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The First Business Meeting of the Hobbled Gobbler (Millie)
Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2021 3:17 pm
by Franky
Thread Title Ash 1, 121
It was coming up on lunch time and the Hobbled Gobbler was surprisingly quiet. Typically there would be a small lunch crowd right now, but today there was a sign on the door, stating that the Hobbled Gobbler was closed for an extended lunch and would open in a few hours. Franky had already checked in with any of his overnights and tended to their needs. There would be no interruptions for this lunch.
A knock came on the back door, and there was a nervous looking human boy, one who was almost an adult. "This is the Hobbled Gobbler, yes? I have your delivery." Franky, there in his cleaned and pressed day suit, smiled at the young man. "You have my receipt?" The boy nodded, "Yes, it's inside there." Franky nodded in return, his smile growing broader and toothy, "How much do you get tipped up in West End?"
"S-sir?" The boy stammered.
"When you deliver to a home in West End, how much of a tip do they give you?"
The boy was clearly made uncomfortable by the question, but Franky stood there with his posture relaxed, his arms open, "Um... 3-4 silvers. Once a gold, but he was drunk."
Franky's broad grin twisted into a smug smirk, "And what's your name, lad?"
"Orville."
Franky grabbed the coin purse that he had tied to his belt. Anyone who knew him knew he never carried his pouch there, but he had hung it there explicitly for this transaction. "Well, Orville, you came exactly on time. I've heard nothing but good things about the food from your family's restaurant, and you're a very polite, friendly young man." Franky opened up the coin pouch, plucking two, three, four gold coins at which he paused. He put on a face like he was thinking hard about something, weighing some options, before grabbing a fifth. He handed them to the boy, "Keep up the good work, lad."
The boy's face paled and his eyes grew wide at the amount of coins he was being handed. "Th-th-thanks Mr. Franky."
Franky nodded at the boy, taking the two large baskets he offered up. "Have a good day, lad."
The boy was practically skipping down the back alley, "You too, Mr. Franky."
Franky carried the baskets through the kitchen and out into the bar. He began unloading the wrapped food, presenting it an a neat arrangement at the table whose flatware had already been laid out. Today he was having the first business meeting of his establishment, and it was with his only employee, Millie. She'd worked for him for nearly a season now, and he wished to have this meeting now. To do things right, and to show his gratitude for all of her hard work.
Franky had caught subtle glimpses that she was conflicted at working here. And he figured it was probably because she was a Zaichaer born human. He knew where the status lines were drawn. So Franky had asked around, what was the nicest restaurant that also delivered food. It took a lot of ear bending and searching, but soon he found one, one who catered wide through West End. Apparently it was a bit of a guilty pleasure for nobles. It wasn't too expensive, but it was considered really high end Zaichaerian home-style food.
And so, Franky was wearing his best, was well washed and groomed, had the bar even cleaner than Millie had left it last night. And he waited for Millie to arrive. The food was covered, but he knew there was a honey glazed, Zaichaerian ham, mashed potatoes, some sort of creamy green bean casserole, a seasonal fruit salad in cream, a roasted blend of seasonal vegetables, and a strawberry rhubarb pie. Franky kept a bucket of ice with two bottles of cider on a side table.
Now, he just waited for Millie to show up. He had told her before hand about this meeting, and that he would be shutting the bar down for it and that he would provide the meal. He found himself in a surprisingly good mood and really looking forward to this. It was a momentous occasion for his little business. Franky walked behind the bar, grabbing a bottle of mead from the chiller, ripped the cork out, and sipped at it, leaning against the bar.
Today was a good day.
Re: The First Business Meeting of the Hobbled Gobbler (Millie)
Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2021 8:58 pm
by Jane Farraway
Ash 1st, 121. The Hobbled Gobbler, Zaichaer
It had only been a season ago when Jane first walked down the street leading to the Hobbled Gobbler, but now the sweltering evening heat of Searing was replaced by a cool midday breeze that rustled the first stray leaves of Ash. It was rare that she should have a day with no work or classes. She had reluctantly asked Ma'am for the day off, fearing an ill-temper rebuke, and was abruptly cut-off by the woman giving her permission, saying “Go, I don't care, do whatever you want”. An unpleasant way to grant a request, but it was what Jane had come to expect from her.
