Harvey's Hardware, for all your pipe bomb needs [OPEN]

[eyeforaneye]

Harvey's Hardware seems like a perfectly innocuous establishment in the southwest corner of Ealing. Old, not terribly well taken care of, but stocked to the brim with a huge assortment of tools and supplies of varying quality (and age). When was the last time anyone came to inspect this place?

Regardless, upon stepping inside you'll find no one named Harvey on the property at all. Instead there's a surly young man behind the counter, someone who looks both tired and wholly too alert at the same time, armed with a thermos of coffee, a stack of manuals on fixing god knows what, and a book of Gaelic poetry.

[A]

Maybe you're just perusing the shelves, minding your own business, when you hear a voice from the till: "Loitering's prohibited. There's a sign outside that says so. If you need something specific, ask." Rude tactic but you'd be amazed at how much product Sasuke can move out of this place by being pushy.

[B]

Maybe instead you were lured in by the sign in the window that advertises a 'buy one get one free' deal on all items of equivalent value in the store. Maybe you even went so far as to ask about the promotion. The answer?

"That sign is from 2009. The guy that worked here before me glued it on instead of affixing it normally. The boss found out last year when he tried to remove it, and that's why he isn't here anymore." All that to say... "That deal's invalid. No discounts."

[C]

Or maybe you're just here to ask for recommendations or buy some hardware. Up to you! Feel free to message me if you have something specific in mind that you want set up.

Comments

[mensrea]

Somewhat taken aback that the tiger has finally snarled at him after being relentlessly poked, he stands on the opposite side of the counter awkwardly. He’s not really sure what to make of Sasuke, except that it definitely sounds like the guy has Issues with a capital I. But while Stiles may be chatty and annoyingly persistent, he isn’t exactly a charitable person; he isn’t the type to try and make friends with someone simply because that someone has no one else.

“Dude, those tend to be the personality flaws that come from not having friends or, really, anyone.”

Taking the ID back, he slides it into his wallet and reflects that, at the very least, the clerk was cool enough not to mock his real name. That’s got to count for something.

[eyeforaneye]

When the clerk's name is Uchiha Sasuke he doesn't have a lot of room to judge freely.

"Does it matter where they came from?" It's a genuine inquiry; he's the way he is now and it's sufficient for keeping people at a considerable distance. "Maybe you aren't good at being alone but I am. I've had a lot of practice. Now if that's all I need the rest of your payment." Preferably not in single coins.

[mensrea]

The steady finality to the clerk’s response only serves to ratchet up Stiles’ pity for the other boy, but he’s not a charity case—nor does he believe for even a second that his meddling would be welcome. With a quiet, disbelieving kind of exhale, he digs out enough quid to cover the rest of the purchase. There’s a sour taste in the back of his throat, because while he may not be the buddy-buddy sort that Scott is, he can’t help but project this sense of aching loneliness onto the kid. So he reaches over, grabs a spare pen, and quickly jots down his cell number on a scrap of paper.

“Here. If you’re ever through being Batman or whatever, text me. I can do enough talking for the both of us, and you can sit there and glare people away.”

[eyeforaneye]

He's slow to take the note, reading the number written on it... and realizes exactly what it is. Pity for his current state of being. It's enough to spark his anger again and almost enough to make him crush the paper but the conflict shows in his expression, both agitated and confused when he pockets it.

"... I'm not going to be 'through' being what I am, but I'll keep it. I have some things I have to do on most week nights anyway." Things he's not about to talk about with some ordinary human. How little he knows.

[mensrea]

"Sure thing, Bats."

Welcome to your new nickname, Sasuke. This is what happens when you don't introduce yourself.

"I'll just..." And then Stiles is scraping everything off the counter into his backpack, without a care for the clanging and crunching that ensues. "There we go. Alright then. See you around, dude."

[eyeforaneye]

Well. That backpack is larger than it looks on the outside, apparently. AND HE'S WEARING A NAME TAG.

"Later." What a flat tone.

[mensrea]

You do not want Stiles trying to pronounce that name. It would only end in humiliation for all parties involved. Hesitating a moment, he squints at Sasuke, trying in vain to detect any underlying emotions beneath that tone. Then he shrugs, grins tightly, and is on his merry way.

His overstuffed bag knocks over a row of merchandise on his way out.

[eyeforaneye]

I hope your mattress is stuffed with legos.