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Princess Golem Caelius was in Foot Locker, looking at things, though he didn’t seem to find what he had “forgotten.” Sherry was fine with that, she was almost at budget. He hoped and prayed he didn’t pick up anything, and he really hoped it wasn’t expensive if he did. Even if she looked like she was loaded, she most certainly wasn’t.

The phone in her hand (no pockets) went buzz! Oh, Thank goodness. Jake was done. That meant she could be done too. They could get the crap out of this place and get home. And do important things like rest.

She wasted no time grabbing the Caelius golem. “Come on, time to head home.” She said it with a smile. No fits, please.

As she dragged it out of the shop, she sent Jake another text.

She flipped open the phone, still keeping one hand on the Caelius golem. Oh, good. Jake was on his way over. Sherry was glad to hear that. The music was starting to grate on her nerves. Plus, she was a little sad that she would not be able to do any real shopping while she was here. It was all clothing and list and golem babysitting.

She had completed that list, and that was really all that mattered.

“Hm?” She’d heard her name, and turned to see Jake. What was with that look? Oh, oh right. Dress. She blushed, a little bit embarrassed by that stare. “We- we should.” Golem in tow, Sherry turned to do just that. Jake’s reaction was still making her...well, uncomfortable was not the word. She took it as a good sign, though.

“I like your new hoodie. Is that the one the golem made you buy?” It was entirely possible she was halfway fishing for a compliment. He did like the dress, right?

Sherry would have been touched to know that Jake was jealous, aside from the fact the handholding was very much a babysitting tactic than anything else for the moment. It was a tight grip of ‘don’t you dare leave or so help me…’

“Oh, the second?” She was glad she only had to buy one herself, but that was mostly because of the price. “Well, it looks good on you.” Sherry didn’t mean to smile quite so shyly, but it really did look good on him.

“Thanks.” She was glad to hear he liked it. She liked it, which was of course the important thing, but she couldn’t help but want Jake to like it, too. “It was a little pricey, but I like it. I needed a new formal anyway.”

She was still smiling, and she would have taken Jake’s hand if hers weren’t full of bags and golem.

Golems could not be trusted. Which was a total shame, because Sherry didn’t really want to drag one around like it was a child. Oh well.

Jake was cute when he flustered. Sherry had decided this ages ago, but it never got old. Her smile only grew. And she thought Jake very nice in that sweater. He looked nice in most things though. Her blush grew a little as she realized what she was thinking about. It was a good thing Jake was speaking again.

“They can be,” she agreed. Not quite this pricey, but she knew it could have been worse. “You think so?” Why was she blushing more? “I do like to dress up from time to time…” All the shy feelings.

“Hm? Oh. Um, if you want to take a couple, that would be nice.” And kind of sweet. Hand shifting so that a couple of the bags were easier to get at Sherry offered them to Jake. “Are you sure you, though?”

Indeed, they probably did look like blushing school kids, and Sherry was willing to own that. She also really just wanted a hug and a nap after everything that had happened in the last two hours. Had it only been that long? It felt like a whole lot longer.

“That’s true,” she said. She used to like shopping, even if she didn’t do it a whole lot. It was always fun and nice to do.

“Thanks,” she smiled even more, somehow as he took the bags. “And yes, we probably should get this stuff dropped off. I could use a bit of a rest anyway.”

She bit her lip, and also wished she’d worn lipgloss for some reason. “What are you planning to do afterwards?”

Sherry almost laughed. “And I’m never shopping with the Death division lead again.” She was still holding a few things, and he hand his bags and her bags now, so hand holding was out of the picture, but Sherry stepped up a little bit closer to Jake as they walked towards the pick-up point portal thing. “I suppose I’ll need to fill out a report, too.”

She hesitated a tiny bit. “Would you mind if I, um, hung out with you? As long as you don’t want to do anything too strenuous. I need a break after all of this.” She was half tempted to wear her dress longer too, but she’d hate to accidentally fall asleep in it.

It was funny to want to be back on the island so bad. Home, funny thing.

“Oh,” Sherry made a face to match Jake’s. “Yeah, that’s worse than Caelius. He just wanted an extra paperweight and two notebooks. I…suppose it could have been worse. I hope you didn’t lose anything important or expensive.” That would be bad.

But she still smiled. “I…would like to borrow a sweater.” First, it was a sweet gesture and she wanted to encourage it. Second, she didn’t necessarily want to run around the island in her dress…it was fancy, ok. She didn’t want stares, not after the day she’d had. And third, if it was one of Jake’s sweaters…well. Yes.
“And yes, I’d love to come and work on the report later.” She could return the sweater then, too. Damn. He was cute when he flustered…which made her fluster. “I’d really like it.”

Then she was blinking in surprise. “Well, I have a pen but it was $500 and is for Caelius. OH! Wait. I have a ballpoint. It’s…in one of the bags with my normal clothes.” It had been in the purse-like thing she’d brought to hold her money.

She was more than willing to help Jake find that pen. “I hope so.” She was very curious about what he would do with the pen. Did he need to write a note? Hrm…

“Well, that’s good.” She took the sweater with a smile and slipped it on. It was certainly warmer with it on, and she was grateful for that. “Thanks.” She watched as he modified those shirts, wondering just how well they would be received. “I like those…it..um…works.” Never not encouraging.

She was still smiling as she followed Jake back to the island, and gratefully handed over everything for the Death lead. She even remembered to put the scarf back in the bag.

“Jake, so, um…I’ll be over as soon as I change, if that’s ok?” Hugs and naps and mission reports. That’s all she wanted.