forum So Broke I'm Breaking ~Bad~ (OPEN)

Started June 13, 2019 by @WriteOutofTime

tune

Nyir leaned against the cash register, her eyes dimming. This was going no where fast. She knew she was going to be fired soon, even though she had no idea why. She was trying her best, but with her stupid arm she wasn't nearly efficient enough for the company. She needed a way to make money, fast, because…well, her health wasn't great. She needed to be able to provide for her family. The question was, how?

Thalia sat in her room, waiting for her mom to get home. She sighed, and grabbed a book off of her shelf, then began flipping through the pages. Forget this she thought, putting her book down. She went downstairs and walked out the door, turning to go to the park. Once she was there, she sat down on a bench and watched all the animals. "I wonder when she's going to get home." She said to herself.

Obadiah approached the cashier with a basket full of interesting item hooked around his elbow. He glanced down to her name tag, “Nyir..? Is that how you pronounce your name?” He set down one roll of gray duck tape down at a time, a total of twelve of them, along with several small bags of Fritos snacks, plus a bottle of beer or two.

"It's like Near, but a softer 'e'," she said automatically, a fake smile on her face. She loathed customer service jobs more than anything else in the world. "Lot of duct tape you got there. What's it for?"

“Nyir..” he echoed with a small nod, “And hah, Yeah..” He feigned an embarrassed smile, “I do a lot of craft projects.” He forced out a a chuckle (quite believable if he said so himself), “I like making things out of duck tape. Like boats.” hah! yeah right

"Craft…projects," Nyir repeated, narrowing her eyes at him. Okay, so he was lying. But why? What was he up to? She noticed the expensive watch on his wrist and the shifty expression in his eyes. "They must be pretty lucrative."

“Lucrative indeed.” He wiggled his eyebrows, pursing his lips in a tight smile, “Would you like to buy some? You seem like a crafty person, Miss Nyir.” He rested his hands on the counter while he waited for his items to be scanned. He studied her face and expression, trying to determine what kind of person she was.

"How much do crafts normally go for?" she asked, her voice lowering as she studied his face. She picked up a roll of tape and scanned it.

Thalia thought about going to visit her mom, and started to head toward the shop. When she got there, she saw her mom talking to a customer through the window. She turned and headed back to her house because she didn't want to bug her mom when she was working.

“Mm..if we’re talking a bag, about fifty dollars depending on what you want in it.” He lowered his voice, “Glancing around himself to make sure no one else was close enough to hear them. He saw a teenager looking through the window, but relaxed when she didn’t come inside.

Nyir's thoughts raced. "And how many bags do you normally sell?" At first she'd been thinking of getting something recreational, but hearing that price…well, she was considering something quite different.

“That depends. In what time frame? A week? Three months?” He leaned closer, glad that she caught in to what he meant—and that she even seemed interested.

"Per week," she replied flatly. She needed quick money. No long, drawn out processes.

He glanced up to the ceiling to think, “Well…on average I make Twenty deals a week. The money depends on what color duck tape they want and how much.”

"Is it just you? Do you just distribute the crafts, or do you make them?" She scanned another of his items, a spasm going through her wrist. She winced slightly, hoping the man hadn't noticed. "And which crafts make the most money, fast?"

“It’s a business.” He opened his coat to take out a little index card and give it to her, “If you’re not just interested in mere duck tape, give me a call and we can talk more privately.”
The card was completely black with the words in a simple white font The Underground Craft Shop, with his phone number beneath it.

She stared down at his card for a long moment, her body completely still besides the usual slight tremor in her right hand. It was definitely an entertaining idea. She needed quick cash to provide for her daughter, and she wasn't in any condition to work any conventional jobs she was qualified for. "What the hell," she said, taking the card from him and slipping it into her pocket. "I guess I will. Here, do you want a receipt?"

“Yes please.” He closed his jacket after she had taken the card, “I’m looking forward to your call.” He waited for his receipt in general silence until he finally thought about, “If anyone else answers, ask for Obadiah. That’s me.”

"Right." She handed him the receipt. "Thanks for choosing to shop at Grab&Grab, Obadiah. Have a nice day."

(Sorry that its the same character as the other RP shes the only character i have that would deal)
Name: Caterina (Cat) Ricci
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Lesbian but will flirt with anyone to get her way
Role: Dealer
Appearance: Long black hair that she really needs to cut, a few tattoos litter her body. most have a meaning. Olive skin and dark brown eyes. If she hides her tattoos she has an innocent look that helps her get away with anything.
Normal Outfit: Whatever she can get her hands on that will also help her blend in. Like a sweater and some jeans. when she goes to parties to deal she dresses up a little more so she can bland in.
Personality: very manipulative this helps with her dealing. She doesn't like people knowing too much about her so she just lies. It's easier than getting attached and then having to leave.
Backstory: She got put into foster care when she was 8 has been in and out ever since. now shes in whatever city this takes place and needs money. She turns 18 soon and knows her foster family cant wait to kick her out even though they've only had her for a few months. she needs some money so she doesn't end up dead.
Quirks: When she's telling the truth about something personal she cant look the person in the eyes so it looks like she's constantly lying.
Skills (if any): very good and convincing people and drawing
Fun Fact: Knows Italian and can understand/sort of speak Spanish.
Likes: getting what she wants, flirting,
Dislikes: her foster family, others lying to her(I know hypocritical) and getting in trouble

Obadiah gave her a brief thanks before taking his receipt and bags out of the store. He hooked the bags onto his elbows as he texted one of his partners—a partner he thought quite fondly of, actually. Not romantically of course, but he appreciated her charm and manipulation, seeing those aspects in his younger self. He respected her for it, even if she was only seventeen. We might have another ‘craft maker’ on our team soon, Catty— his slightly annoying nickname for her—If you get a call, forward it to me. She might be a cop, but I can’t tell yet.

Cat walks along a pretty much-deserted street. She takes out her phone when she felt the vibration. After reading the text she quickly responds. "Great will do and stop calling me that!"

Nyir's shift ended and she headed to her car. She tried to start it several times, but it wouldn't work for a solid ten minutes. Finally, after banging her hands against the steering wheel and muttering vague insults and curse words, the car finally sputtered to life. She drove back to her little apartment in a rougher part of town.

She opened the door. "Thalia?" she called.

Obadiah sank down in his front car seat as he read the text from Cat. He smiled dubiously and answered back, You and I both know I won’t stop until I’m dead. He threw his phone to the seat beside and ignited the engine, soon driving out of the parking lot towards his house.

Cat rolls her eyes and places her phone in her pocket. She walks up to a shitty looking house.