estoria | (closed)

Entry tags:

kaoru nagumo,
zero

(closed)

Who: Zero (

blacksong & Kaoru Nagumo (

souredsweet)
When: mid-event
Where: their makeup store in the shopping district
What: super dedicated employees continue working despite all these ghosty shenanigans and deafness
Rating/Warning: rated m for mean girls

[SO AFTER kinda sorta adjusting to deafness (or at the very least, after mastering the ability to go outside without looking like a paranoid wreck), Kaoru's decided to come by the shop again because this is like the third missed day of work in a row. CAN'T GET FIRED, then who would fill the kitchen with food that won't be eaten??

And oh, look, there's a familiar face! THE OTHER BEST EMPLOYEE IS HERE, and a look of relief is being sported pretty much right after walking through the door and spotting her. There is no better coworker to share the floor with than a blunt one who will totally throw customers under the bus to get things accomplished, and do it in a clever way. Zero is literally Kaoru's favorite person to work with for that reason alone... And also because making snide remarks is golden in pretty much any situation, even though Kaoru has to pretend to disapprove sometimes. The disapproval is definitely coming less frequently the longer they work together...

But the whole being unable to hear thing may be An Issue™, so Kaoru will slip a pad of paper and pencil from one sleeve (old-fashioned and all, texting takes wAY TOO LONG) and write out a message.]

Good morning Zero-san. I hope things haven't been too hectic so far? I'm afraid I cannot hear, but I'll do my best to aid you this shift.

[A bright smile is also given as the paper is handed off! Kaoru is still in top ego-punching form and ready to roll...]

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[To be frank, Zero hates this job. It's less about the job itself though and more that 1) she hates having to work in general, and 2) she'd hate working any job to begin with. Sure she could go around killing people and stealing what she needs to live again, but even she knows that that wouldn't be very conductive for sustaining a living here. For one, she actually plans on living now.

But at the very least, this whole job thing is actually bearable—sometimes even enjoyable—with Kaoru around. The other workers her didn't seem to appreciate her sales method of talking shit about the customer until they caved, but at least someone did. She doesn't quite smile when she sees Kaoru as she comes in, but she looks remarkably less grouchy and less irritated than her usual self. Considering their very first encounter, that probably says enough for Zero.

Not that she knows how she'll even talk to her preferred co-worker when she can't hear at all... Should she have just skipped work when she was deaf?? Probably. But frankly there wasn't much else for her to do, and if she had to do it while deaf, so be it. When Kaoru shows her the paper though, she can't help but sigh.]

Well, this sure sucks. [Granted she can't even hear that... Or either of them really. Alas, she didn't think to bring a paper and pencil with her, so texting it is. Although like Kaoru, she's old-fashioned in that WHAT IS THIS TECHNOLOGY SHIT kind of way, so excuse her while she takes a moment to text everything out...]

same here you still ready to work?

[THEY'RE SO YE OLDE...

But at least Kaoru recognizes her ye oldness and slides the paper and pencil over after jotting down:]

You can use this if you'd like.

[Though... in the end, it's honestly less for Zero's sake and more because they'd end up spending the entire day just trying to slowly learn how to become faster typers if they had to rely on texting. It seems like Kaoru's brought multiple papers at least, since after that's written out, an entire notepad is slipped out of one sleeve and set on the counter, too.]

I'm ready, but I believe that I may take half of the day off after our break. May I treat you to lunch then, if you would also like to leave a little early? It would be well deserved, with our work ethic.

[Showing up to work deaf and all, gosh, they're SUCH MODEL EMPLOYEES.]

[OH THANK GOD SOMETHING SHE CAN USE. Which is to say that Zero immediately looks relieved upon seeing the paper and pencil, taking it as she nods her thanks. As long as she can communicate easier, she doesn't care what the intention of giving her the stuff is. Hell, she'd probably do the same.]

Sure. There's probably no point in staying long. I got a feeling the others will want us out more than usual. [Since two deaf people trying to make sales, that will probably be a disaster... Or alternatively, two deaf people still beating these losers at work. She can imagine their sour faces already.]

[IT'S GONNA HAPPEN. Kaoru sure has enough confidence... It takes a certain amount of moxie (or maybe arrogance??) to show up to work aggravated, deaf and technologically-inept and still believe that some serious employee-related contributions can be made. Egos will be swelling for sure if they can actually pull this off...]

You may be right. One of them gave me such an unkind look on the way out... I wonder what's soured them so?

[KAORU SURE KNOWS WHAT SOURED THEM SO, if that very brief shit-eating grin (or shit-eating reserved and lady-like smile) says anything.

But there goes the bell even though neither of them can hear it, and the first customer of the day enters!]

[INTERNAL LAUGHING or maybe not so internal since Zero has a full-blown shit-eating grin. She'd scrawl something back, but upon seeing their first customer come in, she gets her Work Face on. Although honestly that's more or less the same as her shit-eating grin anyways.]

