# Downtime & Small Tasks

Because most shoppers handle their own purchases, downtime is a constant undercurrent of station life.  
This isn’t “waiting” in the traditional game sense — it’s space to act, reflect, or catch small moments of unfolding story. Even when the shop is still, the station hums: someone passes in the Outer Hallway, a shipment arrives, or your PDA pings with new gossip.
During these quiet stretches, you can engage in small, optional actions that reinforce the feeling of a lived‑in space.

### Personal Touches
- Make coffee or tea — the cup remains on your desk or display counter.  
- Adjust trinkets or knickknacks simply out of habit.  
- Change music tracks or put on headphones to muffle the world.

### Shop Care
- Straighten a display.  
- Polish the counter.  
- Water your plant.  
- Restock items piece‑by‑piece instead of relying on auto‑fill.

### Idle Observation
- Watch foot traffic outside the shop.  
- Sit in your chair and absorb ambient station sounds.  
- Glance through your PDA for non‑urgent rumors.

Some of these actions are purely cosmetic; others can trigger small events or overheard dialogue, giving the sense that you are *present in passing moments*.