Does The Battle Go Well?

🏹A simple RP blog🏹 [Strictly SFW]

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

Woden chuckled, “Yes unfortunately, as old as this place is I’m surprised that these clothes hadn’t been eaten by moths yet.”

“I think the moths died before they could get to them.” Dan frowned.

“Though I will say this, definitely buy some fabric softeners, because its best to wash new clothes before using them. And adding fabric softener will definitely give extra comfort to your blouses!” Tim recommended, “We have them at a pretty low price, 2 or $5!”

Emily giggles. “I think you’re right. This place is too old even for moths.”

“Is that so?” Victoria looks at her new blouse. “I don’t think I’ll find a better deal anywhere else. And we have to track down Victor and Alice anyway. They’re probably wondering where we’ve gotten to.”

[canniestofarchers]

“Fabric softener and high heat is a fucking angel, whenever I finish doing my laundry and put on some of the freshly dry clothes it’s like being wrapped in hugs.” Dan muses. Tim in the meantime checks the bag for errors, Sure Dan and Woden check too but you could never be too sure.

“I’ll probably eat in a bit, this looks really fresh,” Tim says, “I’ll take you to housewares, laundry stuff too. It shouldn’t be that far either, Dan here decided to be cruel and put all the softener on high shelves so you’ll be needing assistance.”

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

“Woden once put a sign there as if it were a piece of art, but Dan took it down out of sheer embarrassment…despite the fact that Woden and I were the only witnesses. Then again, Woden does enjoy poking fun at him.” He said.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear, a fast food bag was dumped on the counter, Tim wasn’t at all phased, he just waved, “How was second lunch?”

“Oddly relaxing.” Woden answered.

“Yeah, because you decided to go to the bathroom to watch-“ Dan was about to finish until he saw Victoria and Emily, “Wait, the fuck? We have actual customers?”

“There was also a Susan earlier but she didn’t last too long,” Tim deadpanned, “Also I told them the caramel story.”

“YOU DID NOT.” Dan gaped.

Emily’s about to ask if the sign’s still around anywhere when some new people appear – judging by the resultant conversation, Tim’s missing coworkers. She and Victoria wave as Dan gawks at them. “Hello. We’re not even the only ones – our friends are back in Housewares.”

Victoria bites back a smile. “I’m afraid he did. He was telling us why you seem to have so many things from decades ago sitting on the shelves.”

[canniestofarchers]

Woden chuckled, “Yes unfortunately, as old as this place is I’m surprised that these clothes hadn’t been eaten by moths yet.”

“I think the moths died before they could get to them.” Dan frowned.

“Though I will say this, definitely buy some fabric softeners, because its best to wash new clothes before using them. And adding fabric softener will definitely give extra comfort to your blouses!” Tim recommended, “We have them at a pretty low price, 2 or $5!”

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

“Yes,” He sighed, “This store is the only original building in this plaza - which was built in the 60’s, the only other contender was a Chuck-E-Cheese that opened in the mid 80’s but recently shut down due to a lack of popularity. We still have recalled items like lawn darts and moon shoes. They’re only $5…”

Tim cringed at the memory, “Gosh, I remember Dan trying out the moon shoes in the store; he’d decided to pair them with a mini trampoline, but his excitement had lasted only a brief 30 seconds. Before anyone knew it, Dan had launched himself off and propelled onto a display of caramel sauce, which were in glass containers by the way. The mess was legendary, Woden swears there’s still fragments of the mess as well as an indent to where Dan made an impact. It’s right where the housewares department is!”

Thank goodness their boss wasn’t around that day, though unfortunately his absence constantly allowed them to get into some really, really stupid antics.

“Really?” Victoria tucks a loose bit of hair behind her ear. “That’s incredible! I almost feel like this store should be preserved as some sort of landmark. The only original store left…”

Victoria and Emily wince right along with Tim as he recounts the story of Dan, the moon boots, and the trampoline. “Oh dear…sounds like he’d get along very well with Christopher and Richard,” Emily admits. “I love them dearly, but – well. There was an incident with gunpowder ‘pudding’ that Christopher made as a science project. Almost took the roof off the house.”

