Welcome to Gaia! ::

Location: Skin Tyte in Durem
Time: Saturday afternoon~
What: Job applications
Weather: Sunny
Status: Complete!!
Special Guests: Natasha (Kaurii) & Devin (Shushida)

“CRUNCH!“ Josh was blissfully participating in his most adored morning past-time; examining the local newspaper while eating a rousing bowl of Lucky Charms. Discerning auburn eyes shuffled over the numerous lines of crisp cookie-cutter black text and eagerly sorted through the various headlines which speckled the crinkling sheets. A few articles peeked the boy’s interests; such as “New species of rabbit discovered in Aekea garden,” or ,“Local motorist attempts to jump gorge!” Josh gave these particular stories greater attention and took a tentative approach to reading them; making sure he did not miss a single fascinating detail. Once completed, Josh’s slim fingers gave a quick flip to the help wanted ads. It was a well-known fact that the boy had been looking for a steady job the past few months… and unfortunately his search was getting nowhere fast. The newspaper unfolded to the section Josh desired and one ad made itself predominantly apparent to the boy. It was like a glowing beacon to the despondent Josh. The ad was framed by intense golden-yellow and vivid cerulean-blue tribal markings which, upon closer inspection, appeared to be snakes coiled around various flowers and skulls. Within the intricate border the help wanted ad read:






“Hmm…” Josh pondered the concept of working in an “exotic” environment. The thought alone was enough to get his blood pumping. The boy finished off the last few remains of his Lucky Charm which included a swirling blue moon and two red balloons who clung to one another like impassioned lovers… or soggy marshmallows; however you chose to see it. He gave a cursory look at the clock and saw that the digital display read 7:15am. “Perfect, just enough time to get ready…”


Josh found himself pacing awkwardly around he streets of Durem in an attempt to find Skin Tyte. The boy refused to consider the fact that he may be lost and instead chose to take a few “detours” here and there… and here again. Josh took in a sharp intake of breath and nearly choked upon the sudden burst of air as he stumbled upon what he could only presume was the shop in question. It had the same outlandish sense of style that the help wanted ad was adorned in. The building was covered in obscure and elaborate designs and copious amounts of colors. If he hadn’t known any better Josh would have guessed that his essence had a sneezing attack on the poor facility. Josh pushed the door open sheepishly and took a few cautious steps inside. His nostrils flared slightly as they were met by a musky tang which he couldn’t quite recognize. Josh peered around the small store while he made his way to the front desk. The boy couldn’t help but observed the menagerie of earrings, makeup, and tattoo motifs on display.

“May I help you?” A male voice emanated from behind the front desk; it was lush and dripped of… some sort of accent. Josh nearly toppled over as he came face to face with what appeared to be two lumps looming upon someone’s head. A bulky man lumbered out from behind the front desk and leaned apathetically on its well polished surface. The man, Devin, gave a blasé look to Josh and the boy gave a resounding “peep” in response. Josh jumped forward and addressed the muscular male while trying to lace his voice with some form of an unruffled tone, “I-I was just curious about the job opening you had?”

The man rapped his finger upon the desk while listening to Josh’s question; he could pick up on the hints of unsettlement in Josh‘s speech. He breathed heavily and began, “Hmm, your going to have to fill out this application,” right on cue, as if immaculately trained, he pulled out a clipboard with paperwork tidily attached, “Please take a seat over there.” Josh eagerly took the clipboard a bustled over to where Devin’s bulky finger pointed; somewhere to the right of the store.

Devin gave a playful sneer at the feisty ivory haired woman who so boldly collided into him. He noticed Natasha handing an application to another eager and rather fidgety hopeful. Devin was gleeful to see the look of awe in Namini’s face when her eyes flickered to him. The man gave a slight flex of his muscles and a low growl as if to intimidate the young applicant. After all, their shop only accepted the most “hard-core” individuals as employees…. He was only helping the application process.

