Work Text:
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He mutters to himself as the key gets jammed in the old lock, resulting in Tyler having to frantically wiggle it around to get it free.
The rain loudly thrashes against his brown plaid jacket as he tries to open the shop door again, the chilling water swiping across his face while the key finds its slot and turns with a protesting clunk. The boy huffs as he ducks inside, the rain cascading off of his oversized hood and onto the polished floor with a slap.
The unlit room merging perfectly the relentless Scottish gloom outside as he feels for the lights, his numb fingers fumbling around in the dark.
The boy silently cursing himself for taking the opening shift after closing the night before as he flicked on the lights, illuminating the small room which is lined with wooden boxes full of vinyl’s and smelled faintly of old wood.
At least I know its tidy Tyler thinks to himself as he shakes the fabric of his jacket but deciding to keep it on. He loved nothing more than to be swallowed up by oversized clothes, it gave him a sense of comfort even if he was now a little (or a lot) damp.
The boy fluffed up his shaggy brown hair as he swung round the counter and into the worn desk chair. The chair sliding right to where he wanted it to: in comfortable reach of the fridge which was always stocked with his favourite drink. Red bull. He definitely needed a little pick me up after battling the elements just to get to work.
The boy pulled out a crisp one from the back and opened it with a crack, stacking the side of his shin on his other knee before leaning back with a sigh, the frost on the can nipping at his still raw fingers as the boy watched the weather contently.
One good thing about working here, especially on such a horrible day is that he would most definitely be left in peace to pick out his favourite vinyl’s, drop the needle and tap along to his hearts content. The time hopefully passing quickly and he would be free to enjoy his weekend.
The lone worker slipping further into a chill state before he is startled by the shop door opening, a post man appearing in the doorway, clad like he was battling a hurricane outside rushing in and dropping a large box down with a thud.
“Alright pal, delivery for….” The man looking at his crumpled rain soaked paper “kaleidoscope records?”
“Yep that’s the place, cheers man” His midwestern twang standing out as he reached down for the soggy box, his hands gripping on for dear life as he shifted it onto the desk. The post man disappearing back into the storm as quickly as he had appeared.
Was there meant to be a delivery today? The boy sitting back down, a quizzical look on his face as he stretched over flighting through the shop diary with one hand, not really fussed if he would find out the answer or not.
His boss Mark ran a tight ship while Tyler mostly just went with the flow, I guess they worked well in that way, creating an well established but chill store for their loyal customers to keep coming back to.
The fluffy haired boy stood up with a shrug, not finding anything out about the delivery. He effortlessly flipped open the now flimsy box to reveal a stack of records. His excited curiosity getting the better of him as his fingers instinctively skimmed though the titles. A few of the classics and some wildcard picks before his brown eyes locked on a weird shaped bright red and vinyl. The boy pulling it free to take a better look at it in the cosy light of the store.
“Shuttt uppp” the boy exclaiming to the empty room, his voice slightly echoing as he ran a hand down the his face in disbelief. A light laugh escaping him as his eyes retuned to the super rare vinyl making sure his eyes weren’t betraying him.
His eyes now tracing the unusual outline of the vinyl. Its long straight edges and jagged corners perfectly mapping out his home state. Ohio.
Tyler turning the record flat to see the perfectly laid out groves circling the middle. He could almost hear the unforgettable sound of his favourite ever live show from his favourite band: The twelve sailors, it made the all the emotions and memories come crashing back from that night all those years ago.
How long ago was it??
The fluffy haired boy remembering his show like it was yesterday. How could he ever forget? Having dragged his dad along when he came across last minute tickets. He had followed this band most of his life, all of them having been born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, a stone’s throw from each other. He just never had heard music that exactly laid out how he was feeling at the time and being able to share it with his dad who knew of them but truly had no clue just how captivating they are to see live.
He just had to own this vinyl for himself.
The excited buckeye flicked thought the remaining sleeves, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth before skimming back through the whole box again as if another one of those striking red vinyl’s were going to magically appear within the stack.
Much to his dismay there was only one, The boy flipping it in his hands a few times before tucking it safely underneath the worn wood of the counter, making a mental note to buy it at the end of his shift so he could finally relive that night with his dad one more time, sipping an ice cold beer a thousand miles from home and even further away from his dad who had tragically passed a few years after that show.
Tyler was glad to have so many memories to remember him by but this was definitely his favourite. Seeing the look on his fathers face after the opening song, the both of them having the night of their lives singing and dancing, the feeling of the whole world being present in that room for that moment was something he could never forget.
