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“That’ll be twenty three dollars and fifteen cents.” Tighnari says, looking from the POS LCD to the customer across the counter.
“-Tell him if he doesn’t get his ass in the office in fifteen minutes I’m going to find him in whatever shitty bar he’s in-” The woman with purple hair and stress etched into her young face has her expensive smartphone tucked between her shoulder and her ear as she digs through her purse, lifting her credit card to show Tighnari when she finds it. Tighnari presses the credit button and makes a motion at the card machine. “-I don’t care what time it is, Ningguang needs the entire thing changed-”
Despite her obvious need to rush, the woman takes the time to place her six large cans of energy drinks and cold coffee into her purse as she listens to the other person talking on the phone, her face getting more and more red.
“What do you MEAN he’s FISHING?” The woman doesn’t acknowledge Tighnari after the cash register pops open with a successful transaction. “On a lake?!”
The woman, Keqing by her name on the bottom of the credit card receipt, swings her purse off the counter and shoulders. Her expensive heels click on the floor as she turns and stomps towards the door.
“Send a smoke signal or something we need him-'' Overworked Lady steps through the automatic doors and out into the cool night time air and Tighnari imagines he can see vapors coming off of her head. “- I don’t actually mean smoke signals Ganyu-”
The conversation ends for Tighnari as she gets into her sleek black BMW and slams the door. The automatic doors to the convenience store close. Tighnari folds the little credit card receipt down the middle so it lays flat instead of curled up and places it in the little basket under the register where it belongs.
Another customer approaches the till and places a can of green tea on the counter. Tighnari offers his customer service smile as he picks up the scanner.
“Good evening. Did you find what you needed?” He asks as he scans the barcode. The customer is a tan guy with white hair. He looks serious. Tighnari thinks he’s seen him around his college campus once or twice.
“Yes.” The guy puts a small bill on the counter. “What’s the opposite of a coffee?”
Tighnari pauses as he thinks about it, his hand briefly hovering over the cash button. He glances down at the can of green tea and then back up at the customer. “Uhm-”
“A sneezy.” The guy says, and Tighnari is very thrown off by it.
“What?” He says, his customer service persona slipping as he furrows his brow. He realizes it’s some kind of bad joke and he sighs. He presses the cash button and takes the money from the counter.
“Because coffee sounds like the action of cough with the-” Tighnari gets his customer service self back as the guy explains the joke and he waits for him to finish. “-Sneezy. And that woman bought a lot of coffee.”
“I get it now.” Tighnari hands the guy his change. “Thank you. Have a good evening.”
Tighnari watches the guy leave and shakes his head once he’s gone. He turns back to the boxes of instant ramen he was pricing.
Tighnari looks up from his Microbiology text when he hears the opening notes of a melody. Tighnari sighs audibly when he notices the busker standing just outside the glass facade of the store. The guy is playing a guitar and wearing a green hoodie, his black hair fading into a shade of green on the tips. He’s been around here this time of night the past few days and been a nuisance to the customers. Tighnari would put them around the same age.
“Xiao, he’s back.” Tighnari calls. His coworker comes out of the backroom at the other side of the counter and also looks out the front. Xiao’s expression doesn’t change but Tighnari can tell he’s not happy to see the busker again. “I dealt with him last time, it’s your turn.”
Tighnari pulls up the tall stool and sits down. Xiao stomps out from behind the counter with a broom in his hand and makes it across the store in long strides.
“Don’t actually hit him with that please, you’ll get arrested.” Tighnari says as Xiao steps outside.
“Hey, get the fuck out of here.” Xiao snaps at the loiterer. The guy looks up and grins wide and cheeky, strumming his guitar harder.
“ Hey, get the fuck out of here .” The guy sings. Tighnari watches in amusement as Xiao clenches his teeth and starts running at him. “Oh fuck-”
The busker takes off, wrapping his arms around his guitar and running across the parking lot. Xiao chases him until the busker is across the street on the sidewalk. Tighnari can just hear how Xiao yells, “It’s four in the goddamn morning, get a job!”
