Zarina Rose

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“It is one of your best skills I must commend you Miss Rose” James replied smirking back after all he knew that if anyone could see he held a soft spot for her, hiring someone when they didn’t need it told his employee’s that their captain had a heart. “Stating that while I’m clearly the owner and amazing bartender they stay for your quick wit and acting skills?” He chuckled, unable to stop himself from teasing her, it was a habit they’d started and he had no urge to ever end it. Inviting her to dinner had been something he’d wanted to do for a while yet there was always something to stop him on his part, after all, he knew compared to many that he was hardly a catch as they called it but he still cared for her. “Where is the punishment for confirming if it’s edible or not? Would you deny me this fun? Though I shall ask, are you allergic to anything? I’d hate for your punishment to end in a hospital visit.”

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     She took a step back, pinching the sides of her skirt as she gave a small curtsy, a bright smile stretching her red lips. “Why, thank you” Zarina nodded. If there was one thing that Zarina disliked the most, it was when others doubted her or told her that she shouldn’t do something. It only fuelled and drove her to want to do it that much more. “What’s wrong with my acting skills?” she asked, eyes wide as she feigned offence for a moment before she couldn’t hold back her smile anymore. “I suppose you have me there” she agreed. Why was she so nervous right now? “I am not”

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     “Oh, it’s no worry if you do want to unload your troubles..” Zarina shrugged weakly, picking up a glass to dry it with the cloth in her hand. “I’m pretty much used to it at this point. I think sometimes people find it easier to tell everything that’s bothering them or weighing them down to a stranger” Or at least, that was her experience. “But no pressure, of course. Just wanted you to know that it;s cool”

@thcpiratefairy​

“Lower your weapons. For goodness sake, put them down.“

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     “Didn’t anybody ever teach you not to sneak up on a lady?” Zarina let out a deep exhale after studying the man for a moment, deciding that he posed little to no threat to her. “What are you doing here, anyways?” The last thing she had been expecting to find when she came in to open the Sea Shanty was another person. Not even James came in this early, hence her vigilance. 

“I like it a hell of a lot better than barbie’s concoctions.” she answered. If there was one way to get Rita to talk, it was to get her a good drink. It always put her in a more social-able mood. “You should switch shifts. The other girl does not deserve Saturday night tips.” she shook her head.

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     “Yeah, I’m pretty sure that her getting hired had more to do with her looks than her experience, but it is what it is” Zarina shrugged. It was a shallow world that they loved in , unfortunately. It wasn’t worth wasting her energy worrying about it. “I’m not really in charge of that...but my boss does love me so maybe I’ll think about asking him”

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     “Huh?” Zarina looked up, her eyes meeting the others as she was pulled from her thoughts. “Sorry, long and hard day...were you trying to order?” she asked, forcing a bright smile back onto her face as she reached for her notebook, her other hand retrieving one of the pens that had been pushed through her hair. “What can I get for you? And would you like to me to read you the specials?”

Rita gave a small salute with two fingers, taking a sip of the drink. She was surprised. It was actually really good. Usually the bartender who was here just coped out giving her a rum and coke or something. “Hey.” she said calling the girl. “What’s your name?” she asked. “This isn’t your shift right? Usually it’s the blonde with the boobs.” Rita said. “You’re alot better than her.” 

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     Zarina blinked, looking up at the sudden call, her eyes landing on the woman from before as she realized that she was talking to her. “Oh, I’m Zarina, Ma’am” she smiled softly. “No, I’m covering tonight. I usually work the other end of the week” she nodded, confirming that she was indeed covering the the blonde with the boobs. “Thanks...that’s really nice of you. I take it you like them?”

Isabella nodded, an idea sparking as she lead the lady to her flowers. “This flower here is called gem of the sea.” she explained showing it to her. “It’s colors are said to mimic the ocean and it’s waves. It would break the monotony. And they are low maintained and don’t need direct sunlight.” 

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     “Oh wow, it’s really beautiful..” Zarina smiled, reaching out to let her fingertip brush gently against one of the flower’s petals. “I think that they would be perfect. Thank you so much for your help.” She wasn’t sure if the guests would appreciate them, but she certainly would. “How many do you have?”

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“We wouldn’t nor would have anything new in the way of medicine, technology, and even knowledge if someone didn’t ask why when everyone else just stood by and continued on the same line.” James replied looking at the other chuckling softly “Well I took a risk and hired you on the spot, look how well that worked out for me” He teased before rolling his eyes “You think that’s why there aren’t any more pirate roaming the seas?” He joked before laughing “Are you Miss Rose stating that our devoted fans only come to my place of business to see your dazzling smile?” He raised an eyebrow at her daring her to answer. “Well, I can’t very well have you clean given that you volunteer for lock-up duty so how about you brave my cooking for the night? You say you had no plans, let me make you dinner.”

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     “I do like to prove people wrong” Zarina smirked gently, teasing him. She knew that he probably shouldn’t have hired her when he had, had picked up on the fact that the restaurant was very heavily staffed already, but he had kept her anyway and it had worked out for both of them. “I think that they come for many reasons, I’m merely stating that for some of them that it is a reason, that’s all” she giggled. When he suggested that she stay and let him make her dinner, however, Zarina hesitated for a moment before telling herself that it was just dinner. “I think that would be fine. So long as your food is edible” she teased. She knew that it was, but seeing as he had presented the idea as if it were a punishment, she couldn’t help but taunt him playfully. 

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     Zarina cringed internally as he called her Dearie, although she was careful not to let her expression falter. She was used to men using every pet name under the sun to refer to her, some just happened to bother her more than others. “Heard loud and clear” she nodded, holding her hands up as she took a step back. While her intentions had been good, it was clear now that her efforts had been unnecessary and he was right; she didn’t want to be the reason that he lost any business. “I’ll be over here if you do need anything” she nodded again, heading to the other end of the bar where somebody else had been waiting to order. 

