I Should Give Myself Hazard Pay [Open]

[Elliot Morrow]

Elliot had truthfully changed his mind multiple times when researching his first pet. He’d scoured forums, websites, anything he could get his hands on. He’d had lists of species with pros and cons, and had even sought out things like cost for setting up and continuing care for them. Most of them had been frogs and toads, and in the end the little tree frogs had won out. Needless to say, his mother had been impressed with the amount of work he’d been willing to put into research before even asking her about it. He’d since learned that it was a key way to go about things, and had utilized the tactic more than once with his mother. It was how he’d weaseled his way into getting his amazing Alienware laptop. Yes, it had been expensive to start with, but it was virtually maintenance free, and it was, in terms of laptops, antique, but still ran like it was fresh off the line. Of course, it helped that he tinkered with it now and again. His classes at UVM were good for something, after all.

“That’s okay. I just didn’t want to deprive them of company if they preferred it.” Tatsu had always been fine on his own, and solitary suited him just fine. “Does there seem to be a difference in how social they are between males and females?” Tatsu had been male, but Elliot honestly didn’t have a real preference. Besides, if a particular gecko ‘chose’ him, who was he to argue with it?

The cost didn’t really scare him off. He’d been expecting somewhere in that range, and honestly, he didn’t mind spending the money here. Gunnar was impressively knowledgeable, and really seemed to care about the little creatures. He was starting to like The Ark a little more than his usual haunt in Burlington. Sure, it was further away from home when he stayed with his mother, but it was closer to school, and to Caleb’s apartment. “For a first gecko, would an adult or sub-adult generally be best? Or is there a real difference?” He hardly wanted to start off on the wrong foot. As for the offer, Elliot straightened to look at Gunnar properly again. It didn’t seem often that business owners offered things like that anymore, and he’d never really encountered it in Burlington. “That’s... well... thank you?” He didn’t really know what else to say to that. “I mean, of course I’d pick up the rest of what I need here. I just... you really don’t have to do that.” His blue eyes turned back to the geckos, studying them as they milled around, some sunning on the mat, some peering out from the little cave. He wasn’t sure if any of them really wanted to choose to go home with him, but Gunnar knew his stock the best. Maybe one would be the right one.

[Gunnar Frey]

Whilst Gunnar considered himself really rather knowledgeable about the reptiles and amphibians in his charge, he knew there was always so much more to learn. He was getting much better with regards to the mammals and he was slowly picking things up about the birds, but the sum of his fishery knowledge could be written on the back of a postcard. Yes this was the main reason he employed such knowledgeable and experienced staff, but he truly believed it was important that everyone should know at least the basics about every animal in their care. That was why he appreciated and respected all the questions Elliot was throwing his way. “There’s not really much difference between the sexes, if you’re only keeping one. The males get a bit bigger which can make ‘em easier to handle, but beyond that it’s personal choice.”

When Elliot asked his next question, Gunnar gave a small nod. “For new keepers I always recommend an adult. They cost a bit more but the hand-taming is done, you know a bit about what their personality and health are like, and you know they are feeding and shedding well. Sub-adults are a bit more unreliable, but some people prefer doing the hand-taming themselves and watching it grow up more.”

One of the best things about owning and running the store was that Gunnar was fully able to make calls like that. Sure most of the time he was incredibly fair and made offers store-wide, but he had that flexibility to twist things a bit if the mood or scenario lead him down that way. It was nothing at all to do with closing the sale – in truth he frankly didn’t much care if Elliot spent his money here or at another store, although of course he would rather the money be in his till. The simple fact was that the kid seemed to really want to do well for whatever pet he might end up taking home, and Gunnar would be happy with one of his geckos going with him. “I know I don’t have to, but I want to and I can, so.” He gave a small shrug of his shoulders. “Do you want to meet any of them up close; see if you’ll actually get on with one?”

[Elliot Morrow]

Anyone that actually knew this much about their stock, and was willing to spend the time with potential buyers and address their questions was absolutely gold in Elliot’s mind. It seemed too easy now in retail for people to be brushed aside and left on their own. Fair enough if they were knowledgeable in what they were doing, but for someone looking for a new species to keep? It could be dangerous. Elliot didn’t want to be in the boat where he didn’t know anything about his new friend, but thanks to Gunnar, it didn’t look like it had to be that way at all. “I don’t really have a personal preference then, no. My frog was male, but I’m not opposed to a female.” Just because his personal choices when it came to people directed him to males didn’t mean the same was true of pets.

He nodded at Gunnar’s advice. It made sense, really. And with his classes, he didn’t really have the time to work on hand taming as well as it could be done. Perhaps once he was out of university, when he had more time to dedicate to things at home. “An adult would be fine, then. I don’t know that I realistically have time to hand tame a younger one.” Nor the knowledge at this point in time, and he didn’t want to have his new pet start out wrong.

Knowing he was beaten in terms of the discount, Elliot just let it go, and instead turned his attention back to the tank filled with geckos. One in particular hadn’t seemed to stop watching him since he’d first started looking at them. He had no idea if it was adult, male, or female, but something had his attention. “I’d love to meet some of them.” He pointed out the one still staring at him. “That one there seems interested.” Or maybe it thought he looked like lunch. He didn’t know. Perhaps Gunnar would know that one’s particular personality the best.

[Gunnar Frey]

Gunnar never attempted to be pushy around potential buyers, and he trained all his staff to be available and approachable but not to nag or get in anyone’s space. As a relatively antisocial person (for the past few years, anyway) Gunnar knew that having people get all up in your face was annoying at best and infuriating at worst, and not at all conductive to making an efficient sale. However, if someone was genuinely interested and wanted to know more, he’d spend all day chatting to them if there was nothing more pressing to be getting on with. “Fair enough. Most of the ones we have in at the moment are males, but there’s a few females too.”

As Elliot said he’d like to meet some of them Gunnar gave a small nod, moving along to a door in the wall and opening it up with a swipe card. He stepped inside to the area behind the tank wall, holding the door open for Elliot to follow him in. From back here all the tanks and their contents were clearly visible, with latched sliding doors granting access that was denied from the front tank face.

Gunnar headed over to the tank with the gecko that Elliot had indicated to, opening the latch and sliding open the door. “Yeah, this is a female. Pretty lively and frisky, but gentle enough and eating really well.” Using his non-chewed hand, Gunnar reached in and gently scooped up the curious little gecko. “You have to make sure you lift them gently from underneath. Never grab the tail, it’ll come right off in your hand.” The Brit held the gecko for a moment, letting it settle, then carefully offered it out towards Elliot.

[Elliot Morrow]

Elliot tended not to like being bombarded with assistance in stores unless he really needed it. His boyfriend liked to tease him that he was the definition of a creepy shut in, even though it wasn’t true. He was social enough at school, and in public. There was just a difference between being bombarded in a store with help, and actively seeking social contact. Gunnar was a happy mix of both – not pushy, but knowledgeable and willing to guide him in his new mission of finding a new friend.

The student followed behind Gunnar, surprised at his willingness to let customers into the back of the store. Not that Elliot planned to cause trouble, but other people were quite capable of it. Still, he looked at the backs of the tanks with only the smallest apprehension. He didn’t have to feel bad or disloyal about looking into a new pet, right? Maybe he was just missing Tatsu more than he wanted to let on.

Still, this was going to be good. He wanted it to be good. As such, he listened to Gunnar as he fired off information about the little female. After a moment, he accepted her, scooping under her body as he’d been shown and brought her to his chest. She really was quite pretty, and very, very different from a tree frog. “Hi there,” he murmured softly to her, gently stroking a finger over her back.