-------
The rookie looks over to the doorway as the cheerful and senior interviewer - who just so happens will take over his shift in a few moments - ambled through.
"Joey!" called out the bespectacled smiler. "Hey, hey. Look, I know they've got super duper killer special for lunch today, but you gotta stay for a bit." he told him simply, two foremost fingers pointed towards the younger guy.
"What." he stared into the smiling man a blank stare. "But Cotton, I just got done with all these past interviews-"
"I know, I know."
"Some of them took a bit, even - like Zack."
"I know, I know..."
"Some were plain making fun of me, like Caeca."
"I know, I know-"
"Some, like Lyth just now, were unnerving to be around."
"I... know, I know...!"
"And some were just plain weird... Like Nima."
"Would you please stop talking about them as if they're your friends."
"And then there were your 'accurate renditions'..."
"...I know, I know." Cotton fixed his glasses in a momentary pause as he contemplated his junior's insane level of memory, and then started again before Joey could butt in one more time. "Look, I'll just get one of those specials and put it aside for you, alright? Thing is, a serpent-ship just stopped at port. And the top brass wants us to document some of her crew's experiences and whatnots in our distinctive style."
"Wait, a what-ship?"
"Serpent-ship. Like, those kind of planar ships people build into the back of giant-ass snakes. Not to say this one looks exactly like a snake, but it's... You know what, I digress. You gotta handle this bunch is what I'm saying."
"Why can't you just handle them? It's your shift!" Joey protested, to which Cotton's smile noticeably wears off, and his tone no longer in the jovial mood.
"I... have a written decree of law that states I can't engage verbally or physically with any dimensional traveler for an extended amount of time for the next ten months." Cotton states it in one breath, standing upright with his arms hidden behind his lean figure.
"Wait... Why would you have-" Joey's face is now strewn into a horrified pastiche.
"
Don't ask." Cotton cuts him off. "So," he fixes his glasses yet again. "We cool?" he's smiling again, showing teeth even.
"Ye... Yeah." Joey slumps back in his chair, eyes looking to the floor beneath the interview desk.
"Fantastic, thanks. Any other favors you'd need, buddy?" Cotton asks as he stands at the doorway.
"Oh, uh... Mind getting two of those specials, then...?" Joey asks meekly. "If I get off early enough, I might be able to eat with Claire."
"Ooh, sly devil. That's gonna make her happy. Consider it done!" proclaims the bespectacled man, zipping off in the direction of the cafeteria, leaving Joey alone in the room again.
Joey sighs, and sets his papers right. Might as well put on a smile while he's at it, too. Sure enough, another batch of individuals begin to flood the corridor in front of his room - where waiting chairs provided temporary rest. He passes a cursory glance through the glass, and noted that they all seemed like decent people - but they were all girls! So he took the chance when another co-worker came into the room to deliver more papers before the rest of the interviews started.
"What's up with those girls outside? Man, don't tell me it was Mr. Baskerville who picked them out." asked Joey, ruffling his short, spiky hair to the girl, another fellow junior like himself.
"Nothing like that, Joe." she placed the stack of papers on his desk, and turned around to walk out. Turning to look over her shoulder, she went on to answer him. "It's just in the spirit of 'ladies first'. Or so I've heard. Well, best of luck. And make sure not to do anything to make Claire mad." the girl let out a stifled laugh, promptly exiting as she did so. Joey sighed, and then leaned forward again once the first girl walks up and twists the knob to his room.
-------
"
He... Hello." greeted the girl, head poking through the door to look around his room. Joey invited her in, to which she seemed less than enthusiastic to comply. The girl had medium-long black hair that framed her young, nervous face. If he'd have to guess, she was probably a few years younger than him. Not twenty, at least. He stared into those cerulean eyes as she settled down in front of him.
"We'll make this quick, alright?" says Joey. "Miss..." he stole a look at his papers. "...
Ameria Faye Howlings?"
The girl nodded, and so it was all green to start.
"Okay." Joey cleared his throat. "Remember, please reply in only one word." he told Ameria, to which she nodded. "Let's begin."
"What is your profession?"
"
...Cook!"
"What is your favorite thing about your profession?" asked Joey. Ameria contemplated it for a while before answering, smiling.
"
Smiles!"