“Isn’t that where Victor and Alice went?” Victoria says, looking up at the signs. “Maybe they’ve found the crater.”

(And indeed, Alice is currently poking at a discolored dent in the floor and wondering what on earth happened. And why there’s a very vague odor of caramel.)

[canniestofarchers]

“Woden once put a sign there as if it were a piece of art, but Dan took it down out of sheer embarrassment...despite the fact that Woden and I were the only witnesses. Then again, Woden does enjoy poking fun at him.” He said.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear, a fast food bag was dumped on the counter, Tim wasn’t at all phased, he just waved, “How was second lunch?”

“Oddly relaxing.” Woden answered.

“Yeah, because you decided to go to the bathroom to watch-“ Dan was about to finish until he saw Victoria and Emily, “Wait, the fuck? We have actual customers?”

“There was also a Susan earlier but she didn’t last too long,” Tim deadpanned, “Also I told them the caramel story.”

“YOU DID NOT.” Dan gaped.

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

“If you want my honest opinion, we’re basically the Sears of this plaza, we keep saying we’re going out of business, but it never happens…unless you’re Toys R’ Us that is.” He shrugged.

“Oh yes – that was sad,” Victoria says, frowning. “So many people out of work, and an iconic store gone…”

“Yes, but – well, how long has K-Mart even been around?” Emily asks, looking back at the clothing racks they’d just escaped. “Most of the stuff we found seems to have been from the 60s – do you have stock from when you first opened?”

[canniestofarchers]

“Yes,” He sighed, “This store is the only original building in this plaza - which was built in the 60’s, the only other contender was a Chuck-E-Cheese that opened in the mid 80’s but recently shut down due to a lack of popularity. We still have recalled items like lawn darts and moon shoes. They’re only $5...”

Tim cringed at the memory, “Gosh, I remember Dan trying out the moon shoes in the store; he’d decided to pair them with a mini trampoline, but his excitement had lasted only a brief 30 seconds. Before anyone knew it, Dan had launched himself off and propelled onto a display of caramel sauce, which were in glass containers by the way. The mess was legendary, Woden swears there’s still fragments of the mess as well as an indent to where Dan made an impact. It’s right where the housewares department is!”

Thank goodness their boss wasn’t around that day, though unfortunately his absence constantly allowed them to get into some really, really stupid antics.

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

“It’s just the fact that we rarely ever get customers, I think you lot were the most we’ve ever had in a few days. Ironic that you showed up just after they’d left,” He chuckled, “Anyway, that’ll be $7.48.”

“I can believe it,” Victoria admits, looking around. “Some of those clothes seemed like they hadn’t been touched in quite a long while…” She hands over a ten.

“It’s amazing some of the stock is as old as it is,” Emily says. “Didn’t the call about going out of business only happen this year?”

[canniestofarchers]

“If you want my honest opinion, we’re basically the Sears of this plaza, we keep saying we’re going out of business, but it never happens...unless you’re Toys R’ Us that is.” He shrugged.

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

“They were headed towards housewares I think?” He scratched his head, “Hopefully my coworkers come back to help them, they’d be amazed that we had customers.”

“Come back? They wouldn’t just ditch you, would they?” Emily asks, astonished.

“That doesn’t seem right – leaving you to handle this all by yourself,” Victoria says, hands on hips. “Even if it’s not busy, it’s still a big store for just one person.”

[canniestofarchers]

“It’s just the fact that we rarely ever get customers, I think you lot were the most we’ve ever had in a few days. Ironic that you showed up just after they’d left,” He chuckled, “Anyway, that’ll be $7.48.”

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

Tim brightened up, “Wonderful! Do you still want the hangers?” He scanned the items and held them up, he didn’t mind either way.

