Always a Catch~ [Jenn] [Done]

[Greenie]

"She must have been drugged. Vessatha is never bored." He replied with a smirk, interested to see where that was going to go for his mother. There were lots of file folders in her future.

He moved closer to the desk to look at the picture and writing, and was pleasantly surprised to find he actually knew the woman. Tilda had always been nice to him as a child, and while he wasn't especially close with her, he at least knew she wasn't going to throw him out of the room immediately.

"Yes, she's been here the entire time I've lived here," He commented, then took the papers containing the severance package. It was quite generous, and would be easy to sell.. to anyone else. Tilda would fight a millionaire package just to stay.. but maybe if he brought up her grandchildren repeatedly she'd consider it. It was an idea, anyways.

"I'll do my best," Mia said, sliding the papers back into the folder and taking them off the desk.

[The Jenn]

"Your best is what I expect," Donnie agreed, moving her arm so that he could take the entire folder. It contained bits of pertinent information, things that might help him, ways that had already been subtly tried... things of that nature. "I'll be glad to see her go, to be honest. She's a nice lady but far too fond of the old ways. The ones that don't make any sense. There's tradition, and then there's stagnation."

She let him go, wondering idly if Vessatha might not have been drugged to say something like that around her in an official setting. Silly ferret. Mia didn't have an easy job, especially not with the pathetic state of the records that the previous King left for them, and there was still reorganization that needed doing after all this time. They would find pockets of it every so often and it was always such an unpleasant surprise. Bleh.

((You can either have him coming back and reporting on how it went, or write a fic about it and then come back. Either way. ^_^ I'm afraid I don't have muse to play it out myself.))

[Greenie]

Dysthymia nodded in agreement. They were usually pretty good at weeding out the older workers that had surpassed their usefulness, but he'd been around Vessatha when she bitched about it often enough to know that sometimes it wasn't always possible. Now it was his job. Wonderful.

----

[[Gonna go with the reporting it. I haven't been able to finish a fic in a while. XD]]

It was almost a week later when Mia finally managed to convince Tilda that it was in her family's best interest that she step down from her position. She had five kids and a brood of grandchildren she was the matriarch of, and while it had taken several days and a faked letter or two from her youngest, she'd "decided" that time with the kids while it was still available was a good thing.

He knocked on Donnie's door once again.

[The Jenn]

Donnie didn't know how he'd done it yet, but she'd signed the paperwork for Tilda's retirement package only the day before and sent it on its way to the treasury for filing and whatever else they needed to do with it. She would be saying goodbye to the woman personally at the end of the week, after she'd had time to gather her belongings and send word to her family that she required assistance moving.

She hadn't seemed unduly distraught, which pleased the Queen immensely. She hadn't wished to upset the old woman, just see her on her way with a minimum of pain and fuss. Mia had done it. Now she wanted to know how.

"Enter," she called out absently, taking a sip of water. All of the ice had melted, but there was still a lingering hint of chill to the glass, which pleased her. Overall, she was in a good mood that day.

[Greenie]

Mia stepped into the room, the folder Donnie'd originally given him under his arm. He'd added a closing note to her file as well as her updated address for contact purposes. He bowed slightly, set the folder on the desk, then sat lightly.

"Well, it took me a week, as I'm sure you've noticed, but she's on her way to her family home in Josiggy." He smiled slightly. "I thought I remembered she had a large family and did some research; her youngest son just had a litter, and one of her daughters has a brood of about ten children, all very young." He paused, trying not to chuckle. "I had some of the kids down in the nursery draw "to Grandmama" letters - it would've taken too long to send for letters from her grandchildren - and dropped them in her mailbox before I talked to her." A genuine smile peeked out from his calm composure as he remembered the look on her face when she talked about her grandkids. It was obvious she wanted to spend more time with them. "After that, it was just a matter of reminding her of how she could be cleaning up after them, rather than us."

[The Jenn]

Nodding her head politely, Donnie tugged the folder closer to her and flipped it open before settling herself to listen. Good news was always welcome news, and she had to admit to curiosity. And, after he'd finished speaking, serious amusement. She couldn't hide a smirk.

"Forging documents, Mia? Really? Although I suppose you weren't actually the ones to draw them so you're covered there. Just the mastermind of the whole wicked plot. Did they draw flowers? Flowers add to your guilt, you know. They prey on the emotions of old women as surely as conmen. Which you now are. Congratulations."

She crooked her finger in the 'come closer' gesture. "Quite seriously. Congratulations. You've completed your quest, made me happy, and gotten the poor old biddy out of here before she did anything to embarrass herself. Time to rank you up and put you to work. Then you can go show your mother how much more you've accomplished with your life than her in such a short period of time and I can watch with a good cup of tea."

[Greenie]

Mia gave her a fake startled look, then feigned total innocence. "I didn't forge a thing, and if I had, there would be no proof of it, and I certainly wouldn't be sharing it with you." He smiled with a hint of pointy teeth, then shrugged. "I believe they were balloon hearts, not flowers. I fully admit to pulling the 'poor ignored grandchildren' string, but other than that, I have a completely guilt-free conscience." The ferret snorted. Next time he would use flowers.

He stepped forward obediently, snickering. "Me, dangle my accomplishments in my mother's face? Why, you must have the wrong ferret. I'm much more subtle than that," He said dryly. Really, Vessatha had done more than he - she'd been born at a lower rank, while he was a natural Jack. He wasn't about to admit that out loud, though. He was looking forward to the snickers about her son having gone farther than she did.

[The Jenn]

Donnie reached out a hand and closed her eyes to concentrate. She honestly had a hard time channeling this Court-specific magic if she didn't block out distractions and pay attention. It was just strange to work with. After a second or two, he would feel his chest tingle like pins and needles right where his marking was.

After another ten or so seconds, she drew her hand away and let out a slow breath. "Well, congratulations your not-forging-a-thing Majesty. I hope that you continue to show your Court the same kind of resourceful dedication to duty and disregard for the vulnerability of old women that you've shown here today." And oddly enough, she meant that. At least the first bit. Mostly the first bit. Heh.

"Now you get to go dangle it in someone's face. If not your mother's, then certainly your mate's. Seeing as he has yet to achieve much with regards to rank or ability." She couldn't quite stop a cruel chuckle from escaping there. "We'll throw a ceremony in a few days, and you get to organize it yourself. Fun, isn't it? For now, go on and shoo. You and your mother have eaten up far too much of my time today."

[Greenie]

He waited patiently, then looked down in excitement at the new black mark he now held. He was a Queen. It didn't seem like much of an accomplishment, given that he'd started as a Jack, but to him it meant the world. "Thank you, Donnie." He said simply. He didn't think Donnie needed a profuse show of his gratitude.

The idea of dangling it in Chris' face was appealing, though chances are the canine would just roll his eyes and chastise him for bragging. It might be worth it in the end though.. He grimaced at the idea of organizing a ceremony, but if he bitched enough, Vessatha might do it for him. "Going, I'm going!" He grinned, snickered, and made a hasty exit. It was rather unfortunate that Donnie had to deal with him and his mother on the same day.. but he wasn't taking any responsibility.

[carcinoGeneticist]

Greenie and Jenn both receive 4 tokens each, to be redeemed in Ashwin's Shoppe. This will automatically be added to your recorded totals in the shoppe. Congratulations, and keep up the good RP!