s been boring as usual.” Frank responded. Brendon figured he would say that, work was always boring, they never got much business and it was usually pretty quiet other than the faint music playing from the speakers that you’d think would be playing better music concidering that they literally sell records and cd’s, etc etc.
“Most interesting thing that’s happened today was some mysterious customer that just walked out.” Frank said, trying to keep the conversation going.
“Mysterious, like how?” Brendon questioned, the people that walk into the shop were usually boring, nothing rememberable.
“I don’t know, he just has this vibe to him, and I tried to be friendly and give him a fist bump and dude, this guy was ice cold, made my hands all shaky and stuff. If you would’ve told me he just arose from the dead I’d probobly believe it.” Frank explained as he rubbed his fingers over his other hands knuckles.
“That’s pretty odd, did he even say anything to you?” Brendon questioned in response.
“Well he mostly just ‘mhmm’d and nodded his head. I did him at the bar last night, and when he walked in today he said he recognized me from my unique hair, the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Frank continued, in which Brendon just laughed at bit at Frank being seemingly offended by the strangers comment.
“Don’t let it get to you man, I bet he didn’t mean it in a rude way, maybe he was flirting with you.” Brendon teased Frank who wasn’t amused with his perception of it.
“Nah dude, there was nothing flirtatious about that guy, his personality seemed just as cold as his skin.” Frank replied annoyed at Brendon, who just gave him a pat on the back as he rolled his eyes and walked away.
Frank went back to what he was doing before, slouching deep into his chair reading his magazine, the rest of his shift being boring as it usually was.