“It would be useful to have them,” Victoria admits. “So long as you don’t need – er – I guess that’s a silly question, isn’t it?” She covers her face with a hand. “Sorry, yes, please.”

“Did you see where our friends went?” Emily asks, reading the various signs hung about.

[canniestofarchers]

“They were headed towards housewares I think?” He scratched his head, “Hopefully my coworkers come back to help them, they’d be amazed that we had customers.”

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

Not very well just as they’d predicted, as the last uttered a “sorry” before retreating.

Tim heaved a sigh of relief, “that was a close one…”

Emily and Victoria exchange a shocked look. An apology, even such a quick and insincere one, was the last thing they expected. “I guess she’s still pretty new at being a bitch,” Emily finally comments.

“Emily!” Victoria stifles a giggle before heading up to the counter. “We managed to find something!”

[canniestofarchers]

Tim brightened up, “Wonderful! Do you still want the hangers?” He scanned the items and held them up, he didn’t mind either way.

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

“My son wants this game and he’s going to get it!” The woman slammed her fist on the counter, “I can’t believe this, this is such terrible customer service! You know what? I want to talk to a manager!”

Oh now this…this, Tim’s been waiting a very long time to do. His boss clearly said Tim would be the manager if he ever left the premises. Tim hissed, “I am the manager.”

“No, I don’t think it is,” Victoria agrees, wincing as the woman hits the counter. “Oh dear – how can people act like that in a store?”

“I don’t know,” Emily says. She grins as Tim shoots back that he is the manager. “Oooh – wonder how she’s going to take that.”

“Probably not well,” Victoria replies. “I bet you she’s going to ask for the corporate number next. It’s what my mother would do.”

[canniestofarchers]

Not very well just as they’d predicted, as the last uttered a “sorry” before retreating.

Tim heaved a sigh of relief, “that was a close one...”

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

As Tim’s checking his phone, he’s humming to himself and slowly getting lost in his own world until…

“AHEM.”

Tim glanced up, he hoped it wasn’t a customer but alas, there was, and a pretty cranky looking one too. “Get off your phone you lazy entitled brat! I need you to get me this video game for my son.” The lady before him was the textbook version of a “Susan”; a woman with a blonde inverted bob and a constant smug aura, also likely to screech for a manager. Next to her was her tiny tot of a son, gelled hair done up into spikes added with the weight made him look like a young Guy Fieri.

“Terribly sorry ma’am, what game are you looking to purchase?” Tim put his phone away.

“This one!” She practically shoved the paper in his face. It was the cover art for a Rated E game, definitely not for Everyone that’s for sure. “I’m sorry ma’am but I can’t get this game.” He shook his head. “Why?” She snarled. “Because this a mature game and contains graphic content.” Tim explained in a bored tone.

Lo and behold, the dressing room has been found! Even better, the blouse has been tried on, and it fits! It doesn’t look great under the store’s crappy lighting, but Victoria decides to ignore that – she searched long and hard for this blouse, so she’s getting it. “It’s pretty cheap too,” she tells Emily as they make their way back to the front. “It may have taken a while to find, but it’s definitely a bargain.”

“I’m glad,” Emily says. “I was starting to think we’d never find anything. How can a store that’s only going out of business this year have such old–”

She stops as they near the counter, spotting the unfolding drama. “Uh-oh,” she murmurs. "We might want to go track down Victor and Alice first. This looks like it isn’t going to end well.”

[canniestofarchers]

“My son wants this game and he’s going to get it!” The woman slammed her fist on the counter, “I can’t believe this, this is such terrible customer service! You know what? I want to talk to a manager!”

Oh now this...this, Tim’s been waiting a very long time to do. His boss clearly said Tim would be the manager if he ever left the premises. Tim hissed, “I am the manager.”

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

He nods and gives a polite wave, “Let me know if you need anything else!”

Tim then finished with his pile of clothes and went back to the counter, it wouldn’t hurt to check his phone, right?