Josh felt a pang of annoyance as he dabbled farther into the ambiguous content of the job application. The boy breezed through the general questions: age, sex, and credentials. What Josh didn’t expect was the onslaught of obscure questions such as “# 6: Do you like snakes?” Josh tapped his pen agitatedly upon the clipboard while he internally struggled with developing a proper answer. Once satisfied he moved onto the next one with grim irritation etched into his features. “#7: If you could marry a rock star who would it be?” The boy would have screamed if it wouldn’t have affected his chances of obtaining the job; guessing by shop owners’ bizarre tastes it may have actually helped his cause. Instead, he choked back the traces of the frenzied shriek reading to rip from his throat and furiously scribbled down what he hoped was a decent reply. As Josh was about to continue on to “#8: What are your three favorite soups?” he took notice of the newcomer who sat beside his. Josh shot a inquiring glance at the girl and was pleased to find that it was a familiar face. The boy found his previous exasperation quickly deflated and draining away, only to be replaced by curiosity. This was the last place he expected to see a quaint and high-strung girl such as Namini… in truth places such as this weren’t synonymous with his personality either. Josh let off a soft cough to catch the girl’s attention and cooed mellifluously to her, like a wolf luring a timid sheep, “How are you doing chickie?” He slipped the job application on his lap and chose this as the perfect time for a brief sojourn from the unpleasant paperwork.

Devin was torn away from his growling by a rather inconvenient jab to his rib cage. The larger man choked out a half hearted curse and turned to glare at Natasha. However, when his crimson orbs fell up her own frosty blue spheres his anger was immediately extinguished; like a meager spark caught in a merciless avalanche. There was no room for argument. The woman’s face was held in a tight scowl and her disposition seem less than chipper. Indeed, today was not the day to miff Natasha, or rather Devin preferred to keep all of his body parts in check. There was an indescribable spark that lied within her stormy eyes though, a spark that Devin knew all too well. It was that same flicker that had driven them to jump off his second story roof that one weekend, or when they mustered up enough courage to get their first labret piercing. It was the glint of mischievousness! It was obvious that the woman was scheming something… Devin sidled up beside Natasha and whispered in her ear with his richly accented dialect, “So wha-cha plotting girly?” His own lips began to curve into a sly grin.

Josh was not at all surprised by Namini’s animated and rather loud greeting. Instead, he chose to brush off the astonishment in her wide cerulean eyes and continued on to answer her questions, “Yep, I’m applying. Don‘t try to give me too much competition okay Chickie,” Josh shuffled his clipboard as he took a breath and continued on, “Though, you don’t seem like the type who would work in... this kind of store.” Josh’s auburn gaze flipped down at her curiously.

Devin was flabbergasted to see that Natasha’s repertoire of brilliant schemes had run dry; it was like the Pacific turning up arid. He held his mouth in melodramatic shock and gasped, “You without any ideas! The world is ending!”

“Entertain me.”

Honestly, Natasha was not the only person in the shop who was running short on ideas. Devin’s mind always turned up a blank when he attempted to scheme up something sufficiently amusing. However, once the ivory haired temptress’s captivating voice washed over him, Devin’s composure easily melted. He briskly rapped a bulky finger upon his chin as he fancied a decent plot one last time. “Ah-ha! I have it,” He perked up and cupped a hand around Natasha’s ear as if he was a gossiping cheerleader. Of course, he paid careful attention to make sure their numerous piercing didn’t become raveled together. Devin’s voice stringed out faintly as he revealed his plan, “We should have a bit of fun with these new applicants. Maybe we could get them to compete for the position? Like a contest…” Devin’s lips began to curl into a snaky grin; with the two stumps on his head he could have been easily mistaken for a demon. “Buuuut, what should we have them do first?”

Josh felt a chill run down his spine and he gave a abrupt shudder. The boy chose to ignore the impending feeling and instead focused on Namini. He felt himself surge with pride at the mention of his physique. The boy took great satisfaction in the body he had formed for countless sports competitions. Josh felt he owed her a compliment as well and he chose his words prudently, “I’m sure we will both do well. After all, I’m sure you could get plenty of customers. They may want someone cuter for the job?” Josh finished his sentence with a well placed wink.

