gilgamesh (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
throwmoreswords) wrote2019-02-20 10:22 pm
throwmoreswords) wrote2019-02-20 10:22 pm
[ic inbox] - Kaisou
State your case and don't bore me--or there may be consequences.
username: AUO | ✉ ☏ 📷 |
State your case and don't bore me--or there may be consequences.
text; 3/3
Do you prefer cash or credit transfer for your initial fee?
no subject
Silence followed. It wasn't anything Lycaon wasn't used to. Usually when he's commissioned for drink menus the other party is reviewing, making a list of changes. And yet...
His ears twitch, eye casting to the window to look towards the sky. ...That was strange. While he has no proof to back it up, and it's just what he feels in the fiber of his being, he could've sworn he felt Venus and Mars move slightly further from Earth. Just a bit.
Ah. There's the text from Gilgamesh. Pulling it up, he silently reads it over. Phew, it looks like it went over successfully.
The dog has no idea.]
Your praise is appreciated, Sir Gilgamesh. I would not give anything less than my full effort for such a task.
[He sees he's officially hired for it, and beyond the screen, that tail swishes just a little bit.]
It would be my pleasure. I will prepare the necessary ingredients in amounts fit for your event, and I will also be available for any coordinating should the need arise.
A credit transfer would be most convenient. Shall I send the payment information to Mr. Koski?
[Sorry Sampy, you give off secretary energy.]
no subject
the dog has no idea as he comes prancing right into the meadow, looking for his easy accolades. ]
You'll be connected with my secretary so that you can acquire what's necessary on my expense of course. More details will follow when we've settled a venue in full. I've already contracted security and catering. You may bring as many helpers as you deem fit, and tipping will be thoroughly encouraged.
[ Sampo does give off secretary vibes. sexytary. unfortunately he's not on the payroll in this particular AU. ]
Ah, no, my secretary is Ms. Yasuho. I'll give you her details shortly--
because I do have some questions about a few particulars, if you'd be so kind.
no subject
The air feels thicker now, despite how this is happening over text.]
Understood. I will reach out to my own colleagues for any assistance, and will wait for further instruction.
[And there it is. The blade above his neck. It's not one he's unfamiliar with, though none nearly as sharp as Gilgamesh's. It said everything that the hair on the back of his neck stood on end from a text message. You can navigate this, Lycaon.]
Of course, Sir Gilgamesh. I will answer every question to my utmost ability.
no subject
it's just texts how does it feel like something is teetering on a precipice? ]
You'll take a meal from the catering and any restocking runs will also be done from my budget.
[ nice, normal facts that are good to have up front and in paw so you don't have to make big puppy eyes about them later with a capricious man's hand on the purse strings--especially during an event that may or may not leave him in a mood.
... not that he's not in a mood now, but Gilgamesh likes to play with his food. it's usually what gets him killed. ]
I'm terribly curious as to how what appears to be quite a bit of work and investment only took you a touch over four hours to finish. Please explain.
[ some people use question marks, and some people get voluntold to answer. ]
no subject
[. . .
Ah. (14) So that's why the air was so thick. Gilgamesh's question could not be more to the point. The man is looking for an explanation on how inspiration, a menu, drinks, and supplies were procured in the span of four hours.]
I see. I suppose it was inaccurate to say the total time was three hours and fifty-six minutes, bar the napkins.
[Time for him to dig up, as his loving monochrome-crested papa would say.]
I was hired using my cruise line rates, albeit raised per our conversation. Those start and end with assembly and serving. Anything done outside of those hours is typically not compensated.
More or less, conceptualizing and testing are not usually factored in.
The full breakdown can be provided below:
Concept: 09/06 - 9:01pm - 4:03am
Total: Seven hours and two minutes
Trials: 09/07 - 8:25pm - 2:30am
Total: Five hours and fifty five minutes
Materials: 09/07 - 3:00pm - 4:25pm*
Total: Four hours and twenty five minutes
Assembly: 09/07 - 3:00pm - 3:56pm*
Total: Three hours and fifty six minutes
Menu: 09/07 - 5:24pm - 7:04pm
Total: One hour and forty minutes
Grand Total: Nineteen hours and two minutes.
*Materials and Assembly were intermittently around the same frame of time.
[After that is sent, there are a few attachments of the receipts of what he (legally) got, the dates and times matching up with his summary.]
That is the full extent of the work. I do hope it is sufficient enough information. It was not my intention to be duplicitous with you.
