The room through the door was a lobby, surprisingly enough. Cody had expected it to lead straight into the restaurant, but he supposed the sign was nice enough for this to be a lobby kind of restaurant. There were a few chairs up against the walls (surprisingly comfortable looking for waiting-room chairs), and a Host/Hostess podium next to the shut door. A bored looking man stood next to it, idly blowing a bubble with his chewing gum with his eyes closed.
He was taller than Cody's 6'2 by at least 3 inches, making him at least 6'5 if not 6'6. He was square jawed with the kind of five o'clock shadow you only get if being completely clean shaven is impossible. He wore a yellow t-shirt beneath a standard kitchen apron, and a backwards black ball cap concealing his hair color (though if the stubble was any indication, the color was a solid black). He also had the kind of build Cody would consider killing for: broad shoulders rounded with muscle, round beefy pecs that strained the material of his shirt, and biceps that looked on the verge of tearing the sleeves. Cody couldn't see the man's legs, but he was willing to bet they were just as powerfully built. The only thing Cody didn't envy was the pudgy gut he could see bulging beneath the man's uniform. Not a huge belly, or even enough to really be called a belly, but you could tell the man liked to eat and was not in the habit of missing any meals if he could help it.
'What a waste,' Cody thought, burning with jealousy. 'If I had those muscles I'd make sure you could use my abs as a cheese grater. Oh well, so long as he's happy I guess."
"How many?" The man asked in a bored tone of voice, eyes still shut.. Even his voice was pleasant; a deep, rich baritone. Cody was grateful that while his own voice wasn't quite that deep, he was at least in the baritone range himself, and didn't need to feel jealous of that, too.
"Um, I'm here about the 'Help Wanted' sign outside?" Cody said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. The man abruptly straightened, sucking the bubble he'd been blowing back into his mouth and opened his eyes. They were a brown so dark they almost looked black. In fact, in the right light, they almost--
"You're here for an interview?" The man asked, breaking Cody's concentration.
"Yeah?" Cody said, the 'That's what I just said' hanging unspoken in the air. The man nodded.
"Wait here. I'll go get Atlus." The man disappeared through the door before Cody had time to formulate a response. He was back almost as quickly, and he wasn't alone.
The man he brought with him wasn't short, but he wasn't too tall either, standing only at 5'10. He had a slim, elegant build and a handsome face that gave him a kind of ageless quality. His face was clean-shaven, and his dark hair was in an undercut similar to Cody's, the black hair on top swept backwards from his forehead even as the gray hair on the sides was shaved almost down to the scalp. Before Cody even had time to speak the man had stridden towards him and gripped his chin in one strong hand, angling Cody's face down and staring into his eyes. Cody was too startled to try and break his hold. Something about the moment felt important.
"Two eyes," he thought he heard the man murmur, but he couldn't tell for sure. "Two eyes for two worlds. A good omen." The man's eyes bored into Cody's. There was something strange about them, something almost--
Before Cody could organize his thoughts, or try to unravel what the man had actually said (if he'd said anything at all) He was released and the man put both hands behind his back, giving Cody a benign smile that hid whatever he was thinking.
"Hello, young man. My name is Atlus Skye, proprietor of this location. I understand you're here for an interview?" Behind him, the big employee cupped a hand around his mouth.
"Don't worry," he stage whispered, "he only talks all fancy when he wants to make a good impression." He received a savage elbow to the midsection for his trouble, and as he doubled over gasping for air Mr. Skye continued on as if nothing had happened.
"Well, young man, would you like to step into my office?"
Cody nodded, and the handsome older gentleman (he looked mid-forties, but the sense of agelessness made it hard to judge) led him past the still gasping host and through the door. The restaurant was a burger bar, he noted with pleasant surprise as they wove around tables heading for a side-door labeled "Management." There was a decent-size crowd for the time of day, he saw, and then they were through the door into a comfortable looking office.
"Take a seat, Mr...." Atlus trailed off, raising an eyebrow meaningfully.
