the new arrival
Some days the Stonefruit Inn was a well-oiled machine, every part functioning harmoniously. With the odd mishaps here and there - a dramatic spat between two sous chefs in the bistro, a shedding naga in the Ocean suite whose molting skin clogged the pool grates, a witch guest who left her tip in the form of charmed, ‘sassy’ talking plants in her suite. And of course the array of fix-it handyman problems that even a newly-built building could suffer, given the constant action on its floors.
Iann could handle handyman problems easily. He could clean/harvest naga molting, he could handle the sassy plants (chop chop), and even mediating the sous chefs (at least, until one of them broke down crying).
What he couldn’t handle, was Front Desk.
Greeting guests. Being the first impression of the welcoming spirit of Stonefruit. A welcoming, friendly face on their arrival to Soapberry. Using the reservation and point of sales. Being perfunctory and polite. And perhaps worst of all: engaging in cheerful small talk.
But Iann’s business partner/co-owner was out of town, and Pixi the dependable General Manager had a family emergency, and no one else could cover on short notice and here was Iann, living up to being a bossman. Surely he could fix this?
“No worries, the bookings are a little slow today, hm?” Iann said to one of the porters, who nervously nodded. Iann’s cheer could easily erupt into a short temper, and the porter edged away as Iann kept yapping. “Rooms are empty. I mean, we only have eight rooms. Only two occupied, and I don’t mind playing concierge if they come asking questions and shit. Isn’t one of the rooms that energetic young Swedish couple? Yeah, those two witches who just want to hike and be outdoorsy? Independent those Swedes, amiright? We’re good, until Pixi comes back.”
Iann wanted nothing more than to go off and do his own work - and he had many tasks lined up about town - but this was responsibility. And Iann had promised himself and Freddie that this sort of responsibility was exactly what he needed, going into his 4th decade of life.
The bell chimed as the front door automatically slid open, and Iann looked up to see a fresh face he’d never seen before. A guest, from the looks of it. The guy had to be.
“Hi, hey,” Iann said, then remembered to smile. “Welcome to Stonefruit, ahhhhh you checking in or looking for a room or something, pal?”
@intotheunknownwluis
