Little Joys

She would smile, but I could tell that she wasn't happy. There wasn't a light to her eyes, even though I could see her trying to actually be happy where it counted.
And I counted myself lucky that I was one of those people that she tried to be happy for.
We didn't speak much, after all, she came in just for food. A simple order that didn't change. A small hamburger, no mustard with a side of fries and a lemonade to drink. Our conversations didn't last much longer than it took me to get her food.
But still I tried, in those few minutes to give her something happy to look forward to.
Fresh fries, lightly salted. Lemonade that had hardly any ice so she would get more. Little things like that. Some days I could only wave and call out hello when I saw her.
But it seemed to make a difference.
As little by little. Her shy hellos became louder, her smile wider, her eyes lighting up when she would walk in the door and see that I was already calling for her order to be made.
I only wished I could do more. Because seeing that smile. I didn't ever want to see her frown.

-Inspiration from going into Wendy's

Ken

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a pet store owned by the Mafia.

Billy: Sarnic! Come see what I did!
*drags me to the fish wall and points to a Ken Doll tied up, laying in the bottom of a tank* He's sleeping with the fishes!

A New Law

"Do you think he even realizes that most of the kingdom's citizens don't even follow his silly laws?" A man grumbled as he crumpled up the paper, tossing it into the nearest bin where other papers of similar shape resided.
I nodded to myself, lifting up the collar of my coat. I'd seen the paper earlier in the morning. It was a stupid law that all left handed people needed to wear green gloves to mark them out. Being a righty myself, it didn't apply to me, but Mrs. Featherstone from the bakery was, and I'd seen her lift an eyebrow and not do a thing. "He keeps trying to divide us out." I remarked. "But so far I've only seen him drawing the country closer."

The man snorted. "What a waste of leadership. We should be concerned about more important issues like trade and building relations with kingdoms. Instead we're stuck with a whiny king who has caused us to be the laughing stock of the country. It's gotten to the point where I don't dare to admit I hail from this city unless I want to be mocked my entire trip abroad."

"Aye, I know the feeling." I agreed. Honestly, we could have had a better king if the man would grow a spine and a brain to match. Did he honestly believe that his kingdom had nothing better to do than follow the silly edicts of fashion he came up with, or the odd customs to ward off evil spirits? It wasn't like Spirits, Fairies, or Fayes even existed.

-Inspiration from politics

If I Ever -Let Kids Fish

It's not an uncommon sight at my work, to see parents telling their kids to not play in the water of the fish tanks, or to tell them that the kids can't catch the fish.

But I think.
If I were to ever own my own pet store.
I would have some....activities that kids could do within the store.

Like I would have a separate fish tank, away from all the fish I was selling, that would hold a bunch of fake fish. Perhaps those mechanical ones that swim about, or just general floaty ones that would flow with the currents of the tank.
And I would have nets available to give the kids the opportunity to 'practice their skills' and 'catch their own fish.'

Maybe if I find some cheap penny toy fish, I would even let the child keep the fish they caught. lol.

It would be fun and entertain them.
While hopefully keeping them distracted from the fact that they can't catch the real fish in the tanks for sell.

The New Me

I don't know who I am when I wake up.
But as I do know that I've been experiencing this for a while now, so it usually doesn't hit me until I finally look in the mirror and a stranger stares back.
I can't remember what I've looked like before now. I never can remember my past selves. I just know that I looked different the day before, but now, I look like this. Blonde wavy hair, grey eyes, a crooked grin that gave me a prankster's appearance. I smiled wider at that thought. Perhaps I could be a prankster today. With no past to hold me back, I could be whatever I wanted to be for today, every day. Tomorrow I would be someone else after all.

-Inspiration from daydreaming

If I Ever -Ship Design

If I Ever decide to Design a Ship. Like A Cruise Ship.

The first thing I'd do is Sound proof the Floors and Ceilings of all the Cabins.

Why?
So if the Cabins can only be placed above/below like the Theatre, Casino, Dining Areas...

The guests staying within the cabin wouldn't be disturbed by the noise going on above or below them.

-I'd leave the walls standard thickness that they have currently, after all, announcements should still be heard throughout the ship.
-Unless those cabins border noisy places then I'd sound proof that wall.

