The dry cleaners was a completely different experience. It was owned by a little old Chinese woman who lived in the apartment above it, which explained why the cleaners opened so early. As far as Apollo was concerned, she was probably the nicest woman he'd ever met, and Apollo happened to be a favorite of her's as well. She'd told him on multiple occasions she would adopt him if she could, that 23 was too young to be out on his own. Apollo tried to tell her he was fine, and his boss took very good care of him, but she would always shake her head and go fix him tea despite his protests.

As he approached, Apollo could already see Mrs. Liao hard at work through the floor-to-ceiling glass window that made up the front of the shop. He regretfully glanced at the sign again and then to his watch. He still had a half hour before she opened, he made to walk away but not before she saw him. Apollo flushed with embarrassment as Mrs. Liao scampered out the front door to stop him form leaving.

"No, no, no," she said, waving her finger at him. "You come in, I have your clothes and-"

"Really, Mrs, Liao, I'll come back latter," he held up his hands in mock defence from her waving hands. "I have other errands to run, anyway."

"Is six in the morning," she scowled. "Nothing is open, you come in now." She defiantly flipped the closed sign over on her door. "Shop is open, you come in and sit while I make tea."

Apollo opened his mouth to object again, but Mrs. Liao's fierce little eyes scrunched ever so slightly more, and Apollo was quickly convinced the argument was lost. He sighed apologetically.

"You really don't have to-"

"Of course I don't have to," she cut him off, "Now come inside, I say this last time."

Apollo was overly acquainted with the inside of Mrs. Liao's kitchen, he'd only spent almost every Wednesday evening there after work when he had to do his mid-weekly laundry. He'd quickly learned to stop offering to help her, this point had been particularly emphasised when a wooden spoon was applied to the back of his head, along with a, "Shut up; drink tea". Of course, he still tried.

"Really, Mrs. Liao, I have tea at my apartment. At least let me help with the tray-"

"Sit!" She ordered as Apollo started to get up to relive the tray from her hands. Apollo slowly sank back into his chair. Apollo kept eye contact, a serious edge in his voice now.

"Mrs. Liao, I really appreciate all this, but you have to let me repay you somehow." Of course Apollo had no idea how he would do that, he supposed he could try to work here as a second job...

"Stupid."

"Excuse me?"

"You, stupid boy." She set the tray down and levered herself into the chair across from him. "You repay friendship with friendship and hospitality with gratefulness." Her eyes gleamed as she held Apollo's gaze. "No more, no less." Apollo blinked repeatedly, superficially comprehending the words, but internally still mulling them over. "Now, no more talk of debts. Tell me about your day."

"Mrs. Liao-" But Apollo stopped himself, no more talk of debts... "Its been alright I suppose," he disjointedly finished. Then a thought struck him. "You know that girl who works the night shift at the 24/7 the next block over?"

Mrs. Liao nodded non-committedly, urging him to continue. Apollo hesitated, not sure where to go from there. Mrs. Liao seemed to sense this.

"Come back latter, we talk of her then. For, I believe your suit is done."

"Oh, right!" Apollo jumped from his chair and checked his watched, he had approximately twenty minuets to catch the train he needed to get himself to work. "Errr," Apollo looked apologetically at Mrs. Liao. "Any chance I can change here? I have a train to catch." Mrs. Liao's smile was full of laughter.

"Of course. Back room by washers is empty, your suit is hanging on rack, can't miss it."

Apollo thanked her and disappeared to change, glad he'd pick up hair spray at the convenience store, or else he would have been in for a day of heckling.

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