Wellspring Arms & Meditation Center, Friday

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Just because they were living off-island now didn't mean Cable was going to stop watching over Janice like a hawk. (It just meant that he had gotten around to occasionally trusting Wade with the job instead.)

So of course when he went into the store on Friday morning, she was right there with him. In fact, so was Tether, who had quickly gotten used to being clung to for dear life - at least until Jan actually saw the store and immediately ran up the stairs.

And refused to come down.

Cable sighed, and peered up the stairs one more time. There she was, sitting in front of the door looking stubborn. "Fine," he said. "Come downstairs when you want your lunch."

With that, he flipped the 'Open' sign and sat down behind the desk.

[[ open! ]]

Comments

[nottrivial]

Alec being Alec (and Fandom being Fandom), this first week of classes hadn't really been all that stressful, like, say, the first week of class at a normal school might be, where he might have had a whole summer to look back on as being relaxing. But since this summer hadn't been relaxing, there was no need to laze about now, which was what brought him into town today to look for a job.

...Look, it made sense in his head.

"Hello," he said, stepping inside and taking a look around.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Cable looked up from his desk. "Hello," he said.

He didn't glance towards Jan - that would call attention to her - but he did glance towards Tether, who was keeping an eye on the stairs.

"Can I help you?"

[nottrivial]

"I think so," Alec said, with a slightly impressed look toward a shelf of some ranged weapons. "Is there any chance that you're hiring?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"There's a good chance," Cable said, raising an eyebrow. "You a student?"

[nottrivial]

"Yes," he confirmed. "I'm Alec Lightwood. I'm a junior. And I... know a bit about weapons?" Don't say it like a question, Alec. "Mostly I'd just like something to do."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"You'd have to do more than just know a bit about weapons to work here," Cable said.

Even if his hiring policies kind of changed with the wind based on what his priorities happened to be that day.

[nottrivial]

"Maybe more than a bit," Alec admitted, looking sheepishly around the room. His gaze settled on a nearby shelf. "I could... tell you a few things about those bows?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Go ahead."

That sounded promising. Sort of.

[nottrivial]

"Those are longbows, those are flatbows, and those are compound bows," he recited easily, pointing. "The mechanically drawn ones are probably on a different... oh, right there. Those types are best for people with precision but not as much strength, while the compound bows maximize aiming time and the flatbows have the durability to be used in warfare."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"History geek," Cable asked calmly, "Or do you spend a lot of time around bows?"

[nottrivial]

"The latter," Alec said. It was getting much easier to admit this stuff than it had been at the beginning of the summer, he had to admit. "I could demonstrate proper form, too, but I doubt that'll come up as much if I work here."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Any experience with guns?" Cable asked, though really, the bow thing was good enough for him.

[nottrivial]

"Not much," Alec admitted. "Beyond the basic mechanics, I mean. But I know a decent amount about melee weapons?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Cable finally got up from behind his desk. "All right," he said. "You're hired." He slid a timetable his way. "Pick a shift."

[nottrivial]

Huh. So that was a job interview. They weren't that hard.

"I'll go with Friday," he decided after a moment. "And, you know, thank you, obviously."

Nice. Nice job with that, Alec.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Not so fast," Cable said, as he penciled that in. "There are rules, of course."

[nottrivial]

"Oh. Right, obviously." Alec was a big fan of rules. It was probably only Fandom's influence that had gotten him to forget that they would probably be a part of this process. "Go ahead."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"You don't sell guns," Cable said. "If someone comes into the store asking for one, contact me. I'll handle it. Make sure you screen anyone thoroughly if they want anything else."

Beat.

"And all rules go out the window during an invasion."

[nottrivial]

All two of the rules.

"I can handle that," Alec promised. "Hours?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Nine to five," Cable said smoothly. "You can take time off for your classes."

[nottrivial]

"That works," Alec said, nodding. "I don't have anything on Fridays anyway." He glanced toward Tether. "Is the dog, uh, always here?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Only when I'm here," Cable said. Mildly. "I live off-island."

[nottrivial]

"Oh, good." Ahem. "I mean, not that you live elsewhere, just that I don't really know much about taking care of dogs. So... good."

He really couldn't even get through the simplest conversation without awkwarding up the place.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Cable simply eyed him.

He was like a giant half-metal wall from which awkward bounced off awkwardly. "Good," he agreed. "Please come in early next Friday and I'll drop off the keys."

[nottrivial]

"I'll do that," Alec said, hovering for a moment before heading for the door. "Thank you again."