"What do you like the least?"
"
Hunger."
"What do you wear to work?"
"
...Apron?"
"Why?"
"
Cleanliness."
"What do you wear to play?"
"
...Sneakers."
"Why?"
"
Clench."
"What do you like to do in your free time?"
"
Chat."
"Who do you share this activity with?"
"
Everyone!" replied Ameria. Joey looked on with surprise in his eyes.
"Really?" he asked. "You looked kinda shy just now. I was afraid you were gonna run back to your seat outside." he told the girl, whose cheeks began to flare a light red.
"
Is- Is that also a question?" asked Ameria, twiddling the thumbs she's planted between her thighs. "
It's just... I don't handle formal processes very well. It was even worse back home, when I first started out and tried to get a job."
"Oh..." Joey stared at the mats of her hair that clumped to the sides of her face as she talked. At the corner of her face, a scar peeked out. It wasn't noticeable at a first glance, but it definitely wasn't a small one. In fact... the longer he checked her out, the more scars he seemed to find on her, wherever her skin was exposed. On the face and some on the hands, especially. "I see... Hey, miss? What kind of world did you come from?" he asked curiously, it never having occurred to him that a petite-looking girl like her could be a fighter of some kind, despite what she'd put in 'profession'.
"
I'm sorry, but do I also have to answer that with just a word?"
"Huh? Oh, no you... don't. Uh, well... " Joey seemed to finally realize he was going off-rails. After a quick massage to the temple of his head he goes back to the matter at hand, thankfully. "Never mind. Let's... continue. There's just one more question." he looks back at the form.
"Bonus." then says Joey. "There's a dragon rampaging around the countryside, how do you capture it?"
"
Tail." answered Ameria simply. As Joey watched her thank him and leave through the door, he definitely sensed some form of experience pushing that last answer through. Oh well... On to the next one.
-------
The next girl walks in through the door coolly, a cautious yet unwavering gaze leaving her blue eyes. The two long bangs of short-cut hazel hair closely framing her face sway slightly as she sits down, hands formally placed palm-down on her thighs. Taking note that this girl was only the second of the bunch, he decided to speed things up.
"Let's begin. Answer with only one question, please." He looks at the form. The girl's name was
Anatolia Lansley. She nods without a smile.
"What is your profession?"
"
None."
"What is your favorite thing about your profession?"
"
Free."
"What do you like the least?"
"
Alone."
"What do you wear to work?"
"
...Whatever."
"Why?"
"
Choice."
"What do you wear to play?"
"
This."
"Why?"
"
Easy."
"What do you like to do in your free time?"
"
Train."
"Who do you share this activity with?"
"
Captain."
Well, she was surprisingly cooperative, thought Joey. He looked over her answers, and wondered who this 'Captain' was.
"Final question; 'Bonus'." said Joey. "There's a dragon rampaging around the countryside, how do you capture it?"
"
Gravity." answered Anatolia. She leaves without another word, leaving Joey feeling cold and unloved. He sighs.
Next!
-------
The next woman Joey recognizes to be a dark elf - which he felt was a weird thing to call someone. The only difference he could gather was the long, pointed ears poking out from behind her gray bangs. Well, that and the fact that she has dark gray skin and blood-red eyes. Anyway...
"
Thank you for having me today." the girl donned in full armor suddenly spoke up, which surprised him. "
I verily hope our proceeding goes well. My name is Hanesse Frau. My companions call me Ness, so please do, Mr Joe." she smiles slightly. Well, he definitely didn't expect
that.
"Alright then, Ness! No reason to be so formal. Let's start." Joey laughs a small laugh, wrapping his fingers around his pen right. This was definitely going to be smooth sailing. "One word replies only, now." says Joey, to which Ness nods.
"What is your profession?"
"Warrioress."
"What is your favorite thing about your profession?"
"
Peace."
"What do you like the least?"
"
Parting."
"What do you wear to work?"
"
Reliable."
"Why?"
"
Oh. Um... Inheritance."
"What do you wear to play?"
"
'Casuals'...?"
"Why?"
"
Comfort."
"What do you like to do in your free time?"
"
Observe."
"Who do you share this activity with?"
"
Hathaway."
"'Bonus question." said Joey. "There's a dragon rampaging around the countryside, how do you capture it?"
