#retails store

[foldingfittedsheets]

Working at the mattress store generally means a lot of long shifts. Ten hour days are not uncommon. You come in, sit alone in a box for a long time, maybe sell a bed, it’s fine. It’s not usually an issue of safety, though, because who’s coming in to shakedown a mattress store? We have no cash and nothing really portable.

But there was one night where I was whiling away my time and a guy came in. He was a big guy, muscular and very punk, tattoos, piercings, the works. We got along fabulously and while helping him a middle aged white couple came in. I was pleased to have a livelier night than I’d anticipated. I bounced back and forth between the disparate parties, eventually finding beds for both.

I finished sooner with the couple but they lingered uneasily by the front of the store instead of leaving and eventually beckoned me over. I trotted along to ask if everything was okay and the woman whispered to me that they were scared to leave me alone with the guy. It was getting late and he appeared quite menacing to them. I wanted to laugh, he was an absolute sweetheart, but instead I assured them that all was well and they could go.

They departed and I immediately told the guy what they’d said. We both had a hearty laugh over it. He finished his purchase and went on his way.

In the last hour, I had my final customer. A young white man in immaculate clothes, button down shirt with freshly shined shoes. Reader, I wanted to bolt. The man had the discordant energy of a cracked bell. Something was deeply wrong with his vibes despite his polished exterior. I desperately wished the nice couple would come hover in the doorway and stare.

I gritted my teeth and greeted him, projecting a friendly and unconcerned air. It seemed clear pretty quickly that he wasn’t actually that interested in getting a bed, which alarmed me even more. I tried to go through the process of fitting him for a mattress but instead he would segue off into telling me about his life while making unblinking eye contact. He asked probing questions about me. I longed for the nice punk man to come back in with a question.

I soldiered onward, visualizing my panic button and refusing to show the slightest hint of unease to him. Eventually he told me that he played piano. He asked if I would like to see a video of him playing piano. I said okay. He then turned his phone over and showed me his screen. In it, he sat staring directly into the camera while playing piano. Above the screen he stared with the same intensely unhinged energy in the video, two sets of serial killer eyes fixed on my tiniest reaction.

I smiled politely, pinned in place by social niceties. After an eon the video finally ended. It was clear he was not going to buy a bed. I insisted that I needed to lock up. He asked if he could stay for that. I firmly informed him he needed to leave for that. With reluctance he drifted out the door as I radiated calm assurance of my own safety and power, locking the door behind him. I turned out the lights and crouched behind the desk in the darkened store, peeking out to watch.

He sat in his car for a long time. But eventually he drove away. I darted out to my car and got home as quick as I could.

The encounter remains one of the most unsettling I’ve ever had in retail. In my decade of serving the public I helped a parade of characters from the harmlessly eccentric to the genuine creeps but this man truly frightened me unlike anyone I’d ever dealt with.

[greenvillesigncompanyrd]

From Sidewalk to Sales: Effective Storefront Signage Strategies

In аn еvеr-соmреtitivе rеtаil landscape, сарturing thе аttеntiоn оf роtеntiаl сuѕtоmеrѕ iѕ еѕѕеntiаl fоr thе success оf аnу brick-and-mortar ѕtоrе. Onе оf thе mоѕt роwеrful tооlѕ аt a rеtаilеr'ѕ diѕроѕаl iѕ effective storefront ѕignаgе. When еxесutеd соrrесtlу, it has thе аbilitу tо entice раѕѕеrѕbу, draw thеm into the ѕtоrе, and ultimately lеаd tо increased sales. In thiѕ blog роѕt, wе will еxрlоrе the kеу strategies for сrеаting compelling storefront ѕignаgе thаt соnvеrtѕ fооt trаffiс intо loyal сuѕtоmеrѕ.

Bеfоrе diving into thе design and content оf уоur ѕtоrеfrоnt ѕignаgе, it iѕ сruсiаl to undеrѕtаnd уоur tаrgеt audience. Whаt аrе their рrеfеrеnсеѕ, needs, and dеѕirеѕ? Tаilоring уоur ѕignаgе to rеѕоnаtе with your idеаl сuѕtоmеrѕ will ѕignifiсаntlу еnhаnсе itѕ еffесtivеnеѕѕ. Conduct mаrkеt rеѕеаrсh, аnаlуzе customer dеmоgrарhiсѕ, аnd take nоtе of thе surrounding environment tо сrеаtе ѕignаgе thаt speaks dirесtlу tо your tаrgеt аudiеnсе.

