Looking for a job in the new town

Starr hadn't been in Storybrooke long, she was sleeping in the Inn so she didn't have to sleep outside. Most of her money had gone to floral smelling soap so she could clean up and her room here in the Inn. However Starr was very happy her dress wasn't muddy or ruined, she'd like a new one though. She had flower in her hair once more and was down in the Inn paying for the next night and hoping to catch the Inn Keeper, she would make the perfect barmaid. She slept in the Inn and her work was downstairs. It would be the perfect job for her so sh was sitting at the counter enjoying her cup of tea.

Sojo went every other day to the inn to check on things. He wanted to help River keep her inn going. She still needed to stay with him at his house. The innkeeper had been through hell and back due to some pirates just a month or so ago. She was still recovering. So in the interrum he decided to do her job for her. So she could recover easily. He walked into the inn and behind the bar. Peering at the woman on the other side nervously. Keeping her in his sights as he counted the glasses, counted the money in the register, checked on the food, and a few other things. He looked at Starr and smiled a bit. He was uneasy around women until he learned if they were safe or not. Luckily River had shown him that not all women were evil. That most weren't. He finally spoke. "Can....can I help you miss?" He asked. She wasn't that much older than him and miss was how he addressed women he didn't know.

She was humming a tune as she sipped her tea, it was only her to be in the inn it seemed so she hoped they where hiring. She took another sip just as a voice hit her hears. She jumped and coughed her light blue eyes looked up as she set the cup down on the saucer. "Oh you scared me. "I'm Starr with two Rs and I was hoping to mass the inn keeper, I'd like to be a barmaid here at the Inn. I need a job before I run out of money." She told him with a light smile and a laugh that sounded like soft bells. Her tone was sweet and pure as honey and her features where to die for, all in all Starr was a very attractive women. She looked at the male, "Are you the Innkeeper?" She asked, he seemed to be right around her age, not that it was anything to worry about. She then picked up her cup again and took a sip of her tea.

Sojo jumped when she jumped. Instinct had him worried she was going to launch herself over the counter. Then when she coughed and settled back in the seat he relaxed. He wasn't trying to assume bad things. Up until he met River females had sent him bolting under things or behind things. River helped him realize not all women were scary. He looked at her and blinked. He scared her? He felt bad for scaring her. "I'm sorry miss. I didn't mean to." He said softly. He listened as she continued speaking. She was pretty but his best friend was just as pretty if not more. At least to him River was prettier but that was because he unknowingly liked her as more than a friend.

He nodded his head. River had said he could hire people but to give women a chance. Well after what happened to River he refused to hire a male to work in River's inn. He wanted her to feel safe again. She would be more comfortable with a female. He knew a place she could stay for free. "Hey...there is a big white manor in the golden meadows. Marquis Hero will let you stay there for free. It'll help you save money. Tell him Sojo sent you." He said. He wanted to help other people out.

He shook his head. "No. The Innkeeper is River. SHe is my best friend. I have her permission to hire people to work at the inn." He explained. He held out a shaking hand. "I'm Sojo. I'm the sorcerer for the king and queen. River is recovering at my house...so I'm helping her out here. It is nice to meet you Starr." He said. He was sounding less and less afraid. "I'm really sorry I scared you." He looked around. "I need more information about you. Consider this your interview process." He said with a warm smile.

"Tell me what your skills are? What you like to do? Why you think being a barmaid is the job for you? Are you patient even with unruly people? Then you can show me how you would serve customers and help them. I can teach you what you need to know to be barmaid here. I just need to see if you are the right woman for the job. You seem nice and that is a good thing to be when you are a barmaid." He thought for a moment. "I already think I'll hire you but first I need you to answer the questions." he said with a warm smile. Clearly this was the first time he had done this. So he hoped she would be understanding that he was just thinking of what was best for everyone involved. Including the inn itself.

Sojo looked at her. "Nice to meet you too." blinking for a moment. Hotel like thing? He shook his head. "No. Hero just lets you stay there if you have need of a place to stay. He is notorious for adopting friends and strangers into his family. He takes people in. Doesn't matter if he knows you more than a little bit or not. He is a really cool and nice guy. He is also the trader who travels the world. He is an angel with four wings." He explained. "He'll become your friend just because you talked to him. He doesn't judge anyone. I've never once seen the man even show a bit of irritation." He said.

Then he fell silent as she began speaking again. Nodding his head every now and then to show he was listening. He listened as she answered all of his questions. She was more than fit for the job based on all that he was hearing her say. He listened to her and smiled. "You can be my friend if you'd like." He said. He liked making new friends once he realized they weren't gonna attack him for being male. That was really only with females. Old habits of fear died hard but he quickly relaxed when they weren't evil towards him. He nodded his head when she said it was okay. Smiling at her. "Alright."

He tapped a finger to his lips. "You are hired Starr. You have answered all the questions better than I thought you would." He picked up the menu. "You need to know what is commonly served here. It even lists in detail all the drinks you can serve." He pulled out a list of how to make drinks. "This is for you. It'll tell you how to make drinks that customers can ask for." he looked thoughtful. "Do you have any questions?" He asked.

