If there was one thing in this world that Felix disliked above all else, it was someone else knowing things that he didn’t.
Which was the reason he disliked the new museum docent. She had been hired for the museum’s new ‘Fashion Throughout History’ exhibit, a topic that Felix was woefully undereducated on. Coming to work and seeing the new section every day felt like rubbing salt in the wound, though he was slowly educating himself about it.
He supposed that the docent herself wasn’t a bad person. She was kind, always greeting him with a smile and offering him croissants. All of his coworkers loved her and she had been admittedly good for business, her knowledge and bubbly personality causing a noticeable bump in museum tours, especially though her exhibit.
“Good morning Felix!” She cheered, waving as she walked by.
“Marinette,” he grumbled back.
“Good luck today! I hear that there’s a big group booked for this afternoon! Middle schoolers, you know. Usually difficult to deal with.” She made a playfully disgusted face.
“They are.”
“Do you like kids?”
“No.” He hoped that if he kept his answers short and clipped that she would take the hint. She did, leaving with a soft goodbye.
Felix might have felt a pang in his heart at her downtrodden expression, but the feeling was mercilessly crushed. She was only another obstacle to overcome in his goal to become the museum director someday.
At least they worked in different exhibits, so the chances of them running into each other were slim. If nothing else, he had that.
- - - - - -
“You want me to do what?” Felix seethed at the director, who stared back with a deadpan expression.
“Felix, you’re a brilliant docent and I couldn’t ask for someone who’s more passionate about the history of the objects we have on display, but your people skills need some work. Marinette is extremely personable and ever since we hired her on, we’ve seen a tremendous increase in interest for her exhibit and the rest by association. I want that kind of reputation for all of our exhibits.”
“But to make us guide tours together? She doesn’t know anything about literary history!” It was a desperate attempt and Felix knew it. The director was good at what they did and their logic was, unfortunately, good.
“Hence the ‘together’ portion of the job. What you know, you talk about. What she knows, she talks about. In the process, maybe you can learn something about how to deal with people.” Felix started to protest again and they held up a hand, silencing him. “I don’t want to hear any more about this, it’s happening whether you like it or not, starting tomorrow. Dismissed.”
He spun and exited the room, closing the door with a bit more force than absolutely necessary.
“Hey, Felix, do you know what the director wants to talk to me about?” Marinette asked as she entered the small waiting area.
“You and I are going to be working together,” he snarled.
She looked taken aback. “Oh. But I don’t know anything about literary history.”
Felix threw his hands in the air. “That’s what I said!”
“And you don’t know anything about fashion history, I assume?”
“And why would you assume that?” His voice was ice.
“Well, this assignment is for each of us to learn more about the other’s exhibit, right? So that we’re more well-rounded and in case they need one of us to lead a specialized tour?”
