[h2][center][color=cyan]Nicole[/color][/center][/h2]
[hr]

[b]Time of day[/b]: Morning
[b]Location[/b]: Nicole's bedroom, above the Woven Roast

Nicole woke slowly, keeping her knees pressed against her chest and her face buried as far down as it would go. She didn't want to get up, to face the day all alone. If she stayed put and didn't open her eyes, she could pretend to hear her mother making a racket in the kitchen, or maybe she was still in college and her roommate was just across the hallway. As long as she stayed where she was, she could pretend that there was someone waiting for her to wake up.

But that was all a lie. Slowly, the illusion lost it's power and she was forced to face reality again. She had to get up and do the work she had promised people, but maybe she didn't have to do it wallowing in her own worries. Rolling out of her bed, Nicole went through the motions of getting ready for the day: Teeth brushed, body showered, clothes worn, etc. Throughout all of that, though, she had her mind focused on a new project. Archie's clothes. She didn't know exactly what he would need, since she hadn't seen him change yet, but she figured the major problem was that he grew. The clothes he brought her were always torn at the waist and seams, but that was the majority of the damage, so she would start with that problem.

Finding herself already standing at the front door as her attention returned to her own body, Nicole took a deep breath and let it out in a huff, putting on her best smile and taking the normal 'open' sign down, instead replacing it with a more personalized one.

"Today is a slow day, please be patient"

[hr] 

It wasn't too much longer before the door opened for the first time. Nicole looked up from the thin belt of cloth she was experimenting with behind the cafe counter, recognizing the customer. He had walked in one day and asked for something apparently on a whim, and she had had to make something up on the spot. Apparently he had liked it though, because-

[color=#7b906c]“Hey, can I get a large Blue Suede Brew? Black, please.”[/color]

He was still asking for it. Nicole pushed her work to the side and started working at the coffee machine, dropping a premade sachet into the filter. It was mostly normal coffee, but she had crushed in various sweet and neutral spices on a whim. It probably wasn't great for the machine, but she had bought a new one just for this so she figured it would be fine. She placed the finished drink on the counter just as the man returned for it. It must be a slow morning for him because he decided to stop and make smalltalk with her.

[color=#7b906c]“So, business been keeping you busy ‘round here?”[/color]

[color=cyan]"Busy enough to keep the store open,"[/color] Nicole hedged with a grin, [color=cyan]"Most of what I sell people consider luxuries though, and with the city the way it's been..."[/color] She trailed off, a worried note creeping into her voice. She wasn't scared about her shop, since she was fairly certain the different thread-based security measures she had taken were enough to keep her safe. She couldn't say the same about other people though, especially with people suddenly using their powers in the open. Archie and Nat seemed like good people, but she was sure it wasn't just good people who had been given unfair advantages.