Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #218: Docudrama (9/30/00)
Riyyh is enjoying a beautiful, sunny morning on the waterfront in a trendy little district of Capitol.
Riyyh sits at a small round faux-wrought-iron table next to a narrow railing overlooking at the fleet of small boats docked there as he enjoys tea and toast with marmalade, and looks through yet another draft of his State of the District report.
Riyyh's report has been requiring a lot of revisions, as 1) he hadn't done any monthly reports during his stay, 2) and (as it happens, a reason for #1) he had to constantly edit the details of the report to account for the many back-scratching deals he made with the people of the District.
Seruffin walks along the waterfront in search of the absent Controller, whom he was told was likely to be somewhere in the area.
Riyyh turns a page, then pauses for a moment to smooth back his long, silver hair.
Riyyh is looking particularly pseudo-Tecton today in an unbuttoned uniform with a ruffled shirt under it, a jewelled choker and matching finger and tentacle rings, and a new pair of riding boots he obtained that very morning.
Riyyh decided if he was going to do a lot of travel, he deserved nice boots.
Seruffin had initially been rather annoyed at not finding Riyyh in his office, but is finding the diversion more, well, diverting than he had anticipated.
Seruffin hasn't taken time out for wandering through this part of the city for some time.
Riyyh decided this after passing a particularly attractive display in a shop window.
Riyyh had gone in to check it out, and spent over an hour and a half being impossibly flattered by the proprietor of the place, something he always enjoys.
Riyyh in fact does look quite delightful this morning, having spent quite some time indulging his vanity in front of the mirror.
Riyyh has enjoyed having a Tecton Controller's salary, even if only temporarily
Riyyh re-reads a paragraph.
Seruffin finally zlins his quarry at a very nice waterfront bistro, noted for its selection of Narosian teas and gourmet scones.
Riyyh: Oh dear, that will never do.
Seruffin makes a beeline for Riyyh's table.
Seruffin: Riyyh!
Riyyh makes a notation to make his description of conditions at the North Bridge Crossing a bit more grim, and his opinion of the valor of its manager a bit more generous.
Riyyh thinks that the poor man has enough trouble without being harassed by higher-ups as well.
Riyyh looks up, surprised.
Riyyh spots Seruffin coming his way, and breaks into a large smile.
Riyyh: Controller Seruffin! How wonderful to see you. And on such a beautiful day.
Riyyh: Will you join me?
Seruffin feels more relaxed in Riyyh's vicinity; probably a conditioned reflex, after a summer of checking up on the 53rd District.
Seruffin: Of course.
Riyyh glitters brightly in the sunshine as he pours tea for Seruffin. Riyyh always has an extra tea cup.
Seruffin: Thank you so much.
Riyyh: You must try this interesting blend. Habit Farms on the east border makes it. It's very special, very unique.
Seruffin: Really?
Seruffin takes an experiment sip.
Seruffin: Yes, indeed..
Riyyh: I confess, I never would have considered an anise-based tea. It's really quite remarkable.
Riyyh: The trin is little more than a flavoring, wouldn't you say?
Riyyh: I must write them and inquire.
Riyyh pushes the plate of toast and the jar of marmalade nearer to Seruffin.
Seruffin: Yes, quite unique. I must say, I'd forgotten how pleasant it is to have a variety of teas.
Seruffin: The Tecton blends just lack a certain something.
Seruffin gestures expansively with one tentacle.
Riyyh thinks "quality" is the word that Seruffin is looking for, but is far too polite to say so.
Riyyh closes his report and puts it - all two inches of it - back in his satchel for later perusal.
Riyyh wouldn't dream of working when socializing is an option, particularly given the importance of his visitor.
Seruffin's attention is drawn to the manuscript.
Seruffin: Are you writing a novel?
Seruffin's inquiry was perhaps a bit less strange than it would be elsewhere; probably a third of the people in the area have a novel in progress, most of them very bad indeed.
Riyyh chuckles.
Riyyh: Sometimes it seems that way. [admits]
Riyyh: That is the District Report.
Seruffin chuckles.
Seruffin: Of course, of course.
Riyyh's "novel" isn't fiction. It's... based on a true story.
Seruffin: I should have known--your receptionist told me you were seeking some peace and quiet to work on it.
Riyyh blinks in surprise.
Riyyh: You followed me all the way here?
Riyyh had thought this was a chance meeting.
Riyyh had come to a location some 4 miles from the District Offices to avoid non-chance meetings.
Seruffin: Well, I did want to see you. Not that this isn't a very pleasant place to take a morning's walk.
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: It's very nice. [agrees]
Seruffin: I was hoping to get your evaluation of the state of the District. Not the sort of dry statistics one puts into reports, but your personal impressions.
Seruffin has not, of course, had a chance to read Riyyh's idea of a District Report, or he wouldn't be making the distinction.
Seruffin: For instance, what in your opinion is the greatest challenge that your replacement will face?
Riyyh considers.
