Chapter 10- Slice of Metro Life

Someone hummed as he set up his stand- it was his, he rented it every week with the money he made the week prior, and he sold something different every time. And usually, had different customers every time.

See, his schedule was weekly, but never on the same day or at the same time. He made sure of that, kept track of it in a tiny book- Today, he was selling what he called 'poffs-' crunchy, airy cookies with a little sugar and a lot of substitute substance. Ingredients for anything other than smoothies were hard to come by in the Metro….

He set out his last tray, quite satisfied with himself, adjusting his reflective glasses. Hopefully a train would roll in soon, or he'd sell his entire stock to the jellyfish on the other side of the platform again.

But fate would consider him lucky today, one of the trains arrives after not too much waiting. The safest of them and most decorated of them, to be specific- CQ's train, Train 096.

"We're arriving at Central Station, now arriving at Central Station!" Tako's voice rings through the train to notify those on board, while she takes a curious glance out the window- ...Is that a stand? No, not just that, an.. axolotl, running it? She's never seen one of those down here before.

A few passengers get off, mostly passing by the odd man selling things. He doesn't mind. Just looks to the train for more, catching eye contact with the current conductor- or from her point of view, a glint of his glasses.

She looks away after that moment, almost deciding to just completely ignore it and stay onboard, better safe than sorry… but curiosity killed the catfish, and they were scheduled to stay here for a few minutes, anyway. Just a look wouldn't hurt, right? So she steps off the train, and onto the concrete floor of the station. Just a look.

"Good evening-" Time was a strange concept in the Metro. Everything had to be on time, but there was no difference in what time it was. So how he even knew it was evening was beyond- Oh, well.

He grips the brim of his top hat in an effective tip. "Would you like to purchase some poffs, perhaps? The sweetest thing you'll eat yet down here, or your money is given right back!"

"Good evening!" She nods politely in return, then eyes the poffs. You couldn't trust a lot of anything down here, but he didn't look associated with Kamabo, and looked trustworthy enough? Maybe?

"...Do you take points?" She didn't really have any other form of currency, but it was the Metro in any case. Ah, thought she told herself she'd just take a look- but it'd feel rude to pass up a purchase now, she's already started a conversation with the man.

"CQ points only, and only 50!" He prepares a little satchel of the treats, it looks hand-sewn. The cookies' dull pink color matched his skin near perfect, you could hardly see the contrast as he slipped them into the bag.

And just then, a small, glowing… creature? Popped up from behind the table, swiped a cookie into its mouth, and returned to whence it came.

"Ah- you must excuse Jerles, I told him he couldn't have any until after we sold out- but I presume he's figured out what that meant, no?"

"Seems like it-" She chuckles, amusedly yet politely trying to lean over the table to catch a glance of the little glowing creature again. A type of sea cucumber? No, maybe a flatworm?

"I've never seen anything quite like him, but he seems rather smart for whatever he is!" Tako compliments as she pulls out her CQ-80 to pay for the cookies. She still had a lot of points left from all those tests she did- which was all of them- so she could spend them rather freely.

He brings out his own CQ-80 from his suit to transfer the points- it's even on a little chain, like a pocket watch would be. What a strange proper axolotl man. Someone like that had to hide many stories, Tako decided.

" Yes, Jerles is very intelligent still, taking into mind what he's been through-" The axolotl salesman continues, processing the transaction. "He seems to like you, though, quite a lot! Some familiarity, perhaps?"

What an… odd way of putting it.

The strange glowy thing takes another inquisitive peek at 10,008. It had the same sort of transparency as CQ Cumber, yet its skin and eyes seemed to swirl unnaturally. Almost exactly like sanitized ink. Was it.. sanitized, ink? …He was cute, though.

A bit too unnerved to answer the man's last comment, she decides to just extend a hand, seemingly offering pats- Did it like pats? Could it be pat? Dunno! But it's cute! So why not?

Happily, he leans into her hand. He felt like slime. Cold, and slightly wet, but solid and didn't get anything else wet? Like jello. Just like jello. If anyone down here has ever even had jello.

He's very happy though, smiling wide. Causing his taller friend there to smile equally as wide, the smile his species was known for.

"Now Jerles, remember your manners-" The jello creature obeyed, bowing until his forehead brushed her fingers, his form of a kiss on the hand. Then, he plops back down below the table.

Tako giggles. "So his name is Jerles, what's yours?"

He seems to hesitate for a moment, smile remaining but the light behind it dying. He does answer though- "Moissanite P. Eckleberry, at your service ma'am." He bows as well- and perfectly, a bow like that only came from years of practice. Yes, he definitely held some secrets. Axolotls certainly didn't belong this deep.

"Thank you for coming-" He seems to rush out of the interaction, holding the bag of sweets out for her. "...You'll be late for your train, Ms. Tacioni."

Oh! He wasn't rushing for his own sake, but for her's! And he didn't know her name through some suspicious means, she wore a name tag, of course! She grins in relief, what a polite pair.

"Thank you, thank you-" She curtsies shortly, way less practiced, then takes the sweets from him and hurries back to the train. She only had a minute or so left before she'd be behind-

"Come again, yes? But never at the same time!" Moissanite calls out, waving before the doors close.

"7:30 and 5:45, best I can do!" She calls back with a visible laugh in her shoulders. Always had to be on time. Hopefully their schedules, or 'schedules', would overlap again though- those two were nice.