Another Man's Trash [Gabe/Archie]

Hearing about it from a friend, Gabe wanted to check out a local yard sale that seemed to be going on in the backlight district. As a matter of fact, it wasn't really much of a yard that they had to pick from, it was moreso the store that was going out of business and wanted to do something nice for the people in the backlight district to take what they wanted.

Some of the things there predated the great divide, it was something that Gabe would have wanted to see for himself. But of course, there could be a few boring things, like a tissue paper roller or an iron board.


"Good thing I brought the car around."

Yards sales were an amazing thing. Its full of trash but then there are hidden treasures among all the trash. Archibald like to wondered through those just to see what sort of weird things he could he find. This time it was a store that was about to close on the Backlight District. Did he expect to find anything cool? Probably fucking not but it would be a time waster to go through some figurative trash.

He wandered around a bit, eventually coming across some music tapes. One in particular caught his eye. It was pink, pink was cute. he reached to pick it up and check it out. His eyes had interest in them when he noticed it was one of those Vaporwave tapes. With a grin he would look up, ready to take it home when his eyes picked up on a familiar face.


"Yo!"

"Archie! You decided to come along to this yard sale like event?"

Gabe greeted his friend as he walked on over, somewhat surprised to see someone that he knew being over here. The event wasn't widely advertised and people came at a different time. However, there were some things that Gabe was looking forward to find, and he was hoping to keep searching until he found it. But for now, a small break and a chat with a friend wouldn't do any harm.

"Did you manage to find anything interesting? I always felt like the world's hidden gems is hidden beneath the content that nobody pays attention to."

"Just fucking around. Guess i just stumbled across and thought of checking out." The man shrugged, though he had a grin on his face. He'd stand still, letting Gabe approach him. "Eh, i found this dumb little thing. Just some funky and fun tunes. You had any luck finding cool shit? There's useful stuff around but its old and you can find other stuff like it elsewhere. Maybe i'm a late scavenger." He'd tap the pink tape against hist hand repeatedly.

"Well, i'm in the midst of looking for some cool things. I was thinking of getting a gift for a girl, something that has a bit more value and meaning than just looking at a regular store. I honestly don' t know what i'm looking for right now off the top of my head. Something small..."

Thinking a bit hard, Gabe would shake his head.

"Whatever it is, it'll turn up eventually. Besides that.... if you are the late scavenger, this must make me the early pesant...hehe"

"Alright Mr. Casanova, what's your girl like?" The clown's arms folded and his head tilted slightly to the left, he was a great wingman. In fact, the greatest wingman in all of Endymion, unmatched by the broest of bros. "I'm sure two brains can think better than one alone, i'll help make your girl the happiest girl in endymion."

"What's she like?"

Gabe started to think about Susan for a moment, there were a lot of things that came to mind.

"Calculating, like's order and goes through life like a schedule. She tries.. but is set in her routines of life... she likes art, quite talented when it came to painting. Very calculating.....i'm ....ahh...actually not sure of the perfect present..."

Gabe would say this as he scratched his head.

"I think she.... cringed just a little when i kissed her on the forehead...now that i...think about it...can it be that?.......well...whatever... that's all i got...."

Archibald would be nodding along as he listened to Gabe go on about his girlfriend. He started to picture a nerdy girl inside his head the more information he was given, very proper and probably dressed in a suit too. A weird couple, he always figured Gabe would be the smooth type who would score with bombshells each night. When the man was done talking the clown snapped his fingers.


"I got it!" There was a brief pause.
"If she is so calculating, maybe you should get her a calculator to calculate faster." He just grinned in silent for a while, deep down he was trying not to burst out of laughter. "Seriously though, she seems like the nerdy and shy type, man. Think she'd appreciate if you gave like, something that she told you she is into and you remembered it. Failing that, more stuff for her to paint in her free time or hell, something you painted... Or maybe stuff that would be useful for her work if she is so by the book." He was holding back to not make jokes about sex toys and how the quiet ones are kinky as shit.

