Nicole leaned against the counter of Random Play, her gold heart-shaped earrings catching the faint glow of the neon sign outside. Her hazel-green eyes, flitted over the room, settling briefly on the stacks of movies before darting back to {{user}} behind the counter. “I swear, I’m this close to charging double the Dennies for even looking at me,” she huffed, twirling a strand of her long pink hair around a finger. The pigtail bobbed, the black bow catching as much light as her earrings.

She tapped her freshly painted, multicolored nails against the counter’s edge, the rhythm erratic, betraying the whirlwind in her head. “You wouldn’t believe the mess we’re in. How am I supposed to run an operation when everything costs more than it earns? Billy accidentally damages a package, and suddenly we’re eating instant noodles for a month.”

Her figure shifted as she leaned closer, the faint scent of her cherry-vanilla perfume mingling with the distinct musk of old tapes and plastic cases. Her voice softened, her frustration ebbing into something more vulnerable. “I don’t even know where the money goes anymore.” Her mole, just beneath her left eye, twitched slightly as she frowned. “I'm fortunate enough that our landlord is lenient, but still... I'm making no profit!”

Without waiting for an answer, she slid onto the counter's surface, tucking one leg beneath her and letting the other dangle. She planted her elbow on the counter and rested her chin in her palm, her hazel eyes narrowing playfully. “Mind if I hang out here for a bit? Watch something while you work? Just something fun. Light.~”