Who: Claire Dearing and Owen Grady What: Just another day at the zoo When: Late October [Backdated] Where: Orange County Zoo Rating/Warnings: Low/Language likely Status: Closed/Completed GDoc
~*~
Claire took in a deep breath as her fingers moved over the keys on her keyboard, eyes narrowed slightly and focused intently on the e-mail she was typing out. She finished with just a few more strokes of her fingers, and quickly re-read over what she'd written out. Once Claire was satisfied with what she'd written - which was a couple of revisions later - she hit send.
Pushing back from her desk, Claire rolled her shoulders and decided it was time to take a stroll around the park. She had no more pressing work to do just yet, and it was time for her to stretch her legs.
The zoo was small, although that was truly an understatement, tiny would've been a better description if she was being honest. Claire didn't like to think about how she'd ended up here. Claire was trying to move on with her life, though it was hard.
She walked down the main path, giving a nod to some of the patrons as she passed by them. Everything appeared to be in order, they were enjoying the animals and that was what mattered to Claire. She was passing by the Mountain Lion enclosure when she spotted Owen on the outside of the fence. "Hello, Mr. Grady." She greeted Owen with a small nod of her head. They might've butted heads on more than one occasion since they both began working there, but she could be civil to him.
~*~
"Owen," he corrected with a long-suffering sigh, "It's just Owen, Claire."
The zoo director was the most uptight woman he'd had the displeasure of working with in years. Claire Dearing was a lot more suited to running a zillion-dollar corporate venture than a zoo with live exhibits from what Owen could tell. She had almost no ability to thaw out the Ice Queen exterior which made him uncomfortable talking to her. It didn't help she wanted him to do things with the animals which were impossible given they were talking about animals.
Mountain lions were not literally lions. They couldn't be trained the same way because they operated on a different wavelength. Their instincts were different. Lions were pack hunters. Pack animals could be trained differently than what was considered to be a solitary breed in the case of mountain lions. Owen honestly wished they would change the exhibit to title the animals as pumas or even cougars because it would be less misleading than adding the 'lion' title to their name. He understood they couldn't because of the way people thought of them. It was frustrating for him, but business was business.
Owen was glad all he had to do was train and study behavior.
"Are you sure they're still working on the doors to this enclosure? I haven't seen anyone in days. I can do it myself if I need to, it's not a problem. I just know these animals aren't making their appearances the way you want them to because they have no motivation to come out to play with the public. We can change that by adjusting how they're fed, how they're given interaction, how we treat them. First step there is getting something other than a storm drain for a door for them."
He was worried he wouldn't measure up in the zoo if he couldn't get adequate accommodations to work with the animals. How was he supposed to do his job if he didn't have the proper tools? It was like asking a guy to sculpt David without a chisel.
~*~
It took every ounce of willpower that Claire had not to roll her eyes at him. She wanted to remain a professional, and calling him Owen felt too personal. Claire wasn't on a first name basis with anyone in the park, and they all seemed to respect that. Owen, on the other hand, was bound and determined to make her call him by his first name.
"Fine, Owen." She gave a small tip of her head in his direction and then moved a little closer to the enclosure. She really did wish that the mountain lions would come out more,but she knew that if anyone could get them to do what she needed them to do for the zoo it was Owen.
Licking her lips, Claire nodded. "They are. Unfortunately there was an issue with the black bear enclosure that I thought should take priority right now." She glanced back over at Owen. Claire didn't need another incident on her record, and God forbid a group of school children came face to face with something that could and would eat them because in the end? These were wild animals.
"They'll be back on the job tomorrow, as far as I've been told." She clasped her hands in front of her, eyes going back to the enclosure just so she wouldn't have to look at Owen. It wasn't that she didn't like looking at him, it was that Claire found she liked looking at him a little too much.
That in and of itself was strange to her. "If anything happens to change, I'll send you an e-mail about it." Claire and her love for technology. It just made things so much easier in her opinion. "We'll have three groups coming through tomorrow. I know the mountain lions won't be out with the noise, but if you could take the time to speak with them, I would appreciate it."
~*~
"Oh ye of little faith," Owen clucked his tongue at her, "You need to learn to trust me, Claire. I can get them out for your tourists. They're really big cats. Stick something on a string and they will chase it."
He had gotten the lions to play with all kinds of toys. Catnip didn't work for wild cats, but he'd even tried that to see if it would help. Owen took his job seriously. Animals were his passion. They made more sense to him than most people. Instincts were easy to understand, break down, figure out. Owen lived his life by his baser instincts more often than not and he wasn't ashamed to admit to it either.
Some might consider him a neanderthal for it.
They were the ones who were least likely to be happy with their own lives, too, in his experience.
"Do they need any help with the bear exhibit? You can just tell me. I have a tendency not to check email. Me and electronics are only passing acquaintances. I'm more of a hands-on kind of guy. I like to get down and dirty with---well, I guess you could say my wild side. You ever get down and dirty, Claire?"
