9838/A Little Customer Service

A Little Customer Service
Date of Scene:	30 October 2019
Location:	Queens Center Mall, Queens NY
Synopsis:	Just a day in the life of Andi working at the local Hot Topic, with Rave looking for something for a Halloween party.
Cast of Characters:	Andi Benton, Rave

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Andi Benton has posed:
Queens Center Mall, home of..many shops. Dominated by Macy's to the west, JC Penney to the east, and four levels of shopping and eating at people's disposal. The Lower Level features a food court with all the typical mall spots, while the main level has your places like The Cheesecake Factory, Disney, Gamestop, Guess, Forever 21, Applebee's, and so on. The second level includes an Apple Store, Adidas, Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, a variety of other shoe stores, and much more.

It's the top floor Andi Benton is on today. Not at Champs Sports, not at Foot Locker, not at American Eagle Outfitters, not even at Aeropostale. She's found at Hot Topic, working the register. The place is lit well in some places, not so well in others, and it's practically wall-to-wall with shirts, bags, backpacks, toys, and other accessories. She's got all of her piercings in, and she's even wearing one of the shirts for sale, a black one with the Grumpy Cat meme, "I Had Fun Once. It Was Awful." Fingers drum against the countertop as she looks out into the mall proper. Slow day.

Rave has posed:
     It was Halloween....almost. The sort of night for someone like Rave that had always been a little more exciting, but for the blue-haired speedster? It came with a few necessities of her 'day job'. She needed an outfit for this year, something suitable for clubbing and not -too- tacky or different from her usual. Inevitably for the crowd she was seeking and the places she'd be haunting, Hot Topic had drawn her in. Currently dressed in simple figure-hugging jeans and a dark blue 'off-the-shoulder' shirt, Rave's approach through the mall was decidedly typical; she couldn't really be using super-speed in a place like this, even if she was an 'outed' metahuman.

Pushing in through the store opening to the space, her faintly luminescent gaze flicks over the collections, crowd and other patrons that -might- be there in turn before finally coming to rest on Andi and raise an eyebrow. "Quiet day huh?"

Andi Benton has posed:
Andi Benton does her best not to look bored. It's not easy. The struggle is real. "Oh, a potential customer," she says under her breath, though there's a briefly longer look of curiosity at the one stepping inside with her blue hair, similar height and build. Not completely average. That could be good.

After briefly tonguing one of the hoop piercings through her bottom lip, Andi forces a smile and says, "Welcome to Hot Topic. Did you know we have a 'Buy One, Get One 30% Off' sale going on right now, and all costumes are 40% off the listed price? Guest List card holders also receive a point for every dollar you spend and every hundred points gets you a $5 reward."

Lowering her voice, because there is a floor manager off in the corner listening in, she adds, "Is it that obvious?" Said manager calls over, "Andi! Don't forget, it's almost Halloween and you're supposed to be wearing a costume!" The young woman replies, letting Rave see her rolling her eyes, "I'll go grab one after I've served our customer." Slight emphasis on 'customer.'

Rave has posed:
     A light whine comes at the speel, not for it's delivery so much as the 'soul-crushing' undertone and the exchange with the floor manager. There was sympathy there, after all even Rave had worked a more traditional job through high school. The best part about her powers changing her life? She never -ever- intended to go back to waiting tables. Hands come to her pockets she she glances towards the manager and then back towards Andi just in time to catch that eyeroll.

     A muted giggle, she tilts her head to the side. "I'm looking for a costume...kinda," Helpful, but at least Rave expands on the comment, talking just loud enough to let the manager hear. "Think you could take a moment to give me a hand to find something?" If nothing else, she could get out from the prison of 'behind the register'. Whatever the response, the girl with the almost glowing hair lifts a hand to gesture to herself. "Doing a halloween gig. I need something short skirt, boots, midriff-showing and...a little more 'vampire nightclub' rather than 'trick or treat'. Does that make sense?"

