Jaskier, we both know damn well you ain't gonna spend your days sitting in a shop. Sweeping. Dusting. Waiting for someone to walk in so you can sell them one fern. Have you ever worked retail? Shit sucks.
She's sixteen. She's one of us and she needs a decent job. You're hiring her.
I don't understand this inclination to believe I've never done hard labour in my life. I have swept things before. Who do you think built the shelves? -- well, Geralt did, but I helped. I dust all the bloody time! Do you have the mistaken impression that Ciri and Geralt clean our home? They barely even clean blood off the tables!
No, that's not what I meant. Of course you can do all that stuff. But have you done it for eight hours a day? Every day? All week? Mostly alone? You're you. You'd hate that. And you have the money to pay someone else to do it, so why would you bother?
Besides, you'd be keeping a wayward youth off the streets. Away from drugs and bad influences.
[ Julie already has both of those covered for Abby, thank you. ]
[It's a fair enough point, but Jaskier also does not have any concept of modern-day retail work, so it was a bit more like "I'll open the shop when I feel like it and if I feel like it." The idea it should be open for eight hours is, frankly, bizarre. Who has that much time?
But another point rises first.]
Er, not to argue, but you are quite aware you're both spreading those drugs and bad influence into the streets, correct? And I daresay sixteen is hardly a child.
[ Julie would not understand the idea of a shop only being open whenever the owner feels like it. How would that make money? Couldn't he just sell plants out of his house, if that's the case?
Two very different frames of reference. ]
I said youth, not child. And my bad influence is also helpful for her. I'm gonna teach her magic. But she has rent and shit to pay for, so you can also be influential by employing her.
Oh, don't pretend I don't understand what you meant!
I really hope you are not starting with fire.
[That might only be his trauma talking, but also his very real concern for Nadine's greenhouse. That entire thing is quite flammable.]
I'll consider it. But no magic and no marijuana while on the job. I don't want to be cleaning up any accidental messes. That's if she passes the interview.
Excuse you, my fire skills are top-notch. Ask Geralt. He's seen it.
But no, we're starting with clouds. And glitter. The glitter is sort of unintentional so far, but she's good with clouds. They're mostly shaped like dicks. Fire only in the Horizon for now.
[ Believe it or not, Julie is not actually a completely irresponsible dolt. She is aware that fire was a risky starting point (thanks Nadine), and now that she has her own house to protect, Julie has been adamant that things go a little more safely. Abby is also surprisingly in tune with her emotional limits, for a sixteen year old, so she has been in agreement that she will practice more dangerous skills in the Horizon first.
Julie makes a mental note to tell Abby to promise she will never smoke at work, and that she will have to get high before she goes in. ]
Honestly Jaskier, I'm getting offended that you think I would send you someone completely shitty. Is that what you think of me? That I only collect shitty newbies? I'm not Geralt, I don't pick my friends based on them refusing to leave me alone.
Ah, it's not so much for that reason. I would simply prefer fire to not make its presence known in my shop. Or near me. We have a history. A very unfortunate history.
[He doesn't know if anyone truly notices the scars on his fingertips anymore, but there are plenty nights where Jaskier rubs them together, reminded of what was done to him.
Time only heals most things.]
I do support the cloud shapes, however.
[He'll have to ask to see those.]
I'm not saying anything about you. I simply know people. And, look, if we're being honest, I'm very sensitive about this whole thing. I may be a bard, but I am not an entrepreneur. Yet. Or -- I suppose I am, now, I mean. I have no previous experience. This could all go very badly, who knows?
I will say, that's a very low blow. A completely unnecessary one.
[ For a moment, there's no response. Julie doesn't know exactly what happened to Jaskier, but she knows his reaction to loud noises, to flames. It's not unlike her own reaction to lightning. ]
There won't be any fire, Jaskier. I promise.
[ And though not much tone can be conveyed in this medium, her words do hang there for a beat. Sincere. ]
I know. I'm offering you help. So you can spend less time doing the boring chore work and more time actually working with the plants, doing the books. Whatever. Delegation is a part of business.
[The same as for him. One single word from Jaskier can say more than many, he surmises, since he never runs out of them.]
Spoken like a true entrepreneur. [He's rather sure she's not, actually, but clearly there is an experience he does not hold himself.] As you expected, you've lifted more than your weight's worth to convince me. And I recognize you are doing your due duty in the aiding of those... younger and less fortunate than ourselves. [Or those without Jaskier's coin, who might as well be brought in for it.] I shall message her and we'll set a date.
I did not say that. That is a completely different sentence!
Yes, yes, we all know you did wonderful with your accidental-on-purpose matchmaking. But you and I both know we have, how you would say, particular personalities.
