InterSkate
Though it's before noon, and only a Tuesday, the rink's doors are open. There are very few patrons in here. Since, many don't know the rink is open yet. Which, officially it's not. He still needs to have the Grand Opening, but… well, in time. The owner needs to work out a few things yet. Said owner Wayne is at the mini-pro shop with a customer, who is buying skates for herself. She's sitting on the carpeted counter near-by, as he fills out paperwork, having just got done sizing her feet. After the paperwork is done she's on her way, with a pair of rentals, to put them on to skate awhile. Right now, it's just him running everything. So he has skates on his feet. Once he's done with her, he glides over to the food counter. Washing and sanitizing his hands and takes some food orders. He's a busy man, it seems. An old warehouse has been converted into a roller skating rink. The entrance is the main entrance into the warehouse has neon lights that read InterSkate. Another in a window that when lit says the rink is open. Not lit when the rink is closed.
Upon entering, the area is very spacious. To the left of the door is a counter and cash register, where you pay to skate, and rent skates. Behind the counter are shelves of rental skates in all sizes from toddler to adult skates. As well as tools for cleaning and repairing them. As well as a door marked 'Private', with a dog door cut into the bottom of it. Where the office and the stairs that lead up to the owner's apartment. The counter travels all the way along, paralleling the wall. The counter is mostly all wood, carpeted so that skates can be repaired etc. There is also a glass display area, below, for new skate styles of boots. The upper holding the lates styles in wheels regular and in-line, laces, and pompoms for the ladies skates. There are also carrying cases available for sale. Then there is the food area. Glass displays with candy bars. With signs here and there with the brand names of boots available, and wheels. There is also a small kitchen, where hot-dogs, burgers, fries, sodas and other foods are cooked and served, with it's own cash register. There is a small area with tables and benches to sit and eat. Then the area for the restrooms.
To the right of the door is a mini arcade, that even includes ski-ball, pool tables and all the really cool old video games. Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Pinball games etc.
There are three separate rinks. The main floor just for general skaters, that's quite spacious, all wood and surrounded on three sides by a half wall, with entrances here and there on the larger side. With benches on the outer sides, for patrons to sit and put on their skates. In one corner is the sound booth, where a large variety of music is stored as well as the equipment to play the music. The second rink, surrounded by three half walls is a smaller rink. Meant for the really young skaters. Though on adult night, those that want to practice fancy tricks and stuff can do so in there as well. The walls are padded, the decor is pretty well preschool'ish. As well as Disney Characters and other kid favored characters. The sound booth is more or less between those rinks. The third rink is in a separate room and odd shaped, with a banked floor for roller derby and speed skate races. Surrounded by glass and bleachers. All well lit, unless they are doing specials, like couples skate, etc. There is a disco ball in the middle of the main floor, as well as strobe lights, and all sorts of fancy lights, that create patterns and pictures over the floor. There are signs here and there, advertising birthday parties, the rules, hours, etc.
Though it's before noon, and only a Tuesday, the rink's doors are open. There are very few patrons in here. Since, many don't know the rink is open yet. Which, officially it's not. He still needs to have the Grand Opening, but.. well, in time. The owner needs to work out a few things yet. Said owner Wayne is at the mini-pro shop with a customer, who is buying skates for herself. She's sitting on the carpeted counter near-by, as he fills out paperwork, having just got done sizing her feet. After the paperwork is done she's on her way, with a pair of rentals, to put them on to skate awhile. Right now, it's just him running everything. So he has skates on his feet. Once he's done with her, he glides over to the food counter. Washing and sanitizing his hands and takes some food orders. He's a busy man, it seems.
Allison has already managed to hear about the skating rink from a few older brothers and sisters of her daycare group, and has deemed it worthy of checking out. She makes her way through the front doors wearing something that's fairly bland as far as Allison's usual taste in clothing goes — or colors, rather: a gray tank top, black jeans, and black tennis shoes. She pulls her sunglasses from her eyes and takes a long look around the place. When Allison spots a worker over at the food counter, she breaths a sigh of relief. No one had actually told her they'd had food, but she'd hoped upon hope. Allison makes her way to the food counter and sits down at a stool, perusing the menu for a long moment before trying to grab Wayne's attention.
There is so much here, that it might be overwhelming to some. But Wayne keeps it in good order. Once he has the other customers taken care of.. first come, first served, he spots Allison and smiles at her, "Welcome to InterSkate." he greets her, as he does for everyone. As he's pulling on fresh plastic gloves to handle food he asks, "What can I get you?" The menu is semi limited, but still good food. When another customer enters the rink to skate and rent skates, he signals a 'wait a moment' gesture to the patron, as he takes care of the food order. He needs employees, and fast. He has one, but well she doesn't officially start until the Grand Opening. He's dressed pretty casually as well, jeans, t-shirt, black hair pulled back into a tight braided ponytail.
"I'll have a cheeseburger with everything, an order of fries, and a large Coke, please." Allison says with a smile. She glances around to the other patrons at the food station and then turns back to Wayne before he darts off somewhere else. "'Scuse me sir, do you happen to know where I can find the proprietor of this business? I wanted to ask him about a roller derby." She explains as she sets her sunglasses down atop of the counter and reaches up to tie her hair in a knot that'll keep it away from her face.
