(Quick side note: if anything is marked with an asterisk (*) it will be explained just below that line of dialogue.)
Our story starts just outside of a modestly-sized shop in a suburban area within Pikoro, a town of snow, magic and aspirations, as Grant, a blond, teenage boy with a matching set of wolf ears and tail, would arrive with a relatively small amount of luggage (mainly clothes, shower items and such), as the door would be opened to him by his friend (of whom one could easily feel a more love-based connection between) and soon-to-be-coworker, Melanie, a werewolf (just like Grant) with orange/ginger hair and a chocolate-brown set of ears and a tail
[Melanie]: Enthusiastically smiling, they'd wave to Grant, helping him with his luggage "Good morning, Grant! I'm glad you've been able to make it as promised!"
[Grant]: Nodding, he would bring his stuff into the back with Melanie's aid "It's no biggie! With Kylo out on his tour with Luka and co., I figured I might as well get myself a summer job, and why not do so by helping you out with Lucinda heading out on a vacay?"
[Melanie]: In response, they would happily nod, happy that Grant is going to be spending the summer with them. "Mhm! Speaking of my brother, I woulda suggested you using Luka's room, but I doubt he'd be ok with it; would you be ok with using the guest bedroom?"
[Grant]: "Sure, I don't mind that." He'd snap his fingers, as his stuff would be teleported up to the guest bedroom as a motherly witch, looking very much akin to Melanie minus the ears and tail, looking prepared for a proper vacation fit for a famous witch like herself
[Lucinda]: "Melanie, my dear, I'm gonna make my way out now so I don't miss my flight, ok?" She would gently ruffle Melanie's hair before stopping to politely shake Grant's hand "Thank you for offering to help look after the shop whilst Luka's out with your brother, and while I'm on vacation."
[Grant]: Smiling politely, he would shake Lucinda's hand "It's no big deal, Madam Lucinda; with Kylo out for the summer I figured I might as well spend it here in Pikoro helping Melanie out; even with their confidence and experience from you, I'm certain they would need the help."
[Melanie]: They would nod affirmatively in response "I mean, I guess running a shop dedicated to all things magical is a two-man job; I don't think you're wrong in that regard."
[Grant]: He'd shrug in response, m nodding affirmatively "I mean, especially given we are teenagers, I guess it's at least somewhat reasonable, right?"
[Lucinda]: She would nod in response "Yes, I suppose... anyway, if you don't mind..." she would grab a sun hat before opening the door to exit, blowing Melanie a kiss "I'll be seeing you come the end of September; just call me up if you need any advice; my number should be written on the notepad next to the house phone!"
[Melanie]: She'd confidently and affirmatively nod "Got it, mother! We'll try our best!"
[Grant]: He'd do the same "Yeah, we're gonna be ok!"
[Lucinda]: "Alright, then I'll be seeing you two later!" Smiling motherly and understandingly, she would make her way out, getting in a taxi heading for the airport with her luggage and such, waving to the aspiring teenagers as she would set off for her vacation
[Melanie]: After Lucinda seemingly fades away (well, more so turns a corner and no longer becoming visible), they would turn her attention to Grant, handing him a uniform which would assemble a set of silver and yellow robes (seemingly made just for him) a typical magic user would wear "So... I suppose I should teach you the rounds and such, mhm?"
[Grant]: Staring at the robe, he would use magic to instantly put them on, flicking off his hood "Sure, I mean, the shop opens in a few hours, so I think I'll have some time to prepare!"
[Melanie]: In response, Melanie would smile confidently, giggling slightly as they would help to adjust Grant's robes "I mean, with stylish robes like those, no doubt you'll be an instant hit with the customers! Anyway, let's get to it, shall we?"
[Grant]: "Alright! I bet this'll be a fun experience."
[Melanie]: "Ok then, here we go!" They would enthusiastically take Grant into the shop to begin training him on, well, how to manage the store and such
In terms of the training itself, think of it as a manager training you to stock shelves, handle customer services and so on and so forth before the shift genuinely begins, as the two would get on with the real shift itself, which we will also skip through due to the same things Melanie taught Grant being applied in an actual first-shift scenario. It would be a relatively quiet day for saying it's the start of June, although then again you wouldn't necessarily go into a magic shop for the sake of preparing for the summertime; they had a fairly modest amount of customers as Grant would try his best to apply the training (although he'd make the odd mistake) with Melanie's support. Several hours of hard work later...
[Grant]: He would enter the Sorciére living room behind the shop itself, taking off his robes as he'd collapse on the couch, exhausted as heck "Whoo... what a first shift! Talk about a high-intensity workplace, eh?"
[Melanie]: They would take off their robes also, putting on a yellow and purple hoodie whilst putting her hair down, deeply sighing with a calm delight, nodding happily "Yeah, but it was really fun and went really well! It takes a real professional to help to run a store like this when relatively busy - especially when accounting for the whole 'two-workers' thing, of course!"
[Grant]: "Ah, thanks Melanie! I couldn't've asked for a better coworker, to be honest!" Softly panting in exhaustion, he'd get up and high-five Melanie, gently patting them on the back "So... what now?"
[Melanie]: "I'm glad you asked, Hikari*! Lucinda's given us access to the potion-works in the basement, meaning we can work on potential new potions to sell! It's also our means of producing brand new potions and other magical items such as wands and staffs for the store. Perhaps we should consider ordering ourselves some food? I feel like we should get some Chinese food from that takeout.
*Hikari - the nickname Melanie (as well as Grant's other friends) uses for Grant. 'Hikari' is the Japanese word for 'Light', which refers to Grant's main form of 'specialised' magic (in terms of unique qualities) being able to manipulate light, namely in the form of creating balls of light which he can mould into any shape he wishes, almost like a form of clay or putty. There is ONE other reason Melanie calls him that, however...
[Grant]: Nodding happily "Sure, I wouldn't mind getting some noodles for the first night." He would turn on the TV for them to put on something whilst ordering (and waiting for) their food to arrive, getting a fresh glass of orange juice as Melanie would place the order, sitting next to Grant as he would look at what they could put on "So, any suggestions?"
[Melanie]: "Well, i've been getting into the MCU lately; maybe we could watch Thor?" Would (somewhat understandably) be crushing on Thor's female love-interest, but that's besides the point
[Grant]: "Sure, I've heard it's a good film!" He would turn on the film, as the food would arrive not long after as the pair would settle down and eat, having a potentially an eventful summer ahead of them; I mean, this is a store filled to the brim with magical products we're on about.
What will occur when the pair get round to investigating the basement? Will this summer go as smooth as that one shift alone detailed? And just what is that second reason behind why Melanie calls Grant 'Hikari'? All will be unveiled next chapter, when the story continues!
YOU ARE READING
A magical purr-dicament
Fantasy"Grant... I'm sorry if you won't be able to see me the same way... but I- I-..." Melanie and Grant are a young duo of teenage (somewhat inexperienced) magic users that have been left in charge of a shop owned by the mother of the former over the sum...