2022-05-14 - Job Interview - Willow

It's Eleanor's first day back at the office, so to speak, since returning from maternity leave. She's only in for a couple of hours to handle some ordering and books, and do some interviews. She insists on being a final interview for all possible employees because neither of the managers glimmers, so they can't see if something is wrong in the weird way Gray Harbor tends to be wrong. The redhead looks tired but happy, with her hair in a messy braid, glasses perched on her nose, and wrapped up in a thick, ugly cardigan because it's always a little too cool in her office. She may also be in sweat pants and sneakers but don't tell anyone. New mother. No sleep.

She gets up and opens the door, calling out the next name on the interview list. "Willow Jacobs?" she inquires in her newly minted "mom voice". She's been practicing that for months, the sort of sound that travels through background conversation to get that kid's attention.

Looking up from the book she has been reading to her name, Willow stands up, leaving the book on the table, that isn't goind to look good is it. She smooths nervous hands down her pencil skirt, then she adjusts the white blouse that she is wearing and, head held high, walks towards the door and into the room, her hand extending, should Eleanor wish to shake it, "That would be me." She says, easily, a warm smile coming to rest on her lips.

Eleanor gives the young woman a bright smile and accepts the hand to shake, after juggling a pen, a clipboard, and a phone to free up one of her own. "Please come in and have a seat." The office is small, little more than some filing cabinets, a desk, and a couple of chairs to support a computer, a whiteboard, and a pinboard full of things like order slips, inventory information, and a working means to figure out employee schedules. The storage room and small employee lounge are the only other areas in the back hall.

The tall woman sinks into the chair behind the desk and looks over the job application. "So are you very new to town?" she asks, squinting at Willow to assess whether or not the candidate glimmers. It's there, not nearly as bright as Eleanor's own glow, but few people shine like the shop owner does. If Willow is a streetlamp in the darkness, Eleanor is an entire lighthouse.

Following Eleanor into the room, she slides comfortably into the chair, her fingers folding together to rest on her lap, "Yes, quite new actually, I've only been here for." She quickly does the math in her head, "Maybe three weeks now." That news actually causes her to let out a small laugh, though mostly to herself, "Sorry, I didn't realize it had been that long already, I'm origionally from New York." Not that she asked, but Willow is a little nervous.

"A lot of people wind up in Gray Harbor from elsewhere. Even overseas," Eleanor notes with a small smile. She knows why Willow is here, even if Willow doesn't yet. Because it calls to them, to the shiny ones. "What made you decide to come to this little town?" she asks curiously as she scans the application. The qualifications for barista are basically "breathing", "not a provable criminal", "not an agent of the dark men", and "not completely off-putting to customers". It's not a tough job to get. This is more a fishing expedition to find out what the newbie knows or doesn't know.

Willow says, "Well." She muses, "I'm trying to make my name as a writer or the Supernatural and, I can't explain it really, I just got in my car and drove, stopping here and there, collecting stories, and the such. This place though." A slow shake of her head, "This place is different, as I'm sure you are quite aware, so I've decided to stay and make my home here, at least for the time being.""

Eleanor nods slowly, looking up to assess the girl. "You can see that this place is different, right? Probably been able to tell that things are weird or see things others don't since you were a teenager? Or maybe earlier? Some of us don't get the luxury of ignorance until we hit our teens." She certainly didn't, nor did her husband. "How much do you know about what you, yourself, can do?" If she doesn't really know, this will likely send the applicant fleeing from the shop. There are always rumors about Mrs. Roen being a conspiracy nut.

An eyebrow raises in question, Though honestly, why should anything surprise her any more. "Yes, I can tell things are different here and I remember what I see, or what I've been told. It's been brought to my attention by Ravn that that is not a normal trait to have when living here." She crosses her legs at the knee, her hands coming down again to smooth out her skirt, "Though beyond that, I don't seem to have any other, abilities, at least none that I've noticed yet."

"It's not normal, but it's likely what drew you here. Gray Harbor is...," Eleanor leans back and sighs. Being a new mom, she suddenly feels protective of all the young people. "There are two places here. The one everyone sees, and the one only a few of us see. And they overlap in this town. They're separated by something I call the Veil, and it is extremely thin here. It's everywhere, but in a few places, it's so thin we can make doors through it, or things from there can come to this side for a time." She sets the application down and folds her hands on her desk.

"These thin spots seem to act like a magnet for those of us with the gift. The Shine. The Glimmer. The Art. It has a lot of names. My husband is an excellent teacher about these things, and so is Ravn, so you'd do well to seek them out for any deep questions. I try to be available to talk to and train people as well but, well, I have a baby who isn't quite 8 weeks old yet so my time and brain juice are a little limited. For this job though? If crazy weird stuff happens? Get everyone to safety. Ok? Most of the people who work here don't Glimmer. They won't know it's supernatural in nature. Call it a gas leak and get them out. Understood?"

That's a lot of information, though she listens with rapt attention, nodding a little so Eleanor knows that she is listening. "Yes Ravn has proven to be quite knowledgable about these things so far, so I will be sure to ask him anything, though I'm sorry, but I don't know who your husband is." A small smile at that, but at the warning of keeping people safe, she nods again, "Yes, of course, though, one question." It's not like she has had that much experience with the veil or those that inhabit on the other side, "In the event that I see something, I get everyone out and then, what? Does the doorway move?"

"If there is a doorway? Usually not. It can be closed by some people, I'm one of those people. Get everyone out and call me. If I need backup I have people I can call to come in and help, and I know which cops also shine and will handle it right," Eleanor says with a small smile. "My husband is August Roen, he owns Branch and Bole and Out on a Limb. He comes in here a lot, but I can give you our numbers to call. If you're still willing to work here, you're hired."

She pulls out a business card with her data on it and jots information for August on the back, sliding it across the desk.

She nods to that, "Well that is good to know. I will be sure to remember that." Fingers unfold from her lap and extend onto the desk to grasp the business card, the words, you're hired, causing a much larger smile. "Fantastic, thank you. When should I start?"

"You can work that out with Della, the day manager, or Matias the evening manager. They'll get you set up for training shifts and work with your personal schedule," Eleanor explains, rising from her seat to walk Willow out. She looks to Della and gestures to the new hire. "Get her set up for training, please?" Della does not shine. Nor do the two college kids currently on shift, Kerry and Russ. Most of the customers do not shine either. The gas leak excuse to get people out in an emergency makes sense, because "Evil Christmas elves are invading" would not go over well with the normies.

Rising when Eleanor does, Willow looks out, nodding to Della and offering the woman a small smile. Back to Eleanor, she extends her hand again, "Thank you, I appreciate you seeing me with your busy schedule."

The hand is taken and shaken. "Now, I need to get home before my daughter has my husband so goo goo eyed he builds her a giant castle in the yard or something, despite the fact she's too little for that," Eleanor chuckles. She gathers her bag and locks her office before heading for the door. "Welcome to the Espresso Yourself family, Willow!"