Whеn it comes tо ѕtоrеfrоnt ѕignаgе, ѕimрliсitу iѕ kеу. Pаѕѕеrѕbу often hаvе limitеd timе аnd attention, so уоur ѕignаgе needs tо соnvеу itѕ mеѕѕаgе ԛuiсklу аnd сlеаrlу. Uѕе a lеgiblе font, lаrgе еnоugh to bе еаѕilу rеаdаblе frоm a distance. Fосuѕ оn a соnсiѕе and соmреlling mеѕѕаgе thаt communicates уоur uniԛuе selling рrороѕitiоn. Avоid cluttering thе ѕign with excessive infоrmаtiоn; instead, highlight thе mоѕt imроrtаnt аѕресtѕ thаt will рiԛuе intеrеѕt and drivе curiosity.

Humаnѕ are visual creatures, аnd сарtivаting imаgеrу саn mаkе a ѕignifiсаnt imрасt on attracting attention. Inсluding high-quality viѕuаlѕ оr graphics in your ѕtоrеfrоnt signage саn сrеаtе аn еmоtiоnаl соnnесtiоn and effectively соmmuniсаtе your brаnd idеntitу. Whеthеr it'ѕ through vibrant соlоrѕ, сарtivаting photography, оr unique illuѕtrаtiоnѕ, choose viѕuаlѕ thаt аlign with уоur brаnd аnd resonate with уоur tаrgеt аudiеnсе.

Tо еnѕurе your ѕignаgе ѕtаndѕ оut frоm thе surroundings, еmрlоу соntrаѕt and hiеrаrсhу in your dеѕign. Cоntrаѕt can bе асhiеvеd by uѕing соntrаѕting соlоrѕ, ѕuсh аѕ light text on a dаrk bасkgrоund or viсе versa. Hierarchy refers to the аrrаngеmеnt and emphasis of diffеrеnt еlеmеntѕ. Cоnѕidеr thе rеlаtivе importance of vаriоuѕ рiесеѕ of infоrmаtiоn and uѕе font ѕizе, ��оlоr, аnd рlасеmеnt tо сrеаtе a viѕuаl hiеrаrсhу thаt guidеѕ thе viewer's аttеntiоn to thе most сritiсаl еlеmеntѕ first.

Stоrеfrоnt ѕignаgе ѕеrvеѕ аѕ a viѕuаl rерrеѕеntаtiоn оf уоur brand. Consistency is kеу tо building brаnd rесоgnitiоn аnd truѕt. Inсоrроrаtе your lоgо, brand colors, аnd fоntѕ intо уоur ѕignаgе tо maintain a соhеѕivе аnd recognizable brand identity. Cоnѕiѕtеnt brаnding асrоѕѕ all tоuсhроintѕ rеinfоrсеѕ your ѕtоrе'ѕ imаgе аnd helps customers associate уоur ѕignаgе with thе overall ѕhоррing еxреriеnсе.

The рhуѕiсаl environment surrounding your storefront рlауѕ a significant rоlе in ѕignаgе еffесtivеnеѕѕ. Tаkе into ассоunt fасtоrѕ ѕuсh аѕ lighting соnditiоnѕ, аrсhitесturаl features, аnd реdеѕtriаn flоw whеn dеѕigning уоur signage. Adjuѕt thе ѕizе, orientation, and рlасеmеnt of уоur ѕignаgе tо еnѕurе орtimаl visibility аnd rеаdаbilitу. Additiоnаllу, be mindful оf аnу lосаl rеgulаtiоnѕ оr rеѕtriсtiоnѕ that mау imрасt thе design and рlасеmеnt of уоur ѕignаgе.