Definitely going to be a priority if I ever design a ship. Make sure the cabins are quiet places to relax without being bothered by what's going on around them. :)

Trade

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a pet store owned by the Mafia.

Me: "Thanks for calling Starsmet my name is Sarnic how can I help you?"
Woman on phone: *nearly begging* PLEASE. Please. Don't put my on hold again. I've been put on hold twice already.
Me: Alright, what can I help you with.
Woman: I have the money, *voice trembling* Please just let me have my Freddy back."
Me Uh...I don't...deal with that part of the business.
Woman: *nearly wailing* WHAT AM I GOING TO DO! I got the money! Please! Don't put me on hold, I don't have much time left before Fredd--
Me: *interrupting* Don't worry, don't worry I'm not going to put you on hold. *walks over to the boss* One second. *looks to boss* "Hey, you holding Freddy?"
Boss: *looks up* Yah...why?
Me: Woman on the phone says she has the money, but you keep putting her on hold.
Boss: "Oh? Huh, well, give me that." *grabs phone from hand waving me away*

Swimming

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a pet store owned by the Mafia.

*Boss trudges into the store, pants wet up to the knees, fuming* Who in the bloody blazes decided to create a pond in our bloody parking lot!?
Me: That would be the storm, sir.
Boss: *glares* Well, someone better be fixing it!
Me: *points* Billy's on it.
*Billy walks by in swim trunks, snorkel, and flippers* ...

Smashed

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a pet store owned by the Mafia.

Boss: Sarnic! Why does it say here you wrote off 26,000 crickets?
Me: Because I did?
Boss: How could we lose that many!? We just got them in.
Me: *glances to George who shifts uncomfortably* One of the new hires had a Wreck-it Ralph moment and smashed them all.

Target

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a pet store owned by the Mafia.
Me: *mentally counts to ten* Tommy... Just because a bird gets loose in the store doesn't mean that it gives you permission to pull out your gun and use it as target practice. *points* Same to you, Gary. *glares* Just because the bird pooped on your favorite shirt doesn't mean you can shoot it either.

Jump

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a pet store owned by the Mafia.
*after a mad dash up to the front of the store*
Me: Next time a fish jumps out of the tank, Billy, how about you put it back in the water first THEN come find me?

Freezing

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a pet store owned by the Mafia.

*overheard conversation*
Gary: I'm serious man! She stood there like a freaking ice queen, lecturing us for fifteen bloody minutes in that freezer about snake care while our limbs are turning blue. She didn't even shiver once!

Untied

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a pet store owned by the Mafia.
George: SARNIC!!!
Me: Yaah??
George: Did you untie Gunnerson!?
Me: Yes.
George: Why in the blazes did you do that? ...
Me: *eyes narrow and George takes a step back* How else was I supposed to be sure that I'd rescued all the snakes from his clothes?
George: *throws up his hands* Great! Now we have to go hunt him down again.
Me: You don't have to look that hard.
George: What do you mean?
Me: *shrugs* He's behind the fish tanks asleep. I told him as long as he didn't run I'd make sure the guys didn't bring the snakes near him.
George: O_O oh.....

Intimidation

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a pet store owned by the Mafia.
Boss: Is it true that you stuck everyone in the freezer this morning?
Me: Yes, sir.
Boss: Is it true that you were in there as well only wearing short sleeves when you did this?
Me. Uhh yah? It wasn't that cold.
Boss: O_o ..... I see..... *walks away muttering* no wonder the guys are terrified of her. ...

Frozen

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a pet store owned by the Mafia.
*Leads gang out of the walk-in freezer*
Me: Now. What did you learn?
Gang: *shivering* Not to leave the snakes out of their cages at night.
Me: Exactly. Don't do it again. Especially in the winter.

Bound

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a pet store owned by the Mafia.

*walks into back room and flips on lights only to see Gunnerson bound and gagged to a chair*
Me: Gunnerson? Have you been here all night?
Him: *nods frantically*
*Suddenly his shirt twitches and a snake head pops out*
Me: *eye twitches * Have the snakes been with you all night too? ...
Him: *whimpers*

Shovel

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.
Me: "It's a net, Billy. NOT A SHOVEL! You use it to catch the fish, not smash them against the wall nor bury them in the gravel."

