Heart(s) Worth Mining
'Okay, no pressure. Think light, happy thoughts. It's just an interview, with a regular joe like yourself. Even if he works for the biggest company in the city and his opinion could make or break- Nope! No, no, no! Positive thoughts! Just keep smiling …!'
Such were the thoughts of one mountain of a man dressed in a flannel button-up shirt that could, quite possibly, act as a large blanket for any small child and heavy dark jeans. Thick auburn hair was carefully combed back, even if it had quickly reverted to the somewhat-spiky shape it always seemed to take. His warm brown eyes were crinkled as he forcibly smiled, baring his teeth and the faint gap between them as he clasped his large hands before him.
"So, Mister Rector," the hiring manager (the nameplate on his desk read "Gene Lander") said, somewhat condescendingly, "what makes you think your being hired would benefit Winters Enterprises?"
Said Mister Rector, Ralph Rector, took a moment to consider the question. Really, what kind of a question was that for someone trying to get a job in the loading bay? What other way was there to "benefit" the company? "Um, well," he chuckled nervously and stood up, gesturing to his admittedly massive frame, "I definitely have the build for it."
Gene remained unimpressed. Ralph winced and sat back down, forcing himself to keep smiling (without teeth this time). Gene sighed and shuffled some papers that Ralph was fairly certain had nothing to do with the interview. "Have you any previous experience with this kind of work?"
Finally, a decent question. "Oh, yes. My previous job was for a construction company. I was largely concerned with demolition work and hauling out debris."
Gene lifted an eyebrow. "So, not with unloading crates that often have fragile and exceedingly valuable contents?" he asked.
Ralph cleared his throat and hardened his resolve. "Not especially. But I'm a fast learner."
Gene scoffed. "I'm sure you are," he sneered distastefully. Ralph twitched and dug his nails into the back of his hand, the pain helping distract him from his infamous temper. 'Keep it together, Ralph. You're doing great.' No, he probably wasn't. But he'd been wrong before. (Never had he been so hopeful to be wrong.)
Gene flipped idly through Ralph's resume, a picture of impatience. After a few more questions, delivered in the same above-thee tone, Gene stood and placed the papers in a folder on a filing cabinet quite a ways from his desk. "Well, Mister Rector, we'll call you when we have an opening."
Ralph carefully held back a sigh. He knew, without a doubt, what this Gene guy really meant. Even if we actually grace you with a callback, we won't even consider giving you the job. "We" meaning "I". Ralph stood and nodded. "Thank you for your time, sir." With that, he took his leather jacket and left the office.
Only when he was a few (dozen) steps away from the office door — deep in the loading dock where Winters Enterprises, the single most influential business powerhouse in the city, for some reason deigned to have day workers apply for jobs — did he slam the side of his fist into the concrete of the wall, producing a respectable thud.
Dammit. He'd botched that interview, just like the rest. Ralph took a deep breath and counted backwards from twenty-one, just like his doctor had advised him. Only when he reached zero did he unclench his fists and keep moving. He absentmindedly wove between workers moving crates and boxes on to and off of large trucks painted with the name and stylized snowflake emblem of Winters Enterprises, his thoughts turning back to his predicament.
'Back to the Classifieds, Ralph,' he snarked inwardly. 'Maybe they're hiring somewhere else.' Yeah right. Who in their right mind would hire a walking mass of meat and bone for anything other than hard labor? And even then he couldn't get past the stupid interview!
Ralph's dark thoughts were broken, the heavy cloud over him dispelled, by the sharp sound of snapping metal. Followed by the ominous and familiar sound of metallic groaning. Groaning of something large and heavy tipping over. He looked up to find a large piece of scaffolding tipping, heading right for a young girl in the middle of the dock.
Acting on instinct, Ralph ran and snatched the girl out of the way, barely a split second before the scaffolding smashed into the spot she had just been occupying. Ralph held the girl close, senses primed for any other dangerous noises, before gently letting her go.
"Hey, you okay?" he asked.
The girl, a young woman actually, looked up at him with wide eyes before wrapping his middle in a hug that actually made him grunt. She let him go and smiled wide. "Thanks! Oh, jeez, that huge thing was falling and I froze up! Can you believe that?! I just froze like a deer in headlights, and I saw it was coming and my brain was yelling 'Hey, doofus, move out of the way!' but my body just locked up, and, and-"
"Anna!" The name echoed through the silence of the loading dock, its source a young man with blonde hair who wrapped the girl, Anna, in a hug that looked like it rivaled her own. "Oh, thank God you're okay!" The man held her close, looking her over for any possible injuries.
