9/7/2005

07:47 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.

Currently the moon is in the waxing Crescent Moon phase (28% full).
It is currently 19:44 Pacific Time on Wed Sep 7 2005.

Wal-Mart(#2672RJ)
It's big, even for a Wal-Mart, divided into section after section of things you and your home just can't do without. DIY projects and equipment both decorative and constructive, housewares, foods, furniture, clothing, toys, books, pet care, electronics, gardening, car care; yes, just about everything you need for this modern life. Wal-Martians are a frequent sight, reshelving things or trying to be patient with customers who are dense or unpleasant or both. People of all ages traverse the aisles, children running amok on the off-white tile while their parents shop, oblivious. Everywhere, signs announce low prices and sales. A photo developing center (boasting one hour service, though it never takes less than two), an optometrist, and a McDonalds each have their own enclaves, not-quite-separate from the rest of the store. There are two exits, the main entrance with its many registers, and the garden center, with its mere pair, both leading out to the massive expanse of asphalt that is the parking lot.
Contents:
Stacey
Justin
Obvious exits:
Front Doors  

After picking a cart that has all four wheels that work right, don't squeek and have no issues with it, Justin has started to look for some clothing. His uncle has headed to a different part of the store, leaving Justin to shop on his own. He's set several items in the cart, setting them up just so, folded perfectly, and with equal numbers on the left and right side of the cart inside it. At the moment he's inspecting some t-shirts, eyeing them as if they might be defective in some way, although there's nothing obviously wrong with them.

A young preteen girl is just across the path from Justin, picking through the more feminine shirts. She has a wild look to her: curly hair a tangled mess, clothes grass-stained and worn. She wrinkles her nose and sighs. "I really should get something more grown-up looking, huh, Kenneth?" The girl looks toward her companion, an older, teenage boy.

Kenneth is not all that much better, save for a seemingly washed shirt draped about his thinnish shoulders. He isn't paying too much attention to the shirts Stacey looks through, but at the people flowing at their ant-like crawl for bargains. "Could. Could also be advantageous to look like a kid," he comments plainly.

Justin is rather attentive to his surroundings, despite the attention he's paying to the shirts. One might even think he was shifty as he keeps glancing around. After standing at one pile of t-shirts for a while he very carefully, by the edges, picks up two shirts, placing one on the right side of his cart and to balance it out one on the left side. After touching the shirts he quickly tugs a wipe from his pocket, cleans his hands off and in a practiced motion tucks the used wipe into a pocket in the bag he's carrying and moves on to look at the next display of clothing, about two feet down.

Stacey grins and reaches forward. "Oh, this one's perfect," the girl says, pulling out a black shirt that has the word "Peace" written in bold across the front. "Whatcha think?" she says, showing it to Kenneth. "And I could paint something like 'Or Else!' on the back."

Kenneth is watching Justin, the nearest to the pair, and his meticulous ministrations. When Stacey pipes up again, he looks back when the shirt is held up, peering at the 'bold' statement. It elicits the faintest of smirks at the idea. "Use glitter paint. More fitting for you," he nods. "How much is it?"

Justin frowns as the pile of clothing in front of him is clearly messed up. People poking at various sized pants have left the display in front of Justin quite disorganized. So, Justin starts to sort through the pile, arranging them due to size, then folding them perfectly and starting to place them in the right order in the display. At this point his focus on organizing has distracted him from his surroundings a bit.

Stacey grins at the glitter remark and then turns the shirt around to look at the tag. "Um... seven dollars. That's not too bad, right?" She looks up to see if he approves or not, and that's when she finally notices Justin. She raises a brow as she watches him organize the pants.

Kenneth hunhs quietly at the price, pondering it over as well. As he's contemplating, Stacey's attention merges with his own and he turns to look at who she's looking at. The Shadow Lord, too, raises his brows. "The hell?"

Justin finishes sorting the pants, the display looking as if it was just set up with every pair of pants perfectly folded and the display now scaled from small to large in perfect order. After a pause the boy picks up one pair of pants, places it in the middle of his cart, then again wipes his hands clean with a wipe from his pocket and tucks it in that same small pocket of his bag and moves down another three feet to look at some socks on display.