1/2
the King gave him a very specific set of instructions, and Gilgamesh is not usually pleased when such things are ignored--especially when it's small things like this. one can have some measure of freedom if we were, say, dithering with destroying goddesses or trying to stop the heat death of the universe, but in matters of timekeeping, his word was absolute. ]
The fact that cruise liners pride themselves on working people for razorthin margin wages while squeezing as much blood as possible out of their targets has nothing to do with me. They do not deserve to live if they cannot afford to properly compensate their talent; a King who does not properly award his vassals deserves the sword when it inevitably comes to him.
[ a strong stance on capitalism given that he's winning at it, but like. maybe that makes his opinion better than most people's? maybe? ]
Anyone can pour a drink with a bit of instruction. The thing to be awarded and paid for here is all of the extra work you did; that's why I said you would be compensated at minimum for four hours of your time, since I expected it would take more than that. I did come to a series of conclusions, given the first timeframe you quoted me.
[ Gilgamesh is typing... ]
2/2
[ the newspaper is heavy when it falls upon the nose of the noble, but it must be done. men must learn when their striving for the stars does nothing but serve them as fuel to the cosmos.
sometimes Gilgamesh likes to watch men die in pursuits beyond their limits, but Zulius likes Lycaon. so does Sampo. ]
Secondly, the thought that came to mind was that you were an even greater talent at the art of mixology than previously represented, which means that the amount I offered to pay you and the amount you settled for is insulting. To both you, for your collective knowledge and practice, and to me, for not making a trade of equal worth to what I've received. I do not need charity. I do not want it. I am a man who owns my debts and settles them with interest.
[ unlike some fathers he knows, sorry you stung him right on the ongoing issue. ]
Thirdly, it makes me question how much I can believe the numbers you have newly presented me with. They feel sensible for the amount of work that I see, but as I do not know the true effort that goes into designing an event's menu (since that's what I'm retaining you to do), I wonder if I can truly trust the numbers you've given me now.
In my conclusion, I appreciate your willingness to own the duplicity, and I will pay you in accordance with my own intuition, since it is what I always trust when everything comes down to the end of the matter. Send me your payment details.
1/2
This. Was no different. The only difference is that it's the opposite of what he usually gets critiqued on. He wasn't ignorant to the sneers or glares he'd get from his coworkers for being paid too much for what was a cruise job. Or the way he went above and beyond and got the most tips. That was all normal. Gilgamesh, though, was like Zulius on a colossal scale.
In a way he couldn't have ever anticipated.
He doesn't dare start typing until Gilgamesh is finished. But he is collecting his thoughts on the matter.
He knew how to adapt. And to be honest, this was much easier to navigate than a few messages ago.]
2/2
Your words could pierce diamonds, Sir Gilgamesh.
I am not above criticism. In fact, one does not hone a craft without it.
[But now his reputation is being called into question, and the wolf will bare his own fangs, ready to devour the sky.]
I take pride in catering to the specific needs of every event. The drinks for this menu were prepared specifically for Mydeimos, as well as various deities of the Greek Pantheon I have recently found to be inspirational. I would not dare to use anything less than fresh, even for a taste test. I assure you that everything there is authentic and tailor-made for the situation. To say they are simply recreations...well, I suppose it is my turn to be insulted.
[Onto the next.]
I will take responsibility for the discrepancy of my talent in comparison to the wages I receive. My deepest apologies for not considering how it would look to undersell myself in such a way. It is not that I do not agree--I take great pride in my work and expect compensation as much as anyone. But the market is not nearly so prideful, and artisanal talent to them is merely profiting off a worker's ambition.
As it is, I am almost unaffordable to my spring contracts.
[Is he venting a little now? A bit.]
Nevertheless, I refuse to give anything less than my best, as a bartender should. If I do not, I am merely a drink dispenser.
[And finally.]
You may judge my numbers as you see fit. And I will accept any payment you deem reasonable.
[There's a soft ping, with his payment information.]
no subject
[ his words are diamonds in their own right, piercing and honed to fly true.
he won't flinch in the face of Lycaon snapping back--bare your fangs and howl all you wish, son of the moon; the King who found kingship in the God's clay wildman finds a certain comfort in such simple honesty. if an insult was made, then surely Lycaon has enough pride to know that Gilgamesh was right--but he's never been in the hobby or habit of apologizing. he doesn't lie to people because he speaks the truth as he knows it.
lies are for sparing people's hearts. Gilgamesh doesn't do that. not even with his
loverlegally acquired clown situationship. ]The market would never stoop to allowing a customer to pay less money simply because they craved what was out of their reach; neither should you be forced to accept less than you're worth because they're sniveling cowards that only seek to impress men who'll never see the point of the word beyond the number that it builds for them.