"Kristoff, I'm fine!" Anna said. She gestured at Ralph. "Thanks to this guy!" she cheered.
Ralph blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. "It was nothing," he mumbled. "Anyone would do the same."
"Oh, no, don't even try to downplay it," Anna said, wagging a finger. "You saved my life! I-" She seemed to actually take him in for the first time, eyes wide at how big he actually was. "Uh, new applicant?" she asked.
Ralph chuckled at the randomness of the question, reminded of his own random little girl. "Yeah, but I don't think it's gonna work out." He looked away and struggled to keep his smile up; to downplay how badly this may affect him. Which meant he didn't catch the mischievous twinkle in this Anna girl's eye.
"Don't worry … um," she trailed off, never having asked his name.
"Ralph," he supplied. "Ralph Rector."
"Ralph," Anna said with a smile. "Don't worry. I'm sure everything will turn out just fine."
Ralph laughed goodnaturedly, actually a little reassured by such a common phrase. "I don't know about that, but thanks anyway." With that, and a final once-over to make sure she was really okay, Ralph took his leave. He made it to his space in the parking lot before the cloud of despair began to settle back around him. He started his truck and made for the freeway.
What was he gonna tell Vanellope?
As they watched Ralph walk away, his shoulders hunched just a little, Anna thought over his predicament and smiled. Turning on her heel, she started for the applicant's office. She balked as she felt Kristoff's hand on her shoulder and turned to find him leveling his best down-to-earth look at her.
"Anna, what are you up to?" he asked.
Anna smiled winningly and swooped up for a quick peck to Kristoff's cheek. "Just thinking that one good turn deserves another," she answered cryptically before resuming her mission. She knocked on the door and didn't wait for an answer before entering.
"I've told you all, one at a time for-" The manager, Mister Lander, looked up and cut off his little rant. He went pale at the sight of her. "Oh, um, Miss Anna! How can I help you?" Anna smirked at the equally formal and casual address. She'd been coming to this company for years, and in all that time had insisted on being called by her first name. But the fact that he had called her "Miss" Anna had been a sign of deference. And she was banking on that.
"Hi, Mister Lander. Did you happen to have an applicant by the name of Ralph just leave?"
Gene's eyebrows shot up at the question. "I had a mister 'Rector' just now," he replied. Anna narrowed her eyes and folded her arms, tapping her foot just as her sister would do to sweat out those she didn't care for. "Y-Yes, I believe his first name was Ralph," he recalled, tugging at his collar. "Such an uncouth name, in my opinion," he added distastefully.
"Good. Hire him," Anna said firmly.
"I- um- Miss Anna! I would appreciate it if you would leave the hiring of personnel to the professionals!" Gene blustered, clearly affronted. "I've been doing this for quite a few years and I think I know shoddy workers when I see them!"
No, clearly he didn't. "'Shoddy workers,' huh?" she asked, her tone dangerous. "Well that 'shoddy worker' just saved my life. Go and ask the boys on the dock if you don't believe me."
Gene, to his credit, seemed to think this news over. For about two seconds before his countenance hardened again. "Be that as it may, Miss Anna, it is not proper grounds for hiring personnel."
Anna sighed through her nose, resisting the urge to slap this guy. Seriously! He was the perfect image of the worst kind of bureaucrat. Obstructive and stubbornly maintaining that their opinion was the only one that mattered. Well, really, it wasn't. And she knew just how to show him that.
Anna pulled her phone out of her back pocket and found the contact labeled "Sis." She glanced up at Gene, though not very high up — he was a pretty short guy. "Look, Gene, I really don't like to play this card. But here, I think I'll make an exception." She smiled and showed him the contact, then pressed the "call" icon and placed the phone against her ear.
As the phone rang, she hid a triumphant grin at Gene's sudden panicked begging. "Oh, Miss Anna, please don't bring her into this! I-I have the application here somewhere!" He bolted for a stack of forms and dug through them, finally finding the right one. "Yes! Right here! I'll hire him first thing! Just please don't call her!"
"Hey, Sis," Anna chirped when the phone was picked up. "Oh, yeah, we're definitely still on for lunch! — Yeah, I know you can't give Kristoff the afternoon off to join us, you've made that perfectly clear. — Oh, sure, sushi sounds great! — Uh-huh, uh-huh — Ooh, late night? Rats. — Yeah, okay. I'll meet you upstairs. See ya soon!"
