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Post by penndixon on Dec 26, 2011 4:00:23 GMT -5
He sighs in relief as he finishes cleaning the brand new glass window in the front of his store. Penn looks back at his store, marveling at his work. Not a single speck of dust or dirt or shards of glass remained within the aisles of the building after a hard days work to make it as shipshape as possible.
He walks past the shelves and aisles of his store, giving one last look at where his stolen goods had been. Where emptiness used to be was more modern and updated merchandise related to music and art alike, acting as more than a good replacement for what was lost. He had planned to replace the stolen goods anyway soon after the time of their theft. Penn still chuckles at the thought of all the admittingly near useless junk he had made a fuss about before, when the search for the Grey Menace was still a top priority for the city.
He rolls his eyes as he recalls his first day in joining the shenanigans that had occurred as he approaches the counter. A young mare employee had just checked in and was just straightening out her store uniform; a black sweater with a beatnik hat upon her head. Next to her was a young stallion, whom was also in uniform, though it was a tad wrinkled. The male uniform consisted of a black sweater and beatnik hat, much like the female uniform. Though, the hat was significantly smaller than the rather large female hat. Penn nods his head at them as he glances at the door.
"We're supposed to be expecting a young mare by the name of Rarity today. She's going to analyze our inventory, and if we get the go-ahead from her personally, this place is going to get some serious upgrades. I know just two of you is a tough job with such a thing coming up, but I'm counting on you to keep this place nice and organized until our client arrives."
Though with some uncertainty, the two nod in compliance. Penn nods back as he makes his way to his office in the back. As he reaches the door, he looks to the entrance of the store. His horn glows a sky blue aura, transforming the "Closed" sign in the front of the store to "Open". He grunts to himself in approval and walks into his office. Before he closes the door, he hesitates, pointing his horn out the door once more, adding a "Now Hiring" sign.
He finally closes the door with a click, as he returns to his own artwork within. Whenever there was a shortage in art, he was always hard at work making his own. The Grey Menace fiasco had been a hard hit on his business, and his meeting with the fair Rarity he had heard about would be the turning point for his store. He can only hope she arrives...
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Post by mafipulater on Dec 27, 2011 14:22:22 GMT -5
Her eyes never left the sign hanging from the door.
Lying down on a bench from across the street with her head resting in her hooves, Sea Swell absent-mindedly fidgeted with her watch, with her eyes still resting on the sign. Occasionally she would flick her tail or sigh silently through her nostrils.
Once, a passer-by stopped by and asked for the time.
”Go ‘way, I’m busy,” she replied, without even turning to look at whoever was asking.
“I’m sorry Miss, but I see that you have that watch there, and I was wondering if I could just quickly get the ti-“
”D’int’cha hear me?? BU-SY!” she cried out irritably, still refusing to take her eyes off the sign.
“So rude…” said the passerby in departure.
Certainly, she wouldn’t look busy to anyone looking. After all, she was just lying on a bench, staring off someplace. But she was busy.
“Now Hiring,” the sign said. Did she really want to go through with this? Apply for an actual job? On the one hoof, after many weeks of trying to promote herself, her number of fans probably numbered somewhere around one dozen; maybe two, if she felt being especially generous to herself. That meant hardly anyone was buying her CDs. Since her landlord was already getting complaints from her neighbors for the noise of her recording music in her apartment, she did not want to irritate him further by falling behind on rent. She needed to start making some real money. Badly.
On the other hoof, she hated the idea of working for someone other than herself. Ever since she was a little filly, she wanted to make it on her own, and working a job for somepony else felt like giving up on her dreams.
But it especially didn’t help that this store was owned by that unicorn stallion from the Grey Shadow incident. She hardly knew him, but he was the reason that cop started harassing her only friend at the time.
She did not like him.
With a sigh, she mentally tried to reassure herself that applying for the job was the right thing to do. Mom can only keep up paying for your apartment for so long before we’re out of money again, Sea thought to herself. It didn’t help her pride, though.
A lot of famous musicians had to work regular jobs while they were starting out, she mentally reassured herself.
Her thoughts strayed to the incident with the Grey Shadow. At the time, Klepto was the only person who seemed to like her. He was her only friend. Working for the stallion that got Klepto harassed by a cop seemed like betrayal.
But, that stallion you’d be working for wasn’t the one harassing Klepto. It was that cop. So you don’t need to feel bad, right?
Sea sighed again. It didn’t matter either way. She needed money, and the job at this art store was the only one that she might be qualified for.
The pegasus got up from the bench. Apprehensively, she approached the front door. She stared at it momentarily, but resignedly, opened it and walked in.
With a nervous swallow of air, she said, ”Hello? I’m here about the hiring sign…”
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Post by penndixon on Jan 1, 2012 18:58:53 GMT -5
The mare employee, whom was dusting a nearby decorative plate stopped and stuffed the rag she was using in her collar. She looked at Sea, glancing down, and then back to Sea's eyes. A brief moment passed before the mare appeared to glance up at Sea's forehead.