Alive

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.

George: "So Sarnic, How's the new guy working out?
Me: *flat eyed look* About as expected.
George: "Huh? Why do you say that?"
Me: Considering the last guy you hired managed to smash all our crickets in less than 30 seconds when he saw them and freaked out....this guy is an improvement in only that I might manage to convince him that the Fish should still be alive after he catches them for the customers.
George: "...I see." ...

Fishes

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.
Old Woman: This young man wouldn't give me a discount because the coupon I found on the food was expired!
Boss: What? How dare he. Don't worry ma'am, he'll be sleeping with the fishes tonight. We'll make this right.
Me: *whispering to my coworker* : He's serious you know, she's our best paying customer. I'd probably either grovel now, or as soon as you get off, Run for your life and don't come back.
Coworker: ()_()

Fingers

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.

Me: "GEORGE!"
George: "yah Sarnic?"
Me: *pinching the bridge of my nose* "How many times do I have to tell you that dismembered fingers don't go in the fridge with the frozen fish food!"
George: *looking sheepish* "....a dozen more times?"
Me: *rolls eyes and points* "Get them out of the freezer! Now." ...
George: *salutes wide eyed* "Yes Ma'am!"

Trash

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.
New Worker: "Why do we have a trash can full of rotting fish?"
Me: "Boss is saving them."
New Worker: "...Why?"
Me: *shrugs* "He shoves people's heads in there when they displease him."
New Worker: ()_() "oh."

Fears

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.

Boss: "Sarnic...where did Gunnerson go?"
Me: *hanging head* "Uh...he left."
Boss: "We had a 1 pm meeting! What in the world did you do?!"
Me: "I happened to have a snake in my hands when he walked in....he left very quickly."
Boss: *goes quiet* "Afraid of Snakes huh? Good to know." ...
*Turns to Vice President.* "George! Order in more snakes! Gunnerson can't stand them." *walks away muttering* "He'll have to settle his debts now. Finally those creatures are good for something."

Bullets

It's not everyday that you find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.....but this is what happens when you do find yourself working in a store owned by the Mafia.

Me: "Uh, Boss....the Fish Tanks are leaking again."
Mafia Boss: "Why in the Blazes are they leaking now?!"
Me: "...there was a gun fight."
Mafia Boss: "Oh for crying out loud!" *opens secret door and yells out to the gang* "What have I told you guys about shooting guns out front! Those fish tanks aren't cheap you know!"

Packing Tension

It's probably the stress of packing for vacation that did it.
The tension of trying to fit everything into a small space.
The worry of wondering what you're going to end up forgetting.
The stress of wanting to get to places on time.
And the sense of the unknown as you don't quite know what to expect from this particular vacation...

Yah, no wonder there's a headache lurking about.

Latched On

"I can't believe it, she usually doesn't take to strangers." The woman said, a hand coming up to cover the smile on her face.
I glared down at the midget clinging to my pant leg. "Oh." I managed. Why in the world would this child want anything to do with me? I hated children. She smiled up at me silently, before burying her head against my knee. I tensed further like a coiled spring. "Well. That's nice." I returned my attention to the woman, probably the mother. "You can take her back any time now."
I was only here under duress, that didn't mean I had to participate in this kid program.
Unfortunately the child refused to unlatch herself from my leg. Despite the woman's attempts to tempt her away from me.
Growing impatient, I lifted my leg, impressed despite myself, that she managed to hang on. Mentally I threw my hands up in the air, physically I exhaled and shrugged. "Don't worry about it. She'll let go, eventually." Hopefully. I wasn't in the mood to get my leg amputated to get the parasite away from me. "Hold on, squirt." I said turning away from the woman to walk over to where the others were gathering. She held on tightly and I thought I heard her giggle. Great. She thought this was fun. Just my luck to have one of the children actually like me.

-Inspiration from thinking about interacting with children at work.

