[Humans for Hire] - Part 194

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*Author Note:* Awards! ...before I even started my laundry?! You....you people are so far beyond awesome. Thank you!

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*Vilantia Prime, Throne City, Ministry of Trade*

Grezzk was wearing her finest dress as she walked through the halls. She'd been communicating with various Ministry officials for some time, but this was her first actual visit to the ministry building proper. It was awkward in a way, her hands kept reflexively moving to check on the children before she realized that said children were being doted on by the in-laws as well as Kiole and Lumisca.

She paused for a long moment as she looked at the former Minister of Trade in his current cage of plastanium with a holographic sign that listed his many crimes. Her entire life, he'd been pointed at as someone to be respected, obeyed. Now with only the barest cover from the elements and a small cloth for decency, he looked confused and lost as he murmured to himself.

"How did I get here...this is not my beautiful house...this is not my beautiful wife."

Grezzk flicked an ear and shook her head. It was only the latest strangeness in her life. She re-focused and entered the building, diverting quickly to the directory and cross-checking before entering the elevator to go downward.

At sub-level three, she stepped out to find organized chaos. On the up side, it seemed that she wasn't overdressed for the occasion. She ran her fingers over the small brooch pin she'd been given by her mother-in-law for good luck. This gave her a bit more hope that this would be an easy appointment.

She gave her tablet one last check before making her way through the chaos to a cubicle, where a functionary sat - apparently a touch overworked, but still keeping himself as professional as possible. His fur was held in place, but his scent and eyes bore the signs of weariness; a minor office worker who realized exactly who he was in the grand scheme of things. The nameplate outside the cubicle read Balion, and there was a brusque gesture to the available seat.

"Application, please."

Grezzk tapped and sent, and Balion frowned.

"This title is in the incorrect spot."

"Apologies, but the form does not seem to have an option for 'Freelady'. It is in the most appropriate location."

Balion looked distraught on some level - the form was correct and not correct at the same time. "Well. I. I suppose. We'll have to send it for review. In any event, the incorporation is denied pending review."

Grezzk flicked an ear. "I see. Is there an addendum I can file?"

"We would have to form a committee to explore the viability of an addendum, and then focus groups to determine spacing and font requirements, as well as approvals from the Ministry of Culture to ensure the harmonious existence and naming of the addendum in the event that it is approved..."

There was an exhale. "I see. Thank you for your time."

Grezzk left to the elevator and selected the ground floor. She stepped off the elevator and then went to the central one. The central elevator was far more richly appointed, with velvet railings and a mural of Vilantia's great advances in trade. There was also an individual at the controls, who seemed perturbed at the invasion of space.

"Miss. This is Minister Podesta's personal elevator. Do you have an appointment?"

There was a sigh of sorts as Grezzk decided to bluff a bit. "I am Freelady Grezzk, of Clan O'Gryzzk. Would I be here in the Minister's elevator if I did not have an appointment?"

It worked well enough for her to get to the ministerial office proper, where she was stopped by a secretary who appeared to have the qualifications of being young and pretty. Grezzk felt a moment of jealousy at the youth that had been unblemished by pregnancy even as the secretary spoke.

"Minister Podesta is in conference at the moment."

Grezzk took a delicate sniff toward the door. "I presume he is working on a critical negotiation."

The secretary nodded brightly. "Two actually."

"Will he be long?"

"Oh he's a very quick ah, negotiator." The secretary's scent dimmed slightly at the admission.

"Ah." There was a pause. "Is the Minister set on restoring trade or his own clan?"

"Well, he speaks a great deal about interplanetary harmony."

"I see."

As the secretary promised, whatever negotiations the minister was conducting ended with a trio of Hurdop exiting in a slightly disheveled manner. Grezzk hoped he was in a good mood - the individuals leaving seemed disappointed yet hopeful to a degree. The Minister seemed a bit confused as he looked at his secretary.

"Was there an appointment missed?"

Grezzk cleared her throat. "Apologies Minister Podesh, but I should like to draw your nose to a troubling situation that is impending within the ministry. You see, I'm working with Terra and Hurdop to incorporate a trade organization to facilitate goods throughout the local systems. However, the forms that are currently available seem inadequate to the task, and flexibility does not appear to be a priority."

"Well, I suppose we may discuss this in my office?"

"We may, however I would like to properly introduce myself. Freelady Grezzk, wife to Freelord Gryzzk and Freelady Kiole of Clan O'Gryzzk." Grezzk felt a mild satisfaction as the Minister's scent became highly discombobulated. "Mother to Gro'zel, Ghabri, and Glaud. Adoptive mother to Nhoot, Fizeht, and Sahkik. I have a great deal of patience for many things, however I do not have time for inefficient processes that make me wish to incorporate our business on another planet, and thereby pay our taxes to that world instead of Mother Vilantia. We wish to open trade routes and facilitate cargoes to new markets. Shall we speak of these things in your office?"

The Minister swallowed audibly as Grezzk walked into the office and took a seat properly. "Of...of course."

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*Terra Prime, Cleveland Ohio, North American Confederation*

Gryzzk was overwhelmed on a level. After signing as requested as neatly as was possible given the amount of...give, he decided he needed a walk. The sights and smells of the convention beggared belief; passing from one area to another required an entire reset. There were levels, upon levels, pavilions, and even a large central stage for special events. Fortunately, this was the first night.

He checked the schedule and confirmed that the opening ceremonies were pending, and there was a little smile as he remembered that the M5 acrobatics group was scheduled to perform some manner of exhibition for the first night. The positive of this job was that it seemed that it was going to be looking clean, neat, and impressive. Which he could certainly manage; it felt like he was advertising in a way. His thoughts were interrupted as his comm chirruped slightly.

"Freelord, you need to have a talk with the organizers."

"Is there something amiss?"

"Yeah, they're flooding the localgrid with an announce that you're going to be doing a special meet-n-greet last day."

"First, they should tell us about this beforehand. Second, we have a fee schedule for that. Direct them toward the schedule and advise them that we will submit as necessary."

"Yeah, but they're not reading it. They're claiming it's part of the 'special assignment - other duties' addendum."

There was an exhale. "Counter-offer, dig up the pending merch designs and get a fast run. Advise them that we will do the Q&A, but we're going to be selling merch and we'll take all the proceeds."

"Sir, you're a bastard."

"Thank you. We'll negotiate down to ninety percent, and if they want more, remind them that this is in lieu of the standard speaking engagement fee."

"Too easy. Now, it looks like there might be something new brewing."

"Which is?"