Charlotte seemed to be bug-eyed as she took in what was in front of her.
It was an unassuming place, nestled between a laundromat and an old bookstore, and what I considered to be El Portal's crowning jewel.
Sugar Voyage, the candy store specializing in international sweets. I wanted to come here yesterday, but that didn't exactly pan out.
Tilting her head, Charlotte examined the store's exterior. No matter how much you looked though, there wasn't anything 'special' to be found. It truly was a place that even if you walked past one thousand times, you'd never notice.
"Veri... I said that you could take me anywhere you wanted. This is where you picked?", she peered at me with narrowed eyes almost as though she didn't trust the current situation.
"You'd be remiss to write a place like this off at a single glance. All sorts of evil deities frequent this place for all sorts of horrid items. I fear your mortal brain may not be capable of handling what's inside."
It seemed that my response answered Charlotte's suspicions. She sighed and made a face that indicated her bitterness at my nonanswer. Still, she didn't bother to push me for a more normal reply.
I guess she's getting more used to me.
As we pushed the door open, the small jingle of a bell rang overhead.
The store was as vibrant as ever. Every inch of wall space was packed with shelves, each one crammed with brightly wrapped candy from every corner of the world. All the wrappers were covered in languages that I hadn't even the slightest clue how to read, but even still the designs on the packaging were alluring. The sweet scent in the air and brightly colored walls fill the mind with nostalgia for something that you'd never seen before.
Charlotte's bug-eyed expression returned as she scanned the overwhelming assortment. Her stern demeanor faltered, giving way to childlike wonder.
As if drawn to the sheer abundance, Charlotte stepped forward. "Wow... that's a lot of candy..."
"I did warn you," I said, folding my arms and standing proudly. "This store is a labyrinth of temptation, crafted to ensnare the weak-willed. Only the most disciplined can hope to escape with wallets unscathed."
Just as Charlotte was about to grab one of the products, a booming voice made her freeze.
"Hey now, little miss! You should listen to your friend. Don't touch up on my products if you're not willing to put up the cash for them. " There was a slight accent as he spoke.
I turned to see The Tiger, the owner himself, leaning over the counter. His large frame seemed even bigger in the cramped space, and his presence was commanding despite the cheerful setting. He wore a candy-striped apron that somehow didn't diminish his aura of a once-feared fighter.
Charlotte pulled her hand back instinctively, her stern demeanor reassembling like armor. "I wasn't going to steal anything," she said, folding her arms defensively. "I was just looking."
The Tiger let out a chuckle, deep and resonant, the kind that rumbled in his chest. "Looking turns to touching, and touching turns to trouble. That's how it always goes." He crossed his massive arms over his apron, his weathered face breaking into a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Ah, you're with one of my regulars so maybe you'll be one of the good ones. Jean did well in introducing you to my shop. You always spend a ton!"
Charlotte seemed to stiffen at his words. I wasn't sure what exactly caused it, but she looked far more uncomfortable than before.
"Just introducing her to the place,"
Anyway, in response to his words, I merely mumbled something quickly under my breath. This was one of the few places where I didn't opt to use my Dark King persona. It would've been pointless.
The Tiger raised an eyebrow and nodded slowly as if he were judging my words. "Hm. A man of fine taste, bringing a lady to my shop. You're smarter than you look, boy."
Ignoring his small jab at me, I began maneuvering around the shop. If I indulged the owner any further, I already knew what would happen. Having come here a few times, I already knew all the do's and do not's, sadly Charlotte wasn't privy to them.
Looking up at one of the shop's many hanged newspapers, Charlotte showed a clear interest in it.
Yup, that was definitely one of the do not's for anyone looking to have a quick shopping experience.
The Tiger's chest puffed out, pride radiating from him. "Interested huh? That's from my boxing days. I'll let you know right now, I wasn't just any boxer. Back in Haiti, they called me Le Tigre. Said I fought like a wild beast. When I came here, I wanted to show the world what I could do." His eyes glazed over slightly, lost in the memory. "First match was in a run-down gym in Brooklyn. The place was packed, people yelling so loud you'd think it was the championship. My opponent was some big-shot local, thought he could break me in the first round."
