Participants:
| Scene Title | No Flowers |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | In which Jay gets a job and Raquelle gets someone else to fabulize. |
| Date | November 06, 2009 |
Tranquil and Fabulous wrapped up in warm and inviting colors and the sleek lines of Japanese architecture…Cambria Salon and Day Spa is a fashionable paradise. Dark almost black wood paneling has been used through out the salon, fresh flowers are found in glass vases and exchanged with flower shaped candles every day at 4 PM. There is a different theme for just about every day of the week, but nothing set in stone. There are 8 or so individual work stations with leaf shaped mirrors and comfortable chairs. There are a couple of private rooms for waxing, facials and massages and the like including a private station and office for the owner. The reception area is designed for comfort with the black seats and couches, glass coffee tables and glass/wood reception desk. Over all the salon is edgy and sleek, it is Cambria Salon and Day Spa.
The phone rings around 6 PM. Caller ID will show that to be from a cellphone, no name listed.
Raquelle picks up the phone. "Cambria Salon and Day Spa…"
The voice is familiar. That's a good thing. In the background there's the noise of traffic as Jake says, "Hey! Um, my name's Jake, I think I talked to you the other night?"
There is a pause, some shifting around as the person on the other end moves to another room. "I remember you sweetling…you got home safely I am assuming?"
The grin is audible. "I wouldn't say home exactly. You, um, said something about a job, though. I find myself in need of something to do in my spare time." What little he has left - for money. "Were you serious?"
"You will find that I'm usually serious honey…if you are serious about wanting to do something in your spare time, I might have something for you." There is a pause before he continues. "No hair styling exactly though, but lots of other things."
"Like what?" Jake wants to know. Of course, more important is 'how much' - but he'll get to that in a minute once he's figured out whether or not this job is actually safe to take.
"Sweeping, minding the front desk, answering phones, organizing bottles of shampoo…folding towels." Raquelle lists the things with a shrug of his shoulders that can almost be heard. "It depends on where your talents lie."
That doesn't sound so bad. Beats grocery store. "And the paycheck?" In the background, someone honks. Jake makes a sharp, exasperated noise, and there's a loud bump - then some cussing from somewhere well beyond him. He sighs deeply.
"God honey, where are you?" Raquelle asks with concern before sighing and continuing. "Well I can do 9.50 an hour to start with…cuz I don't know how good you are yet."
"Walking," Jake says, and cheers up tremendously. That's better than minimum wage, right there. "How many hours? I've got school, practice, and, um, parkour." And all those late-night parties and booty calls. "I could do part time, maybe twenty a week?" If he's lucky.
"We'll make a schedule based on what you can do." Raquelle is easy enough there. "And you'll be able to get your hair cuts and such done for free here. But 20 sounds reasonable. Part Time. You just have to give me your schedule."
"Great!" Jake seems pleased. "I'm in the area, that's why I thought of it, but I've been jogging so I'm pretty smelly. You want me to stop by now or later?"
"Whoa…you're in the area?" Raquelle sits up a bit at his desk, eyebrows shooting up as he nods. "You can stop by whenever you want honey."
"Sure. Took off running, picked up a friend, dropped him off, finding myself in…" Pause. "Brooklyn, looks like. Might be a block or two away, I'm not sure. Really, if I get stuck for something to do I could always take up cab-driving. I'm crazy enough." A quiet chuckle spills out. "I'll be there in a few minutes, we can work out a schedule."
Raquelle sighs softly and clears his throat. "Very well. When you come to the shop, just tell the girls you're here to see me and come on back to the office. I'll get the book and such out."
"Okay," says Jake cheerfully. "Thanks, man." And then he hangs up. Yes, he'll need to learn to be a little more professional. Give it less than twenty minutes for him to find the place, more by instinct and wandering than anything else. In he comes, dressed in jogging pants, a pirate hoodie, and a black tee shirt that reads: FEELINGS ARE BORING. KISSING IS AWESOME. Discussion commences with the girl behind the counter, followed, no doubt, by reference to Raquelle's office, which will eventually lead to a knock on the door.
Raquelle's office actually has a stylist chair and washing station in the back of it, but it is laid back and relaxed just like the owner of the salon who wears a fitted black t-shirt and a pair of black jeans, docs on his feet and hair done up in the usual style…a purple streak in his fringe as he calls out, "Come in!" And takes another sip from his can of beer, setting it aside and toying with a pen where he sits at his desk, another chair on the other side of the desk.
