The Toy Shop

It was a beautiful, sunny day inside the store. Inside, not outside, and not technically sun, but that was irrelevant. Despite the weather outside, Natasha was warm, and dry, and surrounded by the smell of wood and the sound of... not much. No one was here, and few were brave enough to fight the elements that were - quietly, as the sound insulation was impressive - raging outside her door. Arnold had taken good care of this place, carefully crafting it to suit his needs and whims and wants. Asha wished she could do the same, but she wasn't talented enough to come up with ideas, and no magic to make even her far-off dreams a reality. It wasn't that she had no skills, but they were practical and small - she could make and design toys, and she was working on a board game that people could play with their families and friends. Nothing big, nothing special. She didn't need to be special, though. She was loved, she was wanted, and, at this moment, she was alone.

But she could be happy, even being alone.

Being alone meant she had plenty of time to draw or work on her projects, or to read. Oh, she loved reading, and had recently found a new author that people seemed to enjoy talking about! The general people - she didn't know anyone specifically talking, but she hadn't made very many friends, not since everyone moved away. She hadn't been close with many aside from her family and the children who bought her toys, but that was okay - right, she was thinking about books! The author was a little too spicy for her, and much too spicy to be out on her shelves, but she would sometimes read to herself when she wanted to try something new. Just a few pages at a time, and then she'd close it and read one of her favorites. She wondered where the author lived, how they got their books out there - after all, she was also an author, but an author of picture books for children! It would be interesting to sell them in other places, but she didn't need to. It was nice to connect with the people when they came, and to host story times.

Oh! But her game - she should really work on her game. She'd been thinking about it for months but still hadn't made much of an impact in it's design - she knew the end goal, but not much else, mostly because it was something harder to pick up and put down, and she enjoyed the interruptions as they happened. It just meant, well, slow going. She tied her hair back - already in pigtails, but pigtails would still fall into her face - picked her notepad up, and heard the doorbell chime. Asha looked up, black eyes bright and merry, and leapt from the seat she'd barely sat in. To have braved the storm outside, the person who was walking in must truly need some joy in their life.

"Hello!" she called out, voice brimming with the promise of laughter. "Oh, you must be soaked! Did you travel far? I hope you're not too cold - would you like some tea? I feel like this weather really asks us to wear a scarf, doesn't it? Even though... oh, bother, you're not wearing a scarf. You just seem like someone who would enjoy scarves. Not that there's a particular kind of person, but just... I don't know. You look all cozy, except for your neck, but... anyhow. Tea for two, coming right up! Feel free to take off your coat and gloves and let them dry above the vents - they lead to the workshop, isn't that neat? My father - well, he's not my actual father, but my adopted father Arnold (though, come to think of it, I now have two adoptive fathers) - built it this way to keep his home warm when it was chilly! It's not his home anymore, though. I bought it from him when he decided to retire with my mother. Not my actual mother, mind you, but she is my actual grandmother, but we all just call her Mum. Sit, sit - unless you don't have time. What are you looking for, and how can I help? Oooh... I'm talking a little much, aren't I? Well, that's okay, really truly. but I'll let you talk while I make tea. Maple rooibos okay?" She zipped around, a drab little hummingbird getting their entire daily social interaction in at one moment.

There was a pause while they removed their outerwear, before they started to respond, albeit slowly. The words were staggered, though whether they were tired or just unconvinced that she wasn't going to interrupt them was a question she was unable to answer. "Hello." Pause. "It is unseasonably chilly outside, but I think it's just the rain. I'll be okay without my," pause, "scarf. I wouldn't want to impose. But maple rooibos," pause, "sounds intriguing." A longer pause, one where she could see them starting to walk around, hand running down her shelves, thoughtful. Perhaps she'd notice a small wooden flower was not where she had left it, but only perhaps. "I'm looking for toys for children who are waiting to be treated. Something easy to clean? Perhaps something for a cat, if you know anything that would work. And, maybe... hmmm. Well." A pause that turned awkward, unsure. They knew what they wanted before, had ideas in their head, a purpose, but the next request? Perhaps they were chasing after a feeling, and those are hard to describe. "What do you get someone who never learned how to play? I want him to learn that he can have fun, but... I want to do something. With him." They were distinctly not looking at Asha now, and so her smile was only for herself. Whoever it was sounded adorable, though it was sad whoever this "him" was didn't know play.

She bounced back towards them, skipping back when the kettle started whistling only a moment later. Once the tea was steeping she came back, standing to their side so they could keep their privacy. "For the children I have puzzles and little wiggly snake toys - the head makes a sound when you shake it! The larger blocks would work well, too - something simple and easy." She moved around the shop, holding up examples. A new organization method would likely not be the worst idea, she noted as she ran back and foth. "Perhaps a book as well, though the paper wouldn't be as clean. I'm actually working on books made from wood instead of paper, which would be easier to clean and wouldn't tear as easily, but I haven't found the right kind of wood yet. For the cats, it depends what they like! I have balls, and little toy animals, though no mice, I'm afraid. I do have some toy rabbits that you can hide things in, though, and that might be fun! And let me think on the last idea."

She walked around slowly, leaving them to wander. She prepared the tea when it was ready, sitting to sip as she thought again. Oh, but she needed more sugar - then she'd be able to think. "Perhaps...." she started, before smiling to herself. "You want something that you can do together, correct? A book might feel too young, and the toys take more imagination than he might have at this time. A puzzle might be good, or a board game? Something with rules to follow, and there's a desired outcome, but you can also enjoy yourself. Maybe even a board game where you have to help each other in order to finish? And maybe there's a 'villain', too.... oh, sorry. Unfortunately there's not a game exactly like that yet, but I'm working on one! But I do have other board games! They're over there, near the wooden balls, and the puzzles are on the other side, closer to your coat." She smiled to herself, watching the other person wander around. Did they drink their tea? She thought they did, but she didn't see the wooden cup anywhere, but that was probably just what happened when everything else was also made of wood. Sometimes, you just lose things.

They brought the items that interested them to her, and she silently thanked each and everyone that they were going to make the world a happier place before wrapping them and returning with a bag her grandmother had taught her to make. They paid, she smiled again, and called to them as they were leaving. "Come again - sorry, can I have your name?"

"Prhycora, though many people call me Prhy."

"Well then," she responded, absolutely beaming. "Come again, Prhy. And remember - the purpose of life is for us to realize how to make our own joy."