The rest of his shift dragged as Tyler swung on the creaky chair, side to side…..side to side… his eyes darting to where the vinyl lay every so often to make sure it was still there and his mind wasn’t playing some kinda sick trick on him.
The store was housing a few customers who were idly browsing the stock but not looking overly interested in buying anything. Tyler didn’t blame them, the weather was still lashing down outside, the street lights casting glimmers across the puddles which were growing ever bigger as the day went on.
Tyler finally pulling himself out of the chair, his stiff muscles aching as he silently crossed the room to the stores turntable, Its gloss back finish and tempered glass platter looking sleek and stylish while still providing an earthy rich sound which encapsulates the store.
The boy quickly plucked out a random vinyl from their store stack and swapped out the record, dropping the needle and pressing play
Static rumbling low in the speakers before the chill melodies of Sumday by Grandaddy twisted throughout the room further contrasting the weather outside. The change in vibe almost heating up the store and transporting him back to fond summers spent in the states.
The worker slipping the played record back in its sleave with practiced flare, dropping it back into the box and retreating back to his comfy spot, another red bull being grabbed in the process. This time a summer berry flavour to add to the growing theme of summer which had decided to grow.
The boy slipped into whatever state he goes into when he listens to music. Feet tapping along as customers filter in and out of the store quietly.
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“Twelve sailors ohio LC live show record send tweet” – Sk8terboyJosh12
The defeated boy shoving his rain soaked phone back in his jacket pocket as he walked out of yet another record store and into the rain. The yellow haired boy pulling his fluffy hood over to conceal his face before making his way down the uneven small side streets of the still bustling city on his worn skateboard.
He had tried every record store he could think of and four stores later he was still record less. He knew his chances of finding this specific vinyl were low but it had been running round 12Stwt that people had seen and managed to buy a few of them around the Scottish city recently.
Yet Josh was far from convinced because why 3500 miles from his hometown would his favourite childhood bands rare vinyl be circulating the streets? Were there really that many twelve sailors fans here? Josh didn’t think so as he had only met a handful in his four years studying here.
Just as the Ohioan had turned to head back to his flat, soggy and defeated his phone buzzed in his pocket. The boys numb fingers flicking up off the lock screen as water drops onto the glass blurring the words.
@snaapbackk replied to your post “you tried kaleidoscope??”
Josh: omg no??? where even is that???
The boys heart beating that little bit faster in his chest as he stops in his tracks, flicking his board up by its tail and ducking into a doorway. The Ohioan wiping his screen on his sodden sleeve only smearing the words more making it almost impossible to read.
Han: down by wunderbar. in the same alley, you cant miss it. Worth a try maybes??? Just might not get any craic from the worker if it’s the brown haired one lol.
Josh: omg I owe you one ty ty
Han: ofc I hope you find it joshie!
Josh racked his brain trying to remember first year uni, many a night being spent dancing and drinking under the neon lights of wunderbar but safe to say not many of them nights were clearn ones.
He snaked the side streets swearing that the thick gloom was throwing him off and sending him in circles. The growing puddles on the pavement splashing up soaking his red vans earning a huff from the boy.
He eventually stumbles across a stained glass sign with detailed lettering set in gold spelling out “Kaleidoscope” the boy having to do a double take after not remembering even skating past the nostalgic neon bar.
He heads straight in, shaking off his hood as he steps inside, his hair sticking up in all directions before running his wet cold hands though his fried yellow hair taming it slightly.
The skaters brown eyes adjusting to the warm lit room before focusing on the figure slouched behind the desk. The young worker looking up from his phone flashing a quick “hello” in the form of a nod before returning to scrolling, the chair softly squeaking from his side to side motion, the noise not annoying or grating but blending along with vibey music humming throughout the space.
The soggy boy allowing himself another look at the unaware worker, his brown shaggy hair falling over his forehead as he chewed on his full pink lips in concentration.
Damn hes cute, Han never mentioned the pretty worker, hello???
Josh moved along not wanting to waste any more time, the boy starting to flick though the rock and alternative stacks, starting slow at first but quickly reaching a flow state. The likes of Feeder, Blink-182 and Enter Shikari flashing past as he continued to search for the coveted vinyl, his hope slowly fading as he finally reaches the final stack.
