looking for a helping hand [OPEN]

[lionheartedman]

FORM: sending crystal
SENDER: Cullen Rutherford
RECIPIENT: errybody
WHAT: looking for an assistant, perhaps more than one
WHEN: now
WHERE: Kirkwall

NOTES: You don't have to take this seriously. Feel free to mock him and his obvious lack of experience in this matter. You can also feel free to have your character apply for the job even if you don't want them to have it.

[The voice being broadcast is tired. Not just in a didn't-sleep-well-last-night way, but in a constantly-flirting-with-exhaustion way. He doesn't particularly want to be doing this, but Gwen makes some excellent points.]

Good morning, everyone. This is Commander Rutherford, with... I suppose you'd call it a job opening. Keeping on top of everything that needs doing now that we've settled ourselves here is proving to be more work than expected. I'm looking for an assistant, someone to assist with the day to day tasks here, help coordinate with our members and the locals, and just generally... help.

[Help. No, seriously, help. He has no idea what he's doing.]

Comments

[aceso]

[ Her voice holds no small amount of surprise. ]

You mean to say you have not had an assistant at all?

[ Yeah, that sounds stressful as can be. She's seen his desk. ]

It is a miracle you have not suffocated under a mountain of paperwork yet.

[lionheartedman]

[Cullen's not expecting Christine. Obviously she's not applying for the job. She's busy, so busy, and even if he weren't, she's an academic.

So he sounds surprised, a bit flustered.]

That's not-- That is to say, I did. The messengers are quite capable, it's just-- Well, there's more to do now.

[Why are you making him talk about this? It's difficult enough admitting he can't handle things just the once.]

[aceso]

[ Because she is a healer first and foremost and she doesn't want you working yourself ragged, Cullen. ]

I do not doubt it. This will be good for you. Organization makes everything so much simpler.

[ Says the woman who over-organizes everything. ]

[elegiaque]

( It doesn't sound like this response is actually intended for Cullen so much as potential respondents-- )

He needs to be managed. Withhold paperwork if he hasn't had a meal.

[private]

[lionheartedman]

[Oh for the love of--]

You're not helping.

private ∞

[elegiaque]

Yes, I am.

Crystal

[judgemewhole]

[Oh Good Grief, Cullen.]

I can lend you ... someone, until you find a proper assistant.

[Which you should have done months ago, man. Even JAMES has an assistant.]

[lionheartedman]

[Look, he is not exactly the poster child for good decision making, all right? Hence the need for someone to do a bit of looking after him. He knows it, it's still just tough to admit, especially without Cassandra here.]

I'm sure that won't be necessary. I've managed well enough until now. [HA!] But thank you. It's a very kind offer.

[judgemewhole]

[Honestly the man needs a keeper along with an assistant.]

So what you are saying, Cullen, is that you have managed well up until the point that you are so overwhelmed that you are looking for an assistant?

[Eyebrow.]

[bookish_lioness]

[Cullen, what are you doing to yourself and why is puppy therapy not helping?]

I've just arrived in Kirkwall. I'm still getting my bearings, so I probably can't help in the way you're intending, but if you'd like someone with organizational skills to help take a bit of the edge off, I can do that. Not as a job, but as a friend.

[Because he sounds like he desperately needs a friend right now, even if he thinks he doesn't have time for one.]

[lionheartedman]

Hermione.

[He is so glad to hear her voice, to know that she's finally gotten here. It's stupid and selfish, but every friend who makes the trip here seems to make it a tiny bit easier to take.]

There is no one I can think of who would be better suited to help me get organized.

[Of course he doesn't think she will take on the job long term, because she has far bigger issues on her plate, but he knows that she will genuinely have his best interests at heart. He also knows that he'll be able to take her particular brand of mothering. He's used to it.]

[bookish_lioness]

Then you aren't thinking clearly, which means you certainly need someone there to help take some of the edge off.

[She's joking, kind of. When it comes to being a good fit for helping Cullen with his duties, he's sure there's someone for whom that sort of work is more relevant. But Cullen is her friend, one of the closest she has in Thedas, and so it's her duty to help him in absolutely any way that she can. He's more than done his share in return, after all.]

Should I ask around to find your new office, or would you like to meet me for lunch or dinner and then go from there?

[Either way you're going to eat, Cullen. And you're going to sit down and eat calmly and she's going to make sure you eat enough that you won't be able to help taking a nap afterwards.]

[circleprodigy]

As you already have an offer, mine will be of a less professional sort. Should your pup need exercise, I'm quite willing to have him join Garahel on a regular basis. Or we can see that both of you join us, as it is healthy to step away from paperwork every now and then.

[lionheartedman]

You are a good friend. I'm sure Puppy will appreciate it. I should probably take you up on the offer for myself, as well.

[He knows for a fact that at least part of the reason he was given the care of Puppy was to force him to get out of his office every now and then. Adelaide may be gone, but he still knows she was right.]

I definitely should. Please make me come out and exercise with the three of you.

[circleprodigy]

Good! And if you absolutely need to justify it to yourself, remember that requisitions officer is always after agents to gather local materials. Letting the pups get their fill of exercise while we do so is not a terrible way to spend time.

[onlyhymns]

Ser, I can make time for additional duties. I'm already assistant to the Seekers and Knight-Commander Norrington.

[lionheartedman]

I wouldn't want to see you stretch yourself too thin.

[On the other hand, maybe the two of them can keep an eye on one another? Is that a thing? The blind leading the blind only the broken leading the broken?]

How have you been?

[degenere]

Ah, monsieur. I have just the assistant for you.

[lionheartedman]

Really? That sounds promising. Tell me about this person.

[limier]

If only you'd an assistant, with which to sort through all these offers of assistance.

[lionheartedman]

That is at the heart of my problem, yes.

[Are the these two people here trolling him? Probably. Will he recognize it? Almost definitely not.]

[ichaer]

I'm rather terrible when it comes to paperwork but if ever need a runner, well... I'm fast.

[lionheartedman]

I'm always in need of good and reliable runners. If you're willing, then I will have work for you.

[universal_charm]

Have you thought of delegating some of the work? Assigning more than one person to cover certain areas? That way neither you or the others get stretched to thin.

[lionheartedman]

If I can find more than one assistant, that would be fantastic. At the moment, I'm hoping to find just one.

[He is clearly bad at this. Judge him, actual Space Captain, you have every right.]