Careers Fair, Fandom High Front Lawn, Friday Afternoon, 07/21/06

[drywitmartini.livejournal.com]

By lunch time, the booths were set up, the guests had arrived and there was quaint music playing from somewhere undetermined. Hawkeye is walking around with one of those portable microphone/speaker set-ups, roaming from booth to booth announcing the various guests that have come to Fandom to talk about their professions.

And despite what the mainland weather forecast said, it was definitely a nice, fine day.

Comments

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[rogerconte.livejournal.com]

Roger was smiling as he waited for students to talk to him, but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "Good afternoon. In the world of politics, business, or any career that involves working with other people you can never go wrong with a good compliment." He paused. "Or a good threat."

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

Alanna spotted Roger almost instantly and with a muffled squeak ducked into a random booth and tried not to hyperventilate.

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Alanna?" Parker cocked an eyebrow at her as she walked by the booth. "Are you okay?"

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

Alanna flapped at Miss Parker and ducked into Aly's booth. So not her day.

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[rogerconte.livejournal.com]

"My Lady?" Roger called out to Miss Parker. "Would you perhaps be intrested in hearing a bit about my work?" He spotted the flash of red out of a corner of his eye, but it was gone too quickly.

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker blinked after Alanna, then shrugged. "Why not? We have something similar here, I think." She raised her eyebrows, and offered one hand. "I'm Parker."

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[rogerconte.livejournal.com]

Roger bowed and brough Miss Parker's hand up for a quick kiss. "A pleasure Lady Parker. I'm Duke Roger of Conte, advisor to the King of Tortall. And what is such a lovely lady as yourself doing here?"

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker's smile widened. "Being flattered, it seems. And preparing to go to college, then work in my father's company." She folded her arms, studying Roger. "On what subjects do you advise your king? Economics, the military, trade...?" She paused. "And why 'lackey'?"

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[rogerconte.livejournal.com]

"After the epidemic a few years ago, I have worked mostly on raising the magical defenses of the kingdom. In addition I am his military advisor and was in charge of the troops during the war with Tusaine." Roger may have been exaggerating a little. "And the lackey is there because one of my fellow advisors has a very...strange sense of humor. And doesn't like me much."

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"So you have a military rank in Tortall?" Parker wondered why that sent Alanna scurrying for cover, then mentally shrugged and said, "What kind of magical defenses? They may not work where I'm from, but I'd still love to hear about them." She cocked her head and smoothed her hair back. Hey, she can do the flattery thing too. "I'm sorry one of your fellow advisors decided to make your trip more difficult. Court politics really are a headache, aren't they?"

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

There was something about the royal courtier that reminded Hamlet a little too much of his uncle. He decided to stop by the booth, but try and keep his guard up.

"You are a royal couriter? Did you earn that position close to the royal family by beginning at the bottom and moving your way up the ranks, or my being appointed as such?"

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[rogerconte.livejournal.com]

Roger smiled at the boy. "I am Duke Roger of Conte, the nephew of the current king of Tortall. My parents wished for me to become a sorcerer, but after their untimely death, my uncle took me under his wing. But, even though I am a member of the royal family, I have risen through the ranks based on my own abilities. Are you looking for a certain position?"

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Hamlet shrugged non-committaly. "Something of the sort. My family is involved with the royal court of Denmark, and until my Father's sudden death, it was assumed that I would eventually take a minor position therein. Do you have any advice for attaining a good position at court?"

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[rogerconte.livejournal.com]

"Denmark, Denmark. I don't believe I've heard of it. I am a firm believer that if you think you should have a certain position, the people around you will believe that you deserve it too, eventually. Have a concrete goal for yourself, flatter and bribe the people who can give you the position, have plenty of charisma, and never, ever doubt your own abilities. Oh, and make sure everyone sees the good you do." Roger smiled at Hamlet.

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

"Denmark is a small counrtry in the northern regions. It's not particualily powerful or interesting these days, but it's still my home." Hamlet smiled back a bit, but the feeling didn't reach his eyes. Now that did sound an awful lot like what his uncle did.

"But wouldn't it be somewhat deceitful? Is the only way one can reach the top by lying and manipulating others into unwittingly helping you achieve your goals? Is there no way to be honest and honorable with yourself and others, and still attain a good position?"

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[rogerconte.livejournal.com]

Roger's smile never reached his cold eyes. "But they will be better off once you are in the right position for you. Because don't you know what's better for everyone anyway? And it doesn't have to be unwittingly. Most people are more than happy to help, so long as they get what they want as well. Honesty and honor only get you so far."

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

"I used to think that I knew what was best, but as of late I'm beginning to see that that's not always the case. Even the relentless pursuit of one's own noble goals can have rather negative and sometimes fatal effects on others."

He's hoping that it doesn't show too much that he's speaking from experience.

"I'm just not certain that one can always say that the means justify the ends."

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[rogerconte.livejournal.com]

"We can't always predict what effects our actions will have. But, I am a firm believer of going for what you believe is right."

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly left her booth for a distraction a breath of fresh air and sauntered over to Duke Roger's booth. With a courtly gesture, she nodded to him. "Afternoon, your Grace."

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[rogerconte.livejournal.com]

"Good afternoon, my Lady." Roger bowed as was appropriate to a noblewoman. "Have we met? I think I would remember such a charming face as your own."

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"Oh no, we've not, your Grace," Aly gave him a flirtatious smile. "I took the liberty of coming over to introduce myself if you aren't opposed."

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[rogerconte.livejournal.com]

"You are from Tortall too, I presume?" Roger smile never reached his eyes. "And I will never be opposed to meeting a lady. What brings you here today? Are you a student at the school?"

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"Indeed," Aly said, bending her knee in a curtesy and affecting the languid gestures of court nobility. "I am Alianne of Pirate's Swoop. And just a guest for the day sadly. May I ask what position you are exhibiting?" She sounded innocent, young, and completely brainless.

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[rogerconte.livejournal.com]

"Pirate's Swoop. Pirate's Swoop. Your family is not at court much are they? I can't seem to recall seeing them there." Roger waved a hand over his booth. "Myself? I am here to explain the fine art of being a royal courtier."

Re: ROYAL COURTIER/LACKEY

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"Oh, they are around though perhaps you'd not know them." She somehow managed to make that sound coquettish and humble rather than the genuine happiness and hatred she felt towards him. She looked at him with her Sight, trying to gauge if that was in fact the only reason he was here or if there were more nefarious purposes. "How thrilling really, have you received much interest from the students here?"