Andi Benton has posed:
Andi Benton drops her voice and says, as soon as she can, "There's a buy one, get one half off sale online that beats the in-store stuff, in case you don't mind waiting for stuff to ship. But if you need a costume before tomorrow, you're kind of stuck with whatever we've got." She sounds more like herself as she says this, like she's sharing a secret or confiding in someone as she pushes off from the counter to straighten her posture. If one has no soul, can it truly be crushed? What if it's already been crushed? Is there such a thing as overkill?

"A costume?" she asks, glancing around before putting on the front again for the benefit of the floor manager that's trying too hard to score points for another promotion, "Why /yes/, valued customer, I would be /happy/ to serve your shopping needs and answer any questions you may have!" Back to the lowered voice, she wonders, "Oh, we've got that shit. You want more innocent-but-really-not schoolgirl or, you know, traditional 'I vant to suck your blood' vampire stuff?" If Rave is familiar with accents, Andi is distinctly Philly.

Rave has posed:
"Yeah, you'd think I would be a little more organized, but..." A shrug of her bared shoulders and Rave smiles. "Guess I'm stuck." She tilts her head to the side, flicking her gaze over the collection of 'goth', 'alternate' and otherwise humorous in musing while she considers ideas. The problem with the event coming? She was going to be on stage for a while. There was a reason she had been doing her heroics in activewear and a hoodie half the time, noone really cared what you looked like when you were going fast enough...and they were a little cheeper to replace.

     Not Everyone had a 'super suit' or some lab full of gizmos and support to rebuild one.

"Oh, definately the first one," she grins, bringing a hand up to place a finger to her cheeks. "I can pull that off -way- easier than the dracula thing. Not big on capes and massive popped collars, I'd probably trip myself over." Volume dropped a little, her own tone shifts to more casual as she strikes up small-talk over simply covering and offering a reprieve. "Love the piercings by the way. I used to have a few but...well, they closed up and they don't really work for me now."

Technically, they had -melted- and the holes had healed over, but that was a little bit more involved.

Andi Benton has posed:
Andi Benton keeps her distance, both figuratively and literally, just trying to be whatever passes for professional in a place like this. Just keep it to that, don't worry about personal stuff. You don't even know her, Andi. She probably doesn't even care, just wants to get something, pay for it, and be gone just like everyone else. Nobody really /wants/ to be spotted in a Hot Topic, and here she is working at one.

With a shrug, she says, "Everybody procrastinates. This stuff is just gonna be on clearance Friday anyway, just like all the candy. Some people are probably gonna come in and pick out next year's costumes right away." Handwaving the thought off to another place, she leaves the back of the register 'horseshoe' area and comes over to the stuff in question. "Dracula stuff is tacky. I mean, the schoolgirl look can be too. I have to get into one of those wizard school things after you go, but at least it's not /that/ bad. And it's your money."

She starts to point out a few things /she/ probably wouldn't wear, like short skirts and /short skirts/ followed by the midriff-baring stuff, high socks and stockings, the shoes, and all that. "Oh, you do?" The compliment over the piercings stops her long enough to blink and stare at Rave for a moment, leading to a somewhat guarded, "..thanks. Yeah, the body will do that."

Rave has posed:
     "Like you wouldn't believe," Rave nods in response to talk of the body. "I had a stud here," she speaks, pointing to her nose, "ears and stuff. But yeah..." First world problems at their finest, gain super-powers and lose the ability to have piercings. Go figure! She shifts a little, tilting her head to the side before biting her bottem lip. "I mean, it's a tricky balance to get right. Guess you'll have to try a few things on and see what works without crossing the line to...completely try hard." Perhaps easier said than done in this place, but hey!

A shift in her stance, Rave bites her lip once more and leans to the skirts. "Or y'know have people trying to snap shots up my skirt all night...maybe something long enough to hide shorts or hotpants under would be best." She blinks, giving a little laugh. "Oh, and do you do the 'fangs' here too?"

Andi Benton has posed:
"My sympathies," Andi offers, noting the areas indicated. There must be reasons why it can't be the same way for Rave any longer, but she is not going digging for answers. Everyone has their secrets, and they're entitled to keep them. "Anyway, you can spot the tryhards a mile away. Some of them really get into the whole roleplay side of it. Did you know there are people out there who get, like, fang implants and think they're /real/ vampires? They even do the whole 'bite' thing with their partners." She shakes her head at this, as if she finds it really weird.

