Wellspring Arms & Meditation Center, Friday

[spring_lost]

Not a single goat had managed to wrench its way through Wellspring's doors - of course they hadn't. Cable had set up his security system for a very good reason

Comments

[firstnameagent]

After spending last night being hired to spy on people by the radio lady getting acquainted with the locals, Coulson was on the lookout for non-spying real work. A peaceful arms shop seemed like just the place for a spy in hiding. Especially one who had a habit of taking on gods with big guns.

Once was enough of a habit.

Anyway, he walked into the store. "Good morning," he said.

[spring_lost]

"Good morning," Cable said, and promptly shooed Jan behind the desk. "What can I help you with...?"

This was either a visitor or a new arrival. Cable would know if he wasn't. He had files.

[firstnameagent]

"Probably not much," Coulson said, underselling it. "I'm new in town, so I wanted to check out the local businesses."

"Phil Coulson," he said. "So this really is a weapons shop." The guns were a giveaway.

[spring_lost]

"As well as a free meditation space," Cable agreed amicably. "Is there anything in particular you'd like to know?"

He'd gotten pretty good at the shopkeeper act over the years. Someone back home was probably staring.

[firstnameagent]

"I should get the obvious question out of the way," Coulson said. "What was with the goats yesterday?"

[spring_lost]

"They were a temporary invasion force," Cable noted. "These things occasionally crawl out of the woodwork. We take care of them."

"Punch the goat," Jan cried from behind the counter.

[firstnameagent]

"I figured that part out," Coulson told the talking counter. "One tried to eat my cell phone. I think the goat had it coming."

[spring_lost]

"Gotta keep punching the goats," Jan said sagely. "Or they cry."

Cable's expression may or may not have implied the crying was terrible.

"We've had worse," he said.

[firstnameagent]

"If you hadn't, I'd think a gun and mediation shop would be something of a waste," Coulson said. "I don't know many people who would need either of those things if the worst thing in their life was a crying goat."

[spring_lost]

"Harpies, gremlins, vikings, you name it," Cable replied. "There are consequences to living on an interdimensional hub. But then there are consequences to living anywhere..." A pause. "Are you planning to stick around, Mr. Coulson?"

[firstnameagent]

"I've seen a few consequences in my time," Coulson said. Come to think of it, living aboard a flying aircraft carrier was going to have some very bad consequences eventually. They just came about sooner than he expected. "And yes. I recently lost my job up north, so I don't have much interest in going back. Might as well stick around on an island apparently filled with monsters and invading barbarians."

[spring_lost]

"Do you have any experience with monsters and invading barbarians?" Nate, don't make this sound like a job interview. "It may help."

[firstnameagent]

"Oh, no, nothing like that," Coulson said. "Just aliens. And a magical robot one time. That one was more of a learning experience."

[spring_lost]

"Then so is this," Cable replied. "It's not a very big leap from one to the other-- even if it seems that way."

"Shoot them," Jan chimed in.

Cable glanced over his shoulder. "Yes," he said. "Shoot them."

[firstnameagent]

"One of the things I learned is that sometimes I need a bigger gun for that than the one I already own," Coulson said. "So maybe there is something you can help me with."

[spring_lost]

"I don't generally sell firearms unless we're currently experiencing an invasion," Cable said politely. "Though if I could interest you in some throwing knives..."