The cute gift shop cashier at the museum
It had been exactly six months since the reversal of the Blip that erased half of the human population. Aricka Banner was exhausted in more than one way, and so she’d told the team she was taking a break from Avenging. The hardest person to say goodbye to was her twin- which made sense. She had then proceeded to pack a suitcase- actually, six- and rented a flat in London.
She didn’t know when she would return to America, or to being a superhero, she just needed a break.
Her wandering led her to the British Museum. She took her time, meandering through the halls and exhibits, not part of a guided tour, just on her own, and finally ended up in the gift shop. She perused the merchandise, and laughed at the snack options. “Don’t think they had these in ancient Egypt,” she muttered to herself.
“Finally; someone who agrees with me.” She jumps at the sound of a voice right be to her. “Oh- sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you. Name’s Steven, with a V,” he says with a smile. The introduction immediately put her at ease.
“Aricka”, she replied. “With an A, a c, and a k.”
“Oh, unique,” he says. “It suits you.” She blushes, and he coughs, unsurely. “I just mean… it’s a lovely name.”
“Thanks.” After a pause, she says, “so, Steven- with a V- you work here, right?”
“Yeah, I’m the cashier. But what I’d really like is to lead the tours,” he says. She doesn’t know why, but something feels so familiar about him. She just didn’t know what. “So-! Are you looking for anything in particular?”
“Maybe a good book on ancient Egypt?” She asks. A spark appears in those warm brown eyes and he snaps his fingers.
“Follow me.” She does, and he grabs a decent sized book and hands it to her. “This is my personal recommendation.”
Aricka rifles through a few pages, and grins at the details inside. “Yeah, yeah this works! I like it.” She thinks for a moment. “Maybe also a little stuffed animal? I just moved to London and I’d love something cuddly to keep the homesickness at bay.”
Steven nods. “Let me be the first to welcome you to London, then, and I’ll help you find a cuddly friend.” He leads the way to a bin full of various stuffed animals. “Taweret is my personal favorite, but take your pick.”
She looks through, and settled on a stuffed black cat. It had comically big eyes and the softest plush. “Thanks, Steven,” she said softly.
“Of course, of course. When you’re ready I’ll be at the front counter.” She nods and looks around a while, before she heads to the front to pay.
“There she is-!” Steven Grant says with a smile as he rings up her purchases. She laughs and pays, and then she stops right before leaving.
“Do you have a piece of paper?” He nods, and hands her a sticky note. She scribbled her number down and hands it to him.
“I want a way to keep in touch with my new friend,” she says with a smile and a wink.
“New friend- oh- oh you- you mean me?” He said. She nods. “Well, consider me flattered.” He does an adorable little half-bow. “I’ll see you around, new friend.”
“You too, Steven Grant-!” Aricka chirps as she exits the gift shop.
She didn’t know that with that one introduction, she was about to embark on a journey that would change her life forever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@hybridsheart @hyperionshipping @rosie-the-orca-shipper @yeehawselfshipping @letsgofoletsgo