Futures
While at work, my brain is literally atrophying, when it isn't attempting to drive me crazy. But, out of the haze of sanity challenging bullshit the is careening around in this place, every once in a while, it give me something I can use. This is one of those half baked, jury-rigged affairs.
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon or any of the other crap I thoughtlessly reference here. (Except I do own Casey Chambers and Alexander Vinn. (Just saying))
Always…
The Southern California summer sun beat heavily on the fade green roof of the dusty Landrover. Behind the wheel, the pretty woman with the vibrant orange hair adjusted the sun visor, providing more shade over her smooth face. The mid day traffic was at a stand still, another asshole to preoccupied with their phone to pay attention to the road causing the imfamous 91 Freeway to be backed up for miles. She sighed and began to fiddle with radio dials when the new single from D.R.U.G.S. slammed into her speakers. The noise triggered the memory of the events that led her to this hellish road.
Sora examined herself in the cracked mirror of her crummy little apartment. Having just steeped out of the shower, she was clothed in just a fluffy white towel. Sh still maintained her trimmed, well muscled build, but her body a long since lost it's angles, and was padded in just the right places with the healthy fat that makes all girls pleasant. Her wet hair hung to her shoulders, but it's natural 'boingy-ness' would lift it about an inch when it dried. Finally her eyes rested on them selves, resting on light purple furrows from the long hours of school, and until recently, her job. She walked out of the bathroom, grabbing another towel for her hair, sighing.
"What a mess." She commented to herself. She was just a few months into her 28th year on the ball of dirt know as the Earth, and already it didn't seem like it was going to be any better than her last. She had been in the States for just over 3 years now, and it wasn't easy. She had been dateing Matt for a while after High School, but, dispite best intentions and effort on both of their parts, it just… fizzled, she would say. Make no mistake, the did love each other, but in the same way they loved the other members of their group. Romantically however, things just didn't click. So, as Matt's group picked started landing some big tours, they decided to part ways as a couple, remaining in contact, and as close as ever. She thought he was in Australia, or somewhere along those lines, but she couldn't remember specifically. After that, she moved around Japan, trying to find a takeoff point with her arrangements, and taking some college courses, but it just wasn't working. During these months, she began to get lonely, as many of her friends began to move on, looking to further their own goals.
Mimi hit L.A., looking for the stars, and was working her way up, doing bit parts on sitcoms, and was branching out into voice acting as well.
Joe moved out to Brittan, did some medical training, and was currently working as a Surgeon at Bethesda Institute if memory served.
Izzy went straight to Silicon Valley, and was now considered one of the leading people in the field of robotics, specifically the creation and fabrication of Medical equipment and Powered Prosthetics.
A pang struck her stomach as her mind hit the last one. Tai had moved west with Kari and Davis After they married, and was, according to the sales data provided publicly by Amazon, a fairly popular Author. His biggest hits were a series of slightly exaggerated tales of their own adventures in the Digital World. Thought that could be because people will buy ANYTHING with the little "Based on a true story" tag added. She had never read the books herself, not really wanting to subject herself to see what he would write where she was concerned. She still remembered the last time she saw him, a few days before he left for America, and what he had said to her.
"Well, if you ever find yourself Stateside, look us up, your family, and our house is ours." He looked at the ground, and Kari and Davis repeated agreement. "Anyway, you know if you ever need anything, you can call me anytime, Always.
It was about a year later she found out that what she liked about the flower arranging wasn't the flowers, but the design. She looked around, and found a true interest in clothing. She worked up a nest egg, and moved out to California to study Fasion. It was here, now, in her current Jobless position, she had remembered that last conversation, and placed a call. She got the machine and left a message, asking if he knew of anything that was hiring, as she knew he had settled somewhere around the L.A. area as well. That had been two days ago.
She Sighed again, and sat down on the chair she pulled over from the table to the stand where her laptop sat when she used it as a computer. She grunted in disgust as the latest headlines streamed across her browser. Fighting in Egypt and more crap on how that atrocity known as "lady gaga" had attended the Grammies as a living abortion. She clicked it off before it made her sick, and was just checking the latest happenings on her facebook, hoping for a lead when her phone went off, making her jump.
"If you had a sex life, a sex life, would you even worry about mine, when you bed is empty. If you had a sex life, a sex life, would you even worry about mine? When you bed is empty, you're a waste of time." Craig Owens voice roared out in all it's slightly high pitched melodious, rage-full splendor, as she snatched it up and scanned the "Unknown Number" Id. Great, mabye it's one of the applications I submitted, calling me about an interview! She though, growing excited.
