|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quicksilver the Archangel
|
 Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 6:16 pm
Krishna Dhawan sipped at the hot tea he had made while waiting for his part time worker to show up. He had news for her, but it would not be news to share without first warming up. The cold was coming hard and fast in Destiny City. In a way, it was good that he had not moved out of the flower shop quite yet because it allowed him to check on the green house he kept behind the building and insure no frost sneaked in. The slightly bitter liquid was fragrant and pleasing to his olfactory as well as his tongue. Richard always made his tea too sweet. For all of his cold nature, the florist had found warming up to Gwen unavoidable. In many ways, she reminded him of himself. Eager to begin working rather than stay in school - and now, with the younger sibling born - having to help support her family as he once had. She had spirit, but also carefully maintained tact whenever speaking with customers. She had knowledge which he lacked, with an interest in fauna that matched his own passion for flora. She worked hard and asked for time off rarely. All good aspects, in his mind. That Anandi, who the florist had always adored, loved her was a powerful bonus factor. Good work deserved reward, and today she would have it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 6:18 pm
She didn’t intend on leaving home as late as she did, but she suspected that it was inevitable. They had arrived in the middle of the night, and it would figure that the one day she opted to sleep in on her nightly duties to prepare for the long shift ahead of her, Maddy agreed to babysit Jacob at the last minute. If it wasn’t the rather loud debate going on that kept her up, it was the screaming toddler, and Gwen could no more resist tending to her baby brother than her counterpart could resist a fight. So Gwen was running late, much later than she wanted to, and she feared punishment so much that she didn’t once think to grab a sandwich or granola bar before rushing to work. Skipping breakfast wasn’t a smart move and even she knew that, but she was certain that Anandi would come to her rescue with a four course meal by the end of the day. She just had to make it that long. By the time she made it to Padma’s Bouquet, she was a little winded and was eager to pull her heavy coat off, and not a moment too soon! A second later and Mr. Dhawan would have been angry for sure! “Sorry I’m running late!” Gwen shouted, not immediately noticing her employer but highly suspecting he was in the greenhouse in the back. Not a bad idea- bound to have been warmer there! But as tempting as it was, she made a bee-line for the register, not wanting her post to be unmanned for when he stepped into the main room of the shop. “It was my turn to feed Jacob this morning and he’s a bit of a porker!” Quicksilver the Archangel
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quicksilver the Archangel
|
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 6:19 pm
Krishna was instantly aware of Gwen’s presence when a draft of cold air shot into the store. He heard her shout, but he did not acknowledge it because he would be in there, soon enough. No need to scream across the shop. The florist drained the last of his tea and rinsed it out in the sink. He would wash it later, but this way it would not stain or become hard to wash. With this task complete, he entered the main part of the store.
“No apologies needed. You are here now.” He had always taken a practical approach to such matters. She was five, ten minutes late at the most - such a situation could happen to anyone if caught in traffic or some other such reason. Needing to feed a younger sibling? A completely legitimate excuse. It helped that he was in a particularly good mood today; it helped even more because she was partially responsible for said good mood.
Krishna reached for his apron and put it over his head. As he tied the back, he announced, “I delivered the pup. A Harlequin b***h - very sweet-tempered. I ended up giving your recommended source a 200 dollar credit to the shop, so should she or her husband come in, please ensure any purchases are subtracted from this credit.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 6:20 pm
Krishna was a hard man to read, especially for someone like Gwen. As relieved as she was that he wasn’t angry or even remotely bothered by her tardiness, she could tell that something was on his mind though she had no idea what or what mood would come with it. She seldom seen him smile outside of his professional one, and while now was no different, she could almost sense that he might have been in a good mood. Maybe… it was so hard to tell with him!
Seeing him throw on his apron reminded her that she needed to do that same, and she was one step ahead of him, pulling her apron from the hook behind the counter and moving to turn on the OPEN sign for him, to make up for the fact that she was late. And right on time, too! To the teachers that said she’s amount to little, this was an open invitation for them to kiss it!
The moment he mentioned the puppy, however, she immediately beamed, and her golden eyes lit up with excitement, as though she herself was the one that got the dog. She didn’t often squeal around Krishna, but she simply couldn’t hold it in!
“I’m happy to hear that! Did you take any pictures of her? I bet she made Mr. Richard extremely happy, Baldwin too! He always looks like he needs a friend!” Before she could get too far into her rambling, though, she tried to rein herself in, and what better way than to address the important business at hand? “I think I remember what the couple looks like, so I’ll definitely remember when they come in. You wouldn’t mind if I thanked them as well, right? Or would that be too inappropriate?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quicksilver the Archangel
|
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 6:21 pm
Krishna could not help but chuckle at her excitement. After tying his apron on securely, he pulled on his work gloves. Gwen did not need instruction at this point to turn the sign to indicate they were open, and to see how much she had grown since she had begun working for him was no small source of pride. Certainly, she deserved some of the credit, but under his care she had bloomed into a fine worker. He could ask little more of her than what she already gave - she even accepted her non-floral shop duties without complaint.
“I have no pictures, unfortunately, but I am certain you will see her soon enough.” He had no pictures because, as one of his money saving measures that he had adopted when he was forced to leave his apartment, his phone was too basic. It was literally just for making telephone calls, although it did have limited texting ability. Would he confess such to a worker, even one as dear as Gwen had become? Not a chance. “He did not seem initially excited, but perhaps he was put off by my eating of his sandwich. Baldwin, however, was elated.” His voice was filled with wry humor.
