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Post by fagin on Jul 20, 2010 1:53:56 GMT -5
"That will indeed, be sufficient,"
Fagin smiled at Jane's words, not thinking to read anything further into them, not even guessing that sufficient wasn't as good as what Jane would wish for. He nodded and made his way towards the back room, explaining as he went how he'd taken to keeping the cash in a safe back there, in case someone tried to rob the shop. An utter lie of course, but there was a grain of truth in it.
Having scraped together the amount Jane would need (a one hundred dollar bill, a fifty and two twenties) Fagin returned to the main shop and, with another smile, handed the money to Miss Eyre.
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JANE EYRE
High Class
Jane Eyre
"Small and plain, not heartless."
Posts: 578
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Post by JANE EYRE on Jul 20, 2010 11:47:15 GMT -5
"Thank you," Jane said with a small nod. She took the money carefully and, like last time, counted it discreetly. It was tucked away quickly and Jane was extending a hand. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Fagin, as always," Jane put on a happy face and a pleasant smile though her mind was still on her money problems. What if buying non perishables wasn't enough to pay for the fridge? What if Mr. Fagin suddenly changed his mind? She wouldn't have enough money coming in to pay for her apartment then.
Jane supposed that she could write to England and ask for some money but she desperately didn't want to do that. She cut all ties with her home when she moved to New York.
She would figure it out. Jane always did when things went wrong or were tough. It was part of who she was; no use in fretting without seeing some results.
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Post by fagin on Jul 21, 2010 8:03:48 GMT -5
As Jane quickly pocketed the money, having counted it, and extended a hand to shake his, Fagin returned the gesture, his smile still in place.
"The pleasure is all mine Miss Eyre," Fagin replied, releasing her hand. "However...forgive me for intruding and making assumptions...but you don't seem...entirely satisfied...with the price I've offered...would I be correct in saying so? I can always incease it if you wish."
Though I don't want to. But I'm an agreeable man. Sort of.
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JANE EYRE
High Class
Jane Eyre
"Small and plain, not heartless."
Posts: 578
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Post by JANE EYRE on Jul 21, 2010 22:18:50 GMT -5
"No, Mr. Fagin, what you've given me is fine. I'm just having some refridgeration troubles, that's all. You don't need to worry about it," Jane smiled reassuringly. She didn't want to set him back like this. It wasn't her place to ask for more money than what he offered. After all, he was her only buyer and she didn't want to lose his business.
Mr. Fagin's money was already helping her to make rent. And, since her super wasn't the best of men and was trying to milk as much money from her as he could the little money she got from her art sells to Mr. Fagin helped greatly.
"Thank you again,"
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Post by fagin on Jul 21, 2010 23:48:37 GMT -5
"No,Mr. Fagin, what you've given me is fine. I'm just having some refridgeration troubles, that's all. You don't need to worry about it,"
"Refrigeration troubles, eh?" Fagin said, ignoring what Jane had said about him not needing to worry. Despite the fact he was unwilling to part with his money and had problems enough of his own, Fagin had been raised a good man. He wanted to help Jane as she had helped him.
Of course, his good upbringing had rather fallen by the wayside as late. Yet some shreds of it still remained in his everyday personality...the 'legal', less criminally inclined one.
"What's the troubles you're having, my dear? Is it broken, or d'you need a new one? I'm sure I've got one knocking about somewhere in this shop."
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JANE EYRE
High Class
Jane Eyre
"Small and plain, not heartless."
Posts: 578
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Post by JANE EYRE on Jul 22, 2010 0:08:57 GMT -5
"It's broken and I need to pay for a repair. My super isn't responsible for any of the equipment in the apartments unless it's electrical or plumbing related," Jane shrugged. "I needed an apartment badly so I couldn't afford to be picky about leases when I first moved here," Jane gave an uncomfortable laugh.
She didn't like her apartment with the rats and the occasional roach that would swim up out of the shower drain. She didn't like the water stained walls and cracked ceiling. She didn't like the almost nonexistent kitchen. Jane didn't care for her living space at all but she had been raised in such a way to appreciate what she had. She did have a roof. She did have clean (ish) water. She did have air conditioning and heating.
That was much more than many had, something that Jane saw whenever she walked down the street in the Bronx or Brooklyn.
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Post by fagin on Jul 22, 2010 1:29:01 GMT -5
"It's broken and I need to pay for a repair. My super isn't responsible for any of the equipment in the apartments unless it's electrical or plumbing related...I needed an apartment badly so I couldn't afford to be picky about leases when I first moved here,"
"Ah," Fagin said, with an understanding little nod. "I see. I'm sorry to hear that, my dear, very sorry indeed."
And he was. He didn't like to hear that the one person who was providing him with stock to sell at present was note entirely at ease with her situation.
"Are you sure I couldn't persuade you to take some extra cash to cover the expenses, my dear? The least I could do, after what you've done for me."
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JANE EYRE
High Class
Jane Eyre
"Small and plain, not heartless."
Posts: 578
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Post by JANE EYRE on Jul 22, 2010 21:14:29 GMT -5
"Are you sure I couldn't persuade you to take some extra cash to cover the expenses, my dear? The least I could do, after what you've done for me."
"Mr. Fagin, I can't take any more money. You've offered a perfectly fair price for the paintings as well as the sketch. You're very kind to offer more, but I simply can't accept it," Jane wouldn't accept extra money as it was offered now. She wasn't one to accept charity when it was offered as charity.
Paycheck advancements Jane could accept, but not charity. Especially from the man who was already helping her to make rent.
