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The scanner’s incessant beeping sound grated on his ears, the never ending texture of strange fabrics and foods an infinite torture. And worst of all, the customers. Truely, the epitome of idiots.
Veritas Ratio questioned why in Asdana he agreed to do this job. It was infernal, and he despised it. But as he stood at the check-out counter, his work shirt filled with unprofessional wrinkles, an elderly woman thrusting a coupon at him and demanding a better price, he recalled it was his own pride that landed him here.
----------------------------------------------------
Leaning over his desk with an infuriating smirk, the stoneheart spoke in a teasing tone.
“Oh? You think that it’s a job for people without skills? Doctor, I must say, I’m disappointed.”
Ratio raised an eyebrow, a low grunt of dissatisfaction rumbling in his chest. He’d just been complaining to the gambler about an experience he had with a cashier in a store earlier that day, calling them an imbecile -- and rightfully so. He had questioned the company policy on their pricing in the store, and they couldn’t even answer! It was unbelievable, but Aventurine did not seem to share his opinion. Zero points.
“What kind of skills could the repetitive task of simply scanning items and greeting customers include? Basic motor function and the ability to speak are not praiseworthy, gambler.”
HIs argument was surely sound, so why did Aventurine only stare at him flatly?
“I bet you…”
Oh, there was that gleam in his eye Ratio despised.
“... that you wouldn’t last a single shift at that store.”
Ratio scoffed. Had the gambler any idea how difficult teaching was? The sheer workload, the need to think ahead, the mere prerequisite to already be an expert?
“Child’s play. It wouldn’t pose a single challenge.”
Aventurine tossed his palms up with a shrug, his face turned, multi-coloured eyes giving a sidelong look to Ratio in the gap between his face and sunglasses. “Then do it, Doctor. The IPC could easily set you up with a temp job there.”
Ratio grimaced. He’d walked into the man’s trap. But the idea of backing down from a challenge set by the peacock of a man in front of him… simply out of the question. He crossed his arms across his chest.
“Fine! I’ll take this wager, gambler. If I win, I want you to stop visiting my office like this. I’m working an important job!”
Aventurine sashayed towards the door, looking back with an idiotic grin. “And when I win, Doctor, I demand you take me out to dinner.”
And he was out of the room, leaving the door open behind him. There was a lot there for Ratio to unpack, but he soon received a message indicating his shift started tomorrow morning.
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And so, Veritas Ratio came to work several minutes early, expecting to be able to get the ropes of the job, and carry out his eight hour shift easily. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Aventurine’s face.
Another employee walked him through the basics of point of sales, each as easy to remember and apply as the last. Once the store opened, it became rather busy, and Ratio stood at the register, waiting for his first customer to finish shopping.
A man in a hoodie and sweatpants walked up with a basket of groceries, a tired look on his face. Ratio noticed he was unkempt and not well groomed. He didn't say a word, and placed his items on the counter.
“Welcome.” Ratio greeted in a gruff, low voice. A proper greeting. 10 points!
He took each item carefully, one-by-one, scanning, and arranging them on the other side of his counter in an optimal combined shape to set into a paper bag. 10 points! He was on a roll.
Just as he was about to scan the last item, the customer sighed exasperatedly.
“Come on, man. Can you go any slower?”
Ratio’s eyebrow twitched, and he set the item down.
“Yes, for your information, I can go slower. Observe.” Spitefully, he moved the last item painfully slowly across the scanner, setting it with the others at sloth speed. He looked up, seeing the man scowling at him. He spent the next several minutes being shouted at by the sleep-deprived customer, who stalked off once throwing a few credits in Ratio’s face, muttering about idiots working in stores. 0 points.
Ratio justified it was a simple one-off experience. Anyone could handle one of those a day.
But he found most of his customers to be this way --- disrespectful, treating him inhumanly. They would ask about discounts that didn’t exist, and the moment they didn’t get their way, they were screaming for a manager. It was ridiculous. Incredulous! There must be some source of all this disdainful behaviour.
Once on his lunch break, Ratio went to the break room, ready to finally have a moment of reprieve, only to find Aventurine waiting at a table. His already foul mood turned darker. He started toward Aventurine.
“You!” he growled, “Surely you must have a part in this… this cacophony of torture! Did you hire these people to treat me so poorly?”
And the stoneheart had the gall to laugh in Ratio’s face. “PFFFT-- Doctor, pahaha, you actually think this is unusual?”
Ratio blinked. “Of course, there’s no reason for them to be so disrespectful when I’ve only ever done my job. Even students understand this.”
Aventurine placed a gloved hand on Ratio’s shoulder, wiping away a tear from his eye. Excessive. 0 points.
“Doctor, this is the job. Those people treat you exactly the way you treated the clerk here yesterday. Still think this job is easy?”
Ratio’s nostrils flared. This was what this job was? The pay for it was horribly low -- hardly a livable wage, and yet the work was this mentally taxing? It was impossible for the professor to comprehend. It was… unfair!
He gasped at himself internally. Calling something unfair, as he’d always said, was simply an excuse for one’s lack of ability to adapt. Had Veritas Ratio just contradicted his own rule?
He was shaken from his stupor as the door to the breakroom swung open, the manager he’d briefly met just before coming in and locking eyes with Ratio. The man had his hands on his hips, his body language clearly suggesting irritation.
Ratio eyed him… nervously. He was not used to having a ‘superior’ glaring down at him like this.
“Well? Have an explanation for yourself?” the man demanded.
Ratio looked at him blankly.
His manager rolled his eyes, scoffing. “Are you serious, man? You’d pissed off several customers today, as well as only successfully singing up a single customer for the rewards program! Did you even promote the buy-one-get-one free deal?”
Ratio sputtered over his words. He was at a loss. He heard Aventurine behind him stifle a laugh. The doctor has never felt so humiliated before.
Humiliation gave way to rage, and he tore off his own name badge, its Hi there! I’m VERITAS RATIO ! in a ridiculous font too ugly for the man to look at anymore. He threw the tag at his manager’s feet.
“Enough of this! I quit!”
He marched out of the room in a huff, Aventurine skipping giddily after him. He didn’t think a single thought until he was blocks from the store.
He looked to Aventurine, bracing himself for what was to come. The teasing, anything. He’d just lost his temper, and learned he’d treated underpaid, overworked workers horribly his whole life. Perhaps he deserved to be made fun of.
Instead, Aventurine leaned over next to him, showing his phone. It was his maps app, showing the locations of restaurants. The gambler looked at him with genuine curiosity.
“Which place do you think, Doctor? All of the food looks so good…”
Right. Ratio was to take Aventurine out to dinner at his loss. The stoneheart had simply jumped at the promise much sooner than anticipated.
“Doctor? Hellloooooo…? Veritas prime to Doctor Ratio?”
Ratio looked at Aventurine, and saw nothing but a person who wanted to spend time with him. A smile threatened the professors’ lips.
He pointed at the phone screen.
“Here sounds acceptable.”
10 points.