closed starter for: @kritikalhit & @casimirdraven location: the grotto
chess was fully aware at this stage of the game that the character of potato chip the cat was one they had assumed responsibility for. on this night in particular, there were waves of people that came in, more than the cat had ever seen, and neither of the people who were supposed to be here were anywhere to be found.
it was clear what had to be done.
it did seem that curly trusted the two women she left in charge of the shop, but that didn't say too much to chess. trusting of almost anyone, curly was - it was clear in how she found home in the dingiest part of town and brought the world to see it. she was careless, that mermaid, whether she believed it or not. someone was going to have to watch her shop while she was gone and that someone was going to be named after a spud.
chess laid down in his spot, an elevated point on a shelf that had been cleared off just for him, and he watched as people weaved in and out between tables and shelves. there weren't many points where the cat had to intervene - only when he thought someone may take something that didn't belong to them - but from this spot he could see almost everything. so he sat, watched, and waited.
nothing would happen here on chess' watch. not if they could help it.