littlegreengirl (littlegreengirl) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2012-04-19 08:06:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, gaila, janice rand, truthiness plot |
Fit for the sort of people that worked running the rides in a traveling circus.
Who: Gaila and Janice
What: Organization! Extra bluntness! Pity for Kirk!
When: Yesterday
Where: The Green Maid (Formerly Mad Dogs and Englishmen)
Status: Complete
Rating: Pg13
Gaila had managed to snag cheap labor that worked for food. Score! Now she just needed help with getting everything organized, and if this Ms Rand was any good she was going to hire her to a) Organize Mad Monty's and b) see if she was interested in the space project. Oh and c) get her opinion on the software she wrote.
Gaila might be behind on the space project, because Janice already gathered that's where Jim Kirk might be heading. And it was safer to work as his employee, so trouble could be bound up in lots and lots of red tape. She could probably also deal with a hair-triggered cranky Scotsman, with little to no problem, but she usually was hired by the owners of the establishments, and not into making the jobs harder on herself, when she had limited time to work.
Janice pulled up in front of the pub in a two-seater white convertible BMW, a going-away gift from her father that she kept in perfect working order. She parked the car, got out, grabbed her stand-by ipad and purse. Then it was a simple matter of putting the top up, and locking and setting the alarm as she took a good look at the outside of the pub. Then at the surrounding area. Not exactly rough, but not exactly the most desirable location, either. She shook her head, walked in, and prepared herself for the worst.
Well, she knew Scotty would be impossible, so she was going to go behind his back, because he was so wrapped up in the side project that she was afraid he was neglecting anything else. Like having an income. Even if Faiza's prize money had come through.
A woman with a green dress sat on the words "The Green Maid" now, painted in a gaelic fashion. Inside, it was still the controlled chaos of a pub in the midst of a make over. There was more green, the wall with the hall of fame completely cleaned now as someone worked hard at painting an Irish landscape on it.
Gaila spun around from place to place, pulling at her hair every few seconds as she tried to oversee everything.
If Scotty could, he'd protest that he could do more than one thing at one time. But he can't protest. Because he's not there to defend himself. And girlfriends shouldn't mess with a guy's man cave, especially if there's no ring on their fingers.
She wasn't aiming for his man cave, simply the business side of things! She wouldn't dare touch the man cave!
Janice would tend to agree with the whole don't-mess-with-a-man's-business-uninvitHa! She found the apparent owner of the establishment due to looking for the person with the highest stress level, and walked toward her, with one hand held out and a slight smile on her face, of the professional variety.
"Hello, I'm Janice Rand. I'm gathering you are the owner of this establishment?"
"Oh thank god." Gaila took her hand and shook vigorously, "I'm Gaila, and yes I own this place. It pretty much fell into my lap." She realized she was still shaking and giggled nervously, letting go.
Janice only raised her eyebrows a little bit, at both the shaking and the giggling, then said confidently, "You'll be all right. It's not in a good area, but not in a bad area either. You'll probably be able to keep the regulars, with some improvements. Tell me what you've done so far?"
At least then, she could get an idea of what was left to do, to quote a price.
Gaila pointed around, "Cleaned, brought the wiring up to code.. Uhm. Painted the front and redid the sign. I need to order some Neon. The Point of Sale system was already up to date, I did that when I was hired here to begin with. But there's..so much more."
Handling food, Varric's arcane system for ordering booze, entertainment, she had a new bartender on probation, there were license fees up the wazoo..
Janice listened with a sympathetic ear, then took out her ipad and began note-taking and itemizing. There were forms to deal with, licenses to knock out, lists of contacts to be made, that bartender sounded problematic, and ordering and handling the food and alcohol.
After some calculating, and cutting the poor girl some slack by knocking the price down a smidge, she said, "Sixty dollars an hour and access to the office, computer, and printer. It'll take one afternoon. I'm going to say for handling the forms and streamlining everything, three to four hours. If you'd like anything else, we can negotiate. So about two hundred and fourty dollars, and all lists and forms that I make are yours to reuse and deal with, after I leave. If that's acceptable, I have some forms for you to sign."
Janice actually smiled at Gaila, in the way that she hoped inspired some confidence. After all, she was going to have to walk her through all of it, but she could leave very detailed notes, once she looked at the ordering process and state of the office.
"Probation as in I'm giving him two weeks. Like a test run." Gaila watched her. If she swung that way, Janice would be hot. "That's..okay I guess. I wanted you to look at the computer anyway." She snapped her fingers, "I have another program I'm using for something else that I thought you might be interested in."
She looked around for a pen, "I'll sign."