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Post by fagin on Jul 25, 2010 9:14:26 GMT -5
"Mr. Fagin, I can't take any more money. You've offered a perfectly fair price for the paintings as well as the sketch. You're very kind to offer more, but I simply can't accept it,"
Fagin smiled again and shook his head.
"Very well, very well, as you wish my dear," he said, with another nod. Inside he was elated that he didn't need to part with any more of his precious cash, but that would not to be the greatest thing to reveal to Jane.
"Is there anything else I can do for you, since you're here? Or shall we just say five o' clock same day next week and have done with it?"
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JANE EYRE
High Class
Jane Eyre
"Small and plain, not heartless."
Posts: 578
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Post by JANE EYRE on Jul 25, 2010 14:05:03 GMT -5
"I don't think so Mr. Fagin. Five o'clock next week," Jane nodded her head subtley, more to herself than to Mr. Fagin. "Thank you again. Have a nice evening," Jane waved her hand a little in good bye and made her way to the door. She was turning the handle when a question popped into her head that she had to ask.
"Um, before I leave...you wouldn't happen to know anything about locks would you?" Jane's front lock had been sticking and even though it hadn't been a problem in her eyes, it was one more nuisance than she needed. It hadn't been her intention to ask Mr. Fagin about it at all but Jane figured that while she was here she might as well. Maybe on the way home she could pick up anything she needed to fix it if he had any idea of what to do.
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Post by fagin on Jul 27, 2010 12:37:57 GMT -5
As Jane made her goodbyes, waved and turned to leave, Fagin smiled and waved in return before turning back to the paintings, debating inwardly where best to place them in the shop for maximum and swift profit. He'd just picked up the self portrait and was about to move to hang it in the shop window or similar when he heard Jane's query; clearly she hadn't left the shop as he'd thought.
Fagin replaced the picture on the desk and turned to face Jane again with a ready smile. He was by no means a locksmith of even all that proficient at lock picking. But he did know a thing or two. You never knew what little tricks and skills would help you out in this business.
"Why yes, my dear," Fagin replied, with a small nod. "I do know a thing or two...why do you ask?"
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JANE EYRE
High Class
Jane Eyre
"Small and plain, not heartless."
Posts: 578
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Post by JANE EYRE on Jul 28, 2010 1:17:13 GMT -5
"The deadbolts been sticking. It's not that bad but it's getting to be a bit of a nuisance. You wouldn't happen to have any tricks to make it actually work, would you?" Jane explained. Even though she wasn't locked out of her apartment, it was getting tiring fighting with the dead bolt every day. Especially on days when her arms were full of assignments that needed grading. The shaking of the key in the lock jostled the papers and they usually ended up on the floor.
Once inside her apartment, Jane would have to spend nearly twenty minutes just sorting the papers again; first by class period, then alphabetically. And, with nearly eighty in-class students along with home schooled ones who took her class long distance and sent their papers in, that was quite a feat. Jane didn't mind the busy work though. It was so much easier just to focus on that rather than her lack of entertainment.
A person could read only so many books in the uncomfortable silence of their home before they went mad.
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Post by fagin on Jul 28, 2010 15:00:07 GMT -5
"The deadbolts been sticking. It's not that bad but it's getting to be a bit of a nuisance. You wouldn't happen to have any tricks to make it actually work, would you?"
Fagin nodded as Jane spoke, then mulled over the question. The deadbolt was sticking...Fagin wasn't entirely sure what a deadbolt was, or indeed how to fix it. But it would be rude, considering he'd just told Jane he knew about locks. D***.
"Er..." he said, at length. "I'm sorry my dear but my level of expertise falls just short...have you tried trying to loosen the lock with grease or something...make it easier to move?"
He shrugged and bit his lip, realizing that knowledge of how to pick locks and how to fix broken ones weren't really the same kettle of fish.
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JANE EYRE
High Class
Jane Eyre
"Small and plain, not heartless."
Posts: 578
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Post by JANE EYRE on Aug 2, 2010 21:19:46 GMT -5
"I'm sorry my dear but my level of expertise falls just short...have you tried trying to loosen the lock with grease or something...make it easier to move?"
"Oh it's alright. I think if I went to a hardware store somebody there should be able to help me." Jane smiled and waved good-bye once more. "Thank you anyways. Have a nice evening Mr. Fagin," Jane pushed open the shop door and exited the shop for real this time.
Stepping out into the slightly warm air was a wonderful feeling. It was just warm enough and just dry enough to be a pleasantly soothing effect. Jane didn't like it when it was too hot out or when it was too humid. Of course, she grew up in a humid place but that didn't mean she enjoyed it. Jane was, so far, more inclined to New York weather already. Not to sound vain, but the air in New York was better for Jane's skin. Instead of dry or splotchy, it was starting to smooth and even out.
At least that thought could possibly make up for the refrigerator rebellion and cockroach invasion.
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Post by fagin on Aug 3, 2010 17:16:06 GMT -5
"Oh it's alright. I think if I went to a hardware store somebody there should be able to help me."
Fagin nodded. Someone at a hardware store would most likely be of more help than he was. Well, he couldn't say he hadn't tried. He returned Jane's smile and her wave, following her to the door so he could shut up shop.
"Thank you anyways. Have a nice evening Mr. Fagin,"
"You too my dear, you too," Fagin replied.
Having seen Jane walk away, Fagin closed and locked the shop door, turning the sign around to announce its closure and proceeded to hang up the paintings in pride of place. If these sold as well as the last ones he'd have no trouble paying off that particularly nasty 'colleague' of his...
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