How could IIII make a workerrrrrr out of YOUUUUUU

[lazygurl]

Man...Karina wanted something cool, like fashion model or one of those guys you see standing still like in downtown New Orleans. Or a mattress tester. Not what she basically did back home. Though part of it was automated, so that was better. Sort of.

Unfortunately, their mindsets were still backwards. Like when Karina suggested they work to empower consumers in order to do everything themselves? Shot down. Nonetheless, She took a job at the checkout isle, given that she couldn't (or wouldn't) do much heavy lifting. There was much pouting as she scanned their groceries. Silent, parenthetical pouting. They even had a computerized option where people could scan their own items, but nope! Her bosses stressed the importance of customer service and how people liked interacting with other people, and would it kill you to smile at people instead of snore, and some other stuff she didn't really listen to.

Naturally, they wouldn't have put in a position at the job fair if they weren't understaffed, so people were using her aisle. A lot. Or at least, some of them were, until the hecklers let them off that the only reason her line is so short is because she takes so long. Karina is, of course, happy to direct them to the automated option should they find her customer service less than satisfying.

If one more rube puts a dang watermelon on the belt, she is sooooo trying her luck again. Tomorrow. After a nap. Maybe.

Comments

[lazygurl]

Yeah, she's basically stopped at scanning completely. Not even a pretense now. Clearly, this conversation was more important.

"Oh. (a secret base would've been cool.)" She twirled her hair. "I've actually been looking for a place to stay...do you live alone?" She wanted to, but filling out the application was too much work, so she slept outside for now. Sure as the sun will rise, she's definitely not living on her own and paying all that rent by her lonesome.

[short_n_sweet]

Ohhh hold on... It looks like with that one, simple question of Karina's, Jaune's brain shut off. Did she just ask to move in with him? Twirling her hair like that too, the signals the young man was receiving were likely far, far from the truth of the matter.

"W-W-What? You want to... move in with me?" Jaune blinked a few times, asking even though he'd heard her right. "... We just met! That's, uh... that's..."

Consider Jaune's confidence debunked, for the moment.

[lazygurl]

Karina smiled at Jaune's flustered behavior. So he was nervous guy, eh? Gonna have to milk that for what it's worth.
"I mean, you already filled out the paperwork, right? (applying is such a pain). And then we could get to know each other better."

Or you could get to know her better here, at the checkout line. Forever. Karina smiled dimly; she clearly had all day.

[short_n_sweet]

Not only was Jaune nervous, but he's a good guy, as frustrating as that could be at times. He couldn't out-right deny her.... but he would probe for some more questions.

"So, wait, if you've been homeless where have you been sleeping?"

[lazygurl]

Karina yawned, as if to suggest that merely saying that word summoned her fatigue. "Oh, you know. The bay, a park bench...I even snuck a few winks in half an hour ago when my manager wasn't looking. (don't tell him though please)."

In a strange attempt at conversational parity, she replied "So, uh...where do you sleep? (is it comfy?)"

[short_n_sweet]

Jaune blinked a few times when he heard that. "But... Karina... it's winter. It's usually snowing out there," He said, as if she were crazy for even doing what she did. But all his words do is convince him that he can't just let this cute girl sleep out on the street.

Her question, though, blocks his acceptance. "I... sleep in my bed, at my home, in my pajamas. It's... comfy I guess?"

He then shakes his head, "That doesn't matter. Listen, uh... If you really need a place to stay, you can stay at my place... I mean, the place is big enough." He then takes a moment to look around the store, "... And as long as you can help pay the rent."

[lazygurl]

"Yeah...the cold makes me sleepier than usual." It was hard to tell whether Karina found that agreeable. Her eyes seemed to go off in space as he talked more about sleeping, away in his room, which sounded so nice...

Oh, right. Work's not over. She smiled upon hearing the acceptance, then frowned at the condition. Gotta save the worst for last, don't you Juane? Well, no one else was offering.

"...All right." She got one handout. Sort of. Time to double down. "Hey, can you pick me up after work? Or take my place while I have a nap? I'm exhausted."

[short_n_sweet]

Karina never ceases to amaze him. She's all but stopped working and now she's asking him to take her place? He was shopping! He had things to do! He had his own job to look for!

"I'll pick you up after work," He says with no small amount of uncertainty, "But I can't work FOR you, come on..."

[lazygurl]

"Why not?" Karina seemed genuinely curious as to what philosophical suppositions were in place to say that no, Juane could not, in fact, work for her.

Then she saw her manager looking her way, and she decided to drop it. "*Sigh*. Nevermind." Picking up her scanner with moderate pace, she released Juane's groceries from hostage. With her best professional intonation, she said "Thanks for shopping at...whatever this place is." So close, and yet so far.

[short_n_sweet]

Jaune couldn't help but laugh a little bit when Karina tried to thanks him for shopping. That was always a half-hearted pitch, but she really swung for the fences when it came to lacking enthusiasm.

"Sure, thanks for ringing me up," He says, taking his bag and smiling to her, "So I'll come back later tonight and show you where to go." He then looked to the line that had formed during their conversation and he smiles again to her, albeit apologetically. "Good luck!"

And then he's off, groceries in hand.