What're Your Qualifications? [Eiji/Violet]

Violet’s promotion was because one manager quit and another just began maternity leave. She was next in line. Since this store couldn’t keep an employee for shit, she needed to turn things around. Luckily, the problem manager was the one who finally fucked off. Scheduling issues, display issues, belittling employees, sassing customers… The bitch should have been fired ages ago, but that’s what happens when you’re the bosses daughter. Now, Violet was in charge! She didn’t know whether to panic or cheer herself on. Thanks to more recent events, Violet’s decision leaned more toward cheering herself on. This was gonna be cake.

Violet was alone today. She set up the store as normal. While she was doing so, she noticed a guy standing out front, seemingly talking to himself. Out of her applicants, there was only one guy she received an application from for the day. Violet began struggling with the decision to make him wait or open a bit early. To try and seem professional, she made him wait until opening. It was only ten minutes, so it shouldn't have been that bad. Opening the door, she flipped the sign over to "open" and flipped a switch that lit up the signs in the large windows out front. She led him over to the office and told him to take a seat before she went in.

After hyping herself up quietly in the office, hoping the guy thought she was doing something professional, she sat down behind the manager's desk and called out for him. "Mori, Eiji." His application was laid out in front of her and she had a clip board with a set of boring, "professional," required questions to ask. She hated most of what she needed to get from him. All of this was written stupid. 'Describe an experience where... blah blah blah...' Couldn't she ask what she felt was good for the job? The customers? The employees? Apparently not... "Come in, please sit down." she said, gesturing to a decently cushioned chair across from her.

"Good morning, and how are you today?" Violet asked after he sat. 'God, I sound like a moron... Who the hell talks like this? Guy looks cool. Should just hire him now.'

Violet could tell the guy was nervous from the start. She remembered when she came in for this interview with the owner; she had problems getting her words right. Violet was actually surprised she was hired, but apparently not having a job before was a plus? Something about not having to break bad habits. Either way, she wanted this guy to feel calm. The interview questions sucked enough.

"Don't be nervous. We'll get through this fine. What's the worst that can happen, right?" Violet said. The worst that could happen would be him not getting the job. It wasn't that big of a deal; he'd just move onto the next interviewer that called him back. That's what she did! "I'm doing fine. Be glad they got the air conditioner fixed. For a whole week, we were standing in ninety degree heat. It was awful."

"So, tell me a little about yourself before we get to these stupid corporate questions... For example, I would tell you that I've been working here for a few weeks now. I only recently moved to the City of Light, but have been loving it so far. I came to work at this shop because it's a nice pay and the boss is helpful, which is apparently really rare for jobs. So, what can you tell me in the same vein?"

Yeah, Violet was a tad nervous here. If she messed up who to hire, she may get fired. Both of them were counting on this interview to go well, just in different ways.

"Violet Gardner. Thank you for applying."

Violet wanted to hit herself when she realized she hadn't asked his name, or told him hers. That was on the list! Thankfully, he remembered. As Eiji went off, Violet watched, blinking occasionally to show she hadn't completely checked out. As her nervousness was settling down, his was rising. In a way, she found it kind of funny.

"Uh, don't apologize. It's okay." Violet looked down to the clipboard and went to the next question. It'd help her move conversation along until she found something she actually wanted to ask. "So, why are you interested in working here?"

Violet blushed and hid her face behind the clipboard, pretending to not have heard the compliment. She had to focus on work and getting someone to help her around this shop. Only two people running it was bad! These were the thoughts Violet attempted to distract herself with. She wasn't used to being complimented, and it always felt a little strange no matter who said it. She appreciated it though.

His answer was honest, and Violet preferred that. There was some notes here about money not being the main reason for a good employee, but that was stupid. That's why she was working at this place. What did they think? That someone was going to work here voluntarily just because clothes were nice? That's not how the world works! She nodded to Eiji and went to the next question down her list.

"Thank you for being honest..." Violet trailed off as she read the next question. "I hate these... Strengths? Weaknesses? Who just knows these things? And who is gonna be fully honest and be like 'I hAvE pRoBlEmS wItH aUtHoRiTy." Violet dropped the clipboard. "Look, you applied, so you need a job. This place pays pretty damn well. Are you like hard to work with? Argumentative? Mean? Are you okay with me being your boss? Cause I would be, and I need someone that can work with me on mundane shi-...stuff. Folding and hanging up clothes isn't the most fun, but it's gotta be done. Sometimes we gotta vacuum, do a bit of math with the calculator, and be nice to customers. Are you able to do that? Honestly?"

Violet liked the more honest answers. They felt less rehearsed and fake, like a terrible actor trying to remember their lines. She wasn't expecting him to question her back though. First, however, she pointed to the chair. "Safety hazard; sit normally, please, before you crack your skull." She was not going to let him fall back and hit his head. Not only would she get fired, he could take them to court over it. At least, that's what the owner of this place said. No lawsuits!

"I don't own the place, if that's what you're askin'. I'm the current manager though; not sure I should be, but I'm also the only active employee. The owner is real nice, but has life to deal with. Everything else was just unlucky circumstances. But, yep, I am the boss for now, but I will work alongside you like normal. I just also close up shop and have a few extra responsibilities to take care of."

Violet sat back in her chair. She had a couple more interviews to go through today, but she kind of hated the idea, especially if she had to deal with this stupid questionnaire. Violet let out a sigh, hoping her boss would accept what she was about to do. Flipping over the clipboard, she reached out over the desk.

"Alright, you're hired. Can you start Monday?"