text; un: fireprince

[rediscovering]

1. what do you know about job interviews?
i didnt know you have to interview to get jobs. even if it's just at a restaurant!! regardless of whether the job itself involves talking to people at all!!? stupid

[ Guess who's been bombing interviews as a part-time busboy all over town. And who's only bothering to ask about proper employment beyond random quests, um, now, after several months of just getting by...? He must be getting tired of stealing hotchips from the cornerstore. ]

2. what do you know about going to school as a full-time student here?
i heard you can make a living like this
insight about going to school in other worlds could be useful too. i was homeschooled....

[ But at least he's thinking in terms of solutions. ]

Comments

Text; UN:Inquisitor

[lendedahand]

Can’t say I know much about interviews for a job per se, but I’ve had some knowledge forced upon me in how to sound more professional than I actually am in a political setting. Perhaps the skill may be useful to you.

Regarding learning properly, honestly I grew up on a wagon in the ass-end of nowhere. My education from my childhood can be summed up with “Don’t put that in your mouth” and “How not to set anyone’s eyebrows on fire when you sneeze”. I’m probably not the best to ask about that one.

[rediscovering]

go on.
what do you mean political setting?

[lendedahand]

It’s a long convoluted story, but the short end of it is I got a choice between the gallows and leading a revived faction of the human religion on some crusade to plug up a rather unfortunate hole in the sky.

Naturally, everyone was busy trying to kill each other rather than deal with the bigger problem, so I had to get very good at sweet talking everyone from soldiers to royalty very quickly. There’s a whole etiquette to it, it’s terrible. Useful, but terrible.

[rediscovering]

a hole in the sky?? how do you plug up the sky???

i grew up with etiquette training but it's not really relevant to busing tables.... but i want to learn more about what you´re describing because that´s more useful for my long-term career back home than any job in some restaurant...

[lendedahand]

To answer your first question- Ancient Elvhen magic and a lot of nerve.

What I'm speaking of is more than just proper manners and that nonsense, and may be useful in landing you a job. You have to be convincing, speak confidently, make yourself seem far more important than you are, more knowledgeable, more likeable. Anything to get your foot in the door.

[rediscovering]

but if i act like that won't they think i'm just cocky and condescending
i'm applying for a job as a busboy. it's not like it's difficult. or important.
i'm capable of a lot more...

[lendedahand]

Part of the skill is knowing how to talk to them, you wouldn’t use high brow political jargon for a soldier, likewise you wouldn’t be as of the cuff with mobility as you would a soldier, but in both cases you have to make yourself someone capable they feel they can rely on for whatever it is they need.

[rediscovering]

that makes sense
change your disposition depending on who you're talking to
i can do that

so that they feel like you both see eye-to-eye even if you're in a position of power....

[ ...Or a busboy. The topic at hand, your highness. ]

[lendedahand]

Exactly. Think of the qualities they want you to show, and show them. If I’m talking to a soldier, a regular citizen, or a fellow elf, I tend to joke a bit at my own expense, to relate. To make them feel as though I understand them.

However, in your situation, you will likely have to do the opposite. They don’t want to know how normal you are, they want to see how you hold yourself. Be professional, but not arrogant. Listen to instruction, ask intelligent questions, even if you know the answer.

Gauge their answers as well, they may reveal something about themselves you might find unfavorable.

[rediscovering]

"think of the qualities they want you to show, and show them.."

thats excellent advice. thank you.
that works in many contexts

[ He's not thinking about his budding restaurant career anymore, clearly. Mind blown, though. ]

[lendedahand]

I'm just passing down the advice my ambassador gave to me. My own personal advice is far less useful unless you're looking to learn what plants are bad to put in your mouth. or how to avoid mucking up your magic and turning your teeth purple, but only in my homeworld.

It's admittedly niche topics.

[rediscovering]

i see.
well then do you know about native plants here that are good for tea??
or plants that are bad for dragons to put in their mouth??
i dont have a personal interest in plants to be honest but my uncle loves tea and my familiar is.....

[ Stupid. But he can't call a dragon stupid, that's even stupider. ]

....extra curious. and loves to eat.

[ Even if it's not food. He absolutely once saw his dragon chew on a rock before spitting it out dramatically. It was tough to watch for Zuko on many levels. ]

[lendedahand]

I can't say which would be best for tea, but if you want to know what isn't poisonous, you take it and rub it on your skin. If it doesn't cause any irritation after a few hours, rub some on your lips, if you don't get ill, try eating a little. If that doesn't make you ill, congratulations, it's edible!

As for dragons, at least the ones in my world, there's little they cannot eat and walk away from fine, blight included. That said, when my clan's halla had eaten something and fallen ill my father would give them olive oil and lemon juice to get them to vomit. Has the added bonus effect of them avoiding anything that smelled remotely like olive oil or lemon!

[rediscovering]

olive oil and lemon juice
thanks
that's really useful
zun eats all kinds of things i dont want him to........ it'll come in useful im sure...

as for rubbing potentially poisonous plants all over my skin and lips, no thanks
uncle is a grown man
he can do that himself if he's curious

[ omg rude nephew ]

[lendedahand]

[Alright, there’s a good few minutes before he manages a response because that last bit got him laughing.]

It was more a survival strategy, I’m sure there are local books if he’s looking for specific ingredients for tea. Or he can go testing plants for poison if he’s feeling adventurous.

[rediscovering]

oh thats a good idea too though
youre right
i bet there are books about local plants he could use for tea
plants we dont have in our world
i dont care about this stuff myself so i didnt think of it before

[ The subtext being, there, that he cares about it enough for Iroh, though, to actually care about it. Having a motivation is different. ]

[lendedahand]

[Alright this had to be some kid with an outlook like that, and this was priceless.]

Well, you thought to ask and it’s the thought that counts, right?

And later you can impress your uncle with your newfound knowledge of making your dragon vomit, and avoiding an untimely death by plant.

[rediscovering]

haha.
uncle will be speechless im sure
he'll love zun's new trick

[lendedahand]

Do tell me how that goes. Don’t spare a detail. That will be a story worth keeping.