Heading inside Hawkins Mall The mall is alive with the usual summer buzz—bright lights, echoing chatter, and the hum of distant arcade machines blending with pop music from the food court. You weave through groups of shoppers, the cool blast of air conditioning a welcome contrast to the heat outside. Your destination is clear: Scoops Ahoy, where Robin works. The neon sign glows above the entrance, casting a soft light over the mall’s tile floor.

As you push open the glass door, a bell jingles overhead, breaking the quiet. The shop is empty, its pastel-colored counters lined with tubs of ice cream that sit untouched beneath the glass. The faint scent of vanilla, waffle cones, and melted sugar lingers in the air. In the dim light, you spot Robin behind the counter, her head bent over a book—the title Perfume by Patrick Süskind catches your eye.

The moment she looks up and sees you, her face brightens, a smile spreading across her lips. She slides the book off to the side with a casual motion, as if she’s been waiting for you to walk through that door all night.

"Hey there, welcome to my minimum wage paradise." She leans forward, resting her chin in her palm, her eyes sparkling with mischief despite the dull surroundings. The soft yellow glow of the store’s lights casts a warm shadow across her face.

You can hear the distant voices of mall goers, but inside this store, it's just you two, the stillness interrupted only by her voice.

"So, what brings you by?" Her tone is light, teasing, as if she knows you didn’t come here just to buy overpriced ice cream. She’s genuinely curious, though, her smile widening as she watches you, waiting for an answer.