Never out of service. [BOOM GOES YOUR APPETITE]

S

Sav

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Sep 5, 2013
229
There were many challenges that was present for her, what does it mean to live a normal life? What was normal? She thought.

Farren shook her head, everything on this island seemed to confuse her. The staff at Starlight Academy promised to help her adjust and fit in, so there was a small grant of money to start with. Only issue is Farren never had to use currency for anything, everything was supplied for her before. She'd be given clothes, food and necessary equipment, anything outside that was irrelevant. That was her life before, now it was common to have more than you need for the sake of choice. Farren did not understand.

However she did understand that her grant will only last her so long, she did not know how long. So it was suggested that she took part in a work experience curriculum at her earliest convenience. There was no one to provide for her, no family to support her. The only person that has helped her could not be here, because he was "pure" human, the person who she called farther.

She found herself walking down the main road out of Starlight, she insisted that she went alone without guidance from a tutor.

Her movements took her past the first row of buildings, some of them may have been residential, others general shops. However there was one that had something written in it's windows.

"Help wanted." It said.

The building itself looked old compared to the ones surrounding it, another thing she did not understand. Regardless of what she thought, the sign was a good indicator for work. Farren took herself towards the building.

Her hand went for the door, opening it and heading inside. She took a quick glance around out of curiosity. A few steps further in and then she stopped in place.

"Hello?" She called out. The Starlight staff told her about introductions, she no longer had to abide by military doctrine, but it was hard to break habit.​
 
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Insalius

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Nov 26, 2014
40
The Diner definitely had an old-timey feel to it, which was an intentional design from the owner. A row of booths lined the outer wall next to a wall-length mirror looking out over the city. A counter sat towards the middle, looking over part of the kitchen where drinks were poured and served. A bathroom lay just beyond the back wall, a few extra stalls added thanks to some extra space. Even a jukebox sat at the end of one of the booths for when someone really wanted the nostalgia to hit.

It has been a slow day for business so far. A few kids from the Academy had stopped in to get some milkshakes while Ted in Accounting got his usual cup of coffee. Agnes was home sick and it was still a bit early for the after-school rush, so Constantino had been relaxing in one of the booths out front. He'd nodded off enough to not hear the bell ring when Farren had opened the door, but her voice certainly startled him awake.

Jerking upright, the spatula he had laid on his chest flung over the counter, landing on a latch that kept a part of his workstation upright. Of course, he'd just put a dozen coffee cups on a cloth there to dry after washing them, causing them all to crash to the ground and shatter into hundreds of pieces. Smacking his face in embarrassment, he almost forgot about his visitor as he reached for a broom. A glance from the corner of his eye reminded him, though, making him smile and reach for his order pad instead.

"Welcome, young lady! Sorry for the commotion, things get hectic around here when I don't have supervision. Never mind that, what would you like?" Smiling the whole time, Consty made his way to the mess he'd made and started to scoot the chips of ceramic into a pile. "If you're having trouble, I've got a menu you can look at. If you want something special, I can sure try my best, though I'd recommend what's on the menu for best chance of quality."
 
S

Sav

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Sep 5, 2013
229
She waited a few moments, enough time the gaze around once again. Then her eyes heard movement, her head snapped towards the source. Very shortly after there was a racket of smashing. It was enough to make her jump back, in other words she blinked leaving the air in front of her in a small field of distortion.

Is this a trap? She thought. Farren couldn't understand why it would be, or could it?

She looked toward the booth where Constantino was, he seemed very calm about what just happened. Did it not matter? He was asking what she wanted, of course this is where one would eat. She put a hand out in front of her and slowly shook her head. "I have rations still left over, but thank you." Her reply felt as if it was a programmed response.

Her hands then were placed behind her back. "I saw a sign outside that said, 'Help Wanted'. I was hoping I could offer my service?" She asked, keeping a straight look to Constantino.
 
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Insalius

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Nov 26, 2014
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Young girl, couldn't yet be out of high school, and yet she was looking for a job. To an average person it would seem like a youngster wanting to start taking responsibility for her life earlier than her peers. While typically a cause for celebration, Constantino noted a few inconsistencies. For one, rarely ever did a student use the word 'rations' and even the most behaved teenagers would have had SOME kind of reaction to the fiasco he had caused with the cups. No, this was military-grade composure.

