➳Ｓｏｎｄｅｒ {Roleplay} discussion

Make a Charrie and Start!

Ethan walked down the street, heading towards the coffee shop where he worked, today being one of the rare days that a small grey marshmallow followed him. Noah Greyson, a boy of only one and a half, teetered along side his brother, a small gloved hand in Ethan's larger, warmer one. The little boy was dressed in a grey hat and large fluffy, winter coat that hindered his movements slightly, making Noah look like a life-sized marshmallow or a large penguin waddling down the icy sidewalk.

Alex then saw Ethan and jogged over to him. He then said, "Hey Ethan." They were close friends. He then looked down at Noah and ruffled his hair saying, "Nice to see you Noah." He then put his hand back in his pockets cold. He was freezing.

Ethan tore his gaze away from Noah when he noticed Alex jogging over to them "Hey" he spoke, smiling at one of the few friends he kept after the accident. "You coming in to write today?" he asked, knowing that sometime Alex would write in the cafe to wait until Ethan's shift was over or to help keep another pair of eyes on Noah. The little boy giggled, turning his bright blue eyes up to the much taller boy "Hwello" Noah tried, still having trouble pronouncing a few sounds.

Alex then said, "Yeah, writing around people helps me think of ideas." He then asked kneeling down next to Noah saying, "Are you working today?" He then put out a fist to Noah saying, "Blow it up man." He loved to play with Noah.

The little boy giggled, a soft tenor that filled the air around the trio as he tried to get his hand to make a fist, which was hard in gloves. "Boom!" Noah yelled, meeting the flat part of his fist to Alex's with more giggles. Ethan smiled again and rolled his eyes which closely matched Noah's, but held a sort of cloudiness to them, a sort of sadness "Yeah, my shift's starting soon, I'm filling in for James" he spoke, not mentioning the need of money that had him working two jobs.

Alex then laughed smiling and said standing up, "Well I could watch Noah if you want." He then felt something on his face and then looked up seeing snow smiling. He then muttered to himself, "Snow." He then saw Ethan's hair sticking up and fixed it saying, "You have bedhead."

Ethan turned his face up to the sky and grinned, sure enough little white drifts floated to the ground, spinning in a slow moving dance "Let's hope it sticks" Ethan spoke, glancing back at Alex, smirking slightly as he fixed his hair "Thanks, don't see how though, I never sleep" he spoke. A large grin plastered itself on Noah face as the little boy tried to catch the flakes in his hand, watching as the snow stayed for a moment before melting against the grey cotton and leaving a small puddle.

Alex then said, "We should get inside, let's go." He then began walking to the cafe with his hands in his pockets smiling at them.

Ethan glanced over at Noah and smirked before he grabbed the little boy around the waist, thowing him over his shoulder, relishing in the delighted screams coming from the boy "Alright alright, we're coming" he spoke, following behind Alex.

Hannah sighed in delight as she pulled her steaming mug of Vanilla Chai closer, warming her dainty fingers curled delicately around the ceramic as she crossed her outstretched legs at the ankles. The vapor wafting off the hot beverage smelled positively heavenly and she inhaled it with glee, a shiver running cool fingers up her spine. She'd carefully moved her grey and lilac scarf out of the way of her face and her puffy white jacket rested on the back of the cafe chair. Inclining her head, she stared out the window at the gently falling snow with a smile. The day was lovely but chilly and her breath frosted the glass; She trembled, giddy, as she drew a smile within the fog.

Alex then walked into the coffee shop and got in line to order a coffee and asked, "Ethan do you or Noah want anything to eat? I'll pay." He then fumbled to get his wallet since his fingers were freezing. He then noticed a pretty girl sitting by the window. She always to seem to be there and most the time distracted him from his work.

Shifting in her seat, Hannah noticed one of the three boys who had walked in glancing at her. She offered him a gentle smile and took a tentative sip of her drink. It scalded her throat and she coughed briefly in quiet discomfort.

Alex saw here smile and looked away embarrassed, but not blushing. She really was directing. He then waited in line to get a coffee since he was tired and need a coffee in the morning to wake himself up. He then yawned he was still tired and it showed.

((This died fast...))

{{I know, I'm sorry, school started and it just took away all my free time}}

Ethan walked in behind Alex, the familiar scent of coffee and baking sweets wrapped around him, placing a small smile on his face as he set Noah down at the table nearest the counter. "Nah, I'm good Alex" he spoke, glancing over at him, rolling his eyes when he noticed Alex staring at the girl. Walking behind the counter, Ethan tied a dark green apron around his waist as well as placing a matching hat upon his head, beginning to take customer's orders.

