Hope & Mel | Luncheon
Mar. 20th, 2026 12:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsBackdated Hope checks in on Mel as she takes the wheel at a business event.
Polite conversation and the clink of glasses echoed through the hall, along with the clack of heels walking very determinedly to their destination. Melody had a tablet in one hand, suit jacket in the other, making her way to the kitchen. She wanted to personally make sure things were all on schedule with the appetizers. This was her first event going solo, and everything had to be perfect.
Welcome drinks. Speeches at 12:30. Food service begins at 1. Still plenty of time, but she needed to triple check.
The venue looked nice at least. Tasteful floral arrangements, matching napkins and name cards, an elegant banner that read "Celebrating Rising Young Professionals" draped to one end. Everything was fine. Chill, even. Ms. Hope wouldn't have given her anything she couldn't handle.
Hope slipped in through the service entrance, giving a quick nod and smile to the dishwasher with his tray full of serving spoons that was just passing. "Have you seen Ms. Guthrie by any chance?"
"You mean Miss Mel? She was just talking to the chef in the kitchen." He quickly replied before continuing on his way with his tray.
"Thank you." Hope turned down the left corridor, the quickest way she knew to the food preparation area and paused at the entrance, serenely observing Mel as she and the chef were bent over the tablet.
"-and just to run over dietary accomadations again. Seat twelve is celiac, seven and fifteen vegetarian, an' twenty four is allergic to shellfish. I've looked over the substitutions you have prepared and everythin' looks great. Though might I suggest sendin' out a few extra baskets of the gluten-free during the bread course? Just to offer an option to those with a preference."
Mel sensed Hope watching and looked up, offering a grin, before wrapping up with the chef. "Other than that, I'll leave y'all to it. We appreciate all the work you and your team have put towards the event."
"Hello Mel." Hope gave the brunette a warm nod as she headed towards her. "I am on my to an appointment, but I just wanted to check in to see how your first event is going." She smiled warmly as she added: "But I trust you have everything under control."
"Yeah, for the most part! I mean there was a mix up with the placecards before the event started but-" She stopped and took a breather. "Yes, everythin' is going well." Chill was not really in the Guthrie vocabulary, but she needed to try.
"Mishaps happen." Hope reassured her assistant. "In that sense event planning is much like a theater show or another performance. As long as the guests don't notice or they can assume is part of the whole picture, they will just go with the flow."
"That's true. I suppose they don't know what things're supposed to look like anyhow... I appreciate ya lettin' me take this on. I've been learning a whole lot by doing so."
"It is the best way to learn." Hope agreed. "And it looks like you have it all under control. Though I think you never told me how you resolved the whole conflict between the two speakers."
Mel groaned quietly just thinking about it. Even amongst so-called professionals, the drama never stopped. She hadn't realized that the two speakers had a history of competition before inviting them, and the tension in the practice run had been palpable. "I ended up switching the seating chart to have them at opposite ends of the room, an' then had to talk to them separately. Ask that they put any grievances aside today fer 'the good of our future leaders'."
"Always an excellent go to." Hope complimented Mel. "If needed, you can always take it just a touch further, attempt to refocus their competition into something useful. I am sure you can figure into what?" Hope tilted her head, sure her protege would pass with flying colors.
"Into helpin' the program you mean? I could see about gettin' them to compare results. Who can raise the most money through their connections.... or which of them can help the mentees progress the most?"
"Excellent." Hope nodded approvingly. "I am sure you will not need it, but it is always valuable to have a tactic or two in reserve. One important factor to consider though... which one has less consequences in case things do not quite work out the way you hope they will?"
She took a second to ponder this, before deciding, "Probably the latter, yeah? Things can be messy with money involved."
Hope quickly nodded. "Things can get quite messy with money involved, but don't underestimate the impact of people's influence. You want to be sure the right seeds are being planted if at all possible. There might be a difference if you are looking more short-term or long-term."
Mel was about to answer when a timid looking waiter approached, clutching their tray in a panic. "Um, Miss Mel, there's been an... issue." The faint crash of a plate could be heard coming from the banquet hall, along with raised voices.
She was on high alert instantly, folding her tablet away and scooting towards the kitchen doors. Over Mel's shoulder she called, "I'll go take care of this, see ya back at the office, Ms. Hope!"
"Good luck and don't forget what I said!" Hope watched with a small smile as her protegee rushed of, shaking her head at the sound of voices rising not too far away. Pulling out her own phone, she quickly checked her planning, the perfect excuse for lingering just a little bit longer in case needed...