Part of her leniency might have been due to it being Dragon King's Day, an observance that meant little in the finer parts of Zaichaer. In the Knob more people seemed to honor this practice and closed shop. Despite this, a very cheerful young man with a bounce in his step looked in each store window, appraising their wares eagerly. Jane passed him by and he tipped his hat to her.
“Good King's Day, Miss!”, he said brightly.
“You as well”, she said in return. It was hard not to find his good mood contagious.
A closed sign hung on the door of the Hobbled Gobbler. Out of habit, Jane knocked but then, remembering that Franky was expecting her, opened the door. It was rare to see the bar so empty and clean in the middle of the day. She mainly worked as a barmaid during the evenings with her days reserved for school and the greenhouse, making the establishment feel all the more alien. The glorious aroma of the most wonderful smelling food caught her attention and she looked across the room to see Franky enjoying a bottle of mead. Much like his bar, his cleanly state of dress was a sight to behold.
“Good day, Franky!”, Jane said, laying her bag on a table, “I must say, this might be the first time I've ever seen you with a shirt buttoned to the collar!” She had decided to wear a simple, white cotton dress that went to her ankles, not expecting his almost formal attire, “Sorry, if I'm a little under dressed.”
She looked over at the table spread with the decadent food Franky had ordered, teasingly covered with linens. Her mouth watered, knowing exactly the nature of the dishes hiding beneath.
“My word!”, Jane exclaimed, clapping her hands together. She was overwhelmingly tempted to lift up the cloths herself, but did not want to be rude—or too eager. “Is this the lunch you had mentioned? Oh, it all smells so lovely. Thank you, Franky, you really shouldn't have!”
With that she sat down, taking out a string-wrapped pencil and a sheet of parchment out of her bag. She unwrapped a small amount of the wax string, exposing a fair amount of lead, and held it in her hand, ready to write.
“So, what are your plans for this season? You sounded like you had a lot in mind,” Jane asked, glancing over at the food as she waited for Franky's cue to eat.
Re: The First Business Meeting of the Hobbled Gobbler (Millie)
Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2021 5:09 am
by Franky
Franky looked, up watching his favorite, first, and only employee enter. She was such a nice and polite lass, even knocking before entering. "Good day to you, as well, Millie!" He grinned broadly at her comment on his dress, and her own, "No need to apologize, lass, you know you can wear whatever you'd like here. Sometimes I just have to wear the clothes gathering dust so the moths won't eat them." He grinned at his own joke, taking a sip of the mead.
He was quite pleased to see her excitement at the food, and was amused at her eagerness to get down to business, paper and pencil and all. He walked over, grabbing his goblet, pouring the remainder of his mead into it. Then he grabbed the chilled cider, popping the cork loudly into his hand, and pouring some into Millie's goblet. "We'll get to business after a bit, though I certainly appreciate your enthusiasm and readiness." It was said with just a hint of tease and an obvious amount of sincerity.
As he walked back to his seat, he lifted the cloths from each dish. "Today's meal comes from the Horwells' restaurant, up in the West End. I'd heard it was wonderful and they certainly do not seem to have disappointed." After they were all revealed, he moved forward, grasping her plate, making it obvious he intended to serve her. "For now, I'd like to talk about you, if you do not mind. You've worked here for a season now, and have done wonderfully. But we've also been so busy, we've barely had the time to get to know one another. You've told me you're in school." All of this was said with a genuine, friendly curiosity. Franky placed generous portions of every dish upon her plate, still hot enough that steam was swirling off. "What do you study? What do you hope to do when you've finished?"
He then set her plate in front of her, and went about fixing his own in the same manner. Once he was finished, he set his down and sat down behind it, looking across the table at her. "And how do you feel about working here? Do you enjoy it? This is not the first time I've been a boss, but it is the first time I've run a tavern. So I'd like to know you honest opinions on how you've done, how I've done, and how we've done, together."
Then he picked up the goblet, holding it out toward her, "Skoll." As was his custom, he found her eyes as he said it, then would take the drink. "And please, eat and drink as much as you'd like. This meal is for us both to enjoy fully."
Re: The First Business Meeting of the Hobbled Gobbler (Millie)
Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 6:35 pm
by Jane Farraway
Ash 1st, 121. The Hobbled Gobbler, Zaichaer
Jane smiled, somewhat chagrined by Franky’s gentle teasing, and placed her pencil down. It was difficult not to be in a business mindset while at the bar, even when it was closed. Her ears perked up as he mentioned the restaurant where he had gotten the food. She was familiar with the establishment, having gone there several times with her mother and various associates. It seemed to be the place where high society went to experience more “refined” versions of pastoral dishes and she was mildly surprised that her employer would have such taste.
