Bytown e1c2: A Quiet Life

Semi-automated announcement: Bytown episode 1 chapter 2 is live! Here's a preview...

CRACK! The sack hit the counter and a bundle of frozen carrots tumbled onto the floor at Maggie's feet. She knelt down to collect them, returning with a smile warmer than made any sense on a day as frigid as this.

The shopkeeper, a younger man with square jaw and sky-blue eyes, shoved the carrots back in the sack and pulled the drawstring tighter. "Big plans tonight?" he asked.

Maggie practically glowed when she said: "Romantic dinner. My special stew."

The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow at this. "Can't say I've ever heard 'stew' and 'romantic' used like that before."

Maggie set a coin down on the counter and slung the sack over her shoulder, giving him a nod. "Everything's romantic on a day like today."

"If you say so," he laughed, then paused and said: "Where you from, anyway? That accent of yours is—"