2019-12-09 - Hiring Day

It's about eight in the evening on a Monday. There's a few regulars that are at the bar and keeping seats warm, but otherwise, the bar isn't that busy tonight. There's a petite platinum haired woman behind the bar and chatting idly with a hug fluffy looking guy on the barstool a few seats down, "You're doing great with karaoke, really Hank. I should pay you." she tells the man.

Zach strolls into the bar. He's dressed a little nicer than he might normally be, plain button-down shirt under his jacket. He makes a bee-line for the bar, taking a seat a few up from the guy being spoken to. He takes a little time to look around the bar, eyes alight with curiosity.

Mariah gives a look away from Hank when there's someone new wandering up to the bar, and he's nicer dressed than most of these schlubs, so he's not from around here! "Hey there, what can I get you?" Mariah asks with a smile. She's dressed in jeans, black sweater that's a size too big so that it shows a bit of shoulder and her hair is down.

"Hey!" Zach greets Mariah with a smile, nodding his head in greeting to the woman as she comes over to him. "Just a coke please, if it's not too much trouble," he requests, already digging in a pocket for his wallet. His accent would place him in the PNW, though not quite from this area. "Zach Morgan," he introduces himself, offering a hand. "I saw your want ad about a bartender?" he asks, hopeful.

Mariah gives a smile, "Not too much trouble at all." she tells him as she goes about making him a coke. "Nice to meet you, Zach. I'm Mariah." she introduces herself in turn. "Oh yeah, we're definitely looking for another bartender here. Do you have any references or anything or looking to just start out somewhere?" she asks him as she settles the glass down in front of him.

"References? Oh, sure," Zach says, glancing around to grab a napkin, rummaging in a pocket until he finds an old pen. He takes a few moments to copy down some names and numbers from his phone onto the napkin. They're from a number of bars in a zig-zaggy line from Portland to here. "What's the schedule like?" he asks curiously. "I was speaking to Mr. Marshall over at the Two If By Sea, and was hoping to pick up the odd shift there too." There's a wry smile to Mariah, gesturing towards the door. "Car's probably on its last legs and, well, gonna have to pay my way through life somehow, am I right?"

If and when Mariah checks his references, the general sense she'll get is that Zach is a fairly average bartender. Nothing spectacular, but a good worker. He doesn't seem to stay around in any one place for a long time, though he always gives warning before leaving again.

Mariah gives a smile to that, "Schedule is pretty flexible. If you want to work earlier in the day you can." she admits. "Easton's a pretty good guy. Haven't seen him in a bit." she tells him. "So I think working both places would be alright." she states. "Easton probably gets better business over there some nights." she chuckles. "And yeah, totally understand the car dying bit. Mine crapped out a year ago, so I just got my new one." she admits.

"Cool, cool," Zach says with a smile. "I got the feeling it's just odds and ends over there so.." he shrugs again. "We'll see, yeah?" He sips his coke, thoughtful. "Seems like a nice town, though I've already been warned away from murder motel like four times."

Mariah listens to him and there's a nod, "Easton has had a rough few months, so having someone that's good around the bar might be helpful." she tells him. "Even if it's odds and ends." she adds. "The town is nice, yeah. Just...if you start getting anything weird going on let us know?" she asks him with a bit of a pointed look.

Zach tilts his head at Mariah, curious, and perhaps a tad on edge. "Weird?" he asks. "In what sense...?" There's a careful blankness to him, like he's trying to avoid a question on the edge of hearing.

"Weird dreams that you might wake up injured from. Weird feelings...abilities." Mariah tells him. Hank gives a look to her, but she shrugs, "Just warning a new arrival." she tells the big guy. "Don't know what else to say really. Just...weirdness." she chuckles.

Zach actively flinches as Mariah mentions weird feelings and abilities. He looks between her and Hank, clearly trying to cover with a nervous laugh. "Sounds like you're pulling the newbie's leg," he says, sounding completely unconvinced by his own theory. "Anyway, I should uh.. probably get back to learning my way around town. Let me know if there's anything to fill in?" he asks, scribbling his own phone number on the napkin. "And when to come in next?" he adds.

"I wish." Mariah tells him with a bit of a chuckle. Then there's a smile, "If you want to come in tomorrow evening or Wednesday night we can get you all set up in the POS and get you trained on the ropes. It's not going to take a lot." she tells him. "And thanks for coming in. Just let me know if you need anything." she tells him as she slides a card over to him with her number on it.

"Thanks Mariah. I'll come by tomorrow," Zach promises, though he still seems a little unsettled. He nods to her as he takes the card and heads out. He's not fleeing. He's tactically withdrawing. Still turns up tomorrow though.