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Tweak says, "My widdle key."

Bryony Capper (goodlight) wrote in finnigans_rpg,
@ 2015-08-18 16:16:00

Entry tags:

character: bryony capper, character: melinda bobbin

Job Prospects
Who: Bryony and Melinda
What: Talking about possible employment
Where: Sweet Nothings
When: Tuesday 18th August, afternoon
Rating: SFW

It was rapidly becoming clear to Bryony that there were more than emotional repercussions to being disowned. When she'd said she could support herself without the help of her father or a husband, she'd meant she would be able to, one day, not that she could immediately. Even without having to worry about paying for a place to live, for now, the small amount in her personal bank account was rapidly dwindling. She'd had to buy food, and toiletries, and a birthday present for Astoria. Not to mention that eventually she would need more painting supplies, or new clothes, or potions ingredients. Bryony had never before had to forego something she wanted because she was worried about not being able to afford it.

So Melinda's journal about needing an employee had lodged an idea in Bryony's brain. It had taken a few days to percolate - she'd never had a traditional job, and wasn't really sure she was suitable. She wasn't good at talking to people. On the other hand, how difficult could it be to cut and serve cake? She already knew she could make coffee and tea. And Melinda seemed nice, the times Bryony had been into the shop. There were much worse people to learn to work with, Bryony was sure.

Though inspiration for her work was still nowhere to be found, Bryony had procrastinated until mid-afternoon. She couldn't help being nervous, but eventually she forced herself to apparate into Monument Alley and walk the short distance to Sweet Nothings. For once, the sweet smell of baking didn't tempt her tastebuds at all. "Hello," she said, approaching the counter and hoping she looked less uncomfortable than she felt in her plain black robes. "I'm Bryony. I was talking to you over the journals last week."

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goodlight
2015-08-19 11:17 am UTC (link)

Bryony took Melinda's hand, forcing a smile. "Yes, you too," she said politely, not mentioning that they had met before. She'd only been a customer then, and there was no reason Melinda should remember. They hadn't really spoken, Bryony had just paid for what she wanted and left.

"I don't know if I'm really what you're looking for," she said. It didn't occur to her to try and lie, or make her experience sound more than it was - she knew nothing about applying for a traditional job and it seemed to her that lying about that would just make it more stressful than it needed to be. Besides, if she was going to take too long to learn then she didn't want to inconvenience Melinda - even if she didn't know where else she would get money. "I'm apprenticing under Braith Whitehead - the artist," she explained. "But I don't have a set schedule there, and I know at least one of the other artists works elsewhere part time, so I think I could fit whatever hours you needed in easily enough."

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_melinda_
2015-08-19 07:49 pm UTC (link)

Melinda tilted her head slightly at Bryony’s statement. The times she had interviewed potential employees, she’d heard a lot of playing up skills and suitability, but this? Outright questioning herself? That was a new one. “Well,” she said with a small smile, before she gestured to one of the tables towards the back. “Why don’t we sit down and find that out? Would you like some coffee or tea while we talk?”

Calling out back to get Mark to man the till while she talked to Bryony, she arranged a tray with their cups and brought it along to the table. “Now, I’d like to hear some more about your work with Mr. Whitehead,” she said as she sat down, placing her notepad next to her teacup, and hoping that she could get a better idea of who Bryony was by talking about what she was doing now. Working in the shop wasn’t that hard, there was so many different task that an employee could do, so chances were that there was always something you could do. Placing people where they fit, that was the trick, and with Bryony questioning herself like she obviously did, Melinda just wanted to narrow in on something that she liked to do. “I’ve been to the gallery a couple of times. I like his work.”

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goodlight
2015-08-20 09:57 am UTC (link)

"Tea, please," Bryony answered before she moved to the table Melinda suggested. Once seated, she tucked her hands under the table in her lap, fidgeting where they couldn't be seen. "It's actually Ms Whitehead," she added as Melinda came over with the tray. She'd never asked - nor been able to work out without asking - whether or not Braith were married, and she'd insisted Bryony call her by her first name from the beginning. "What do you want to know?"

While she thought about what to say, Bryony took a cup and added sugar. The tea was still too hot to drink, but at least she could occupy her hands with the delicate teaspoon. "I'm an apprentice there, learning about magical painting, the potions that need to be made, as well as practicing on my own," she said. "I don't really have set hours I have to be there, or specific tasks. It's polite, because I'm newest and youngest, for me to make the tea, and keep the kitchen stocked, but they can do it without me if I'm not there."

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_melinda_
2015-08-24 08:22 pm UTC (link)

“Miss Whitehead, of course, my apologies,” Melinda corrected after Bryony’s information. She had been to the gallery but had never met the artist.

With a smile, genuinely pleased to hear about Bryony’s apprenticeship, Melinda scribbled and made notes for no real reason other than that was what she did when she listened. “Well, here stocking, making coffee and tea isn’t done based on seniority, it’s done based on who has free hands to do it at the time,” she mused, though she knew that most of the tasks in the business were done based on training and skill. “If I was to offer you a position here,” she continued, “how many hours per week, would you think you’d be interested in, and at this point, do you have any ideas of what you’d like to do here?”

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goodlight
2015-08-26 10:51 pm UTC (link)

Bryony nodded - she hadn't really expected the set up of the bakery to be the same as the studio. She'd mentioned it mostly to have something to say. She chewed on her lower lip at Melinda's question. She didn't know how many hours was standard, or how many hours would be enough to cover rent somewhere. She didn't even know where she was going to live. She couldn't live at the studio forever.

