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Post by Lucca on Feb 28, 2009 15:29:34 GMT -5
Colin laughed quietly as Rogers looked over the forms. His Mother had gotten very ambicious lately...possibly it was due to a mid life crisis or something of the sort, though more likely she was trying to outdo her sister. Ah, family politics. Not fun. He merely nodded in response. "We are in great need of it. I appreciate you taking the time to consider our offer."
He couldn't help preening slightly as the man continued to inflate his already healthy ego. "The drums?" he mused, looking thoughtful. "That's a bit more uncommon, at least from what I've seen around our area. I can see the appeal of travelling, though I prefer to play for an audience I know can appreciate the depth of the music." Hopefully, that wouldn't come across as too pretentious, though it was true that no one else seemed to appreciate a good piece of music quite as well as a Villa could.
Of course, at the next question...his ego deflated, and his professional demeanor slipped for a second as a rather sour look twisted his face, though he quickly hid it under a neutral look. "Actually," he said, voice light, "You are correct. Melody is her name, and she recently got invited to perform with one of the best orchestras in the Villa, which is probably what prompted the news. She'll be playing flute, though she can also sing, and is fairly good on piano as well." Ah, his multitalented overachiever of a sister. His parents were so proud. Colin actually took great pride in how he'd managed to keep any sort of bitterness out of his tone just then. He didn't want to seem unprofessional, after all.
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 2, 2009 22:17:55 GMT -5
"My father is an uncommon sort," Rogers agreed drolly. The man was as floaty as they came, absent-minded enough to drive them all mad, and yet he'd married an officer in the Diamond military who thrived on order and punctuality. And loved her. Even more remarkably, she loved [/i]him[/i], even after countless years of putting up with his opposing personality. Maybe that was why they worked so well. She bitched, he fluffed at her, and it always eventually smoothed itself out. He had an odd family, but then, who didn't?
That look the bird gave him at his question took him slightly aback, though it was quick enough to flit across his face that the canine almost thought he'd imagined it. Some emotions were harder to read on birds than others, but he'd been watching expressions on and around beaks for decades, long enough to notice a quick change. He didn't think he'd imagined it. Still, even if it had been there, it wouldn't be polite to bring up.
"Melody, yes, that's the one. Her article just sprung to mind after I'd stared at your business's name for long enough. Those are certainly significant accomplishments for anyone, Villa or otherwise. I'm sure your manager must be very pleased, and it probably isn't hurting business to be affiliated with a star in the making either." He smiled slightly, pleased. That was an excellent way for them to network for more clients.
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Post by Lucca on Mar 3, 2009 20:59:05 GMT -5
Unsure what to say to such a remark, behind which obviously lurked many things about Rogers' family that Colin neither knew nor cared to. Despite his being (part) Villa and sharing some common insterests with him because of that, Colin had no desire to have anything more than a business partnership with the canine. That didn't mean he didn't enjoy the cance to talk about...his sister. Oh. Heh.
Stupid, high ranking, talented, favored Melody. Sometimes, Colin couldn't wait until he was able to move out. And oh, would he love the look on his mother's face...okay, so that look was one of the reasons he HADN'T moved out yet. Despite the fact he ranted and grumbled against her...Colin really did love his mother. He just wished she didn't so blindly favor his sister.
"Oh, indeed, she's thrilled," Colin agreed, forcing a smile. "And that is actually part of the reason we've been expanding so much lately." And oh, it hurt to admit that. It hurt a LOT. After all, how much had Melody ever done for the company, other than promoting them occasionally with her pretty face? Had she EVER actually ran a delivery, written a report, or organized finances? Meanwhile, Colin had slaved away, being his mother's little errand boy to all the other realms he could, working his tail feathers off, and did HE get anything other than a pat on the head, or even more work? No. It was his SISTER that got congratulated at parties, that got new jewelry when Mom made a little extra that week, got articles in the fricken paper! Ugh.
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 5, 2009 9:23:24 GMT -5
"That certainly makes sense," Rogers agreed with a small, thoughtful nod. "Your business's profile is small enough now that you would be able to take advantage of her rising fame at performing events and whatnot. I'm sure she wears your company's fabrics to performances? If they're all as high a quality as some of the samples you sent with your papers a little while back, that would be advertisement enough for some people."
Well now, that was a stroke of luck for them. Few small businesses were lucky enough to have an up and coming local starlet's name attached to them. This was an advertising gold mine, if their manager handled it right. Hopefully the woman's daughter was helping voluntarily, rather than being pressured into it by her mother. That could backlash someday.
He tapped one finger thoughtfully on the table and looked back down at the papers in front of them. "How many orders were you looking to fill immediately, and how many do you still have a little while before the fabric is ready? Are any of them a particular rush, or can all of them be delivered at normal speeds?"
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Post by Lucca on Mar 5, 2009 22:00:57 GMT -5
"She does," Colin said, a rather lovely smile concealing the resentment and anger that was continuing to fester beneath the surface. "And our manager prides herself on always selling only the highest quality fabrics. So I can assure you all the product is just as lovely and well-made as the samples." He had to admit--his mother had a talent. She could design gorgeous, well made fabrics like no one else, and Colin had to admit she also had rather keen buisiness sense. And NOW it seemed she was finally getting over her insane 'family run, family ONLY' motto (no matter if her motives for doing so were very ulterior), and it only promised good things for the company.