Owen doubted it. She was so uptight he was impressed she was able to walk around without a significant issue from the stick up her ass. There was no doubt she was a looker all the same. He'd not complain about the view. Owen might complain about her calling him Mister Grady since it reminded him of listening to his dad. He wouldn't complain about having to work with Claire.
Redheads typically had a lot of fire in them, even if they didn't know it themselves.
~*~
"I trust your abilities. I just don't know if the cats will cooperate as they do have minds of their own." They were still exhibits to Claire, although she was keenly aware that they were wild animals. She'd learned that lesson the hard way.
A line appeared between her brows and she shook her head, "No, they should have it wrapped up by the end of the day. There was some weaknesses found in the fence that needed to be taken care of immediately." Her gaze shifted back to Owen, "There was an e-mail sent out, and while I understand that some people don't enjoy technology as much as others, you should make a point to check yours at least at the end of the day." There was a lot of important information sent out during the day, sometimes even after hours, in regards to the zoo.
Of course, anything that had to do with the zoo was important to Claire. She wanted it to run smoothly so that eventually she could find another job somewhere else. A delicate brow rose at his question, however, and she laughed.
Claire's life consisted of very little. She was either at the zoo or home, she had no pets, no lover, or anything else to distract her from her work. It was lonely, sure, but it was the best for her right now. "I don't believe my personal life is a good topic of conversation considering there's very little to tell about it, so I think that should give you your answer, Owen." Friends weren't easily made for Claire, she was too uptight for most people to handle, although she had been trying to be more approachable.
It got lonely sometimes, but again, it was for the best. At least, that's what Claire kept telling herself.
~*~
Check email once a day or run the risk of being clawed by the boss.
Owen made a mental note as he fought the urge to explain to Claire in graphic detail how many other things were more important in his life than checking his email. She was trying to run a zoo. Granted, it was the size of a petting zoo compared to what Owen had been working with before, but it was still her baby. He knew all about taking responsibilities seriously. He'd done all he could to make sure his work spoke for itself.
People paid him for his efforts for a reason.
Image was important in the world Claire operated in. Owen figured she was the one who had to make sure she always looked her best in case investors or donors showed up on a surprise visit. Those people? Rich people who wanted to invest in the success of others? They were the kind who had the luxury of being able to show up unannounced at a location. Owen wasn't against looking good for his audience; he was only more accustomed to being the entertainment for a crowd uninterested in his wardrobe choices.
"I gotcha, Claire. No worries. Check email once a day. It's on the list."
He ticked his finger against his temple as if he were checking it into place on the list.
"You should consider checking off 'Make more time for friends' on your list. Work can't be your everything. If it becomes your everything? That's when you know you're in trouble. I'm not saying go out to a bar and hook-up. I'm just saying it might be nice to spend an evening having dinner with someone with similar interests. Pretty sure in a place as big as this, there's gotta be at least a few people you'd click with if not a lot of people."
Claire was more socially acceptable than Owen. He didn't need her to go into detail to figure that out.
~*~
"Thank you." Claire replied with a nod of her head in Owen's direction. She was hopeful that he would actually do that as there was typically important information contained within them. At least, Claire believed that it was important information.
Her lips turned down at the corners slightly. Friends weren't something that Claire had here unfortunately. She hadn't gotten out much due to work, and her own personal social issues. That was none of anyone's business but her own, but Owen did have a point.
She should at least make some time for herself, but Claire was, at heart, a workaholic. Plus she doubted that there would be a lot of people that would actually put up with her. Sometimes Claire believed that her sister tolerated her, and she considered Karen to be her best friend.
The frown faded from her lips and she lifted a shoulder. "We'll see. I think I'm okay for now." She might go get a manicure or something sometime soon. For now, however, she had a little much on her mind with the upcoming holiday's and everything. There were a lot of things going on, and Claire didn't want, or need, any distractions really though it would be nice to have someone to pass the time with.
"I will give you a call when they finish up with the bear exhibit, or would you rather I come by in person?" She asked, curiously looking over at Owen with a raised brow.
~*~
"If you've got the time to come by in person? Swing by. I can enjoy the view while you're giving me a disapproving look in return. Besides, I can be your first attempt at that whole 'making time for friends' thing."
Claire might not find it amusing, but Owen thought it was worth smiling about to imagine her making her way over to his corner of the zoo to visit. They were colleagues. That was likely to be as far as their mutual interests extended if Claire's wardrobe was anything to go on. Owen was willing to give it a shot at friendship all the same. He had lived in a lot of places without ever putting down any roots with anyone in particular.
It felt as if it were about time he started to make more stable friends.
Given his acquaintances were old Navy pals or guys who thought 'All-You-Can-Eat' bars were a challenge personally issued to them? Owen didn't doubt Claire would agree with him. He had always been an acquaintance guy. She likely made friends forever with the few people who gained her trust. Out of the two of them, Owen knew which one would be the lucky one if that were the case.
