Making lists

Writers: AL, Suzee
Date Posted: 7th July 2011

Characters: Jylanya, Irabel
Description: Irabel comes to the new headwoman with a request.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 2, day 25 of Turn 6

Jylanya

Irabel was still a little damp, but at least she wasn't dripping any
more. She would be back in the water soon enough, but after lunch
needed to take care of an issue, so found herself outside the office of
the new headwoman and rapped upon it.

The morning had been a steady stream of visitors with requests and
well wishes. It seemed that everyone wanted a piece of her at least
for the moment. Well that was to be expected if they had gone without
a Headwoman for so long. She hadn't had the chance to take her
intended inventory as yet but she would find the time... somewhere.

When the rap sounded on her door, she was copying some requests from
one list to another trying to at least group them in some sort of
logical fashion. "Come in," she called without looking up from her
work.

Irabel stepped inside and closed the door behind her. She took a few
paces to shorten the distance between her and the woman. She had
caught a glimpse here and there of the new headwoman, but this was the
closest and allowed herself a good look while she waited for Jylanya to
acknowledge her presence.

After finishing the note she was making so she wouldn't lose her train
of thought. She looked up with a welcoming smile. She blinked and made
a decision not to put the carpet in the entry as she'd intended. The
succession of wet people seemed to be normal in the hall, which was of
course understandable since their craft had them in the water a great
deal.

"Good afternoon," she said pleasantly.

"Good afternoon, Headwoman." Irabel bobbed her head politely on the
heels of the greeting. "I'm Senior Journeywoman Irabel." No point in
launching all out into what she wanted when she hadn't met the woman
before - no sense in being rude, after all.

Jylanya rose to extend her hand. "Nice to meet you Senior
Journeywoman. Please have a seat." She began to realize why there had
been towels evident in the office from it's former occupant, but
thankfully the chairs were utilitarian and waterproof. "I'm Jylanya."
She smiled and continued the pleasantries. "How long have you been at
the Hall?"

"Please, call me Irabel." The dolphineer took a seat as indicated, one
long, gently muscular leg hooking over the other as she leaned back.
"For about twent turns. I came here a turn into my apprenticeship when
my mother transferred to the Hall. She's retired now."

"Is she still living here at the hall?" she asked.

"She is. Still swims most days, loves the dolphins as much as ever.
She's only been retired a turn - since her last partner died.
Just...felt like she needed to do that." Irabel wondered if she would
ever come to that point. Probably not. "What about you? I know
you're new to the Hall..."

"I'm settling in, there's lots to do. I'm making lists and
prioritizing. Anything I need to add for you?" Her smile remained
pleasant.

"Actually, yes." Irabel straightened up, her top foot bobbing a bit.
"One of my storm shutters fell off. It was damaged during the last
hurricane and supposedly fixed."

"Not _actually_ fixed I take it?" That didn't really surprise her. The
staff was finding themselves without much of the free time they'd
appropriated from their workdays now that she was running things. Her
eyes went steely for a moment and she nodded. "We'll make sure it
gets repaired properly." She might just have to go on an inspection
tour through every single room in the Hall to make sure all was as it
should be.

"Thank you, I appreciate it." Irabel thought that with a Headwoman
again that things would go a lot more smoothly. "So, anything I can do
for you?" She asked, her smile flicking up once more. "With settling
in and all?"

"I'm doing alright actually." She found she wasn't exaggerating in the
least. She was happier at this moment than she'd been in turns. Hard
work wasn't a stranger and now she was beginning to see the size of
the problems. She could do this job and she knew it. "My own quarters
weren't in much better shape than yours from what I can tell." Then an
idea occurred to her. "Since you've been here so long. Do you know
what's stored up on the third level? I've been looking for the former
Headwoman's records and can't find them. Any ideas?"

"Really?" Irabel sat up straight. "Ylisahn didn't seem like the type
of person to not keep careful records. Have you checked in her old
room? Has any of the furniture that was here when she was here been
changed out?" She frowned. "As far as I know, the third level hasn't
been used since the Hall open. In fact, it's not in really good
shape and remains closed off - so nothing's really stored there at
all."

"Alright, but I may have to go up there and check it out. Did you know
the former Headwoman well?" She was still a mystery so Jylanya wanted
to know a little more about her.

"Not _very_ well. In all honesty, she wasn't here very long." Irabel
shook her head. "From what I understand, she had a traumatic
experience when the Weyr flooded...that's why she came here, but I
don't think it was quite enough."

"Oh, ok well then." She didn't want speculation but information that
might lead her to the records. "I've asked the Weyr for a carpenter so
hopefully we'll have someone skilled soon enough. I'll make sure
you're on the list." She smiled at the other woman, "Anything else?"

"Not at the moment, but if anything crops up, I'll be sure to come see
you." It was nice to have someone in charge of certain matters again.
Irabel smiled to the woman. "And by the way, welcome to the Hall."

Jylanya smiled and said "I don't mind in the least, and thank you very
much." She looked forward to gaining a deeper knowledge of those
around her and gaining some friendships in the process. Her one friend
of the moment was at the Weyr and their contact was limited to
restdays and not every one of those.

Irabel stood and nodded politely. "Until we meet again, Headwoman."

She rose as well. "A pleasure to meet you Irabel."

Last updated on the August 3rd 2011

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Making lists