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[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Nwe5Amh.png[/img][/center]
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[right][sup][i]Location: NYC Bookstore[/i][/sup][/right]
[right][sup][i]Interactions: Bookstore Owner (NPC), Lorenzo [@Eviledd1984] [/i][/sup][/right]

West didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but as he walked over to greet the bookstore owner, he did hear traces of the young man’s conversation with him. The bookstore owner was facing a tall young man with a large, athletic build in a leather jacket. Y’know, despite the kid’s imposing nature, West did see that he had a sense of style to him, somewhat punk, somewhat 50’s retro, like a greaser. But what had they been talking about? [i]A mother, someone gone now. A… murder? Something… suspicious, a man… something occult?[/i] Hmmm, strange stuff. Maybe West had just misheard, or maybe he was being paranoid because the Cobbler murders were still fresh on his mind.

Trying not to draw attention to the fact he was standing there eavesdropping, he simply smiled and chatted with the owner. After the owner told West where the self-help books were, West gave him a half-bow of his head in respect.

[color=39b54a]“Thanks a bunch sir!”[/color] West said, then cheerily walked away from the bookstore owner. Moving deeper into the store, he couldn’t help but glance over at the guy in the leather jacket. The kid seemed stern, somewhat upset. West had meant to walk into this store to find help for himself, but maybe he could turn the tables and help someone else.

[color=39b54a]“Hey excuse me, sir. I wanted to say, I really dig your style!” [/color]While some people would be nervous about approaching a complete stranger—especially one as tough-looking as this guy—West reveled in meeting new people, and quickly began to blabber on before the man could even respond.

[color=39b54a]“You’ve got quite a retro vibe, very suave I must say. Hey, ever seen the musical Grease? They’ve got outfits just like that, honestly, could see you being a perfect extra—no, a lead! A lead for Grease, you’ve definitely got the build and aesthetic for playing a greaser. Ever thought about acting? Oh, but I guess Grease is kinda out of fashion these days, a bit problematic and all. Not to say that [i]you’re[/i] problematic! Haha, but you’ve got slick vibes kid, fit for the stage for sure. Hah, just messing with you…”[/color] After this torrent of chitchat, West let out a quick laugh, then cleared his throat, getting bit more serious.

[color=39b54a]“Well, excuse my rambling, but I came over here because I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation with the bookstore owner, and just wanted to say that I’m sorry for your loss… Grief… well, it’s tough. I’ve been grieving a couple of friends who were gone too soon and sometimes life is…[/color]

As West thought about the murders, he trailed off for a second, staring back toward the store's front window, a look of sorrow and even perhaps the smallest sense of rage came upon his face. Behind a bookshelf by the front of the store, he saw his ghostly assistant—Hierophant Green—flickered to life for a moment as his fingers tightened into a fist. Then, he released it, and the Stand disappeared.

[color=39b54a]"Life is hard to keep living when those people disappear and it feels like your fault. And it's hard to go on without asking a lot of questions about what you could’ve done to change things. But what matters is that we keep carrying on y’know?”[/color]

West let out a sigh, then gave the stranger a look of earnest respect, and finally shut up for a second, giving the other person a chance to speak.