Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #214: The Power of Nice (6/15/00)
Riyyh is lying on one of the visitor couches in the plush 53rd District Controller's official Office Suite, which had been unused during Arat's tenure as Controller.
Riyyh is surrounded by a pile of papers, but his attention is on the contents of one of several shopping bags also nearby.
Riyyh went shopping on the way in this morning, which explains why it's already early evening and he's only been here a half hour.
Riyyh sniffs a sample of a competitor's tea, appreciatively.
Riyyh gets up to put some hot water on, so he can try some.
Riyyh is wearing the regulation Tecton uniform, but it is partially unbuttoned to reveal his (rather handsome, or so he's told) chest. He is also wearing a lot more jewelry than most Tecton minions can manage, or would want to.
Riyyh's hair is unregulation in length and though it is braided here and there, it is certainly not neatly out of the way as the Tecton would prefer.
Riyyh doesn't sweat the regulations, at least not to the point of actual sweating.
Seruffin signals at the 53rd District's official Controller's office, which he managed to relocate after a three year hiatus.
Seruffin is sweating, having first gone to the fifth floor out of habit.
Seruffin, like Riyyh, does not usually exert himself to the extent of five flights of stairs up and four down.
Riyyh looks up, and sees that the door has somehow closed itself.
Riyyh believes in an open door, at least to the waiting room part of the suite.
Riyyh goes over to open the door, teapot still in one hand.
Riyyh: Why hello, Seruffin! ~~pleased and welcoming~~
Riyyh: I hope you aren't looking for MaryBelle, she went home a bit early today. And the others are all in Operations taking care of a spill of some sort, as I gather.
Riyyh hadn't really wanted to know, after the word "spill".
Seruffin: Hello, Riyyh. I thought I'd come over and see how you were doing. Welcome you to the Tecton, and all that.
Seruffin: ...Dear me, a spill?
Riyyh: Thank you. [kindly] Please, come in and have some tea. I am trying out the Best Zest from Oolenmeyer's.
Riyyh: Oh dear, yes, apparently there was a bit of a difficulty in one of the wards.
Riyyh: Something to do with a recent change of chemical labelling regulations?
Riyyh is referring actually to the change that took place when Arat left.
Seruffin: Well, one does have to keep up with such things, I suppose.
Riyyh makes sure a chair is free of papers and shopping for his guest, then goes to finish putting the water on.
Riyyh then flutters about putting together a small tray of cookies and cheese, mostly assembled from gifts he received while out schmoozing with shopkeepers the other day.
Seruffin is disinclined to get involved with chemical spills, as his long-ago training gave him more than a lifetime's worth of nasty-smelling, noxious substances.
Riyyh certainly won't let his isolation in Capitol damage Naros' business efforts there -- quite to the contrary in fact.
Seruffin: So, have you been settling in?
Riyyh: Oh yes, everybody has been so kind and helpful. [smiles]
Seruffin is still under the illusion that Riyyh will make running the District for the Tecton his top priority.
Riyyh is really genuinely grateful for everybody's offers of help and direction.
Seruffin smiles.
Seruffin is not unaware of the prestige that will accrue to him as the person who finally got Riyyh ambrov Naros into Tecton uniform--even if it isn't properly buttoned.
Seruffin: No difficulties, I hope?
Seruffin: Everything running smoothly, this spill excepted?
Riyyh beams in what people who have gone to try to extract paperwork from him at Naros would recognize as his everything-is-OK-and-you-aren't-going-to-learn-anything-even-over-my-dead-body smile.
Riyyh: Yes, yes, everything has gone quite well. I'm pleased with the quality of the staff.
Riyyh: And of course Tiarala has been a boon.
Riyyh means, Tiarala has handled most of the dirty work that Riyyh really didn't feel like tackling.
Seruffin: Good, good.
Seruffin is rather depending on Tiarala to break in Riyyh.
Seruffin: Have you had the chance to review the schedule yet?
Seruffin: I know that Arat did take some key staff with him to the Snake Reservoir; if there are any gaps in staffing, do let me know.
Riyyh assumes Seruffin means, besides the obvious gaps in competence.
Riyyh: I am still examining the wards on a case by case basis, but I will be sure to let you know just as soon as possible. [promises]
Seruffin: Good.
Seruffin is not opposed to a week or two's delay before the 53rd District's problems land on his desk again.