Back on the topic of skirt length. "If you don't want people doing that, you'd better go with something underneath. Or I could recommend some good steel-toed stompy boots." As for those fangs, she waves Rave over to a nearby rack with some of the smaller stuff, the 'bloodstone' pendants, the aforementioned capes, the makeup for the pale skin and more pronounced features, and of course, the fangs. "Ta-daaa," she says, gesturing with both hands as a few of her bracelets jingle and shift around.

Rave has posed:
     "I mean...there's probably 'real' vampires out there somewhere right?" Rave muses. "You got aliens, gods, all that other stuff. Maybe it's kinda insulting to them in a way?" Thoughts to ponder, if there were the vampiric equivlents of blackface that she was about to be commiting. Still, her eyes go back towards the items and she's quick to reach out to grab one of those 'chokers' with the red stone. It'd look real enough in the club lights.
     Fangs next, she's quick enough to pick out a relatively small set only useful and likely only going to be worn for promotion photographs before making to turn back to Andi. "Oh, I'm all for 'stompy boots', they could come in real handy! Recommend away."

Andi Benton has posed:
"Unfortunately, the /good/ stuff is only on the website," Andi says, gesturing helplessly with her hands up. "And it isn't gonna get to you in time. I don't think we could even get them delivered in-store by tomorrow. Best I could say is try one of the shoe shops here. You could do a nice platform style or a pointy toe."

She checks a clock back near the register, the turns to Rave again. "And..I don't know about real vampires and aliens and this and that. Mutants. I mean, I don't have anything against them. Everyone's kind of a freak in one way or another, right? You just have to embrace what you are.." She lowers her voice, just in case, "..and fuck the haters, you know? Anyway, I've got lunch in about half an hour and I'd offer to show you a few things in another shop, but I'm hungry enough that I'm just gonna stuff my face down at the food court."

Rave has posed:
     "Well...it really depends where the warehouse is...I know a good courier." The 'bluenette's lips are once more into a grin before she is left to tilt her head to the side. Embrace what you are? "Truer words never spoken," she winks, but there's a noticable flicker of a glow to her irises. Deliberate, but still testing the waters. After all there are some who might freak out when faced with something a little more abnormal.

     Still, it was a very quick moment passing before she straightens up, taking her armload of pieces gathered. "I could eat, if you didn't mind the company. You could at least point me in the right direction."

Andi Benton has posed:
Andi Benton raises a brow. "Like I said before, it's your money. If you have some kind of hookup I don't know about..." She trails off and motions for Rave to follow over to a computer screen, where she pulls up a few selections for the shoes and boots, listing the prices as well. "You still might want to have a backup plan." A pause follows. Was that a flash of something in the other one's eyes? It could have been a trick of the light. That's the sensible explanation. Ahh, denial.

"I..guess it wouldn't hurt," she says of the food option. "I don't really know anyone around here yet." Yet? What does that mean?

Rave has posed:
     "New to town huh?" Andi's lack of reaction was taken as a positive, even if it had been an accidental one. "Up here for college?" She questions with a little grin. "Or are you just up here, bright eyed and excited to see the big city?" Flicking through the list of things orderable, there's a mental note...and a very quick snap of her smartphone to the ones she found most attractive. If nothing else, there's a few ideas.

"C'mon, I'll shout you a burger or somethin' if you like."

Andi Benton has posed:
"Yes, no, and can't you tell?" Andi answers the three questions in rapid, deadpan succession, her expression just /oozing/ that sense of bright-eyed excitement...or not. She isn't volunteering anything else in the way of a further explanation, but that doesn't mean Rave can't ask if she's persistent in learning more.

Back to pulling up the register screen afterward, she asks, "Did you want anything else?" as she begins to scan the tags on whatever Rave has picked out.

