welp! the saga of being Financially Screwed continues. if you can/are able, i am trying to raise, at minimum, $300 to pay my phone bill, car insurance and get some dang groceries.
paypal | ko-fi | venmo/cashapp are both irishais | etsy shop where i sell super cool things and ship next-business day because everything is already made and ready to go out the door!
things currently up in the shop (there are PLENTY more, free shipping on everything within the US, and nothing is over $35!)
She felt a slight blush as he told her that it looks good on her. It was just courtesy, wasn't it? Maybe he noticed that she felt weird in it. She was used to uniforms, just yesterday she was used to dress in a school uniform, but a suit felt slightly different.
"Thank you, it feels very comfortable" she said honestly, even if she was wearing a suit, it felt like a glove. Her eyes wandered to the desk and the office. She didn't feel like she was good enough for a office on her own. "Then I'll probably pick a desk here, if it's alright sir" no she didn't get used to it. She was drilled her whole life, how could she? She was aware that she should be his partner, but he was also her mentor and she was his trainee, it didn't seemed right for her to call him any less. She placed her things on a chair on the side, before she got closer and took a seat. "Yes sir" she paused and gave him a look that was asking for forgiveness. It was hard for her to get used to that. "I'll swear am I usually very quickly to pickup new things" which weren't beaten until oblivion on her head. If she would have call her father by any less than sir, he would have locked her up for days.
Tseng tried not to smile, "As I said, it's perfectly fine to call me Sir. Whatever works for you. Just know that you should only ever call Reno, Reno... because he WILL make fun of you if you call him Sir."
Reno had too much of a playful streak and willful attitude to be termed as anything but brat. Sir would definitely never fit on him well. He didn't even wear the uniform correctly, and nothing anyone had done had made him care. Tseng had given up, he did his job and that was all that really matter to him.
They spent the time until lunch going over the various seals and tag-lines on both physical documents, and emails. He also quickly set her up with her own Turk email so that she could be contacted that way as well if needed.
Lunch time brought the welcome distraction of Reno and Rude having a heated argument over what kind of pizza their new recruit would like. Reno was insisting that she likely enjoyed having pineapples on her pizza, and Rude was insisting Reno only thought that because Reno's last girlfriend had said all girls liked that.
Tseng rolled his eyes and without raising his voice stated pointedly, "You could just ask her what she likes."
Rude and Reno went silent and a second later Reno's head popped in the doorway, "Alright then, Miss Elena, what kind of pizza do you like? We're ordering it for lunch."
Was he amused by her? It was almost an honor, to bring him joy, she hoped he was aware that it was just of nervousness because of him. She was way too afraid to make mistakes, even if he seemed nothing a like her father.
With a small nod, she followed him, her arms crossed against her back. Her eyes still fixed on him, his moves, to get her new uniform. It felt unreal, seeing herself getting a turks uniform. "I see" she answered. Commissioned shoes? She tilted her head. She was unsure if she had a particularly style, quick combat and guns were her favorised weapons, she thought it was pretty standard.
"Thank you... Sir" she was helpless, wasn't she? But it didn't felt right for her to call her by his name... Even if it wasn't his real name. She took the stuff he placed on the desk and went to a bathroom, folded her things neatly, before she returned. "Feels strange honestly... But I'm ready" she stated, straightening the uniform. It feels unusual, especially since her father and her sister always told her, that she would never be good enough to wear the black suits. She took a deep breath and faked a smile. Fake it until you make it, or not?
Tseng gave a nod as she came back, "It looks good on you, you'll get used to it. I don't recall if I explained before or not, but the office to the left after leaving mine, is Rude's, and the desk sitting across from Rude's door is Reno's. He does no work if in an enclosed space where he can't be watched or he'd still have his own office. You're welcome to pick out a desk out here or one of the empty offices to use as your own."
"In the mean time, you're welcome to leave your personal things in here where we can lock it up if we leave the floor." He settled in his seat and leaned back a bit, "You ready to learn the various seals and tags on all this paperwork so you know what's actually important and what can wait?"
Did he just chuckle? Her dark eyes fixed on the image before her eyes. He was surely not like she had imagined him. His whole face seemed to change, now she felt slightly unsure. "The... Three of you? Sir you... Cleaned My apartment?" she asked with a soft voice, not sure if she had listened precisely. "You would.. Tell me your actual name?" her doe like eyes were fixed on him. Maybe because she was surprised, or fascinated.