Riyyh is actually not acting in quite so methodical a manner.
Riyyh is, to be most precise, wandering about meeting people on a semi-random basis and becoming their new best friend one at a time.
Riyyh is leaving the analytical evaluation of the status of the departments to Tiarala, Grace, and the others who appear to be competent and ambitious.
Seruffin: If you are not too busy settling in,
Seruffin sneaks a look at the desk to judge the level of paper,
Seruffin: there will be a small gathering over at the World Controller's building tomorrow evening.
Riyyh looks quite interested.
Riyyh: Oh? Why, that sounds quite pleasant.
Seruffin: It's nothing terribly formal; just a chance to exchange war stories with other Controllers.
Seruffin is eager to show off the newly-Tectonized Riyyh, so that he will get full credit for his feat.
Riyyh appears fully cooperative.
Riyyh always appears that way, of course.
Riyyh smiles.
Seruffin might not be so eager if he had ever really seen Riyyh in action.
Seruffin: It starts at seven, if you can get free by then?
Riyyh: But of course. [reassuringly]
Seruffin thinks that Riyyh is so much nicer than Arat.
Seruffin: ~~ warm fuzzy ~~
Riyyh positively glows in the niceness ambient.
Seruffin: I am very pleased to have you in charge of the 53rd District.
Seruffin: I look forward to working closely with you.
Seruffin has not studied Narosian customs closely, or he would not have phrased his sentiments in quite that way.
Riyyh: I am delighted to be of service.
Riyyh becomes twice as innocently alluring as usual, with the unintentional innuendo.
Seruffin thinks that Riyyh really is a delightful change from the glowering, intimidating, unzlinnable Arat.
Riyyh smiles at Seruffin again, thinking that the Assistant World Controller is really quite a kind man, and thoroughly unspoiled by the rigors of his post.
Riyyh: [so to speak]
Teapot starts whistling.
Seruffin looks up at the noise.
Riyyh gets up and goes to pour two cups of tea in the 53rd District Office's very fine official china for important visitors.
Seruffin: I really must get going--I shouldn't have been gone so long.
Seruffin: I'll leave you to enjoy your tea.
Riyyh: Oh, dear!
Seruffin: Until tomorrow?
Riyyh dithers over the two tea cups.
Riyyh: Very well.
Riyyh sounds apologetic, as if it was he that was rushing out so suddenly.
Seruffin's nager is also ~~ apologetic ~~
Seruffin: I do appreciate the offer of hospitality, but I have a meeting with my staff, and I'm already late for it.
Seruffin: Do forgive me.
Riyyh: Of course. [kindly]
Seruffin is backing towards the door.
Riyyh looks quite bewildered, but he wouldn't dream of holding Seruffin back from his duties.
Seruffin hurries off to make sure that his staff has the party preparations well in hand, now that the presence of the guest of honor has been assured.
Riyyh watches him leave, and then belatedly takes a sip of one tea cup.
Riyyh: My, that's quite good.
Riyyh sips again.
Riyyh puts down the other tea cup, and smoothes back his hair.
Riyyh hopes that he made a good impression on Seruffin.
Neptude notices that the door is open, so he walks in without signaling.
Riyyh jumps as Neptude walks in.
Neptude wants to set a precedent for who is boss and who is the subordinate early on.
Riyyh: Why, Controller Neptude. What a pleasant surprise. [smiles]
Riyyh isn't so sure about how Neptude is zlinning, though.
Riyyh is anxious not to be on anybody's bad side, of course.
Riyyh: Would you like some tea?
Neptude never quite managed to do that when he was in charge of the 53rd District, and Riyyh was just Sectuib of a House in the District.
Riyyh picks up the second cup again and offers it to Neptude.
Neptude hadn't anticipated such a warm welcome, given their past interactions, and is put somewhat off stride by it.
Neptude: Err... certainly.
Neptude accepts the cup, sniffing it gingerly.
Riyyh: Would you like a seat? I was just working, so it's a bit of a mess. [apologetically]
Neptude's nager brightens at the smell.
Riyyh makes sure the chair is still free, then picks up the plate of cheese and cookies and brings it over to a small table near the chair.
Neptude never did like that garbage that Arat always insisted on serving.
Riyyh: Controller Seruffin was just here, but he was in such a hurry. [frets]
Riyyh: I do hope I didn't manage to offend him.
