Side Gig at Underhills

===> COH <===> 4/3/2020, 8:15:15 PM <===
Underhill Funeral Home - Lobby

	The massive lobby of the Underhill Funeral Home is appointed in elaborate Victorian elegance. The hardwood floors are made from wide planks, stained a deep ebony. Numerous large cream colored carpets with damask patterns of hunter green are like islands on that sea of dark wood, and are surrounded by assorted furniture of black buttoned leather, pastel mint velvet, and various other apolstery. Each cluster of furniture forms a small seating area away from the others, giving the bereaved some small sense of privacy. The walls are papered with a mint green and black velvet flocked lion pattern. A chandelier hangs above the center of the lobby, while numerous small lamps are spaced across the wall providing more than adequate illumination.
	There are three mahogany double doors spaced throughout the room, each one leading to a different viewing room for funeral services. Another, more plain looking door is marked with a brass plaque that reads 'Staff Only.' Finally, in the right hand corner of the loby is a door marked 'Funeral Director' that probably leads to the funeral home's offices.

                           PLACES/+views available


	(This room needs an Umbra desc. @mail building staff if you want to provide one.)


	The massive lobby of the Underhill Funeral Home is appointed in elaborate (if decaying) Victorian elegance. The hardwood floors are warped, waterstained, and rotting in various places. Blood stained carpeting is moldering away on the floor, each one a distinct swirl of scarlett and black splotches. Numerous pieces of fine furniture are scattered throughout the room, their apolstery torn and rotting. Water stained wallpaper is peels from the walls in large yellowing strips to reveal the grey wood paneling beneath.
	Large mahogany doors hang off of their hinges, each one leading to different viewing rooms for funeral services. An ornate wrought iron staircase leads up to the second floor, while a simpler set of stairs leads down into the mortuary proper.

Contents:
Lochlan
Obvious Exits:
  Mortuary <M>   Out <O>   Spiral Staircase <SS>

	Cen makes his way into the Underhill Funeral Home - Lobby, and takes a slow look around the place.

As Ceniza enters the Underhill Funeral Home, he is greeted by an older gentleman in his mid-fifties with ashen grey skin, grey hair, and every bit the appearance of a funeral home director. "Hello, young man. I am Gregory. How can I assist you today?" The man has a gentle, grand fatherly voice that comes from decades of comforting the grief stricken.
	Off in the corner of the lobby, at one of the seating areas, there is Lochlan. The one eyed man is currently blowing softly on a steaming hot cup of tea. He glances periodically at Ceniza and Gregory. An odd smile spreads across his thin lipped mouth like blood spreading out on a glass microscope slide.

	Cen takes a look around, then returns his attention to Gregory. "Y'all doing any hiring? Gravedigging, cleaning, that sorta thing?"

"Have you worked at a funeral home before?" Gregory asks after glancing briefly in Lochlan's direction, "Or a hospital? What I mean is, have you ever worked with dead bodies before, young man?" Well, it isn't a no. A few seconds later, Lochlan sets down his tea and pulls out a cell phone. A few seconds after that, the man who introduced himself as Gregory receives a text message on his own cell phone. After reading it, he looks up and abruptly says, "Ahem. If you would care to speak with Mr. Underhill, he is willing to interview you for a position."

	Cen gives Gregory a small but firm nod, "I have, yessir. Back home, out east. used to help at my family's funeral parlor."

Gregory motions towards the seating area that Lochlan is at, "Mr. Underhill is right over there. Can I get you a glass of water, young man?"

	Cen looks to Gregory, then gives a nod and shuffles on over towards Lochlan, hands thrust into the pockets of his hoodie. "Hi, I'm Cen. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Underhill."

	Cen nods and takes the seat when it's offered. "Ceniza. Victor Ceniza."

"Mr. Ceniza," Lochlan rasps before taking a sip of his tea, "A pleasure to meet you. So, what kind of work did you do at your family's funeral home?"

	Cen considers. "Whatever needed doing, inside, outside. It was a real small family operation, so you just had to pitch in when and where you could pitch in, you know?"

"Do you have a degree of any kind in mortuary science?" Lochlan rasps, "Or any licenses pertinent to the funeral business?"

	Cen shakes his head, "No, not really, just on the job experience. But I'm ok doing what needs doing, even if it doesn't need licensure to do it."

Nodding his head slightly, Lochlan rasps, "Well, we could use a few extra hands around here..." and then he does something peculiar. Taking the eye patch, he slides it from one eye to the other. Doing so, he reveals a pale milky white eye, clearly dead and slightly shrunken. It is obvious to any observer that the eye should be blind, and yet shortly after the eye patch is secured over the other eye, it twitches to life, shifting to look around the room before coming to rest on the Ceniza... or rather the spirit that accompanies him. "And your friend's name is, Mr. Ceniza?"

<WRAITH> The spirit that accompanies Cen speaks to the youth, in a rich low baritone of a voice, the accent foreign. "He can see me, then. Interesting!" He steps up to look at Lochlan, face to face, eye to eye. "Nkuyu. Also known as Èṣù-Ẹlẹgbára, also known as Eleguá, also known as Eshu."

"A pleasure to meet you as well, Mr. Nkuyu. Please make yourself at home. All of the dead are welcome here," Lochlan rasps, "If you need any assistance, my brother Alexander is down in the mortuary." A few minutes later Gregory brings out a tray with a pitcher of ice water and a glass, which he sets on the table before walking away. "Please be aware, all spirits of the dead are under my protection when they are within these walls."

	Cen nods, "Of course. Nkuyu is my ... well, I'm his ... student." A smile. "And I always treat respectfully with orisha and les mysteres."

	Cen checks a pocketwatch, pulling the timepiece from his pocket and staring down at it. "I'm happy to start whenever, just let me know. But if you'll excuse me, I have something that I must do for Nkuyu that's time-sensitive. I'm a hard worker, and look forward to getting started here. I can do part-time, preferably days but I can do some nights too."

"It speaks well to your character Mr. Ceniza that you treat the dead with respect," Lochlan rasps as his expression darkens subtly, his dead eye narrowing, "These recent days, I have met many who speak with the dead, and yet view ghosts as some kind of monster to be put down. Both of you must be wary of these people, for they mistake an ability to perceive a thing with knowledge of a thing, and that makes them dangerously ignorant." Lochlan nods his head and pulls a note pad from his pocket, sliding it over to Ceniza, "Please, write your contact information down and I will call you when I've come to a decision concerning employment. But please know you are welcome to come here whenever you like, for conversation, a cup of tea, or aid should you need it."

	Cen nods and scribbles down a phone number. "That's a burner, but I'll keep it until I hear from you. And then keep you apprised as the number changes."

"Of course," Lochlan responds, still smiling when that comment would probably have put off other prospective employers, "Then I will wish you a good day until we speak again. Mr. Ceniza. Mr. Nkuyu."

	Cen rises from the chair, and gives Lochlan a small nod. Nkuyu? He likewise takes his leave with a nod to the undertaker. Then the youth and his spirit companion turn to leave the establishment, in better spirits than when they arrived! Things were looking up!
===> Log ended by user <===> 4/3/2020, 9:18:52 PM <===