Venom: Beautiful Killers. Part 11.
#11 of Venom: Beautiful Killers
[Author's Note: I took a small chunk of Part 10 and put it into Part 11, just for reference purposes. I hope you enjoy the results. I fun writing this. A medical issue has me taking the next week off, but in Part 12, Tivoli goes to work. See you in a few weeks.]
Venom: Beautiful Killers. Part 11.
"Right then, I knew what it all meant."
"Are you all right? Would you like some water?"
Mieri shakes her head. "I'm just fine."
"Then why do you look so nervous? Have you never gone through an interview before?"
"I'm really sorry. I didn't think that I would work for someone like...." Embarrassed, she clears her throat. "What I mean is, I didn't think yours was an ethnic-owned business."
"I'm Black, not ethnic."
That response must have been an angry one, because it causes the red panda to look up at the ceiling and cover her face wither hands. "Screwed up again."
"What was that?"
She quickly puts her hands down. "Nothing. Um...look, could we start over?"
Tivoli nervously watches as Mieri leans forward, practically begging for a breather.
"Fine. I agree; let's start over, but let me get you a glass of water. You're going to need it."
Tivoli anxiously covers her mouth with her left hand and stares at the red panda on the television screen. It seems that she is viscerally relating to Mieri; maybe she even sees a little bit of herself in the poor girl. She too had been nervous and shaky during the interview with Mrs. Cross. Of course, while Tivoli had started out cocky and moderately combative, Mieri has been unsteady throughout.
The ocelot watches as the red panda sits on the hot seat all by herself in Vivian's office. She looks lost and confused; she scans the empty room like her life was in danger. Every so often, she would look at the camera and stare at it for a few seconds. Tivoli's breathing would speed up every time Mieri's face turned to the camera. After all, it appeared that they were looking right at one another.
After about a minute alone, Mieri leans forward, crossing her arms on Vivian's desk, then resting her head on them. She is wearing a short-sleeved blouse, so the deep, reddish-brown color of the fur on her arms is strikingly visible. Despite the focusing issues the picture has, Tivoli lets out a small gasp at the sight of those deep-red arms. "Marvelous," she says. _Suddenly, Mieri starts breathing heavily, as if hyperventilating. _
"Hey. Just relax," Tivoli whispers. "Just take a deep breath."
She utters a word in Japanese, most likely a pejorative exclamation. Then she lifts her head and breathes deeply.
"That's it. Just breathe...nice and slow."
Closing her eyes, she inhales for five seconds, then exhales for just as long. She straightens her long, brown hair and wipes her eyes with the palms of her hands.
"Come on. Get ready. Put your hands down."
She places her arms back on the desk, tapping her fingers frantically on the wooden surface.
"No. Put your hands down."
After a few seconds, she places her hands on her lap. She tries to straighten herself, constantly looking at the glaring lens of the camera.
"No. Stop looking at me." Tivoli licks her lips nervously. "When she comes in, look at her, not the camera. Just look her in the eyes."
The door opens. Vivian walks in carrying two tumblers, each one half-filled with water. She gives one to her guest. "I hope you don't mind yours with a lime slice. I thought you could use a little acid in your drink."
Mieri grabs her gift with both hands and quickly empties the contents. She puts the glass down in front of her, leaving the lime behind.
Vivian chuckles. "Feel better?"
"Um...does the camera have to be on?"
"I already told you we record your interactions with the person in charge to examine your temperament under pressure. I mean, how else did you suppose we were going to do that?"
"Oh. Okay."
"Of course, we don't tape the interviews of any potential loan brokers. You're not looking to do that_job, are you? If the answer's yes, we can turn the camera off right now."_
Mieri sharply puffs out another deep breath. "No, I'm not changing my mind. Besides, I don't know anything about the lending business. In fact, my parents provided pretty much everything I've ever wanted. I've never needed to borrow anything...ever."
The resulting sigh from the chief shows off her frustration with this interview. "Tell you what, why don't I sit here?" Vivian is still off-screen, but the sound of her chair being moved is clearly audible. Mieri turns her head away from the camera.
Tivoli folds her arms with increasing interest. Mieri is now sitting with her right side toward the camera. Hers is a rather striking profile.
"There you go. I can't stop the recording, but I've made it so you don't pay attention to it so much. If I sit here, you can focus only on me. This better?"
Mieri ekes a fragile smile. "Well...I like this much better."
