The sun wasn’t quite low enough to cause a blinding glare through the poster-covered window yet, but the store was still well lit without any lights turned on inside. The layout wasn’t too different from a typical corner store Kyle had ventured into a few times growing up. It was fairly small, with an assortment of products jammed packed on every square inch of the shelves along the walls and the two stands in the middle of the shop. There was a single clerk behind the L-shaped counter against the wall to his left when he walked in, but they seemed too preoccupied with stocking something on a high up shelf to notice anyone had walked in.

As Kyle moseyed to the back, he found an assortment of snacks that’d easily sate his hunger. Boxes of candy, a variety of labeled cans all the same size, and individually wrapped snack bars lined one of the shelves. Maybe these are meant to be nutritious? The bars covered in a variety of blue, red, and yellow colored logos called out to him, insisting they were tastier than the ones on either side. Alas, without a usable penny to his name, Kyle sighed and moved on. Man, I’ve had to go without pocket change before, but this is something else. I’m not sure how I’m gonna survive like this, unless… 

Glancing over his shoulder, he checked to see that the clerk was still busy. He held his breath and closed his eyes. “I can’t believe I’m really doing this,” he mumbled, barely able to hear himself. Uncertainty clawing at him, he reached out to grab a snack bar at random, and checking to make sure the clerk wasn’t about to turn around, quietly put it in the inner pocket of his butler jacket. His face felt hot, and he wondered how much of the sweat forming on his brow was from the stale air. He took a step back from the wall, and wondered if he might be able to sneak a box or can of food as well, or maybe a drink–

“Oh, I apologize sir! I didn’t realize I had a guest!”

Kyle jumped as the clerk gave him a belated greeting, his politeness emphasized by an English-sounding accent. His hair was combed over, and he wore a blue button up shirt with white stripes tucked into some light khaki pants; Kyle put him at around thirty-nine years old. He was cleaning his glasses– no, a monocle, as Kyle turned to greet him. Smiling, the thief tried to ignore the feeling of something pressing into the side of his stomach as he turned around. “G’day!” his voice cracked.

Could you be any more obviously suspicious, Kyle?!

“Is there anything I can help you with?” the clerk said, unperturbed. Kyle shook his head, glancing around. He had no idea what the name of any of these products might be, much less what many of them actually were, and the last thing he needed was more attention to cause him any more stress.

“Just, ah, browsing for now.” He’d dropped the English accent from before, not wanting to cause any confusion or assumptions like he’d done with the crowd on the street.

“No problem. The name’s Connor. Welcome to my Corner Store! The medicines are on the other wall, in case you’re looking. Please let me know if you have any questions.”

Kyle nodded and turned back around to face the wall of merchandise. How about telling me an easy method of leaving now without seeming like a suspicious weirdo? He tried to distract himself by reading the labels of the goods shelves near his feet. These all look like bags of chips. Or are they crisps, since he sounds English?

The silence in the room lasted all of a few seconds before it became a bit too much for Kyle to bear, the weight of his crime already weighing on him. The cogs of his mind began turning as he tried thinking of something, anything to say to fill the void. “Say, have you seen anyone come by with an odd looking… black bag on their back? Like a design you haven’t seen before?”

“A black bag?” Connor raised an eyebrow. “It wouldn’t look like the one you’re holding there, would it?” he asked, pointing to the bag Kyle was carrying.

“Oh no, this is just a shopping bag. I’m asking about a backpack.”

“Hmm,” Connor mused. “Well no, can’t say I’ve seen anything like that today. Why do you ask?”

“They… I’m just looking for someone.”

“Well if I see them, I can tell them you stopped by at least. What was your name?”

“...Kaycee,” Kyle said.

“Ahah!” Connor snapped his fingers. Kyle froze, his whole body tensed, at the unexpected reaction. “I knew it.” 

“I’m so–”

“It’s not often I get a customer from Lancera. Ah, I miss home.”

“...I’m sorry?”

Connor paused, confused. “Are you not from the Kingdom of Lancera?”

Kyle shook his head.

“Oh. With a name like that, I’d guessed you were from the northern parts of the kingdom or something. My apologies.” Connor looked rather disappointed. Kyle felt his face get hot, his stomach turning in knots; being mistaken for a “Lanceran” for a second time wasn’t lost on him, especially since Connor’s reaction was based on Kyle giving his nickname, rather than his real one.

