Pushing Away Silence (Hyper)

"Ah, I see. That's good." Adelene ended the topic casually. That's because she had already assumed he had one, and his answer sated her curiosity enough.

She motioned towards the walls next. No one would ever miss the decorations everywhere, from ceiling to floor. All kinds of medieval weapons were hung, and there were even large shelves in the corners were the daggers were displayed. Adelene sort of pouted looking at all of them. "There are for my eyes only," she said. "But since Sky is allowed to clean and touch them, I guess you'll be fine too. It's just that... Sir Kranz thinks it would be unfair if I had my way on them, since my power's... related to weapons." She shrugged and smiled up at him. "If a customer wants to try one, you handle it. Okay?"

The tour around the shop was pretty simple afterwards. She showed him the storage room at the back, where they get the potions once the shelf runs out. The stairs to the basement was also there, and Adelene told Allan how Kranz could be found in only three places during working time: outside at the back during his blacksmith working mode, in the shop entertaining customers, or in the basement during his mage working mode.

She also told him that talking to customers was pretty direct and easy, and he only has to watch out his formality when talking to them. It didn't seem to be a problem with Allan, though. She told him that and gave him a pat on the shoulder. Working the cash register was also simple. She showed him how to do it, and it went just as how one would usually see in groceries and such. The only difference was that the machine itself looked more antique. It was only the looks though. Adelene would always laugh at it, accusing it as fake antique. But then she would stop herself and cover her mouth and whisper, "Kranz would kill me if he hears that."

That was all. After showing Allan around, she handed him his uniform.

"The old man said you should start wearing this the next time you come. It ticks him off if you don't. And that's why--" she took a step back and opened her arms, as if to show her whole outfit. The pale medieval themed dress, the green apron, and the green kerchief on her head. "--I have to wear this, even though I don't really like wearing dresses."

Adelene flinched at the remark. She always felt awkward hearing someone tell her she was either cute or pretty, and if it were someone she was close to, she would've already thrown a fit about it. But she wasn't exactly friends with Allan yet, and the guy looked so soft and gentle he looked like he was going to break even with just the smallest signs of anger from Adelene. So she decided to let it pass.

"...Not really, Allan. This dress is noting but a bother. Anyways glad you're okay with the uniform." She was able to say it straight at least, but one wouldn't fail to notice how her hands fidgeted awkwardly on her apron, or how her face was suddenly a shade of brighter pink.

And then there just had to be some kind of uncomfortable silence around them. Adelene turned left and right, looking for a clock, but there wasn't any. Reminder: hang one on the wall behind the counter. "I wonder how long that took..." she mumbled. "...Anyways, that's it, if a customer comes in, just observe and maybe try to assist for now so you can learn how to do it for real."

Adelene usually uses a smaller room in the storage room to change her clothes. After all, she hated dresses, as she's already proven how uncomfortable it was the first time she actually had to run for her life and jump on cliffs and climb on all sorts of things she could climb just so she could lose the person who was after her. The thing about a dress that irritated her the most was that it was always too awkward to ride a motorcycle with them.

She didn't tell Allan any of that, though. She was really fine with him. She did often stare at him, but not in the way Allan assumed. It was more because she was worried Allan was afraid of her.

When she got out of the storage room, she was wearing her usual black t-shirt, a leather jacket, a pair of white goggles around her neck, a pair of khaki denim shorts halfway down her thighs, and a pair of ankle-high combat shoes. She carried a huge black backpack on one shoulder.

"Allan!" she called for him the moment she spotted him. She didn't waste any time or opportunity, quickly running up to him and grabbing on his sleeves. "Old man Kranz and I are going out. Wanna come with us? Oh, but I'm asking just so you wouldn't think very rudely of me. Actually..." she went closer, leaning in to whisper, "...Kranz will force you to come if you say no. Better that you just say yes first time he asks."

She chuckled and pulled away. She didn't really know how Allan thought of that, but she hoped he wouldn't hate her. "Don't worry, you won't be alone while we're out, I promise."

Kranz stepped into the shop from the backyard after a few seconds. He's also changed his shirt, since his shirt for work was stained with all kinds of dirt from metal and coal, mostly rust. He was wearing a plain orange t-shirt that was probably a little tight for him and his huge muscles, but it surprisingly looked good on the old man. Even with modern clothes on, he still looked like a person from a roleplaying game.

"Right! Let's go! Allan, lad, you're coming with us. My treat, don't worry."

Kranz grinned and came even closer, giving him a pat on the shoulder as he passed him to the door. "There's a pub near 'ere. We always visit for some drinks! And maybe dinner. If you're hungry," he answered. He closed the windows locked, and then opened the door, gesturing for the two to come along.

"Dinner is a good idea," she said, following the old man out of the shop. As she did, she tugged on Allan's sleeve again. "Allan, you're okay with that, right? Have you been inside a pub before?" she'd ask, giving him a curious smile.

"Oh... That's nice." Adelene kept her smile, but something about her reply's tone sounded odd, just a little bit. "I don't have uncles, but maybe the way our boss is dragging us to the pub is like that?"

...

The pub was just in front of the shop, not directly, but it was just there, on the opposite side of the street. When they entered, what greeted them was a small place, busy with all the people around having their drink and food. The floor had four tables and a bar counter, and the workers were behind it, and some bottles of liquor were displayed on the cabinets further behind. At the back, there's a small blank area that led to two stairways, one going up, one down.

Kranz greeted everyone like he was acquainted with all the people in the place. And then he led the way upstairs, where it was a lot more spacious, and where there were more tables, and then another longer counter.

Adelene was a little quiet, but she was obviously observing, and she waved at a few people, those with familiar places. She hadn't let go of Allan's sleeve, partly because she wanted to make sure he'd follow and not disappear, but it was mostly like she was holding onto it for comfort's sake. She was relieved that she didn't have to be alone in the pub tonight. Because even though Kranz was always there, he was too much of a people person to stay put in one place.

She let him know that after a while, once they finally had a table for themselves. The place was a little noisy and rowdy, it would actually be difficult for whispers to be heard, but her voice was soft when she told him, "I'm glad you're around. Kranz actually often leaves the table so... Uh, let's just say it's troublesome being alone in a place like this. I'd hit the drunkards in the gut if only Kranz won't be troubled by the issue, but he is."

The pub had a few waitresses that take orders. One approached their table immediately.

Kranz ordered his usual beer. Adelene ordered beer as well (because she thought it would be disrespectful not to drink with Kranz) and a club sandwich that could go with it. She asked and gave a menu to Allan. Most of the items were alcohol, but there were sandwiches and snacks. The sandwiches were pretty big though, which was why Kranz thought it was okay to have dinner here.