cornerofmadness

Note - I'm assuming California convenience stores can carry alcohol and I have no idea when 24 hour stores started being popular but for the sake of argument, let's pretend there weren't many in England in the 70's

Spike/Dru 1980’s - Late Night Fun

Spike fingered the safety pin through his eyebrow trying to decide between Miller and Bud. He grabbed both cases. American beer sucked anyhow. What joys all night stores were, beer and walking meals.

Spike stuffed the beer into the DeSoto’s trunk which was already loaded with goodies. He glanced around for his wicked plum. “Bloody hell, Dru, should you be doing that to him with the petro pump?”

Laughing, Dru joined her lover in the car. As Spike drove off, Dru stuck a match on the dash and tossed it out the window. “Beautiful,” she purred as the fire ball formed.

Giles S 2 – Salty and Sweet

He never thought he’d be thankful for something as prosaic as a convenience store. He never had time in the morning to stop because he was usually still knackered from staying up all night researching that he couldn’t be arsed with stopping. He couldn’t sneak off at lunch because there were always children in his library baffling him with their ability to put fashion and fun over the seriousness of monster hunting. Late nights fed his addiction. An arm loaded with crisps and peppermint patties, Giles headed to the counter, a cheeky grin on his face. Heaven, at last.

Xander S4 – Misgivings

He and Jesse used to joke after every failing grade they earned about getting stuck working at the Kwiky-Mart. It was the one thing that made them try a little harder. Here he was, a failed stripper, failed ice cream truck driver, failed example of humanity.

All his friends were in college and he was stuck on the graveyard shift. How had he come to this? Wasn’t Anya embarrassed to be with him? Weren’t convenience stores on America’s Most Wanted all the time with the employees in a pool of blood? He wished Buffy would hurry up and walk him home.

Angel S 1 – Brave New World

Angel watched Doyle buying beer and instant lottery tickets. An odd thought struck him, how much the world had changed and how much he had really seen. Darla had, after a fashion, kept her word about showing it to him. Oh, shopkeepers used to be about in the dark but never were the stores open. All night stores, easy access to books, TV, computers, things he never would have dreamt of.

A horror appeared before him. What was Barry Manilow’s cd doing in the bargain bin? Angel surreptitiously bought it and stuffed it in a pocket before Doyle saw.

Dawn S 5 - Bad Attention

Hands trembling slightly, Dawn walked out of the convenience mart. As she walked down the sidewalk, she tossed a glance back at the store. Lucky for her the night clerk was busy doing calculus homework.

Pockets loaded with shoplifted things, Dawn felt relief washing over her. She hadn’t been caught and yet, there was a strange niggling in the back of her mind. Why wasn’t she caught? She didn’t want to be and yet she did. After all, wasn’t that why she did this? No one ever paid any attention to her. If she got caught, they would. Maybe next time.

Connor – S 4 Theft

He hated stealing. He knew it was wrong but these little twenty-four hour stores were the best for it. Usually the clerk was distracted by seedy looking customers. It wasn’t his fault. He didn’t want to steal but he had no money. He had no way of earning it. He didn’t even have a social security card or driver’s license, whatever they were. Fred said they were necessary for working.

Connor was hungry. More importantly, Cordelia was hungry and she wasn’t satisfied with rats and dumpster leavings like he was. Theft was his only option. He promised to care for her.

Ethan – S 4 For Old Time’s Sake

Ethan looked around at the selections, wishing there had been 24-hour stores when he was young. How handy that would have been after the group was hungry and thirsty after a night of shagging and passing a bong? Crisps, toffees, and beer, all in one convenient location.

Ethan loaded up on all three and carried the sack outside. Patted his pocket, he still had a little weed for fun hidden there. It had been a couple years since the Halloween fiasco. Maybe Rupert wouldn’t mind a visit from an old friend. Ethan bet Ripper still had his Sherlock* somewhere.

* a Sherlock is a type of glass pipe

As always x-posted to open_on_sunday