A customer enters the store and Tighnari stands up to greet him. “Good evening.”
It's the same guy as last night; Bad Joke Guy. He goes to drink refrigerators lining the back wall of the store and comes back to the till with the same can of green tea.
“Will that be all?” Tighnari quickly scans the can.
“Yes.” Bad Joke Guy puts his money on the counter. “What’s the difference between a busker and a pizza?”
Tighnari bites down on his tongue and quickly rings the transaction through. “I don’t know.”
“A pizza can feed a family of four.”
Both of them look out the window where Xiao is still threatening the busker from one side of the street as he sings loudly on the other. Tighnari looks back at Bad Joke Guy and gives him his change. “Have a good night.”
Tighnari leans his butt against the counter behind the till, watching Collei’s small hands tap around the POS LCD.
“So, your total is thirty six dollars and fifty cents. Please.” She says. The customer is an older man, and he impatiently taps his card against the counter. “I-is that debit or credit?”
“Credit, obviously.” The man snaps, and Tighnari presses his lips together. He hates rude customers, and Collei is new. He watches as her hands shake and she accidentally presses the cash button, making the register pop open.
“Oops, oh I- I’m sorry I have to scan them again.” She says, picking up the handheld scanner, but because the register is open it doesn’t turn on. Tighnari pushes off of the counter and steps up to help, pushing the drawer closed.
“It’s okay, I can undo that after this.” He says gently to the teenager, and then puts on his This Customer is a Dick smile at the man. “She’s new, still learning.”
“Learn faster, this job isn’t that fucking hard.” The guy snaps, and Tighnari grinds his teeth. Collei’s hands shake harder as she struggles to hold the scanner straight on a pack of cigarettes. “Are you that stupid?”
“Hey.” The next customer in line is Bad Joke Guy, and he pushes the older man roughly. The man stumbles as Bad Joke Guy walks after him to push him again. “You can’t talk to people like that. She’s just a kid, why don’t you pick on someone your own size.”
Collei covers her face and her shoulders start to shake, and Tighnari directs his attention to her instead of the customers.
“It’s okay.” He says, and she turns and presses against his chest. He hugs her as she cries quietly into the green work apron he’s wearing, rubbing his hand over her back in comfort. Bad Joke Guy pushes the man all the way out of the store and comes back inside after he runs off, the serious look on his face even more stern.
“I’m sorry you had to see that.” Tighnari says as he comes back to the counter.
“Don’t worry about it, I deal with assholes like him all the time.” Bad Joke Guy carefully moves the items from in front of the till and places his can of green tea on it. Tighnari manages to scan the can and process the transaction with one hand, giving the guy his change.
“Uhm, how does a penguin build its house?” Tighnari closes his eyes briefly as he readies himself for the awful punchline. “Igloos it together.”
Collei sobs a little laugh against Tighnari’s chest and turns her head to give Bad Joke Guy a watery smile. Tighnari just rolls his eyes but stops when he notices Bad Joke Guy giving Collei a little encouraging nod and a very small smile. Oh.
“Have a good evening.”
Tighnari scans the last box of chocolate pocky and taps the screen.
“That’s twenty dollars and forty cents.” He says, pulling a plastic bag from the dispenser and starting to pack up the sweet and salty snacks on the counter. The customers are two teenage girls and the blonde one watches the black haired haired one count change from her small wallet.
“The pocky was three for one right?” The dark haired girl asks, her hand full of change. Tighnari turns the POS LCD around on its arm to show her the details of the transaction.
“Yes mam, and the chocolate milk was two for one.” Tighnari says as she squints at the screen and he can see her read it line by line.
“Lady Megistus why dost thou tarry, the ebony expanse beckons.” The blonde says dramatically, and Tighnari is bewildered by her choice of words.
“Don’t rush me Amy.” Lady Megistus snaps, and she deposits the change in her hand on the counter. Tighnari starts counting it out, sliding the silver coins over the PVC.
“Ha!” Amy says in a sharp voice that startles Tighnari and hurts his ears a little. “Like a feathered corvid the Lady Megistus collects burnished argent and one wonders why when thou possess ductile capital.”