She had to take a sip of her too-hot tea just to cover the sudden flash of panic, and to relieve the tightness of her throat. "It's, it's really up to you," she said, voice wavering a little at the very beginning of the sentence. "I'm happy to work full time two or three days a week, or shorter shifts more often or - anything, really." She just hoped she could really maintain that much unfamiliar work. As to what she wanted to do? Anything that wouldn't risk losing Melinda money or making her life more difficult. "I'm good at timings," she admitted. "If you need someone to take things out of the oven while you're not here, or while you're serving."

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_melinda_
2015-08-30 09:52 pm UTC (link)

It was small, but it was there; the waver that that confirmed the nervousness Melinda had only guessed at before. That was the last thing she wanted for Bryony, and before she could think, she reached over and put her hand on top of Bryony’s, hoping to calm her. “It’s alright,” she said with a smile. “You don’t have to be nervous. I’m not expecting you to know everything right away.” Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, she let go and sat back in her chair.

“I have Mark working out back. He’s and amazing baker, but he can’t decorate and he’s no good out here with the public, so he takes care of the ovens. However,” she held up her hand to signal that there was more to that. “I’m sure that he’ll be asking for help every bit as often as I will, until you’ve found your own feet here. So…” she looked down at the notes in her hand. “How about we start out with a couple of hours a day, however many you want or have time for, and then once you know your way around here, we’ll adjust your hours and days so it suits you and the things you’re best at?”

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goodlight
2015-09-11 12:45 pm UTC (link)

It all almost seemed too easy. Bryony had expected finding a job to prove as difficult as finding an artist who would take her on had been. "Really?" she asked, unable to hide her surprise. Quickly, she tried to cover it up - not wanting to give Melinda a chance to back out. "That sounds wonderful." The hand on hers was a solid confirmation that Melinda was a nice person. "I can start tomorrow, if you want. Is there anything I should do?" Suddenly, Bryony had a million question - what should she wear, what did she need to know?

She forced herself to take a breath, and a sip of her drink to keep her from blurting all these queries forward at once. "Thank you," she added, belatedly.

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_melinda_
2015-09-11 01:49 pm UTC (link)

”Yes, really,” Melinda chuckled, sending Bryony a bright smile. “You need a job, I need some help. To me that sounds like the perfect reason to give it a try and see if it’ll work. Add to that that you’re polite and have a nice smile, and we’re already well on the way. Everything else, can be learned.”

Taking a sip of her tea, Melinda leaned back and considered the question. “Sure, you can start tomorrow,” she agreed. “The morning rush is probably not the best time, so how about you come in around 11 o’clock? Would that suit you? Other than that, clean clothes is a must, as is clean hands. I know you paint, so please make sure that any paint has been removed.” She held up her hand to show that she had some amending to that. “It may not transfer, but it gives the impression that your hands are dirty, even if they’ve been disinfected. Same thing goes for nails; they should be kept short and if you wear nail polish, keep it simple. No dark colours, because that way the customers can see, that you don’t have dirt under your nails. Not that I think you do, but aside from actual hygiene, looking the part is just as important. Uhm… what else… Oh. Yes. Your hair. It’s a shame, I know, but either wear it up or Charmed to keep from getting in the cakes. And comfortable shoes can change your life here.” She looked at Bryony and gave her a satisfied nod, before she held out her hand as if ready to seal a deal. “And if there’s anything, anything at all; ask. There are no stupid question and no such thing as asking too many questions, yeah?”

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goodlight
2015-09-18 12:46 pm UTC (link)

Bryony flushed slightly at the praise, but she was still smiling. "It's very kind of you," she said, not even thinking that she would seem more competent and confident if she didn't look like any job given to her was a favour performed out of kindness.

"Eleven is fine." She was always up by then, and it would give her a few hours to sort the studio and talk to Braith. She didn't think she had to inform her of changes to her employment, but it seemed only polite to do so. She gave another shy smile. "I know plenty of paint removing spells and charms. I'm used to that." Sometimes she forgot about her clothes, but she always cleaned her hands, face and hair before she left the studio. "Would you like me to wear any particular colour of clothes? I have robes in black, blues, greys and greens - but I could charm them to be different colours if there's a particular look you're going for." She remembered then that she'd seen other employees here in muggle clothes. "I... only have robes, at the moment, but I could get some other clothes. Probably not by tomorrow..."

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_melinda_
2015-09-27 12:11 pm UTC (link)

Melinda considered the question about clothing then shook her head. “No, not really,” she said. “As long as it’s presentable, clean, not too casual and you feel comfortable in, it’s all good. On a regular day you’ll wear a white apron that you’ll keep here and we’ll take care of any mending and cleaning, and the only changes there are around holidays or special occasions, but you’ll be given plenty of advance notice if you want to colour adjust your regular clothes. You’re free to wear either robes or Muggle attire as it suits you.” She gestured to herself, her white chef’s jacket and the checkered dress that she wore instead of the trousers usually associated with chefs. “As you can see, it’s all about what you like to wear here, and I prefer dresses to trousers in this case.”

With a smile she looked at Bryony for a moment, trying to think of what else she needed to tell. “Oh!” she said and waved her wand, summoning one of the menus from the counter. “I don’t expect you to know all of them right from the get go and there are small signs and descriptions by each cake in the display, but you can take this home and just get an idea of how it works with the pastries and tarts on different days. That might help make it seem a little less confusing, other than that, I don’t think I have anything else, unless you have anything in mind.”

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