"Hm..." The pony grunted softly.
"Well, you're not a unicorn, which is typically what is looked for in an employee here, but if you think you're capable enough, you can definitely give it a go."
She looked towards the register, past the mess of shelves and aisles.
"Eugene is at the register. He usually deals with that stuff."
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Post by mafipulater on Jan 2, 2012 3:13:46 GMT -5
”Oh, uh, thanks,” Sea replied to the mare. As she wandered through the aisles of music and art supplies, worry began to fester in her mind. They want a unicorn? I’m barely even a pegasus… Sea tried to shake it from her thoughts. Don’t lose confidence. You’re young, strong, smart, and sharp as a razor. You don’t need magic to qualify for this job. You made it this far barely even able to fly, right?
As Sea approached the counter, she reminded herself to try to make herself seem as professional as possible. ”Excuse me, sir,” she said to the stallion at the register. It sounded so stupid and formal to her to say that, but she didn’t want to take any chances. ”My name is Sea Swell. I am here about that hiring sign. I would like to apply.” Those words felt so weird to say – it didn’t even sound like her. She didn’t particularly like it, but she wasn’t going to risk being herself. First impressions were too important.
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Post by penndixon on Jan 2, 2012 4:42:21 GMT -5
Eugene appeared to be writing a list of sorts on a piece of parchment, and had reached a hurried speed once Sea began to speak. Closer inspection revealed his lack of horn, which already proved a contradiction to what the unicorn had said mere moments ago. In fact, he was an Earth pony, for he also lacked the holes in his shirt that would be in a pegasi's uniform. He was able to finish a few moments after Sea finished her oddly professional words, as he gently placed the pen down on the list, looking up with a tired but friendly smile.
"Oh certainly, let me just get some paperwork from the office."
With a quick nod, he trotted to the office door to his right and disappeared. His side of the conversation was easily heard from behind the door from time to time.
"Yes sir, I'm just grabbing an application form...yes, she's a pegasi...I understand that sir...That is true sir...No sir, I know...I understand the urgency, which is why we need...The fact that she has wings could be...Exactly!...Thank you sir...I do have a good feeling about it...I'd bet my paycheck on it...Are you sure you don't need help?...Well, I'm on my lunch break sir, I'll send her in...Yes sir, I'm willing to take the hit on my salary today..."
A great crash could be heard. Eugene started to laugh before the door opened once more. He had a piece of paper in his mouth, which he slipped into his pocket as he approached Sea.
"My boss would like to see you when you're ready. No rush either, he's quite a sight right now." He chuckled as he finished speaking as he hung up his hat and made for the door. His voice could be heard, asking the mare if she could hold the fort while he was gone. The mare's response was nearly inaudible, but Eugene snorted and bid her farewell. Based on his farewell, the mare's name was Glow.
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Post by mafipulater on Jan 2, 2012 14:27:00 GMT -5
Sea flinched when she heard something crash. The noise made her forget to keep up the fake professional image she tried to set up, at least momentarily. "The bucking hay was tha--" she began to say nearly reflexively, before she interrupted herself. "--I-I, mean, uh, ha, ha, um." She hated not being able to express herself openly. She wasn't sure if she could last too much longer.
Puzzled by the crash and Eugene's rather enigmatic words about his boss being "quite a sight", Sea approached the office door tenuously before knocking. She thought back to the Grey Shadow incident several weeks back. Sea really hoped her potential new employer wouldn't remember the way she talked back to the police. She also hoped he didn't see her digging through random piles of garbage shortly afterwards with a guy who was accused of stealing from him. Those things would probably be hard to explain.
"Uh, hello? My name's Sea Swell, Eugene said you wanted to see me?"
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Post by penndixon on Jan 2, 2012 18:56:06 GMT -5
A friendly voice welcomed her in
"Ah, Sea Swell! I remember you. It's good to see a familiar face after that mess with the Grey Shadow."
His office had the look and smell of a room that had recently been disinfected. Though, other than that, the room's contents were rather disheveled. Paperwork was in messy piles, and a few paint cans were rolling indecisively back and forth, as if recently coming to rest from a fall. Several pieces of artwork covered the white walls where there wasn't bookshelves. Before Sea was three tables. The one on the right seemed to be a sketching table, as several art related tools and unfinished sketches covered the maple wood base. The one on the left had sewing kits and materials, still wrapped in plastic as if it was a recent addition. A frilly shirt and a note that appeared to say "Rarity project #1" was stuck under the materials. In the middle stood a rather clean table, with nothing but some parchment, pens and Penn's name engraved on a sign, which faced towards Sea.
Penn was quite a sight, as Eugene suggested. His mane was disheveled and messy. He had a nasty scratch on his nose and was covered in slightly dried green and blue paint, which completely covered his face, some of his glasses, and his hooves. What he wore on his face was a contrast to his messy appearance. His smile was warm, like he had been introduced to an old friend.
"So I hear you need a job? Then lay it on me. What makes you feel like working here, and what can you offer?"
