Stickler, April, and Viola in "Your Fate is Sealed"
Stickler: *lost in thought, Stickler wanders into a somewhat unfamiliar part of town. His mother seemed receptive to the idea of going to Vegas, though he hadn't quite told her exactly why he was interested. However, she'd given him a brush off for the moment in the form of 'we don't have enough money for a trip like that.'*
Stickler: *since then he's been wracking his brain trying to figure out where to come up with the money... Marie... his girlfriend will only be in town for a few weeks, and the trip-planning window keeps getting smaller while his heart, filled with love for her, keeps getting bigger and more forlorn. It's with this particular thought in mind that he comes to a stop in front of a building whose sign reads "Tender Lender"*
Stickler: *he reads the sign and then closes the book he'd been reading while walking - A travelogue of Vegas, naturally - and his eyes widen* Of course, why didn't I think of it before!? *he dashes in immediately*
April: *April has been working at Tender Lender for a few weeks now. Mostly the work has just been secretarial duties, but there have been other tasks as well, such as collecting dues from clients in... rather seedy places. Viola has given her a desk of her own, which is located next to the door. It's far smaller and less glamorous than the one located in the center of the room. Sitting at her desk, she looks absurdly out-of-place in her usual attire against the black decor.
April: *April is filing through some papers when the door flies open suddenly, revealing a rather awkward looking boy, to say the least. For a moment, April just stares and blinks. He looks even more out-of-place here than she does. Then her eyes narrow and when she speaks, her tone is almost indignant*
April: Excuse me, but, like, do you have an appointment?
Stickler: *looks a trifle dumbfounded. In fact, his mouth is hanging open just a bit. It takes him a few seconds to reply* N-no. Er. Do I need one or something?
April: *relaxes just slightly* Well... no. But our usual type of customers make them. *looks her up and down pointedly* Are you interested in taking out a loan?
Stickler: Uh... Yeah, I guess so. I kinda wanted to visit Las Vegas to meet up with my girlfriend *this is said with an unnatural emphasis*
April: *nearly snorts when he says this, then dryly* How nice for you. *she then switches into secretary mode, reaches for some paperwork located in her desk drawer, and holds it out to him, along with a clipboard and a pencil* Here's a general application. You'll need to fill it out with things like your name and date of birth. It's all on the form.
Stickler: *takes the forms and starts filling them out quickly where he stands. His expression is completely neutral and methodical as he does so*
Viola: *appears behind Stickler... from seemingly out of nowhere. There's probably a hidden door or compartment or something in the office, but whatever it is, Viola and her quiet footsteps go undetected till she speaks, quite up close to the boy's shoulder*
Viola: ...Good afternoon...
Stickler: *jumps, dropping pen, forms, and his travelogue on the floor, raising his leg as if to fend off some sort of attack* AHH!!! *his expression is almost artful in its panic*
April: *April hardly reacts. She's pretty much become immune to her boss's ghost-like comings and goings. She glances up at Stickler's expression, smirks and then turns her eyes to Viola* Oh, there you are. We seem to have a young man interested in taking out a loan.
Viola: *giggles quietly into her hand, seeming quite entertained by Stickler's reaction. She also seems particularly entertained by... well, how the high school student looks, judging by her slightly intrusive staring* Hee... Hee... Hee...
Viola: I see... *gestures towards the large desk at the back of the room before she herself moves towards it* Please, come in. ...Coffee...? Tea...? Cookie...?
Stickler: Er uh no thanks I guess. I uh... I'm not hungry. *he actually is a bit hungry, but something tells him to politely refuse everything she offers him. He picks up all of the things he's dropped with a birdlike bobbing, and scuttles forward with it in his arms*
Viola: ...I insist. *seats herself, nodding over to April--she'll be wanting a cup of coffee for herself as well, for this transaction-- before glancing back to the particular-looking boy*
Viola: So... you would like to make a trip but currently lack the funds... *flips open a large, leatherbound ledger book* Do you know how much you would... like to borrow...?
Stickler: Uhm... *he tries to compose himself despite the fact that this girl is really, really creepy. His fingers tap against the papers and books he holds* I think... one-thousand two-hundred and sixty-two dollars should be about right...
April: *during this, April has gotten up and headed over to a small table where the refreshments sit. She pours two cups of coffee - she's learned how to prepare it "properly" by now - and brings them over to the desk* Here you go. *puts one in front of Viola and slides the other one towards the boy with a grin* Drink up!
Viola: One thousand, two hundred and sixty two dollars... *takes her coffee and sips it; it's just to her liking, and she gives her secretary a small smile* That's... quite specific. You're not worried about unforeseen expenses along the way...?
Stickler: *takes the coffee and investigates it, sipping it after he sees her sip. It tastes normal enough... Though he makes a bit of a face, since he doesn't much like coffee* I figured unforeseen expenses into my calculations.
Viola: Hee... Hee... You're a very careful person, then...? *reaches into a drawer by her desk, taking out a rather hefty stapled stack of papers. She fills in several blank spots, and circles several others, before turning the paper around and offering it to Stickler with both of her hands*
Viola: If you're sure... I think that the basic loan plan should suit you... very nicely... *it's clear he's meant to sign where she'd circled, and at the very bottom; the page is filled with numbers and legalese in very tiny text*
Stickler: *squints and reads* This is the basic loan plan, huh? *he seems to be a bit leery of signing for the moment*
Viola: Yes... very basic. *takes another sip of her coffee* It's all written out in the package.... Do you have any questions, or do you understand the terms...?
