Participants:
| Scene Title | More Help Is Good |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | The reporter who is store-sitting hires someone else, unaware of the connection that Wendy has to the original owner. |
| Date | December 29, 2009 |
Nestled in the heart of the main street marketplace, the Ichihara Bookstore is an old and crooked structure pressed between two newer high-rise tenement buildings. The old glass windows and creaking wooden door on the shop's front give it a rustic and old-world feel. Catering to both antique books and newer prints, the narrow aisles and tall shelves are packed full of literature. A single shelf for periodicals lies near the front counter, while signage both out front by the register and in the back of the store indicates that tarot card reading is done on-site at request for ten dollars per reading.
Behind the old and weathered wooden counter that contains the register and a small stack of reserved books, a narrow wooden staircase leads upwards to a black wooden door with peeling paint, revealing red paint in narrow strips beneath, a rope crossing in front of that door hangs with a small sign that reads, "Private".
As afternoon approaches near the end of the year, it's still quite chilled. The clouds lessen the impact of the sun, keeping Roosevelt Island cold, just like the rest of the city. It's still quieter here, with the streets having almost no traffic, and the main street stores being so limited they might as well only have the one. But one of those stores happens to have a big sign on the door.
HELP NEEDED
The man who set the sign up hasn't taken it down yet, as he searches behind the desk for paperwork. Finally, Corbin's found something that counts as an application. Probably twenty years old, but an application. He won't take the sign down. The more people he hires to work part time, the more likely he'll be able to go back to his real job. Not to mention other things, like checking on the woman who dropped this responsibility on him in the first place.
The irony that it's wendy who's walking outside the door of the bookstore when Hokuto told Logan in his dream that she was the next target of the Nightmare man is lost on the both of them likely. Fresh from a walk, seeking inspiration and something to keep her mind off the itch of the need for that little blue fairy has her pausing at seeing the book store.
Two more seconds later, she's spotting the sign. Not like she needs the money, but it would be something to do, keep her hands busy and she could always sketch and such while not selling books.
Right hand closes around the handle and the door opens, admitting the tall, gangly, somewhat googley eye'd artist in. Left hand in her pocket lest the stunted fingers squick whomever is running the joint, wendy heads on in. "Hello?"
"Welcome," Corbin says as soon as he looks up at the opening of the door. A fat white cat also looks up from his sprawl spot on top of some books. The books are warmer than the floor, but not as warm as the rug when the sunlight streams through the window. "You just here to browse or are you looking for something in particular?" He hopes she's the browsing type. Cause he still doesn't understand the organization of this place.
"How about… more of the here to help you take down that sign in the front, or at least get you a big fat black sharpie so you write "No more help wanted" She lifts her shoulders and her brows a fraction, easing a hopeful look onto her face. "That is if there's still a position open. If there isn't, can I still browse?" WEndy closes the door behind her, all black leggings, knee high clunky boots, leather skirt, layered bright shirts and winter jacket.
"Really? I think I should put a sign 'More Customers Needed'. Signs seem to work so well," Corbin says, joking a little as he lifts up the old application he found. "I still need help. This application isn't new, but it asks all the important stuff." There's a pause and he tilts his head. "You look familiar. Have I met you?"
"Nope, don't think we've met" Everyone always thinks they know her. Fair enough, her family does pull in that money and she was plastered all over the news the second time around in the hands of Humanis First "Wendy Hunter and I can fill in the application real quick and jot down a few references. I'm bonded even" Her other hand closes around a pen as she heads on up to the counter, digging out a pen.
"Could always hire a gogo girl for the front window, but the customers wanted sign might help too" Great, means he's had other folks in looking for the job. Likely needs it more than she does. "Doe sit help that i'm willing to work for crap pay?"
"You're hired either way, most likely," Corbin says, not even glancing over the application. It's just a formality, after all. "This isn't my job, or my store. I'm taking care of it for a friend. I'm actually a reporter for the Times, and I can't do my job as long as I have to store sit." It's the truth, but it also hints towards…
"When the owner gets back, she'll have to keep you on, but I think she needs help anyway. It'll let her actually leave the island more than once a year."
Reporter. Yup, figures. Wendy gets real interested in the old application, a shrug of her shoulders. "Just looking for something to pass the time, I didn't get your name?" Line after line is filled out, phone numbers, addresses. A place where someone would need a better paying job that this to live in. References are names of people who make it into the financial section of the paper if ones paying attention in the end. "Maybe your friend gets back from her vacation, who knows" She flashes Corbin a smile.
"Corbin Ayers," he says, giving his name in creeting as he looks around for a pen. It doesn't take long to find one, and he hands it over. "I'll keep the references for when Hokuto's ready to come back to work. How often do you think you can work? You'll mostly just have to take care of the store and the cat." He looks around, the cat flicks his tail. "He's kind of a brat."
Wendy waggles her own pen, carrying on with filling out the application. "Oh, my hours are pretty open. Every second Friday's out though, I got something then, but you know, I'm easy" There's a glance to the cat with it's patches of black that look like eyebrows. "That's a pretty unique feline. Corbin Ayer's" She frowns a bit at that. "Yeah, you are from the times"
"I'll say," Corbin says, looking at the brat of a cat. "He's finally starting to lose some weight at least, but he's still a monster. Just make sure he has some food and water, and I'll handle the litterbox for you. The store's only open Tuesday until Friday, so that's only three days. I did hire someone else, but I'm not sure how often she'll be able to work. We can work out a schedule with both of you. Until the owner comes back, at least."
Soudns good, sound promising. The paper is passed over with little flourish, the fingers of her left hand visible now. "Sounds good. I can do all that" Wendys miles, reaching over to scratch at Gabriel's ears. ANything else?"
The fingers on her left hand earn a slightly longer look, and then the name clicks with her face finally. Corbin didn't cover her story, but he definitely does remember it. "Nope, I think that just about covers things. A couple days a week for a few hours will be quite helpful."
"No problem. Just call the number, I can start tomorrow if need be, I'm around" Seeing as there's not really anything else that she needs to fill out, Wendy clicks her pen closed and stuffs it back in her pocket. "Anything else or should I let you get back to babysitting the store?" Her weight is shifted from one foot to the other, looking around at the store to see what she's getting herself into on a whim.
It takes a minute, but Corbin pulls out his wallet and fishes out a card. "The store's number isn't on here, but mine is. I'm more likely to answer my cellphone— and it has voice mail that I'll check. But I'll give you a call soon." There's a pause, then he adds on, "Any chance you could work tonight?"
Tonight? There's a grimace, then a glance to her watch. "Sure, if you got somewhere you need to be. Tell you what, first hit's free, but after that…" It'll cost you. Wendy reaches up, slinging her purse off her shoulder and striding for the business side of the counter. "Just, tell me what you need me to do and I'll do it" She offers Corbin a grin. "Promise you won't be disappointed"
"I'll run you through the register and show you what I've figured out of this place," Corbin explains, moving around to wave her over. The register isn't that hard to figure out. "And you will get paid for today too. I promise."