"All right, let's start with an easy one. Tell me about you. You mentioned your parents earlier. You can tell me about them too. Anything."
The ocelot backs up and takes a seat on the nearest ottoman.
"Well, my parents are Chinese, and I was born in Shanghai. But we moved to South Korea when I was two, and then Japan when I was five. In China, we had lived in a small village, you see, but then we were displaced because of encroaching land development. Dad wanted to stay and make it work, but mom was really sensitive to the changes. She wanted to move to someplace more stable, and similar to the cozy spaces we were used to."
"Your name is Japanese."
"I consider myself Japanese. Japan's where I belong. I believed it so much that I gave myself a Japanese name when I felt I was old enough to do so. No one in my family objected."
"Was it tough moving all the time?"
"I don't remember much before age four. We moved to Fukuoka. That's where I grew up. Mom fell in love with it because of the islands and greenery. Dad didn't care as long as she was happy and he could play provider. We didn't want for anything."
"How'd you come to be in America?"
Mieri clears her throat softly. "Back in 2008, Dad lost his job and mom...didn't work at all."
"Yeah, 2008 was tough there, wasn't it? The economy there went bad, just like ours. That stock market lost about ten percent of its value at one time, if I remember correctly."
"I don't know much about that. I had just finished college, and turned twenty. I thought I would go work with one of my friends, selling pastries. I come home after a graduation party, then dad says, 'We're going to America.' That hit me like a...." She sighs once again.
"Ton of bricks?"
"Yeah, that's it." She leans back in her seat and crosses her legs. She has not looked at the camera once since Vivian changed her location in the room. "As it turned out, they had been discussing it for a while, without my knowledge. Dad even started learning English and everything. For someone pretty set in his ways, he took to learning English almost flawlessly. I had been dead set against it, but mom has a way of convincing and reassuring me whenever my heart is heavy."
"You don't have much of an accent. You picked up on it quickly."
"Well, mom always said that English is the language of commerce. I picked up a little at college, but we moved here in December of 2008 with the aspiration to learn English fully and take advantage of any opportunities. Dad's a financial advisor now, and mom got a Bachelor's degree in Science and is working on a Master's in Medicine. Currently, she sells herbs and other holistic stuff from her home, but with the degrees, she will soon explore bigger careers."
Vivian claps her hands a couple of times. "Excellent. The parents are covered, so what about you? What did you end up doing?"
Mieri looks at her lap. "To be honest, after I took English as a Second Language, I didn't do much of anything. I mean...after all I learned in Fukuoka, I still wanted to sell food. That's despite the fact that I went to the School of Medicine. If I had enough incentive, I...guess I could have been a nurse, or something."
"So, wait a second. So you came here to learn English, and...do nothing?"
"I wasn't slacking off. I tried to go out for internships. I didn't know there were completely different standards for humans than for...people like me. No offense, but your medical practices are really strange. I didn't know humans and anthros have to work separately, and only on their own kind. It's not that way in Japan. Anyway, after a few tries, I gave up and just spent most days discovering Los Angeles and getting an apartment of my own."
Vivian scoffs. "So, no job and no prospects. So what exactly are you doing in this office?"
Tivoli nervously puts her left hand back over her mouth. "Come on, chief, ease up a little."
Vivian continues. "Who's your sponsor and how did you come to know about this place?"
The red panda clasps her hands. "I, um...learned about this place from my friend Mariana."
"Yeah, the white Maltese. She works here."
"I didn't know that at the time. I moved away from home and got a room in this apartment that mom chose for me. She lived in the room next to me and welcomed me like the friend she is. It was my first time ever in downtown L.A., and she showed me around the most popular hot spots. Even when she moved out and got her own house, we still kept in touch every day."
"Got it. So Mariana is your sponsor."
Mieri shakes her head. "No, she isn't. About my sponsor...it was totally an accident, and I learned about this place in the most unfortunate way possible. Mariana came into the apartment a couple of months ago to pick me up. We were going to see a show...with male strippers. It was going to be great. On the way out the door, I noticed there was blood on her ear. I mean, there was a noticeable red stain on the back of her left ear. I pointed it out to her. She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror and she completely freaked! Without a second thought, she called off the trip. While she was panicking, she said something like, 'I thought I cleaned it all off.' I asked her if she was hurt, then I asked if she hurt someone. I continued pressing until she knocked me down and yelled at me. Then she left."
