The Quest for Confidence

[Woe]

41st of Vhalar 721

It was the high harvest time in Scalvoris, between the beginning and end of the last harvest event, and there was no greater time for the people of Egilrun, and Scalvoris itself to get busy and find a place to be of use to others. Woe was carefully going over the records of the latest applicants to arrive at his business, Egilrun Confidential. Even though there was great need around the island for all sorts of workers and hirelings, it always seemed to Woe that he couldn’t get his hands on enough employers to sign on for his service of talent-finding.

This was something that he no doubt needed help on, so it stood to reason that his own business is included in the recruitment drive and that he be among those doing the hiring. He’d already sent out an invitation to Perdita Westcott, hoping that she’d show up.

Breen was on hand, as a potential comforter to the young woman, as Woe knew she struggled with shyness and anxiety. Breen was often and always good for breaking the ice, even for a Diri of Sorrow. And he already had a good rapport with Perdita.

So Woe filed those potential hires and their applications into his desk, to be sorted through later to find a good place for them. That done, he rose from his desk and made for the partition that divided his office from the rest of the building. He slid the door open and slipped into the front space, where Gloom was busy cooking as much as he could.

”Do you think people will want to eat here?” Gloom droned the question, half seeming to expect a negative answer.

Woe looked down at the tunawa. ”We’ll insist upon it. Looking for work can be nerve-wracking, and having food there at the onset will possibly put them at ease.” Or so Woe thought. In any event, it wouldn’t do to dampen Gloom’s naturally low spirits.

Gloom nodded, and went back to work, baking up sweet pastries for what he deemed a breakfast service. Woe had already brewed some coffee, which was contained in a sealed kettle.

So there, he waited for the first of the job-seekers to arrive while enjoying a cup of coffee and enjoying the scents from the space that was dedicated to Gloom’s baking and cooking.

[Perdita Westcott]

The Quest for Confidence

41 ~ V ~ 21

S

he adjusted her clothes one more time. She had fussed over them this morning, deciding on a long black skirt which nearly touched the floor and a crisp white blouse. A black waistcoat completed the look. Perdita didn't wear make up, she saw no need to waste time trying to look different to how she was, so that had been her preparation. Her hair hung down her back in a loose braid and she breathed in.

it was ridiculous, she knew, to be so nervous. Mr Morandi had invited her, she knew him and she liked him, they had worked together previously and she had painted his dog. A smile whispered briefly across her lips as she realised how that sounded in her head and she made a point to remind herself that - should she ever say it, she should be careful to ensure that it was clear that she had created a painting of his dog, just in case anyone thought that she had, in fact, coated the canine in paint.

Trying to still her nerves, Perdita made her way in and looked around with wide hazel eyes. The scent of coffee and pastries met her and that caused her to smile a little. If there was only one thing that she could say about Woe, and his hospitality, it was that he was a thoughtful and considerate host. She had been very well taken care of when she had visited, and it seemed that the same level of care for visitors was being shown here. The lovely smells were indeed something which made her feel more easy and she was less intimidated by the open space than she would have been had she done this even just a couple of cycles ago. Now, she felt the nerves - and the inevitable blush which tinged her cheeks - but she made her way in.

Looking around, she caught sight of Woe and smiled at him, unsure of the protocol of the situation. She had brought with her, in a briefcase-like bag, some examples of her artwork, but mostly she had focused on bringing examples of skills which she had not demonstrated to him previously; he knew her art after all. Although, it had to be said, she had improved enormously. In the case were examples of her book-binding, a woven puzzle-box she had made, and research she had undertaken as part of her history qualification. Also, of course, were her certificates for her Letter qualifications, and proof of registration on the Certificate programme for both History and Art.

When she caught his eye, Perdita blushed and smiled in equal measure and made her way to speak to him. "Hello," she said quietly. Her voice showed her nerves and her tone was very soft. "Are you well?" Before anything, it was important to be polite and she asked after him first. Hopefully, then, he would let her know what the protocol was and she could take the next step.

