AUgust24 11 Retail Worker (West Gate Station, Gino OC, Effie OC)

a/n: Two gas station workers deal efficiently with customers, but at what cost? West Gate Station AU.

The scrawny Black man with a mouthful of misaligned teeth looked patiently across his clipboard at the impatient mech pilot. She'd been pouring out a litany of complaints for a while, but she seemed to be pausing for breath. He didn't smile at her because he didn't feel like it and because he'd been told his wasn't the kind of smile people liked. "You selected the 3-hour discount, so I can't give you an exact estimate," he said with false sympathy. "Some days it goes faster, but some days it takes the full three hours for us to find you a spot. We guaranteed we'd be done by 1400, and we'll get it done, but today is not the day you're getting lucky."

"You'd know all about that," said the pilot snidely.

Gino counted to three real quick, and continued. "There's the tread discount deal if you want. The fuel will cost about the same if you also pay for the tread cleaning service, and you'll have a fixed finish time."

"Anything to get me to get to the front of the line."

"It gets you into line," the refueling station attendant emphasized. "No one jumps the line." He recited the words mechanically; it was something of a station motto, emblazoned on promotional t-shirts and beer koozies.

"Oh, I bet I could name a price," the pilot purred. "I bet you'd be cheap."

Gino considered suggesting she suck on a lemon. He considered suggesting she take a long walk on an unfinished roadway. He considered a lot of things, very quickly, but what he said was," If you grab a bite at the Repenta Diner, remember to ask for the discount. We can even drop the skell off in their parking lot." Anything to get this woman out of the station.

After she had flounced away, he returned to the staff-only area taped off in the corner of the parking lot. He had fuel tank levels to check and the schedule to review. He wasn't sure whether he should squeeze the latest horror customer in early or "guarantee" the job was completed at 1359.59.99 on the nose.

"That was something," said his part-time coworker, Effie, stopping by to grap a handful of shop rags. She tightened the bandanna over her curls and twinkled at him. "I've teamed with her on missions and she's not much better in the wild."

He didn't like being reminded that he was stuck in the city while most people, worthwhile people, were tearing up the world outside. Effie worked the occasional shift, but usually she was a Prospector, discovering the resources that New Los Angeles needed. "Great. Here I thought I was special," snapped Gino.

"She calls herself a Curator, but she couldn't tell miranium from bonejelium. She has no class." Effie's voice was cheerful and cut through his anger.

Gino sighed and rubbed his temples. "You wanna take the next one?"

"No sir. You lost, remember?"

"Best 3 out of 5?" he said desperately.

"After the next guy we can toss for it." She scooted off to the far refueling bay, leaving him to another customer.

The next interaction was cold and anonymous. Gino didn't even have a chance to recite today's deals, much less crack a joke or discuss the weather. The BLADE wanted to be in and out ASAP; he was ready with his details, deciding on the tread cleaning and leaving a location for delivery, and then he split. It was as smooth an interaction as you could ask for, and Gino felt worse. Another soldier ready to fight the world while Gino pumped gas.

Meanwhile, Effie had flitted around the station, dancing up ladders to monitor skell systems, dragging cables like they were jump ropes, and skipping around the tiny service mechs that criss-crossed the area. She had saved his bacon today, showing up and offering to stay and help. His co-manager had called out because of a sick kid and his buddy was taking a safety training, and he'd be paste by now without Effie's support.

There was a break in customers an hour later and he was able to get the rude Curator's skell in for fueling well within the time limit. It was a nice ride, a Verus with a classy paint job, dark blue with touches of silver, and it was a delight to watch Effie steer it into position in the refueling bay. You can't blame a skell for its owner, he thought. He liked that. It wouldn't be bad as a new station motto.

When she wriggled out of the skell, he held the ladder for her. "Thanks for sticking around. It's always nice when you drop by, but with Lila and Ricky ditching my ass, I sure needed the help today."

"That's what Lila said when she contacted me about taking a shift," said Effie with another bright smile. Gino stared at her, hot waves of stupidity washing through him. She tugged a loose curl nervously. "Oh, wait. You thought I just happened to show up to say hey?"

Gino fought the burning disappointment. "Of course I'm that fucking dumb. I was going to offer to buy you a beer after this as a thank you."

"And I might just accept, if you decide to," she said thoughtfully. "Come on, boss. Smile again. You've got cute dimples, you know that?"

a/n: I started all these stories in the days of Miiverse because I wanted New Los Angeles to have nail salons, taco trucks and a gas station. The West Gate Station is managed by Lila Brown and has a rotating cast of employees, but Gino Talmack is a constant. Effie showed up in one story, years ago, as a customer.

Next up: Animagus. Again, I have to research just what that is.