Alex then got his coffee and sat down next to Noah and said, "So are you doing good in school bud?" He cared about Noah since he was like a brother to him just like Ethan. He then drank some of his coffee watching Ethan thinking, but also watching Noah too.

Ethan was busy taking orders as people started to come in bigger numbers, all wanting to get their caffeine fix before trudging to a long day at work.
Noah glanced up at Alex before shaking his head slightly indication his dislike and his discomfit of school "The other kids make fun of me" he replied in a soft voice, tracing the wood grain of the table with a finger.

Alex then said, "For being smart?" He then crossed his arms and said, "Noah listen up. I used to have good grades and I was picked on all the time. If those other kid make fun of you tell them that they are just jealous of how smart you are and if they try to fight you don't tell Ethan this, but I'll kick their buts for you. So don't worry bud I'm on your side." She then smiled at Noah.

Ethan glanced over at the pair slightly when he heard his name but at that moment another customer walked in, pulling his attention away from them.
Noah didn't glance at Alex but nodded his head slightly even though his intelligence wasn't the root of the problem, sure there was the occasional 'nerd' or 'geek' comment but they didn't really bother him all that much. Noah hesitated about saying something about the real problem to Alex but he didn't really feel like talking about it right now "Thanks Alex" was all he said.

Alex then ruffled Noah's hair and said, "Anytime bud." He then messed with Noah's hair and said, "I better start working." He then pulled out his laptop and started to type as he started to write another one of his gripping stories.

From across the cafe, Hannah noticed the boy who'd caught her eye before flip open a laptop computer. Curiously, she observed him, the way his fingers deftly slid across the keyboard and how his eyes flickered across the screen. She'd seen him there before, always with the laptop, always typing. She often wondered what or what he was writing, but her nerve to ask always fled her as her voice caught and died in her throat.

She lifted her cup to her face and took small sips, continuing to watch him over the rim of the mug. Her gaze occasionally drifted to the young child with whom he would converse softly and fondle his hair affectionately. The kid was adorable, the younger brother of the male barista working the counter today. She often saw them together and thus had come to the conclusion they were related long ago, though she'd never had the courage to learn their names.

Her phone buzzed, buried deep in the dark abysmal cavern she dared call a purse. Her blue-grey eyes drifted lazily towards it, and with a resigned sigh, she grabbed the bag and set it before her on the table. She began pulling all of the contents of her purse out to retrieve her phone. Books, small notepads, and a few sketch pencils swiftly piled up before her before she clutched the little flip phone in her hand and went to answer the call. Just as she flipped it open, the buzzing stopped and she viewed a message of one missed call from her parents.

Alex then noticed the girl was watching him. He smiled at the thought maybe today he could work up the courage to talk to her. He then noticed she had got her phone out and was curious what she was doing, but knew he wasn't going to ask.

Noah sat restless at the table, his legs swinging back and forth slightly as he glanced around the cafe, wishing that he had brought his colouring book.

Ethan took a small breath now that the morning rush had stalled for the moment, he glanced over at Alex and Noah, watching the pair for a while. But a soft buzzing noise tore his eyes away from them towards the girl who regulated the spot near the window.

Alex then let out a sigh and began to work more. He just then began to type wondering if she ever read his books. He hoped that she would like it and then thought about dedication a book to the girl who always sits bye the window at a coffee shop reading. He thought that would be stupid though and ran his hand through his hair.

((So how do I jump in, guys? :) I've got a bookstore owner and a seasonal visitor.))

((Yeah, just jump in because everybody died off))

((Well, Alex could leave and go to my dude's store to see how many more copies of his book have been sold since yesterday?))

((Sure~!))

Benson walked over to the thermostat and cranked the heat higher as he saw snow drifting to the ground beyond the windows taking up most of front wall. "What made me think that opening up a book and music store in this small town would be good business?" He asked himself, with a small smile as he listened to the radio broadcast through the store. It was country, today; a calming change from the upbeat techno he had played the day before.

Alex left the cafe after he was done writing for the day and made his way to the bookstore that was a couple blocks away. He had a friend that owned the bookstore and he would always come to say hi and ask how many copies of his book were bought since yesterday. He then walked into the store feeling the warm air hit him when he opened the door. He said smiling, "Hey!"

Ben looked over his should at Alex and chuckled. "Back again?" He asked, slightly surprised that he came every day. Sure, Alex was a good spirit, but seeing his smile reminded him of his sister's enthusiasm and made him miss her sometimes, however it was a refreshing attitude to have around when business was slow.

Alex chuckled slightly saying, "You shouldn't be surprised anymore Ben. I come here everyday now." He sat on Ben's counter and asked, "So how's business here? Everything going fine?" He was worried about Ben like any of his other friends. He then added smiling, "How many copies of my books were sold today?" He was curious as ever since he wondered if people liked his books or not.

