Pride and Pennilessness (Frog)

Posts : 320 Join date : 2018-10-28

Option A: Steal the book. You've got quick fingers and the store is super busy. It wouldn't be hard at all.

Option B: Be a contributing member of society and get money to buy the book properly.

Tamsin Ferrell had been standing outside the bookstore staring at the window for five minutes straight, trying to decide just how much of a delinquent she actually was. She could hear Isaac's disappointed remarks already, annoyingly pious for a guy who's every need was seen to by the government.

Tap tap tap. Her foot tapped the pavement. She looked back down at her hand holding what money she had. She almost had enough, but for that damned sales tax. It was amazing that a few circular pieces of metal could mean the difference between owning something and watching it sell out right before your eyes. There wasn't even a federal or state government anymore, so what was even the point of sales tax? ugh.

pop. Tamsin blew a bubble with her chewing gum and popped it, sucking it's remains back into her mouth as she looked around. That was when she saw the Laundromat a couple storefronts down. It was one thing to steal something, and another thing entirely to find it lying around. She'd done the latter quite a few times, if she was honest with herself.

It only took her a couple of seconds to come to this decision. A few minutes later she was adjusting her cap as she pushed open the door to the busy place. The warmth was a welcome reprieve from the chilly late-autumn air outside, and she found herself just walking among the rows of washing machines at first, looking at them. They had coin slots in them where customers would put in their shiny currency, and dispensers where extra coins would come out if they weren't needed or didn't quite go through right or whatever. It was pretty straight-forward.

With a quick glance around to see if anyone was paying attention to her, she causally probed the coin dispensers to see if any of them had coins in them - god willing, she'd find a couple quarters somewhere in this place. And then she could buy her book. And hide it. Yes, hide it well.

Posts : 2877 Join date : 2014-12-26 Age : 27

Ah the Laundromat. Frog considered this facility to be completely and utterly useless by today's standards of family living, as well he expected most everyone to have a working laundry machine at home. Of course, as such, the Laundromat was filled with the poorer caste, people he'd only unwillingly associate with unless they really fit him personality-wise. It was tough and surreal to imagine he'd ever find himself in a situation where he'd be forced to access and use the Laundromat himself, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Vista Square was quite far from his home, after all; he wouldn't endure walking all the way there in such a ruined sweatshirt.

Now the problem was waiting for it to clean. In a normal shirt. On a relatively cold day. He was forced to remain inside and stare at the hypnotizing tempest crafted by the spinning machine drums lest he desire to freeze outside. He could feel the gazes of everyone else present at the Laundromat-they could most definitely smell he was of higher value than them... Or well so he thought. In reality no one paid him any heed. Either way, he caught glance of a girl popping in from outside and starting to dig through the coin dispensers all over the place. His eyes slowly adjusted to her trajectory and the stealthy movement of her hands. She didn't look out of place nor as if she was doing anything out of place. That just meant she was good at being a petty penny thief. Well not even a thief really. She was just pathetic, having to resort to such measures. People who let themselves drop to such a status in society were really weak, he thought to himself.

Pulling a coin from out of his pocket, he decided to play a little game. He flipped it, sending it flying through the air until it landed next to the girl with the usual tinking sound of a coin. He did it so she wouldn't notice it was him, and he tried to look as if he was just minding his own business, without knowing about the coin and all that jazz.

Posts : 320 Join date : 2018-10-28

*tink*

Tamsin stopped, and looked down. A coin was still rolling in a semi-circle toward her, taping against her foot before falling flat. She blinked, staring at the coin. Someone had seen what she was doing, and was either trying to help...or trying to patronize her. Tamsin scowled to herself. Apparently she hadn't hidden her actions as well as she had hoped she was. Still...a quarter was a quarter. She squatted down and picked up the coin before looking around with narrowed eyes. She expected to lock eyes with someone. If someone was playing a game with her, they would probably be looking at her to gauge her reaction to their prank. She'd seen it with the kids at the orphanage more than once.

But in this instance she didn't lock eyes with anyone. Everyone seemed dutifully ignorant to her plight. Feeling suddenly as if everyone around her was in on some grand joke of which she was the punch line, she quickly pocketed the coin. Fine. Whatever. One coin down, two more to go...probably. three more, just to be safe. What even was sales take anyway? She didn't know the exact percentage.

More wary now, but still not quite at her desired output, she moved along, trying to be even more discreet than she had been before, and this time, she kept her eyes out for anyone who was giving her too much attention.

Posts : 2877 Join date : 2014-12-26 Age : 27

Frog was satisfied by the result. He caught the girl's swift squatting motion with his peripheral and had to suppress a grin. Going unnoticed was the biggest thrill, honestly. Had anyone of the people around him noticed him, he would've shat his pants there and then for publicly doing something like this. So a drop of sweat rolled down his forehead as he continued to stare at the machine's spinning vertigo.