Melody may be helping voluntarily...but Colin would have had to laugh at the irony if he'd heard Roger's thoughts. Colin himself was being pressured into helping, and had been for years...and it would backlash, and soon, if the rage boiling beneath the cardinal's calm exterior was any indication.
Colin was very relieved when the subject was brought back to strictly buisiness. He could deal with that. "About half of these, the fabric is already done and just waiting to be shipped. The other half are in process but should be done within the next few weeks. None of them need to be rushed, particularly, no, though several of the shops requested they get them in time to utilize the fabric in their summer fasion line."
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 7, 2009 14:06:36 GMT -5
From the way the cardinal steered the direction back to business and stayed there, Rogers had a feeling that it was time for the conference to officially 'begin'. He sat up a tad straighter and pulled out a few forms, settling them in front of him, and didn't see Colin's well-hidden anger bubbling beneath the surface.
"That's good to hear. It means we can have those orders set up for shipment within a day or two, allowing time for pick-up as well as delivery. Selkie is close enough to the Villa that we'll probably have our employees from that branch handle most of the business for expediency and lower cost. I've drafted up a few forms for you to review as the terms of our business agreement." He slid two pieces of paper towards the cardinal, one a list of terms and agreement between the two, as well as average payment rates by weight and size, and noted exceptions. The other sheet was a privacy agreement between the two companies, and safety guidelines for packaging the products prior to shipping.
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Post by Lucca on Mar 7, 2009 15:58:17 GMT -5
Colin was...very relieved when they finally seemed to be done talking about his sister. He'd had embaressing outbursts before where that was concerned, and he had no intention of letting it happen again, especially in the middle of such an important meeting. This was only about buisiness, nothing more.
He nodded as Rogers explained his plan. "That sounds reasonable," he agreed, and glanced down at the forms, pulling them a bit closer with his wing, and looking them over. He knew better than to sign anything or get into an agreement without knowing the full story of what exactly he was getting the company into. He nodded occasionally as he read, eyes narrowed in concentration and claws absently tapping on the table leg. The cardinal looked up when he had finished, an even look on his face. "The terms sound good," he commented, nodding towards the other man. "I believe we're ready to move forward with this agreement. Unless there's something else?" He smiled formally at Rogers, no cheer in it. In truth, he was getting slightly antsy, and was about ready for this meeting to end so he could get back out. Of course, he was too professional to rush anything unduly, and if Rogers needed to keep him longer, than that was that. He hoped all he'd have to do now was sign something and exchange parting formalities, however.
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 28, 2009 14:20:17 GMT -5
From the looks of the cheerless smile the cardinal gave him, Rogers guessed that he had somewhere to be and something to do. Either that or he didn't approve of something. For the life of him, he couldn't see what, so his mind settled on the former. Well. He certainly didn't want to keep the man overlong from another appointment, especially if he'd been sent to the Capital with multiple errands on a tight schedule. He'd been there and done that.
"Very good, I'm glad you agree. Most of this is our standard arrangement, with a few differences depending on region due to local regulations. I would say that we're ready if you have no further questions. Please sign, date, and initial at the bottom of each form. I'll do the same." The shepherd fished out a pen and handed it to the bird, prepared to take it back and affix his scrawl to the documents as soon as Colin finished.
Everything had gone very smoothly, or so he thought, and easy in-and-out. Communicating with the owner beforehand had its distinct advantages, especially in the matter of expediency.
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Post by Lucca on Mar 29, 2009 18:47:38 GMT -5
Colin's smile actually got slightly more genuine when his suspicions this meeting was almost over were confirmed. Good, then. "No further questions, thank you, sir." He nodded graciously at the canine and accepted the pen in his claws, deftly signing and dating all the forms with the ease of long practice. Another thing his mother had always made her son help out with was paperwork, which Colin supposed he couldn't be too overly upset about, as being able to control his claws finely helped in playing the piano as well. He would probably have to admit that being forced to overcome the difficulties of not having hands had made him that much more dedicated to all aspects of his life.
After briefly double checking the forms to be sure he hadn't forgotten anything, the cardinal handed both papers and pen over to Rogers. He sat patiantly as the man also signed the forms, knowing he would soon have his freedom but waiting for the correct social cue before standing up, not wanting to preemptively end the meeting.
He felt that despite painful subjects being discussed, the meeting had gone well. Rogers was a pleasant enough fellow and Colin found himself looking forward to working with the shipping company, even if he currently wanted to just shut himself into the drawing room at home with the piano and relieve his stress the best way he knew how.
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 30, 2009 9:30:48 GMT -5
Rogers nodded in acknowledgment of the cardinal's words and then accepted the pen back, briefly affixing his signature to the documents and adding the corresponding date. "Well then, I believe our current business is concluded. A representative of our firm, the Selkie branch, will arrive at the designated location on the agreed-upon days. I'll have this paperwork sent over there as soon as I've made duplicates and finished the appropriate documentation. Thank you very much for your company's business, Mr. Colin, and please give my regards to the owner."
He stood, waiting to take hold of the bird's foot in a concluding shake before escorting him out of the room and back to the front. That went rather well, all things considered. They had a firm new client with excellent growth potential, as well as a new contact in the Villa. He wouldn't mind at all if Colin continued to be the company's representative in such matters. The bird seemed to know what he was about.
All of this talk about the Villa made him wonder guiltily if he shouldn't visit his parents. It had been a few years and they weren't getting any younger, although the prospect of seeing them again didn't exactly fill him with delight. Ah well.
((I think this may be concluded after your next post? :3 Just seems an appropriate stopping-point.))
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