Stacey blinks and shakes her head. "Bet his parents love him," she murmurs. "I always hated cleaning or folding. Goodness, could you imagine? With him around, chores would be nonexistent for the other..kids."

Kenneth watches Justin folding the clothing. "Bet so," he agrees, turning back to the ahroun. "Betcha he'd go nuts if we took a few of these..." he says while taking a bunch of men's shirts, "and mix them in like this."

Justin is a wee bit focused on socks, but... does notice the mischief going on over to the side by the other boy. He frowns, but says nothing at all. Instead he finishes organizing the socks and then picks out two packs to make sure they are balanced in his cart. He takes his time at this, glancing over at Kenneth to see what he's doing and if he's done over by the shirts.

Stacey raises a hand to stifle a laugh as Kenneth mixes the shirts. "He probably will," she agrees. "Don't you think that's a bit... mean?" Although the Child is still very much amused. She doesn't join in, but stands nearby, holding the Peace shirt and looking somewhat guilty.

[look Justin]
Justin is a weed of a kid, thin and gangly, looking a bit tall for his age. He looks to be in his mid teens, although its hard to pin an exact age on it. His features look almost fragile, with high cheek bones and pale gray blue eyes. His complexion is pale, as if from northern European stock with very white skin that betrays his lack of outdoor activity and platinum blond hair. The features combine to actually be rather attractive, in a sort of sheltered noble way. There's an odd unsettling hint of something that /should/ seem majestic there, that if nurtured could make him very attractive, but as it is he comes off above average, but 'off' in some way.
Today Justin is wearing a perfectly pressed pair of khaki pants, black leather belt, black dress shoes and a short sleeve button up dress shirt. His outfit is spotless and wrinkle free. Theres a small pack of handy wipes tucked in the back pocket of his pants. He carries a small bag slung over one shoulder that while not quite a purse looks a bit odd for the boy to be carrying.

"He should probably go up front and ask for an application if he's gonna try to put it all back together," Kenneth replies matter-of-factly, being 'meticulous' about his mixing in of men's shirts to women's, even taking the size markers and pulling them out to mix it up. S-XXL-M-L-XL... The Shadow Lord glances up to see Justin looking at him, and then with a devil's-smile, nods over to Stacey. "C'mon. Guess I'll pick something out too." He starts off, moving to a different rack with longsleeves hung upon it.

Justin hesitates a moment then moves over to the rack that was messed up. He frowns at Kenneth but says nothing, avoiding direct confrontation as he starts to resort to shirts again, apparently unable to leave it mixed up. He seems very good at reorganizing things, despite the efforts Kenneth made to mix them. It takes him about as much time to fix them as it did Kenneth to mess them, or maybe less. It's almost erie, but then it looks like the kid does this kind of thing a lot.

Stacey follows Kenneth over to the long-sleeved shirts, glancing back now and then in Justin's direction. As he fixes the mess, she can't help but snicker. "That's awful. We're awful, you know that?" she says to the older boy, "Even if it is funny."

Kenneth shrugs a shoulder, browsing through the men's rack with little interest. His eyes follow Justin towards the mixed rack, with the young Lord holding down a smirk. "Lucky I'm not a dark moon," the philodox utters just loud enough so Stacey can hear. Then he turns back to the shirts. Picking one out, an overall charcoal grey affair with blue pinstripe, he checks it over and humphs. The Shadow Lord just tosses it on top of the rack instead of putting it back in the circular bar. "You need any socks?" he asks the ahroun beside him, a seemingly innocent question.

Justin finishes his sorting and goes back to his cart. Clearly he saw the treatment of the shirt that Kenneth just performed but he makes no move in that direction, clearly wanting to keep some distance between the pair and himself. He eyes a display of belts, casually sorting them by length as he continues to observe the section.

Stacey tilts her head and then shrugs. "Not sure. Guess I could take a look, see what they have." She glances at the tossed shirt and then heads toward the socks.