Neptude takes the indicated seat.
Neptude: Seruffin? Here?
Riyyh is glad that Neptude is being much more amenable to motherhenning.
Riyyh: Yes, such a friendly fellow, don't you think?
Riyyh smiles fondly.
Neptude tries to figure out what that means in terms of how hard he can lean on Riyyh without calling the Powers That Be down on his head.
Neptude: What did he want?
Neptude hopes not much.
Riyyh: Well, he did ask how I was settling in, but I think he must have been by to invite me to a get-together tomorrow. It seemed important to him.
Riyyh beams, as if he was pleased that Seruffin had a project to interest him (which he is).
Riyyh is always glad when people are feeling adequately busy and generally fulfilled, and that's what Seruffin seemed. Maybe a little too much on the busy side.
Neptude reluctantly backpedals a degree or two on his intended level of strong-arming.
Riyyh: Do try these chocolate fingers. They're made by Chernobyl's Bakery on Prince Wales street.
Riyyh: I very nearly bought the store after I sampled one.
Riyyh: Quite special, don't you think?
Neptude automatically reaches for a chocolate, trying to regather his momentum.
Riyyh is eager to befriend and be helpful to Neptude. Not only is Neptude his ranking superior, but Riyyh is eager to do this for practically everybody by default.
Neptude had heard the stories from abashed employees, but this is the first time that he has been subjected to Riyyh's full charm, one-on-one.
Neptude nibbles the chocolate, and raises an eyebrow at the taste.
Neptude: Very.
Riyyh takes advantage of Neptude's distraction to refill the tea cup.
Riyyh smiles with enjoyment of Neptude's discovery of the new treat.
Riyyh finds that surprising others with quality is one of the best aspects of trading in gourmet food - other than the sampling process, of course.
Riyyh: ~~innocence and open generosity~~
Neptude recalls himself, with difficulty, and lowers the half-eaten chocolate.
Neptude: I trust that your staff has had time to brief you on the problems facing the 53rd District?
Riyyh: Oh, yes. They've been most kind and helpful.
Riyyh: Do you know, your own nephew has been quite helpful as well?
Riyyh: Such a bright boy, and so motivated.
Riyyh sighs.
Riyyh: Not here, of course, but I do hope in the future....
Neptude blinks.
Neptude: You know Lexus?
Riyyh: But of course. He has been so much help with our Progressive Land-Use program.
Neptude has not, for some inexplicable reason, been briefed on his nephew's latest scheme.
Riyyh is referring to Lexus' acting as mutual punching bag between the Coalition's more radical elements (e.g. its leadership) and the city government.
Neptude: Aren't they the ones who were jailed for their role in the riots?
Riyyh: They do require guidance, [sighs, not without some fondness]
Neptude is shocked that his nephew would get involved in something like that.
Riyyh: But they have been the perfect models of propriety since your Lexus became involved.
Riyyh: You see, he has been acting as liaison to the City. The sorts of behaviors they engaged in to get attention are no longer necessary, with such an articulate and presentable young man available to speak for them.
Riyyh means, with both Lexus and Riyyh available to sit on them.
Neptude raises a skeptical eyebrow, but zlins that Riyyh is completely sincere.
Neptude has not spent enough time around Riyyh to know that he is always completely sincere.
Riyyh is not only sincere, he is genuinely fond of, and impressed by, Lexus.
Riyyh: [this could be said about 99% of the people he knows, though]
Neptude: Well, perhaps the boy will make something of himself yet.
Riyyh: I am certain that he will.
Neptude: Now, as to some of the problems that have been facing the District.
Riyyh is sorry that Neptude was not completely distracted from that line of conversation, but tries to make the best of the reverse tack.
Neptude: Arat was not the most diplomatic of Controllers, and I believe that caused some unnecessary friction between him and certain other staff in the District.
Neptude: There have been accusations of favoritism, and unfair pressure being brought to bear, and unreasonable demands.
Riyyh listens attentively, every bit the concerned and caring Sect... er... employee.
Neptude's efforts at information-gathering in the 53rd District were not limited to Lexus', fortunately for him.
Neptude: Every new Controller brings certain staff with him, or makes changes among existing staff. It's expected. But some of Arat's decisions in that area were not at all popular.
Riyyh is naturally curious, being Narosian and of course addicted to gossip.
Neptude: Now that he is gone, I trust you will do your best to remedy that situation?