“Horwell’s you say?”, Jane remarked, impressed, “Oh yes, I’ve heard nothing but good things!”, She was a bit hesitant to admit that she had eaten there before, lest it raise other questions about her lifestyle.
But it seemed, however, that she was not going to be able to avoid questions as Franky asked her about herself, attempting to make up for the time lost between their busy schedules. Some of it was warranted in her opinion, such as feedback from her as an employee, which she appreciated. Other questions might be a little more difficult to answer. They weren’t terribly personal but they could very well stray into personal territory. Franky, from what she could gather, was on the whole a very accepting fellow, but her history would raise far more questions than she would be willing to answer.
“Well, that certainly is a lot to address”, Jane chuckled lightly, “but it’s so good to know that you’re happy with my work. I must admit, I’ve felt rather clueless half the time I’ve been here, but you’ve been a great help. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this but this is actually my first proper job, so I can’t give you the most—experienced feedback as an employee, but I really have enjoyed working for you—“
She paused for a moment, considering her words, “I will say—I do have another job…over at the Knob’s End Nursery. I started there shortly after working for you—when I realized that I might not have the money I needed for classes. Not that you don’t pay me well, of course! It’s just that it can be rather expensive…I help tend the greenhouse—among other things. The proprietress seems to know you—honestly if it weren’t for our association I don’t believe she’d trust me enough to hire.”
Laughing weakly, she continued, “As for school, I study Biology; My focus is Botany, but Zoology and Ecology are equally important in my research. As for what I hope to do—well, that’s—a bit hard to explain—“
Twisting her mouth, she tapped her pencil against the table, thinking of what to say without slipping into jargon, “I hope to understand the effect that—magic has had on the natural world—and continues to have. I want to document how it has changed certain species, the kind of—mutations that it can create, and how natural phenomenon are influenced by it. I want to identify the distinction between the magical and mundane, so we can better understand both."
Jane eagerly looked over the plate filled with delicious food, almost missing her employer’s prompt for a toast. She quickly grasped the stem of her goblet and raised it into the air.
“Skoll”, she repeated, taking a deep drink. After savoring the cider for a moment she asked, “I’ve always wondered, what language is that? You’ve used that toast before but I don’t believe I’ve heard it elsewhere.” She was tempted to ask if it was Ecitharese, but felt like it’d be rude to assume. Even if she believed him to be Orkhan, it could have very well been a toast from the Gelerian Imperium. The more she thought about it, the more she began to realize that she knew as much about Franky than he knew about her.
"So what brought you to Zaichaer? What did you do before the Hobbled Gobbler?"
Re: The First Business Meeting of the Hobbled Gobbler (Millie)
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 9:02 pm
by Franky
Franky smiled, "I've seen her about. I should stop by sometime, been meaning to, but seem to always find something else to do. I'm glad she took you on too."
She used quite a bit of words he didn't quite understand, but it was easy enough to discern that she was studying nature. A useful skill at that. Studying magic though, that was... interesting. He didn't know much about how academia worked here in Zaichaer, but he knew they had an iron fist for magical things. He suspected that meant that she would be under some extra level of scrutiny, at least in her studies.
"That's quite the noble pursuit. Certainly one with plenty of utility. Can't say I know much myself about magic and the like in plants, despite having seen it a handful of times back home."
He took a bite of the ham, chewed it fully, swallowed, before moving onto her question. But damn, that ham was great. He'd certainly order from there again for that alone. His grin stretched toothily at the question, "It's Goblish, though even the humans back in the Imperium use it too."
He took another bite, followed by a long drink. "Well, I came here to enjoy my retirement from the Imperial military. I chose Zaichaer for its many similarities to the Imperium." Then a smug tilt of the head, "Though they still have a far ways to go." Another drink, "I was a soldier all my life. From a family of soldiers. There, if you're in the military, you and your family are treated as well as any others, despite your..." he gestured questioningly, "Well, you could just earn the higher places in life, regardless."
It was a clear admonishment of Zaichaer, but he didn't mind saying so. He was proud of his home and loved it, just as Zaechaeri loved theirs.
