Topic: Be You Blithe and Bonny

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2016-06-24 13:04 EST
Then sigh not so, But let them go, And be you blithe and bonny; Converting all your sounds of woe Into. Hey nonny, nonny. — Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare

Daily Diary:

Kids of Summer Foundation — install communication systems in foster homes project Stop by Sevelt and Lakas homes Cardinal Inn — see what Franklin has in store Find out cost of repairs to ship Eat at Rick's Performance at Marketplace Visit Raza Maybe visit Annex Can't die today

Lirssa set the pen aside and looked down at the list. Her desk at the foundation had its two piles of papers and files to review and work on the bottom left. Plants in a cluster at the top left. The right side was open for her to actually work, but it also had her daily diary.

There were a few things on that list that made her sick to her stomach, but most it was the cost to repairing Moxie. The latest adventure had played a few good tricks on the sensors, not to mention the dings to the hull that might mean cabling or even radiation shield problems beneath.

It was the money. It was always the money. With a snarl, she took up a pencil and just scratched a jagged line across a blank piece of paper. She needed to move, to get on a rooftop somewhere and run.

The diary stared at her with its list. Things that had to be done. No running. Not yet.

All the funds raised by the Gala were in, and projects were clamoring to be started. Vital projects, like a communication system in all the houses like the Knightly House and High Spires. There were children's files to review. Family files to review. Two children and families to get ready to become a forever family.

Then there were duties to Old Market, and no doubt Franklin had his own list for her. She had to eat, of course, and then the ship.

The ship. It isn't like she didn't have income. She did. Just anything for herself felt wrong. It always felt wrong. She borrowed dresses for events, ate meals in trade for work, and the only savings she had were for the ship. And it was not a lot. Each flight barely made profit. Except for the recent flight in that battle. That made a tidy sum. She could not use it for the children. It felt dirty, like she would stain them with blood, too. So, that she had set to her savings as well. Hopefuly it would be enough to cover repairs. Hopefully.

Jewell had offered this job, and the strings that came with it, to help Lirssa not work so much, but had she slowed down at all" To be slow. To take a moment. The last time she had done that was after Shade.

Cold like an ice pick stabbed down her spine, and she curled her arms to her chest, head ducking down.

"You okay, Lirssa?" Margo stood at the doorway, her voice carrying worry.

It snapped Lirssa from the agony of that memory. She had been broken. She had been useless, but — no she hadn't. Her family hadn't felt that way. They hadn't walked away. Lirssa brought her head up and gave Margo a reassuring smile. "Yes, sorry. Just a little chill."

The elven woman cheered instantly. "Oh, I wonder if you had a spirit walking past. It happens, you know. Little Elfhame is so packed with the magic and glamour, I wouldn't be surprised." Margo seemed a little too delighted by the prospect.

Lirssa, however, was used to the idea of ghosts and spirits walking about RhyDin. The idea that it might be Shade, however, was not one she wanted to entertain. She did not need those nightmares to come back. There was enough disturbing her sleep — and that was an entirely different reason she did not put on the list. One didn't list things about affections on a daily diary. At least, Lirssa didn't. She needed sleep.

Not yet. "Margo, I'm going to be working on the communication systems for the houses, could you find the files from the different vendors that Theodore compiled?"

"Mmhmm, they should be on his desk. I love having any excuse to go in his office,? and Margo fanned her face as if suddenly hot, as she turned to go down the hall.

Nope, can't die today. Still have to finish matchmaking between Margo and Theodore.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2016-07-26 09:48 EST
Daily Diary:

Review project expenditures Prepare gala fund usage report Go to Summerlane Prepare dinner Theater Can't

Can't what? Lirssa looked down at the daily diary and shrugged, setting it aside.

It was early morning at the Kids of Summer Foundation offices. Margo had blinked in surprise when Lirssa was there to help hold coffee when the young half-elf was unlocking the office doors. She had not said anything, but the several glances her way Lirssa knew she wanted to say something.

Margo had learned already in her life when to read someone's body language about not being open to asking questions. Lirssa just smiled and followed her inside, helping to turn on the lights of the offices. Only a small section of offices were dedicated to Kids of Summer Foundation. Margo was support staff to the entire building, but had taken to attaching herself to Lirssa and her staff. A staff that consisted of Theodore and Gillian. The fewer salaries to pay for administration, the more towards the programs. And Lirssa did not have a salary, so it worked out all the better.

Lirssa settled at her desk, wrote her daily diary, and got to work ignoring the unfinished 'Can't' of the last line.

"You're in early." Leave it to Theodore to ask the question Margo wouldn't. He stood at the door with his messenger bag on his shoulder.

"Got to get things situated before heading out to Summerlane for the afternoon. Week of getting the kids used to their new tutor."

"Figure out how you're going to pay his salary without it looking like a conflict of interest?" Theodore came in and took a seat, putting his messenger bag down. He leaned forward, slipping into his work day without a visit to his own office.

"His salary will need to be a direct pull from House of Summer income or direct donations. Can't have his pay come from Gala funds."

"Ethics. They're a bi—"

"Necessary part of what we do if we want to keep doing it," Lirssa cut Theodore off but gave him a grin to let him know she actually very much agreed.

He chuckled, but it was a laugh that dropped away as his lips pursed. "What are you going to do about tomorrow" Too early to have him there on his own."

Lirssa appreciated how intuitive Theodore was about the process. He knew instinctively situations special to the children they looked after. Gillian was learning it quickly, but with Theodore it was natural. "I know. I'll send Gillian with him."

The pursed lips turned into a frown. "Why not me?"

It was another good thing about Theodore. He did not avoid saying what he felt. Well, except when it came to Margo.

"Penny." She answered smoothly. "Honestly, Theo, I would send you, but I don't think Penny is ready for that."

"Krista is in the house."

"I know, but school time is when Krista gets her breather. I need to guide Penny to trusting Aric — and you for that matter. But having her dealing with two men without support, no, I can't do that. She isn't ready."

Theodore grumbled a bit more, but he nodded. He looked to the hallway, then askance to her, and rumbled in a low voice, "Can I kill her father?"

Lirssa snickered. "Too late." A sick sort of thrill knowing what had happened to that man. She almost wished, as Theodore did, that she had taken the man's life herself.

"Well, that's a job well done, then."

"What is?" Margo asked as she walked just inside the door.

Lirssa and Theodore exchanged a common look. Time to change the subject. "This report on the project expenditures. I appreciate you typing this up for me, Margo. I still tend to work with pencil and paper. Makes it better for the board to read progress when it is nice and neat like this."

Margo preened. She preened more than usual since she had just been praised in front of Theodore. Lirssa grinned and offered over the report. "Margo, if you've some time this morning, would you work with Theo in putting together some images from the gala and the homes for the report?"

Theodore's smile returned and Margo practically bounced. "Oh, I'd be happy to. I have time right now."

"Great, so do I." Theodore took up his messenger bag and walked with Margo down the hallway.

Lirssa wiggled a little with a grin. "I'm getting really good at that."