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Past the food trucks and the chaos of the busiest district, you cross the alleyways, finding some people still out there smoking, a few enjoying the lunch break, and then nobody as you go past air conditioners and the dumpsters behind residential apartments. It's quiet back here; but you feel strange being back here without your Mask. You aren't meant to be skulking in your first visit to the level. Just then, you find an opening into a quiet street. You look to the left and right, finding the sudden lowering of the height and property values of the building calming and comforting. There is a bit of urban decay here; it reminds you of Level 5. It's less intimidating. You look at the street sign and see its name; simply <span class="mu-i">Sixth Street</span>.
You look across the buildings; instantly seeing a homey feeling in the old signs advertising businesses. Just a few streets away you parked your bike underneath signs that read out AccuAccounting and InfiniCorp and Business-Protocal-Solutions. And here? Right across the street? You see <span class="mu-i">Smith's Thrifts</span>. By no means do you feel welcome on this level, at least not in the income bracket for it, but you'd take a million Smith's Thrifts and the homey atmosphere over the slick and shiny corporate big money monoliths. You're feeling a bit peckish. The food cart was a bit out of your price range; maybe Smith's Thrifts would be better? Do they even sell food there? Might as well find out.
Taking the time to cross the street of the humble store, you hear a little bell chime and you are welcomed by the store owner, the infamous Mr.Smith if your intuition is correct. He looks up from his paperwork or crossword or whatever he's got on the cracked countertop and gives you a wave.
“Hello! On a lunch break?”
<span class="mu-r">”Oh no, erhm, yeah?”</span>
“No problem if you're in a rush. Just let me know if you need help finding anything.”
<span class="mu-r">”How do I, uhh, check out the items? Do you get them?”</span>
The older man gives you a confused look, then smiles.
“No no, just bring what you want to buy to the front. Unless you need help, just let me know.”
<span class="mu-r">”Oh, uhh, ok. Thank you.”</span>
You disappear into the back of the store. It's not the small talk you mind, just the crowds.