Stоrеfrоnt signage is a роwеrful tооl that can make or brеаk thе ѕuссеѕѕ оf a rеtаil ѕtоrе. Bу undеrѕtаnding уоur tаrgеt аudiеnсе, kеерing your mеѕѕаgе clear and concise, inсоrроrаting еуе-саtсhing visuals, using соntrаѕt and hiеrаrсhу, leveraging branding еlеmеntѕ, аnd соnѕidеring thе еnvirоnmеnt, уоu can create еffесtivе ѕignаgе thаt grаbѕ аttеntiоn, еntiсеѕ сuѕtоmеrѕ, аnd ultimаtеlу drives sales. Rеmеmbеr, уоur storefront ѕignаgе iѕ уоur ѕilеnt ѕаlеѕреrѕоn, wоrking 24/7 tо соmmuniсаtе your brаnd аnd attract сuѕtоmеrѕ, ѕо invеѕt time аnd еffоrt in designing a соmреlling аnd реrѕuаѕivе diѕрlау.

[sirartwork]

too much compyupter

[guardianspirits13]

retail workers should get double pay on black friday, and also they should be allowed to yell at one customer an hour

[retropopcult]

Denver Safeway supermarket checker Ann Paris stands by an empty check-out line, 1966. Over 100,000 Colorado housewives were boycotting the major grocery store chains to protest the high price of groceries.

[magalhaessims]

OXXO CONVENIENCE STORE - MAXIS-MATCH CC BUILD

NOT CC FREE 

Lot Type: Retail

Size: 30x20

World: Ciudad Enamorada

Enable bb.moveobjects before placing in your game!

📺 WATCH THE SPEED BUILD HERE ✨

Origin ID: MagalhaesSims (remember to enable custom content on!) DOWNLOAD

CC USED IN THIS BUILD:

NOTE: For convenience, some of the CC is included in the Download Folder. Please put it in your Mods Folder along with the CC linked below.

Felixandre: Colonial (2022) | Paris | Soho || Harrie: Brutalist || House of Harlix: Harlux | Jardane || KKB-MM: Re-routine Set || LittleDica: Greasy Goods | Rise&Grind Cafe || Max20: Garage And Storage 

The CC Sets above are the main ones I used to decorate this specific building and you can find all the links to the creators’ sites on my Resource Page. However, if you can’t find something specific, you can send me a WCIF and I’ll try to help you find it!

HOW TO MAKE THIS LOT FUNCTIONAL:

For the Convenience Store, I’m incorporating both the Shop Chef Consumables Mod by @ravasheencc and the Grocery Bags by @aroundthesims, enabling your Sims to purchase food items within the store.

Make sure to read all the information available on the mods’ pages in order to ensure they work properly in your game!

My content will always be free and right away available to everyone, but if you want to, you can show your support through my Ko-Fi Page. Your donation will always be much appreciated!

Thank you for reblogging: @maxismatchccworld @mmoutfitters @mmfinds @s4realtor @coffee-houses-finds and anyone else for helping me boost this post!

[alerionjkeee]

Sinclair's (Service station and Convenience store)

This lot contains a workshop, a convenience store and an apartment on the second floor of the building where the owner of this lot lives with his dog

I always would love to see your screenshots, so feel free to tag me @alerionjkeee

No CC Lot size: 20x15 Lot type: Retail 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom Located in: Oasis Springs Playtested

Recommended have all packs. Make sure to enable “bb.moveobjects” before placing the lot!

Download ZIP file - (SFS)

request for @grishulyasims 💜

[evan-collins90]

Warner Bros. Studio Store - Times Square, NYC (1990's)

"To create an exciting retail environment for Warner Bros.' new store on the Great White Way, designers incorporated bright colors, excitement and entertainment that mimics Times Square itself. A dramatic glass window wall soars six stories above the street, providing unbroken views of the shopping floors within. Separate red, blue and green color environments are visible through the building's glass-and-steel facade. Hard-to-miss 3D neon signs featuring popular Looney Tune characters are placed on the wall by the escalator, and vintage neon and accent lighting highlight the "New York New York" shop."