Riyyh: But of course.
Riyyh: Were there any specific...?
Riyyh is infamous for favoritism himself; whoever he is in the room with at the time is his favorite person.
Neptude wonders how on Earth he could have thought Riyyh an unhelpful fellow.
Neptude: A Hajene Ormof has lodged several complaints of outright persecution against Arat.
Neptude: The man has been running a ward here for years, and yet Arat suddenly decided that he required extensive retraining, and that his entire supply area had to be reorganized at the same time.
Neptude: That sort of thing gives a District a bad reputation.
Neptude shakes his head sadly, then takes another sip of tea.
Riyyh: Oh, my.
Riyyh realizes that Hajene Ormof is the same channel whose ward is currently undergoing professional decontamination after some flesh eating acids spilled due to negligent storage.
Riyyh: It certainly does.
Riyyh: I will personally make sure that Hajene Ormof has everything he requires, and feels comfortable with my presence here. [assures Neptude]
Riyyh is sure that Ormof must be perfectly beside himself, what with chemicals dripping through into the children's ward underneath.
Riyyh had been meaning to pay him a visit already, but had been holding off on the theory that the man must be terribly busy right at the moment.
Riyyh obviously doesn't know Ormof very well.
Neptude: And then, there's Hajene Tiarala.
Neptude frowns in a serious fashion.
Neptude: She's did quite a decent job running a ward, but that doesn't seem to be enough to suit her ambitions.
Neptude: Now, there's nothing wrong with ambitions--they keep a channel on his toes.
Neptude's personal ambitions have kept him sitting on his duff in various offices for some years now, but that's beside the point.
Riyyh has certainly found that Tiarala keeps this channel on his toes.
Riyyh smiles fondly at the thought.
Neptude sees the fond smile, and his frown turns to one of annoyance.
Neptude: I'd be a bit cautious about how much responsibility you give her.
Riyyh's fond smile turns to puzzlement at Neptude's reaction.
Riyyh: Very well, if you think....
Riyyh had been rather enjoying her reliability.
Neptude: She's likely to make errors, due to her inexperience. Errors that you or I would never make.
Neptude: Be certain to check over any decisions she makes carefully, so that they can be corrected.
Riyyh knows his own strengths are not in sustained day-to-day high level management activity, but in personal relations, high level planning, and policy shaping.
Riyyh can't really see changing the division of labor, but he nods.
Riyyh: Very well.
Neptude is not unaware that close supervision, combined with a skeptical or distrustful nager, can cause even the most competent employee to make errors.
Neptude: I am, of course, very interested in the development of all promising staff assigned to my Region.
Riyyh thinks that re-checking all of the decisions he has delegated to Tiarala will be perfectly exhausting, and considers offering Ormof the perk of part of that responsibility.
Riyyh really doesn't know Ormof that well.
Neptude's nager during this speech would best be described as "pious", except that the Tecton is a secular institution.
Riyyh: Of course.
Neptude: Hajene Tiarala's work earned excellent reviews from Arat Farris, but he is not necessarily an unbiased judge.
Riyyh looks curious at that last.
Riyyh had known that Tiarala did well under Arat, but he had not been aware of any basis for bias, and wonders if... nah.
Neptude mostly means by this, that Arat failed to approve of Neptude himself.
Neptude: With your assignment as 53rd District Controller being temporary, it is most essential that I be able to assess how Hajene Tiarala has performed as your Assistant Controller.
Riyyh: I understand. I will do my best to assist her in making the correct decisions, while reporting to you faithfully of her progress. [promises]
Neptude: It is particularly important that I be informed of any decisions you must overrule. Purely so that I can fairly assess the areas in which she requires further training and development, you understand.
Riyyh: I can assure you, I am entirely at your service.
Riyyh means, right at the moment.
Neptude smiles, approving of such simple-minded helpfulness, particularly when it helps him gather dirt on an out-of-favor underling.
Neptude never did quite believe the reports on how Riyyh's helpfulness and eagerness to please are replaced by stonewalling once the supplicant is no longer present.
Riyyh will not have any difficulty in reporting on overrulings; he rarely delegates anything he doesn't trust a person to handle themselves, and Tiarala knows to ask advice if she isn't sure on a point.
Riyyh looks forward to expounding upon Tiarala's progress in many glowing terms.
