Wasting Time(Tamsin)

His fingers strummed the strings of his instrument while his eyes were fixated on any passerby. Sunlake Palms was not as dense with people as Vista Square, Suzie Q or the Backlight but it was a calm place. Not that Archie minded the hectic ambient of those 3 but it was a welcome change of pace when he wanted to just fool around. He wasn't looking to make any money or take any money from unsuspecting citizen, just having a good time was enough for this clown. He didn't play any popular song or anything either, just some ballads his family would play in their circus before the divide.

"Damn." Tamsin squinted angrily at the vending machine. The bag of chips she wanted was hanging quite securely by one corner, dangling like a carrot. What a waste of 60 cents. Tamsin kicked the Machine hard enough to shake it and give her a numb shock up her calf for the trouble.

Grunting, the young girl walked out onto the main street. A strumming greeted her ears then, and, interest piqued, she turned back down the alley to the next street over. Sure enough, there was a man sitting playing his instrument on the side of the road. The tune was good, and she watched him play for a few minutes, getting steadily closer. Her hands were in her pockets when she finally decided to approach him between songs.

"Sorry, I just wasted my last couple quarters on a stupid vending machine, other wise I'd tip you. You're really good." her face still bore It's typical serious expression. She couldn't help but feel bad that she didn't have any money to throw the man's way.

A young girl, with blonde hair. She seemed to appreciate his song, she even stopped to listen. Upon hearing the compliment a smirk formed on his face and a low Heh escaped his mouth. He'd then tip his cap and speak.

" 'Ey kid, i ain't doing this for money. Still nice knowing folks like what i do." He'd have stopped playing the instrument at this point, he'd even flash a thumbs up at the blondie. "Stupid vending machine tho? Ain't seeing any snacks. Did it scam ya' out of your coins or somethin'?" He'd chuckle a bit, he'd play the instrument for a bit again.

Tamsin looked a little surprised when the man took an interest in her vending machine slights. She seemed hesitant at first, but her face soon gave way to something in between a pout and embarrassment. "Yeah....It got stuck." she confessed, as if it was her own personal failing that led to her snackless state.

"So...you just play for everybody because you want to?" If he could get paid to do it, why wouldn't he? Her tone was inquisitive, curious, and with a note of embarrassed deflection.

"Shame." That piece of information, that got the gears inside his head grinding. Devising a devious plan and set a bad example for the girl, though in this particular instance he liked to think breaking the law would be more akin to robin hood rather than that delinquent who goes around breaking the law. Not that he particularly cared about the morals or ethics of what he did, but it was still something to think about. He'd give the girl a sympathetic look and shake his head while it hanged low for a bit.

"Nah, I was in a pretty wild party yesterday, things got crazy. So y'know, wanted to slow down by coming to Sunlake Palms. I usually won't play for nothing'." His inner thigh still hurt a bit from that tattoo. Absolute crazy times. "Where are your parents though? Can't they help ya' with the food machine problem?"

That made sense. She'd seen people on the side of the street after parties before. She tried to stay away from them, because they were almost always inebriated. This person seemed like he'd had atleast enough sense to be able to function the day after, so that atleast spoke positively of him.

Tamsin was uncomfortably used to this next question. The serious expression returned to her face then, and she stated flatly. "I haven't got any." it wasn't a grab at sympathy, wasn't a cry for help. It was just a fact. She was alone in the world most of the time. And
that wasn't likely to change.

"Shit kid, i'm sorry." The Jester should have know better not to ask this shit to a lone kid, he lost his parents himself. For once in his goddamn life he felt bad for someone. Now he definitely was going get this girl some snacks. "I lost most my family during the divide, being honest with ya'. Parents too, so its just me and ol' gramps." He was open about it, its not like that stuff mattered anymore. And he still got his gramps, good ol' Jean who to this age was a goddamn Casanova. If there was anyone this fickle Forgotten loved, it was his gramps.

His head would raise, looking around for a vending machine. There was one just across the street.

"Hey blondie, what were you trying to get from the machine?"

Tamsin didn't need his sympathy, just like she didn't need the sympathy of most people in Endymion. But as he mentioned he'd lost his parents too, she thought that she could do with a little empathy perhaps. She smiled a little, and nodded. "It's good that you have someone. Not everyone does." she remarked.

When he asked her what she wanted, she found herself suddenly self conscious. Why did he care what kinds of snacks she liked? It was a little more personal a question than she was immediately prepared to answer. "I-it was just a bag of chips. Nothing special, or anything..." she trailed off. She was not about to ask him for help, if that's what he was on about.

"Yeap, people gotta stick together now days or some fucking bullshit like that..." It was at that moment he'd stand up, putting his guitar on the bench. The young man would stretch his back, fix his cap on his head, check his pockets. It was as if he was taking all the time in the world after having stood up. " Ey, blondie. Can you watch my guitar real quick? Gonna be right back." And with that he'd cross the streets, hands in his pockets and relaxed posture.

He'd approach the vending machine taking a good look around, seeing if nobody was watching. The streets were pretty empty at the time, he'd take out a bill with a tape in it. It was like coin with a string trick. After having fooling the machine for a big bag of potato chips he shoved the bill back in his pocket and came back to the blondie while whistling.

"Yo, i'm back. Nobody touched it, right?" Archie chuckled for a bit before holding out the bag for Tamsin.

Relevant strengths:

"Yeah, sure..." Tamsin allowed, watching him make a show of standing up. He was a bit of a snowboarder, wasn't he? But that wasn't a bad thing, she supposed. He reminded her of Isaac a little bit, actually.

Then he walked over to the Vending machine, and Tamsin was mortified. He...he didn't need to do that! She never asked him to...! But She wouldn't let it go to waste, of course. "No, it's fine." she replied, accepting the bag of chips. "But you...didn't have to do that. I can't repay you..." she looked down at the bag of chips and somehow felt like she was stealing from him. It was hard to accept kindness from strangers, knowing you would be hard-pressed to return the favor. "Thank you."

"Psh... Trust me blondie, it cost me almost nothing to get this. Think of it as payment for watching my guitar for a while." It actually didn't cost him anything at all but hey, she didn't had to know he stole it. He'd sit down again, picking up his guitar. "So, what's your name?"

Tamsin broke into a small smile. Well, she had it now...and she had been craving chips... She sat down next to him cross legged on the ground as he sat down with his guitar. "Tamsin" she replied, popping a chip into her mouth. After a moment, she held the bag out to him if he wanted some. "You?"

"Archibald, or Archie. Or gray even, hell whatever works for you is fine by me, blondie." They all worked for him, if she came up with something new even better. Even if it was insulting he'd find some comedy in it. Being able to laugh at others and yourself was an important part of life. When offered the chips he'd just make a hand motion to refuse."Nah, i'm cool Tamsin, had some snacks before coming here. Thanks anyways." He'd begin to play his instrument again, not paying much mind to what the girl did next.

So his name was Archibald. He kept calling her Blondie which...she didn't really mind, actually. Isaac never used a pet name like that with her. And the kids just called her Tam or big sis. Or Tam-tam. She punched those kids. In any event, this was okay. She didn't have anywhere else to go, and she liked his music, so she continued to sit and eat her chips softly, while listening to the music the man played.

It was okay to do nothing when you had all the time in the world, after all.