"Oh, well that's good to know," she quipped, lightly, like having an actual bartender on probabtion might be interesting if there were bartender licenses to contend with. Also? Janice didn't swing that way, sorry. Her girls were the buddy types she hung out with, bought cute shoes with, and bitched about men to. Safely. So she didn't have to bitch at men in the face. Although she did kind of give that Kirk fellow a lot of WTF?!ness lately which was totally unprofessional. Especially considering some things she'd said on the valar net, earlier.
Prepared girl that she was, Janice held out the pen, which she'd taken from her purse. "Here, take this. If it's a strictly office program, I'd be interested. Otherwise, I think we'll be on the clock. The minute you're finished signing."
"I love you. Awesome." She took the pen, quickly scanning over the documents, "Well its over on that computer over there if you want to look at it while I'm reading these. Kill two birds with one stone." She smirked to herself.
"Thanks. I'll get started." Janice made her way over and started looking through things and reading over past orders and payments. All the while she was tapping out some notes for suggestions. She started in right away, organizing the computer system, though she was by no means a programming specialist. She was a highly skilled organizer and was at least proficient with modern office programs and data entry. That was pretty much the extent of what she knew. "Where do you keep your files, Miss?"
"Hit the file folder icon, they're all there. I programmed that application myself." It was designed for efficiency with a large number of files. With a flourish, she signed the documents, "Voila!"
"All right, thanks. I see, very nice. Too bad the rest of it was left a mess," Janice said, and wondered why the hell she just said that outloud. Seriously, did someone put truth syrum in the California water supply or what?
"Sorry, I wasn't trying to be insulting, it was just messy," Janice attempted to explain. "A few things, I'm going to suggest some office programs to help you keep track of your orders better. They're easy to use and if you were able to program this yourself, you should be able to figure them out just using the tutorial. Don't let it intimidate you. They're very easy to use. If you need an expert to come in, I can hire one for you, or you can call anytime and ask me, free of charge. I'm also going to leave you a list of outlets if you want to change up any of your glasses or serving-ware, as well as doing away with the way this supplier is handling the liquor. You have to keep careful track of it, you know, to manage your budget. So I'm going to give you a list of who you can get in contact with, along with a list of how much it looks like you need, on average, per month. If there's an emergency situation, most will work with you on a delivery, as long as you're aware of a special instance that's scheduled ahead of time. Not that you deal with very many bachelor or bachelorette parties in a place like this."
Janice stared a the computer screen like she was going to cut her own tongue out and feed it to some sharks.
"I mean, it doesn't seem that sort of establishment. For parties," she clarified.
"Thanks." Gaila hugged herself, "It's okay, it needed organization, that's..kind of why you're here."
She walked over, putting the documents on the bar. She stared at Janice as she talked, "You're very matter of fact. And blunt. I get the feeling you're not trying to blow smoke up my ass."
The last thing she wanted was to deal with bachelor parties or anything of the sort. That way led to messes, and lawsuits, but... "I want to keep the same quality of alcohol, you know? Its the number one draw to this place. And I've been told by like 8 people if I change the booze they'll cut me."
"Then you won't be offended when I tell you I'm sure it looked like it was fit for the sort of people that worked running the rides in a traveling circus." Janice looked like she was contemplating stabbing herself in the throat with her own ink pens. One after the other. "I'm sorry, must be the weather today. Everyone seems to be...all about not blowing smoke up everyone else's ass."
This was no way to talk to a client, and Janice straightened and was back to all business again. "Let me polish up your ordering system, so you can keep the same supplier but keep better track and make it easier for you to put in orders every month, or at least on a biweekly basis."
Gaila glared at her. She was insulting the former home of the Mad Dogs and Englishmen, and while it didn't look like much it was still an amazing place with a lot of good memories!
She planted her hands on her hips, "Don't you insult this place!"
She didn't care if everyone and their mother wasn't blowing smoke up other peoples' asses!
"Sorry, I'm...really not sure why I said that. Sorry, that was very unprofessional of me. I'm going to go back to...work now." Janice blinked profusely, even gawked at her own self a little bit, before turning and going back to the computer, shocked by her own behavior. At the rate she was working, too, she'd have things done way, way under schedule. Which might be good, so she could go home and lock herself in her house and try to figure out what was going on while she avoided the outside world where her clients and former clients existed.
"Yes, it was very unprofessional." Gaila forced herself to relax, " I'm sorry I snapped. I'm just..really stretched and I think I needed to hear all that." She sat nex to Janice and poured her a glass, "Here."
She pushed it over, "Drink, on the house. You look like you need it."