Ben shook his head. "Haven't had business all morning. I think the weather is keeping people inside, and since most people don't come until the holidays wrap around, anyway, I probably won't have business for another week." He told Alex regrettably. He had personally read his book in his spare time working the shop, and thought it was a great work, but people rarely came in, so he never was able to recommend it.

Alex sighed and said, "That's okay I don't mind, really." He looked at Ben and asked, "So will business get better for you then?" He didn't want Ben to lose his bookstore since Alex loved this place and he got see Ben everyday because of it.

Ben shrugged. "I doubt it, but you never know." He admitted, before hearing the bells above the door ring again.

"Ugh! I could be in Miami right now. Or San Diego. Or Houston!" The girl's voice echoed through the store as she rubbed her bare arms. "But I'm stuck here for three months."

Ben chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Hey, Alex. You know how I always talk about my younger sibling, Jack?" He asked, having never told anyone that Jack was a female. Unless they'd known about her from high school, most people assumed Jack was his younger brother, the thought of the name being short for Jacqueline never crossing their minds.

Alex heard someone walk into the store and said, "Yeah, I remember you mentioning your younger sibling, why?" He noticed the cute girl who just walked into the store and was happy Ben was getting business, but was confused why this girl had luggage. He then guessed she was looking for a hotel or something and stopped here to look at the books.

Ben sighed and gestured to the blonde girl who'd just walked through the door. "Well, she'll be staying with me for the winter." He told him, as the girl wheeled her luggage through the store to the back room, leaving a trail of mud from the wheels.

"I'll clean that up in a sec, Ben, I promise!" Jack called, her suitcase bumping against the stairs as she pulled it up to the spare room in his apartment above the shop.

Alex eyes got wide eyed, "Is that your sister?" She was cute, but now she was off limits since he didn't date any of his friend's sister since that was wrong to him. He then asked Ben, "Why is she staying here?" He began to clean her mess using some of the cleaning items that were in the cabinets behind the counter. He came in her so much he knew where everything was at.

"She gets depressed in the wintertime, so she usually comes for Thankgiving, then stays until the beginning of March so that I can keep a watch on her and make sure she doesn't do anything harmful to herself." Ben explained. "She doesn't like it here, though. She'd rather be out and about in the big world, painting cityscapes and dancing in clubs."

Alex smiled and said, "She seems nice." He finished cleaning and asked walking back over to the counter and leaned against it saying, "W-Well, Alex... I need to stay here since I got kicked out of my apartment since the landlord kicked me out. He wanted me to pay more each month and I said no, so he kicked me out. Can I please stay here with you?" He put his hands together pleading.

Ben sighed. "I only have the one spare room upstairs, and that's my sister's for the next few months. You could sleep on the couch if you want, but I can't guarantee that it'll be comfortable." He said, rubbing his neck.

Alex smiled and said, "That's fine! I bring my things over tomorrow. Thank you Ben." He then hugged him happily. He would be sleeping at a bus stop if he said no. He was happy to alway be able to rely on him.

Ben ran a hand through his hair and lifted his lips in a lopsided smile. "Yeah, yeah. Just know that you'll be doing work to pay for the cost of living here." He told him. "I can barely afford to live here myself with business being crappy, but I get a little extra money from the state to take care of my sister when she comes, and with business hopefully picking up, two more mouths shouldn't be a huge problem." He said, going to an aisle of CD's in a sudden decision to straighten them out for busy work.

Alex said smiling, "Sure thing I don't mind. I'm going to go check on your sister then and see if she needs any help." He then walked up stairs.

((gtg))

((Mkay.))

Ben shook his head with a chuckle. "Don't get a crush on her!" He called, not sure if his friend heard him or not.

Upstairs, Jack was putting her clothes away in the empty drawers of her brother's second bedroom.

Alex was leaning against the door frame and asked smiling, "Need any help?" She was cute, but she was off limits. That didn't mean they couldn't be friends though. He then added, "I'm Alex, what you name?" He already knew it, but it was polite.

Jack shook her head. "I'll be fine." She answered, before looking over at him and casting a bright smile that seemed to light up the room. "I'm Jacqueline," She told him, "Though my Ben prefers to call me Jack, so I've grown used to the nickname." She explained with a shrug. "So, do you work for my brother, now? I've never seen you on my visits here, before."

Alex then move to sit on her bed she seemed nice. He said, "I'm a friend of your brother and I don't work here. I work at my own pace. I'm a writer you see." He then added smiling, "It's nice to meet you Jacqueline." Her name suits her he thought to himself making a note.