This was originally supposed to be a response to a prompt on the kink meme, but it evolved into a complete retelling in the strangest way. Ah well, it's turning out to be one of my favorite productions thus far. :3
Oh wait, you asked why it's so strange? Get this: they're all cashiers. I know, right? When I first started writing this, it was much, much closer to the basic RENT plot, but I turned out to be writing most of it during my down-time at work, so it became this...weirdness. So this takes the Kingdom Hearts characters and puts them into RENT-like situations within a department store basis. Aaaaand I'm hoping it works for someone other than me.
Anyways, the contents of this are as follows (at least for this chapter): a rather disenchanted Zexion, far too many ten-second cameos, corporate dissatisfaction, angry masses, and just maybe the beginnings of a plot resembling RENT.
The rating is just K+ for now, but may go up in the future for language (and I don't even like cursing that much...huh...).
"No ma'am, the gift wrap is $3.99."
"No it isn't."
"Yes it is, I've already had to check it."
"Then take it off, I don't want it."
Only having the store's dedication to customer satisfaction relentlessly forced upon him saved Zexion from sighing audibly. Pretentious bargain-seekers with their self-righteous propensity for proving their superiority...Well, only an hour left, it always goes fast.
Christmas Eve rivaled Black Friday for busiest day of the year, but for the employees, it was worse, so much worse. On Black Friday, the masses were docile by promises of the lowest prices all year, and the thought off attaining something before anyone else makes everyone feel special. A distant cousin of 'I'm unique, just like everyone else.' Plus, everyone's just glad to be done with Thanksgiving, and since the Christmas stress hasn't had time to set in, the store is polluted with general good feeling.
But Christmas Eve, everything's just chaos. Even with all the registers running, the cashiers are constantly fielding complaints about the lines. And while they're holding back sharp retorts of "Then you shouldn't have waited so long to do your shopping," the customers are ready to double-check every clearance and argue over every discrepancy. Every other person wants a price-check because with so many people in the store, anything picked up hardly stands a chance of being put back in the correct place, and by this point in the season, what's left is all haphazardly strewn on the shelves anyway.
All in all, headaches abound on the holidays.
"Zexion."
That voice...it only ever carried good news hidden under more pressure to succeed. Zexion turned his head, careful not to stop his work with his boss watching. He knew exactly what was coming, but playing innocent would at least give Roxas the pleasure of asking.
"Can you stay later?"
Say no, say no, say no.
"Sure." That put him there until midnight.
"Great." Roxas smiled his managerial smile that always carried enough smugness to say he knew what the answer would have been anyway, because he made manager for a reason. If you tell him no, you'd better not hesitate with your excuse, because he'll be picking your alibi apart with rapid-fire questioning about why your friend can't take the bus or what symptoms your mother has until you find yourself telling him that you guess another hour won't hurt.
He should have said no...It wasn't as if Roxas could fire him for it, even with it being the middle of the rush. He'd been working there far too long to lose respect for leaving at his scheduled time.
But he'd said yes - he always said yes - because he'd been telling himself to do whatever necessary to stay on his boss's good side for so long that being corporate lapdog was just habit anymore. He didn't let himself slack off because he needed the chance of a raise to be ever lingering above him. He belonged in the back anyway; he had the kind of mind well-suited for numbers.
"Hey Zex?"
He turned sharply, all traces of ill-content instantly wiped from his face and replaced with a raised-eyebrow, ready-to-please blank slate.
"Oh, hi Kairi."
He relaxed, turning back to his customer.
"Um...your line was the shortest, so the woman at the back is buying this." She tucked a small velvet box beside the register, then scampered off back to the jewelry counter. Had it been anyone else's line she probably would have stuck around for a moment, glad to be one of the few employees allowed to leave her post, but no...she'd gone immediately. Still feeling awkward about the breakup, apparently.
There really was no reason for it. They hadn't been together all that long, and they had the same communal friends at work. Then again, maybe he was reading too much into the fact that she'd left quickly. Maybe she was just busy.
"C'est la vie, man. Let her be a dyke."
"Riku!" Zexion whispered sharply, but his current customer was busy on her phone.
"I'm just saying." Riku leaned against the register, gesturing with the pack of batteries he held in one hand. "You two wouldn't have worked out anyway."
"Your optimism astounds me. Shouldn't you be working?"
"It's not optimism," Riku answered with the obvious intent to ignore Zexion's second comment. "I just tell the truth."
"Twelve nineteen." Zexion turned his attention back to his job, who had removed her phone from her ear long enough to give the wide-eyed, mouth open look that had at some point become sign language for 'Huh?'
"Just don't dwell on it for too long. I know the emo look suits-"
Riku's one-track mind was interrupted by the Voice of God summoning him back to the electronics department, sounding quite a lot like a peeved Roxas. Zexion would have allowed himself a brief moment of smug satisfaction, but Riku only laughed as he walked off, and he had to remind himself that Riku was too precious to management to worry about pissing anyone off. The proverbial golden-boy, he was, but he'd also been a friend to Zexion for too long for him to be truly jealous.
The final two hours of his shift passed in the accelerated blur that always happened during a big rush, dragged out only by customers intent on being testy. Whatever happened to holiday spirit? He weathered it out like he did with any busy day - smile more than usual, don't rush, and sound extra self-assured. With lines like that, nobody wants to wait on a price-check, and customers are more likely to believe him about prices if he sounds like he knows what he's talking about.
He wished he could have gotten Demyx's attention, to let him know they'd be getting off at the same time, but the stocker had only made appearances already busy with customers. Oh well, they'd meet up after closing.
The last customers trickled out in the sluggish fashion they always did. Zexion caught the eyes of several of his fellow cashiers as they stood poised over their registers, all following the progress of the final couple slowly making their way toward the door, where Roxas stood waiting with his carefully perfected public smile. He nodded cordially, locked the door in no hurry, and turned.
"Everyone pull!"
The registers simultaneously clamored open, receipt printers ejecting proofs of signing off. Zexion was the first to have his money bagged, sealed, and dropped off at the service desk (again enforcing his theory that his analytical mind was suited for something more), and he sidled up against Demyx, who stood waiting for the infamous 12:00, when they could both clock out.
"Thanks for staying, everyone!" Roxas was saying somewhere behind them. Tired, Zexion didn't bother answering, and Demyx looked at him sympathetically.
"At least we don't have to walk home in the snow."
Demyx could always see the bright side when he was at work. He played an upbeat, likeable man while on the clock, a side of him Zexion was glad to know existed.
The clock was definitely stuck at 11:59.
"I'm just glad to have tomorrow off."
Demyx broke into a grin, quickly punching in his number. "Merry Christmas."
So they'd reigned in the holiday standing together in the store that both stole their souls and gave them a reason to live. Same as the year before.
Merry Christmas indeed.
AAAAAANNNDDD NOW, WELCOME TO FEATHER'S CHARACTER EXPLANATION TIME!
This is where I tell how I got the inspiration for each of my character roles!
Today, we have Zexion as Mark: Always in the background, recording things. Mark with his camera, Zexion with his mind. Neither is ever really in the spotlight, but both are extremely important to the plots, putting into motion the events that move everything and everyone else. Kindof the underdog in charge.