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It was now one pm. The final hour before Mark would be clocking in for his closing shift and Tyler would be freed. He had been yapping on the 12Stwt fic city group chat for the past hour, his second family in a way all lovingly arguing about how a crumpet should be eaten.
Tyler: WDYM RAW AND WITH COLD BUTTER???
Han: its okay your American and just a little confused xoxo
Auttie: Han it needs to be toasted NEEDS TO BE WARM WDYM
Will: Nah I like em cold too???
Rika: Ive never even had one and I know they should be toasted
The store had quietened apart from a lone yellow haired shopper who has spent the last 15 minutes in depth searching though the stacks before starting again. The boys red and black checked skateboard leaning up against his thigh as he looked.
Tyler: Yous are all weird for that, anyway gtg I better bounce. Don’t want Mark mad at me again lol exp after last week.
A series of goodbyes flew by in the group chat along with the odd crumpet take before the boy switched off his phone shoving it in his pocket, shaking his head, a silent smile forming across his face.
He was so relieved he could always count on his friends to make the time pass, anytime anywhere.
The store workers eyes being drawn back to the unusual customer, his yellow hair fried from being dyed one to many times, two hoops either side of his nose and the same coloured eyes as his own, a pretty shade of warm brown. The customer radiating cool with his band tee, baggy jeans and his skateboard. Tyler would be lying is he wasn’t at least a little intimidated by the customers vibe AND he was cute. The boy nonchalantly peeled himself from his chair stifling a huff as he rose before half walking half shuffling, his fingers finding his hair nervously tugging at its ends trying to play it cool.
The boy reaching the turntable to flip the record, his eye catching on a Ohio state pin on the skateboarders bag as he did so.
“Nice pin” Tyler nodding in the direction of the pin on the yellow boys bag, his mid-western accent drawn out instantly gaining the attention of the shopper, his gaze instantly raising from the stack.
“Ah thanks man, you a Buckeyes fan?” Joshes eyes lighting up in recognition of the accent, its not often he hears a voice from home this side of the pond.
“born and raised, yourself?” The boy chirping back, shoving his hands into his plaid jacket, a nervous habit he is oblivious to.
“course, im Josh by the way” the sweetest smile forming on the boys face, his features softening as he moves his skateboard to the other side before reaching out a hand to the fellow Ohioan.
“Tyler” the boy returns the smile, their hands meeting giving it a shake
“Let me know if your looking for anything in particular” the boy exclaiming before quickly returning to the safety of his chair, not giving the skater time to reply. The boy not trusting himself enough to not say something awkward or stupid.
The worker quickly distracting himself, with his last task of putting away the delivery before Mark came in flapping at the state of the vinyl’s strewn all along the desk.
The peaceful vibe returning to the store as Tyler tidied and Josh continued searching, “yeah” is what we had” thrumming though the speakers as he worked, the boy mouthing along to the grungy guitar riffs of the Californian band, getting lost in such a good album.
Tyler eventually pulling his phone out after feeling multiple buzzed, clocking the time instead of the notifications.
“oh shit” The boy fumbling, sliding to the other side of the desk and grabbing the twelve pilots vinyl from its hiding spot and inputting the barcode into the system. His thoughts drawn back once again to that night at the LC pavilion, his fingers slightly trembling and the excitement returning.
The very second the boy was about to tap his card on the reader the door opens to reveal his very damp boss, the Glaswegian shaking out his slightly broken umbrella which apparently lost its battle against the storm.
Hey Tyler, how’s it going?” the boy breathing out a laugh at the state of the weather outside, his thick Scottish accent filling the space.
“n`bad bro” the boy getting out, feeling like he has been caught pretty doing something he shouldn’t be. The nerves instantly raising in his chest as he moves the vinyl behind the almost empty box trying to cover it.
The rule when getting in new vinyl’s to the store was always to have them out for at least a day to allow for customers to get first pickings before the staff end up nabbing them for themselves.
“delivery came” Tyler motions with his head to the box, its contents still half emptied across the desk.
“ah sick” Mark wasting no time in making a beeline towards the box, eyes scanning the item sheet.
You could almost hear the brown haired boys heart drop when Marks eagle eye spotted the bright red vinyl and started inspecting its condition.
Of course that was the vinyl he was looking for, the worker letting out the breath he had been holding.
“Ah, She’s a beauty, right?” The blonde boys eyes twinkling at such a rare find.
“Y-yeah she is” Tyler's heart sinking further, the feeling replaced with growing nerves. That was not a vinyl which was going to stay in the stack for long before being snapped up. Even non fans would be interested in such a cool shaped vinyl and Tyler had been in the game long enough to know this.
