[SCENE] Ron and Grossberg in "PLEASE HIRE MEEEEEE Pt. 2"
Ron: *Ron DeLite arrives at Grossberg Law Offices bright and early this afternoon, folder in hand, badge well-polished, all prepped up for his interview. He approaches the secretary at her desk and calls for her attention in a hesitant but clear voice:*
Ron: Um...Hello! I'm here for a job interview. You might remember me but if you don't, it's okay...? I was here last Wednesday, but Mr. Grossberg couldn't see me. And then the week before that, I couldn't meet with him either, and...
Abigail: And the week before, mmhmm. *the secretary adjusts her glasses and looks languidly over at Ron* Like I've told you, I have absolutely no control over Mr. Grossberg's schedule. You're free to try and wait for him, but he stepped out an hour ago and I have no idea when he'll be back. *she glances back down at her (rather sizable) stack of paperwork*
Ron: Oh, s-so you remembered...! *sighs a little -- he was hoping Grossberg would be in this time* Then...then all right, I'll wait for him! Where would be the best place to do that?
Abigail: *without glancing up, she points a finger towards the left* In his office.
Ron: Thank you, ma'am. *acknowledges her politely with a nod, and scurries his way into the office*
Ron: *eyes drawn to the lavish decor as soon as he walks in, he glances around, not sure what piece to examine first. He sits down on one of the leather guest seats, thinking it the appropriate thing to do. After a few minutes of waiting, he can't help but give the large oil painting on the wall a closer look; he rises and steps toward it, studying it with a sense of familiarity*
Grossberg: *a while later--though not much later--there is an extravagantly grandiose clearing of the throat from near the doorway* AH-HEEEEEEM. Like it do you, m'boy?! *at the doorway, beaming proudly, stands Marvin Grossberg. When exactly he appeared isn't really clear--could a man so large truly move as silently down the hallway as a cat?*
Ron: *jumps visibly at the throat-clearing; he looks back to see Grossberg, heart pounding a little as though he was caught doing something bad -- then he reminds himself that he's here for a job interview and calms down* Mr. Grossberg! P-please don't sneak up on me like that... *bites his lip*
Grossberg: Sneak, my boy? A gentleman does not sneak around-- he announces his presence, and fills the room when he enters it! *and with his sizable portage.... he does exactly that, walking over to Ron and the painting* Exquisite, isn't it--and well worth the pilgrimage over to view it, hrm? The best purchase I've made in over a decade!
Ron: This painting? *glances back over to it* It surprised me to see it here! It's "Stepping Together" by Robert Hagan, the Australian impressionist painter, yes?
Grossberg: *blinks* Why-- yes! Yes, it is! And you were able to tell all this upon a single glance?
Ron: Well, it wasn't famous for anything asides from its grandiose monetary value until it gained public and media attention in 2016 for being stolen from a museum gallery by...a certain notorious thief. *says this with a smug little grin* The price kept shooting up since it was recovered!
Grossberg: Indeed, it did! *seems all the more impressed--he clasps a hearty hand on Ron's back* You, my boy, have done your research! A true connoisseur! A most admirable palette!
Ron: *feels a bit of pride welling up in himself* Oh, it's nothing, really...ha ha. *directs his attention to the chair and table set* Those furniture pieces...They're by Polish designer Witold Kowalewski, aren't they? I've seen couches from the same line in the lobby of the Heritage Museum.
Grossberg: Correct again! *looks sternly at Ron* If I didn't know better, I would say that you looked all of this up in advance! ...But now that we have gone this far--I demand you identify another piece!
Ron: Well... *lets his eyes wander around the office, feeling a bit of pressure; he then spots a small glass display case in the corner of the room with various overpriced trinkets inside. He walks over to it and stares for a moment before looking back at Grossberg* Oh! This is Durasheen shatter-resistant IceStone glass, isn't it? Specially coated for extra resistance to blunt force and commonly used for professional displays -- also used in museums...ones with good security, anyway.
Grossberg: And that's three for three! *a hearty pat on Ron's back* You've passed--and with flying colors!