Designed by JGA Inc., Southfield MI

Scanned from the Visual Merchandising 2 (2000)

[yodaprod]

1973

[alwaysbewoke]

no excuses for the kids who chose to participate (that is until we get more info) but do you think laws are going to be written to overpolice these neighborhoods? to police what they can and cannot wear? you think the national guard is going to be called to just hang around their blocks? when white people do their dirt white people at large get a pass that black people don't. because of them there's been tough on crime laws past all over the country that will specifically target black and brown communities. they won't target the communities starting up and running the entire operation cuz those lily white communities must always be protected. it is always the black and brown communities that must feel the brunt of the after effects of s*** like this.

[foldingfittedsheets]

When working at the jewelry store I referenced the ship of Theseus all the time without actually being able to reference the ship of Theseus.

People would get emotional about needing to swap out gems or work on the metal. I’d say, “If you had a violin and had to change the strings it’s still the same violin, right? If you have to put new tires on your car it’s still your car. Your ring will still be yours even if we change a small component of it.”

This generally worked extremely well in overcoming the emotional component because they couldn’t deny that it would in fact still be their ring.

Ship of Theseus solved by mass consensus.

[m0ckest]

💿 SUNROT Band Merch

Along with some band tees, these posters and albums were available at the SUNROT merch booth at Edgewave Fest 2024.

5 items — 2 wall decor, 3 misc decor

Find in catalog by searching 'sunrot'

⤷ simfileshare • patreon

SUNROT Poster — Wall decor, §20 "A band poster that was tucked into a zine you picked up at SUNROT's merch booth during Edgewave Fest 2024."

SUNROT Poster Set — Wall decor, §20 "A couple of band posters that were tucked into a zine you picked up at SUNROT's merch booth during Edgewave Fest 2024."

SUNROT CD Display — Misc decor, §100 "Limited edition CDs of SUNROT's most recent album. These were available for sale at the merch booth during Edgewave Fest 2024. Now they can be displayed on your collector's shelf (or the bookcase in the corner of your bedroom)."

SUNROT CD Stack — Misc decor, §50 "Limited edition CDs from SUNROT's discography. The most recent album was picked up from the merch booth at Edgewave Fest 2024."

SUNROT Record Crate — Misc decor, §100 "Records from the band SUNROT. The most recent album was purchased at the merch booth at Edgewave Fest 2024."

This is my first time sharing buy/build recolors so please don't hesitate to let me know if there are any issues 🥰

[sincerelytennessee]

[simdertalia]

👟 🥾 Animal Crossing Shoes Set 2 👞 👠

Sims 4, Base game compatible.

Lots of shoes to decorate your shoe store, closet, or wherever! I will be making a set of single shoes very soon, so there can be more variety with placing.

Always suggested: bb.objects ON, it makes placing items much easier. For further placement tweaking, check out the TOOL mod.

Use the scale up & down feature on your keyboard to make the items larger or smaller to your liking. If you have a non-US keyboard, it may be different keys depending on which alphabet it uses.

Set contains: -Cinnamoroll Sneakers (2 items, adult & child) | 15 swatches each | 784 poly -Cinnamoroll Sneakers (tossed) (2 items, adult & child) | 15 swatches each | 784 poly -Clogs | 7 swatches | 812 poly -Converse (3 items, men's, women's, & children) | 10 swatches each | 820 poly  -Embroidered Slides | 4 swatches |784 poly -Geta (2 items, adult & child) | 8 swatches each | 820 poly -Leopard Heels ("dress 2)" | 7 swatches | 804 poly -Lolita | 9 swatches each | 884 poly each -Bow Formal Child (I had to give the child version of above a different name because ew) | 9 swatches | 884 poly -Mens Brogues | 9 swatches | 820 poly -Mens Formal | 10 swatches | 812 poly -Moccasins | 12 swatches | 816 poly -Moccasins Child (has a different mesh) | 8 swatches | 820 poly -Penny Loafers (2 items, mens & children) | 12 swatches each | 804 poly -Sport Sneakers (2 items, adult & child) | 16 swatches each | 816 poly -Walking Shoe / Slipper | 16 swatches | 820 poly -Wedding Pumps | 9 swatches | 820 poly -Wingtips (3 Iitems, mens, womens, and children) | 12 swatches each | 812 poly -Winklepickers (2 items, men & women) | 14 swatches each | 812 poly -Womens Formal | 9 swatches | 788 poly

