inner_wolf (inner_wolf) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-05-01 21:29:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, groot, nina pickering |
Who: Nina and Gabe
When: Sometime in April, after Gabe met with Rick
Where: Nina’s place
What: Gabe’s been given a job offer
Rating/Warnings:
Status: Complete
Gabe wasn’t the sort of guy to look a gift horse in the mouth. He knew a good opportunity when presented with one. But strangely, Rick’s offer of becoming partners in a medical marijuana dispensary actually gave Gabe pause. As much as this was suddenly the realization of a dream he’d had since moving out to California, he’d gotten so engrossed into the tight knit group at Fullerton Arboretum that suddenly leaving them felt like he was leaving family. Not only that, but he’d be leaving a position he’d risen quickly into; he was entrusted with installations of new gardens, landscaping management, even purchasing. Could he really trade all the outdoor labor for standing behind a counter all day?
Currently, he was sitting on Nina’s couch, holding a cup of tea between his large hands, letting it brew for a bit. He’d wanted Nina’s take on this, before he made any final decision. His normally carefree disposition was replaced with a knotted brow and concerned brown eyes.
“When I was talking with Rick, it seemed like an easy choice. But I wanted to run it by you first, just to make sure I’m not makin’ a mistake.”
Nina had her own cup of tea but she put it on the table so she could move closer to him and let her hand rub the back of his neck. It was obvious that he was struggling more with this than he had let on earlier.
“It is a wonderful opportunity, but it has to feel right too” she said, “You’ve been doing so well at Fullerton and you enjoy the work. This is a big thing to go into even if it has been a dream for a long time. We just need to work out if it’s going to make you happy” Because for Nina that was the most important thing, she didn’t want him to end up in a job he wasn’t enjoying just because it had seemed like a big chance.
“Both jobs would make me happy,” he chuckled, then took a sip of the brew. He breathed in the scent of the chamomile as he drank it. “But there aren’t enough hours in the day.” Nina’s touch felt reassuring and smiled over at her. “Going legit would mean helping a lot more people locally, and your patients would be able to come to me directly. Means I don’t risk getting into trouble and neither do you.” He made a little huff as he thought of the conversation he’d had with Rick. “Y’know, I made the mistake of telling him I wasn’t exactly within the law with my plants, and the dude up and tells me not to mention anything like that again because he used to be a cop. Er, uh a sheriff's deputy or something.” He wrinkled his nose and raised an eyebrow. “Can you believe that? Not a lawman anymore but he was advising me not to mention it anyway. And you thought I was a boyscout.”
“Well maybe there are enough hours if you do them both part time?” she suggested, understanding that his want to help people was just like hers and they both knew the relief that it could bring the patients they helped. Her eyebrows raised at that, “That’s pretty decent of him” she pointed out, “And you are a boyscout, the best of them” she smiled pressing a kiss to his cheek.
He chuckled. He’d actually meant it was annoying Rick had called him out on it, but Nina was right. The warning was helpful.
He nuzzled her hair and kissed her cheek in return. “Thanks, babe.” Looking down at the tea again he mulled over the part-time idea. “You think that would work, going halfsies on both jobs?” He’d never run a dispensary so he didn’t know what the hours were like, and Rick himself was still trying to hash out the details. “I’ll have to ask Rick. And of course, my boss. I’m sure she’d love that I stick around somehow, but I wouldn’t be able to do half as much as I’m doing now. They need to hire more people.” Seriously. Gabe was a workhorse, but even now a few more hands would help things go faster.
Annoying it may be but at least he’d done it and not simply reported Gabe. That would have had repercussions for all of them.
“It might” Nina said, “I mean I assume Rick would be working there too so I can’t imagine it would be too much of a problem and you know they’d love to keep you anyway they can. You are invaluable” It was true and she was proud of him for it. If he could do his dream half the time and enjoy being outside growing things the other half she thought it might be the best of both worlds for him.
“I dunno if I’m invaluable but I’m definitely part of the team.” But then Gabe frowned. He suddenly remembered Rick literally agreeing with him that he’d have to leave Fullerton. “Wait...I don’t think I can pull the part time gig. I just remembered....Rick talked about it like it was a full time job, plus, ‘Neen, he’s got kids. Young ones. And he wants to be able to be there for ‘em, so I think he’d need me more.” He sighed heavily and sipped from the mug. So much for that idea. He could double check with Rick later, but he was pretty certain he would be needed full time.
Nina thought he was invaluable and she had a feeling others would agree. “You know just because he has kids doesn’t mean he should be able to use them as an excuse to dump more things on you” she said, she didn’t want Gabe thinking he had to take the lions share of the work on just because Rick had a young family. “At least sound him out about it first hmm?” she suggested, it might all work out in the end.
“Whoa, hey.” Gabe said, brow furrowing a little. He set down his tea and turned to face Nina more. “That’s not what he’s doing, trust me. The guy lost his wife...I dunno when, but it’s clear it’s still hard for him. He’s been raising those kids by himself. I think he’s got someone helping now though…” He had been confused by Rick’s words about that. ‘Partner’ was the word he’d used, in regards to another man. Even Rick had admitted to not knowing exactly what sort of relationship that was. “I don’t really know who, or get what the deal is, cuz it’s a...guy...but I think he wants to try to balance the farm produce he grows with spending time with his kids, and workin’ on this dispensary. That’s a lot for one guy.” He saw the concern on his girlfriend’s face and Gabe knew Nina wasn’t going to let go of this. “But I’ll check with him anyway. Like he said, we’re gonna be figuring things out as we go along.”
Maybe it was because of her job but Nina was a little more wary of people than Gabe was at times and her primary concern would always be him. Sure it sounded like the guy had been handed a rough deal but she knew sometimes people used their sob stories to get away with all kinds of things. And she wasn’t sitting idly by and watching Gabe get taken advantage of. “Well if he can balance that then I don’t see why you shouldn’t have a chance to balance your work at the nursery with work at the dispensary” Nina pointed out, partnerships were supposed to be equal and if Rick still had time to grow produce and raise kids then she didn’t see why Gabe wouldn’t be able to do his work too. If he wanted to.
Gabe smiled lovingly at her. Her fiery spirit was one of the things he loved most about her. “All right, I’ll tell him I want to be able to do both and see how we can work it out. I promise.” He kissed her forehead. “Now, I heard about some show on Netflix someone posted about on Valar. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt or something? You heard of it?”
Nina smiled and kissed him properly, she loved him very much and wanted him to be happy with what he was doing. And he was an incredible man with a talent for horticulture. “Nope never heard of it. Let’s give it a go”