"So let me ask you this then. You've been here long enough to see how the tavern works on a basic level. Firstly, do you see any opportunities to better say, incorporate the use of your studies here? Plant things. You're an attentive lass, I've seen those eyes catching the little details and that mind of your begins working. What could be done differently? Don't worry about better or worse, I just wish to hear your educated thoughts, truly."
And while he waited to hear her response, he ate and savored the food, but all the while, he kept his own attentive eyes on her.
Re: The First Business Meeting of the Hobbled Gobbler (Millie)
Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:59 pm
by Jane Farraway
Ash 1st, 121. The Hobbled Gobbler, Zaichaer
As Jane elaborated on the nature of her studies at the Institute, she could not help but notice her employer appear somewhat perplexed, perhaps even concerned, or at the very least she was worried that's what he felt. The study of magic was sometimes met with almost as much scrutiny as its practice, but with Franky she thought she could be more candid. Regardless of his race she knew he was still a law abiding citizen and she was beginning to fear that he might suspect that she was dabbling in the arcane arts herself. She demurred, focusing on her food.
“Thank you, I hope some good can come from it. I don't understand it myself, no one really does. The pressence of wild magic has made it quite difficult for many to categorize much of the natural world”, Jane said, looking down as she placed some of the of the green bean casserole on her mashed potatoes. She scooped them both up with her fork, enjoying how they tasted together.
“Oh, Goblish?,” Jane responded, cheeks full and forgetting her manners, “Isn't that the same language those little people speak—Grobbles, are they? How curious! I suppose they must be rather common in the Imperium then?” She said this rather carelessly, still oblivious to Franky's ethnicity, and partly distracted by her meal.
She ate and listened intently as Franky talked about his past and gave his thoughts on Zaichaer. He being a soldier was not surprising; Having spent enough time around military personnel she could recognize the brand of discipline they followed, not to mention the patchwork of scars that crossed his skin. He spoke of the culture within the Imperium and she understood now why the City of Brass had appealed to him. The two nations did share similar values, Jane reflected, especially in the prestige that service earned.
“It's really not so different here”, she replied, as if divulging some insight,“Plenty of families in Zaichaer have earned wealth and recognition for their service. My father was originally from Haqs, grew up on a farm actually, and he built quite the reputation for himself in the Air Corps...”, Jane trailed off, eating a portion of ham to prevent herself from revealing more than she had intended. Chewing gave her time to think, “But nothing lasts forever, and I do agree that Zaichaer has room to improve.”
Franky's inquiries for her feedback made her draw a blank. In all honesty, she had never expected to be as involved in the tavern as she appeared to be now; What had started as a simple job was now turning into some business venture that left her slightly overwhelmed.She put down her fork and knife and thought deeply, trying to come up with a suggestion. One that was related to her field of study made it even more of a challenge. Botany and serving seemed as far apart was two professions could be.The barmaid tapped the table, her brow furrowed, as she tried to make some kind of connection.
“Well...for one, I really do think we should hire more people, Franky. I haven't a clue how you were able to come this far all on your own and to be honest, I find myself struggling for lack of help nearly every night I'm here. And when I'm not here, I—well, I can't help but feel guilty for leaving you all on your own. School doesn't leave me with much choice but it has put me in a difficult spot at times, if you don't mind me admitting. And as for that...”
Jane looked around the bar and sighed, before reluctantly bringing forth an idea, “I suppose the bar decor could be improved with some folliage. Potted plants. My main concern would be for how long they'd last. The guests can get rather rowdy and some might even consider them as complimentary snacks.”, She gave a short laugh, “But, if you have the resources, I could keep an herb garden for you. Maybe even some produce if the season is right, and if you have the space, but an herb garden would be more realistic. That could be an idea.”
She returned to her plate, finding excuse not to talk further by indulging in her dessert, and looked back at Franky to gauge his thoughts.
Re: The First Business Meeting of the Hobbled Gobbler (Millie)
Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 4:16 pm
by Franky
A sly grin crossed Franky's face. She definitely didn't realize that he was a goblin. In her defense, he no longer bore the same color as most of his brethren, and likely looked more like an Ork. But no need to embarrass the lass, she was already a shy one. "I suppose it would be best to know what creatures and plants and beings are 'magical' and which are not. I hadn't heard it before coming here, but my kind, and really any of the non-humans, are sometimes called 'Magical Races'. Seems like utter nonsense to me, nothing I do is magic." A nod of the head in approval, "Maybe you can set things straight one day."
