Do you want to know the real reason I keep forgetting about Xion when writing about Axel+Roxas. For some reason my brain has put her in a group with Namine + Kairi. So despite knowing she also goes with Axel+Roxas my brain just forgets about her then and then remembers her when I do things like this one. I guess my want for female friendships outweighs my want for triads… (probably a lie).

Also – tangential connection to the prompt is tangential

Tw: underage drinking mention (although I can't exactly tell you everyone's ages so they might not be underage by Australian law…)

Pairings: Zack/Aerith, Repliku/Namine (implied)

Prompt: Vintage

"Thanks for taking us shopping Aerith!" Kairi said as the five girls walked through the mall.

"It's no problem, I felt like a girls day out was needed," Aerith replied with a sweet smile.

'Girls Day Out' was a thing pioneered by Aerith back when the other girls where young and barely known by her. It was originally going to be a one off thing – Aerith and Tifa getting fed up with the 'dumb machoism nonsense' and dragging the other girls in the group into agreeing to take a day completely to themselves with none of the boys around. Aerith had been the one to then organise a second 'Girls Day Out' and then a third and eventually it just became an accepted thing that happened. Soon enough it had spread through every social group in the town, mainly through Aerith's driving force, and had become almost an acceptable justification for a day off work.

'Girls Day Out's were rarely planned anymore. The original few had been, they had an itinerary and everyone knew about it at least a week in advance. The current version of it however was more an impromptu thing that was decided in the morning by some female and whatever group of friends she wanted to spend the day with. Aerith held the title for most often caller of them.

This one had started in the morning with Aerith walking into her sister's room to inform her that they were having a Girls Day and it took less than ten minutes for Olette to invite her neighbours into it.

The day had started with a run to the nearest corner store and the purchase of enough horrible food to last them for a week as well as Aerith obtaining a bottle or two of wine that was 'mostly for her'. Then the five of them watched random shows on Netflix while slowly working their way through the junk food.

A little after lunch Aerith decided they couldn't rightfully call it a 'Girls Day Out' if they didn't actually leave the house except to get food and the five of them piled into her car and made it to the shopping mall.

"I sort of hate Christmas time," Xion muttered as they looked through the second clothing store for the day.

"Why's that?" Aerith asked.

"There's all these cool things out for people to buy as presents that I want to buy for myself but I have no money because I have to buy presents for other people," Xion explained and her sisters agreed.

"Yeah, I mean look at this dress isn't it perfect," Kairi said holding one of the dresses in front of her, "but there is no way I could afford it until at least the New Years."

"Someone else could always buy it for you," Aerith pointed out and Kairi snorted.

"Yeah, there's no way anyone's going to buy me something that costs this much. I haven't got a whipped boyfriend like you."

"Zack isn't whipped," Aerith replied her arms lightly crossed.

"No he just does everything you tell him to and spoils you in every way possible," Xion pointed out joining in on her sister's side. Namine nodded silently behind her two sisters, she knew better than to say anything less they point out how her boyfriend treated her.

"That doesn't make him whipped," Aerith replied.

"Kind of does," Olette said. "You can't tell me he wouldn't buy you that if you asked him too."

"No he wouldn't."

"Why not?" Kairi challenged.

"Because I wouldn't ask him to silly," Aerith replied earning her a look from the other girls.

"And why not?" Xion asked.

"I don't really like buying brand new clothes," Aerith said, gently taking the dress from Kairi's hand and running her hand along the fabric. "I'd rather buy something second-hand or make it myself. I find things on the shelf don't exactly match my style well." It was true; Aerith had somehow managed to create a style of clothing that was uniquely hers. It was a weird combination of second hand clothing that she had altered or added with either other pieces she found for a couple of dollars or with fabric she had brought. Half of Olette's wardrobe was made for her by her big sister.

"I wish I had talent like that," Namine said, finally speaking up in the conversation.

"Yeah, it's probably loads cheaper to just make your clothes instead of buying them," Kairi agreed.

"It's really not that hard," Aerith replied, "I mean it takes a bit of practice and the fabric can be a bit expensive if you're trying to make something completely from scratch. But I could teach you the basic's if you wanted…"

Namine and Kairi brightened up at that, both nodding. "Yes we would want that," Kairi said. Xion stuck to the back, it wasn't that she didn't like the idea of making her own clothing, just that she'd rather buy it already made and anyway her style wasn't one that could easily be picked up from an Op shop.

"We could go see if there's anything at the shop now that you could afford currently and then go home and I'll teach you how to alter it?" Aerith suggested and Namine and Kairi excided nodded before following her.

Olette moved to stand next to Xion as the other three girls left the shop. She didn't really have much interest in her sister's sowing habits either. "So, do you want to go see what the boys are doing today?"

"I think they're at Hayner's playing Mario-cart," Xion replied.

"Well what are we waiting for! We can't let those boys keep believing they can actually win at that game!" Olette said and the two girls made their own way out of the shop towards Hayner's house and beating their friends at video games.