He let out a light chuckle before he continued. I could see the expression of Charlotte's face shifted. It was the tired expression of a young person forced to hear about the old glory days.
The Tiger's old grizzled face morphed into a toothy predatory grin, "The look on his coach's face when I knocked him out cold was priceless. 'Like a tiger's pounce', that's what he said in the interview after."
Despite the grand nature of his story, I found myself with eyes downcast.
The reason that I don't try my Dark King act when in this store is because the owner manages to fill the silence so well with his stories. But, all of the stories end the same and sadly, I already knew the ending to this one.
"Man, it was amazing. Match after match I was ripping through my opponents. You don't know how hard it was to get matches. They'd see my name and go running the other way!", as he spoke his voice slowly grew quiet, and by the end his booming voice had become subdued.
"Then, it was over. I lived a party lifestyle back then and got into some trouble. I had an accident, a real bad one. I can't walk right no more. Right then, my career was over."
A heavy silence settled over the store, broken only by the soft hum of the air conditioning. The sadness in his eyes was disheartening. Since that day he's gained a wife, kids, and a whole new life. Even so, the memories of the past don't fade easily.
Charlotte, perhaps sensing the weight in the room, stepped forward with an elegance that took me by surprise. She wore an expression so calm and composed that it was impossible to tell if the Tiger's story had affected her at all—or if she simply refused to let it show.
"Sounds like you were really amazing back in your day. In and out of the ring, I think you're a real tough guy."
The Tiger blinked, as if taken aback by her poise. Then, a small, genuine smile tugged at his lips.
"Eh, maybe," he said, waving a hand dismissively, though his posture seemed to straighten. "But life's about what you do after the fight, not just during it. You kids—go on, get your candy before I start charging for stories."
The moment felt so seamless, so natural, that I couldn't help but admire her. To think she could break that silence with such grace and even lighten the mood... It was something utterly impossible for someone like me.
Following Charlotte's lead, I began looking through the items and grabbing some things that looked good.
On our way out, The Tiger asked me to bring Charlotte back the next time I came. Meekly, I nodded and agreed.
It was only when we walked out of the store that Charlotte opened her mouth and spoke and asked a question I hadn't even considered.
"So, what'd you think?"
"What, about The Tiger?"
"Well yeah, but I mean his story."
"I feel for the guy, but there's not much he can do."
Charlotte nodded slowly, her gaze fixed on the sidewalk ahead. "I wonder... How would he have liked things to end?"
I was silent for a moment as I formulated what to say in response. "What do you mean?"
For some reason, as she spoke, Charlotte reminded me of someone else.
She stopped walking and turned to face me, her eyes searching mine. "What do you think his ideal world would be? If he could go back, rewrite everything... what do you think it would look like?"
My face tensed a bit. "Are you asking... Are you asking if he regrets not being able to box?"
"No, that's not really what I—actually I guess that is part of it, but that's not all. I mean, now he owns a store, has kids, a wife, all kinds of things that he loves.", All of a sudden, the look in Charlotte's eyes was unreadable. I didn't understand what it was that she was getting at, but a recent and bitter memory floated to the surface of my mind.
"Taking both worlds. The things that he wishes he could've done back then and everything that he has now. What would his ideal world be?! If he didn't have to lose anything, if he could hold on to everything, what would he wish for?", her words unnerved me, they unnerved me in the same way that a certain woman's words did.
"I'm not sure... I don't know what he'd wish for..."
The look in Charlotte's eyes, the way she spoke, and even her unyielding yearning for a reality that could never possibly exist.
They all reminded me of that fallen angel. Layla, the futureteller.
As we started walking again, the silence between us felt heavier than when we'd first started. As we walked I knew, whatever it was that Charlotte had been searching my eyes for, she certainly hadn't found it.