S
Strangebuddy
Guest
The fair had only finished setting up when the first job seeker approached the entrance with two young children holding on to the hem of her dress. She was a young human woman and the rings around her eyes and her worn clothing showed she had made a hard journey on foot. She looked at the various booths and the persons bustling around with a sense of wonder and dread.
"Mommy, what's that?" One of her boys asked, pointing to a large picture of bustling paved streets.
The woman looked at the picture, confused at it. The image wasn't painted, nor was it a tapestry. She had seen skilled artisans who worked with charcoals who could do similar works but the black and white image seemed more defined.
"It's a photograph, dearie!" A cheerful voice said. The mother turned to face the source of the voice and found herself looking at a chubby but still curvaceous Dark Elf who was sporting a Cheshire grin and a pink frilly dress complete with a large white apron, "It's the latest thing. If you like, we can have photos taken of all of you before you leave today."
The woman froze as she looked upon the ashen skinned beauty. Dark Elves had been among the scariest stories of her youth. Living in their caves, slaughtering elves and men and dragging the survivors down to be tortured or enslaved. Yet, here one was, looking like she might offer her a pie.
In fact,
"It looks like your beauty has overwhelmed her, miss. Maybe we should offer her something to eat?" A new voice said. The woman turned her head slightly and saw an olive-skinned nymph approach the Dark Elf and take her hand.
"A fine idea Felicia, you always know just what to do," She took the woman's hand and pulled her over to a table where plates piled with food were being placed down by a couple of middle-aged orcs. The woman tried to dig in her heels at the sight of them but between the dark elf pulling her along, her children running to the table, and the site of the steaming pile of eggs, sausages, bacon and many more things that her belly had not tasted in days, she found herself hurrying to the table.
As the woman and her children began to scarf down food, their manners forgotten, the orcs, the dark elf, and the nymph sat down across from them and gingerly began eating their food in silence, smiling at the group.
"Here, have some milk to wash that down with." The motherly orc said, rising up to fill the family's tankards with cold milk. As she sat back down she looked at the woman, "My name is Skula and this is my husband Gronk. I believe you've already met Lola and her lovely assistant Felicia."
The woman stopped her frantic scarfing as her face turned beet-red, "I-I am so sorry...the food, I just haven't eaten in...my name's Cara, and these are my boys, Samuel and Cass."
Lola laughed, making her amble chest shake, "No need to apologize dear. We set up this table so none of our potential employees would go hungry. Besides, I think Skula and Gronk would be offended if you weren't enjoying their food as much as you are." She turned to the children, "Would you boys like some ice cream?"
"What's ice cream?" One of the boys asked, letting some eggs fall out of his mouth.
The dark elf smiled, "Oh, you are in for a treat! Felicia, get these fine gentlemen and their mother some pie and ice cream...from our family selection" she added, noting a raised eyebrow from Gronk.
As the nymph rose to collect the treats, the human woman rushed to make herself as presentable as possible.
"I'm sorry. I-I didn't know you were the recruiters...I know I don't look like much but I promise I'm willing to do ANYTHING...I'm only 23, I'm strong, eager to take direction and willing to serve-
She stopped as Felicia placed a finger on her lips. and sat her pie down. The nymph served the others and then returned to Cara, stroking her hair and smiling.
"Relax Cara, there's no need to impress anyone. You have the job."
"Wh-what job?" She responded, holding back her tears.
"Any one YOU want. I'm sure that any employer here that is worth his or her salt would want a beautiful driven woman in their business."
"But...a job, not-" she looked at her children who were too busy enjoying the wonders of ice cream and playing with some toys Skula gave them to notice, "enslavement?" she finally whispered.
"No, no," Lola said, waving her hands gently, "It's true that some women choose to sign contracts that would entail similar services but even then it's only temporary and they are rewarded with full citizenship upon completion. However, myself and Gronk aren't looking for those kinds of service; I need some more ladies for my bakery and he needs some workers for his tavern."
"Would I be able to keep my children with me?"
Gronk turned away from her children, "of course. Lola's bakery is next to a boarding school and my tavern has separate rooms for my employees' children. We want you to feel like a valued member of the team."
Cara started to cry.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! After their father passed, I didn't know what to do, I wasn't expecting anything as wonderful as what you just told me."