Neptude is feeling rather better about the Riyyh situation, now that he believes he has turned it to his advantage.
Riyyh is glad that Neptude is feeling better.
Neptude is now viewing Riyyh's tenure in the 53rd District as more of an asset than a liability, for the first time since he heard of Seruffin's insane scheme.
Neptude smiles, in a formal, boss-to-employee fashion.
Neptude: I am glad to see that you are being so reasonable about this.
Riyyh is, too.
Riyyh smiles in a much more personal, revealing fashion.
Neptude: Perhaps this will work out, after all.
Neptude: The monthly report is due next week. I am looking forward to reading about your vision for the District.
Neptude is very big on vision, since it's so much vaguer than those thick, detail-ridden reports Arat always submitted, that dealt with actually running the District.
Neptude sets his teacup aside.
Neptude: Excellent stuff, that. One of yours?
Riyyh: No, actually, a competitor's. Quite nice, isn't it?
Riyyh: Just when one starts to think that cinnamon teas are passe, somebody comes up with another brilliant one.
Neptude: Err, yes.
Neptude prefers not to reveal his relative ignorance on the subject of tea to the Territory expert.
Ormof is in his office, hiding from the destruction outside.
Ormof is just glad that Arat isn't around any more, because it would not be fun to try to explain how the accident occurred.
Ormof had thought, at the time, that Darrel's putting away the three cases of acetic acid was less critical than dressing him down for having the temerity to make unfavorable comments about his superiors.
Ormof had been so intent on his disciplinary mission that he didn't notice that the acid bottles had been removed from their shipping boxes and placed on a table for inventory purposes.
Ormof reminds himself defensively that he had no idea that the new centrifuge was due to be delivered, by dolly.
Ormof thinks that if it was that important, the Tecton should have taught him about the visibility limitations suffered by dolly chauffeurs with full loads.
Ormof just hopes that this Riyyh fellow is more amenable to such arguments than Arat was.
Ormof reflects gloomily that he could hardly be less amenable.
Ormof knows that Tiarala is going to be throwing fits, with the damage to her ward.
Ormof remembers that Tiarala is now Assistant Controller, and hides his face in his hands with what sounds suspiciously like a whimper.
Riyyh picks his way through Ormof's ward, avoiding the white-coated, masked figures that are crowding the place.
Riyyh has buttoned his shirt, changed his necklace from the bright jewelled one he was wearing earlier to a simpler gold pendant of a sheaf of wheat circled by a sickle, and has combed his hair into a shimmering mass of silvery curls. He wants Ormof to know he respects him, so naturally he wants to look his best.
Riyyh has brought a peace offering of a small package of tea, a box of mint cookies, and a copy of Brett Funstar's "How to Cope with Stress Gracefully".
Riyyh had found the book in Arat's office and assumed that if Arat had wanted it, he wouldn't have left it behind.
Riyyh doesn't realize that the book was actually one of many foisted off upon Jeniard by well-meaning associates.
Riyyh skirts a particularly nasty patch of what appears to be blistered floor crawling with professional floor-massage experts, and arrives at Ormof's office door.
Riyyh: Oh, dear. [to himself]
Ormof thinks he will never be able to eat a vinagrette again, after his nose has been assaulted with glacial acetic acid.
Riyyh finds the ambient of mixed distress and resignation to be quite down-bringing.
Riyyh deliberately pumps his nager up to something more cheerful before signalling.
Ormof 's head jerks around at the signal.
Ormof gave strict orders that he was not to be disturbed for any reason whatsoever, and is therefore forced to conclude that the visitor outranks his staff.
Ormof hopes it's not Tiarala.
Ormof: Come in.
Riyyh slips into the office, trying not to let any more of the smell in with him than necessary.
Riyyh: Hello, Hajene Ormof. [smiles] I don't believe we've met. I'm Riyyh, Acting District Controller.
Riyyh's nager is kind and nonthreatening.
Ormof had been half-expecting a summons to the Controller's office, but had never dreamed that he'd get a Controllerly visit to his own office.
Ormof gulps, despite the nonthreatening nager.
Ormof: P-p-pleased to meet you, Controller Riyyh.
Riyyh notes Ormof's nervousness and increases the soothing quality of his voice, body language and nager.
Ormof looks at the one visitor's chair in his office, which is very uncomfortable so as to put underlings in the proper frame of mind.