Was he like that with his teammates? While he had another mask for everyone else? Or was her impression of him wrong? "I... Will give it a thought" she answered, since she wasn't sure if she should pick a new name. Everything was slightly overwhelming.. Even if the most of it was because of him. She was likely easily to adjust to new places, but people? And from all the humans she ever met.. Tseng was special.
"I'm here to help sir-" she said, almost jumping from her chair, before she paused for a moment. "Tseng. Sir..." at least she tried. She shook her head, emptying her coffee with one sip, before she placed it in the sink, straightening her blouse.
"I love paperwork, Im looking forward to it" she said honestly, she really liked paperwork, but more she wanted to be a good help, she could only imagine how much work was waiting for him, and she thought he shouldn't waste his time with trivial paperwork, if she should do it.
He bit down on his smile as she tried out simply using his call-sign, she looked like she was about to combust. He finished his own coffee and rinsed the cup before setting it aside. "If you're ready then, follow me."
He headed first back to his office, he had shown her around the place the day before and would see if she could find her way to what she needed today. Once in his office he pulled the bag with her new uniform down from the hook behind his door, and the box with new shoes as well. Setting both on a chair. "This is your uniform. Our shoes are specially made to hold various weapons and other useful things, so if you want a particular style, we can get them commissioned for you. I myself have different sets for various locations we could be sent."
Tseng moved over to his desk and unlocked a drawer pulling out a keycard and PHS. He set them on the desk in front of the chair. "And these are your keys to the world that is ShinRa. Do not lose them. When you are dressed and ready come back here and we'll get started."
They already made an apartment ready. "They did? Themselves?" she asked with a surprised tone. When did they do it? She was almost sure, they had no time for trivial things like this. Maybe she should show them her thankfulness?
She gave him an uncertain look, when he asked her to call her Tseng. Just Tseng? It didn't... Feel right for her, to call him that way. "I.. Can try. But I can't say for sure that I will get accustom to that..." it nearly Tore her apart, only thinking about calling him by his first name, even if it wasn't his real name. "does it feel like your name?" she wondered, the words coming faster from her lips, as she wanted to. "Sorry.. It it's too private.. You don't you have to answer that" she quickly added, looking at her cup. "Is.. There anything, I can help you with?" she asked.
Tseng actually chuckled at her flustered expression. "The three of us cleared it out and got it ready after work last night. There wasn't a whole lot to do really. Just getting the dust out. And it's something I answer to, but I've never considered it my name."
He took a swallow of his coffee, "If it would make you more comfortable using it, I could tell you my actual name. You'll likely want to pick a call-sign for yourself as well. Unless you simply want everyone to know your real name and be able to look you up easily."
"There are a great many things you can help with. First though, we should go get you your uniform, keycard, and PHS." Tseng rose from his seat with an eye on the clock on the back wall of the small kitchen area. "After that I can explain the different priority seals on all the paperwork and we can hopefully take the mountains of it down today."
His small smile took her off guard, as usual. It didn't fit her expectation of him, but she couldnt help but find him less... Intimidating as she thought. Maybe he was this kind of way with his turks, the only people who could see a soft side of him.
"I'm glad, I already was a bit of help to you - Sir" she said while watching him get the coffee. So he favored black coffee, easy to remember.
Grabbing herself a coffee herself, with almost half the cup filled with milk, she followed him slowly. "I see, I'm excited to get my Phs, sir" she said softly, slowly sitting down in front of him, a bit unsure, if it was alright. Maybe she shouldn't walk around like on eggs, but she was still uncertain how to behave. "Yes... I'm aware of that. To be honest, I already packed my stuff. It's not as if I have a lot to be frank. I'm living in the quarters of the Military Academy at the moment so... I would have to move out quickly anyway" she said while talking with her free hand. "So... Uhm I am ready, whenever the apartment is free, Sir" she wondered if people would react different of moving out so quickly, but she never.. Had any attachment to any home she lived in. Or any attachment to anything at all.
Tseng watched her without actually looking at her, she still seemed unsure and nervous. He hoped she would get over it quickly, but he knew things like that took time. It was unexpected of him to ask her to join them after all. And what he knew of her Father, well, she'd have plenty of time to get used to them, and they'd be able to watch over her better.
