Pretty Things & Evil Deeds

@ katahdin

"Ah, yes there is," Azana led him to the back door and motioned to the hook rack besides it, which already had a rain coat and a sweater hanging from it. "You can put it there. And-" Azana turned slightly and pointed out the mini-fridge. "There are drinks in there, and if you ever decided to bring lunch, you can put it in there." She then pointed out another door. "That is the bathroom. Customer's can't use it."

Azana then opened up the door leading out to the backyard. There was a small patio with a table and chairs. Though most of the backyard was taken up by a massive greenhouse. "I moved the table outside since it has been so nice recently, but we can move it back in if you want. Anyways, you can sit here if you want during your breaks." Azana glanced at the greenhouse for a long moment before looking back at Elliot. "I'll show you the greenhouse later. Do you have any questions though?"

@ Sweet.Persephone

Elliot nodded, stepping away from her to hang up his coat, giving her a little smile as he turned back to her. "I'm allowed a lunch break? And here I thought I'd have to work all day long with no breaks until I'd proved myself worthy of a lunch break." He teased, nodding as she pointed out the bathroom before leading him out back to the greenhouse.

"Wow, I would never have thought all this was back here." He smiled, shaking his head when she asked if he had any questions. "I think I'm all set. I'll ask if I think of anything though."

@ katahdin

Azana let out a warm laugh. "Yes, a lunch break and two fifteen minute breaks. Unforunately, I can't make you prove yourself to me, you just get them. But you better use them wisely for the rest of the day is going to be absolute torture." Azana teased back, a bright smile on her face. She had the feeling that working with Elliot was going to be great.

"Yes, just let me know if you do. But, for now, lets get you back up front." Azana told him before she turned back and headed into the shop again. "And there definitely is a lot here but all of it is needed to properly run this shop. And all of this just for a shop of this size, imagine if we lived closer to a full blown city, this place would be huge."

Just as she was saying that, the bell to the shop rang. Azana furrowed her eyebrows, knowing that the shop didn't open for a bit. So she hurried to the front but a pleasant gasp left her lips when she saw who it was. "Kendric!" Azana said happily. The man wrapped his arms around Azana's waist and kissed her on the lips, slightly lifting her up in the air for a moment before setting her back down on her feet. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought I would get you a coffee this morning." Kendric responded as he nodded to the two cups of coffee.

@ Sweet.Persephone

Elliot grinned as she laughed, finding it to be one of the most beautiful things he'd ever heard. "Lucky me. I'm assuming we won't get our breaks at the same time, since the shop can't really be left unattended, so you should take your breaks when you want them, and I'll work around yours. Only seems fair that the boss gets first pick." He smiled, following her back into the shop and pit to the front, nodding as she explained that everything here was needed to rub the shop. He'd been about to ask something when he heard she bell ring, frowning as he followed her out front, only to stop in his tracks as he saw the man who'd come in.

He'd seen him a few times as the necromancer meetings he sometimes went to, as they were the only places mages like him could trade special ingredients and recipes and give advice and just talk without being judged. But those places also attracted mages that were up to no good, and the man kissing Azana was one of them, Elliot was sure of it. Of course, he had no proof, but seeing them wrapped up in each other's arms made him sick to his stomach with worry, afraid that he might do something to Azana.

@ katahdin

"That's so sweet of you." Azana said as she pulled away slightly to reach over to one of the cups of coffee. Though one hand stayed on his shoulder as she did so. Once the cup with her name on it was in her hands, Azana turned back to Elliot. "Elliot, this is my boyfriend, Kendric." She said warmly. "Kendric, this is m-"

"Yes, your new employee, the necromancer, right?" Kendric interrupted but as he did so, he looked down at Azana with a charming smile. Once Azana nodded, Kendric turned to Elliot and held out a hand to shake his. "Nice to meet you, Elliot. I was just telling Azana yesterday how lucky you two were to be able to cast."

"Kendric doesn't have magic," Azana explained to Elliot before she took a sip of the coffee. She let out a little hum of surprise once she did so, looking up at Kendric. "Oh! What is in here?"

"I had them add cinnamon, I thought you would like it," Kendric told her, which Azana responded with a nod before taking another sip.

@ Sweet.Persephone

Elliot did his best to remain calm as Azana turned to him, smiling a bit as she introduced the man as Kendrick, although he was surprised when he announced that he already knew he was a necromancer, and that Azana had told him. He shook the man's hand before looking at Azana, offering her a sheepish smile. "Probably should have mentioned it before, but necromancers have this thing where if we know someone else is one, we don't go saying things to other people about it, because we don't want to expose them if they don't want.. It's entirely my fault for forgetting to tell you, but if you could keep it a secret from now on, that'd be cool.." he said, glancing at Kendric as he spoke. He suspected the other man recognized him at least partially, but he figured bringing up the little code between necromancers would hint that he wouldn't tell Azana. At least not until he had proof of what an awful person he suspected he was.