Ron: *grins rather bashfully as he's jostled by the pat* I used to be into these sorts of things, you see, for no particular reason really... *suddenly, as though reminding himself again why he's here* Um, I came here for an interview, actually...? *holds up his folder a little*
Grossberg: *he was en route to his (painfully inappropriately sized) chair--at the latter part of Ron's words, he looks up again* An interview? An interview for what?
Ron: *starting to wonder if Abigail passed on any of his messages to Grossberg* A-a job interview, sir. I tried making an appointment, but I was told by the nice secretary at your front desk I can't make one, so I came here directly.
Grossberg: *frowns, his bushy eyebrows knitting together sharply. He pulls back his tiny chair and sits upon it-- it's not clear HOW it holds, but there is a heavy creak and much blubberlike fat is molded and pushed aside in the process* I don't know what that daft secretary of mine has told you, but as adept as you are in identifying art and finery, we are a law office-- we are in the business of hiring lawyers!
Ron: *stepping up to the desk* And I'm a lawyer! See? *points to the shiny gold on his vest* I have a badge!
Grossberg: Oh! ......... So you do! And so you are! *clears his throat* Well, that is quite another matter, my boy! I hope you brought the appropriate documentation! *holds out his hand for Ron's folder*
Ron: My resumé is right in here, sir! *hands his presentation folder over enthusiastically*
Grossberg: *scans through it--perhaps not all that carefully, judging by the speed of his reading* Mm-hmm! Oho! ...... I see! ...Very well. *reaches for the upper right drawer handle of his desk, pulling it open and rummaging inside*
Ron: *waits with good patience, hands politely folded before him. With ever sound Grossberg makes, he wonders if it's a positive or negative reaction*
Grossberg: *whips out a stack of what appear to be flash cards, face down, and in a rapid blur he holds up two, one in each hand-- the left sports an orange background with indigo colored dot splotches; the left one has red scribbles on a pink field* CHOOSE ONE!
Ron: AAAAH! *after merely a beat, points to the orange and indigo card, eyes wide with surprise and confusion*
Grossberg: Hmm! *in another rapid blur of moment he slams the cards down onto the desk, pulling out a fresh pair-- the left one depicts a rabbit inappropriately touching a bear, the right one shows a cartoon fish on fire* And now?!
Ron: I-I don't like either of those...
Grossberg: Ha! So you're that kind of individual! *thud, whip whip--on the left is a horrendously complex mathematical equation; on the right is a crying clown*
Ron: *looks to the left card, then the right* ...Pardon me, sir, but am I supposed to choose based on preference or based on what I'm feeling right this very moment?
Grossberg: *looms down at the younger man* What have you been doing up to this point?
Ron: *points wordlessly to the math equation*
Grossberg: Very good--hrm! Last one! *the left card has something like tin foil on it, just shiny enough to loosely capture Ron's reflection--the right one has one inch squares cut out of it so it looks vaguely like swiss cheese*
Ron: *points to the shiny card, openly satisfied with his choice* This one was easy!
Grossberg: Was it?! HA! *slams down the last pair of these cards with one final thud* Good, because you, my boy, can consider yourself hired
Ron: *startled* I-I can?! You're hiring me?
Grossberg: I am indeed! A near-perfect score--ha! *stands, walking around his desk and giving Ron another couple of enthusiastic pats on the back* Nearly rivaling the all-time top attorney of my firm! *guides Ron towards the door* We'll talk salary and benefits and all of that--over lunch, what do you say? Abigail, tell any visitors I will be out!
Abigail: *with a barely restrained sigh* Yes, sir.
Ron: *still surprised as he's lead out* Wow! Thank you, sir. Thank you so much! Boy, I was so nervous about this -- actually, you see, I went to Mr. Gavin first, and he was very impressed by me and I would've gotten hired if he had an opening! *smiles happily* So I had a feeling, this time...!
Grossberg: *chortles* Gavin? Ha! It'll be some time yet before that boy can tack a "& Co." in his office's name! I tell you--ah, back in my day--memories! The days of my youth... like the scent of fresh lemon...! *continues on rambling as they make for the elevator, all upbeat and energetic by all the "work" he has accomplished this morning*