fandomtownies | Book Haven, Thursday

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Book Haven, Thursday

Rosalind eyed the shelves of her shop when she came downstairs that morning, coffee cup in hand. She knew her shelves, knew where they were supposed to be, and what they were supposed to hold.

That was why, when the shelves from aisle four (self-help and information books) had somehow, over the course of the night, shifted to rest where the romances had been kept… she noticed right away.

And, yes, the romances had taken up their spot in aisle four. Rosalind sipped her coffee, gave the rest of the aisles a long glance, and just shook her head before flipping the sign to open.

The shop was open and there was a sign outside that said:

Now hiring! Apply inside!

If the island wanted to rearrange her store, Rosalind was going to be grateful that it wasn't doing worse. It could, she knew that.

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Who is sighing over Fandom.

Mike walked up to the counter with a few books of crossword puzzles. Sure, he could have gotten similar ones without leaving Turtle & Canary, but he was making an effort to meet people and whatever.

"You know," he told Rosalind, "I'm trying to hire people. If you get to them all first, what am I going to do?"

Rosalind looked slightly amused as she pretended to think that over. Fandom had her in a whimsical mood today. At least, as much as she ever got.

"If that happened, I suppose you could send your people to talk to my people, and we could reach an accommodation," Rosalind suggested conversationally. "Though if I hire them all, you might not have any people to send over to mine to even begin negotiations. That would complicate things."

"It wouldn't complicate them, it would simplify them," Mike countered, in a fit of whimsy himself. "If you're honestly going to send rookies to do your negotiating for you, you've as good as lost."

“That depends on the quality of the rookie,” Rosalind pointed out wryly. “If they’re loyal enough, nothing will sway them.”

Mike shook his head. "If a rookie's that loyal on day one, he's an incident waiting to happen. Fanatics are nothing but trouble."

"It’s not me that inspires the loyalty," Rosalind said, shrugging slightly, though giving the conversation more serious thought than she'd been. "It’s the books. I’d be more concerned if they were… fanatics over myself, as a person. But I don’t really care if an employee is here and stays here for the books—whatever their reasons. Loyalty or fanaticism to a location or an establishment doesn’t concern me."

"...I forgot the books," Mike acknowledged. "A store is just a store, but a bookstore -- especially a used book store -- that's something else. I'm not sure I see the appeal, myself, but I've known a few guys to get downright poetic." He shrugged.

"A piece of advice, though: You want your guys to be loyal to you, as a person. You gotta earn it, and it takes a long period of time, but it's worth it."

"Advice acknowledged," she said simply. "Though that may be rather extreme for a bookstore."

Book Haven was hardly ShinRa, after all...

"Now," Rosalind continued, "I must ask: who are you?"

And what sort of store did he run?

He offered a hand for her to shake. "Mike. I'm the new owner of Turtle & Canary. ...And bookstore or not, it's still leadership experience. You treat it like it's not worth your effort, your employees will, too."

"Mm, I'll keep it in mind," came the noncommittal response, even as she reached to shake his hand. "I'm Rosalind."

She didn't bother to confirm that she owned Book Haven, figuring that was obvious.

"How would you inspire loyalty in your employees?"

"You have to ask, it's not gonna happen," Mike told her. "But it's not that hard. Be fair and firm, keep your promises, take an honest personal interest in them, remember that both loyalty and trust are two-way streets... that sort of thing." He shrugged, and then something in his eyes went cold. "And if someone screws you over, make an example of 'em."

Honestly, Rosalind was simply becoming more amused. Despite the fact that he wasn't telling her anything she didn't already know (though it wasn't like Rosalind had ever had to inspire loyalty in others; she'd just had to give it), she didn't take offense.

"I know all about that last one," she said dryly, studying Mike a little more curiously than she had before. "I don't believe I'm wrong when I suggest that you do as well."

What had this man done before owning a store, she wondered--and didn't ask.

For the umpteenth time this week, Mike mentally kicked himself. He'd been trying to find out more about this crazy island by acting friendly and engaging in casual conversation, and he kept divulging more about himself than he'd meant to. Maybe the wounded shoulder was to blame -- it wasn't always easy to concentrate.

Still, she'd given up a little, there, too. Conversation was all about give and take, and the more she gave, the less he had to.

"A sweet little girl like you knows all about making an example of someone? Not very likely."

Except that she'd made the choice to give, rather than slip up. Rosalind figured that was a win in her court.

"Sweet," she said doubtfully, in tones that conveyed that her real comment was along the lines of are you out of your mind? "That's a new one."

It was definitely a win in her court.

"It is?" Mike asked, piling as much sincerity into his voice as he could muster. "That's a shame. Someone so young shouldn't have to be old."

"Spare me," she said, amused. "That's just sentimental nonsense."

Mike sighed. "Damn straight it is," he told her. "And not some of my better bullshit, either. I'm having an off day."

He narrowed his eyes at her and held out his hand again. "Here, let's do this again: Pleased to meet you. My name's Mike. You don't stab me in the back, I won't shoot you in the face."

"Better," Rosalind approved as she reached to shake his hand. "Rosalind, and the same goes for you."

A beat.

"You any good at shooting?"

"I've had practice," Mike answered noncommittally. "Why, you want to have a friendly competition?"

He was usually of the opinion that if he needed his gun, it meant he'd done something wrong.

"Might be interesting," she allowed. "Might be boring. Mostly just curious."

She was a pretty good shot herself, after all.

*sleeps*

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Book Haven, Thursday

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