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A Week (and another Late Night Bath) Later.
Janelle walks out of the elevator onto the main floor of Liseth's Manor. Wearing her usual professional suit and dress slacks, the one major addition today is a pair of somewhat simple looking gloves. Thin leather dress gloves covering up past the wrist, nothing terribly special, but the way Janelle conducts herself might betray a bit of sensitivity towards them.
Still, she goes about her day as usual, trying her best to get through things with the gloves on and without attracting too much attention to herself. She just has to get through the afternoon meeting with Liseth, and she can focus on worth the rest of the day.
She heads to the dragon's office, knocking softly. "Ma'am? Not much to deal with today, we should be able to make this quick."
Liseth sits up from the dozing contemplating position she has been in next to her grand wooden dragon-sized table, and opens her eyes. "Do come in, Janelle."
The dragon has grown fairly fond of the woman, slowly realizing that what she really needed was someone to shoot the breeze and comment on this crazy world with. All the help with human business interactions and her personal finances and correspondence is great, but... really it's just having someone to talk with instead of someone to talk at.
Janelle steps in and gives her customary bow, though she feels an unusual bit of nerves in the pit of her stomach, "Good afternoon. I really don't have much today, I'm afraid. A quick bit of business and-"
She walks to the projector and pulls out her files, only to quickly fumble them, some combination of the gloves and her nerves perhaps has her dropping the reports with a sigh. She lifts a gloved hand to the bridge of her nose and pinches it softly, "-Ah. Forgiveness, ma'am. I'm afraid I have not quite been feeling myself this morning."
Liseth tilts her head, now sitting up, more alert: "Not quite yourself? Anything... anything I should know, or family business or something?" The dragon looks a bit concerned, but out of mutual respect neither has much prodded into the others' private lives.
Janelle kneels to recover her papers, pausing a moment as she stares at her gloves hands. "No... Nothing so dramatic as any of that. I think I... Might have caught some minor illness. I noticed it yesterday after work, but I'm already dealing with it as best I can, so it shouldn't be of any concern."
Liseth looks at Janelle with concern anyway, but accepts the explanation. "As long as you are okay. You know you do not have to even come in every day, and yet you do. Mind you, I appreciate you coming, but please don't do it at the expense of your health."
Janelle seems torn for a moment. "I... Want to keep coming in. But... I will keep your concerns in mind. If things don't get better... I will let you know and take a day off if necessary. It's simply a rash. As near as I can tell, no other symptoms. My hands feel a little stiff, but otherwise I seem fine."
Liseth nods, then motions at the papers: "If you are sure. So, what's on today's agenda?"
Janelle returns the papers to the projector. "As I said, not much. The contractor on your windows has finally issued a refund for that initial errored payment, along with an apology. In addition I think I've convinced your head of staff that you will not, in fact, eat her if she takes some initiative with the kitchen inventory. Though why she comes to me with this I don't understand, but I hope you don't mind me interceding."
Liseth nods, considering: "Am I perhaps too intimidating... I mean, that's perhaps how I got this far. But... it might be counterproductive in some ways, right?"
Janelle shrugs, "I don't think so... But I may be a bad data point. I've never found you all that intimidating. Or even your family when I was interviewed. Maybe that makes me the weird one, though."
Liseth hums, leaning her head on her paw as she lies down. "I suppose that is possible. I have not sensed any fear from at any point, that much is true."
Janelle sighs. "Well, I can talk to the staff about it, if you wish to be more approachable with them. Otherwise, I don't mind fielding their concerns."
She pauses, considering. "On a more personal note... If this rash is something due to an allergy... I might check through some of the bath items we were using in case I have some allergy? I can't imagine it would be a sanitation issue... But maybe there's something in the water?"
Liseth blinks, raising her head: "Oh. Guess that is possible. Feel free to, would be a shame if you can't bathe with me because of some random stuff we have in the bath..." It's also pretty obvious the dragon herself would mind a lot if that became the case...
Janelle nods, "I find myself looking forward to our shared hobby time a great deal. Rest assured, I will uncover any such culprit chemicals. But... Really, I think it's just a small illness."
Liseth hums, nodding slowly: "Hopefully so. Take care of yourself, in any case."
Janelle smiles, "Again... I appreciate your concern. I'll do my best, ma'am. Is there anything else you need today?"
Liseth considers, then shakes her head. "Nothing really. I have a reservation for myself down at the Grand Ballroom... or outside of it, anyway. Space concerns and all that."
Janelle chuckles, "You'll surely make an impact even if you don't go inside, ma'am. Have fun. I'll finish up for today and head for home... if there's still an issue tomorrow I'll call in to let you know. But, I'm sure it'll be fine."
Liseth smiles: "I am sure it will. Take care, Janelle."
Janelle bows again, taking her documents and heading out at her usual pace. Once she's out of sight, she sighs, looking down at the gloves.
Slowly, she rolls up the sleep, and removes the left glove to look at the dull orange 'rash', a smattering of small hard growths, clearly scales upon closer examination. A similar growth has appeared upon her other hand, she knows. She swears under her breath, pondering why she didn't just tell Liseth the truth.
"Because... this is temporary. Nothing for her or you to get concerned over. That's why." She pulls the glove back on, straightening her posture and heading into her office. "It'll work itself out in time, Jan."
Liseth watches Janelle go, then turns back to her book. Though her mind stays on the woman for a moment or two after, a pang of worry on her chest.
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