Eventually? Even being the life of the party got tiring.
"I can also pitch in anywhere else you need me. I've been doing behaviorist work for so long I'm not as partial to any one species over another as I was when I started out."
The zoo wasn't big enough to have Owen thinking it was okay to stand around for hours. He needed to contribute somewhere if he could. It wouldn't be right otherwise. They didn't have the extraneous funds to simply pay him to look pretty; he knew for a damned fact Claire wasn't paid to look pretty regardless of the fact she looked as if she were dressed to run for Congress every time he saw her.
~*~
Claire rolled her eyes at Owen's response, although she couldn't help the small smile that tugged up the corners of her lips. "I'll see what I can do." Claire didn't believe that they could consider each other friends just yet, but it could be something that happened later on down the road. Claire, however, was trying to keep things professional here. She didn't need to let her own emotions get in the way of running the zoo now did she?
But what could it really hurt? Most people met their friends at the workplace, but on the other hand most of them weren't the boss now were they? Claire would see how things went, after all, she wasn't unfriendly, not really, she just had issues making friends.
"I'd like that, the help that is, since I don't actually have any friends here...yet." It was hard for her to admit that, but she did it all the same. Claire didn't really like sharing much about her personal life with people that she wasn't close with. It was out there in the open now, however, and so now Owen was privy to her secret.
Nodding, Claire decided to go with the change in subject. "I will keep that in mind. I'm sure that there will be a need for your expertise elsewhere sometime." She would keep an ear out for any of the keepers or volunteers asking for help.
Claire doubted it would be long before people were requesting for Owen's help, or even recruiting him to a different zoo. Claire hoped that wouldn't be the case, however, she couldn't blame him for leaving if he ever did decide to. Claire was also looking for something else, but she didn't think that her chance would come anytime soon.
~*~
A strange feeling passed over Owen hearing Claire didn't have friends in the area. She'd said 'yet' as if it meant she was trying or hadn't put friends at the top of her list of priorities, but Owen was trained to read nonverbal cues. He knew when someone wasn't being entirely honest with him. Claire wasn't lying so much as trying to save face he presumed. There wasn't anything to be ashamed of in his opinion; he could understand how it might pain someone with Claire's obvious attention to standard society etiquette.
"I hope I can make myself useful. Hate feeling like I'm taking up space."
He offered that instead of any comment on her statement. It was easier to accept personal responsibility than to put someone else on the spot. Owen Grady didn't have a problem taking on responsibility for anything. His life was one long string of strange events which had made him the guy he'd landed up being. Owen knew he was different by most standards. It didn't bother him. There were a lot worse things to be other than different.
The zoo was tiny, but he hoped he could be more of an asset to it as a result. He'd taken on a second position with the forestry service. Owen wasn't sure if he should tell Claire that or not. It seemed more like something he'd tell a friend than a boss figure. She was someone who likely would understand the need to have more supplemental income than what he was getting out of a place the size of the OC Zoo. That didn't mean he wanted to alienate his new supervisor just in case she thought he should have reported another position---even if his other job wouldn't interfere with his hours at the zoo.
"Umm, in case it comes up, I did take a consultant position with the forestry service. It's part-time so I'm not going to have issues keeping up with the hours here. I needed the extra income given how many hours I'm actually getting here compared to how many I thought I'd have. I don't know if it matters. I just figured you should know I can be reached any time, but if I'm in the field with my other job? I might need a little bit to get back on site. You and me? We're going to make it work here. I figure you need me for anything, you call. I'll do the same if that's alright?"
~*~
"You're very useful, Owen." Claire offered, giving him a slight smile as she turned her attention back over to him, "The zoo is lucky to have you." Claire still felt odd about calling this small of a space a zoo, but it was what it was. They were doing better, and perhaps, in time, they could do some expansion.
A brow rose slightly as Owen confessed to having another job, and his explanation as to why he had another job. In this day and age multiple jobs weren't uncommon. She'd heard of several people working for them that had other jobs as well. Claire personally didn't have to worry about that, but her apartment was rather small and she didn't need a lot. "It's understandable. Several people here have second jobs." She lifted a shoulder and then took in a deep breath before nodding, "Of course. I mean, it's fine. We'll make this place work like clockwork, and well, Owen. I have no doubts." There were doubts there nagging at the back of Claire's mind, but she left her fears unspoken for now. There was no reason why she should say anything about that anyway. Owen could do a quick Google search of her name, and there the whole mess would be.
Her phone began to vibrate in her hand, and Claire flipped it over to see who was calling. "I have to take this." She pointed at her phone, and gave a nod to Owen, "I'll see you tomorrow." She gave a sharp nod of her head before turning around, and quickly hitting the talk button. "Hello, Karen." There was an actual smile on her face, and it was clearly in her tone as she greeted her sister.
She turned to look back over her shoulder quickly at Owen. He was a good guy, and possible friend material. Only time would tell if that would happen, but for now, Claire was just happy that they were finally getting along.