Gronk handed her a slip of paper and gave her a big smile, "Well thank you but we should be thanking you for getting to meet such a devoted mother and two wonderful children. Still, I think we can finish our respective pitches to you later after you've gotten some sleep. Take this to the tavern behind the fair and they'll set you up."
Cara clutched the piece of paper and nodded enthusiastically at Gronk before planting a kiss on his cheek. She then hugged and kissed everyone on the other side of the table and took her boys with her towards the tavern.
"Well, that was easy." Lola said, smiling slyly, "I suspect I'll be meeting my quota before the end of the day and the fair hasn't even started."
Gronk and Skula smiled back palyfully, "Oh really? Because I think a mother like that will want her children right next to her, and in case you didn't notice, her children adored Skula. She'll be signing with us by tonight."
"True but I think she will take her own needs into mind once you tell her the actual duties she'll be performing." She barbed.
Skula frowned, "Me and Grunk choose to be completely open with our hires, we don't try to butter them up or take advantage of them when they are tired. Maybe that's why we have an 80% retention rate...vs. your 40%."
Sensing the escalation, Felicia and Grunk placed their hands on their partners shoulders.
"Skula, Lola's business has a lot of fatigue. She isn't intentionally driving them away, it's just very demanding and it's requirements do push a lot of societal taboos so some secrecy is necessary. Besides, she is our friend in case you've forgotten."
"Lola," Felicia said, peppering her mistress with kisses, "Skula and Gronk do have a very devoted staff. While it's not the way we do things, you have to admit that there are benefits to their approach.
"My apologies Skula," Lola said afte delivering a deep kiss to her partner, "I just want to get done with the fair as soon as I can meet my quota. This...rustic setting doesn't agree with me and I heard there might be protests."
"I see," Skula said, reaching out to cover her friend's hand, "and I apologize for my comment. your business and ours go hand in hand. I have nothing but respect for you."
Gronk waited for the silence to peak before he playfully smiled, "Look, that last one was a bit too easy, she'll probably sign with whoever meets her first tonight...why don't we make a bet? Double or nothing, who ever snags the next contract gets Cara as well."
Lola smiled devilishly in a way that would make her murderous ancestors smile, "Agreed."
With that, the group put out fresh plates and waited for the next early bird to approach them.
"Mommy, what's that?" One of her boys asked, pointing to a large picture of bustling paved streets.
The woman looked at the picture, confused at it. The image wasn't painted, nor was it a tapestry. She had seen skilled artisans who worked with charcoals who could do similar works but the black and white image seemed more defined.
"It's a photograph, dearie!" A cheerful voice said. The mother turned to face the source of the voice and found herself looking at a chubby but still curvaceous Dark Elf who was sporting a Cheshire grin and a pink frilly dress complete with a large white apron, "It's the latest thing. If you like, we can have photos taken of all of you before you leave today."
The woman froze as she looked upon the ashen skinned beauty. Dark Elves had been among the scariest stories of her youth. Living in their caves, slaughtering elves and men and dragging the survivors down to be tortured or enslaved. Yet, here one was, looking like she might offer her a pie.
In fact,
"It looks like your beauty has overwhelmed her, miss. Maybe we should offer her something to eat?" A new voice said. The woman turned her head slightly and saw an olive-skinned nymph approach the Dark Elf and take her hand.
"A fine idea Felicia, you always know just what to do," She took the woman's hand and pulled her over to a table where plates piled with food were being placed down by a couple of middle-aged orcs. The woman tried to dig in her heels at the sight of them but between the dark elf pulling her along, her children running to the table, and the site of the steaming pile of eggs, sausages, bacon and many more things that her belly had not tasted in days, she found herself hurrying to the table.
As the woman and her children began to scarf down food, their manners forgotten, the orcs, the dark elf, and the nymph sat down across from them and gingerly began eating their food in silence, smiling at the group.
"Here, have some milk to wash that down with." The motherly orc said, rising up to fill the family's tankards with cold milk. As she sat back down she looked at the woman, "My name is Skula and this is my husband Gronk. I believe you've already met Lola and her lovely assistant Felicia."
The woman stopped her frantic scarfing as her face turned beet-red, "I-I am so sorry...the food, I just haven't eaten in...my name's Cara, and these are my boys, Samuel and Cass."
