Thank you the reviews, favs and follows. Glad that you like this story. I'm going to work on this one for a little longer before I go back to my other fics. It's a bit of a welcome break to refresh my head. I've been writing Pressure for three years... I really should speed up.
Anywho hope you enjoy this chapter too.
The interview room was quite small. With only a desk; some chairs that looked as if they had been requisitioned last minute; and a wastepaper basket in the corner, it was not particularly inviting. The woman with clipboard tapped Lavi's shoulder and indicated the chair once again. Lavi tore his eyes away from Tyki Mikk, who was grinning openly at him from the table. He handed his portfolio to Clipboard and sat down.
"Good morning." He said weakly. Besides the two bored looking models and Tyki Mikk there was a bespectacled man, the lead interviewer Lavi assumed. Clipboard handed the portfolio to him and he riffled through before handing it back.
"Can you make some photocopies for us all? It might be best to ask the others if they have brought along portfolios too and make some copies." The speaker handed the portfolio to Clipboard and smiled jovially at Lavi.
"Would you like some water or tea while we wait Mr Bookman?" The interviewer had a very easy going air about him. Lavi would have felt comfortable if not for the hostile stares from the models. Not to mention the gorgeous man he was trying his best to ignore.
"No thank you."
"I think coffee would be more to his taste Komui." Tyki Mikk drawled from his side of the table, the end of a pen hanging idly from his mouth. Lavi desperately wished he had never come, that a hole in the ground could swallow him up right now. And if the tension was not thick enough Kanda Yuu was now looking curiously between the two.
"No really, I'm alright. Thank you."
"Are you sure? Alright then, let's get started." Spectacles clapped his hands together and shuffled some papers on the table. "My name is Komui; officially I'm the executive manager of the Noah's Ark stores in the city. Unofficially I'm the man who keeps the sanity of our employees."
"Please Komui, you almost sound as if you do any work around here."
"Tyki, making me look bad in front of the new arrivals already? They should at least have some faith in their executive manager to begin with." Komui laughed loudly. Lavi found himself warming to him. "Let me introduce Lulubell Noah and Kanda Yuu. Due to some unfortunate timetabling errors –"
"That wouldn't have happened if someone didn't steal my car keys." Lavi followed Tyki's gaze to the door where Clipboard stood looking smug. She rolled her eyes and proceeded to hand out the photocopies.
" –our two headline pin ups will be here too and maybe share some insight into the proposals we will see today." Komui pressed on over the mini spat between Tyki and his secretary. "Please tell us about yourself."
Now all eyes were on him. Lavi cleared his throat and focused on the odd beret that Komui was wearing. Where to begin? He always hated this part of interviews where he was expected to summarise his life up and serve it on a modest yet self-glorifying platter. What did he have to offer? A big fat total of nothing.
"My name is Lavi Bookman, but you already know that." Kanda rolled his eyes and Lulubell gazed vapidly out of the small window, her head resting in her palm. Keep calm and carry on, Lavi told himself. "I'm twenty-four years old…"
"And your favourite colour is blue and you like eating cake. Tell us something not on your CV." The harsh bark came from Kanda. The disgruntled man was slouched in his chair with his arms folded across his chest. A rather sloppy posture for a model, Lavi observed disdainfully. The others around the table did not seem surprised at the outburst; Komui kept on smiling; Lulubell was still staring out of the window; and Tyki just gave him a commiserating look.
"Actually I didn't add those fun facts on my CV but good guess. And just so you know my favourite food is yakiniku." Tyki burst out laughing at the response and Lavi again felt a wave of pleasure at having caused that sound.
"I do believe you've just been sassed Kanda. Now you don't see that every day, I think I like this kid." Tyki met Lavi's eyes directly and winked. Lavi was forced to look away quickly, fighting the warm flush creeping up his collar. "A designer should never let himself be bullied by his models. Good work."
"Who says he's hired?" Kanda retorted. The murderous waves coming off him were clear for everyone to see but oddly Lavi felt more at ease with the hostility. It was much preferred to the endless scrutiny he felt in other interviews. This was somehow more genuine.
"So why did you apply to Noah's Ark, Mr Bookman? Why do you want to work with us?" Komui interlocked his fingers and rested his chin gently on top. The room was quiet now, except for the turning of pages as the others looked through the booklet of concepts.
Lavi laughed nervously, "If I could be so bold, I'd like to ask you a question."
Komui sat up a little straighter at the request, intrigued. Similarly Tyki lifted his head from the papers, glancing sideways at Komui. His expression was unreadable to Lavi.. With the evil glares he was getting from one model and the complete indifference from the other, Lavi was pretty sure this interview would end like all the others: He would leave the room at the end of fifteen minutes with the promise of a call back and still without a job. Komui seemed nice enough, but he doubted the concepts would be impressive and Tyki was clearly just here for a laugh. What did he have to lose in asking?