He stood there awkwardly while Azana and Kendric spoke about their coffee, clearing his throat after a minute and pointing back to the back room. "I left my phone in my jacket, I'm just going to grab it and a glass of water, I'll be back in a minute.." he hated that someone so sweet and pure could be with someone so awful, and yeah, he wasn't much better at the end of the day magic wise, but at least he didn't practice forbidden magic like he suspected Kendric did.

@ katahdin

Azana looked up at Elliot, her eyes widening a little as he mentioned the code between necromancer. "Oh... Elliot, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize." A little frown moved over her lips. "I promise I won't say anything to anyone else. And Kendric was the only one I told, because I was talking about our conversation from dinner yesterday." She looked up at Kendric, who then nodded in agreement. "And I won't tell anyone either." Though the man looked at Elliot for a long moment before looking back down at Azana and rubbing her back softly.

"Yes, go ahead." Azana said before she turned back to Kendric. Kendric gave Elliot one last glance as he disappeared into the back room.

@ Sweet.Persephone

"It's fine, Azana, really." Elliot reassured her with a smile. "You had no way of knowing that was a thing, I should have mentioned it, and I'm not worried about either of you giving me away." He said, glancing over at Kendric. He nodded once she said he could head to the back room, grabbing his phone from his coat pocket and a cup of water from the sink before heading out to the table out back to take a seat, running his fingers through his hair.

He didn't like Kendric, and would have to start asking around about him. The problem was necromancers had a small community, and anyone he asked might tell Kendric he'd been asking about them.

@ katahdin

Soon after Elliot headed to the back, Kendric decided that it was time to head out and go to his own job. So he gave Azana a kiss goodbye before making his way out of the store. This time, Azana made sure to lock the door behind him before heading to the back to find Elliot. Once she saw him sitting at the table, Azana sat down across from him, setting her coffee down on the table as she leaned back.

"We have some time before the store opens." Azana told him with a warm smile. She moved her hands into her lap, folding them together before looking out at the yard. A peaceful hum left her and after a moment, she looked back at Elliot. "What are you thinking about?"

@ Sweet.Persephone

Elliot had decided to at least ask a couple of his friends if they knew Kendric, and didn't think that would be too suspicious, so when Azana walked out he was hunched over the table on his phone, sending a couple messages asking about him in general. He sat up when he heard Azana tell him that they had time before the store opened, offering her a little smile as he nodded. "Alright.. I'll probably head up to the front a few minutes early to mess with the cash register and make sure I know how to use it."

He fell silent again as she did, looking back down at his phone as he sent the last of his inquiries before shoving it in his pocket, leaning back with a sigh. He looked over at her when she asked what he was thinking about, giving a little shrug. It wasn't like he could tell the truth. "I dunno.. I've got a lot going on, trying to mentally sort through everything."

@ katahdin

"Well, hopefully, this job won't be too mentally draining on you as well," Azana told him with a gentle smile. She doubted that it would be. Things would be easy enough if he just did the cashier work. Sure, she might teach him some back store items but since he couldn't use the same magic as her, none of it should be too draining, well at least not mentally. The customers could be emotionally draining, depending on the day, and there were some physical tasks that he could take on as well.

She sat there for a few more moments before standing up and picking up her coffee as she did so. "Just let me know if you need anything. I am going to start preparing some herbs in the back." With that, Azana headed into the store and went to her preparations and magic area to work on drying some items.

@ Sweet.Persephone

Elliot returned her smile, shaking his head a little. "No, I don't think it will be. Thank you, again, for the job. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it." He said softly, giving her a grateful look. He wasn't sure what he would have done without the offer, honestly, and having to stop seeing her seemed unbearable, especially now that he knew that monster of a man was her boyfriend.

He nodded when she said that she was going to work on preparing some herbs, sitting back in his chair. "I'll head up front in a minute, just going to finish my water." He watched her disappear inside, sighing as he ran his fingers through his hair, waiting a few moments before finishing the last of his water as he stood, heading inside and up to the front to familiarize himself with the counter and cash register.

@ katahdin

Azana turned slightly when Elliot walked through the back and made his way to the front. She had half a mind to go stand out there with him, just to see how he would do. However, there was much for her to do as she was running low, or out, on many products thanks to the last few days which had been rather busy. So, deciding that Elliot would be able to figure out on his own, or would at least be willing to get her if he needed assistance, Azana stayed where she was,

It was around noon when Azana emerged from the back and made her way to the front of the shop. She looked to Elliot, seeing that he was just ringing out a customer. A light smile came over her lips, pleased to see that things seemed to be going well. Azana waited until the customer left before walking over to Elliot. "How is it going up here?"

