Closing Time

The day passed as customers were served and money exchanged hands. Raven grew to like her task; it was much nicer here than working at some fast food places. Clientele was better for one and it was always interesting to see what was in the reading list for people. Besides that one woman of course. People like that just made her so...., mad? Frustrated? Some form of anger would swell within her due to seeing people trying to toy with others. "Anger hmm?", she thought.

Before her choker, Raven would have heard Anger in her head. Whispers of hate and rage, of smiting the woman that dared to take from her. But take… what exactly? Cole? Perhaps. She had felt a wee bit annoyed that someone was just jerking him around like that but the again, wasn’t she doing the same? With this whole, pretending to be married so no one looks too close? Who would be looking anyway?

“I suppose that’s part of the problem with Zen now.” Raven thought making sure to keep ringing up customers without slowing, “Anger would have just blotted everything else out but now I have to sort through all of it.”

Seeing Cole help another customer out of the corner of her eye made her reflect on her thoughts about the man. In the morning, he’d been angry or at least frustrated, and that was understandable considering the events thus far. Now he seemed different, far more carefree and clumsy, but eager to please. Or just prone to show off especially to the kids, who just loved when he jump down from high ladders with books. Raven thought he was just another dumb lug but Cole has shown more skill with talking to people than she expected. So long as he was focused or not tripping over his words, he seemed to have an aura of 'big caring guy' that just made the customers warm up to him.

“If it wasn’t for that album, I’d think him a circus performer or maybe wrestler. He’s able to shift his ring presence into day to day charisma.” Raven mused. He wasn’t perfect but she thought that actually helped in his case. It made Cole seem more earnest in his mannerisms. _“Probably his frustration and competitive side this morning.” _She noted as she rung up another sale. And with the receipt in hand finally realized the time. Was it really four o clock already? Lucky for them this world seemed to share time zones.

“Excuse me, Cole?” Raven called out, getting his attention as he passed by with a few books in hand. When he got a moment to look up, Raven just tapped her wrist and Cole's head snapped to a nearby clock. He simply looked back and nodded before putting his cargo down and moving to the front door. Raven excused herself from the customer she was checking out and stepped around to the front of the counter. She took a few more steps, asking for those in line to just hold for a moment while she stepped into the main room.

“Attention. Attention dear guests.” Raven called out, clapping her hands loudly. Once she was sure she had everyone’s ear she continued, “We appreciate your company today considering we were still getting everything together but we must close early today. There is still s lot of paper work and inventory to do. As such we won’t be open tomorrow. But please visit us the next day.”

“Once again we thank you for your visit. Anyone who wants to make a purchase please get in line. Those of you who want to hold a book for later please talk with Mr McKay on your way out. We hope to see you again and you have a good evening.” With that she gave a small bow as she returned to her work. As she was making the announcement, Cole had gone to the front door and shoo’d off a new pair of customers and shifted the open sign to closed. After that he just stood by in the foyer area ready to help out as need be.

A few customers grumbled but getting them out was fairly easy. Cole had it harder than she did as he had to try writing down names of books people wanted ordered, or had to juggle using books given to him to hold. They’d come buy them another time or visit again to keep reading. Cole had to remind them this was a book store, not a library. The statement was punctuated by Raven noisily ringing up a sale and sending a glare at one uppity customer. Besides those few and that woman before, wherever they were seemed to have decent manners among the population.

The last to leave was surprisingly the first to arrive, the mother and daughter pair. The woman apologized for staying most the day while her girl bounced around the foyer. “I'm sorry, she's just so... excitable. Unless she's readying and then she just sits there for hours. I can’t help but just let her, especially with her starting school soon. She won’t have as much time afterward.” the mother explained.

“Must be tough some days.” Cole offered before his eyes getting a bit of a glint to them, “I hate to pry ma’am but… Emily does want to go right? To that high pressure sounding school?”

The woman was about to answer when her little one spoke up. “I do wanna go! I wanna go where my hero went!” Emily shouted as she hopped up and down. Raven can Cole shared a glance at the term 'hero' being used.

“Ah she’s devoted to the story of a hero that went to the school. That said no one can actually prove who their identity was.” Her mother answered with a sigh, "Ah for all we know it's just a ploy by the school. But it's still the best school around for education so...., I want her to have a good life..."

“Just checking. Don’t mind me…” Cole apologized to the woman with a slight bow of his head, "I just have some hang ups with tough schools myself. If I crossed a line..."

"While I am... annoyed at the question, it came from a place of worry. And you have been so accommodating to us already." the mother replied with a smile on her face, "So you're forgiven at prying."

“Well I Hope you come again.” Raven said before handing over the bag of books. She took time to bend over the counter and gave Emily a few cute book marks, “and I wish you plenty of luck.”

“Thank you lady!” Emily beamed as she hopped in place.

The pair moved to leave but the mom took a moment to turn to face the two. “Thank you for everything today. Oh and it’s just me but I think you make a lovely couple. Good luck.” She said with a wink.