“We will!” Off Victor and Alice proceed to the Housewares section, where – yup, Tim was exactly right. That is a LOT of floral patterns on those plates. “Goodness…”

“They’re not too horrible, I suppose,” Alice says, picking up a plate covered in bright yellow daisies and examining it for chips. “And if we can find a butterfly pattern, I’ll happily get that.”

Meanwhile, Victoria has found a plain white blouse that doesn’t look too out of date and is now searching for a dressing room, along with Emily. “”I still can’t believe what passes for selection here,” Emily mutters. “I mean, I’ve heard the 70s were coming back into style, but – I’m pretty sure some of those clothes haven’t been touched by human hands since Nixon was president.”

[canniestofarchers]

As Tim’s checking his phone, he’s humming to himself and slowly getting lost in his own world until...

“AHEM.”

Tim glanced up, he hoped it wasn’t a customer but alas, there was, and a pretty cranky looking one too. “Get off your phone you lazy entitled brat! I need you to get me this video game for my son.” The lady before him was the textbook version of a “Susan”; a woman with a blonde inverted bob and a constant smug aura, also likely to screech for a manager. Next to her was her tiny tot of a son, gelled hair done up into spikes added with the weight made him look like a young Guy Fieri.

“Terribly sorry ma’am, what game are you looking to purchase?” Tim put his phone away.

“This one!” She practically shoved the paper in his face. It was the cover art for a Rated E game, definitely not for Everyone that’s for sure. “I’m sorry ma’am but I can’t get this game.” He shook his head. “Why?” She snarled. “Because this a mature game and contains graphic content.” Tim explained in a bored tone.

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

“I’m honestly not surprised, we still carry toys from the 70’s that have been recalled,” Tim explained, “My coworker Dan nearly lost an eye playing with some lawn darts.”

“The selection isn’t as good but the prices are rivaling Goodwill’s.” He shrugged.

“. . .What, really?” Alice shares an astonished look with Victor. “I didn’t realize you meant that outdated. Is this store stuck in a timewarp?” She shakes her head. “Well, now I have to see what the rest of the place looks like.” Off she goes to Housewares with a determined stride.

“Down the rabbit hole,” Victor jokes, giving Tim a wave as he follows. “Good luck with all those clothes!”

[canniestofarchers]

He nods and gives a polite wave, “Let me know if you need anything else!”

Tim then finished with his pile of clothes and went back to the counter, it wouldn’t hurt to check his phone, right?

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

“Fair warning, everything here except the electronics isn’t much to behold. It’s mostly outdated products, as you can tell by me being alone here.”

“Ah – well, I guess given the state of the company, they don’t feel any particular rush to update the merchandise,” Alice says. “Still, it should make for some interesting things to look at, I guess.”

“Though it’s probably not good for Victoria and Emily’s blouse search,” Victor observes. “Unless they want something for Halloween next year.” (Which is basically exactly what Victoria is thinking as she and Emily continue to search for wheat among the mountains of chaff.)

[canniestofarchers]

“I’m honestly not surprised, we still carry toys from the 70’s that have been recalled,” Tim explained, “My coworker Dan nearly lost an eye playing with some lawn darts.”

“The selection isn’t as good but the prices are rivaling Goodwill’s.” He shrugged.

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

“Housewares are by the Electronics section, sadly its not that hard to miss.” Tim says, pointing at the gargantuan signs hanging above each section of the store.

“…Oh. Right,” Alice says, blushing as Tim directs their attention to the signs. “Those. Probably should read them, yes.”

Victor chuckles. “I think you might owe Emily an apology now.”

[canniestofarchers]

“Fair warning, everything here except the electronics isn’t much to behold. It’s mostly outdated products, as you can tell by me being alone here.”

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

“Well…I don’t know how this keeps happening. Though at this point, I don’t believe its even worth investigating anymore.” He groaned, putting the last of the jackets Woden left for him on a rack.