Kenneth seems to have fulfilled his fun quotient, for now. Socks it is, and the Shadow Lord accompanies the Child to her chosen rack. As she's looking through, he's busy flipping through various packages beside her, picking out a couple, looking, and putting them back in whatever happens to come to his eye and hand first. Eyeing Justin sidelong at the belts, the philodox taps a finger thoughtfully against the sock package he has in his hand.

Justin gives a little sigh then replaces a few things, including the shirt that Kenneth abandoned and a few other messed up things then wipes his hands again, and returns to his cart. He has an oddly large amount of clothing in his cart, as if he was replacing an entire wardobe really. He pauses to pick out a few shirts from a rack. Several displays now seperating Justin from the other pair. Most people seem to be giving Justin a bit of leeway, or maybe Justin is avoiding them. Hard to tell with the foot traffic profile.

Stacey looks through the sock packages, picking one up, and then wrinkles her nose. "I have no idea what my sock size is. You know? /This/ is what adults are for." She replaces the package. "I don't think I need any now," she decides, then looks over in Justin's direction.

Kenneth glances back to Stacey when she speaks again. "Don't know your sock size?" The Shadow Lord blinks, then furrows his brow. "Pretty much same as your shoe size is," he replies as he sticks the sock package in his hands back upon the metal hooks. He too, glances in the path Justin took. The philodox nudges Stacey slightly, and then announces, "Let's check out that part." He starts off again, in the general direction of Justin and cart but not directly so. Like a lion prowling about, Kenneth has a look at most everything he passes, up til he's nearly touching the other's shopping cart.

Justin is studying some sweat pants, but frowns. Apparently they aren't his style although the display is well organized now. He does notice the pair approaching, but seems to act as though moving away would just aggravate things so holds his ground. Not afraid per se, more like he'd rather just not be here as he glances at Kenneth as the boy moves very close to his cart.

Stacey nods. "Ah, shoe size. Makes sense," she says, then walks along behind Kenneth as he approaches Justin. She stops behind the older boy and peeks out at the stranger from the side, still clutching the Peace shirt. She offers a smile, then glances curiously up at the Shadow Lord.

Kenneth just happens to be looking at the same apparel hung about the area. Really. The Shadow Lord has little business with the cart or its user. Picking up a few belts which have been oh so carefully arranged, he snags a few to examine, and puts the rest back. Doesn't matter where. As he turns to the next rack, however, the philodox happens to bump into the cart, pushing it off just a touch. His hand reflexively steadies himself using the cart as a base. Partly from annoyance, he pushes the cart even more out of the way and off to one side.

Justin hesitates then speaks up finally as he looks quite plainly at Kenneth. No sign of fear, but not really courage either more of resignation. "You know it would be easier for people to find things if you put them back in the right place." He says as the cart is pushed off to one side, "Considering everything you've touched today, perhaps you'd like a wipe? The chemicals they use on preserving clothing is more than a little toxic." He says as he actually tugs one out and offers it to Kenneth.

Stacey backs up a bit as Kenneth pushes the cart, but then just stares as Justin takes out the wipes. "Kid," she says, "that's the last thing we're concerned about." Then she blinks and looks up at Kenneth. "Wait, is that true?"

No shoulder angels here. Only devils. On both sides. "What?" Kenneth replies with a slight curl of his lips, exposing the tips of his teeth. Could be a smile, or a threat. "You don't enjoy the hunt?" He looks down at the offer, and then to the Child. "It's /Wal-Mart/," he comments, "Evil of all evils. You can't stop the Wal-Mart. It'll devour your soul and have your bones for a garnish to its blood margarita." The philodox smirks again, and turns back to the stranger. He actually takes the offered wipe, swiping it neatly out of the other teen's hand. And takes a sniff.

The wipe smells clean, but not chemically. Almost as if it was some kind of naturally moist wipe, with a hint of lemon. Justin watches the wipe snatched out of hand and shrugs, "They put chemicals on clothing to protect it from insects. Most of it is toxic. You should always wash your clothing before you wear it. Several people die every year due to toxic shock from wearing clothing that they never washed." He shrugs, and returns his attention to Kenneth from Stacey, looking at the oddly hostile boy. "However I wouldn't say it's evil. Mass produced goods allow a much higher population density and they provide a cost effiecent product in a space effective system." He gives another shrug, "Did I do something wrong?" It is said as a rather serious question.