Polite conversation and the clink of glasses echoed through the hall, along with the clack of heels walking very determinedly to their destination. Melody had a tablet in one hand, suit jacket in the other, making her way to the kitchen. She wanted to personally make sure things were all on schedule with the appetizers. This was her first event going solo, and everything had to be perfect.
Welcome drinks. Speeches at 12:30. Food service begins at 1. Still plenty of time, but she needed to triple check.
The venue looked nice at least. Tasteful floral arrangements, matching napkins and name cards, an elegant banner that read "Celebrating Rising Young Professionals" draped to one end. Everything was fine. Chill, even. Ms. Hope wouldn't have given her anything she couldn't handle.
Hope slipped in through the service entrance, giving a quick nod and smile to the dishwasher with his tray full of serving spoons that was just passing. "Have you seen Ms. Guthrie by any chance?"
"You mean Miss Mel? She was just talking to the chef in the kitchen." He quickly replied before continuing on his way with his tray.
"Thank you." Hope turned down the left corridor, the quickest way she knew to the food preparation area and paused at the entrance, serenely observing Mel as she and the chef were bent over the tablet.
"-and just to run over dietary accomadations again. Seat twelve is celiac, seven and fifteen vegetarian, an' twenty four is allergic to shellfish. I've looked over the substitutions you have prepared and everythin' looks great. Though might I suggest sendin' out a few extra baskets of the gluten-free during the bread course? Just to offer an option to those with a preference."
Mel sensed Hope watching and looked up, offering a grin, before wrapping up with the chef. "Other than that, I'll leave y'all to it. We appreciate all the work you and your team have put towards the event."
"Hello Mel." Hope gave the brunette a warm nod as she headed towards her. "I am on my to an appointment, but I just wanted to check in to see how your first event is going." She smiled warmly as she added: "But I trust you have everything under control."
"Yeah, for the most part! I mean there was a mix up with the placecards before the event started but-" She stopped and took a breather. "Yes, everythin' is going well." Chill was not really in the Guthrie vocabulary, but she needed to try.
"Mishaps happen." Hope reassured her assistant. "In that sense event planning is much like a theater show or another performance. As long as the guests don't notice or they can assume is part of the whole picture, they will just go with the flow."
"That's true. I suppose they don't know what things're supposed to look like anyhow... I appreciate ya lettin' me take this on. I've been learning a whole lot by doing so."
"It is the best way to learn." Hope agreed. "And it looks like you have it all under control. Though I think you never told me how you resolved the whole conflict between the two speakers."
Mel groaned quietly just thinking about it. Even amongst so-called professionals, the drama never stopped. She hadn't realized that the two speakers had a history of competition before inviting them, and the tension in the practice run had been palpable. "I ended up switching the seating chart to have them at opposite ends of the room, an' then had to talk to them separately. Ask that they put any grievances aside today fer 'the good of our future leaders'."
"Always an excellent go to." Hope complimented Mel. "If needed, you can always take it just a touch further, attempt to refocus their competition into something useful. I am sure you can figure into what?" Hope tilted her head, sure her protege would pass with flying colors.
"Into helpin' the program you mean? I could see about gettin' them to compare results. Who can raise the most money through their connections.... or which of them can help the mentees progress the most?"
"Excellent." Hope nodded approvingly. "I am sure you will not need it, but it is always valuable to have a tactic or two in reserve. One important factor to consider though... which one has less consequences in case things do not quite work out the way you hope they will?"
She took a second to ponder this, before deciding, "Probably the latter, yeah? Things can be messy with money involved."
Hope quickly nodded. "Things can get quite messy with money involved, but don't underestimate the impact of people's influence. You want to be sure the right seeds are being planted if at all possible. There might be a difference if you are looking more short-term or long-term."
Mel was about to answer when a timid looking waiter approached, clutching their tray in a panic. "Um, Miss Mel, there's been an... issue." The faint crash of a plate could be heard coming from the banquet hall, along with raised voices.
She was on high alert instantly, folding her tablet away and scooting towards the kitchen doors. Over Mel's shoulder she called, "I'll go take care of this, see ya back at the office, Ms. Hope!"
"Good luck and don't forget what I said!" Hope watched with a small smile as her protegee rushed of, shaking her head at the sound of voices rising not too far away. Pulling out her own phone, she quickly checked her planning, the perfect excuse for lingering just a little bit longer in case needed...
