Poll RPG: The Master of Ceremonies
May. 20th, 2017 08:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rowyn"I told you I could help, Master Corydalis." Master Smoke gave him a playful smile. Corydalis smiled back, and then ducked his head quickly as one horn caught on a tree branch along the path to the street. Watch where you're going, not just her, he reminded himself. What are you, besotted? You shouldn't be staring like that at a contractor in any event. He schooled his eyes forward as Smoke said, "I feel silly for not knowing, but, um, what exactly does a master of ceremonies do? I mean, here at Courthall. I gather it's not like the theatrical equivalent."
Corydalis chuckled. "Not exactly, no, although sometimes the job does feel like directing a three-ring circus. I am the head of those functions of Courthall that are not directly related to governance. So, for example, maintenance, catering, scribe and messenger services, Courthall security, groundskeeping, entertainment, events planning -- these departments all ultimately answer to me. The representatives and nobility have some personal staff, and they organize the committee and general assembly meetings and other affairs of governance."
Smoke's blue eyes rounded, her ears canted to the side as she gazed up at him. "Oh. That sounds like a lot of work."
"It is," he said, ruefully. "But I have a great deal of help. When I have too much to do, it is almost always my own fault."
"How is that?"
By now they had reached the street, and Corydalis spread his wings and held out a hand to flag down one of the patrolling floaters. He handed Smoke into its cab, then followed behind her. "Because it means that I have chosen to do work myself that I ought to delegate to someone else. Or I have chosen the wrong delegate for a job and I need to hire the right one. There are some fires one cannot avoid having to put out oneself, of course. But the art lies in getting the right people pointed in the right directions, and then loosing them to their tasks. If I do that properly, there's nothing left for me to do."
Smoke leaned back in the floater seat, her grey features thoughtful. "That still sounds like a lot of work. So if you're in charge of all the non-governing stuff, who do you report to?"
"The prime minister," he told her.
She gave him a sidelong look so alarmed that Corydalis laughed. "You report to the prime minister?!"
"Don't worry, it's not contagious."
"I don't mean -- that is -- what are you doing managing a replacement enchanter personally?"
"My job." He gave her another rueful smile, and added, "Badly. The details comprise a complicated political equation."
Corydalis chuckled. "Not exactly, no, although sometimes the job does feel like directing a three-ring circus. I am the head of those functions of Courthall that are not directly related to governance. So, for example, maintenance, catering, scribe and messenger services, Courthall security, groundskeeping, entertainment, events planning -- these departments all ultimately answer to me. The representatives and nobility have some personal staff, and they organize the committee and general assembly meetings and other affairs of governance."
Smoke's blue eyes rounded, her ears canted to the side as she gazed up at him. "Oh. That sounds like a lot of work."
"It is," he said, ruefully. "But I have a great deal of help. When I have too much to do, it is almost always my own fault."
"How is that?"
By now they had reached the street, and Corydalis spread his wings and held out a hand to flag down one of the patrolling floaters. He handed Smoke into its cab, then followed behind her. "Because it means that I have chosen to do work myself that I ought to delegate to someone else. Or I have chosen the wrong delegate for a job and I need to hire the right one. There are some fires one cannot avoid having to put out oneself, of course. But the art lies in getting the right people pointed in the right directions, and then loosing them to their tasks. If I do that properly, there's nothing left for me to do."
Smoke leaned back in the floater seat, her grey features thoughtful. "That still sounds like a lot of work. So if you're in charge of all the non-governing stuff, who do you report to?"
"The prime minister," he told her.
She gave him a sidelong look so alarmed that Corydalis laughed. "You report to the prime minister?!"
"Don't worry, it's not contagious."
"I don't mean -- that is -- what are you doing managing a replacement enchanter personally?"
"My job." He gave her another rueful smile, and added, "Badly. The details comprise a complicated political equation."
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 14
Complicated political equation?
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Ask for the details! They might be important!
10 (71.4%)
Don't pry for details. Ask about his personal life.
0 (0.0%)
Ask what he likes about his work
4 (28.6%)
Ask about life in Hallston, the capital city.
0 (0.0%)
