Chapter Text
Steven Grant whistled cheerfully to himself as he ascended the steps of the British Museum. He had managed to successfully translate the hieroglyphic code he had been working on for the past week, gotten a full night's rest, and had even caught the early bus to work.
He checked his watch. Eh, I've got a bit before I have to clock in. Might as well pop by the Egyptian exhibit to see if they changed the placard for Mekhet yet.
He headed over to the exhibit, sighing with disappointment when he noticed that the placard was still incorrect. It's been three months. The least they could do is place a temporary sign until a new, permanent one came in.
He was just about to go put his bag in his employee locker and clock in early when a woman walked up next to him and began reading the placard on the statue.
“You know, that's actually wrong,” Steven said.
The woman glanced over at him. “Excuse me?”
Steven placed her accent as American, but couldn't pinpoint the region. Must be on holiday. He pointed at the placard. “The placard. It says that this is Menhit when it's really Mekhit.”
The woman looked at the placard, then back at the statue. “Oh, is it really?”
Steven nodded. “Menhit was actually a solar goddess, representing the brow of Ra and depicted by a reclining lioness, while Mekhit was the goddess of war, which is why she's depicted as a roaring lioness.”
The woman smiled at Steven. “Well that makes sense.”
“She was also known as the ‘Eye of Ra’,” Steven continued, encouraged by her friendliness. “It was said that the Eye left Ra and transformed itself into a lioness, after which it was hunted down and returned by Onuris, then it transformed into Menhit, which explains the similar names. And there's also Mehit, with no k or n, who was associated with the moon and was also depicted as a reclining lioness, but with three sticks behind her.”
The woman chuckled. “Imagine someone in Ancient Egypt accidentally praying to the wrong god or goddess because of a spelling error. Like, ‘oops, sorry, I meant for Mut to help me, not Nut ’.”
Steven grinned. “I've been trying to get my bosses to fix it for months now, but honestly I shouldn't be surprised. Took them ages to correct the banner depicting the Ennead. Only seven of them were on there when there were supposed to be nine.”
The woman glanced over at the banner, which now included all nine of the Ennead. “Oh, so you work here?”
Steven nodded. “Oh, er, sorry, yeah. I'm not just some nutter chatting you up in the Egyptian exhibit, I promise.”
The woman laughed. “Well either way, you're very knowledgeable about Egyptian history.”
“Oh, I love history, especially ancient Egyptian history. I find it fascinating.” Steven bit his lip. “Is it alright if I show you my favorite exhibit? It's just right over there.”
The woman nodded. “Sure.”
Steven led her over to the statue of Hathor. “This is Hathor -- Egyptian goddess of music, joy, pleasure and love.”
The woman grinned. “I see why she's your favorite. She gets all the fun stuff.”
Steven chuckled. “She was also goddess of beauty and the protector of women, and she was considered one of the most powerful of all the gods and goddesses. Early cosmetics and mirrors were left at her temples as offerings.”
The woman smiled. “She sounds pretty amazing.”
Steven nodded. “Oh, she was. In fact, it's said she--”
“Oy! Stevie!”
Steven startled at the sound of Donna's voice. “Oh, bollocks,” he muttered. ‘I'm sorry, I've got to run.”
The woman nodded. “That's quite alright. It was nice meeting you… Stevie, was it?”
Steven shook his head. “Actually, it's Ste ven . With a ‘v'.”
“Nice meeting you, ‘Steven-with-a-v’.”
“You too.”
Steven tried to hurry away but was accosted by Donna, who immediately began to give him an earful. “How many times do I have to tell you, don't bother the visitors!” she hissed loudly. “The new museum director's coming in today and the last thing she needs to see is employees faffing about.”
“But I’m not -- wait, new director?” Steven vaguely remembered Donna mentioning a few weeks prior that the museum board had finally hired a new director. “Who is it?”
