Rain fell from the clouds in a grand spectacle, chilling wind threw droplets around the streets in a horrid torrent. The sound of cascading water reverberated through the darkening city.
Amidst it all, a man walked undisturbed by the frigid wake. His hair and clothes soaked, layers of water covering his body. Behind him dripped a path of water.
Mark looked up to see another lit building- where he would go next.
Maybe this time he would get lucky.
Walking into the fine establishment, he quickly scanned his surroundings. One person was working at the counter, a menu full of meals for every part of the day. The place was a diner.
The woman at the counter seemed grossly fatigued- like someone who worked nearly every hour of the day. Her bagged eyes lit upon seeing a soaked man enter her business.
"Heavens above! Let me get you a towel, wait right there!"
"Thank you."
He smiled while taking a further glance at the menu. It was getting late and all his work was beginning to take a toll, his stomach was painfully growling.
Not daring to wet the floors more than he already did, Mark simply stood at the entrance and waited for the lady to return.
She was probably the owner of this place, as her fatigue seemed to be caused by working a shift from morning to night without stopping. An employee couldn't do the same- the pay would be too high.
Only by making the best impression would he be able to attempt to find a job here. Luckily, the owner seems sympathetic enough- to the point of getting a towel for him.
And even if her concern was an act, he had to try. This could be the opening he had been looking for.
The owner returned with the towel. It was stained and unkempt, but Mark didn't care. He was even happy, to see that there was enough business to keep her distracted from cleaning it, and for being able to somewhat alleviate his soaking head.
Taking the towel with a bow, he quickly planned out the actions he would take next. His calculating eyes were hidden while he wiped himself.
Shortly after, he looked at the owner with a haggard face, perseverance burning in his eerie-black eyes. Mark was surprised and slightly upset that he wasn't shivering- it would have added to the effect if he were.
He took out his wallet and from it a few notes.
"I'll have some of the chicken soup."
The brunette once said that this dish was especially helpful when dealing with a cold- which he probably had by now. It also seemed warming, which was already a great appeal.
His words brought a smile to the woman's face; well, the ability did most of the work.
"Of course, coming right up!"
Maybe he had just fallen into some sort of emotional trap, the owner having given him the towel as a way to coerce him into buying something... the same way Mark had coerced his patrons into buying more drinks with good hospitality.
Yet it honestly didn't matter. He was setting his own playing field- and if it meant losing some money, so be it. Getting on her good side was the first step, and what better way to do so than by giving some business?
The lady used a ladle to siphon the soup from the pot. Shortly after, there was a bowl of steaming soup before the young man who was now sitting at the counter.
He unhesitantly took a spoonful of the golden broth. It was scalding, or perhaps Mark was simply freezing. Nevertheless, overwhelming heat burned through his body while the young man forced himself to smile.
Mark looked up at the owner.
"What fine skills you have! This dish truly warms the heart- an experience like no other!"
She returned the smile, a fire seemed to have been lit under her fatigued appearance as her actions suddenly became fluid.
"It's always a pleasure."
At this point, Mark felt that her actions were genuine, her entire being fueled by the idea of helping a seemingly poor man like himself find a sanctuary amidst the storm.
Now, it was time to see just how deep her generosity really is.
Calling back on years of communicative experience in the bar, he started up a conversation with the owner while instigating feelings of curiosity and concern in her.
Hopefully this would help lead things in the right direction.
The soup was slowly consumed- Mark mostly having forgotten about the dish with only the burns in his mouth and throat to serve as a reminder of it. He constantly held his gaze at the woman behind the counter while he talked lightheartedly.
Eventually, he heard exactly what he wanted.
"So, what were you doing in that storm anyway? You should take better care of yourself, lest you get sick."
'Finally!'
Mark suddenly soured, his appearance rapidly shifting from sunny to solemn, the stars in his eyes extinguishing as he looked down.
"Right..."
He then raised his head with a half-broken expression, a slightly hopeless temperament.
"My dad died not so long ago, putting my family in a desperate position. We had some money to last us for a few years, and yet... it's all worth nothing now. Inflation wiped out our savings and almost put us in poverty. Only my job was enough to keep us stable."
The young man shook his head as if entangled in a never-ending nightmare.
"But now there isn't a job to support us. We're both starving and I... I don't know if she can make it through the day, let alone the year."
Tears seemed to well up in his eyes while he looked at the person before him directly in the eyes.
"What more can I do than endure the wind, rain, and snow while trying to find a job? The only other option is dying in the process."
He internally rejoiced to see the owner so shaken, nearly petrified at that.
'Alright, sorrow and sympathy it is. A touch of selflessness too.'
After having refined the small speech so many times, there was finally a breakthrough. Everything good truly does take time to achieve, experience being the only guide to success- especially in this treacherous world.
Eventually, the woman broke out of her trance with unbridled sorrow- expressed in a desolate sigh.
"How tough these times are for those like us. I wish there was some way I could help you..."
'Utter crap.'
They both knew there was an answer to that, and neither were willing to approach it.
Mark smiled.
"No need, really! I'm sure providence will bestow me grace in some form."
He noticed the necklace she was wearing. There was a cross on it. And if the woman was religious, it could be used as an opening.
But for now, Mark shifted the conversation away from his unemployment, he instead talked about lighter, brighter things.
Only by giving her relief would he be able to utterly shatter it.
The young man refocused on his meal which was unfortunately lukewarm, slowly emptying it, giving praises in the process.
It was a delicacy to his chilled body, a temporary relief from the merciless night.
When the golden broth had finally disappeared, Mark deemed himself ready to continue to the third, final step.
A short silence covered the room while he gave the owner a meaningful gaze.
"Say, you don't seem too well off yourself. Make sure not to overwhelm your body with too much work. Do you need anyone to help out?"
She looked at Mark with a pitiful gaze, fully aware of the implications behind his words. Both feeling pity for the young man and knowing that she could very well collapse from exhaustion on any day, the offer was a bit tempting.
At least, Mark made sure to instill a sense of temptation in the woman. Who knows if it will work?
He held his breath while expectantly gazing at the owner.
This was it.
The decision lay in her following words.
Mark watched as the owner hesitantly opened her mouth, then closed it along with her eyes, before opening them both once more.
"Maybe one day... but not right now. Thank you for the offer."
They both looked down, dejection permeating their hearts- the owner regretting her inability to help the man, Mark for having failed once more.
But then the woman suddenly propped up. She grabbed a paper and a pen, writing something down before handing it over.
"Please visit these places. They might be able to give you a job."
He took it, taken aback by the benevolence.
"Thanks!"
Bowing, Mark folded the paper and left the diner.
This was probably the closest he had gotten yet. Employment seemed but a few steps away, he just had to reach out his hand.
Rain met him as the warmth left, replaced with the familiar, chilling wind.
He looked up, keeping his neck strained while droplets bombarded his face.
The clouds were unendingly dark.