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Today is my first shift at the Cluckeria. I'm not feeling scared or excited, but rather betrayed. Is this how Papa Louie hires people? Putting them in impossible situations, such as putting two people against three other restaurants, and all in this stupid chicken outfit???
And the guy I was being paired with? The guy from the comic shop? Yeah, he's a weirdo.
I mean, I like comics as much as the next guy, but something about this guy in particular... Every time I've bought something from him or when he's come in for a haircut, it's always like he's pretending to be a comic book villain. But then he also acts really nice at the same time??? I don't know. It creeps me out.
Speaking of, there he is now, entering the front door.
"So, I assume you're Mindy? It's not the first time I've met you, but it's nice to finally meet you formally." He grins. His smiles were always so maniacal. Was I about to get hurt?
"Yeah, you're... Moe?" I know his name. It's just that my thoughts are garbled up in my brain in frustration.
"Hehe, yep. Ready for our opening shift?"
I give a weary smile and a thumbs up, making my way behind the order station. I'm just overthinking it. It shouldn't be that bad, right?
Almost immediately, I groan and plant my face against the countertop. "I'm really not used to dealing with local competition; like, I just cut hair! I'm used to putting on music and relaxing, and THAT would be my full day!" Even just standing behind this counter made me collapse into a depressive state.
"Not to fret. It's nothing I'm not used to!" Moe responds confidently, obviously in an effort to cheer me up.
"Yeah? I didn't think there was any other comic shop in Tastyville besides yours." I respond unenthusiastically.
He looked wide-eyed for a second. It seems like my response caught him off guard for some reason. "Uh, yeah. I mean, like in, uh, other jobs."
"Uh huh... So, why are you working here anyway?" There's a muffled filter to my voice, as I've now crossed my arms with my head still down.
"It looked promising as an extra source of income." Moe shrugs. From the corner of my eye, I see he has joined me behind the counter.
"Yeah, that's what I thought too..." I've accepted my fate at this point. Not happily, though.
"Look, uh, how about we get to know each other? What are some things you enjoy doing?" This guy is allergic to any negativity, I swear.
But that's okay; I outwardly sigh. I'm allergic to being a jerk.
I lift my head slightly and turn towards him to answer his question. "Well, besides hairdressing, I'm also pretty into chemistry. I enjoy doing experiments with a friend of mine. Well, a professor. I'm not even in college, but we're basically besties, and it's like he gives me classes for free." I carefully say this, making sure not to give out too much information for safety. "I love showing off what I've learned to my boyfriend. Even though he doesn't get it most of the time, haha."
"Hehe, that's cool. I love, but stink at chemistry. Especially with all that math. I mean, I'm probably more than capable with time, but I'd rather just make bombs without thinking about it." Moe responds nonchalantly.
"Why- why do you wanna make bombs??" That was usually nothing of a joke response I've heard people say countless times, but coming from Moe, it's a little frightening.
"Oh, you know, for my schemes and what-not."
"Mhm." God, this guy's weird.
"But, y'know, I also have sort of a passion. I love bombs so much that I once made a comic entitled 'Bomb-Man' when I was like 12 years old. I was very creative, I know."
"Oh, really? I didn't know you wrote yourself." My head is fully off the counter at this point. Of course he would be the type to do something like that, but despite that, I'm genuinely curious, and I do not know why.
"Nah, only as a kid. I wanted to create what I enjoyed, as kids usually do. The main character was basically just a projection of myself. Which was a destructive, comic book-obsessed geek... Not that much has changed." He mumbles the last part to himself.
"Of course. So, did it take off? Were you popular?" I continue to push into the conversation.
"Nah, I was a loser, but my parents were proud of me, at least. Although, to be totally honest, that silly little comic changed my entire life. Y'know me, and uh, my shop character?" He says the last part as if he's questioning himself.
"... Moe, that's adorable." I mean that genuinely.
The fact that he was willing to share that was endearing and gave him some humanity, at the very least. Dare I say it's kind of cute??? He's kind of weird, but the story kind of reminds me of myself.
"I'll take that as a compliment." He scratches his neck and grins.
"Y'know, I can totally help you make bombs, actually." I slam both of my hands down on the counter.
"Haha, you don't actually have to, but-"
"No, no, I got you, dude. I do not know how, but we're gonna make bombs!" I don't know what I'm thinking with all of this, but maybe it will be fun, especially to hang out with Moe more. In fact, I could hear the good idea bells ringing in my head now! It was like it was in real life.
"Super kind of you; thank you, Min-oh, hello." He first shifts his eyes, then jerks his head towards the front of the counter, looking shocked.
I immediately turn my head to see that a person, assumably our first customer, is looking at us with their jaw dropped. It looks like the day has just begun.