Stay out of it

The notion of Mary made him frown, but nodding as he hurried out to the back to call for her. His daughter picked up, clearly worried, but she seemed to calm down as she found out her father was merely checking on her. He asked her to take the route straight back to the shop, just to forget about getting lunch today. Groaning at the other end she gave in, saying she wasn't far away either way. Hanging up, he returned to the shop, moving over to sit on the chair behind the disk, running a hand through his balding hair. He was stressed, but who wouldn't be if they had been in his shoes?
Mary soon enough returned, her package in hand as she looked from Emily to her father and back again. "Who was here while I was gone?" she asked, moving inside the store, flipping the sign to say that they were closed, locking the door before stepping closer to the two by the disk. "Are you alright?" asking Emily as Mortimer clearly wasn't.

"Mister Kaine," Mortimer said, sighing as he looked at his daughter with a saddened smile. Mary frowned, looking at him as he sat there on the chair, but then Emily decided to speak up and ask for some answers. The daughter remained quiet, placing her bag down, the packet with the dress inside. "Just tell her, dad," she sighed, shaking her head as she felt like this was stupid, and yet it was also serious. Mortimer hummed, "best not discuss it in the store .. Mary, open up and take care of the customers; Emily, follow me," he got up from the chair, his bones aching a bit, but it wasn't so strange with his age.
He moved out to the back, towards the small nook where Mary usually had her lunch break. Sitting down, he gestured for Emily to join him at the small table. It was a quite nice spot, a small window looking out at a smaller alley that many people passed by. "Now, what I'm about to say you must promise not to mention to anyone, alright?" he was old, but it was clear from his eyes that something haunted him. If she promised he would hum, leaning a bit back in his seat, the wooden chair creaking softly under his weight.
"I used to work for Mister Kaine's employer, now it wasn't a proud time in my life, I will admit, but not all of us start out with money in our pockets," he said. He went on to explain how he had been part of a network of criminals back in his youth. How he admitted to not having been a good person, doing things that was perceived as undeniably bad. "However, my life took a turn once I found out Carol, Mary's mother, was pregnant .. A switch in me flipped, and I wanted to change my way of life to make my two girls safe," he said, frowning as he was clearly still trying to make amends from everything. "Of course, my former employer didn't like that very much, but he agreed to grant me enough money to start a business - and as long as him and his men could come through with goods of all kinds, he would spare my family from being involved in anything more serious." Had it been a good deal at the time? Very much so, in fact he hadn't expected to get out of it alive. "But over the years I've been more and more reluctant to co-operate .. I'm not blind, I can see my daughter has blossomed in to a beautiful young woman, and with her mother gone," he stopped, taking a second to breathe and feel the grief sneak up on him, "well, I wouldn't want my daughter forced in to a mess I've made."

Mister Kaine? She did remember him calling the grunt that before, but the way he said it was like the guy had some sort of authority. Mary pushed for Mortimer to tell her and it seemed that the shop owner gave in, humming as he told her to follow. Out in the back, it was rather quiet and maybe a little cozy with the window. He asked for secrecy and she simply nodded, agreeing to it. She couldnt see who would be that interested anyway. She listened to his story and simply hummed. He didnt sound like someone that had been a good person in the past. But would she say she was any better? Sure, they hadnt done the same things, but she could recognize changing yourself in some way.
"Do you think they'll force your deal on her as well?" she asked, crossing her arms a little as she thought about it. It would make sense, at least there would always be a cashflow to come collect. She was quiet for a bit, looking out the window. "So they'll let you off if you pay your debt?" she asked. It seemed almost too good to be true. "It doesnt seem likely. They'll always find some reason for you to owe them money."

Telling all of this seemed to take some weight off of his shoulders a bit, but he also didn't like the fact that Emily was now in on it. Perhaps it would've been safer if she didn't know. If he had just dismissed her and told her to get out of here. But she seemed like a smart girl, and the fact that she had handled that brute on her own made him feel a bit better. He shrugged at her question. He couldn't know for sure, but his debt was pretty hefty.
"No matter how I twist and turn this, I'm never going to get out of this deal," he said with a slight sad smile. He had accepted this fate, he had no other choice, "that's why as of late I haven't been giving them the full amount," he had come clean to her, but now he wanted to unleash another secret to her. He leaned over the table, "I'm stashing some away for Mary .. In case things go south and she has to go away," he admitted. Though he wasn't proud of it, what other options did he truly have?

It was a bit tragic, but somehow it was also his own doing. That was just the things that followed when you turned your life around. Emily hadnt chosen to end up where she had and yet she knew the only way to go was forward. "So that's why they keep coming." she muttered, humming and nodding, just as the old owner leaned forward. The confession made her frown slightly but then she smiled. "That's a really good idea." she commended him. But obviously it was probably something bound to happen at some point. "I wish I could do something to help.." she admitted, but she was just an outsider. And maybe it wasnt her mess to get entangled in in the first place. She just wanted to be a better person in her now second life.