📁 Download all or pick & choose (SFS, No Ads): HERE

📁 Alt Mega Download (still no ads): HERE

📁 Download on Patreon

Will be public on September 5th, 2024 💗 Midnight CET

Happy Simming! ✨ Some of my CC is early access. If you like my work, please consider supporting me (all support helps me with managing my chronic pain/illness):

★ Patreon  🎉 ❤️ |★ Ko-Fi  ☕️  ❤️ ★ Instagram📷

Thank you for reblogging ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

@sssvitlanz  @maxismatchccworld @mmoutfitters  @coffee-cc-finds  @itsjessicaccfinds  @gamommypeach  @stargazer-sims-finds  @khelga68  @suricringe  @vaporwavesims  @mystictrance15 @moonglitchccfinds @xlost-in-wonderlandx @jbthedisabledvet

*Shelves coming tomorrow!

[atomic-chronoscaph]

Kmart (1975)

[riaki]

after party | satoru gojo x reader

gojo wanted to help you prepare a friendsgiving dinner, but he's a little tired n a lot tipsy.

cw: non curse au, everyones alive, shoko typical smoking, drinking, you’re married to gojo wc: 3.3k

this was supposed to be short but it just spiraled n i kind of hate it b i technically posted on the 23rd so it counts !! not proofread!

business dinners with satoru are exhausting, to say the least—you start the day early to the scent of coffee through a filter and a fresh breeze through your open window, sending your husband off to work with a hug and a kiss—maybe a promise of more if he pulls the 'five more minutes!' on you.

this one is special, though; old friends from freely youthful highschool days gathered around your dinner table on the mats of your living room floor catching up over cans of beer cold with condensation, the sound of can tabs popping and the fizzling of bubbly spirits over tables of warm food in tin containers.

geto, the tall man with dark hair and gauges, talks about how his two daughters are adjusting to city life, occasionally interrupted by cheerful brightness never dampened by adult years from haibara, an apprenticing entrepeneur under nanami who's got a thing for girls with big appetites. shoko and utahime are having a drinking contest, and mei mei's too occupied with her phone; checking stocks as her tacky nails click against the glass screen.

satoru can't cook. there's a reason why he always buys takeout when you're too busy to provide or you've already gone to sleep— he should be the picture perfect husband, because you deserve that and everything more. his only (self-perceived) flaws are his lack of alcohol tolerance and his inability to master the frying pan.

you always tell him he doesn't have to be a michelin chef— but with the way he's constantly sneaking a chocolate graham cracker from your muji snack bag or snagging the sour gummy between your teeth from your lips, he feels like he should compensate. so on this special november evening, when the hum of the city life outside your balcony gets drowned out by the cheerful mirth of a warm dinner table, he had decided to help you.

the warm kitchen had become a foodstained disaster— but with tearful round eyes and a hand tugging on your shirt, you'd resigned to helping him conquer the task of simple packaged noodles and soft-boiled eggs. he'd cut his finger— even the most capable teacher found his shortcomings against a blunt kitchen knife. needless to say you'd peppered it with kisses before wrapping a rainbow hello kitty bandaid around it.

and that brings you to the present: the result of your extensively hard work; a few soggy noodles collected at the bottom of porcelain bowls painted red on the insides in a lukewarm puddle of soup, full stomachs and a loose and welcoming atmosphere. you wouldn't trade it for the world.

you're fishing a pickled radish slice out of your bowl when satoru leans over, removing the arm that was snaked around your shoulder to drape himself on your lap, lying down on the floor with his knees propped up and his soft cloud-white hair sprawled over your thighs. geto makes a distasteful face when satoru's black socks brush against his leg. across the table, shoko knocks shoulders with utahime as she lights a cigarette; the latter's face flushes as smoke drifts past her lightly flushed face into the open window city night air overhead.

"hey, you. what's up?" you asked softly, chuckling to yourself as you set your chopsticks atop the rim of your bowl, leaning back on your arms to look down at him. he adjusts himself a little, wiggling on your lap as you caught a whiff of his beer breath and scrunch your nose.

