forum The Great Four (CLOSED)

Started January 13, 2019 by @KoffeeOwl

tune

“Exhausting some days, great others,” James said after a bit of thought, “It really depends on who’s working and how busy we are.”

"Oh, I mostly deal with old women…Now that I think about it." Sariel said, finally managing to untie the knotted up strings. "Hopefully today is a little less chaotic than yesterday." He added, watching a group of people walk past and to the doors once the train had stopped.

"Where do you work anyways?" James asked Sariel. Not sure if he knew already or not, his brain was a glob from the lack of sleep.

Unfolding the apron, Sariel held it up to show James, "In the front of a greenhouse." He said, refolding the fabric. "Not really that difficult,"

"I see," James said nodding, trying not to nod off. Everything would be fine once he was at work, "Seems to be a pretty fitting job for you."

"Are you gonna be able to make it there?" Sariel asked, stuffing the apron back into the book bag now that it was untangled. "You kind of look like you're going to fall over."

"Yep," James said leaning slightly on his hand. He yawned and shook his head trying to perk up a little, "If not I'll just take a nap at my desk."

Sariel nodded and stood up once the train had stopped for the second time, waiting for a few other people to walk past before he left. "Just try not to fall asleep here, though." He said, waving and stepping off the train.

James gave him a wave and looked up realizing his stop was next. Finally, he could function again. He stood up and leaned on one of the poles figuring he couldn't fall asleep standing.

After leaving the subway, Sariel walked towards the circular building that he worked at. Connected to it by a hallway, was a glass and tarp greenhouse where the plants were kept and where the manager stayed, talking to the people who walked back there. Once he walked in, Sariel went behind the counter and put on the apron, dropping the bag he was carrying under the counter.
During the first half an hour of being there, he sat on a stool behind the front desk, looking at a notepad with a list of what was sold in the front room. Barely anything is gone.

James headed off at his stop and made his way to the café. One of the younger workers who probably was working first shift stifled a laugh, "You look awful boss."
"Don't test me," James responded making his way to his office to drop off what stuff he had. He walked back to the machine and got him a cup of just black coffee.
"Pulled an all nighter didn't you?" The same worker asked, Alex was her name right?
"How did you know?" James asked sipping at the cup.
"I've served enough college students to know," Alex leaned against the serving counter.
James groaned and made his back to the office, "Get back to work."
"Whatever you say boss!" Alex laughed as she turned around to help the next customer.

After the first hour of being in the front, Sariel was regularly walking back to the clear plastic "doors" that led to the greenhouse to clip the plants that had made their way that far. For some reason, even though he was sure she had noticed, the manager hadn't mentioned any of the odd plant growths that had begun after Sariel had started to work there. Maybe she knows and doesn't care much…Or maybe she's just, dim in the area of strange things happening. Sariel thought, sweeping the floor after a small group of people left the greenhouse, tracking dirt through the front room.
Checking the clock beside the counter, he noticed that it had been at least two and a half hours now since he had gotten there. Just a few more of sitting here.

James had finished the coffee and felt a lot more awake. Once the rush came in James felt awake enough to go out, even if he messed up a couple times. The worse that happened was a few of his workers snickered in the background. Alex probably told the all about his apparent lack of sleep. Even thought sometimes they were nuisances, James wouldn't want anyone else working with him. They're mischievous, but effective.

After talking to the manager for the remainder of his shift, Sariel clocked out and left as the woman who usually closed walked in. Taking off his apron, he stuffed it inside of the bag again and walked off, similarly to the day before, noticing that he hadn't really paid much attention to any of the buildings before.

James had returned to his office, and fell asleep at his desk. He hadn't figured he would crash so easily, and none of his coworkers wanted to bother the sleeping man. So he was left to sleep while the others carried on.

After looking in over half of the shops that he had, for whatever reason, only just noticed, Sariel put the couple of small bags that he had come out with in his book bag on a bench near the entrance to the subway. So far, nothing odd had happened, at least not like what had happened the day before.
Maybe if any other weird things come into my apartment, Bamboo will catch them for me. Sariel thought, checking a few things on his phone and moving his bag closer to his feet so that no one would walk by and step on it.

James was woken up by one the closers. He scowled and got mad at himself for sleeping through the day. he had packed up and was on his way home, not bothering with the subway. He needed the fresh air.

After a few minutes more of sitting on the bench, Sariel quickly decided to stay away from the train once he watched numerous groups of people filter through the entrance. One of them could have easily been in one of those groups. I probably wouldn't have noticed, considering I didn't pick anyone out yesterday. Slinging the bag over one of his shoulders, Sariel began walking in the direction of his apartment. I forgot the fencing. He thought, briefly stopping an intersection that would either take him back to work or to his apartment.

James spotted Sariel on his way home. He wasn't sure how or why, but he did. The taller man walked over to Sariel and gave him a wave, "I wasn't expecting to see you here Sariel."

Looking over at James, Sariel smiled briefly before going back to looking at the streets that branched off of the one he was on. "Hey, do you think fencing off an area for all of the plants I have would help to keep them under control…?"

"It might," James responded after a bit of thought, "You'd need a tall fence and trim the area frequently. I think so at least."

After deciding to leave it for tomorrow, Sariel hooked his other arm through the book bag straps. "You don't look as rough as you did this morning. Did you get some sleep?"

"Yeah," James grumbled as his arms crossed over one another, "Fell asleep at my desk. The next manager came and woke me up so they could take over. I feel like an idiot."

"It's not like you do it a regularly though," Sariel said, shrugging his shoulders. "At least it was only once," he added.