Vivian's tone becomes sour. "I got to make it mandatory to have the workers come to me if something like that happens. I'd be able to tell them how to handle it." She sighs loudly. "So what happened next?"
"When she pushed me down, I hit my head on the bathtub. I was in the kitchen putting ice to my head when she came back and apologized. She felt so bad, I had her spend the night. We tried to get the blood off her ear, with not much success. It had been there for quite a while and we could only get it...maybe half off."
"Did she tell you how it happened?"
"That's the scary thing! I asked and asked, but she wouldn't tell me. She had this gloomy look on her face. We talked about everything she wanted to, but she wouldn't tell me what happened or what was wrong. The next morning, I woke up and she was gone. I didn't see or hear from her again until a week later. I was about to go to bed when she surprised me. She came in with a friend of hers--a hound with a really long muzzle. She introduced herself as Zesty. She told me she was friends with Mariana and that they worked together."
"And Zesty told you everything?"
"She told me what she and Mariana did for a living and how much they made out of it. Then she told me about this loan office--about her bosses, co-workers, the perks, and you. She laid it all down...as they say. Mary just sat there and let her speak. She suddenly turned from the fun person I used to know into...." She shakes her head and sighs. Tivoli leaves the ottoman and kneels in front of the television.
"Into what?"
Mieri shrugs. "Into a killer. Zesty tells a good story, because thanks to her, I could see Mary as a killer. There was even that faint shade of red on her ear that we couldn't totally get rid of. Right then, I knew what it all meant. Anyway, Zesty's reason for coming there was simple. Having found out about me, she wanted to get rid of me. And before you ask, 'get rid of' means exactly what you think it does. She said she was going to do it, but because Mary had begged for my life, I would be fine. She then gave me an ultimatum--I say nothing to anyone about them, and I would remain fine. When she left, it was just me and Mary. I couldn't even look at her, I was so scared. Then she told me how she got the blood on her ear. A hunt went wrong and she had to improvise. The kill was messy and she had to take three showers when she got home. Then she held my hand and told me she didn't want anything to change. She wanted us to remain friends."
"And you still are?"
Tivoli swallows, as if about to cry.
Mieri nods. "Without her, I have no friends, not here in the States." She clasps her fingers. "I miss Fukuoka. I miss travelling up to Tokyo twice a month. I miss those manga expositions and the Golden Week festivals. Most of all, I miss my tanuki neighbors and all my friends back home. I had been away from them for four years. So when the chance came to make a friend out of Mariana, I jumped at it. I didn't want it to end, even knowing what I knew. After she told me about the kill she made, things slowly went back to normal. But this time, every question I asked, she answered. I asked about the job, the company she keeps...I learned much. Every night after a kill, she'd come to me and we'd talk. She'd vent her frustrations, and I'd learn more about her work. Eventually, I came to understand and...wanted to...um...."
"Welcome to the dark side."
_Meiri laughs. _ Tivoli laughs.
"You never answered my question. Who's your sponsor?"
"Yeah. Zesty is. Last month, I told Mary I was interested. She laughed at first then asked if I had ever killed anyone. I said no, but I needed the money since, at that time, I was living off of mom and dad. So she told Zesty and over the next few weeks, they taught me all they knew and how they got away with the stuff they did. Zesty had reservations about passing on her secrets, but she saw how quickly I could learn, so she took a liking to me. When they thought I was ready to join, she chose to vouch for me."
"So you haven't killed anyone?"
"No. No, I haven't, but I can sneak into places. I used to break into houses when I was younger. I can now open locked doors; I can now hot-wire vehicles. As for actually killing a person, I know my way around toxins and solvents. I can use what I learned in--"
"Do you know your way around an actual weapon?"
"Well, dad owns a gun. I've used it. I can use it again."
"But not on anyone."
Mieri turns away from the interview and towards the camera lens. She lowers her head, practically hiding from Vivian. A few seconds later, she angrily gathers strength. "Listen," she says, slowly facing the boss, "I'm sorry this started out so poorly. I looked weak and stupid and...you probably didn't think much of me."
"Well, actually--"
"No, let me finish, please." Mieri forcefully clears her throat. Filled with determination, Tivoli nods and folds her arms. "I'm not as small as I look. I can take on any challenge you want me to face. Thanks to my sponsor, I know the basics of this business. I just need a chance to show my abilities. Once I learn the rules of this place, I won't let you down. Normally, I wouldn't be so forceful, but...I'm rather desparate."