"You're doing plenty already," he commended her, sending her a reassuring smile. She had been a great help around the shop ever since he had hired her, and he didn't even have to pay her. "My daughter seems to enjoy having some help as well, and the way you handled him today, I guess I can only be grateful." Mortimer hadn't always been a good man, but it was so clear that he wanted to be. Sighing he got up from his seat, looking at the boxes that still needed fixing. He was lucky he was his own boss in this. Heading towards the store front once more he stopped briefly, "try not to agitate them when they're here .. Just go along with whatever they do and they'll leave you be." A fair warning if he did say so himself.

"I guess." she shrugged, maybe she was helping out a lot more than she thought. She frowned at the mention of him, sighing at the notion. "I didnt lie when I said I could use the experience though. So it's a win for the both of us." she chuckled. Mortimer got up and she watched him before he seemed to stop. The warning she wasnt sure was for her own benefit or not. He probably wouldnt say it if he knew her secret. But she also wondered if it was because he'd suffer if she misbehaved. Humming and nodding she got up as well to go help Mary.

Even if working a store was sort of mundane, it also still had that nice feeling of purpose. Some time had passed and she did wonder when the grunt or his goons would show up again. Mister Kaine. She would never call him that! Grunt fit way better in her mind. She had the closing shift this time around, having gained quite a lot of trust from both Mary and Mortimer. She thought they could use some time not having to spend all their time working. She was pretty good at this store handling stuff by now.

While Mary took advantage of the newly found freedom, Mortimer always seemed more reluctant before finally caving in. He hadn't had a day off in years, so he was rightfully a little skeptical at first. However Emily was brilliant in what she did, and so far she had proven herself trustworthy. Mary however stopped by, wearing a very pretty dress and her hair put up with lovely small curls in her short hair. "Just came by to pick up my purse; I think I left it in the back room," she giggled, blushing a bit because she didn't normally look this dressed up. But she looked very happy. Going out back she grabbed her bag and right inside was her purse. Breathing out a small sigh of relief, she returned to the store. "How do I look? Not too much, right?" for a young woman who rarely did anything with her appearance besides putting her hair up in a ponytail, this was really something else.

Emily was sitting by the register, just filling up the candy and putting out a few things that were supposed to go on sale, looking up as the door bell rang. Seeing Mary in a whole get up was surprising but in a good way. Emily greeted her with a big smile and an expression of astonishment. "oh wow. Uh, yeah, the purse is back there in the cupboard. I figured you would come by." she said, noticing how happy she was. It was good. Mortimer should've seen how happy his daughter could really look, but Emily had promised to keep it a secret. The question made her shake her head profoundly. "No, no, it's very subtle but very pretty." she assured her. "You look really good. Is the date today?" she asked.

She nodded, smiling happily that Emily seemed to approve, "yeah, I'm meeting her at the restaurant," she chuckled, looking around the store with a small hum. Everything looked really neat and tidy, just how she liked it. "I'm running late, hah, I'll see you Monday, alright?" chuckling as she waved goodbye and hurried out the door.
The next few hours were pretty standard for a Friday afternoon. A couple of kids coming in to buy candy bars or a sweet treat; An elderly couple looking for a specific type of pottery; And then there was this odd guy who kept circling the store outside. He looked a bit nervous, shivering a bit, but he eventually came in to the store, his face now covered by a mask. "G-g-gimme th-the m-mo-oney!" he stammered his way through the order, holding up a knife and a bag for said money.

She was quite happy for Mary and definitely hoped that it would be a great night for her tonight. "Have a nice night." she wished her, humming softly at the farewell. "Yeah definitely." she assured her before Mary was gone. She went around to do checkups, even making sure that the storage was organized and filled as well. Sitting by the register she hadnt expected the odd guy who seemed mostly like someone who wasnt getting anything. When he did go out, she leaned forward to look, just to make sure he was gone. When he was she leaned back away from the disk.
And then he returned with a mask and a weapon. He was stammering, holding out a bag that she was supposed to fill. "What? No." she objected, before she looked at the knife. He didnt look like he would really stab her. "Get out of here!" she said, nodding towards the exit. She would never give in to such terms. The store needed the money!