For Your Frenemy

She fell to her knees, arms crossed over her chest, as she huddled in on herself.
Gone. Gone. Her powers, her abilities that she'd relied on for her entire life, gone. Fading away like snow in the spring. What was she without her magic?
She closed her eyes, desperate to stop the tears, the traitorous tears, from breaking free. But even her body betrayed her now, the salty liquid squeezing between her lids to trail down her cheeks. She didn't want this, had never wanted this.
Yet she'd done it. And no one would know, not even the one she'd given up her powers for. Why had she ever thought that this sort of sacrifice was worth it? To save one soul only to loose everything that made up her own? She shivered. Now she had to live with this...this emptiness. How could anyone survive this!

-Inspiration from reading a fic where a witch gives up her powers to save a frenemy

Away From The Crowd

I couldn't quite stamp down the irrational irritation that flowed through me as I listened to the teacher go through the roll. It wasn't like moving to a new school would change the fact that Mary was a popular name. It wasn't like I'd somehow manage to be the only Mary in the class. I knew this. But still, I wished that it would happen.
But with just my luck, class didn't have just one other Mary. No there were six of us. SIX! I groaned to myself as Mary Anne, Mary Sue, Mary Jean, Mary Kay, and Mary Lynn were all called.
At least we'd moved past being referred to by the first letter of our last names as a differenator, but it wasn't like I wanted everyone knowing my middle name, nor did I want to constantly be called Mary Rosaline either. I didn't like my middle name. Especially when it was shortened to Rosie.
"Here." I called out, hand tightening on my pencil as I heard 'Mary Rosaline Wright' called. Was it too much to ask to be just known as Mary? Just once?
I pulled my hair forward, to hide my face as I looked down to the notebook I was doodling on. Six Mary's in one class. I mentally moaned. I was doomed to be lost in the crowd, again, in this new school.

-Inspiration from reading a post about stories never dealing with people having the same name.

If I Ever -Lucky Pennies

I dreamt a dream recently.

Where at my work we had a sale called "The Lucky Penny."

Which basically was an orange stamp looking sticker that had "lucky penny" written on it.

The way the Lucky Penny worked,

was that each day we'd get a certain amount of 'stamps' say like 10.

And we could choose a product to put the stamp on.

Like a can of food, or a bag, or something like that.

And if a customer found that item that had the sticker on it.

Then they would pay the 'lucky penny' price.

Which basically meant you'd pay "pennies" for the item instead of the full amount.

In the dream a woman had bought two $1.00 bags with the sticker on them. And after scanning both bags she ended up paying a nickel total. As one ended up being $0.03 and the other $0.02 cents.

It definitely is an interesting concept to consider.

Being able to make a person's day because they'd found a Lucky Penny on their product.

Though I could see the draw backs to this sort of sale.

Like say a penny stamp was place on an item that cost hundreds of dollars.

The store would probably lose money that way. :S

There's also the concern that customers could go mob crazy trying to find the ten stamps within the store. Leading to fights, stressed out coworkers, and of course, a store left looking like a hurricane had hit it.

Still...

It's a fun concept.

It may have to have a bit more of a random factor to it though.

Instead of it being a stamp on a product.

It may be an algorithm within the computer/register where after a certain amount of transactions, a customer would get the "Lucky Penny" status where their entire transaction would amount to just a few pennies. Probably something like a penny per item bought or something like that.

That could be fun. Especially if you never knew when it was going to happen.

Lucky Pennies....

definitely something to think about. :)

Confirmed

You can't fool a Doctor.
After all, taking people's pulses is basically what I do all the live long day.
Check the pulse, check the eyes, check the lungs. All standard procedure.
So when I say someone is dead.
They're dead.
No pulse. Obviously means dead.
The body I walked away from two years ago. Was dead.
I'd moved on.
We'd all moved on.
Me, less better than others had.

Even though I was the one to confirm death originally.
It's not always the easiest to believe that one you considered as close as family, would never walk in your door again.

So how...how could they be standing right in front of me.
When I'd confirmed them dead, two years ago.

After all...you shouldn't be able to fool a doctor.

-Inspiration in response to watching Sherlock Season 4 Episode 1

Loner

Loneliness.

It was a feeling I'd long grown accustomed to.

After all. Loners ended up being by themselves.

And I'd been by myself for a long time.

Longer than I cared to try to remember actually.