Tighnari counts out just under twenty dollars in change and presses cash.
“I’m not allowed to use it anymore, my mom flipped when I bought a crystal ball last week.” The dark haired girl says.
“Why didn’t you say so? I could have bought this!” Amy says, and then clears her throat. “I mean, if thou informed one before hand-”
“Thank you.” Tighnari says, pushing the plastic bag to the girls. Lady Megistus, or whatever her name really was, blinks at Tighnari before sighing softly.
“Thank you, I appreciate it.” She says as she takes the bag, knowing she didn’t have enough but Tighnari took what she had anyway.
Tighnari starts sorting the coins on the counter and dumping them into the register, dreading the fact that he had to roll them all at the end of his shift. When the automatic door opens to let the girls out into the late night, Tighnari hears the opening chords of a guitar strum and his shoulders slump when he notices the busker is back.
He closes the cash drawer and turns to Xiao, who’s reading a book and leaning on the counter beside him.
“Nope.” Xiao says before Tighnari even starts to ask.
“Gooooood evening ladies.” Tighnari rolls his eyes and walks around the counter when he hears the loitering busker talk to the girls. The two girls grab onto each other and stare at the busker as he grins at them.
“Ew.” One of them says and they run off together.
“Hey, you need to leave.” Tighnari says as he steps outside. He hugs himself, rubbing his hands over his bare arms where his t-shirt ends. It was chilly that night. The busker turns his attention to Tighnari and strums his guitar.
“A shivering fox comes to me in need, I wonder if he knows I will not do as he heeds.” The busker sings, and Tighnari huffs. The cold wind blows and cuts right through Tighnari’s clothes, making him shiver and blowing his hair over his head.
“You just harassed our customers, if you don’t leave I’m calling the cops.”
“A cop is just a bully with a gun, I’m not going to let them stop me from having fun.” Tighnari regrets not bringing the broom and just chasing him away like Xiao does, although he would have a very different effect from his military trained coworker.
“Hey.” A now familiar voice says from behind Tighnari. He looks over his shoulder and sees Bad Joke Guy walk up to stand beside him. He’s wearing his usual black sweater but it's covered by a thicker purple jacket. “Is this guy bothering you?”
“Oh ho, a White Knight with White Hair steps up to the plate, I wonder if he has his eyes set on a maiden's heart to break.” The busker strums his guitar skillfully. Tighnari’s regular customer sets his sight on the busker and takes a threatening step forward. That’s all he needs to do because the annoying loiterer takes off, spooked by the look on his face.
“... Thanks.” Tighnari says, lifting his arm to push his hair out of his face.
“You should go back inside, it’s very cold.” Bad Joke Guy says, and Tighnari nods. Tighnari goes back into the store and Xiao slides off of the stool he was sitting on to stand behind the cash register as the customer follows Tighnari back inside. Tighnari goes around the counter and takes Xiao’s vacated spot on the stool and a moment later Bad Joke Guy comes up with a paper cup of coffee from the hot drinks station.
Xiao rings him through and he pays, taking his coffee and going to the door. When he passes Tighnari by, Tighnari waves a little to say goodbye, and gets a little wave in return.
“That’s weird.” Tighnari says once the automatic doors close.
“What?” Xiao asks, leaning over to pick up his book again and open it.
“He didn’t say a bad joke.” Tighnari mutters, resting his chin on his hand.
“He doesn’t say anything.” Xiao says as he leans back against the counter behind him. “He just buys a drink and leaves.”
Tighnari hums, and thinks about it.
“-But the subtle differences in scent make all the difference.” The distinguished gentleman finishes his rather long explanation of car fresheners and Tighnari stares dumbly. The woman next to the gentleman is actually, actively, sleeping on her feet. “What is my total?”
Tighnari taps the LCD screen that went into Power Saving Mode to wake it up again and clears his throat.
“Forty six dollars even.” Tighnari says, and the woman wakes up suddenly. She looks around disoriented and blinking. She pushes her pale blue hair from her face and reaches out to take the bag of items from the counter.