"Cody!" He answered, realizing he'd never given his name. "Cody Long." Atlus nodded.
"Take a seat, Mr. Long, and we'll discuss your potential employment."
==
The interview was surprisingly grueling; at time Cody had felt like he was applying for a job at Fort Knox instead of a restaurant. The questions had ranged from prior work experience (expected) to current marital status (unexpected but understandable) to views on discrimination and the ethics of secrets within the workplace (absolutely unexpected).
The job, he learned, was to serve as Host, Waiter, Cook, or Cleanup Crew when and as needed. It came with an initial one-month contract which, after the trial period was up, would be replaced with a longer term contract if he was found to be a good fit for the business. If not, he would be granted a generous severance package and sent on his way, with the understanding that any sensitive information he learned during his tenure was never to be revealed.
Honestly, the terms and conditions were freaking Cody out more than a little. He was starting to wonder if this place was some kind of Mob front. He could totally picture Mr. Skye as a Don, and that big guy out front could easily be some kind of enforcer!
Then Atlus mentioned the starting pay: $25 an hour, minimum 30 hours per week with 40 being more likely.
"Paychecks are issued every other Monday," the man went on. "Since you're a new hire, your first check will be this coming Monday, to keep everyone's payroll on the same schedule. Should you be offered a second contract, and should you accept said contract, your pay will be raised to $40 an hour, with the same hours as the previous contract, subject to negotiation should you require more or wish for less. Is that acceptable?"
Cody just blinked stupidly before frantically nodding. Mob front or no, his rent troubles would be over the second he signed on that line. Mr. Skye nodded and gave a smile at his enthusiasm.
"Very well, Mr. Long. Just sign here, and report for work tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. sharp. Casual clothes are permitted; aprons and what-not will be provided by the company."
Cody signed and left the restaurant in a daze, hardly noticing as Mr. Skye gave him a handshake and the big guy out front clapped his back in congratulations. He stayed in that daze all the way until he got home where it finally, truly, hit him that this was real.
His whoop of celebration had the neighbors banging angrily on the walls.
==
"Do you think he'll be a good fit?" Ajax asked Atlus once the new hire had left. He had his beefy arms folded across his chest, straining his yellow t-shirt even further. "He's just some rando' off the street. He might run screaming into the night once he sees the Other side of things."
Atlus just shrugged, leaning back in his office chair, which groaned beneath the weight, unsurprisingly. Even in this form Atlus wasn't light: one's true self always leaked through somehow no matter how strong the magic. "If he's not up to it, the contract'll make sure he doesn't blab." Now that the interview was over he'd dropped the formality, just as Ajax as said he would. "It's been a while since we hired someone from this side of the wall. Some new blood'll keep things fresh."
"So long as it's not his blood being freshly spilled," Ajax retorted. "Remember Dorian? That guy snuck through the divider door and nearly got himself killed insulting--"
"I know what happened as well as you, I was there." Atlus interrupted. "I talked the Virgo Queen down in the end. Fired him on the spot, too, if you'll recall. The contract took care of any problems. It always does. Besides," he allowed himself a smile. "I've got a good feeling for about him."
"The eyes are the window to the soul?" Ajax asked, raising one dark eyebrow. Atlus laughed.
"Just because it's cliche doesn't mean it's not true." He retorted. "Just treat him like any other employee from this side of things. Assume he can handle things and, if he can't, it's no real loss."
"Easy for you to say," Ajax said, letting out a bull-like snort. "You're not the one who'll have to train him. We will."
"That's why I'm the boss, and you're the help," Atlus snarked. Ajax laughed, amused despite himself. "Go eat something," Atlus remarked, reaching over and poking Ajax in his beefy stomach through the white apron. "You're gonna need your strength to deal with the newbie."
Ajax needed no further encouragement, heading straight for the employee dining room. Atlus folded his arms behind his head with a smile. It did him good to see his boys eating well.
"Two eyes for two worlds," he repeated, his own eyes briefly glowing green, before he closed them with a sigh of contentment. A nap sounded like just what the hedge-witch ordered.
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