The Early Bird (Wayne, Elisia, Junpei)

[Event !]

Elisia Lark and Junpei Hirai are assigned to wash Wayne's car in the morning.

[Wayne Dietrich]

The morning of the car wash was a warm and sunny one, and the first car the pulled into the lot was something straight out of an old movie. A 1967 Ford Galaxie LTD, painted a deep ocean blue, rumbled deeply as it drove into the Hammel parking lot and settled into a slot with a pair of teenagers standing by. There was a good amount of dust in the wheels and grill, but for the most part the car seemed in good condition. Great condition, in fact, despite the fact that it was the old man's out-of-town vehicle.

With the top down on the convertible muscle car, the recruiter seemed relaxed and at ease, his mechanical right arm holding onto the steering wheel as if he'd been driving all his life (which he mostly had) and did so with the best confidence. He turned the key to cut the engine, then gave a grin to that pair over his glasses. "Well good morning, you two," he greeted. "Looks like you've got the first one of the day."

[Deleted]

Junpei still did not know many people here at Hammel, and so he thought, what better way to meet new people than to join in on group school activities! The Japanese boy signed up for the car wash charity with an earnest enthusiasm and then headed out bright and early upon the golden morning sun to wash cars in his designer swim trunks and a green graphic t-shirt that said "I <3 NY" with a picture of the golden gate bridge pasted across the front.

Junpei didn't know who the girl was he had been assigned to work with, but he didn't think she could be terribly bad, considering she had signed up for a charity even just like him. And so Junpei waited with her, an excited smile plastered on his face, until a blue, vintage looking car drove up to their slot. Junpei bounced up to greet the man with a genial, "Herro!". The boy skipped up to the driver's side and stated the obvious, "We will wash car!" The boy couldn't really think of anything else to say quickly enough in this language he was still unused to, and thus, could only fluster as he hoped his partner would jump in and save the nervous boy.

[Elisia Lark]

Elisia was all about charity events. She was going to be at Hammel for another two years the way she saw it. Why not help the school out a bit? Especially if by some chance she had a kid in the distant future that happened to be a meta. She was going to do all she could to help her school because it was kind of like a second home. At least it was more of a home to her than her mother's home in New York.

She finished getting dressed in a pair of jean shorts and her one-piece bathing suit and headed out to where the car wash was being held. Her and whoever her partner was had the first care of the day and so she had to rush a bit to get out there in time. She came upon the older man and a boy she didn't quite recognize and offered both of them a smile and wave. "Sorry I'm a little late, how are you Mr. Dietrich?" Ellie asked with a smile.

The other boy seemed at a loss for words, so she decided that she might as well talk. It was a matter of politeness and if she was able to talk to anyone it was authority figures. Now talking to her peers was a completely different story. "It's a very pretty car," She complimented as she started filling a bucket with water and soap. Might as well do something, and hope that her partner would catch on and help out.

[Wayne Dietrich]

Wayne gave the boy a crooked smile, understanding the nervousness. Judging by the accent... "You don't happen to be Japanese, do you?" he asked. His knowledge of the language was passing at best (he knew Korean and Mandarin much more fluently), but if it would help, they could chatter a bit in the kid's home language. Must have been an exchange student.

Ellie he recognized and gave an even bigger grin. "Why Miss Lark, I'm doing quite well," he answered. "It's a lovely day for a car wash, don't you think? Your partner seems ready and raring to go already." Stepping out of the vehicle, the recruiter thought of something and tapped his metal hand against the door. Immediately, the mechanisms in the convertible's hood began to work, closing it gently over the cab of the antique car.

Once that was through, he looked to the two with a shrug. "Don't want to get soap and water inside it, now do we?" Because, as Wayne knew, the innards of machines were one of many things that didn't mix well with water. Carpet and upholstery were two others.

Since it was summer time, Wayne was outside in a pair of denim knee-length shorts and a plain red Tshirt (a bit faded with the years), hiking boots laced up over both feet. Metal glinted all over his right side, and he stood away from the spraying water where he could but didn't shy away from the work. It was a good, warm day indeed, and it would be enjoyed.

[Deleted]

Junpei sometimes had trouble hearing and separating out the words people used in English, but for the most part he was Ok. It was when they started talking fast(which many people did often), or with strange dialects that he got lost. Luckily, this guy was understandable. "Hai..." he said with a nod then corrected himself saying, "Yes!" He was pleased that the guy could identify Junpei's heritage so easily. His awkwardly plastered smile relaxed as his washing partner came striding up to greet the man.

Junpei stood for a few seconds until he clicked out of his reverie and realized that he should probably grab a sponge and start washing the car.

Junpei had no idea how to wash a car.

He'd never done it before.

Growing up in Tokyo with his mother, they never had a car and therefore never had to worry about it. At the Hirai household, Junpei either walked to where he needed to be and took the train, or was chauffeured there in one of the family cars. He's never though about how they stayed clean before.

Junpei picked up the sponge and headed right for the car, eager to get started and show his enthusiasm, but was cut short when the hood started to rise over the interior. He watched it with wide eyes and a dopey smile, just barely catching what the man was saying. He looked up at the man and nodded in agreement. But now he didn't really know what to do. Where was he supposed to start? He stood there looking a bit like a lost child, his eyes fixed upon the car and his awkward smile once again pasted on his face. Junpei looked over at his partner to see what she was doing and tried to mimic it with obvious uncertainty.