Riyyh: I thought I would come and see how you were doing. You have had quite some excitement today, haven't you?
Riyyh misinterprets the look as an invitation.
Riyyh: Why, thank you.
Riyyh moves over to the chair.
Ormof: Excitement. Yes, I guess you could call it that.
Riyyh pulls it closer to Ormof's desk and sits down, managing to avoid wincing too visibly.
Ormof can at least hope that under the circumstances, Riyyh will keep the reprimand short.
Riyyh: I hope you will accept this token of my esteem.
Riyyh offers the tea, cookies and book.
Ormof blinks; this was not what he was expecting, at all.
Ormof: Token of your....
Ormof gapes like a boated fish for a moment, then remembers his manners.
Ormof: Thank you very much, Controller.
Riyyh beams, pleased by the response. At least, pleased by the positive aspects of the response.
Riyyh hopes that Ormof won't always be so scared of him. People just aren't scared of Riyyh.
Ormof accepts the gifts, easily finding space on his pristine desk for them.
Ormof 's desk is pristine because Ormof dropped out of all his continuing education classes and assigned most of his work to his underlings the moment Arat was safely on the train.
Riyyh: Controller Neptude asked after you today.
Riyyh: He seems quite taken with you.
Riyyh doesn't mind exaggerating slightly, when it comes to compliments.
Ormof: ....He is?
Riyyh: He says he follows the careers of all the most promising personnel in the Region.
Riyyh is, of course, aware that Neptude had been talking about Tiarala at the time.
Riyyh: I promised him that I would speak to you at my earliest opportunity.
Riyyh had paused only to examine the rest of his purchases, meet with Tiarala, check his wardrobe, redo his hair and pick new jewelry, take a tour through the Emergency Ward, and chat up the clerk in the Gift Shop.
Ormof remembers Neptude's tenure as District Controller with a certain nostalgic fondness.
Ormof is therefore encouraged by Neptude's interest in Ormof himself, and by the Controller's obviously improved relationship with Riyyh.
Ormof has, after all, been stuck in the 53rd District long enough to remember the days when Neptude's curses echoed down the halls after the hapless people who had failed to extract Narosian selyn-usage reports.
Riyyh zlins Ormof's tentative change of attitude and is pleased by it.
Riyyh smiles, smoothing back his hair.
Riyyh: But even if I hadn't, I would still wish to get to know you. Things go so much more smoothly when people can get along on a social level, don't you think?
Ormof much prefers social interactions to professional ones, when it comes to bosses, and never more than when there's just been another disaster in his ward.
Ormof: Oh, indeed I do.
Riyyh's rump is starting to feel quite abused from sitting in the uncomfortable chair. He hadn't thought it was possible to find anything more uncomfortable to sit than his horse Vanity, but he was wrong.
Ormof can't help but zlin the growing distress.
Riyyh: Excuse me for a moment. [apologetically]
Riyyh rises, leaves the office, and returns a short time later with a therapeutic pillow meant for people with hemorrhoids.
Riyyh places it on the chair and sits down again, ruefully.
Riyyh: I am not as young as I used to be, though I do not like to admit it.
Riyyh hopes that this will go some way toward excusing the rudeness of rejecting Ormof's chair.
Ormof: Oh, dear, I should have stored one of those pillows in my office long ago.
Riyyh is glad that Ormof is taking it in good grace.
Ormof: Not that it's a comfortable chair, even with a pillow.
Riyyh: I am sure I could arrange for a better one, if you wish...?
Riyyh wonders if this was one of the hardships (so to speak) that Ormof has endured at Arat's will.
Ormof: And with the smell and all, it's hardly a fit way to entertain company.
Riyyh: Oh, no, I understand that was not at all your fault.
Riyyh: After all, accidents do occur.
Riyyh actually was told something rather different by eye witnesses, but doesn't see any point in rubbing Ormof's nose in the mistake. Particularly given how it smells.
Ormof: Perhaps it would be more congenial to talk in the executive dining room? They have rather nice cakes.
Riyyh: Well of course, if you prefer.
Riyyh is eager to accommodate. But then, we knew that about him.
Ormof isn't going to make any promises about the tea, considering whom he's talking to.
Ormof is eager to have it seen that he is on perfectly good terms with the new Controller, despite the day's disaster.
Ormof is, like most of the Center's staff, ignorant of Riyyh's habit of consoling those who make egregious mistakes.