[indent][b][u]October 28th, 12:35 PM
Hope Springs, West Virginia[/u][/b][/indent]

[color=Skyblue]”I don’t think Mr. Harris really thought this through...”[/color]

Josh scratched at the back of his head, ruffling the onyx black hair as he stared at the door before him. Which was smaller than him. By at least a foot, not even including his horns. How was he supposed to fit in there...?

Well, no use just standing there trying to figure it out! Mr. Harris had sent Josh to get groceries, and he was going to get groceries! It was a simple task his mentor had set for him, and he wasn’t going to disappoint him! Hunching his shoulders forward and ducking down Josh carefully moved through the door – only to stumble when his broad shoulders bumped the top of the doorframe. He tripped forward, having to use his hands to catch himself, but quickly scrambled up.

On the right side of the door, too!

[color=Skyblue]”Score!”[/color] Josh cheered to himself, absolutely beaming to the open air. There was a scream. Demon’s glowing white eyes blinked before he focused on a set of people to his left – a teenage boy manning the checkout lane of the market, and a woman being checked out. Both cowering. The boy looked around his age, too.

[color=Skyblue]”Oh, uh, hey. Don’t worry! I’m not here to cause any trouble! I just need to pick up some things! ....And, uh, sorry about not... you know, wearing shoes either. I can’t find any that fit me...”[/color] The nearly nine foot tall demonic youth trailed off, but seeing as his words weren’t exactly comforting to the pair he just shrugged. It was a little hurtful, but at least they hadn’t called him a demon! Taking the win where he could, Josh picked up a nearby hand basket and ventured into the little supermarket. 

[color=SkyBlue]”Okay, let’s see... Some bread, some non-perishables... Oh nice, I totally want a pepsi! I haven’t had one in months! I wonder if we could get a fridge out there... Oh! Beef jerky, don’t need a fridge for that. Aw man, why is it so expensive? I don’t have enough for that...”[/color] Lamenting his purchase choices Josh stared down at his little basket, wondering what he could put back. He didn’t have much on him, and Mr. Harris had only given him a little more – his mentor didn’t need to eat, which was super cool, but Josh [i]did[/i].

[color=Skyblue]”... Oh.”[/color] Something caught his eye near the produce, and wandering away from the beef jerky Josh looked down at the little green display. [color=Skyblue]”Huh.”[/color] Plant food. Did Mr. Harris eat plant food? ... Would he like to? It’d be rude not to bring him [i]something[/i] back! Even if it was a little pricey...

The pepsi put back in its proper place and the plant food now in his basket Josh finally approached the front. Setting his things on the tiny conveyor belt he stood there, patiently waiting for someone to check him out. Actually, it was taking awhile... Why was no one here? He didn’t frighten them that badly, did he? Craning his head around the tall man glanced around – which is how he caught sight of the flashing red and blue lights outside.

... Oh.

Deflating and his shoulders sagging Josh continued to wait, until eventually a set of officers came inside. Surprisingly, they didn’t have their weapons drawn – though the one on the left [i]did[/i] have his hand on it. The other approached, an older man who kept his distance but looked up at him.

[color=Skyblue]”Hi, officer...”[/color] Josh offered weakly, raising a hand to wave. The man frowned, watching him carefully. The look made Josh fidget, which made him nervous, which made him start speaking rapidly – it was a really bad habit. [color=Skyblue]”I’m not here to cause trouble, I uh, I told the cashier that, but I guess he got scared – I just want to buy some things! I can’t, like, not look like this, but I need to get some supplies – I promise I’m not going to hurt anyone! I was even careful coming in so I didn’t break anything!”[/color] Frustration began coloring his words, emphasized by the prickling the demonic youth felt at the back of his eyes. Oh no.

A sniffle broke loose, and Josh quickly raised an arm the size of a tree trunk to rub at his eyes. He just wanted to buy something!

“... Err, how long have you been like this, son?” The voice made Demon look up, whimpering as he focused on the officer. They seemed confused.

[color=Skyblue]”Uhm... since December...? Yeah, December! I was excited about getting out of school for Christmas!”[/color] That just seemed to make the two men further perplexed.

“How old are you?”

[color=Skyblue]“Seventeen, sir.”[/color] Josh took his gaze from the officers to once again rub at his face. He was such a crybaby. The two men started talking to each other in whispers, before finally a decision was made.

“Alright, son, we’re going to get someone to check you out, but then you have to leave, alright?” The words made Demon’s long, navy-skinned ears perk up and he looked to them, quickly nodding eagerly.

[color=Skyblue]”Y-yeah! That’s okay! I’ll leave right after! Thank you!”[/color]

That’s how Josh ended up being checked out by the poor store manager, the man trembling slightly but getting through the transaction with the two officers watching closely. The tall youth politely paid – the man whimpered when he handed Josh his change back into a hand that dwarfed his head – and thanked him. Taking the little plastic bag the teenager beamed brightly to the officers and gave them a nod before going to the door. Once again it took some manoeuvring but he managed to get outside, without denting anything either!

Aww, not cool. There was a crowd outside. People drew back in fear but Josh was used to that. He just ducked his head and started toward the forest, like he promised. The two officers watched him carefully as he went.

... And then Josh was promptly distracted.

[color=Skyblue]”... I could get some money that way.”[/color] Brightening, the demon darted off towards the city’s dump. People threw away bottles and cans all the time! He could totally recycle them for some change! Mr. Harris was going to be so proud.

[hr]

[indent][u][b]4:35PM[/b][/u][/indent]

Okay, it didn’t quite work out the way he wanted. Actually, it turned out a lot better than it usually did for him! The officers had followed him to, well, basically tell him off for not leaving, but the ... foreman? Was that the word? Josh didn’t know, but the guy in charge saw how he – accidentally! - crushed a beat up old car moving it to the side in his venturing and offered him thirty bucks to crush some things for him – once he heard from the officers where Josh had come from. Turns out his dump’s compactor was on the fritz.

Josh was always happy to help, like a hero should, but thirty bucks on top of it?! [i]Score![/i]

The man was really nice, too, on top of being brave. He put his bag of groceries in the little office while he worked and told the officers it was fine. They had left him alone.

Now a couple hours later Josh had money in his pocket, and he smelled [i]awful[/i]. He’d have to ask Mr. Harris to make him new plant-pants and a shirt again.

... Speaking of which, was that him?

[color=Skyblue]”H-Hey! Mr. Harris!”[/color] There was a crowd of people on Josh’s venture home, drawing his attention. Usually it was [i]him[/i] drawing the crowds. And there was his mentor, near the police station, those same poor harrassed duo of officers looking at the men that had been deposited to them.

And there was a little girl, looking up at the Vine Stalker the same way Josh was pretty sure he did often. Well, his mentor [i]was[/i] pretty cool. He was a real hero, after all!

Wait, why did Mr. Harris bring some men to the Police Department?

[color=Skyblue]”... Aww, I missed helping!”[/color]