Because I *love* character development, especially through dialogue, here's a small teaser for my Spring/Summer project. I hope the dialogue, alone, creates a vivid image of each character in the mind of the readers (and for those of us who hate job interviews)...

The following audio files were pre-employment interviews of candidates Lloyd Garner, Reggie Penn, Juniper-Bell "JB" Downing, and Walter "Tex" Wilson. All candidates were applying for entry-level positions within the tactical division of the interviewing firm (Code Name: The Knaves). Interviews were recorded with the consent of all parties for employment consideration, and retained for liability reasons. They were filed by Investigator H. Cawthorne-Dade:

Interviewer: "Welcome. Juniper-Bell? That's an interesting name."
JB: *scowling* "I hate my name. I don't know what my parents were thinking. I go by 'JB'."

* * *

Tex: "Please call me Tex. When people call me Walter they assume I'm not the spry thirty-year-old that sits before you."
Interviewer: "Where'd you get the nickname? Are you from Texas?"
Tex: "Nope. It's a story that's a bit too inappropriate to tell. We barely know each other."

* * *

Garner: "Lloyd. Or Garner. Or Lloyd Garner. I'm pretty much fine with everything."

* * *

Reggie Penn: "Reggie is fine, ma'am."

* * *

Interviewer: "So tell me about yourself"
JB: "I just did."

* * *

Tex: "How about you tell me a little about yourself first?"

* * *

Garner: "I'm Lloyd. H-hello."

* * *

Reggie: "I'm a recently retired police officer of twenty years, and just looking for something to help pass the time. Retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be."

* * *

Interviewer: "What do you know about our company?"
Garner: *look of confused panic* "Umm... th-that you're hiring. And you're willing to train the right person?"

* * *

Interviewer: "What would you say is your weakest quality?"
JB: "What are you hoping to hear when you ask that question? Do people really answer honestly? I'm a perfectionist. There. Now you know my weakest quality-- I'm willing to lie to a total stranger. File that away in your notes for the future. The next time someone gives you a similar answer, you can simply jot down: 'Liar'."

* * *

Tex: *smiling* "I sometimes care too much about other people. Especially coworkers and bosses, I'll just go above and beyond, sometimes at the detriment of my personal life."

* * *

Garner: "I'll be honest. I'm not a good multi-tasker. I sometimes get confused and need help."

* * *

Interviewer: "Where do you see yourself in five years?"
JB: "Hell if I know. Between you and me, I'm not sure where I see myself five minutes from now."

* * *

Tex: "Part owner of the company, I hope. After rising through the ranks, of course."

* * *

Garner: "Working here?"

* * *

Reggie: "On a beautiful beach, laying in the sand with a cool beer in one hand, and my winning lottery ticket in the other. But realistically, private sector law enforcement with a good balance of risk and reward."

* * *

Interviewer: "What are your three greatest strengths?"
JB: "I filled out the application correctly, I showed up on time, and I didn't wear pajama pants to the interview."

* * *

Tex: "I'm motivated, I'm personable. I'm adorable. I'm an all-around delight."

* * *

Garner: "My cousin is one of the guys who works here. Can I have a minute to think of two others?"

* * *

Reggie: "Paperwork. I'm no stranger to it. With me you get 20 years in the field. And last... well let's face it, I don't have a whole lot of hobbies that take up my free time."

* * *

Interviewer: "Why do you want this job?
JB: "The same reason everyone wants a job: money. And out of all of the ads I read, this sounded the least objectionable."

* * *

Tex: "I've been hoping to get my foot through the door at a place like this. And I look good in a uniform."

* * *

Garner: "I heard you issue some really sweet guns."

* * *

Reggie: "It gets me out of the house, and it sounds safer than police work."

* * *

Interviewer: "Tell me about a time where you had a disagreement with a coworker or a boss and how did you resolve it?"
JB: *after pausing for a very long time* "I work best alone."

* * *

Tex: "Umm... me and a coworker had a minor dust up over the same girl. You know how love triangles can get when we're young and stupid?"
Interviewer: "How was it resolved?"
Tex: "They divorced."

* * *

Garner: "He didn't like me. I don't really remember why or what it was about. But I took him out for drinks, then I let him get it off his chest by taking a few swings at me."
Interviewer: "Did that fix it?"
Garner: "...I don't really remember."