"Thanks. I don't know much besides the swearing, though." Lizzy grinned as she went back to poking at the laptop's innards.

"Still impressive." Bucky watched her for a few more minutes, drinking his coffee. It was odd, he got the feeling he should be right there with her, stripping down the computer. He blinked when he realized what he was feeling, and took a step back.

"I should get going," he said.

Lizzy glanced up at him and nodded. "Alright, sure. Well, if you ever feel like coming back, I'm here almost every day. Usually in the morning, but not always. Just ask anyone behind the counter." She smiled at him, though her heart was beating faster, and had as soon as he said he should get going. She felt like that was wrong, he shouldn't be going anywhere, but she didn't know why. She hardly knew him.

"I'm sure I will," Bucky said, nodding. Turning, he left quickly, the situation turning over in his mind like a crazed hamster on a wheel.

Lizzy watched him go, rather appreciating the view, before she went back to work on the laptop.

Steve, meanwhile, had gone back to the shop where the sensations had been the strongest, glancing around to see who all was in the shop.

One of the other sales girls was there, covering for Hillary.

"Hello," she chirped. "How can we help you today?"

"I actually wanted to know about an associate that helped me the other day," Steve said. "I didn't manage to catch her name."

"Do you remember what she looked like?" the girl asked. It wasn't the first time customers came back to ask about particular associates. "Which day was it?"

Steve told her what he could remember of her, as well as the day. "We came in the afternoon, around 2, I think."

"Oh." The girl made a bit of a face. "Hillary was here that day." She looked at him. "What did she do? I promise, whatever it was, someone will talk to her about it, it won't happen again."

Steve blinked. "Why do you assume she did something?" he asked slowly. That seemed a bit... odd.

"Oh, uh... It's just... common," the girl said, backpedaling a bit. "Hillary's not the normal type, really, and sometimes it sets off some of the guests, it's nothing, really."

Steve nodded. Something about that didn't seem right to him, but he also didn't want to make her uncomfortable. She was currently being helpful, after all.

"Alright. You said her name is Hillary? Do you know when she works next?"

"Next week," the girl replied. "She's off for the next four days or so." The girl shrugged a bit.

"Alright. Thank you." Steve gave her a polite smile, already thinking over how to go about approaching her. Maybe he could get Natasha to go shopping again.

The girl couldn't help but blush at the smile.

"No problem," she said.

Back at home, Hillary was scratching at some of her more stubborn scales. This time around was a rough shed.

Liz, I'm bored and itchy, she texted her friend. She knew Lizzy would get the text quickly. She suspected her friend had somehow managed to route her texts through her mind or something.

Liz grinned a bit when she got the text.

I can bring you back something to drink, I'm at the café fighting the laptop again. She and the laptop had had this epic war going on for a few years now.

Hillary snorted.

You should just build them a whole new laptop, it'll save a lot of trouble.

It will. When I go to the shop tomorrow I'll start looking for parts, I should be able to get enough parts to rebuild this thing. The screen and everything is still fine, it's just the insides that are troublesome.

Lizzy shook her head a bit, grumbling to herself about uncooperative laptops.

Well, I'm stuck at home for the next few days. Hillary paused for a moment. The tv works, right?

Yeah, it should, unless it's trying to start another battle. If it stops working, text me and I'll head back and fix it. Lizzy shook her head a bit, amused.

Okay, Hillary replied. She resettled herself in the bath, rubbing a few scales free. I can't wait to be finished with this. Bright shiny new scales that aren't too tight.

Just like clockwork. I was waiting for that. Lizzy grinned. You saving any of them this time?

I doubt it, the patches of skin aren't flaking off as neatly this time around. Hillary made a face. I kind of wish it would all come off at once like normal snakes do.

Even with normal snakes it takes a few days to get everything off and all that. The skin doesn't always come off in one big piece. Lizzy shrugged. We should just get a ball python so you two can commiserate.