So many words. So much conversation. Even with her, so difficult to maintain. “You may thank them, if you wish. I must thank you, for recommending them.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 6:22 pm
Admittedly this was the longest conversation the two had since she was hired, and while it was a little off setting, Gwen was simply too much in an ecstatic mood to notice it too for too long. How could she think of such things when her mind kind wondering to just how adorable the puppy must have been, and how long it would take for her to weasel her way into Richard’s heart?
“I’m sure I will see her. I don’t know Mr. Richard like you do, but I know that, as an animal lover myself, if a pet doesn’t put you in a good mood, then I doubt anything will!” Gwen hadn’t thought about how cold that came out until it was already out in the open, and she tried to recover, before he could think her heartless. “Well… I mean, after what’s happened with his shop and all, it’s bound to help pull him out of this funk, right?”
She wasn’t sure what kind of thing was going on between her boss and the co-owner of Sugar Shanty and honestly it was none of her business to know, but she knew Krishna to be protective. Maybe even overprotective, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. When he thanked her, she gave a shrug before admitting, “It’s no problem, Mr. Krishna. I’m just happy to help in some way. You’re a good friend for doing this for him, and I’m sure he’ll let you know in some way or another.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quicksilver the Archangel
|
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 6:23 pm
The florist froze in putting on his second glove… but Gwen recovered from her verbal fumble. He knew that she did not know, could not know, what had truly happened that night. That it was not merely the loss of a shop, as painful as he knew that to be, but also the emotional weight of having turned a cousin into a youma… and then watching her get destroyed. All the same, he could not help but tense. He tried not to let it show as he agreed, “Yes. She will be good for him.”
“Friendship is its own reward.” It was rather metaphysical, and unusual, for him to speak such a platitude, but it was true. Krishna had few friends and truly valued the ones that he had. Some might warn him that the tight grip he had on the few he had might one day lead to choking them and forcing them further away. He would have said that he knew no other way. He had lost his mother, despite holding fast. He would certainly have lost his brother, had he not persistently held onto him via various forms of correspondence for a decade. The florist would never let go to what he held dear… if only because that firm grip allowed him to be sure those relationships were real.
He said none of these things, but he softened once again. Nothing was going to damage this good mood. Nothing was going to keep him from giving her what she deserved. “All the same, I thank you. I cannot give much, but your salary will increase. Unless you wish something else?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 6:24 pm
She wasn’t sure if he hadn’t noticed her fumble or if she simply did such a great job in her recovery that he was willing to let it pass, but either way, she was relieved that he did not appear angry with her and was willing to let the topic end on a high note. Which certainly meant that he must have been in a damn good mood, and when Krishna was in a good mood, it seemed everyone was.
His good mood wasn’t too unexpected, knowing that he had handled the puppy and gifting said puppy to his friend, but the reward took her completely by surprise. Gwen’s eyes widened, once again struggling to keep her excitement from bubbling over and causing her fumble again, as she couldn’t stop herself from parrotting him. “A salary increase? That’s… like a raise, right?”
She felt like an idiot. Of course it was a raise! She didn’t immediately reject it, but she did feel the need to ask a few question, uncertain if this was an acceptable thing to do when discovering such news. “Are… are you sure? What kind of raise? I mean… uh, how much would that be, exactly, if that’s okay to ask?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quicksilver the Archangel
|
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 6:25 pm
A small smile crossed Krishna’s face at her disbelief. If he had any doubt that the reward he had in mind was appropriate or was going to be appreciated, her stammering and unease was proof that he should never doubt. Such a raise would have been much appreciated when he was younger, and she had given him the advice and knowledge that he did not possess. To save Richard, he had relied on her. His faith had been rewarded and he, in turn, would reward her.
“Currently you make 7.50 an hour; I am going to raise your hourly salary to 8.50.” A dollar per hour raise was not much, as he had said, but it was what he could afford to give. Even with the considerable inheritance that was soon to be his, he could not be frivolous. 8.50 an hour for a part time job was quite generous - and he knew it, from having worked part time jobs himself until he created his own business.
“You have done me a great favor, Gwen. This is nothing but what you deserve.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 6:26 pm
A whole dollar? It may not have appeared much, but Gwen remembered her sister’s rambling, how pisspoor minimum wage was at her job and how even a few cents would help in the long run. She didn’t know how much it would help or how much it would increase as she always gave her sister the check the moment she got home, but she could guess that it was definitely a good raise.
“8.50 is definitely a good raise! I’m not sure I’ve really earned it, but I’ve never known you to be wrong, so… thank you so much!” She wanted to hug him, but no amount of excitement could make her break through that aura of professionalism that existed between them. Not to mention she didn’t want to run the risk of someone walking in and seeing such a sight- that’d ruin Krishna’s reputation, wouldn’t it? Yet, the way she smile, so wide that even her missing tooth in the back could be seen, was a clear enough indication of her joy. “I’ll continue to do my best and help whenever I can! I won’t let you down!”
So excited was she that she never noticed there was already a customer on the way, and the chime of the door opening made her jump in surprise, but she was quick to recover. Before Krishna could say anything, Gwen called out to the older gentleman, a beaming smile on her face that could cause the sun to turn away in shame on her face. “Welcome to Padma’s Bouquet! How may we assist you?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quicksilver the Archangel
|
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 8:19 pm
Gwen's smile made Krishna's own deepen. He did not often have the luxury of generosity or delivering good news. Too often he was dealing with problems that cropped up in his life, either from his own misfortunes or someone else's. Today, it was enough to have this joy. "You are welcome." When the customer came in, Krishna left Gwen to handle the customer and took hold of a cart laden with bags of soil. It needed to be moved into proper position anyway, and he trusted the girl to call him if she needed him. Until then, he would busy himself elsewhere in the shop. There was always much to do.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