Then, she glances behind her to make sure the coast is clear and scans something else. A 40% discount drops the price further, on top of anything else already applied. "Employee perk," she all but whispers, perhaps barely heard over some of the music that blasts out of the speakers set up around the place. "If you're buying me lunch and all."

Rave has posed:
A blink, a smile, but Rave was hardly going to complain. Who doesn't like getting stuff a little cheaper after all? A grin, a mouthed 'thanks' and then the blue-haired girl digs for her card. "This'll do it." With her collection of pieces paid, Rave makes to depart from the store and then folding her arms over her chest. "I'll meet you out there in a moment then."

She didn't ask, but she certainly could over food. One had to save something for smalltalk. Then again, she hadn't even asked the girl's name or given her own...but then Andi might have been wearing a nametag.

Andi Benton has posed:
It's not stealing. The items were paid for, and after Andi (no nametag) motions for Rave to insert the card into the reader, she adds, "PIN after the prompt and you should be all set." Another look behind and she says, "Hang on."

Cupping a hand to her mouth, she calls over to her manager, "Kendra, I need to take my lunch early! I'll make it up to you!" The floor manager heads over and doesn't look all that happy, but says, "Fine, but don't think you can take advantage of me just because you make a few extra sales." Andi shrugs and points out, "Hey, I told you I won't tell Ricky about what I saw you and your girlfriend doing in back last week. It's not like I'm holding it over you or anything." Except maybe she is.

Clocking out, she wastes no time in getting out of there with a shoulder bag decorated with little skulls and bats and things like that. "Back in an hour!" To Rave she asks, "So. Elevator, escalator, or stairs? We're about to go allll the way down."

Rave has posed:
"These things are always painfully slow..." Rave complains, but eventually her card would go through and the payment would be made. They'd be moving on to the food court together. "Elevator works," she offers as they walk, her shopping bag craddled in her arms. "Sooner you get to food, sooner you can enjoy it. Right?" Of course, to her all of the above was painfully slow, but it would work when she's got company.

"Rave by the way," she offers gesturing to herself and giving a little wink. "Yes, that -is- my name." Or at least, it was the name she prefered enough to introduce herself with. "Truth be told, I'm suprised you agreed to have lunch with me. I imagine you get a few...attempts and questions about your breaks through the day."

Andi Benton has posed:
Andi Benton admits, "Good point," when the mention of getting food faster if they get there faster is made, especially on limited time. "And I'm thinking sushi today. Before you say anything, it's not that bad for a mall."

She rides down with Rave after hitting the button, stuffing her hands into the pockets of the work pants she's in today. Might as well enjoy them because she's got a costume to change into when she gets back. "Rave? How'd you get a name like that? Do you party all the time? I'm Andi, and..I'm surprised you asked me. My 'leave me alone' vibe must be slipping." Looking straight ahead the way she is, it's hard to tell if she's joking or being serious. Seconds later, the door opens and she steps out, seeking the food court from there.

Rave has posed:
"Kinda," she admits, giving a little laugh. "Bright lights, music and high energy sort of defines me I guess." There's a raise of her eyebrow, but a grin accompanies it at the offhand comment. "Slipping? Nah...I'm just stubborn...or lucky? Iunno which one, but whatever works, right?" When the door opens, she's already fishing for her wallet once more, beckoning with the leather object towards the direction of the court. "Well, lead the way. I don't come to this side of town often.."

Andi Benton has posed:
"Oh." Andi's reaction to the mention of bright lights, music, and high energy is more on the subdued side than not. "Well, I like music. My last job was at a record store." Looking at her, one might not gather she's into bright lights or high energy. "Dunno if I'd call you lucky, either," she murmurs after they're back admist the noise of the mall. "I'll be fine with a couple Philly rolls and a drink," she adds. "But they've got a good mix of stuff here. I'm guessing you don't live around Queens?"

Rave has posed:
"Guess we'll see," the 'bluenette' muses, giving a little laugh while they walk. "I mean I managed to end up with something salvaged outfit wise for my show, y'know?" Rave's hands come to her pockets, shrugging. "Nah, I'm up at ESU in upper Manhatten. How'd y'guess?" Mention of food earns a nod of Raves head once more, eager and smiling. "I could go for a burger and fries of my own, absolutely."