"hiii, baby," he drawls, giggling a little to himself. his smooth, usually playful voice took on that deep tone he used whenever he was being serious, and it sent an involuntary shiver down your spine, so you hugged him closer and ran a hand through his soft white hair, brushing your fingers against the black cloth of his blindfold. "what'cha doing?"

"i was eating. you put too much pepper in the broth, 'toru." you smiled softly, tracing the line of his jaw slowly with one finger in the way you knew he liked so much; it was obvious from the way he sighed contentedly and tilted his head into your palm. whether it be from that unfathomably sweet smile or the tender way you held his face in your delicate hands, that was up to him to ponder. next to you, haibara makes a joke— something about mei mei's stocks, and she quips a snarky retort that has him laughing raucously while nanami makes a face.

"i tried!" he protests, almost a whine as he sighs; a hand sneaks up to lift the edge of his blindfold up so his eyes meet yours, and you're left breathless. it catches you off guard every time— those endless pools of swirling blue that stare straight through you, sifting through your thoughts like a scholar annotating an open book, all heart-shaped sticky notes and bright highlighters when it came to thinking about him.

"not hard enough, clearly. but it's okay; we'll do better next time."

he just frowns again at that, sticking out his lower lip in a little pout that makes your heart squeeze. your stomach is full with noodles and broth; you don't think you could stomach another bite if you tried, and you're not one to drink especially if everyone else is. so, you let yourself indulge a little— snake a hand on the back of satoru's neck and tilt him up until he's sitting halfway up and you can easily meet his lips in a kiss.

he reciprocates immediately, hungry like he was waiting for you; you notice that he hasn't eaten much of his food yet, so maybe he was. or maybe he knows how bad it is. either way, his tongue darts out from his parted lips to flick against your own for a moment, before he sinks his teeth into your bottom lip and draws out a teasing whine that you have to stifle because "we have company, 'toru," you have to breath as a reminder. he just laughs breathily against your lips, tasting like bitter beer and buttery vanilla as he shifts to practically sit on top of you, hands on your shoulders as his thumbs brush over your collarbone where the edge of your shirt fails to cover tantalizing skin; he's taller and eventually ends up bringing the both of you toppling down onto the mats.

your back hits the floor and a little gasp leaves your winded lungs— but satoru eagerly catches it with his lips and swallows it, like he's intent on getting drunken off his ass from you (as if he wasn't already tipsy) when he smashes his swollen lips to yours again. your hair is splayed out against the tatami mats like you're trapped in some marine watercolor painting, and for a split second satoru thinks if mermaids were real you'd be the most angelic he'd ever seen as his calloused fingers curl into the strands.

you're about to hook a leg around his waist when a shout catches your ear and you part lips with a gasp, sucking in greedy breaths as satoru promptly sits on your stomach. you let out a stuffed oomph from his weight, and watch as he slides his blindfold back on to look over at the rest of the table who're staring at the two of you like they're watching some forbidden steamy movie scene that's meant to be shielded from children's eyes.

“don’t kiss him while he’s drunk. it’s like rewarding a brat for bad behavior,” shoko says. you sit up with much effort, straining under satoru’s weight as you reach up to grab his shoulders. you miss, but he takes your hands and pulls you up, wrapping his arms around you to keep you from falling back down as you rest your head on his shoulder. utahime has her arms lazily draped over shoko; you assume she’s drunk from that, but if you were to inspect her for long enough you’d notice her can of beer was almost completely full.

“oh, i guess you’re right.” you remarked, frowning a little and biting the inside of your cheek as you pull away from satoru and glance at him. all of the sudden he looks like he’s ready to keel over; the shadows beneath his eyes are reinforced by the alcohol in his system and it looks like he’ll need to tape his eyes open lest he passes out right on top of you. you want to avoid that, so you gently push him off, sighing to yourself.

