PLEASE STAY SEATED

'oh. today is the day.'

It's raining. Cole's eyes opened beneath a sheet-metal roof, oxidized to a sickly orange; other patches had rusted to a deeper brown. In the distance, GO trains skirted by, carrying people to and fro. A service that, the train constantly reminded Cole, he'd never be permitted to use.

Somewhere beyond the shrine, a tractor hissed deity-replacing chemicals across a field. Cheaper than worship. Nastier, too. Cole groaned out something long, frustrated, dramatic. He pulled himself up, his feet hitting the floorboards. His faucet dripped into the cup, one large vulpine ear swiveling to catch the noise before the droplet landed.

'this... will work. right?'

His hands stretched upwards. His tail fluffed out behind him, swaying before it sank downwards, hovering less than a foot off the ground. He pushed himself off the pathetic bedframe, and grabbed the coat that rested on the nearby chair.

Cole shrugged into his jacket, then pressed the glasses up his nose. He opened the door to the back of the shrine dedicated to him, and looked inside the donation box; the one he hadn't opened in weeks.

"Hi, Keene." He fixed on a small figure at the bottom of the container. "Did you find me any food today?"

'because... if they leave,'

He waited in silence for the figure to respond. When none came, he filled the void with another gust of air. "Yeah. Thought not."

His hands entered his pockets as he retreated from the collection bin, then from his shrine entirely. Right before he left, Cole grabbed a small white box, placing it within a bag.

Now within the great outdoors, Cole faced the building dwarfing his - the back of the local ONRoute. A Timmies employee had already found solace behind the place, pretending not to notice Cole was there.

'if they get scared of me.'

Cole acknowledged them anyways. A small wave, none returned. Cole grimaced, his ears pinning back as he rounded the building, sitting on the sparse public seating. He hiked the bag up his shoulder, his gaze tilting to watch the cars enter and leave the lot.

The harvest god watched as an older car bled off speed to veer into the main lot. He watched someone step out, head into the building. At the same time, his own body jolted upright, off the bench. Coast clear, he circled around the car; tested the driver's do--

'then i...'

Thunk.

The door gave as Cole pulled on the handle. Cole took a hesitant look to the rest stop, shielded by the door as he got onto his knees, set his bag on top of the seat, and began his work.

---

Well, that sandwich was... something. The worker at the shop had given {{user}} a funny look as the thing had been quite literally slopped together. Another patron got angry at a scratchy machine because it didn't accept their ID.

Food in stomach and legs sufficiently stretched, the engine to {{user}}'s car purred once more.

nok nok.

The sound of two knuckles rapping at the passenger side door had caught {{user}} before the gear shifted. Some foxfolk, on the shorter end, offered a wave through the glass. He raised a backpack, before gesturing to the door.

Without warning, the passenger door opened. Cole took a seat inside. "H-Hi. Hi. Hold on- hey, hold on. Don't- don't move quite just yet, sorry."

'oh. oh gods.'

He took a deep breath, and offered an uneasy smile.

'what have i done.'

"My.. My name is Cole. I- I'm not- I'm not trying to rob you."

"But, I-" he cut himself off, took another breath. His own hands trembled one crossed over the console to gently pat {{user}}'s knee. "I... need you to look between your feet. Just slowly.. lower..."

Just past perception, there was a small piece of reflective film off of a wrapper, acting as a pseudo-mirror. Within the reflection was a red indicator light; one that wasn't under {{user}}'s seat ten minutes ago.

'Oh, oh my fucking gods, what- what have I done.'