"To be completely honest, I didn't know about your company until I saw the job ad. But I applied because… well because I need the job. I studied Fashion and Costume Design, so the chance to design my own clothes was a dream. Noah's Ark is not a large company, a great place to start a career. You have been operating for just under 40 years, so it has proved to quite a robust business. But you've just hired two high profile models to be the new faces of your brand line this summer. Surely you already have concepts and designers lined up; so why are you advertising for a no name graduate to dress your prized trophies?"
The question hung in the air as the interviewers pondered on a response. Tyki called Clipboard over and whispered something into her ear. An errand perhaps, as she left the room promptly.
"That's quite a provocative question. Why do you think we're advertising for a 'no name'?" Komui asked at length.
"Before you answer I want you to have a look at something." Tyki cut in. Clipboard had returned with a stack of project files in hand. She laid these on the table before them all. Tentatively Lavi reached out to flip through one of the folders. It contained a series of design ideas, beautiful patterns and concepts for all seasons. The next folder was the same if not more elaborate in its plans. His puny portfolio could not compete with these. The flourishes and finishes were so distinctive; here were top artists spilling their hearts and minds on paper.
"These are amazing, these motifs are so distinguishable. How can you not choose one of these?" Lavi was incredulous that Noah's Ark could afford to turn down such designers. Budget?
"There is something bigger at stake than money here Mr Bookman." Was the man reading his mind now? Tyki was serious in his countenance, the casual humour from before gone. "You said it yourself. These designers are far too recognisable. Noah's Ark started as a family business, and the worst thing we could do to damage our ethos is to sell a name bigger than our own. We risk losing our identity."
Lavi considered this for a moment.
"So you would much rather have someone at a grass root level, a budding talent you could make your own? Makes sense, seeing as one of your high profiles is the CEO's granddaughter."
"Exactly," Komui clapped his hands again. "And Kanda is only here because his boyfriend has been our 'Employee of the Month' for the past six."
At the mention of his boyfriend, Kanda growled, apparently kicking Komui under the table judging from the pained wince.
"Well if it's originality that you're after than that's something I can definitely deliver." An excited tremor ran through Lavi at the thought. He had always been confident that although he found inspiration in the design greats, his own concepts were quite different and he had his own distinct personal signature.
"I agree," Lulubell spoke for the first time. "I quite like this sci-fi fairy tale concept, it's a bit cliché but that dress is beautiful. I can imagine a suitable for retail version of that. You have my hair too dark though. Didn't you know I'm blonde?"
Lavi glowed with the compliment. "I knew, but the shading added an extra depth to your features. If you haven't tried being raven already Ms Noah, I suggest you do. You would look stunning."
Lulubell looked pleased with the placation and went back to scrutinising the drawings. Kanda too seemed impressed, though less inclined to verbalise praise.
The rest of the interview was spent discussing the concepts that Lavi had laid out for them. By the end Lavi was feeling fairly positive; he was even able to get through the interview without another sarcastic remark from Kanda. Every time the man opened his mouth, Tyki was quick to cut across him a quip or a comment, to which Lavi was eternally grateful. He even allowed himself to smile at the tanned man.
They shook hands and Komui promised Lavi a call back before the end of the day. When it came to shaking Tyki's hand, Lavi could have sworn that the other man held for longer than was necessary. He shrugged off the feeling of being watched and left the interview with a much lighter heart than he had this morning.
The return journey was a lot easier compared to the trek that was the incoming journey this morning. With the early rush hour over, Lavi was actually able to find a seat on the bus. The rain had let up and though the sky was still overcast Lavi imagined a silver lining existed up there somewhere. God knows he needed one. For just a little while, Lavi closed his eyes; for just a little while, Lavi allowed his head to rest against the cool glass of the window.
"Martel Place."
The imperturbable voice over calling out Lavi's stop jerked him awake. Scrambling to grab his portfolio, Lavi jammed the stop button and raced to the door. Finally he would be able to crawl into his bed and be lost to the world. The sight that met his eyes when he arrived at his front door blew that plan straight out of his mind. The portfolio slipped from his frozen digits and landed in a puddle, where it soaked up the dirty water, the pages quickly turning brown.
The minute landlord he had dubbed 'Panda-san' was standing in the door way supervising what appeared to be bailiffs as they removed various articles from the small apartment.
"What do you think you're doing? Rent isn't due until the end of the month!" Lavi ran at the nearest goon who was carrying an ornate quill collection. "That was hers! Give that back!"