The pair waved off the mother daughter duo off. Once they were sure they were away from the door, they both let out a sigh of relief before Cole made his way over to the door and windows. With a grunt he started to lower the shutters while Raven took a quick inventory. “For the first day of not planning to be open, I think we did pretty well.” Raven announced as she took out the drawer of the register.

“Yeah. That felt pretty… would invigorating be the right word?” As he came back to the counter and rested against it. He was a tad beat but in a good way. Better than just lounging around the gym like he had been, even if it was his job. Well...., old job at this rate it seemed. Still there was something bothering him.

“So about…” he started but Raven cut him off with a finger pressed to his lips.

“Upstairs.” She said, “I want to get a bite." With that she slowly started to make her way to the staircase, making sure Cole was following.

“So about that whole Wife thing you pulled...” Cole asked as he sat down with a BLT sandwich. It was something easy to make and filling enough. At least till he made dinner as well..., Cole couldn't recall how good Raven was when it came to cooking. When Raven did t answer he looked up from his plate and saw Raven coated in darkness. No clothes, fully nude but given she was completely covered in her magic there wasn’t anything to see. Like seeing a silhouette cut out of a body. When the magic dissipated, Raven floated down as her boots touched the floor. Clad once more in jeans and the crop top, Raven set about making her own plate. “Neat trick… what’s with the costume change. And… wait you have that gem and skin tone back.” Cole had noticed that while pale, when she was working the counter Raven lacked the grey hue she normally had. He hadn’t wanted to ask due to the store being open and didn't want to alert the customers.

“Hmm yes. I didn’t feel right working in a bookstore with attention grabbing jeans. Or the rest of my normal appearance.” Raven explained as she assembled her sandwich, “As for the outfit, BB suggested it a Halloween or two ago. He showed me a very… similar woman that wore something akin to that outfit. It made for a good costume and I liked it, so into the closet it went.” She took a second to take a bite out of her sandwich before wiping her mouth with a napkin, "After I was done researching things like current events and tax rate, I reasoned it would be best to put on a more... professional look for the store. Perhaps tomorrow I'll make my hair black."

Cole just nodded in agreement as he took another bite. Raven was being rational about this whole thing but then again, she was used to thinking on her feet due to her heroing. "Already making an alternate persona for day to day life if she needs to." he internally mused.

“Now about the Wife bit." Raven continued, summoning some of the paperwork from this morning. "Everything is listed under our names, well your family name. Not that I mind terribly much, have some hang ups with my own.” Raven explained before bringing her own sandwich up to her mouth. A few clean bites and a napkin to her lips, she continued, "I’d like to avoid rocking the boat while we’re here. So best not to have someone who might look deeper realize we’re married on paper but don’t act like it."

"So pretend marriage for two weeks?" Cole asked, eyebrow raised.

"At least when it comes to the public versions of us, yes." Raven answered taking a long sip of her drink she'd summon to her side, "While Cupid's service has been..., hmm what would be word be here." she paused to think for a moment, "Overkill no..., Extensive yes. While they've been Extensive, I'm not confident that our presence hasn't gone unnoticed."

"Wouldn't it make more sense to announce we're here to.... I dunno any super or magical themed hero? Or organization?" Cole pointed out. The goth just shook her head.

"Until we can learn to trust them, no. I'm unsure as to how they may react if they learn we are not from this reality. Or upon hearing the abilities of Cupid or the house." Raven took another drink followed by a stretch, "Ah we should look into that 'hero' story that mother mentioned. If it's a real hero, perhaps we could attempt contact."

"Guess that makes sense, a bit. In fiction at least where I'm from there's like a 50/50 chance of it going misunderstanding from trying to hide info about being different or from another place....," Cole said, having his hands motion towards one side before shifting to the other direction, "OR it goes horribly wrong and you're suddenly strapped to a table and asked what do the devices do and the numbers mean?"

"Agreed." Raven said as she got up and put her plate in the sink, "As such if we can just keep our heads down and avoid conflict of any kind, we should be okay." She turned with a finger to her chin, her eyes turned just a little upward, "I am curious as to how they view magic users given how this world feels more magically active."

Cole shrugged as he finished his own food. "I didn't see anything out of the ordinary from the customers. But I suppose if it's not a common thing people are hiding it."

Raven nodded and the pair just settelted into that akward silence that had come up a few times today. It was hard to find something to talk about with a random stranger. Neither were good at making friends and now some third party had said 'Here's your soulmate, don't thank us' which was peak akward. Cole could bring people IN but making a friend was harder... making someone a girlfriend even worse. Before it was just his looks or fame girls latched on to, and while fun for a night they were never going to be wife material. That wouldn't work on Raven though.

For her part, Raven was still wondering about Cole's past boxing. But how to bring it up in a manner that didn't end in him just going 'Ah. ...No." and walking away. Better question, why did she care? Yes he was better than she had thought but right now there wasn't much of a difference between him and BB. Save for not being as goofy. Besides, she wasn't the kind of girl to just fling herself at a guy, Lust emtionclone be damned.

"So..... what now?" Cole just asked as he leaned forward on the kitchen countertop.