Jack-O Valentine, the vessel for the half of Aria Hale's consciousness, hummed herself a tune that was reminiscent of a Queen song she and her lover have listened the previous week.
She was occupying herself tonight by tending to the products of the pharmacy.
It has been around two hours since the store has closed for the night, the sky peppered with the white dots of outer space.
Jack-O has been doing the same job since Sol has opened the pharmacy. So it didn't come as a surprise when the boredom and dullness fully settled in by the time the first week flew by.
However, not everything was bleak for the lover of Sol. Yes, this new job was not fun nor exciting for a couple whose former affiliation was traveling from place to place whenever they were hunting for a bounty.
But since the two had the luxury of spending a lot of time with eachother, the dullness of their new life could be endured.
That, and the frequent visitor who always brightened the atmosphere of the couple's new life.
A few taps at the door made the two-toned haired woman instantly pause her job and quickly open the door with an enthusiastic skip in her step.
Her body relaxed to the revelation of the late night guest she knew would arrive: "Shun! How nice to see you!" She greeted the young man with a bright smile that greatly contrasted against the darkness of the night.
"It's good to see you as well, Miss Valentine!" Shun greeted with his angelic sounding politeness, sending her a bright smile of his own.
A dismissive hand wave was her response to the formal greeting. "Oh don't try and act so formal with me, Shun. I told you that you could call me Jack-O whenever you want."
A chuckle and a slightly more brighter smile came from the Knight of Andromeda. "I'm just showing my respect to an adult. That's all."
("Gosh, why did this kid have to be so freaking adorable!?")
"While that is sweet and everything, I think we both know that you're not here for some late night shopping." Jack-O rhetorically asked, delivering the comment in a casual tone.
He, once again, sent her another chuckle with his bright smile remaining in place. "You got me there, Jack-O. In that case, can I come in?"
"Of course!" She moved to the side to let her guest in.
"How have you been since you last came here?"
"I have been doing just fine these days. Also, Dizzy and the others say hi."
Jack-O lightly giggled. "I'll make sure to say hi to them as well."
The guest and employee took their conversation to the cashier desk, the two of them taking a seat in a cross legged position on it's wooden surface.
"How have you and Sol been doing out here on these parts?" Shun asked.
"Oh you know, just the usual boredom in selling some pharmaceuticals," Jack-O tilted her head from side to side mid answer ",but since Sol is here, it's bearable."
"That's nice to hear." The Knight of Andromeda said in a warm tone.
"Yeah, it is nice to spend time with him." She added in, her eye lids shrinking her irises by half as a small smile adorned her lips.
It only took her a second to bring back her casual vibe. "But enough about me, how are you and your medical studies going?"
"I'm doing well on them, though it is quite exhausting to learn the array of subjects and topics of my studies." He said as he lightly scratched the luscious green mane he had for hair.
Jack-O gently laid down her palm on Shun's shoulder, sending the boy a small smile. "Don't take that as a negative, Shun. It just means that you found your destiny. Something that you can dedicate your time and effort into fulfilling."
A pair of blueish, green eyes widened to the realization brought by his friend's thought. "My destiny...? I... never thought about it that way."
Shun's thin frame was brought closer towards Jack-O's curvaceous figure, their shoulders pressing together as the two were brought into a light embrace from the latter's urge to give the former an encouragement boost.
"Just be proud that you found something worth investing in. It is one of the essentials that makes us feel complete as human beings." Her emerald eyes filled with childlike cheerfulness met with Shun's pure and innocent ones. "Don't ever forget that, okay?"
The boy couldn't help himself but be entranced by his friend's wisdom. As if his slightly open mouth and widened eyes were of any obvious indication.
His entranced state was quickly replaced by a warm expression composed of a small smile and a pair of vibrant eyes.
"I'll make sure to always keep that in mind, Jack-O. Thank you."
The half of Aria's conscious could not resist any longer and brought Shun into a complete hug.
("Anything to help a sweet boy like you give this cruel world the kindess it so desperately needs.")