"
Soothe."
Just before she left, Joey chimed in for a leisurely short chat.
"Hathaway, eh? He a good friend?" he asked, and she spun around, a strange look in her face. But within seconds, it was replaced by a warm smile.
"
...Yes. He's... a very dear friend." answered the young woman, bowing and thanking Joey again afterwards before stepping out the door. Ooh, he thought. That was all the fluff he needed to smile until the next respondent checked in. Onwards, then! Claire is waiting!
-------
The next girl to enter the room was a bespectacled brunette in her mid-twenties, at least. Clad in a orange vest, shirt and skirt, Joey noted she seemed normal enough. For some reason, though, she kept on looking at her watch. For that matter, actually, she kept looking everywhere!
"Err... Miss..." Joey checked the form. "...
Farra?" he asked, realizing her last name was not written down. "Don't worry. We're just going to have a quick interview is all. It's one-word, even."
"
I get that." she replied back. "
Let's start."
"
Urk... That's my line!" thought Joey, though he was brought back to attention when she seemed to notice something on the previous forms. She pulled that particular sheet out of the pile, despite his protests. Either she's very sharp, or...
"
H-Hey... Why does this have 'Argento' written on it?! Did he come here just now?" she seemed to be more focused now that this matter has come to light. Appropriately for someone with her temperament (assumes Joey), she shoved the form up close into his face. "
Hey! Was this Argento a tall guy, with dark blue hair? And with a sharp, piercing stare?" but then she pulled back after a moment, and set the paper back on the table. "
Oh, who am I kidding! Who else could be named 'Argento'?"
"Miss Farra," said Joey. "I'll have you know that we've had people coming here from two different versions of the same world." he continued, leaning forward himself. "As for that, I'm afraid it was just something I got from a co-worker of mine. I've no idea how he got that, and if it's from the Argento you know."
But Farra went over the details, and it was chillingly accurate.
"
H-Huh...? So he did come here just now..." she muttered under her breath, completely missing the last bits of Joey's words, it'd seem.
"Miss Farra?"
"
Huh?" she came to, still clutching the piece of paper.
"Is there something wrong?"
"
...No. Nothing. It's all right." she hands the form back over to Joey, who pushes it into the stack. "
Sorry about that. We had an interview to finish, right?" Joey agrees, and promptly pushes aside how weird her change in temperament was just now. They push on.
"Let's begin. What is your profession?"
"...Waitress?" she seemed conflicted with her answer. Why would there be a
waitress of all things on a serpent-ship, though? Wondered Joey.
"What is your favorite thing about your profession?"
"
Hours."
"What do you like the least?"
"
Creeps."
"What do you wear to work?"
"
...Um... uh... Nametag!" answered the girl, apparently flustered for some reason. Well, that was weird.
"Why?"
"
...Proper."
"What do you wear to play?"
"
T-Shirt."
"Why?"
"
Sporty."
"What do you like to do in your free time?"
"
Music."
"Who do you share this activity with?"
"
Friends." she points her thumb towards the girls sitting outside, smiling as she did so. Joey sighed with relief. He was right about her, apparently. Apart from that episode just now, nothing seemed to stick out as being interesting, if he were to put it heartlessly.
"Final question; 'Bonus'." said Joey, looking into her black, average eyes. "There's a dragon rampaging around the countryside, how do you capture it?"
"
Incinerate." answers the girl.
...
Well, there had to be a reason she was on that serpent-ship, right? Anyhow, she leaves just as quickly as she sat down, and seemed to talk a bit with the remaining girls before leaving. Alright then, three more!
-------
The young woman closes the door behind her. She was dressed like the typical wanderer, her figure drooping a red, scaled scarf most noticeably. Her golden hair was rather short, but not boyishly so. The ends pointed upwards, and Joey looked into her strong, magenta eyes as she sat level to him. Her face was a mix of slight fatigue, jaded perhaps, but there was definitely strength and determination behind that expression. And when she did smile after Joey introduced himself and outlined this silly little interview, he couldn't feel like he could be any more right about something.
"
Thistle." she confirmed her name, simple and sweet as it was. The interview began.
"What is your profession?"
"
...Seeker."
"What is your favorite thing about your profession?"
