The Love Shop

"Oh my, should I be worried?" Aerith asked, tilting her head. "What should I be guessing at? I have absolutely no idea."

Skuld shook her head. Oh boy... Aerith's gay friends had returned. Such a waste, she thought. They're so cute, too...

"Yes, it is wonderfu newsl. Now I don't have to worry about the two of you so much." She smiled. Of course, that also meant she'd have to deal with their lovey dovey aura more often, but she could learn to live with that. "I'll get you a Coke, Cloud, and something stronger for Zack."

She came back a few minutes later with their respective drinks. She set them down in front of the correct people and asked, "Should I get you some chile cheese fries, too, Zack?"

"It's such a nice cart. I couldn't let it go to waste while I was working here, now could I?" Aerith grinned. "I'm not selling them right now, but it certainly looks pretty out front, doesn't it?"

Skuld shook her head. "Leaders always fight. Even the Gods fight. As long as there's power, there'll be wars, but that keeps you SOLDIERs employed." She was perfectly aware of their job.

"You can take some home, if you like," Aerith said, smiling. "The ones in the cart are fresh from this morning, so they should still have a little life in them."

She stood and got the order of chile fries together and returned a few minutes later with the plate. "So you don't get so drunk," she commented with a small giggle. Aerith knew what Zack was like drunk, but she wasn't sure Cloud was ready to deal with that today.

"I've seen plenty of wars," Skuld said, shaking her head as Aerith went to get the chile fries. "Neither side ever gets what they want in the end. They're pointless, save for those who survive and get paid for them."

"She's older than she looks," Aerith said offhandedly. "Perhaps we ought to go shopping so less of your nicknacks are Cloud's, Zack. Though, I'm sure Cloud likes the excuse of going to your house to get something back."

Skuld rolled her eyes. It was too bad she couldn't bring up her Goddess stature. Aerith had specifically forbid her from saying anything when she was hired. Oh well. "So how long you two have been dating?" she asked, if only to see their faces.

"Oh, I'd keep him from getting anything too out there," Aerith replied. She knew how Zack shopped and she'd learned quickly how to control his habbits. "I remember the first time I went shopping with him. He had a car full of all kinds of random junk. Didn't you buy a statue of Apollo then?"

"I can only imagine," Aerith said, trying her best not to laugh. "A dress?"

Skuld poked into the past with her powers as the Goddess of the past and shuddered. Aerith would never be able to imagine that. EVER.

Aerith had to stifle a laugh. "Well, Zack is right, that is perfectly legal so long as you cover yourself... though you do realize you're supposed to double side it and not wrap yourself in it."

"Meanwhile, this is just getting worse and worse," Skuld muttered. "He barely had himself covered, I bet." In fact, she knew.

"I'll be seeing you later," Aerith said, waving brightly to Cloud and Zack. "We're shopping after I'm done with work. Don't forget!"

When Skuld was approached by "Help Wanted" guy, she gestured to Aerith. "She's in charge, not me. I'm probably gonna quit after today. Not that it's not great working here," she added, "but my sister's need me for their fortune telling gig. I wish we could've worked together." She smiled. Honestly, she didn't really want to go, but since it seemed Aerith would have a new employee, she didn't feel quite so bad leaving.

Skuld took off her apron, set it on the counter, and gave Aerith a hug. "I'll be sure to come and visit," she said with a wink. "See you later sometime." She waved and left the shop.

Aerith nodded. "You're welcome to work here. We need the help." The only thing she was worried about were his plants. While she had been a flower seller, she mostly sold the flowers that grew in the church. She knew there were poisonous plants in the amaryllis family, but she couldn't recall if they were all poisonous.

"You're welcome to bring flowers, either to put in vases inside or with the others in the flower cart outside, and of course I'll show you around." Aerith led Raikou around the room, pointing out important things like where orders were placed when they were ready, where the kitchen was, what the menu was, and everything else. She also gave him the run through of the job, including that part of his job was to flirt because their shop was the "Love Shop" if necessary. More often then not, however, the customers typically found each other.

"So," she said, "if there's no other questions, we're going to close up for the day, and I'll see you tomorrow morning about ten."

Aerith smiled. This server was perfect. Polite, handsome, and obviously gentle, to handle flowers. "Good night," she said as they left the shop. She locked up the building, then headed off to meet up with Zack to go shopping with him and Cloud.

~

The next morning dawned a misty gray and looking like rain. Aerith opened the door and headed inside. Hopefully they'd have more luck with customers today.