Ugh. You're backing me into a corner. On purpose! That's not very friend-li -- nevermind, I'm quite used to it.
Fine. I shall grant her an interview. But you had better tell her I will not endure any nonsense nor horsing around. The plants have very delicate dispositions and are quite empathetic.
Jaskier, that's exactly what friends do. Literally best friend behavior. You should be flattered. You think I would send a young girl off to work for a man I didn't love enough to make him hire her? You know what my world was like, how it was for women. I don't take that shit lightly.
I trust both of you.
[ She makes a list on a piece of scratch paper.
Tell him you won't smoke (only do so before work and behind the building)
Tell him you would never "horse around" near plants
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cointosser) wrote2021-04-12 08:58 pm
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She's sixteen. She's one of us and she needs a decent job. You're hiring her.
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The least you could have done is say please.
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Besides, you'd be keeping a wayward youth off the streets. Away from drugs and bad influences.
[ Julie already has both of those covered for Abby, thank you. ]
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But another point rises first.]
Er, not to argue, but you are quite aware you're both spreading those drugs and bad influence into the streets, correct? And I daresay sixteen is hardly a child.
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Two very different frames of reference. ]
I said youth, not child. And my bad influence is also helpful for her. I'm gonna teach her magic. But she has rent and shit to pay for, so you can also be influential by employing her.
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I really hope you are not starting with fire.
[That might only be his trauma talking, but also his very real concern for Nadine's greenhouse. That entire thing is quite flammable.]
I'll consider it. But no magic and no marijuana while on the job. I don't want to be cleaning up any accidental messes. That's if she passes the interview.
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But no, we're starting with clouds. And glitter. The glitter is sort of unintentional so far, but she's good with clouds. They're mostly shaped like dicks. Fire only in the Horizon for now.
[ Believe it or not, Julie is not actually a completely irresponsible dolt. She is aware that fire was a risky starting point (thanks Nadine), and now that she has her own house to protect, Julie has been adamant that things go a little more safely. Abby is also surprisingly in tune with her emotional limits, for a sixteen year old, so she has been in agreement that she will practice more dangerous skills in the Horizon first.
Julie makes a mental note to tell Abby to promise she will never smoke at work, and that she will have to get high before she goes in. ]
Honestly Jaskier, I'm getting offended that you think I would send you someone completely shitty. Is that what you think of me? That I only collect shitty newbies? I'm not Geralt, I don't pick my friends based on them refusing to leave me alone.
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[He doesn't know if anyone truly notices the scars on his fingertips anymore, but there are plenty nights where Jaskier rubs them together, reminded of what was done to him.
Time only heals most things.]
I do support the cloud shapes, however.
[He'll have to ask to see those.]
I'm not saying anything about you. I simply know people. And, look, if we're being honest, I'm very sensitive about this whole thing. I may be a bard, but I am not an entrepreneur. Yet. Or -- I suppose I am, now, I mean. I have no previous experience. This could all go very badly, who knows?
I will say, that's a very low blow. A completely unnecessary one.
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There won't be any fire, Jaskier. I promise.
[ And though not much tone can be conveyed in this medium, her words do hang there for a beat. Sincere. ]
I know. I'm offering you help. So you can spend less time doing the boring chore work and more time actually working with the plants, doing the books. Whatever. Delegation is a part of business.
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[The same as for him. One single word from Jaskier can say more than many, he surmises, since he never runs out of them.]
Spoken like a true entrepreneur. [He's rather sure she's not, actually, but clearly there is an experience he does not hold himself.] As you expected, you've lifted more than your weight's worth to convince me. And I recognize you are doing your due duty in the aiding of those... younger and less fortunate than ourselves. [Or those without Jaskier's coin, who might as well be brought in for it.] I shall message her and we'll set a date.
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Let me remind you that we're coming up on your TWO year anniversary with Nadine.
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Yes, yes, we all know you did wonderful with your accidental-on-purpose matchmaking. But you and I both know we have, how you would say, particular personalities.
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You can interview her. [ It's just a formality. The outcome is already decided. ] Nadine likes her.
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Fine. I shall grant her an interview. But you had better tell her I will not endure any nonsense nor horsing around. The plants have very delicate dispositions and are quite empathetic.
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I trust both of you.
[ She makes a list on a piece of scratch paper.
Men. ]
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[A significant pause.]
I love you, too.
[Even if he endures far too much rudeness sometimes.]
All right, all right. I've learned my lesson on arguing with you. I do trust you. I'm sure she'll be a wonderful... er... employee.
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[ His concession is met with a liberal spray of little hearts across his vision. ]
She will be. If she's not, I'll make her help clean and butcher some of Ciri's kills to sell.
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[He sends little stars back.]
Oooh, shit, that's a bit of a mean punishment. Delightful. Agreed!