Turn 106 PM, Tuesday, May 3rdOut of curiosity, Brian sneaked forward to try to listen to what Nook was saying.
Horatio will accompany what's-her-face to the coffee shop, order a large breakfast and daintily stuff his face-- all whilst trying to find out about this town he's found himself in.
Intrigued, Richard attempted to sneak closer. If it looked like he would be discovered, he would GTFO. Either way, once he was done eavesdropping he would head outside, check his map, and then go locate his house.
Stretching out his hand again toward the raccoon Mathew shook back with equal, if not greater, vigor.
Brian: E3
Horatio: C2
Mathew: E4
Richard: B5 (in post office)
Richard crept forward, nearing the reception desk. He heard Pelly say a few more things then fall silent. It was too late to catch the rest of the conversation now. Pelly looked back and noticed Richard was still there.
"Can I help you with anything else?" She took a deep breath."Oh, no, just lost in thought. Never mind, I'll be out of your hair now!" Richard headed for the door. Mathew had moved fast - he was nowhere to be seen. It was probably time to move on.
Horatio made his decision. He wiped his clammy hands on his shirt (nonchalantly, of course).
"Ah yes, of course! I would be delighted," He put on his best "friendly villager" grin. "I'm certain that Mopeville's cuisine shall be no less grand than the lovely welcome I've received!"
Sylvia clasped her hands together. "Oh, excellent! It's a bit of a walk, though."
She led him across a two patches of trees, around a hill and past a set of steps. After several minutes, they reached a very large building.
"You first," Horatio said.
~~~
Horatio took the first sip.
It was exquisite coffee. Rich, without losing that half-bitter aftertaste that forced you to drink a little more just to drown it out.
"Wonderful. Celeste is quite the barista." He was enamored with the coffee, but there were more important things brewing.
The clock above the cafe's counter ticked loudly.
Tick."Oh, yes. So... you're new in town, tick-tock?" Sylvia waited for him to swallow, then took a sip out of her own cup.
Tock. Horatio wasn't dumb. On the contrary, he was quite smart. He knew when someone was beginning a battle of wits. He could read her like an open book.
"Oh, certainly. Very new. Just arrived today, in fact." He took a single bite of his omelette.
Tick. "Where did you live before now?" She chopped her omelette once with her fork - hard enough to make a sound - then took a bite of it.
Tock. "Earth. Somewhere on it, at least, ho-ho." Horatio squinted at her, but refused to eat or drink.
You tell me something first, woman.Tick. Tock. "I've lived here all my life."
The correct response. She slurped her coffee loudly, but he had already changed the playing field by not doing the same. "My, my, it looks like we've really drawn out this breakfast. Look at the time!"
Tick. "Oh, I don't have to! My mental clock is excellent." He sipped his coffee once more, taking it slow this time. It was his turn to ask the questions. "Isn't yours?"
Tock. "You can never be too sure whether time's really ticking when you're not paying attention, tick-tock." Sylvia looked down at her omelette, then back up at him. Two could play at that game.
Tick. Tock."Most people can't, no. But I'm quite good at keeping the time." Horatio allowed her the next question. He scarfed down a larger portion of his omelette in one fell swoop.
Tick. "And what does your mental clock say, mister
time-keeper?" Sylvia was getting impatient with his persistence, but she drank coffee until her cup was less than half-full. He knew that she knew that he knew something was going on around here. But he wouldn't be the first to hint at it.
Tock. "Hum. Let's see here, shall we? I arrived at 1 A.M. based on Kapp'n's clock, so with all my activities in this short period that should mean it's about... 2:40 A.M. How close am I?" He knew that he was
very close.
Tick. "Why don't you check that clock up there by the counter, tick-tock?" Sylvia sat and frowned at him.
Tock. Horatio examined the clock from his seat two rows of tables away from the counter. Celeste sat quietly under it, playing with her phone.
"That's a lie." Horatio slammed his right fist on the table. Sylvia didn't budge. "That's a lie!"
Tick. 6 P.M. He couldn't believe it. Sylvia just shook her head solemnly.
She leaned forward and whispered to him. "We're trapped inside the same field of
whatever it is that's been ripping apart time and space in New York City. You know the worst part?"
Tock.Horatio couldn't find a single word.
"The worst part is that it started here, tick-tock."
Tick. Tock.
"Ye-e-e-es! A-a-a-i l-i-i-i-ke i-i-i-t v-ery much. I'm Mathew Fan by the way."
Nook stopped shaking his hand, but Mathew continued with just as much vigor.
"It looks really great. I'm just not sure if I can afford it." Mathew stopped shaking Nook's hand.
"Oh, don't worry, hrm? The house is only a mere
12,300 bells. Highly affordable." Nook knocked on the house's outer walls a couple times.
"Oh... but I only have
3,000 bells on me." Mathew looked depressed. He was still two months' work away.
"Oh, don't worry about that. You can come work for me along with your friend Brian in my shop, yes yes?" That was an offer Mathew couldn't refuse. "You'll have it paid off in a jiffy!"
The two made the transaction, and Nook ran off in the direction of his shop, telling Mathew to meet him there.
Brian opened the door ever so quietly. He expected to get an earful of Nook badmouthing one of his clients for not paying up or something. Instead, Nook was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, you're still there. Good."
"Whoa!" Brian jumped. Nook had appeared just outside his field of vision. He could have sworn the guy wasn't there a moment ago.
"Now, about the task," Nook went straight for the throat when dealing with employees. "I'll have you deliver a package to the Mayor. You can't open it yourself, alright? So no peeking. The Mayor has requested the utmost privacy when delivering this box."
Nook handed Brian a tightly-wrapped cardboard box.
Brian started: "Where can I-"
"By the wishing well. On your map." Nook headed through the shop door.
"But I don't have a-"
"Here." He handed Brian a Town Map. That was easy.Player ListName: Brian
Gender: Male
Life aspirations: Get the best collection of computer technology in town.
Hobbies: Playing Video Games and anything involving Computers.
Inventory: Simple Blue Outfit, Nook's Corner Attire (worn), Town Map
Current status:
Name: Horatio
Gender: Male
Life aspirations: To have the most elegant, luxuriously-appointed house, the finest collection of antiques and artefacts, throw the best cocktail parties and maybe, one day, become mayor, or some other prominent position!
Hobbies: Wine, admiring fine works of art, mild sarcasm, studying old/ancient things and hearing his own voice.
Inventory: Simple Red Outfit (worn), Liquor Bottles, Town Map
Current status:
Name: Richard
Gender: Male
Life aspirations: Success: Have the biggest house and the most stuff in town!
Hobbies: Fishing and cooking
Inventory: Cheap Suit (Worn), Apple, Cheap Fishing Rod (-1 to fishing in oceans and waterfalls), Town Map
Current status:
Bee stingsName: Mathew Fan
Gender: Male
Life aspirations: Start up an ever growing orchard.
Hobbies: Collecting things and bury down the things under trees, flowers and rocks.
Inventory: Simple Yellow Outfit (Worn), Town Map
Current status:
That was a lot of fun to write.