A chuckle, "Yes, the little ones speak Goblish." He made no attempt at correcting her use of Grobbles. It wasn't the first time he'd heard it and likely wouldn't be the last. "As do the medium sized Goblins and the larger Hobgoblins." He had to fight hard to keep from breaking out into an even bigger grin.
Moving on through the meal, certainly eating and drinking his fill, he listened to her suggestions on the tavern, the ones he'd asked for. And she had sound points. "Oh we definitely need to hire many more people. I genuinely never expected the tavern to grow this fast or popular in such a short time." He smiled softly at her, seeing a growing loyalty within the young woman, "I will be focusing on increasing our staff after this meeting. I do not want you to be losing out on your studies, or your personal life, simply to be working here. There's far more to life than serving beer."
Then he took a moment to really think about all the work she'd done, and the loyalty she was showing, both were traits he wished to reward. "I'm also going to increase your salary, and give you a sizable bonus for having to carry more work than you should have for last season." Franky stood up, walking over to fetch his ledger book from the bar. He brought it back, opening it to the blank certified notes section. "We've had an incredibly good season and I can only see it doing more so for this season."
Franky began scribbling away in the bank note. He then tore it out of the ledger, folding it up and sliding it across the table. If she chose to look at it now, she'd see that the bonus was written out for 2,000 gold pieces. Then he leaned back, "The plants thing... that's a good idea, though you are right when it comes to the rowdiness..."
Franky looked around toward the bar, up at the tall fifteen foot ceilings. "Do you think that maybe we could get them hanging from the ceilings or walls? Might make it more difficult to water, but keeps them protected... I know a goblin that can install them, and ladders are cheap enough to come by."
Continuing to ponder, "Could ya use the roof? I own the whole building, and the roof is flat."
Franky then decided to take a chance by giving Jane the opportunity for more responsibility. "Since we're going to, hopefully, have more employees in the near future, what would you say to a temporary shift of responsibilities. You can spend the time, paid, establishing a garden on the roof, if it works, and caring for the plants we put in here. You don't need to do extra hours or nothin, we'll get other servers to fill what would you'd be doin'. If that's somethin' you're interested in, I'll invest whatever capital you think is needed for it, but it will be your project to run with. You'll be in charge of it."
Franky leaned back, now taking the time to eat some more, as he awaited her replies.
Re: The First Business Meeting of the Hobbled Gobbler (Millie)
Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2021 1:41 am
by Jane Farraway
Ash 1st, 121. The Hobbled Gobbler, Zaichaer
It seemed to her that Franky knew something that she didn't, but Jane couldn't place it. Perhaps he was amused by her ignorance of Grobbles, which appeared to be common creatures where he was from. Strange how they seemed so attracted to the Hobbled Gobbler; Perhaps Orkhan and Grobbles shared some kind of connection, aside from being “Magical Races”, as Franky put it. In the past she had agreed with the term in regards to non-humans, but between her studies and those she come to know in the Knob she realized that it was not so simple.
Jane took a long drink of her cider, sighing, “It's a difficult distinction to make, between what is “magic” and what is not. There are countless species that have been begotten by magical influence while not being inherently magically themselves. Most would be surprised to know that, but as far as people go, so much of it truly relies on choice--”
She paused to take a bite of her fruit salad, “--The choice to practice magic, that is. All races have the potential to be magical. I can say that I've known a few Humans who are more “magical” than the average Hytori, but I believe it would take more than science to clarify this with the public ”
The wide use of Goblish between the various races Franky was describing was intriguing, though very strange. His wording regarding their size initially confused her, but he seemed to be getting at a point of connection between them all.
“Are Grobbles, Goblins, and—um, Hobgoblins, all related somehow?”, Jane asked. She could possibly see how Grobbles and Goblins might have some common ancestor and could only assume that a Hobgoblin would be similar.
“Wonderful! I'm glad you agree!” She beamed. The suggestion had been on her mind but she was worried that he might object to hiring anyone else. There were so many middle-aged business owners that were more content to work themselves to death than admit to whatever weakness they saw in accepting new help. For as much of a relief this had been, it was even more of a shock to hear of a raise.
“A raise...a bonus?”, Jane said, touched but unsure of how to react, “Franky, that's very...”. As she saw him write down her bonus into his ledger, she blinked in surprise and quickly felt tears rising to her eyes.
