Everybody's working for (on?) the weekend

WHO: Shinji Ikari

lastnerv and Kanaya Maryam

glowsferatu
WHERE: Maryam Designs, Helix Station, Maurtia Falls
WHEN: Norning of Saturday, August 27th
WHAT: the world's newest workplace comedy, Ex-Messiah and the Vampire
WARNINGS: Probably nothing??

I think that should do it...

[Shinji's previous reference point for "a busy time at work" was a prom in another world several years ago, and with that being still relatively fresh in his memory, it's easy to recall just how hectic things got. With Fashion Week looming large - and him finding out exactly what Fashion Week was -he feels like there's even more pressure to do the best work he can.

Unfortunately, Shinji's self-esteem being what it is, his standards are a little...]

No. Nevermind. This is terrible. [He tosses aside the piece he was working off in the vague direction of a pile of other items he's deemed "not good enough" for some reason or another before leaning back in his seat, hands rubbing his forehead.] Maybe I should quit "assisting" before I waste any more material.

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[ Kanaya stops as she passes by, hearing his muttering. She picks up a shirt from his pile, scrutinizing the stitches. It's far from the worst she's seen. ]

I don't know if it's really a waste, even if this won't work for the runway, we could may it work for the storefront. Ideally, the designs we showcase will be designs people will want to buy.

Still, if you're feeling insecure with the work, don't approach it as a whole. Start with a sleeve, make sure you're satisfied with that before you move on to the next sleeve. Take it one step at a time.

I feel like I don't have time to take things one step at a time.

[Part of that is that he's sleep about four hours altogether in the last two days, but he's not going to tell her that. He twists around in his chair to look at Kanaya.] The storefront's not the concern right now. I want to-

[His hands grasp at the air for a second, like he's trying to just pull the proper phrase out of the ether before deciding on something far more blunt.]

I want to make something good, you know? Better than my usual.

[ Kanaya levels right down with him, leaning over to put one hand on the table and the other on his shoulder. Shinji, my dude, you're talking like a crazy person. ]

Okay. Listen.

You can make something good, or you can make something fast. You have to choose one or the other. I have supernatural powers, don't try to pace yourself with me. Personally, I'd prefer you try for the former. Pace yourself, take your time, and focus on the quality.

[ There's a question hanging on her lips, but she's not quite sure how to ask it. She isn't sure he won't take it the wrong way. ]

[Shinji looks away when she leans over. He knows she's just giving him helpful advice - advice he can't disagree with, either - but it's hard for him to not take it as an admonishment too, even though he knows that's more due to his perspective than reality.

It occurs to Shinji that it really sucks when you can analyze why you feel wrongly about something and then continue to feel that way regardless. Thanks, self-awareness.]

...You're right. You're right. [He leans back over his workspace, rolling a needle around idly with a finger.] I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself, and I know that. I'm just worried about being a burden, dragging you down by not being as good, you know? Normally I don't- [He pauses.] -as much, but this is kind of a big deal.

[ It really is a kind of admonishment, like a gentle slap upside the head. He's beating himself up, and needs to chill down. And it keeps happening. She straightens and sighs, putting a hand on her hip. ]

Do you think I would have hired you if I thought you would drag me down? This isn't a pity job, Shinji. I trust you to come through. [ But she worries that trust is a little more than he can handle, really. Maybe this position isn't right for him. ]

Do you think it would be less pressure if we had more help? Demand's growing beyond what the two of us can turn out, and I think we might be at the point where expanding our production line would be prudent. Enough that we could distribute more and that I could focus more on the design end.

More people? [He leans back in his seat, staring up at the ceiling while he thinks it over for a second. Before he was just thinking that things would be easier once this week was out of the way, but the idea of having a couple other hands around isn't one he's going to turn down.]

That would be nice, yeah, but is that something we can really afford? [Shinji glances back at her while he asks. Now that they're not directly talking about him eye contact is easier.] I mean, of course you'd know if we could or not. If we can, then we probably should, right?

I think we can! We're doing remarkable well, but I think we may have hit the ceiling of how well we can do in our current form.

[ She glances towards her desk, she doesn't have anything to really show him to back all of this up, but she's not sure how much of a financier he is to begin with. ]

I've been going over the numbers, and while it would require spending to expand our team, the exponential output would allow us to make more profits. We're on the cusp of a grand opportunity to be exposed to a wider customer base. I think we should be ready for that.

[As someone who often finds himself the only responsible person in a household, he knows more than the average teenager would. Business is beyond him, though, so he's more than happy to take her word for it.

Still, a "grand opportunity" is another phrase that makes him uncomfortable. Mainly at the idea of messing it up. He hides that behind a smirk for now]

So maybe if we make a good showing, we'll have people begging to work here instead of having to put an ad out and just hope someone show's up?

Quite frankly, we're an imPort design studio, we already have people begging to work here. Being a successful and growing design studio, we'll have people with a higher quality joining the begging.

[ She looks down in contemplation, a thought occurring to her. Starrware has a native co-CEO for a reason. ]

Perhaps I'll still want to put together some sort of incentive package. A contingency, that ensures my employees will be secure in the event that I'm ever exPorted. You know, many design studios still continue under other designers other than their namesake, but it would still benefit them in case of potential failure.

Still, I intend to make this something that will be rather a shine on their resumes, nonetheless.

Everybody's working for (on?) the weekend

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