[Woe]

The last time he'd met Perdita, or perhaps it was the first time he'd seen her, he'd been bedeviled by arcane influences that swayed his behavior. He'd been afraid of himself, and in the presence of someone who had the appearance of an innocent, he had felt the weight of caution fall on him. He'd been stiff, unrelentingly abrupt and stilted almost. Then, on meeting Perdita the day of, he would seem far less afraid of himself, as it was. The arcane presence within him wasn't driving him towards damnable actions. The Empathy didn't overwhelm, and the Umbral shadow didn't draw him into darkness. While there were forces outside and within himself that he still struggled with, they weren't anything approaching the unmanageability of those two giants wrestling for dominance over his conscious and unconscious actions.

When he met Perdita in the front, he was more comfortable with himself. A lot had changed about him, but more to the point, the way he saw the world had changed slightly. This didn't make him a saint, or anything approaching virtuous. He still was who he was and had done the things he'd done, afterall. So he still did approach Perdita with caution, although with far less than when a bad instinct and a short move would render her vulnerable to flaying, for one example of an outcome he feared. The Umbral magics seemed to crave the souls of the vulnerable and weak most of all. That's not to say Perdita was weak, but... well. She entered a space she was invited to, and couldn't help but blush in some mode of embarassment. No doubt she was brave in her own way, but she had a long way to go to build her confidence.

"Hello, Perdita. I'm glad you could come. I was happy to hear that you were well."

Gloom dipped his head, carrying a bowl of spices across the way and toward the ktichen, the door to which swung lightly open, and then shut behind him as he began preparing for lunch.

There were few enough people gathered in the place, but Woe was expecting people he'd sent for from abroad. People he'd met in Quacia, Ne'Haer, and other places. They'd most of them be arriving, and had given him assurances of such. But for now, Perdita was his focus.

"I'm very good, thanks." He nodded to her, and then gestured toward a table which held a few seats. He went over and pulled out a chair for her, and then if she took a seat, assumed the seat opposite her. "So it's good to see that you are well. What have you been doing all this time, aside from the research you sent my way?"

He looked swiftly at her briefcase, and then back to her, "I am guessing you know that I need a few good workers for this place, having just started Egilrun Confidential up. I could use someone to run the everyday logistics of maintaining records and contacts. That sort of thing."

[Perdita Westcott]

The Quest for Confidence

41 ~ V ~ 21

W

hen Woe spoke to her, Perdita blushed and smiled in equal measure. His words were kind - as they had always been to her - and she listened carefully to him. She had no idea of his thought process regarding her strength - or lack of it - or her vulnerability and she would have added her own opinion to it had she known. Instead, she focused on the situation, and she accompanied him to the table where she sat and folded her hands carefully in her lap. He asked what she had been doing since last they met and she answered quietly. "I went to Rharne," she said, by way of an explanation. "Visited my parents." And that, it seemed, would have to do in terms of what she had done. Perdita was not good at hiding her emotions and there was something about Rharne, and her visit, which was upsetting. She didn't want to cry or get emotional here and so she spoke of it briefly and said no more. She had no idea how acutely skilled in psychology Woe was, but even had she known she could not have hidden the struggle on her face.

However, thankfully he moved on to the reason they were here. She nodded her head. "I understand," she said. Looking at him, Perdita wondered what he was thinking. Would he consider employing her, she wondered. She believed so, he'd invited her here, after all. "I'm interested in applying," she said and then spoke again. More and more, she had learned to speak up when she had something to say, but she found it hard, still. "I would like to continue my studies," she said, just to make sure that they were all above board and clear with each other. "But I work hard." She did. Also, of course, Perdita knew that if she was being - for example - a portrait artist, then working on logistics and information behind the scenes in Egilrun Confidential might mean that she could gather information for him. Certainly, people talked while being painted.

