# GM Week Short Story Competition - Come to Poitot **URL:** \ **Category:** Player Fiction\ **Created:** [September 17, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/gm-week-short-story-competition-come-to-poitot/267709 "2020-09-17T22:33:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Auriga\_Menkalinan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/auriga_menkalinan/32/351666_2.png) [@Auriga\_Menkalinan](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Auriga_Menkalinan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/gm-week-short-story-competition-come-to-poitot/267709/1 "2020-09-17T22:33:46Z")
A fly on the wall account of [Auriga Menkalinan](http://wiki.eve-inspiracy.com/index.php?title=Auriga_Menkalinan_(Character)) being summoned by [Enalalon Achaert](https://evemaps.dotlan.net/agent/Enalalon_Achaert), submitted to the [GM Week 2020 Short Story Competition](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/gm-week-2020-short-story-competition/266285). > _The ante chamber of the_ Vratprodbuhutta Achaert _is a place of anticipation, of hopes and fears. In one corner a wiry man with a blistered cheek watches the other occupants with guarded intensity, perhaps to distract himself from the anticipation of his own audience at the ‘justice hall’ of one of Poitot’s founding families. There a greybeard in trader’s robes bristling with indignation at anyone looking his way. Here a youngster in flight gear, eyes downcast in private dread. The doors to the audience chamber slide open, releasing the previous petitioner to be led away weeping, as the summons ring out,_ “Menkalinan!” > > _Beyond the doors, a dais with a single chair confronts petitioners, its occupant, swathed in Indradhanush silks all colours of the sunset and with bleached hair arranged in a constellation of ornate pins. She smiles indulgently at the wiry visitor, a predatory gleam lurking in her pale eyes._ “Adam… How good of you to make time away from scrambling the greasy pole.” _Her laugh a silver requiem for disagreement._ > > “I am honoured by the summons, Khararjya…” > > _The tiny dysprosium bell hanging from one hair pin tinkles, as if echoing its wearer’s amusement._ “Fear not, this interview will be much more pleasant that the wretch before you… [You have done well in Harroule](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/yc-122-newcwc-khushka-cartel-compendium/223322). It is time to discuss what next.” > > _The petitioner touches an index finger to his left ear deliberately, a gesture of compliant attention that somehow rattles the smile fixed on him._ “…Sometimes I think you are blessed, Adam, to have no sense of… our past lives.” > > “Often I feel a cripple, among the Reborn.” > > _She shakes her head, the bell chiming bittersweet as she sighs._ "…Bad news first. You’re going to lose Isana. Having established our connection with the Archon and delivered [that new hospital](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/rumors-gossip-tabloids/130182/239), she is wasted at the Kohipur sideshow. Find someone else. I heard your brother is a half descent researcher.” > > “I…” > > _She points at him, an unsubtle Intaki expression forbidden in polite society, but often used as a way of saying ‘shut your mouth’ by superiors and disappointed parents alike,_ “Maybe a project will help straighten him out. Besides, if something goes wrong there, we can pin it on him.” > > _The wiry man’s gaze challenges the pale eyes on the dais for three ear-thumping heartbeats before dropping in submission._ “Good… Now, some good news. You’ve been cleared to swim in deeper waters: bearer depository account charges for Lai Dai scrip issued by The Bank; and criminal service contracts for ship crew auctioned by us." > > “And?” > > "…And don’t get greedy with the scrip trading. We make a little margin while reminding Lai Dai that we [_could_](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/pure-blind-cyber-attack-updates/254544/7) crash their currency but we don’t want to encourage them do anything drastic, hmm?” > > “Understood Khararjya. …Aren’t the crew contracts a bit like… slavery?” > > “Don’t be such a _Federal_! They get paid, a bit, and are free to go when their term is served.” > > _She wrinkles her nose, sighs slowly through it, and concedes the point with the tiniest nod of acknowledgment._ “Fine, survival rates aren’t great but naval deserters have no business hiding from justice out here, and between the refugees and our own miscreants, you know we don’t have the resources to lock them up. So…” > > “So… Anything else?” > > _The bell tinkles in amusement again as the robed figure on the dias leans forward._ “So? You are _so_ like your grandfather! Of course there’s something else." > > _Menkalinan smiles, politely, but with a flicker of satisfaction at this shared understanding._ > > "Rumour has it those _Ishukone_ people down in JQV5-9 are in the market for someone to help them with the locals. I want you to take the job. Relations between the Megas are in zero-G right now with all these new trade partnerships, so we need to be sure to stay close to Ishukone. Go and make yourself useful, keep your ears open, you know what I mean.” > > _Menkalinan makes the biggest, deepest, most flagrantly respectful bow he can, to the sound of tinkling bells and charmed laughter._ > > “Yes, Khararjya.” ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/original/3X/4/1/41ec4921cbaca7a6f9ea556e7cc20018461eae5e.png) [@system](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/gm-week-short-story-competition-come-to-poitot/267709/2 "2020-12-16T22:33:47Z")
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.