A Noblesse

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A raggedy looking man was standing outside a grocery store with a sign hanging around his neck that said, "Will help you load your groceries for free!" The people who went in and out of the store gave him odd looks but he continued to stand there motionless as though he was immune to their judging gazes. To be honest, the people weren't exactly at fault. The way the man was dressed, you could say he was pushing eccentricity to its limits. He wore a huge pile of ragged cloaks, so much so that you couldn't really make out his exact build anymore. His pants, gloves, and hat were equally shabby and patched. His head was wrapped up so much with this long dirty scarf that you couldn't see any part of his face. Dark goggles covered his eyes as well so you couldn't tell where he was looking. A close inspection of his feet would also reveal that he appeared to be wearing no shoes, with his feet merely wrapped in dirty cloth. If anyone would hazard a guess as to who he was, most of them would probably say he was some hobo who wandered in there from Louvre.

Most of the people who visited the store so far that morning bought only a few things, carrying their purchases home in eco bags and the like. It wasn't until about a couple of hours or so later that an old man in his fifties would park in front of the store with his dated car and enter the store to buy his monthly groceries. He would come out of the store after half an hour pushing a shopping cart nearly filled to the brim with food items. It was at this point that the previously motionless man with the sign around his neck would suddenly spring to life, shuffling over to the old man who had just opened the trunk of his car to begin loading his purchases.

"What in the-"

At first the old man was startled. It seemed he thought the raggedy man was just some sort of weird mannequin standing outside the store and didn't think it was actually a person. It didn't help that his eyesight wasn't the best. It took a few seconds of the raggedy man pointing vigorously at the sign hanging on his neck before the old man managed read it and understand what was up. He raised his eyebrow, not really believing some poor looking hobo was willing to help for free, but a minor jolt of pain on his back courtesy of old age would convince him to take a chance. Even if he did get charged for it, he needed help and he sort of felt bad for the guy standing there all day.

"Alright fine, you can help. But I'm keeping a close eye on you."

The raggedy man nodded enthusiastically without saying a word and started loading the groceries in the car. The old man wondered if he was mute. That would explain why he was communicating with signs. He felt even worse for him and decided in his head that he'd give the poor guy something for his trouble. When the deed was done, he reached for his wallet but before he could even open it, the raggedy guy vigorously gestured his refusal to take any payment, waving both his hands. Still puzzled and scratching his head, the old man at least thanked him before getting in his car and driving home. Meanwhile the raggedy man returned to his post beside the store and stood there motionless once more.

A certain girl briefly glanced at the ragged hobo and smiled before turning her gaze back at a pocketbook she was reading to pass the time. Erica was sitting at a table outside a cafe right next door to the grocery store and had been there all morning. She was on her third or so cup of coffee. She had chanced upon that quaint little cafe not too long ago and found their brew to her liking. This wasn't the first time she would spend hours just hanging out there. Today however was a little special.

Her phone which was previously motionless on the table would suddenly hum as she received a new message. Her face would light up just a bit as she read the sender's name. It seemed it was about that time already and the person she was waiting to meet would be due to arrive soon. Erica put her book down for a moment and took a sip from her cup. The one coming was her senior supposedly. She wondered what kind of person they were and her thoughts wandered, unsure of what expectations she ought to have.

In the meantime, an old lady would come out from grocery store next door, pushing yet another heavily loaded shopping cart. The raggedy hobo would spring to life once again, offering his assistance to the elderly woman. The same semi-comical scene of trying the make the old lady understand would occur before he was finally allowed to help.

Watching this entire scene play out was Erica, her right hand still holding her cup as she continued to take a sip. Meanwhile her left hand was just out of sight on her lap, with her fingers moving peculiarly.

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