mighty-megatron:

Lowell’s sharp eyes never leave the young man, studying his demeanor rather than his words. Polite, clear, working through the difficulties. Very good. Of course, he didn’t let Xander know that just yet.

When the conversation ends, the German consultant gives his regards and hangs up the phone. “Now then. How available are you when it comes to odd hours, travelling, that sort of thing?“

"I can be fully prepared to travel with as little as two days’ notice, and I can keep any sort of hours you require of me, sir,” he answers. “My roommate can watch Bud… excuse me, my dog… if you’d prefer he not accompany me.“

Not bad.

"Then I have one last comment, Mr. Clark.” He leans in closer. Even if Xander couldn’t see the gesture, he would hear the serious tone in his voice.

“Should you join our company, you are not to record or repeat anything that you hear in any way, or any language, to anyone but myself and my personal assistant, Ms. Hargreaves. Les Loups has many rivals and I have dealt with far too many double-agents in my day to tolerate insider information becoming common knowledge.” Lowell’s smile remains present in his voice, even with the growling undertone it’s developed.

“Is that something you can agree to?”

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mighty-megatron:

“Very good. I have a client on speakerphone from Germany. He speaks English as well, but he will test your skill before we go any further.”

The man on the phone addresses Xander and asks him a few simple questions in German, mostly pertaining to numbers and locations. Slowly, he amps up the difficulty, using bits of slang in his speech to describe actions. Max stays quiet throughout, watching his potential recruit’s face.

Xander manages to interact with the man in almost-perfect German, his only flaws are a rare hesitation and two utterances of the phrase “Könnten Sie das bitte wiederholen?” He seems stuck on the slang for the briefest of moments, but figures it out through context.

Lowell’s sharp eyes never leave the young man, studying his demeanor rather than his words. Polite, clear, working through the difficulties. Very good. Of course, he didn’t let Xander know that just yet.

When the conversation ends, the German consultant gives his regards and hangs up the phone. “Now then. How available are you when it comes to odd hours, travelling, that sort of thing?”

typingblind:

mighty-megatron:

typingblind:

“Thank you.” He carefully sits down, the Rottweiler sitting obediently beside him before laying down out of sight.

He smirks at the dog for a moment before continuing. “I deal with clients from many different countries, quite a few from the countries that you mention being fluent in. Would you mind if I test that fluency, first of all?“

"Not at all, sir,” Xander responds.

“Very good. I have a client on speakerphone from Germany. He speaks English as well, but he will test your skill before we go any further.”

The man on the phone addresses Xander and asks him a few simple questions in German, mostly pertaining to numbers and locations. Slowly, he amps up the difficulty, using bits of slang in his speech to describe actions. Max stays quiet throughout, watching his potential recruit’s face.

typingblind:

mighty-megatron:

typingblind:

Xander turns, making his way down the hall. When he finally enters the office, he clears his throat a little bit.

“Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Lowell,” he says politely.

“No trouble at all. I’m not exaggerating when I say we’ve been having a time of it looking for a translator. Our last one had a bit of bad luck…” He sits behind his desk and taps the chair across from him with his foot. “Have a seat.“

"Thank you.” He carefully sat down, the Rottweiler sitting obediently beside him before laying down out of sight.

He smirks at the dog for a moment before continuing. “I deal with clients from many different countries, quite a few from the countries that you mention being fluent in. Would you mind if I test that fluency, first of all?”

typingblind:

mighty-megatron:

typingblind:

Xander finds his way into the elevator, thankfully running into an employee who very kindly hit the button for the floor for him. Eventually, he steps off, and listens for a sound that indicates a human being.

Cecilia tells him of the young man’s arrival. Punctual and eager, was he? Wonderful. Max waits at the door of his office, a straight shot visible to the elevators. Once the doors open to reveal who could only be Clark, he calls down the hall to him.

“Ah, Mr. Clark. Step into my office, just here, would you?”

Xander turns, making his way down the hall. When he finally enters the office, he clears his throat a little bit.

“Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Lowell,” he says politely.

“No trouble at all. I’m not exaggerating when I say we’ve been having a time of it looking for a translator. Our last one had a bit of bad luck…” He sits behind his desk and taps the chair across from him with his foot. “Have a seat."

typingblind:

mighty-megatron:

typingblind:

“That would be me. And no, thank you, I can find it. What floor am I headed to?” Xander asks politely.