Lola laughed, making her amble chest shake, "No need to apologize dear. We set up this table so none of our potential employees would go hungry. Besides, I think Skula and Gronk would be offended if you weren't enjoying their food as much as you are." She turned to the children, "Would you boys like some ice cream?"
"What's ice cream?" One of the boys asked, letting some eggs fall out of his mouth.
The dark elf smiled, "Oh, you are in for a treat! Felicia, get these fine gentlemen and their mother some pie and ice cream...from our family selection" she added, noting a raised eyebrow from Gronk.
As the nymph rose to collect the treats, the human woman rushed to make herself as presentable as possible.
"I'm sorry. I-I didn't know you were the recruiters...I know I don't look like much but I promise I'm willing to do ANYTHING...I'm only 23, I'm strong, eager to take direction and willing to serve-
She stopped as Felicia placed a finger on her lips. and sat her pie down. The nymph served the others and then returned to Cara, stroking her hair and smiling.
"Relax Cara, there's no need to impress anyone. You have the job."
"Wh-what job?" She responded, holding back her tears.
"Any one YOU want. I'm sure that any employer here that is worth his or her salt would want a beautiful driven woman in their business."
"But...a job, not-" she looked at her children who were too busy enjoying the wonders of ice cream and playing with some toys Skula gave them to notice, "enslavement?" she finally whispered.
"No, no," Lola said, waving her hands gently, "It's true that some women choose to sign contracts that would entail similar services but even then it's only temporary and they are rewarded with full citizenship upon completion. However, myself and Gronk aren't looking for those kinds of service; I need some more ladies for my bakery and he needs some workers for his tavern."
"Would I be able to keep my children with me?"
Gronk turned away from her children, "of course. Lola's bakery is next to a boarding school and my tavern has separate rooms for my employees' children. We want you to feel like a valued member of the team."
Cara started to cry.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! After their father passed, I didn't know what to do, I wasn't expecting anything as wonderful as what you just told me."
Gronk handed her a slip of paper and gave her a big smile, "Well thank you but we should be thanking you for getting to meet such a devoted mother and two wonderful children. Still, I think we can finish our respective pitches to you later after you've gotten some sleep. Take this to the tavern behind the fair and they'll set you up."
Cara clutched the piece of paper and nodded enthusiastically at Gronk before planting a kiss on his cheek. She then hugged and kissed everyone on the other side of the table and took her boys with her towards the tavern.
"Well, that was easy." Lola said, smiling slyly, "I suspect I'll be meeting my quota before the end of the day and the fair hasn't even started."
Gronk and Skula smiled back palyfully, "Oh really? Because I think a mother like that will want her children right next to her, and in case you didn't notice, her children adored Skula. She'll be signing with us by tonight."
"True but I think she will take her own needs into mind once you tell her the actual duties she'll be performing." She barbed.
Skula frowned, "Me and Grunk choose to be completely open with our hires, we don't try to butter them up or take advantage of them when they are tired. Maybe that's why we have an 80% retention rate...vs. your 40%."
Sensing the escalation, Felicia and Grunk placed their hands on their partners shoulders.
"Skula, Lola's business has a lot of fatigue. She isn't intentionally driving them away, it's just very demanding and it's requirements do push a lot of societal taboos so some secrecy is necessary. Besides, she is our friend in case you've forgotten."
"Lola," Felicia said, peppering her mistress with kisses, "Skula and Gronk do have a very devoted staff. While it's not the way we do things, you have to admit that there are benefits to their approach.
"My apologies Skula," Lola said afte delivering a deep kiss to her partner, "I just want to get done with the fair as soon as I can meet my quota. This...rustic setting doesn't agree with me and I heard there might be protests."
"I see," Skula said, reaching out to cover her friend's hand, "and I apologize for my comment. your business and ours go hand in hand. I have nothing but respect for you."
Gronk waited for the silence to peak before he playfully smiled, "Look, that last one was a bit too easy, she'll probably sign with whoever meets her first tonight...why don't we make a bet? Double or nothing, who ever snags the next contract gets Cara as well."
Lola smiled devilishly in a way that would make her murderous ancestors smile, "Agreed."
With that, the group put out fresh plates and waited for the next early bird to approach them.
