Private Finished A Promising Opportunity

It was a chilly day and April was already swiftly passing by. Chester was hoping dearly that the island warmth would return as he buried himself deeper into his lengthy thick knit multi wrapped purple scarf. Normally he wouldn't have left the house on such a dreary day, but unfortunately a package he had long been waiting for had finally arrived at the post office, and Mr. Tomoya was currently unavailable. Then upon further inspection, he found his milk had soured, and he was running low on snacks and was two days late on returning some titles to the library. So needless to say, the universe was conspiring against him forcing him to bundle up for a long tread. He looked like a small twig drowning in sweaters.

So grumbling under his breath as he weaved through the crowds and swept his wavy locks from his sight, it was completely by chance that upon glancing up he caught sight of the words 'History's Mysteries'.

Stopping in his tracks, his mood immediately lifted as his curiosity peaked. "History's Mysteries?" He tested the name on his tongue, as his eyes lit up. Turning from his current trajectory, he made his way towards the establishment, and pulled his hands from his pockets to rub them for warmth.

He took in the scenery, admiring the two storied house. It was so... ordinary, and yet anything but. He got a good vibe from this place, and being an avid collector of mysterious occult artifacts, the name sounded quite intriguing! Perhaps his life could be made easier by shopping here instead of online!

Excited to get a peak, he strode his way forward, shoulders shrugged in attempts to keep warm as small clouds escaped his lips. Taking a few steps up to the door, his hand paused when he seen the next signage.


"This get's better and better!" He whispered to himself, despite never having a job before, if this was anything like he was expecting, then he would beg if he had to!

Upon entering the place, he glanced up, then around. Feeling almost right at home as the surrounding reminded him quite similarly to his own cottage. With purple being his favorite color, he couldn't help but give extra credit for their sense of mystery and style. As he continued to peruse, his expression beneath his hood and scarf focused into concentration.

~Furniture? An Antiquity? I don't really sense anything from these things~ He sighed as his thoughts circled through, pulling his scarf loose and pushing back his hood.

~hmmm not too bad... This stuff IS pretty interesting... Very beautiful none the less. Is this pre-Victorian?~ His brows raised as his fingers barely brushed the surrounding items, being as careful as he could in his respect for their pristine condition. ~these may not feel cursed or spellbound, but they are amazing all the same...~

Then turning around a large wardrobe, he leapt back and let out a stifled yelp.

"ACK! Sorry! ahh... I d-d-didn't see you there! M-my apologies. uhmm I...."

Chester swallowed and choked back a laugh. Stammering over himself to apologize not making himself known sooner, he then squinted and tilted his head at the person in question. A gloomy remorseful looking fellow with his face partially obscured by a mask.

"D-do I... know you?" He asked feeling from the depths of his gut that he had seen this person before....but where? It would have had to been School, the library or in passing since Chester did little else.

But Snapping to attention and flushing furiously he slapped his hands together and gave a short bow.

"I am SO sorry! How rude of me! uhm Ch-Chester M-Mayfield! Forgive me for being forward! uhm I seen the sign and was curious! I uhm. I uhh... Pleasure to meet you." Bowing again, though he couldn't think why, he felt his stomach churning into knots, feeling rather like an idiot.

"I-I was just l-looking." Shyness over taking him, he glanced up from beneath his messy mop of raven hair, scratching the back of his neck.

Blinking back uncertainty as the shop owner pulled out his phone, sudden understanding dawned on him when the individual started typing furiously and a computerized voice greeted him in return. ~This guy must either be mute or have a bad cold~ He thought

"Hello Chester. I'm Mukuchi Grahan, I own this store. Are you saying that you are interested in working here?"

~Oh Right! Shit. The hiring sign!~ He suddenly remembered, putting himself on the spot as he stiffened up, face even a deeper shade of pink.

“Ah-uhm- Yes! Mr. Grahan---uhm Sir! Uhm.. I am… interested.” Sentence rather chopped, he felt growing embarrassment. Sure there had been plenty of mock interviews on his online courses, but he didn’t exactly come prepared!

Trying to keep from panicking, he pulled off his scarf, and wrapped it around one arm, holding out his dominant left hand to shake Mr. Grahans. Offering his best awkward smile, he tried his best to be as formal as possible, remembering proper grip and ease of strength.

“I-I’m sorry, I am not more prepared! I uhm I would have brought a resume or something, but I only just found your store! Uhm I’m afraid I’ve never worked before..” ~AERGGG wrong thing to say!~ an angry buzzer went off in his mind.

Floundering to make up for that, he pressed on with what he hoped was coming across as enthusiasm. “B-but- I am an Avid connoisseur,” ~am I using that word right?~ “Of historical artifacts! I’ve always had a fondness for the mystery, intrigue and stories behind …uh..uhm.. historical…artifacts.”

He felt anxiety and self-contempt washing over him. He was not exactly qualified for any sort of employment! He had no experience with basically anything… not to mention the fact he forgot to mention, most of his obsessive hobby was with occult related things. But yet despite the store not exactly matching his expectations, he found an intense NEED to be here. Something about it was drawing him in so intensely, and the idea that getting a job might impress his family, was no draw back either.

~ugh but I’m a dumb rich kid, why should he give me a job... Ughhh I’m probably just making a fool of myself!~

His awkward smile becoming forced and twitching, he wondered what this Mukuchi might say next on that interesting app of his.