"I'm really sorry, that was uncalled for. Thanks, I don't really drink very much at all, usually only wine" Even so, Janice took the drink and downed it in one go, her cheeks flushed a little red from embarrassment and frustration at letting herself slip like that. "You were right to snap though, it was insulting."
She was working at lightning speed and showed no sign of slowing down, her fingers flying across a screen and the keyboard, alternatively, back and forth. She really just wanted to go home, take a nice hot bubble bath, paint, and go to sleep. Forget this ever happened. Oh yes, that's what she wanted to do.
Gaila stared, and then poured Janice another glass. It was the good stuff, and for what the woman was doing she deserved it. Besides, she was the boss, if she wanted to ply her employees with booze, she could!
"Want to talk about it? While you work, I mean. I do some of the bartending and its practically a requirement to listen.
"Oh no, I really....this is odd, but I'm usually honest to the point of nearly being brutal, but I'm never rude. Especially not to clients. And I'd better not, since I have to drive. I think one's good enough for me. There's no one around though, so why don't you drink it?" Janice gave her a sly wink like she wasn't going to tell anyone, and kept working while talking. "I guess I'm out of it because some guy hired me to find his lost love-of-his-life, instead of hiring a detective. This isn't professional, and I shouldn't talk about it, or former clients. Bad form."
"I can call a service, or you can rest up in the office. Or you could stay at my place!" She shrugged, and downed her glass in one go. Then nearly choked on it, "Is his name Kirk??"
"That's all right, I really can make it home and...I have some things to...yes, it is. Why?" She stared at Gaila with wide blue eyes, and then gave her a pat on the back to help in case she was choking. "Do you know him, too?"
Jim Kirk must really get around or have a horrible reputation.
"He's my boyfriend's friend. We're working on a project with him. He's a bit of a playboy but he kind of...bros before hos when it came to Scotty and me?"
She shrugged a shoulder, "I heard he was hooking up with Bela and then she took off. She was a good customer."
"He didn't seem like a serial killer, so that's good to know," Janice confessed, reluctantly. She was still looking a bit bothered, but was working all the while. "Shame about the girl. He looks like he's driving himself crazy over it, and won't give up. Kind of seems over and done with, though. Is your printer operational?"
"Oh, he's not a serial killer. He's actually really smart in some ways. He took us all camping a few weeks ago and he was like..nature survival man." She nodded her head, "Isabela was..well a slut, which I was too, but she and Kirk got along like that and then they kind of clicked, and I was rooting for them too. I owed Scotty twenty bucks."
She nodded again, "Yeah it is."
Janice only nodded along to let Gaila know she was listening, and she was listening, to every word, even as she began printing out contact lists, and some outlined suggestions, with some do's and don'ts. In fact, she not only had an outline of when to order things based on past business that had been done, but when every month she needed to do so, as well as how much to pay for the licensing fees and where to send it. She was trying to make it as simple as possible on Gaila so stuff was a little less daunting. After all, it was not only her job, but anyone who knew Kirk was probably someone to be sympathized with. Even if she still felt a little sorry for the guy.
"I see," she said finally, watching the printer churning out the paperwork. "I had him make sure his alibi was in place though, so hopefully that will help. The search turned up nothing, and I always thought it seemed like a bad idea to date one's self. There's a reason they say opposites attract."
She looked at the readouts, jaw dropped, "I could kiss you."
"It's okay, you don't have to do that. You're paying me already, though I'm wondering why after I insulted the place. This should help and it'll make things a lot easier. Otherwise, it really looks like you've gotten the construction changes in place, and everything else should fall into line after this. Also?" Janice took out her business card and handed it over to Gaila. "Because I was shooting my mouth off, if you'd like, I'll knock it down to fifty dollars if you need to call me in to come over, again. So if things do get overwhelming, please call and I'll try to schedule a time as soon as possible, to help."
"Thanks, Miss Rand." She took the card and stuck it down the front of her shirt," I'll keep that in mind. And I'll recommend you elsewhere, if you keep your mouth shut." She winked.
"I usually don't gossip. Especially not with clients. But what specific part am I supposed to keep my mouth shut about?" she wondered, out loud, and cast a questioning glance over in Gaila's direction. She went right back to work though, in silence, so the only sound was really her tapping fingertips.
"Everything?" She poked Janice, "The bluntness."
"Oh, that." Janice looked down at where the finger had gone past her personal space barriers and somehow made contact with her. But it seemed not to offensive a gesture, so she let it go with the slightest of smirks. "Not a common occurrence, I assure you."
"I hope so. I won't say anything, for your reputation or anything."
