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MAIN STREET - OUTSIDE THE CLINIC - AFTERNOON
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Doc Plume sits on a chair on the porch outside the clinic, enjoying the light breeze as they lazily read through a book on reptile anatomy. Their shirtsleeves are rolled up and a couple of buttons of their shirt are undone, indicating some sort of strenuous work being done not too long ago. Their big fluffy tail sways lazily behind them as they read.
Annika has had a long day, and a rather unsuccessful one. She was walking back home, kicking a small bit of detritus in front of her as she did so. She was a little bit down, but slowly getting her good mood back. She just needs a little bit longer without having anyone talk to her and she'll be right as rain.
Doc Plume looks up as they see an unfamiliar face walking down the street. Doc is about to say something when they think back to their conversation with May the other day and how that backfired. After weighing the options, they still decide to say something, as the fox girl looks a little down. Doc marks their place in the book before setting it on their lap and calling out a friendly, "Afternoon."
Annika looks up, and puts on a smile "Oh! Hello there" She gives him a small curtsey in greeting "I hope you are doing well..Doctor?" She hazards, from looking at where they are "I was just passing through, don't mind me at all"
Doc Plume shakes their avian and smiles. "Of course, just being friendly. Haven't met another fox in town since I got here, so it's nice to see a familiar tail." Their own arctic fox tail swishes behind them. "And yes, I'm Doc Plume, and you?"
Annika: She flicks her tail in response "Ah. Yes. This isn't really a fox town. My name is Annika. I've only really gotten to here this week. Still trying to find my bearings, and somewhere to work" She puts that smile on a bit more "No success yet, but I've got a few hopeful leads"
Doc Plume sets their book down and gets up to approach Annika. "Nice to meet you." They offer a taloned hand. "What sort of work are you looking for?"
Annika takes the hand in a shake of her own "Oh, nothing too fancy. Just cleaning up, and cooking, and other stuff like that. Housework" She keeps her smile up all the time "I don't really have any big fancy skills"
Doc Plume nods a bit and thinks. "Ah... well, I'm not in need of a full time maid, but I don't know when the last time my apartment had a good cleaning was. I have a feeling that the carpets and upholstery and drapes are just waiting to explode into a cloud of dust if I look at them the wrong way. The furnishings are fine, just well used..." They smile at the little fox. "Would you be interested in a one time job like that?"
Annika: "Uh.." She thinks "I suppose. I don't really have any full time job, and ah, I will run out of the money I have pretty quickly" She nods to him, and gives them a curtsy again "I'll accept! But..uh..do I need to wear the uniform and stuff like that?"
Doc Plume shakes their head and smiles. "You don't have to. Whatever makes you comfortable, though." They raises a hand and stroke their chin and the base of their beak. "Can you come tomorrow morning? I could get you set up before I come downstairs to open the practice."
Annika: "Okay. I..I can do that, yeah" She nods again "Thank you for the work. I'll be down there at ah..dawn? Would that be early enough?"
Doc Plume shakes their head. "Not that early, unless you want to join me for breakfast." They give a cawing laugh. "7:30 will be fine. I open the clinic at 8."
Annika: "Okay. I can do that too. I can do the cleaning up while you're working. I can't imagine it would take more than a morning,unless the apartment is super, super big"
Doc Plume shakes their head. "Nah, it's not even as big as the clinic. There's a storage room up there too. And some machinery for the autopump." They smile at Annika again. "Would you like to come in for some tea?"
Annika: "Uh..I mean..um.." She looks around, biting her lip a little "It..it would be rude not to, so..yes I suppose I can come in"
Doc Plume unlocks the door to the clinic and leads Annika inside for tea and more small talk to while away the slow afternoon.