“I’ll take these to the car sir.” She says in a soft voice.
“Thank you Ganyu.” The man pats over his pockets and there’s a sinking feeling in Tighnari’s gut. Please don’t let him have- “I seem to have left my wallet in the office.”- left his wallet. What a hassle.
Before Tighnari can say anything, another customer steps forward with a card in hand. He’s very attractive and he gives Tighnari a bright smile.
“I can get it.” The Generous Man looks at the gentleman. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Oh, that’s very generous of you.” The gentleman says. He deftly produces an off white business card from his fitted suit pocket and offers it to The Generous Man. “If you’d like to get in touch with my office, my boss can handle the reimbursement.”
“No need.” But The Generous Guy takes the card anyway, sliding it into the breast pocket of his shirt. The cash register pops open when the transaction completes. “But, you do look like you know where the best place to get food is around here.”
Tighnari couldn’t help but admire how smooth The Generous Man is, how easily he just straight up asked The Gentleman for a date like that. The Gentleman smiles placatingly and nods his head. “If you’re interested in local cuisine, I do happen to know a few spots.”
They leave the store together and Tighnari briefly laments his own single status. He wishes he could get a date so easily. He looks around the store and it was empty, except for Collei and Bad Joke Guy at the other end of the counter. Tighnari approaches them, leaning on the white counter beside Collei.
“Mister Tighnari, Cyno brought me these.” Collei says, putting her hand on a small glass tupperware. “Is it okay if I accept them?”
“They’re candied Ajilenakh nuts. My sister makes them.” Bad Joke Guy says as Tighnari looks up at him curiously.
“It’s not against store policy if that’s what you’re asking.” Tighnari says, and Collei’s smile brightens.
“Thank you! I’m going to put them in my bag.” She says as she takes the box in both hands so she doesn’t drop them and goes into the employee only area. Tighnari looks at Bad Joke Guy and offers him a little smile and it makes Bad Joke Guy look away.
“Why does your name tag say Bob if your name is Tighnari?” Bad Joke Guy asks as he stares at the coffee machine.
“Bob is easier to say than Tighnari.”
“You don’t look like a Bob.”
“What do I look like? A Weave?” Tighnari asks, and Cyno snaps his head around to look at Tighnari incredulously. Well, as incredulous as he can look with his serious face. Tighnari cringes at his own bad joke but it’s worth it to see Cyno stunned. “Because Bob and Weave is a common thing to say about dodging so the words are often associated together, and Bob is also a name.”
“... Do you-” Cyno starts to slowly say, but another customer enters the store and Tighnari gets up to stand behind the register. He gives Cyno another little smile before he greets the new customer.
Tighnari stands up straight when Kazuha enters the store with Heizou right behind him.
“Good morning.” The soft spoken blond greets him as he unzips his winter coat. Heizou heads straight for the coffee machine and starts pouring two cups for them both.
“Hey.” Tighnari says, walking to go and collect his coat. “Kazuha and Heizou are here.”
Xiao stands up from the tiny employee table and stretches his arms above his head. Tighnari takes off his green store apron and hangs it on the peg, quickly pulling his coat on and draping his bag over his shoulder. By the time Tighnari and Xiao are heading out, Kazuha and Heizou have taken over the register and counter.
“See ya.” Tighnari says as he heads out the door. The sky is just starting to lighten and its bone chillingly cold. Tighnari quickly zips his jacket up and shoves his hands in his pockets. Xiao is already gone, walking the opposite way Tighnari goes. Tighnari thinks about what classes he has at university today, wondering how much work he can get done on the bus.
On his way to the bus stop a few blocks down, there’s another person walking on the sidewalk. White hair peeks out of the hood drawn up over the man’s head and Tighnari recognizes Bad Joke Guy- Cyno.
Cyno stops in front of Tighnari, exhaling a cloud of frozen breath.
“Do you want to get coffee?” Cyno asks suddenly, before Tighnari can say anything.
“... It’s better than getting a sneezy.”