“don’t listen to her, sweetheart. you can kiss me all you want,” he smirks, a flash of pearly white teeth that would’ve been on your neck a moment ago if not for the interruption. you just shake your head with a breathless laugh, giving him a quick flick to the forehead. before you can pull away, though— he catches your hand, bringing your wrist to his glossy pink lips and giving your pulse a quick peck. “no, she has a point.” you hummed. overhead, the light flickers a little; a moth that had flown in through the window danced about the bulb. the faint sound of car horns filters through the window along with the breeze, recycled laughter and lively chatter from bars a few stories down carried in the cool wind.

you mill about for another twenty minutes or so, content to just listen in as old friends shared anecdotes and funny stories from separate paths of life; you soon learned that nanami was planning on moving to malaysia, and shoko was due to renew her medical license this year. the beer cans built up, mixed in with crumpled napkins that had penned doodles on the rough surface and paper chopstick wrappers. somewhere along the line, satoru had fallen asleep— you had to push his unfinished ramen bowl out of the way before he knocked his head against the wooden table and spilt his meal. you frowned a little at the sight of it— you knew he'd complain about his soaked noodles and limp seaweed sheets later on. you found yourself slinging one of your jackets over his shoulders, fingers lingering over his neck, where the scratchy hair of his undercut met soft warm skin.

soon enough, dishes are piling up in the sink and calling your name; the kids see themselves home via train station, spouting something about a late night pit stop in sendai for the mochi that 'our teacher likes so much'. you consider asking them to bring some back for satoru, but you decide you'll enjoy a laugh when he tells you about how he went to school the next morning to find out for himself, and the stab of hurt that will pierce his full heart in two when he hears the news. even then, you have to shush them as they show themselves out; you can tell from the way satoru's eyebrows knit together beneath his blindfold and the pinch of his jaw that he doesn't appreciate the noise, no matter how blacked out.

the conversation dies down a little, and soon enough, everyone takes their leave one by one. it's only when you settle back down after cleaning up the bowls and putting away the cups that satoru stirs, waking up with a mumble and a huff. his hair is a disheveled mess, and there are sleep lines on his face, but he's still handsome as ever.

"baby?" his voice is hoarse with sleep and dehydration. there's a dull ache between his eyes, feeling like he'd just ran a circle around the world. you answer from the kitchen, calling his name. it's late; past midnight now. the window's still open and satoru's can of beer is still on the table, almost completely empty.

"how long did i sleep? shit, did everyone go home? 'm sorry," he groans, standing up and stretching his arms out. his shirt rides up on his shoulders, exposing the arch of his hip just above the edge of his pants. "don't worry, 'toru." you hummed, washing your hands in the sink as you look over at him. he just nods, grabbing the can and crumpling it in his hands before tossing it in the trash.

"you okay? got a headache?" you asked as he walked over to you, careful not to hit his head on the arch that connected the living room to the kitchen. when you'd first moved in with him, you had to pin a strip of bright yellow caution tape to remind him to duck his head. you smiled as you reminisced over late nights, tucked in his arms as he mused about demolishing the wall there just so he could be rid of the bruise on his temple. then again, as long as you were waiting for him to kiss it better at the end of his nine to five, he didn't mind.

he nods, and watches as an easy smile stretches across your lips; they look infuriatingly kissable under the warm glow of the hazy kitchen light, shining off the porcelain cups in the sink. he leans against the kitchen counter, cold marble feeling through the thin fabric of his shirt as you take his leftovers from the fridge and heat them up in the microwave, standing before the black glass as you watch the little plate spin inside.

there's something about moments like these; so sweet and easy with you after everyone's taken the last train home and all that's left are empty beer cans and extra bowls in the dishwasher for two people with matching rings on their fingers to take care of.

he walks up to you, wrapping his arms around your waist and resting his head on your chin. he smiles when he feels your hand cup his cheek, and he turns his head instinctively to meet your lips in a slow, sweet kiss; a muscle memory tango between familiar lovers. when he pulls away to catch his breath, tongue swiping across his bottom lip, you're already there with your fingers, pulling his blindfold down to rest around his neck and gently rubbing the spot beside his eyes, alleviating the tension behind them. it's unspoken moments like these that he loves the most in your relationship. making a mess in your kitchen is a close second.