Beer. Already Jake likes this job. "Hi," he says. True to promise, he's a bit sweaty, though not as bad as he made it out to be - just a bit grimy. He folds into the chair with a heavy thump and straightens up. "So I've got weekends pretty much free, but I can't stay out late since I don't have a car. Daytime's better than nighttime, since most of my classes are in the morning. Got any particular days you need filled?"
Raquelle eyes Jake and gives him a chin-up with a soft chuckle, nose wrinkling. "You want a water honey?" He asks as he leans back in his chair a bit, still toying with his pen. He arches an eyebrow as he listens and tilts his head to the side. "Nope, again, I need you for whenever you can come in without messing with your classes and threatening to get you in trouble with curfew."
"Sure. Huh. Well, if you really don't care to schedule it, I'll just show up." Jake shrugs fluidly and lounges back comfortably, boneless thanks to the worn-out state he's in; a smile dances on his face. "If I was you I'd schedule, though. Just so you actually get your hours out of me."
Raquelle rolls his eyes as he reaches under the desk into the mini-fridge to pull out a small bottle of water, throwing it at/tossing it to Jake with a small smirk. "Fine, I'll expect you ummm…monday, wednesday and fridays then?"
The water gets snagged and opened rapidly. "Make it Monday, Wednesday, and Saturdays and you've got a deal? Sundays would be better, but I bet this place is pretty quiet then." Jake then tips his head back to greedily toss down the water. Thirsty as hell, yep - he really should carry water when running all over the city, but it's not hard to get into a store and get something quick.
Raquelle nods and writes something down in a little book as he points to Jake. "Yes, not much work on Sunday but we'll go with M, W, and Sat and be done with it." He takes his time too, commenting. "I'm not going to have to worry about any…unfortunate drama following you here, am I? I like to prepared after all."
Jake squints, and thinks about that for a good long moment. "Everyone has problems. Ex-girlfriends, people who don't like 'em, stuff like that. I'll do my best to take any such issues outside." Which is about all he can really promise. "And if it does get to be a problem, I'll find another job." That seems serious, at least, and is followed by a nod of affirmation, a note to himself on that matter. Then he flashes a grin. "I'll be as good as I'm able."
Raquelle hmms. "Not problems like that, but if that's the most I have to worry about then I'm happy as can be. I think you'll find here we're really don't ask don't tell but please don't end up in jail if you can help it." He winks and then gropes for his can of beer to take a swig before tucking it back into a good hiding place.
That gets a wide, wide grin. "I like this place already." Jake stands. "I'll start tomorrow, I take it? Unless you wanna wait till Monday." The empty water bottle gets passed back and both hands are shoved into his pockets.
Raquelle points to Jay and nods. "Exactly. Tomorrow." He reaches to take that empty bottle, tossing it into a trash can. "We'll start easy with you, see how you are with moving boxes and stuff…"
"Oh boy. Box moving." But Jake's grinning. "Sounds like fun, actually." Not quite as girly as, say, clipping hair, which suits him just fine. "I'll be in tomorrow morning - what time? Seven? Eight?" Yes, he's a loon who doesn't intend to party very hard tonight.
Raquelle mmhms and closes his eyes. "Eight, so I have time to talk to the girls about somebody new coming in and if you get drunk tonight, you have some extra time to get coffee and get rid of the hangover."
The grin widens into pure brilliance. "You know me too well already," Jake says, and winks. "I'll see you in the morning, then. Anything else? Dress code, rules, yadda yadda?"
Raquelle smirks and gets to his feet, rolling shoulders. "Usually blacks and purples are the way to go, shoes on your feet, pants on, nothing obscene that folks can complain about. You're not a stylist so you don't get a cute little apron or anything like that."
Cue a mock-shudder from Jake. "Just for you, I will wear something plain." He smirks. "Right then. I think that's everything… one sec." Out comes the notebook, and he scribbles down his cell number, then rips out the paper and passes it over. "Here you go. Call or something if something comes up."
Raquelle takes that piece of paper and quirks an eyebrow before offering. "Not /too/ plain Mr Jakeyluv, I'd be very very disappointed after all." He fakes a hint of a pout before laughing softly and tucking the paper away somewhere safe with a small nod.
"You want flowers in my hair, you'll have to put 'em there yourself," Jake says with a grin. "Thanks, though. I needed a job." And then, "Seeya inna morning!" And he seems to be headed for the door.