He successfully wrenched the glass case away, not even glancing back at the death glare the goon sent him. Lavi's mind was already set on another one who was carrying out a frame with the photograph still inside. "What the hell is this about old man?!"
The landlord stood on his tip toes, his eyes narrowed as the men reluctantly put down the items they were carrying. "You're too sentimental. All this stuff is useless to you now. You should be more concerned about keeping up with rent."
"I said you will have it all at the end of the month. You had no right to do this!" Lavi pulled at his hair, struggling to control the rage welling up inside him.
"My property, my right," Panda-san turned on his heel, stopping only to call over his shoulder, "See to it that you do pay it all next month. I won't be so lenient next time. There are plenty of other tenants ready to move in, all of whom with the means to afford their stay."
The threat rang dully in Lavi's ears as he focussed on not throttling the little demon there and then.
It was not until Lavi was collecting his precious memories off the cold wet, ground that he realised his phone line was disconnected and had no means to receive the call from Noah's Ark.
"If you don't like it go to Komui." Tyki grinned at the ultimatum, knowing full well that Komui would have by now found a very good hiding spot to weather the storm that was Kanda's wrath. The loud grinding of teeth told Tyki that Kanda knew it too. "Really you shouldn't endanger those pearly whites."
After the red head had left the interview room two hours earlier, Tyki had left too, announcing that there was no need to interview any further; a proposal that Kanda took great umbrage to. Lulubell was happy to agree with Tyki, and Komui as usual was happy as long as he did not have to do much.
Ever since Kanda had been following Tyki around the building fuming.
The raven-haired model was leaning against the wall in Tyki's office staring full on spears at the man. Lenalee had come in and out a few times now, each time giving Kanda a wide berth. Though she was sure he would not snap at her, he wouldn't dare, Lenalee did not want to be dragged into the petty argument.
"The boy isn't anything special, why are you so set on him, Mikk?" Kanda demanded.
"The boy?" The lovely red had certainly left quite an impression on the resident grump. "A bit rich coming from a twig of thing like you. And he's older than you too."
"That's beside the point." A nerve twitched on his brow.
"Didn't you like his concepts?" Tyki asked nonchalantly. A small smile played about his lips as Kanda struggled to answer the question. How could he word a response to show that Lavi Bookman was not the designer they were looking for?
The sound of teeth grinding filled the office again. "I'm not saying that he's ideas were bad, but how can you pick after only one interview? You didn't even ask him any real questions, like what has been doing for the three years since graduating? References?"
"Sometimes you just get a feeling." Tyki shrugged.
"Oh I know exactly what kind of feeling you were getting from him. Don't think I didn't see those looks you were giving him. This is a business not Tyki Mikk's personal dating service!"
Tyki sat with his head in his palm watching the younger man. Kanda was getting far too worked up something that did not really concern him. "Did our beloved Earl die and name you his successor? You're lucky you were even allowed in to the interview room. I would have hired him anyway."
"I may be doing this only as a favour for Allen, but this is my livelihood, Mikk. I don't want you playing around with my career in your hands. What he makes I will have to wear. And I know you Mikk. The last thing I want to see is you messing around with the new designer and then dropping him. What do you think that will do to the working environment?"
The phone rang, cutting into their conversation. Tyki answered and after a few affirmatives he hung up. Kanda looked at him inquiringly. "Lenalee can't get through to Bookman."
Tyki rose to his feet and pulled on his jacket. He stopped at the door, "If it makes you happy, Kanda I'll make you a deal." The raised eyebrow told him to continue. "I'm going to go and offer the job to Bookman. We all agreed that we liked his ideas and plans, and from the sounds of it he has his head screwed on right. He's not a fuzzy headed dreamer in rolled up jeans and cardigans."
Kanda self-consciously pulled at his cardigan. "He thinks business, I'll give you that."
Tyki blew out his cheeks, damned Kanda, why did he have to put up such a barrier? "My job is to watch where the money goes so ultimately I get the last say in this. But to make it easier for you I'll promise you that I won't 'mess around' with the new guy. Deal?"
"How can I trust you?"
It had been such a pleasant surprise to run into the red head so soon after meeting him this morning. That little encounter almost made Tyki want to ride the bus to work again. Now here was Kanda Yuu taking all the fun away from him. He let out a resigned sigh.
"If I make a move on the guy before the big launch this September then I'll… I'll give you my car. I know Allen has been eying it up. Get Lenalee to write something up if you want."
With that Tyki left the office and roared to Lenalee to produce his car keys at once, the hell if she thought he would be getting on the bus for this. Meanwhile Kanda was considering his reflection in the window and fixed his outfit. What the hell was Tyki's problem with rolled jeans and cardigans anyway?
Thanks for reading. And apologies for all the grammatical mistakes and typos you may or may not have noticed.