Chester blinked at the artificer, and back at the box. He rung his hands, feeling nervous and queasy, offering a hesitant nod and straining a smile. His hands trembled slightly as he reached for the gloves and put them on with great care, all the while he berated himself mentally for being so hasty.

He was still learning. He was just a kid! Age be damned.

Sure. He spent most of his free time listening to informative podcasts. Yes. He did a ton of research on interesting occult objects, history, and significance. So what if he purchased numerous artifacts for a personal collection? Most rich wealthy people did.

But none of that was any replacement for REAL experience! That was more perhaps of an obsessive hobby… and it definitely didn’t mean he would have what it took to identify anything by eye. He was in no way qualified.

Cultures around the world were so vast and varied, and timelines could stretch even beyond recognizably known dates. Even now, historians were finding previously assumed pre-dates to be incorrect and go even FURTHER back than originally hypothesized!

There were no real right answers, but there were definitely wrong ones. For a moment, he was almost glad it was just to two of them, so there wouldn’t be anyone else to witness what was sure to be an epic crash and burn…

So all the while nearly hyperventilating, he gently raised the box to his assessing eye and began to run his fingertips along the softened aged surface of the fine lacquer box. Drawing in a deep breath and releasing it slow and steady, he felt himself melt into his own little world, despite being under the close observation of the gentleman before him.

Carefully analyzing the object, its’ elegant elaborate design, the gentle curvature of the carving, and its additional furnishings, Chester furrowed his brows and chewed his lip.

“M-May I open it?” He asked quietly, raising his brows ever so slightly, as he glimpsed up at Mukuchi.

When given the okay, he carefully lifted the lid, and inspected the interior.

“It’s uhm… Ch-Chinese… Ming? No. sorry. Uhm..” He mumbled under his breathe, carfully setting the box down as he counted his fingers, and corrected himself. “Song? No…. Y-ying YING dynasty! L-Late 12th century or early 13th-th. I-I think.. uhm…P-Probably after Mongol invasion.”

He ran his fingers over the carving again,

“Th-The carving designs are m-more elegant and h-higher quality with m-more complex n-nature designs. Song dynasty was mostly more b-basic geometric like d-designs? 14th M-Ming dynasty f-further went into dragons and uhm mythical b-birds and things... F-Favored red lacquer I think. So uhm… Ying… I’m s-sure.”

He tried to suck in more air and seem more confident but he was definitely feeling like his ears were on fire.

“It w-would have belonged to s-someone in a h-high position. Since back then, these kinds of products were only gifted by royalty f-for p-political or diplomatic reasons. M-Maybe for marriages? S-so it is likely an heirloom, or maybe a s-stolen relic?”

He looked back up, wincing and preparing to be ultimately rejected. He was definitely not a complete idiot. But he was no genius either… So he held his breath, gripping his hands by his side… waiting for his epic nosedive.

Biting his lower lip as he watched Mr. Mukuchi's long elegant fingers race away on his phone, Chester felt a large bubbly forming in his gut ready for bursting. If he bit down any harder he would have opened one of a few scabs from his bad habit, though as the robotic voice began reciting a different twist to history than he had studied, his jaw definitely became slackened. A mixture of shock and awe setting in as his eyes shone from this remarkable gem of history from the flipped stand point.

"V-vampires?" he barely whispered both surprised and intrigued, stepping forward and leaning in ever so slightly as the owner pointed out various features on the artifact.

" This box, as you said, was made during the great Mongol invasion. But what you got wrong was the use. This wasn't owned by someone in a high position. It was used by a vampire hunter to store their poisons, and trophies."

Chester's eyes positively glittered in fascination, a smile he hadn't realized had grown, was now occupying most of his face as he almost wriggled with enthusiasm.

"That's... That's.... so..." He felt choked, positively overwhelmed.... "WOW!"

A Vampire Hunter's poison box?! How Awesome! Up until now he felt he was at least moderately well versed in the histories of interesting artifacts, at least on the human side of things. But even upon arriving on this island, even considering his own family origins, he never considered the historic significance behind the .... well... 'Fantasy' side of history! This was going to open up an ENTIRELY different world of discovery!

His heart was pounding and he felt light and bouncy and OH so filled with desperation to want to know MORE! He looked back up to Mukuchi, unknowingly gripping and twisting his scarf between whitened knuckled fingers.

"I would be very interested in seeing your resume, Mr. Mayfield. Are you able to come again within the next two days? I suspect you might be a good fit here."

"REALLY?!!!!" He nearly shrieked with joy, an emotion that was rare on his usually gloomy expression.

Composing himself quickly with a short cough and chasing away the flush in his face, his lips were quivering to keep a sane smile. He bowed two... three, four short bows as he took small steps back.

"Thank you!! Thank you! Thank you very much! I really can't wait!—- That is to learn more from you sir! uhm Thank you! I will come back tomorrow! oh!!.. Thank you!" Almost out the door, he rushed back and shook Mukuchi's hand energetically, absolutely beaming before politely excusing himself.

He got a job! Well being considered more closely for one-- but still! Even if he didn't GET the job, this person definitely seemed like a very knowledgeable person, and Chester just HAD to learn as much as he could!

This was definitely going to open up a WHOLE new collection for him!
Almost skipping down the street, he could barely contain his excitement, as he immediately scrolled into his contacts and dialed up Julian.

"Julian?! AAAGH YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE THIS! Oh, Do you know how to write a good resume? I may need some help...."