Donna shrugged. “I dunno, some poncy American. Anyway, as I've said before, you're not a bloody tour guide. Your job is to sell overpriced rubbish to whiny little brats and their caretakers. Now, I want the gift shop fully stocked and in tip-top shape by the time the new director arrives. You should've been doing that already instead of dawdling.”
Steven glanced back at the woman, who was now studying the hieroglyphics on one of the nearby sarcophagi. “But I'm not -- I was just --”
Donna rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, flirt on your own time. Not like she'd be interested in the likes of you anyway, innit?”
“But I wasn't --” Steven sighed as Donna stalked off. “Okay then, good talk.”
He trudged over to the staff lounge area, stashed his messenger bag in his locker, and clocked in before heading to the gift shop.
He cringed when he saw the state of it. Clearly no one had bothered restocking after the gaggle of families and tour groups had blown through over the weekend. This'll take me all bloody day. Luckily Mondays are usually pretty quiet.
He quickly pinned his name tag to his shirt and began to straighten and organize the various plushies and knickknacks between customers, making note of what he needed to grab more of from the storage room.
He was organizing the Seshat figurines several hours later when Donna walked out of her office. “Oy, Stevie, the new boss lady wants a word with you upstairs.”
Steven swallowed nervously. “Me? What for?”
Donna shrugged, a slight smirk on her face. “You know, I heard that there was a bit of a shakeup coming with the new regime but I thought it'd at least be a few days before you got sacked. Guess not.”
Bollocks , Steven thought. Hopefully there's at least a decent severance package. “Okay. Well, off I go then.”
He set down the last figurine and headed out of the gift shop towards the lifts. “Maybe they'll at least let me finish my shift before they give me the boot,” he wondered aloud as he pressed the button to call the lift.
“Why are you so worried?” Marc replied in his head. “You don't even like this job.”
“I do like it,” Steven protested, catching Marc's face in the reflection of the shiny metal doors. “Well, sort of. And anyway, we can't afford our flat without it.”
Marc was quiet for a moment. “I got some money,” he finally said as the lift arrived. “From Dad, after Mom… Well anyway, I've never touched it so that should keep you afloat for a little while until you find another job.”
The ride up to the 5th floor was one of the longest of Steven's life. He stepped out of the lift, nervously trying to tame his wild curls but ultimately just making his hair more messed up. Oh, bollocks.
He walked down the hall to the door marked Director and knocked.
“Come in,” a voice said.
Steven took a deep breath and entered.
He froze. Standing behind the museum director's desk was the woman he had been talking to in the Egyptian exhibit before Donna had spotted him. “Oh, erm…” Just my bloody buggering luck.
The visitor from earlier (the new museum director, you bloody great twit, he corrected himself) smiled warmly. “Hello again, ‘Steven-with-a-v’.”
“Er, hello, Miss.” Steven could see his employee file open on the director's desk and began mentally going over their entire interaction from earlier, trying to figure out what exactly he had done in order to get sacked so quickly. He hadn't been on the clock at the time so it wasn't like he actually had been dawdling instead of working, and he hadn't really complained about his job beyond mentioning that the display placard for Mekhit was incorrect and about how long it took for the banner depicting the Ennead to be corrected.
The director motioned to the chair in front of her desk. “Have a seat.”
Steven sat as the director took her seat as well.
The director folded her hands in front of her and placed them on her desk. “First of all,” she began, “apologies for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Y/F/N Y/L/N, and I'm the new director here at the museum. I'm sure you're wondering why I've called you to my office, especially so soon after starting my tenure here.”
“Er, yes ma'am,” Steven replied nervously, glancing up at the framed Ph.D hanging on the wall before once again looking at his open employment record.
Dr. Y/L/N slid Steven's file over to her and studied it for a moment. “You work in the gift shop, is that correct?”
Bollocks, here it comes. “Yes, ma'am.”
“You've never had any interest in becoming a tour guide, have you?”
“I'm sorry, ma’am, I wasn't trying to --” Steven blinked rapidly as her words registered. “Wait, what?”
Dr. Y/L/N looked up from his file. “Tour guide. You ever thought about it?”