Wayne smiles, "You got it." and he's off to get her order started, and take care of the new arrival. Returning in time to put on fresh gloves and to flip the burgers and hear her question. "I'm the owner, and right now, only employee as well." he says with a grin. "Name's Wayne Evans by the way." he adds, as he takes care of the fries as they bubble and snap in the deep fryer. He then gets her drink then gets the bun and paper trays for her food. "What would you like to know?"
Allison pauses and smiles at Wayne for a moment. "The only employee? Aren't you kind of required by law to have someone else around? I'd definitely check into that before someone blows the whistle. Besides, you're getting a decent amount of business here. Your eyes can't be everywhere at once — someone could steal ya blind." That helpful bit of advice is left behind as Allison moves onto her next thought, taking in a deep breath. "Do you happen to have any plans for an old-fashioned roller derby? Y'know, girls pushin' each other and such? I was gonna see if you were interested in somethin' like that. I know I am."
Wayne nods, "Yeah I know, I got one other employee, she doesn't start until the Grand Opening. I got the word out, just seems like no one's really interested. At least right now it's not too busy." He serves up the food, soon as it's ready, and sets it in front of her. "Though i think I'll talk her into starting early. If you know anyone in need of a job. Send them my way." Then on to the Derby stuff. "Actually, that's just what I was planning on doing." He indicates the extra rink, not the main one or the kiddy rink. "Races and Derbies actually. I got prizes, trophies and such ready for those nights. Just need more help here, announcers, judges, refs etc. To keep things fair."
"I bet you will be though. Place like this in the summer? I'm surprise there aren't more people in here, to be honest." Allison seems to mean it — and also seems to like the rink enough. She takes a sip of her Coke and smiles at Wayne, face lighting up with excitement as he confirms her idea. "Excellent! Count me in for that then. I love to blade and I've always wanted to be in a derby. There weren't in where I was raised, so…" She trails off in order to take a bite of her burger. Allison nods to Wayne after she's chewed it up and swallowed it all polite-like. "Not too bad. My name is Allison. Nice to meet ya, Wayne."
Wayne nods, "Oh yeah, especially when thy find the place is air conditioned." he says with a chuckle. Looking around the place, "Nor where I grew up, but there was a regular skating rink, I've been skating ever since I could walk, just about. And when I was old enough to work, I worked at it too. Was always my dream. Some areas, rollerskating is dieing. But so long as I'm here, it won't here in Dallas." he grins. The arcade is hopping more then the actual rink is, right now. Kids show up at the counter for change. "Looks like I'll need one of those change machines installed too." since it's taking change from the food register. He keeps all the registers, and their purchases separate, for ordering what needs to be. The rental and regular fee is one, the food is another and the mini-pro-shop is for that stuff. "A pleasure to meet you as well Allison." He looks her over, and possibly almost sniffs at her, something about her seems almost familiar.. ish. But with human customers around, he doesn't pry.
While Wayne is talking, Allison is stuffing. She's stuffing her burger into her mouth, her fries, occasionally washing them down with the Coke. It's not ladylike by a long shot. She's done within a fraction of the time it would take a normal, polite person to eat. Amazingly she manages not to get any food on her face — years of calculated practice, that. Allison too gets that familiar feeling, but doesn't elaborate on it anymore than Wayne does, save for the subtle sniff of the air that could be blamed on a runny nose or allergies. "We didn't even have a skating rink. What we did have was… well, not a whole lot," Allison concedes with a vague shrug of her shoulders. "You've done real good here though. And I think that the change machine might be a good idea," Allison says, nodding off toward the departing kids. She reaches into her jeans and offers Wayne up a ten and a five.
Wayne seems not to really notice the way she eats. Or politely ignores it. He takes the money, slipping it into the register and giving her the change. No way her food cost that much. Good, cheap food. "The rink was the only good feature Santa Fe had, far as I was concerned any. Never got into trouble because I was having fun there, or working there." He has to go change the music now.. "Excuse me a sec, we need a new CD. Tired of the same mix over and over." He skates over to the sound booth, and swaps CDs. She'll notice, possibly that the strobes and other lights over the pair of rinks move and flash in time with the music. He's soon back, and all is right in the world again. "So, I feel your pain on the not much to do thing. Really."
The change is pocketed. Allison starts to stand up while Wayne moves to go put in another CD. She stretches her arms over her head and lets out a lazy yawn while looking at the nearest wall clock with widened eyes. "Already? I swear these breaks get shorter and shorter…" She sighs very quietly. When Wayne comes back she smiles. "Glad to know someone else shares my pain. For now though, I gotta jet back to work. I'll stop in again soon, okay? Nice to meet you!" Allison says, before she starts to take her leave.
Wayne smiles at her, "It was a pleasure to meet you as well Allison. You're welcome anytime." he says to her, since he's on her side of the counter, he offers his hand to shake, warmly. A bit closer now, to give her more of a sniff. Lock eyes with her a moment, possibly too. "Breaks usually are. Oh here.." he reaches for a rollerskate shapped magnet, with InterSkate on it, and the hours, and a few other tidbits of info.
"Oooo…" Allison says to the magnet. Who doesn't love free stuff? It's just a matter of Allison not losing it somehow during work and actually making it back to her apartment with the thing. She pockets it and smiles at Wayne. The sniffing doesn't seem to bother her, nor does the eye contact. in fact, she doesn't seem to notice at all. It is Dallas, perhaps she's been subject to stranger things during her time here. "I'll see you later, Wayne. Thanks for everything!" With that, she's bustling toward the doors as she mumbles about 'pool days'.
