awashsquid:

Got inspired by a post by @sittingoverheredreaming about Bookstore AU. Disclaimer: I have never worked in a bookstore so some details are probably wrong.

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“Where’s
the Cooking section?!”

Michiru’s
eyes never so much as glanced away from her monitor. “To the left, under
the large sign that reads ‘Cooking,’ assuming of course, that you can in fact
read and are not looking for picture books, which are located in the Children’s
section at the back of the store.”

“Well!
This kind of rudeness is unacceptable! I will be speaking to your
manager!”

Sighing
and resigning herself to some shallow attempt to smooth over the situation, Michiru
tore her eyes away from her online cart…only to see the affronted customer
already stomping away, presumably hunting down someone to take out her wrath on.
The odds were somewhat positive that the first manager in sight would be one
that would just fire her already, but
fate was not to be so kind. The middle-aged woman, now shaking her wicker purse
for emphasis and pointing vigorously towards the Information Desk, had found
Setsuna and mistaken her for a store manager (an event that happened almost
daily, and that Setsuna had given up on correcting months ago). The
green-haired woman took in the customer’s shouting and frothing without so much
as a blink, said something in return, and then began to walk in Michiru’s
direction.

With
a few choice keystrokes, her window was closed, and the store’s Help Directory was
back on her screen, as per store policy. “Michiru,” Setsuna greeted, warmer
than she probably should have given the circumstances, “I find that, once
again, I must appear as though I am reprimanding you to satisfy a customer. Pray
tell, what exactly was the problem with this one?”

A
small hair toss accompanied her reply: “Truly, I cannot help it if the woman is
incapable of reading our signs, despite their significant size and
user-friendly font choice.” The derision in her voice was palpable, and she
began to examine her cuticles, wondering if she should get another classic
French manicure at her appointment later, or perhaps something a little more risqué—

A
hand with maroon nails covered her own, and Michiru delicately raised her eyes,
feeling scolded in a way she had not felt since she was a very young child. “Michiru,
I understand why you took this job.” Setsuna released her hand, knowing that
she now held the younger woman’s attention. “I also understand that your
parents are capable of buying this entire chain if they so pleased,” she noted
with a rueful smile. It disappeared as she finished, “But, if you continue to
insult the customers directly, I can’t keep covering for you, and you will be
fired.”

Michiru
nodded in understanding, and Setsuna, appeased, left to continue putting
together the newest display table. Their encounter felt as though it had been
hours long, but her computer’s clock swore that it had been less than two
minutes, time always seeming to stand still or speed up around Setsuna
depending on the woman’s mood.

Yaten
chose this moment to return from their coffee break. “Did I miss anything good?”
they asked, settling into their seat, still sipping whatever godforsaken sugar
bomb was promoted this month at the café.

“Nothing
except the immeasurably slow crawl of time until I may take my leave, along
with the ever-surprising lack of comprehension of the average consumer,”
Michiru replied dryly, watching a snickering band of teenagers take several
Holy Books into the “Fiction” section, a steaming Rei not far behind.

“So,
the usual then,” they chuckled, cracking their knuckles. A customer approached
and, after a moment’s consideration, selected Yaten, the much less intimidating
option, to inquire as to if their store rented books, and if not, if they would
be considering it.

Only one hour, seventeen
minutes, and thirty-two seconds,
Michiru thought to herself, listening to Yaten explain the concept of a library
to the man, who insisted that the library wouldn’t have every book, so a rental system should be considered. “I will
personally put that suggestion in to my manager, sir,” Yaten retorted, the sarcasm
completely missed on the customer, who walked away seemingly pleased with his
invention.

–

One
hour, sixteen minutes, and fifty-four seconds later, Michiru clocked out and
plucked her purse from its resting place below the desk, unzipping it and
searching for her keys. “Excuse me,” she heard a voice inquire.

Retrieving
her sunglasses from their case, the reply came without her looking up to
directly address the person on the other side of the desk. “I am actually
finished for the evening, so if you could direct your question to my associate,
please,” Michiru replied in a tone that made it very clear that the “please”
was not so much of a request as a command. She was loosely debating just never
coming back to work as her hand closed around her familiar, smooth keyring, and
she raised her eyes to examine the customer, who was now babbling nervously
under Yaten’s bored expression.

“Sorry!
I’m, uh, it’s my first night, and I’m not sure where to go. Uh, I’m going to be
working with the kids, but there’s no one in the Children’s section right now,
so I’m pretty confused,” she rambled, running her hand through her short, sandy
hair.

Michiru
blinked. She had seen all manner of customers in her last week, but never one
quite so attractive. The corners of her mouth turned up in a smile that was half
sincere, half predatory, and in one deft motion, Michiru removed her
sunglasses, placed her keys back into her purse, and stood up. “Allow me to
assist you, Miss…”

“Haruka,”
the blonde replied, pointing to the nametag that Michiru had failed to notice. She
felt a slight blush rise, but fought it down and replaced it with a smile that
was a little too wide to be fake.

Perhaps
this job could have its perks after all.  

EXVERYONE READ THIS IT IS AMAZING I LOVE IT SO MUCH