He looked her over quickly, blinking as he remembered where she had been and where she stood now. The clumsy old man routine was the face he put on to customers and civilians. He'd been aware of her the second she'd step in, the whole spatula and cups event staged for comedic effect. He had already reversed time for the cups, sitting on the counter as if nothing had happened as he blocked their view from the girl. He didn't hear her jump back, but back she was. Either she could move quicker than he had noticed or she had somehow teleported backwards a short distance. Both would require more observation.

Still, Constantino wasn't one to turn down a request for help. It was incredibly unlikely she could kill him as not even a collapsing galaxy could. He DID need help, and maybe by working he'd be able to learn her story. He smiled and put the notepad away, knowing he wouldn't be needing to take any orders from her.

"It's true that I DO need help. I'd like to keep this official, though. I've got applications in the back and I need you to fill one of them out. Have to keep records for the local government and all. After that, we'll have a quick interview, then we should be set. Is that fine for you?" As he spoke, he walked behind the counter to grab one of the applications. It was a standard one that asked for name, living address, and so on.
 
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Sav

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Sep 5, 2013
229
She waited without another word to be polite. When you asked a question, you await for the other to answer. It was standard procedure that should be followed to continue giving a positive impression, no one is interested if you're impatient. Farren knew she needed a job to begin living like others here. Working here would work well, it was close to the academy too.

The man smiled, her expression was still the same as before. She watched Constantino talk and move to behind the counter. An application, she had to do one of those back at Starlight Academy when she first arrived. If she were honest it was perhaps one of the more frightening things she had to do. Farren lived being in the unknown, a deniable operative. When caught there would be no way for her to pin it on anyone, because she did not exist then.

Her thoughts trailed.

Do this would further add to her existence in the world. People would know her name, her age, where she works and where she is currently living. The thought of that worried her slightly, but this was something she had to learn to accept.

Farren bowed her head. "Yes s-," she begun, however she bit down and stopped herself. She was almost about to say that word. "Yes, that will be fine with me." Farren finished.

Her brows frowned a little, she wanted to address Constantino but she did not know how to.​
 
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Insalius

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Nov 26, 2014
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It was a definite that her reactions and responses made her out to be ex-military. Probably a child soldier, as it seemed like she didn't have any other grasp of social interaction to go on. His expression softened slightly, having known plenty of such people over his many years of travelling. Maybe he could give this one a place to find a new life for themselves.

"You don't have to call me sir, or you can if you want to. I'm not in the military anymore so I try to keep things casual." He gestured for the young lady to sit at a booth, bringing over the application and a pen. "Here, take as much time as you need. If you want something to eat or drink, just let me know. This place sells food for comfort, so you don't have to worry about your rations."

As he thought about it, the waitress job would be a good transitional position for her. She'd still be in her comfort zone of taking orders and responding appropriately, but she'd also be able to observe how others lived outside of military doctrine. Hopefully she would be able to find a way to ease up and live life how she wanted. All she should need is to see how the other side lived and interacted.
 
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Sav

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Sep 5, 2013
229
The next few words from Constantino eased her mind, him being ex-military somehow made things easier. He would have a better understanding of her from a somewhat similar background, working here was the best choice. "Yes sir, er." She replied, then tutted. It was a natural response.

Farren shook her head briefly as she approached the booth, taking a seat. She scanned over the application, she could read it. Like Constantino said it was asking for her to fill out the blanks. All of which seemed rather simple. She glanced towards the owner of the diner.

"Thank you, but I will be okay for now." She would have taken upon the offer, but she did not like to waste anything. Everything had to be used for its purpose.

She took the pen and began to write. Half way through her first name she stopped writing, she clicked her tongue. The reason she stopped was because her writing was awful, to write with pen on paper was new to her. She crossed out her name and started again but much more slowly, carefully drawing each letter. Her expression was hard and focused.

Every now and then she'd make a small mistake and have to re-write in some of the boxes. Each time she'd grunt a little at her mishap. What felt like an hour she came towards the end. Farren flexed her hand, it felt sore from holding the pen too stiff.
 
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Insalius

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Nov 26, 2014
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Gently taking both the pen and application from the young lady, Constantino gave a knowing smile as he sat down on the other side of the booth. He gently put the paper to the side as he looked at his prospective new employee, trying to be as comforting as he could. This poor thing had gone through what no child should have. And yet far too many have already done so, a story the older man had seen far too many times on different worlds.