Sojo looked at her. "You won't have to ask. He'll offer. You won't have to be alone if you stay there. Miss Zoruna is there. Along with her adopted daughter Jenna and some other people." He said. He tensed when she said meet River. Shaking his head. "Not any time soon. She isn't well enough yet. She is starting to get there but she needs more time. She went through a lot." He said softly. He smiled at her. "We'll be good friends." He promised. "You are welcome." He watched her and looked at her.

His face stormed over at her question. "She was attacked here and kidnapped by some pirates. The captain of the pirates abused her, physically and mentally. He raped her over and over again." He said softly. "I dealt with those pirates. I made sure they would never hurt anyone again. The captain got away but I've been protecting River. The wisps told me he met a well deserved fate. Which means River won't ever have to worry about him again." He said softly. His tone protective and filled with anger towards the pirates.

Kris ran all the way from where Jayden was being taken care of. She had seen a few men come in and Jayden wasn't there to protect her. He was still getting better from Priestess Leena's healing. She ran through the raining downpour and into the inn. The door slamming shut a bit behind her. She stood shivering in the doorway. Her two piece dress plastered to her. Along with her hair that was stuck to her head. She walked over to the counter and stood away from them. Whimpering as she shivered. "C-c-c-c-can I g-g-g-get hot so-so-something?" She chattered out. Looking at them. Smiling a bit at Starr. "Hi." She said shyly.

Sojo wasn't really angry. He looked at her and nodded his head. Relaxing and smiling. "I'll protect her. I'll keep her safe. I won't let anyone hurt her like that ever again." He said. He backed up when she went around the counter. He was afraid he upset her. The only time he had upset women it equaled pain for him. "I'm sorry." He said. His voice trembling a bit with fear. Yeah...he was still healing from his own emotional scars. He shook his head a bit. "I'm not a violent person. My anger doesn't last. I was only upset that River suffered such evils. I know what its like to be used for things like sex. I grew up having that happen to me." He said softly.

He looked at her. "Yeah. She is my best friend. She taught me not all women were scary. Not all women were monsters. She didn't judge me or hate me or anything when I was so afraid of women I bolted under objects when one was around. Or behind something. I was so afraid and skittish because of what I had been through. She was patient and showed me that I could be safe around a woman. That....that I could trust again." He heard the door open and smiled. "Anyways...you have work to do." He said. Pointing to the young woman by the door. he walked around the counter and sat down.

Kris hesitated since Sojo was by the counter. She was clearly mentally weighing the pros and cons of doing so. The cons won out but just barely when she saw her getting some soup. She slowly made her way towards the counter. Making a wide berth (space) between her and the young man. Sure he seemed to be her age but she was still so skittish and right now she didn't have her Jayden to protect her. So she was very worried about other people. About if they were safe or not. She saw the food and the tea and sat down. Shaking a bit and it wasn't all from being soaked to the bone. She hesitantly reached forward and picked up the tea. Trembling but the hot cup felt so good to her freezing skin.

She looked at Starr as she spoke again. "Th-th-thanks." She chattered out. "I'm...K-k-k-kris." She said nervously. "Nice to m-meet you." She was chattering less as she drank a sip of her hot green tea. She put it down and spooned up some soup. She only had a bit of money to pay with right now. She put the coins on the counter for the food and tea. Shivering a bit less with each spoonful of soup that she ate. "Thank you." She said again. Looking warily at Sojo before going back to the woman in front of her. She would probably react badly by running if they suddenly started yelling. It would bring back horrible memories that Jayden was helping her get over.

Hero was in the neighborhood. He was hoping to make some sales. He still had a great many things he hadn't take out and about with him. He landed outside the inn and opened the front door. Walking inside as he looked around. It sure smelled good in here. He walked inside and spotted Sojo. "Good evening Sojo. Good evening ladies." He said with a smile. He looked at the two women. "I'm Hero. I'm a traveling trader. Perhaps I could interest you ladies into seeing my wares?" He asked in a quizzical way.

Sojo watched as the young woman slowly and hesitantly made her way towards them. It was curious to him that she made a wide berth around him to the counter. He guessed she was afraid of him. He looked at Starr. "I need to get back to River. You have things handled here. I'll talk to you later. Enjoy your evening." He said. Standing up and headed towards the front door. He needed to get home to River. He didn't want her worrying.

Starr nodded to Kris, "Nice to meet you." She said before looking at Hero and listened. "I'm Starr with two Rs and I just got here I have got no money to spend yet." She said looking from him to Sojo, "Okay bye. Take care." She said before leaning on the back counter. She looked back at Hero, "Would you like something to eat or drink?" She asked. Everything she was saying was in a normal even tone coated with sweetness so Kris wouldn't be scared, Starr never got an uneven tone.

Kris bit her lower lip and slowly nodded her head. "Yes. Nice to meet you." She said softly. Taking another bite of her food. Jumping as the angel man entered. Shaking her head no. She didn't want to look at his stuff. Not right now. She wasn't with someone she trusted. Not that either of these people couldn't be trusted. She just didn't know if they could or not yet. So she wasn't going to risk it. Not yet anyways. She looked at Starr and continued eating her food. Just watching the woman. She relaxed a bit as her tone never left calm and even. This was a good sign for her that the other woman wasn't going to suddenly try to hurt her. She didn't mean to be so skittish and nervous...it just was how she was due to her history.