Andi Benton has posed:
Andi Benton gives Rave a mild look and a brief rolling of the eyes at the 'guess' part, a shrug following. "Must've been a hunch," he says in a dry tone. "If you want a burger, don't go for the chain place. I mean, all the stuff in a food court is chain places most of the time, but some of it is more chain if you know what I'm talking about." All the same, she points out her recommendation, which is not one of the fast food burger places in the area. "You don't feel like you're wasting your time in college?" she asks, seemingly at random.

Rave has posed:
Instruction taken in, she's happy to go for the recommendation, moving in that direction only to pause a little at Andi's question. "Sometimes," she admits, "especially after...changes and stuff. But it was something I started and I'm managing it. Doing a thing that really just enables me to do another thing and -maybe- make a little money at the end of it. Probably not, but..." she trails off with a laugh and raises an eyebrow questioningly while food is gathered. "What about you?"

Andi Benton has posed:
Andi Benton pulls out her phone and texts something, then looks over to the Japanese food spot where someone is at work making a few rolls. They exchange waves and the lady returns to her prep. "The rolls will be ready by the time you get your burger," she states. "It helps to get to know a few of the people who work down here. I can save a few minutes." She stuffs her hands back into her pockets, putting on a 'bored now' sort of air about her, ho-hum. "I don't know anything I'm going to do that really needs a degree for. What's worse? Making a low wage by itself, or making a little more with a bunch of student loan debt? At least I've got a job."

Rave has posed:
"Well, I guess me and my folks expected life to go one way and...it kinda took a really unexpected turn." There's a smile from Rave remaining, she knew what it ment to have a 'hook-up' as it were, perhaps it might even be better for being food in itself. "But I hear you. For me it's a case of not really being great about 'normal', so I pay lip service to it by doing the study and make my folks happy, and do the rest of the actual 'me' stuff to make me happy."

Andi Benton has posed:
Andi Benton grows quiet as talk shifts to family. Her expression turns somewhat distant and introspective, then she shakes her head. "Yeah. I kind of know about things not going the way you think they will. I don't think my dad and I have ever...ahh, nevermind." She started to share something, then put on the brakes pretty quickly, and it shows. It's obvious there's something in there she's reluctant to get into.

Rave has posed:
Family drama, isn't it grand. Rave just nods her head and lets the moment of silence pass. Andi could share if she wanted, or simply wait if she didn't. Soon enough food would be on its way and she was perfectly cool with that. "So," she speaks as her order is placed and she moves to await it being called. "Aside from selling shades of black and red with slogans to folks, what do you do for fun?"

Andi Benton has posed:
Andi Benton gets the sushi, murmuring a 'thanks' for Rave picking up the check as offered, then she grabs a table toward a corner away from where most of the people are sitting. A few long seconds pass by where she's watching Rave carefully, then a small amount of relief kicks in as the prior topic is left behind. "I've been learning the neighborhoods around here, but I like to listen to music a lot. Oh, and read."

Rave has posed:
"Learning the neighbourhood?" A grin, she lazily nibbles on a fry before gesturing to herself. "I'm much the same, lots of places to see and explore. The city looks awesome from the right angles, you should see some of the shots on my social media..." trailing off, there's a clear moment of impulse to reach for her phone, but instead she diverts to the burger that she's able to inflict and impressive bite on. "Music's always been my thing too," she begins, managing between bites. "In fact, if you're a fan of dance stuff? You should come to this halloween thing. It pays the bills and it's a heap of fun. Could send you the details if you want."

Andi Benton has posed:
Andi Benton works her chopsticks into the right position, plucking one of the pieces with it and dipping into the soy/wasabi mixture she's done up. Savoring the taste, she chews and swallows before answering. "Dad got an apartment a few stops away. He wasn't going to afford anything downtown, even if he got a discount. He's sort of a do-it-all handyman." She does appear mildly interested in the social media mention. If one knew her well, that would be a lot of curiosity compared to her usual. A hand waves back and forth at the dance stuff, then she says, "I don't remember if I already mentioned, but I've gotta work on Halloween. I was gonna go find something over the weekend, though."

