2020-03-31 - An Important Cause

The week past marked Ainslie's final stint as a waitress, and from thereon she became a full-time employee of the Hub. One might wonder how enjoyable her job could be, spent cleaning the storefront... but honestly? The willowy brunette has loved it. She came through on her promise to dress better: more often than not she is either starting her shift in a smart, fitted pair of dark slacks and a blouse or (in the advent of better spring weather) a tidy chic skirt and blouse. Prior to meeting Stefhan and getting on as his cleaner, Ainslie never had cause for blouses.

Anyway, on this drizzly spring day, she is on shift and about an hour away from seeing the day as a done deal. She adjusts a display at the front of the store, wriggling her lean frame into a tight space to dust. Ainslie hates dust. Once done she replaces everything as it had been... in her care, the place has been immaculate. She has come through not only on one promise, but multiple.

Dust dust and dirt...icky stuff, no wonder why Stefhan preferred a hairless cat? But under Ainslie's dutiful duties, he smells the tale tale aroma of cleaning chemicals and he immediately smiles. "Oh what a relief." He says. He's not an asshole when it comes to keeping things tidy, but he clearly hates a mess. "Everything looks, crisp and refreshing and just, as it should be." Even the computer screens seem to be dust free. "I hope it's not too overwhelming for you. Sometimes getting used to a new job can be a bit taxing."

"Nothin' overwhelming about this. It's easy." Ainslie offers, balling up the paper towels and tossing them into a compost bin. "Reminds me of days when I was a young one, with Ma cracking a whip for me to do my chores." A beat, "Ah.. not like I'm comparing you to that... just, cleaning is second nature is all. It's a matter of maintenance." An easy smile as she lopes along, going toward the counter where she keeps her bag stowed. "This is a dream compared to where I came from, work-wise... you would jump right out of your skin if you had to spend even a day in the kitchen of an old diner." Dark eyes level upon Stefhan, as she drops into a pregnant pause for effect.

"I'm doing okay though?" Asked with a slightly worried air. Don't let her prickly, boisterous ways fool you.. Ainslie strives to please.

Stefhan chuckles for a moment at the mention of having a whip cracked. In fact, he tries not to laugh too hard at that idea, "Some people get the wrong idea about my mother but she had a desire to have everything spotless. I guess that became a bit of a quirk of mine. She was always polite about it, well, within reason." Neat freaks can be annoying, "You are doing great." he says, "If you haven't noticed, computers will attract dust, more than they need to so it's important to always be on top of things. Old diners though, yes, that would be quite the annoyance. Though, I guess I can't judge. I'm not much of a cook."

A quick laugh, right from the gut, "Oh, I noticed... these things just hoover the dust.." Ainslie admits, eyeing some manner of high tech laptop, poised like some manner of alien device. When did computers get so sleek?! She eases in, eyes the ventilation, sees it perfectly devoid of dust. "I remember my first computer... back in 2001. I was just a kid but I remember it was huge.. one of those desktop things. Ancient history."

She realizes that she is rambling and flushes slightly, "Ah.. so.." She looks up. "I really don't know much about you. Is it uncouth of me as your employee to be askin' about where you came from? Were you born stateside?"

Stefhan doesn't seem to mind the rambling at all and he slowly puts his arms to his sides. "I'm an open book really." he remarks, "And, born in Chicago if you are curious. Actually, my mother and father both have a rather large estate on the outskirts. He's got many investments and things just sort of went from there. His charms fooled my mother and, sometimes their marriage was good, sometimes, not so much so, there's more to tell." He comments, "What of your family?"

"Is that so... wow." Blink, Ainslie straightens and makes her way back over to the counter. Craning her body forth she pulls her bag out, not to leave but to find something inside. She digs for a moment, but looks up and listens as Stefhan elaborates on his answer. "Thanks for even answering that much.. it was kinda forward of me. I just like to know about people, eh? It's in my blood. Sometimes I ask too many questions and want to know things I shouldn't." A quick laugh as she fishes something out of her purse; a small thing in a paper bag. "My family lives up North and to the far East. Eastern Canada." A fond little smile. "Ma is a nurse, Da helps maintain a hoity toity golf course that makes money like stink in the summer."

Stefhan listens as well as she, too, shares more about her roots so to speak. "Golf, ah yes, my father used to engage in the sport from time to time. The profits for such a thing can be quite lucrative. It was never something I found much interest in though. Also, the medical profession is a very good field. So many people just can't work in such stressful situations. So" he enquires a bit, "You don't like Canada?"

"I love Canada." Ainslie admits, "My Ma is Canadian, Da is American and found his way up to our neck of the woods... went for the golf, stayed for the missus and the rest is history." A fond smile. "I'm here for reasons though... a fresh start. I meant to go further South to where Da's people are but I found my way here.." She pads her way over to Stefhan, pauses at a polite conversational distance and gives the store a sweeping glance. "I was drawn here, you know?" A light, nervous touch to her timbre. Unsaid: the Glimmer brought her here. Her tone smacks of a woman who ran from something.