No? He looked almost perplexed, clutching harder around his knife, seemingly trying to think of a comeback. However she then told him to get out and he shook his head, "j-just put it in t-the bag!" he yelled. That was when the bell rang, Rhys walking in to the store looking around with a calm gaze until he noticed the guy, raising an eyebrow. The tone of the guy shifted, now shivering like a leaf, eyeing Rhys out the corner of his eye. "No, please, go on," he said, gesturing with his hands to just let the guy do his thing, walking over to a section of nicely stacked old books. He hummed softly as if he was just browsing. The guy with the knife eyeing Rhys still before he just dropped what he had and ran out the store.
Rhys clicked his tongue, shaking his head a little before he went over to grab the knife. Shrugging he folded it up, putting it in his pocket before picking up the bag as well. "You got a recycling bin back there?" he asked as if he was genuinely someone who worried about the planet.

He didnt seem to be much of a thinker. Mostly just a meathead or maybe an addict looking for easy money. She didnt really want to aggravate him but it wasnt like she was giving in either. Someone entered and she looked his way. Oh great. Of all people, it was him. It seemed that it only made the robber more jittery and unstable. It seemed that he quickly gave up after that, or whatever reason he had to just run out, leaving behind the knife and bag as well. Mr. Kaine approached her and she looked as he picked up the knife. "You of all probably know. How many times have you been back there so far?" she replied, narrowing her eyes a little as she looked at him. "Mortimer isnt here. So you're wasting your time." she just downright said. If he was here to collect a payment, she wouldnt have access to it.

Rhys chuckled softly at her snarky remark. He was starting to like her. Bad news for her, because he wasn't the type to just give up. He shrugged, but her next words made him scoff. "I didn't come here for the old man today .. It's my day off," he just said, walking behind the disk, placing the bag in the recycling bin. He gave her a short glance before moving back to the other side, looking through the trinkets on the counter. "I came to see you," he said point blank. He wasn't afraid to sound like a loser or anything. In reality most people judged him regardless, so there wasn't really any reason to prove himself. He picked up a smaller item, a little rose made out of metal nodding to himself as he rolled it between his fingers. "When do you get off work?"

Rhys chuckled, clearly unbothered by her confusion. He was perhaps being rather forward, and it may have seemed like it came out of the blue. The simple fact that she was responding and even asking him questions made him feel good. It was weird. He hadn't ever really hungered for someone to talk to, but with her it was different. She didn't look at him like he was a monster, though fair to say that she wasn't looking at him with adoration either. "I wanna take you on a date," he said, placing the metal rose down, eyeing her to see her reaction. Would she laugh? Perhaps ask him to leave? He couldn't see a positive outcome from this, and yet his curiosity was peaking with her. She was just so different. "Though, I don't really eat, so .. Perhaps a walk or something would be more appropriate?" he eyed the glass holder with sweets in it. It almost tickled in his fingers to get a handful. "Give me a couple of lollipops," he said, and before she could object he pulled out a bill of money, this time paying for it.

Taking the candies, he told her to just keep the change, putting the sweets in his pocket as always. However a frown appeared on his face as she told him not to mock her. "I'm not," he said, quite calmly breathing out in a small sigh before he shook his head. She was never going to believe him, was she? Oh well, maybe that was the best option for her anyways. And still he wondered. He grabbed a small nice trinket, moving it between his hands and holding it up to her face, "then I guess I'll have to take this trinket as collateral; Hold it hostage and only returned to you if you meet me at the park when you get off work," was he smiling? Yeah, he actually was. It was an odd feeling, but he welcomed it. Removing the trinket from her reach, he clicked his tongue, shaking his head a little, "see you later." Popping it in his inner pocket, he sent her a slight smile before leaving the store.

Rhys was laying on one of the benches at the park, toying a bit with the trinket he had taken. He wasn't looking to break it, but he was always a bit fidgety. Perhaps it came from the fact he had a lot of energy, or perhaps it was just something that he did to distract his mind from the people avoiding him even now as he was laying relaxed on the bench. Turning his head, he looked out at the small pond, a few ducklings following their mother duck around the water. He wasn't sure how to feel about animals like that. Though he had to admit it was a bit calming. Looking at his wrist watch he hummed to himself. The store had closed, he knew that much, but he was going to give her a few minutes before he would just head home.

Rhys looked up at the young woman he had practically harassed to come here. He moved to sit up, tilting his head to the side, "you think I'm a liar?" he asked, curious as to what reason she would have not to believe him. Well besides the obvious fact that he was an untrustworthy thug. He got up from his seat, holding the trinket up to her face, "your job must mean a lot to you if you're here for this silly thing," once more snatching it away to put it in his pocket. Instead he nodded, wanting her to follow down the path, walking beside her in a nice and calm pace.
"What's your name?" he asked, curious because he couldn't keep calling her the weird girl in his head. Or rather, he could, but that wouldn't be very fair. Sure, she was weird, but not that weird in his opinion, and he had met quite a few people in his lifetime. "I'm Rhys," he just stated.