It was my lot in life I supposed.

To always end up by myself.

Making friends was pointless.

Holding a steady job, just as pointless.

Relationships. Hardly in the picture at all.

Because in the end.

They all left.

Or I suppose, I left them.

After all, who could deal with someone like me for long?

No one.

-Inspiration from random musings

Before the Cameras

The cameras flashed in my face and a roar of voices attacked me as I stepped out of the hotel room, temporarily blinding me. I paused, raising a hand to shield my eyes so I could adjust them. "What's all this?" I asked, glancing to the officer beside me.
He smiled. "It's been all over the news that you've solved the 15 year old murder case in under just two hours. People want to meet the genius who found the murderer that we police couldn't."
I just barely managed to not grimace in front of all the cameras. "Oh..." I hadn't expected that. I just had gotten curious and followed the clues. Who would have expected that the same guy would have been cleaning the hotel for the past 15 years? Talk about luck. Talk about stupidity that he wasn't implicated before this point. There had been signs everywhere that he'd done it. Of course, police work wasn't what it was now back then. "I'm sure if you'd reopened the case, you guys would have figured it out just as quickly." I hedged. "It's just that I got there first."
"And the media is dying to find out how you managed just that." The officer said with a smile. Gesturing me forward. "Go ahead, we've already given our statements to them, you can have your 15 minutes of fame."
"I hope it's more like two minutes. This is embarrassing." I muttered, lowering my hand keeping a polite smile on my face as I strolled forward. I had no idea what I was doing. It wasn't like I was used to cameras in my face after all.

-Inspiration from a dream where I'd solved a 15 year old murder and now had to face the media.  

If I Ever -Bread Dipping

If I Ever open a food place....

You know, like a café or small restaurant or something.

I'm going to have it bread themed.
Not a bakery.
Nor a sandwich place.

But it would be....like a fondue place.
Where I sell all sorts of types of bread.
And also things to dip them in.

So there would be the typical melted cheese, marinara, ranch and the like dips for the bread/breadsticks/rolls.

But I would also provide soups.
Not to drink the soup. No the soups would be the kinds that you dip your bread in.
So they would come in small bowls.
Big enough for bread, but too small for a meal.

There would be creamy soups.
and cheesy soups.
And tomato soups etc.

Though...I'd probably have to do a daily soup or something. Maybe have two or three dailies.
In any case.

It would be a bread café.
For those craving cheese bread, garlic bread, Italian bread, French bread, etc.
As well as things to dip them into.

Yah.
That would be my lil shop. :)

A Shovel

I couldn't tell you what started this. I mean, shoveling snow for other people isn't that life changing of an event. I've seen countless movies about it. And people have to do it all the time if they want to be able to get their cars out of the driveway and avoid an icy mess later on.

But shoveling snow at three in the morning?

Why in the world had I ever decided this was a good idea?

My breath fogged the air in front of me as I shoved another shovel full of the white stuff off the driveway of the neighbors eleven houses down from my own. I'd only come outside to shovel my own driveway after I couldn't sleep. I'd hoped that the exercise would tire me out enough that I could go back indoors and just crash on the couch and sleep until morning.

But somehow, my driveway turned into the Old McGrady's Driveway, then to the Twin Terror's driveway, and on and on. I was exhausted. That could be said. Nobody in their right mind would shovel so many other houses without a snow blower at least. And even then, they wouldn't be doing it at three in the morning. Or was it four now? I'd started at three. So it probably....well...next time I saw a clock I would know for sure how long I'd been out here. 

I exhaled, leaning on said shovel as I studied my handiwork for a second. One side of the street down, only the other side to go, I thought, turning to cross the unplowed street. Even the snow plows weren't up and moving yet. 

Yah, I'd definitely gone crazy somewhere between my house and Mr. Wallace's place. 

Still. I put foot to shovel. Only 11 more houses to go. Then I'd be done. Everyone would wake up to cleared driveways. And I would hopefully finally get some rest.

-Inspiration from walking out in the morning to go to work and finding someone had already shoveled our driveway for us.  