“T-two-thousand? Oh, by the shining Brass, I...”, her voice cracked and she fanned herself with her linen. Two thousand gold pieces. She could take as many classes that she wanted this season, she could even quit the nursery and never have to tolerate Ma'am's cross treatment again. Never would she have expected such a boon to come from such a humble position. She scarcely knew what to do with herself and held her linen up to her mouth, dabbing her eyes occasionally.
“Yes...yes, Franky, those are more than fantastic options,”, Jane stood, sniffling, and began to walk around the empty tavern, appraising the walls and ceiling, “Hanging plant baskets would do nicely. There are several drought resistant species that thrive well in low light, once they're established. A hanging platform around the room would look lovely as well and give us more flexibility in arrangements. That is, if you're willing to get one installed, but perhaps your Goblin friend could help with that.”
She walked over to the bar, squinting as she held her hands tight to her mouth, “I think we have a little more freedom in the bar area, since customers won't be allowed behind it. Still, it would have to be small.”Jane scanned the counters and shelves, trying to imagine what could reasonably fit without obstructing service, and noticed the large, bare walls surrounding it all. An idea struck her.
“I—have always wanted to try this, but perhaps it's too ambitious. We could fill these empty spaces with a living wall. I would need to do some research into the specifics of course; some low-light climbing species. It would definitely make a statement to say the least, but if we do decide to do this we might want to forgo the platform. That would be far too high maintenance. ”
What she had thought was ambitious now paled in comparison to Franky's suggestion of a rooftop garden. Not only that, but also giving her the opportunity to manage it herself. Nearly overwhelmed by the prospect, she sputtered before being able to fully articulate her words.
“A rooftop garden? I—I suppose we could! I keep a small garden on my balcony at home and have kept up decently with Ma'ams nursery, so I'm sure I could manage it. I have no idea what it would take to construct such a project, but I can't see it getting any use until Glade. Ash isn't exactly the best time of year to start a garden...”, Jane thought ahead to what she imagined herself doing next Glade. For all she knew she'd be leaving the tavern to dedicate more time for her research. Such a project might not be worth it for Franky in the long term, but she did not want to admit to her concerns so directly.
Jane sat back down, taking another helping of ham and green bean casserole, “I would be happy to oversee the project, but I expect it to take some time to become established. I'm willing if you're willing, but we'll need to ensure that it would be cared when I'm not working. Do you have anyone in mind?”
Re: The First Business Meeting of the Hobbled Gobbler (Millie)
Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2021 10:29 am
by Franky
Her words on magic and the races made perfect sense to him. Franky personally had no desire to acquire such powers for himself, there was more than enough destruction in his time in the military, there was no reason to have more. To Franky, the technology the Imperium and its adversaries used was more than enough. He suspected that one day, technology would so far outscale magic in terms of destruction and utility, that magic would ultimately become outdated and forgotten.
In regards to her questions on Goblins, "All of those, the little ones, Goblins, and Hobgoblins, plus the more rare types like the Ogres back home, are all descendants of the first Goblin King. He escaped enslavement and established the first goblin culture within the Imperium, and soon after, the new types of goblin subspecies began to come into existence. And the rest is history."
Franky saw her upwelling of emotion in response to his offering of her bonus, and he wanted to clarify upon it. He used a method that had served him well with young soldiers back in the Imperium, "I want you to know that you earned every single copper of this. This is by no means charity or apology or an attempt to purchase loyalty, no. You've earned this, your work and time that you've dedicated. You should be proud of yourself." That was a lesson his sisters and mother had long since instilled in him. They made sure to raise him to seek pride from himself rather than from others.
Moving onward to the plants discussion, "I'll get ahold of him, see what he suggests for design choices, but a platform system sounds like a good idea." Then he grinned as she continued, "When it comes to this place of ours, there's no such thing as 'too ambitious.' With the way our books have been looking, we're going to be flush with surplus for a long while, so we should put that money to work as much as we can. Design the living wall, take whatever time and resources you need."
At her details regarding the rooftop garden, he could only smile. He could see she was taking it all very seriously, something he truly appreciated. "I have no one in mind yet, but I'll ensure that at least one of our eventual new hires will be trained to handle the plants in your absence. And I will learn as well, for it is important for me, and really anyone in a position with employees, to know how to handle all the duties they delegate to others. Take all the time you need to establish this successfully. We're in no rush, and I'd rather it be done correctly than quickly."