Thinking about it, in fact, both of the things which she wanted to do with her life - make art and write history - were excellent means of gathering information. She was sure that Woe would have already thought that, but she did not want to rush ahead. "Would that work?" She wondered and then she lapsed into silence and waited for him to speak. Perdita knew that people often changed their mind when faced with reality of things and, while she might come across as a confident individual during letter-writing, her almost crippling shyness might well be something which he decided meant he could not use her as part of his business. If that was the case, that was fine, but she didn't want to rush ahead and plan until she knew what his thoughts were.

So, she waited and she listened and she attended to the moment.

[Woe]

There were few enough people that Woe both identified with and held in great esteem. Perdita was one such person. He already had a sense of her work ethic, with the invaluable research and intelligence gathering she'd done on his behalf, about the Watcher's Union, and other associated intelligence assignments. She was clearly a genius at information collating and gathering, a word he didn't use lightly. One could be of great natural talent and spend much of their time never using it. Perdita used every ounce of potential that she had toward the endeavors she set herself to. That was something Woe greatly admired.

She was of course, nervous and blushing when she met him. He could understand the nerves. Even though they knew each other fairly well, a situation where you were putting yourself forward for consideration of a permanent position was hard enough for someone with nerves of iron. Perdita had the courage of a sort and was certainly daring in her pursuit of intelligence from the Watcher's Union. Yet she couldn't be anyone other than who she was, which was a woman of shy sensibilities, self-conscious and conscientious. Woe suspected it was these traits that improved the quality of her work output.

"Oh Rharne? I've been there only once, believe it or not... Or well, somewhere close to there. Not the city itself, however." Woe cleared his throat, not quite sure whether he should broach the topic of his experience with Lovalus and Rharne, brief as it had been. "I trust they're well?"

"As for continuing your studies, that will certainly be an option, and in fact an asset if you work for me. I have more research that I'll want you to do for me. I'm particularly interested and want to acquire more understanding of Scalvoris culture, and the cultural impact of the Barony of Faldrass specifically. But my interests don't end with Faldrass. If you work for me researching the cultural aspects of the island, it'll likely send you to research many different places, from Darbyton to Immortal's Tongue, from Faldrass to Ishallr even. Are you willing to move about as your class schedule permits?"

Woe folded his hands on top of the table, waiting for her response. He was very interested in procuring her research services again and eager to team up with Perdita on his important work across the island.

[Perdita Westcott]

The Quest for Confidence

41 ~ V ~ 21

H

e asked about her parents and Perdita nodded. "They are fine, now, thank you," she said. He knew that they had been unwell but they were fine now, she reminded herself. When she spoke in fairness it sounded like she was reassuring herself as much as him ~ which to an extent was true ~ but she was genuine in her words and she added. "Thank you. You're kind for asking."

Then, hexplained what he wanted and Perdita listened carefully. He was interested in the culture of places, the history of them? She felt the familiar blush on her face, but as Woe explained what it was he wanted, information on Scalvoris culture and the impact of - for example - the Barony, Perdita nodded. "I would like that," she said with a smile. "I want to make books about each place," she explained. She found that if she focused on him, and forgot that there were other people there, then that helped. "I met a woman, called Elisabeth. I'm going to write a book on Haven." Perdita had no idea if Woe knew Elisabeth or not. "It's a settlement, on Faldrass." She kept her gaze on him as she spoke and, by doing that her confidence grew.

"I want to do that for every place. History, culture, people, in a book. I would make copies, have a library" she said, earnestly. "We could store notes here, too?" Perdita loved the idea of being able to do this, back in Rharne she had wanted to write the history of Rharne and Ilaren for the immortal herself and now, something very similar might be her actual job here on Scalvoris. That was amazing to her, and it not only fitted with her schedule in terms of her classes, it enhanced it. She would be gathering resources and inspiration for her art, and she would be researching lived experience which was history if she had ever heard it. In many ways, Perdita thought, this was her dream job.