"Thank you. I apologize if you hurt yourself, it was rude of me." He tapped a finger on the application, even from a glance knowing he'd still be able to easily read what was contained on the sheet. "I could read this right now and it should tell me everything I need to know about you, all the specifics needed."

He smiled again gently as he looked Farren in the eye. "However, I know that was hard for you. So, if you would like, you can just tell me here what you want about you. What you think I should know, about who you are and why I should hire you. If there's anything you don't want to reveal or talk about, that's fine. I just want to give you the option to put it in your own words, instead of using a script like this application."
 
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Sav

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Sep 5, 2013
229
While she was caressing her own hand, he took the paper and sat opposite her. Somehow it was not like how she thought this would be, it felt a little familiar yet different. Maybe he was sympathising with her? How could she know that? She's barely told him anything. Or was it the way she talked? Possibly?

Farren lightly shook her head as Constantino tapped the paper. "I am just not used to writing yet, it will not be an issue."She replied as if reassuring him and herself.

She took a glance at the paper, then back to him. She could not deny the difficulty she had with the application, however she chose not to vocally express this. Instead she was given the choice to start again, but this time in her own words.

With a small exhale her hands were placed in her lap. She nodded to accept the new proposition. " My name, Farren Marshal. Age, nineteen. Height, five foot eleven. Weight hundred and fifty seven pounds." She took a moment before continuing.

"Previous family name, Maurier. Farther, Ioan Maurier, deceased. Mother, Arabella Maurier, also deceased. Adopted farther, Kris Marshal. He brought me to Mantra Carlos when Starlight Academy representatives made contact with us, but he was not allowed to come because he was 'pure' human."

"My physical fitness is in good condition. Fastest recorded time for a one and a half mile run is eight minutes, fifty four seconds. Treading water in light combat gear, thirty nine minutes, six seconds. Can lift and carry two, forty four pound equipment over hundre and fifty meters in one minute, twenty five seconds."

Somehow she felt that she might just be sprouting words, did he really need to know that? She frowned a little before carrying on.

"I am a quick learn and eager to prove, with a sharp memory and point precision in my work. I have an ability which is referred to me as 'Blinking'. I do not know the specifics, but the connection between my nervous system allows me to essentially teleport short distances in relative succession. I can blink other persons too, but they must be willing to accept the jump. I wasn't told exactly how it works, but that explanation is enough to make it work with others."

Farren sighed a little, did she say too much? Or did she say too little? There was no way for her to know, it is the first time she would apply for a job in the real world. In fact it was a major rush considering she had only just arrived on the island mere days ago.

But she was adaptable, at least within her comfort zone.

Her eyes searched Constantino, what was he to think of her?
 
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Insalius

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Nov 26, 2014
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It was a very efficient response. All the information that would appear on the application had been told to Constantino in a fraction of the time it had taken to write it down. It had also confirmed his suspicions about the girl sitting across from him. She had been molded into what she currently was, barely a hint of individuality to be found in her response.

"Thank you for your answer. That should be just about everything you wrote down here." He kept the smile on his face, hoping his next little test would tell him more about Farren instead of how she had been raised. He would have to be careful not to make her feel bad or anger her as that would never be his intent.

"My name is Constantino MacKenzie. Former explosives expert for a variety of military organizations, former mayor of a town long since lost to the sands of time, former ship captain, former special operations operative. I have the ability to control time due to previous operations in the line of duty. I have one adopted son who occasionally works here as a cook, when he's in the area."

Consty had decided to describe himself the same way that Farren had described herself, giving all the important information in the emotionless and detached way that the military taught everyone who had been a part of it. It was his next statements that he hoped would have an impact.

"However...That doesn't really explain all there is to me. It doesn't explain that I like to watch the sun rise and set on a day with a cold drink in my hand. It doesn't explain how I like to watch those who come in here laugh and talk and enjoy themselves. Everything we both just said are facts. They are the truth. But not the whole truth."

Leaning forward a bit, Constantino tried to put as comforting a look on his face as he could. He knew that even hinting at breaking someone from how they've always led their lives could be a stressful thing, for both body and mind. He wanted to be gentle, as even as just a waitress she would be far outside her comfort zone. He was going to try to get Farren to test the waters a little bit.

"If it is okay, I'd like to know why you would like to be a waitress. I know that funds are an important thing for anyone, so that's not the answer I'm looking for. I'm not looking for the functional answer. I'm looking for the personal answer. If you don't want to answer, that's okay. I would just like to know, if it is okay with you."
 
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