He hadn't expected her to expect moving out. The sooner they could get her situated the better however. He hid another smile in his coffee, taking another swallow before setting it down on the small table. "Feel free to ask any questions you have. I'll try my best to answer them. Reno, Rude, and myself already readied an apartment for you. If you'd like we can move you in after your shift ends today. And while calling me 'Sir' is fine, you can simply call me Tseng, it is my call-sign after all, not my actual name. If that seems too informal though, 'sir' or 'Director' are fine. I answer to all of them."
He was hoping to get caught up on all the paperwork today. He'd finished what she'd sorted the day before, but there was always new things coming in, and he had so many other piles waiting for his attention. He'd need to explain the different seals for various departments, as well as what constituted immediate attention, and what could wait a bit. He was sure she'd get the hang of it quickly, working at a bar or any form of restaurant where taking various orders was needed would have given her the ability to catch on swiftly.
She was right, he would meet her, if he wasnt busy. Of course he knew straight away that it would be her heels, echoing through the halls. He didn't disappoint at all. She gifted him a honest smile, as she recognized his figure, entering the coffee kitchen. "Good Morning sir" she said respectfully, folding her hands in front of her waist. "Yes Sir, ready as I could be. Oh--would you like fresh coffee, I just felt free to make some" she said quickly, motioning to the coffee machine. Of course she wasn't his secretary, but she felt pressured to be a good help for him and.. She wasn't sure of how much use she was at the moment. So she could at least make coffee for him. Maybe she was also curious to see if he liked to add some sugar or milk.
"To be honest, I'm very eager to learn as fast and much as I can, so don't go too easy on me, I'm aware that I look more fragile than I am" she felt the urge to tell him. Maybe she had a lot of respect in front of him, but she also didn't wished for him to babysit her. "I want to be an important part of the team, as fast as I can, so I'm not... A burden for you, instead being able to support you... Sir"
Tseng gave her a small smile and shook his head barely perceptibly, "I'm sure you'll be a great help. Honestly, just having you sort papers yesterday was a huge help. I was able to get much more done than normal having that aspect out of the way already."
He grabbed a mug and filled it with coffee, "I also appreciate you starting coffee. I tend to forget about it, and drink cold day old coffee for my trouble."
He drank his coffee black, taking a sip as he sat at one of the small tables in the room. It was cute in a way, that she thought herself in any way inadequate for the job, she likely knew already that he wouldn't have suggested she join them if he thought she would be a burden.
"Once it's actually time for you to start your day, we'll go get your uniform and keycard. You've also been issued a new phone, specifically for work. You can keep you current one for personal matters. Us Turks, the President and Vice President's numbers are all in there, those last two shouldn't have occasion to call you, but they're in there just in case they do, so you know who is calling."
He looked over at her, "Are you aware that we have our own housing? It would be better for you to live there now that you're working here, but you're welcome to keep what housing you have now as well. No one besides Turks are allowed on the premises."
Tseng had returned to his office to neatly sorted forms. He doubted it had even taken her very long to sort them. However, until he could get caught up with them, he wasn't sure what to have her help with. They would need to discuss the various topics in these piles so that she would know what it was Turks looked for in them. And with his mind already trying to banish the wisecracks other departments had made about him getting a new body for his department, he knew he wouldn't be the best at explaining anything.
He was a bit surprised she had actually left before he had come back, since she had seemed reluctant to leave him with everything. He pulled up the security screens and reviewed everything on the Turk floor from when he left until he arrived. His eyes narrowed at hearing her explain she would pay her boyfriend back money she had borrowed. Why had she needed to borrow any? He'd thought she was doing well at the bar. He shrugged, he could mention it tomorrow. She would be getting paid more here than she had been, and would no longer need to be paying for housing, as the Turks had their own apartment building on one of the plates. And it was part and parcel with the job. A large part of their budget went to maintaining it, and as Tseng likened it to the SOLDIER barracks when people brought it up in fund allocation meetings, they still had it.
Which reminded him, he would have to get Reno and Rude to help him clean up one of the apartments for her to move into. He was sure Elena knew about the building, likely not where it was, but she had to have known her sister had an apartment with other Turks. He doubted Gun would have missed an opportunity to talk about the roof barbecues they used to do. They hadn't really had a reason for one since everyone else... "quit". It was weird with just three people, so they would just head to the bar or a diner instead.