"I'd like to take the job," she said with a nervous but firm expression. "If it's on offer, I'd like... like to take it." She smiled at him. It was right for her, it was the right job in the right moment. "I planned on setting up a portrait and art shop, " she said, with a frown, realising that it was something that was changing due to this. "I still could, I think?" She'd thought that it wouldn't be possible to do that and this job, but suddenly she knew that it could enhance her work here, no distract. "It will be called Art History, based here in Egilrun." she said, with a slight smile. "And will offer to make portraits, artwork or books of personal or place history." She nodded. That would make sense. It would work, it would be right. It would be her, doing what she did. That meant that when she worked for him it was not in the least surprising"Will that work?" She had not asked if it was acceptable, but it was close. It made sense to her, that she should do that and it be the way that she did her job for him. "I will own my store, it will function. You pay me for specific jobs and I prioritise you specifically? Would that work?"

She thought - and hoped - it would. It would make her less suspicious if she was finding out about a place or a person - after all, it was what she did. Eagerly, she waited to hear his thoughts.

[Woe]

It was good to know that Perdita's parents were well, and wouldn't need her in the short-term at least. That was not just a pleasant inquiry, but an actual interview question Woe had in mind to ask. He wanted to know how she would prioritize her professional development against personal attachments. Fortunately, she seemed to have things well in hand in that arena.

"Books?" Woe's brows lifted at the mention of her plans in that regard. "About specific places. That sounds like a very useful pursuit. One could explore the world without ever leaving such a library." He smiled. The idea of spending so much time in a library didn't appeal to him personally, but he was willing to concede that she might have different preferences where that was concerned. And having her researching places as a matter of course would fit in nicely with his own purposes.

"Yes, I wouldn't mind keeping copies of such notes and information, if you find a good place to store them..." Woe said, idly wondering if the girl might be willing to study cryptography into the bargain for more sensitive records.

Finally, they came to the matter of whether she'd even want to work for Woe on a regular basis. She confirmed her interest. Woe wasn't much of one to stand on contracts. Leave that to Magpie and his byzantine intertwining of business and personal life. Woe only thought of him a moment, remembering his proclivity for agreements, negotiation, and contracts. He did wish he could be here now.

"Yes, you can pursue your own opportunities of course. But I do expect you to mind your assignments from me, whatever they might be, and lend them top priority. Should you find that agreeable, consider yourself hired."

He laid his hands flat on the table, now relaxed having gotten that business out of the way. There was the lingering problem of her mention of Elisabeth. Doubtless, the topic of Perdita's regular employment would come up in whatever work she conducted for Elisabeth. Which would lead to conversation about him. Although he didn't think Elisabeth would try and poison his employee against him, he wanted her to know from him what the connection between himself and Elisabeth entailed. "I know Elisabeth Angelus of Haven. That's the one? We were at the Glass Temple during the events that led to the Forging, have you heard of it?"

Regardless, he continued, "Chamadarst appeared to me then, answering a prayer that the Island be spared from the ravages of war. But he informed me that my terms were impossibly broad. So he asked what I would have him do. I asked him to make me the Warden, thinking that if I were in a position I would be able to turn the tide against war. But Chamadarst in his wisdom saw that I didn't understand what that entailed. That it would result in my destruction. Instead, he offered to send the woman Elisabeth, who sat outside the cloister, to take the Warden's place. To inhabit a place of great torment, that the island would not know the strife of war. I accepted easily. Afterall, of what consequence is the fate of one woman weighed against that of thousands." Woe sighed, "Of course, he did no such thing when I accepted his proposal, but in narrowing my focus he opened my eyes to what needed to be done eventuallly. I put aside my angst and was able to make the right choice, stepping away from the Forging to be in a position to fortify its process from without."

"Later I did accept the forging, but only after a redemption of sorts."

It was a long story, but Woe wanted Perdita to hear his side of it, before Elisabeth ever told hers. He looked at Perdita, wondering what she would think of his actions. "What would you have done, had Chamadarst or another Immortal asked you the same?"

