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Book Haven, Thursday

It was one of those days where the hard fact that she was trapped and unable to get home--or even reach it--was hitting Rosalind harder than usual.

This left her disgruntled as she forced herself through the motions of opening up her store and making sure they had the stock on hand that she wanted them to have, while ordering the books that would be delivered next week.

Rosalind didn't complain it wasn't fair, though it wasn't, because life wasn't fair.

It didn't mean she had to like it though.

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

Now hiring! Apply inside!

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Away from the cranky blonde.

If you want to do so.

Alana was dropping in to see if Evan had any new book recommendations --or if there was anything she could find on her own, since she wasn't actually certain which days Evan worked.

Clearly, this wasn't one of them, but that was okay. She glanced curiously at the blonde. She hadn't gotten (or needed, really) a job yet, but maybe this was the time to do it.

"Hey," she said carefully, tucking her hair behind one ear. "Could I talk to you about that sign in the window?"

If there was one tack that was going to get less than cranky responses today, asking about a job was probably the best way.

Being professional, after all, was something Rosalind was very good at.

"Looking for a job?" she asked calmly, looking up from her computer. "You're speaking to the right person for that. I'm Rosalind, the owner. Hi."

"Hi," Alana echoed, with the slightest hint of a smile. "My name's Alana. It's nice to meet you. I wasn't seriously looking for a job? But if I could work with books ... what would be better, right?"

"It is nice to meet you as well," she replied, with an amicable, if reserved, nod. "I'm sure some people would say there are better things than working with books, but it's unlikely that they would be inquiring about a position here, if that was the case."

Unless they were desperate for money, which Rosalind sympathized with. She knew what it was like to have to scrape and scrounge.

Rosalind studied Alana curiously. "Are you inquiring?" she asked. "Or simply curious?"

It was hard to tell, right now.

Alana considered this. "Both?" she said. "That is, I like the idea of working in a bookstore, but I hadn't gone out today meaning to get a job. So right now, mainly curious. Can you tell me a little more about what you're looking for?"

“Alright,” she said, leaning back in her chair and studying the girl thoughtfully. Liara had come in wanting a job, while Evan had been hired before she’d even opened the store due to his enthusiasm.

Rosalind had never really had to sell a position to someone before. She was glad for that, since it gave her something to think about, rather than brood on things she’d had no luck changing.

“Primarily, a love and care for books,” she began, a very faint smile touching her lips. Of the current employees, Rosalind loved books the least. It amused it. “It’s good for business if customers know the employees are genuinely interested in the material they sell. That being said, I expect no employee to have knowledge of every sort of book, or to enjoy all genres equally. Personal preferences are, well, just that. There’s also a fair bit of lifting in this job,” and books were heavy, especially if you had to spend a day stocking a new shipment on shelves, “so I prefer to know if a potential employee can handle that work, but an inability to do so would not be an automatic refusal for a position.”

Mostly because it hadn’t come up yet, but Rosalind thought she could work around it, if it ever did.

“The ability to be patient when dealing with difficult customers is also required,” she continued. “That being said, I don’t expect anyone to put up with being harassed or worse.” Rosalind lifted her shoulders in a slight shrug. “Other than caring about books, it is much like any other job. Work hard, don’t trash the place, and help the customers to the best of your ability.”

Alana listened carefully, nodding along as Rosalind explained the requirements. It wasn't that she needed to be sold on the job, exactly: she just didn't like promising anything without knowing the details.

"Okay, reading is one of my two or three favorite things to do," she said, almost before Rosalind was done speaking. "I'm pretty strong for my size, I can be patient with people ... mmm, pretty much all the time, and I wasn't going to trash the place." (Duh, but she figured addressing that point couldn't hurt.) "And I'm just finishing my sophomore year, so if you take me on I'd be around for a while. I'm on student council with Evan, if you want to ask him about me."

She appreciated that Alana wouldn't trash the place! Really, she did.

"Would it bother you if I did ask Evan about you?" Rosalind asked, making mental note to do that anyway, whether or not she hired Alana now.

She was curious, so sue her.

"And do you have any previous retail experience?"

"No and no," Alana said, shrugging. She wouldn't have mentioned Evan if she'd thought he'd say anything bad about her. "This would be my first paid job. Is that okay?"

"That's fine," Rosalind replied. "Everyone has to start somewhere."

A beat.

"So would you like position?" she asked lightly. "If you do, you have one. Or are you still just curious?"

"I would definitely like one," Alana said, a little excited laugh in her tone. "Wow, thanks. When would you want me to start? I signed up for classes Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, but it's not like school here keeps anybody that busy."

"No, thank you, and welcome aboard. If you can start next week, that would be fine with me. Evan has Tuesdays, and Liara, Fridays," Rosalind said thoughtfully. She would have to see if they wanted their shifts changed, to go with the new semester, wouldn't she? "Any day other than those two is open. If you have your heart set on Thursdays, I can move my shift. Did you have a preference?"

"Wednesdays would be great," Alana decided. "Kind of break up the week. And I can start next week, absolutely."

"Sounds good," Rosalind said, smiling slightly. "I'll mark you down for Wednesdays, then. Any questions for now? I'll be by Wednesday, to see how you're doing, either way."

"Is there a dress code, and do we get an employee discount?" Alana checked. "I'm good either way, just want to know what the ground rules are. I figure I'll probably have more questions once I start."

"If you don't ask questions, how will you learn?" she asked rhetorically. "I do not mind."

Unless they were stupid questions, but these weren't.

"There's no dress code," despite the fact that Rosalind wore a suit, "and there is an employee discount--fifty percent."

"Awesome on both points," Alana said, jamming her fists into her pockets. She tried to think of other questions but couldn't. "Okay, unless you have other questions for me, I guess I'll see you Wednesday."

So sleepy.

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