He sighed as he finally finished the stacks on his desk. There would be more tomorrow, but not having to sort them out was already a huge help. Being able to deal with things that were alike all at once instead of having to jump around made for much better progress. Reno couldn't sort things to save his life, and while Rude could do it, it was better to have them being out and about as their eyes and ears. It would be nice to have someone around to gripe about the paper work to. His mind drifted back her Elena's phone call and he realized he would need to set her up with a new phone as well. She could keep her old one, the new one would simply be a work phone - her way of contacting himself, Reno, and Rude.
Speaking of... He sent a quick text off to Reno and Rude letting them know that Elena had been inducted as a Turk and asking for their help this evening cleaning out the apartment across the hall from his own. Then he rose from his desk and went to set up a phone for her, her uniform arrived just as he was finishing programing their numbers into the phone. He hung it on the coat rack behind his door, placing the phone in the suit bag as well.
Tseng clocked out and locked up before heading home, meeting the dynamic duo outside his door. He put his laptop away and dressed down before they set to work airing out the apartment and making sure it was clean and ready to move into. He gave each of them the number for Elena's new phone and then they headed out to eat.
The next morning he arrived early, hoping to head off any untoward remarks that might be made by certain early birds of ShinRa Inc. Heidegger wanted to meet 'his new employee' and Tseng politely told him that he would need to make an appointment since she would be in training and if Heidegger wanted her to be efficient, she needed the training before meeting him. He had thankfully agreed. Tseng was thankful as he didn't want the man around leering at her, Elena had enough of that working at the bar, she didn't need it here.
He gave an amused chuckled an hour later when he heard heels on the marble floors. She was early, not a bad thing, but it still amused him. She could have let herself have more sleep or something. It was also amusing that she had seemed to pause, undecided - he assumed upon seeing his door closed - and then headed for the coffee room.
He shook his head and put his work face back on before heading out to refill his own coffee and greet HIS new employee.
"Good morning Elena, ready for your first full day?"
So it was only the two of us... It felt weird, especially since it was obvious, that the office was build for my turks, not as if she didn't Already know.
"I see, I'm sorry Sir" for such a obvious dumb question. She straightened her back uncomfortably, she still wasn't sure what he did see in her to get the job, but she wanted to impress him, not asking silly questions.
She looked at him with big brown eyes as he returned to tell her that she was free to ask questions. Did he meant it, or was it just to comfort her? "Yes Sir, I try my best to be as discreet as possible" maybe he was softer than she had heard, or was it just an impression he wanted her to have? She started Already to sort the papers in some loose piles, before looking at them more intense. "Oh.." she let out, when he mentioned, that she could go, after sorting them. Was he serious? It wasn't work for her to sort papers.. More like a hobby. "I understand." it felt wrong to leave him, once finished. He did all this work on his own, and she was here to help, wasn't she?
Shortly after he was gone she finished sorting them and brought them to his office desk, placing them neatly, before her phone moved in her pocket. She grabbed for it and did see a text message from her boyfriend, asking her where she was. After her message, that she had a new job, he seemed rather confused, so she called him. "Hey, it's... Ehm a wild story, yes... I have a new job... Uhm, no I can't tell you. What? Your money.." she looked at the window, was he really asking for the money he lend her last time? "I.. Can give it to you, once I get my first paycheck. Sure. No.. You're right, it's only natural to ask for it. Yes... Love you" she ended the call and lower the phone staring at the display. She was such a push over wasn't she?
Tseng shook his head as he walked down another hallway to drop off a copy of Elena's forms. It was always such a process to induct someone into a position at ShinRa. He didn't think most of the paperwork was even necessary. And, he could just email it to people who needed it. Why they HAD to have physical copies, and couldn't just send a courier from their own overflowing departments to come get them from him, he would never understand. He supposed it was another way for every department to look down on his own.
Didn't really matter though, even with just the three of them, they'd been keeping up and in some cases doing better than fully fleshed out departments. He couldn't really complain. And having Elena closer would be nice. He wouldn't have to feel like he was splitting his time between work and making sure she was alright. He'd promised Gun he would look out for her after all. And he was a man of his word.
