Grace O'Malley is the pirate queen. (the_piratequeen) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-12-02 15:37:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, emma swan, grace o'malley |
Who: Emma and Grace.
When: Black Friday.
Where: The War Zone A big-box retailer near you.
What: Shopping.
Rating/Warning: Low/Black Friday madness.
Status: Complete.
Black Friday was more of a holiday to Emma than Thanksgiving itself. Though… dinner had been nice. She wouldn’t deny that. It had gone way better than Emma had been expecting, even. Still, the blonde looked forward to Black Friday all year. She wasn’t sure why, she generally hated shopping, but when she got to fight with the unsuspecting masses for the best prices? Something about it set her off, she loved it. She would put off major purchases until Black Friday, just for the thrill of having to fight for it.
Case in point: today. She’d already shown Grace her list of desired items: a mixer (she didn’t even bake! WHY! nobody would ever know), a digital camera, and two TVs. Yes. Not one. Two.
Also, a bunch of socks because they were 75% off. Emma wasn’t even that interested in socks but she was still going to get a pile because she could.
“Are you ready?” Emma wondered, eyes on her watch because the minutes were ticking down until the doors were open and she and Grace had a plan to hit up the redhead’s aisles first before diverting to electronics.
Like Emma, Grace had a list comprised mostly of things she didn't need. That was half the fun. But she justified it by saying she was stocking up for the coming year. And if something else struck her fancy, well. So be it.
She finished off her coffee and tossed the cup into a nearby garbage can. It would be fun to do this with someone, really. Also, as it turned out, Emma was pretty cool.
"Beyond ready. These sales don't know what they're in for."
“Neither do these sheep,” Emma said, which was kind of rude but also a joke and everyone was too focused on their phones or in their conversations to notice that she’d quietly insulted them. There were only a couple items available for each of the best sales and yes, Emma expected to snag one of each. Because she was used to winning.
Emma pulled her hair back, because they were going to war and she didn’t want blonde curls in the way. There was a very nervous looking manager edging towards the door with keys in hand. It was time.
Grace snorted at the joke. Yeah, she liked Emma, Emma could stick around a while. There were some women a few people away from them in line that kept giving people the stink eye, and part of Grace was hoping she could tear apart their Black Friday dreams. So, sure she and Emma had similar goals, but at least they weren’t being blatant about it. Grace could pretend to be nice until the last possible moment.
“All right. This is it. For fashion, entertainment, and consumerism!”
Emma had worn her hiking boots. She was ready to climb over unfortunate souls if she had to. She actually expected for her experience in California to be a little less intense than the ones in New York. Those bitches were crazy. Emma had gotten a black eye one year from a very sharp elbow from a very old lady. Which was a funny story that Emma might tell Grace over coffee after they’d swept the town of every possible deal!
The doors were opened, and like a flood the shoppers waiting outside started flowing into the store. Emma screamed towards the carts first, taking three (who knew how much they’d end up needing) but she she kept them stacked until they needed them. She was mid turn when she spotted the mixers she was aiming for.
“Oh! Man the carts, Red?” Emma called, abandoning them to go grab her Mint Green Kitchenaide. Would it be too much to give Mary Margaret one of these for Christmas? Maybe…
Grace matched her pace with Emma’s at any, purposeful stride. While people were already trying to shove one another out of the way, Grace just powered her way through them.
“You got it, Blondie,” she called out, standing by the carts and giving the death-glare to someone who happened to think they could take one. You know, a mixer didn’t sound half bad, really. Most proper adults had one, right? “Grab me a purple one!”
The mixers were a good deal, and grabbing two wasn’t easy but yes ma’am, purple it was! Some poor woman complained that she couldn’t take two, but Emma sent her a look that could melt steel, and the complaint was smothered quickly. Technically, she was only taking one! So there!
She returned to Grace and settled their steals in the first cart with an affectionate tap to the top of each box. “Okay, where to… you wanted to swing by bedding, right?” They needed to get to electronics soon but bedding was on the way.
“Oh my God, I’m so excited to have this sit on my counter and remain untouched for months,” Grace said, squeeing over the mixer. Her mother would be so proud of her. Sort of. “Yeah, but I know televisions don’t last long. We can divide and conquer? The aisle splits off a few rows down, I can grab my bedding and if you need anything, that too. And if you see any good Blu-Ray players, nab me one, won’t you?”
Emma tugged a cart free for herself, because Grace made a good point. They needed to think smart. This was why she liked Grace! And not just because of the Irish lilt to her voice! “On it, Red. Meet by hosiery. And … oh, sheets. Queen size. High thread count. Like, two or three, if there’s a good deal.” With that, the blonde was off, and bless the heart of a little old lady standing in the way, because Emma brightly reminded, “Behind!” as she flew past her. She wasn’t going to try it with any old birds today, she didn’t want another black eye.
“Got it.” Grace gave Emma a salute and turned around, nearly tripping on a group of young women who were clearly experiencing their first Black Friday and were overwhelmed. A quick maneuver of the cart and she was on her way, grabbing up a bunch of bedding, sheets, pillowcases, and, why not, some new pillows and unnecessary cushions to cover her bed.
Grace missed out on the struggle of a lifetime. Emma was quite determined to get her TVs and get her TVs she did, much to the chagrin of a gaggle of women who were confused as to how they’d manage to lift it and were organizing a delicate team effort so nobody would break a nail. There was an angry outcry as Emma took the last one out from under them (picking it up alone at that) but they could deal with it. Picking up a television did not need discussion, ladies, and if you were worried about a broken nail, you should not come out on Black Friday.