Steven nodded. “All the time, actually. It's what I dream of doing.”
“Then why haven't you ever applied for an open tour guide position?”
Because Donna keeps telling me that there's no way it would ever happen, so why bother? “Well I, er…”
Dr. Y/L/N leaned back in her chair. “We actually have a current opening for the Visitor Engagement Specialist position… if you're interested, that is.”
Steven was speechless. “Visitor Engagement Specialist? But that's -- that's the head of programming and tours.”
Dr. Y/L/N nodded. “Yes, that's right. I'd like to offer you the position.”
She gestured towards his employee file. “I've read over your CV, Steven, and you're more than qualified.”
Steven was still processing. What the bloody hell is happening?
Sounds like you're not getting fired, Marc answered. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Steven shook his head. “Even if I applied for the position, wouldn't I need to interview for it as well?”
Dr. Y/L/N’s lips turned up in a small smile. “Oh, but you already have.”
Steven’s brow furrowed. “I have?”
Dr. Y/L/N nodded. “The museum’s visitor numbers have been declining lately, so over the weekend I took a few tours to see how they could be improved, and to be quite honest I learned more from speaking to you for 10 minutes in the Egyptian exhibit than from taking 3 separate hour-long tours throughout the entire museum. You certainly had me enraptured during our conversation about Mekhit and Hathor this morning.”
She gave Steven a warm smile. “I would consider that enough of an interview to offer you the position, wouldn't you?”
Steven huffed out a nervous chuckle. “I -- I suppose so, ma’am.”
“The current tours are stale and boring,” Dr. Y/L/N continued. “And the guides themselves could use some, well, guidance from someone with your knowledge of and enthusiasm for history and folklore. I think you could plan some wonderfully engaging tours.”
Steven rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, I do have some ideas on how the current tours could be improved… So, er, what exactly does the position entail?”
“You'd work closely with the Curatorial department to develop programming and tours based on what we have on exhibit at the time while concurrently managing the Programming department. Of course, that would include being on the regular tour rotation as well as handling any specialized tours -- large groups, VIP guests, and the like. I know it would be a lot of work, but the position also comes with your own office as well as a sizable increase in pay.” Dr. Y/L/N quoted a figure that was more than double what Steven currently made. “Plus benefits.”
Steven’s eyes widened. With that sort of salary he could afford a bigger flat closer to the museum. “That's -- that's quite generous. I don't know what to say.”
Dr. Y/L/N nodded. “I know this is probably a bit of a shock, so feel free to take some time to think about it. Think you could give me an answer by the beginning of next week?”
What's there to think about? Marc chided him. You're being handed your dream job on a silver platter. Say you'll take it, dumbass.
Steven ignored Marc. “Yes, ma'am.”
Dr. Y/L/N closed Steven's file. “By the way, I put in an order for a new placard for the Mekhit exhibit. Thought you'd like to know.”
Steven grinned. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”
“And one other thing…” Dr. Y/L/N paused briefly. “Does your current supervisor often speak to you the way she did this morning?”
Steven was taken aback. “Donna? Well, actually, er… well, she's a bit prickly, yes.”
“I see. And have you reported her behavior to anyone?”
Steven shook his head. “No, ma'am. Don't want to cause a scene or make things worse.”
“Mmm. Well, this 'poncy American' is going to have a private chat with her later on the way we treat our subordinates… and refer to our superiors.”
Marc chuckled. I think I'm in love.
Yeah, me too, Steven replied. Too bad she's my boss.
He really hadn't been flirting with Dr. Y/L/N earlier, although if Steven had been more confident he might have actually considered it. As it was, however, he was glad he hadn't. Most likely would've gotten sacked in that case.
Dr. Y/L/N stood. “Alright, Steven, thank you for coming in. Please let me know as soon as possible what your decision on the Visitor Engagement Specialist position is.”
Steven stood as well. “I will, ma'am. And no matter what I decide, thank you either way for the opportunity.”
