The Club Notes: Club Treasurer
Today is the birthday of one of my dearest friends, _jenjen_. She's been steadfast and brilliant for the past six? years I've known her. Funny, intelligent and just generally awesome to be around. She is almost like my other self.
I thought long and hard about what I could give her that would be truly worthy of her friendship. In the end there was only one thing I can think of - a small homage to a good friend.
Introducting: Vanessa Harry Ploutos: Club Treasurer
“Your middle name is 'Harry'?” I asked, popping my head around the door to Ness' office.
“Where did you hear that?” she asked, looking up sharply. I smiled. Ness was the Club's Treasurer-cum-Accountant, not much older than me, and one of the few members of Club staff that I wasn't terrified of.
“The records at the Door go back years,” I said casually, strolling into the office proper, “and Tuesday's are slow.”
“That's not fair, Jonathan Harris,” Ness said. There was a note of warning in her voice but her eyes were bright.
“Well, I need some sort of advantage over everyone else,” I said, leaning against Ness' desk. “Being the only human on staff.”
Ness made a face at me but leant back from her ledgers, stretching her arms behind her. I turned my head slightly and watched the dust motes dancing in the sunlight streaking through the window. The last time Ness' father had caught me looking at her I'd ended up not able to afford food for a week. A word to the wise - never make the mistake of offending a minor God. They tend to take it worse than a major God.
“It's my mother's surname,” Ness said at last, rocking back down on her chair. “My Lord Dad wanted me to have something to remember her by.”
Ness' face was sad for the barest flicker of a moment - she didn't often talk about her mother and with good reason I suppose. I hesitantly touched a hand to her arm and gave her my best sympathetic smile. Ness rolled her eyes at me and shrugged my hand away.
“Honestly, Jon,” she said, shaking her head. “You don't need to tread so softly, it was years ago.”
And I suppose that's another thing to remember about Ness - she's older than she looks. Demi-Gods. The Club has quite a few of them on staff - some it's easy to remember who they are, what they are, others, less so. Ness is one of the others - she looks, talks and acts like a twenty-odd year old. Sometimes, though, she'll say something so out of time that it hits you right in the back of the brain.
“Was that all you wanted?” Ness asked, bending over her ledgers again. “I have a lot of work to do.”
“Yes, of course,” I said, standing up and sketching a half bow towards her. “I wouldn't want to infringe on your precious time any longer, Miss Ploutos.”
“See that you don't, Mr Harris,” Ness said with mock severity. She flashed a bright smile at me, one I couldn't help returning, as I ducked out the door.
The Club Notes are a part of the Jonathan Harris universe. I see them almost as a serial - glimpses into Jon's life as he lives and works in Cambridge. The Club is known only as that - and will be introduced another time.
For Jen, wife o' mine.
I thought long and hard about what I could give her that would be truly worthy of her friendship. In the end there was only one thing I can think of - a small homage to a good friend.
Introducting: Vanessa Harry Ploutos: Club Treasurer
“Your middle name is 'Harry'?” I asked, popping my head around the door to Ness' office.
“Where did you hear that?” she asked, looking up sharply. I smiled. Ness was the Club's Treasurer-cum-Accountant, not much older than me, and one of the few members of Club staff that I wasn't terrified of.
“The records at the Door go back years,” I said casually, strolling into the office proper, “and Tuesday's are slow.”
“That's not fair, Jonathan Harris,” Ness said. There was a note of warning in her voice but her eyes were bright.
“Well, I need some sort of advantage over everyone else,” I said, leaning against Ness' desk. “Being the only human on staff.”
Ness made a face at me but leant back from her ledgers, stretching her arms behind her. I turned my head slightly and watched the dust motes dancing in the sunlight streaking through the window. The last time Ness' father had caught me looking at her I'd ended up not able to afford food for a week. A word to the wise - never make the mistake of offending a minor God. They tend to take it worse than a major God.
“It's my mother's surname,” Ness said at last, rocking back down on her chair. “My Lord Dad wanted me to have something to remember her by.”
Ness' face was sad for the barest flicker of a moment - she didn't often talk about her mother and with good reason I suppose. I hesitantly touched a hand to her arm and gave her my best sympathetic smile. Ness rolled her eyes at me and shrugged my hand away.
“Honestly, Jon,” she said, shaking her head. “You don't need to tread so softly, it was years ago.”
And I suppose that's another thing to remember about Ness - she's older than she looks. Demi-Gods. The Club has quite a few of them on staff - some it's easy to remember who they are, what they are, others, less so. Ness is one of the others - she looks, talks and acts like a twenty-odd year old. Sometimes, though, she'll say something so out of time that it hits you right in the back of the brain.
“Was that all you wanted?” Ness asked, bending over her ledgers again. “I have a lot of work to do.”
“Yes, of course,” I said, standing up and sketching a half bow towards her. “I wouldn't want to infringe on your precious time any longer, Miss Ploutos.”
“See that you don't, Mr Harris,” Ness said with mock severity. She flashed a bright smile at me, one I couldn't help returning, as I ducked out the door.
The Club Notes are a part of the Jonathan Harris universe. I see them almost as a serial - glimpses into Jon's life as he lives and works in Cambridge. The Club is known only as that - and will be introduced another time.
For Jen, wife o' mine.