Stefhan has heard of things that sparkle and glimmer at times, but he's written off such things as people either working too hard, or perhaps even being crazy. There's got to be a logical explanation for everything, right? "Well, there's reasons why we wind up where we are. I try to remember that." He may sense the nervousness though and he takes a step closer, "I, don't know a lot of things about you, and that's ok. However, whatever went on and whatever goes on, you're safe now. You know that right?"

The fact that he deigns to take even a single step closer is a reassuring thing. Ainslie's lips quirk into a crooked grin, perfectly befitting of her overall expression. "Aw, thanks.. it's really fine. I'm fine. Sorry if that bit was a downer... it's not my way. It just feels right to be here, you know? It feels good to be perfectly, utterly commonplace." That's the long and short of it. She's spotted the glow surrounding a great many others in this town... it's normal.

A deep breath, "So! Ah, where's Mr. Snuggles? I brought him a present. He's the real boss here and I'm gonna butter him up with bribery presents." Oh, so that's what the paper bag means!

"Not far." he says, "At least I hope that's the case." Cats, they love to hide so often but certainly a hairless cat can be found. Yes, he looks behind some counters and it takes a while, but he knows where his son likes to hide. "Come here come here come...." Cats, they don't come when they're called but after some convincing he reaches forward and gets the cat that looks like a rat. "See son, this is your favorite person." Yes, the cat and Ainslie have probably bonded deep by now.

Oh yeah.. Ainslie doesn't buy gifts for just anyone. She's deeply grateful to Stefhan for helping her get a bit farther in life and that in-turn extends to his 'son'. She's not about to lavish her human boss with presents -- that would not look right -- so it's far easier to spoil the cat. Cats are an acquired taste for some; hairless cats are the Next Level. Ainslie does not seem to mind Mr. Snuggles in the least.. honestly, she straight-up gets put off when the cat isn't around or easy to find. She watches with touched amusement as the businessman roots out the cat and brings him forth, and at that Ainslie lifts the paper bag and gives it a wiggle.

With a flourish she reaches into the bag and produces a sort of knit toy.. homemade, stuffed, fashioned in the shape of seagull. It's stuffed with catnip.

"Here ya go buddy. This suffice?" Asked as she sets the ridiculous toy down onto the floor.

Mr. Snuggles immediately purrrrsss when he sees Ainslie. Yes, this is one of his 'people' and purring is one way of stating that. But now, she brought the weed! The wacky kitty weed that just makes someone, or some kitty, go insane. First of all he just stands here, looking like he's zonked out until...

The high hits and he begins to go spastic. The zoomies are on but they're incoherent of course. It starts with him chasing his tail and looking like a strange mutated dog!

Cat weed! Frickin hairless stoner! Ainslie watches the whole process and when the cat starts to get spastic in his high the dark-haired woman laughs outright. "God, what is in that stuff to make them lose their minds... I wonder if that was a good idea? What if you get some last minute customers and he launches himself at them?" Ainslie asks but doesn't seem too concerned.. she's amused. That would be hilarious but she doesn't let on.

"I think the bribery worked!" Ainslie chortles as she balls up the bag, tosses it, and goes to set her purse to rights. Almost time to clock out. "Anything else ya need before my time is up?" Asked of Stef next as Mr. Snuggles loses his hairless little mind.

Stefhan watches the naked kitty pop around in a fit of insanity and just shakes his head. However, it's all in good humor, so he seems to be a good sport about it. There's definitely plenty of fun to be had. "Oh, we're all fine here." he says, "But if you can find the number for the emergency vet just in case, that might not be a bad idea."

"I don't reckon it'd be an emergency," Ainslie laughs out loud, "Maybe have some munchies on hand for him.. lots of treats. When he comes down he'll be hungry!" She laughs again in that contagious way; she has a nice laugh. She pads over toward the counter and bless her, with a quick consult of Google she scrawls out the number for what is indeed a local emergency vet. Ainslie beams, hands it over to Stef. "He'll be fine, promise.. just really chill and tired. Extra cuddly." She tastefully leaves out that a hit of weed is good for everything. Her evening habits are not a Good Thing to pass on to someone so fastidious.

"I'll be off soon then.. thanks again, Stef. I really do like being here."

Stefhan waves toward the dark haired woman as she gets ready to call it a night. "I'm glad." he says, "And if possible, try to remember the fundraiser. Hard to imagine that kitties go without their basic needs being met, but hopefully we can change that. Try to." he adds, "Be safe out there."

"I'll be here with bells on." Ainslie promises, and she will be. Don't make it a dare, she will definitely find some bells. Don't wanna know where she will hang 'em from! Moving on-

She pulls her coat out next, pushing her hair back over her shoulders. "Goodnight boss. Better hide the toy when he's done." Said with a cheeky grin. Once she completes whatever needs to be done to end her day, Ainslie waves her way out the door... leaving in her wake a lovingly cleaned storefront, and a baked A.F hairless cat!

Stefhan protectively looks over his son and well, he's buzzing, maybe a bit too much but still, all appears to be well and somewhat in order at The Hub, save for the mascot making his influence known.