Elena seemed to be more surprised by everything than anything else. He hoped she would be able to keep her up beat attitude, that the stress and honestly awful things they sometimes had to do wouldn't take that from her. She seemed willing to please, however, he would rather she wanted to make something of herself instead of just, do what was expected of her. She was smart though, he was sure she would realize that in time.
Being here was new after all. Once she'd had a few weeks to settle into the boring routine, he was sure she would find a way forward. He would see about having Reno keep tabs on her boyfriend though. She hadn't mentioned him to him yet, but Tseng was a Turk after all. And he'd been watching over her for years. He doubted the man wouldn't get suspicious, and if he got ideas about becoming a problem. Well, they'd have to deal with that.
All the paperwork delivered, and wisecracks noted but ignored, he headed back to his desk to get started on the rest of his work.
Mostly he was hoping to get all of her paperwork sorted before the end of the day. That way he could issue her her keycard and uniform tomorrow. And after that, they could do a physical evaluation on the range in order to get her cleared for her weapon of choice.
He was just turning away to grab the paperwork when she asked her question. He paused and turned back to her, "Reno and Rude are currently up on the roof fixing one of the helicopters we use for away missions, because Reno got it shot up last time. Besides you and I and the two of them, there aren't any other Turks."
He turned away again and grabbed the paperwork from his office before heading out to deliver the copies. "And you are always free to ask questions Elena. We aren't going to murder you for it. Just, use your best discretion on what to ask when. I'll be back. Once you're done with that pile, if you finish it before I return, you may go. You won't be getting your keycard and uniform until tomorrow at the earliest, it's what all this paperwork is really for."
Tseng gave her a short nod before leaving the room, heading to another floor in the elevator to see some people about a keycard.
That she still hesitated to take his hand made him proud, one can say a lot of things and not truly mean it, and one can mean many things and never say them. Putting words into actions was what he judged all of his Turks on. He knew she would likely learn quickly, as she already had the skills they needed and the attitude to back them up.
Mostly his hope was that she could grow as a person, use this job, not just as a job, or perhaps a way to connect to her family, but as a stepping stone to what she truly wanted out of life. That by following his lead, she wouldn’t become a ShinRa robot as he had once been, but rise above and become her own Turk.
The handshake was quick and firm. He released her hand and gestured to the door. “Onto the tour.”
He pulled the door open and stepped outside fully expecting her to follow him. They made a large lap of the area where Turks were supposed to work, mostly just his office, a room with several desks in it, another room renovated into a training facility, and a shooting range. Then he took her on a short tour of the whole of the ShinRa building, stating that she’d be learning it in more detail over time. He explained the different floors, where to get food, certain people to try and avoid (like Scarlet and Hojo simply because once they start talking, it’s Greek to anyone else and they never shut up). He also explained that she would be getting her own set of keycards for the elevators, it just needed to be approved by the paperwork sitting on his desk.
So, back they went. Tseng motioned her to one of the empty desks in the area outside his office and then dumped a pile of reports on it. “If you will start sorting this by what department they were sent from, I will go send out copies of your paperwork to relevant parties.”
Tseng was proud that she seemed to be reading through all of the documents before signing them, unlock Reno when he first joined. He could see that she understood what was asked, and was even a bit amused by some of the things they held. Yes, she would do very well here.
It amused him that she thought Reno had broken her sister. He was rather certain it was the other way around. Not only had Gun broken Reno literally, his nose a few times and his arm once, but the man was to this day terrified of clowns under his bed. He would literally check under any space he was to sleep on, even under cars and car seats, or helicopters if that were the case. He could usually be found simply sleeping directly on the floor instead because of a prank Gun had pulled years ago.
He smiled grimly as he took the documents from her, “Yes, well they are made to sound simpler than the job itself is so that people not doing it can understand the gist of what we do. And while the job is more complicated than stated on paper, the core of what is expected and what you are to get out of it is in there. We have many benefits, but this is a rather dangerous line of work.”
Tseng shrugged a shoulder before flipping through the papers and signing and dating where he needed to. He set the papers aside to be copied and sent off to the various departments they would need to be sent to later. He stood and walked around his desk before offering his hand to Elena, “Welcome to the team. I’ll give you a quick tour and then come back to send off all this paperwork and we can get started on catching me up with the rest of it. How does that sound?”
