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Post by Arthur Kirkland on Jun 13, 2013 21:17:19 GMT 1
”TEMPORARY STAND-IN NEEDED! A Cosmetics employee has called out of work due to a family emergency. If you’re available to take their place for today, please head over to the department as soon as possible!” Hm. While stretching his shoulders, Arthur gave thought to fulfilling a different routine. There were already two people scheduled to work in Customer Service that day, not including himself. Working alone was already frustrating enough, especially considering a day like today, when his brain felt sluggish and his bones ached from a night with little sleep. He wouldn’t mind taking a slower pace to his day. How hard could selling makeup be? Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
With Robert Frost's words to fuel him, the employee moved from the flyer and exited the break room, clocked in and ready to start a new day. He tried to shake off his fatigue and walked to the front of the store, where he knew a directory was. It was a tad embarrassing to have worked there for so long and still not know where half the departments were. He was regularly tucked away behind the counter of Customer Service, not too far from the main entrance, and rarely ever explored the rest of the building. He made sure to look as nonchalant as possible while scanning the directory. ’Bakery, Clothes...ah! Cosmetics! Here it is.’After studying the map for a few more seconds, he turned down the corridor and made his way toward the respective department. As Arthur walked, his mind couldn’t help but wander to the thought of who he’d be working with. Hopefully, it would be someone who didn’t mind explaining what he had to do in order to not make himself look like a fool in front of customers. If not...well, he would survive. Customer service was not for the faint of heart, after all. Selling someone the right shade of eyeshadow would be far easier than keeping a straight face while a customer loudly voiced their complaints. It wasn’t as though he hadn’t had any experience in cosmetics, anyway. He used to wear a fair share of eyeliner and lipstick back in his punk stage. The present, however, was a different story. He wanted to keep every aspect his rebellious time in the past. Though he hadn’t yet seen three decades go by, he felt a little too old to dress like that again. Nostalgic thoughts abruptly cut off once he had to make his way through the perfume section of the department. Varying scents that most likely would be aromatic on their own, when combined, smelled artificial and stifling. Arthur covered his nose and resisted the urge to gag. Quickly, he made it to the end of the aisle and finally reached the counter. Once he saw who was behind it, though, his steps ceased. ’Oh,’ Arthur thought with a sneer. His arms crossed. ’Him.’"Just my luck," Arthur drawled sarcastically, barely loud enough for the other to hear. It seemed the road less traveled by was that way for a good reason. -- (The poem used is The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost, which can be found here.)
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Jun 14, 2013 11:55:10 GMT 1
Francis had clocked in for today and went straight to his department. It was early in the morning. Normally he'd chat with other's on his way, but his friends were working the afternoonshifts most likely. He sighed and installed himself on cosmetics. Only not five minutes later he was called by one of his colleagues. There seemed to be a family emergency, he didn't get many details but it sounded serious enoguh. They were going to be absent for a couple of days it seemed.
When the phonecall ended, Francis called his other colleagues to ask if they could stand in for today. They all seemed to have other plans so it seemed and couldn't make it at all. In the end Francis was forced to ask help from other departments. He wrote a quick notice and went to the front of the store to pin the page on the notice board.
It wasn't really that he couldn't handle this department on his own. But better safe than sorry, you never know with the summer sales on perfumes. Perhaps it would be crowded later today or be it a slow day. He made his way back to cosmetics and hope someone was nice enough to stand in. Surely someone must want to work a whole day with the charming Frenchman~.
Perhaps one those girls from the bakery. Wouldn't that be lovely? He wasn't in a place to be picky, but if he had to have a stand in, he'd prefer it to be a pretty girl. He was brought right out of his dreams upon seeing Arthur.
"You have to be joking". He mumbled. What did that guy know about cosmetics? He didn't even see why he should wax those enormous eyebrows off! They were hideous. And he didn't do a good job taking care of his skin, but aside that bird's nest you call hair.
Francis and Arthur weren't exactly friends. After their first meeting he didn't think very well of him. "Bonjour sourcils. What can I do for you? May I suggest some borwn eyeshadow." he said mockingly, obviously playing dumb. By his the looks of it, he was going to stand in, but he sure hoped he was just here to pester him.
(Oh sourcils is French for eyebrows by the way. )
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Post by Arthur Kirkland on Jun 15, 2013 20:33:58 GMT 1
The first time he laid eyes on Francis, Arthur knew that they wouldn’t get along.
Someone so blatantly flamboyant was never to his liking. To be honest, the first time they actually conversed with each other didn’t end all that well. Ever since then, thankfully, there weren’t many chances for the two of them to meet once again.
But now, here they were.
‘Sourcils’ - he scowled at that. An attack was being made on his eyebrows already? How trite. Arthur made a note to come up with a nickname more creative than ‘frog’ at some point. Mocking someone based on their nationality was, frankly, stereotypical and a little too impersonal. (Even if he didn’t have a strong inclination towards the French people as a whole.) That, though, was beside the point. Why was Arthur still standing there? He felt overwhelmingly that he should just throw up his hands and leave before his day was ruined further. However...what if Arthur were to do well in selling cosmetics? Better than Francis, even?
The thought of surpassing him sparked a sadistic pleasure hidden in the back of Arthur’s mind. Francis obviously didn’t look as though he enjoyed Arthur’s company, even when he had little reason at the present to feel so. To make a man who seemed so bent on looking attractive and cool lose his wits in a rage of jealousy...
Alright, that settled it. Arthur would overlook his minor headache in favor of proving his prowess to this despicable man. There was a small risk that it could end badly. Bruised skin and bloody fists badly. ...Oh, what the hell. He could use the excitement. “Brown? Ah, I think not. That color doesn’t really make my eyes pop, you know?” He stepped forward and smirked, complacency written all over his face. “In all seriousness, I’ll be filling in today.” He stated nonchalantly, arms uncrossed and at his sides. He faced Francis head on, staying outwardly calm, collected, and most important of all, indifferent. “Will that be a problem?” He raised an eyebrow at the other man, daring him to lose his dignity in answering with a “yes”. The game had started. And god be damned if Arthur didn’t hate to lose.
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Jun 19, 2013 23:02:17 GMT 1
The feeling was mutual. Someone with a grumpy expression, that never heard of facial care and dressed much older than he actually was. Normally that’d be a good thing, if he didn’t walk around in clothes that have probably never been “in” so to say.Luckily for both they didn’t come across each other very often. He never lingered too long at the entrance or anywhere close to the customer department, though Arthur had some cute co-workers. Okay maybe it was a little childish and cheap to attack his facial hair already, but it was too easy. The nickname came automatically. If it was a sensitive subject, why not pluck them? While he was here anyway, they sold tweezers here, wax too if really needed. He wondered if he was going to far by trying to pluck them later?
That was one of the reasons he doubted the Englishman would do well selling cosmetics. Okay, he worked a long time already on the customer service, but you don’t only need to know how to deal with customers but also help them give advice about make up. God forbid you got it wrong and you let a girl walk around like clown. He could not have that happen. He wanted to shoo Arthur out right there and then, but Arthur would only take pleasure with that. So he swallowed his pride and shook his head. “No of course not. Thank you for helping out on such short notice.” He forced his best smile. He wasn’t going to let Arthur win this. Francis was a bit of a sore loser and especially would hate to lose to Arthur. Maybe at the end of the day he would admit this job was too difficult to him. Oh that be unlikely but lovely. Actually it would be great if he would just leave in a hour or so. Then he could perhaps still ask someone else personally to stand-in.
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