"
...End."
"What do you like the least?"
"
Suffering."
"What do you wear to work?"
"...Durable."
"Why?"
"
Hazards."
"What do you wear to play?"
"
Hmm... Poncho."
"Why?"
"
Soft."
"What do you like to do in your free time?"
"
Read."
"Who do you share this activity with?"
"
Anyone."
"Bonus; there's a dragon rampaging around the countryside, how do you capture it?"
"
Uppercut."
"Very effective." remarks Joey. The young woman leaves after a quick laugh, and thanks him before she does so. Joey thought her interview quite pleasant, and wondered what it was that she sought. Nonetheless, he silently wished her the best of luck. Two more!
-------
The penultimate girl arrives, and it's no girl. A woman, probably in her late thirties or so, walks through the doorway rather elegantly. She is smiling, and wastes no time in sitting down.
"Good day." she greets Joey, who has already looked at the form. Her soft smile is surrounded by light creases.
"And to you too, miss Emeritus Madeline Wendell." he greets her in return, and she nods, pulling aside a strand of her long white hair that had fallen on her face. Her black eyes seemed relaxed, and did much to paint her as a kindly person. Of course, this was just Joey judging a book from its cover. Only the interview may tell how she exactly is. "We'll start right away. Please answer honestly." he tells her.
"What is your profession?" asks Joey.
"Advisor."
"What is your favorite thing about your profession?"
"Travels."
"What do you like the least?"
"Misinformation."
"What do you wear to work?"
"Dress."
"Why?"
"Appropriate."
"What do you wear to play?"
"Shirt."
"Why?"
"Simple."
"What do you like to do in your free time?"
"Snack."
"Who do you share this activity with?"
"...Interested?" she seemed to lean forward slightly, and a playful smirk adorned her face. Joey was taken aback by this at first, but she just as quickly slumped back into her chair and laughed quietly to herself. Whew.
"There's a dragon rampaging around the countryside, how do you capture it?"
"Meteors..." answered Emeritus with a giggle. She might have been joking, but damn does that sound like overkill. Of course, she's supposed to capture it, but... It's not like 'Incinerate' was any better an answer. Sure, dragons and dinosaurs are two things apart, but the point still stands.
"Thank you for taking the time to join us in on this interview, miss Emeritus. Greatly appreciated." Joey tells her, putting her form to the side. She turns her head to look at him, and smiles with closed eyes and a slow nod.
"Likewise."
-------
Finally, the last girl enters.
From the looks of her, Joey reckoned she was around Ameria's age, if not a year younger or so. That would make her the youngest out of the bunch should his guess be true. Of course, the interviews don't discriminate. As long as someone had a tale to tell in this one particular style, the interviewers were always willing to pull out a fresh form to be sent into the great archives once they were done. Back to the matter at hand, the girl politely waves while muttering a word of hello to Joey. He returns the gesture, and she sits down, making herself comfortable on the mahogany chair.
The tips of her red hair flutter about under the air conditioning. She looks on curiously with her bright, blue eyes, sizing up the young man sitting across the desk. Blinking a few times during his explaining the basics of the interview, she quickly says yes when asked if it's alright to begin.
"Okay, we'll begin." Joey sets down to getting ready to fill out the form. "Now remember, miss Elliswhyre, to answer all the questions honestly."
"Understood."
"What is your profession?"
"Apprentice."
"What is your favorite thing about your profession?"
"Growth."
"What do you like the least?"
"Bullies."
"What do you wear to work?"
"Uniform."
"Why?"
"Discipline."
"What do you wear to play?"
"Shirt."
"Why?"
"Easy."
"What do you like to do in your free time?"
"Collecting."
"Who do you share this activity with?"
"Rim."
"Final question." said Joey. "There's a dragon rampaging around the countryside, how do you capture it?"
"Teamwork." the girl answered confidently. Ah, thought Joey. This girl is definitely a smart one, like he is. He'd go on to think on how she is also a humble person (just like him), if it were not for the relief that the current bunch of respondents had finally been taken care of. Elliswhyre leaves after a handshake, which Joey definitely did not expect, and he throws himself unto his big chair, delighted that he was done.
Or was he...?
-------
((Author's Note : Fuck. That escalated quickly.))