Rave has posed:
"Shame," Rave nods, shrugging her bared shoulders. "But fair enough. Still, look me up if you're interested. Shows are posted there, along with the photos and stuff. I'm not hard to find." A wink, she's back to her food and mowing through it at an alarming pace. It might not be abnormal for speedsters to have a decent appetite, but that didn't make it any less unsettling or impressive depending on where you stood. "I can at least promise it'll be more exciting than another day back in there."

Andi Benton has posed:
Andi Benton digs out her phone and raises a brow, like she's waiting for more info to tap into the device. "It could be fun. I'm not a big fan of large crowds, though. They can make me uncomfortable. And you seem to be into that burger." Her attention shifts toward the upper floor, which she can see from the open vertical area the food court is set into. "I'm pretty excited to make money, and I like Hot Topic already." But didn't she look like she wanted to be anywhere else earlier?

Rave has posed:
"I didn't eat much before I came out," she shrugs, grinning a little and then shifting in her seat. "Well, offer's open. See what you make of it. Otherwise, might just have to wait until next time I'm looking for a desperate outfit change."

Andi Benton has posed:
Andi Benton makes a face. "They want me to dress up like some stupid magic school student for the rest of the day. I already had enough of school without pretending more. I wish we could do fancier stuff but they don't want us hiding our faces and everything," she gripes, then she attacks a couple more rolls. "Or if you were ever just looking for an excuse to do some window shopping...you know."

Rave has posed:
"Cloak and stuff or skirt and blazer?" The blue-haired girl questions, those faintly glowing eyes flicking up and down. "I mean, I think you could pull both off. 'Goth Schoolgirl is a thing for a reason."

Andi Benton has posed:
Andi Benton handwaves for an initial response. "Does it really matter? It's kind of the same thing either way. I just wish I could wear what I wanted to, but I guess it's not that bad to get paid for it too." Her attitude, at least, suggests some sort of punk leanings.

Rave has posed:
"Make it your own?" Rave muses, tilting her head. "I mean, y'gotta dress up, but add some stuff? Who says people in magic schools don't have style?"

Andi Benton has posed:
Andi Benton dips another piece of her food into the soy sauce, using eating it as an excuse to go quiet for a few extra moments as she turns toward the thoughtful side. "If I had my way, I'd go as some big alien. You know, the movie with Ripley? Now that would probably scare some people."

Rave has posed:
"The facehugger-y ones? Yeah I know the thing you mean. Freaked me out when I was a kid..."

"Still, that'd be kinda neat if you could pull it off though," a pause, her hand raises up in front of her in a 'grabby' motion. "The whole monster mouth thing. That's a one-up on a stud any day."

Andi Benton has posed:
Andi Benton fingersnaps and points at Rave with the chopsticks, just before finishing the last piece. "That's the one. Just think about one of those walking in. It could scare half the party. Maybe next year." She moves to her feet and adds, "So I'm gonna go dump this, then I need to head back up. If you come around again sometime, we could talk some more. Enjoy your stuff."

Rave has posed:
A tilt of her head, a frown, that time went fast! Still it was fair enough. A sigh, she stuffs a pair of fries into her mouth and makes to stand. "It was good meeting you Andi," the blue haired girl grins, "Thanks for the advice. Suppose I should check out that warehouse now. And I'll drop by sometime to show you the pics of tomorrow night. You show me your alien-magic-girl thing. Right? Fair trade!"

There's a grin, a wink and a flash of a smile...then there was a streak of neon like and she's gone.

Andi Benton has posed:
The punk girl with the purple hair begins to say something back, but only gets as far as 'See you' before she's left to stand and stare at the sudden, very unexpected departure. Andi can't even mask the surprise on her face as she blurts out, "What the fuck..." Rave is a speedster! Or a mutant! Or..something! She just rubs her temples and mutters, "Shit..not gonna be able to focus at all now." And she still has half the shift left to work!