Devin dodged the contents of the desk which were haphazardly flung: To left out of the way of a styrofoam cup, to the right narrowly avoiding a half empty Pepsi can, then to the left again where Devin nearly careened into a paper weight. The tattooed man’s face twisted in dejection as Natasha managed to find the napkin which he had written a busty blonde’s phone number on; it seems like he wouldn’t be calling her later tonight after all. Each pen scratch Natasha made on the half used paper rag made him cringe like a knife was being dug into his side.

However, Devin livened up when the bleach-haired woman finished her menagerie of scribbles. Hew weaseled in closely as Natasha who had already begun to verbalized her off the wall scheme. He nodded as each detail was rattled off with the utmost precision. Once he had heard the entirety of her brilliant proposal, Devin could have given the pallid harpy a exuberant hug . “Superb!” He bellowed.

Josh had to admit that he was beginning to grow bored of Namini’s fidgeting demeanor. It wasn’t the first time today that he had seen her face blaze like a forest fire. The boy robotically replied to the last few questions; now confident with his responses to the unusual inquiries on the application. Josh rose from his seat and began to make his way to the front desk. The boy’s gaze hovered over Namini expectantly as if he anticipated that she would follow him. His voice strung out fluidly, “Are you ready to turn in your form yet chickie?” Josh enjoyed the way the girl reacted whenever he used the nickname that she had gained from her flamboyantly feathered Halloween costume.

Devin heard the metallic clatter and clank of chairs and his red gaze shot up so quickly that one of his contacts nearly fell out. The juvenile interviewees were leisurely making their way over to the plotting pair of shopkeepers. The tattooed man broke away from his huddled position at Natasha’s side and gave a thunderous laugh at some unspoken joke in an attempt to cover their conniving ways. As the two applicants settled at the front desk Devin noticed Namini was avoiding his gaze like a timorous sparrow. Her cerulean eyes flickering from person to person, but she always seemed to land a shivering glance back on him; to Devin’s utter delight the girl seemed to have gained a phobia of him. Josh on the other hand gave him a stare that radiated a bizarre mixture of boredom and awe.

Josh slithered his paperwork past the mechanical snapping of Natasha’s claws and let the clipboard glide to Devin. The boy couldn’t help but feel a knot of dread steadily growing within his stomach tough. No matter how many “soothing” breaths he took the nervousness only seemed to become more aggressive and agitated. The hungry look of the two store owners wasn’t helping his disposition either.

Devin graced the text slipped into his hand with a cursory, and obligatory, glance then shuffled it back onto the desk in a disorderly heap. "Yeah-yeah, nice kid..." He looked to his partner in crime and read her sharp features for any initiative for their plan to launch.

Josh felt an uncomfortable air develop as Natasha splayed her buxom body farther across the glass top counter; her icy stare seemed to tear greedily into him, like an arctic wind, as she spoke. Each word that ripped from her pallid lips seemed to make the atmosphere heavier. Josh chose to speak up before he was crushed by the severe mood mounting in the store, “Of course I’m free, lovely. Anything for you.” His demeanor was as suave as ever as he deluged the astringent harpy in intoxicatingly saccharine words.

Devin’s lips curved into a wiry smirk when he caught the confusion bubbling up in Natasha’s features. He knew that the woman hated losing control over situations. It was refreshing to see her considerable authority on everyone start to crumble. Of course, Devin took the utmost care while he expunged the ink festooned woman off the counter with a formidable sway of his hips; revenge was sweet indeed. He wrapped a brawny and sturdy arm around each of the teenagers. With a guttural laugh Devin drug the pair in closely and his accented voice gushed out huskily. “Well-well, it seems like we have some fun planned for you two. Me and Natasha decided to have a little contest to see which of you two will be our next employee,” Devin’s crimson eyes wavered from Josh to Namini and he made sure that his wolfish grin sent some fear coursing through their veins. As expected, Devin was the boisterous inferno that perfectly complemented Natasha’s chilly disposition. “It’s only three rounds, but do you think that you two are still up for the challenge?”

Josh waved a hand flippantly in the air and pronounced in an arrogant tone, “Psh, I’m always up for a competition. Bring it on!” The cutthroat side of the boy was beginning to rear it unsightly head and Josh was eager to prove himself to these two eccentric employers.