This had been productive so far, and Franky enjoyed seeing Millie really take to her own space. She loved plants, that much was evident, and he wanted to foster in all of his future employees the ability to improve the business, and themselves, in ways that they were passionate about.
"This has been very helpful, Millie. If I can find enough employees soon, there will be many changes around here, and things will likely happen quickly. But that won't change what we've discussed and agreed upon. You've more than earned the roles and responsibilities you choose to have here, and I will not allow others to take that away from you."
Then he leaned back, "But for now, let us enjoy this meal in the comfort of one another. This meeting has already accomplished what I'd hoped for, so we can begin working on those tasks. Let's remember to take the time to enjoy the nicer things in life, it's certainly a most important aspect. One that young people should certainly embrace more than I did while I was young."
He picked up his cup, "To another lovely season together." He looked Millie in the eyes, "Skoll."
Re: The First Business Meeting of the Hobbled Gobbler (Millie)
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2021 9:37 pm
by Jane Farraway
Ash 1st, 121. The Hobbled Gobbler, Zaichaer
“Well, that certainly is rather interesting! I'll have to look into this history when I can find a moment”, In truth, she was more confused than intrigued, but additional study might explain this bizarre and novel race. Any stray thoughts towards this, however, became utterly forgotten in light of Franky's news.
Jane watched him as he spoke, barely absorbing his words through her shock at the sudden boon she had received. It had been a job at best, a facade at worst, yet she had found herself in the gratitude of an old Orkhan veteran who practically treated her as a partner in this business of his. The scant tears she blinked away were partly from guilt; He did not even know her real name. For all her effort not to become invested in Hobbled Gobbler, to keep it at arm's length while she used her paycheck to fund her studies, the bar, and it's owner, had gained her sentiment despite their rougher bearings. She could only imagine what her mother would think.
Her mouth dry, she swallowed a hearty swig of cider, “Thank you, Franky. I..I am..”
She wanted to be proud, but she could not bring herself to be. It was difficult to feel pride for something that for so long felt like a lie, but the hours and effort she had put into the bar were very real. Still, that had been Millie the Bar Maid, the trifling persona, not Camilla Jane Osgrove Farraway, an aspiring naturalist who never would have been seen in the Knob much less work under one of its proprietors. That guilt now settled in the pit of her stomach along with the delicious food that had been so graciously provided, nearly souring her appetite. She considered for a moment telling Franky everything, grinding her thumb into the edge of her cider mug's handle as she pondered the outcome. A dozen different scenarios flashed across her mind, none of them good, and she only smiled, masking her distress with the still lingering surprise she had received.
As Franky elaborated on plans for the platforms, walls, and garden, the applications for Jane's interests took a new and practical turn. Research had always been her focus, but the natural sciences in Zaichaer had in many ways been delegated to theory while the shining pragmatism of engineering and gadgetry took priority. It had been difficult to justify her studies to those who had asked of her focus in passing. A Blueblooded lady choosing science over her societal obligations was strange enough, but to sacrifice them for such “auxiliary” subjects seemed to many an outright waste. Jane's eyes flashed from behind her glasses as she took her pencil to paper, jotting down notes in messy shorthand.
“Yes, yes, I think we can make this work without overwhelming the bar, so to speak”, An incredibly crude drawing manifested under her fevor, smudged by an eager hand and attempts to correct certain details. “Low growing ferns, perhaps, for the platforms, understated—should thrive well in the, um—humidity that seems to accumulate on some nights—the odor. They will help to control the temperature as well.”
The paper nearly went grey as she went back and forth between sketching and erasing in an attempt to give substance to her vision. The proposed wall looked to be a tangled mess over a lop-sided bar, rendered with heavy, unskilled lines. Jane grimaced as she inspected it, glancing across at Franky and then back to her work.
“Ah, I'm sure your friend could lend his feedback--”, she said quickly and tucked her drawing beneath her notes with an edge of laughter.
It all seemed to be happening so quickly despite nothing having truly changed. The very prospect of additional staff was making her head spin, along with the thought of training them. Such delegations had never been anything she had been prepared for, but then again neither was anything to do with the Hobbled Gobbler. Perhaps Franky could tell she was becoming overwhelmed as he offered a toast to this moment and a note of reassurance in her place at the little bar that had become bigger than seemingly either of them had expected.
Jane gave an easy sigh, now smiling in earnest. She lifted her glass and returned the toast. Beyond all the gold she had made last Searing, it was this drink that felt truly deserved.