Brain: We should have a character that knows a foreign language.
Me: Why?
Brain: So when a side character speaks in that foreign language the main character can respond to it!
Me: But...we don't know a foreign language.
Brain: That's what google translate is for! Come on! Foreign Language!
Me: But...the readers...
Brain: Never mind that. FOREIGN LANGUAGE!!! Let's imagine the scenario okay? You'll see. It will be amazing! FOREIGN LANGUAGE CONVERSATION!!!!

The Almost Apocalypse

"Hey! Can you lend me a hand?" A girl's voice called out, startling me from my dark thoughts. I jerked my head up, my fingers loosening on the trigger of the gun hidden in my pocket. I met eyes with a red haired girl, and then looked behind me when I realized she was staring in my direction.
"Yah, you in the hoodie. A hand please?" She called. I frowned, realizing that I was the only one currently in a hoodie. I reached up pulling said hood further over my eyes and ambled forward.
"Whadoyouneed?" I mumbled. Seriously? Why did this random girl pick today of all days to notice me? No one ever noticed me in a positive way. Anger flicked through me as my hand tightened on the trigger once more. Had I just stupidly walked into a trap? Even after all this time? What was it going to be? A slushie down my back? A trip down the stairs?
"Your hand of course." She said like it was obvious. She grabbed the one that had been messing with my hoodie and jerked me forward. "Our model is sick today and my class needs someone to model hands today." She flashed me a brilliant smile. "Hope you didn't need to do something for the next three hours."
I blinked, tensing, my steps staggering. "Th-three...HOURS?!" I said in a half strangled shout.
Her grip didn't weaken as she pulled at me. "Sure, it's not that bad. You sit there, we stare at your hands, and I'll buy you lunch afterwards. Sound good?"
"I...uhh..." Art? Modeling"I couldn't help but think this was a trap. Ending with me covered in plaster. But she offered lunch....nobody had offered me lunch before.
She pulled me indoors of the art building. "I really appreciate this." She flashed me another smile. "I'm Emily by the way. What's your name?"
"Ah..." I lowered my head. "Jesse."
"Jesse. Nice to meet you." She suddenly stopped. "Here we are!" She said gesturing with her free hand to the metal door. She turned to me, ducking her head so she could meet my eyes that I'd been trying to hide under my hood. "I really appreciate this." She said sincerely. "You won't regret it!"
"I'm not---"
She cut me off by pulling me into the classroom. My nose wrinkled automatically as I was assaulted with the smell of oils and paint and...clay? It definitely had the look of an art class room. Oil paintings against the far wall, a section that looked like it was for pottery. It definitely was one of the more hodgepodge classrooms I'd seen. That...and the twenty or so students sitting at tables in a semi circle around one single chair.
"Laurie!!" Emily happily called out, dropping my hand. "I found a volunteer! His name is Jesse!"
Twenty one pairs of eyes swiveled to meet me. I flushed, looking down at the ground. I didn't recognize anyone here. So the chances of this actually being....real were getting higher.
'Laurie' was a woman with bright blue hair, Skinny with pale skin, red contacts, and even redder lipstick. Almost I wondered if she walked out of one of the oil paintings hanging about.
She glided up to me like a Queen. "Hands." She demanded, holding out her own. "Both of them"
I stared at her, hesitating before reluctantly, I let go of the gun hidden from view and held both hands to her.
She took them, surprisingly gentle, and studied them, flipping them back and forth so she could see every angle. "Interesting." Her fingers traced the faint scars, and I flinched attempting to draw them back, but she held on tightly. "You'll do." She smiled, soft and gentle. "Remove your hoodie, wash your hands there in the sink." She jerked her head to said sink. "And then sit in that chair. We'll begin in a few minutes."

-Inspiration from....random thoughts after news casts and murder shows....

Contact Lens?

I think....it was putting in a new set of Contact Lenses today that caused it.
Possibly the fact that I had just barely woken up and needed to quickly put them in could have played into it as well.
As as soon as I put in the contact in my left eye...it seemed to have a slight ache to it, even though there was no reason for it to do so.

Unfortunately, the ache stayed and got worse throughout the day.
Giving me a full on headache that tensed up my neck and shoulder as well.

Thankfully, it seems some rest and quiet has helped the headache fade away once more. :)