After that, Emma had time to browse the blu-ray players as requested, but she was not impressed by the selection. A quick google on her phone told her that they were less than 10% off, so no, she figured Grace would want to do better. The blonde snagged her camera on the way to hosiery, where she would pad her cart with useless socks while she waited for Grace.
While Emma was busy showing off to women with expensive nails, Grace was almost getting out-done by an old woman who seemed to only want the exact items Grace had picked out. Fortunately, Grace could move faster, and was taller, so the advantage was in her favour. When she made it to hosiery, she trotted over to Emma.
“Hey, you got it! Good job.” Grace gave Emma a punch on the shoulder. A friendly one. “I have loads of sheets in here, just pick out the ones you like.”
Emma flashed her a rather pleased smile, because yes, she had gotten it. And no hair pulling or elbows from old ladies had been involved! An improvement from last year. “The blu-rays were less than spectacular. Maybe there will be something in the next store,” Emma said apologetically. Oh well, if anything, there was always hope for next year. Emma peered into Grace’s cart and selected two sets of sheets. “These are great, how much?”
“Eh, no worries. Superfluous purchase, you know? But if I’m getting one, it’s sure as hell not going to be at full price.” She laughed, then rattled off a price for the sheets that was obnoxiously amazing. “Anything else left we need at this store, or is it off to the next arena?”
Emma made a please trill at the price on the sheets. It was likely fortunate that Grace had been the one in the sheet section, or she would have gotten way more. Emma didn’t even need sheets, but that wasn’t going to stop her from taking them. “I think I’m good here, Red. The line is going to be a travesty anyway, we better get our waiting shoes on.”
“Thank god for iPhones, right?” Grace began pulling the carts to the checkout and breathed out a looong sigh. Travesty, indeed. This is why she wore comfortable shoes. “I brought some gum. Want a piece?”
“I downloaded Plants vs. Zombies just for today,” Emma sighed. Black Friday lines were something else, but they were first in the door and they’d moved fast, hopefully they wouldn’t be in line long. They made a rather awkward train with three carts between them but they maneuvered admirably. At the idea of gum, however, Emma said, “Sure! When we stop?” Grace was thinking ahead. Emma didn’t have a bag, only a wallet. She figured a purse would slow her down, and Emma didn’t really carry them, anyway. It left no room for chewing gum.
Mostly Grace was thinking that it’d be something to cover the whiskey from her breath, but gum was always a great thing to have one one’s self. Chewing gum made most situations more bearable. She gave Emma a laugh and then a salute before securing their place in line.
“These cashiers seem pretty efficient. I doubt we’ll be waiting too long by the end of it,” she said. She dug through her bag - over the shoulder, effective and practical - and pulled out several varieties of gum. “Pick your poison.”
Emma evaluated the selection before picking cinnamon. She liked mint and everything, but she was strong and angry and plowing through old ladies for deals. Red hot cinnamon seemed to suit the situation better. “Hopefully. I’ve seen lines around the store some years, but maybe we’re just moving too fast.” Emma was not going to complain about getting out the door quickly, seeing as they still had other stores they wanted to hit.
“Where should we go next?” Emma wondered pocketing the foil from her gum to throw away on the way out the door. “We have about two hours before DSW opens its doors.” Shoes were her priority but they could maybe hit another place between the two.
Shoes were definitely a priority, so Grace stayed quiet a moment while she thought about it. “I’m not sure we’ll make it in between. By the time we get done here and all, seems ambitious to brave another store and another line in the little time we’ve got. Best stop for a quick on-the-go breakfast of coffee and get ourselves over to the shoes. I can practically hear them all calling my name even now.”
Breakfast. Right, breakfast. “Good idea,” Emma agreed, because even if it was just liquid nourishment, she could use the pick-me-up. In fact, they’d probably have a little more than an hour once they made it through the line… they could have an actual breakfast if they pleased. Emma grinned at the dreamy look of longing on Grace’s face, however. “I’m not sure I’m gonna have room in my car for TVs and all the shoes I want.”
“Christ, you’re right.” Grace laughed. “I should probably get rid of a lot of the ones I have. At this rate, I can wear a different pair every day if I wanted to,” she joked. She shuffled forward a bit as the line crawled. “What am I saying, I could never part with any of them.”
Emma was not good at holding onto things. The only thing she really had in abundance was shoes, and she wanted an even bigger abundance. It was part of putting down roots, allowing herself to purchase more than she needed. "What size are you? You could always donate them to a good cause. I am a very, very good cause." Someone get her a halo!
“Nice try, girly.” Grace looked amused. After a bit, they finally were next, and Grace began to haul her things up on to the till. “We’re making good time. Not bad.”
Well, nobody could fault her for trying… Emma fumbled in her pocket for her phone to check the time. “We should have time to get some actual food before DSW at this rate.” As long as Emma squinted when it was her turn at the register, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad… it was worth it, though. The blonde fished the mixer out for Grace and sent it down the line.
“Good. I think we’ll need the fuel. If I see some boots I want, you can be sure I’m not going to back down until I get them.” Not that Grace was intentionally going to hurt someone, but if it came down to it, she’d put up resistance. Once her things were scanned through and paid for, Grace waited for Emma, leaning against her cart.
“What is it about California? It’s never cold, and yet everyone is wearing boots.” Said the blonde, wearing boots. Okay, hypocrite was never a good color on anyone, but she wouldn’t stand in the way of Grace getting her boots… Emma was pretty sure her feet were smaller, anyway! Emma was pleasantly surprised by the number that flashed on the register. Somehow less than she was expecting!
“Come on, Red. We’re going to have to get creative to get this all in the car,” Emma noted, but they were strong and savvy women, if anyone could figure it out, it would be them.