Be unaffordable to them. If your work is half as pleasing to the taste as it is the eye, then I'll pay to keep you on retainer alongside Zulius. I have so many events that happen under my umbrella and in my name that I could use a consultant in my network. I am bored of seeing the same charcuterie and martinis in every promotional spread.
[ the King brings all treasures to his Gate and holds them close for the sheer ability to say he has them. it still remains that they are the best and most worthy of their type--he is the man who desires everything in its best and its most mundane. ]
Good. Carry yourself with the heft of that pride, and not even my words will matter in the end. Stand tall, o Lycaon.
[ there's a returning ping, and a fresh $3000.00 in Lycaon's payment program of choice. ]
no subject
Gods are fickle. He just has to wait to see where this one falls.
What he gets in return is...Gilgamesh's praise. To say he was surprised is an understatement, and he's never been more glad this was behind text. Not even he could hide his expression changing as he reads every word of the King's message. While the drinks had yet to be tasted, Lycaon could tell from the text alone that his hiring was already in everything but writing.
It was a feeling that he hadn't felt since Zulius hired him.
Zulius had given him stability. But with Gilgamesh complimenting the zebra in hiring him, he could fully showcase his work.
And he wouldn't be trapped on a boat for weeks at a time. He suddenly had much more freedom when it came to his time. It was the opportunity of a lifetime right now.]
Thank you for your praise, Sir Gilgamesh. Your words are inspiring, and I will take them to heart from now on with every job you provide me from this moment on.
I will carry myself with the confidence and pride of a wolf.
[Because yes, those drinks will taste amazing. There's not a doubt in his mind he is hired. His chest widens a bit in pride at this, unable to hold back a little smile. And maybe a hint of boldness.]
Since I am in charge of refreshments, I will also bake a cake for the event, as well as small teacakes to go with each drink. Prices and time will be logged with updated rates based off of your payment for consistency.
[Ah. ....Ah? AH?
That's...that's 3000.00 for a menu. Lycaon has to squint for a moment to make sure he counted the 0's right. ]
I have received your payment. I look forward to working with you, Mr. Koski, and Miss Yasuho.
[That's about all he can get out before his brain re-calibrates. Lycaon was well-off, to be sure. He was not suffering monetarily. But this is what his work is worth.
Who couldn't have pride at that?
He will. Once the shock wears off.]
no subject
(even if they were well within their rights to beg the gods to send help when he got tyrannical about what he was due--sometimes you had to bare your teeth to get a heel off of your throat when you lacked the strength on your own.) ]
If you conduct yourself to your best ability, there's not a force in the world that can make you kneel. Pride is something you build, not something you need permission to hold.
If you are the best, then you are the best. Why demure otherwise to spare people who've not worked themselves to your level? Accolades are meant to be hard-won and earned.
[ it's perhaps a roundabout way to--reassure Lycaon? that he's done the right thing. If he's as good as he is, and everything he's done is uniquely made, then no one else's opinion matters in the face of the truth.
Not even Gilgamesh's. There's nothing to be studied about the man who demands both obedience and defiance, stop trying to work that shit out with a therapist. We'd need councils worth of people with clipboards to unpack all of that baggage.]
I'm changing your rate of pay to $100 an hour until I've picked the proper contract out of my consulting folder. This token amount was chosen because small numbers are annoying and I am too busy coordinating the rest of my brother's event to put my valuable hours into sourcing six cubic feet worth of bartending related objects to be dropped at the most inconvenient point of your residence.
If you attempt to deflect me or demure again, I will make time to be certain that my point is terribly clear and unequivocable. I do not suffer noble fools.
I already have the butcher in my contacts database.
[ is that a joke? A threat? Both? Lycaon has passed some sort of trial but who knows whether that's a good thing or not. ]
no subject
It is strange. Your advice has given me clarity, and yet it is something that I did not already know. I do pride myself on the quality of my work. Perhaps I am simply surprised that an employer other than Sir Zulius has seen that quality for what it is.
Then I will say this. I am the only one who can achieve these results. They are the sum of hours of careful crafting and extensive use of my abilities. I will let their taste speak for themselves, and I look forward to seeing your pleasant surprise at the first sip. Naturally yours will be one of a kind, where you are the only judge.
[A challenge to himself, now.
The...cube-shaped threat is ominous, indeed. Why is he getting vague memory flashbacks to his conversation with Varian? Strange time to be reminiscing... No matter.]
I will accept your rate of $100/hr until it comes time to review.
One final inquiry, if I may, Sir Gilgamesh. Do you and Mydeimos have a favoured cake flavour?