"hahaha, well.... I don't think that a calculator or something for work at a place like this would be a thoughtful gift. I'm not broke to be presenting a hand me down as a present, I was mostly looking for something rare that could be presented as an item of sentimental value down the line. I did a painting for her already..."

Thinking a bit, Gabe managed to hatch an idea that he wanted to share with Archie.

"How about this? Maybe a jewelry box that I can repaint and have detailed? Maybe i might keep some of the old style works on the item, but i could maybe fix some of the damage? I never saw her wear jewelry alot, but the box itself could have some worth and you can put anything in it. "

"You sure about it? You could get her some of those fancy scientific calculators. Nerds love those." He kept on giggling like an idiot. Though he'd eventually stop himself to listen to Gabe. "Does she wear a lot of jewelry? I feel like she is the kind that would appreciate something utilitarian from your description. Though if she does, hey man it might be a hell of a good idea."

"No, she doesn't. But something like jewelry or a nice little trinket might be a bit useful in the sense of nostalgia and emotional comfort whenever you are away from the other person. Now that I think about it, talking to you sort of gave me a bit of a wonderful idea. Do you know those charm bracelets? Maybe I can find something like that, it could already have unique charms on it that could be used as a collection of some sort?"

Gabe was trying to wrap his head around it all.

"I think giving someone exactly what they want kind of lowers the insight of what someone could possibly enjoy. It might be less useful that hand-me-down utilities, but testing the waters to know more about the person you are dating is about some risks as well. Speaking of which, are you seeing anyone yourself?"

"Hm... Well, you know her better. If you think she'd enjoy a charm made just for her, then go for it. I'm sure if its not too gaudy and discreet enough she'd enjoy it." Archie tapped his chin while nodding a couple times. He still believed Gabe should get her a calculator. "I think it depends on the person. Wild fellas like us do enjoy being surprised but more orderly folks are not too fond of surprises, they like a routine and sticking to it is what pleases them. Booooring, but its just how the mind works." Archibald would think for a moment when Gabe asked if he had anyone.

"I see people all the time. Like you, in front of me right now." There was silence for a while, no cackle or childish giggle to accompany that pun. "Nah man, not for me. The road is my bride, i have forsaken all but pride."

"Well, what road? How far can we go on our own in a world where demons populate the earth?  The idea of a vagabond or even a bachelor sounds nice and all, trust me, I sang it's praises earlier in the game for the sake of avoiding the headache, stress, and disappointments. Unfortunately, I've been met with a few of those obstacles with a precious partner and we couldn't go past that. However.....there is a bright side!"

Was there?

" Well...the kind of companionship that isn't as temporary as what you would seek on any other average day. Maybe you would want someone to love and depend on? Someone as an equal, to make the effort to understand? Well, I don't know, We are birds in a cage and this is the lives that we live. Because everything seems so dangerous with us being so fragile, do you think we shouldn't seek bonds of that nature?"

"You do you man, dicking someone ain't any deeper than just hanging out with them." Archibald would shrug with a nonchalant attitude, he was fine the way he was and had no plans of changing it. No matter how people bugged him about it. "Basically, i'm cool. I don't want all that serious relationship responsibilities..." He paused, stretching his arms and relaxing. "... So, how about giving your girl one of those TI-84 calculators on top of that charm? Make it pink, pink is cute."

"I'm not trying to pry, I just end up thinking a lot. When I do, I start to realize that I don't have all the answers that I want. Then it gets to me sometimes, makes me nervous, afraid of the unknown. I believe that taking a few notions of thoughts and ideas from others can help me to reinforce my own. "

He ended up smiling, finally conceding to find that calculator.

"If you can help me find one around here. To make it more personal, I'm going to do some art and designs on the case to make it seem more feminine. It'll still be a good find, but it would be my personal touch to it."