Stickler: I'm pretty sure I do but is this really the way that most loans go? It seems like it'll be a lot when I finally pay it back... or my mom does.
April: *leaning in* Y'know, it's really not that much compared to other lending companies. In fact, that's pretty reasonable. We don't rip you off here at Tender Lender. *smiles wide, holding out a platter of baked goods* Are you sure you don't want a cookie?
Stickler: *distracted profoundly by her 'assets,' Stickler takes a cookie* Huh. I guess maybe it's not that bad as long as we pay it off right away.
Viola: Yes... those with proper money management should have... no problems paying off our very competitive forty-five percent interest rate package. ...I'm sure you and your mother will be more than able... *offers him a pen*
Stickler: *takes a bite of the cookie as he continues to read the loan application, and reaches out for the pen as he finishes. He recoils as the taste of the cookie spreads over his tongue. It's a bit too crunchy for a normal cookie, and it tastes like there's... protein of some kind in it* Hgk...
Viola: Hee... Hee... Hee... Do you like it...?
Stickler: *with effort, swallows* Uhhhhh...
Viola: It's safe for consumption... ...usually... But be sure to spit out the bones. *offers forward a napkin*
Viola: We wouldn't want you to choke and die... before you've paid back your loan...
Stickler: *with a look of dismay at the two of them, he does indeed spit a bone into the napkin, and he wraps the rest of the cookie in it as well* Uh oh thanks... I... I guess. *suddenly he's starting to feel a bit nervous about the whole matter*
Viola: Well....? *she's smiling rather toothily*
Stickler: Uhhh. *though every mite of his sadly lacking common sense is screaming at him to leave the place and never come back, he thinks of his (undoubtedly) beautiful Marie's perfect braids and glasses and reaches out for the pen again*
Viola: Hee... Hee... I see that you... really like this girl... *straightens her coffee cup and clasps her hands on the desk*
Stickler: She's the H2 to my O. *he murmurs, a bit of a blush appearing on his cheeks as he presses pen to paper*
April: *during this exchange April has turned to the safe in the wall, spun the dial and retrieved exactly $1262 in small bills from within. She returns to Viola's side, saying nothing, but runs her thumb along the edge of the bills, flipping through them over and over again*
Stickler: *with a glance at the wad of cash, he signs the contract*
Viola: *her expression brightens... if a countenance like hers can ever be described as brightening*
Viola: Now... hold out your right hand...
Stickler: *frowns* What, why?
Viola: To... finish signing the contract. *reaches inside her pocket, fetching out a pen-like device that she uncaps. There's... a rather long needle hidden inside. She holds out her hand for his*
Stickler: *a melodramatically dismayed face* H-ho- Hey no way!! What are you gonna do with that!?
Viola: *innocently(?)* Prick your finger... of course. *glances to April, looking all too amused*
Stickler: W-well wait a second how does that have anything to do with this? What kind of crazy stuff do you believe in? *sends a nervous look to the huge crucifix in the corner of the room*
Viola: *the cross is hanging right side up, by the way-- but her tone is no less ominous* Believe...? This has nothing to do with belief... It's a blood contract.
Stickler: *twitches nervously* Uh... Ummm... Do I have to?
Viola: *brightly(?) again* Yes.
Viola: ..If you want the money...
Stickler: *a visible struggle, but he presses on* Er. Well, could you at least sanitize it?
Viola: Oh... all right...
Viola: *pulls out a small box of matches, taking out one and striking it against the side. It bursts into flame, and she holds the needle-tip of the pen to the tiny fire. After a minute, she removes it and wipes it cleanly off on a napkin* Your hand...
Stickler: *he's a little (more) unnerved by how quickly she dealt with the match and fire... But he still offers his hand, wincing away even before she touches him*
Viola: *swiftly takes his hand and jabs the needle point to the tip of his index finger--the metal is still warm to the touch, but it comes into contact with him for only the briefest of seconds. She rubs the finger, working a large drop of blood down to the end before bringing his hand down to the appropriate place on the paper* Press here...
Stickler: *presses his hand down, biting his lip* Ugh. This is so gross and weird.
Viola: *giggles, pulling the papers away after he lifts his finger from them* All done... *to April* You can give him his money now.
April: Here you go. *she hands him his money across the desk* Nice doing business with you. *smiles cheerfully*
Stickler: *takes the money and, eyeing the two women, counts it meticulously. When he finishes, he gives them an uneasy look and rises on stilt-like legs* Yeah... thanks.
Viola: *giggles quietly into her hand, before reaching for her coffee again* See you again... ...soon...
Stickler: *walks backward towards the door and doesn't turn away from the two of them until he's nearly at it* Uh... okay... bye.
Viola: *waits until he's left, before glancing up to April* Well... that was fun, wasn't it...?
April: *giggles* Yeah, totally. The look on his face when you told him it was a "blood contract" was classic. *giggles again* Maybe we should, like, do that with more of our customers.
Viola: Hmm... ...I'd like that. *places the matches, the pen and the rest of the papers away, and prepares for their next potential victim borrower*