“You're welcome. And thank you for such a stimulating conversation this morning. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Steven smiled. “I did too.”
He headed back down to the gift shop, where Donna was standing behind the register reading a book.
She looked up as Steven approached the counter. “What, still here? Figured you'd have cleared out your locker by now.”
Steven shook his head. “The new director just wanted to introduce herself and speak with me about something. Guess she's doing that with everyone.”
Donna rolled her eyes. “In that case, when you get done with restocking there's a new shipment of items that need to be unpacked and sorted.”
As if she couldn't have been working on all that shit herself while you were gone, Marc said as Donna headed back towards her office. Would you seriously rather be stuck with that than be the head of tours and programs? You know she's just going to make things more difficult after she gets reprimanded this afternoon.
Steven sighed. Yeah, I know.
Being a tour guide is exactly what you've been wanting to do since the day you started, and being the head of the entire department? Just think… you'd actually be in a higher position than Donna. Wouldn't you like to rub that in her face?
Steven chuckled to himself as he thought about Donna having to answer to him for a change. Yeah, actually, I quite like the thought of that.
Then what are you waiting for?
You know what? You're right. Steven straightened. I deserve this position.
Damn right you do. Ever since we figured out how to work together you've been able to hold down your job just fine and haven't even been late once. You'll be great.
Steven moved over to the phone and pulled up the staff directory before dialing Dr. Y/L/N's extension.
“Yes, may I help you?” Dr. Y/L/N's voice said briskly over the line.
“Er, uh, Dr. Y/L/N, this is Steven… Steven Grant, from the gift shop?” Steven stammered out, suddenly losing his bravado.
Dr. Y/L/N's tone warmed immediately. “Yes, Steven, what can I do for you?”
Steven took a deep breath. “I've decided I don't need the week to think about your offer. I accept.”
“Wonderful!” Dr. Y/L/N sounded pleased. “I'll have HR start on the transfer paperwork right away so we can have you in your new position by next Monday. There's a couple of new Egyptian artifacts on loan from the Cairo Museum arriving on Thursday afternoon and we're wanting to have them installed by the beginning of next month, so hopefully we can have you settled and able to rework the tour to include them by then.”
Steven nodded even though he knew she couldn't see him. “That shouldn't be a problem. Thank you again for this opportunity, Dr. Y/L/N. I really appreciate it.”
“You're welcome, Steven. I honestly think you'll thrive in your new position and I'm glad you accepted it.”
“Me too.”
“The museum board is introducing me to some benefactors in ten minutes so I'm afraid I've got to run in a few, but I'm looking forward to hearing your ideas on how to improve the current tours. Maybe we can talk more on Friday? I'll be meeting with the Curatorial department that morning to discuss placement of the new artifacts.” Dr. Y/L/N paused. “You know, actually, now that I think about it since you're going to be involved with that anyway I'd like you to sit in on that meeting as well, even if it's just to observe and check out the new artifacts for yourself.”
“Certainly, ma'am.”
“Ok, great. I'll let Donna know that I've scheduled another meeting with you and that your shift needs to be covered on Friday. What's your current schedule looking like for next week?”
Steven rolled his eyes, grateful that Dr. Y/L/N couldn't actually see him. “Donna has me doing inventory all next week.”
Dr. Y/L/N hummed. “Ok, well then it shouldn't be a problem to find someone else to cover that.”
“No, ma'am.”
“I'll see you Friday morning, then. Goodbye, Steven.”
“Goodbye.”
Steven hung up the phone. “Wow,” he said under his breath. “Wow, wow, wowee wow.”
Marc chuckled in his head. You've hit the big-time now.
“I get my own office. I get my own phone extension.” Steven's eyes widened. “I get my own business cards. ‘Steven Grant, Visitor Engagement Specialist’.”
Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?
Steven nodded. “I still can't believe it.”
Believe it, buddy. Life is looking up.
Steven grinned. "It is, isn't it?"
He knew one thing for certain -- he couldn't wait to prove to Dr. Y/L/N that she had made the right decision.