[Perdita Westcott]

The Quest for Confidence

41 ~ V ~ 21

W

oe laid out his terms - that her work for him must take priority, and Perdita nodded without pause. That was very much what she had intended when she suggested it. It would allow her to have a reason for gathering information, and it would mean that she could gather information while there was nothing specific he wanted her working on. It made sense to her and she was very happy with the arrangement.

He said that she was hired and she smiled. "Thank you," she said. "I appreciate it." She did. It was an opportunity for her and he was putting trust in her by giving her that opportunity. She tilted her head to the side slightly, then, and listened as he spoke of Elisabeth. She nodded as he asked if she'd heard of the Forging. It was hard not to have, in fairness, but she said nothing and instead simply listened to him.

And the story he told her was one which beggared belief. Perdita listened to it, considered it, looked at it from all angles and - as she always did - she saw it in her mind's eye. Each scene was it's own frame, it's own picture, and she watched it play out in her imagination, clearly. Finally, when the whole story was done, Woe asked her what she would have done, and Perdita considered it. Not for long, but she did.

"I'd have taken the deal," there was no doubt in her mind that she would have. One life in exchange for so many others - it was not in question. "And accepted the consequences for myself, for doing so." It was very true. She knew herself well enough to know that, had she done what he had - and in the same situation she would have - she would have lived with the guilt of that for the rest of her trials. "But better one family loses than thousands of them." She shrugged slightly. "And better that I live with the guilt of my actions, if it saves others."

Was she right? She didn't know. It was right for her, right as she saw it. But, then, there was also another point to be made. "Or, at least," she said with a slight smile as she looked at him. "I would do that if I could speak. Otherwise, I'd blush." Her eyes twinkled slightly with amusement at herself, and she knew that he would understand. In the presence of an Immortal, it was highly unlikely that she'd be able to function competently, in Perdita's mind. It was much more likely that she'd be reduced to making small meeping noises and the odd vowel-sound.

Better leave that, Perdita considered, to the professionals.

[Doran]

Woe:

Knowledge:
Business Management: Having food prepared for clients and prospective employees can make everyone feel welcome at a business.
Business Management: Hiring people you work well with is good team-building.
Business Management: Holding a job fair for your new business.
Leadership: Making a potential hire feel comfortable, so they feel better about following you.
Leadership: x 2
Socialization: Asking for another's perspective on a potential crisis.
Socialization: Discussing a wide range of topics in order to cover as much ground as possible.
Psychology: Gleaning another person's perspective can lead one to new insights.

Loot: +1 hireling!
Lost: -
Wealth: 10 WP
Injuries: -
Renown: 5, for hiring Perdita.
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 15

Perdita:

Knowledge:
Business Management x3
Discipline x3
Intelligence x3

Loot: +1 job!
Lost: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: 5, for getting a job.
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 15

- - -

Comments: I thought it was really nice that Breen was there when Perdita visited in order to break the ice and comfort her. Woe gives me the impression of being a good business owner who thinks of everything!

I also found it interesting to read how his sparks had influenced him before, and how different things were now.

He does seem to be more comfortable with himself!

Perdita's preparations and her feelings when it comes to applying for a job were described well in my opinion. I have to admit, I smirked when she realized that she should be careful to ensure that it was clear that she had created a painting of his dog.

I can't help but wonder what that dog would look like covered in paint now!

The work that Woe wants her to do for him sounds very interesting in my opinion. It made sense that he told Perdita about his previous interaction with Elisabeth, but I was still surprised when he told her that he was willing to sacrifice her.

Perdita's reaction was not what I expected. I loved that part of the thread, I have to admit - and how you mentioned that she saw that story in her mind's eye, with each scene being its own frame, and it's own picture.

That was well-written!

With that being said, I wish Perdita good luck with her new job, and enjoy your rewards!