I like your addition to Vancouver Irrealis! I think you've captured Tristram's reluctance to get involved really well -- he did spend a lot of the original story not wanting to be part of what was going on, and I don't think he ever liked the idea of being a hero. I also really liked the way his 'handler' (if he accepts) never thought that he'd say no. There's maybe more to be be told there still -- nice work!
Looks like I've run over the 4K character limit with this one, sorry :(
Making do Miss Hyde smiled like a schoolteacher who knows the class are unprepared for the test. In front of her, all seated obediently on the other side of the walnut conference-room table, eight late-middle-aged white men in suits tried to smile back. Most of them managed something close, but there was one grimace, and the oldest man, at the left-end as Miss Hyde looked at them, really only achieved rictus. "Have you heard of diversity?" she asked. Her voice was modulated and polite, just loud enough for the men to hear without having to lean forward, but quiet enough that it never travelled behind them. "Portfolio management?" said a man in the middle. He was Senior, even amongst this scions of the company. "Maintaining a sensible balance between Tech stocks, even though they've been consistently strong over the last four yea-" "Since the last crash," injected Miss Sikh. She was sat in an armchair behind the men, one of two against the wall of the conference room. There was a round glass table between the armchairs, covered artistically with industry publications, and a pitcher of water with two glasses. It was intended for a more informal meeting when the board-room was appropriate for the level of management but the full table would be ridiculous. "-rs and a spread in Textiles, together with some Industrials," finished the man. His tone had hardened slightly as he spoke over Miss Sikh. "No," said Miss Hyde. She looked along the row of men. "Anyone else like to guess?" "Someone who can handle a woman talking to them, perhaps?" Miss Sikh's tone was laconic, almost bored. "Is this the feminist agenda?" The man at the end, who hadn't managed a smile, leaned forward, steepling his hands. "Only HR put that forward at the last board meeting. I'm trying to remember the outcome." "They were sacked," said a man close to the other end. "Oh yes, that's right."
"No," said Miss Hyde. She smiled again, only this time it reached her eyes and was a bit like a snake seeing a mongoose suddenly cheer up. "One more guess." "Try and get it right this time," said Miss Sikh. Her voice echoed oddly, and the men shifted in their seats, some even looking over their shoulders at her. Only the one closest to her noticed that the water in the pitcher had frozen over at the top. "You're... you're not really going to suggest we hire someone who's not American, are you?" The man at the end had gone pale now and looked like he might faint. "That's completely unacceptable!" There was a chorus of nods and assents along the row, except for the man closest to Miss Sikh who was still staring at the pitcher of water. He was starting to tremble. "No," said Miss Hyde. "Three strikes and you're out. That's basketball, right?" "Baseball," said the pale man at the end, but it sounded reflexive. "Species diversity," said Miss Hyde. "We wanted to do this the proper way, but it's clear that you're so hide-bound it's a wonder you're not all in demand from leather-workers. So we're making do." Miss Sikh stretched out a hand like Adam reaching for God and the boardroom door crashed open. "Ilmatu," said Miss Hyde. "One for each of you. We will get some fresh thinking into this company whether you like it or not." Frost crackled across the walls as the first spidery, spindly body appeared at the doorway.
Greg - thank you :) And yeah, we'll definitely be coming back to that one again. Feels like a pretty natural sequel.
Ugh. Gonna need to read a few more comments before bed if I'm hoping to sleep tonight, even though they only appeared at the very end there. Really enjoyed the lead up to their arrival, I will admit that :P
3 comments:
I like your addition to Vancouver Irrealis! I think you've captured Tristram's reluctance to get involved really well -- he did spend a lot of the original story not wanting to be part of what was going on, and I don't think he ever liked the idea of being a hero. I also really liked the way his 'handler' (if he accepts) never thought that he'd say no. There's maybe more to be be told there still -- nice work!
Looks like I've run over the 4K character limit with this one, sorry :(
Making do
Miss Hyde smiled like a schoolteacher who knows the class are unprepared for the test. In front of her, all seated obediently on the other side of the walnut conference-room table, eight late-middle-aged white men in suits tried to smile back. Most of them managed something close, but there was one grimace, and the oldest man, at the left-end as Miss Hyde looked at them, really only achieved rictus.
"Have you heard of diversity?" she asked. Her voice was modulated and polite, just loud enough for the men to hear without having to lean forward, but quiet enough that it never travelled behind them.
"Portfolio management?" said a man in the middle. He was Senior, even amongst this scions of the company. "Maintaining a sensible balance between Tech stocks, even though they've been consistently strong over the last four yea-"
"Since the last crash," injected Miss Sikh. She was sat in an armchair behind the men, one of two against the wall of the conference room. There was a round glass table between the armchairs, covered artistically with industry publications, and a pitcher of water with two glasses. It was intended for a more informal meeting when the board-room was appropriate for the level of management but the full table would be ridiculous.
"-rs and a spread in Textiles, together with some Industrials," finished the man. His tone had hardened slightly as he spoke over Miss Sikh.
"No," said Miss Hyde. She looked along the row of men. "Anyone else like to guess?"
"Someone who can handle a woman talking to them, perhaps?" Miss Sikh's tone was laconic, almost bored.
"Is this the feminist agenda?" The man at the end, who hadn't managed a smile, leaned forward, steepling his hands. "Only HR put that forward at the last board meeting. I'm trying to remember the outcome."
"They were sacked," said a man close to the other end.
"Oh yes, that's right."
"No," said Miss Hyde. She smiled again, only this time it reached her eyes and was a bit like a snake seeing a mongoose suddenly cheer up. "One more guess."
"Try and get it right this time," said Miss Sikh. Her voice echoed oddly, and the men shifted in their seats, some even looking over their shoulders at her. Only the one closest to her noticed that the water in the pitcher had frozen over at the top.
"You're... you're not really going to suggest we hire someone who's not American, are you?" The man at the end had gone pale now and looked like he might faint. "That's completely unacceptable!" There was a chorus of nods and assents along the row, except for the man closest to Miss Sikh who was still staring at the pitcher of water. He was starting to tremble.
"No," said Miss Hyde. "Three strikes and you're out. That's basketball, right?"
"Baseball," said the pale man at the end, but it sounded reflexive.
"Species diversity," said Miss Hyde. "We wanted to do this the proper way, but it's clear that you're so hide-bound it's a wonder you're not all in demand from leather-workers. So we're making do."
Miss Sikh stretched out a hand like Adam reaching for God and the boardroom door crashed open.
"Ilmatu," said Miss Hyde. "One for each of you. We will get some fresh thinking into this company whether you like it or not."
Frost crackled across the walls as the first spidery, spindly body appeared at the doorway.
Greg - thank you :) And yeah, we'll definitely be coming back to that one again. Feels like a pretty natural sequel.
Ugh. Gonna need to read a few more comments before bed if I'm hoping to sleep tonight, even though they only appeared at the very end there. Really enjoyed the lead up to their arrival, I will admit that :P
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