Elinalise leaned casually against the counter, eyes roaming over the shopkeeper's face far longer than polite.
Elinalise: "You have… surprisingly delicate hands for someone who works with wood. Do you moisturize, or is it just natural sensuality?"
The shopkeeper's smile faltered.
Shopkeeper: "…What?"
Elinalise: "I'm just saying, if you ever need someone to, you know, help you… test how soft they really are—"
Shopkeeper: "Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
A flash of light—time froze. The air seemed to reverse like liquid being poured back into a bottle.
When reality snapped forward again, the angel stood beside Elinalise, arms crossed.
Angel: "That was terrible. You made it sound like a proposition from a drunk bard. Try again—less creepy, more charming."
Elinalise: "I was being charming!"
[Third Attempt]
Elinalise: leaning on the counter with a mischievous smile "If I buy something, do I get your smile for free, or do I have to pay extra?"
Shopkeeper: blinks, unimpressed "…Do you want the bread or not?"
Angel: sighs, snaps fingers — time rewinds.
[Fourth Attempt]
Elinalise: "You look like the kind of woman who could carry me and all my shopping without breaking a sweat."
Shopkeeper: shifts awkwardly "…That's… a strange thing to say."
Angel: facepalms, snaps fingers — time rewinds.
[Fifth Attempt]
Elinalise: "Do you keep all the best goods behind the counter… or just yourself?"
Shopkeeper: frowns slightly "…That's not how this works."
Angel: groans audibly, rewinds again.
[Final, Successful Attempt]
Elinalise: smiling warmly this time, voice soft and genuine "Your hairstyle really suits you — makes your eyes and clothes stand out."
Shopkeeper: blinks, then smiles back "…Thanks. Not many notice that."
Angel: finally exhales in relief "Thank the heavens…"
The angel's wings did a little twitch like a nervous pigeon. She leaned over and whispered in Elinalise's ear, "Ask her out. Trust me. You picked a woman in urgent need of love and company. With your… uh… assets, she'll most likely say yes."
Elinalise blinked, then squinted at the shopkeeper like she was trying to read tiny print on her forehead. "Huh. Yeah, I guess." She adjusted her top in a way that could not possibly be accidental, then leaned on the counter.
"So, uh… wanna… go get something to eat sometime? Or drink? Or both?" she said, as if she'd never asked anyone out before and was making it up mid-sentence.
The shopkeeper's eyes widened, then she blushed so hard it looked like she'd been slapped with a tomato. "I– uh… yes. I mean… sure. Yes!"
The angel grinned like she just won a bet with God.