Chương 37: Formal Invitation

Lilia looked real cozy in that jacket'Wait''That's my jacket?

''It even has my blood smeared over it''My name's written on the tag too.' June was in a bit of a conundrum. He could A. let Lilia keep wearing the jacket, its cold outside Or he could B. Forget the jacket and run away while the old man is distracted. Mortimer choose option C. To block Junes sightline while brushing the dirt and dusted accumulated on his ducktail suit. June let his head fall back on the jagged gravel bits that covered the mall's roof.

'Why do they even cover these roofs with these?' Mortimer, after fully brushing off his suit, took a long breath of fresh air, then reached into his breast pocket and produced two business cards. June, while still lying down, tried reaching his hand up to grab the card, but it was just out of reach, which eventually prompted the curated persona Mortimer put back on while brushing his coat of dirt to falter. He bent his legs slightly in a way not to crease his already very creased shoes and clothes.

Once June grasped the business cards while still lying down, he put one in each hand to look at.

"Can you replace my sunglasses?" He spat that out in a higher-pitched tone than he expected but played it off. One business card was made of carbon fiber.

'Snow Management, Model invitation card' The other business card came in a comically small envelope with a quaint little rope holding it closed, June was still fully laying on the ground not bothering to even lift his head.

'Royal invitation to staff' This card looked a little sketchy"Why is it in Comic Sans?" Mortimer shrugged and looked around with a dejected look.

"Did you see my top hat anywhere? I was quite fond of it." June stood up without any flourish then brushed his butt of dust and paused than sighed.

"You dropped your top-hat when we..." June snapped his fingers a couple times trying to remember. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"Oh, yeah, you dropped it at the start when I was buying time with the eye horn things. God, what a stupid idea."

"So... do you guys have a phone I could use? Mines kinda" June presented his phone.

"This model isn't designed to fold."

"I need to call my mom." Mortimer pulls out a surprisingly newer phone model and passes it to June June called his mom and put on an indifferent voice.

"Hallo, I'm not coming home my friend had a medical emergency and I need to go check on them" The phone beeped before she had time to respond"Uh... She doesn't let me go out this late... or stay over at friends' houses. Anyways, that modeling agency... does it have a couch I could sleep on for the night?" It felt like the quiet world got quieter after his phone call. Mortimer coughed.

"You're not mad, boy?" June looked at the old man, trying to find a reason he would be mad.

"No? Why are you asking me that? Also could you answer the question about the couch thing, I'd rather not appear at my friends place in assless chaps" Even Mortimer seemed a bit awkward; they were trying to kill each other a few minutes prior, and now this boy jokes about showing up to his friend's home in assless chaps.

'The boy has a sense of humor that's for sure'"A limo will arrive in a while; men's clothing will be available in the cabin." The awkwardness was killing him. June was starting to miss the beast.

June was sitting awkwardly in a lavish limo cabin in oversized clothes'Why didn't they have anything smaller than XL, and couldn't they have something more comfortable?' June was wearing one of Mortimer's spare suits; the leg and arm sleeves were way too large for him considering Mortimer was much taller than him. June was a Medium, but often enjoyed baggy comfier Large clothing, but XL made him look like a toddler in adult clothing, his hands were hidden near the forearms of the suit.

Mortimer only had one pair of sunglasses, specifically tiny round sunglasses that stoners or people in Hawaiian shirts often wore in movies.

June sat in the corner seat, looking like a grumpy child in adult-sized clothing; the provided sunglasses failed to obscure the glow that his eyes emitted.

'I miss my old sunglasses' June developed a liking for his cheap sunglasses and started to feel indecent without them.

'This feels like wearing skimpy clothes.' In the opposite corner seat from June; Lilia was sitting in his letterman's jacket indirectly staring at June through the tinted reflection of the limos privacy window with a fond smile.

'When should I ask for that Jacket back' Mortimer sat in between them, making the cozy limo equally parts uncomfortable.

'Should I say something?' June tapped his foot uncomfortably on the floor.

"These seats are surprisingly soft." June coughed at the lack of reaction.

"So... care to elaborate on the business cards?" Lilia opened her mouth to talk, but Mortimer abruptly starting to speak'Someone doesn't like it when we speak.' Mortimer, in short, explained the modeling agency handles standard modeling, but they also handle artists and actors and have their hands in plenty of different industries. The business card that was provided to June was specifically for photoshoot modeling with upward mobility; training would be provided for free.

They also take care of their models' catering and such. The pay was well beyond what June expected, the work conditions looked fine too. He wasn't to versed when it came to business, but he knew enough to know that this offer was a good one, it was so good in fact that June signed the contract in the limo, he of course read the contract several times before signing. The second business card was an invitation to work in the royal castle.

June was a little reluctant, but for some reason Mortimer really wanted June to become his apprentice; in fact, it was less of him working for the castle and more of him taking a free apprenticeship under Mortimer that he was able to walk away from at any time.

"Yeah sure I guess" Mortimers eyes lit up, his shriveled face and gray hairs seemed to recover their color for a second.

"Very well chap, I will have a envoy escort you to the castle once you wake" June for some reason felt like he might have bitten off more than he could chew.

'A free apprenticeship is a free apprenticeship' June didn't really know how apprenticeships worked. But now he had to juggle a job, working towards his bachelor's in game development in the waking realm and an unknown apprenticeship in the night realm. His life has just gotten a lot more busy.