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     “Oh, uh-” Zarina took a moment to think about it, not having expected the topic of conversation to be turned back onto her. “I usually just tell them where the door is, in all honesty...Only if they’re particularly shitty, that is.” Zarina explained. She wasn’t the most patient person, but she also wasn’t looking to get fired. “My boss is pretty lenient with that kind of stuff so long as we don’t take advantage of it, so I guess I’m pretty lucky in that sense” she shrugged. “Oh, God. I’m sorry, that’s the worst. Milk is pretty good for your hair, though...on the bright side?” she offered an encouraging smile. “You’re more than welcome, I know that look. I had a lot of them myself when I first started waitressing”

Rita slid her card (or rather the card she slipped out of a man’s pocket) across the table to the woman. “whatever gets me the drunkest the quickest until this bad boy hits it’s limit.” She instructed her with a smile. Hopefully the limit was high. If not, she had some cash too. “Nothing with sugar or pink.”

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     Zarina could take a hint, and it was pretty obvious that the woman before her was looking to get drunk with as little human interaction as possible, something that could be easily arranged. “No sugar or pink drinks, got it” she promised, taking the card carefully and retreating to the bar to see what she could come up with. One of the things that she liked best about this job was the opportunity to experiment when it came to mixing drinks and seeing as the customer didn’t appear too fussy, she was quick to mix a few cocktails before returning to her table. “Just call me over when you’re ready for more, I guess”

“Pirates. Riiight.” she said thinking a moment. Of course. The day she was left in charge with Abuela and someone came in with a theme like PIRATES. She was so out of her element. Where was Camilo when you needed him? The boy could turn into anyone, personality wise, to make a sale. “I haven’t been to Sea Shanty. But we do have some nautical pieces. “ she said leading the woman to the other side of the shop. “Are we looking for a statement piece? Or something to break up and add some color to the tables?” she questioned.

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     “Sorry - I know that it’s not exactly a theme that anybody usually thinks about outside of halloween or a kid’s birthday party” Zarina smiled apologetically, grateful that the young woman humoured her regardless. “Maybe both? But we should probably start with the tables. I get that it’s supposed to look like the inside of a ship but I kept telling my boss that all of that wood with nothing to break it up is just a total eye sore” she sighed, following her across the shop, eyes glancing over a few of the other items as she passed them. She was yet to decorate her own apartment since moving here and she would most likely be back sooner rather than later. 

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James chuckled at her words moving to wipe down the bar counter and take off his ridiculous pirate hat, everyone that was employed by him fell into a found family of sorts. They looked out for one another and did what they could to help if one of them was in need and Zarina fit in almost immediately it shocked him. “Good, if people stop questioning the what-ifs then what is the point of life?” He mused before laughing “Oh well You know I do love a good compliment here and thereafter all I’m rather vain captain” He teased her before rolling his eyes “Keep it up little one and I’ll go out of my way to take your picture down and maybe make you walk the plank next showtime” He joked.

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     “That’s true. If nobody asked the big questions then we likely wouldn’t have a lot of the answers, you know? Perhaps we wouldn’t have moved as far forward as we have already” Zarina shrugged softly. “Not everyone can appreciate the potential of new ideas, though. Only the risk” she shrugged again. It was the truth. It hadn’t stopped her yet, however. “As all captains should be” she teased, smirking softly. “Oh yeah? I’m not sure that a lot of your regular customers would be too pleased with that” she teased again. It was hardly a secret that Zarina was a crowd favourite given the amount of tips she often received. “But if you must punish me then so be it. I don’t see my smart mouth going anywhere, anytime soon, so..”

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James always enjoyed Zarina’s company she made him feel a little less lonely since moving here. It was completely on instinct that he hired her the day she came in and asked for a job. They had plenty of help but something about her made him take pause and want to help her. “I like your inquisitive nature, don’t change for others Zarina, they should respect and care for the real you” he replied honestly he did, her questions never cease to amaze and enlighten him. “Miss Rose are you hitting on me?” He teased her a moment before nodding his head “Surely you know that given you are this month’s Employee of the month.”

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     Zarina had grown used to never feeling as if she fit in anywhere and she had expected the same from this job which was why she’d come into it with such low expectations. She could not have been more surprised to find the first place that she’d ever felt she truly belonged. Sure, the pirate theme was a little corny but the staff here were like a small found family and she treasured it, truly. “I wasn’t planning on it, don’t you worry” she assured him, smiling brightly. That was one thing about Zarina; she would rather be alone then be anything but herself. “I can’t give you a compliment?” she asked, although, she wasn’t denying it. “I’m the Employee of the month every month, Sir” It wasn’t a flex, simply the truth. “Sometimes I think that you just forget to change the photo”

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“I enjoy your company closing up too Zarina but I suppose making friends with people around your age would be a good idea. Since you’ve joined the crew you’ve hardly taken any personal days, maybe have a nice little night out with some people.” James mused after all he wanted her to enjoy her life outside the job  “I suppose you are quite right after all the Pirate life isn’t for some, but then again we do seem to carry all the style” He chuckled looking at the other for a moment “Your best is more than enough”

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     “Perhaps” She couldn’t deny that it might be good for her, but Zarina was a worker. She didn’t really know how to simply...relax. “I think that my rather...inquisitive nature tends to scare a lot of people off, though” Zarina shrugged gently. It was okay to admit the truth, after all. “They most likely think that I’m trying to be nosey” Sometimes she could be, a little, but it wasn’t something that she could really help. “Oh, definitely. You look great” she grinned over at James. “Thank you, Sir”