@ Sweet.Persephone

It had been a busy morning, although the store wasn't nearly as crowded as it had been previous times he'd been here. It was good practice nonetheless, giving him a chance to talk to and help a good number of customers find the herbs they were looking for and also good practice working the cash register. He had just finished giving the customer their change and wishing them a good day when Azana walked over, offering her a smile before he checked the time.

"Time flies when you're having fun." He teased, sitting back on the stool she'd left behind the counter. "Things have been going well. I might have given one person an extra ten cents in their change, but they put it all in the tip jar anyway, so I don't consider that a major mess up, although I understand if it is." He chuckled, shaking his head. "How are things out back?"

@ katahdin

"I do not think we need to worry about ten cents." Azana responded back, lightly laughing with him. "And things are going well. I managed to get a good portion done but now I have to inventory all of it which is not nearly as fun. Though I think I will save that for after lunch. But I did have some time to do something else."

The young woman reached into her pocket and pulled out a spell jar on a chain. "You seemed upset this morning... so I thought I would make you a clarity jar. It should help you figure things out, to see more clearly. It should help you mentally sort things out, like you were saying this morning." Azana reached the jar out to Elliot. "Admittedly, I might have made it a little too strong so do be a little careful for the first few days, but it should last you a week."

@ Sweet.Persephone

Elliot grinned a bit as she laughed, finding it to be quite beautiful and pleasant. Kendric didn't deserve her, not that he thought he did either. No one deserved her. He nodded as she explained that what she'd been up to, offering her a little smile. "I'm sure taking a break would be good, especially after making a potion. I know those can be draining." He responded, blinking a bit as she said she had time to do something else.

His eyes widened a bit as she pulled out a spell jar and handed it to him, hesitating a moment before taking it from her as she explained what it was. "I.. Thank you. You didn't have to, you know, I just got stuck in my own head this morning, is all, it was really nothing.. But I appreciate it. I'll have to make you something once I have the ingredients." He smiled, tucking the jar safely into his pocket, rather touched by her gesture.

@ katahdin

"I know I didn't have to but I wanted to." Azana reassured him. "And you are welcome. I must make sure that I take care of my favorite employee." Azana teased him gently, lightly nudging him as she did so. "Anyways, you are welcome. And I do look forward to when you show me a bit of your magic as well."

The woman then stepped to the side and motioned for Elliot to step away from the counter. "I think now would be a good time to take your lunch now." She glanced up at the clock for a moment. "If we wait too long, then the shop might become too busy for either of us to take our breaks." Once he stepped aside, Azana moved in and sat down on the stool, leaning against the counter as she did so. The truth was, she was a little tired. Preparing the herbs and making potions at the amount she had been doing was a bit draining. Though she rather Elliot take his break when she still had enough energy.

@ Sweet.Persephone

Elliot couldn't help the faint blush that formed on his cheeks when she called him her favorite employee, offering her a little smile as he nudged her back. "I'm you're only employee, but thank you. You're my favorite boss." His smile widened as she said she was excited to see his magic, giving a little nod. "I'll have to come up with something good." He assured her, stretching a bit as he shifted on his stool.

He looked over at her when she motioned for him to move away from the counter, doing as he was told before frowning when she took his spot and told him to take his lunch break. "Oh.. I didn't really bring a lunch, so I wasn't really planning on taking a lunch break.. Maybe five minutes to get some water and use the bathroom, but there's not much use in taking a full lunch break if I'm not going to eat lunch." He explained, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

@ katahdin

"And I am your only boss." Azana pointed out, now teasing him back. "But I am pleased to still be your favorite as you are mine." As she settled behind the counter, Azana looked back at Elliot as he mentioned skipping his lunch break. Her eyebrows furrowed together a bit at the thought. "You didn't bring anything?" She glanced to the side for a moment, letting out a small hum in thought. Her mouth opened for a moment before closing again. She had thought to mention the restaurants close by but she knew Elliot had very little money and he hadn't worked enough to get paid yet.

"Surely you must be hungry though." Azana eventually said. "I can't imagine going until dinner not eating. I have some food upstairs. How about I throw a frozen pizza in the oven and we can split it?" Azana said as she slid off of the stool. "Oh, or I could make us some Mac & Cheese." She let out a small hum in thought. In truth, there wasn't a lot in her kitchen at the moment as she had not gone shopping for a while. But she could definitely managed up something for the both of them. "How does that sound?"

@ Sweet.Persephone

"Yeah, rushed out the door this morning and forgot to bring something." Elliot explained sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, hoping she didn't push him too much on his lie. Truth be told he didn't really have anything at home to bring, but he didn't want her knowing that. The last thing he wanted was for her to pity him.

He shook his head quickly as she offered to make him pizza or mac and cheese, offering her a weak smile. "No, Az, it's fine. Really. I'm not that hungry anyway, so I don't mind not eating. The last thing I want is for you to go out of your way to feed me two days in a row because I was dumb and forgot my lunch." He teased, leaning against the counter.