“Such a weird shape though.. I mean Ohio?” The store owner entirely forgetting that he is indeed standing in front of a man – from Ohio.
Tyler looking up at an amused Josh who had stopped browsing, their brown eyes meeting, giving each other the “omg I can’t believe I just heard this look” despite only meeting a few minutes ago. This gaining a laugh from the pair of them and a “What?” from the oblivious boss.
“I’m from Ohio man, remember????” Tyler widening his eyes jokingly before seeing Josh turn away painfully holding in a laugh about something that’s really not that funny but under the circumstances it is. The boy blissfully unaware that they were talking about THE vinyl he had been hunting for ever since that show, he quickly went back to finish his browsing, a smirk still on his face.
Mark turned the same colour as the record before nervously getting out a “oh yeah sorry man” his free hand finding the back of his neck.
“I was just excited that I came by it I totally forgot, not many LC Pavilion record around these days” the blonde haired boy shrugged before setting it back down and disappearing into the back of the store not to embarrass himself any further.
The sinking nervous feeling coming flooding back to Tyler as the yellow haired boys head shoots up, eyes widening in shock, his board hitting the floor with a clatter startling them both.
“Ah shit sorry bro, my bad” The skater chasing after his board as it took off, the boys hands fumbling around.
“Ive just been looking for this record everywhere. And I mean everywhere” The boy beside the desk now, safely leaning his board against the worn wood.
“Me too, this is the only one ive ever seen in real life” Tyler picking up the vinyl before handing it to the boy, a sad smile flashing across his face.
“Ah thanks man” Josh gingerly holding the vinyl, the excitement surging within him as he holds such a fond memory in his hands. His eyes sparkling as a light laugh escaped his lips, disbelief washing over him before the emotion was replaced with childlike excitement.
“So crazy, I remember it like it was yesterday”
“You were there too?” it was the brown haired boys turn to feel disbelief, his mouth falling open before breathing a smile.
“omg yeah? that’s crazy” The boy handing the vinyl carefully back to Tyler, his eyes drawn away from the record and to the pretty smile coming from the boy across from him.
“what’s the chances?” Tyler shaking his head a smile forming despite his thoughts.
The two of them spending the remaining minutes of the workers shift lost in an easy conversation, both reminiscing about their favourite band from back home.
The pair only only being disrupted by Mark carrying though more stock to sort out during his shift. The clumsy man almost tripping on air as he walked.
“Sorry pal” Mark shimmying past Josh and heavily setting down the box. The tall man trying to make himself as small as possible without much reward making Josh grab his board and bag which had been sat contrasting the polished floor.
“Tyler your free to go man if you want, you up to much this weekend?” The blonde man wiping his brow and blowing out his cheeks in fatigue.
I was going to be listening to that vinyl. Tyler thought to himself as he caught one last glimpse at the stunning red gloss, a pang of sadness hitting him in his chest.
There wasn’t a single doubt in his mind that his fellow Buckeyes fan was going to snap up the rare vinyl once he had left.
At least its going to a decent guy
Tyler turned to grab his bag and his half drank warm Red bull, taking a sip ,not able to hide the devastation plastered across face, his eyes finding the floor before finding Joshes kind brown ones.
“Nah sleeping, the usual, have a good one Mark” the freed worker chirping, the bright tone not quite reaching his face.
Josh being oblivious to the stores “customer first” rule but still catching the look and vibe which was radiating from the brown haired boy.
The boy stuttering over his words as Tyler turned on heel and headed for the door. It had been a while since Josh had made such a quick connection with someone AND he was cute and from Ohio?? Tyler absolutely ticked all the boxes. He had to shoot his shot at least or his friends would kill him.
“T-tyler? The boy hauling his things behind him as he jogged to the door where the other stood
“Yeah?”
“Want to hang out sometime? Like properly when your not working?” Joshes cheeks pinking, he usually wasn’t the one to be so certain in his words and it caught him off guard.
“Um sure…. “ a faint sparkle returning to the fluffy haired boys eyes as he held out his hand flat: silently asking for the others phone to save his number. Josh quickly understanding then obliging.
“Text me” A faint smile from the fluffy haired boy as the phone landed back in the owners trembling hands
“see ya Tyler” Josh getting out as Tyler disappeared out the door, the boy pulling his hood ever his eyes and lightly jogging down the sodden street.