Vasquez

The grocery store is annoyingly crowded for a Monday afternoon. Shion is tempted to run his cart into the heels of everyone who gets in his way, which is far too many people. His enclosure is so tidy, so comfortable; he needs enrichment. He fills his cart with sensible choices to feed a growing child — even a werewolf requires fresh fruit and vegetables — and of course some junk food for movie nights and treats.

"Shion?" The back of his neck prickles before he places the voice, and he fixes on a smile as he turns to face his neighbor.

"Fancy running into you here, Mrs. Wire," he chirps, matching the too-much brightness of her tone.

"Oh, please, it's Barb," she says, patting his arm fondly, like he might be one of her son's friends or maybe a stray cat. "How've you been doing? I barely see you around these days. How's your little girl?"

"Oh, Sophie's swell," he says, and this time there's genuine warmth in his expression. He's never had a weakness he's been so eager to show off. "She's doing great. All her teachers love her."

"Well, I'm sure." Barb places a hand over her heart and shakes her head. "She's so sweet and well-behaved. When a child has such loving parents, it really shows. Oh, and not just with her, but each other and her mother. I've never seen such a doting couple or such a supportive surrogate."

Shion blinks at her, wondering if maybe she's confused him with a different Shion.

"I was just telling Bob how nice it is," she gushes, "that Sophie still has her mother in her life. So many children don't, in her position, and it really is so important for a young girl to have a woman in her life, don't you think? Oh, well, of course you do, that's why you have her by so often. Sophie really does look so much like her, such a pretty child."

"I don't think I'd describe us as a 'doting couple,'" Shion starts, still weighing whether or not to go with the old 'brothers' standby instead. Barb just laughs.

"Well, whatever you want to call it," she says. "I just wish my Bob still looked at me the way your husband looks at you. Oh, he thinks he's all stoic, but it's all in the eyes, you know, I see it plain as day. Do tell him I'm sorry if Bob tries to talk his ear off. He just loves making friends."

It's hard to recall the last time Shion was speechless. He does, however, very clearly remember why he doesn't make much time for chitchat with the couple next door. It hadn't occurred to him that, in doing so, he'd given her quite so much room to come up with a whole backstory for him. He's not sure if he should correct her or let her run with it, but he does know he should swallow back his urge to point out she clearly doesn't know much about doting couples, based on what he hears from those two when they get into a fight sometimes. Maybe it's just that his hearing is especially good, but he's pretty sure that their voices really do just carry that well.

"I will do that," he says instead, trying to turn his grimace back into a smile. "Solon's just so shy. But maybe Bob can get him out of his shell."

Barb beams and Shion is pretty sure he's just ruined the rest of Solon's week, but he's not taking this psychic damage alone.

He hisses at her departing back when she finally turns away and hurries through checkout, and as a balm, he takes the cart with him, jumping up to place both feet on the lower part so he can ride it down the street. People scatter out of his way, flinging curses behind him, and he laughs. Oh, he's feeling better already. "Coming through!"

[ Come one, come all! Come find Shion reeling from having to deal with his nosy neighbor, shopping for snacks, ready to run your pup down, or anywhere in-between. Open to all, ST/LT welcome. ]