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Post by mafipulater on Jan 2, 2012 19:20:05 GMT -5
Oh, good, he totally remembers me. That's really... good, Sea thought to herself, disappointed. Well, at least that means I don't need to pretend anymore. And he doesn't seem to be upset or anything... even if he does look like he just climbed out of bed and dunked his head into a tub full of paint.
Sea was unprepared for the mess as she entered the room. Her hoof tapped up against a stray can. Her eyes were fixed on the mess rather than her potential employer, making sure that she didn't accidentally trip over anything.
"What can I offer? Well, for starters I can organize ya office before somepony trips over sumthin' and cracks open her h-" Just then, Sea looked up at Penn and noticed the scratch across his nose. Recalling the crash she heard earlier, the cans of paint rolling around on the floor, and the paint and cut on Penn's face, Sea quickly put two and two together. "Uh, you okay there Penn? You got a thingy, a, a scratch..." she said, pointing to where the scratch would have been if it were on her own face.
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Post by penndixon on Jan 2, 2012 21:42:53 GMT -5
Penn tilted his head slightly.
"A scratch?"
Penn opened a shelf in the table he was standing in front of, and pulled out a mirror with his horn. He examined himself in the mirror, as his brow rose when he discovered the injury.
"Oh...well that explains the stinging sensation. Nothing too bad."
He placed the mirror back into the shelf and looked back to Sea.
"Anyway, you couldn't have found a better time to ask for a job. If a business matter doesn't fall through today, we'll need much more than just who we have. Are you at all good at organization, cleaning, knitting, painting, sketching, designing, remixing or anything else of the like? If you can say yes to any one of those, consider yourself hired!"
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Post by mafipulater on Jan 2, 2012 22:29:43 GMT -5
Really? Is that all he wants in an employee? He must be really desperate. I thought I'd be sweating before all this was over, Sea thought.
"You kiddin'? I have CDs and vinyl records from over 300 artists tucked away in my apartment, organized alphabetically by record label (major and independent), genres, origin, and dates of release." If there was one thing Sea she owned that she was particularly proud of, it was her music collection, and it especially showed when she spoke. All those records were collected over two lifetimes; her mother's, and her own. Whenever she had any spending money while growing up, she would spend it on a new CD - and the vinyl, if she especially liked it. Added to the collection her mother gave her, Sea's music collection was quite impressive for someone with such a limited budget. She was afraid she might have to start selling some of her records away to pay the rent, but she couldn't bear to part with any of the treasured gems. But if she could land this job, maybe that wouldn't have to happen.
It was also exciting to think that maybe all her useless knowledge about bands and record companies that no one actually cared about might help land her this job.
"If you need help sorting stuff like records, I'm ya mare," she said with confidence.
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Post by penndixon on Jan 2, 2012 23:34:43 GMT -5
Penn's eyes widened as he listened.
Impressive...She knows much more than I anticipated. She'll be a perfect addition to the crew.
"I'm quite impressed by your apparent knowledge of music."
He glanced at Sea's torso.
"I notice that you're also a pegasi. If you're a decent flyer, you could be especially useful in handling the higher shelves, along with giving the store sign it's monthly scrub."
An odd noise could be heard behind him. A candle in one of the bookshelves began to light itself. The fire danced as what appeared to be paper materialized in a fashion that resembled the process of burning, but in reverse. The paper was pushed into the air and it floated towards Penn. He caught it with his magic and pulled it close to read it.
"Ooh..." He whispered, wearing a worried look on his face.
"A very important client is supposed to be here in a few hours...I'll tell you what; The uniform is a regular beatnik outfit. If you wish for a more fitting uniform for your position, just approach me with an idea. I'm no fashion genius, but I'll happily do it for you if you can help us today."
He summoned a few measuring tools, which floated over and around Sea's body. Once they were finished, they disappeared as quickly as they appeared. In their place, a fitting Beatnik outfit appeared before her, held by a magically suspended hanger.
"I need to wash up. You're "hired" as of now, with pay and everything... But I can't promise your position as official until closing time, and based on your performance. Make yourself familiar with the store just in case, and approach Glow if you have any questions."
He hurriedly left the office, leaving Sea Swell with her thoughts.
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Post by mafipulater on Jan 3, 2012 0:36:41 GMT -5
"I... 'kay..." Sea said, as Penn left the room. She frowned slightly at the uniform Penn gave her. "So old school..." she muttered to herself, donning the hat and sweater, and sliding her wings through the gaps. It definitely wasn't her preferred style (not that she liked the idea of uniforms anyway), but she thought it was kind of cute, in a really weird, ironic way.
In any case, Sea made a mental note to try a uniform that looked less corny. And also to let him know that if she's going to be dealing with high shelves, she'll be using a ladder. Better to get that out of the way before he started expecting her to do anything with her wings.
Sea left the room. She approached the unicorn mare, who Sea assumed Penn was referring to as "Glow". "Hey, uh, Glow, right? I'm Sea Swell. Penn just said I was quote-unquote hired for today or whatever... but he didn't really tell me, like, what I should be doin' before he ran outta the room."
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