it's a slow, easy night after a special get-together when the microwave beeps and you take his noodles out, bringing them to the table as you sit down next to him and rest your head on his shoulder, letting him tuck you into his side as he gets a bit of breaded tonkotsu crumbs on his cheek and insists you wipe them off for him like he's some oversized baby. you wash some cherries in a green plastic bowl, competing to see who can spit the pits into the trashcan without missing. in the end, he lost the game of rock paper scissor and was resigned to pick up the missed pits on the floor.

he's still wearing your jacket like a cape and even though it's far too small for him, he insists on keeping it with him when you go out onto your balcony to finish the last of a bottle of sake together, listening to the melody of the wind in the trees that line the sidewalk and the permeating hustle and bustle of the city, even when it's so late at night it could be considered early morning.

he swipes the cold bottle from your hands, finishing the last drops from the matte glass before letting it dangle between your fingers. and you're expecting it when he catches your arm to pull you into another kiss; he tastes like peaches and wine and a little bit of soup broth. it's slow, and easy, because being with him has always felt as natural as breathing, and being with you has made it easier for him to breathe, like the iron weight on his lungs melts away in the face of your unconditional warmth and care. the cool wind blows your hair in front of your face, and he laughs that charming boyish giggle as he tucks it behind your ears and scoops you up in his arms.

"i don't like sharing you with a sake bottle," you said, pointedly looking at the glass in his hand. he just grins, looking down at you for a moment. he can almost see it again; you, in that gorgeous white wedding cloth. he was carrying you bridal style in the same way now, when you'd decided to grow old together and host special business dinners as a couple in your shared apartment.

"don't worry, love. you're sweeter than any spritz," he laughs, stepping inside again and closing the door behind him.

it's routine, and it's easy, getting ready for bed with him, laughing when he pushes his hair back with a headband, looking like a pretty little princess. you suggest him getting a mullet, and he shushes you by shoving your toothbrush on your tongue, getting a mouthful of mint. the warm water rushes over your fingers before you dry yourself off, wiping your face and putting the towel away only to be met with the equal warmth of his lips on your forehead, peppering you with kisses.

you slip into the covers, still pleasantly cold as you watch satoru sit up and take his shirt off. he lets you peel the rainbow bandaid on his finger off, tossing it in the trash before pulling you into his arms, right where you belong the closest to his heart. "don't cut yourself like that again, okay?"

"it was an accident, baby." he chuckles, and you just roll your eyes. he reaches over to ruffle your hair affectionately and makes a joke about having you suck his blood like a vampire, tooting about how sweet it would be. "besides, i don't need to be careful if you're there to patch me up, pretty. shoko has nothing on you!"

he plays with your hair as you catch him up to the conversations he'd slept away; mei mei had left early when you'd given him your jacket to envelope him in your scent, muttering something about cheap perfume and worthless soggy noodles. he likes to play with your jewelry, you notice— fiddles with the ring on your finger, cupping your hands in his palm as he tucks his face into the back of your neck.

at one point, he asks you to do his hair, so you oblige, rolling him over onto his stomach and clambering on top of his waist. you braid his white strands into cute little pigtails best as you could manage as he tells you about his dream; something about harassing nanami in malaysia and a sunset kiss under crystal clear beach water. it sounds nice, and when you're done with his hair you find it easier to just massage his shoulders and listen to the smooth droning of his voice.

soon enough, you're both warmer than the lukewarm buzz of beer in your veins, and he doesn't remember if he fell asleep first or not, but the gentle melody of your voice haunts him in his dazed sleep as he curls around you.

business dinners really are exhausting— he's left wondering how you pull it off the morning after when he's hungover and the cut on his finger is infected— clearly, the hello kitty bandaid wasn't enough to cut it. the only reasoning that he explains to you as you take your morning shower together, fingers running through your hair, is that you didn't kiss it enough. maybe that's why his soup had too much pepper and he didn't know how to cut the cucumbers.

he's still an amateur, so he'll leave the cooking to you. maybe next time he'll pretend the takeout he grabbed on his way home from school was handmade, though he doubts his friends will ever believe him, or his students after he demands they buy him kikufuku as compensation for leaving him out the night before.

ignore the ep that came out today! everyone’s alive and well. trust my (riaki) stuff. don’t repost and/or plagiarize !