Anna hung up and smiled at Gene. "Thanks for this, Mister Lander! Bye!" And with that, she turned on her heel and left Gene stunned in her wake, slamming his office door for good measure. Anna bit her lip as the full weight of what she had just done tried to creep up on her, and part of her really did feel bad, but she brushed it off. She was literally repaying a life debt!
Anna paused in her tracks as she suddenly came to terms with that line of thought. Holy crap, she'd had a near-death experience … How cool was that?! It was also scary, duh, but how cool! Anna ran to say goodbye to Kristoff before running for the elevators. She had a lunch date to attend to.
Later in the evening, Ralph sat at the dining table of his small house, staring at the slip of red paper he had been given two weeks before.
Ever since he had just barely graduated high school, Ralph had worked the same job as a demolition crewman at Gold & Hammer Contractors. And frankly, he'd only gotten that job because Felix Carpenter Junior knew of him from school, further knew of his situation, and had recommended him to his father Felix Senior, who was a highly respected contractor within the company.
That had been eight years ago. In the time since, Felix Senior had passed peacefully in his sleep, having had his son at a very late age. Felix Junior had since become just as respected as his father, his exceptional skills and constant positivity pushing projects along at record times.
Ralph, on the other hand, had never been truly accepted by his fellow workers. Aside from a few other ever-changing roughs — all to a man taken in fresh from prison in a program to readjust them to the outside, and as asocial as that implied — he was the only real member of the demolition crew. Not to mention by far the most consistent. And his large frame and "surly appearance" had frightened off any of the other workers.
Up until about two years ago, with his dead-end job and lack of friends aside from Felix, as well as other "issues," Ralph had been on the verge of depression. Then he had been convinced, somehow, to adopt a child. Frankly, he still wasn't sure how it had happened, but it had.
On that fateful day just over two years ago, Ralph had met his now-legal daughter. Vanessa Penelope "Vanellope" von Schweetz. And even with a few bumps and mistakes along the way, they had bonded as closely as any blood parent and child. It had been Vanellope who coaxed him away from his depression, who had helped him see the value in his job, who had in essence given him a new outlook on life.
But now, Ralph was ashamed to admit that he was failing his daughter.
Two weeks ago, Ralph had been dismissed from the company. As it turned out, even with the recent expansion of the city, the company had begun to fall on hard times. The city's growth had attracted large construction firms and contractors from across the country, and the smaller Gold & Hammer was being gradually nudged to the side. To compensate, the company had decided to begin hiring more qualified employees, particularly in its demolition department.
And Ralph, for all his experience, had no college education or other official certification.
Ralph's mouth twitched as he remembered the call he had gotten from Felix that night, apologizing profusely that he had been unable to change the higher-ups' minds and offering any and all means of support until he got another job. It had been thanks to Felix that he'd gotten today's interview with Winters' Enterprises in the first place.
Before Ralph could think on it anymore, he looked up at the sound of the front door opening and closing. Not a second later, Vanellope walked through the dining room door with a wide grin, a strand of licorice hanging from between her teeth. "Heya, Ralph!" she greeted brightly. "How'd the job hunt go?"
Ralph sighed and drummed his huge fingers on the table. Vanellope's smile wavered at that, his countenance more than answer enough. Vanellope chewed on her lower lip for a moment before shaking her head and wrapping her adoptive dad in a one-sided hug. Well, one-sided for him. She was twelve — how could she hope to actually hug a living mountain like him?
"Don't worry about it, Ralph," she said lightly. "Everything's gonna work out fine."
Ralph barely had time to glance at her with a sense of deja vu before the phone began to ring on its wall-hook. With a quick "I'll get it!" Vanellope grabbed the phone. "Rector Residence, how may I help you?" Vanellope's eyes widened for a moment. "Yes, he's right here." She held out the phone to Ralph.
"Hello, Ralph Rector speaking," he greeted hesitantly.
"Yes, Mister Rector. This is Gene Lander, we met earlier today?"
Ralph grit his teeth and began preemptively counting backward. "Yes, Mister Lander. Is there a problem?"
"Not as such. I've been reviewing your resume and your ... references and, well …" There was a lengthy pause. "When can you start?"
Ralph almost crushed the phone in surprise. "I'm sorry?"
"When - can - you - start?" Gene enunciated, as if speaking to a difficult child.
"Well, um, right away, sir!" Ralph answered, barely containing his excitement.