“My dad was– is, though. From northern Lancera, I mean.” 

Oh yeah, smooth save there.

“Ah, I see,” Connor said, nodding as his smile returned. “And your mum?” 

“She’s from… here.” Crap, where even is here? Couldn’t I have been given a briefing on what country I was haphazardly dropped into? A brochure for this world, a holographic pop-up like from a game, anything!

“I see.” Connor’s smile lessened. “Well, I hope you’re getting by alright. I know Lancerans have a tendency to look down on others, even mixed-children. And many Avalonians really aren’t fans of us ‘cause of how they’ve been treated in the past. Not that I blame them, but do they really gotta harass mixed kids because of where their parents are from? The bunch of–” Connor stopped himself, holding a hand up. “Apologies, Kaycee. My teenage niece, Stacie– oh, bless the darlin’ girl. She’s dealt with many a bully from all sides because of her parents. It’s unfortunate, but she smiles and shines on through all the same. People could learn a thing or two from her, I tell ya!” he laughed, waving his hand as Kyle stood there dumbstruck.

How am I supposed to respond to something like that? And Avalonians? Does that mean this place is supposed to be Avalon or something? What is going on here?!

“Sorry, sorry,” Connor said. “A bit inappropriate to be getting into all that with a first time customer. Please carry on! Let me know if you can’t find something.”

Kyle nodded uncomfortably and, changing which hand was carrying the bagged figurine, he returned to his browsing. His throat felt dry, and he instinctively looked around for a sign for any drinks. There was a single fridge, a tad taller than he was, over by the counter where Connor was still at, trying to look busy.

Kyle steeled himself as he walked over, praying that Connor didn’t have some kind of sixth sense that would tell him about the stolen snack he was hiding. In the fridge was an assortment of glass bottled drinks, all some kind of fruit or vegetable based juices from what he could tell. Looking through them all, he realized a certain drink he’d seen earlier was missing.

“Do you have one of those ‘Orange Bubble Kicks’ by any chance?”

Connor winced, shaking his head. “No, unfortunately. I know how popular those soda pops are with kids these days, but Avalonian suppliers have been staunch in only selling Avalonian foods stuffs to Avalonian stores. As such, I’m afraid I can’t offer you any Bubble Kicks, among other things. There’s a vending machine in the park across the street if you need, but I personally recommend you try some Lanceran brand juice or tea!”

Kyle looked from Connor to the fridge, and thought for a moment. That’s my cue.

“I’m good for now, thank you,” he said. “I think I’ll try that vending machine you mentioned. If they’re charging too much though, I’ll definitely be back for sure! How late are you open?” He made his way towards the door as he talked, trying not to seem like he was rushing.

“Oh, a while. I don’t close until nine usually. Open twelve hours a day, six days a week, just like most other shop owners around here.”

Twelve hours?! And Tony always complained about his eight hour shifts in retail! 

“Sounds good,” Kyle said, keeping his shock to himself as he opened the door. Then he stopped, feeling as though something was off. He looked up and realized what was missing from when he came in, as well. “Say, have you thought about putting a bell on the door? Just so you don’t miss me when I come in next time,” he said, forcing a chuckle to show he was only joking.

Connor’s face fell as he looked to the top of the door. “Oh yes, there’s supposed to be a chime there. Damnit, that’s the third time it’s been stolen this week! Those bloody brats!” This time, he didn’t stop himself as he cursed under his breath, clearly more than a little agitated.

“Stolen?”

“I’m almost certain it’s these Avalonian punks. It’s like I told you, they’re not too keen on Lancerans around here. You’d do best to steer clear of them; they’re just a bunch of petty crooks and thieves, as far as I’m concerned. The worst types for small business owners like me; can’t do much about them, and they’re not doing enough harm for authorities to care.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to reset himself. When Connor opened his eyes again, he was smiling. “I’ll have a chime up in a jiffy, so you hurry on back, Kaycee!”

Kyle nodded silently and waved a goodbye, rushing out the door. Without checking to make sure Connor wasn’t watching him, he sped off to the left, back down the street and away from the park with the vending machine, the weight of his guilt compounding with the snack bar in his pocket.