"I appreciate that." She seemed like a nice girl, if not a little, naturally, overwhelmed. She'd been left with a pretty huge task to take care of, after all. All the paperwork and computer things taken care of, as well as the lists and calendar printed out, Janice began going over the entire system to make sure Gaila understood everything. "...and I think that about covers it. Remember, you have my number, and everything's been listed if you need to call someone for specifics or licensing questions. Right here on the contact lists, some of which are people I've known for a while, so I can highly recommend them. If you have further questions, please, don't hesitate to call and ask."
She squeed, wrapping her arms around Janice and kissing her cheek, "Thank you thank you thank you!!"
Janice had almost leaned away with eyes as wide as saucers, but hadn't leaned far enough, and found herself locked in a hug with overly-excited woman. She really hoped that girl's boyfriend walked around in a suit of armor or something because Gaila kinda had the force of an unexpected freight train. Still, the enthusiasm was contagious and Janice smiled finally, and patted a hand on Gaila's back like it was all ok.
"Glad to help. After all, it's what I get paid for. Thanks for the drink, too. Just pay me for the two hours and we'll call it good. Okay?"
It was the least she could do after shooting her mouth off.
Gaila nodded, leaning back, "Hold on, I think I have that in cash." She rushed around to get the money, then rushed back, "Do I look green to you? At all?"
"Like sick? A little, but not really. No? Maybe it's just stress. Why?" She looked at Gaila strangely, like that was a really odd thing to ask.
"Like...nevermind." She grinned at Janice. "No really, I can't thank you enough." She gave her an extra 20, just for being so awesome!
"I don't know if I should take that, after saying the place probably looked like it was inhabited by carnies," Janice said, then stared at Gaila, blinked once, twice, and waved a hand before gathering her stuff together and shoving it al into her pocket universe purse. "I'm going to go, now."
She leaned in, and whispered, "We had a problem with little people fighting. One shot both Scotty and Kirk. Then they rode in on motorcycles and tried to kidnap me. It was on the news last week."
Well, that changed things. Janice thought to herself that she hit the nail on the head, nodded very curtly, and took the twenty dollars, tucking it into her purse where the money went.
"I saw that. Didn't know it had a thing to do with this place. Thanks for the warning." She held out her hand to Gaila and was sure to stare at her, closely, to see if there was anything green about her while they were shaking hands. Because that still struck her as somehow odd, more so than the knowledge that Kirk had been shot by a midget escapee from some sideshow carnival, or the likes.
"It wasn't even .." She waved a hand, "It was crazy! But things calmed down. We even chased away Jay and Silent Bob!"
Did she look green? Didn't she? Janice couldn't tell, because then she was too busy watching the young woman waving a hand around and talk about Jay and Silent Bob. Weren't those two stoners or something like that?
"Sounds like it. I'm glad things calmed down though."
"Me too. It's bad for business." Two middle-aged women waved, as they walked out and Gaila waved back, "I'm glad those two stayed. I thought they were only hanging around for Varric's lesbian stories! But turns out they like the atmosphere and they've given me a lot of good feedback on updating the place without losing its charm." She exhaled, "I need to drag Uhura down." She was nervous about that. Varric didn't call her Uptown for nothing.
"That's good to have input from the regular customers. And...oh, that’s the woman I suggested retail therapy to? She was wondering why everyone was asking her to do stuff lately. Yeah, I saw her on the valar-net earlier. She doesn't seem like she minces words. She could use a little fun, and it's really bad if I'm the one suggesting it." Even if Janice did schedule in plenty of time for herself despite all the running around and stuff that she did. It was still time for herself that didn't include anyone else. "I'll be sure to come in, when the place is finished. I'd like to see what you're able to do with it."
"..I'll ply her with booze," Gaila decided. She hugged Janice again, "Thank you again, you're welcome any time, and you can have the employee discount!"
"I'm not an employee," she pointed out, but this time, hugged back a little bit. She allowed herself to do that much, since it seemed harmless enough in this instance. "You be careful about giving out too many discounts. You still have to make some profit at the end of the day, or you won't have anything to live on and neither will your employees. Take care, ok?"
"You were, and I appreciate your work," Gaila replied, smiling. "I mean it. You deserve the discount. And the only people who don't work here who get the discount are you and Scotty." She winked. Varric didn't get one. He abandoned them!
"Well, thanks. Whenever I feel like a drink, which isn't often, at least I know where to go." Janice waved to Gaila and headed for the door. "Remember to call if you have any issues. I'll try to help."
"Bye!" She waved! Waving!
Waving! And Janice went home. Yay!