Stacey listens with wide eyes. "Really? That's not right. They should find a safer way; there has to be one." She then pauses, eyes narrowing as she looks Justin over. She then gives a slow smile, much like Kenneth's, and takes a step forward, threatening, menacing, letting her Rage closer to the surface. People are noticeably avoiding the area with the three youngsters. "And what if you did, kid?"

Kenneth considers, wipes his hands nonchalantly and then crumples the used paper in his fist. "And if you drink 100 percent distilled water, you'd die too. So, cleanliness isn't everything. /Live/ a little." The Shadow Lord picks up one of the shirts beside him on a hanger, still 'shopping' to a degree. He does glance over when Stacey's tone gets a bit menacing.

Justin blinks as he looks at the girl. "Well..." He starts slowly, "First I would ask you what you thought I did." His eyes narrow slightly as he glances between the pair. He takes a little step backwards, bumping into a rack and almost losing his balance, but regaining it after a momentary flutter of arms. He eyes the crumpling of the wipe, "Properly purified spring water is much better for you." He says as if correcting Kenneth a bit, on what Justin personally drinks, "And it's not cleanliness... not exactly. Things need to be in their proper places." He says defensively.

Stacey frowns as she looks over Justin, and then glances up at Kenneth. "Well... Ya ain't done nothin' but clean, so no, ya didn't to anything wrong." She offers a hand to the strange boy, reaching across the cart. "I'm Stacey."

"Tche. You're too damn picky," Kenneth mutters towards the shirt rather than the other teen. He puts the shirt back on the rack this time. Unlike Stacey, he doesn't offer his name forward.

Justin hesitates, making a rather pained face as Stacey offers her hand. Then he cringes but shakes, offering his hand to the girl and giving a very quick shake. Then quickly pulls his hand back and wipes it with a hand wipe from his pack. It might be offensive to Stacey, but... the boy has done the same thing repeatedly with other things he's touched in the store. He seems to forget to give his name in this mix as he eyes Stacey curiously then Kenneth again. "I'm buying clothes because most of mine were lost in the hurricane." He offers.

Stacey smirks at Justin's reaction, eyes still narrowed. "From the south, then? Why'd your family decide to come all the way up here? I mean, that's quite a distance."

Kenneth looks back when he's glanced at. He observes the interaction between the two with a more attentive eye now. At mention of the hurricane, the Shadow Lord gives no response.

Justin gives a little shrug as he carefully cleans his hands, "My grandmother's home was destroyed. She's trying to take care of things but sent me up to live with my Uncle. He's an english teacher at college up here." He finally places the wipe in his bag. "All I got out with was a small bag. My Uncle is getting a few things while I pick out some clothes." He gestures to the cart, explaining his situation a bit. Then he looks at the pair in front of him, "You're not brother and sister. Soo.... either you're good friends, but the way she was asking you," He looks at Kenneth, "About the shirt, makes me think you're taking her shopping. That seems odd. She's old enough and you're young enough that you're probably not babysitting her." He glances around, then back at the pair of you, "Are you guys doing something wrong?" He asks, turning the tables slightly.

Stacey tilts her chin up proudly as that last question is asked. "My mom's dead and my dad's working late. He asked my cousin," she nods toward Kenneth, "to take me shopping 'cause I need new clothes and can't drive. Is /that/ wrong?" the girl answers defensively. After a pause, almost as an afterthought, though said with some sincerity, she adds, "Sorry about your home."

Kenneth almost looks bored by the story, up until the mention of shopping, Stacey, and doing 'wrong'. "What's it to you?" he growls out, tensing at something said.

Justin gives a shrug, "Something seems wrong about it. Not sure what, but I'll figure it out eventually." He says softly, "Could be cousins I suppose. Not much blood relation there. Still, genetically dominant features..." He says as he trails off and looks between the pair of you, definately not sounding like your average teen, "I'm not the one that was rearranging clothes to irritate others, and I wasn't the one that moved towards you to talk. But... since you started, just was pointing it out."