Hey, you! [Calling out to the customer... Of course she can't hear them, but she doesn't need to for this. Once they look towards them and look appropriately confused:] You look like shit.

[Cue them looking somewhere between upset and mad. THE TACTIC NEVER FAILS, EVEN WHEN SHE CAN'T ACTUALLY HEAR THEM YELLING ABOUT WHAT SHE SAID. She remains confident even as the customer stomps their way over. Time to sell i.e. force makeup onto them...]

[THIS IS HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DIE SOMEDAY but for now, this tactic totally works... it's like the good cop bad cop routines from the movies!! Except in the end it's just one person being outright aggressive and the other being subtly passive-aggressive, so there are no winners here...

Kaoru's expression drops into one of mild concern when the customer stomps over, one hand raised.]

Oh, my— Please calm down; she didn't mean to say that! [Kaoru also doesn't need to know what Zero is saying to know what to say in return THEY'VE GOT THIS ROUTINE ON LOCK. It isn't too hard to lip-read an angry customer at this distance, anyway.]

You look lovely. My coworker is only in a bit of a foul mood... [There are some nods and some more vague apologies as said customer presumably rants about being treated poorly or whatever KAORU SURE DOESN'T CARE, but when the bulk of that is smoothed over:]

Let's see - ah! You must be the woman who put in this order, correct? [And Kaoru holds up a sheet that has at least four different types of wrinkle creams on it... THE CUSTOMER NATURALLY LOOKS UPSET AND INSECURE, though Kaoru mimics concern perfectly.] Is it not...?

Do yourself a favor and take it, yeah? [Likewise the routine is so down pat Zero doesn't even need to know what exactly Kaoru said. That put-on concerned expression is her cue to swoop in!!] Trust me lady, you already need this crap for a face like that.

[Swoop in with yet another insult at least... It's all part of The Plan though, and she doesn't look the least bit fazed when the customer proceeds to blow up yet again.]

[Their tagteaming is working perfectly AS USUAL. Gosh, how can two employees be so perfect?? Kaoru wonders this frequently.]

It's nothing to be concerned by! Things have been so hectic lately that all of us have been looking a bit under the weather. Surely a little sleep will have you right back in top form.

[Just subtly adds bigass under-eye circles to the growing list of things that are apparently wrong with this poor customer...]

In fact, there are some serums that can help you with that. You only need to apply it once daily beneath your eyes and it will eliminate everything that you may worry about. [WHICH WAS PROBABLY NOTHING BEFORE WALKING INTO THIS SHOP. They look distressed...]

[Truly the other employees have their work cut out for them with these two around. Ever scowl and disapproving shake of their head as they watch the two star employees makes it worth it in Zero's eyes.]

Well come on, do you wanna look like hot shit or not? [Evidently despite all the unsubtle bullying, this at least actually sounds appealing to the customer seeing as how she takes another look at the list of makeup.] You heard how easy this stuff is to use, and it'd make even your face something worth checking out.

[THAT probably less so, but it's not her role to butter them up!! The hook, line, and sinker is close now though, she can feel it.]

[Buttering them up is Kaoru's role, and HERE SAID NERD COMES to deliver the final blow with a disarming smile...]

It's something that everyone struggles with, so there's no need to be ashamed if you need a little help boosting your good features or hiding your flaws.

[EMPHASIS ON FLAWS... But Kaoru continues on before the customer has a chance to recognize that subtle jab, shifting the display toward them.]

You're in luck today, too. If you purchase anything from our line of anti-aging products, you'll get a half-off coupon that you can use on any item within the next month.

[After a second of hesitation, the customer predictably picks up the product guide and moves toward the shelves, casting a somewhat distraught look over a shoulder as they go.]

[As the customer looks back at them, Zero flashes a sunny smile that is not sunny in the slightest, and it's apparently unnerving enough to get the customer hurrying towards the makeup. With their work done, Zero turns back to the paper and pencil with a confident smirk.]

That was almost too easy.

[Kaoru actually laughs at that, and doesn't remember to stifle it since iT'S NOT LIKE IT CAN BE HEARD... That poor customer. Glancing to the pad once it's scooted over, though! Zero's remark gets a nod of agreement and then Kaoru jots down:]

Perhaps we've had too much practice and are becoming too good at our craft?

["OUR CRAFT" like bullying customers is some sort of patent-pending trick of the trade. ...Even though it might as well be, with how effective it is.]

If we cross our fingers, we might get a challenging customer today. Someone unpredictable wouldn't be bad.

Makes you wonder why they even have other workers here, right?

[THEY'RE PRACTICALLY USELESS but maybe that's just because trying to go up against two terrifying people in aggressive makeup selling is kind of intimidating to begin with... Reading the next line, Zero nods in agreement, quickly writing:]

Here's hoping. It'd be nice not to be bored out of my mind for once. [As fun as it is to bully people, a little variety is nice every now and then!!]

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(closed)

a thousand years later i am here...

the party dont start til u walk in

party kaye in the house

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