Post by Pally on Aug 19, 2017 3:20:01 GMT
On my return from Granite Falls, I dropped off the collectibles I didn't need at my own camp and then I went to visit the Freegans. When I showed up Sunshine and Forest were having a heated discussion. I'm not sure what it was about. Sunshine offered to make something to eat and moodily went off to make veggie burgers. I chatted with Forest but we talked about the gym. When he was done cooking, Sunshine brought me a burger, "Would my lady care for some veg?" He grinned. I happily took one.
Soon they all left, leaving patties where they once stood. 'More for me,' I shrugged. Back at the gym, I got to work on the punching bag and thought about my next move here at the gym. Time got away from me and soon it was late afternoon. I received an invite from Sunshine to the Puffer Dome. When I got there I packed on some deodorant and met him at the bar.
After a bit he started talking about what he and Forest were arguing about the other day. "He's like, you know, always telling me what to do and stuff. Like I'm his kid or something," he was saying,"He's like, only a year older than me, you know...." I let him vent for a while and then talked him into dancing to help clear his mind. I think it cheered him up. He seemed happier and then said he had to leave.
No sooner had he left, than I heard a commotion at the back of the restaurant. Someone was shouting for help. I ran back as fast as I could! 'I know that hat,' I thought worriedly, but I was too late. Pookey had just died from eating poorly made puffer fish nigiri. I was in shock and started crying. So had come to pass the bast yard sale customer I'd ever known, not to mention a good friend.
I was still a little in shock when I got back to the gym. I think some of my gym friends could tell something was wrong. They clustered around trying to cheer me up. I was not really in the mood. I sadly ate a trash fruit and then made a sad hotdog before going to bed. The next morning I was up and taking my feelings out on the punching bag. Nora showed up for work and offered her condolences, she had heard about Pookey.
I figured the best way to honor Pookey's memory, was to finish helping the place he called home, Murkland. So I set up my table and started a sale. It made me sad though, knowing that my favorite customer would never be showing up. I didn't keep it going very long and no sooner had I shut it down when I noticed Hank had been standing and watching me. "Sorry about your friend," he told me. Then he, a Turbo Pumpkin and Nora invited me to shoot some hoops.
After the B-ball game, I was feeling a little happier and hungry. I roasted some beetles and I must say they smelt better than they looked. I was about to eat when Alma walked by she stopped and said she wanted to check on me because she heard I had lost a friend. I offered her some beetle but she kindly turned me down. After she left I went to work on the plants growing under the gym. They were growing really well. I think it had something to do with the strange crystal lights that hung on the walls.
I was nearly done tending them all when I saw Eli walk in. He wanted to check on me and see how I was doing. I had to say I felt really loved by all my Murkland friends. The concern they showed me was amazing and really touching. I couldn't help but think how lucky I was to of been sent here.
A couple of days later I was back in Granite Falls. I was stinking it up and wanted a real shower. I don't know how many layers of cream I had on, I lost count. After my lunch of freshly caught beetles, I went out hunting for more goodies. I ran into, of all people, Lavender Pink. She was in a bad mood. I think she was on a mission from the Mayor, but she didn't want to talk much. Later I went to visit Kaci. We had a good chat.
I was even able to find some more dragonflies near the waterfall behind her house. After a long day of hunting, I made some creams before catching a few glowing night bugs and then settling down on a log for a 'good' night sleep.
After the bus dropped me off at my camp, and I unloaded my 'bags', I went to see the Freegans. This was my normal routine after a trip to Granite Falls. I talked to the girls for a time and then when Brennachan and I were alone I told her I was sorry about Pookey. She seemed confused. I couldn't believe no one had told her, so I tried my best to be gentle and told her about his death. I think it hit her like a rock to the stomach. I felt so bad for her and gave her a big hug.
Not long after, all the Freegans left to go do their daily tasks and I went to rummage in some trashcans. That was when I noticed a huge Vardo parked in the lot across from mine. 'What rock had I been living under?!' I thought. I asked a couple of local teens about it and they told me it was the home of the Vardo Brothers. I didn't really have time to go meet them myself so headed back to the gym.
I had a ton of creams still to sell to reach my money goal and got busy making some. I soon was joined by Leo, one of the ex-cons who lived with Hank. He greeted me and was making small talk. For some reason these guys always made me uncomfortable. I was happy when Ronni showed up to join us. I could tell by the way she looked at him she wasn't too comfortable around him either. After we finished talking they both went to workout and I started up my sale table.
Well, it didn't go that well. A few minutes in and Leo and Ronni were back, along with Hank, who was doing his best to try and impress me with outrageous stories. He finally gave up and wandered off with Leo to play basketball. Ronni was joined by Heather and Eli. They chatted and hung out near my table. But no matter how much or how loud I did my sells pitch, no one bought anything. I glumly went and tended my plants. Later I ate a potato with a murky Heather and Blue.
I went to bed after that, but couldn't sleep well. The noise and smells were a bit much for me that night. I decided to workout some and crawled out of the tent and did a few sit-ups then punched around on the old bag until Nora showed up for her morning shift. I was feeling a little depressed so went to soak alone at the hot springs. I just felt no one was ever going to by my creams.
After I was good a clean, I headed back to the gym and after I put on my fancy clothes, I started to play for tips. A huge crowd of gym goers and friends showed up to watch and listen. My skill was getting pretty high and I made a good amount of money from tips. My friends sure are generous. I was also happy to see Sunshine in the crowd.
I played until it was getting late and I was getting hungry. Sunshine stopped working out and came to hangout with me. I told him how I was almost ready to give up. I felt like I was never going to make enough money. I felt like a failure. He told me to stay positive and built my self confidence. He was right, I needed to stay positive. On the bright side I was getting into great shape. I showed him how big my muscles had gotten, then we roasted some veggie dogs together.
He was actually really sweet that night. He stayed close no matter where I went and we talked a lot more than we had in the past few days. We lit a bonfire and got cozy together watching the bright green flames. (I am not sure what they threw on there to get that shade, but didn't want to ask.) By the end of the night we were both cuddled together in murkiness. I guess it was romantic, in that murky sort of way. After he left, I went to sleep on the couch in the front of the gym. It was more comfy than the tent, but smelled worse.
The next morning I was feeling better about my gym plans and started off with another sale. I had a few customers show up first thing! Only one bought something, though. Then Veegan showed up and he bought a cream and then talked for a little bit. After, one of the Vardo brothers showed up. Boy, there was something about this guy, his dark silky hair, the sharp clothing, something that made all the ladies want to get a closer look. He smiled and bought a cream. He even came back for a second one. I sold a good amount and then went to make more and rummaged for dinner.
That evening Sunshine invited me to the Scootin Salamander over in Nukecrest. He thought I needed to get away from the gym for a little while. I told him about my successful sale and he said,"Awesome, now we have, like, an even better reason to be here! You know, to celebrate and stuff!" We danced and later when he was getting sleepy he got very flirty and then he left. I went back to the gym and called it a night. Hopeful for more great sales in the future.