Oh and ah, fair warning, there hasn’t been any major updates to the rest of the store since the 1970s. Okay, admittedly, there’s the electronics section that’s always getting the latest games and televisions, but other than that? Nothing! Dan once found a vintage bra from the 1950s it was that old. Oh and there’s the mention of him also putting it on like they’re cat ears.

“Is there anything else I can do for you today?” Curse that retail training!

Victor and Alice share a sympathetic look as Tim admits there’s not really any point in investigating why he keeps having clothes to put away. “Yes, we’ve heard about the bankruptcy – I’m sorry,” Victor says genuinely. “It’s always sad when a company fails.”

“I suppose we can help keep you afloat for a little longer,” Alice says, looking around. “Where’s housewares? I might treat myself to a new dish.”

Meanwhile, Victoria and Emily are sorting through the racks of ancient clothing, trying to find something that they like. “I swear, this hasn’t been in style since before World War II!” Emily complains, holding up a blouse. “Is this store run by a hoarder?”

[canniestofarchers]

“Housewares are by the Electronics section, sadly its not that hard to miss.” Tim says, pointing at the gargantuan signs hanging above each section of the store.

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

“Blouses, right…they’ll be in the women’s department just a bit towards the back,” Tim answered in his best customer service voice - with the smile to boot, but it was already too late anyway, “For now, yes. My coworkers are off to grab lunch.”

“Ahh, I see. That’s a bit better then. Thanks.” Emily grabs Victoria’s arm. “Come on, let’s see what we can find back there.”

Alice and Victor linger by the counter as the two head off in search of blouses. “For not a lot of customers, you seem to have a fair amount of work,” Alice observes, nodding at the pile of clothes.

[canniestofarchers]

“Well...I don’t know how this keeps happening. Though at this point, I don’t believe its even worth investigating anymore.” He groaned, putting the last of the jackets Woden left for him on a rack.

Oh and ah, fair warning, there hasn’t been any major updates to the rest of the store since the 1970s. Okay, admittedly, there’s the electronics section that’s always getting the latest games and televisions, but other than that? Nothing! Dan once found a vintage bra from the 1950s it was that old. Oh and there’s the mention of him also putting it on like they’re cat ears.

“Is there anything else I can do for you today?” Curse that retail training!

[thevalicemultiverse]

canniestofarchers‌:

Tim’s mumbling to himself, “Damn it all Woden, it’s not that hard to fold a simple t-shirt, now it looks like a donkey chewed on it.” He sighed as he tried his best to smooth out the fabric before neatly placing it onto a shelf. The nerve of his coworkers, he loves them dearly but there are those days where they just drive him up a wall! It’s a miracle he was able to stay sane.

Well, he was lucky. With it practically being a ghost town in here he could do whatever he wanted, god knows where his boss may have wandered off to - likely towards Hot Topic to argue with his ex-husband yet again. He got up for a moment to stretch his arms, he hadn’t exactly slept well. With the store going under, he’s been scouring job markets for a new workplace, and the search hadn’t been as fruitful.

Maybe he could go check, his phone wasn’t too far from the counter- oh hello, a customer! Tim blinked to make sure he wasn’t suddenly having a hallucination. Black Friday was yesterday, how could there be a customer now?

Four customers in fact, Tim – Alice, Victor, and Emily bring up the rear as Victoria gives the employee a shy wave. Poor man, he looks stressed – and she caught a bit of his mumbling before. Seems his coworkers haven’t been picking up their share of the slack. Then again, she supposes work ethic is the first thing to go when you’re in a store on its last legs… “Hello,” she says, voice soft. “I was just wondering – where the ladies’ tops are? I was hoping to get a few blouses…”

“Is it just you?” Emily adds, looking around. She knows the parent company is bankrupt, but surely they can still keep more than just one employee around…

[canniestofarchers]

“Blouses, right...they’ll be in the women’s department just a bit towards the back,” Tim answered in his best customer service voice - with the smile to boot, but it was already too late anyway, “For now, yes. My coworkers are off to grab lunch.”