Now what next? He was honestly always interested in seeing what these disgusting kinds of people did with the money they pitied out of honest men and women's pockets, but he had to be even more discreet. From as little as he glanced, he mostly lost sight of the girl and his heartbeat quickened in fear of having missed her exiting the Laundromat...but he'd always catch a glimpse of her every now and again. She didn't look to be doing much aside from moving around, so he assumed she upped her ante with the whole penny-rummaging gig. Darn he'd have to up his ante as well then and show her how it's done, then follow her to where she's gonna go buy her fix or alcohol or something. People like her all did those kinds of stuff, no?

Either way, Frog waited a bit before striking again. He moved towards the laundry machines, pretending to be inspecting how much longer til his stuff was all cleaned up, but in reality he was planting several coins in the dispensers of the machines, like, three machines in a row. That was gonna have to be suspicious to the girl but he was careful to move with the crowd so she'd have a hard time singling him out as the perpetrator. In any case, three coins were planted in the machines. She was bound to eventually find them at this pace.

Posts : 320 Join date : 2018-10-28

To say that Tamsin was suspicious was an understatement. She did her best not to look it, but she couldn't deny that she was curious why someone had tossed a quarter at her and said nothing. It was bugging her so much that she wasn't really searching for coins much anymore. She was biding her time, continuing her charade in an attempt to goad this person into revealing themselves or - perhaps - simply tossing more money at her, which she wouldn't mind. She was passing through a more crowded area near the front of the store when one of the coin depositories she passed over had a coin in it.

Her eyes snapped into focus as she took the coin and pocketed it. The next machine had a coin in it too, and the next. Three in a row. Tamsin didn't believe in coincidence any more than she believed in free and anonymous charity, and she looked around rather conspicuously this time. She locked eyes with a few of the people in the area, seeking a reaction from one of them, before moving toward the door that led out of the Laundromat. Games aside, she had the money she needed now, so the joke was on them.

Posts : 2877 Join date : 2014-12-26 Age : 27

Frog was one of the people Tamsin locked eyes with before moving towards the door. He'd been paying extra attention to her since she was passing by the target laundry machines so he didn't have the reflexes to jot his eyes away fast enough. However, he tried to remain calm as if simply turning his head in that accidental moment their eyes met.

Hopefully she wouldn't notice the slight quiver of surprise, maybe a tinge of fear as well, in his brow.

He went over to his laundry machine as she went towards the door. He wasn't gonna go after her the second she went out, but he didn't have time to waste either. Around 15 seconds after she closed the door behind herself, if even, he'd exit after her and scan the area outside to try and find her.

Posts : 320 Join date : 2018-10-28

Tamsin hadn't gone far when Frog came out to follow her. Money in hand, she had pulled out her own crumpled dollar bills and was counting her money out over and over. Nothing was worse than walking up to the register with something and not having the money to afford it. Yes...yes, this should be enough, she thought to herself as she approached the window of the book store, and caught a glimpse of the new release.

The sight brought an anticipatory smile to her face, and she strode a little bit faster toward the door, throwing it open and walking inside.

Posts : 2877 Join date : 2014-12-26 Age : 27

Now see, as it was previously demonstrated, Frog believed people who had to go laundry machine diving for quarters, no matter how young they looked, hanged out in like drug gangs in abandoned children's playgrounds shooting pigeons with spitballs. Also bullying fat kids. So the suprise on his face as his pr- targ- no all of these names were very insinuating and insensitive. When the girl walked into a bookstore, he was flabergasted, so much so that he had to stop for a moment and think about what was going on, as his brain was rejecting the very core of the idea. Not just that but that girl definitely had attitude with how she behaved at the laundromat, so why would a teen with attitude ever care about some silly old book? Was it the new edgy? Heck if he knew, he lived under a rock! He'd have to ask Tee when he got back home. She was around the girl's age, so she was surely gonna know.

Either way he stopped near the entrance to the bookstore, not really willing to go inside. He went up to the window and checked out what kinda book was on display there that would interest the girl.

Posts : 320 Join date : 2018-10-28

The display Frog would find was centered around the release of the seventh book in a running series, a fairly popular book series for the adolescents of Endymion, written by one of their own. The previous books were lined up above the display, with a stack of the new book sitting in front of the window. "Last Midnight the seventh and last installment in the iconic 'Seven Days to Remember' series written by acclaimed author Rose Red..." This display went on.

Tamsin would exit the book store a few minutes later, clutching a bag to her chest protectively. Her serious face was graced with a small contented smile. It was then that she noticed Frog, and recalled his face was one of the ones she'd locked eyes on in the Laundromat. The idea that he'd be here, now, looking at the same book that she'd just been glancing at...

She did not believe in coincidences. The serious look returned and she narrowed her eyes at him. "Are...are you following me?" She asked defensively, a bit of blush passing over her cheeks. If he knew she was looking at that book...he probably knew she'd just bought it. That was impossibly embarrassing. At least he was a stranger.

Posts : 2877 Join date : 2014-12-26 Age : 27

Ok, Frog definitely heard of the book involved and the whole series. Like, who hasn't? The thing was, infami was what made the thing so well-known in the public's eye, especially in the demographic Frog fell under, which were professional shitbags. He grinned as he observed the book, finding the whole idea of that petty scavenger diving for pennies just to buy something like this hilarious. He wanted to give her shit for this, honestly he wanted to do that so hard.