"Well, at least you're prompt. Let's hope you also have punctuality. You'll start Monday morning. Be at my office at eight o'clock sharp. I suggest you remember that well." The last part was spoken more harshly, as if a threat. But Ralph could care less about any threats — he had a job!
"Yes sir! I will! Thank you so much, Mister Lander!"
"You can thank me by being on time. Good day, Mister Rector." With that, the line was cut off.
Ralph hung up the phone, calm as could be, then scooped up Vanellope and swung her around with joy, laughing all the while. When he let her go, she shook away faint dizziness and crossed her arms with a smirk. "So remind me, how'd the job hunt go?"
Ralph chuckled and squeezed the bridge of his nose, a little overwhelmed at this sudden fortune. "I'm not gonna dignify that with a response."
"Isn't that a response?" Vanellope shot back.
"Nope. It's a general statement," Ralph returned. He clapped his hands together, suddenly pumped up. "So how about we celebrate with pizza?" he asked.
Vanellope's grin faded and she turned a little green. "Ralph, we've had nothing but pizza, sandwiches, and bananas for the last two weeks," she pointed out.
"Hey, we had to cut back. I'd no idea how long I'd be hunting," he justified.
"Still though," Vanellope pressed, "pizza lost its charm about halfway through this week. Come on, let's do something special."
Ralph scratched at his chin for a moment as he thought that over. "Burger King?" he smirked.
Vanellope grinned. "Now that's more like it!"
Not far from the main building of Winters Enterprises stood the high-rise North Mountain apartment complex, one of the most luxurious buildings in the city. Though the generally wealthy tenants would change on occasion, the penthouse had always been reserved for the building's owners, the Winters family.
On the wide terrace of said penthouse, Anna Winters stood with her elbows resting on the railing, listening to the muted hum of the city below as she gazed upon the lights of the streets, something she had called "city-stargazing" as a child. She only straightened up at the sound of the terrace door opening, turning to find her big sister pulling her hair from its usual bun to fall into a familiar french braid.
Anna glanced at her watch with a smug grin. "Eleven on the dot," she commented. "That's a new record for 'working late.'"
"Easy for you to say when you don't participate in the company," Elsa deadpanned with a faint smile.
Anna barked a laugh. "I might last a week before some monumental screw up. I can picture the headline now," she held up her hands as if framing a picture, "'Second heiress single-handedly sinks family company. Economy to collapse into apocalypse. Businesses awaiting the Four Horsemen.'"
Elsa sighed through her nose. "You think too little of yourself, Anna," she replied.
Anna shrugged. "Maybe. But I'd really rather not find out."
With that, the sisters lapsed into companionable silence as they gazed over the city. All the while, Anna chewed her bottom lip as she wondered how to break to Elsa her little "adventure" earlier in the day. Should she bring it up? After all, Elsa had ears everywhere in the company, not just her. She'd probably figure it out sooner rather than later, and it would be better to hear it from Anna herself. On the other hand, the rooftop after a clearly exhausting day was probably not the best time.
"Anna, what's wrong?" Elsa asked.
Anna flinched and turned to her sister with a tight smile. "What makes you think anything's wrong?"
"You were chewing your lips like you do when you're nervous," Elsa pointed out. "And that's the smile you use when covering something up." Damn, why did her sis have to be so scarily observant? Okay, Anna. Now or never …!
"I tried to learn how to make your favorite chocolate mousse," Anna said, with a convenient truth. "It should be cool enough to serve by now."
Elsa practically beamed at the sound of such a heartfelt gesture. "Well, we wouldn't want to have that time wasted. I volunteer for the taste-test."
"Volunteer accepted," Anna replied with a mock salute. Both sisters chuckled as they returned to the apartment proper. On the way, Anna fell back a few steps and pulled out her phone, texting Kristoff to make sure he knew not to mention the incident today.
She'd tell Elsa, rest assured. She just needed to figure out the least stressful way.
Welcome to "Hearts Worth Mining"! I began this Modern!Ralph/Elsa AU about a year ago and am finally ready to begin posting it.
*"Rector" is an actual surname! I stumbled upon it and thought, A) No one has used that for a Wreck-It Ralph AU, and B) It's perfect for him!
*Gene's surname is derived from "Nicelanders," the short NCPs in Ralph's game.
*The "Vanessa Penelope" name was originally used, or at least seen by me, by cjupsher.
I hope you all enjoyed this beginning and what is to come! Leave a review if you liked it; they make me feel so good inside! And may your own works be fruitful and joyous!