Stacey still has a proud, stubborn look to her. "Cousins by marriage," she adds, elaborating on her story. "But, no, we're not doing anything wrong... well, besides rearranging clothes."

Kenneth snorts. "You're the one who's got a problem with the way things get. You didn't /have/ to have a problem, but you do. And I didn't move in to talk. I moved here 'cause I'm Shoppin'." He glances at Stacey again, and then looks back at Justin with narrowed eyes. "Surprised you could even /walk/ into Walmart without flippin' out at all the junk that's thrown around here."

Justin gives a little shrug, finding this something of a logic puzzle apparently, "You seem to be upset, if her story was true, why would you be upset at me? I've done nothing to you at all. I'm just doing a bit of shopping, didn't touch you, didn't insult you. You came near me. You saw I was organizing things and decided to be rude about it to mess things up for your own fun, and now you're upset that I'm saying it out loud." He gives another shrug, probably totally unaware of any real danger he might be in, "I probably would have accepted her story if you weren't so aggitated." He points out, "And I'm not the one flipping out." He says as he looks at Kenneth with an open look, back into those narrowed eyes. His own eyes a fairly calm deep gray blue.

Stacey tilts her head, then looks up at Kenneth. "You know, he's a rather calm one, don't you think?" she says meaningfully. "I mean, so few people can... communicate their points in an argument so calmly these days. Look, it's been a long day, huh? Long few weeks. No one's doing anything wrong, we're all just a bit touchy, it seems."

Kenneth tightens his throat, holding down invisibly whatever it is inside that turns his gaze icy cold. "I am Not. Flipping. Out." But close to it, one might imagine. He looks fit to burst one moment, and then forces his eyes away, a hand roughly grasping a circular bar rack with a clink of clothing hangers. "You haven't Seen me flip out yet. You don't want to." He turns away from the other two, stalking off to pierce something else - a hapless woman - with his glare. The woman frowns, made uncomfortable, and pushes on from her bargain hunting.

Justin watches Kenneth stalk off then looks back at Stacey, "Um, I think your cousin doesn't like it when people point out things to him. Maybe you shoudl go um, continue shopping with him. I'm sorry if I upset him, but he did upset me." He points out, "And I'm not so much calm as if you back down or get upset it only makes the bullies more eager to go after you." He adds that second part more softly, probably out of the stalking off Kenneth's hearing, to just Stacey, "I'm sorry if I caused you any grief. I should go find my uncle I guess."

Stacey watches Kenneth stalk off and then sighs. "Yeah, well, who does? Look, I'm sorry we all got off on the wrong foot and all... But, um, I know how hard it is to move to a new place, to lose things and people close to you... So... my thoughts are with you. And maybe we'll meet again, huh? Harbor Park's a cool place to hang out, to get away."

Kenneth doesn't return on his route away from the pair. Perhaps a good thing, given the way he's parting the sea of shoppers about him.

Justin gives a little nod to Stacey, then actually takes the time to straighten up the area around his cart before he starts to move off, but he does offer to Stacey, "Not sure if it'd be a good idea for me to do that if he's going to be there. Might be better if I just um... avoid being in places where I'll cause trouble."

Stacey smiles. "Kenneth?" she says, keeping her voice lowered and glancing to make sure he's not around. "He's just moody. But he's real cool once ya get to know him." She starts to step away, but then stops. "Hey, didn't catch your name..."
By the time he's stopped his silent storming, Kenneth is a fair ways down the clothing department. Hard to see him, but inevitably the Shadow Lord is there.

Justin ahs and offers, "Justin." He says, as he picks up the other boy's name as he didn't have it before. "He wasn't moody when he started his fun on messing with the clothes. More spiteful or the actions of someone who enjoyes causing others grief. But if you say so." He makes sure Kenneth is well out of ear shot when he says /that/ part. He gives a little shrug and then says, "Maybe I'll see you again. I guess I'll have to start school here soon."

Stacey shrugs. "Maybe. Although I'm homeschooled." She grins and then starts off to find the Shadow Lord, turning back once to wave. "See ya, Justin!"