"Join the club," says Tivoli.
Mieri stands, which means Vivian is standing too. The chief comes on screen briefly to put a hand on the red panda's left shoulder. "Would you like to take a break?"
She chuckles shyly in response. "Yeah."
"I like you, and I'm not enough of a hardass to dismiss you just like that. We'll take a break from the interview, and I'll show you around the place. The time's 8:45, so we have time."
"I'm in? Just like that?"
"Well, that depends. Have you met Ted?"
"Who?"
"Ah, you haven't. Well, he's one of the executives. In fact, he's the main man; the leader of the job you're seeking. He interviews you and decides if you've got the right stuff. You just need to toughen yourself up when you talk to him. He won't take you if you're timid. When you talk to him, speak boldly and surely. When you speak, don't turn away from him like you did me."
Mieri nods. "I'll remember that."
"You need to get loose, you know? Turn the interview into a regular conversation. Don't think of him as a superior, even though he is. It's the first of December, and 2013 is on the way. During the interview with him, you could talk about your Christmas plans or your plans for New Year's. Just try not to be too formal."
Still really shy, the interviewee nods in agreement.
Vivian withdraws her hand and goes back to her desk, leaving the view of the camera. "I usually save this for the end, but why don't you leave your name and phone number now, and if Ted hires you, you'll be on our ledger."
"Shit, that's right!" Tivoli stands and looks around her, finding her pen and notebook on the floor. She rewinds the tape to hear Mieri's contact information. After writing it down, she stops the tape and locates the cordless phone. Her face beams with joy as her fingers frantically push the buttons. She holds the phone to her ear and waits for an answer, pacing the living room excitedly.
Tivoli gets less excited when two minutes after she dialed, the phone is still ringing. She stops pacing and once again sits on the ottoman directly in front of the television. Her left foot rapidly and impatiently taps the carpet. Her heartbeat quickens. She responds by taking a couple of deep breaths. "Relax," she tells herself.
Without warning, a high-pitched voice comes through the phone. Scared and excited, Tivoli stands. "Hello!" She laughs loudly. "Hello there." She chuckles and waits for a response. However, there is only silence on the other line. Ten seconds later, the ocelot chuckles, "I'm sorry. I'm just so excited to be talking to you. My name is...." She stops talking and takes the phone from her ear. Apparently, the respondent has hung up.
Tivoli shrugs and dials again. Her face exudes determination. She relaxes her left hand on her hip and puts the phone to her right ear. She stands there waiting for a couple of minutes; they phone rings maybe fifty times.
Suddenly, the ringing stops. A loud "What do you want?!" is heard through the line.
Using both hands, she holds the phone to her face. "Hello? Is this Mieri?" She waits for a response, holding her breath for a few seconds. Not getting any, she shouts, "My name is Tivoli....um...my last name is not important. I'm about to get a job at the Rapid Recovery Loan Office in downtown L.A. I'm about to work where you work. In fact, I'll be working with you." Again, she stops and waits for a response. A few seconds of silence later, she giggles and continues. "I'm calling 'cuz I wanted to introduce myself. I just saw you on television. That is, I just finished watching your taped interview with the boss...I mean, chief. "
A voice comes through the phone, probably asking a question. (I cannot make out what Mieri just said; Tivoli is holding the phone too close to herself.)
"Yeah, I saw your interview with Vivian Cross. She let me have a couple of tapes, and I'm watching them so I can get to know everyone who works over there. You left your phone number and I thought I'd call. I'd like us to meet just so I can see you in person. I could also use some advice from a veteran; you probably have a lot of stories to--"
Tivoli is forcefully interrupted by a loud scream that startles her. After that, a cacophony of words pours forth from Mieri's side of the phone line. The red panda furiously assaults the ocelot with names, insults, and curses in both English and Japanese. The yelling is so loud, Mieri's voice breaks a couple of times. Tivoli never takes the phone off her ear and tries her hardest to say something during the verbal melee.
Two minutes later, she takes cordless telephone off her ear. She stands there, looking at the blank television screen with her arms drooped and her mouth open. Overwhelmed with shock, she drops the telephone, closes her eyes and tries to swallow. Breathing deeply and flexing her hands, she slowly calms down. Her face relaxes and she tries to smile, laughing off the brief attack.
"What the hell was that all about?"