Riyyh: The staff and employees are relaxed and ready to work. There have been no recent morale problems or serious discipline cases. I would say that any difficulties would come from the outside.
Riyyh: As always, there are many issues at play in the greater District.
Riyyh may be amazing, but even he can't sooth, comfort and befriend everybody in an entire District. Not for lack of trying though!
Seruffin nods thoughtfully.
Seruffin: Before your appointment as temporary Controller, there was a certain amount of bad feeling and polarization among the staff, with regards to various candidates.
Seruffin: Has that lessened at all, or will it still make the life of your replacement difficult?
Riyyh: I am pleased to report that the staff has been working wonderfully together. They have been quite cooperative and friendly, and there hasn't been an incident worthy of report in - well, it's been weeks.
Riyyh: There has been a small problem with jealousy, but that should pass when I am no longer present.
Riyyh sounds apologetic as he says it.
Riyyh knows that his management technique depends heavily on making the more difficult employees just a wee bit jealous of each other for his attention, which can lead to side effects. It's unfortunate, but the technique works so well a few side effects can be overlooked. Especially in a temporary situation such as this one.
Seruffin: Have the factions disappeared, or are they just waiting to see who will be selected to replace you?
Riyyh smiles.
Riyyh: I think they are gone.
Riyyh: Although, of course, it will be up to the new Controller to prevent new ones from forming.
Seruffin zlins patently ~~ relieved ~~
Riyyh: And sometimes it is difficult to prevent that entirely.
Seruffin: Well, any time you have a Controller, there will be those who disapprove.
Seruffin: That is quite different from the problems we had when Arat left.
Seruffin is very glad, for instance, that Neptude's nephew Lexus is no longer in the running for the position of 53rd District Controller, despite his adequate performance as Riyyh's assistant..
Seruffin: There were outside reasons why things got so ugly, and I am hoping that they are no longer in effect.
Seruffin: And then there were the riots disrupting everything...
Seruffin: How has the 53rd District recovered from the damage, to facilities and staff?
Riyyh: The physical damage to the building was really quite minor.
Riyyh thinks that the building is appallingly institutional and ugly, but that was true long before the riots.
Riyyh: It was repaired even before I arrived.
Seruffin: And the psychological impact on the staff?
Riyyh: However, some of the staff have suffered from the memories of those events.
Seruffin frowns in concern.
Riyyh: Particularly Cassala Nicor, who was so badly injured she nearly died.
Riyyh: She has returned to work, but only on a limited basis.
Seruffin: How limited? And is the problem physical, or psychological? Or both?
Riyyh: Why, both, of course. The injuries she sustained have made it difficult to perform channelling duties. She becomes exhausted easily. And I'm afraid she finds certain parts of the complex rather disturbing now.
Seruffin: I see.
Seruffin: Where is she currently working?
Riyyh: She has been working in different positions in the inpatient wards.
Riyyh: She does enjoy working with patients.
Seruffin: Is she able to cope adequately, as long as the surroundings are controlled?
Riyyh: Oh, yes.
Riyyh hastens to assure Seruffin.
Riyyh hadn't meant to imply that anybody had any permanent devastating effects from the violence, only that there had been some effect that still lingered.
Riyyh: She is doing well, and always improving.
Seruffin: Good. I will mention the situation to your successor, to ensure that she is given the time she requires to heal.
Seruffin: In the mean time, it would be of great help if you could get me a current report on the state of the District. Neptude tells me that there hasn't been one since you took over.
Seruffin: I don't want to keep harping on it, but it does make it easier for us to plan, if we know what the situation in the 53rd District is.
Riyyh: I promise that I will have one for you before I leave.
Riyyh hopes that the next Controller is nimble enough to live up to the complicated series of deals he made with various District residents, businesses and government people, in order to keep everybody happy.
Seruffin: Is there any chance that you could send me a copy of your working draft? Just so that I could get a head start in dealing with any potential problems?
Riyyh: I'll see what I can do. [kindly]
Seruffin has learned to view Riyyh as a personal friend, in the past few months, and has no idea how much of the material in the rough draft is being modified for his benefit.
Seruffin: If you could get me your current draft later today? Or perhaps I might glance over the copy you have with you? Then you can polish a final version at your leisure.
Riyyh: I only have the one copy with me, but if you'd like to glance over it here?
Riyyh is in no hurry to return to his office, especially as he can rationalize that he is out working.
Seruffin thinks of the two-inch-thick manuscript with a tinge of apprehension.
Seruffin is, however, well accustomed to oversized reports from the 53rd District, as Arat always felt the need to add all those unnecessary details.
Seruffin had gotten somewhat used to wading through the excess of pages, actually; he is a career bureaucrat, after all.
Seruffin: Of course. Perhaps you would care for another round of tea, while I look over it?
Seruffin: And some of those delightful chocolate chip scones as well?
Riyyh: Certainly.
Riyyh looks forward to a long and pleasant mid-day.
Go on to Episode #219: (under construction)
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