And then the opportunity presented itself as she showed up at the entrance of the store, with the book most likely in tow. As much as he wanted to give her shit however, he found himself standing still faced with her age. He just couldn't. What kind of a low level douchebag would he have to be to bully around someone younger than him. Nah that would be pathetic so he wouldn't do it. Instead, fear began creeping up his spine as he thought of the implications of her words. "N-no I wasn't. I'm just looking at the books. Who are you even?"

Posts : 320 Join date : 2018-10-28

Tamsin narrowed her eyes. She did not believe in coincidence. The question was, did she want to press the matter. If this boy was the one who had planted those quarters for her, then would he want them back? She had already spent them, and there was no way she was going to return the book to give him back the change. He was even standing outside the same display she'd been looking at. Now...it could possibly be that he was also a fan of the book series. She wasn't sure if that would make her more or less embarrassed to be seen reading them. But right now, she had to answer him.

"I'm Tamsin, and I just saw you in the Laundromat. Where are your clothes? Did you just leave them there to come to the book store at the exact same time I did?" She asked, with a raise of her eyebrow. Her tone wasn't confrontational, but still a bit defensive. Saying the words made the boy seem even more suspicious to her and she narrowed her eyes at him further. "Who are you even?" She returned.

Posts : 2877 Join date : 2014-12-26 Age : 27

"M-my clothes!" Frog's initial reaction was shock and fear. Did he perhaps walk out of the laundromat undressed? Was she seeing his bare naked, obviously-not-as-manly-as-he'd-want-it-to-be chest??? But the answer was no. A swift tactile inspection revealed the soft fabric of the shirt he was wearing. But true enough he did indeed leave his clothes that were being washed, something he really wouldn't have done under normal circumstances, so a second shock struck him at this realization. "I-I uhh I mean I didn't even have that many clothes in the laundry machine! Like, a sweater I spilled some shit on. I normally wouldn't even go to a laundromat, this was an emergency!"

When he was done explaining, he had to clear his throat and ease his collar up nervously. "Name's Frogerio. Not that it should matter to you because this was just random. Wait a sec, I can throw that question right back at you just like you did at me right now! Where are your clothes? Didn't see you have any at the laundromat!"

Posts : 320 Join date : 2018-10-28

Tamsin raised an eyebrow. Was this guy stupid or something? She almost laughed as he felt his shirt to make sure he was indeed wearing clothing. But she didn't laugh, because she was too busy being embarrassed and still suspecting him of messing with her. But she kept her face free of blush for the most part. So he had left his clothes in the laundromat and popped over here to look at books while he waited...that could be true, but most people didn't just leave their stuff in the laundromat. People could steal it or something.

He introduced himself then, which seemed odd at first, but they were having a conversation at this point, regardless of how it started. "I'm Tamsin..." She stopped, and felt the hot blush come across her features now. How was she supposed to get out of this one? She was almost sure now that he was the person who had been messing with her with the coins in the laundry machines, but now in order to confront him, she'd have to admit what she'd been doing in the first place. Which...okay, it probably wasn't entirely legal, but she only snatched from unattended machines..."It-It was you, wasn't it? with the coins in the washing machines?!" She accused, reflexively deflecting the spotlight to him.

Posts : 2877 Join date : 2014-12-26 Age : 27

She seemed befuddled at his introduction, but then again, she was the first one to even ask about his identity! Frog introspectively suspected, intently eyeing the situation's development, that Tamsin meant it in a different way, but what was done was done and he'd already introduced himself, prompting her to do the same before falling awfully quiet. Despite the shade her cap covered her face in, Frog was quite sure she was blushing or somesuch.

And then he realized he was actually the first one to ask of her identity and that she'd already introduced herself. And he blushed as well, but only out of loathing his own stupidity. "Y-you already introduced yourself, why're you doing it again?" He retorted harshly. If he felt stupid, he'd damn well make her feel just as stupid as well.

Now, her sudden outburst only served to trigger him. "A-ha, so you do admit you weren't there on laundry business!" He laughed and grinned in response, pointing a finger at her victoriously. She was obviously trying to shift the conversation to him, but he wouldn't have it. Nor would he verbally admit to having any part in what she accused him of.

Posts : 320 Join date : 2018-10-28

Had She already introduced herself? That was embarrassing. In her flustered state she must have forgotten she'd said it. Thinking back now, she thought maybe she had said it when he had asked her who she was. Blinking, she felt herself losing ground yet again.

With his accusatory outburst, she knew she had made a mistake. Her cheeks flushed and she clutched her book a little tighter to herself. Now how was she supposed to get out of this precarious social situation. She bit her lip. "Of-of course I wasn't. Who uses a laundromat anyway. We have laundry machines at the orphanage. I was looking for someone...But I didn't find them." She shook her head. She had no doubt this Frogerio was the culprit behind the coin mystery. But was that a bad thing? He hadn't announced it yet, looked like he was trying to hide it even, which meant he probably wasn't going to ask for the money back. That was a good thing, she supposed. "And now that I have conducted all my business in this area, I need to be getting back..."

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