“The top floor, sir…” He watches after the blind man, making sure that he did indeed find the elevator. Then of course he remembers to intercom Mr. Lowell, which of course meant his secretary.

“Ms. Hargreaves? Mr. Clark is here for his interview, he’s on his way up.”

Xander finds his way into the elevator, thankfully running into an employee who very kindly hit the button for the floor for him. Eventually, he steps off, and listens for a sound that indicates a human being.

Cecilia tells him of the young man’s arrival. Punctual and eager, was he? Wonderful. Max waits at the door of his office, a straight shot visible to the elevators. Once the doors open to reveal who could only be Clark, he calls down the hall to him.

“Ah, Mr. Clark. Step into my office, just here, would you?”

typingblind:

mighty-megatron:

typingblind:

It was 4:58 when Xander ambled into the lobby of the building, Bud padding silently close to his side. He’d almost left the dog home, but if he was going to work here, he might as well be able to find his way around.

He knew there had to be a front desk someplace… this was the point where he followed the Rottweiler’s lead.

The receptionist at the front desk raised his eyebrows at the dog before realizing that it’s the man who Ms. Hargreaves told him to be on the lookout for. “Oh, uh, Xander Clark, right? I’ll let Mr. Lowell know you’re here… do you need help finding the elevator?“

"That would be me. And no, thank you, I can find it. What floor am I headed to?” Xander asks politely.

“The top floor, sir…” He watches after the blind man, making sure that he did indeed find the elevator. Then of course he remembers to intercom Mr. Lowell, which of course meant his secretary.

“Ms. Hargreaves? Mr. Clark is here for his interview, he’s on his way up.”

typingblind:

mighty-megatron:

Dear Mr. Clark,

Your presence is requested at your earliest convenience, at any time between 5 and 7 pm at Les Loups headquarters for a personal interview. We are interested in your skills and would like to see if you are a fit for our company. Animals are not normally allowed on the premises, but in a case such as yours, exceptions will be made.

From the desk of

Max Loxell, CEO of Les Loup Arms Manufacturing.

It was 4:58 when Xander ambled into the lobby of the building, Bud padding silently close to his side. He’d almost left the dog home, but if he was going to work here, he might as well be able to find his way around.

He knew there had to be a front desk someplace… this was the point where he followed the Rottweiler’s lead.

The receptionist at the front desk raised his eyebrows at the dog before realizing that it’s the man who Ms. Hargreaves told him to be on the lookout for. “Oh, uh, Xander Clark, right? I’ll let Mr. Lowell know you’re here… do you need help finding the elevator?”

typingblind:

Xander opens his laptop, navigating to his email page and hitting text-to-speech function. Maybe the company got back to him. If not… oh well, he hadn’t been holding his breath.

Dear Mr. Clark,

Your presence is requested at your earliest convenience, at any time between 5 and 7 pm at Les Loups headquarters for a personal interview. We are interested in your skills and would like to see if you are a fit for our company. Animals are not normally allowed on the premises, but in a case such as yours, exceptions will be made.

From the desk of

Max Loxell, CEO of Les Loups Arms Manufacturing.

RE: Translator Application

starscreamthefirst:

To whom it may concern,

My name is Xander Clark. I recently read an advertisement stating that your company, Les Loups, was in need of a translator, and I would like to express my interest in this position.

I am fluent in both French and German, with a B.A. in French. I tutored in both French and German throughout college and high school. Regrettably, I do not have any references to pass along to you, as I have been unemployed since graduating from college. This is not due to anything except for a genetic disorder.

I feel that it is only right to inform you, although I am certain this will ruin my chances of even being considered for the position, that the aforementioned genetic disorder has caused almost total blindness. I assure you, this will not in any way affect my ability to perform my tasks completely, efficiently, and in a timely manner. I can navigate with a cane, though I usually do so with the aid of a service dog.

In closing, I would like to thank you for taking time out of your undoubtedly busy schedule to read this email, and to thank you for any consideration you’ve given me.

Yours,
Xander Clark

With the large Anniston purchase finally shipped out, Aster had only a few things left to do before he was free to go home for the night. Between some more computer work, he checked his email and found this.

Ah. Someone was answering their ad, but…Hmm. This could be a problem. Their skills looked promising though. Perhaps he would run this by Mr. Lowell to see if they should hire him or not.

Mr. Lowell drums his fingers against the desk as he reads over the unorthodox application. … Hm. He had clients that preferred not to be identified by additional members of the company. This could work to his advantage. He tells Cecilia to contact him for an interview.