"Hello?" She said, sweetly.
"Sora?" The voice made her heart jump a little.
"Um… Yeah?"
"Hey, it's uh… Tai, Sorry it took so long to get back to you, busy week." She was pleased to hear from him.
"Oh, it isn't a problem, it was nothing important, just checking in, you know?" She gave the impression of a shrug in her voice.
"Aww, well, I always welcome a call from you, as infrequent as I get to hear what's going on. Anyway, I have to be brief, but you said you were looking for a job?"
"Yes, my last job got fed up with my difficult hours." She said, her heart racing a little faster.
"Well, their loss. O.k., got a pen handy? I know of a place hiring, it's a little club in Torrance, and they are looking to fill a couple of positions. Nothing shady, it's a club/restaurant/music stage thing, food, live bands, all of that stuff." She smiled at his nervous tone.
"A Gentlemen's Club?" She could here the look on his face.
"What! Oh, no, not at all, but if your hurting, it's a nice place, called The Silver Note.
"Oh, I know of that place, saw a show or two there, pretty nice." She didn't dislike the thought of working at a club like that, even the bathrooms were kept clean and neat.
"O.k., good, go in today, and ask for Casey, The day Manager, and tell her your looking for a job. Know where it is… Good, Nice to talk to you but got to go, bye!" He waited for here to return the terminator, and then hung up. She was very happy, both at the prospect of employment, and from her best friend getting back to her. She got up, closed the computer, and went to put on some nice cloths.
She got to the Club 45 minutes later than she planned, the 91 performing it's magic trick of taking a half hour drive and turning it into a 2 hour one. She locked her vehicle, and walked up, to the front door, it's polished metal handle blinding in the setting suns light. As she opened it, cool air poured out, and she looked around. The podium that barred the door in the evening was propped of to the end of the food bar against the front wall. Against the wall behind it were s series of heavy lockers with padlocks on them. Against the left wall was the drinks bar, its multi-colored bottles twinkling friendlily from the indirect lighting. The right wall was dominated by a chest high stage and guar rail, and the space between covered in a loose grouping of wheeled tables and chairs, some containing eating people. At the cash register on the "drinks" bar was a black haired woman messing with a little internet computer, a earpiece in her left ear. As Sora approached, the woman spoke, without looking up.
"Food 'r liquor?" She asked in a sharp Contralto. Sora was almost taken aback, but close the distance to the bar.
"Neither, actually, I was hoping to inquire about employment opportunities? I was told to ask for Casey?" At this the woman stood up and looked up.
She was strikingly beautiful, with her flowing black shoulderlenth hair, even features, small nose, and expressive green eyes. A sigle clump of bangs hung to the outside of her right eye and over her black framed glasses, and made her seem younger than she was. She had a slight build, but her skin tight jeans drew out any curves. She wore a simple gray T-Shirt, the Rise Against Fist splashed diagonally across the front of her modest bust and slightly wide shoulders. The overall effect was stunning.
"Nice Shirt." Sora said, being familiar with the bands logo. The woman looked impressed.
"Thank you…" She let it hang open until Sora filled it with her name. "….Sora. It's nice to see someone with a decent taste come in here for a change. You just met Casey, what can I do ya for?" She set both hands on the counter and leaned forward.
"well, I was told you were hiring and wondered what positions you had?" She seemed to think for a moment.
"When are you available?" Sora gave a quick account of her class times. She considered it.
"Alright, Sora, I need a hostess at the doors, 6 to 10 or 11 week nights, and special event weekends, or whenever you want to pick up shifts. Basic benefits after a 3 months or 400 hours of regular time, whichever comes first. Used to the College kids so special scheduling can be requested for Test or projects, or other junk like that. A 10 at 3 hours, a half a 5, and a free meal with the half, fountain drinks unlimited. Starting pay at 10 dollars an hour, with period and performance raises, and occasionally if I get bored. Sound good?" She cocked an Eyebrow and Sora was shocked at how good the terms were.
"uh… yeah, that sounds amazing."
"Good," Casey stood up and held out her hand, shaking Sora's. "Welcome to the club. Can you show up around 4 tomorrow, get some training in?" Sora agreed she could. "Alright, see you tomorrow. Sora walked out in a slight daze, amazed at her good fortune, and dialed up Tai to thank him for the tip. She got the machine, and told him to call her later, the smile audible in her voice.
1 in the morning, work at 10, gonna make in in parts, let me know how bad you hate it, thanks. (I fell good now, so even if you don't read it, thank you for allowing me to vent a little.) P.S. Bugger to you too, Sir.
