Edward Cullen
- Ingenious Pilot -
What if I?m not a superhero? What if I?m the bad guy?
Posts: 163
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Mar 18, 2009 16:38:18 GMT -5
Edward hadn't gone back to cooking class since the second one. It wasn't worth the risk; the Persian man smelled far too enticing, and the smell of beef turnovers or whatever they were going to make next wouldn't cover the jasmine/bourbon/falafal goodness of his blood.
It didn't help that he couldn't interpret the language in the man's head. It only made him more intriguing. Edward knew he couldn't afford to be intrigued. He'd remained unintrigued for a hundred years, and whatever Emmett said that had nothing to do with him being a "tightass pansy big girl's blouse." He didn't even know where Emmett picked up language like that.
Anyway it wasn't true. He just wasn't a SLUT like... other vampire people he could mention. It wasn't like it was easy, not being able to go out in the sunlight without sparkling. He wasn't a toy.
But now something dire had happened, and Edward was in a bind. To wit: he'd discovered that however flush the Cullens were in the early 2000's, in 18-whatever they had no idea who he was. Which meant no bank accounts. No silver Volvos. No beige pullovers and Dockers. Sure, he didn't have to eat, didn't need protection from the elements, and kept his clothing immaculate, but he was damned if he was going to live like an animal.
It would be easy, he reasoned, to get a job at a restaurant. The smells could cover the normal variety of human blood, and he'd be an excellent judge of wine and things. By smell, anyway. And he could be very charming. Dazzling, in fact. Oddly, however, the first several owners and managers he tried had stared at him and backed away, ever so not-subtly. And thought things like, "Oh god, another one?" and "Bloody junkie" and "Dear God in Heaven, forgive me my sins, and the ones I am thinking about committing right now" which was accompanied by a particularly glazed look about the eyes.
Chez Alexandre was the last stop, he swore, and then he was going to settle down and find something reasonable to do, like a respectable vampire, and join the circus or something.
|
|
|
Post by Nadir on Mar 18, 2009 17:52:16 GMT -5
*Jean-Baptiste, Nadir's viciously suave and efficient maître d', paused briefly to speak to the young man's inquiries for a job. He pursed his lips a moment, and then nodded.*
"We are in need of a dish-washer, if that interests you."
|
|
Edward Cullen
- Ingenious Pilot -
What if I?m not a superhero? What if I?m the bad guy?
Posts: 163
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Mar 18, 2009 18:02:20 GMT -5
Edward blinked at him, briefly covering his topaz eyes.
"A dish-washer," Edward replied, his tone no less musical for being incredulous. "Don't you have anything more..." He gestured absently. "Dry?"
|
|
|
Post by Nadir on Mar 18, 2009 18:15:15 GMT -5
"If you would rather not sully yourself, monsieur, you know the way out," *said Jean-Baptiste coldly in the snootiest of snooty French-waiter's French, giving a short, perfunctory bow.*
|
|
Edward Cullen
- Ingenious Pilot -
What if I?m not a superhero? What if I?m the bad guy?
Posts: 163
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Mar 18, 2009 18:19:19 GMT -5
The pause was minuscule, though probably longer to Edward than Jean-Baptiste.
"No!" he said shortly. "No, I... I would be grateful for anything." His own French was really very good. He'd even had a penpal in high school. Seven, in fact.
|
|
|
Post by Nadir on Mar 18, 2009 18:25:20 GMT -5
"Then try acting like it," *said Jean-Baptiste with a wave of his hand.* "You can start this evening. Report to Luis in the kitchen at five o'clock."
|
|
Edward Cullen
- Ingenious Pilot -
What if I?m not a superhero? What if I?m the bad guy?
Posts: 163
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Mar 18, 2009 18:28:13 GMT -5
What, this guy could be snooty and Edward couldn't? Even his thoughts had their noses turned up. And Edward knew he didn't expect him back. "I'll be here," he said.
At five-till-five he showed up, in his work clothes. This meant he was wearing designer-distressed cargo pants and a cotton button-down. It was the grubbiest outfit he could find.
|
|
|
Post by Nadir on Mar 18, 2009 18:31:24 GMT -5
*Luis wasted no time pointing out Edward's duties, with grunts rather than words by way of explanations. Unless one was simple, it was really quite transparent what was expected of him. Two other boys stood by the vats of steaming water, already scrubbing at pots and plates, and they scarcely look at Edward and said nothing.*
|
|
Edward Cullen
- Ingenious Pilot -
What if I?m not a superhero? What if I?m the bad guy?
