[The day is an ordinary one, as days in this particular (shady) part of the city go. If there is anything off about it, none of it breaches the walls of the shop, and if any of it did it would be turned out on its aggravating heels as quickly as it came in. D has decided to run a tight ship for as long as he can without tiring of it; the rabble of the city is not welcome in the shop just yet.
He's pruning a fern presently in his little shop-fortress, frowning at it and studiously not thinking about his return to the same tucked-away alley in Los Angeles. He's made no commotion about it; people who stop by are not people who know him, for one reason or another, and he may be doing less business now given that he does not advertise or even put the sign up some days, but—whatever. This is his shady little shop, and he'll run it however he pleases.
Still, the sound of bells does get him to look up from what he's doing automatically, placing the pruning shears down and moving back out into the center of the front room, to play the part of the good shop owner.
He says,] Welcome, [and then, before he adds that rehearsed line reiterating just whose shop it is—
Ah. That's recognition crossing his features, then muted surprise. Well then.]
i still can't believe
He's pruning a fern presently in his little shop-fortress, frowning at it and studiously not thinking about his return to the same tucked-away alley in Los Angeles. He's made no commotion about it; people who stop by are not people who know him, for one reason or another, and he may be doing less business now given that he does not advertise or even put the sign up some days, but—whatever. This is his shady little shop, and he'll run it however he pleases.
Still, the sound of bells does get him to look up from what he's doing automatically, placing the pruning shears down and moving back out into the center of the front room, to play the part of the good shop owner.
He says,] Welcome, [and then, before he adds that rehearsed line reiterating just whose shop it is—
Ah. That's recognition crossing his features, then muted surprise. Well then.]
Goodness, where have you been?
[hi]