"Professional Advice"
By: Analesse D'vrishay
Minn Dakara (a.k.a. Minn Starcrash)
Nemyos [NPC+]

Location: Analesse's Office, New Plouton
Date: Vadris 20, 5 ABY

***

Minn Dakara stepped into Analesse's office, past the ever-scowling Nemyos. While he was no longer snarling, he still looked up every time she approached the refrigeration unit to make sure she was not stealing his lunch. She tried to be friendly toward him, but it only made him more suspicious. It made her grin whenever she returned to her office.

"I finished that report," Minn said as Ms. D'vrishay looked up from her desk. "I managed to get the word count down this time, like you asked. But, it still contains all of the pertinent information from that last meeting." She held up the stack of flimsis for Lessa to see.

"Already?" Lessa refrained from expressing further surprise either vocally or by the slightest lift of her eyebrows. Instead, she motioned Minn to set the report down before her. "I hadn't expected you to be finished yet," she mentioned. "I didn't get a chance to prepare another task for you."

Minn smiled with just a hint of sheepishness. "I worked on it while I ate my lunch."

Analesse chuckled. "That's dedication for you. It's really not necessary, Ms. Dakara. Lunchtime is your own time, so feel free to enjoy it."

"I know, but I figured since I had the inspiration I might as well carry through. I'll try not to make a habit of working through my lunches. But, at least I did eat my lunch today."

"You really are new at this," Lessa commented. Sighing deeply, she leaned back in her chair and gestured Minn to take a seat of her own. "Listen," she confided as Minn settled into the chair, "you're going to have to learn that, in this business, it does pay to move fast - it's the only way to secure those juicy deals. But go too fast, and it's easy to make mistakes. More importantly," she added with a nearly wistful smile, "you get so absorbed in your work, it stops being fun - life stops being fun because you're letting everything pass you by while your head is buried in reports. I did that for a long time...but I'm finally learning to slow down just enough to enjoy my success. You'll learn the same, I hope."

"I'll remember that," Minn said with a nod. "If you don't mind me asking, did it stop being fun?"

"Truthfully?" Analesse smiled. "For a time, though I didn't realize it until I met my current partner. It was then I knew I'd been missing everything." Mildly startled by her own candidness, then, Analesse cleared her throat awkwardly and resumed her stiff, upright sitting posture. "At any rate," she continued more guardedly, "you need to live your life, Ms. Dakara. Don't get bogged down by work. You're too young for that."

"I'll just eat my lunch at lunch from now on," Minn said. "Unless I'm up against a deadline. Your partner, I thought I saw him coming in last night. He looks familiar. He's kind of famous isn't he? I know I've seen him somewhere before."

"Probably," Lessa allowed. "He's a performer. You may have seen him performing at the White Noise."

"I've never been there. Though, I've been by there a few times. I think there was a poster. That's probably it. So, that report, if you have any other changes on it, let me know. I made the corrections you suggested on the first draft, but I'm not certain if I cut too much out to bring down the size."

"Relax," Analesse urged. "I'll finish it off. You can leave early if you want...attend a show at the White Noise, even." She smiled reassuringly. "It's no trouble at all."

"Are you sure," Minn said. "I don't feel overworked at all. In fact, I really like it here. Nemyos still is very suspicious of me, but it's still a great working environment."

"He's suspicious of anyone better looking than himself," she dismissed playfully. "Don't mind him. But if it does become a problem, let me know. I would hate for you to leave so soon."

"Oh, it's no problem at all," Minn said, her grin cheerful. "I've made it my mission to make him like me. It may be impossible, but it definitely makes things interesting."

Analesse shrugged. "Well, if it's a source of amusement for you.... At any rate, I should probably start going through this report. I'll need it for a very important meeting in two days."

"Oh, if you want me to compile note cards for the meeting, I can do that," Minn said. "Will you need any presentation? I should be able to get some holographics set up for it as well."

"I'll consider it," Analesse told her noncommittally. "For now, take a break. You've earned it."

"I think I may have to sneak out," Minn said. "Nemyos is likely to get quite jealous of me leaving early."

"I'll take care of him. You just enjoy yourself."

Minn grinned. "I will," she said. "I'll go see my first show at the White Noise."

"If you enjoy Merrick's music," she suggested, "I could perhaps introduce you to him sometime."

"That would be very nice," Minn said. "I'll let you know what I think of his music after tomorrow."

Analesse smiled and watched Minn briefly as she departed before shifting focus to the report. So far, Minn was working out splendidly. If she continued to be as diligent, Analesse very well may have found her very first apprentice.

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