Posts: 163
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Mar 23, 2009 9:30:02 GMT -5
Something within Edward rebelled at the sight of the others doing the job he was now charged with. It was demeaning. It was beneath him. He had talents, dammit, honed through years of boredom and...
Wait. Was he setting himself above the humans? True, he was superior, in just about every way. Except for one. The soul. These boys had salvation before them, no matter that they'd die in a matter of years in poverty, ridden with VD and having spawned more of their ilk to do likewise. What did Edward do but prey upon them, like a parasite? Or would, if he hadn't become enlightened by Carlisle.
Thus chastened, feeling he deserved the degradation of manual labor, and furthermore quite low on funds, he got to work, rolling up his sleeves and setting to. The pile of china and crystal diminished with alarming rapidity, the other boys glaring at him once they realized he was working far too hard and making them look bad.
|
|
|
Post by Nadir on Mar 23, 2009 11:33:46 GMT -5
*Nadir strolled into the restaurant promptly at eight, looking over the dinner service with satisfaction as he went to discuss things with Jean-Baptiste. Nadir had someone make him a Turkish coffee, which he drank quickly as he went over a number of issues with Jean-Baptiste before he retired to his office at the back of the building, to go over some figures and orders, walking quickly through the crowded passage that led by the kitchens as he went.*
|
|
Edward Cullen
- Ingenious Pilot -
What if I?m not a superhero? What if I?m the bad guy?
Posts: 163
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Mar 23, 2009 11:52:38 GMT -5
Edward's back was to the kitchen, and the passages through it. But that didn't mean he did not catch, instantly, that enticing scent threading through the nearly overpowering odors of cooking meat and dish soap.
Nadir Khan.
He could see the man in the thoughts of the others in the restaurant, too, and smell the added coffee on the man's breath. His spine stiffened and his hands slowed to a stop as Nadir passed, and Edward wondered why, out of all possible positions, he'd found himself in this one.
|
|
|
Post by Nadir on Mar 23, 2009 12:27:34 GMT -5
Nadir barricaded himself in the office until he had finished his paperwork, finally laying aside his reading spectacles and rubbing his forehead lightly before he stood, putting his coat back on.
I think I've earned a cognac.
|
|
Edward Cullen
- Ingenious Pilot -
What if I?m not a superhero? What if I?m the bad guy?
Posts: 163
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Mar 23, 2009 12:51:42 GMT -5
He could handle this, Edward told himself. It was still a job. And Nadir Khan probably never looked at those who worked for him. He would earn some money, find another position, and that would be, as they say, that.
His resolved lasted until the man emerged again, in a cloud of his particular aroma, and the glass Edward was washing shattered between his hands. It ought to have sliced his palms, as well, but of course it didn't, and he tried to hide both the breakage and the lack of injury from anyone who might have noticed.
|
|
|
Post by Nadir on Mar 23, 2009 13:00:32 GMT -5
Of course, the sound of something breaking was music to the highly-attuned ears of the kitchen employees, ever on the lookout for something less monotonous to break up their work. All eyes turned to the new boy.
Nadir saw the sudden halt of movement and frowned stepping into the kitchen.
"What is going on here?" he demanded. Everyone quickly resumed work, turning their eyes from Edward, but Nadir had already seen the commotion, and noticed the pale young man alone didn't immediately return to his work.
"You."
Nadir's frown was thunderous.
"Step into the hall. Now."
|
|
Edward Cullen
- Ingenious Pilot -
What if I?m not a superhero? What if I?m the bad guy?
Posts: 163
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Mar 23, 2009 13:28:02 GMT -5
Edward could, almost literally, hear Nadir's frown. And the sound of his voice, stopped him cold. He quickly discarded the shards in the garbage bin, considering making his escape--they'd wonder where he went, but no one here would see him go, if he chose.
In the end, however, he couldn't help himself. His head lowered, he preceded Nadir into the hall, before turning to face him and raising his head awaiting recognition.
|
|