Posted by Civilian Karilan Massat (Owner, Quill and Parchment Books) in The Quill & Parchment- Second Chances

Posted by Civilian Rafael Torres (Resident) in The Quill & Parchment- Second Chances

Posted by Civilian Karilan Massat (Owner, Quill and Parchment Books) in The Quill & Parchment- Second Chances
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Raf’s finger loosely touched but didn’t yet lift or sip from the coffee cup. “I work here everyday, doing whatever you need me to do. I keep myself out of trouble and I have to submit to drug tests. Umm, and he said something about accommodations and food? I, uh, am not quite sure how that all works.” He was used to fending for himself and honestly the offer sounded too good to be true. If it sounded that way, it usually was. But he didn’t have a lot of other viable options.

~Rafael Torres

Karilan set the cup aside. “Allow me to clarify, because I will not allow there to be anything but clear expectations of you from this moment on, alright?” she asked rhetorically. “You are always on time. You will be polite, courteous, and efficient. You will do whatever job you are tasked with, and you will do without complaint. You work open to close every day for the first three standard months. No time off. No holidays. No calling in sick unless it is verified by a doctor of my choosing. Your first three months of rent have already been paid on an apartment less than two blocks away; and I am doing that with the expectation that you will save for a place of your own when the three months are up. You will be entitled to two meals per shift. And you must. stay. sober. You will be tested at random. If you fails, you will be fired. No discussion. If you are involved with any police matters other than as a witness or a helping bystander, you will be fired. IfI fire you, I will not have you here to try and manipulate or otherwise jeopardize Mr. Jones’s efforts to lead a productive and valuable like. I will put you on the first transport to Orion without a credit to your name. I’m sure you realize how well you will do there in such circumstances. Now… are you certain you want this chance, Mr. Torres? If you decline, I will not be upset nor will I say anything to Mr. Jones. I will tell him you simply never showed up.” She reached under the table and set a small pouch on it. “That is ten strips of latinum. You can take it and go, but you have to leave Oed V before day’s end and never come back. If you take it, we are done. If you take it and do not leave, or you come back, I assure you I know people who are very adept at dealing out punishment in ways you cannot begin to fathom and they will be happy to practice their craft on you.” She picked up the coffee cup and simply waited to see what Torres would do.

Karilan

Torres stared at the pouch but it did not interest him. Instead, he tapped his fingers on the cup. He hadn’t taken a sip, feeling that once he did, he was beholden to this person before him. He knew he had to make a choice, and quickly, but he wanted to make the choice consciously because he knew all too well that if was just a whim, this wouldn’t work. He’d fail.

He reached out and pushed the bag of latinum back towards Karilan. “I might not be the smartest person you’re going to meet, but when I commit to something, I’m all in. The difference at this point in my life, I want something to be different. I’m in, and I will do my best.” With an audible exhale, he lifted the mug to his lips and sipped.

~Rafael Torres

Karilan nodded, but inside she smiled. She could feel his sincerity, but she could feel his hesitation too. “Very well, then. Finish your coffee, ask me what questions you have, and then we will get to work. After we close, I will show you to your apartment. And please do not tell me you have no questions. If you do that, I will know that you are not serious about this.”

Karilan

Raf nodded. “What sort of work do you want me to do? And what are the hours we’re open versus what you want me to work?” It would at least give him an idea of how the working day might go.” All told though, he was used to all sort of manual labour. Hell, that had been a part of his prison sentence, so been there, done that.

~Rafael Torres