Who: Irisa and Capable What: Looking after the shop...or getting into a fight if you’re Irisa Where: Much Ado About Books When: Saturday afternoon Rating: Low/None Status: Complete
Irisa wasn’t born for customer service, never pretended to be, but she was doing this as a favour to Tessa while the woman was away at her friend’s wedding. Currently, she was behind the counter watching a customer with a hawk-like gaze as he moved around the shop. He was, in her opinion, being suspicious and her attention was so diverted that she initially didn’t pay much attention to the guy who approached her and asked her a question. Grunting an answer and thumbing over her shoulder towards the section she thought he wanted. She obviously hadn’t heard him right because he stood right in front of her and spoke with an irritated tone. “Look, I already told you, the books you want are in the aisle over there,” she told him, irritated, and again thumbed over her shoulder as she leaned to one side so she could see the person she’d been watching before. If he wasn’t careful he’d end up with a fist in his mouth.
Capable, who had been left in charge during Tessa’s absence, noticed the tone and body language of Irisa and the customer and came to both their rescues. Taking a few minutes to help the customer out and smooth over the ruffled feathers. Once he was happily perusing the section he wanted she went back to Irisa. “You’re doing a wonderful job” she said with a smile, “But could you try to be a little less...defensive?” she asked.
“He was being an ass, I told him where the books he wanted were and he just wasn't listening to me and now I've lost eye contact with the guy I was watching who I'm sure pocketed one of the books!” Irisa grumbled, gesturing towards where the guy had left. She sighed heavily and closed her eyes, covering her face. “Sorry, people just...get on my nerves. I thought it would be just taking money and putting stuff in a bag but...people can be dicks at times,” she grumbled.
“Actually you pointed him in the wrong direction, I don’t think he was the one not listening” Capable told her gently, with a frown she looked at Irisa, “Are you alright? You seem more on edge than usual” she commented, “Maybe we should take a little break. There are pastries from Baxter’s in the office” she enticed the younger girl.
“I...did I?” Irisa asked, frowning as she turned around and looked where she had told him to go. “Oh…” she shook her head and frowned again, leaning back against the counter and crossing her arms in front of her. “I’m fine, I just...I don’t like people, apart from a select few,” she jutted her chin towards Capable. “I didn’t think this kind of thing would be too bad,” she shrugged.
“It’s okay. You’re not doing a bad job, you’re really good at catching the suspicious looking people” Capable told her, “And you know you’re better with people than you think. Myrcella, Tessa and I really like you and we all have great taste in people”
Irisa sighed, shrinking further into herself at Capable’s compliment. “Thanks, but I’m really not cut out for this sort of stuff. You and Myrcella are just like...born to talk to people but I’m just...not, I guess,” she shrugged. “I just wanted to help Tessa out after she’s been so good giving me side jobs and stuff,” she explained. “I don’t want to mess things up for her business.”
“Oh you won’t, it’s okay. We have a delivery due later, you could put the books away if you’d like? You might enjoy that a bit more” Capable offered, she didn’t want Irisa to feel bad, especially since she appreciated the girls help a lot.
“Yeah, thanks, I’d appreciate that,” Irisa nodded. “Wouldn’t want to end up putting someone in the hospital because of my short temper. People just...get to me I guess. I don’t know how you do it all day,” she shrugged and shook her head.
Capable smiled, “For most of my life I only spoke to the same twenty or so people. Everything I did was controlled, everything I learnt was carefully chosen for me” she explained, “So now I take every moment I can to talk to people and learn about them. I feel like a sponge sometimes, soaking up all these new experiences”
“Shit,” Irisa closed her eyes, regretting having opened her mouth for not the first and probably not the last time. She looked up apologetically. “Sorry. See? This is why you’re an infinitely better person than basically anyone else on the planet,” she told her honestly, gesturing to the world in general.
Capable laughed, “It’s okay. Thank you, that is an incredibly kind thing for you to say. But I am just part of this world doing what I can to make it a good place to live in” she smiled, “Just like most people I suppose”
“It’s the truth,” Irisa shrugged like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “People just have their different strengths I guess. I wish I could be more like you,” she quirked a little smile at the other girl. “Then I remember how satisfying it can be to break someone’s nose,” she joked.
“And I definitely don’t know how to do that so don’t go wishing you were someone else so easily” Capable told her with a smile, “Like you say people have different strengths, and that is most definitely a good thing”
“Yep, and I am more than happy with shelf-stacking,” Irisa grinned and reached out to clap Capable on the shoulder. “You ok for a minute if I go grab some drinks for us from Baxter’s?” she asked.
“Absolutely. Take your time” Capable said with a nod and a smile, “Thank you Irisa”