Re: Webster's: Holly & Elijah
"No one's ever asked," he said of why not Billy?... Billie? This was a small place. Okay, no, back home had been a small place, but this Repose was the same, even in this weird pocket universe that mirrored his own, right? Everyone knew his mom was the reason Webster's had opened, and everyone knew his mom loved the place. Everyone had known who he was named after, and no one had ever asked him. Why? Probably because they'd asked his mom, you know, when she'd been waddling around Main with a big belly, chattering at everyone in her friendly way, and she'd explained, and everyone just kinda knew. So, no one had ever asked. "Useless question," he agreed, but his expression and tone remained deadpan. Didn't mind the useless question.
Knew the guy was going to ask what he recommended. Everyone asked that. The thing about that question was that music was so subjective, so he followed up with the question he always followed up with: "What do you like?" Holly didn't expect small talk about the weather, not at 10 p.m. from someone who seemed to avoid people like some type of Henry VIII sweating sickness was rolling into to town, right? He expected a quick intro, a quick exit, and and a few practical questions in-between. "What are you looking for?"
He tipped his head in silent acknowledgement of the compliment about the store. Back home, he would've felt some pride, but back home his mom had built the place up, and he'd kept it alive for dad. Here? Here someone else had done it all, the disconnect was dissonance in Holly's head. Back home, this was all his to inherit... he had inherited it. Here, he wasn't going to get any of it. Gramps just wouldn't ever die, and he'd never hand it over, and Holly was kinda just a clerk. Anyway, he ran a hand over his smooth cheek. "Good to know my throat's safe," he deadpanned, and then he went back to counting.