Game Logic # 1: Shopkeepers are forced to buy everything you sell them, even if it doesn't make sense.
Tony had just finished his second cup of coffee, the rich aroma wafting around him like a blanket, and was contemplating whether to request a third, when his thoughts were rudely interrupted by the melodious jingling of the welcome bell above the door. The sound was a harbinger of change, a herald announcing the arrival of a new character in the story of his day, but at that moment, Tony never would have guessed just how much change this new arrival will bring him.
Like any ordinary person would, Tony momentarily shifted his attention from his beloved coffee to sneak a subtle, curious look at the newcomer. He had initially planned to take a quick glance and then return to his own affairs, but something about the man's appearance held him captive, as though an invisible force had him ensnared.
As a resident of New York, Tony had grown accustomed to seeing eccentric fashion choices that danced on the edges of avant-garde and daring. The city's eclectic nature nurtured this quirkiness, where fashion was a form of self-expression. However, even the most outlandish outfits he had encountered had a certain method to their madness, a coherent thread that made sense in the mind of the wearer. But the attire of this new customer appeared as if he had plucked garments haphazardly from a local thrift store's discard bin and donned them without a second thought.
The man's ensemble was a cacophony of colors and styles that seemed to have been chosen at random from a wardrobe that had been visited by a tornado. There was a bright purple wizard hat precariously perched on his head, a t-shirt adorned with garish flowers that screamed for attention, pink shorts that clashed violently with the shirt, and a pair of neon orange sneakers that could have been mistaken for traffic cones. As if this wasn't enough, the man sported a peculiar and unusual necklace that dangled around his neck, and his entire face was concealed behind a pair of blue-tinted sunglasses, leaving only a hint of his eyes visible.
Without these unconventional clothing choices, the man might have been considered rather handsome, not quite supermodel material, but attractive enough to turn a few heads. Regrettably, his odd attire rendered him a walking fashion disaster.
A battle raged within Tony, who fought back the temptation to approach the man and provide him with a free outfit. It wasn't an act of charity, but rather an attempt to spare himself from the ongoing visual discomfort inflicted by the man's attire.
Unaware of Tony's silent disapproval, the man selected a table and settled in, his backpack nestled on his lap as he began to sift through its contents. Tony, ever the observer, couldn't help but appreciate the only redeeming aspect of the man's appearance - the stylish, black leather backpack adorned with an intriguing triangular symbol on the back, resembling the Eye of Providence.
The man spent a few minutes rummaging through the backpack's contents before finally seeming content. He rose from his seat and made his way toward the counter. The cafe's small, relatively empty nature allowed Tony to eavesdrop on their ensuing conversation as if they were having it right in front of him.
"Hello," the employee greeted him with a welcoming smile, though it momentarily faltered as he observed the man's eccentric attire. "Welcome to Cactus Cafe. How can I assist you today?"
"I want to sell some items," the man responded with such a calm composure that momentarily made Tony question whether he had misheard.
The man's voice had a pleasant quality, one that might have been appreciated under different circumstances. However, at this particular moment, Tony grappled with maintaining his composure, courtesy of the astonishing request he had just heard. Throughout his well-traveled life, Tony had encountered a wide array of experiences, but it was the first time he had witnessed someone entering a coffee shop with the intention of selling items to the employee. This left him wondering what kind of environment the man had grown up in for him to consider this acceptable behavior.
But Tony didn't have too much time to dwell on this, as the unfolding events would soon shatter his expectations and challenge his understanding of reality.
Following the man's unusual request, the employee, rather than outright declining or questioning the man's sanity, paused for a moment before reluctantly agreeing. Yes, you heard correctly; the employee at the counter actually agreed to purchase items from a customer.
Tony was in shock. The entire scene felt like something out of a bizarre dream, a surrealist painting come to life. He glanced around the cafe to see if anyone else was witnessing this absurdity but the only two remaining patrons in the shop were sipping their coffees, seemingly unperturbed by the outlandish exchange taking place before their very eyes.
And the items the man proceeded to unveil only added to the perplexity.
From his bag, the man retrieved a bizarre assortment of items: ten empty water bottles, a half-eaten apple, a tattered children's book, a leather pouch, and a rock. In any other context, these items would more appropriately belong in a trash can, yet this man was displaying them with unwavering confidence, expecting the employee to make a purchase.
To Tony's astonishment, rather than outright refusing, the employee took a moment to examine each item closely and under his disbelieving gaze, the employee actually handed the man ten dollars for the entire lot.
Ten dollars for what could only be described as garbage.
Tony was flabbergasted, his mind struggling to process the sheer absurdity of the situation. He couldn't help but wonder if he had inadvertently stumbled into some alternate reality, where the laws of logic and reason had taken a coffee break.
The man didn't display any significant joy over the successful sale of items that would normally be considered discarded. As he headed towards the exit, his focus was abruptly captured by an abandoned paper coffee cup left behind by an absent-minded customer. He picked up the cup, briefly inspected it, nodded to himself, and then turned back to the counter.
"No way," Tony thought to himself, but apparently, real-life logic didn't apply to the man, because he handed the coffee cup over and actually received a dollar for it.
With that transaction concluded, the man appeared to be content. He expressed his gratitude to the shopkeeper and then left the store.
As soon as the man had exited, the shopkeeper blinked a few times before directing his gaze down at the collection of seemingly worthless items before him. His eyes widened with disbelief as he tried to make sense of what had just transpired.
"Holy shit," Tony overheard the shopkeeper murmur to himself, "What did I just do?"
"What happened?" Tony rushed over, a mix of concern for the shopkeeper's well-being and curiosity about the unusual transaction that had unfolded.
"I don't know," the employee responded, his voice trembling. "It was so strange. I felt like I was in a daze. When he offered me those items, I just had this compulsion to accept them, even though it makes no sense for a coffee shop to be buying anything, let alone what seemed like garbage."
The word "magic" caused Tony to freeze, and he couldn't help but entertain the notion that the man might be some sort of wizard or mutant. Because the only thing that could explain the employee's strange behavior would be some form of mind control or supernatural influence.
"But why would someone with mind control powers resort to making an employee buy garbage instead of, say, robbing a bank?" Tony pondered to himself, mentally voicing the apparent lack of logic in this situation.
Tony looked back at the door the stranger had disappeared through and frowned.
It looked like things were about to get interesting around here.